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Showing posts with label Samhain Publishing. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Samhain Publishing. Show all posts
Monday, April 29, 2013
Review: Ivory by Lola Dodge
Ivory
Author: Lola Dodge
Release Date: April 30, 2013
Publisher: Samhain Publishing, Ltd.
Manhattan Ten Book 2
ISBN: #978-1619214415
Genre: Paranormal Romance, Novella
Format(s): e-book
Book Source: Author
About the book:
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That cold day in hell? It’s here…
If Ivory’s fellow flight attendants whisper that she has ice in her veins, they’d be right. She’s spent years ruthlessly suppressing her dangerous ice powers, pretending she didn’t grow up wild on the tundra.
Her legendary coolness has held solid—until a crazed attacker snaps her composure, unleashing her ice beast and blowing her cover. And she’s not sure if the man who defuses the situation is any less dangerous.
When Panther’s trans-Atlantic catnap is interrupted by Ivory’s ice spear through his mark’s gut, he doesn’t hesitate to claim her as one of the Manhattan Ten. It’s the only way to shield her from prosecution. It doesn’t hurt that the Nordic beauty puts his inner cat on the prowl.
Panther tempts Ivory in every smoldering way, but to let him melt her resistance is a risk she can’t afford. But when her past rises up to claim her, Pan is caught in the crossfire…and the only way to save him is to let the beast claim her, body and soul.
What B is talking about:
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All ValdÃs, aka “Ivory,” wanted to do was to tend to the passengers aboard the sweltering airplane, keep her head down, and see the world. But, when she uses her powers to cool things down, she inadvertently sets off a chain of events that threatens to tear her carefully constructed life to shreds. Now, she’s torn between a future she doesn’t want, and a past she can’t escape. But, facing both with a gorgeously hot shifter by her side might not be so bad after all.
Panther was supposed to be tailing a murder suspect to a meeting with like-minded others, not recruiting a new member to the Ten. But, when the beautiful, fierce “super” who’d been a distraction from the moment he laid eyes on her takes out his mark in the middle of first-class with an ice spear formed by her own hand, he’s hooked. And if blackmailing her with immunity is what it takes to get her in his territory and on his team, he’s certainly not above using it.
Set in modern day New York, Ivory is the second Manhattan Ten story, a series revolving about a group of superheroes living out in the open, using their powers for good. They have their own PR team, a fan mail department, superhero hate groups who are out to get them, and a paparazzi following. Despite their unique abilities, the members of the team aren’t perfect, a detail I liked a lot, and something Ivory learns to appreciate as the story progresses.
One of the main things Ivory has in its favor is the sexual tension between the two main characters, who also share narrating duties. Ivory and Panther are very well-matched, both of them left unbalanced by the sudden depth of their attraction, yet incapable of resisting one another. Panther is all heat to Ivory’s ice, and when they get together, things get very steamy. The verbal sparring the two engage in for the majority of the story is really an entertaining bonus, as are the protests of the group’s resident mind reader over the pair’s mental imagery.
Not just a sensual romp between supernatural beings, Ivory has quite a lot of action in it, as well. Ms. Dodge packs a lot of fighting and suspense in this story, and does so without overwhelming its relatively short length. While the brevity of the narrative makes a certain amount of predictability a necessity, it works nicely in this case, letting the connection forming between Ivory and Panther take center stage, as it should.
Ivory is a quick, sexy story that makes good use of some of the more familiar devices in the paranormal genre. Ivory and Panther are both sweet and funny, especially when they don’t mean to be, and they compliment each other well. As much as I liked them as a couple, it was the moments that the team acted as a cohesive unit that I liked most of all about the story. Overall, I liked Ivory very much, and I hope, with plenty of other superheroes on the team to go, there’ll be more from the Manhatten Ten in the future. And soon.
