Title: Demon Lover's Box Set Series: Demon Lovers Author: Kate Douglas Genre: Erotica, Romance Blurb: After barely surviving a vicious attack, Addie LoganTitle: Demon Lover's Box Set Series: Demon Lovers Author: Kate Douglas Genre: Erotica, Romance Blurb: After barely surviving a vicious attack, Addie Logan awakens to find two gorgeous men standing over her bedside. Unsure if they are real or a figment of her imagination, she reaches out and unleashes an erotic hunger like none she's ever known. But these men need more from her than just erotic pleasure. They are demon hunters, and the attack on Addie in the park has made her one of them. Together the three will forge an erotic and loving relationship while tirelessly fighting the demonic threat to humanity. Thoughts: The "box set" is basically five short stories combined together that make maybe one full length novel. It includes: Unbalanced, Unbound, Unmasked, Unleashed, and Undaunted. First off, as with any books by Kate Douglas, I feel the need to warn readers. She is not for everyone. Her books are not just erotic, but highly so - more so than most erotica. This book features not just the ménage aspect, but also some M/M action and M/M/F/M as well, so you need to be aware of that going into the book. With that said, I thought the books were very well done. Each one was a bit too short for me. I thought they should have been drawn out as five full-length novels, but that's just me. It wasn't that they lacked anything, but at each ending of one and start of the next you just had this, "Wow! Already?" moment. I thought there would be more to each one. Also, if you are already a fan of Kate Douglas, this just wasn't up to her Wolf Tales series. The plotline was there, but the execution is just missing. The action is quick but brief - almost hurried. As always, there is chemistry between the characters, but not much time spent on the emotional build-up. And the intimate scenes pretty much consist of one detailed scene that we are accustomed to reading from Kate, but the rest is just sort of stated with no details. If you are new to her works, then I recommend this as a nice way to get your feet with the author. It gives a sneak-peak as to what to expect from her. Rate: B+
Title: Demon Lover's Box Set Series: Demon Lovers Author: Kate Douglas Genre: Erotica, Romance Blurb: After barely surviving a vicious attack, Addie Logan awakens to find two gorgeous men standing over her bedside. Unsure if they are real or a figment of her imagination, she reaches out and unleashes an erotic hunger like none she's ever known. But these men need more from her than just erotic pleasure. They are demon hunters, and the attack on Addie in the park has made her one of them. Together the three will forge an erotic and loving relationship while tirelessly fighting the demonic threat to humanity. Thoughts: The "box set" is basically five short stories combined together that make maybe one full length novel. It includes: Unbalanced, Unbound, Unmasked, Unleashed, and Undaunted. First off, as with any books by Kate Douglas, I feel the need to warn readers. She is not for everyone. Her books are not just erotic, but highly so - more so than most erotica. This book features not just the ménage aspect, but also some M/M action and M/M/F/M as well, so you need to be aware of that going into the book. With that said, I thought the books were very well done. Each one was a bit too short for me. I thought they should have been drawn out as five full-length novels, but that's just me. It wasn't that they lacked anything, but at each ending of one and start of the next you just had this, "Wow! Already?" moment. I thought there would be more to each one. Also, if you are already a fan of Kate Douglas, this just wasn't up to her Wolf Tales series. The plotline was there, but the execution is just missing. The action is quick but brief - almost hurried. As always, there is chemistry between the characters, but not much time spent on the emotional build-up. And the intimate scenes pretty much consist of one detailed scene that we are accustomed to reading from Kate, but the rest is just sort of stated with no details. If you are new to her works, then I recommend this as a nice way to get your feet with the author. It gives a sneak-peak as to what to expect from her. Rate: B+
I'm not sure where to start with this one. When this series came out I was on the fence about it. While I liked the premise of it I was wasn't sure if I'm not sure where to start with this one. When this series came out I was on the fence about it. While I liked the premise of it I was wasn't sure if I was going to like the male characters as they seemed extra Alpha to me. More than in Feehan's other books.
It took me a bit to get into but I eventually fell in love with this family. If you love big messy Italian families with lots of enemies and ghosts from the past then you will love this story.
Blurb: He walked away once; he won't do it againTitle: Dark Protector
Series: Moon Shifter Book #6 Author: Katie Reus
Genre: Romance, Shifter, Paranormal
Blurb: He walked away once; he won't do it again.
Wolf shifter Aldric Kazan is no stranger to pain. Since the loss of his mate a century ago, he won't allow himself to fall for someone again—not even the feisty female who stirs things in him that he thought were gone long ago. But as a supernatural investigator, he's forced to team up with the same woman he vowed to stay away from.
