Tag: B

Review: Naked in Death by J. D. Robb

On By MikaelaIn Book Recommendations2 Comments

The Particulars:  Futuristic Romance,  Putnam,  available as e-book and in Print

The Source: Used copy ( Swedish edition)

The Grade: B

The Blurb:
It is the year 2058, and technology now completely rules the world. But New York City Detective Eve Dallas knows that the irresistible impulses of the human heart are still ruled by just one thing-passion.

When a senator’s daughter is killed, the secret life of prostitution she’d been leading is revealed. The high-profile case takes Lieutenant Eve Dallas into the rarefied circles of Washington politics and society. Further complicating matters is Eve’s growing attraction to Roarke, who is one of the wealthiest and most influential men on the planet, devilishly handsome… and the leading suspect in the investigation

The Review:

Naked in Death has been on my wish list for a while, and it was pure coincidence that I found a used copy at our cigarette store, since normally they mostly have old Harlequins.At first I hadn’t planned to review it, but then I remembered that the latest In Death book was out recently. So I decided it might be more people like me out there, that had considered starting reading the In Death series, but hadn’t made up their minds yet. Hopefully this review will help a bit.

 

This book takes place in 2058. J D Robb’s version of the future was dark and gritty. But it was also very believable. From the kinds of weapons they used, to the changes that had happened in the world, and how that had affected what was luxuries.

 

The murder mystery was intriguing. I liked to follow Eve and Feeley as they searched for clues, and I especially liked how Eve was determined to solve the case no matter what. The plot was filled with unexpected twists, yet they also managed to shed light on the society, and show that nothing had really changed.

 

The romance between Roarke and Eve was… interesting in several ways. I really liked how it gradually was revealed exactly how much they had in common, even if their lives were very different. But what I liked most, was how Eve changed through the story. At the beginning she was rather cold, and a loner but as the story went on, she mellowed and started to open up to Roarke .

 

What I really liked was how Eve’s history tied into the plot. It added an extra layer of emotion to the ending.

The biggest problem I had with this book was that it took me a long time before I warmed up to Eve. For the first 60 pages she was cold. But I am glad that I kept on reading, since the book improved after the beginning. Will I read the rest of the series? Maybe. But then I’ll probably buy them in English, since they only translated the first 3 books, and it is out of print.

 

 

 

Review: A Demon and His Witch by Eve Langlais

On By MikaelaIn Uncategorized
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The Blurb:

Burning alive is nothing compared to the heat of his touch.

Roasted at the stake as a witch, while her lover watches, Ysabel sells her soul to the devil in return for revenge. A fair trade until her ex-boyfriend escapes the bowels of Hell and she’s forced to team up with a demon to fetch the jerk back.

Remy’s seen a lot of things during his long tenure in Lucifer’s guard, but nothing can prepare him for the witch with the acerbic tongue–and voluptuous figure. Her mouth says ‘Screw you’, but her body screams ‘Take me’. What’s a poor demon to do when his heart makes things even more complicated by goading him to make her his, forever?

Before he can decide if his demonizing days are done though, he needs to catch the bad guys, save the girl and then find a way to convince her to love him and not kill him.

Welcome to Hell where you’re screwed if you do and damned if don’t. And just so you know, Lucifer’s got a special spot reserved for you…

The Review:

I read and liked Lucifer’s Daughter recently, so when this was offered for free at Allromance, I snapped it up. After reading it, I am glad I did. Even if this book was far from perfect, it was a fun romp.

Continue reading “Review: A Demon and His Witch by Eve Langlais” →

ARC Review: Diamond Dust by Vivian Arend

On By MikaelaIn Book Recommendations, Paranormal Romance, reviews

16118795The Particulars: Paranormal Romance, Samhain Publishing, available as e-book

The Grade: B

The Source: ARC from the Author

The Blurb:

She can’t shift, but she can shake their world.

Caroline Bradley is having one hell of a week. Her wolf lover has sniffed out his mate, making her an instant free agent. Not only that, Takhini territory has been overrun with aggressive bear-shifters electing a clan leader, and the wolf pack is feeling the effects—pushing her diplomatic skills to the limit.