B’s Rating:
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Liked it a lot - recommend (B+)
Purchase Info:
Labels:
Monday, February 25, 2013
Review: A Cast of Shadows by Hailey Edwards
A Cast of Shadows
Author: Hailey Edwards
Release Date: Feb. 12, 2013
Publisher: Samhain
Araneae Nation, Book 2.5
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Format(s): e-book
Book Source: author
About the book
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Daraja has grown up watching her brothers journey down the river on the traditional Deinopidae rite of passage. Each returned with riches from their travels, and lovers with whom to share their lives.
Now she has reached the age where she would strike out on her own to seek her fortune—if she were male. Instead, she is expected to sit patiently, weave her nets and wait for the river to bring a husband to her.
Patience, however, has never been her strong suit.
Brynmor haunts the forest surrounding the city of Cathis, his disembodied spirit inextricably bound to the wild canis roaming his lands. Until the day he stumbles across a brazen trespasser in his woods.
Compelled to step in when the canis suspect her of poaching one of their own, Brynmor fears he has lost a piece of his ragged soul to the feisty, adventure-seeking female. And when the canis confront the real poachers, he is forced to choose which life to sacrifice. Hers…or his own.
What VampBard’s talking about:
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Readers of the Araneae Nation series won't want to miss this action-packed novella, set after A Feast of Souls, the second title in the series. Brynmor, former leader of Cathis and father to Vaughn, is running with the canis. He lives with them. They are now his family. We also are lucky enough to meet Daraja, an independent woman looking for what is clearly going to define who she is, upon return to her village.
Every story has a conflict. That's what makes us, as readers, invested in the plot. I struggled a little with figuring out the main conflict in A Cast of Shadows. Once I decided to step back and read this little 100-ish page novella for the entertainment value, and for furthering my knowledge of the Araneae, all was good. There's enough conflict in this novella that I'm hoping some will bleed into the next novel.
Daraja was on a journey that many of her clanswomen before her had taken down the river. She was looking for one of those defining moments. The clarity of what her future would be. I'm not going to mince words here. I really don't like the fact that women are expected to be married or contributing to the family in order to be valued. However, Ms. Edwards has established in her other novels that women ARE valued, and they don't necessarily need to be connected to a man. This is probably a tribal thing, and doesn't color my love for this series. If you're jumping in at this novella, however, keep in mind that this is **really** isolated.
Brynmor seems to be searching for some sort of defining moment for himself as well. Even though we have no idea how long he's been soul-bound (I think that crosses to a different series...) to Errol, a canis that leads the pack in the woods outside Cathis, Brynmor seems to be searching, and not completely satisfied with his 'life' as it currently stands. Enter Daraja. Without spoiling the story, let me just say that Brynmor starts off as the creepy stalker dude, but winds up the epic hero.
I think that anyone that's a fan of Hailey Edwards' Araneae Nation series will enjoy this explanation of what happened to Vaughn's father, Brynmor. It really does a fabulous job with filling-in that blank, without having a completely disconnected side plot in a longer novel. I'm glad Brynmor's story has been told, and I'm excited for the release of A Time of Dying, the third novel in this series, in July 2013!
VampBard’s Rating:
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Enjoyed - strongly recommend (A-)
Purchase Info:
Reviews in the Series:
Tuesday, February 12, 2013
Review: With Abandon by JL Langley
With Abandon
Author: JL Langley
Release Date: March 22, 2011
Publisher: Samhain Publishing
With or Without #4
Genre: Paranormal Romance, GLBT, m/m romance
Format(s): e-book
Book Source: Purchased with my own funds
About the book:
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Love was never part of his plan…until it pounced.
As heir to an old and proud heritage, Aubrey Reynolds works and lives for his family, his employees and his pack. Agreeing to watch after a visiting werewolf is no big deal—until he discovers the newcomer is his mate. His very male mate…which is a very big deal, indeed. Revealing his sexuality was never part of Aubrey’s well-ordered life plan.
