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Showing posts with label Sourcebooks. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Sourcebooks. Show all posts
Thursday, July 18, 2013
Review: A Spy to Die For by Kris DeLake
A Spy to Die For
Author: Kris DeLake
Release Date: July 2, 2013
Publisher: Sourcebooks Casablanca
Assassins Guild Series #2
ISBN: #978-1402262852
Genre: Sci-fi Romance
Format(s): Paperback (320 pgs), e-book
Book Source: Publisher
About the book:
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Jack Hunter is a double agent. Skye Jones is a pirate...or is that just a cover? One thing is for sure—neither of them are competent assassins. Thrown together on the Krell space station during an important Assassins Guild meeting, each is determined to get to the truth and prevent catastrophe. But when Jack and Skye are matched against two master killers, they find themselves caught in the crosshairs between their willingness to trust each other and the undeniable attraction coursing through them. Both knows that a long-term relationship is tough in their profession, but the chemistry they've got is too good to deny. Now all they have to do is stay alive.
What Nima’s talking about:
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Kris DeLake is one of multiple pen names for multi-genre author Kristine Kathryn Rusch. Although it is the second book in the Assassins Guild Series, it does stand on its own as a single book read.
I felt the plot of A Spy to Die For was very weak. There is a single plot line which has a few periphery characters coming in and out of it, but we never leave the point of view of its two main characters, Sky and Jack. They are rival spies and they must decide if they should trust each other or not to survive and thwart and assassination plot. I wish I could say there were no spoilers there, but that’s the entire book in a nut shell. I wish there was more to review.
In lieu of the drama that could have been created by subplots, we get more sex. Was the sex good? Sure. Sweaty, playful, not overly graphic. Female-friendly. Overall, it is good—not bad, not great. It makes for a quick poolside read, but it was easy to put down and pick up again as was convenient. I was never compelled to get to the end or had to work at remembering where I was in the story.
Nima’s Rating:
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Liked it, but I had some issues (B)
Purchase Info:
Labels:
Monday, July 15, 2013
Review: The Outcast Prince by Shona Husk
The Outcast Prince
Author: Shona Husk
Release Date: July 2, 2013
Publisher: Sourcebooks
The Court of Annwyn #1
ISBN: #978-1402280160
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Format(s): Paperback (320 pgs), e-book
Book Source: Publisher
About the book:
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Caspian Mort can feel the history in anything he touches, a gift he inherited from his father, the Crown Prince of Annwyn. Devastated over his ex-wife's infidelity, Caspian has withdrawn from human contact except when working as an antiques dealer.
While assessing the contents of the historic Callaway House he encounters the beautiful Lydia Callaway and senses that her home is haunted by a banished fairy. But what does the dangerous exile want? Unbeknownst to Lydia, she's the owner of the last remaining portal to Annwyn—a mirror hidden somewhere in the house. To keep Lydia safe, Caspian will have to divulge the secrets of his heritage, and risk losing his heart again.
What G & U are talking about:
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This new Court of Annwyn series from Shona Husk is fascinating. Gikany and Una enjoyed the first series we read of hers, Shadowlands Trilogy, but this one is much more engaging. The Outcast Prince is a thrilling start on what will be a darkly political fae series.
Annwyn is the fairy realm. However, this paranormal romance is different from what we have read of “fae” novels in the past. Annwyn and our world are separate but tied. Unrest in Annwyn has rippling affects into ours. If the King and Queen are warring and there is unrest – plagues erupt in our world. It is thoroughly interesting how these two distinct worlds overlap and collide. For those in the real world, Annwyn is both heaven and hell. Although the fae can enter world, there are consequences if they stay too long – consequences that lead to death.
Lydia Callaway has inherited the Callaway house. The Callaways are a little notorious in their part of the world. Her grandmother, in order to save her home after her husband was killed in the war, turned the old plantation into a meeting place (for men and their mistresses). While the Callaways had been a name of respect and genteelness, it became associated with whispers of scandals and wild parties. Lydia, a public relations person, owns her own mortgage and doesn’t feel able to keep her grandmother’s plantation. She turns to Caspian Mort to handle the evaluation of her grandmother’s estate so she can decide whether she can afford to keep it or not.
