Release Date: 31/10/14
Publisher: Piatkus
SYNOPSIS:
Three cousins inherit a gift that will transform their lives ...Iona Sheehan has just taken the biggest gamble of her life. Leaving her job, her home and her family in Baltimore, she has come to Ireland in search of adventure - and answers. Iona has always felt a powerful connection to the home of her ancestors. So when her beloved grandmother confesses an extraordinary family secret, she can't resist visiting County Mayo to discover the truth for herself. Arriving at the beautiful and atmospheric Castle Ashford, Iona is excited to meet her cousins, Connor and Branna O'Dwyer, for the first time. And when she lands a job at the local riding school she finds herself drawn against her will to its owner - the hot-tempered but charismatic Boyle McGrath. Perhaps in County Mayo she has found her true home at last. What Iona doesn't realise is that her cousins have been expecting her for a long time. Connor, Branna and Iona have all inherited a powerful but dangerous gift from an ancestor known as the Dark Witch. And they are about to discover that some old legends can return to haunt the present ...The first in a magical new trilogy, Dark Witch is a captivating story of love, family and destiny.
REVIEW:
I’ve not really read Nora Roberts before and to be honest I am always a little dubious when an author puts out quite a few titles in a year. So sitting down I wasn’t expecting too much out of this book and whilst the plot felt a little like an ABC of a formula that works, I did actually enjoy it.
County Mayo is brought to life with its ancient heritage, wonderful scenery alongside a haunting tale, yet having visited the County a few years ago I did end up wondering how much of the descriptive really added to the sequence from the author and how much of it was down to me knowing the area.
That said, the storyline was interesting, I liked the opening, a fair bit of the dialogue as well as the pace, yet for me, where this book really failed was with the principle character Iona who I felt I didn’t really know enough about or had a good enough grasp of her to really get behind the events that were effecting her life.
All round a mediocre book and whilst I had fun with it, there wasn’t much to stand out and shout read me to the average reader. Perhaps established fans will be a lot happier.
Release Date: 02/01/14
Publisher: Arrow Books
SYNOPSIS:
This is the stunning conclusion to Alma Katsu's gripping supernatural trilogy that began with The Taker. 'We had a tangled history, Adair and I. He had been my lover and my teacher, master to my slave. We had literally been prisoners to one another. Somewhere along the way he fell in love with me, but I was too afraid to love him in return. Afraid of his unexplainable powers, and his furious temper. Afraid of what I knew he was capable of and what even he himself didn't know he could do. I ran away to follow a safer path with a man I could understand. I always knew, however, that my path would one day lead back to Adair...'
REVIEW:
To be honest I can be a real sucker (no pun intended with this book) for an age old love story and this is what Alma has done wonderfully well within this, the third and final outing of the series. As with the previous two instalments, the story has a wonderful summation at the beginning (so if you haven’t done a reread prior to starting you don’t have to worry) and when added to the development of her principle players (along with excellent backstory flashes) makes this a book that is a “just one more chapter before bed” late night read.
It has solid prose, a wonderful turn of pace and when you add the scope embraced within alongside some cracking twits all round gives the reader a golden glow upon completion after the cast has seen the final curtain. It’s heart-breaking in places, jovial in others and takes you through a whole roller-coaster throughout that really was a joy to spend time with. All round a great book and thanks Alma for giving it redemption as well as emotional plucking to see it on its way.
Release Date: 20/11/12
SYNOPSIS:
The prophecies were there but no one listened. Until now. They are the Lords of Deliverance and they have the power to ward off Doomsday ...or let it ride. Jillian Cardiff came to this remote mountain town to forget the demon attack that almost killed her. Instead, she rescues - and falls for - a gorgeous stranger who has no memory of anything other than his name. Handsome, charming and protective, Reseph seems like the kind of man that Jillian can trust. But with hints of a troubling history of his own, he's also the kind of man that can be very dangerous ...Reseph may not know his background, or why he mysteriously appeared in Jillian's life, but he knows he wants to stay. Yet when Jillian's neighbours are killed and demon hunters arrive on the scene, Reseph fears that he's putting Jillian in danger. And once it's revealed that Reseph is also Pestilence, the Horseman responsible for ravaging the world with death and destruction, he and Jillian must face the greatest challenge of all: can they forget the horrors of a chilling past to save the future they both desire?
