Author: Angela Knight
Title: Warrior (Time Hunters series, #1)
Genre: Futuristic Romance
Publisher: Berkley Sensation
ISBN: 9780425220849
The Romance Author's Verdict: 4/5 Stars
Blurb:
In the 24th century, anyone can leap through time at will. To police the time jumpers, the Temporal Enforcement Agency has established a precinct in time. Galar Arvid is a genetically altered warlord and agent who’s been sent back to 2008 to save a pretty Atlanta artist from a Xeran time traveler who intends to kill her for profit. What Galar doesn’t count on is the powerful desire Jessica Kelly ignites in him. But could a romance between them work? A three-hundred-year chasm separates them and, even if they dart through time, there’s still a maniacal killer on their tails.
I've heard mixed things about Angela Knight, some people really love her and others have said she's only so-so. I wasn't sure what to expect when I picked up this book, but I was looking for something sci-fi-ish so decided to give it a go.
I think this book could have been fantastic. It is good, I'll give you that, but it was like a really great idea got mushed together with a cliche romance and the result was something that swung back and forth between "wow, I can't put this down" and "eh, what a surprise, they're having sex. *skipping pages*"
The story was what kept me going, the b-grade romance I could have done without. Galar (and I had a real issue with his name, that partly put me off) was a bit stereo-typical. He was all tough and warrior-like (hence the title) and had a bad-ass reputation. He'd been burned by a previous girlfriend and carried all the usual issues of an Alpha-Male-Betrayed-By-Ex-And-Now-Only-Wants-Sex-With-No-Strings-Attached. Of course he decided that the heroine he'd been tasked with protecting, Jessica, wouldn't be around for all that long, so he was going to scratch his itch and then send her on her way. And we all know how that always ends up turning out. Surprise! He started having feelings for her so things became complicated.
In this book's defense, the Time Hunter element really intrigues me, so I will be off to read the next books in the series, and some of Ms. Knights other books such as Warfem and Jane's Warlord. I'm just really hoping next time I get a better romance element out of the story.
Friday, December 30, 2011
Sunday, December 18, 2011
Review: Succubus Blues by Richelle Mead
Author: Richelle Mead
Title: Succubus Blues (Georgina Kincaid series, #1)
Genre: Urban Fantasy (with romantic elements)
Publisher: Zebra Fantasy (Imprint of Kensington)
ISBN: 9780758216410
The Romance Author's Verdict: 5/5 Stars
Blurb:
Succubus (n.) An alluring, shape-shifting demon who seduces and pleasures mortal men. Pathetic (adj.) A succubus with great shoes and no social life. See: Georgina Kincaid.
When it comes to jobs in hell, being a succubus seems pretty glamorous. A girl can be anything she wants, the wardrobe is killer, and mortal men will do anything just for a touch. Granted, they often pay with their souls, but why get technical?
But Seattle succubus Georgina Kincaid's life is far less exotic. Her boss is a middle-management demon with a thing for John Cusack movies. Her immortal best friends haven't stopped teasing her about the time she shape-shifted into the Demon Goddess getup complete with whip and wings. And she can't have a decent date without sucking away part of the guy's life. At least there's her day job at a local bookstore--free books; all the white chocolate mochas she can drink; and easy access to bestselling, sexy writer, Seth Mortensen, aka He Whom She Would Give Anything to Touch but Can't.
But dreaming about Seth will have to wait. Something wicked is at work in Seattle's demon underground. And for once, all of her hot charms and drop-dead one-liners won't help because Georgina's about to discover there are some creatures out there that both heaven and hell want to deny...
I've had this book sitting on my To-Be-Read pile for about a year, if not longer. I've looked at it a number of times and considered whether or not to pick it up. You see, I've read all of Ms. Mead's Vampire Academy books and absolutely loved them. I had high expectations when it came to Succubus Blues and I was scared of being disappointed. It happens often enough.
But finally this week I thought "suck it up, princess!" and grabbed it down from the shelf. And the verdict, you're wondering? Well, you can already see I've given it 5/5 stars, so that should answer your question!
Seriously, though, I am impressed that Ms. Mead's writing style can lead itself so well to both Young Adult and Adult fiction. I could see the similarities that marked this as a Richelle Mead book, as well as the differences in voice between the two singular markets. I've read a lot of paranormal romance and urban fantasy. Ms Mead's world in Succubus Blues was a refreshing change to the usual parade of vampires, werewolves, and shapeshifters. I also loved the complexity of her world. There's no hard line between good and evil. In fact, in this book, an angel and a demon are best-buds and they regularly hang out with two vampires, an imp, and of course Georgina, the succubus.
Speaking of Georgina, she is the kind of heroine I love to read. Outwardly she's beautiful and confident, yet inside she is a mess of confliction and confusion. Though she is a succubus, she was also very human, I suppose because she once was one.
I think this is one point authors often miss with characterization. Its the flaws in a character that we as readers, as people with feelings, connect with. Sometimes a character will have virtually no flaws, or their flaws are superficial and thus make the character seem shallow. I've said on this blog a few times that I want the nitty-gritty, I want to see the deep dark inside the character. How else are we going to get to know them, to form a bond that will keep us turning page after page? Georgina hid nothing, held nothing back. She had insecurities, she obssessed over her past mistakes, she grappled with regret, she often didn't know what the best course of action was, doubting and questioning herself and the motives of those around her. But she also had moments of real heart, of love toward others and kindness of spirit, despite being a servant of hell.
