Audio: Wolf Rain by Nalini Singh

Audiobook, Length: 13 hrs, 23 mins

Narrator; Angela Dawe

Published June 4th 2019 by Tantor Audio

Series: Psy-Changeling Trinity #3, Psy-Changeling #18

Paranormal romance

To review

This one felt dark, but as always Singh does make it great in every way.

First we have Memory, a psy who has been kept prisoner most of her life. She thinks of herself as a victim, and one with dark horrible psy powers. But she is strong and a survivor.

Aleksei has demons of his ones. His brother went rogue, his dad went rogue, will he go rogue? And then he hears the cries of a psy and goes to investigate.

He challenges her, she pushes back. They are both what the other one needs. And they take their time, considering, and it feels so right.

Then there is the darkness, the serial killer who has kept her prisoner and wants her back.

Though there is another plot too, a hidden darkness in the psy world. And when the serial killer story ends there was still almost 2 hours left, which felt strange. The other issues was then resolved too. I guess they had to be there at once so it might expand into the next book or something.

The psynet is failing and I do wonder how the will fix it...which means...I can't wait for more!

Great book, as alays! singh does not disappoint

Narrator

I'd say Dawe's women have very throaty voices, very dark. Not all, but at least the main. But it fits. SHe has a great range and everyone feels distinct. Her female and male voices are great and she brings emotion and need into the story.

She is great to listen at and she brings the story to life. Now when I think of those books I missed, I'd say I would rather listen to those than read

The end of Silence was supposed to create a better world for future generations. But trust is broken, and the alliance between Psy, Changeling, and human is thin. The problems that led to Silence are back in full force. Because Silence fixed nothing, just hid the problems.
This time, the Psy have to find a real answer to their problems—if one exists. Or their race will soon go extinct in a cascade of violence. The answer begins with an empath who is attuned to monsters—and who is going to charm a wolf into loving her despite his own demons.

Audio: Rebel Hard - Nalini Singh

Audio CD, Unabridged, 9h

Narrator: Justine O.Keef

Expected publication: October 2nd 2018 by Tantor Audio (first published September 18th 2018)

Series: Hard Play #2

Contemporary romance

For review

My Thoughts:

We saw them meet in book 1 and I was sure wondering how it all would play out, and then finally here was their story.

Nayna is a good girl. She never partied, she never met boys. She got a degree anda  good job. And now she will do her parents proud by having an arranged marriage. All to please them as her sister was not a good girl who ran away, and got divorced. But before that she wants a fling!

Raj is a good son. He works hard and took over his father's company. He loves his family and he fears being left like when he was little. So he wants an arranged marriage and a sweet wife at home. But then he meets a vixen.

Oh Nayna was so sweet, I would have loved to be friends with her!

And Raj was so great! I loved him to pieces too. He might want all those traditional things, but that does not mean he is some traditional man.

Oh the idiots Nayna had to put up with before Raj. I am glad her parents thought they were idiots too. And that they did not want to push her into something.

And these two were fun to watch together. He really wants her. But she she thinks marriage is a prison of some sorts.  She will be stuck there and never experience anything. But he will fight for her and try to show her that it does not have to be that way.

And omg the times I went oh uh, drama coming! And then, omg you guys...they talked! They did not jump to conclusions. They talked. Oh I loved it. They were normal people. Oh the little things.

I liked that it was a story about arranged marriages, even if she did put a twist on it. We got to see how bad ones turned out, to good ones. But also how love matches too go sour.

I also learned that Fiji has a big Indian population. I did not know that. Interesting.

Conclusion:

But yes a great book that kept me entertained. A great couple that I wanted to get their Hea!

Narrator Justine O'Keef

I enjoy her narration. And she is great in all her roles, from Nayna's gran, to Raj and Nayna. Good variation.

Blurb:

Nayna Sharma agreed to an arranged marriage in the hope it would heal the fractures in her beloved family… only to realize too late that a traditional marriage is her personal nightmare. Panicked, she throws caution to the winds, puts on the tiniest dress she can find, and ends up in the arms of a tall, rough-edged hunk of a man who has abs of steel—and who she manages to mortally insult between one kiss and the next.

Abandoned as a child, then adopted into a loving family, Raj Sen believes in tradition, in continuity. Some might call him stiff and old-fashioned, but he knows what he wants—and it’s a life defined by rules… yet he can’t stop thinking about the infuriating and sexy woman who kissed him in the moonlight then disappeared. When his parents spring an introduction on him, the last woman he expects is her. Beautiful. Maddening. A rulebreaker in the making.

He’s all wrong for her. She’s all wrong for him. And love is about to make rebels of them both.

Audio: Ocean Light - Nalini Singh

Security specialist Bowen Knight has come back from the dead. But there's a ticking time bomb in his head: a chip implanted to block telepathic interference that could fail at any moment--taking his brain along with it. With no time to waste, he should be back on land helping the Human Alliance. Instead, he's at the bottom of the ocean, consumed with an enigmatic changeling...