REVIEW:
If there’s one thing that tends to get on my nerves in Urban Fantasy Romance its characters that either are uniquely powered with no weaknesses or the other end of the spectrum where they’re all marshmallow with no backbone. So how do you find a happy medium?
Well for me, that’s what Larissa has managed to achieve in this tale, the latest in her Lords of Deliverance series as she brings hot, fan required sex scenes together with action and revelations discovered by the principle players Jillian Cardiff and Reseph who not only bond but make this a hard to put down book. Whilst not everything is solved within this outing with questions left requiring answers, it is a book that really delivers what readers of the series have been demanding with the only real complaint being the long wait for the next title. All in a cracking book and if you want something hot to slip between the sheets with for Christmas then give this book a go.
Release Date: 02/10/12
SYNOPSIS:
Return to the seductive world of Christine Feehan's New York Times bestselling Carpathian novels as roiling passions collide in a perfect storm of dangerous desire that only a precious few can hope to outrun ...Awakening after all this time in a world of absolute darkness and oppressive heat, Dax wonders in how many ways the world above must have changed. But it is how he has changed that fills him with dread and loathing. Buried alive for hundreds of years in a volcano in the Carpathian Mountains, Dax fears that he has become the full-fledged abomination that every Carpathian male fears, a victim of the insidious evil that has crept relentlessly into his mind and body over the centuries. But there are some things that never change. His name is Mitro, the vampire Dax had hunted all these long centuries. Second in command to the prince of the Carpathian people he is the epitome of everything malevolent, and perpetrator of one of the most shocking killing sprees known to man - and beast. Even his friends and family weren't safe from Mitro's bloodlust. Neither was Mitro's lifemate, Arabejila, an extraordinary woman with extraordinary gifts. But now that Dax has re-emerged, so too has Mitro. The ultimate battle between good and evil has been re-engaged. Between Dax and Mitro, a violent game has begun - one that has marked Riley Parker, the last descendent of Arabejila, as the reward.
REVIEW:
OK, I’m going to be blunt here, I’m not going to mince my words so if you like Christine’s writing you may want to stop reading right now. Still here? Well OK then, this book didn’t accomplish anything for me as a reader, the plot was convoluted and quite frankly repetitive and the characters basically 2d stereotypes. Do you want me to go on?
There was no history to help establish the characters in the readers mind, no real hook to want the reader to support let alone like them and when I turned the final page I was left wondering if this was a book that felt like it was more a title to cash in on the authors name rather than inspire and carry on the work that the series had already established. All in a great shame and if this form continues I will not be reading many more.
Release Date: 02/10/12
SYNOPSIS:
Rumour says the powerful Nicolai DeMarco can command the heavens, that the beasts below do his bidding ...and that he is doomed to destroy the woman he takes as wife. It is whispered he's not wholly human - as untamed as his tawny mane and slashing amber eyes. Impoverished aristocrat Isabella Vernaducci would defy death itself to rescue her imprisoned brother. She'll even brave the haunted, accursed lair of the lion - the menacing palace of legendary, lethal Don Nicolai DeMarco. Then Isabella meets a man whose growl is velvet, purring heat, and whose eyes hold dark, all-consuming desire. And when the don commands her to become his bride, she goes willingly into his muscled arms, praying she'll save his tortured soul ...and not sacrifice her life.
REVIEW:
Currently it feels like I’m more than a little down with Christines writing but I’m not, I approach each book on a new level and whilst I do expect some continuation for the books to fit in with what has gone before they have to stand on their own two feet. Here in this new Historical Paranormal title is a story that takes the reader on an adventure. There’s the usual passion, some solid dialogue that will keep you engaged but it was a story that felt like it could have been slashed quite a bit to keep it not only punchier but on track by keeping the pace at a level so that the reader didn’t have time to consider where it was going.
