4+ stars - really interesting time loop fantasy. I really liked that with the month long loop there is time to develop relationships and that it also 4+ stars - really interesting time loop fantasy. I really liked that with the month long loop there is time to develop relationships and that it also gives the lead time to gather pieces to the puzzle to figure out what is going on. I also like that he uses the extra time he is given to level up his powers.
I have generally been shying away from longer books, but even at 695 pages this didn't bogg down - I enjoyed the magic lessons and there is a well thought out magic system in the frame work....more
This was a great installment. I've really enjoyed this and am sad that there won't be more. This is still worth reading, just skip the last chapter wiThis was a great installment. I've really enjoyed this and am sad that there won't be more. This is still worth reading, just skip the last chapter with the cliff-hanger set up for future books that never were:(...more
Chaos Tryst fit very nicely into the fairy tale romance spin off 'kick' I've been on lately, since it stars the golden dread-locked Ariana Golde in thChaos Tryst fit very nicely into the fairy tale romance spin off 'kick' I've been on lately, since it stars the golden dread-locked Ariana Golde in the role of "Goldilocks" and bear shifter Maksim Medved with small supporting appearances by his brothers, as the 'three bears'. Here Ariana is not a wandering child, she's the daughter of two gods and a 'retriever' which is not exactly a thief - that's good, because with her affinity for chaos she'd be a pretty inept one. The pair comes together on a bungled retrieval - Ari is interrupted while removing an artifact from the Medved's abode. So it is not too surprising that Maks is not too appreciative of the distinction between thief and 'retriever' since the item which Ariana claims 'belongs' to someone else - or else she wouldn't be liberating it - has been in his family since his father crafted as a gift for his mother. Even though the truth of Ari's claim is proven by magic, Maks isn't about to give up so easily and attaches himself to Ari as she goes about her business, determined to confront Ari's client when it comes time for Ari to drop off the item. And since Maks also has a talent for chaos which interacts with Ari's in ways that are sometimes explosive, the together the two or them create a fair amount of mayhem.
While I enjoyed the idea of the more archaic elements anachronistically woven in with modern day trappings, and the mix of being from fairy tales, classic fantasy, and myths, the story would have benefited from a bit more definition in the world building. There are elements which make it seem like this might not be a pure fantasy world, and there are humans mixed in with the mythic and fairy tale beings, Bluetooth, and Maks' top notch kitchen, but it is never clear whether this is a corner of our world or if the world of fairy tales has just progressed from the medieval times to the modern. And since not as many readers are familiar with Japanese and African deities and myths, slipping in just a tad more explanation about why Maksi calls Ari kitsune (a Japanese fox spirit) and about Inari and Anansi (a Japanese goddess of luck and change, and an African spider trickster god, who are Ari's parents) would have helped too.
I really liked both Ari and Maks. Part of the pair's appeal is that they are both well fleshed out. Ari sees herself as a misfit but she's a happy playful one and she's determined to get grumpy bear Maks to smile, and she secretly nurtures a long held crush for Maks that becomes 'more' over the course of the story. I enjoyed Maks who tries to resist Ari, due to the fact that she brings out the part of his nature that has left him feeling responsible for his parents fate, the nature he's tried to contain ever since, but fortunately his inner bear isn't taking 'no' for an answer.
So when the last page was turned, I still enjoyed Chaos Tryst, largely because I am very character-centric. And even though with just a bit more clarity in the world building department, this would have been great, what was here was still a good fantasy romp with just a touch of romance.
ARC provided by Carina Press via NetGalley
Merged review:
Chaos Tryst fit very nicely into the fairy tale romance spin off 'kick' I've been on lately, since it stars the golden dread-locked Ariana Golde in the role of "Goldilocks" and bear shifter Maksim Medved with small supporting appearances by his brothers, as the 'three bears'. Here Ariana is not a wandering child, she's the daughter of two gods and a 'retriever' which is not exactly a thief - that's good, because with her affinity for chaos she'd be a pretty inept one. The pair comes together on a bungled retrieval - Ari is interrupted while removing an artifact from the Medved's abode. So it is not too surprising that Maks is not too appreciative of the distinction between thief and 'retriever' since the item which Ariana claims 'belongs' to someone else - or else she wouldn't be liberating it - has been in his family since his father crafted as a gift for his mother. Even though the truth of Ari's claim is proven by magic, Maks isn't about to give up so easily and attaches himself to Ari as she goes about her business, determined to confront Ari's client when it comes time for Ari to drop off the item. And since Maks also has a talent for chaos which interacts with Ari's in ways that are sometimes explosive, the together the two or them create a fair amount of mayhem.