Kaia Luna may have traded in science for being a chef, but she won't hide the facts of Bo's condition from him or herself. She's suffered too much loss in her life to fall prey to the dangerous charm of a human who is a dead man walking. And she carries a devastating secret Bo could never imagine...

But when Kaia is taken by those who mean her deadly harm, all bets are off. Bo will do anything to get her back--even if it means striking a devil's bargain and giving up his mind to the enemy... 

Audiobook, 12 h
Expected publication: June 12th 2018 by Tantor Media
Psy-Changeling Trinity #2, Psy-Changeling #17
PNR

For review

My thoughts:

I want to re-read aka listen to the changeling series. This new series makes me miss that series *sigh* Miiiiss it! Also I kind of jumped around and never finished it. I love all the cameos. I miss it.

Here we meet Bowen Knight, leader of the Alliance and right now in a coma. He also has a chip in his brain that keeps him save from Psy, but the chip will also kill him in a few weeks. He might be the one that saves others,  if he lets them play with his brain. Oh and Bowen is a great guy and is all up to be a guinea pig. He loves his people and even though he is all tough, he is still so soft and likable.

Kaia is a water changeling (it takes forever for us to find ut which one, but I guessed right ;) She lives far far in the dark on a hidden station. And she is awesome. She loves deeply; her friends, her acquaintances,  her people. She deserves to be loved back.

Most of the book takes place on this underwater station and I liked seeing them falling in love even if time is not on their side. They were so easy to like. And everyone on the station were just awesome. Like the Bibi and Carlotta! Ha, those two were funny.  I really enjoyed the cast and I kept wondering if anyone we meet is the next couple for the book. (I am thinking Cassius and a Psy we have not met ;)

There is someone who makes a cameo, and I have not read that particular book, but I am all must listen to it! 

Conclusion:

Good book. Romance, suspense and one amazing world

Narrator Angela Dawe

I can still her Kaia voice in my head, awww, good times. I like how she played everyone. She made me feel part of the changeling family

Audio: Cherish Hard - Nalini Singh

Sailor Bishop has only one goal for his future – to create a successful landscaping business. No distractions allowed. Then he comes face-to-face and lips-to-lips with a woman who blushes like an innocent… and kisses like pure sin.

Ísa Rain craves a man who will cherish her, aches to create a loving family of her own. Trading steamy kisses with a hot gardener in a parking lot? Not the way to true love. Then a deal with the devil (aka her CEO-mother) makes Ísa a corporate VP for the summer. Her main task? Working closely with a certain hot gardener.

And Sailor Bishop has wickedness on his mind.

As Ísa starts to fall for a man who makes her want to throttle and pounce on him at the same time, she knows she has to choose – play it safe and steady, or risk all her dreams and hope Sailor doesn’t destroy her heart. 

Audio CD, 10 h
Published January 9th 2018 (first published November 14th 2017)
Hard Play #1
Contemporary romance
For review

My thoughts

At first I was unsure, for a few minutes, why, dunno, then I was caught in a wicked web. I loved the accents and I totally believed she was a man at times. But first the story.

Isa sees a hot gardener and wants to take a chance. Well I say you go Isa! Every girl should listen to that demon on their shoulder for once. She was there for everyone else, her entire family, but she forgot about herself. And I liked Isa, we would have been total bffs!

Speaking of Isa, I do wish Nayna and her man would get a story. See there is this backstory with Isa's friend when they go to a party and that story should totes have been a book of its own. 

Sailor, oh he sounded hot hot hot as sin! Driven and hot *coughs*. He wants her and he is going for it. Yay. Awww he was such a sweetie!

Awww they were made for each other!

Conclusion:
I enjoyed it :D

Narrator Justine OKeef

Well like I said, she totally sounded like Sailor. And I liked her Isa accent too (as Isa grow up in Icelandic so it was this nice mix). And how does not want to listen to a NZ accent. If she did it right I do not know but I sure liked listening to her

Archangel's shadows - Nalini Singh

In the wake of a brutal war, the archangel Raphael and his hunter consort, Elena, are dealing with the treacherously shifting tides of archangelic politics and the people of a battered but not broken city. The last thing their city needs is more death, especially not a death that bears the eerie signature of an insane enemy archangel who cannot - should not - be walking the streets. This hunt must be undertaken with stealth and without alerting their people. It must be handled by those who can become shadows themselves...

Ash is a gifted tracker and a woman cursed with the ability to sense the secrets of anyone she touches. But there's one man she knows all too well without a single instant of skin contact: Janvier, the dangerously sexy Cajun vampire who has fascinated and infuriated her for years. Now, as they track down a merciless killer, their cat-and-mouse game of flirtation and provocation has turned into a profound one of the heart. And this time, it is Ash's secret, dark and terrible, that threatens to destroy them both.

My thoughts:

Yes, I admit, I missed a few in this series, but then I jumped at reading this one, and it did work. Even if I also did wish I had read the ones I have missed. At least I can say that it does work as a stand alone in that way (even though it's a series and you miss thing), but if you do want to read this series then do start at book 1. I may be many things but I do like order ;) 

This is Janvier's and Ash's book. A vampire and a hunter, both on the same side, and both have worked hard to make New York safe. 

