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Showing posts with label Zebra Publishing. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Zebra Publishing. Show all posts
Friday, March 8, 2013
Review: The Chosen by Theresa Meyers
The Chosen
Author: Theresa Meyers
Release Date: March 5, 2013
Publisher: Zebra
The Legend Chronicles #3
ISBN: #978-1420121261
Genre: Paranormal Romance, Steampunk Western
Format(s): Paperback (352 pgs), e-book
Book Source: Publisher
About the book:
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Attorney by day, demon-hunter by night, Remington Jackson is used to being on the sunny side of the law, even in the Wild West. But it’s showdown time, and Remy and his brothers are getting desperate. They don’t have the relic they need to slam the door shut on evil—so Remy is going to have to find and steal part of it.
Enter China McGee, shapeshifter, thief, beauty, and current prisoner. When Remy offers her freedom in exchange for a little light-fingered help, she’s pretty sure she’s going to end the association with a good old-fashioned seductive double cross. But there’s something about fighting through a jungle full of Mayan ruins that makes you want to settle down together. China could change. Remy might be special. But none of that matters if the devil takes them all…
What I’m talking about:
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The Chosen is the third full-length story from Ms. Meyers’ paranormal romance, western steampunk trilogy, The Legend Chronicles. The series centers on the Jackson brothers, who together make up “the Chosen,” the three Darkin Hunters foretold in prophecy, who will collect and unite the three pieces of the mythical Book of Legend to prevent the coming of the creatures from Hell to end of the world. *phew* The first two books each focused on one of the Jackson brothers. In The Chosen, we follow the adventures of the middle brother, Remington, as he looks to find his piece of the missing Book. In addition, this book overlaps in time and content with the first two stories (all three books take place all at the same time). The difference between The Chosen and the first two books is that the story goes beyond finding of the missing pages, and focuses on the brothers’ attempts to reunite the book and stop the impending apocalypse.
The opening of The Chosen is a lot of fun and indicative of the tempo and feel of the series. Lawyer Remington is paired with unpredictable shifter China. Note: shifters are “shape shifters” and not “weres.” Stuck in jail after working with the youngest Jackson brother, China is reluctant to trust Remington. I love that confident Remington is tossed into jail when he tries to free China. However the pair make and exciting escape only to be attacked by some snake demons. The fast adventure makes for an engrossing read from the get go.
Along the way we learn that China has some very interesting and potentially deadly secrets. Since the story is told from shifting third-person POVs, the reader is privy to China’s true plans while accompanying Remington to find his section of the Book of Legend. (For the record, each set of pages can only be recovered by a team of both a Hunter and a Darkin.) Her secret is a doozy, and I was pretty baffled how she could come to love and crave affection and attention from someone so rotten (this is a spoiler-free comment about her life before meeting the Jackson brothers). Her motivation for wanting to betray Remington just felt a little off, and eventually, even China begins to realize the same thing. I love that we witness her path to self-realization, and I cheered out loud when she figured out that what she really wants is true and meaningful love, not approval.
I really liked China, and she is by far my favorite Darkin heroine from the trilogy. She is very confident and free. She doesn’t abide by anyone’s rules or constraints, giving her a strength that the previous heroines did not have. She is also insightful, with some of the best scenes in the book coming from her POV. She is feisty and a joy to read.
As for Remington, he is a blend of his younger and older brothers, yet a character onto himself. However, as China so adeptly observed, Remington tends to hide behind fancy clothes and big words. He’s lived that way for so long, he doesn’t know how to be himself sometimes.
The bulk of the book revolves around discovering the third section of the Book of Legend. The long journey affords China and Remington the opportunity to get to really know one another and of course, fall in love. Their unreleased passion and heat sizzles off the pages.
Once the couple find their section of the Book, all three brothers, together with their Darkin loves meet up with my favorite inventor, Marley (who has a wonderfully touching scene when he meets his daughter, Octavia). The group must figure out how to stop demon lord Rathe from opening a gateway to hell and begin armageddon. Other than one awkward scene involving China and the other two Darkin females, the end of the book flies by. It was exciting to have everyone working together.
In conclusion, China and Remy's story was enjoyably entertaining and my favorite of the trilogy. I admired that the pair were always on equal footing, and the trust they had to put into one another made for such a wonderful relationship. I also appreciated how their story concluded in a manner different that what the previous two couples had to overcome in order to be together. All-in-all a very fitting ending for the trilogy, with enough opening for future installments.