Much as he loved caring for his eight younger brothers, Matt Mahihkan knows it’s time to grab the opportunity to attend college in Atlanta. Realizing Aubrey is his mate should have been a delightful experience…except Aubrey treats him more like a dirty little secret than a lover. Yet Matt is a patient man. Aubrey can’t stay in the closet forever. Can he?
In time, they settle into a comfortable, if complicated, routine. Until a rogue werewolf with an axe to grind forces Aubrey to add to the wedge of secrets driving him and Matt apart, leaving Matt exposed to danger… and Aubrey forced to choose between love and duty.
What I’m talking about:
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When Matt Mahihkan decided to leave his eight brothers, friends and home in New Mexico to move to Atlanta to attend college, his friend Keaton put Matt in touch with his brother, Aubrey. The pair connected instantly via texts and soon Matt was off to live with Aubrey in Georgia. When he lands at the airport, Aubrey’s fiancee, Tara (former Miss Georgia) picks him up and Matt’s senses tell him Tara is his mate.
Confused and a bit troubled, Matt worries how to break it to his new friend Aubrey that his fiancee is Matt’s mate. That is until Matt meets Aubrey and realizes that it was his scent on Tara which triggered the mating reaction. Soon Matt and Aubrey are fighting the strong pull to be with one another - but for different reasons. Matt wants to take things slow, never having been with another before. Aubrey wants to hide his homosexuality for fear that it will disappoint his family and ruin his business.
Oh how I’ve missed these sexy male shifters of Ms. Langley’s With or Without series. Although this book can be enjoyed as a stand alone, for those familiar with the series, Aubrey is brother of Keaton, one of the heroes from first book, Without Reservations. Matt, Keaton's friend, also appeared in this story.
In a world where m/m romances are extremely common (making me wonder how these werewolves are able to reproduce), I like that there is a realistic fear for Aubrey that coming out would ruin his life and his family's business. I also like that Matt is keen enough to insist on taking it slow. Aubrey and Matt have good chemistry regardless of the obstacles in their path, and the story moves their relationship forward at a comfortable pace.
There is a lot going on in With Abandon that makes this romance an exciting ride as well. Aubrey is the alpha’s son and expected to take over as head of the pack soon. He has a human friend, Carson, who is being harassed by a rival packmate and CEO of the family’s hotel business, Boskie. Aubrey attempts to deal with the situation, and sometimes I felt his choices would come back to haunt him (not telling if they did or not!). In addition, it appears someone is sending Aubrey threats against Matt. No one knows the pair are mates, so someone must be watching Matt too closely in order to pull this off. These two storylines intertwine and mingle, taking the reader on an thrilling journey, complete with a few interesting twists - one that I didn’t see coming at all.
Another great aspect of With Abandon are the relationships between several of the characters. One of my favorites is the connection between Aubrey’s father, Howard, and Matt. Early on in the book, Howard takes Matt aside and has an amazing heart-to-heart. Not only did it boost Matt’s confidence and help move the plot forward, but it put my mind and heart at ease, knowing that there was at least one aspect of Matt and Aubrey’s relationship that would go right, when and if they moved things public. It was such an amazing scene.
I could go on and on about every little thing that went right in this book. But in the end, it’s a terrific combination of marvelous story telling, mystery, action and romance. The story flowed well from start to finish, with the twists adding excellent tension. Aubrey’s internal struggles over trying to decide what was truly in his heart made for an engaging romantic plot. I genuinely enjoyed With Abandon and feel it’s the strongest story yet in Ms. Langley’s m/m shifter series. I look forward to more from this series.
My Rating:
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Enjoyed - strongly recommend (A-)
With Abandon
Reviews in the Series:
Wednesday, January 23, 2013
Review: Beautiful Scars by Shiloh Walker
Beautiful Scars
Author: Shiloh Walker
Release Date: Jan. 15, 2013
Publisher: Samhain Publishing
Genre: Contemporary, Erotic Romance
Format(s): e-book
Book Source: Purchased with my own funds
About the book:
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Some scars cut right to the heart.