Ash has issues of her own and I do get her fear and her unwillingness to give in to what she really wanted (him, oh yes.) But she held herself back, foolish woman! But she has reasons :/

And Janvier, oh he really wants this strong woman to be his. So he courts her like he has done for a while but she does not give in. But hey this is their book so you know that there will be a HEA at the end.

There is also the hunt for something strange. Something is going on in the city, something bloody, and they are on the case.

And we get to see Elena's POV, as she and Raphael are being their awesome selves, and also the rest of the gang.

Conclusion:

Lots of action promised as they hunt down a killer. And some romance too on top.

cover

I do not like that they all are alike

Paperback, UK edition, 384 pages
Published November 6th 2014 by Gollancz
Guild Hunter #7
Urban fantasy / Paranormal romance
For review

Review: Angels' Blood - Nalini Singh

Series: Guild Hunter #1
Genre: UFR
Pages: 339
Published: 2010
Publisher: Gollancz (UK)
Source: I made the library buy it

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

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

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

My Thoughts:

A funny thing about this one, some books I read and enjoy. But that urge to read the next one does not does not show. Sure I would read it, but I do not need to buy it. That happens with the books I fall for...and this one. It was not falling for worthy, but darn it if it was not awesome still. Because it succeeded with that those others does not manage. It made me crave the next.

It must have been the crazy alpha angel. Those idiotic males who think mine mine mine just make me weak. And Raphael, oh he is good at that. He is an ass, he is sex on a stick, and he is possessive. He is the kind of male you should just run from, and that makes him the more exciting.

Elena is the kind of woman that should just tread carefully, she is too smart mouthed, but you just have to like her. Because she does not back down, not even before an archangel (yes she has a deathwish it seems.) And together they explode.

The book is dripping with sexual tension, and two characters that can't play nice with each other. Great.

I should say something about the story, angel gone bad, needs to be hunted down. Tension, tension, a but of ass-kicking and the end.

But I must say that I was not a fan of Dmitri, he just came around as creepy instead of sexy creepy...what sexy creepy is I have no idea. But he was a good side character none the less, and I like the world Singh built up.

I also liked that religion was not present, nope nothing about that. Perhaps these angels are just called angels and they are just freaky beings. I do not know yet.

Conclusion:
I do want more.

Cover:
Not a fan


-------------------------
My flash fiction for this week
Especially made for Ana

Review: Burning Up - anthology

Authors: Meljean Brook, Nalini Singh, Angela Knight, Virginia Kantra
Psy 8,5, Iron Seas 0,5, Children of the sea 3,5,
Genre: Parnormal romance /steampunk/ fantasy romance /HR pnr
Pages: 342
Published: 2010
Publisher: Berkley
Source: Won

New in Nalini Singh's Psy-Changeling series is Whisper of Sin, in which a woman in lethal danger finds an unlikely protector- and lover- in a volatile member of the DarkRiver pack. 

This is Emmett and Ria's story and I must say that I do like when changelings and human fall in love. Never been much of a Psy fan. Anyway Ria is in danger from bad guys, Emmett protects her, they fall in love. It's all very short, hot and sweet. I was happy with thsi story. 

In Angela Knights's Blood and Roses, a vampire warrior and his seductive captor join forces to stop a traitor from unleashing an army of demonic predators on their kingdom. 

I did like the world, I did like the story but still some things were not to my liking. Our heroine does something and the next second she and the hero is in love. That was one big case of insta-love, and yes this is a short story so it have to be like that. But I guess because of how it started I just could not believe in it. 

Virginia Kantra continues the haunting tales of the Children of the Sea in Shifting Sea, the story of a wounded soldier rescued by a strange and enigmatic young woman. 

Jack meet Morwenna and they have wild passionate sex. I want to read more about this world and the immortals of the sea. They sound fascinating even if there is nothing hot about dolphin, whale and all the rest shifters. 

Meljean Brook launches a bold new steampunk series with Here There Be Monsters, as a desperate woman strikes provocative- and terrifying- bargain to gain overseas passage. 

Ivy wants to get out of London and meets Mad Machen. The bad bad pirate. Arghhh matey. Sorry. It was a good story about these two finding each other, hating each other, and learning about each other. It was not as good as later stories though, but still good. 

So all in all I think this was a good anthology. Fans of Singh will want her story, the same for fans of the Iron Seas series. And I shall bump up up my Sea shifter story in my tbr pile.

Review: Kiss of Snow - Nalini Singh

Series: Psy-changeling 10
Genre: Paranormal romance
Pages: Hardcover, 368
Published: UK August 11th 2011
Publisher: Gollancz
Source: For review

Since the moment of her defection from the PsyNet and into the SnowDancer wolf pack, Sienna Lauren has had one weakness. Hawke. Alpha and dangerous, he compels her to madness.
Hawke is used to walking alone, having lost the woman who would've been his mate long ago. But Sienna fascinates the primal heart of him, even as he tells himself she is far too young to handle the wild fury of the wolf.
Then Sienna changes the rules-and suddenly, there is no more distance, only the most intimate of battles between two people who were never meant to meet. Yet as they strip away each other's secrets in a storm of raw emotion, they must also ready themselves for a far more vicious fight...
A deadly enemy is out to destroy SnowDancer, striking at everything they hold dear, but it is Sienna's darkest secret that may yet savage the pack that is her home-and the alpha who is its heartbeat.

