Paranormal Romance
Review: Shades of Midnight by Lara Adrian
Title: Shades of Midnight (Breeds, book )
Author: Lara Adrian
Release: March 2nd, 2010
Purchase this book: Amazon | Book Depository | Kindle Version
Goodreads Entry: here
Rating: 3 Stars
Sent from Boston on a mission to investigate the savage attacks and stop the slaughter, vampire warrior Kade has his own reasons for returning to the frigid, forbidding place of his birth. Haunted by a secret shame, Kade soon realizes the stunning truth of the threat he faces–a threat that will jeopardize the fragile bond he has formed with the courageous, determined young woman who arouses his deepest passions and most primal hungers. But in bringing Alex into his world of blood and darkness, Kade must confront both his own personal demons and the even greater evil that could destroy all he holds dear.
This may be one of the shortest reviews I ever write! The truth is, Shades of Midnight was just “ok” and I don’t have a lot to say about it.
Kade is a sexy Breed (aka alien vampire) warrior from the Order, an organization determined to keep humans safe from the knowledge and harm from the vampires that have gone rogue. He is sent to his home state of Alaska to investigate some brutal and suspicious human deaths. In Alaska he meets Alex, a woman with a frightening secret who finds herself in the middle of whatever is going on up there.
Unfortunately, I just didn’t latch on to Kade. He was sexy sure, but I was never invested in his character or his relationship with Alex. I felt like I “knew” him less than the previous Breeds featured in other books, as I have always seen him as a more secondary character. His unique talent was interesting, but not enough to really drag me into this story. Likewise, Alex was just “ok”. I didn’t love her and at a times I found her actions to be unlike her character and even bordering on the “too stupid to live” side.
The thing that I like about Lara Adrian’s Breed series, and the reason I will continue reading them, is the unique take on vampires. Her vamps are descendent of an alien race and very much alive. They are covered in ultra sexy dermaglyphs (tattoos) and growl and roar like my beloved shape-shifters.
Overall, Shades of Midnight is a mediocre installment to the Breed series. I wouldn’t pick this up as your first experience with Lara Adrian but if you are a fan of the series, I wouldn’t skip it.
Other Reviews:
FTC Disclaimer: This book was purchased by me
Review: Divine Misdemeanors by Laurell Hamilton
Good morning to all my fellow book loving friends! Today you are getting a double dose of my opinion, lucky you 
Below you can find my review for the newest book in the Meredith Gentry series and over at SmexyBooks you can catch my review of my very first historical romance read!
Title: Divine Misdemeanors (Merry Gentry, Book 
Author: Laurell K. Hamilton
Release: December 9th, 2009
Buy Kindle version: here
Goodreads Entry: here
Rating: 2 Stars
While I may have rejected the monarchy, I cannot abandon my people. Someone is killing the fey, which has left the LAPD baffled and my guardsmen and me deeply disturbed. My kind are not easily captured or killed. At least not by mortals. I must get to the bottom of these horrendous murders, even if that means going up against Gilda, the Fairy Godmother, my rival for fey loyalties in Los Angeles.
But even stranger things are happening. Mortals I once healed with magic are suddenly performing miracles, a shocking phenomenon wreaking havoc on human/faerie relations. Though I am innocent, dark suspicions of banned magical activities swirl around me.
I thought I’d left the blood and politics behind in my own turbulent realm. I had dreamed of an idyllic life in sunny L.A. with my beloved ones beside me. But it becomes time to wake up and realize that evil knows no borders, and that nobody lives forever—even if they’re magical.
I would like to say that I read this installment in the Merry Gentry series in 2 days because I enjoyed it, but the truth is… I read it because I am can’t stand to not finish a book or series I have started. Many times I was tempted to just toss it aside and give it a “Did Not Finish” tag. At first I wondered if I was set to not like this because I had followed along with Hamilton’s tweets and blog posts…. so I knew how fast this book was thrown together and how much she appear to dislike writing it. However much I wish this was the case, I don’t think it is.
Merry is a sidhe princess who has gathered a harem of men over the years, many of which I could do without. Doyle keeps me reading this series, he is oh so dark and yummy. Divine Misdemeanors picks up not long after book 7 leaves off. Merry is pregnant with twins, fathered by 6 of the men in her harem. She is now living in Los Angeles with a gathering of fey who have left the fairy mounds in St. Louis. She is back to working with the detective agency and we follow her as she is called in by the LAPD to help solve the case of a serial killer who is targeting fey.
