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
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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

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The Demon's Song - Review

The Demon's Song (Hearts of the Fallen #1)
by Kendra Leigh Castle

Publication date: 21 April 2013 by Entangled Publishing

ISBN 13: 9781622661817
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Category: Adult Paranormal Romance
Keywords: romance, fallen angles, vampires,
Format: eBook
Source: e-ARC received from Entangled Publishing

Synopsis from Entangled Publishing:

The road to Hell is paved with good intentions. At least, that’s how it seems to Sofia Rivera when her attempt to help a friend ends in a blood-soaked confrontation with creatures that aren’t even supposed to exist. With a group of rogue vampires determined not to leave a single witness to their violence hot on her heels, Sofia finds herself saddled with an immortal bodyguard—Phenex, the fallen Angel of Song. While the vampire king roots out the corruption threatening to take down his underworld kingdom, Sofia will have to deal with a fallen angel whose dark beauty is often at odds with his ornery nature. Slowly, Sofia and Phenex give in to the strange attraction neither can deny. And as the darkness closes in around them, Phenex begins to wonder whether even the wickedest Fallen might find his own happy ending…and his heart.

Review:

One of the fastest ways that an author can wrap me up tightly in a story is to create characters that I like, care about, and want to know what happens to them.  Kendra Leigh Castle did exactly that in The Demon's Song.  I was 2 maybe 3 chapters in when I decided that I needed to know what was going to happen to Phenex (a Fallen Angel) and Sofia (a human).  The chemistry between the pair was there from the beginning and only continued to grow throughout the story.  There were also a lot of other characters that I liked and found interesting.  There were some that I would like to have gotten to know a lot better - like all of those other fallen angels hanging down in Terra Noctem.

Though I loved the characters in this story and also really enjoyed the romance between Phenex and Sofia, I occasionally felt that parts of the story went too fast or weren't fully developed.  At one point, I realized that I had happily (note...I really did mean happily) read 3/4 of the book but, aside from the relationship growing between Sofia and Phenex, the rest of the plot had kind of stalled.  In the last couple of chapters, lots of important action and drama seemed to be skipped over and the readers just end up at the end.  Granted, I love the ending.  It was perfect as far as I was concerned, but I would have liked to have a little more story fleshed out on the way to the ending.      

I firmly believe that an author needs to take her story in the direction that she sees fit.  Though I might agree or disagree with that direction, I tend to respect those decisions.  Fallen angels and romance aside, Castle has the potential to go much further with this series if she decided.  I couldn't help but feel that The Demon's Song and the Hearts of the Fallen series could develop into a great paranormal/urban fantasy series with an element of romance, rather than just a paranormal romance.  If I had a chance to sit down and talk with Castle, I would ask her a couple of questions about her thoughts on paranormal romance vs. urban fantasy.  Was she aiming for a really fun paranormal romance? Or was she targeting something more?  Not that I particularly want to lose the romance aspect, but with a great setting/world such as Terra Noctem and the potential for an amazing cast of characters and interesting creatures, I would be willing to go on that journey with Castle if she so desired.

As this was my first fallen angel romance novel, I am curious to explore other fallen angel stories and to also find out what happens in future Hearts of the Fallen books.  I would definitely recommend The Demon's Song to friends who are looking for a paranormal romance with a great hero and heroine.

*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.kendraleighcastle.com and her blog and follow her on Twitter @kendralcastle

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

Rogue Rider - Review

Rogue Rider (Lords of Deliverance #4) 
by Larissa Ione

Publication date: 20 November 2012 by Grand Central Publishing

ISBN 10/13: 0749955570 | 9780749955571
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Category: Adult Paranormal Romance
Keywords: Paranormal, romance, amnesia, siblings, horsemen, redemption
Format: Mass market paperback, eBook
Source: e-ARC received from Netgalley

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

Review:

Rogue Rider is the fourth and highly anticipated story of Reseph, Horseman of the Apocalypse, aka Pestilence, the horseman who went band and almost destroyed the world. Rogue Rider picks up soon after the events of Lethal Rider. Reseph wakes up naked in the snow with no memory of who his is or how he got there. Jillian is out preparing for a storm when she finds him. Living out in the middle of nowhere while recovering from a demon attack, Jillian is wary of Reseph but decides to take him in. While trying to figure out Reseph’s past, they start to fall for each other. But when a string of violent murders occur in the area, Reseph starts to suspect that he may be the one putting Jillian in danger.