My Rating:
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Enjoyed - strongly recommend (A-)
Reviews in the Series:
Labels:
Friday, January 11, 2013
Review: My Lord Immortality by Alexandra Ivy
My Lord Immortality
Author: Alexandra Ivy
Release Date: Dec. 24, 2012 (reissue)
Publisher: Zebra
Immortal Rogues #3
ISBN: #978-1420128215
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Format(s): Paperback (224 pgs), e-book
Book Source: Publisher
About the book:
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Amelia Hadwell has no time for London's nightlife. Not when her beloved brother’s odd ways have their family threatening to institutionalize him. And not when she is questioning her own sanity after being confronted by a murderous shadow creature—then being saved by a captivating stranger, a man who belongs to a world she cannot imagine.
Reserved and scholarly, Sebastian St.Ives has been content without human desires—until they are reawakened by the delicate, brave Amelia, whom he is meant to protect. For the young woman has no idea she possesses the key to a ravenous vampire’s dark victory. Now Sebastian must shield her from both a killer and his own growing attraction—or bond with her completely, and forever...
What I’m talking about:
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Our story begins with a Prologue outlining the history of vampires in the world - and that the greatest vampire, Nefri, created a veil to hide their race from humans. This put an end to bloodlust and created a docile, intellectual vampire race. However, there are some that do not agree with Nefri’s rule and have entered the human world to recover the Medallion which gives Nefri her power. The primary antagonist, Drake, is one such vampire, and he hunts down Amelia, keeper of one-third of the Medallion.
My Lord Immortality is set in roughly Regency England, and has a definite historical feel. Amelia and her mentally/emotionally handicapped brother, William, live mostly on their own after their parents decided they’d rather not have anything to do with William. Unfortunately, women are being brutally murdered near their home, and William appears to be at the center of the investigation due to his childlike ways and misunderstood manner. This is where our hero, Sebastian St.Ives, comes in as Amelia’s protector. He was sent from the veil by Nefri to protect Amelia and her piece of the Medallion.
Before getting further in my review, I feel it necessary to note that it wasn’t until after I started reading My Lord Immortality, that I discovered 1) the book is a reissue, 2) it is the third story in a trilogy and 3) this trilogy is the precursor to a much larger, fuller series by Ms. Ivy. Knowing this, and having read this story, I would not recommend anyone pick up this book on its own merits. Although I had no trouble following along, and the plot could be read as a stand alone, I never felt any real attachment to the characters or the overall story. I feel that I would have probably enjoyed this more if I’d started the series with the first book.
The mythology created by Ms. Ivy is interesting. I like the idea that vampires have denied themselves pleasure for so long - it creates almost virginal hero-types. Sebastian is a gentleman, but also has cravings and needs once he meets Amelia. He is conflicted over his duties and his desires. This makes for good romance character-building.
However, I felt that Amelia was portrayed overly naive and as a stereotypically faint-hearted female. Although I admire that she bucked society to care for William, she seemed to undo her own courageousness over and over. Here is a perfect example, directly from Amelia’s point-of-view, "But despite the frantic urge to help, she was bound by a paralyzing fear." And even as Sebastian and Amelia confess their feelings for each other, Amelia comes across too childlike.
In addition, the portrayal of William was too simplistic. He is eighteen, and although clearly mentally and/or emotionally handicapped, he is able to only speak in single and two word phrases. This alone seemed over-the-top. However, he also cannot follow directions,which of course leads to many problems.
Overall, I was not overly impressed with My Lord Immortality. It's not the author's ability to tell a compelling story, but rather that this story felt dated and simplistic. As the third book in a prequel trilogy, I feel it should not be read as an individual title.
Also, there are holes in the story. First, William was framed for murder, and the book never addresses how or even if his name is cleared. I felt this was a huge problem, and due to this, I dropped my rating from 3 to 2.5 stars. Second, I felt that the story neglected to adequately demonstrate the romance between Amelia and Sebastian. Although they profess their love to each other, I feel that the reader is more told than shown the pair falling in love. Finally, unless I missed it, we are never told how Amelia will live forever… the fact that she is human and he is a vampire isn't addressed to a satisfying manner.