Caspian is more than what he seems. He is the son of the Prince of Annwyn, born in the mortal world. Caspian is bound by the laws of Annwyn due to his lineage, but is also mortal trying to live in the world he has always known. Because of his ties to Annwyn, he is psychometric; he has the ability to touch objects and learn the history of them. This skill is what allows him to be successful at his antiquities job.
When Lydia and Caspian meet, there is an undeniable connection. Both have been hurt and stigmatized by their past experiences. Watching them as they stumble along from a working relationship to a romantic one is passionate and endearing. We enjoyed how their journey was woven into the adventure of finding the Window, a mirror that grants access into Annwyn – something a banished fairy would kill for. Caspian, with his ability to see the fae, knows something is after the mirror. He hopes to find the mirror before the Grey (the banished fairy) finds it.
The world is awesome. Gikany and Una loved the world that The Outcast Prince takes place in. The descriptions of Annwyn were both surreal and yet imaginable. Although this is the first book in this new series, we were confused at times at some “little” things. For example – a banished fairy can become a grey, Bogart, imp or brownie. It is by holding on to one or two particular things that causes them to change, they are: power, magic, appearance, stature. We tried to figure it out while writing the review, and we get them mixed up. Not that it is vital to the plot, but in easing us better into the world and its rules, a glossary might help.
One aspect that bothered us about The Outcast Prince was that although Caspian and Lydia were three-dimensional characters, Caspian was more thoroughly sketched out. Lydia, for being in public relations and having this somewhat demanding job, was home quite a bit. It felt a bit flat along with the relationship with her mother (who abandoned her). We found it odd that her mother was able to disappear, when she bore the Callaway name (or we assumed she did). The way her mother popped in and out during the will issues (well, not her but her lawyer) was a bit flat for us as well. However, they were not large of enough issues to distract us from the main overall story arc (nor the steaminess between Lydia and Caspian).
We look forward to learning more of the background of Shea and the Queen as well as the story between the King and Queen. Much seemed to center around their relationships in the big picture and yet we had so little back-story of them. Even if it is in novella format, we’d love to see and experience some of that back-story. It might even aid in cementing the world-building.
Although there are a few issues, overall we enjoyed The Outcast Prince, and eagerly look forward to the next novel in the Court of Annwyn series, Lord of the Hunt. If you are looking for something new in paranormal that centers on the fae, pick this series up, you might get lost in it!
Their Rating:
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Enjoyed - strongly recommend (A-)
Purchase Info:
Wednesday, June 26, 2013
Review: Smoking Hot by Karen Kelley
Smoking Hot
Author: Karen Kelley
Release Date: June 4, 2013
Publisher: Sourcebooks Casablanca
Good Girl series #3
ISBN: 978-1402263927
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Format(s): paperback (288 pgs), e-book
Book Source: Publisher
Note: according to GoodReads, this book also goes by the title Where There’s Heat
About the book:
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Everything She Wants...
Working the night shift at the sheriff's office has given deputy Raine McCandless more than enough time to fantasize about the kind of man she'd like to take prisoner, so when she arrives home to find a sexy intruder waiting for her, she's pretty sure she must be dreaming.
...Can and Will Be Held Against Her
But Dillon Taylor, with his stunning blue eyes and killer tan, is 100% real, just not 100% human. Half-man, half-angel, he'd love to answer every naughty prayer Raine has ever had. But Raine is in serious danger. And Dillon can only fulfill her every fantasy if he can keep her alive.
What VampBard’s talking about:
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Caveat: This is apparently the third title in Ms. Kelley’s Good Girl series. Had I know this prior to reading and writing this review, I may have viewed the title differently, or chosen to read the other two books prior to reading this one. I do that crazy kind of stuff. The information that this is in fact the third title in a series is not readily available via Amazon nor the author’s website, which is where I look for information about books. One shouldn’t have to look THAT hard to find this information, and it should be consistent across standard informational sites!
Smoking Hot by Karen Kelley was creatively told from the perspective of the leading lady, Raine. There was some pretty steamy scenes, as well. Dillon – OK. He was hot. The plot? Meh.
What I liked: Raine was a seriously flawed character. The way she was set-up as a character, she didn’t have a chance to be redeemed by the time the plot arc played out. I’m OK with that, though. I also liked the way Raine’s grandfather was involved, and he was hooking – up with someone. Go Gramps! Dillon – the one thing I liked about him was his smartarse-ness. This was a no-brainer read for me. I didn’t have to worry about keeping up with anything.
