Nalini Sigh #BingeReads Giveaway (US - Ends 7/31)

Hi, everyone! I have a really fun giveaway for you guys today.  A few weeks ago I won a contest on the Binge Reads Facebook Page to become a Nalini Singh Ambassador. Those of you who follow this blog or know me probably already know that I am a big Nalini Singh fan. I just love her writing and think everyone should give it a try. It's got romance but also really great world building. She is one of my auto-buy authors and I am hoping to make her one of yours, too. 

So what am I giving away? So glad you asked. I am giving away 5 copies of the first book in Singh's Psy-Changeling series, Slave to Sensation. That means that there will be 5 winners! Since this giveaway was sponsored by Singh's US publisher, I am going to limit the giveaway to US residents only. Usual giveaway rules apply. Good luck!

Giveaway Rules:

1. Open to US residents only. 
2. We are not responsible for lost, stolen, or damaged items. 
3. One set of entries per household please. 
4. If you are under 13, please get a parent or guardian's permission to enter, as you will be sharing personal info such as an email address. 
5. Winner will be chosen randomly via Rafflecopter widget a day or two after the contest ends. 
6. Winner will have 48 hours to respond to to the email, otherwise we will pick a new winner. 
7. If you have any questions, feel free to email us. You can review our full contest policy here. 
8. PLEASE DO NOT LEAVE ANY PERSONAL INFO IN THE COMMENTS. Sorry for the caps but we always get people leaving their email in the comments. Rafflecopter will collect all that without having personal info in the comments for all the world (and spambots) to find. Thanks!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Uncovered (99): Archangel's Shadows

Hi and welcome to Uncovered, a weekly post where I feature one of my current cover loves.

Sorry this post is coming a bit late in the day. This week's been insane and the last thing I've been wanting to do is stare at the computer when I get home.So I am sneaking this post in while on a break from work. This week's cover love goes to Archangel's Shadows by Nalini Singh. You know I adore Nalini Singh but her covers can be hit or miss for me. In general I like the covers to the Guild Hunters series more than the Psy-Changeling. This cover was revealed just this week on Dear Author. This is Ashwini and Janvier's story which I have been dying for. I like the colors on this cover and the fact that both Ashwini and Janvier are both depicted in a way that is similar to how they are described in the books (this is me trying to be PC and say that they're not white). Ashwini looks pretty badass here and I really, really can't wait to read this one.

I hope you guys are all have a great Friday. Happy weekend!

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Nalini Singh at Mysterious Galaxy Redondo Beach

Hi, everyone. This is a ridiculously late recap post. I don't know what happened. I planned on writing this the same week it happened but time just got away from me and now it's months later. Hope you guys don't mind this trip down memory lane. :)

If you don't know, Nalini Singh is one of my most favorite authors. I'll pretty much read anything by her. When I heard that she was touring for the newest book in her Psy-Changeling series, I was ecstatic. The SoCal tour stop was set for Mysterious Galaxy Redondo Beach, which isn't that close to me. I knew it would take me at least an hour to get there - in good traffic. So I decided to take the afternoon off and leave really early and just hang out. I bought my copy of Heart of Obsidian, got a cold coffee beverage, and sat down to read while I waited for the signing.

There were actually quite a few people there who showed up early, too, and I ended up chatting with some of them. It's really fun hanging out with people who love the same books as you do because it's like you already speak the same language. About half and hour before showtime, the staff let us back into the store to get seats. There was a good crowd there by that time though more would show up later. And finally it was time for Nalini to come out! She looked cute as always, in a gorgeous print dress. I kind of love the picture below because of the MG employee doing some sneaky legwork. 

The event started right off with questions from the audience. Someone asked if Amara would ever got her own story. Nalini said that, though she would definitely be back, Amara would not get her own HEA story. She's too unstable and "crazy." Nalini did confirm that there will be more stories on the Arrows. This elicited much cheering from the audience.

Someone asked if Nalini would ever go back to Dark River (we haven't had a Dark River story in a long time). Nalini said that she she always intended for Dark River to be a small, unique pack. They don't have many members and she knew that there would be fewer stories from them. However, she said that she would definitely go back to Dark River one day (yay!).

When asked if she writes for herself or tries to please her audience, Nalini said that she writes to please herself. She knows that she can't please everyone and that she goes with her gut when writing.

One of the hot topics was what kind of pup-cubs would Riley and Mercy have. Nalini didn't give anything away but she did confirm that the kids would be all wolf or all cat, not a mix.

When asked who some of her favorite authors were, Nalini mentioned JD Robb, Ilona Andrews, Meljean Brook and Julie James. 