Three years after her divorce, Chaili Bennett is over her ex. Her only problem now? Of the few men she’s dated since, no one “gets” her. Not like Marc Archer—a man who’s never seen her as more than a friend.
Marc Archer needs a date for a last-minute charity event, and he needs it fast. Not that women aren’t throwing themselves at his world-famous face and body, but sometimes it’s less messy—as in less personal—to use his sister Shera’s escort service.
The last woman on earth Marc expects to see in his sister’s office is Chaili. There’s something different about her, but nothing pleases him more when Shera sets them up. That simple date quickly evolves into much more as they both discover the other fills a deep, secret need they’ve shared with no one else.
Though Chaili insists one night is all she wants, Marc isn’t walking away now. Not until he discovers what put the shadows in her eyes. And the scars on her soul.
Warning: This book involves soulful songs, soulful sex, a soulful singer and lots of heartbreak. But no worries, there’s a happy ever after.
What VampBard’s talking about:
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In the synopsis for Beautiful Scars, the reader is warned, “This book involves soulful songs, soulful sex, a soulful singer and lots of heartbreak...” Thanks for the warning, but I still wasn't ready for the emotionally-charged story into which I was plunged head-first. When it feels like an author takes a peek into my soul, reaches for the strings of my heart, and plucks them like a skilled harpist, that's exactly when I know that this is one of the titles that will be on my top list for 2013.
The synopsis for Beautiful Scars gives us a concise overview of the plot. There's a lot that happens, but one of the most important over-arching themes in this title is that of meaningful relationships developing from truly knowing a person on the INSIDE. I'm so sick of the porcelain doll, or even the reluctant butterfly, that is pure perfection snagging the rich, hottie. We ALL have scars we bear. In this day and age, we all carry baggage into our relationships.
What ensnared me the most with Beautiful Scars is the way it seemed to speak to me. It was almost like Ms. Walker picked my brain and wrote the book. I am Marc. Anyone that has been in a relationship that has ended with them being walked all over can surely agree that his behaviors, while eccentric, were totally warranted. Marc, however, isn't off-the-charts strange if you add in the fact that he is a gifted composer and lyricist. Everyone has gifts and talents, and his happen to lie outside the conventions of acceptable, SIMPLE human communication. Marc is able to communicate through song, and for me, this is a much more powerful medium than simply chatting up important people at a social event. Marc seems to relax when he is playing piano or singing. Typical for an artist. We tend to find comfort and a 'centering' effect when we are able to additionally express ourselves through our chosen art form. Here's one of the first quotes I ran across that I felt embodied Marc's feelings when he was allowing himself to just FEEL: “He forgot about the people around him. The only one who mattered was Chaili. From the corner of his eye, he glanced her way and his heart banged against his ribs as he realized she was watching his hands.” (Kindle ed., Loc 562) Besides feeling Marc's emotions, this was an extremely hot passage for me. Chaili is appreciating Marc's music, and symbolically, watching his hands – the instrument of the music's creation.
When Marc found out about Chaili's scars (spoiler-free!), my heart broke. Been there, done that, got the t-shirt. I'm glad Ms. Walker didn't take this part of the storyline any further, because it's something I think about every day. I will admit, I had to put the story down for awhile after reading this section. It was painful for me, and re-opened some feelings that I simply thought I had under control. It's good to know that I'm still working on them. Also, Ms. Walker did a wonderful job handling this sensitive and emotional content. Again, from Marc's perspective, I thought that everything was quite realistic, and until and unless one has to deal with this or a similar topic, they have no idea how they'd handle it – from either perspective.