The first half of the book focuses on Jillian and Reseph’s love story. I really liked Jillian. She’s a survivor. She made it through a vicious demon attack and, though she is still recovering, she is capable and knows how to take care of herself. And I liked that, even though Reseph wanted to take care of her in some instances, he also knew that she was strong and didn’t treat her like a damsel in distress. Reaver put them together so that they could help heal each other and I think they did. With Jillian, Reseph learned to be himself without all of the pressures of being a Horseman and without the knowledge of what Pestilence had done. And in Reseph, Jillian found a partner who admired her strength but who would also support her.

Of course things don’t just go right to happily ever after. After learning that their brother is alive and could possibly become Pestilence again, The Riders come for him, triggering the return of his memories. With the knowledge of the horror he caused as Pestilence, Reseph goes a bit batty with guilt and remorse. I think Ione does a good job showing how bad Reseph feels about what Pestilence did. He doesn’t expect anyone to forgive him – and they don’t, at least not right away. Ione really makes Reseph work for his redemption.

So why didn’t I love this book? Though all of the right elements were there – hot romance, characters I like, and action packed drama, I still felt there was something missing. The story was predictable and there were no big surprises. Even Reseph’s “fight” with Pestilence was anti-climactic. And my favorite part of the story, Jillian and Reseph’s romance, got a little lost in the second half of the book.

While I enjoyed this book and thought it was a good read, it wasn’t my favorite of the series. I do enjoy Ione’s writing though and it’s always fun to jump back into this world. I was happy to see some of my favorite characters again. And wow – what is going on with Reaver and Harvester? I am dying to know! I am so glad that the next book will focus on them.

*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.larissaione.com and follow her on Twitter @LarissaIone

Archangel's Storm - Review

Archangel's Storm (Guild Hunter #5) 
by Nalini Singh

Publication date: 13 September 2012 by Berkley Sensation

ISBN 10/13: 0575119497 | 9780575119499
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Category: Adult Paranormal Romance
Keywords: Paranormal, romance, angels, vampires, mystery
Format: Mass market paperback, eBook
Source: Purchased

Synopsis:

With wings of midnight and an affinity for shadows, Jason courts darkness. But now, with the Archangel Neha’s consort lying murdered in the jewel-studded palace that was his prison and her rage threatening cataclysmic devastation, Jason steps into the light, knowing he must unearth the murderer before it is too late.

Earning Neha’s trust comes at a price—Jason must tie himself to her bloodline through the Princess Mahiya, a woman with secrets so dangerous, she trusts no one. Least of all an enemy spymaster.

With only their relentless hunt for a violent, intelligent killer to unite them, Jason and Mahiya embark on a quest that leads to a centuries-old nightmare… and to the dark storm of an unexpected passion that threatens to drench them both in blood.

*Though I try to remain spoiler free, this review may contain spoilers for previous books in the series.*

Thuy's Review:

Nalini Singh is one of my favorite authors and I await each new book with baited breath. I was especially excited to read Jason’s story, as I have held a fascination for the angel ever since I first met him in the Guild Hunter series. I don’t know what it is, but there’s just something about the quiet, mysterious angel with wings of night that has always intrigued me. Singh has hinted as his dark past in previous books but, in Archangel’s Storm, we finally learn about the events that shaped him into the man he is today.

Jason’s love interest in the story is Mahiya, the illegitimate daughter of Neha’s consort Eris and her sister. Allowed to live as a tool to hurt Eris, Mahiya has never known love or much kindness. But she’s not mean or bitter, like most people might be. Despite her circumstances, she is still able to love and feel joy. While she isn’t a kick ass Hunter like Elena or some of Singh’s other heroines, she has an inner strength that makes her just as formidable.

Jason was all I expected and more. I can understand why Mahiya is drawn to his quiet and intense nature. Mahiya is right, Jason is a storm. Untameable and untameable, he is a force that Mahiya has no defense against. Singh has only hinted at his dark past before this and, in Archangel’s Storm, we finally learn about the tragic events that shaped him. There’s still a lot about Jason that is unknown though and I wish Singh had given us a little more about his past. I am really curious to know how he survived the events of his youth and how he became part of Raphael’s Seven. Also, Jason’s wings are my favorite out of all the angels.