Okay, maybe I'm rambling a bit. But writers, if you want a study in forming a successful character your readers will connect with, then read a Richelle Mead book. Readers, if you want a fantastic urban fantasy, then Succubus Blues hits all the right notes. I'm off to the library to find the next book in the series...
Title: Succubus Blues (Georgina Kincaid series, #1)
Genre: Urban Fantasy (with romantic elements)
Publisher: Zebra Fantasy (Imprint of Kensington)
ISBN: 9780758216410
The Romance Author's Verdict: 5/5 Stars
Blurb:
Succubus (n.) An alluring, shape-shifting demon who seduces and pleasures mortal men. Pathetic (adj.) A succubus with great shoes and no social life. See: Georgina Kincaid.
When it comes to jobs in hell, being a succubus seems pretty glamorous. A girl can be anything she wants, the wardrobe is killer, and mortal men will do anything just for a touch. Granted, they often pay with their souls, but why get technical?
But Seattle succubus Georgina Kincaid's life is far less exotic. Her boss is a middle-management demon with a thing for John Cusack movies. Her immortal best friends haven't stopped teasing her about the time she shape-shifted into the Demon Goddess getup complete with whip and wings. And she can't have a decent date without sucking away part of the guy's life. At least there's her day job at a local bookstore--free books; all the white chocolate mochas she can drink; and easy access to bestselling, sexy writer, Seth Mortensen, aka He Whom She Would Give Anything to Touch but Can't.
But dreaming about Seth will have to wait. Something wicked is at work in Seattle's demon underground. And for once, all of her hot charms and drop-dead one-liners won't help because Georgina's about to discover there are some creatures out there that both heaven and hell want to deny...
I've had this book sitting on my To-Be-Read pile for about a year, if not longer. I've looked at it a number of times and considered whether or not to pick it up. You see, I've read all of Ms. Mead's Vampire Academy books and absolutely loved them. I had high expectations when it came to Succubus Blues and I was scared of being disappointed. It happens often enough.
But finally this week I thought "suck it up, princess!" and grabbed it down from the shelf. And the verdict, you're wondering? Well, you can already see I've given it 5/5 stars, so that should answer your question!
Seriously, though, I am impressed that Ms. Mead's writing style can lead itself so well to both Young Adult and Adult fiction. I could see the similarities that marked this as a Richelle Mead book, as well as the differences in voice between the two singular markets. I've read a lot of paranormal romance and urban fantasy. Ms Mead's world in Succubus Blues was a refreshing change to the usual parade of vampires, werewolves, and shapeshifters. I also loved the complexity of her world. There's no hard line between good and evil. In fact, in this book, an angel and a demon are best-buds and they regularly hang out with two vampires, an imp, and of course Georgina, the succubus.
Speaking of Georgina, she is the kind of heroine I love to read. Outwardly she's beautiful and confident, yet inside she is a mess of confliction and confusion. Though she is a succubus, she was also very human, I suppose because she once was one.
I think this is one point authors often miss with characterization. Its the flaws in a character that we as readers, as people with feelings, connect with. Sometimes a character will have virtually no flaws, or their flaws are superficial and thus make the character seem shallow. I've said on this blog a few times that I want the nitty-gritty, I want to see the deep dark inside the character. How else are we going to get to know them, to form a bond that will keep us turning page after page? Georgina hid nothing, held nothing back. She had insecurities, she obssessed over her past mistakes, she grappled with regret, she often didn't know what the best course of action was, doubting and questioning herself and the motives of those around her. But she also had moments of real heart, of love toward others and kindness of spirit, despite being a servant of hell.
Okay, maybe I'm rambling a bit. But writers, if you want a study in forming a successful character your readers will connect with, then read a Richelle Mead book. Readers, if you want a fantastic urban fantasy, then Succubus Blues hits all the right notes. I'm off to the library to find the next book in the series...
Sunday, December 11, 2011
Review: The Last Warrior by Susan Grant
Author: Susan Grant
Title: The Last Warrior
Genre: Science fiction / fantasy romance
Publisher: HQN (imprint of Harlequin Mills & Boons)
ISBN: 9780373775422
The Romance Author's Verdict: 4/5 Stars
As a decorated soldier, the young General Tao knows only one kind of honor—to his people. But when his own king betrays him, he discovers that his sacrifices, his successes, may not have been for the good of the country at all.
Fate—and his enemies—throw him together with Elsabeth, a red-haired beauty who has served as the royal tutor. Her loyalties, though, remain with her father's people, the rebellious Kurel, who worship the old ways, even harboring the forbidden arks that brought the Kurel to this planet ages ago. When a threat greater than their peoples' war looms, intent on destroying the world they both know, the fierce warrior and the sensitive scholar must unite. Together, they must fight for their planet, for their world and for their love.
The first Susan Grant book I ever read was The Legend of Banzai Maguire, book one in the 2176 series. It was a great book, so I went out and got some other Susan Grant books. Unfortunately, I feel the other books I read by Ms. Grant haven't been quite as good. I'm not saying her other books aren't good -- they are, she's a talented writer. And so I keep buying her books on the hope another story will capture me like that first one did. Obviously so far, Banzai Maguire is my favorite.
