Sunday, August 28, 2011

Elisabeth Naughton--Entwined (Eternal Guardians)

ZANDER — The most feared of all the Eternal Guardians. It’s rumored he can’t be killed, and he always fights like he has nothing to lose. But as a descendant of the famed hero Achilles, he’s got to have a vulnerability… somewhere. —

Forces of daemons are gathering and have broken through the barriers of the Underworld. Now more than ever the Eternal Guardians are needed to protect both their own realm and the humans’. Zander can’t afford to think about what might have been with the bewitching physician he once regarded as his soul mate. But with eternity stretching before him, he also can’t fathom spending his life without the one woman who makes him feel most alive. Perhaps he’s found his weakness, after all…

{4.5 stars}
This series just keeps getting better and better for me. I love the story as a whole, it is action packed with lots of characters. And Naughton writes with a great sense of humor. Zander and Callia have spent the last decade apart, and for all the wrong reasons. And because of the lies and manipulations of others, they have lost a lot. I don't want to give away any spoilers, so i will just say there are a lot of surprises in this one. And one whopper of a cliff-hanger at the end. Just like the first one, this was a one day read for me. I got swept up in the story and the action, and couldn't put the book down. This series reminds me alot of Kenyon's Dark Hunters. The Greek Mythology basis, the various Gods and Goddesses who pop in and out, and all the daemons who need slaughtering, plus the Misos colonies. There are a lot of similarities in the structure. Each book is about another Argonaut warrior, but really its about the strong women who save the warriors from themselves. I don't know how else to describe it, just give it a try. I was pleasantly surprised with the first one, and now I'm completely hooked with the second one. Already ordered the third one........

Elisabeth Naughton--Marked (Eternal Guardians)

THERON—Dark haired, duty bound and deceptively deadly. He’s the leader of the Argonauts, an elite group of guardians that defends the immortal realm from threats of the Underworld.

From the moment he walked into the club, Casey knew this guy was different. Men like that just didn’t exist in real life—silky shoulder-length hair, chest impossibly broad, and a predatory manner that just screamed dark and dangerous. He was looking for something. Her.
She was the one. She had the mark. Casey had to die so his kind could live, and it was Theron’s duty to bring her in. But even as a 200-year-old descendent of Hercules, he wasn’t strong enough to resist the pull in her fathomless eyes, to tear himself away from the heat of her body.
As war with the Underworld nears, someone will have to make the ultimate sacrifice.

{4 stars}
This book was a very pleasant surprise. I picked it up because of the Greek Mythology roots and I had never read anything about the Argonauts before. It was a little confusing at times because I didn't understand the world/back story of the Argonauts, but it all falls into place. Naughton fills you in as the story goes along.  And It takes off from the first page and doesn't stop. No slow downs, it just keeps going with action and intensity. I couldn't put it down, I had to know what was going to  happen to Casey and Theron. Theron is not your usual warrior, he has lots of emotions, some he's not used to having, and honor that makes his character one of my new favorites. Casey is swept up in a new world she knows nothing about, but much like her life so far, she seems to roll with each new thing with stubbornness and strength. Their love story is amazing, full of trials, danger, emotions, and a passion Naughton pulls off without falling into filling the pages with a lot of sex (not that i mind, but lots of teasing though!) We gets peeks at the other warriors in Theron's group, and I can't wait to see who's up next......

Friday, August 26, 2011

Adrian Phoenix--In the Blood (Book 2 of The Maker's Song)

DANTE LIVES. — Vampire. Rock star. Begotten son of the fallen angel Lucien. Dante Baptiste still struggles with nightmares and seizures, searching for the truth about his past. It is a quest as seductive as his kiss, as uncontrollable as his thirst, and as unforgiving as his determination to protect one mortal woman at any cost. — KNOWLEDGE KILLS.

FBI Special Agent Heather Wallace now knows the extent of the Bureau corruption that surrounds her, but worries she is losing the battle. And when Dante and his band Inferno come to Seattle on tour, Heather can't help but be drawn back to the beautiful, dangerous nightkind. But what Heather and Dante don't know is that new enemies lurk in the shadows, closer than they think... and even deadlier than they fear.

DESTINY UNFOLDS.

