Release Date: 25/10/12
SYNOPSIS:
From the internationally bestselling author of BARED TO YOU (Crossfire trilogy), A HUNGER SO WILD is the second red-hot paranormal romance following the sizzling A TOUCH OF CRIMSON. If you fell for Gideon Cross, wait until you meet the men who really are out of this world...Elijah Reynolds is the most dominant of lycans, a rare Alpha whose skill for the hunt is surpassed only by his primal sexuality. When the lycans revolt against the iron fist of angelic rule, he steps in to command, becoming both enemy and coveted ally in the conflict between vampires and angels. Vashti is the second most powerful vampire in the world, a lethal beauty with a path of devastation in her wake. Tasked with proposing an alliance between vampires and the lycans who killed her mate, Vash approaches Elijah, whose need to avenge the loss of his closest friend calls for Vash's death even as his passion demands her surrender. Soon, their enmity erodes beneath an all-consuming desire. Elijah has never encountered a woman whose warrior spirit and fierce sexual appetite rivals his own, while Vash is faced with the one man strong enough to be her equal. But as war looms, each must decide where their loyalty lies - with their own kind or with the enemy lover they can no longer live without...
REVIEW:
If you love hot romance, sensual tension backed up with Vampires and Werewolves then you have to read this series by Sylvia Day which, on its second outing really has set things up to sizzle from start to finish. Throw into the mix perceived vengeance, an untested alliance and of course double dealing all wrapped up in a fast paced action piece and you only really touch the surface which when backed with cracking lead characters will set your heart alight as the tale unwinds.
Back this up with smouldering looks, hot romance and of course the discovery of the unknown and all in the reader is in for a treat. However the only warning I’m going to give you is don’t pick this book up without having read the first as otherwise a lot of the details may pass you by. All in a solid read if a little abrupt on the conclusion leaving the reader in the lurch and demanding more.
Release Date: 08/03/12
SYNOPSIS:
'My name is Sarah Dearly. Fledgling vampire and part-time bartender, at your service. Welcome to my highly disfunctional life.' Newly-vamped Sarah Dearly wants her normal life back, but fate is fighting against her. She tries to get a nice, regular job - and gets staked at the interview, only to be rescued by a masked vampire who calls himself the Red Devil. Then a wallflower-turned-witch curses her, making her a bloodthirsty, sun-allergic nightwalker - the worst vampire there is. As if all that weren't bad enough, she can't get married because her 600-year-old boyfriend Thierry is in a centuries-long marriage of convenience he can't escape. As Sarah's nightwalker tendencies make her more dangerous, even to those she loves, she'll have to counteract that curse, unmask the increasingly intriguing Red Devil, and - oh yeah ' get a commitment from her man. But if that's what it takes to secure her happiness, Sarah is ready ...even if it means embracing her inner vamp to do it.
REVIEW:
There are times when all I want is a different type of tale that gives me adventure with a touch of humour. In the Urban Fantasy genre for me that need is usually sorted by authors like Jim Butcher whose Harry Dresden series is a real guilty pleasure. Yet whilst I get a lot from that, he is a little sparse on the romance and for me, at times, as the Beatles once said “All you need is Love.”
To that end I decided to try Michelle Rowen’s Immortality Bites series and whilst this is the fourth book, I did enjoy what unravelled within the pages as I had a wonderful recap at the beginning that meant whilst I know I’ve missed a hell of a lot from the previous three books, Michelle has been kind enough to give a brief recap so that I can get down to the nitty gritty and enjoy what is to occur.
What happens within is a tale of chaos, a tale of love and of course a tale with the lead character finding new ways to not only get herself into trouble whilst trying to get out of some more, but presents a title that is not afraid to laugh at itself. Its bizarre and yet it allows readers to see that vampires are human too. Yes they are sexy, yes there’s the love story but at the end of the day despite certain physiological differences, it allows the reader to associate with them in so many different ways as to make this compulsory reading.
Add to this a quirky yet fun writing style and this book was a whole lot of fun as well as being something a little different for me to devour. Great fun.
Release Date: 24/11/11
SYNOPSIS:
The first in Heather Killough-Walden's fantastic new paranormal series, THE LOST ANGELS, features Uriel, the Angel of Vengeance
Four thousand years ago, four archangels were cast down to Earth in human form. God's favourites, they came to find their mates, the other half of their souls made only for them, without whom they will ever be complete.
Uriel, Gabriel, Azrael and Michael, however, were not alone. They were followed by another, determined to find the archesses for himself, and whose power cannot be underestimated. But after centuries of fruitless searching, the archangels - and their enemy - have all but given up hope.
Until one day beautiful and gifted Eleanore Granger crosses paths with Uriel, the Angel of Vengeance. And as a storm rages, outside forces conspire together, initiating an age old battle of good versus evil to win the first archess.
REVIEW:
I’m a reader that at times is a sucker for a good love story with solid action as well as outstanding characters, unfortunately this title wasn’t the one to bring it all together for me. Don’t get me wrong, the principle players were interesting, the premise decent and of course the arc was reasonable but altogether it didn’t quite feel like it gelled that well to keep my interest and as such took a few starts and stops to get through.