But I'm supposed to be talking about The Last Warrior. Though this is a romance published by HQN, I felt the relationship between Tao, a General falsely charged with treason, and Elsabeth, took a backseat to the world building and story of Tao's fight to clear his name -- also not necessarily a bad thing. I quite enjoyed this world, the different factions, and the history of how the current situation on the planet came to be. While I found it a bit slow going at the start, the story built into a really great ending, with a character acting very unexpectedly to tie everything up fairly nicely.
There aren't that many big name sci-fi romance authors around, though slowly we are starting to see more into the mainstream romance publishers (though not enough for my liking!), but Ms Grant has certainly made a name for herself as a successful SFR author.
If you're looking to venture into this genre, or already love it and haven't tried Ms. Grant yet, then I can definitely recommend picking up one of her books. The Last Warrior is a satisfying read.
Title: The Last Warrior
Genre: Science fiction / fantasy romance
Publisher: HQN (imprint of Harlequin Mills & Boons)
ISBN: 9780373775422
The Romance Author's Verdict: 4/5 Stars
As a decorated soldier, the young General Tao knows only one kind of honor—to his people. But when his own king betrays him, he discovers that his sacrifices, his successes, may not have been for the good of the country at all.
Fate—and his enemies—throw him together with Elsabeth, a red-haired beauty who has served as the royal tutor. Her loyalties, though, remain with her father's people, the rebellious Kurel, who worship the old ways, even harboring the forbidden arks that brought the Kurel to this planet ages ago. When a threat greater than their peoples' war looms, intent on destroying the world they both know, the fierce warrior and the sensitive scholar must unite. Together, they must fight for their planet, for their world and for their love.
The first Susan Grant book I ever read was The Legend of Banzai Maguire, book one in the 2176 series. It was a great book, so I went out and got some other Susan Grant books. Unfortunately, I feel the other books I read by Ms. Grant haven't been quite as good. I'm not saying her other books aren't good -- they are, she's a talented writer. And so I keep buying her books on the hope another story will capture me like that first one did. Obviously so far, Banzai Maguire is my favorite.
But I'm supposed to be talking about The Last Warrior. Though this is a romance published by HQN, I felt the relationship between Tao, a General falsely charged with treason, and Elsabeth, took a backseat to the world building and story of Tao's fight to clear his name -- also not necessarily a bad thing. I quite enjoyed this world, the different factions, and the history of how the current situation on the planet came to be. While I found it a bit slow going at the start, the story built into a really great ending, with a character acting very unexpectedly to tie everything up fairly nicely.
There aren't that many big name sci-fi romance authors around, though slowly we are starting to see more into the mainstream romance publishers (though not enough for my liking!), but Ms Grant has certainly made a name for herself as a successful SFR author.
If you're looking to venture into this genre, or already love it and haven't tried Ms. Grant yet, then I can definitely recommend picking up one of her books. The Last Warrior is a satisfying read.
Thursday, November 24, 2011
Review: Break Out by Nina Croft
Author: Nina Croft
Title: Break Out (Blood Hunter series book #1)
Genre: Science fiction / paranormal romance
Publisher: Entangled Publishing
ISBN: 9781937044046
The Romance Author's Verdict: 3/5 Stars
Blurb:
Irreverent. Irresponsible. Insatiable. Who says immortals can't have any fun?
The year is 3048, Earth is no longer habitable, and man has fled to the stars where they’ve discovered the secret of immortality—Meridian. Unfortunately, the radioactive mineral is exorbitantly expensive and only available to a select few. A new class comprised of the super rich and immortal soon evolves. The Collective, as they’re called, rule the universe.
Two-thousand-year-old Ricardo Sanchez, vampire and rogue pilot of the space cruiser, El Cazador, can’t resist two things: gorgeous women and impossible jobs. When beautiful Skylar Rossaria approaches him to break a prisoner out of the Collective’s maximum security prison on Trakis One, Rico jumps at the chance. Being hunted by the Collective has never been so dangerous–or so fun.
I wanted this book to be fantastic. I wanted it to blow me away. The cover is to die for. Plus someone took two of my favorite genres and mushed them together. Vampires in space? Come on, how could that not be brilliant? This book had raving 5 star reviews on Goodreads and Amazon. When I finished reading the last page, I wondered what on earth all those people could have been taking to think Break Out deserved a five star review.
Okay, maybe that sounds a bit harsh, maybe I just set my expectations too high when I saw this book compared to the likes of Sherrilyn Kenyon's League series or Ann Aguirre's Grimspace, both of which I love. I'm sorry to say, Break Out doesn't quite live up to either of those titles.
Rico is a vampire, but he's about as cliche as vampires come. Skylar is meant to be a tough warrior-type woman, but to me it felt like she was all talk and no action. The sci-fi aspect felt flimsy at best and there wasn't enough depth with either character to get me involved in the story. I felt like both character's point of view were interchangeable, there wasn't a real 'voice' to differentiate one from the other, leaving them both seeming a bit cardboard.
I think part of the issue in terms of that was because the writing style was very narrative. There was a lot of telling, not showing going on, more than I can ever remember reading in a published book before. If I had of been judging this as a competition entry, or critiquing it, I would have been highlighting passages worth of telling and suggesting the author refine their skill when it came to that particular craft.
However, all that being said, I want to give Ms. Croft the benefit of doubt, because she has books published with Harlequin's Nocturne line. Maybe she was just having a bad day at the office when she wrote this book. So I am going to have a look over her books and pick something else to read.
Its not the worst thing I've ever read, its just lacking depth. If you want a story about vampires in space and don't get your exceptions too high like I did, if you're after a light romp (because the sex scenes were pretty good, I'll give Ms Croft that) then Break Out is an easy afternoon's read.