All in, whilst an interesting read, I’d have been happier had this book been a novella or even a short story that could have appeared in a compendium to give readers a flavour of what to expect from Christine’s writing. It does have some of her trademarks within and if readers fall in love with it, then I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend that they start with Christine’s earlier Dark Carpathian titles, however currently I’m starting to wonder if she hasn’t bitten off more than she can chew with her current schedules.
Release Date: 03/07/12
SYNOPSIS:
In an underground club, a high-ranking public official spends his secret nights indulging in fantasies as exciting as they are depraved. For a seductive employee of the Dungeon, it's her job to fulfill them. But she's playing a far more dangerous game - one of blackmail, politics and murder that reaches into the shadow world of the GhostWalkers, and the creation of a spectacular, one-of-a-kind new weapon of defense. But when a dictator makes his own catastrophic moves, the GhostWalkers have no choice but to bring in two major players - a man and woman both driven by passion and revenge. Both expendable. Both with nothing left to lose.
REVIEW:
I’ve been following this series for quite some time and to be honest I’ve loved watching how the various threads have evolved the characters as well as the series as they deal with each of the threats that have unfurled. What this latest story does is take the reader back to the beginning allowing the reader to learn more about Azami.
The story is full of adventure, has a great turn of pace and really draws the reader in, then for some reason it loses steam almost as if it was a novella extended past what the author planned. It felt like I’d been a little cheated as a reader and when a tale loses pace as well as plot twists its pretty much dead in the water. Sadly I felt a little flat by this title and hope that the next tale has more thoughts and pace added within.
Release Date: 02/02/12
SYNOPSIS:
His father unknown, his mother dead, Nicholas Roman was raised by the vampire Breed with one wish: to live as a normal vampire. But once he’s transformed against his will into a gifted immortal, Nicholas now has one goal: to stop the Eternal Order of vampires from controlling his life. Then comes a beautiful stranger with a startling secret . . .
Vampire Kate Everborne claims she’s sheltering Nicholas’s long lost son. If this is true, then who is the mother? And how endangered are they if, indeed, Nicholas does possess the bloodline so coveted by the Order? These are questions that with every seductive whisper and every silken touch draw Nicholas and Kate intimately closer, and nearer still to the truth.
REVIEW:
This is a bit of a strange book for me as I thought it was a debut alas that wasn’t the case and whilst I could read it without having read the first, I felt that I was left out in the cold with some of the back story coming through and hints to what has gone before so much so that I nearly didn’t finish it in disgust (this was the feeling about a quarter of the way through.)
However I persevered and as such was rewarded for my efforts with a lead character who not only grabbed my interest but also had many different levels so that there was something for all readers to latch onto. He was complex, he had many different angles and whilst the language was a little hard to take from time to time, It steps away from the cute fluffy bunny sparkly vampire image that is becoming all the rage these days. Nicolas is dangerous, he can handle himself and when you add his brothers into the mix, it’s a take no prisoners type of story. Add to this some pretty hard choices, a break neck pace and of course a love story and it’ll tick the boxes for most paranormal romance fans.
All of this said however please remember to pick up book one to avoid my error. Its entitled Eternal Hunger.
Release Date: 02/02/12
SYNOPSIS:
For Caillen Dagan, a defiant soldier of fortune, survival isn't a right: it's a brutal daily battle. Moving through the Ichidaian universe like a wraith, his brushes with the law and death are legendary. But when an act of rare heroism reveals his hidden birthright, he's forced into a world much more dangerous and cold-hearted than the bloody streets where he was raised - one of obscene wealth and lethal politics. Ferocious and determined, Desideria serves as an official bodyguard for her queen. Born of questionable genetics, she will do anything to prove herself worthy of the weapons she carries and the position she's won by combat. But when she uncovers a ruthless plot to assassinate the queen and overthrow her country's government, Desideria is caught in the crossfire. With assassination contracts out on both of them, Caillen and Desideria must learn to fight together or die alone. And if they fail, their governments will fall into the hands of an unimaginable evil.