Then it was time for signing! Unfortunately the staff at MG decided to line people up by letting everyone standing go first and everyone sitting go last. So, even though most of us sitting had been there for hours, we had to go last. It was worth it to see Nalini but I still wish I could have gotten closer to the front of the line. 

Nalini was sweet and gracious and signed the big stack of books I had. We had a nice chat about her travels and touring before I said goodbye and let the next person go. By then there were less than 10 people left in the line and I was pooped. Luckily traffic wasn't terrible and I made it home in less than an hour.

I had a great time at the signing. I don't usually go to a lot of signings by myself but I made some friends there and had fun. I really hope Nalini comes back again soon. If you're interested in seeing a few more pics from the event, you can check out my Facebook album.  And if you've never read a Nalini Singh book, do it! I am totally enabling you to do it right now.

Thanks for hanging out and reading this overdue recap. I think I have one more recap event I need to post about to catch up. Have you been to any great signings recently?

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Angels' Blood - Review

Angels' Blood (A Guild Hunter Novel)
by Nalini Singh

Publication date: 3 March 2009 by Berkley 

ISBN 10/13: 0425226921/978-0425226926
Goodreads | Amazon | B&N | iTunes | Kobo | Audible | Book Depository | IndieBound

Category: Adult Urban Fantasy
Keywords: Angels, Vampires, paranormal romance
Format: Paperback, mass market paperback, eBook, audiobook
Source: Purchased

Synopsis from GoodReads:

Vampire hunter Elena Deveraux knows she is the best- but she does not know if even she is good enough for this job. Hired by the dangerously beautiful archangel Raphael, a being so lethal that no mortal wants his attention, Elena knows failure is not an option—even if the task is impossible.

Because this time, it's not a wayward vamp she has to track. It's an archangel gone bad.

The job will put Elena in the midst of a killing spree like no other—and pull her to the razor's edge of passion. Even if the hunt does not destroy her, succumbing to Raphael’s seductive touch just might. For when archangels play, mortals break. 


Review:

Yes, I'm late to the party.  Several people have repeatedly recommended Nalini Singh to me and for whatever reason I haven't read any of her books.  Finally, I dove in with Angels' Blood, the first book in the Guild Hunter series. Singh has created a twist on the typical vampire story.  Archangels are the ones who can create a vampire and in exchange the vampire must serve the angel for 100 years.  Of course, there are some vampires who want to get away and then vampire hunters must track them down.

Elena Deveraux is a highly skilled vampire hunter working for the Guild.  Raphael, the Archangel of New York City, arranges with the Guild to have Elena work on a special assignment.  Readers learn quickly that Raphael is temperamental and easily angered.  Elena recognizes that Raphael is likely to kill her in some manner at the end of her job or usefulness to him.  However, even recognizing that Raphael can kill her, Elena repeatedly finds ways to irritate him.

Angels' Blood draws readers in from the beginning.  In addition to finding Raphael and Elena interesting, there was excellent chemistry between the two.  Both are flawed in many ways which was part of my attraction to them.  There were numerous secondary characters that provided layers to the interactions and increased my interest in the story.

Overall, I really liked the book.  However, despite how sexy and attractive Raphael was, he was never my favorite character.  His arrogance and domineering behavior was often annoying, and I wasn't fond of how he treated Elena.  I wanted to like Raphael more and even at the end, I still had mixed feelings about him. Elena is strong on many levels but she is often left in the dark regarding who she is to hunt and why it is critical.  There are also several "skeletons" in her past that Singh refers to but never resolves in this book. I assume Singh deals with those issues further in future books.

One interesting thing about this book, I was pleased to see that it was more than your average Paranormal Romance.  I would probably actually classify this one as Urban Fantasy.  Please don't get me wrong, the romance in this book definitely has a "hot sexy" factor. However, the book wasn't just about the romance between Raphael and Elena.  Singh creates a balance between the general plot line of the book and the relationship between Elena and Raphael.

Would I recommend this book? Most definitely.  Who would I recommend this to? Anyone who is already a fan of Urban Fantasy or Paranormal Romance.  Additionally, I would recommend it to those looking for a twist on the typical angel or vampire stories that are out there.  I know I will continue with the series in order to see where it goes and how my questions might be answered in future books.

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Visit the author online at www.nalinisingh.com, her blog, like her on Facebook, and follow her on Twitter @nalinisignh

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

A Week of Bookish Events (Fangirl Squeee!)

June is promising to be a good book month for me. There are a ton of really awesome books coming out in June and some really great local book events to go with them. I am going to 3 (yes, 3) events the first week in June and I am super excited about them because they are for some of my all-time favorite authors. Details on the events are below. If you happen to be going, give a shout out. I'd love to say hi.