What I was ‘meh’ about: The plot. OK. This wasn’t about solving the bank heist AT. ALL. This was about ‘fixing’ Raine. I’m not cool with that. When it’s obvious to me that the main conflict in the story is taking a backseat to the character’s inner conflict, when in reality, they should be woven together seamlessly, it’s an issue. Dillon is ignoring his ‘rules’, and he knows the consequences. Mr. I-am-selfless-because-I-love-her was clearly pushing the limits with Raine and his boss. I felt that the characters were pretty flat.
What down-right confused me: It felt like there was a book or two that I missed. It would make sense that each of the nephilim would have their own book as they met their Daddy Dearests. If this is a stand-alone, I’m wondering what the purpose of introducing the sperm donors of the other nephilim that were Dillon’s ‘brothers’. Yes. That’s the kind of stuff that makes me go, “hmmm…”
I’m pretty take it or leave it with this title. I thought there was a lot of ground that could have been covered, and felt this title fell flat with a phenomenal concept potential.
VampBard’s Rating:
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Finished it - take it or leave it (C)
Purchase Info:
Friday, June 14, 2013
Review: The Magic of "I Do" by Tammy Falkner
The Magic of I Do
Author: Tammy Falkner
Release Date: June 4, 2013
Publisher: Sourcebooks
Regency Faery #2
ISBN: #978-1402268151
Genre: Historical/ Paranormal Romance
Format(s): Paperback (320 pgs), e-book
Book Source: Publisher
About the book:
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Claire Thorne is a faerie on a mission. When the governing body of her world puts a prohibition on magic, she escapes to the human world and straight into the arms of Lord Phineas Tremble. When he insists on being her crime-solving partner, she does everything she can to get rid of him—until she realizes his gift for smooth talking might come in handy when tracking down a killer. Before long, Finn has his hands full keeping Claire out of trouble, because the two of them together create more sparks than her faerie dust ever could...
What Una is talking about:
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I thoroughly enjoyed the first book in this Historical Paranormal Romance series, A Lady and her Magic. The second novel, The Magic of I Do, is just as fun and fluffy and was more even more engaging. I continue to enjoy this fresh Regency Faery series.
As we reenter this fascinating world of Regency Faery, we are better introduced to Sophia’s sister, Claire. While Sophia is stubborn, Claire in contrast will make Sophia look as if she lacks a backbone. Claire is delightfully hardheaded, sarcastically witty and carries a bit of a chip on her shoulder. She is having a very difficult time adjusting to the impact that Sophia’s romance and marriage to Ashley, the Duke of Robinsworth, had on the fae. Most notably the inclusion of her estranged/banished mother, father and her siblings (most who are not considered fae).
Finn, the Duke of Robinsworth’s brother, is a rake. He is the younger son, so he is a gentleman with no profession. Except, he enjoys solving mysteries, interestingly enough, and it seems it is something other members of the ton know. Finn seems to have a somewhat successful time of solving crimes, discretely which causes someone to seek his assistance in The Magic of I Do. However, as the novel begins Finn’s life was devastated when his long time mistress leaves him for a wealthier gentleman.
At the conclusion of A Lady and her Magic, Claire is entrusted into Finn’s care. As The Magic of I Do begins it seems that Claire and Finn are stoutly opposed to each other. However a bit of whiskey and relaxation create the catalyst for them to find themselves attracted. With the isolation they are experiencing at the time, they find themselves in an unplanned tryst. After their passionate encounter, Claire is shortly whisked away with the winds to be reunited with her family due to the death of her grandfather. While home, Claire discovers that her indiscretion with Finn may have a more serious consequence than the breaking one of the five Unpardonable Errors. But the changes occurring in her homeland and the reconciliation that her parents seek with her are too much for her to handle. Claire finds an old paintbrush from her childhood as she attempts to hide from her parents and nurse her anger. It seems Claire has an unusual talent for being able to step into paintings. In trying to runaway for a moment of solace, finds her back in the temptation of Finn and without her magic faerie dust.