She let him in once; she refuses to do it again.
Natalia Cordona refuses to back down from any challenge—even if it means joining forces with Aldric, the sexy and brooding man who won't get too close. Locating missing vampires before a volatile war breaks out seems nearly impossible as the duo struggle with their explosive and undeniable attraction. Now it's up to Natalia and Aldric to trust each other to stop an all-out war from breaking out that would destroy the harmony they've all worked so hard for.
Thoughts: As always, Reus has hit a home run with this one. I thoroughly enjoyed Dark Protector…there is just something about a male who has been fighting so hard against love but eventually realizes how much he has to lose. Something that has him fighting to keep her when for so long he has just been pushing her away. That alone keeps me glued to the pages, but throw in a writer like Reus that writes with such vividness and you have an instant book favorite.
Blurb: From two different worlds…Now that she’s escaped hTitle: Hunted by Darkness
Series: Darkness Book #4 Author: Katie Reus
Genre: Romance, Paranormal
Blurb: From two different worlds…Now that she’s escaped her oppressive family, Nyx is enjoying her new life and friends—even if most of her friends don’t know who or what she is. As a rare demigod, she’s just learning how powerful she truly is, but family drama turns her world upside down, throwing the one man she cares about into danger.
He wasn’t supposed to fall for her…Nyx is nothing like the females half-demon Bo Broussard has been with. Sweet and innocent, she’s not even remotely his type. But the moment she walks into his bar, he knows he’s not letting her go. Unfortunately someone from her past thinks they can force her into an arranged marriage.
He’s not letting her go…Someone is targeting one of them, and Bo doesn’t know why. When they’re thrown into a Hell realm together, he and Nyx will need to band together if they want to survive the perils of that world. No matter who was behind the attack, his choice is clear. Defend Nyx at all cost and make her his forever.
Thoughts: I have eagerly been waiting for the story between Nyx and Bo, and I was thrilled to get started on Hunted By Darkness. The sparks have been building between these characters for awhile now, and I was waiting on Bo to make his claim on Nyx. The thing with so much anticipation though is that your expectations can sometimes be a little to high. Don’t get me wrong, I loved this book. I adore Katie Reus. And I love Bo and Nyx. I thought the world was amazing with this one as we delve into one of the Hell realms. The creativity of Reus is just one of the things I love about her. Another is her ability to make the characters come alive.
My problem here was those amazing sparks between Nyx and Bo….which for me seemed a little diluted in this book. I was expecting way more want and need and desire there than what I felt. While I loved Hunted By Darkness, I also was a bit let down with that. I’m not if it was just my expectations getting the better of me with this one. Regardless, it is Katie Reus…and you simply can’t go wrong with one of her books!
Series: Urban Dwellers Book #1 Author: Ivy Sinclair
Genre: Romance, Paranormal
Blurb: Although he has the outward appearance oTitle: Silence That Sizzles
Series: Urban Dwellers Book #1 Author: Ivy Sinclair
Genre: Romance, Paranormal
Blurb: Although he has the outward appearance of a successful businessman as part owner of the hottest nightclub in Copper City, the Urban Dwellers, bear shifter Kyle Frost hides a secret. A secret that killed his career with the army and sent him into an emotional tailspin.
Doctor Kelly Malone knew Kyle at his lowest and, after quitting her high-profile job with a leading pharmaceutical company, needs his help. She needs him to protect her while she exposes the truth about her research.
As Kyle tracks down the clues to the answer that will keep Kelly safe, he lowers his carefully guarded emotional walls to the attractive doctor. But will he be able to claim her as his forever before it’s too late?
Thoughts: Silence That Sizzles introduces us to the Urban Dwellers and a storyline that is built on the secret that has haunted three shifter alphas for years. Each of the alphas, all different animals, have come together to create a clan of shifters that unite for their beliefs and values, rather than just by blood oaths. This is the first book of the series, although if you’re a fan of Ivy Sinclair you will remember running into the Urban Dwellers in her Greyelf Grizzlies series.
For me, the book was an odd mix of a pretty standard paranormal romance mixed with a military themed romantic suspense novel, and it was never really able to balance out quite where it wanted to be. I also felt like things weren’t quite explained, or at least explained in an orderly way that was easy for the reader to connect with. A lot of the story is based on this previous relationship between Kyle and Kelly, but the way its told we don’t have that connection with their part of the story – their history. Rather than tell that story and give us a deeper connection into these characters, we are just expected to fall into it without these missing pieces. It made me feel like I missed a lot, and it definitely took away something in regards to my connection with these characters.