I am not even sure where to start when discussing how bad this story is. The writing is awkward, the sex scenes drag on and are unexciting. Its almost like there is a script for Merry’s sex scenes that goes something like this:
~*~*~ Warning – below is my own writing, not a direct quote ~*~*~
He rose above me as his magically colored and surprisingly untangle-able hair swirled around us. His body was lean and tight, the part of him that is oh so male was large (note to self, each new man should be even bigger than the last). He pushed into me.
He found that spot and pumped while I watched him glide in and out. He brought me. I screamed my release and painted my orgasm on his skin
Seriously, “painted my orgasm on his skin” was used at least twice and it is a cheezy line to begin with. Secondly, no one orgasms as fast as Merry and surely not just from the sheer size of a man’s junk. Add that together with the this absolutely horrid line from one of Merry’s new men, “Not as tight as she was before I had my turn,” and I was rolling my eyes instead of needing a cold shower.
The serial killer plot of the book was weak. It felt like an afterthought, yet there was no real plot that took the forefront. There were only minor developments in the story of Merry and her men and most of the book felt like boring filler. Too often I found myself wondering why certain paragraphs or phrases were thrown in. There wasn’t even a scene with Merry and Doyle or Frost getting it on! How could there a Merry book without Doyle loving…..? Blasphemy.
Divine Misdemeanors was hugely disappointing. I am not even sure if my love of Doyle will have me picking up the next version. I am ashamed to say that I kind of wish Hamilton had ended the series with book 7, Swallowing Darkness. It was obvious that the series had to end or go in a new direction after Swallowing Darkness, but Divine Misdemeanors does nothing to encourage the reader that it is worth continuing on with.
Disclaimer: This book was purchased by me.
Review: Crossroads by Moira Rogers
Title: Crossroads (Southern Arcana, Book 2)
Author: Moira Rogers
Release: February 9th, 2010
Buy Kindle version: here
Goodreads Entry: here
Rating: 5 Stars
For Nicole Peyton, nothing is more important than escaping the stifling confines of elite shapeshifter society, an old-fashioned world where women are valued only for their bloodlines and bank accounts. In New Orleans, she has a bar she loves, friends she cares for, and a smoldering, unspoken tension with an unsuitable but incredibly attractive man.
Neither could predict how quickly forbidden longing would erupt into burning need, but Nick and Derek have more than themselves to think about when Nick’s sister arrives in the city with a shapeshifter strike team hard on her heels. The only way Nick can save her sister may be to play by the Conclave’s rules–but it will mean giving up the man she’s falling in love with, unless he’s willing to risk everything in a challenge that will shake the foundations of their world.
I feel like I should knock on wood or something. I have had a string of really great books and keep waiting for one to let me down! Crossroads continued my lucky trend of great books and exceeded my expectations. I am hereby declaring Moira Rogers my favorite discovery of 2009.
Nicole Peyton is a werewolf. She also happens to be heir to the very rich and powerful Alpha of the United States pack of werewolves. We first meet Nicole in book 1 of the series, Crux. What makes Nicole so endearing is that she doesn’t want the wealth and power that she has every right to. Instead she leaves the world of werewolf politics and runs a bar in New Orleans. She is trying desperately to live a life of normalcy, constantly turning away from her father’s goals of making her into a powerful female Alpha.
Derek Gabriel is a sexy beast. Derek was turned a werewolf, instead of being born one. As he tries to adjust to his new life he pushes Nicole away, even tho its obvious to all around them there is a connection between them. Thankfully the wolf comes to his senses not too far into the book and tries to claim what his inner wolf is telling him is HIS. Unluckily, on the verge of Nicole and Derek finding out what the future holds for them, Nicole’s twin sister shows up with danger following her.
I went into this story fully expecting Derek and Nick to fight their attraction for half the book, it seemed obvious considering how stubborn they seemed to be! I mean they had already ignored it for 2 years, what was a little more time?!? I was overjoyed to find out I was wrong. The chemistry between the two was sweltering and just too much to ignore. The next thing I knew we had werewolves having sex on the kitchen floor amongst a flurry of waffle batter. This book contains an intimate scene in the forest after a run, which has to be the hottest scene I have read in a very long time…. I had to read it twice. Then I noticed I had a big grin on my face and was blushing furiously. Derek and Nick are just so needy, so intense, so passionate – it is perfection.
One hand dropped to her ankle, and his large fingers encircled it easily. “Tell me to stop.”