While trapped for the time being as an almost human with Finn, she discovers Finn’s talent for solving mysteries and attempts to help him. Much to Finn’s chagrin, he discovers Claire trying to sneak around and spy on him. However, as much as Finn tries to protect Claire, she finds herself in the crosshairs of an evil man who is bent on painful retribution on Finn and Ashley. As the mystery heats up, so does the attraction between Finn and Claire – much as they remind themselves that they will not fall in love.
The Magic of I Do has many different parts. As I write this review there is so much that happens and yet the book is not as long as you think. It is just richly written with the right balance between passion (and some VERY steamy moments/interludes), the mystery and drama of the evil man and the resolution of the attraction between Finn and Claire. If you haven’t tried this series yet, I urge you, if it is your cup of tea, to pick it up. The Regency Faery series is a fun historical romance with a good dash of paranormal romance.
Una’s Rating:
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Enjoyed - strongly recommend (A-)
Purchase Info:
Reviews in the Series:
FOR A CHANCE TO WIN the first book in the series, A Lady and Her Magic, stop by the guest post from author Tammy Falkner, HERE.
Author Guest Post & Giveaway: Tammy Falkner
Today I have the honor of bringing to you paranormal/ historical romance author Tammy Falkner. As half of the Lydia Dare writing team, Tammy has co-written ten books, including A Certain Wolfish Charm and In the Heat of the Bite. A huge fan of Regency England, her regency paranormal series combines the magical elements of both mystical faeries and the glittering regency ton. Tammy lives on a farm in rural North Carolina with her husband and a house full of boys, a few dogs, and a cat or two. Visit her website, www.tammyfalkner.com, for more information.
Tammy is here today to talk about writing regency paranormals and tell us about her new release, The Magic of “I Do”. Keep reading for a chance to win a copy of A Lady and Her Magic (Book 1 in the regency faery series, directly preceding The Magic of “I Do”).
Please help me welcome Tammy back toThat’s What I’m Talking About.
When I started plotting my faerie books, I had already written vampyres and werewolves in the Regency period, writing as half of the Lydia Dare team. I started to think about what other beings might live and interact with the members of the ton. Believe it or not, I was out with friends and saw this adorable little garden gnome and I dreamed up Ronald, the menace of a garden gnome in my fae books, before I even began to think about faeries. I knew he was quirky, he wore a waistcoat and a cravat, and he was no more than two feet tall. He was also fiercely protective of the people he loved.
Now, who would interact with a garden gnome? Faeries! Yes, that’s how the faeries were born. Every fae family is assigned a garden gnome to take messages back and forth from the land of the fae and to generally oversee their well-being.
How do faeries interact with the lords and ladies of the ton? They are mission faeries, so they help the humans, particularly children, to find peace from things that would do them harm. They assimilate into households and do their magic. Then they leave and they go on another mission.
Then the question was – How could I keep my faeries and humans apart? So, I created the Unpardonable Errors, which make it impossible for a human to fall in love with a faerie. I love mixing historical and fantasy/paranormal. I get to have all the glittering balls, the lord and ladies of the ton, and I get to bend the rules of the Regency a little bit to suit my faeries. My heroines get to be witty and outside the social norm. They say things that are inappropriate, they don’t always know how to interact with Society, and they cause scandals at times, which is a tremendous amount of fun for me.
I am having a great time with my faeries, and I hope you do too. Just for you, here’s a sneak peek at The Magic of “I Do”...
A faerie without magic was about as useless as a carriage without a horse. If Claire Thorne had known that this would be her reward for trying to save her sister from the dangerous Duke of Robinsworth, she never would have gotten involved in her sister’s mission. She would have stayed at home. The land of the fae was so much more comfortable than the land where others resided.
Claire refused to look at her abductor. She refused to acknowledge his presence, although he did have her magic dust. It was in his pocket at that very moment. Despite the fact that she’d warned him it could explode in untrained hands, he’d taken it with no hint of hesitation. And now he refused to give it back. Claire lifted her chin and stared out the coach window. If anyone had told her a sennight ago that Lord Phineas would take her hostage, she would have laughed in his face. Yet here she was, at his mercy.
“Oh, blissful silence,” he said. He must have said it to himself, because he certainly couldn’t be talking to her.