REVIEW:
Sherrilyn returns to the “League” with this new outing following Caillen, a thief with a heart and of course fingers as light as a butterfly. He’s quirky, he has great strengths and I also like the vulnerability displayed within the text for him. Add to this a title that has solid action, good pace and of course plot twist after plot twist and you’d think that you’d be in for a whale of a time.
Sadly in this title, that’s not the case as the author feels the need to throw twist after twist in so much so that you don’t know which way is up and of course it starts to feel a little like a Escher piece of art. Don’t get me wrong a lot of the elements that a reader wants is there but the key points of a huge love story doesn’t quite hit the mark and some of the events within lead you to ask questions about whether the author (as well as a certain character) has had a change of heart about themselves. Hopefully all will become clear and whilst this is a reasonable title, it’s certainly not the authors best.
Release Date: 01/12/11
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. Sexy, powerful and immortal, Limos is on a crash course with destiny. She's been marked as Satan's bride and her jealous fiance wants her all to himself. The only way this Horseman can keep herself - and everyone else - safe is to keep her distance. But not even Limos can save herself from the secrets she's kept ...or resist the seductive allure of one very brave human. Arik Wagner knows the saying 'love hurts' better than most, yet he never thought stealing a kiss from Limos would land him in Hell. Literally. It takes all his military training to survive the demon torture, but once he's topside, Arik realises that the agony has just begun. With the Apocalypse looming and Satan demanding his bride, will Arik and Limos surrender to the desire smouldering between them? Or will giving in to their passion unleash hell on earth?
REVIEW:
The second book in the Lords of Deliverance series and one that continues to build upon Larissa’s success as an author as she continues to bring vulnerability, love and of course passion to the fore within her remarkable worlds. As with her previous work it is addictive, the characters have a real touch of humanity about them and whilst there’s a lot of the supernatural bounding around, it’s the human condition of the players concerned that keeps the reader glued from start to finish.
What makes this one really stand out for me is an old saying, “Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned.” Well lets rewrite that, Hell hath no fury like Satan scorned and that’s just for starters as our lead heroine goes against her upbringing, her world and all for the love of one man. Finally add to this an interesting perspective for the reader to follow, characters that you just can’t help but route for and of course all tied up in a fast paced identifiable writing style and the reader will be sated by the titles end. Cracking.
Release Date: 01/12/11
SYNOPSIS:
Lore is a Seminus half-breed demon who has been forced to act as his master's assassin. Now to earn his freedom and save his sister's life, he must complete one last kill. Powerful and ruthless, he'll stop at nothing to carry out this deadly mission. Idess is an earthbound angel with a wild side sworn to protect the human Lore is targeting. She's determined to thwart her wickedly handsome adversary by any means necessary - even if that means risking her vow of eternal chastity. But what begins as a simple seduction soon turns into a passion that leaves both angel and demon craving complete surrender. Torn between duty and desire, Lore and Idess must join forces as they battle their attraction for each other. Because an enemy from the past is rising again - one hell-bent on vengeance and unthinkable destruction.
REVIEW:
The fourth instalment and one that fans have been demanding for a little while now. Within these sumptuous pages is a rich story that takes the reader on a tale of danger, of temptation, mystery and above all else love as the two principle characters Lore and Idess undertake a mission against an enemy from the past.
It has great pace, the characters are identifiable and of course difficult to put down as the key characters sizzle against each other throughout. Finally add to this a story that will stay with the reader for quite some time, some of the errors within will be forgiven such as the annoying Sin (who returns in the next book as one of the main cast members.) Whether she’ll do well we’ll have to wait and see but so far this series has been one excellent book after another.
