Return to the Sea

Author: Rebecca Royce 

Release Date: Aug. 3, 2011

Publisher: Decadent

Genre: Paranormal Romance, Novella

Format(s): e-book

Book Source: Publisher

The clock is ticking for Laneigh. Banished from the ocean ten years earlier, Laneigh is shocked to discover all the Mer people living on dry land die within a decade of leaving the sea. With her life ending, she boards a cruise ship, intent on challenging the Mer who destroyed her life. She doesn't expect him to save her—but she has a request she is desperate he honor.

Hearing Laneigh’s name on the wind, Sylarus, son of the Mer king, is powerless to stop himself from seeing her. Defying his father’s edict, he rushes to meet the woman he’s desired his whole life. But when he learns of her impending death, something shifts deep inside Sylarus. He cannot—will not—let her die.

Sylarus and Laneigh face tremendous odds to be together. In the end, they will either change Mer society forever or perish in the attempt. Can true love forgive after a decade of betrayals?

The story opens with Laneigh standing on a cruise ship, looking out into the ocean depths, knowing that Sylarus is near. When she feels her former lover magically appear behind her, she dreads facing him to tell him what’s been going on for the past decade while she has been banished to dry land. Laneigh is a mermaid and Sylarus’s father, King of the Mer people, has forbid Laneigh to return to the sea. What Sylarus doesn’t know is that it is slowly killing Laneigh, and that Sylarus is a father of a ten-year-old girl.

The two share a past and blame one another for the current situation. However, they still find a way to get past all of the resentment and pain to sex it up “one last time.” Of course it’s been ten lonely years for both - each remaining celibate since their separation. Once they “get a room,” their unbridled passion ignites and raw emotions flood freely into the open.

Return to the Sea is an enjoyable, entertaining read. The book is fun in all the right places and sexy enough to make me blush a little. The first half of the story rocked! I loved reading about Laneigh and Sylarus’s reunion and watching them release their past to make way for the future. They both take chances and it pays off. 

However, once the pair returns to the sea with their newly transformed daughter, the story takes a turn. It isn’t bad, but I felt the political ramifications of what occurs and how it comes to be was a bit hokey and contrived. 

In the end, the novella-length story is a good one, and I recommend giving it a go. After all, it’s Mer people and it’s smexy!

Liked it, but I had some issues - recommend (B)

Return to the Sea

Magic Gifts

Author: Ilona Andrews 

Release Date: Dec. 25, 2011

Publisher: n/a

Kate Daniels #5.5

Genre: Urban Fantasy, novella

Format(s): e-book

Book Source: Author (A free ebook as a gift to her fans – only available for 2 weeks on her website)

NOTE: this story will be included as an extra in the upcoming Gunmetal Magic.

A dinner date after a hard day at work sounds heavenly. Of course, when that date is between the Beast Lord and Kate Daniels, things don’t go as planned. Before you know it, undead are running amok, heads are being chopped off, lawyers are deployed and used with extreme prejudice, and drunk vikings are calling people out.

Read at your own risk.

Magic Gifts is a wonderful present for Ilona Andrews’ fans.  It is a delightful tale that takes place during the next, highly anticipated novel, Gunmetal Magic: Andrea’s story.  If you haven’t read the series, the story will be neither as magical, nor witty and wonderful as if you have.  I seriously suggest you take up this series.  Ilona Andrews is a must-read author for me.  The Kate Daniels series is phenomenal and, as soon as I am able, I’m tying Gikany down so she has to read it.

In Magic Gifts, we get to glimpse behind the scenes as our beloved couple Kate and Curran try to have a date night that goes horribly, horribly wrong.  Their give-and-take, witty banter, and the intricate adventure they go on are fundamentally Kate and Curran. Long-time fans also get a glimpse into what is happening with Andrea, which is set-up for the next book. 

The series is a must read.  This story is a must read for Kate and Curran fans – but be warned, as poor Ms. Andrews has talked about on her blog, it is a self-published story and therefore should be treated as an advanced reader copy.  There are a few grammatical blips, but you should have NO trouble following along since you just KNOW what she is talking about!   Yes folks, she (well, they, it’s a husband and wife writing team) is just awesome!