My thoughts: 

I only read book 1 a year ago but it still feels like I have been waiting so long for this book. It was because since the moment Hawke stepped in on the scene I wanted more of him and now my wish came through. Luckily I had the rest of the series to keep my company until then.

I always wondered about Hawke and Sienna's story. The sexual tension has been felt through many books but she is just so young, not to mention that he does not think they have a future since they can't mate. His mate died when they were just kids. The question through out this book then was would they, could they? Because the two obviously wanted each other and feelings ran high. You could cut the tension with a knife.

For those who do not know Hawke or Sienna I will make it short. Hawke is the alpha wolf of The Snow Dancers. He is just so sexy and Sienna is one lucky woman. Sienna is a psy who defected with her family. But she is also an X psy and they do not last long. She will burn out and kill. She is also not yet 20 so there is a big age difference, but then she had to grow up fast since she was trained to be a killer since she was a kid. And they want each other, a lot!

As usual there is the political aspect as some want to take over changeling territory and destroy San Francisco. There are some bad Psy out there and a big battle is coming. And another couple will also dance around each other, you will see when you read it. Some happy news from the Dark River changelings too.

Honestly what more can I say than that Hawke and Sienna's story has to be read. It was great.

Conclusion:

By far the best book in the series so far. The tension, the passion, the will they, wont they, just sucked me right in and would not let go of me. I am quite the Hawke fangirl and I am very satisfied with his book.

Rating:
Hawke and Sienna's book! 'nuff said

Cover:
I usually do not like the heads but my hardcover was just so pretty!

"...you have my devotion, your name is branded on my soul, my wolf yours to command. A hundred years? It'll never be enough. I want eternity."

Book Review: Play of Passion - Nalini Singh

Series: Psy-changeling 9
Genre: Paranormal romance
Pages: 352
Published: UK May 2011 Gollancz

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

My thoughts:

I haven't read a Psy-changeling book since last years P-C frenzy and still it felt just like coming home when I opened this book. And it is also about the thing I love most about these books, changelings. The Psy are just so cold but in this book it is two changelings that fall in love and it is wild.

Drew is the tracker for the pack so he stands kind of outside the pack hierarchy. He is dominant but the question is how much? He has also always liked Indigo (awwwww) who is a lieutenant and therefore is above him in the hierarchy. She is also a dominant female and no one to mess with. I liked Drew, because he is charming and playful. I guess he must be cos of the things he does. Everyone likes him and yes I did fall at once too. Who would not? Indigo is different, hard but still approachable. Together they explode on the pages. But nothing is easy in the changeling universe and here the trouble is that she is dominant and 4 years older. He is hard to place in the hierarchy and she fears being with someone less dominant because that could make him resent her. So yes they have some issues to work through but the way to their HEA is just wonderful because Drew does not give up and I really adore his playful side.

But like with all books there is something bigger on the horizon. The Pure PSY group wants Silence stronger than ever and they are willing to kill every PSY who has flaws and those that protect them. The clock is also ticking for a bigger showdown and I sense it will be big and bad.

This is a great paranormal romance series and I feel so home in this world. It is familiar and at the same time not. If you want you can even jump straight into the middle and still feel the magic, but then you will miss all the great couples and who and what the PSY really are. Though I do confess to having not read the two books before this one.

Conclusion:

I truly enjoyed Drew and Indigo's story. It was romantic, playful and hot. These two have truly sizzling passion burning between them. And I should not forget the small insights we got into Hawke's and Sienna's "relationship". What can I say, when I closed the book I really wanted the next one and to see how that turns out.

Try this series, you will not be sorry.

Rating:

Read it :)

Cover:

Not a fan of the heads. Sure they look nice but they are all pretty much the same

Review: Nalini Singh Silhouette x2 and a Mills and Boon

Bound by Marriage by Nalini Singh

Genre: Romance

Pages: 192

Published: 2007

How else to describe the pact Jessica Randall had made with wealthy New Zealand rancher Gabe Dumont? In exchange for marriage and an heir, he would save her family property. The agreement was calculating, completely devoid of any tenderness, just like the man himself.

Their relationship was supposed to be a simple arrangement. Instead, it was fraught with secrets and mistrust, jealousy and ultimatums--emotions that wouldn't allow her to maintain the distance she needed. Worse, the sizzling attraction between them made this marriage of convenience decidedly inconvenient.

I do like stories like this one. Gabe wants a wife and an heir, so he marries Jessica because she wants to save her ranch. No feelings attached, but we all know that can't last.