Title: Break Out (Blood Hunter series book #1)
Genre: Science fiction / paranormal romance
Publisher: Entangled Publishing
ISBN: 9781937044046
The Romance Author's Verdict: 3/5 Stars
Blurb:
Irreverent. Irresponsible. Insatiable. Who says immortals can't have any fun?
The year is 3048, Earth is no longer habitable, and man has fled to the stars where they’ve discovered the secret of immortality—Meridian. Unfortunately, the radioactive mineral is exorbitantly expensive and only available to a select few. A new class comprised of the super rich and immortal soon evolves. The Collective, as they’re called, rule the universe.
Two-thousand-year-old Ricardo Sanchez, vampire and rogue pilot of the space cruiser, El Cazador, can’t resist two things: gorgeous women and impossible jobs. When beautiful Skylar Rossaria approaches him to break a prisoner out of the Collective’s maximum security prison on Trakis One, Rico jumps at the chance. Being hunted by the Collective has never been so dangerous–or so fun.
I wanted this book to be fantastic. I wanted it to blow me away. The cover is to die for. Plus someone took two of my favorite genres and mushed them together. Vampires in space? Come on, how could that not be brilliant? This book had raving 5 star reviews on Goodreads and Amazon. When I finished reading the last page, I wondered what on earth all those people could have been taking to think Break Out deserved a five star review.
Okay, maybe that sounds a bit harsh, maybe I just set my expectations too high when I saw this book compared to the likes of Sherrilyn Kenyon's League series or Ann Aguirre's Grimspace, both of which I love. I'm sorry to say, Break Out doesn't quite live up to either of those titles.
Rico is a vampire, but he's about as cliche as vampires come. Skylar is meant to be a tough warrior-type woman, but to me it felt like she was all talk and no action. The sci-fi aspect felt flimsy at best and there wasn't enough depth with either character to get me involved in the story. I felt like both character's point of view were interchangeable, there wasn't a real 'voice' to differentiate one from the other, leaving them both seeming a bit cardboard.
I think part of the issue in terms of that was because the writing style was very narrative. There was a lot of telling, not showing going on, more than I can ever remember reading in a published book before. If I had of been judging this as a competition entry, or critiquing it, I would have been highlighting passages worth of telling and suggesting the author refine their skill when it came to that particular craft.
However, all that being said, I want to give Ms. Croft the benefit of doubt, because she has books published with Harlequin's Nocturne line. Maybe she was just having a bad day at the office when she wrote this book. So I am going to have a look over her books and pick something else to read.
Its not the worst thing I've ever read, its just lacking depth. If you want a story about vampires in space and don't get your exceptions too high like I did, if you're after a light romp (because the sex scenes were pretty good, I'll give Ms Croft that) then Break Out is an easy afternoon's read.
Thursday, November 17, 2011
Review: Glass Houses by Rachel Caine
Author: Rachel Caine
Title: Glass Houses (Morganville Vampires, book #1)
Genre: Young Adult Paranormal
Publisher: NAL Jam (Imprint of Berkley)
ISBN: 9780451219947
The Romance Author's Verdict: 4/5 Stars
Blurb:
From the author of the popular Weather Warden series comes the debut of an exciting new series set in Morganville, Texas, where you would be well advised to avoid being out after dark.
College freshman Claire Danvers has had enough of her nightmarish dorm situation. When Claire heads off-campus, the imposing old house where she finds a room may not be much better. Her new roommates don't show many signs of life, but they'll have Claire's back when the town's deepest secrets come crawling out, hungry for fresh blood.
After I finished reading this book, I couldn't decide whether or not I liked it. One thing is for sure, I wasn't impressed with the ending. The book didn't finish, it just stopped. Okay, I understand how that might entice your readers into picking up the second book, but I found it annoying and unsatisfying.
It also took me a bit to get into this book, I couldn't connect with Claire. I didn't understand her motivations in wanting to stay in college, within striking distance of those who wanted to seriously hurt her, though her reasons for needing to stay in town did become clearer later on.
This book was an interesting read, which is why I gave it four stars, but you can probably tell from this review I'm still conflicted over it. All of the main characters were interesting and I enjoyed learning their stories and even the threads revealed that will no doubt be dealt with in later books. I also enjoyed the hint of romance, which obviously has the potential to become something big later on.
On the other hand, it is also just another take on teenagers and vampires, I didn't find anything to set it too far apart from other teen-vamp adventures. One other point, I found the writing kept me disconnected from the characters. Much of the writing was very narrative, when I wanted (like usual) to get into the dark depths of the character's thoughts and feelings.
Overall, its not a bad read, which is why I gave it four stars. If you want another teen-vamp romp, and light writing you won't get too sucked into, then the Morganville Vampire books fit the bill. I haven't decided whether or not I'll read any more in the series. If I do, it will be more out of an interest to see if the writing and characters develop any farther, than wanting to know what's going to happen story-wise.
Title: Glass Houses (Morganville Vampires, book #1)
Genre: Young Adult Paranormal
Publisher: NAL Jam (Imprint of Berkley)
ISBN: 9780451219947
The Romance Author's Verdict: 4/5 Stars
Blurb:
From the author of the popular Weather Warden series comes the debut of an exciting new series set in Morganville, Texas, where you would be well advised to avoid being out after dark.