Shadowy government forces have pledged to eliminate all loose ends from Project Bad Seed -- and Heather and Dante are at the top of the list. Elsewhere, the Fallen gather in Gehenna, intent on finding their long-awaited savior, the True Blood nightkind whom Lucien DeNoir would die to protect. And a damaged and desperate adversary, with powers as strange and perilous as Dante's own, plots to use Dante as a pawn in a violent scheme for revenge. But only one of these lethal forces holds the key to Dante's past -- a key that could finally unlock the secret of his birth and the truth of his existence... or destroy him completely.


{4.5 stars}
This is not your typical vampire story, it is so much more than that. There are Fallen Angels, vampires, nightkind, and everything you ever read about them is flipped upside down and turned into a whole new world. I love it! I am absolutely in love with this series. I had mixed feelings with the first one. I liked it, thought it was too detailed, and I only focused on Heather and Dante. Boy was I wrong. The layers and details only add to their story, and actually put me right into the scene. The supporting characters are essential to Heather and Dante, and I love Von. At the end of the first book, Heather goes back to Seattle to get some space and gain some normalcy to her life. But she never stops thinking about Dante. Dante wants her away from him for her own protection, but he can't stay away from her. Dante is confused, in pain, and very much wants to understand his past and what he is. Their love affair is full of danger, drama, violence, but above all love. And I now understand Lucien's true place in Dante's life, I'm just hoping he survives his current predicament. The SB (shadow branch) and The Fallen add a whole new level of mess into this story and I can't wait to dive into the next one. Dante is a character that every woman wants to protect and fall in love with.

Friday, August 19, 2011

Deidre Knight--Red Kiss (Gods of Midnight novel)

Immortal warrior and Spartan slave River Kassandros has a special gift—the ability to transform into any weapon. But in a recent battle, he was trapped as a dagger, unable to become human again. His one hope of salvation is a mere mortal.… — When Emma Lowery beaches her kayak on an uninhabited island off the coast of Savannah, an ancient dagger seems to call out to her. Compelled by dark forces, Emma draws blood with his blade, freeing River. Now he's stronger, angrier—and exudes more sensuality than Emma can resist.

But a sinister power wants to claim River's destiny, and his precarious freedom. The pair must join the Spartan warriors to fight Ares himself. But can they face sacrificing their love to protect humankind from the war god's demonic plan?


{3.5 stars}
Slow started for me, It didn't really catch my attention until the second half of the book and then it took off. I don't really know what to say about this book. It was good, not great, a cute read for an afternoon. River & Emma's romance is cute in that "first love" kind of way. I was way more interested in Niko's story, it looks like it could be promising. Ari seems to have a path going into a future book based on the ending of this one. And I really would have liked to see River & Emma make a different decision at the end. A lot changes in this book and I like the series as a whole a lot more. Its not one I would rush out to buy or get on pre-order. But it is definitely on my wish list to keep reading.

Sunday, August 14, 2011

Jacquelyn Frank--Seduce me in Flames (A Three Worlds Novel)

ICY RECEPTION

Ambrea Vas Allay is the rightful heir to the throne of Allay. But when she is summoned home from exile, she discovers that her father, who had executed her mother, has died. Her young half-brother, controlled by their uncle, has taken power. Ambrea is torn by an impossible choice: renounce the crown or waste away in prison. The last thing she expects is to be liberated by a huge, tattooed Tarian—or to feel a searing passion for her mysterious rescuer.

SMOLDERING DECEPTION

Rush “Ender” Blakely loves being part of the elite force of the Interplanetary Militia and the mission to save the princess Allay. But the tough Tarian hides a fiery secret—a blazing power that makes him literally too hot to handle. He must be crazy to carry a torch for this strong, beautiful princess—when any intimacy between them is bound to be explosive.

BLAZING INSURRECTION

As Ambrea steels herself to take back the throne, does she dare entrust this scorching stranger with the fate of an empire—and, even more so, with her heart?

{3.5 stars}
I am always amazed at Franks imagination. Over and over she creates new worlds for her series. This is the second in the Three Worlds series, and not really my favorite. I was not sucked into it like the first. I did like it. I love Rush and Ambrea. But the back story of the Allay society dragged for me and I found myself skimming parts of the book with no dialogue towards the end. At first, I was anxious to get to the action I knew was coming. And Rush "Ender" was a character that intrigued me in the first book, I couldn't wait to read about him. Rush and Ambrea are perfect for each other, she just has to get him to get over his phobia. But she has the patience of a queen to guide her into getting what she wants. Usually its the male saving the female, but truthfully, I feel like Ambrea was the one saving Rush. We see glimpses of the IM team from the first book, and a few help Rush in this one. Still, I think it was the Allay world that I didn't connect with. I always connect with her characters, and will always pre-order her books.Which is why one slow one for me will never stop me from reading all her books. If you haven't read the first one, you have to start there so you understand the IM team.