“You really should return my dust to me before it does you harm.” She didn’t look at him as she talked. She continued to stare at the changing landscape. They’d left behind the bustle of Mayfair and were headed toward… nowhere, it appeared.
“And just what kind of harm might a little bottle of shimmer do to me?” He looked much too composed.
“It could explode and blow off an arm.” She finally turned to look toward him and found him grinning at her unrepentantly. That man had a smile that could stop a lady’s heart. Though it had no effect on hers. Well, almost no effect. His sparkling blue eyes made him look impertinent enough to annoy her to no end.
He held out his hand and appraised his arm with a critical eye. “I can live without an arm.” Lord Phineas swiped a lock of hair from his forehead and lowered his arm back to his side. He arched a golden brow at her as though taunting her to continue her threats. He hadn’t seen threats yet. Just wait until she turned him into a toad. Or a pig so that his outside could reflect his inside.
Claire let her gaze roam up and down his body slowly. “It might blow off something you use on occasion.” Her eyes stopped at his lap. He fidgeted in his seat. “It’s really quite volatile in the hands of the untrained.”
That wasn’t true. Not in the least little bit. But he didn’t need to know that. In his hands, the dust was useless. Just shimmery flecks of shiny things he didn’t understand. In her hands, however, it was quite useful. If she wasn’t afraid to commit one of the Unpardonable Errors—never use your magic to do harm—she would take a chance and wrest it from his possession. But if she had the dust in her hands right at that moment, she would use it to harm him. In a most satisfying way.
She forced herself into a casual shrug. “Take a chance. Blow off an appendage. Perhaps you’ll be lucky and it’ll be the smallest one. One you probably don’t get to use much.”
His smile vanished. “I can assure you there’s nothing small about my appendage.”
She grinned. “That’s not what she said…” She left the taunt dangling in the air. His face flushed. She must have touched a sore spot. But since he was holding her hostage, he deserved to be just as uncomfortable as she was.
***
How the devil could a faerie be aware of his problems with his mistress? Katherine had only left him a few weeks before. It wasn’t his fault that she’d spread a bit of a rumor about his prowess in the bedroom. One that was completely unfounded upon reality. He narrowed his eyes at Miss Thorne. “Are your people omniscient?”
She didn’t answer. She simply turned to look out the window again. Blast and damn. The woman was already driving him toward Bedlam and he’d only had her in his possession for a few hours. His brother, Robin, would owe him dearly for this. Very dearly.
The carriage hit a rut in the road and she bounced in her seat. She uttered a most unladylike oath as her head bumped the roof of the carriage. “Beg your pardon?” he asked. He cupped a hand around his ear. “I didn’t quite hear that.”
“If I’d meant for you to hear it, you would have heard it.” She adjusted her skirts, settling back more heavily against the squabs. The bounce had left her looking a bit disheveled, with a strawberry blond curl hanging across her forehead. She blew the lock of hair with an upturned breath.
She really was quite pretty if one could get over the shrewish behavior. Her body was tall and willowy, her limbs long and graceful. Her heartshaped face would probably be beautiful if she ever graced it with a smile.
“Just where are we going?” she asked. She still didn’t look at him. She gazed out the window with the countenance of someone who had the weight of the world upon her shoulders.
“My house in Bedfordshire.”
Her shoulders stiffened and then she exhaled deeply.
“And just what recommends such a place?”
“It has bars on the windows and heavy locks on the doors.” It didn’t. But she didn’t have to know that.
“It will take more than bars and windows to keep a faerie under lock and key.” She sniffed and raised her nose in the air.
“Then thank God there are ropes aplenty. I will tie you to my side if I must. I did promise Robin I’d take care of you.” That was a bit of a long and sordid tale, and he still didn’t understand the half of it. “Pray tell me how you people came to exist.”
She arched a delicate brow at him. “The same way you did.” Her face flushed scarlet. “Do you really need me to tell you about reproduction?”
Damn her hide. He didn’t need her to explain anything about reproduction. This lady knew how to jab him where it hurt, though. He would have to take great care with her. He grinned slowly and leaned forward. “Please do. If you’re lacking anything in the telling of how babes are made, I’ll fill in the blanks for you. Certainly, you have questions about it.”
“Should any pressing questions arise, I’ll be sure to let you know.” She looked back out the window. Damn, he hoped that Robin finished up his business soon so he could free the harpy.