Still a decent shifter story, and I am curious to see where the other books take us.
Series: Urban Dwellers Book #2 Author: Ivy Sinclair
Genre: Romance, Paranormal, Shifters
Blurb: Wolf shifter Anthony Atwood is Title: Secrets That Simmer
Series: Urban Dwellers Book #2 Author: Ivy Sinclair
Genre: Romance, Paranormal, Shifters
Blurb: Wolf shifter Anthony Atwood is the most sought after expert on shifter psychological behavior. The son of a politician and a co-owner of the hottest nightclub in Copper City, he is intimately familiar with being in the spotlight. Maggie O’Hara is an up and coming prosecutor who has made her career taking down shifter criminals who thought themselves above the law.
When an anonymous case file from a seventeen-year-old cold case lands on Maggie’s desk linking it to Anthony Atwood, she can’t believe it. She has no choice but to pursue it and confront him.
Tony can’t fight the irresistible call to make Maggie his, but all the while his darkest secret is bubbling to the surface. Maggie could prove to be his best ally…or his worst enemy.
Thoughts: After reading the first book in this series, Silence That Sizzles, I simply had to read book two – if for no other reason than to have at least found out the truth of what happened regarding the ‘secret’ that bind the three Urban Dwellers together. Oddly enough, I was a bit conflicted between books one and two….there were a number of things about book one that I liked better, but some things that I liked better when it came to book two. In book one, I really liked the characters and the story, but I felt like so much background was missing that kept me from really and truly connecting with the characters the way I wanted to. Book two seemed a bit stronger in that area, and did a really good job fitting in bits and pieces of the history surrounding their ‘mysterious secret’, but it left off on a big cliffhanger! Obviously, the story will continue with book three, but for a lot of readers this is going to be one of those cliffhangers that really bug you and leave you feeling dissatisfied. Luckily there is only about a week in between book release dates, so you don’t have to be tortured for very long!
Thoughts: This is my first read by Meredith Clarke, but I have to say that I enjoyed it immensely. If you love shifter stories, then this author is anThoughts: This is my first read by Meredith Clarke, but I have to say that I enjoyed it immensely. If you love shifter stories, then this author is another great one to add to your favorites list. The writing style reminded me a bit of Milly Taiden, and I have to say I have already explored the Meredith Clarke’s booklist and downloaded a few other books of hers as well! The next book in this series about the Sarkosy’s, An Heiress for the Bear, is already out as well and is one of the next books I have already nabbed – and one I can’t wait to get started on! My only issue was that it did seem to end a little abruptly for me - the pace was fairly consistent throughout, but seemed to really end far to quick at the end! There really wasn't enough reaction time for the 'new' that gets delivered and what this means for this shifter species. However, it is a short read (about 85 pages) - so if your short on time, you might want to keep this one in mind. Disregarding that, it was still a very enjoyable shifter romance.
Thoughts: Ok, so I know coming into a series at book number sixteen is usually a bad idea….typically it does not end well. However, this series has bThoughts: Ok, so I know coming into a series at book number sixteen is usually a bad idea….typically it does not end well. However, this series has been tempting me for awhile but for some reason I always fought the urge to pick any of the previous books up. With this release, I finally relented…and I am so glad I did! I was looking for another new great series to binge read, and I could not have picked better! I was utterly fascinated by this world the author created and found myself eagerly immersed in this book until the bitter end. The characters were captivating, the dimensions and complexity of this supernatural world entrancing….I simply could not get enough. Bound to the book until the very end. The best thing? I can go back and binge read the last fifteen!
Thoughts: Basically, anything supernatural will hit my reading list at some point or another, and shapeshifters happen to be a favorite read of mine.Thoughts: Basically, anything supernatural will hit my reading list at some point or another, and shapeshifters happen to be a favorite read of mine. First off, I feel the need to warn those of you who might be looking for a little ménage action – based on this rather misleading cover – that that is not the case with this book. I would have picked up the book regardless, however I did feel that the cover implies something that the book is distinctly not. However, the blurb is honest in that it is a standalone even though it is book three in the series. The book is sort of a meld of a typical paranormal, however it throws in a bit of an MC (Motorcycle Club) vibe in there as well. While it was interesting to get a bit of that thrown in with this book, I’m not sure it was entirely successful there. The MC vibe just didn’t come across as ‘real’ as some of the other MC themed books. This also led me into conflicting feelings for the main character, Jace – one minute you like him and he seems like a strong ‘alpha’ character, the next he seems kind of arrogant and almost demeaning in how he speaks to Keelie Sue. Keelie Sue was also a bit conflicting as her character practically screams ‘weak’, yet the next moment she is supposedly ‘stronger than people think’. The writing style reminded me a bit of R.E Butler, if you have read any of her works. I have to admit that I am not a huge fan of authors changing the points of view, but in this one each switch is distinctly labeled and clear to the reader. Plenty of things to pitch into the ‘plus’ column and a few to pitch into the ‘minuses’ as well. A generally good read overall.