College freshman Claire Danvers has had enough of her nightmarish dorm situation. When Claire heads off-campus, the imposing old house where she finds a room may not be much better. Her new roommates don't show many signs of life, but they'll have Claire's back when the town's deepest secrets come crawling out, hungry for fresh blood.
After I finished reading this book, I couldn't decide whether or not I liked it. One thing is for sure, I wasn't impressed with the ending. The book didn't finish, it just stopped. Okay, I understand how that might entice your readers into picking up the second book, but I found it annoying and unsatisfying.
It also took me a bit to get into this book, I couldn't connect with Claire. I didn't understand her motivations in wanting to stay in college, within striking distance of those who wanted to seriously hurt her, though her reasons for needing to stay in town did become clearer later on.
This book was an interesting read, which is why I gave it four stars, but you can probably tell from this review I'm still conflicted over it. All of the main characters were interesting and I enjoyed learning their stories and even the threads revealed that will no doubt be dealt with in later books. I also enjoyed the hint of romance, which obviously has the potential to become something big later on.
On the other hand, it is also just another take on teenagers and vampires, I didn't find anything to set it too far apart from other teen-vamp adventures. One other point, I found the writing kept me disconnected from the characters. Much of the writing was very narrative, when I wanted (like usual) to get into the dark depths of the character's thoughts and feelings.
Overall, its not a bad read, which is why I gave it four stars. If you want another teen-vamp romp, and light writing you won't get too sucked into, then the Morganville Vampire books fit the bill. I haven't decided whether or not I'll read any more in the series. If I do, it will be more out of an interest to see if the writing and characters develop any farther, than wanting to know what's going to happen story-wise.
Tuesday, November 1, 2011
Review: How I Met My Countess by Elizabeth Boyle
Author: Elizabeth Boyle
Title: How I Met My Countess (book #6 in the Bachelor Chronicles)
Genre: Regency Historical Romance
Publisher: Avon (Imprint of HarperCollins)
ISBN: 978-0-06-178349-4
The Romance Author's Verdict: 5/5 Stars
Blurb:
The Earl of Clifton intended one day to find the perfect countess ...
. . . then he met Lucy. The improper daughter of an infamous spy, Lucy Ellyson saved Clifton's life and taught him everything he needed to know about serving his country . . . even how to fall in love. He vowed he would come back and make her his unlikely countess, but the war kept them apart for too long, and when he finally returned, she'd vanished.
Lucy hadn't gone far—living a new life in the heart of Mayfair. But proper Society hasn't taught her how to mend her scandalous ways, and when Clifton happens upon her, she's landed in the sort of trouble that only a hasty marriage can solve. He's more than willing to be the hero she taught him to be and make her his countess, but all too quickly, secrets from their past threaten the passionate love that ignites them both . . .
The day is yet to come when I am disappointed in an Elizabeth Boyle book. Its no small wonder to be able to pick up a book by an author and know without a doubt that you'll be sitting up late at night, frantically flicking pages, just to find out what happens next.
I will admit, this book started off a little slow. When we were introduced to the hero and heroine, the Earl of Clifton, and Lucy Ellyson-cum-Lady Standon, I felt a little in the dark. They had a past together and their accidental meeting on the street was full of innuendo about things I didn't quite get. Then in the following chapter, we flash back seven years earlier. At this point, despite my obvious love of Ms. Boyle's work, I found myself worried. Was this going to be one of those back-and-forth kind of stories that leave me with a headache from trying to remember where and when I should be?
Of course, I shouldn't have worried. From that point the story stays in chronological order leading back to the chance meeting in the street and then tying everything together quite cleverly.The little hooks and hints Ms. Boyle masterfully drops into the story keeps you guessing right up to the last few chapters. And even once you have mostly worked out the entire story, you still find yourself hurrying through the pages to get to the unavoidable confrontation, just to see how the characters are going to react.
As always, Ms Boyle has written a fabulous historical romance, and I'll be going on to read Mad About the Duke as soon as I can get my hands on it.
If you love a historical romance with something a bit extra; espionage and adventure, then you need to read Elizabeth Boyle. You'll never be disappointed by one of her books.
Title: How I Met My Countess (book #6 in the Bachelor Chronicles)
Genre: Regency Historical Romance
Publisher: Avon (Imprint of HarperCollins)
ISBN: 978-0-06-178349-4
The Romance Author's Verdict: 5/5 Stars
Blurb:
The Earl of Clifton intended one day to find the perfect countess ...
. . . then he met Lucy. The improper daughter of an infamous spy, Lucy Ellyson saved Clifton's life and taught him everything he needed to know about serving his country . . . even how to fall in love. He vowed he would come back and make her his unlikely countess, but the war kept them apart for too long, and when he finally returned, she'd vanished.
Lucy hadn't gone far—living a new life in the heart of Mayfair. But proper Society hasn't taught her how to mend her scandalous ways, and when Clifton happens upon her, she's landed in the sort of trouble that only a hasty marriage can solve. He's more than willing to be the hero she taught him to be and make her his countess, but all too quickly, secrets from their past threaten the passionate love that ignites them both . . .
The day is yet to come when I am disappointed in an Elizabeth Boyle book. Its no small wonder to be able to pick up a book by an author and know without a doubt that you'll be sitting up late at night, frantically flicking pages, just to find out what happens next.