Chaili is a fierce woman. That's my take. She survived a couple terrible events in her life, and has come out the other side a bit weathered, but emotionally whole... eventually. At least she learned from her mistakes! So, Chaili married a jerk & got divorced. Happens every day, right? I'm pretty sure you'll completely hate her d-bag of an ex-, much as I do, once you read Beautiful Scars. I think that Chaili's journey of self-discovery began before Marc returned to the scene, however. To me, it felt like she'd been looking for herself at every turn. Her former marriage didn't provide anything to improve herself. She continued to look for more, and her thoughts always seemed to return to Marc. He truly 'got' her. He saw her for who she was, and never tried to make her into something she wasn't. Even once they crossed into 'relationship' territory, he still saw her for who she was. Here's Chaili's 'turning point' quote: “She even felt … whole, in some ways. Some part of her felt real again. She felt wanted – she hadn't felt that way in years.” (Kindle ed., Loc 817) So, to me, this expresses the way Chaili had been working on herself, but never totally connected with the changes she was making. They were superficial until she realized that being wanted was something that she needed in her life. We ALL need to feel wanted. The basic human need for acceptance can over-ride pretty much everything. Additionally, Chaili does a lot of work from home; she doesn't necessarily have to meet with her clients face-to-face as a web designer. The positive feedback via phone/internet communication is no where near as satisfying, for most, as in-person positive feedback. The need for positive reinforcement, positive experiences and interactions is a basic human need.
Marc didn't mind Chaili's baggage, and was willing to work with her on her baggage. That, in and of itself, is the big reason I think Marc and Chaili work for me.
There's some things that might bug some readers – like Marc's perceived lack of knowledge of some events. Totally possible when you're in the public eye and have managers & handlers taking care of your affairs. When one decides they need a break from reality for awhile. Totally possible. When one feels like they'll simply f'up if they have contact with those they love. Totally possible. Very realistic representation of someone, although they've achieved professional excellence, who still struggles with the small things, such as maintaining close bonds with those that truly matter in their lives. None of these things bothered me one iota. I know they can happen. Highly creative people oftentimes live IN THE MOMENT. They are driven to complete projects and tasks so they can move on when the next muse strikes. I know that compartmentalizing things is the only way that truly creative people can maintain their sanity, and I think Marc did that for himself.
Beautiful Scars brings the reader some touching, emotionally-charged sex scenes. They. Are. Hot. Although, I think the emotional connection between the characters made it hotter for me. Light BDSM, done in a tasteful and respectful manner, was an unexpected twist. Worked well with the characters, and wasn't over-done.
If someone had told me that Beautiful Scars would make me laugh, cry, and reflect upon my own life, I would have shaken my head in disbelief. After finishing this title, I'm glad I had the opportunity to look back and see how far I've come, and how glad I am that I've survived the adversity, much like Marc and Chaili. Only the most gifted of authors can claim to authentically move people in a positive manner. Today, I thank Shiloh Walker for nudging me toward the realization that 'I got this'.
VampBard’s Rating:
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Personal favorite - a must read (A+)
Purchase Info:
Wednesday, January 9, 2013
Review: A Feast of Souls by Hailey Edwards
A Feast of Souls
Author: Hailey Edwards
Release Date: Dec. 18, 2012
Publisher: Samhain Publishing
Araneae Nation Book #2
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Format(s): e-book
Book Source: Author
About the book:
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The only way to save her is to bind their souls as one.
Born with the ability to communicate with the dead, few things take Mana by surprise. But when a canis lopes into her life, announcing himself as the long-dead father of a childhood friend, she’s shocked. To make matters worse, he has a dire message that she alone can deliver.
Now Mana must face Vaughn, the male who inspired one too many girlish fantasies, and impart the spirit’s message—without acknowledging her source—so the soul can be laid to rest.
With rumors of a burgeoning clan war setting his nerves on edge, the last thing Vaughn needs is for an innocent to get caught in the crosshairs. But the woman he remembers as an awkward girl refuses to leave his side until he’s heard her out. That’s not the only change in her that calls to him. Her kindness soothes his battle-scarred soul—and he craves her in ways a warrior shouldn’t.