Loved it - enthusiastically recommend (A)

Succubus, Interrupted

Author: Jill Myles 

Release Date: Nov. 2011

Publisher: by author

Succubus Diaries #3.5

Genre: Paranormal Romance, novella

Format(s): e-book

Book Source: Free read from Author 

Remy's a carefree, easygoing immortal...with a secret. She made a deal with her masters - in exchange for a hundred years of freedom, she'd give them a hundred years of servitude. Pretty sweet deal...until it's time to pay up. 

Now, she's about to become enslaved again, and it's up to Jackie to step in and save the day. But will Zane help her? Or will he be happier without Remy at Jackie's side?

This is a great little story for fan’s of Ms. Myles’ excellent Succubus Diaries. This is not a stand alone, so if you haven’t read this series, please start with the first book, Gentlemen Prefer Succubi (review HERE). 

When her BFF (and really, her only girl friend) Remy, has to turn herself over to her controlling, egotistical master for a hundred years of servitude, the normally (mostly) self-centered Jackie takes charge to free Remy.

I love seeing this side of Jackie: she is tough, determined and mad-as-hell. With her own life mostly in order, Jackie is a different gal - not a damsel in distress, but a heroine in her own right.  But the best part is seeing Zane *swoon* and Jackie together. Their love has blossomed without the stress of love triangle hanging over their heads. 

This short story is a must for fans of this fabulous series.

Enjoyed - strongly recommend (A-)

A Taste of Midnight

Author: Lara Adrian 

Release Date: Dec. 5, 2011

Publisher: Dell

Midnight Breed #9.5

ISBN: #978-0-345-53259

Genre: Paranormal Romance

Format(s): e-book (novella)

Book Source: Purchased with my own funds

A shimmering holiday gala lights up an ancient castle in the Scottish Highlands, but beautiful widowed Breedmate Danika MacConn feels alone in the crowd. Even among the friends and festivity of the Darkhaven celebration, she can’t forget her lost love, a fallen warrior of the Order. Her brief return to her mate’s homeland has become treacherous after rejecting the advances of a dangerous Edinburgh crime boss with a taste for blood sport.

As Danika seeks to expose the vampire and his dark trade, she discovers an unexpected ally in his forbidding, enigmatic henchman, Brannoc, a man who exudes heat, danger, and dark menace--and seems somehow achingly familiar. Bran has his own reasons for wanting to keep Dani out of his employer’s business . . . and his own secrets he means to keep buried. The last thing he needs is to get tangled up with a woman who tempts the wildest part of his Breed nature--especially when that woman is Danika MacConn, the one woman capable of bringing him to his knees.

Danika MacConn lost her life-long mate while he was serving the Order... a band of warriors who protect Breeds (vampires) and humans alike from the darker side of their kind. Danika left the Order's Boston compound to live a quiet life with her Breed infant son in her native land. While reconnecting with her mate's family, she overhears a dangerous Breed criminal planning to use humans for illegal and horrific purposes, and Dani cannot let it go. (Note: you do not need to have read the series to read this story, back knowledge of the characters is not necessary.)

I have to admit, I was a little upset with Danika when she purposefully walked into a known criminal's place of business after refusing to ask for outside help in bringing this criminal down.  As a mother, my first thoughts were "NO! you idiot, do you want to orphan your poor child? Don't be so stupid woman!" I got over that quickly, especially since it brings her into contact with Brannoc, and Dani realizes his true identity is a close childhood friend.

The fact that the pair were would-be lovers from long ago allows for an immediate and fiery passion to ignite. Their romance is not hampered by the shorter length of the story, and is enhanced when both acknowledge it is okay to move on after a mate dies. I could have done without the "I love you's" but in the end it didn't detract from their story.

There is a lot of action packed into this short story, which creates a "cannot set this book down" situation. I like that the storyline is self-contained, and there are no unanswered questions when the story is over.

For those fans of the wonderful Midnight Breed series, A Taste of Midnight is the perfect Christmas gift from Ms. Adrian. Not only does she give us a steamy taste of her Midnight Breeds, but she also includes an excerpt from Chase's book, Darker After Midnight. I highly recommend this enjoyable novella-length story for all paranormal romance readers - if you haven't tried this series, here is your chance to see what you've been missing. The story is a perfect capsule of the series flavor and Ms. Adrian's talent and writing style.

Enjoyed - strongly recommend (A-)