Thoughts: Willfully Compelled was a bit of an odd read for me, but it definitely stood out with its originality. I can honestly say that I have never Thoughts: Willfully Compelled was a bit of an odd read for me, but it definitely stood out with its originality. I can honestly say that I have never read anything quite like it! The story brings us a post-apocalyptic world in which everything is barren and empty and everyone is out for their own survival. – including Lysandra who becomes separated from the rest of her family. Other events occur, resulting in Lysandra discovering that she can somehow breathe underwater! A whole new world opens up….one that has a prophecy that seems to pertain to her and her twin sister. If they are the twins the prophecy speaks of, then they may be just the ones to save the world….
I loved the originality of this book. It was enough to keep you guessing – and definitely enough to keep you flipping the pages to see what happens next. I also enjoyed the explanations that the author offered up…not just in regards to the prophecy and/or the saving of the world, but also the evolution of this new species and how it ties in with the human world. The cons? For me, I honestly did not like Lysandra’s twin, Leondra. She was very immature, selfish, and just annoying for the most part. I could put up with her, but I found her the far more dislikeable twin of the two. She has an unwarranted resentment toward Lysandra that was just crazy! If it wasn’t for the amazing likeability of the other characters then she quite possibly could have ruined the book for me. Additionally, there seemed to be an inordinate amount of time stuck on people’s…..(clears throat)….private areas. While a lot of it is warranted (explaining the differences between the two species, particularly as it pertains to mating, etc.) Some of it was a bit excessive though….at least in my opinion. This new species is also not monogamous, and the twins aren’t expected to be either – but the chemistry between some of the characters bothered me. For example, Lysandra and the King. Not to mention the attitudes – I can’t really see Leondra being okay with a lot of things in this new world, particularly the those pertaining to sex.
The ending may also bother some readers, since it leaves a lot of things unanswered in a very obvious build-up for book two.
Overall, I found it to be a very good, very enjoyable read – and I can’t wait to read the next one and see how events unfold!
Thoughts: I was excited to grab this shifter read from Vivi Andrews….I love paranormal books, particularly when they involve shifters. Not to mention Thoughts: I was excited to grab this shifter read from Vivi Andrews….I love paranormal books, particularly when they involve shifters. Not to mention I love Vivi Andrews as an author. You would think this has everything I could want in a book – but I have to say Hugo kind of ruined the book for me – the guy spends a crazy amount of time (we are talking years) longing for his Alpha’s wife, then when the Alpha steps down and the object of his desire is no longer ‘forced’ to be in this supposed marriage of convenience, Hugo decides that Moira suits him better. Even worse? He expects Moira to be grateful (again, after years) and just fall into his arms! Really? What an a$#! I constantly had the saying ‘the grass is always greener on the other side’ flitting through my mind throughout the whole course of this book. I kind of liked Moira, but to uproot her whole life for a guy that makes it plain that he wants someone else? The whole ‘misunderstanding’ I thought was stupid and presumptuous on her part.
Thoughts: This is the second book in this series, following Werewolves Be Damned which I also read and reviewed almost two years ago. With that being Thoughts: This is the second book in this series, following Werewolves Be Damned which I also read and reviewed almost two years ago. With that being said, a lot of time has passed since then – and I’ve read a ton of books in the meantime – but many of the same issues I had with book one are still evident in this second book. I was still expecting to be able to pick up this book and not be lost or confused as to what was going on. Needless to say, I forgot how confusing things were on the first go round….again, it seems as if you are already expected to know all the details behind this world and how it works, and that point is hammered home even more so in this second book. If anything, I was even more confused than with book one – and while there was a character guide/reference, and a synopsis, etc. included that is meant to help guide you through this world, I simply feel like I would have had a better connection as a reader with both the story and the characters if this information could be woven more throughout the story. I want the author's words to make me feel like I have been pulled into that world - that I am a part of it - not like I'm doing homework!