“How long do you plan to keep me there?”
“As long as it takes for Robin to finish his business.” The sooner, the better.
“I’m certain he’s done by now. So we can turn around and go back to the city.” She looked quite pleased by that idea. A smile tipped her lips and the beauty of it nearly took Finn’s breath away.
“He’ll send word when he’s done. I’ll set you free not a moment before.”
She laughed lightly, and the sound raked over his skin like silky fingertips in the night. “Only an idiot would think he can keep a faerie confined.” She snorted lightly. It was a most unladylike noise, but he found himself biting back a grin at the sound.
Finn leaned over and looked out the window at the cloud-filled sky. If he couldn’t keep her confined, the inclement weather would. Unless he was mistaken, the snow would begin to fall before they reached their destination. Then she would be as confined by the elements as she was by him. Perhaps he wouldn’t have to tie her to him. He’d have to wait and see.
Tammy, once again thank you so much for taking the time to tell my readers a little bit about yourself and your writing.
GIVEAWAY: I have one (1) copy of A Lady and Her Magic by Tammy Falkner to giveaway here at That’s What I’m Talking About. Thank you to Sourcebooks for sponsoring the giveaway of Book 1 in Tammy’s regency faery series. To enter, please leave a comment answering the question “What your favorite fae / fairy related story?” Winners restricted to US and Canada mailing addresses. Contest open from June 14 until June 19, 2013 at 9:00 PM EDT. One (1) winner will be selected from the comment entries using random.org. Prize will be mailed to winner directly from publisher.
Monday, May 20, 2013
Review: A Highland Werewolf Wedding by Terry Spear
A Highland Werewolf Wedding
Author: Terry Spear
Release Date: May 7, 2013
Publisher: Sourcebooks
Heart of the Wolf #11
ISBN: #978-1402266836
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Format(s): Paperback (352 pgs), e-book
Book Source: NetGalley/ Publisher
About the book:
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On The Run...
After werewolves Elaine Hawthorn and Cearnach MacNeill almost have a head-on collision on a foggy Highland road, they're pretty well stuck with each other. It'll be hours before anyone can get there to pull his car out of the ditch and they both have better places to be.
And Nowhere to Hide From Each Other...
The sexy little American brings out all of Cearnach's big bag protective instincts. If she thought she was in trouble before, Elaine has no idea what kind of complications a hot Scot can cause...
What B is talking about:
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As a lone wolf, and an alpha, Elaine Hawthorn doesn’t need a mate to control her and tell her what to do. So, when the tough, Scottish gray wolf, whose minivan nearly hit her rental (but ended up in a ditch, instead), starts bossing her around, she’s not remotely amused. Well, maybe a just a bit. Even worse, they share a history only she seems to remember, and if he discovers who she is, and the reason for her visit to Scotland, she might lose her family’s hidden treasure before she can find it.
Cearnach MacNeill is a seasoned warrior, an alpha wolf in his own right, and second-in-command of his entire clan. He is respected and sometimes feared, and when the American she-wolf who ran him completely off the road defies him at every turn, he’s dumbfounded. And more than a little intrigued. But, something else is bothering him about the sexy brunette who can’t seem to stay away from him any more than he can her, and he won’t let her go until he knows exactly what that means for him and his family.
One thing that’s been true of every Heart of the Wolf novel I’ve read so far is that they’re fun stories, and this one’s no exception. Cearnach is everything you’d expect a “Highland Wolf” to be: he’s sexy, strong, won’t hesitate to defend his clan, and is charmingly arrogant enough to get his way most of the time. However, that’s what makes it so entertaining when Elaine, who’s also an alpha, insists on doing things her own way. It’s a common device in this series, but one that I never tire of. I thoroughly enjoyed watching Cearnach scrambling to regain his footing, and as a female wolf, Elaine is as tough as he is and knows exactly what she’s doing.
Another good thing about these shifters is that, although they resemble humans a lot of the time, their inner animal is always close to the surface. Their wolves govern them in most aspects of their lives, and there’s a wildness to them that adds to their allure. It also makes these wolves pleasantly frisky, and leads to some very sexy moments between Cearnach and Elaine. These wolves mate quickly and frequently, and the teasing they put each other through makes the sex itself even better. I especially like that, although they literally can’t conceal their desire for one another, Cearnach makes sure Elaine knows that winning her over is his highest priority, and that all the power in that aspect of their relationship belongs solely to her. He isn’t just aware that she’s in control; he wouldn’t have it any other way.