Tyler Harrison is a grizzly on a mission. If he’s going to win the majority of the bears’ votes, he needs one final thing: a female companion. The only woman in town with influence over wolves, humans, and more bears than he’d like to admit, is Caroline.

Despite the sexual pull between them, though, Tyler’s not seeking a permanent relationship. And Caroline isn’t looking to be anyone else’s political pawn. But she should have remembered that when shifters are involved, changes happen in the blink of an eye.

Warning: Billionaire bear hero plus kick-ass human heroine equals a sexually volatile power struggle. Get ready for what might be the naughtiest game of tag that’s ever been played in the great outdoors.

 

The Review:

I love Vivian Arend’s Takhini Wolves novels, and I am really glad that I requested this ARC.

It was interesting to revisit Whitehorse, and see how the Takhini pack prepared for the Bears Convent. It was interesting to get to know the Bears, and see how they handled the politics.

This was Tyler and Caroline’s story, and I really enjoyed it. I loved the fact that bears doesn’t have insta-mates like the wolves does, and that have resulted in a tradition of arranged marriages. It was interesting to watch Caroline deal with the bears and their traditions. She is used to manipulating shifters, and got a spine. She needed it to deal with Tyler. Tyler was a bit arrogant, at times bordering on jerk. But he was also tender and protective toward Caroline.

It wasn’t a smooth romance. I loved to see how their world met and clashed in the beginning. Caroline is independent and used to deciding her own life. Tyler is used to giving orders. But I felt that they was a good match, and that they can bring change to the Bear society.

I really liked the other subplot that followed  the beginning of Evan’s romance with his mate. I think I know who his mate is, but I am not telling.

I had a bit trouble feeling that the romance built towards a HEA. Paradoxically, the source of that was  the interlude in the beginning was their wedding. Which removed a bit part of the feeling that they were building toward their HEA.

 

ARC Review: Heart Fortune by Robin D Owens

On By MikaelaIn Uncategorized

The Particu15985395lars: Paranormal Romance, Berkley, available in print and as e-book

The Source: ARC from the Auther

The Grade: B

The Blurb:

On the faraway planet Celta, there are some forces you cannot fight…

Jace Bayrum has always been a loner. Concerned more with getting an adrenaline fix and making money to live on his own, Jace cares little for family ties or matters of the heart. On the other hand Glyssa Licorice, Jace’s former fling and true mate, is both loving and loyal. She is determined to track down her HeartMate and have him claim her.

After hearing that Jace has been involved in an accident, Glyssa sets out to find him, departing for the excavation site of the lost starship Lugh’s Spear. Though her goal is to help Jace and finesse him into recognizing her as his mate, the excavation itself draws her in…

Thrust by fate into working side-by-side, Jace and Glyssa’s electric connection from years before sparks once more. She intrigues him, and Jace begins to realize that a HeartMate can make a difference. And one as magnetic as Glyssa could be exactly what he has been searching for

 The Review:

When Robin D Owens offered to send me an ARC of Heart Fortune as a thank you for helping her with the copy edits, I accepted.

Like all Celta novels, this was a well written novel, and for a nice change it didn’t take place in Druida. The camp setting felt believable. I really liked how there were a sense of community, and how they worked together to excavate Lugh’s Spear. But I also liked that not everyone was friends, that there were rivalry between different people.

Glyssa was born and raised in the city, but it was intresting to see how Glyssa gradually got used to life at camp, and the wilderness that surrounded it. I really liked Glyssa, and how she didn’t hesitate to stand her ground, yet she was willing to change to get a future with Jace. I also liked her with Lepid, her intrepid fox fam. And how he encouraged her to be more daring.

Jace on the other hand was used to living in camps, and to wander from job to job. I liked Jace. He had a sense of honor, and was determinded to keep his independence. This included having any relationships.  But his reluctance to form a relationship with Glyssa  made sense to me, since he had been scarred by his parents marriage.