There also was just more of a disconnect with this book and these characters, compared to the previous one. I believe a lot of that has to do with the fact that you are expected to already have that connection with these characters, to already be invested in their lives and in the story, that not much is dedicated to ‘wooing’ the reader into it. Even having read the first one, you kind of still want to feel that reconnection with the characters…. instead it just sort of fell flat for me. Particularly since (for the most part), the characters didn't quite feel the same to me as they did in Werewolves Be Damned. In many ways, I felt like I was reading about new characters, which only seemed to add to the frustration I felt when I was reading - overall, it really left me struggling to maintain any sort of connection to the characters here at all.
Bottom line though - I definitely don't see this one as a stand alone title.
Heather's Thoughts: This is one of my favorite series by Feehan for a lot of reasons. The first being that the men are unapologetically Alpha. And theHeather's Thoughts: This is one of my favorite series by Feehan for a lot of reasons. The first being that the men are unapologetically Alpha. And then there's the sex. Its hot and rough and all sorts of well you get the point.
When this book starts out we get two new leopards, which bummed me out in the beginning, because there are already so many characters in this series who's stories I've been waiting what feels like forever to read. Like Elijah Lospostos, and Joshua and the rest of the Boudreaux males. That being said it didn't take me long to fall in love with these characters however...and then the best part we get to see Jake and Emma again and Elijah and Joshua and a few of the others.
One of the things I like about the heroines in this series is that they aren't pushovers, yet they know when they need to bend for the hero, because they know that the hero will do whatever they need to to make the heroine happy.
Now for Cat and Ridley...
Cat is on the run from someone dangerous. She's taken every precaution she can think of to hide from the person who has controlled her her whole life. She never expects nor plans on Ridley. When he forces his way into her life I liked him. Then the truth about him came out and I really wanted Cat to use the skills she'd been learning and hurt him. A lot.
But because this is a Feehan book you know that he is going to show his Alphaness to the extreme, and he does. This pissed me off for a couple of chapters I'm not going to lie, but Feehan being Feehan managed to make me not only like Ridley/Eli but fall in love with him. It took a while but it happened.
As much as I loved this book, it isn't one of the books in this series that I will re-read over and over again like I have others in this series. That being said I really did like it.
If you're a fan of this series you won't want to miss this one just because we get to catch up with others. If you've never read this series then you can pick this one up and not miss anything.
Grade B
Sarah's Thoughts: I really enjoyed the way this story developed – in fact, part way through it I was ready to say this recaptured the magic of this series. I was so close to saying that this was my favorite in the series. Then, about halfway through it sort of started dragging for me…..it was just sex, sex, and more sex (so much so that I was tempted to skip through the pages)…..but then toward the later part of the book we jump back into the storyline. The uneven pace of the story definitely affected my opinion of the book. With that being said, I really liked the story behind Cat and Ridley. It definitely made for an interesting book in the series.
With Cat’s Lair, we have Cat who was sold by her mother to another leopard shifter – one who has been just waiting for the right moment to claim both her and her leopard. She managed to escape and is on the run when she meets Ridley, however things exactly the way they seem on the surface. With someone as leery to trust as Cat, Ridley’s secrets may just be the end of their relationship. Can Cat begin to trust him again? Can Ridley claim his mate before time runs out for them?
Bottom line, this is one of the stronger books from Feehan that I have seen in awhile….it is not without its faults, but much better than some of the other titles that have been released from her lately (in my opinion anyway).
Thoughts: This was the first book I’ve read from Reus that is a stand alone – I’m used to reading either paranormal novels focused around shifters, orThoughts: This was the first book I’ve read from Reus that is a stand alone – I’m used to reading either paranormal novels focused around shifters, or strictly romantic suspense. I was quick to snatch this one up, not only because Reus is one of my favorite authors (be it writing as Katie Reus, or under her alter pen name Savannah Stuart), but because this one sortof feel in between both genres – and because I was eager to see how Reus would write it. But what can I say? As usual, Reus hit it out of the park (so to speak)!
I loved this! I have read similar titles before, but (as always) no matter how much the blurb sounds like other things you may or may not have read in the past, Reus just always manages to stick her own signature on each and every book she writes. They always stand out to me, and Reus manages to separate her works from that of anything else. She consistently plugs out outstanding books. I know that when I am picking up one of her novels, that I am in for a great read. Period.
It was nice to see something a little different from Reus though. In this case think a mash up between her normal romantic suspense with a little bit of the paranormal thrown in (in this case, a little psychic abilities and dream-walking). A little different from her standard – but excellent just the same!
