Friday, April 30, 2010

Rhyannon Byrd-- "Touch of Seductimon" (Primal Instincts series)

synopsis:
Sold in to slavery as a child to a cruel taskmaster, tiger-shifter Aiden Shrader trusts no one. Not even his own kind. Yet as a member of the Watchmen--the organization of shape-shifters who keep watch over the ancient nonhuman races--Aiden is fiercely protective of the helpless. Never more so than when he's asked to guard a little girl with witch's blood--and her beautiful human aunt. A woman who arouses all of Aiden's primal urges....urges he must resist.
To small-town schoolteacher Olivia Harcourt, the massive tiger-shifter with the glowing amber eyes is as much a dark mystery as the enemy stalking her. Yet Aiden is her only hope of surviving. Until their intense passion unleashes her own inner tigress with a ferocity that will make the evil Casus rue the day they messed with her family...and will take Aiden by seductive surprise.


***This book is much more about Aiden than the battle with the Casus. There are some new enemies that are introduced in this installment, but for the most part it is about one women taming a tiger. I really enjoyed this story, this series comes in short 2-3 books at a time, not fast enough for me. But i patiently wait for the next one.

Sunday, April 25, 2010

Eileen Wilks-- "Mortal Sins" (Lupi series)

synopsis:
FBI agent Lily Yu is in North Carolina with her lover and mate, Rule Turner, Lu Nuncio of the Nokolai werewolf clan. He is there to take custody of his son from the boy's grandmother. It's a purely personal trip until Rule, in wolf form, finds three bodies in a shallow grave. They carry the stench of death magic, which makes the murders a federal crime. Lily takes charge of the investigation and soon realizes that nothing adds up, not the motives or the main suspect, who is behind bars when death strikes again. a more personal shock arrives in the form of Rule's son's mother. Why would she now challenge Rule's plan to bring his son to live among the Nokolai? But family matters must take a backseat when the violence escalates, and there's no rhyme or reason for the next strike, by a killer who may no even be of this world.....


***Will Rule and Lily ever catch a break? I have to admit that i put this book down 3 times before i finished it. It just didn't catch my attention until at least halfway. The appearance of Toby's mother, with her new husband, so she can get custody of Toby and give him a drug to stop him from "changing" was interesting. All the while, a spirit revived by blood magic is killing off innocent citizens of the town. I am becoming bored with this series, but i am not quite ready to give up yet...

Saturday, April 24, 2010

V. K. Forrest-- "Immortal"

synopsis:
Magnetic, fearless Fin Kahill has dedicated his life to ridding the world of its most vicious serial killers. Fin is used to roaming the earth freely, not getting stuck n sleepy Clare Point. But when the clan needs him close by, Fin agrees to take a summer job on the town's tiny police force. He expects little excitement, until he meets Elena, an ethereal Italian beauty. As Fin struggles against his feelings for Elena, the peace in Clare Point is shattered by the inexplicable murder of a tourist. The young man's throat has been cut, his body eerily posed. When the killer strikes again, Fin wonders if a member of his own clan is responsible. The only one he can turn to is Elena, but he knows that falling in love with a human can be deadly mistake. Yet just as Fin edges closer to solving the murders, he discovers Elena may not be exactly who, or what, she appears...


***Picked up this book on a whim at half-priced books. It was in the erotica section. It was neither erotic or very romantic. It is a very interesting twist on a vampire story. This "clan" was cursed by God to be vampires 15 centuries ago and were driven out of Ireland by slayers. They created this sleepy little tourist town, but overall it was a little boring. It is just a murder mystery where the murderer is a vampire, and i figured out who it was fairly quickly. Fin and his brother Regan are cute characters. But this is the third book in this series, and it does not interest me enough to read the first 2.