The plot was well written. I liked that Glyssa and Jace’s romance moved slow, and that their relationship had its bumps. But I liked how they worked together to get over the bumps. And I really liked how the romance and the villain’s actions were connected.

Despite all the things I liked with the book, it wasn’t perfect. It missed that touch of angst that the best of Robin D Owens novels have.

Review: Heart of Obsidian by Nalini Singh

On By MikaelaIn Book Recommendations
WARNING: Contains mild spoilers ( the name of the hero and the heroine) 

The Particulars:  Paranormal Romance, Berkley, available as e-book and in Print

The Source:  The bookstore
The Grade: B
The blurb:

Step into New York Times bestseller Nalini Singh’s explosive and shockingly passionate Psy-Changeling world…

A dangerous, volatile rebel, hands stained bloodred.
A woman whose very existence has been erased.
A love story so dark, it may shatter the world itself.
A deadly price that must be paid.
The day of reckoning is here.

From “the alpha author of paranormal romance” (Booklist) comes the most highly anticipated novel of her career—one that blurs the line between madness and genius, between subjugation and liberation, between the living and the dead

The Review:

I snapped up a copy when my local bookstore by mistake started selling this book too early.  (I got a bit lucky, since they had computer issues, so they couldn’t see that the book had a hard street date 🙂 ) This  is an excellent addition to the Psy Changeling series.

The world of the Psy is crumbling in this book, and there were a lot at stake.The plot was fast paced, with  a deft mix of action and romance.   I couldn’t stop reading, as the book builds toward the final confrontation with Pure Psy.  There were times were I hated Pure Psy for the decisions they made, and the lines they crossed.  
Interwoven in this is the romance subplot.  It was exquisite.  From how Kaleb guided Sahara back out of her shell, to how Sahara started to rebuild her life.  What I liked was how Kaleb opened up with Sahara. And the things he revealed was heart wrenching.   I liked Sahara. She had a spine, which made me cheer for her. I also appreciated that she made her own path during the book. And her gift made me shiver, yet it made sense in a way. I loved how Kaleb and Sahara grounded each other, and created something that was whole from two flawed halves.

Maybe it was because I had been looking forward to this book for so long, but I had some trouble sink in to the story.  Because of that I had trouble connecting with Kaleb and Sahara. It is possibly that it partly stems from  my uncertainty if  they were too scarred to truly love at times. But when they got their HEA it felt right, and they had earned it..



 


Review: Prudence by Elizabeth Bailey

On By MikaelaIn Book Recommendations

The Particulars: Historical Romance, Harlequin Historical, avaible as e-book, out of print

The Source: The Bookshelf
The Grade: B-
The Blurb:
Would Her Tender Heart Lead Her Into His Arms?
No one was more aware of their position in life than governess Prudence Hursley. Fresh from the Paddington Charitable Seminary, softhearted Prue expected to see little of her new employer, Mr. Julius Rookham, and was prepared for a life of lonely independence.
However, Julius’s willful niece continually threw Prue into his path, and the more she got to know the dashing confirmed bachelor, the more she found herself wishing for the impossible. So when Julius began actively seeking out her company, she couldn’t help but wonder if perhaps dreams did come true….
The review:
Edit: I discovered that information at Goodreads was wrong, so I changed the title and cover.
This book is one of my favorite Regencies, but I hadn’t re-read it for awhile, so when I found it at my mum’s recently I decided to read it again.
And I am glad I did. This is a charming Regency without any dukes or earls, which was a nice change.
Most of the book took place at Rookham Hall, and it felt believable to me. I appreciated the tiny details, from the drab dress Prue wore, to the way the staff had their internal tensions.
But mostly, I enjoyed getting re-aquitanced with Prue and Joshua. Both of them were very down to earth, and happy with their lives ( mostly). I enjoyed reading about Prue’s adjustment to life in the Rookham household. From how she struggled with bouts of missing her friends, to how she started to get to know the rambunctious twins.
I enjoyed Prue and Joshua’s romance. It was sweet, and slow paced. What I liked was that both Prue and Joshua struggled with their growing feelings, although their reasons were different. But that made me like the book even more.
Despite all the things I liked about the book, it took awhile before it hooked me. Which might have been because I have read it before.