Leigh Bardugo

Monday June 3, 2013 7PM
Siege & Storm Launch Party

Hemingway's Lounge
6356 Hollywood Blvd
Los Angeles, California 90028
Facebook event page

Nalini Singh

Tuesday June 4, 2013 7:30PM
Heart of Obsidian (Psy-Changeling series)

OMG you guys know how much I love Nalini Singh. I am super excited to see her again and Tues is the release of her newest Psy-Changeling book. It's going to be epic.

Mysterious Galaxy Redondo Beach
2810 Artesia Blvd.
Redondo Beach, CA 90278

Richelle Mead

Wednesday June 5, 2013

Gameboard of the Gods

Another total fangirl event. I LOVE Richelle Mead. 

Barnes and Noble
1201 3rd St Promenade
Santa Monica, CA
310-260-9110

Note from Richelle on the event
*Event will include reading, Q&A, and signing.
*I will sign up to four books per person--one personalized and the others just autographed. We'll do pictures if time permits.
*No tickets required, but if you purchase Gameboard of the Gods in advance or at the event, you'll get a priority spot in line.
*If there any of my books you want to buy and don't have, PLEASE support the store and buy them there! It's a lot of time and expense for them to host me. Thanks!

Mark your calendars and come out to one of these great events. Hope to see you there!

say "twee!"

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Uncovered (58): Archangel's Legion

Friday, oh how I have missed you. :) Hi, everyone! Thanks for coming back (or coming for the first time). This week on Uncovered, I have the newest cover in Nalini Singh's Guild Hunter series, Archangel's Legion. As with the rest of the covers in the series, this one was done by Tony Mauro. The Guild Hunter covers have been somewhat hit and miss for me. There are those I love (Archangel's Kiss) and those that just look awkward (Archangel's Blade). However, I love this one. Elena looks badass with her crossbow and her wings are fabulous. Love that we can see the Tower in the background as well. I am glad that this book is going back to Elena and Raphael as well. I mean, I enjoy the stories about the others in Raphael's court but I have been missing he and Elena. Archangel's Legion does not come out until October unfortunately, which seems so far away. At least I have this pretty cover to lust after now.

Anyone else excited about reading more Elena and Raphael?

 

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Author Interview with Nalini Singh + Giveaway (INTL)

Good morning, friends! I have something super duper (yeah I said duper) exciting on the blog today. My friends all know that I am a huge Nalini Singh fan. Tomorrow is the release date for her newest book, Archangel's Storm. It's the fifth book in the awesome Guild Hunter series is about Jason, super spy master and Angel with shadow wings. I admit that I have always had a fascination with Jason (must be that whole dark and mysterious thing) and I cannot wait to read his book. To celebrate the release, we have an interview with Nalini Singh herself along with a fun giveaway at the end of the post. Let's get to it!

Hi, Nalini! Thank you so much for coming onto the blog today. We are huge, huge fans of your work. I was lucky enough to meet you recently at the RWA Autographing Session and let me just say that it was totally the highlight of the event for me. 

Thanks for inviting me here! Wasn’t the signing at RWA so much fun?!

Yes, it was super fun and I had amazing time meeting all of the authors, including you!

I've read that you have been interested in writing from a young age. Can you tell us a little bit about what some of your first stories were like? What books influenced you as a child?

I used to write about everything – I kept a journal and would jot down things in there as they came to me. Sometimes these were stories, other times descriptions of what I’d seen/experienced that day. My first full romance manuscript was a Mills&Boon Presents story that I wrote when I was about eighteen. I still have that manuscript. =)

As for influences – it’s hard to pick one or even a few books. I read so voraciously as a child and still do. I like to say that every book I’ve ever read has influenced me by helping develop my love of story.

Describe what your schedule is like on a typical day.

I usually do emails, interviews etc in the morning and write after lunch. Sometimes I’ll stop at eight, other times I’ll keep going till two or three in the morning. It just depends on deadlines and my personal goals for the day and week.

Your Guild Hunter series is very unique because of the relationship that the Angels and vampires have with each other. The Angels Make vampires and give them strength and immortality in return for 100 years of service. If you had a choice of becoming a vampire, would you, or would you choose to remain human and why?

Oooh, this is such a tough question. I constantly go back and forth. In fact, the question is so tough, I’m going to throw it out there for the readers of this blog! Vampire or human?

(p.s. Can’t angel be a choice, too? I would love to fly!)

I love your descriptions of each Angel's wings. They always seem to match their personality perfectly, from Illium's blue tips to Raphael's golden wings. So which comes first, the Angel or the wings? Do you already know the personality of the Angel before deciding what their wings will look like? Have you ever had an amazing idea for a pair of wings and create a character around them?

They tend to appear in my mind with their wings as they are – Illium has had his stunning wings from the very first time I met him. Sometimes, when a character is being secretive, it takes me a while, but I always know instinctively when I’ve found their wings.