I will admit, this book started off a little slow. When we were introduced to the hero and heroine, the Earl of Clifton, and Lucy Ellyson-cum-Lady Standon, I felt a little in the dark. They had a past together and their accidental meeting on the street was full of innuendo about things I didn't quite get. Then in the following chapter, we flash back seven years earlier. At this point, despite my obvious love of Ms. Boyle's work, I found myself worried. Was this going to be one of those back-and-forth kind of stories that leave me with a headache from trying to remember where and when I should be?
Of course, I shouldn't have worried. From that point the story stays in chronological order leading back to the chance meeting in the street and then tying everything together quite cleverly.The little hooks and hints Ms. Boyle masterfully drops into the story keeps you guessing right up to the last few chapters. And even once you have mostly worked out the entire story, you still find yourself hurrying through the pages to get to the unavoidable confrontation, just to see how the characters are going to react.
As always, Ms Boyle has written a fabulous historical romance, and I'll be going on to read Mad About the Duke as soon as I can get my hands on it.
If you love a historical romance with something a bit extra; espionage and adventure, then you need to read Elizabeth Boyle. You'll never be disappointed by one of her books.
Friday, October 21, 2011
Review: Whisper No Lies by Cindy Gerard
Author: Cindy Gerard
Title: Whisper No Lies (3rd book in the BOIs series)
Genre: Romantic Suspense
Publisher: Pocket Star Books Romance (Imprint of Simon & Schuster Inc)
ISBN:978-1-4165-6675-5
The Romance Author's Verdict: 4/5 Stars
AN INDECENT PROPOSAL...
When a high roller at the Vegas casino where Crystal Debrowski manages security makes a scandalous proposition, she flat-out refuses, especially given rumors of his shady overseas connections. But then counterfeit bills mysteriously flood the gaming tables, and her reputation — and her life — are on the line.
REVEALS A SIMMERING DESIRE...
Despite his big, flirty grin, Texas heartbreaker Johnny Duane Reed can't get sassy Crystal off his mind. When she is abducted by an international crime lord with a threatening obsession, Reed enlists his Black Ops, Inc. team to pursue a dangerous mission to rescue her.
...WITH DEADLY CONSEQUENCES.
Between Crystal and Johnny burns a scorching flame, but as they battle her relentless abductor, they uncover a malicious arms trafficking and white slavery ring. Together, they must destroy the tyrant's wicked enterprises or face his reign of terror themselves....
I've got to be in the right mood to pick up a Cindy Gerard book. I know she's a New York Times Bestselling Author, but I've found her to be a bit hit and miss. I read the first book in the Black Ops Inc, or BOIs series, Show No Mercy, and thought "meh". It was okay, but wasn't going to make me rush out and read the next one. In fact I skipped the second one, Take No Prisoners, and went straight to this one for the simple fact that out of all the BOI team members, I really liked Johnny Reed and Whisper No Lies is his book.
This was a simple, quick read. The facts are straight forward, the characters easy to understand and there's enough action to keep you engaged. I think these elements are why Ms. Gerard is a NYT Bestseller. Johnny didn't disappoint. His journey of falling for Crystal and then coming to grips with it was very well done. Likewise, Crystal's own challenges, both physical and mental, made for a contrast at some points, but also sometimes mirrored Johnny's struggles. I don't remember reading another book where both characters were coming to terms with commitment issues for different reasons and Ms Gerard handled this really well.
So if you like an action packed romantic suspense and an easy read you don't have to put too much effort into thinking about, then Whisper No Lies hits all the right marks.
Title: Whisper No Lies (3rd book in the BOIs series)
Genre: Romantic Suspense
Publisher: Pocket Star Books Romance (Imprint of Simon & Schuster Inc)
ISBN:978-1-4165-6675-5
The Romance Author's Verdict: 4/5 Stars
AN INDECENT PROPOSAL...
When a high roller at the Vegas casino where Crystal Debrowski manages security makes a scandalous proposition, she flat-out refuses, especially given rumors of his shady overseas connections. But then counterfeit bills mysteriously flood the gaming tables, and her reputation — and her life — are on the line.
REVEALS A SIMMERING DESIRE...
Despite his big, flirty grin, Texas heartbreaker Johnny Duane Reed can't get sassy Crystal off his mind. When she is abducted by an international crime lord with a threatening obsession, Reed enlists his Black Ops, Inc. team to pursue a dangerous mission to rescue her.
...WITH DEADLY CONSEQUENCES.
Between Crystal and Johnny burns a scorching flame, but as they battle her relentless abductor, they uncover a malicious arms trafficking and white slavery ring. Together, they must destroy the tyrant's wicked enterprises or face his reign of terror themselves....
I've got to be in the right mood to pick up a Cindy Gerard book. I know she's a New York Times Bestselling Author, but I've found her to be a bit hit and miss. I read the first book in the Black Ops Inc, or BOIs series, Show No Mercy, and thought "meh". It was okay, but wasn't going to make me rush out and read the next one. In fact I skipped the second one, Take No Prisoners, and went straight to this one for the simple fact that out of all the BOI team members, I really liked Johnny Reed and Whisper No Lies is his book.
This was a simple, quick read. The facts are straight forward, the characters easy to understand and there's enough action to keep you engaged. I think these elements are why Ms. Gerard is a NYT Bestseller. Johnny didn't disappoint. His journey of falling for Crystal and then coming to grips with it was very well done. Likewise, Crystal's own challenges, both physical and mental, made for a contrast at some points, but also sometimes mirrored Johnny's struggles. I don't remember reading another book where both characters were coming to terms with commitment issues for different reasons and Ms Gerard handled this really well.