Review: The Hob’s bargain by Patricia Briggs

On By MikaelaIn Book Recommendations
The Particulars: Fantasy,  Ace, available in print and as e-book 
The Source:  The Bookshelf
The Grade: C+
The Blurb:
 To save her village from ruthless raiders, Aren of Fallbrook strikes a bargain with the Hob, a magical, humanlike creature imbued with the power of the mountains. But the Hob will exact a heavy price to defend the village–a price Aren herself must pay.
The Review:
I was in the mood for Patricia Briggs, so I decided to re-read this one.
It was nice to revisit Fallbrook. The world felt very believable. From how they focused on what was best for the village, to the contact they had with the rest of the world, to their fears and their prejudices. I liked how the villagers gradually became aware that not just magic, but other supernatural beings were stirring again. I loved how everything had a price, both when it comes to magic, and dealing with the supernatural.
It was intresting to follow Aren, and the rest of the villagers as they fought to save their village from the raiders and the wildlings. But, they also struggled with their prejudices and their reaction to magic and wildlings. I admired Aren for her courage. Both when it comes to daring to speak about her visions, despite knowing what the cost would be. But also when it comes to putting all the clues together, and strike a bargain with the Hob. In fact, it felt as if it wasn’t until then the story really, started. But it was fascinating to follow Caefawn and Aren as he taught her how to harness her gifts. At the same time, he courted her. I liked the fact that the romance between Caefawn and Aren was sweet. It fit the story.
In the end, it all come down a confrontation with the villain, and Aren stepped up. My heart almost broke at the sacrifice she made.

This is one of Patricia Briggs earlier books.  And it shows, the plot has its weak spots, the characters could do with a bit more fleshing out.  Still, it wasn’t bad, none of Patricia Briggs books are. But… I had troubles connecting with the characters.   Part of it was because I had read this story, many, many times :).
( On a side note: I prefer the old cover. Sure, the new cover is nice, but where is the hob?)

Review: Revelation by Lauren Dane

On By MikaelaIn Paranormal Romance
The Particulars:  Paranormal Romance,  Samhain Publishing, available in print and as e-book
The Source: Purchased at Books on Board
The Grade: B-
The Blurb:

He has the one thing she never thought she deserved. A place to belong…
At long last, Kendra Kellogg has found her sister—but she’s no closer to filling the gaps in her past. The magick that brought them together makes them targets for dark mages intent on finishing what started with their mother’s murder.
As if her life wasn’t chaotic enough, in barrels the one thing she doesn’t expect, Max de La Vega. He’s six-and-a-half-feet of cocoa-brown alpha male. He’s strong, intelligent, sexy and intense. Everything she’d wanted in a man. And he scares the hell out of her. Still healing from a disastrous past relationship, she wonders if she’ll ever have that kind of forever.
The next in line to run his jaguar jamboree, Max is unused to hearing “no”. Once he knows what he wants, he assumes he’ll get it. And he wants Kendra. She deserves happiness and it’s his mission to give it to her.
When dark mages attempt to steal her magickal energy, Max’s cat agrees with the man—Kendra is his to protect and he will stop at nothing to keep her safe. She can push him away as hard as she likes, he’s not going anywhere.


 The Review:
This is the second book in the De La Vegas series, and it is as good as the first book, Trinity.
It was intriguing to delve more into the world, and see how witches lived. From how they used magic, to how they struggled with change. I also liked to see how mages was affected by the magic they stole, and how they constantly was on the hunt for a new source to drain.
I liked Kendra, she had a streak of independence and sassyness that appealed to me. It was a hoot watching her and Max banter, and occasionally butt heads, as they took the first steps in their relationship.
The plot hooked me from the start. I liked how Kendra started to make a new life in Boston, at the same time as she connected with her sister. The plot twists took me by surprise, yet made sense. I I liked how several separate threads turned out to be connected. It was fascinating to watch Kendra struggle with her scars from the past, and at the same time take her place in the Jamboree.
So what I didn’t like. It felt like their romance happened so fast. I know they had know each other for a couple of months, but it felt like much shorter in the book.