Release Date: 03/11/11
SYNOPSIS:
Forbidden Temptations. Fatal Desires. Serena Kelley is an archaeologist and treasure hunter - and a woman with a secret. Since she was seven, she's been a keeper of a powerful charm that grants her health and immortality ...as long as she stays a virgin. But Serena isn't all that innocent. And when a dangerously handsome stranger brings her to the brink of ecstasy, she wonders if she's finally met the one man she cannot resist. Wraith is a Seminus demon with a death wish. But when an old enemy poisons him, he must find Serena and persuade her to give him the only known antidote in the universe - her charm. Yet, as she begins to surrender to his seductions and Wraith senses the cure is within his grasp, he realises a horrible truth: he's falling for the woman whose life he must take in order to save his own.
REVIEW:
In the world of fiction it appears that all the good girls love a bad boy and in the case of this, the third book in the Demonica series that its completely true. For our sweetness and light heroine, Serena falls for Wrath, a demon with a man’s passions and desires with a touch of Cassandra’s prophecy for Hector worked in. It’s cleverly written, has some light hearted moments to break up the heart stopping tension and works extremely well for the reader provided you’re in the know on the additional glossary and events particular to this series.
Add to this Larissa’s no holds barred or prisoners taken and it’s a story that will stay with you for quite some time, especially when it comes to prompting the reader to reread to find some of the clues that Larissa’s sleight of hand may have covered whilst you were distracted on the first read through. All in, this was a lot of fun and a title I was pleased that I took the time to read.
Release Date: 30/08/11
SYNOPSIS:
Tayla Mancuso is a demon-slayer who hungers for sensual pleasure - but fears it will always be denied her. Until she lands in a hospital run by demons in disguise, and the head doctor, Eidolon, makes her body burn with unshakable desire. But to prove her ultimate loyalty to her peers, she must betray the surgeon who saved her life.Eidolon cannot resist this fiery, dangerous woman who fills him with both rage and passion. Not only is she his enemy, but she could very well be the hunter who has been preying upon his people. Torn between his need for the truth and his quest to find his perfect mate before a horrific transformation claims him forever, Eidolon will dare the unthinkable - and let Tayla possess him, body and soul . . .
REVIEW:
I tend to read a lot of Urban fantasy Romance titles from authors like Sherrilyn Kenyon, JR Ward and of course Christine Feehan to name a few, so I’m always apprehensive when I get a title from an author I’m not too familiar with. What Larissa has done is create a world where there’s something for fans of all paranormal races where the key ingredient is romance with dashes of danger, action and peril which makes this a pretty unique title in itself as it doesn’t like to stick to one particular race.
Finally add a revamp (if you’ll excuse the phrasing) of the cover and this title is set to enthral a whole host of readers who missed its original release as Pleasure Unbound rises like the proverbial phoenix set to inflame many a reader with passion for this spectacular author.
Release Date: 03/02/11
SYNOPSIS:
It's not green fingers that have kept the Empousai family's roses blooming for centuries - it's the drops of blood that their women secretly sacrifice for their gardens. But Mikki would rather forget this family quirk and lead a normal life. Until the day she unwittingly performs a ritual and ends up in the strangely familiar Realm of the Rose. As its goddess, Hecate, reveals to her, Mikki has the blood of a high priestess running through her veins. And the realm has been waiting for her ...In a long ago flash of temper, Hecate cursed her Guardian beast with a slumber that only her priestess can undo - and Hecate is counting on Mikki to set things right. At first the beast terrifies Mikki - but soon he intrigues her more than any man ever has. But the only way he and the realm can be saved is for Mikki to sacrifice her life-giving blood - and herself ...
REVIEW:
This for me is perhaps the strangest of the Goddess Summoning series to date as whilst in some way or form I’ve been able to connect to previous lead characters, here Mikki is not only detestable but difficult to get a handle upon, she’s a woman of contradictions and with her choices following no discernable pattern made her easily the hardest choice for a female lead that PC has done to date.