Jessica was hopelessly in love with an old friend of hers, that is married and his wife is expecting. Gabe knows this and is not happy about it. He was a force in himself, and I did like him. He melted slowly and his own hidden secrets slowly came into the light. While Jessica understood that perhaps that firs ...more I do like stories like this one. Gabe wants a wife and an heir, so he marries Jessica because she wants to save her ranch. No feelings attached, but we all know that can't last.

Jessica was hopelessly in love with an old friend of hers, that is married and his wife is excepting. Gabe knows this and is not happy about it. He was a force in himself, and I did like him. He melted slowly and his own hidden secrets slowly came into the light. While Jessica understood that perhaps that first crush isn't everything in the world. But they had some fighting to do before that. With each other and with themselves.

A sweet and short romance. Jealousy, secrets, and two people that share a great time in bed, but for some time that was all. What is there not to enjoy.

 Secrets in the Marriage Bed by Nalini Singh

Genre: Romance

Pages: 192

Published: 2006

EVERY MARRIAGE HAS ITS SECRETS

They were reconciling. That was all Caleb Callaghan could focus on when his estranged wife, Vicki, shared the news of her pregnancy. He was determined that this time their marriage would succeed, no matter what it took.

But was Vicki's price too high? She wanted more than his love and support...she demanded honesty between them, starting with his secrets. But there was something in Caleb's past he could not--would not--share. For the truth would only destroy them.

I was not sure about this one first. I am not a fan of a couple on the brink of divorce getting back together. But this one was different.

Caleb and Vicki has been married for 5 years and one day she left. Now she is back 3 months later and excepting his child so they are trying again. I slowly learnt what had gone wrong. Vicki had been rather cold in bed, because of how her grandmother raised her. She never gave much away. And Caleb was a workaholic and she felt he loved his firm more than her.

These two had some major issues to work out. First, better sex life, where both play. Second, trying to talk things out. What are they both hiding, what can't they say to each other?

A nice story about how a picture perfect marriage is not that perfect after all. They both loved each other but wanted more honesty and feelings in their relationship. 

The Italian's Cinderella Bride by Lucy Gordon

Genre: Contemporary romance

Pages: 192

Published: 2008

Italian count...English waif

In a flash of lightning, Count Pietro Bagnelli sees a young woman standing outside his palazzo, a battered suitcase at her feet. This solitary count has turned his back on the world, but he can't turn his back on this bedraggled waif....

Ruth has returned to Venice to uncover lost memories, yet finds comfort with this proudly damaged count. As Carnivale sweeps through the city, drama and passion ignite and secrets unravel.... 

Plot:
A woman standing in the rain is rescued by a Italian count who is morning his wife and lives almost alone in a big palace, yes only 2 servants, 2! *rolls eyes*

Hero:
A Venetian count with a tormented past. He rescues our heroine, is annoyed by her, and falls for her. Why? I do not know since she seems a bit insane, and is in love with his cousin.

Heroine:
A lost woman who is trying to get her life back on track. After a brutal attack she doesn't remember much. She comes in search of the man she loved. And she seems really crazy, say the least.

Liked:
Eh, a quick book. But the end was kind of good, and surprising in a way.

Disliked:
Well the heroine was just a bit to out of it. Also it kind of annoyed me that when she put on some make-up, a new dress, and got a new haircut everyone found her attractive. I guess that means she was not before then, and that women needs make-up. I guess I this time didn't go for the Cinderella story.

 

Review: Branded by Fire - Nalini Singh

Psy-changelings 6

Genre: Paranormal romance
Pages: 345
Published: 2009

When a brilliant changeling researcher is kidnapped, DarkRiver sentinel Mercy, a cat, and SnowDancer lieutenant Riley, a wolf, must work together to track the young man-before his shadowy captors decide he's no longer useful. Along the way, the two dominants may find that submitting to one another uncovers not just a deadly conspiracy, but a passion so raw that it'll leave them both branded by fire.

This was my fav book so far, I think it has to do with the fact that this time it was a changeling couple. They had great chemistry and no one was ice-cold or without feelings, instead the feelings were overflowing.

Mercy is a sentinel for the DarkRiver pack, and Riley has the same status over at the SnowDancer wolves. Here they are working together to bring the packs together. Mercy is going crazy since all the dominant cats are mated and she is left alone and she needs a man who is not weaker than her, but the doesn't want someone stronger either. And then there is Riley who pushes all the wrong buttons, or should we say right buttons. But wolves and cats do not play nice together.

This book worked for me cos of the feelings between these two, the book was warmer. Mercy was cool, even if she did have a lot of trouble with what she wanted. Riley got used to the whole situation faster and knew what he wanted. He was strong, and oh yes I liked him. I also learnt that wolves and cat can play really nice together.

To sum it up, this one was hot.

Blodeuedd's Cover Corner: Meh

Reason for reading: Borrowed

Final thoughts: The best one of the series so far.

Review: Hostage to pleasure - Nalini Singh

 Psy-changelings 5

Genre: paranormal romance
Pages: 330
Published: 2008

Now, as the deadly Psy Council tightens its grip, a rebel Psy scientist finds herself at the mercy of a changeling who has sworn vengeance against her kind...

