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Showing posts with label kristen callihan. Show all posts
Showing posts with label kristen callihan. Show all posts

24 January 2014

Uncovered (94): Evernight


Hi, everyone. Friday is here again. My office move got pushed back a week so I have one more glorious week of a 10 minute commute before I start my grueling new drive. I am trying to enjoy every minute of it.

This week on Uncovered, I have Evernight, the newest book in Kristen Callihan's Darkest London series. I am loving this cover. It fits in really well with the rest of the covers for the series but it still unique. I love the blue and red color combo. The smoky train looks quite mysterious and I am wondering if it'll play a role in the story. The couple is also quite attractive. Holly Evernight is beautiful and I love her hair and that dress is to die for. Will Thorne looks suitably devilish and handsome. He's also appropriately attired. While I adore Jack Talent, his oddly half-open and drapey shirt on the last book was a little off putting. Here Will looks ready for anything.

I know I am always pushing this series but that's because it's awesome. If you haven't given it a try yet I highly recommend it. :)





23 December 2013

Manicure Monday (44): Shadowdance

Manicure Monday is weekly feature where I combine by love of nail polish and reading and share with you one of my current reads along with a matching book manicure. Enjoy!

Hi and happy Monday! Mondays mean manicures here on the blog and today I am featuring Shadowdance by Kirsten Callihan. The book just came out last week and you get bet your butt that I started reading it right away. I am a huge fan of this series and tore into it as soon as I got it. I don't want to give anything away but I really enjoyed it and now the countdown starts again until the next book comes out.


It took me a while to decide what to do for this cover. In the end, I decided to focus on the clock tower and the texture of Mary's awesome dress. (Note that I am really not sure why Mary is fully dressed and Jack has his shirt half open - not that I'm complaining.)  

For my middle and ring finger, I created a gradient using Cover GirlInferno (red/orange), Flamed Out (orange) and Sulfur Blaze (yellow/gold) - all from the recent Hunger Games collection. Just use a makeup sponge to lightly dab the color where you want it to create a gradient. I then used brown acrylic paint to paint the outline of the clock and several numbers.


For the other fingers I painted them all with a base of a really pretty golden bronze brown by Maybelline. It's a really old one and I forgot to write down the name but I think it was something like Burnished Bronze. I wanted the stripes to have some depth and decided to use a textured polish to give it a three dimensional look. I cut and taped thin strips of tape onto the dry bronze base and painted over them with OPI Honey Ryder, a Liquid Sand shade. Then I pulled off the tape and voila, stripes!


It is a bit difficult to see the texture in the pics but it was more apparent in person.


And there you have my Shadowdance themed nails. If you haven't read this series yet, do it. It's fantastic and I haven't read a bad one yet. Thanks so much for coming by today. Hope you've all got your Christmas shopping done. :) Have a good week!



Visit the author online at www.kristencallihan.com, Facebook and follow her on Twitter @Kris10Callihan

Please note that this post may contain affiliate links. For more details, please see our full disclosure policy here

06 November 2013

Short Story Review: Entwined by Kristen Callihan

Author: Kristen Callihan
Publication Date: November 5, 2013
Publisher: Forever
Genre: Adult Paranormal Historical Romance
Find It: GoodreadsAmazonB&N
Source: Publisher via NetGalley

Eamon Evernight has always lived in his older brother's shadow. While his brother is fair of hair and lithe in body, Eamon sparks fear with his fiery locks and massive frame-and rumors of a mysterious power. But when his brother has the good fortune to be betrothed to a beautiful stranger, it's Eamon's help-and quick wit and romantic heart--that he needs. Eamon agrees to write the noble lady...a generous offer that will forever leave him a changed man.

Lady Luella Jane Moran has no interest in an arranged marriage and tries valiantly to dissuade her betrothed from afar. Though her own letters plainly state her case, the words her husband-to-be writes her leave her aching for his touch. Will Lu give in to the desire the missives have kindled within her? Or will desire turn cold when she discovers their true author?

It’s no secret that I am a huge fan of Kristen Callihan’s Darkest London series. Though I am normally a bit wary of novellas, I jumped at the chance to read something new set in this dark and magical world. Entwined in an engaging and unexpected story of two people falling in love through words. As a person who still writes letters and loves getting mail, the idea of two falling in love through words before ever having met was one that really appealed to me.

When Eamon’s much favored older brother Aiden becomes betrothed, he urges Eamon to write to his bride-to-be in his stead. Eamon’s goal was to make Lu believe that marriage to his brother would not be so terrible and he does well - too well. Luella and Eamon fall in love over the course of four years and countless letters. Things get a little crazy when Lu shows up on their doorstep and believes she is in love with Aiden. But the man she meets is nothing like the man in her letters and she finds herself drawn to his secretive younger brother.