While I enjoyed the idea of the more archaic elements anachronistically woven in with modern day trappings, and the mix of being from fairy tales, classic fantasy, and myths, the story would have benefited from a bit more definition in the world building. There are elements which make it seem like this might not be a pure fantasy world, and there are humans mixed in with the mythic and fairy tale beings, Bluetooth, and Maks' top notch kitchen, but it is never clear whether this is a corner of our world or if the world of fairy tales has just progressed from the medieval times to the modern. And since not as many readers are familiar with Japanese and African deities and myths, slipping in just a tad more explanation about why Maksi calls Ari kitsune (a Japanese fox spirit) and about Inari and Anansi (a Japanese goddess of luck and change, and an African spider trickster god, who are Ari's parents) would have helped too.
I really liked both Ari and Maks. Part of the pair's appeal is that they are both well fleshed out. Ari sees herself as a misfit but she's a happy playful one and she's determined to get grumpy bear Maks to smile, and she secretly nurtures a long held crush for Maks that becomes 'more' over the course of the story. I enjoyed Maks who tries to resist Ari, due to the fact that she brings out the part of his nature that has left him feeling responsible for his parents fate, the nature he's tried to contain ever since, but fortunately his inner bear isn't taking 'no' for an answer.
So when the last page was turned, I still enjoyed Chaos Tryst, largely because I am very character-centric. And even though with just a bit more clarity in the world building department, this would have been great, what was here was still a good fantasy romp with just a touch of romance.
3.5 stars - Lots if steamy shifter lovin' but I liked the ones that had a bit more story to go with the smexy stuff.
Bear Your Teeth - Lynn Red- This w3.5 stars - Lots if steamy shifter lovin' but I liked the ones that had a bit more story to go with the smexy stuff.
Bear Your Teeth - Lynn Red- This was actually pretty cute, bunny with front teeth issues and a bear shifter dentist unite. It was smexy but still fun.
To Screech His Own - Marina Maddox - This was also cute and smexy, an Eagle shifter and a Kitty Cat one star in the first of a series set in a Fantasy Island style resort.
Tiger By The Tail -Jessica Simms- I bought this collection for this Midnight Liasons connected short. A new tiger shifter who was turned against her will is trying to avoid shifting and makes a bet with her new keeper. This was pretty quick but Simms writes a good steamy short.
Waking Up Were -Celia Kyle - This had the thinnest of setups before mating pheromones had wolf alpha a a newly turned wolf (in denial) clenching, drenching a throbbing with desire for each other. It just didn't grab me.
Bears Repeating - Flora Dare - A wolverine shifter finds two bear mates. I am not fond of menage romances, and the H's didn't really come out of the woodwork enough for me to care about their HEA with the wolverine shifter -though she is pretty good - in fact a side character has more interactions with the heroine than her two bears. Actually having two H's didn't add anything to the story outside of the sex 'sandwich' at the end.
Merged review:
3.5 stars - Lots if steamy shifter lovin' but I liked the ones that had a bit more story to go with the smexy stuff.
Bear Your Teeth - Lynn Red- This was actually pretty cute, bunny with front teeth issues and a bear shifter dentist unite. It was smexy but still fun.
To Screech His Own - Marina Maddox - This was also cute and smexy, an Eagle shifter and a Kitty Cat one star in the first of a series set in a Fantasy Island style resort.
Tiger By The Tail -Jessica Simms- I bought this collection for this Midnight Liasons connected short. A new tiger shifter who was turned against her will is trying to avoid shifting and makes a bet with her new keeper. This was pretty quick but Simms writes a good steamy short.
Waking Up Were -Celia Kyle - This had the thinnest of setups before mating pheromones had wolf alpha a a newly turned wolf (in denial) clenching, drenching a throbbing with desire for each other. It just didn't grab me.
Bears Repeating - Flora Dare - A wolverine shifter finds two bear mates. I am not fond of menage romances, and the H's didn't really come out of the woodwork enough for me to care about their HEA with the wolverine shifter -though she is pretty good - in fact a side character has more interactions with the heroine than her two bears. Actually having two H's didn't add anything to the story outside of the sex 'sandwich' at the end....more
I'd already read the first brother's book. I think I liked that one better, in this one the pair already knew each other so it went smexy and stayed tI'd already read the first brother's book. I think I liked that one better, in this one the pair already knew each other so it went smexy and stayed there.