With that all said, My Lord Immortality is easy to read, and the premise and mythology behind the tale is strong. As I stated earlier, I think I would have enjoyed this more if I'd started with the first book.
My Rating:
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Finished it - take it or leave it (C)
Monday, January 7, 2013
Review: The Inventor by Theresa Meyers
The Inventor
Author: Theresa Meyers
Release Date: Dec. 24, 2012
Publisher: Zebra Books
The Legend Chronicles prequel
Genre: Paranormal Steampunk
Format(s): e-book
Book Source: Purchased with my own funds
About the book:
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Sir Marley Turlock doesn’t normally bother with flirtation. He’s an inventor, a scientist, not a gadabout. And the floor of the inaugural London Aeronautical Exhibition, just before he presents his groundbreaking new device to the Queen herself, is not the place to change his habits toward the fairer sex.
But Lady Persephone Hargrieve has her delicate fingers engaged in the innards of his device before Marley can catch his breath at her beauty. He’s never met a woman like her—a fiery intelligence to match his own, a genius for mechanics, and more secrets than he can guess.
Of course, Sephie’s secrets aren’t all innocuous tricks to make the gears spin smoother. It’s no coincidence that she’s turned up to investigate Marley’s machines—if they’re good enough, if he can be trusted enough, they might save the country. Even if along the way she ends up losing her heart…
What I’m talking about:
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For those of us that read The Legend Chronicles series by Theresa Meyers, we know and love grouchy ol’ Marley: genius inventor extraordinaire. He is friend to the Winn Brothers (the men of legend fighting the evil Darken), but lives alone. He has a mysterious past, one hinted full of lost love and sadness. So when Ms. Meyers shared with me (at AADNOLA) that she was telling Marley’s backstory in an upcoming novella, I was giddy! And a note to those that haven’t read the series, The Inventor is a prequel set several years before the beginning of the series and can be read at any time. There are no series spoilers in this novella.
The short story takes place in London, 1868, and opens with Marley working on his latest invention. He hopes to impress the Queen and be invited to join the prestigious Aeronautical Society of Great Britain. While stumped trying to work out a kink in his inventions, the lovely Lady Persephone Hargrieve sits down and starts tinkering (with his permission). Marley is immediately taken with Sephie and hopes to court her, even though she is daughter of Lord Hargrieve and above his station.
Lord Hargrieve is impressed with Marley and invites him to his home to discuss a project. It is here that Marley learns the true nature of Lord Hargrieve’s work: he fights the things that go bump in the night, the Darken. Marley is overcome with the knowledge that demons, vampires and other beings exist, and quickly becomes wrapped up in the dangerous life.
Overall, The Inventor is an enjoyable tale, a short story that gives a very small insight into Marley’s past. It is entertaining for both readers and new-comers to The Legend Chronicles. Marley is an amusing character, and I want to know more. His relationship with Sephie is sweet and romantic, and appropriately chaste for the setting.
However, the story left so much still unknown and unsaid, which was frustrating for me as someone who knows what becomes of Marley! If you read the series, you know that things go wrong at some point, and I had hoped this novella would have shared the entire story of Marley’s past.
With that said, The Inventor is a delightful tale centered on beginnings of a sweet love story. It can be read prior to reading the series, or at any time in between. Readers get a great taste of Marley’s gadgets and of what is to come.
My Rating:
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Enjoyed - strongly recommend (A-)
Reviews in the Series:
Wednesday, April 18, 2012
Review: The Slayer
The Slayer
Author: Theresa Meyers
Release Date: April 3, 2012
Publisher: Zebra
Legend Chronicles #2
ISBN: #978-1420121254
Genre: Paranormal Romance, Steampunk Western
Format(s): Paperback (352 pgs), e-book
Book Source: Publisher
About the book:
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Winn Jackson isn’t interested in hunting nightmares across the Wild West—even if it’s the family business. Unlike his rakehell brothers, Winn believes in rules. As sheriff of Bodie, California, he only shoots actual law breakers. That’s what he’s doing when he rescues the Contessa Drossenburg, Alexandra Porter, a lady with all the elegance of the Old World—grace, beauty and class. And then he sees her fangs.