This kind of leads me to your newest book, Archangel's Storm. I have always been fascinated by Jason. I really think it was his dark wings that blend into the shadows that initially piqued my interest. They're so different than the flashier wings of most Angels yet they suit Raphael's spymaster perfectly. Can you tell us a little bit about what we can expect from Jason's story? And can you tell us a bit about his love interest, Mahiya, who we don't know much about?

Jason’s story very much suits the personalities of both our shadowy spymaster, and his heroine. On the surface, it’s quiet, but there’s so much intensity bubbling beneath the surface. I think this is a book that each time you read it, you’ll glimpse more and more – there’s so much that’s hidden between the lines, so much that only becomes apparent once you reach the end.

Mahiya is a unique angel, one who appears without power, and yet who has an unbelievable strength. She is perfect for Jason.

The setting is also amazing – I was inspired by the magnificent forts I saw during my trip to India, and you can see images of those forts on my website’s travel diary page on release date (www.nalinisingh.com/diary.php)

What are you working on now that Archangel's Storm is done? I know you couldn't say much at RWA, but can you give us any clues yet?

I’ve just handed in two Psy/Changeling novellas, one featuring Walker & Lara, the other Cooper & Grace. Now, my focus is on the next Psy/Changeling book…about which I can tell you nothing. ;-)

However, I can tell you that the next Guild Hunter book will feature Raphael and Elena as main characters.

Paranormal, historical, or contemporary romance?

I actually read all three! I tend to go in cycles – I’ll read a whole bunch in one genre, then do the same in another.

And our last, but very important question: Cake or pie (and what kind)?

Cake by a landslide. Chocolate fudge (chocolate anything really).

Thank you so much for stopping by the blog today, Nalini, and congrats on Archangel's Storm. It's been pre-ordered and I cannot wait for it to get here! :)

Remember to sign up for Nalini's newsletter for up to the minute news (no spam) as well as exclusive content. Nalini just announced that she will be releasing some short stories to her newsletter subscribers way before they will be available commercially. You can sign up here.

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Thank you again, Nalini! I hope you guys all enjoyed the interview. Now Nalini has been kind enough to offer up a signed copy of Angels' Blood for one lucky blog reader. Let me tell you I am really jealous about this and, if it wasn't totally against the rules, I would want to enter my own contest. But to make it even better, I am going to also be giving away 2 copies of Archangel's Storm as well. 

You have 3 chances to win. Only one person will get the signed copy of Angels' Blood from Nalini though. Giveaway is International as long as Book Depository will ship to your country. As usual, you do not have to be a follower to enter but it's always appreciated. Good luck!

Rules:

1. Open internationally as long as Book Depository ships to your country. 
2. One set of entries per household please. 
3. If you are under 13, please get a parent or guardian's permission to enter, as you will be sharing personal info such as an email address. 
4. Winner will be chosen randomly via Rafflecopter widget after the end of the day on Sept 13, 2012. 
5. Winner will have 48 hours to respond to to the email, otherwise we will pick a new winner. 
6. We are not responsible for lost or stole packages.
7. If you have any questions, feel free to email us. You can review our full contest policy here.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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The time I met Nalini Singh and Nora Roberts + Giveaway

Hola, friends! It's taken me a while but I finally had some time to write up my recap of the RWA 2012 Literacy Autographing Session that took place a couple of weeks ago. RWA is Romance Writers of America and, this year, their conference was held in Anaheim, CA. Every year at the conference they hold a massive autographing session (free to the public) where hundreds or romance authors autograph books with the proceeds going to a literacy organization. This year, the session made over $50,000! Wow, that is a pretty crazy number for 3 hours of autographs. Luckily I don't live too far from Anaheim and I was able to make it to the event. (Warning that this post is gonna be long but you get rewarded with a giveaway at the end)

I got to the convention center around 3:30pm. I made my way up to the ballroom area on the third floor and found that a line had already formed. It wasn't very long (I had just gone to Comic Con the weekend before so everything pales in comparison) and I cheerfully got in line with my fellow romance lovers. The line was pretty uneventful though I did talk to some people about romance authors and, as it neared 5pm, we have some authors and publishers coming out to talk to us in line. By that time, the line had gotten quite long and I could see it snaking behind me. 

Shameles Summer Giveaway Hop (Intl)

It's time for another giveaway hop. What's better than a steamy summer read? Not much (well maybe the guy in the picture above). But since I can't give you any real life man candy, I will give you a book instead. Thanks to Jen (Red Hot Books), Brie (Romance Around the Corner ) & Michelle (Michelle's Book Blog ) for hosting this blog hop. You want to know what you can win, right?