The romance in this book was a little bit different that the other romances in the Guild Hunter books. Though I think Jason and Mahiya had an immediate attraction, their relationship is a slow burn rather than a big bang. Like the characters themselves, their romance is understated but still intense. As usual, Singh uses her skills to ratchet up the sexual tension until you’re just dying for them to get together.

I love the incredible worlds that Nalini Singh creates and it’s always so much fun to get back into them. It was great to see Guild Hunter faves Elena and Raphael as well as Venom, who has a substantial role in the story. I have never been a huge fan of Venom but, I have to say that he is growing on me. There are also quite a few scenes with Dimitri and Honor, which was nice to see, but did take me out of the story a bit. I know I am always waxing lyrical about Nalini Singh but I just love what she does. Now if she would only write a little faster. :)

 

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

Lethal Rider - Review

Lethal Rider (Lords of Deliverance #3) 
by Larissa Ione

Publication date: 22 May 2012 by Grand Central Publishing

ISBN 10/13: 0446574503 | 9780446574501
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Category: Adult Paranormal Romance
Keywords: Paranormal, romance, apocalypse, pregnancy, siblings, horsemen
Format: Mass market paperback, eBook
Source: e-ARC received from Netgalley

Synopsis:

Thanatos, the most deadly Horseman of the Apocalypse, has endured thousands of years of celibacy to prevent the end of days. But just one night with the wickedly sexy Aegis Guardian, ReganCooper, shatters centuries of resolve. Yet their passion comes with a price. And Thanatos must face a truth more terrifying than an apocalypse-he's about to become a father.

Demon-slayer Regan Cooper never imagined herself the maternal type, but with the fate of the world hanging in the balance she had no choice but to seduce Thanatos and bear his child. Now, as the final battle draws closer and his rage at being betrayed is overshadowed by an undeniable passion for the mother of his child, Thanatos has a life-shattering realization: To save the world, he must sacrifice the only thing he's ever wanted-a family.

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

Review:

Larissa Ione is back with the third book in her Lords of Deliverance series. While I am a huge fan of Larissa’s, I didn’t love Immortal Rider, the previous book in the series. I had my doubts as to whether or not Lethal Rider would get it back on track for me and I am happy to say that it did not disappoint.

Lethal Rider picks up about 8 months after the events of Immortal Rider. Than’s been kept in a state of mental consciousness but physical immobility by his siblings as they await the birth of his son (of which he has not knowledge of). Baby mama Regan is hiding out in Aegis headquarters, waiting to give birth, while trying to deal with her feelings of guilt over her “seduction” of Than and the resulting pregnancy. When Than breaks out and finds Regan, she has some heavy explaining to do. Pestilence is still doing his evil best to bring about the Apocalypse and the body count rises.

The events of the last couple of books really come to a culmination in Lethal Rider. Pestilence, nice guy turned douchebag extraordinaire, soars to new heights of dickdom in this one. It’s clear that Ione isn’t afraid of killing characters and I was surprised by how bloody this one was. There are appearances by the usual Demonica crew as well as Reaver and Harvester. I am not really sure what’s going on between those two but I hear a rumor that Reaver might be getting his own book and I hope it’s true. There is plenty of action to go with the romance in this book and, unlike Immortal Rider, the other plotlines in the book did not overwhelm the romance and I felt like there was a good balance between the two.

Speaking of romance, I loved Regan and Thanatos together! I wasn’t sure how Ione was going to make the relationship work given how things ended in the last book. But she tackles it head on, showing us the guilt that Regan feels about happened and her struggle to come to terms with it. I really felt that she explained and handled it in a way that, while not necessarily making it right, does make it more understandable and makes me believe that Than and Regan could move past this bad beginning into a new future together.

Than just might be my favorite Horseman. Yes, he’s capable of mass destruction but he is kind and protective and extremely loyal. Believing all his life that having sex will break his seal, he’s never been able to have a real relationship and has been pretty isolated except for his family. When Regan comes into his life, he has a chance for a family he’s always wanted and he’s not letting Regan and his son go. His bouts of rage were tempered with really tender moments and I just wanted to give him a big hug.