Not that I’m saying it’s a bad thing but when I cannot connect with a lead I have trouble enjoying the book in which they appear. In part this tale is the ancient mythos of Hecate, in others it feels like a modern interpretation of Beauty and the Beast with more carnal knowledge than Disney fluffy bunnies (unless of course they were in the dog’s dinner.) It’s a wide leap from the previous titles in the series that I’ve read to date and whilst different to a certain degree allows the reader the chance to meet and understand a character different to the norm. All in, I felt highly rewarded by the tales conclusion and whilst it isn’t my favourite in the series it has cast another layer to the overall feel.
Release Date: 12/05/11
SYNOPSIS:
Pea Chamberlain needs help. Her shoes, hair, clothes, make-up are all disasters and she really needs a makeover - especially if she wants to attract sexy fireman Griffin DeAngelo at the firemen's masked ball. And who better to coax Pea out of her pod than the Goddess of Love, whom she invokes when she gets her hands on a book of enchantments. Sure enough, Venus works her magic on Pea, which is what she has been doing for eons - helping others find love. But who will help the Goddess of Love when she finds herself falling head over heels for the same sexy fireman she is trying to land for Pea? Could it be that Venus needs a love makeover herself?
REVIEW:
OK, I read the first title in this series and loved it, I’ve had a break and whilst I’m currently waiting for the others to land, couldn’t resist the temptation of this, the latest release in the series. As with the original, its beautifully crafted, the lead female characters are not only emotionally strong but also allow others to develop on their own paths and whilst in this book, Pea starts out as a meek and mild, easily embarrassed woman, she blooms to her full potential though the administration alongside care and attention of the delightful Venus.
All in a satisfactory read, a real gluttony of passion, of character growth and if you love a bit of the more hardcore angle of romance, this title will more than meet your expectations. Throw into the mix, a wonderful arc, some great prose and characters who can not only stand up for themselves but also stand out from the rest and you know that it’s a series that will more than please the reader. Perhaps PC’s best solo work to date.
Release Date: 03/02/11
SYNOPSIS:
Lina's trendy bakery in Tulsa, Oklahoma, is proving to be less than lucrative and she must come up with a plan to save it. When she stumbles upon an Italian Goddess cookbook, she can't help but think she's found the answer to her problem - even if it means invoking a goddess to save her business. Soon enough, Lina finds herself face-to-face with Demeter, who has a plan of her own. She proposes that Lina exchange souls with Persephone, the Goddess of Spring, who will breathe new life into the bakery. In return, Lina must set order to the Underworld. Before all this, Lina's problems mostly involved dough and second dates. Now that she embodies the enchantingly beautiful Persephone, Lina has weightier things on her mind - like the formidable task of bringing Spring to a world of spirits. But when the handsome, brooding Hades kindles a spark in her heart, Lina wonders if this Lord of the Underworld might be the man of her dreams...
REVIEW:
The course of true love never runs smooth and with the wonderful addition of the tale of Persephone (although the original tale had the character as Kore) takes an everyday woman and thrusts her into the life of Hades as her own world crumbles around her. All in, it’s a tale of romance, of happy endings and of course a tale with lust that will satisfy the reader. Add to this PC’s usual great character depictions, backed up with decent prose and of course dialogue and the reader will have a blast as this ancient myth gets a workout for the modern audience.
Release Date: 03/02/11
SYNOPSIS:
Tired of dating egomaniacs, interior designer Pamela Gray has nearly given up on men. She wants to be treated like a goddess - preferably by a god. As she whispers her wish, she unwittingly invokes the goddess Artemis, who has some tricks up her celestial sleeve...Twins Artemis and Apollo have been sent to the Kingdom of Las Vegas to test their mantle. Their first assignment: make Pamela's wish come true. So Artemis volunteers her golden brother. After all, who better than the handsome God of Light to bring love to this lonely woman? It might be a first but here in Sin City, where life is a gamble, both god and mortal are about to bet on a high-stakes game of love.