So if you like an action packed romantic suspense and an easy read you don't have to put too much effort into thinking about, then Whisper No Lies hits all the right marks.
Monday, October 17, 2011
Review: Dragon Bound by Thea Harrison
Author: Thea Harrison
Title: Dragon Bound
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Publisher: Berkley Sensation (Penguin Group)
ISBN: 978-0-425-24150-9
The Romance Author's Verdict: 4/5 Stars
Half-human and half-wyr, Pia Giovanni spent her life keeping a low profile among the wyrkind and avoiding the continuing conflict between them and their Dark Fae enemies. But after being blackmailed into stealing a coin from the hoard of a dragon, Pia finds herself targeted by one of the most powerful–and passionate—of the Elder Races.
As the most feared and respected of the wyrkind, Dragos Cuelebre cannot believe someone had the audacity to steal from him, much less succeed. And when he catches the thief, Dragos spares her life, claiming her as his own to further explore the desire they’ve ignited in one another.
Ms Harrison's writing is new and unique, a voice that I think will become brilliant in its uniqueness, much the same way authors like JR Ward, Sherrilyn Kenyon, or Kresley Cole did. The book is mostly written in third person, but every so often a paragraph or two, or sometimes just a sentence, was delivered in first person. Initially, I couldn't decide if I like this style or not, but as the book continued on, I could see that with Ms Harrison's voice, it was working quite well.
The only thing I couldn't agree with was the 'head-hopping.' I'm not a fan of changing character point of view midway through a scene and then even changing back a few paragraphs later. I know some publishers and agents will reject a manuscript written in such a way, so I find it interesting that Ms. Harrison has broken some of the current 'rules', yet found success anyway.
Style aside, I'm now very interested to read the next few books in the series. I imagine that if Ms Harrison has really honed and strengthened this unique voice, then the books will only get better.
In terms of the story, I was a bit dubious about the whole dragon-thing. I've read a few dragon-shifter books, but none of them ever made much of an impression on me. However, Ms Harrison managed to change my mind on the issue. To me, Dragos acted very much in line with a primitive type of dragon nature, which made for an impressive hero.
Character-wise, I couldn't really fault this book. Dragos was the kind of old-school, true alpha male you don't come across very often, but contrary to his nature, he did bend enough to accommodate Pia in his life. On the other side of the relationship, though Pia often doubted herself, in the moments that counted she showed real strength, which I think made her more realistic and believable.
If you enjoy shifters, and real tough alpha males, then I'd definitely recommend this book, you won't be sorry.
Title: Dragon Bound
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Publisher: Berkley Sensation (Penguin Group)
ISBN: 978-0-425-24150-9
The Romance Author's Verdict: 4/5 Stars
Half-human and half-wyr, Pia Giovanni spent her life keeping a low profile among the wyrkind and avoiding the continuing conflict between them and their Dark Fae enemies. But after being blackmailed into stealing a coin from the hoard of a dragon, Pia finds herself targeted by one of the most powerful–and passionate—of the Elder Races.
As the most feared and respected of the wyrkind, Dragos Cuelebre cannot believe someone had the audacity to steal from him, much less succeed. And when he catches the thief, Dragos spares her life, claiming her as his own to further explore the desire they’ve ignited in one another.
Ms Harrison's writing is new and unique, a voice that I think will become brilliant in its uniqueness, much the same way authors like JR Ward, Sherrilyn Kenyon, or Kresley Cole did. The book is mostly written in third person, but every so often a paragraph or two, or sometimes just a sentence, was delivered in first person. Initially, I couldn't decide if I like this style or not, but as the book continued on, I could see that with Ms Harrison's voice, it was working quite well.
The only thing I couldn't agree with was the 'head-hopping.' I'm not a fan of changing character point of view midway through a scene and then even changing back a few paragraphs later. I know some publishers and agents will reject a manuscript written in such a way, so I find it interesting that Ms. Harrison has broken some of the current 'rules', yet found success anyway.
Style aside, I'm now very interested to read the next few books in the series. I imagine that if Ms Harrison has really honed and strengthened this unique voice, then the books will only get better.
In terms of the story, I was a bit dubious about the whole dragon-thing. I've read a few dragon-shifter books, but none of them ever made much of an impression on me. However, Ms Harrison managed to change my mind on the issue. To me, Dragos acted very much in line with a primitive type of dragon nature, which made for an impressive hero.
Character-wise, I couldn't really fault this book. Dragos was the kind of old-school, true alpha male you don't come across very often, but contrary to his nature, he did bend enough to accommodate Pia in his life. On the other side of the relationship, though Pia often doubted herself, in the moments that counted she showed real strength, which I think made her more realistic and believable.
If you enjoy shifters, and real tough alpha males, then I'd definitely recommend this book, you won't be sorry.
Tuesday, October 11, 2011
Review (Theirs Not to Reason Why) A Soldier's Duty
Author: Jean Johnson
Title: Theirs Not To Reason Why: A Soldier's Duty
Genre: Science Fiction (military based)
Publisher: ACE Science Fiction (Imprint of Penguin Books)
ISBN: 978-0-441-02063-8
The Romance Author's Verdict: 3/5 stars.
Blurb:
...What if you could see the future? What if you foresaw that, three hundred years from your time, your entire galaxy would be destroyed in an overwhelming invasion? What would you do to stop it, when it would all happen long after you were dead and gone?