Ashaya Aleine was separated from her son, forced to create a neural implant that will forever enslave her psychically gifted Psy race. After fighting a desperate battle to save her child and escape the PsyNet, she’s lead not to safety, but into the lethal danger of a sniper’s embrace.

DarkRiver sniper Dorian Christensen lost his sister to a Psy killer. Though he lacks the changeling ability to shift into animal form, his leopard lives within. And that leopard's rage at the brutal loss is a clawing darkness that hungers for vengeance. Falling for a Psy has never been on Dorian's agenda. But charged with protecting Ashaya and her son, he discovers that passion has a way of changing the rules...

This is the reason why I should write reviews at once, this one was left behind not to mention that I started and finished it over some weeks since I had that crazy library loot.

But ok, here we have another psy and changeling falling in love. But this one was different because Ashaya was not like other Psy and therefore it worked better for me. Ashaya wants to save her kid, Dorian helps her, people hunt her, he lusts after her, and she is troubled. In this book another bad guy shows up, a human alliance that wants to take over and sure the Psy sucks but this new alliance is rotten.

What did I get from this book, well there is this rat shifter called Treyan or something, and the freaky thing is that I'd like to see more from him..a rat shifter, I must be crazy. But he sounds cool, the rats are so sneaky and great spies.

I liked Dorian, and here he finally gets saved or looses it since he is really angry with the Psy after his sister getting murdered. So of course he will fall for a Psy who saves him. And I liked her, even with that crazy sister of hers.

Not so much council politics in this one since there were many after them. An ok book and a world I do like. The world is truly the best thing about these books.

Tomorrow I will review Branded by Fire, and yes my fav so far :D

Blodeuedd's Cover Corner: Ok

Reason for reading: Borrowed

Final thoughts: Ok series

Review: Mine to Possess - Nalini Singh

Psy-changeling, book 4

Genre: Paranormal romance
Pages: 328
Published: 2008

Clay Bennett is a powerful DarkRiver sentinel, but he grew up in the slums with his human mother, never knowing his changeling father. As a young boy without the bonds of Pack, he tried to stifle his animal nature. He failed...and committed the most extreme act of violence, killing a man, and lost his best friend, Talin, in the bloody aftermath. Everything good in him died the day he was told that she, too, was dead.

Talin McKade barely survived a childhood drenched in bloodshed and terror. Now a new nightmare stalks her—-the street children she works to protect are disappearing and turning up dead. Determined to keep them safe, she unlocks the darkest secret in her heart and returns to ask the help of the strongest man she knows...

Clay lost Talin once. He will not let her go again and hungers to possess her with a clawing need born of the leopard within. As they race to save the innocent Clay and Talin must face the violent truths of their past... or lose everything that ever mattered.

.

Go figure when this book turned out to be my fav so far. But like I realised it has to do with this was a changeling-human pairing, and less Psy drama.

Clay was all male, and he was a cat to watch. I liked him, and even with that darkness inside, all he wanted was to protect, so much that he ended up killing someone. What can I say about that, he saved a little girl, but he did go all primal doing that. But the love he felt for Talin all his life, that was something.

Then there was poor broken Talin, she is really screwed up cos of what happened when she was little, and she is afraid of Clay at one level. But she learns to trust him again, but she has this enormous walls built in. This is not an easy pairing cos of their pasts.

I liked how Clay slowly got through her walls and showed her what she was worth. He might just be my fav cat so far. Talin, well like I said, she was broken, but like Clay all she wanted was to protect. In her case, the kids she looks after. And that is what this book is about, kids gone missing, and she asking Clay for help. Insert Psy drama, but it was less, and different in a way, so I didn't mind.

I do enjoy Singh's world, a world where humans, changelings and Psy live side by side. The changelings are all heart and fierce protection. The Psy creep me out, and humans are humans. In this book there was some rat changelings too, and I do wonder if there are all sorts of changelings around, I guess so .

Blodeuedd's Cover Corner: I do like the UK covers better, BUT, I hate that they are all the same, so in that aspect the US ones are better. But meh.

Reason for reading: Borrowed from a friend

Final thoughts: Best so far.

Review: Caressed by Ice - Nalini Singh

 Psy-changeling, book 3

Genre: Paranormal romance
Pages: 361
Published: 2007

As an Arrow, an elite soldier in the Psy Council ranks, Judd Lauren was forced to do terrible things in the name of his people. Now he is a defector, and his dark abilities have made him the most deadly of assassins - cold, pitiless, unfeeling. Until he meets Brenna...

Brenna Shane Kincaid was an innocent before she was abducted - and had her mind violated - by a serial killer. Her sense of evil runs so deep, she fears she could become a killer herself. Then the first dead body is found, victim of a familiar madness. Judd is her only hope, yet her sensual changeling side rebels against the inhuman chill of his personality, even as desire explodes between them. Shocking and raw, their passion is a danger that threatens not only their hearts, but their very lives...