Whilst this book however wasn’t for me, I did end up reading it more to make not of the authors skills and they will appeal to a lot of reader out there, especially if they have a Romeo and Juliet fixation or love a lot of the mushier Urban Fantasy titles but personally, it felt dated as well as a novel that could have toughened up as it went through to add steel to its backbone for the modern reader. That said I will watch out for future releases by Heather and I hope that a future title is just right for me.
Release Date: 25/10/11
SYNOPSIS:
Nightwalkers dwell in the shadows; they live in a world where every night holds secrets. Hunted by magic, beset by evil, the Nightwalkers face their darkest hour yet. When the unthinkable happens, only one legendary male has the power and the will to save them: Adam.
From their first tantalising touch, Jasmine knows Adam is different. What other lover could unlock her tight control, and flood vampire senses jaded by a lifetime of decadent self indulgence?
Centuries ago, when he disappeared without a trace, she had given up hope of ever fulfilling the promise of incomparable passion. But here he is, against the very laws of nature, ready to bring down their most vicious enemy, ready to bring her blood to the boiling point . . . if she will only let him.
REVIEW:
To be honest with you the book blurb didn’t fill me with confidence that this would be a title for me, especially as I was dropping in on Book Six of the series but that said there were some interesting concepts and idea’s that were a lot of fun for me to explore as a reader. The lead character is one that will charm the reader in not only his old fashioned attitude but also as he has to learn how to cope with the world today from his old perspective and draw his own conclusions as he tries to marry his own prejudices with modern sensibilities.
It’s quirky, it has some real moments of tension and of course the love aspect works pretty well throughout (although at times a little overly sentimental for me personally.) Add to this a very well thought out plot, some cracking twists and of course something that will appeal to a broad spectrum of Urban Fantasy Romance readers. If the others in the series are constructed this well, I’ll have to look into them when time allows.
Release Date: 21/07/11
SYNOPSIS:
'This is where all stories start, on the edge of a dark wood...'
Ever since moving to Fairwick to take up a teaching post at the local college, Callie has been having vivid, erotic dreams about a man made out of moonlight and shadows. Dreams she begins to fear as well as anticipate...
She learns that her home – a Victorian cottage at the edge of a wood she bought on a whim – is supposedly haunted. And then her new – and rather strange – colleagues tell her a local legend about an incubus demon with a human past who was enchanted by a fairy queen...
REVIEW:
Having read Carol’s writing in the series she cowrites with husband Lee Slonimsky entitled Black Swan Trilogy, I was interested to see what she would come up with in a tale all of her own. It’s cleverly done and if you love Urban Fantasy Romance this title will give you all of that alongside a story of mystery, longing and discovery within this books pages. Add to this some twists as well as some neatly concealed sleight of hand and overall it’s a satisfactory title.
I look forward to seeing what else may arise from this series published by Ebury and will continue to enjoy this authors work for quite some time.
Release Date: 30/08/11
SYNOPSIS:
Charlotte Enright, owner of a small antiques shop called Looking Glass Antiques on Rainshadow Island, and Slade Attridge, the community's new chief of police, both have something in common: they possess strong paranormal talents. They met several years ago when they were in their teens spending the summer on the island. Slade saved Charlotte from a gang of drunken toughs, but then at the end of the summer Slade and Charlotte went their separate ways and started their adult lives. Now, fifteen years later, they have both been drawn back to Rainshadow Island. They will discover the adult passion they have for each other and start to explore some of the mysteries of the forbidden section of the island known only as the Preserve.
REVIEW:
Jayne Ann Krentz has to be one of the busiest writers in the genre as to a certain extent it feels that theres a new book out every few months, yet that said, they all have something different for the fans, whether it’s the lead characters or the plotline and something very dark and mysterious that attracts the reader to the series.
As usual, the adventure leads to romance, complications and new discoveries as the principle protagonist keeps takes series fans to the island of Rainshadow which many have yearned to visit. All in well written, cleverly plotted and a decent enough overall arc.
Release Date: 02/08/11
SYNOPSIS:
Hired gunslinger William Jessup Brady lived his life with one foot in the grave - until the day 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-Hunt ers, 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 with one belief: Dark-Hunters are the evil who prey on both their people and mankind, and they must all be destroyed. Brought together by an angry god and chased by ancient enemies out to kill them both, William and Abigail 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.
REVIEW:
The 20th novel in the Dark Hunter series and one that returns to some of the themes explored in the second as Sherrilyn returns to native American myths with her own special twist. The title is wonderfully creative, the characters outstanding and whilst they could have made their own way through on their own to a certain degree, the bonds between them make them almost unstoppable as an elder god or two will attest.
Add to this the wonderful spark of romance, great pace and break neck speed combat and overall it’s a title that will fulfil all the readers needs as this is a cracking addition to the series and one that I really had a hard time putting down. Great stuff.