These are the questions that Ia must face, and the obstacles she must overcome. Spurred by her teenaged visions of an apocalyptic future, the young heavyworlder woman seeks to set up a series of events, a domino-chain of actions and repercussions that will hopefully stop the coming invaders long after her time has passed. But in order to do so, she must enter the military and engage in a four-front war: an old, barely contained enemy whose twin goals of galactic conquest and lunch terrify all sane sentients; an ancient foe whose technology vastly outstrips anything the Alliance can fling at it; a fanatic, xenophobic religious movement on her homeworld which Ia dares not stop; and her ongoing battle against Time itself.
If Ia fails, the stars and planets of the Milky Way will cease to exist, and so will the countless lives that depend on them. But the odds of her winning the ultimate battle are very, very small, when even the slightest, most innocent-seeming misstep could domino down through time in the wrong way, and doom untold septillions of sentients to a dark and terrifying fall. Bound by the ice of her duty, burned by the fires of her conscience, driven by what she foresees, Ia must become the herald of death herself:
The soldier known as Bloody Mary.
For people who like hard-core military sci-fi, this book will be something they'll love. For me personally, I felt like the focus on military and world building detracted from what could have been a really great story.
The first half of the book was a hard slog, I literally skipped three pages of a conversation about military leadership, four pages that talked about guns and nothing else, another four or five pages on military vehicles, a few pages on different worlds, and a whole bunch of pages where a scene which could have been suspenseful and pithy was dragged out for too long. I tried to stick with it, forcing myself to get through the character's training, to when she got her first posting, expecting the story would become more interesting and easier to read... except it didn't.
I think what let this story down was the female protagonist, Ia. I expected that her character might get a "life lesson" somewhere along the way, but it never came. Everything that got thrown her way, she could see into the future and find ways of handling it. Her character was meant to be only 18 when she joined the military, but right from the start, she acted like a 30 or 40 year old. Okay, I understand she had the weight of the future on her shoulders and had to grow up fast to take on the universe, but people, all people, have self doubt. Even Superman doubted his own abilities to succeed at times. Ia's unflinching self assurance made her character a bit too unbelievable and hard to connect with. Some of her "tough" moments where she "proved" herself to her fellow soldiers felt forced. I can't ever remember reading a book where the character development made me like the character less as the story went on. A disappointment, because the idea behind the story is fantastic. Execution could have been better.
Like I said, people who enjoy hard-core military sci-fi will probably love this. I wanted more angst from the characters to make it believable.
Title: Theirs Not To Reason Why: A Soldier's Duty
Genre: Science Fiction (military based)
Publisher: ACE Science Fiction (Imprint of Penguin Books)
ISBN: 978-0-441-02063-8
The Romance Author's Verdict: 3/5 stars.
Blurb:
...What if you could see the future? What if you foresaw that, three hundred years from your time, your entire galaxy would be destroyed in an overwhelming invasion? What would you do to stop it, when it would all happen long after you were dead and gone?
These are the questions that Ia must face, and the obstacles she must overcome. Spurred by her teenaged visions of an apocalyptic future, the young heavyworlder woman seeks to set up a series of events, a domino-chain of actions and repercussions that will hopefully stop the coming invaders long after her time has passed. But in order to do so, she must enter the military and engage in a four-front war: an old, barely contained enemy whose twin goals of galactic conquest and lunch terrify all sane sentients; an ancient foe whose technology vastly outstrips anything the Alliance can fling at it; a fanatic, xenophobic religious movement on her homeworld which Ia dares not stop; and her ongoing battle against Time itself.
If Ia fails, the stars and planets of the Milky Way will cease to exist, and so will the countless lives that depend on them. But the odds of her winning the ultimate battle are very, very small, when even the slightest, most innocent-seeming misstep could domino down through time in the wrong way, and doom untold septillions of sentients to a dark and terrifying fall. Bound by the ice of her duty, burned by the fires of her conscience, driven by what she foresees, Ia must become the herald of death herself:
The soldier known as Bloody Mary.
For people who like hard-core military sci-fi, this book will be something they'll love. For me personally, I felt like the focus on military and world building detracted from what could have been a really great story.
The first half of the book was a hard slog, I literally skipped three pages of a conversation about military leadership, four pages that talked about guns and nothing else, another four or five pages on military vehicles, a few pages on different worlds, and a whole bunch of pages where a scene which could have been suspenseful and pithy was dragged out for too long. I tried to stick with it, forcing myself to get through the character's training, to when she got her first posting, expecting the story would become more interesting and easier to read... except it didn't.
I think what let this story down was the female protagonist, Ia. I expected that her character might get a "life lesson" somewhere along the way, but it never came. Everything that got thrown her way, she could see into the future and find ways of handling it. Her character was meant to be only 18 when she joined the military, but right from the start, she acted like a 30 or 40 year old. Okay, I understand she had the weight of the future on her shoulders and had to grow up fast to take on the universe, but people, all people, have self doubt. Even Superman doubted his own abilities to succeed at times. Ia's unflinching self assurance made her character a bit too unbelievable and hard to connect with. Some of her "tough" moments where she "proved" herself to her fellow soldiers felt forced. I can't ever remember reading a book where the character development made me like the character less as the story went on. A disappointment, because the idea behind the story is fantastic. Execution could have been better.
Like I said, people who enjoy hard-core military sci-fi will probably love this. I wanted more angst from the characters to make it believable.
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