I ended up liking Regan a lot more than I thought I was going to. After Immortal Rider she wasn’t my favorite person. But she shows a lot of remorse for what she did to Than and she won me over. She’s tough as nails and pretty badass for someone who is almost nine months pregnant. She and Than have crazy chemistry and the sex is super hot! I never thought I would say that about pregnancy sex but Larissa Ione can make almost anything sexy.

Yay for Lethal Rider! This is definitely my favorite book of the series so far. Lots of action, demon bad guys, demon good guys, crazy angels, and super sexy times. Well paced and easy to follow, the storyline nicely wrapped up a lot of loose ends while setting up Reseph’s story. And I have no idea what’s going to happen in Reseph’s book. All I know is that I want to read it NOW. Fans of this series will not be disappointed. If you haven’t read this series yet, what are you waiting for? Get on it!

*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.larissaione.com and follow her on Twitter @LarissaIone

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
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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
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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

Immortal Rider - Review

Immortal Rider (Lords of Deliverance #2) by Larissa Ione

Publication date: 01 December 2011 by Grand Central Publishing

ISBN 10/13: 0446574473 | 9780446574471
Goodreads | Amazon | B&N | Book Depository

Category: Adult Paranormal Romance
Keywords: Paranormal, romance, underworld, apocalypse, Four Horsemen
Format: Mass market paperback, eBook (e-ARC received from Netgalley)

Thuy's synopsis:

Immortal Rider is the story of Limos, one of the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse. Sister to the other three Horsemen, Limos (aka Famine) has a pretty carefree existence living on a tropical Hawaiian island when she’s not trying to stop her evil brother Pestilence from destroying the world and protecting her Seal from breaking and causing the Apocalypse. And oh yeah - she’s also betrothed to Satan himself and he’s tired of waiting.

Arik’s a soldier in the R-XR, a paranormal military unit that works with The Aegis and it helping to prevent the Apocalypse. Unfortunately Arik doesn’t know that Limos is engaged when he kisses her and he’s dragged to Hell for his trouble. While Satan’s minions invent new and painful ways to torture Arik, Limos and her brothers try to find him down before Limos’ Seal breaks. But the trouble doesn’t end once Arik escapes. An evil plot to break the Seals and bring Hell on earth escalates and Arik and Limos find themselves in the middle of it.

Thuy's Review:

This was a hard review to write. I was so excited to get my hot little hands on this. I’ve been waiting for Arik’s story for awhile. He first showed up in Passion Unleashed as Runa’s overprotective and sometimes jerk brother. There was always something about Arik that intrigued me, even though he wasn’t always the most appealing character. I just knew there was more to him than what we were seeing. Unfortunately this book fell somewhat short of my expectations.

The book starts off strong with Arik making a move on Limos and getting pulled into Hell. While there, he is tortured beyond sanity but manages to hold it together and doesn’t betray Limos. I was touched by his show of loyalty in the face of incredible pain for a woman who barely knew. But that’s the type of guy Arik is - extremely loyal and stubborn, often thinking of others before himself. Limos, meanwhile is looking for him. As she does, we learn a lot more about her past and why she is the way she is. As the bride of Satan, she hasn’t had a lot of time for fun in her life and therefore, tries to live life to the fullest. She’s fiercely protective of her family and takes that protectiveness too far sometimes. She’s also a pretty bad ass fighter, which I love. While it doesn’t seem like the serious, solid Arik and the fun loving, party throwing Limos would make a good match, but they are. They both come from troubled backgrounds and have a lot of guilt that they’re trying to get over.

Unfortunately, I felt that it lost steam somewhere in the middle and Limos and Arik’s story became overshadowed by all of the subplots going on - from the Reaver/Harvester story to the Than/Regan storyline (which we’ll get into more in a bit) . Arik and Limos also spend quite a lot of time apart in this book. I don’t blame Arik too much as he was being tortured in hell, but because of the physical distance, I felt that Arik and Limos didn’t get enough time together to develop their relationship. I mean, they don’t even get a real love scene until the very end of the book and the scene that is supposed to be their official “first time” is somewhat heart breaking. Plus, where the heck is Satan? I thought for sure he’d show up at some point to claim Limos or at least try to kill someone, but it never happens.