Alexandra isn’t just some bloodsucking damsel in distress, though. She’s on a mission to save her people—and she’s dead certain that Winn’s family legacy is the only way. Luckily, aside from grace and class, she also has a stubborn streak a mile wide. So like it or not, Winn is going to come back with her to the mountains of Transylvania, and while he’s at it, change his opinions about vampires, demon-hunting, and who exactly deserves shooting. And if she has her way, he’s going to do his darnedest to save the world...
What I’m talking about:
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You have to love a book that starts out in the middle of a stage coach robbery. Taunting and name calling leads to four guns cocked and aimed at our hero, Winchester Jackson. And then all hell breaks loose when the an enchanting contessa climbs off the coach and proceeds to slaughter the entire gang of outlaws. The Slayer starts off with a bang and rarely slows down.
The Slayer is the second book in the Legend Chronicles trilogy, overlapping in content and time with the first book, The Hunter. Although you need not have read the first book in the series to enjoy The Slayer, a bit of background is helpful. The books are set in a steampunked version of the “wild west,” where it has been prophesied that the Jackson brothers are the Chosen who will bring together the three pieces of the lost Book of Legend and defeat the evil demon lord, Rathe.
This book follows the adventures of Winn, the eldest of the Jackson brothers, each trained as a Hunter (defenders of humans against the Darkin) and each with a bit of a chip on his shoulder. Winn has given up tracking down and hunting the paranormal and supernatural beings that roam the earth, but when the Contessa Alexa Drossenburg, a vampire, asks him for help, he finds it hard to say no. Winn finds that the pull of being a Hunter is too strong and agrees to help the vampires recover a piece of the Book of Legend (and brother Colt telling him to do so helps influence the decision).
I very much enjoyed The Slayer, even a bit more than the first book; there was less detailed world-building and more of an organic growth to the mythology and story. The action and tempo, which was fast-paced during the action scenes, but a bit slower during the inter-personal time, was entertaining.
The romance between Winn and Alexa (aka Tessa) was slow but smoldering. I felt the pace of their “courtship” was fitting as they took the time to learn more about each other. They are natural enemies - each having to learn to accept the other and that preconceived notions aren’t always true. Their mutual attraction is powerful, and while neither deny their attraction to the other, they each hope to keep it in check. They never forget who they are, but see uniqueness in the other-how the other is different from any (Darkin/Hunter) they've met before. And although it takes all book for them to finally consummate their relationship, the story is filled with sexy glances, simmering touches and smokin’ kisses. This is one of the wonderfully vivid examples:
"As she walked by, the tantalizing scent of sweet female filled his nose and the satin of her dress made the sounds of sheets moving on a bed."
I did feel that there were some inconsistencies with the Darkin and powers during the course of the story. For example, Tessa has the ability to dematerialize and reappear in another location. Yet in the middle of the story there were a few times where she unnecessarily puts herself at great risk by physically jumping from one place to another. In addition, I felt that the time pressure Winn and Tessa kept placing on themselves (Winn was counting off minutes as time slips away, yet they have a couple of weeks to “get the job done”) was a bit dramatic. While these things aren’t deal breakers, it did bother me enough that I made note of it a few times while reading.
I also wanted more from/with Rathe, the “bad guy.” His presence was more of an "assumed" one until the very end. I hope he has a bigger role in the final story. In addition, I am looking forward to seeing how some of the open-ended pieces conclude, especially those involving inventor friend, Marley.
Overall The Slayer is a delightful story. I loved that it fed directly from last book. The flow of the story was mostly spot on, and even when it did get a little slow, it wasn’t repetitive. I am most certainly looking forward to the next story (The Chosen, March 2013) to see how it will all wrap up.
My Rating:
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Liked it - recommend (B+)
Purchase Info:
Reviews of books in this series:
Thursday, November 3, 2011
Review: The Hunter
The HunterAuthor: Theresa Meyers
Release Date: Nov. 1, 2011
Publisher: Zebra
Legend Chronicles #1
ISBN: #978-1420121247
Genre: Paranormal Romance, Steampunk Western
Format(s): Paperback (352 pgs), e-book
Book Source: Author-I won an ARC as a prize at AAD Philly
About the book: |
Colt Jackson has gotten his name on many a wanted poster with success in the family business: hunting supernaturals across the frontier. Lately, though, there's a sulfur stink in the wind and the Darkin population is exploding. A rift in the worlds is appearing. To close it, Colt will have to do the unthinkable and work with a demon to pass arcane boundaries no human alone can cross.