She couldn’t. She wouldn’t. “No.”
Derek dragged her ankles apart and dropped to his knees between her legs. He tickled his fingers up her calves as he jerked his gaze to hers again. “Put your hands over your head.”
Sheer primal instinct drove her to obey.
Where Jackson’s southern charm in book 1, Crux, made my heart go pitter patter, Derek’s protective and passionate alpha manhood makes my toes curl.
I should probably point out there is much more to this book than just hot forest sex, lest I get sidetracked and find myself rereading all my bookmarked scenes, again. Crossroads has a complicated and engrossing plot that takes us deeper into werewolf politics. We learn so much more about the life Nicole and her sister have been subjected to along with the bond between them. Crossroads drags you into the characters lives and forces you to experience their passion, their happiness, but also their sadness and pain.
As if all of the above isn’t good enough for a 5 star review, Moira Rogers manages to add a little bit more to the story. Jackson and Mackenzie from Crux are still in the mix and have small parts in the book. We get glimpses of the brooding and sarcastic Alec, at least once in nothing but a pair of jeans (hopefully low slung ones). We are also given a new development in regards to Kat and Andrew, side characters from book 1. They step a bit closer to the front of the stage in Crossroads and I hear that Andrew will be getting his own book after Alec’s. Based on the events in this book, I am going to go ahead and lay claim to Andrew right now. He is mine and you can’t have him.
If you have not read Crux, I encourage you to do so immediately so that you can pick up Crossroads on the day it releases, February 9th. Trust me, you will not be sorry. I am going to leave you all with a small glimpse of my newest book boyfriend, Andrew.
Once Mackenzie had opened the door, she glanced at Nick. “Should I have Jackson bring Kat? Or is he going to pee on her leg or something crazy?”
“I’m not going to pee on anyone.” Andrew growled, and Mackenzie stepped aside and let him pass.
She rolled her eyes and followed, already dialing the phone.
FTC Disclaimer: This book was given to me by the author in exchange for a fair and honest review.
Review: Skin Game by Ava Gray
Title: Skin Game (Skin, Book 1)
Author: Ava Gray
Release: December 1st, 2009
Buy Kindle version: here
Goodreads Entry: here
Rating: 4.5 Stars
Kyra is a con woman and a particular kind of thief. She steals with a touch, but she only takes one thing: her target’s strongest skill. Which means she can be a fighter, an athlete, a musician, an artist—anything she wants… for a limited time. Heartbroken, she turns her gift toward avenging her father’s murder; with deadly patience, Kyra works her way into casino owner Gerard Serrano’s inner circle. After pulling off the ultimate con, she flees with his money and his pride.
A hit man who never misses the mark.
Reyes has nothing but his work. Pity for Kyra, he’s the best and mercy never sways him once he takes a job. He’s been hired to find out where Kyra hid the cash—and bring her back to face Serrano’s “justice.” Dead will do, if he can’t locate the loot. He’s never failed to complete a contract, but Kyra tempts him with her fierce heat and her outlaw heart. So Reyes has a hell of a choice: forsake his word or kill the woman he might love.
*Warning* I am totally going to quote a super smexy scene below.
Kyra is a woman on the run. Ever since she conned a wealthy dangerous man from Las Vegas she has been going from city to city conning locals with big egos, trying to stay ahead of the hit man she is sure that is on her tail. Kyra is unique, somehow she has the ability to steal a person’s talent with simply a touch of their skin. The talent or length it will last is never a sure thing, so she has to move fast and make a quick getaway.
Reyes is a hitman, with a sense of morality. He takes the job of tracking down Kyra and finding out where she put the mobster’s money, by whatever means necessary. He plans for everything job related, but the one thing he didn’t plan for was the instant attraction between him and his mark. The more he works to earn Kyra’s trust and find the mobster’s money, the closer he gets to her and the more complicated his job becomes.
One sentence could sum this entire book up…. Kyra and Reyes are HOT. My favorite scene is without a doubt the first time the two get to the smexing on page 23. Reyes is a man who likes to be in control and Kyra is a girl who likes to fight it. The chemistry between them is instant and we get a book filled with smoldering sexual tension!
“You’re not in charge, Kyra. try to tell me what to do again and I’ll stop. If you want to be completely in control, you should do it yourself.”
“Bastard. Maybe I will.” She reached between them, curled her fingers around his cock, and squeezed. “Who’s in charge now?”
His hips bucked. “You make me come like this, and you don’t get a hard cock inside you tonight. Let go.”