When they are both captured, they learn of an even greater threat. The plague devastating the southlands has come to his clan home. And his best—and only—chance to keep his people alive is the female who walks among the dead.
What VampBard’s talking about:
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Ms. Edwards' second foray into the Araneae Nation series offers up A Feast of Souls for our literary enjoyment! This delightful, intense tale brings us Vaughn and Mana, our hero/heroine. We grow with them, through their trials and tribulations before we make it to their destiny. Well-written with a sense of urgency to move toward the end, I was completely engrossed for the second half of the title, reading it in one sitting and neglecting the short stories I should be grading.
Some of what completely fascinates me about the Araneae Nation books is trying to figure out exactly what – and not be too creeped out by – the paranormal-ness of the clans. They spin silk, have fangs and venom... Yup. Spiderpeople. Holy crow! We have a nation of Spidermen (Spiderpeople?)! I'm a closet super hero geek (shhh... don't tell anyone!), so I fell in love with this series when I read Book 1 of the series, A Hint of Frost. This title, A Feast of Souls could be a stand-alone, as Ms. Edwards explains with enough detail, as a reminder to her readers, events from the first book.
While I can see the value in the first half of the title, it moved a little slowly for me. I really liked the relationship building presented, but it just took me awhile to get into it (keep in mind, I started this book while my house was full of kids over holiday break...). There were a couple grammar errors, one of which made my eye twitch, but otherwise fabulous, skilled writing style!
Talk about fabulous fantasy world-building! I want to ride bears and dinosaurs! OK. They weren’t call bears and dinosaurs, but their descriptions made me picture bears and dinosaurs! I'm also impressed with the way the characters from the first book of the series, Lourdes and Rhys, were mentioned, and we get a closer glimpse of Rhys' backstory, albeit in a round-a-bout way. Lourdes also has importance in this story, although it is understated.
Mana and Vaughn are a pair of soul mates. It's plain as day for me from the very beginning of the story. I get soul mates. I believe in soul mates. I do, however, believe that they would have SOMEHOW known before now that they were destined to be together. I actually teared up a bit when we learned Isolde's story, and I was really hoping that Ms. Edwards wasn't heading us to a bait-and-switch. I may have thrown things. I LIKE Vaughn and Mana together! I'm really not even cool with Mana interacting with other characters unless Vaughn is around.
Vaughn is complete alpha male, mercenary. Magically, and oftentimes mysteriously, Vaughn is sweet and tender with Mana. It appeared as though all that knew him were surprised by his behavior with Mana. When I hit about the 60% mark, I kept thinking about the song from Wicked, For Good. I think the line that made me totally identify with Vaughn was 'Who can say I've been changed for the better? / But because I knew you / I've been changed for good.' Based on their shared past, I think that Vaughn would have been a different person if he hadn't spent as much time with Mana and her people as he did growing up. Even though he's spent his adult life as a mercenary, earning money to support his people, the paladin (like a king in this instance) will be a just leader, when his time comes.
Mana, which reminded me of the Hebrew super-food every time I ran across it in the book, was a dream walker. I have always been fascinated by the prospect of dream walkers. Even with a lot of baggage from her childhood, Mana seemed well-adjusted. I was excited that she believed throughout the book that she did have a soul mate. I envied her ability to see certain things clearly while retaining an innocence about her own future.
A Feast of Souls is an expertly crafted novel, able to keep the reader entranced through the twists and turns of an awesomely crafted plot. The romance provided was intense and built to an excellent culmination. Great read to start 2013!
VampBard’s Rating:
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Purchase Info:
Reviews in Series:
Thursday, October 11, 2012
Review: Blind Destiny by Shiloh Walker
Blind Destiny
Author: Shiloh Walker
Release Date: Oct. 16, 2012
Publisher: Samhain Publishing
Grimm's Circle, Book #7
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Format(s): e-book
Book Source: Author
About the book:
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Heigh ho, heigh ho, it’s back to hell she goes…
Myrsina knows the stories. As one of the oldest of the Grimm, she had a hand in writing most of them, but only she knows the dark origin of the Seven Bloody Sisters. It springs from the place of her birth—and her death. A place of pain and misery to which she plans to never return. Unless forced.