Release Date: 04/08/11
SYNOPSIS:
Miss Kate Daltry doesn't believe in fairy tales ...or happily ever after. Forced by her stepmother to attend a ball, Kate meets a prince, and decides he's anything but charming. A clash of wits and wills ensues, but they both know their irresistible attraction will lead nowhere. For Gabriel is promised to another woman - a princess whose hand in marriage will fulfil his ruthless ambitions. Gabriel likes his fiancee, which is a welcome turn of events, but he doesn't love her, and knows, he should be wooing his bride-to-be, not the witty, impoverished beauty who refuses to fawn over him. Godmothers and glass slippers notwithstanding, this is one fairy tale in which destiny conspires to destroy any chance that Kate and Gabriel might have a happily ever after - unless one kiss at the stroke of midnight changes everything.
REVIEW:
In a world where we see the evil guy win way to often it’s always a blessing to be able to take a ride into the world of fantasy and relive some of the comforts of childhood where bad guys wear black, good will overcome evil and of course there is a moral to every story.
So it was with some trepidation that I decided to pick up this book by Eloisa James. Yes I’ve not read any of her titles before but I trust the publisher and if they think it’s a decent enough book to recommend to me I’m prepared to give it a go.
What unfurls is a modern interpretation of the Cinderella myth with a touch of deliciously twisted humour which allows the reader to disassociate with the modern world whilst engrossed. The concept is decent enough, the prose reasonable and when added to the pace it’s a title that goes through the motions to create a decent story. However, that said, the characters felt a little flat and two dimensional and a tale that should have been full of magic felt that it had a key ingredient to get the cauldron fizzling missing. All in, it was reasonable but without a decent lead character that I could associate with it left me flat to the compassion that such a story requires and whilst I kept hoping it would pick up my imagination was more piqued by some of the supporting cast over Kate which really is a great loss.
Release Date: 05/05/11
SYNOPSIS:
Half dragon, half woman, can she save her friend's soul - without losing her heart? Mercy Wilson is a reporter in the San Francisco Bay Area, but she's also more - and less - than human. Half woman, half air dragon, she's a 'draman' - unable to shift shape but still able to unleash fiery energy. Now something will put her powers to the test. Mercy's friend Rainey has enlisted her help to solve her sister's murder. Then a horrible accident claims Rainey's life, leaving Mercy only five days to find the killer. If Mercy fails, according to dragon law, Rainey's soul will be doomed to roam the earth for eternity. But how can Mercy help when she herself is a target? With nowhere else to turn, she must join forces with a sexy stranger - the mysterious man they call 'muerte', or death itself, who's as irresistible as he is treacherous. But can even Death keep Mercy alive for long enough to find her answers?
REVIEW:
Mercy Burns is the second outing in the Myth and Magic series that started with Destiny Kills. Whilst I haven’t read the original title in the series, I didn’t feel that I was alienated in any way and was able to connect with the tales principle heroine within the first few pages and whilst parts of this title may come across as a story of vengeance it’s a title about salvation as well as allowing characters to grow out of adversity and prejudices. It’s wonderfully written, it has great pace and with brings to the table a wonderful blend of paranormal romance alongside a good old fashioned crime novel. All in, this title is a satisfactory read and one that will have readers going through the emotional wringer along with the lead character as well as feeling rewarded by the titles conclusion in all its glory.
Release Date: 07/04/11
SYNOPSIS:
The prophecies were there but no one listened. Until now. They are the Lords of Deliverance and they have the power to usher in Doomsday . . . or prevent it.
His name is Ares, and the fate of mankind rests on his powerful shoulders. If he falls to the forces of evil, the world falls too. As one of the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse, he is far stronger than any mortal, but even he cannot fight his destiny forever. Not when his own brother plots against him.
Yet there is one last hope. Gifted in a way other humans can't - or won't - understand, Cara Thornhart is the key to both this Horseman's safety and his doom. But involving Cara will prove treacherous, even beyond the maddening, dangerous desire that seizes them the moment they meet. For staving off eternal darkness could have a staggering cost: Cara's life.
REVIEW:
I haven’t read Larissa’s writing before so whilst I know that she’d written the Daemonica series (currently five novels) I was a little apprehensive as I knew that this new release was set in the same world and a little worried that I’d be missing a lot of the world building and history.
Whilst it won’t go as in depth as a lot of new readers may want, it does give the reader enough of an understanding in order to enjoy the title as it unfurls. Whilst a lot of the current trend for the Urban Fantasy genre tends to work on the kickass aspect, there are a few that are working more for the paranormal romance and as such, it is this latter category to which this title fits. It is well written, the characters have flaws and boons that the readers will come to love and to be honest once I got into it (I felt the language was a little clunky to begin with) I had a great time.
The love aspect was beautifully worked into the overall thread, the prose was quiet poetic and the pace was carefully worked through to allow readers the chance to get to know the characters in the lulls. All in an interesting title to kick off a new series and one that will have me going back to pick up the Daemonica, especially as part of the thread at the beginning was revealed at the end of the previous.