I had a lot of fun reading this story. Lu and Eamon are well developed characters and the storyline is full of unexpected twists. I loved reading the letters between Lu and Eamon. They are funny and playful and really help us get to know these characters. The idea falling in love through letters is a really romantic one, especially in an age where men and women often knew nothing about each other before marriage. It’s also refreshing to read a story where both characters are virgins. Their first sexual encounter is understandably awkward but also sweet.

Lu is a really strong heroine and I admired her. She loses everything but manages to survive with her spirit intact. I totally fell in love with Eamon. He is a little rough around the edges but has a big heart and is extremely sexy.. He is also a redhead, which is awesome. There should be more red headed men in literature.

Callihan manages to pack a surprising amount of emotional depth into this short story. Fans of the series will undoubtedly enjoy this brief sojourn into Darkest London. You don’t have to read the other books in the series to enjoy this one. It’s pretty far removed from the main storyline and I would have liked to have learned more about the connection between Eamon and Lu and the rest of the Darkest London world. Overall, I really enjoyed Entwined and think it’s a great addition to the Darkest London lineup. I cannot wait for Shadowdance coming out in December!


*I received this book free of charge from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This, in no way, affected my opinion or review of this book.





Visit the author online at www.kristencallihan.com, Facebook and follow her on Twitter @Kris10Callihan

Please note that this post may contain affiliate links. For more details, please see our full disclosure policy here

21 February 2013

Winterblaze - Advance Review


Winterblaze (Darkest London #3) 
by Kristen Callihan
Publication date: 26 Feb 2013 by Grand Central Publishing
ISBN 10/13: 1455520799 | 9781455520794
Goodreads | Amazon | B&N | Book Depository | Indiebound

Category: Adult Paranormal Historical Romance
Keywords: Paranormal, romance, gothic, marriage, historical
Format: Mass market paperback, eBook
Source: e-ARC received from Netgalley


Link to synopsis

*This review may contain spoilers for previous books in the series.*

Review:

Kristen Callihan has quickly become one of my favorite romance authors. With compelling characters, intricate plots, passionate romance, and the backdrop of a London full of mystery and dangerous creatures, each book in her Darkest London series only seems to get better.  Winterblaze is no exception and Win and Poppy are my favorite couple yet.

Winterblaze is the story of Poppy, the eldest Ellis sister, and her husband Winston, who have been married for fourteen years. At the end of the last book, Win was brutally attacked by a werewolf and discovers that Poppy is Mother, a paranormal and also the head of a clandestine organization dedicated to keeping supernatural creatures a secret from humans. Feeling betrayed and confused, Win has leaves Poppy to sort out his feelings. While Win is on holiday in Paris, a new threat arises and Poppy must find Win and defeat this threat before it destroys them both.

My first impressions of Win and Poppy from the previous books were not necessarily positive. Poppy always seemed a bit stern and humorless to me while Win came off as a serious, straight-laced police detective. But I was so wrong about the both of them. In Winterblaze, we really get to see their true personalities and there is much more to them than I thought. Poppy is definitely still an overprotective older sister but it’s born out of a deep love for her family. Though she doesn’t always make the right decisions concerning them, she does what she believes is in their best interests. She is also a fighter and extremely intelligent. Win is also extremely smart and not as proper as he seems. He has a love of danger and a dark side to him that we haven’t seen before.

While I loved these two individually, they are even better as a couple. Winterblaze is a different type or romance novel because it’s about two people who have already been married for fourteen years. Win and Poppy have grown apart and this book is also rediscovering each other and falling in love again. Each of them has been hiding something from the other and, as they slowly learn to trust each other again, their bond grows even deeper. I loved that, to the outside world, they are seen a certain way but with each other, they could be their true selves. Only Win is allowed to see Poppy’s soft, sensual side and is privy to her most vulnerable moments. And only with Poppy can Win divulge his darkest secrets and let out his more playful side. They don’t stifle each other and it’s together that they are at their best.

But their journey isn’t an easy one. There is a lot of anger at first and they both know how to hurt each other. They are two people deeply in love who have grown apart and it’s heartbreaking at times.

And if you think being a married couple would be boring in the bedroom, think again.  This may be Kristen Callihan’s hottest book yet! Win and Poppy are estranged at the beginning of the book and the sexual tension between the two is intense. I was dying for them to get together and when they finally do – wow. I never thought that calling someone “wife” would be sexy but Win makes it sound deliciously sweet and debauched at the same time. Be prepared to swoon.