Sadly Judd didn't win me over, I mean he was yummy, but now think I know which books I may like from this series. The whole Psy are evil, and the council are making plans part, yes that part I find a bit boring. What I do love is the romance, and the changeling world.

In this we meet Brenna who was rescued from an evil Psy serial killer, but she is having trouble getting back into life, and fear she might be ending up evil. Then there is Judd, all ice and Psy calm. A former assassin who knows that Silence probably saved him from ending up a serial killer. And now a new killer is loose and Brenna is leaning on Judd, who is slowly leaning back.

Ok so yes my fav part is the love, but that depends, cos the slowly are so damn cold. Why anyone even bother beats me, Judd, him I could deal with, I think the guys work better for me. The problem here was that he was called ice-man now and again, and I had flashes of a certain Finnish former fomula 1 driver, and I went all ugh, noooo!

What I really enjoy about these books are the day to day changeling world, they are so sweet, but at the same time so aggressive if anyone hurts someone of theirs. In this book there was this cute scene about a little boy running and hiding, and doing that behind Judd, and then crawling his way up him. It was just adorable. Those are the best scenes.

But I did like this one better than book 2, yes mostly cos of Judd. Anyway, tomorrow I will post a review of book 4, and that one is my fav so far. Less psy drama, more love drama.

Blodeuedd's Cover Corner: If one of the books looked like this I could deal, but not when all do!

Reason for reading: Borrowed from a friend

Final thoughts: I wish there were changelings in this world.


Edit: Sandra Leesmith, contact me asap, or I have to draw another winner for The Fire Lord's Lover

Review: Visions of Heat - Nalini Singh

 Psy-Changeling, book 2

Genre: Paranormal romance
Pages: 2007
Published: 346

Used to cold silence, Faith NightStar is suddenly being tormented by dark visions of blood and murder. A bad sign for anyone, but worse for Faith, an F-Psy with the highly sought after ability to predict the future. Then the visions show her something even more dangerous-aching need...exquisite pleasure. But so powerful is her sight, so fragile the state of her mind, that the very emotions she yearns to embrace could be the end of her. 

Changeling Vaughn D'Angelo can take either man or jaguar form, but it is his animal side that is overwhelmingly drawn to Faith. The jaguar's instinct is to claim this woman it finds so utterly fascinating and the man has no argument. But while Vaughn craves sensation and hungers to pleasure Faith in every way, desire is a danger that could snap the last threads of her sanity. And there are Psy who need Faith's sight for their own purposes. They must keep her silenced-and keep her from Vaughn.

Ok so we have yet another cold Psy woman, this one ice-cold because she has never been touched by any other than medics. She lives in a secluded part of the city, actually so far from it that it's almost changeling land, and she never sees anyone. Then a little jaguar comes along, well ok, a big jaguar. He senses something and some time later he catches a woman in the woods. Faith has decided to leave her fortress of solitude to enter the world, and perhaps try to find her sisters killer, or just hide from the notion that she might be loosing it. And a cat loves to play with his pray, over and over again.

Sadly I didn't like this one as much, perhaps it was Faith because she is very cold. I liked Vaughn because he keeps on touching her and trying to make her understand that she will not go insane by a touch. I can see that he cares, and wants her. But she, like all Psy, cold as ice.

Here they hunt another Psy serial killer on the loose. And Silence and the council is not all what it's cracked up to be. Emotions are starting to pop up. And that is sure what the Psy need, I am looking forward to reading on and seeing how this gets resolved.

We got the action and hunt for a killer. And the tender lovestory about a woman who fears human contact because she fears it will drive her insane. It was nice to see the story evolve around that.

But, big but, Judd showed up for like a couple of pages and suddenly my eyes were all on him, he is sure a Psy too, but I do think I can take a man being cold more. And yay when I noticed that his book is up next!

Blodeuedd's Cover Corner: The UK version, I do not like them cos they are all of a man's head, and a scar (of different guys) but still too alike.

Reason for reading: Borrowed from a friend

Final thoughts: Good enough, and it did make me wanna read the next book when I heard who was in it.

Review: Slave to Sensation - Nalini Singh

Slave to Sensation by Nalini Singh

Psy-changeling, book1

Genre: Paranormal romance
Pages: 334
Published: 2006

In a world that denies emotions, where the ruling Psy punish any sign of desire, Sascha Duncan must conceal the feelings that brand her as flawed. To reveal them would be to sentence herself to the horror of "rehabilitation"—the complete psychic erasure of everything she ever was.

Both human and animal, Lucas Hunter is a changeling hungry for the very sensations the Psy disdain. After centuries of uneasy coexistence, these two races are now on the verge of war over the brutal murders of several changeling women. Lucas is determined to find the Psy killer who butchered his packmate, and Sascha is his ticket into their closely guarded society. But he soon discovers that this ice- cold Psy is very capable of passion—and that the animal in him is fascinated by her. Caught between their conflicting worlds, Lucas and Sascha must remain bound to their identities—or sacrifice everything for a taste of darkest temptation. 