Sunday, April 18, 2010

Alexandra Ivy-- "Beyond the Darkness" (Guardians of Eternity series)

synopsis:
Salvatore Giuliani is not a happy werewolf. It's his duty as leader to track down the pureblood females who can keep his people from extinction. but the moment he catches scent of Harley, a pureblood held by a pack of many curs, his savage need for her obliterates all other instincts. And the only thing worse than being captured is finding that beautiful, independent Harley defiantly refuses to become his mate.
Harley has been taught to distrust all Weres, especially their arrogant king. She won't be used for breeding or bonded against her will, not even to a man who makes every nerve tingle with awareness. Yet Salvatore is her key to saving the family she never knew she had--if she dares to succumb to his dark, predatory desire, and face a vicious enemy sworn to destroy them both...

***In the previous installments, Salvatore has always been the bad guy, interested only in saving his species from extinction, no matter how he has to do it. He was a very unlikable character until this book, I guess finding your true mate can humble a man. And now we see a totally different side of Salvatore. I actually found that i liked him after this book, and Harley seems to be a perfect match for him. As the series moves along, the group increases and we get to see previous couples come back to the story. Even the funny Levet is still around, but seems to vanish shortly after the beginning. But the women won't let the men leave it at that, it seems they will be searching for him and Tane in the next book. And the vampires and werewolves must come together to defeat a common enemy to save the world from a demon lord trying to return from his realm...

I enjoyed this installment so much i read it in one day.

Patricia Briggs-- "Silver Borne" (Mercy Thompson series)

synopsis:
Mercy Thompson, car mechanic and shape-shifter, never knows what the day--or night--may bring in a world where "witches, vampires, werewolves, and shapeshifters live beside ordinary people". but she is about to learn that while some secrets are dangerous, those who seek them are just plain deadly...
Mercy is smart enough to realize that when it comes to the magical Fae, the less you know, the better. But you can't always get what you want. When she attempts to return a powerful Fae book she previously borrowed in an act of desperation, she finds the bookstore locked up and closed down. It seems the book contains secrets--and the Fae will do just about anything to keep it out of the wrong hands. And if that doesn't take enough of Mercy's attention, her friend Samuel is struggling with his wolf side--leaving Mercy to cover for him lest his own father declare Samuel's life forfeit.

***I have missed Mercy Thompson. And yes, Mercy seems to bring trouble with her no matter what she does. Not all goods deeds are simple, and sometimes, trouble just finds you no matter what. This story is less complicated than previous ones, and if you haven't read them all, you might not understand the path of the Fae book and why Mercy has it to begin with. And Adam and Mercy's relationship becomes closer and her place in the pack is complete. So start at the beginning. You will love these characters as much as i do, each one has a story, and i find myself attached to all of them. My only wish is that Briggs wrote faster, i can hardly wait for the next one.

Sunday, April 11, 2010

Lora Leigh-- "Lion's Heat" (Breed series)

synopsis:
Bad boy Jonas Wyatt's personal assistant. Rachel, has had a child, and innocent new life that has been put in grave danger because of Jonas's perilous games and calculations played in the shadow world in which he lives: the dark and sensual world of the Breeds. Now, Rachel is making only one demand of Jonas, that he finally take responsibility and deliver on the protection that only he can give.
Jonas has known for a long time that it is destiny that Rachel become his mate. He can sense it. He can also sense her reluctance. And for that, he refuses to claim her. He wants her on love alone and not because of the urge of the mating heat. But it is Jonas's destiny to claim her. And he will have his way....

***If you have never read any of the Breed series, don't start here, go back to the beginning. And if you are embarrassed by graphic sex scenes, this series is not for you. But even with the sexual component to this series, there is a story about a new race of humans fighting for their own place in this world. The story is moved along with Jonas finally coming to terms with himself and his issues with his biological parents. Rachel helps him find his peace so he can continue to protect Sanctuary and all the Breeds still alive. Jonas captures a key player in the Genetics council who claims he has "altered" his and Rachels daughter. If Jonas keeps him alive, he will tell him all he needs to know. As this series continues, we see alot of previous characters return and are updated on their lives as well. I really like the story that is being developed and have become attached to the characters in the Breed.