While A Highland Werewolf Wedding is primarily a romance, there is also plenty of action to keep the story moving at a steady pace. Ms. Spear includes plenty of chases and suspense, and although a happy ending is never really in doubt, there’s enough of a threat that it feels nice to root for the good guys.
Each novel in the Heart of the Wolf series can easily stand on its own without losing anything to a lack of familiarity with the previous stories. Ms. Spears’ wolves are heroic and stubborn, amusing and loving, and it’s a lot of fun to just follow along wherever the story leads. Elaine and Cearnach may be my favorite pairing to date, their indisputable chemistry and playfulness adding just the right amount of edginess to the story’s unapologetically romantic intent. I have loved all the MacNeill brothers so far, and since theirs is such a large clan, am hoping for more from them soon.
B’s Rating:
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Enjoyed - strongly recommend (A-)
Purchase Info:
Reviews in the Series:
Thursday, May 2, 2013
Review: Undone by Sara Humphreys
Undone
Author: Sara Humphreys
Release Date: May 7, 2013
Publisher: Sourcebooks
Amoveo Legend #4
ISBN: #978-1402258527
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Format(s): Paperback (288 pgs), e-book
Book Source: Publisher
About the book:
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Party girl Marianna Coltari is an unmated pureblood Amoveo who wants nothing to do with the ongoing war that took her father’s life and continues to consume her brother, Dante’s. But when she is targeted by one of the clans, she has little choice but to run and hide in a cabin with Pete Castro, a retired cop from her brother’s security firm. There, Pete and Marianna explore an intensifying attraction between them until danger is at the door and there’s no escape.
What G & U are talking about:
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The fourth novel in the Amoveo Legend series is Undone. There are a few surprises in store for those that have started the series from the beginning. Gikany and Una continue to enjoy this series, even though there are noticeable differences in store.
Undone begins a few months after the last novel Untamed ended with a cliffhanger. The council has been split; the Purists have created their own faction, taking most of the original council with them. Now, the Purists are actively seeking pure blooded Amoveos to join them, especially pure-blooded and unmated females.
Although the plot of the Purists is quite dark, Gikany and Una feel this series continues to be an “on-the-lighter-side” read. We were surprised by how elaborate and secure the Purist compound was, but it gives weight to them and shows that this faction has been growing for some time, waiting for the opportunity to reveal themselves. What is surprising is how stratified their group is, and we wonder how it will continue considering how Undone ends.
One of the great surprises in the novel is the existence of other “otherworldlies”. Gikany and Una have no recollection of vampires, demons, ghosts or the like being referred to in the previous novels. At the beginning of Undone, they are not introduced, but shown as fully integrated into the world. Our heroine, Marianna is hanging out at her friend’s club. Turns out, her friend, Olivia is a vampire and it is a club that caters to them. Suffice to say, it was a bit of culture shock for us, but we found the inclusion interesting. We especially loved Olivia and look forward to seeing her in the spin-off book, Tall, Dark, and Vampire. Equally adorable were the hellhounds – we wish we could adopt one.
One of the reasons we enjoy the Amoveo Legend series is the characters. We enjoy the varied characters and especially the personalities of the couples as they find their way to accepting their mates. In Undone, we have the chance to revisit with Kerry (heroine from Untouched) to see how she has grown into her ability and truly come into her own. She is a stronger and more independent woman because of her mating with Dante. However, Marianna and Pete had moments that rubbed us the wrong way. We felt there was an instant where Pete truly stepped over the line and was an overbearing caveman. What shocked us more is that Marianna goes along with it (not that she had much choice) but that Dante, her older brother, did not seem bothered by it. Now maybe there is a back-story (novella/excerpt short) there that we are missing. But although Pete and Marianna make a lovely couple, we felt there were moments when Pete needed a reality check. In the end, Pete and Marianna found the balance that all couples need and their reunion is touching.
If you are interested in a slightly different shifter mythology, give the Amoveo Legends series a try and hope you like Undone as much as we did.
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Liked it - recommend (B+)
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