Nalini Singh is one of my favorite writers and she just happened to have a new book released last week.  Tangle of Need  is the eleventh book in her Psy-Changeling series. If you haven't read this series yet, OMG go read it NOW. Seriously, if you like paranormal romance then the series and Nalini Singh is a must. One lucky winner with will an eBook copy of Tangle of Need. This is international. As long as you have an email address and computer where you can accept eBooks, you should be fine to enter. 

Here is the synopsis for the book.

Adria, wolf changeling and resilient soldier, has made a break with the past--one as unpredictable in love as it was in war. Now comes a new territory, and a devastating new complication: Riaz, a SnowDancer lieutenant already sworn to a desperate woman who belongs to another. 

For Riaz, the primal attraction he feels for Adria is a staggering betrayal. For Adria, his dangerous lone-wolf appeal is beyond sexual. It consumes her. It terrifies her. It threatens to undermine everything she has built of her new life. But fighting their wild compulsion toward one another proves a losing battle. 

Their coming together is an inferno...and a melding of two wounded souls who promise each other no commitment, no ties, no bonds. Only pleasure. Too late, they realize that they have more to lose than they ever imagined. Drawn into a cataclysmic Psy war that may alter the fate of the world itself, they must make a decision that might just break them both.

If this sounds good to you (and why wouldn't it?), fill out the Rafflecopter form below. You have to be 18 or older to enter since this is a pretty steamy book. Otherwise check out the form below for more ways to win. Good luck! 
  a Rafflecopter giveaway Keep hopping!

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Tangle of Need - Review

Tangle of Need (Psy-Changeling #11) by Nalini Singh

Publication date: 29 May 2012 by Onyx

ISBN 10/13: 0425247562 | 9780425247563
Goodreads | Amazon | B&N | Book Depository | Indiebound

Category: Adult Paranormal Romance
Keywords: Paranormal, romance, psy-changeling, shifters
Format: Hardcover, eBook

**Note: I generally try to stay away from spoilers in my review but this one does have a small one. But I will warn you before it comes in the review.**

Review:

Tangle of Need is the eleventh installment in the Psy-Changeling series by Nalini Singh. I am a total Nalini Singh fangirl and pre-ordered this for my Kindle so I could get it as soon as possible. As with any long running series, there are going to be books that you really love and some that you don’t love as much. For me, this is one that I enjoyed but isn’t one of my favorites. This book wraps up some loose ends while also setting things up for the final battle between the Psy and the Changelings and is a solid installment to the series.

The main couple of this story is Adria and Riaz, two characters who have made minor appearances before now. Both of them are emotionally damaged and are not looking for any kind of relationship. Indigo has recently extricated herself from a very unhealthy long term relationship that has left her an emotional wreck. And Riaz, a lone wolf, has come home to heal with his pack after meeting a woman who he feels the pull of a mating bond with but who is married and in love with another man.

Both of them fight their physical attraction to each other at first. Riaz feels like his is betraying his mate by having feelings for Adria even though they haven’t actually mated. And Adria self esteem is so messed up after her last lover that she is wary of ever making herself vulnerable to a man again. But their attraction is undeniable and they finally give in to their need. It’s not just about sex, though. Adria and Riaz slowly get under each other’s skin, slowly opening themselves up to the possibility of finding love again. Riaz and Adria were both really great characters. They are both kind of similar. They are both tough soldiers who are extremely loyal to the pack and also really stubborn. There were times when I wanted to smack some sense into both of them. I enjoyed watching them butt heads and then make up later. :)

A lot is happening in the Psy-Changeling world. After the events in Kiss of Snow, the Psy are on the brink of a Civil War and the Psy Council is in disarray. No big battles take place in this book, which is nice, though there is definitely still clashing going on between the various groups. From Pure Psy, the Council, The Human Alliance, all of the Changeling groups, and The Ghost, it’s clear that something big is on the horizon. The Arrows play a big part in this one and I am really interested in seeing what Singh has planned for Aden and Vasic.

Fans of Hawke and Sienna will also be very happy as they have a lot of scene time in this book. We see how they are handling being the new alpha couple and what that entails, especially for Sienna, who has a whole new set of responsibilities being an alpha’s mate. Alice Eldridge, who was found in the last book, is still unconscious and Sascha and others work to wake her up. But it’s not all super serious. There are a lot of fun scenes involving other members of the pack and Hawke and Sienna finally have their wedding. There is also some big news for Mercy and Riley which was awesome. They’ve always been one of my favorite couples and it was nice to see them again.

I admit that I wasn’t as invested in the romance in this one as much as I usually am. There was a lot going on in this book besides Riaz and Adria’s story and I just felt like the focus was not on them. It could also be that they were both minor characters I had never given much thought to before I knew about this book and therefore didn’t have as much invested in them. Coming off of Kiss of Snow, which was the ultimate, most awesome, most intense of all the Psy/Changeling relationships, perhaps any story would have paled in comparison.