When Luc appears on her doorstep, her heart twists with suppressed longing for the man who can never be hers. The only man who can make her do the impossible—go home.
Luc may be blind, but through their unique, bittersweet connection, even he can see that the task laid before them is ripping Sina’s soul apart. This time it isn’t as simple as fighting a demon that has escaped from the netherplains.
Sina must go back in time—to that cursed ground—and right a wrong that she unknowingly brought about. To write a new ending to a story that may give them both a chance at happily ever after. Assuming they survive.
Warning: This book contains a not-so-fairy-tale prince, a Snow White who was never very innocent, a lot of bloody fights, some ghosts, and a new sort of angel…
What VampBard’s talking about:
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Hey. Who forgot to tell me that Shiloh Walker wrote twisted fairy tales? As an aficionado of all things Grimm, I have a deep appreciation for Ms. Walker's twist on a familiar story in her seventh Grimm book, Blind Destiny. With a paranormal bent, Ms. Walker takes two strong-willed characters and molds them into the perfect pairing – one a long time coming.
I've never read any of Ms. Walker's Grimm titles, and I wasn't lost simply jumping in on book 7. I really like the fact that the titles can stand-alone, or (potentially) take a reader on a seek-and-find mission through the series. Blind Destiny was well-crafted, and the plot arc was steep enough that I kept wondering whether I was reading a novella for the first part of the book. Ya gotta love a story that starts moving from page 1. I was definitely happy to get a full length story of Luc & Sina goodness though!
Luc, our blind immortal and his partner for this 'mission', Sina – another immortal – weren't meeting for the first time. While they don't have a relationship-type history, we quickly learn that one of the parties was definitely interested in 'more'. The sexual tension began mounting as soon as Luc and Sina were in the same room. It. Never. Stopped. Snag a tall, cool drink and be ready for some beautiful, smokin', and WELL-WRITTEN sex scenes. Oh, and they weren't just sex. The emotional connection between the characters that I require as a reader was present and accounted for throughout the title. Ok. They didn't admit the connection right away. The omniscient perspective allowed us to rattle around in both Luc and Sina's heads, so we knew their trains-of-thought.
So. How 'bout the scary part of the story? I have been reading Stephen King since I was around 10 or 11 years old. Nothing scares me. I've pretty much read it all. However, Ms. Walker pitched a curve ball down the middle of home plate. With the converging of several people and spirits at the culmination of the rising action, I honestly wasn't sure exactly what was going to happen. I even found myself re-reading passages because I was trying to figure out the spirits and their relationship to the humans in the vicinity.
As the story of the old house unravels, we learn more about Sina, her history as a mortal, and more about her storytelling prowess. Most of the time, we find males as the tortured warriors. I'd have to honestly say that I felt that Sina was the one tortured in this title. With her history coming back to literally haunt her, as well as her memories of the past, Sina was definitely carrying the bulk of the Crappy Memories load during the course of Blind Destiny. Even though there was a crazy storm of holy $hit going down, Sina bore her burden with grace, style, and not even a hint of crazy beyotch.
Luc? He's a hawt blind dude that has some major fighting moves. You know the type. Hottt beyond measure. Makes ya drool simply thinking about him. I think Sina & Luc's boss said it all though: Sina is the one he wanted to do the job. Luc was along to keep Sina sane and focused. Mmmhmmm. Me likey.
Instead of wandering aimlessly through the stacks at the library, randomly flipping through an online bookstore catalogue, or otherwise acquiring reading material, pick up Blind Destiny. Who doesn't love a Snow White story?!?! … even if it's replete with a bunch of WTH!
