Audio: Highland Dragon Master - Isabel Cooper

Legend claims

When Scotland fell to English rule

The Highland dragons took a vow:

Freedom at any price.

The war for Scottish independence rages on, but it's only a matter of time before England is victorious. Exhausted and battle-weary, Highland dragon Erik MacAlasdair will face unknown seas to seek the Templar stronghold and claim a power so great it could free his beloved homeland forever.

If only that kind of power didn't come with such a terrible price.

Daughter of a mortal woman and an ancient dragon, Toinette has never forgotten the proud Scot who once stole her young heart—she'll gladly fight at his side. But when dark forces leave them stranded on a cursed island, it will take everything they have to defy their fate...and trust the passion that burns within the heart of every dragon. 

Audio CD, 9 h
Published March 6th 2018 by Tantor Audio
Dawn of the Highland Dragon #3
Historical paranormal romance
For review

My thoughs:

For a romance there was not a lot of romance. It's more historical romance, with romance or well, lust thrown in at the end.

Erik needs an old artifact that the Templars hid. So he hires a ship, and look the captain is his old friend Toinette. Friend and friend, they spent a few years together as teens and shared a kiss. Oh and they are both dragons.

For a Highland book it does not even take place in the Highlands! I was very sad, I mean only one Scot! Shame, shame. Most of the book takes place on this really creepy cursed island. I mean really creepy, when I listened in the dark all I thought was, I really hope this does not give me nightmares! It was one of those not shown, just speculation and then more and more. That was one freaky island! And there they are, stranded (and no, they can't just fly away.)

Most of the book is trying to get away, and these two growing closer and giving in to that passion that has been building.

Starting a book shakily it ended with a creepy bang. A good creepy bang.

Narrator Derek Perkins

Sure it worked, but, I honestly feel he would be better for straight up romance. Not this mostly pnr thing. I think I would enjoy it more in a proper setting, with balls and dinners. He does have the voice for that.

Cover

sexy dragon alert

Book Discussion: Katrina, The beginning

This month Carole and I will be discussing "Katrina, the beginning" by Elizabeth Lorraine

Author: Elizabeth Loraine

Title: Katrina, The Beginning

Genre: YA, Paranormal Romance, & Fantasy

Pages: ebook

First Published: August 2009

Where I Got It: My shelf (ebook freebie)

As a Vampire being hunted was nothing new. Finding out that I had to save those that were hunting us was!

Katrina is thrust into something she never could have imagined growing up in the aristocracy of Europe. Once the fashion of the day, and girlish gossip filled Katrina and her new friends days, but their lives changed the instant their race was threatened and they were chosen as the Five, and the protectors of not only the vampire race, but all the peaceful races of the world!

C: Happy Day after Xmas!!! 

B: Yay happy Day after Xmas. May I first start with my tale of my reading of Katrina? The let me begin. I read 70 pages in 1,5 weeks. The over xmas I tried my best and read 30 more, then you said you had finished it and I tried again, but omg!!!! I had to skim cos I was all blerghhhhhhhhhhh.

C: Oh my. Yeah...it  took me a week to “finish” it. I literally forced myself to get through it last night. Lots, lots, and LOTS of skimming 

B: I think my breaking point was when she was meeting the other girls and they all went Hi my name is X, but my nick is V. Hi my name is X, but my nick is C. OMG. Srsly? Who wrote this? A 11 year old?

C: Ugh. I felt like it was written by an 11 year old. My breaking point was the dialogue….its suppose to be historical, but I felt like it modern day. What really killed me was Katrina’s sister was named Katherine….like really? 

B: Yes!!! They have the SAME NAME. What was the parents thinking?!

C: Right!? I really liked the concept of the story, but dang the delivery killed my soul a little bit. 

 B: I did skim a lot so I might have missed something. But the worldbuilding! Why are there vamps around? Why do they have human guards? What on earth is their world like? I got nothing. I only got that she is young, met new friends, and then at the end made some stupid jokes about their hair when people were dying. So crap world. But the writing was crap too, and the dialogue truly horrendous. 

C: It was explained why they have/need watchers….but it was lame. There were so many plot holes and things that didn’t make sense. 

