The Scent of Shadows and Never cry Wolf

Joanna Archer knows all about darkness. Raped at age 16, she's spent the last 9 years watching the dark side of humanity. At night she prowls the forsaken streets looking for revenge. Until a chance date turned horrific reveals a world beyond the bright lights and big action of Sin City - an otherworld filled with supernatural forces.

My thoughts:

What's up with rape and UF. I know UF is PNRs darker sister, but all the rape, must we?

So yes Jo was raped at 16 and is all messed up cos of that. Also suddenly after almost 10 years she sees her former BF and wants to do something about it. Why wait that long? Ok so that was not my point. What is my point?

One messed up heroine who knows krav maga. She has a bimbo smart sister. She has a dad who hates her. She has painful memories she can let go of.

But she is also special, but the road there was a bit, did you have do that?

Also, I am not sure I actually like Jo. She is not very likable....and neither is anyone else.

Conclusion:

I did think the book was good. Interesting, darker than usual somehow. But that still does not make me wanna read more. I felt it was not a good UF fit for me. I still read it fast though, but something was still off. 

Cover

Boring

Paperback, 455 pages
Published June 2nd 2008 by Voyager
Signs of the Zodiac #1
Urban fantasy
own

Lucas Simone is not the kind of guy you mess with. He’s big, he’s strong, and his eyes hint at a wilder side most women can’t handle. Of course, that’s because his predatory instincts are no metaphor–he’s a genuine Grade-A top-quality werewolf, tough enough to fight his way to dominance over the scariest pack on the West Coast. There’s only one chink in his armor. Unlike most alpha dogs, Lucas has a reputation for protecting the weak and innocent.

Sarah King is counting on that protective impulse–it’s the only thing standing between her and certain death. There are only two problems: one, she’s not quite as innocent as she’d like Lucas to believe. And two, if he doesn’t stop stoking Sarah’s animal lust, it’s only a matter of time before her own wild side gets unleashed… 

My thoughts:

There is still hope...

I did not have a lot of hope when I started this book, it was pnr after all, and we all know how that has turned out lately. But to my surprise the book was good and hooked me from the beginning. I was all what? For reels? Yup, I enjoyed a PNR book, and there was that anthology a few weeks back too. Freaky. But then this one was not a cliche ridden mess of true mates, big bad alpha who is really sweet, and hot smexy times after confessing undying love.

SO yes Lucas was a big bad alpha. But he was bad. Seriously, sure he protected peeps but he was not afraid to kill..a lot. Shifters were described as psychopaths about to happen. There was this claustrophobic feeling like they could rip her throat out at any minute. She truly was in a cage with wild animals. He was never that alpha a-hole. He was just dangerous.

And Sarah may have played damsel in distress but she was none. She was lying and had an agenda. She had her own powers.

Of course there was smexy times. He found her hot, she found him scary and hot and they did it. That did not mean they loved each other.

I also liked the explanation for mates. It's just who fits you genetically, that does not mean true love is involved. No destiny shit here.

Conclusion:

Yes, I enjoyed the book. There was action, bad people, death and mayhem. And two people fell in lust.

Cover

meh

Paperback, 310 pages
Published June 28th 2011 by Kensington
Night Watch #4
Paranormal romance
Own