There’s a lot of emphasis put on the Than/Regan relationship in this one as a setup to the next book. I have mixed feelings about this storyline. On the one hand, I feel that Regan and Than have great chemistry and the sort of love/hate relationship that I love. On the other hand, I find the reason that Regan was sent there to be somewhat distasteful and it’s hard to see how their relationship will work.

I did enjoy all of the cameos by the Sem brothers and the Demonica crew. Cara’s hellhound Hal even makes an appearance. Even though this wasn’t my favorite book, I still enjoyed it. I am definitely invested in the world and characters that Larissa Ione has created and am anxiously awaiting the next installment.

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.larissaione.com and follow her on Twitter @LarissaIone

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

Lord of the Abyss - Advance Review + GIVEAWAY

Lord of the Abyss (Royal House of Shadows #4) by Nalini Singh

Publication date: 22 November 2011 by Harlequin Nocturne
ISBN 10/13: 0373837755 | 978-0373837755

Category: Adult Paranormal Romance
Keywords: Parnormal, romance, revenge, magic
Format: Mass market paperback, eBook

From goodreads:

Once upon a time…the Blood Sorcerer vanquished the kingdom of Elden. To save their children, the queen scattered them to safety and the king filled them with vengeance. Only a magical timepiece connects the four royal heirs…and time is running out.…

As the dark Lord who condemns souls to damnation in the Abyss, Micah is nothing but a feared monster wrapped in impenetrable black armor. He has no idea he is the last heir of Elden, its last hope. Only one woman knows—the daughter of his enemy.

Liliana is nothing like her father, the Blood Sorcerer who’d cursed Micah. She sees past Micah’s armor to the prince inside. A prince whose sinful touch she craves. But first she has to brave his dark, dangerous lair and help him remember. Because they only have till midnight to save Elden.

Thuy’s review:

Lord of the Abyss is the fourth book and conclusion to the Royal House of Shadows series. This is the story of Micah, the youngest Elden prince, who has no memory of his life before becoming the Lord of the Abyss. Liliana, the daughter of the Blood Sorcerer, endeavors to find him and bring back his memory before time runs out and Elden is lost forever.

This is the book I had been waiting for - the whole reason I started the Royal Book of Shadows series. I admit that I had high expectations for this book and Nalini Singh did not disappoint. I loved, loved, loved the story of Micah and Liliana. Lord of the Abyss is a take on Beauty and the Beast but, in this case, it’s Liliana who is the Beast to Micah’s Beauty, at least on the surface. Born with a hooked nose, straw-like hair and a limping gait, Liliana is no beautiful maiden. Micah, on the other hand, looks like the prince he is. But though she is not beautiful on the outside, Liliana shines with beauty from within. It is her pure and good heart, her generous nature and intelligence that are able to capture Micah’s interest and tame the wildness in him.

Micah and Liliana are such rich and unique characters. Romance novels are often rife with cliches but this was delightfully not so with these characters. Neither has had an easy life. Liliana has been the target of the Blood Sorcerer’s cruel games and punishments since she was a child. But instead of becoming dark and twisted like him, she’s developed an inner strength that would rival that of any warrior. Lilian is willing to risk everything to right the evil that her father has committed. People make cruel jokes about her looks and whisper behind her back. It hurts but Liliana knows that outer beauty does not equal inner beauty. She is kind to all of the creatures and people of the castle, and isn’t afraid to stand up to Micah’s autocratic ways. And Micah, oh Micah. Big and handsome and covered in armor, a shield for both his body and his heart. He never had a chance to be a child, the spell his parents cast flinging him to the bowels of the Black Castle, in a sleep state until he was old enough to take over as Guardian of the Abyss. All he has ever known is the castle and his grim role of Guardian. Used to getting his way, Micah is demanding and sometimes a little spoiled. But he is also very generous and fair. Naive about the ways of the world outside of the castle Micah has an air of innocence about him. Neither Liliana nor Micah has ever had any real friends and both lead a lonely existence. An unlikely pair of kindred spirits, they are able to see something good and beautiful in the other that no one else does.

The halls and grounds of the Black Castle really come alive in this book. Singh has created a vivid world in which to set Liliana and Micah’s love story. All of the books have been different in their setting and Singh did a great job of creating the unique and believable world of the Black Castle. From the dark stairways and dungeons to Jissa and Bard - all of these elements came together to form a new and interesting world. For the final journey to Elden, Singh conjured up a whole host of dangerous creatures for Liliana and Micah to battle. Some are scarier in looks than personality but all of them are strange and different and add to the rich landscape.