Thoughts: Oddly enough, this book/series reminded me vaguely of the Killer Instinct series by Elle Kennedy with an odd little twist of the paranormal Thoughts: Oddly enough, this book/series reminded me vaguely of the Killer Instinct series by Elle Kennedy with an odd little twist of the paranormal thrown in there. Plenty of action/suspense, but with the shifter element thrown in there. I hadn’t read the prior books in this series, but I have to say that didn’t bother me at all in this case. The story was still easy to follow and pick up on all the happenings within the story – although you definitely will wind up wanting to grab the previous books in the series!
Apparently, Declan has had a thing for Kendra for awhile – and, of course, as with the way these instances usually work, the moment he decides to move on, she sits up and takes notice. Although, there are depths her character that Declan was unaware of – until they get thrown together on a mission and circumstances push them closer and closer together.
I enjoyed this title immensely, and this is one series that I’ll be backtracking on and reading prior books in the series!
Nalini Singh has described ‘Shards of Hope’ as the end of an arc . She wrote:
“I’ve consistently been using "tangent" books to describe these Thoughts:
Nalini Singh has described ‘Shards of Hope’ as the end of an arc . She wrote:
“I’ve consistently been using "tangent" books to describe these future stories, but I've decided it still sounds too much like "spin-off" and that's not what I'm thinking. The books, characters, and storylines are too interlinked for that, with the second arc being as coherent and as connected as the first one. I think it's better and clearer to simply say we'll be opening up a new story arc, going on a new journey in this world.
Think of it like seasons of television, where a series has a strong background story/plot. We're coming to the conclusion of season one, but watch out - because something in that conclusion will lead directly into season two.”
Whew.
With a large number of storylines to close through the course of the story, I’ll admit to some trepidation about whether or not Aden and Zaira’s story would get short shrifted. It’s happened before (not with Nalini) but with authors whose ability to write a strong series I had never questioned before the book where it went awkward.
Now I realize that I shouldn’t ever doubt an author who’s previous treatment of intricate plots and beautiful worldbuilding never came at the expense of character development.
Why? Because Shards of Hope was an amazing book at every single level. It continued Nalini’s pattern of choosing the kind of couple that would allow her to tell the elements of the larger story she needed to tell without sacrificing the personal story. Of course Aden would be the hero of the story that would begin to deal with the organizational aspects of the end of silence and the Arrow’s place within it.
But finding the arrows’ place in a post silence world finally requires Nalini to speak of something she’d been referring to through the rest of the series: the kind of psy silence was created for, the ones seemingly unable to function in a world where silence does not exist. They are either damaged or possess an extremely dangerous psychic ability. Now, it is finally time to 1)introduce them and 2)explain how they will function without silence.
And that, aside from her close relationship with Aden, is why Zaira is the heroine of this story. Zaira allows Nalini to bring readers into the paths of these psychics, in a way that makes us understand the whys and the wherefores, how much has to be done to help them adjust and what that path might be.
As far as my path goes? All I’ll say? Bring on season two!
Thoughts: As with most book series, when you start numbering the books into the double digits it is almost inevitable that the series will slowly start to lose its edge. I absolutely love Nalini Singh and have ever since the very first book I picked up – however, with the last few books in the this particular series, I started feeling my interest wan a little bit. I was teetering on the edge of the precipice – almost ready to drop this series. As it is, I kept dragging my heels reading this one, because I was afraid it would mark the end of a favored series of mine.
Shards of Hope actually wound up breathing new life into this series for me. From the opening pages I just knew that this one was the one to bring back the love I had for this series. Nalini throws us into the action from the get-go – giving me a little moment of going ‘uh...what? Did I miss a book somewhere?’ – while frantically looking up the series reading order…LOL But no, nothing missing…events slowly unfold, while keeping you captivated until the very end. I almost feel like jumping up and shouting, “Yes! A-N-D we’re back in the game!” I was that excited that one of my most beloved series kicked it right back into high gear. This one is definitely a score for Nalini, and I look forward to the new, upcoming story arc for this series!
Thoughts: There has been a lot said about this book over the last week, and on Saturday at her book signing Ward took a lot of flack for this book andThoughts: There has been a lot said about this book over the last week, and on Saturday at her book signing Ward took a lot of flack for this book and what happens. Several people have said that Ward broke their trust with this book and they weren't sure they could continue the series.
When I was discussing this with a friend I told her, Ward couldn't break my trust with this book because she broke my trust a long time ago when she killed Jane in Lover Unbound, V always has been and always will be my boy, and then with the crap she pulled in Lover Enshrined, and I was done, like never reading her again done, so Ward could only go up with each book after that. (If you're curious about how I came back to the BDB you can read that here and here.)