This is definitely my favorite book of the series so far. Poppy and Win are fantastic characters and I could not help falling in love with them.  I can’t think of a better matched pair. This may be Callihan’s most personal and emotional story yet. If you enjoyed the previous books in the series, I think you’ll love this one. There’s also a small teaser for Jack and Mary’s book included. These two have been circling each other for a while now and I can’t wait to read their story!

*I received this book free of charge from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This, in no way, affected my opinion or review of this book.
 


Visit the author online at kristencallihan.com , follow her on Twitter @Kris10Callihan , or on Facebook 


Please note that this post contains affiliate links to Amazon and The Book Depository. For more details, please see our full disclosure policy here

16 February 2012

Firelight - Review


Firelight (Darkest London #1) by Kristen Callihan
Publication date: 31 January 2012 by Grand Central Publishing
ISBN 10/13: 1455508594 | 9781455508594
Goodreads | Amazon | B&N | Book Depository

Category: Adult Historical Romance/Paranormal Supsense
Keywords: Paranormal, romance, suspense, gothic, London, fire
Format: Mass market paperback, eBook
Source: e-ARC received from Netgalley


From goodreads:

London, 1881
Once the flames are ignited . . . 
Miranda Ellis is a woman tormented. Plagued since birth by a strange and powerful gift, she has spent her entire life struggling to control her exceptional abilities. Yet one innocent but irreversible mistake has left her family's fortune decimated and forced her to wed London's most nefarious nobleman.

They will burn for eternity . . . 
Lord Benjamin Archer is no ordinary man. Doomed to hide his disfigured face behind masks, Archer knows it's selfish to take Miranda as his bride. Yet he can't help being drawn to the flame-haired beauty whose touch sparks a passion he hasn't felt in a lifetime. When Archer is accused of a series of gruesome murders, he gives in to the beastly nature he has fought so hard to hide from the world. But the curse that haunts him cannot be denied. Now, to save his soul, Miranda will enter a world of dark magic and darker intrigue. For only she can see the man hiding behind the mask.

Thuy's Review:

Firelight is the thrilling and passionate debut novel from Kristen Callihan. The first book in her Darkest London series, Firelight is what would happen if a historical romance and paranormal mystery got together and had a book baby. An exciting, romantic, sensual and captivating (so many adjectives!) story that you won’t want to put down.

Set in Gothic London in the 1800s, Callihan does a great job of creating an atmospheric and mysterious setting for her story. Born with a gift of fire, Miranda has hidden her true self her entire life, afraid of what might happen if her secret is revealed or the devastation that could occur if she ever lost control of her power. Archer comes across Miranda in an alley one dark evening and witnesses her boldness in the face of danger. Taken by her beauty and strength, he vows to come back for her. When her returns to London years later, Archer makes Miranda’s father an offer he cannot refuse and she becomes his wife.

I fell in love with Archer and Miranda! They are both fantastically well drawn and complex characters. Both cursed in their own ways, they are forced to hide their true selves from society. However, they each find a counterpoint in the other, a person who understands them and accepts them for who they are. With Archer, Miranda’s power becomes her strength and she is able to see past Archer’s curse to the man inside.

Arch is perfect as the devilishly mysterious Duke. A cross between the perfect English gentleman and the marauding bandit, he’s charming but also moody and arrogant. There’s also an inherent sadness to him, brought on by years of isolation. I loved the vulnerable moments he had with Miranda. At first, Archer thinks he’ll be able to marry but also keep his wife at arm’s length. But Miranda is no wilting wallflower and won’t stand for a husband who keeps too many secrets. I loved how fearless and brave Miranda was. Even without her power, she is formidable fighter. With it, she’s a force of nature. Her red hair matches her fiery personality and she is also extremely loyal and clever.

The chemistry between Archer and Miranda was red hot! Their heated arguments and playful exchanges had me blushing and wanting more. But their connection is more than just a physical attraction and I loved watching them get to know each other and start to trust each other with their secrets. The weakest part of the book for me was the murder mystery/serial killer. I actually figured out who the killer was pretty early on, but I did like how everything ends up coming full circle.

It’s hard to categorize this book. Historical romance, suspense, fantasy, mystery - it’s all of those things and more. A truly original and surprising story, I fell in love with this world and the characters in it. This is one of my favorite reads so far this year. I am dying to read Book 2, Moonglow, which comes out in August. To tide myself over, I bought the short prequel to Firelight, Ember, available as an ebook. Do yourself a favor and pick yourself up a copy of Firelight NOW. You won’t be sorry. :)

P.S. - Keep an eye out for a giveaway of this book soon. We love it and want to share it with our readers. :)

Also available


I received this book free of charge from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This, in no way, affected my opinion or review of this book.



Visit the author online at kristencallihan.com, follow her on Twitter @Kris10Callihan, or on Facebook