Merged review:
I'd already read the first brother's book. I think I liked that one better, in this one the pair already knew each other so it went smexy and stayed there....more
I really liked Phoenix Rising, a psychic powers/special ops/romance, which had a good balance in the smex/story department and with just about the rigI really liked Phoenix Rising, a psychic powers/special ops/romance, which had a good balance in the smex/story department and with just about the right amount of steamy stuff (including one very explosive coupling). I liked both of the leads Psychiatrist Beth Nakimora, who is sent to help telekinetic/pyrokinetic Alec to learn to hone his people skills, but she actually has a hidden purpose for wanting to help Alec. And I like Alec, who with his impressive powers, is more than confident in some ways but, since he was raised in a pseudo military setting, is a bit naive when he's introduced to the world outside (I found that appealing.) There were also a couple other fairly well fleshed out characters in the background including the heroine's dad and the bad guy who could have been cartoonish if not for a bit of insight into him at the end. And with Alec and his team training and going out on several missions there was also some good action and when all is said and done there is a promising set up for more books.
So I enjoyed Corina Lawson's first Phoenix Institute story and I am looking forward to the second full length book, Phoenix Legacy which is Beth's father's book and is out soon (November 2012) – and happy that there is a short story for me to check out in the interim.
I really liked Phoenix Rising, a psychic powers/special ops/romance, which had a good balance in the smex/story department and with just about the right amount of steamy stuff (including one very explosive coupling). I liked both of the leads Psychiatrist Beth Nakimora, who is sent to help telekinetic/pyrokinetic Alec to learn to hone his people skills, but she actually has a hidden purpose for wanting to help Alec. And I like Alec, who with his impressive powers, is more than confident in some ways but, since he was raised in a pseudo military setting, is a bit naive when he's introduced to the world outside (I found that appealing.) There were also a couple other fairly well fleshed out characters in the background including the heroine's dad and the bad guy who could have been cartoonish if not for a bit of insight into him at the end. And with Alec and his team training and going out on several missions there was also some good action and when all is said and done there is a promising set up for more books.
So I enjoyed Corina Lawson's first Phoenix Institute story and I am looking forward to the second full length book, Phoenix Legacy which is Beth's father's book and is out soon (November 2012) – and happy that there is a short story for me to check out in the interim.
3.5 stars - This picks up immediately after the cliffhanger ending of Superheroes Anonymous - thank goodness I had both books to read back to back. G 3.5 stars - This picks up immediately after the cliffhanger ending of Superheroes Anonymous - thank goodness I had both books to read back to back. Gail ,aka Hostage Girl has been framed and railroaded and is off to prison -the same prison where all of her former kidnappers are incarcerated. Prison is nothing like she thought it would be and her roommate is the original supervillianess - who has a weird agenda when it comes to Gail.
I like this, I've like Gail who is desperately trying to shed her damsel roll now that she has superpowers of her own - and all that past peril have has made her clear headed in a crisis. I also liked many of the characters around her. So I enjoyed this second book, and though while pretty much all of the threads left dangling off the cliff from that book are tied off here the story if still left open and ending on another cliffie - and I liked super heroes as a change out pace and would definitively pick up another book to see what happens next.
Merged review:
3.5 stars - This picks up immediately after the cliffhanger ending of Superheroes Anonymous - thank goodness I had both books to read back to back. Gail ,aka Hostage Girl has been framed and railroaded and is off to prison -the same prison where all of her former kidnappers are incarcerated. Prison is nothing like she thought it would be and her roommate is the original supervillianess - who has a weird agenda when it comes to Gail.
I like this, I've like Gail who is desperately trying to shed her damsel roll now that she has superpowers of her own - and all that past peril have has made her clear headed in a crisis. I also liked many of the characters around her. So I enjoyed this second book, and though while pretty much all of the threads left dangling off the cliff from that book are tied off here the story if still left open and ending on another cliffie - and I liked super heroes as a change out pace and would definitively pick up another book to see what happens next....more
3.5 stars -I really liked the 'geek' romance, but the dragon in the background arc didn't really do it for me - I guess I was expecting paranormal rom3.5 stars -I really liked the 'geek' romance, but the dragon in the background arc didn't really do it for me - I guess I was expecting paranormal romance. Still yummy slightly nerdy (but still cute and fit) hero was enough of a plus - despite not being a dragon shifter - that I can give the rest a pass.
Merged review:
3.5 stars -I really liked the 'geek' romance, but the dragon in the background arc didn't really do it for me - I guess I was expecting paranormal romance. Still yummy slightly nerdy (but still cute and fit) hero was enough of a plus - despite not being a dragon shifter - that I can give the rest a pass....more
Melindeeloo
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