REVIEW:
As usual with PC’s writing you get some great characterisation within this title, the lead females are strong, they have personalities and they’re not afraid to fight for what they want and let no man (or god) get in their way. Here PC transports the reader to the world of Vegas, where the lights are bright, the nights are long and the you can either make your fortune or cripple yourself with debt.
What occurs within is a tale that is wonderfully told, with perhaps an almost unparalleled cast in any other title and brings the myths of Ancient Greece to her own indomitable talent. It has got thrills, it has got spills and it is one hell of a vindictive god or two in there as well (let me just say I now know why people are mean drunks.) Back that up with great prose and a serious understanding of pace and it’s a title that was a real joy to devour. Great stuff.
Release Date: 05/05/11
SYNOPSIS:
When Saria Boudreaux finds a dead body in the Louisiana bayou near her home, her first instinct is to go to the police. But there's a problem: it looks like the victim may have been killed by a big cat - and her brothers are all shape-shifting leopards. Sent by the land's owner to investigate, leopard-shifter Drake Donovan is ready for anything - except the insatiable hunger that rocks him when he meets Saria. Deep in his soul he knows that she is destined to be his mate. Torn between protecting her brothers and finding the truth, Saria treads warily around the powerful shifter. Yet as they venture deep into the mysterious bayou on a hunt for the killer, Saria finds herself longing for Drake's touch and the sweet release of surrender ...
REVIEW:
The fourth title in this delightful series and one that continues to build upon the success of the previous choosing to get to the meat of the tale rather than spending superfluous time on world building. What unfurls within is an exercise of great character building as many readers will be able to identify with lead character Saria Boudreaux through her many hooks and facets. She is believable, the development of the arc is organic and the character leads the way rather than being forced by a guide as so many others are in titles.
Add to this some decent prose, great dialogue and an author who knows how to craft a tale that her readers demand and this title is something that can only improve on the titles that have gone before. Great stuff.
Release Date: 05/05/11
SYNOPSIS:
More than three centuries ago, Nicholas Winters irrevocably altered his genetic makeup in an obsession-fuelled competition with alchemist and Arcane Society founder Sylvester Jones. Driven to control their psychic abilities, each man's decision has reverberated throughout the family line, rewarding some with powers beyond their wildest dreams, and cursing others to a life filled with madness and hallucinations. At the heart of this curse is the Burning Lamp. In BURNING LAMP by Jayne Ann Krentz writing as Amanda Quick, FIRED UP by Jayne Ann Krentz and MIDNIGHT CRYSTAL by Jayne Ann Krentz writing as Jayne Castle, you will meet the three men - past, present and future - of the Burning Lamp, descendants of Nicholas Winters. There is only one hope for them: each must find the artefact and a woman who can work the dreamlight energy that the device produces in order to reverse the dangerous psychical changes brought on by the curse - or risk turning into a monster...
REVIEW:
One of the things with this series is that the reader has to be adaptable as the author loves to jump from time to time so for one title you can be in the modern era, in another back to the Victorian which is pretty much what is happened here. Whilst this is a Victorian Era, it makes this the second book in the Dreamlight series and as such prior to reading this, readers should already be more than familiar with Fired Up (reviewed here). Whilst the characters are slightly better developed here, it is to a more modern interpretation of the female lead that we depart to within. Not that it’s a bad thing but if you’re writing a Victorian title you do have to stick to a certain amount of the conventions within.
That said, it is well written, the cast are predominantly suited to bring the title to its conclusion and yes, there is a good dollop of old fashioned romance that will weaken a number of fans at the knees. It’s cleverly developed and will all in please many readers enough to keep them glued for the third part of the series, Midnight Crystal.