***And here come the spoilery bits. Please look away if you don’t want to be spoiled.***


**I warned you!**

I was also a little disappointed at first in the lack of a mating bond between Riaz and Adria. I know it was always kind of off the table but I really thought that it might happen at the end. Having read all 10 of the previous books, I’ve been conditioned us to equate the mating bond with true love so the lack of one seemed out of line with what we know about the Psy-Changeling world. However, after thinking about it for a day I have some thoughts on this. The almost scene in the book where Adria and Riaz are at the park, they discuss the lack of the mating bond. Adria is scared that, without the bond, one day Riaz will wake hating her for taking him away from his true mate. But Riaz points out a human couple to her, one that is celebrating their hundredth anniversary. Though they aren’t Changeling and have no mating bond, it’s obvious that they have a connection that is just as strong and just as real as any mated Changeling pair. Instead of this being about the lack of a mating bond, perhaps what Singh is trying to say is that love is possible for everyone, if they are open to it and allow themselves to be vulnerable enough to love and be loved. That choosing to be with someone because you love them is just as powerful as a fated love. Even us humans have a chance at it. Maybe I am reading too much into it but I like this theory so I am sticking to it.

**End spoiler**

Another solid book by Nalini Singh. Even though I felt like the focus was a little uneven in this one, with Adria and Riaz having to fight for their time between Hawke and Sienna and the other happenings in the Psy-Changeling landscape, overall I was satisfied with their story. As it is after every Nalini Singh book, I am now counting down the days until the next one. :)

Stop by later this week as we will be giving away an e-book copy of Tangle of Need as part of the Shameless Summer Giveaway Hop.

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Visit the author online at www.nalinisingh.com and follow her on Twitter @NaliniSingh

Angels' Flight - Review

Angels' Flight by Nalini Singh

Publication date: 28 February 2012 by Berkley Sensation

ISBN 10/13: 0425246817 | 9780425246818
Goodreads | Amazon | B&N | Book Depository

Category: Adult Paranormal Romance
Keywords: Paranormal romance, angels, vampires, short stories
Format: Mass market paperback, eBook

Angels' Flight is a collection of four novellas by Nalini Singh set in the world of her Guild Hunter series. It looks like the first two stories have been published previously in other anthologies and the third says "first time in print" so it may have been available on her blog or somewhere else. The fourth story, "Angels' Dance" is the only completely new story in the collection. I'd read the first two stories previously but not the second two. I wasn't really bothered by the fact that most of these had been released before, though it is good to know so you know what you're getting. I didn't have any of these stories on their own so I like having them all in one place and I probably would have bought it for Angels's Dance alone since I am a Nalini Singh fangirl and love the Guild Hunter series.

Angels’ Pawn - 3.5 stars

In Angels' Pawn a vampire hunter faces off against two rival factions and the angel manipulating them both, and a vampire whose help is not entirely selfless...Angels’ Pawn is the story of Guild Hunter Ashwini (Ash) and the annoyingly charming vampire Janvier. Ash enlists Janvier’s assistance in finding a kidnapped vamp while playing vampire/angel politics.

I’d read this story before and enjoyed it. Ash is a character that pops up quite a bit in the Guild Hunter world but we don’t know a ton about her. In this one, we get a little glimpse into her past that makes me want to know more. Like more hunters, Ash is extremely tough and capable. She knows how to hold her own against vampire and angels alike. Janvier is somewhat of a mystery. I don’t know his story or where he comes from except that he loves to drive Ash crazy. Ash and Janvier have fantastic chemistry and this is the only story in which the two characters don’t end up together at the end. Even though the ending of this one left me a bit unfulfilled, I still really enjoyed it. There is definitely potential for more with these two and I hope that they get their happily ever after one day.

Angel’s Judgement - 4 stars

In Angels’ Judgment a hunter must track one of her own gone bad, while surviving the deadly tests placed in her way by the archangels themselves. Unexpected backup comes from a stranger who might just be the most lethal threat of all...


In Angel’s Judgement, hunter Sara Haziz must track down a vampire killer who may be one of her own while trying to survive . Along for the ride is Deacon, aka The Slayer, a dead sexy hunter that is tasked with keeping an eye on Sara and helping her track down this rogue hunter.

Angel’s Judgement is from the Must Love Hellhounds anthology and it’s another one that I’d previously read. I ended up reading it again when I received Angel’s Flight I liked it just as much as I did the first time. Sara is a strong, capable fighter who more than holds her own against the vamps and other creatures of the night. She’s tough but still feminine and vulnerable. Deacon isn’t intimidated by Sara’s position and their chemistry is blistering.I loved that their story played out in an unexpected way and was also surprisingly sweet. Another great read by Nalini Singh.