I read a short story by Nalini Singh in the book The Magical Christmas Cat, and I just knew that I wanted to read more about these changelings, because they were just so cute, and rough. And thanks to Bookmooch.com and Ladybug @ Escape in a book I got the chance.

But first a friend of mine read it, and let's just quote her first. LOVE. Yes she found a new series, and stalked Nalini Singh's website, and bought the rest of the series, even before I read book 1. So ok I did not go that crazy but I still really liked this book.

This is a world where humans, The Psy and changelings live side by side. Psy rule the business world, and have a hand in most things. The changelings live close to nature, and the Psy do not think much about them. The changelings are too animal, while the Psy have no feelings at all, no love, no hate, just cold logic. Except for Sascha Duncan who finds herself breaking down, espeically when she is ding business with hot changeling Alpha Lucas Hunter. He is hunting a serial killer, and soon enough hunting her too, but in another way.

The Psy is just scary, no feelings, and the do not even have sex, because why bother when they feel nothing, and it is so icky too, all sweaty, and with fluids. And then do not eat nice things either. Would suck to be them, but then again they do not know what they are missing.

The changelings are my favourite, they are sweet, but brutal at the same time. There was this scene with two cubs and my heart just broke from cuteness. And this whole skin privileges thing, yes I liked that.

I like the future world that Singh has created. It feels real, it feels scary, and still there is magic in it all. Because there is still hope and love around. And it is a strange world, in one corner there is the Cold Psy, and in the other the animal-like, and sometimes brutal Changelings.

I liked the chemistry between these two characters. Sascha is slowly falling more and more in to big pit of feelings, and she thinks that her mind is going insane. But at the same time she needs Lucas, if only for a few days. And he is all alpha and protective, but at the same time such a  big sweet panther.

There is passion, and romance, heartbreaking love. There is the thrill of the hunt( though I did pretty easily figure out who the killer was.), and the tick of the clock as the wolves prepare to attack the Psy to get back at them for taking one of their own. If the killer can't be found, there will be a bloodbath.

I enjoyed the story, I loved the characters, I adored those cute cubs, and I do want to read more from Singh. Here is to hoping my friend reads fast.

Blodeuedd's Cover Corner: Very paranormal romance, ok I guess, I mean it is not bad.

Reason for reading: Own book

Final thoughts: When the cats play you better play with them, or you will regret it.

(btw have anyone noticed my shapeshifter theme by now, freaky really how it happened,  but next up is demons and then zombies ;)
'

Review: The Magical Christmas Cat - Nalini Singh and more

The Magical Christmas Cat 

Stories by Lora Leigh, Nalini Singh, Linda Winstead Jones and Erin McCarthy

Genre: Paranormal romance

Pages: 384

Published: 2008

New York Times bestselling author Lora Leigh and top-selling authors Nalini Singh, Erin McCarthy, and Linda Winstead Jones have a special gift for readers this year: never-before published holiday stories featuring passionate romance, paranormal adventure, and a distinctly alluring feline touch. With four new stories - including one featuring Lora Leigh's genetically altered Feline Breeds - this is a collection packed with more surprises than Christmas morning, and more chills than the snowiest winter night.

(fantastic fiction)

I have saved this book since the spring because I wanted to read it near Christmas and I am glad I did it. It was a special feeling.

There were 4 short stories and my fav was by far Nalini Singhs story that took place in her psy changeling world. Stroke of Enticement. It is a story about Zach, a Dark Rivers soldiers, and Annie who teaches children, and who is not a changeling. It is s sweet story how they fall in love, how she is afraid to let him close and how he knows she is his mate. This story really made me want to read more Nalini Singh. And the cat in this story is then of course Zach, and what a yummy cat he is, grrrr.

My second fav, well, prehaps not fav. The next two were ok.

Lora Leigh had a story from her Feline Breeds books. Christmas Heat is the story about a librarian who hears some plans see shouldn't and Noble, the jaguar from the Sanctuary who will protect her. They seem to have been looking at each other for some time but never made a move. This story has got some danger, and love. It was ok to me, dunno of I had liked it more if I had understood the world better. Then there is this thing about the heat, and how it takes hold of you and wont let you go. Mates for life.

Christmas Bree is Erin McCarthy story about three witch sisters, and Bree is the empath. She has been having sex dreams about this guy, then someone shows up. She knows he wants her, she wants him, but they are so different. he is a lawyer, and she is a witch in strange clothes. They have a long way to go, and some sex some try first. This one was ok too. Oh and the cat here is running around with mistletoe, magic mistletoe.

Sweet Dreams by Linda Winsted Jones is the story about Ruby who owns a bakery and who gets a strange jade cat from a secret admirer. And Zane across the street who is not all what he seems to be. dark powers are at play in this story. This story was rather hm for me.

But Singh totally made this anthology for me, I so want to try her out now. I really enjoyed her changeling-psy world.

Blodeuedd's Cover Corner: Sweet and cute.

Reason for Reading: Own book

Final thoughts: Nice sweet Christmas stories for xmas.