Except when he summons his demon, he doesn't get some horned monstrosity: he gets a curvy redheaded succubus named Lilly, who's willing to make a bargain to become human again. He also gets Lilly's secret expertise on the machinations on the dark side of the rift. And her charm and cleverness help to get them out of what his silver-loaded pistol and mechanical horse can't. Of course, when all hell breaks loose, he might have to sacrifice his soul. But what's adventure without a little risk?
What I’m talking about: |
The Hunter is classified as a paranormal romance, steampunk western. With that said, let me translate: The story’s setting is a western - taking place during the late 1800’s on the planes of the wild west. The paranormal factor is strong and is the heart of the storyline. The steampunk attributes are more related to the props than the setting and way of life. Think Will Smith’s Wild Wild West with demons.
The story focuses on the youngest of the three Jackson brothers all raised to be Hunters - men and women that hunt down and kill the Darkin which torment the human world. Colt was told by his father long ago that someday the boys must collect and unite the three pieces of the mythical Book of Legend to prevent the coming of the creatures from Hell to end of the world. In his solitary journeys, Colt discovers a piece of the Book is hidden behind a door that only a demon can access.Enter Miss Lilly. A human-turned-succubus after making a deal with the evil demon lord, Rathe, to protect her sister, she makes a bargain with Colt to help him open the door. Although a Darkin, Lilly comes across more human than demon, and it makes me wonder how she survived the past 25 years as a succubus. At times I felt she was a bit too prim and proper to be a believable succubus. Also, I felt the use of her demon powers was not consistent throughout the book - sometimes flashing in an item to help them and at other times sitting back remaining “helpless.”
Together Colt and Lilly take on the challenge of finding the first section of the book. Both are instantly attracted to one another, but are cautious given their respective backgrounds and situations. Colt constantly questions if his growing need for Lilly is because of her demon powers, and Lilly doesn’t trust because of her father’s grifter ways.
At first I found their budding romance sweet. I adored that she refused to use her succubus powers, hoping to find out if Colt was really falling for her. I admired their baby steps forward and loved when they would give into a passionate kiss. However, after about three-quarters of reading this back and forth play, I grew a bit weary of the constant inner-monologue each had questioning his/her own feelings and the other’s motives. I felt that there was too much contemplation and not enough action.
The overall plot of reuniting the pieces of the Book is interesting and I like the mythology Ms. Meyers has fleshed out in The Hunter. The conclusion was adequate, but I was not completely satisfied with the actions Colt took to fulfill his promises to Lilly. Knowing that there are still two books in the series, I am okay that the details of her world aren’t rock solid or completely laid out in this first book - it leaves room to grow. However, I am a little disappointed that the steampunk factor wasn’t a bigger part of the story. Maybe it’s the engineer in me, but I wanted a larger integration of the devices and instruments - for the world to be reliant on the steampunk way of life.
All-in-all a good read and definitely worth picking up if you enjoy westerns and paranormal romances. I look forward to finding out where the story is headed and how the Jackson brothers will save the world. The next book, The Slayer, is due to release next April, and I will be looking for it in the stores.
My Rating: |
Liked it a lot - recommend (B+)
About the Author: |
Theresa is one of the featured authors attending Author’s After Dark in New Orleans. For more information about AAD2012, click HERE.
Raised by a bibliophile who made the dining room into a library, Theresa has always been a lover of books and stories. First a writer for newspapers, then for national magazines, she started her first novel in high school, eventually enrolling in a Writer's Digest course and putting the book under the bed until she joined Romance Writers of America in 1993. In 2005 she was selected as one of eleven finalists for the American Title II contest, the American Idol of books. She is married to the first man she ever went on a real date with (to their high school prom), who she knew was hero material when he suffered through having to let her parents drive, and her brother sit between them in the backseat of the car. They currently live in a Victorian house on a mini farm in the Pacific Northwest with their two children, three cats, an old chestnut Arabian gelding, an energetic mini-Aussie shepherd puppy, several rabbits, a dozen chickens and an out-of-control herb garden. You can find her online on Twitter, Facebook, at her Web site or blogging with the other Lolitas of STEAMED!.
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