Angel’s Wolf - 4 stars

In Angel’s Wolf a vampire becomes fascinated with the seductive angel who rules Louisiana. But all is not what it appears to be in her court.

We first met Noel in Archangel’s Kiss, when a vampire is brutally attacked and left for dead. While his body has recovered, mentally, Noel is not the same. Dmitri sends him to the angel Nimra’s court, to pose as her lover and try to figure out who tried to poison her.

This one actually ended up surprising me. I didn’t know what to expect from Noel and Nimra and their story was not at all what I expected. Singh really has a way with bringing back tortured characters back to life. There’s no easy fix for Noel after what he’s gone through but being in Nimra’s court is helping him heal. And I loved that he was so protective of Nimra, a powerful and deadly angel. Nimra herself surprised me. Yes, at times she lived up to her reputation as being a cold and harsh ruler, but Singh also showed us her softer side. She isn’t cruel or unjust and had much more compassion than her reputation allowed. I liked that she was able to trust Noel with her weaknesses and he with hers, as well as their strengths.

Angels’ Dance - 5 stars

In Angels’ Dance an angel trapped in the mountain stronghold of the Refuge finds herself under siege by a warrior angel from a martial court.

Angels’ Dance was the story I was most looking forward to and it ended up being my favorite. There were hints of Jessamy and Galen’s relationship in previous books but no real details. We finally get their story in Angels’ Dance. Jessamy, an angel thousands of years old, has been trapped at the Refuge for her entire life. Due to a malformation of one of her wings, she has never been able to fly. Jessamy is very different from most of the angels we’ve met in the Guild Hunter world. She isn’t a fighter or a warrior. Though she is physically weaker than most, it’s her inner strength that sets her apart. She is the perfect counterpoint to the rough and unrefined Galen. I didn’t know much about Galen before reading this and I found myself falling for him. Under his gruff exterior was an extremely caring and kind man. He protectedand loved Jessamy but he never held her back. Oh - and we find out how Illium gets his nickname in this one. :)

Overall:

As a reader of this blog you may already know that I am a huge Nalini Singh fan. Even in short form, these stories are wonderfully well written and I felt like I got more than my money’s worth with this collection.This is a must read for any fan of the Guild Hunter series. Non-readers will still enjoy it but I think you need to read the series to fully appreciate it. If you haven’t read the series yet, do it and thank me later. :)

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Visit the author online at www.nalinisingh.com and follow her on Twitter @NaliniSingh

Desert Warrior - Review

Desert Warrior by Nalini Singh

Publication date: 01 August 2003 by Silhouette
ISBN 10/13: 0373765290 | 9780373765294

Category: Adult Romance
Keywords: Romance, sheikhs, royalty
Format: Mass market paperback, eBook (e-ARC received from Netgalley)

From goodreads:

The fabled desert kingdom of Zulheina was Tariq's birthright, and he was a man who held tightly what belonged to him. And that meant he had to reclaim a very special woman--the woman who had broken his heart years before in New Zealand. And once he had lured her to this distant land, he meant to keep his new bride here forever....

But Jasmine Coleridge was not as easily tamed as he had imagined. Her beguiling blend of untouched innocence and dazzling sensuality threatened, once again, to bring the haughty sheikh to his knees--and made him wonder who was the true prisoner.

Thuy's review:

I hate to give a low score to a Nalini Singh book but I really wasn’t a huge fan of either the hero or the heroine in this one. Jasmine is only 18 when she meets and falls in love with Tariq, son of the sheikh of a desert kingdom. Young and insecure, her family convinces her to leave Tariq and end the relationship. Four years go by when Jasmine hears of Tariq’s father, the sheikh passing. Having matured in the last four years and come into her own, Jasmine has realized the mistake she made in leaving the man she loved. She hops a plane back to Tariq, intent on making it work this time. Tariq knows that Jasmine has made plans to come back and he intends to make her stay. Picking her up from the airport he takes her to his palace and basically tricks her into marrying him. Sure, she knows what’s going on but it doesn’t change the fact that he thought he was doing it without her knowledge.

Tariq is angry at her for leaving him all those years ago, which is understandable. However, what I don’t understand is his why he ties her to him when he is so intent on remaining angry with her and not trusting her. I feel like part of him does it so that he can punish her. He withholds his love from her and his words and actions border on cruelty. I know he’s afraid to show Jasmine how he feels because he doesn’t want to be hurt again but at a certain point I just stopped liking him.