Which I'm glad to say she has. Because as much as she pissed me off with those stories I still read each book in this series and almost always end up loving them, even the books I didn't think I was going to like.
This doesn't mean that I don't expect a lot of cray cray in her books, this is Ward after all... plus V (have I mentioned how much I love him?) and there was a lot of that in this book not V but the cray cray, not as much as you'd expect, but still a lot. I'm going to break down each of the plot lines by couples otherwise this review will be all over the place.
Before you go any farther know this....THERE WILL BE SOME SPOILERS IN THIS REVIEW SO BE WARNED. IF YOU DON'T WANT TO KNOW THE SPOILERS JUST MY GRADE OF THE BOOK I'M GIVING IT AN B+/A-.
THIS IS YOUR LAST CHANCE TO LEAVE THE REVIEW WITH NO SPOILERS.
Trez and Selena ~ From the beginning of the book you know that things aren't going to be good for these two. First they aren't together after something's happened in The King. Trez is basically going through the motions of life, he has this whole mating thing with S'Hsibe that he wants as much as he wants brain surgery with no drugs which is to say not at all, and missing Selena whom he doesn't feel worthy of.
Selena knows that she's on borrowed time as the disease that is fatal for The Chosen is in it's final stages...something she has managed to keep from everyone in her life. With the end of her life drawing close she has one last thing she wants to do, tell Trez that she loves him.
I'm not going to sugar coat it, this story line isn't an easy one to read because you know what's coming, and yet its probably one of my absolute favorite story lines that Ward has written. Even as you're hoping Ward pulls something out of her magic bag and has a hail mary in the final pages like Rhage and Mary and V and Doc Jane you know she probably won't because this is Ward. What makes it one of my favorite story lines is the raw emotions we get from not just Trez but everyone around him and how comes to realize that while he's always assumed it was just him and iAm and Rhvenge in their family.
The scenes with these two are heart breaking and fun and bitter sweet.
iAm and maichen ~ As the brother's rally to help Trez make Selena's last days the best of her life, iAm does what he's done his entire life, try and save his brother's life because he knows what no one else does. When Selena goes Trez will do everything he can to join her in the Fade as soon as possible. When s'Ex comes to iAm that Trez is out of time and has one week to return to the S'Hsibe iAm tells him what is going on and asks to be smuggled back into the S'Hisbe so that he can search their library for a cure for his twins mate. iAm has dedicated his life to being Trez's savior and can't let him down now, just when he's found the one person that can change the self destructive path that Trez has been on for years. Aside from his restaurant he's never taken anything for himself, not even a woman. So finding himself attracted to the maid who helps sneak him into the library is the very last thing he wants or needs.
I'm still not sure what I think about maichen. On one hand I really liked her, but on the other I don't feel like I ever really discovered a lot about her, other than from the moment she started dealing with iAm and how he changed the direction of her life. It isn't until he gets mad at her and vomits his feelings about what is going on with his brother and how the S'Hsibe queen is the most horrid person in the world and she realizes just what she's done to iAm that makes her question everything and decide to do something about it.
Of course this doesn't happen until after her and iAm have started on a course that will bring them nothing but heartache but which makes you hope that of the two brothers one of them will get a HEA.
Layla and Xcor ~ wow this story line went all over the place and then some...the only thing I'm going to say about this story is there is a major LACK of communication between these two which I get because after The Beast (the next book in this series) these two will be the main couple and isn't that going to prove interesting. Especially with her carrying Q's young and the crap that Xcor pulls but then again I have to admit that I get why he does it and that none of it would have happened if Layla had just opened her mouth and told him what she was feeling. Like I said a major lack of communication.
Rhage and Mary ~ knowing that their story is next I get she needed to create issues with this formerly stable couple and considering what is going on with Trez and Selena and how it's errily similar to what went down with them I can see where issues would crop up. My only problem was we never saw Mary's POV in this story line, it's all Rhage and to be honest it kinda pissed me off. I get that because of her job she felt like she needed to be at the shelter, but she should also have known how watching Trez going through losing his shellan would affect her mate. I forsee lots of fireworks and trouble for these two.
Assail ~ Dude is seriously messed up. Like a train wreck you can't help but watch messed up. It's going to be interesting to see what happens with him and Sola.
Throe ~ I can't even...
Paradise ~ Now she was a surprise and one that I'm super excited about. Her story will kick off the new series and I can't wait to see what happens there.