The only slight, very slight, criticism that I have for the book is that the ending seemed a little rushed. Because all of the books had been leading up to this battle with the Blood Sorcerer, I was expecting an all out epic fight. What happens is still satisfying but isn’t as grand as I was expecting. I also thought that the siblings would play a larger part in the battle. It ends up being Micah’s fight though they all lend their powers to defeat the Blood Sorcerer. This is a very minor complaint, as the ending is still awesome and everything wraps up nicely. This is easily my favorite book of the series and I still sigh a small sigh when I think about Micah and Liliana.

Lord of the Abyss is a great book and fitting end to the tale of the royal heirs of Elden. It’s a unconventional fairy tale that is sweet and passionate and utterly captivating. It’s a story that makes me believe in happy endings and I know that I will be coming back to it again and again.

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. 

GIVEAWAY

Because I love this book and want to share the love, I am going to give away a copy to one lucky winner. I will even spring for the fancy version that includes a copy of Desert Warrior. 

CONTEST RULES:

1. Please do not enter any personal information in the comments section - the Rafflecopter widget collects that, so don't forget to fill it out!
2. The contest runs from November 8 to November 22, 2011 (the book's release date)
3. You must be 18 or older to participate in this contest.
4. If you are selected as a winner, I will notify you by e-mail. If you do not respond within 48 hours, I will select a new winner.
5. This contest is open INTERNATIONALLY, as long as book depository will ship this book to your country, so please check. 

6. MANDATORY ENTRY: Comment on this post--what's your favorite fairy tale and why?

All the other entries are optional. The winner will be chosen on Nov. 22. Good luck!

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

Short Story Review: Happily Never After by Jeaniene Frost

Happily Never After (Night Huntress #1.5) by Jeaniene Frost
Publication date: 19 July 2011 (first published 28 May 2008) by Harper Collins

Category: Adult Paranormal Romance
Keywords: Paranormal romance, vampires, mafia, wedding
Format: eBook (Originally appeared in Weddings From Hell anthology)

Thuy's synopsis:

Happily Never After is a fun short story set in the Night Huntress series by Jeaniene Frost. The novella originally appeared in Weddings From Hell anthology but is now available separately as an eBook (price at this time of this review is $1.99). The book takes place between books 1 and 2 of the Cat & Bones series. Bones makes a brief appearance, but this story isn’t about him. The main story is about Isabella (Isa) Spaga and her reluctance engagement to a wannabe mobster in order to save her brother’s life. Isa’s grandmother, an old friend of Bones’s, calls on him to help Isa out. Busy himself tracking someone down, Bones calls on his friend Chance to sort out the situation. Chance and Isa are attracted to each other from the start and sparks fly.

Thuy's review:

I really enjoyed this novella from Jeaniene Frost. I pretty much love anything Cat and Bones and this story was a fun look into the world from the eyes of new characters. If anything I wish it had been a little bit longer. It would have been nice to get a little more back story on Chance’s history with Bones. I don’t recall Chance from any of the other books but it could be that he only had a brief appearance that I just can’t remember.

Isa, our heroine, is quite a spitfire. She runs her own restaurant and is independent and strong. Even though she’s pretending to marry a domineering mobster, she manages to hold her own against his blackmail tactics in order to buy time for her brother. The attraction between Isa and Chance is almost immediate. Chance hasn’t felt this way about anyone in a long time and he determinedly goes after Isa. He’s also is super sexy and protective and it’s cute to watch him fret over whether or not Isa will freak out about him being a vampire.

The mobster cliches are hilarious. I chuckled reading the cheesy dialogue. And Granny – I love her! She’s so funny and has had such a fascinating life. I loved hearing about her times with Bones and her dry wit. I wish I had a grandma like her. It would certainly make my life more interesting. The book also had a surprise ending that I didn’t expect.