VampBard’s Rating:
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Personal favorite - a must read (A+)
Purchase Info:
Wednesday, April 11, 2012
Review: A Hint of Frost
A Hint of Frost
Author: Hailey Edwards
Release Date: April 17, 2012
Publisher: Samhain Publishing
Araneae Nation, Book #1
ISBN: (ASIN) B0065TF8Q6
Genre: Fantasy/Paranormal Romance
Format(s): e-book
Book Source: Author
About the book:
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When the head of the Araneidae clan is found poisoned in her nest, her eldest daughter, Lourdes, becomes their clan’s new maven. If her clan is to survive, she has but one choice: she must marry before her nest is seized. All she needs is a warrior fierce enough to protect her city and safeguard her clansmen. Such a male is Rhys the Cold.
Born the youngest son of an impoverished maven, the only things Rhys has to his name are his sword and his mercenary reputation. His clan is starving, but their fondness for the flesh of fellow Araneaeans makes them unwelcome dinner guests. Torn between loyalty to his clan and fascination with his future bride, Rhys’s first taste of Lourdes threatens to melt the cold encasing his heart.
Amid the chaos of battle, Lourdes’s sister disappears and is feared captured. Lourdes and Rhys pursue their enemies into the southlands, where they discover an odd plague ravaging southern clans as it travels north, to Erania. Determined to survive, Lourdes will discover whether she’s worth her silk or if she’s spun the thread by which her clan will hang.
Warning: This book contains one mercenary hero with a biting fetish, one determined heroine who gets nibbled, and an answer to the age-old question, “What does dragon taste like?” Matricide and sibling rivalry are available upon request. The house special is revenge, best served cold.
What VampBard’s talking about:
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A Hint of Frost, the newest title in Ms. Edward's catalogue, begins the Aranea Nation series. Lots of great world-building going on in this title. If you're into conspiracy theories, dragons, and alternate universe beings, this is a series you'll want to get into from square one!
Spider people. Whoda thunk... I wasn't even the slightest bit creeped out, either! When Lourdes, the new 'Queen' of Araneidae learns of the death of her parents, she snaps into action. She seems to be one of those people that's able to compartmentalize and get done what needs doing. No matter what the cost is to herself. After all, she's the leader of her people, and she needs to do whatever she can to keep her clan safe. Doesn't matter if she's happy or not. When the Araneidae people were betrayed by the clan that swore to protect them, Lourdes didn't hesitate to align herself with another clan that would be able to keep her people safe. Lots of selfless acts. Little did Lourdes know, the man to which she was betrothed would worm his way into her heart from their first meeting.
Rhys, who has been promised by his mother to Lourdes in consideration for riches and armor, actually is a sweet guy. He's very protective of Lourdes, and does not pressure her for any reason. It's rather refreshing to read about a true gentleman that values his virtue as well as that of his lady. It was interesting to see his reactions as protector as intense as they were from the beginning of the story. The primal growling and biting was a bit erotic, and actually helped the reader see that the couple were becoming more and more entwined.
The rising action for A Hint of Frost appeared to be the search for Lourdes' sister, thought to have left the stronghold of the familial home in an effort to hide her involvement in her parents' death. Prior to the binding ceremony taking place toward the end of the story, her trial is held, and we don't see her consequences for her actions actually unfold during this title. During the hunt for Lourdes' sister, Rhys is injured and nearly dies. It is only because of the involvement of his home clan, and his cousin, that Rhys survives.
While we could see Lourdes and Rhys' sexual tension building throughout the story, it felt like the ending was little more than wham-bam-thank-you-ma'am. The actual consummation of their union, while they had both been emotionally tied to the other, fell to the final scene in the story. (Those reading the e-book edition will note that the last 10% deals with the physical act and excerpts from other titles – and not just those by Ms. Edwards.) I was hoping that there would be more to the story.
Overall, A Hint of Frost is a great title to what promises to be a great series by Ms. Edwards. I look forward to seeing where the next title leads us.
VampBard’s Rating:
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Liked it a lot - recommend (B+)
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