Thursday, August 11, 2011

Shannon K. Butcher--Blood Hunt (Sentinel Wars)

Hope appeared out of nowhere, naked and alone, a woman without a past. The only thing she knows is that she is imbued with a strange power. It's in her blood. And two men want to posses it.

One is Logan, a Sanguinar demon-fighter who needs Hope's essence to survive. As a vampire, he's well equipped to find her a like-blooded mate whose progeny could sustain his race for generations. The other is Krag, a Synestryn lord whose desire is to enslave Hope, and drain her of the lifeforce. With it, he could control humanity forever.

When Hope and Logan both fall prey to Krag, a powerful desire grows between them. But is it enough to thwart their captor's diabolical plan and his demon warriors, and survive a vampire's destiny written in blood?

(3.5 stars}

I really love this series, it spins a whole new version of vampires and demons. So far we have learned alot about the Theronai and their destined mates, with new additions to the series with each new book. The Sanguinar's have been mostly in the background up until now, coming in to aide the Warriors when injured. They have secretly been working on "Project Lullaby", which will increase the population of "blooded" people, who will eventually feed the starving Sanguinar. Sounds wrong when you say it, but once you read the series and understand what's really going on, it all makes sense. Hope has landed in a whole lot of mess, and even though it is forbidden for a Sanguinar to become attached to someone who is destined for another. Logan can't let Hope go. Their story is charming, Hope definitely goes after what she wants. And she adds a whole new surprise to this series, her background, powers, and history are a new dynamic. I can't wait to see how this develops. We also get a glimpse at our previous characters to see how everyone is doing. Some are great, others are struggling. It is a fast paced series, multi layered, and moves really quickly from one scene to another where the action rarely stops. Start at the beginning with this series so you will know all the players and the path this series is going. You won't be disappointed.

Saturday, August 6, 2011

Sherrilyn Kenyon--Retribution (Dark hunter series)

Harm no human…

A hired gunslinger, William Jessup Brady lived his life with one foot in the grave. He believed that every life had a price. Until the day when he finally found a reason to live. In one single act of brutal betrayal, he lost everything, including his life. Brought back by a Greek goddess to be one of her Dark-Hunters, he gave his immortal soul for vengeance and swore he’d spend eternity protecting the humans he’d once considered prey. Orphaned as a toddler, Abigail Yager was taken in by a family of vampires and raised on one belief—Dark-Hunters are the evil who prey on both their people and mankind, and they must all be destroyed. While protecting her adoptive race, she has spent her life eliminating the Dark-Hunters and training for the day when she meeting the man who killed her family: Jess Brady.

A gun in the hand is worth two in the holster…

Jess has been charged with finding and terminating the creature who’s assassinating Dark-Hunters. The last thing he expects to find is a human face behind the killings, but when that face bears a striking resemblance to the one who murdered him centuries ago, he knows something evil is going on. He also knows he’s not the one who killed her parents. But Abigail refuses to believe the truth and is determined to see him dead once and for all.

Brought together by an angry god and chased by ancient enemies out to kill them both, they must find a way to overcome their mutual hatred or watch as one of the darkest of powers rises and kills both the races they’ve sworn to protect.

{4 stars}
Let me start by saying that I discovered Kenyon's Dark Hunters when I picked up Sin's story, and then immediately went to the book store for all the others. And even though I am familiar with the Vegas setting, this book was on a whole new playing field. We have a new pantheon of Native American ancestry, and more gods and spirits to learn about. I was confused in the beginning, and if it weren't for the established Dark Hunters popping into the story, i wouldn't have guessed it was a Dark Hunter novel. Once I let go of my stubbornness over my beloved New Orleans Dark Hunters, I really got into this story. Jess and Abby are a great couple, but the group as a whole was amazing. Sasha is absolutely hilarious and I want to take him home and keep him!! The Native American history is a little hard to follow at times, and after reading Kenyon's "authors note", I see why this is such a passionate topic for her. I appreciated it all the more. It is not my favorite of the series, but I did enjoy it. It's still a keeper for me.

As for the bonus scene, (spoiler alert) thank you Kenyon for giving us a much needed glimpse at Acheron. I have missed Simi so much!!! I can't wait to get to read about them again, and see what's planned for Ash's son........