This novella is a fast, entertaining peek into the Night Huntress universe. You don’t need to be fan of the series to enjoy it but the series is awesome, so you should totally read it. :)

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Visit the author online at www.jeanienefrost.com or follow @Jeaniene_Frost on Twitter

Lord of the Wolfyn by Jessica Anderson - Review

Lord of the Wolfyn (Royal Book of Shadows #3) by Jessica Andersen
Publication date: 18 October 2011 by Harlequin Nocturne
ISBN 10/13: 0373618700 | 9780373618705

Category: Adult Paranormal Romance
Keywords: Paranormal, romance, vampires, weres, revenge
Format: Mass market paperback, eBook (e-ARC received from Netgalley for review)

Thuy's synopsis:

Lord of the Wolfyn is the third book in the Royal Book of Shadows series and continues with the sage of the heirs of the royal family of Elden and their quest to find vengeance for their family and save their kingdom from the evil Blood sorcerer. Dayn, the second prince of Elden, finds himself in the Wolfyn realm after he’s cast from his home by his parents’ warped deathbed spell. The Woflyn realm is a realm with both magic and technology, with features of both the human realm and the kingdom realm. There, Dayn learns to live with the wolfyn (werewolves to us humans) and wait for the guide that his father said would lead him back to Elden to defeat the Blood Sorcerer.

Meanwhile, former cop Reda is recovering from a robbery that left her partner dead. With shattered self confidence, Reda is trying to put together the pieces of her life when she is drawn to a fairy tale book from her childhood that was lost a long time ago. The book brings her face to face with her greatest fear as well as her greatest desire. Chanting an old spell, Reda is transported to the wolfyn realm and to Dayn, the woodsman from her book. Now Reda must find the strength to accept her fate and lead Dayn back to Elden to reclaim his birthright.

Thuy's review:


Lord of the Wolfyn is another fun installment in the Royal Book of Shadows series. While this wasn’t my favorite book in the series, I enjoyed Jessica Anderson’s writing and had a hard time putting it down.  Like the other books in the series, Lord of the Wolfyn is a retelling of a classic fairy tale. This one is based on Red Riding Hood and is probably the most literal, as the fairy tale book actually plays in role in the plot.  The book is what draws Reda into the wolfyn realm and foretells her journey with Dayn.

Dayn is probably the least alpha of the males we’ve seen so far in this series. That’s not a bad thing - it’s actually kind of refreshing. There’s a lot of chest beating in romance novels and it is nice to have a hero who doesn’t say “mine” all the time and proclaim eternal love after five minutes (not that there’s anything wrong with that). After the trauma of her partner’s death, Reda has become very withdrawn and unsure of herself. Dayn is very careful of her feelings and tries to protect her.  However, he’s torn between his obligation to his family and his feelings for Reda. This leads him to do a lot of back and forth with pushing her away for her own good and the good of his mission but also clinging to her because he loves her. It gets a little frustrating because he can’t seem to make up his mind.

Unfortunately I didn’t care much for Reda. She seems to be very emotionally unstable at the beginning of the book. I do feel for her.  She blames herself for her partner’s death and hasn’t been able to forgive herself. When she meets Dayn, she convinces herself that she’s in a dream and goes along with it trying to wake herself up. Once she figures out it’s not a dream she has to deal this weird fixation and fear she has of being brainwashed. She’s very wary of the wolfyn because, in her book, they are portrayed as being able to enthrall women to do their sexual bidding.  When she finds out that Dayn can become one of them, she freaks out and accuses him of entrancing her.  She second guesses her own feelings and assumes the worst about every situation.  She does eventually herself together becomes a pretty badass warrior, but it takes her awhile to get there.

I thought the back story about Reda’s mother was really interesting but, unfortunately, the story doesn’t delve too far into what happened to her. I am not sure if we’ll come back to it but I hope we do. Since this is the last book before the end of the series, there’s a lot of buildup in this one and it ends on a bit of a cliffhanger. The time difference is as confusing as ever and I have no idea where Dayn’s timeline is in comparison to his siblings. Perhaps I should make a chart.  

This is my first Jessica Anderson book and I liked her writing style. The story was fast paced and flowed nicely. And even though I didn’t fall in love with the characters I was thoroughly sucked into the story. This has been a fun series so far just because it’s introduced me to several new authors.  The next book is the one I’ve been waiting for, though, because I love Nalini Singh.  I am excited to see how this series wraps up!
 

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.jessicaandersen.com or visit the website for Royal House of Shadows here.