Sunday, April 4, 2010

Eileen Wilks-- "Night Season" (Lupi series)

synopsis:
Pregnancy has turned FBI Agent Cynna Weaver's whole life upside down. Lupus sorcerer Cullen Seabourne is thrilled to be a father, but what does Cynna know about kids? Her mother was a drunk and her father abandoned his family. Or so she always believed....
As Cynna is trying to wrap her head around this problem, a new one pops up in the form of a delegation from another realm. They want to take Cynna and Cullen back with them, to meet her long-lost father and find a mysterious medallion. But when these two born cynics land in a world where magic is common place and night never ends, their only way home lies in tracking down the missing medallion--one also sought by powerful beings who will do anything to claim it.

***As much as I like Cullen and Cynna, this story dragged for me. There just didn't seem to be that "spark" the first two stories had. The realm of Edge didn't flow well for me with all the other species names and politics that went along with them. But Gan found her purpose in life, and everyone survived. I wish Wilks had added Cullen and Cynna's wedding into this story, it is very cute, quirky, and would have been a nice touch. Go to Wilks website to read it. And even though i didn't "love" this story, i will keep reading the rest of the series. I like these characters as a whole to much to give up now.

Saturday, April 3, 2010

Eileen Wilks--"Blood Lines" (Lupi series)

synopsis:
Touch-sensitive FBI agent Lily Yu and her werewolf bond-mate are recruited by the Secret Service to help identify elected officials who have accepted demonic pacts. but Lily must turn to fellow agent Cynna Weaver for help when Cynna's former teacher, a demon master, emerges as the main suspect behind the pacts. After a demon commits a gruesome murder, sorcerer Cullen Seabourne joins the team racing the clock to find the apprentice of evil who uses demons to kill. Cynna and Culled must work together--a challenge indeed when each has good reason to ignore the desire simmering between them. But the passion and events both spiral out of control as an ancient prophecy is fulfilled--and the lupi's greatest enemy sets he sights on total devastation...

***I really like this series because it is not just a story full of random bouts of sex. Wilks is developing a story. I like the characters, and she keeps bringing new ones in, where the focus is no longer about Rule and Lily's mate bond, but about a team as a whole. And they all have real problems along with the "other worldly" ones they are brought together to fight. This book dragged a little for me, but not enough to give up on the series.

Eileen Wilks-- "Mortal Danger" (Lupi series)

synopsis:
Former homicide cop Lily Yu has a lot on her plate. There's her sister's wedding, a missing magical staff with unknown powers, and her grandmother's sudden decision to visit the old country just when Lily could use a little advice. Maybe she should turn to the man she's involved with, but for all the passion that flares between the, she doesn't really know Rule Turner. yet she's tied to him for life, both of them caught in an unbreakable mate bond. That Rule is a werewolf, a prince of his people, only complicates matters....
Now an agent in a special unit of the FBI's Magical Crimes Division. Lily's job is to hunt down Harlowe, a charismatic cult leader bent on bringing an ancient evil into the world. But what Lily doesn't realize is that Harlowe has set a trap--for her. And then the unthinkable happens.

***Gives a whole new meaning to "going thru hell". Just when Lily catches up to Harlowe, she is split in two and one half of her soul is dragged to hell with Rule in wolf form. Rule cannot change back because Hell doesn't have a moon. But they survive with the help of the demon that dragged them there. And the half of Lily that was left behind has to convince everyone that Rule is not dead and that they need to save him. Takes a team effort to open a door to hell and go on a rescue mission. It's an interesting path in the series, we pick up a couple of new characters along the way. The focus moves away from the "mate bond" and into the character and series development. Each new character that is introduced is quirky and charming and i am looking forward to the rest of the series.