Release Date: 05/05/11
SYNOPSIS:
In the latest sizzling Victorian novel from the compelling world of the mysterious Arcane Society, a paranormal killer pushes an unlikely duo's powers and passions to the limit. Virginia Dean wakes at midnight beside a dead body, with a bloody knife in her hand and no memory of the evening's events. Dark energy, emanating from the mirrors lining the room, overpowers her senses. With no apparent way in or out, she's rescued by a man she's met only once before, but won't soon forget. Owen Sweetwater inherited his family's talent for hunting the psychical monsters that prey on London's women and children, and his investigation into the deaths of two glass-readers has led him here. The high-society types of the exclusive Arcane Society would consider her an illusionist, a charlatan, even a criminal, but Owen knows better. Virginia's powers are real - and they just might be the key to his investigation.
REVIEW:
The latest title in the Arcane Society and one that will more than satisfy the readers. The characters are believable, they have a freshness about them that will appeal and above all else the overall arc is one that will entertain as well as keep the reader glued as the story unfurls. Its cleverly done, the prose is delightful and above all else it’s the dialogue that really sells this story. All in a great piece of escapism fiction with a good dollop of romance for readers who prefer a more organic experience rather than twee that is so often substituted. Great fun.
Release Date: 29/03/11
SYNOPSIS:
Payne, twin sister of Vishous, is cut from the same dark, seductive cloth as her brother. Imprisoned for eons by their mother, the Scribe Virgin, she finally frees herself - only to face a devastating injury. Manuel Manello, MD, is drafted by the Brotherhood to save her as only he can - but when the human surgeon and the vampire warrior meet, their two worlds collide in the face of their undeniable passion. With so much working against them, can love prove stronger than the birth right and the biology that separate them?
REVIEW:
Fans of a more organic than orgasmic (though there are a some) Vampire relationships will more than likely by now have read at least one in JR Ward’s Black Dagger Brotherhood series.
Whilst I prefer the author’s Fallen Angel titles more, this one is well written with an outstanding cast. They’re full blooded (if you’ll pardon the pun,) have vulnerabilities and whilst fighting an on-going secret war are very easy to get to know.
This title, the 9th in the series, brings Payne, Vishous twin sister into her own alongside introducing her to her own nallum, MD Manuel Manello who learns that work and love can mix.
It’s cleverly done, the pace wonderfully constructed and when added to a series that blends paranormal romance with a more believable literotica it creates a series that demonstrates that not every urban fantasy featuring vampires needs to be over the top to the exclusion of plot and that a more organic feel can add a greater depth over multiple partner escapades.
Release Date: 07/04/11
SYNOPSIS:
It might sound like a man's favourite fantasy - to live forever, destined to be the lover of thousands of women. But for Julian of Macedon, it's a nightmare. Once he was a proud Spartan general; now he's a love-slave, his essence magically held captive in a book, cursed to spend all eternity pleasing women. Then, one day, Grace Alexander summons Julian to fulfill her passionate dreams - and sees beyond the fantasy to the man himself. Long years as a sex therapist, listening to other people's bedroom problems, have taken a lot of the fun out of the physical side of love for Grace. But with or without sex, the rules of the enchantment cannot be changed - Julian is hers for the next month. And, as their time together slips by, Julian and Grace find more to share than sympathy and conversation and they begin to wonder if love might be within their grasp. That leaves only one question. Is love enough to break a 2,000-year-old curse?
REVIEW:
Last month I had the chance to read Christine Feehan’s First novel in her Dark Carpathian series and I was a little surprised when the first in Sherrilyn’s Dark Hunter landed. Not that it’s a bad thing but when you’ve had to jump into a series feet first and you’re not sure if the waters going to be deep enough to break your fall you do get a little worried especially when you get the chance to dip your toe in a while later.
What unfurls within this, the first book, is a story of love, of soul searching questions and above all else a quest to discover that the freeing of one can lead to the freeing of all in an altruistic sense. It’s cleverly written, the characters have an appeal that many readers will enjoy and perhaps best of all it’s a title that is quite easy to slip between the sheets with. Back that up with a solid understanding of overall story arc, some decent prose and good characterisation and the reader will be in for if not a treat, something that will leave them sated.