The Source of Magic by Cate Rowan

On By MikaelaIn Uncategorized
 The Particulars:  Fantasy Romance,  indie, avaialble as e-book and in print 
The Source: Allromance
The Grade: B-
The Blurb:

When a gorgeous man clasps Jilian Stewart to his chest and yanks her from Scotland into a magical battle, she thinks it must be another of her bizarre dreams. Plagued by unnerving visions of this man, she’s sure they’re brought on by the stress of her mother’s deadly paralysis. Instead, Jilian finds herself ensnared in a world of fantasy, treachery, and family secrets, opposing the one man who can make everything right.
Prince Alvarr, her sexy abductor, offers a cure for her dying mother, but won’t send Jilian home with it until she helps him destroy the evil mage threatening his people—with mystical powers she never knew she had.

The Review:
This book has been on my wishlist since I bought Kismet’s Kiss. I never got around to buy it, until now. I am glad I bought it.
Teganne was an intriguing contrast to Kad, and it felt very believable. From the way the castle was described to the customs and traditions they had. I also liked the magic, and the fact that the Kyrra was limited. Once you burned it out, it was gone forever.
I liked Jillian and Alvarr. Jillian’s reaction to suddenly being in Teganne, and the struggle to adapt to it, and what it meant felt believable. Alvarr was honorable warrior, but I also liked that he struggled with keeping his country independent.
It was intriguing to follow Jillian’s and Alvarr’s romance. From the way they clash in the beginning, to how they gradually start to get to know each other. I liked how both of them had their own issues to work through, and how that caused additional problems between them. I also liked that they were ready to compromise with each other. The plot twists were unexpected, yet logical when they happened.
.
Despite all the things I liked with this novel, I never felt the desperation that Alvarr and Jillian felt.

Review: Lost in You by Lauren Dane

On By MikaelaIn Book Recommendations

The Particulars: Contemporary Romance, Samhain Publishing, available as e-book
The Source: Books on boards
The Grade: B
The Blurb:

It hasn’t been easy for Joe Harris to live down his not-so-honorable past, but the military made him a better man. He’s determined to make up for past mistakes, starting with coming home to care for his ailing father.
Things are going as planned until his best friend’s little sister comes barreling into his life. Funny, quick talking, smart, beautiful, she’s a temptation he tries—and fails—to resist.
When Beth Murphy hears Joe is back in town, she makes sure she’s the first on his welcoming committee. Though he tries to pretend he’s gruff and unworthy of her, she sees the man who spoils his dog, who touches her like she’s precious. Cherished. But there’s one wall she can’t break down—the truth about what’s happening at home.
On the night the nature of his father’s illness becomes painfully, publicly apparent, Joe does the right thing—push Beth as far away as possible. But if he thought she’d go away quietly, he’s about to learn she’s made of sterner stuff.

Tbe Review:
Lauren Dane is slowly becoming an autobuy author for me, at least when it comes to contemporary romance.
It was nice to revisit Petal, and the Murphy-Chase family. I loved how the Murphys have fought hard to crawl up from the hell hole they were born in. They have created a new, better life for themselves.
Beth and Joe was a touching couple. I liked that their romance wasn’t easy, and that they had their bumps. I loved that Beth knew exactly what she wanted, and didn’t hesitate in pursuing Joe. I liked Joe as well,even though he occasionally was a jerk.
I also appreciated how their romance wasn’t easy. They had their bumps, created by misunderstandings and Joe’s reluctance to reveal his father’s health issues. How Joe and his family struggled to keep it within the family, made sense. Often psychological problems are viewed as something to be ashamed of. But all their obstacles made their HEA so much sweeter, since they had fought hard for it.
Despite the many things that I liked with this book, the grade is pulled down by the headhopping. Most of the time I was able to ignore it, but there were times when it confused me.