I liked Jasmine a little more but not much more. I didn’t understand why she put up with Tariq’s behavior for as long as she did. Actually I think I do. Since she was the one who left him originally, I think believes his behavior is fitting punishment for her lack of faith and that this time around, she has to prove to him that her love will not be swayed - by him or anyone else. Unfortunately he didn’t want to believe it for a very long time. When the Big Conflict finally occurs I was mad at both of them - Tariq for his lack of trust and Jasmine for putting up with it for so long. He also says something incredibly cruel to her during a big fight which made me want to punch him.

Though I did feel an emotional connection between the two characters, in the end, there was little romance in this romance novel. I am glad I read it because Nalini Singh is one of my favorite authors and I liked taking a look at her early work. But I would not recommend this to someone if I wanted to turn them on to her books. My copy of Desert Warrior was bundled with the new release, Lord of the Abyss. Lord of the Abyss is freakin’ AWESOME (see review here) so, if you’re interested in Desert Warrior, pick up the bundled version with Lord of the Abyss.

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.

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Visit the author online at www.nalinisingh.com and follow @NaliniSingh on Twitter

Winner: Lord of the Abyss Giveaway

Thanks to everyone who entered our giveaway. We had a great time reading about people's favorite fairy tales. I didn't count but it looks like Beauty and the Beast was the most popular. Alright - time for the winner. And the winner is (insert drum roll)..........

Amel Armeliana

Congratulations, Amel! (imagine confetti and hand clapping) An email has been sent to you. Please get in contact with us ASAP so we can get your book out to you. To everyone else who entered, thanks again. If you haven't already, go pick up a copy of Lord of the Abyss, which should be in stores now. If you have no idea what this book is about, check out the review here to see why you must read this book. We have more giveaways coming up on the blog so keep checking in. We'll love you even more if you comment on stuff.  :) Bye for now!

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thuy would like to be eating pie right now. check her tweets to see what kind of pie @fishgirl182

Play of Passion - Review

 

Play of Passion (Psy-Changeling #9) by Nalini Singh

Publication date: 02 November 2010 by Berkley
ISBN 10/13: 0425237796 | 9780425237793

Category: Adult Paranormal Romance
Keywords: Paranormal romance, psy-changeling, shifters
Format: Mass market paperback, eBook, Kindle

From goodreads:

In his position as Tracker for the SnowDancer pack, Drew Kincaid must rein in rogue changelings who've lost control of their animal halves- even if it means killing those who've gone too far. But nothing in his life has prepared him for the battle he must now wage-to win the heart of a woman who makes his body ignite...and who threatens to enslave his wolf.

Thuy's review:

Ooh this was a really good one. Nine books in and this series still rocks! We have Indigo, dominant wolf female and one of the top lieutenants in the Snow Dancer pack. Circumstances have made Indigo wary of ever being involved with a male less dominant than her. Drew, the pack tracker, has never fit in with the pack hierarchy. While still a dominant male, his role has always necessitated being outside of the hierarchy. When he finally decides to go for the woman he wants, he finds himself facing down one of the biggest challenges of his life.

Indigo is one of Snow Dancer's top lieutenants. She is smart, strong and can kick the ass of most of the males in the pack. She’s also terrified of giving up control in a relationship. She's reluctant to start anything with Drew, a younger wolf who doesn't fit her idea of her ideal mate. She's seen up close up how a relationship with a less dominant male can go very wrong. Since Drew doesn't fit into the standard hierarchy, her wolf is attracted to him but is unsure if a relationship with him can work. She's also also used to being in charge, which leaves her in the awkward position of wanting a more dominant partner but also reluctant to give up control. When Drew comes along with his plan of charm and conquer, Indigo is thrown for a loop. But what she wants and what she needs are two entirely different things and Drew is the perfect foil for the serious lieutenant.

Drew is probably one of my favorite males in the Psy-Changeling series. I mean, he could charm the pants off of anyone. He had me grinning with his playful antics and the crazy stunts he pulls when Indigo gets mad at him. And even though he seems like he's all play, he also has an intense and serious side to him. He loves the pack and he will go to any lengths to protect it and those he loves. His laid back attitude complements Indigo's more reserved nature well. He makes her laugh and isn't threatened by her high rank. She challenges him and, even though she is more reserved in showing her affections, it's clear that she adores him. The last scene at the hospital squeezed really pulled my heart strings.

To tell the truth, I am don't remember all that well what happens with the Psy Council in this one. I was too wrapped up in Drew and Indigo's story to take too much note of it. However, unrest is escalating within in the Council and in the Psy Net. Lines are being drawn among the Council members and sides will have to be chosen soon.

I love you, Nalini Singh and I love this series, too. Next up is Hawke and Sienna's story, which I think everyone has been waiting for. Squeeee!

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Visit the author online at www.nalinisingh.com and follow @nalinisingh on Twitter