She levered up on an elbow, working her fingers along his length in an irresistible rhythm. “Make me.”
For as quickly as the two first do the “deed” and as much sensual tensions as there is in the book, I was worried the book would be all erotica with little plot. No need to worry tho, Ava Gray balanced a great romance with an equally great plot. Kyra and Reyes spend days/weeks on the run yet it is never boring because the interactions between them are so well done.
Skin Game is well paced thoroughly captivating to read. Not only are the main characters interesting, but the side characters do a great job supporting the story and creating interest. I can’t wait to find out more about Foster and what his story is. I am predicting he has something supernatural about him, but we won’t know for sure until book 2, Skin Tight, comes out.
Only one thing kept this book from being a 5 star read for me. I would have liked more knowledge or setting up of Kyra and her supernatural gift. Her ability is the only thing paranormal in this story and is just thrown out there as fact. There is no supernatural world building or background to base it off of at this point. I am hoping we get more in future books. On top of that Reyes accepted her ability easier than I would have thought. Yes, he had some reason to, but in a world that appears to be completely normal I expected a bit more disbelief.
All said in done, Skin Game is a hot, sexy, fun read. I will definitely be picking up Skin Tight when it releases in June, 2010. If you haven’t read Skin Game yet and would like…. stay tuned! I happen to have an extra copy and will be offering it up shortly!
FTC Disclaimer: This book was purchased by me.
Review: Soulless by Gail Carriger
Soulless (The Parasol Protectorate #1)
Gail Carriger
Release: October 1, 2009
Buy Kindle version: here
Goodreads Entry: here
Rating: 3.5 Stars
Alexia Tarabotti is laboring under a great many social tribulations. First, she has no soul. Second, she’s a spinster whose father is both Italian and dead. Third, she was rudely attacked by a vampire, breaking all standards of social etiquette.
Where to go from there? From bad to worse apparently, for Alexia accidentally kills the vampire — and then the appalling Lord Maccon (loud, messy, gorgeous, and werewolf) is sent by Queen Victoria to investigate.
With unexpected vampires appearing and expected vampires disappearing, everyone seems to believe Alexia responsible. Can she figure out what is actually happening to London’s high society? Will her soulless ability to negate supernatural powers prove useful or just plain embarrassing? Finally, who is the real enemy, and do they have treacle tart?
SOULLESS is a comedy of manners set in Victorian London: full of werewolves, vampires, dirigibles, and tea-drinking.
I have to admit I went into this book with some high expectations, some of my favorite people loved this book. Unfortunately, I did not find myself enamored with it, tho I did find some enjoyable qualities.
Soulless is about a woman, a spinster at the ripe age of mid twenties, who was born without a soul. This unique quality allows her to basically turn supernatural beings back into human (or close to it) with simply a touch. The story is set in past London and covers the mysterious disappearances of both vampires and werewolves. In addition to finding herself mixed up in the dangerous case of disappearances, Alexia has to deal with the annoying but sexy Lord Maccon.
I started reading this because it came so well recommended and because I convinced my local book group that they should give it a try. The first four chapters of this book were really hard for me to sit down with. I kept starting it only to put it down and then grudgingly pick it back up again. Once I got past the first four chapters and into the mystery of the plot it was a bit easier to sink into.
Redeeming qualities – the characters. I really enjoyed the sense of humor and personality that the author was able to give to all of the characters in this story. Both main characters and side characters were interesting and well fleshed out. I also really enjoyed the unusual properties of the supernatural beings, including the unique theories of being soulless.
As for what I didn’t like, I am honestly having a hard time finding a way to put it into words. At times the story seemed to drag on and at times it seemed to not be quite drawn out enough. The overuse of adjectives in the writing was distracting and I often found myself using the dictionary function on my Kindle. I don’t know if it was the time period or the “steampunkness” of it, but something just did not resonate with me and I wasn’t pulled in and fascinated. I do like the idea of the world, I think I just have a time picturing and relating to it.
In the end I did enjoy the plot even with guessing who the “bad guy” early on. I also enjoyed the characters and interactions between them. I don’t regret reading it and will be picking up book two to see if I fare any better with the world after more time with it. My only regret is convincing book club to read this one as their first venture into paranormal fiction.
Book 2 of the Parasol Protectorate Series, Changeless, will be released on March 30 2010.
FTC Disclaimer: This book was purchased by me.
A Game of Thrones (A Song of Ice and Fire, #1) by George R.R. Martin
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