If the book had been titled The Shadow and was solely about Trez and Selena I would have been super pissed off about the ending, but because it was titled The Shadows and was about Trez AND iAm I can tell you that I was happy about how the book ended. I get it, one of the brother's doesn't get his HEA AND this is supposed to be a romance book with a HEA but honestly if you've read all of the books with Trez and iAm including this book, you know for a fact that unless Trez had gone through what he did iAm wouldn't have his HEA something that Trez recognizes at the end. Yes it sucked, and I cried, but like I said earlier this is one of my favorite books in the series.
All of that being said, if you're a fan of this series, and really how can you not be, especially with characters like V (had to get his name in there one more time) you won't want to miss this book. Just make sure have a box of kleenex by your side when you read it.
Thoughts: I admired the idea of matching a little historical background and twisting it into the story – that would have went over amazingly well had Thoughts: I admired the idea of matching a little historical background and twisting it into the story – that would have went over amazingly well had the author been able to pull it off. I loved the idea behind the book – after all, the blurb pulled me in enough to pick the book out in the first place. Where it falls apart for me is the in the overall execution. So much so that I have trouble trying to decide where to even start. My biggest issue was with Raine herself – she just blindly accepts whatever everyone seems to tell her, first with her son’s father and his family, and then with the first people she seems to run across within the span of the book. “Don’t trust nobody?” Yet, she blindly goes home with the first set of people she meets within the pages of the book? Doesn’t gel too well with me. Sure, supposedly they are distant family relations, but she doesn’t remember them, doesn’t know them, and even more important (if things she has been told are to be believed) family pose even more of a danger than anyone else!
Then there is the constant referral to the skinwalker that is chasing them as ‘the thing’ or other such ambiguous term that really began just grating on my nerves after the first dozen times. Not to mention the incredibly stupid decision to stay and fight said ‘thing’, when you are a single mom who is not a kick a%@ fighting female with superpowers - and you a eleven year old who changes into small predatory animals like rabbits – umm, really? What normal parent would do that? Why not wait till he gains some control over his powers, till he gets older?
Shockingly, the book was also listed on Netgalley as only under the genre of romance – yeah, I so didn’t get that vibe from this book. What little romance there was to it, really didn’t come across as believable.
There was also just a disconnect with this whole story for me…part of it was the writing style. There were instances where writing switched from first to third person, and things like that which detracted from the story. However, what really bugged me was that “outside looking in” vibe, where the author is telling you the story (and perhaps even telling it well), but you just don’t feel that intensity and connection with the characters that you should. That was a huge issue with this book. I had a hard time connecting with any of the characters – and I wanted to with this story, but it just didn’t come together here.
Thoughts: This is third installment of this series, but it is easily read as a stand alone – which is a good thing since I have not read the previous Thoughts: This is third installment of this series, but it is easily read as a stand alone – which is a good thing since I have not read the previous two books in this series. I can honestly say that I wish I had though, since I found this to one of the best dragon shifter books that I have ever read – if not the best one. I love shifters of all kinds, but the dragon ones (at least the ones in which the dragons feature as the core shifter group of the series) I usually find vaguely disappointing – or at least, I had up until this point. That was not the case with this book! The way Ivy chose to grab Ian’s attention in their dreams (thereby also marking him and providing clues along the way) also managed to grab my attention as well – I loved the author’s style of writing. Needless to say, I will definitely be on the lookout for more from this author!
Frankly, this book was captivating – and I imagine a few books down the line, this one will stick out in my mind. It was interesting and original, and I look forward to reading more from this series and from this author.
Thoughts: Even though this was the third book in this series, it was quite easy to just dive right into this one with no issues (though you may be temThoughts: Even though this was the third book in this series, it was quite easy to just dive right into this one with no issues (though you may be tempted to go back and read the first two). Sadie runs her own nightclub for supernaturals – mostly vampires – though it has been frequently visited by a couple of werewolves….almost every night for months, in fact. And it’s driving her crazy. But they are paying customers, so what’s a vampire to do? Unfortunately, she’s just a little to attracted to one werewolf in particular…..and he happens to be the prince and heir to the throne, tasked with carrying on the bloodline of the pack – so how could fate be cruel enough to make him her bloodmate? Not when there is no way they could ever be together? This was my first time reading anything by this particular author, and I doubt it will be the last. While I did enjoy the story and found it engaging enough, it never quite pushed it into the five star range for me. There were elements that were just a bit too predictable …. Still a good read though! Rate: B Review by: Sarah http://ww.thebookreadinggals.com...more
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