B: Might have read that and filed it under too lame and forgotten it ;) But yes, I am so glad you did not like it too. I was all gods this suck so much, I sure hope Carole does not like it.

C: hahahaha I guess it was my turn to have a lammmmmmme book. >_< Luckily it was an amazon freebie. I’m so bummed. 

B: Lol. But yes, I have nothing good to say AT ALL. I certainly did not like Katrina, nick Kat, or her sister Katherine, nick Kate. Or anyone at all. Oh oh oh, not to mention the whole I LOVE my human guard, but wait, look at that sexy vamp. Sure, you wanted a triangle, and you made one.

C: Yeah…..I hated the triangle. It literally lasted like two pages and then both Katrina and Quinn realized, “Oh...it was blood lust...so we can be friends again.” WHAT? Really!? You can’t just be “in love” and get over it that quickly. Don’t care if it was “blood lust”....there should be more recovery from that! Bleh.

B: The only good thing about the book was that, I thought it had 490 pages, and then it suddenly ended! I was all YES!!!!!! I had them all in one. 

C: LOL LOL. By 95% done, I literally said, “OH MY GOD...WHEN WILL THIS END!!!!?????” Then it did and I was happy.

B: My last line would be: Do not read this one. But if you do like cliché YA vamp stuff that is written  by a teenage girl who thinks she is the heroine then sure why not, read this. But I sure do not recommend it.

C: Same….there really was no redeeming thing….it was a high let down. :/ The end?

B: The end. I just want to leave this mess behind me.

C: I’m sorry I picked a hot mess of a novel. LOL

B: I am scared now. But I do want to read Moyes for January, but I am scared it will suck

C: I have hope.

B: Let there be hope.

-The End-

Highlander Romance Wednesday x3

He was known throughout the kingdom as Hawk, legendary predator of the battlefield and the boudoir. No woman could refuse his touch, but no woman ever stirred his heart—until a vengeful fairy tumbled Adrienne de Simone out of modern-day Seattle and into medieval Scotland. Captive in a century not her own, entirely too bold, too outspoken, she was an irresistible challenge to the sixteenth-century rogue. Coerced into a marriage with Hawk, Adrienne vowed to keep him at arm's length—but his sweet seduction played havoc with her resolve.

She had a perfect "no" on her perfect lips for the notorious laird, but Hawk swore she would whisper his name with desire, begging for the passion he longed to ignite within her. Not even the barriers of time and space would keep him from winning her love. Despite her uncertainty about following the promptings of her own passionate heart, Adrienne's reservations were no match for Hawk's determination to keep her by his side... 

My thoughts:

I wanted to knock these two over the head and lock them in a room, until they gave in and did it. Cos really! Omg, he has issues, she has issues.

Hawk is loved by all women, and a women scorned is not to be played with.

Adrienne is from the future and falls into 1513. Of course she is all WTF!!?! Luckily she can speak with a brogue, gods, wasn't that lucky for her! She also hates pretty men cos her last boyfriend was an ass.

They are married. She refuse him, he is all you are mine! She is all, I have seen prettier! He is all mine wench! But never to extremes, except for later on when I was ...that is the way you wanna play it? You'd lose me there. Still he is kind and she is stubborn. Why he fell in love, hmmm, cos she was stubborn?

Spoiler

[ I am sorry? She is a virgin? How the f is that possible? She had a boyfriend. She is pretty. They never did it? Ok whatever. ]

It was amusing to see their dance of wills.

Mass Market Paperback, 375 pages
Published May 29th 2007 by Dell (first published March 9th 1999)
Highlander #1
Historical paranormal romance
Own

Darroc MacConacher spends sleepless nights dreaming of a raven-haired beauty who makes him ache with desire. Then his dream comes true: the lady with her lush curves and fair skin appears shipwrecked on his shores. Darroc is immediately drawn to her strength and beauty, and from the moment she lays eyes on this powerful, broad-shouldered warrior, Lady Arabella MacKenzie knows she'll never want another man. 

But theirs is a forbidden love. The MacKenzies drove the MacConachers from their lands and destroyed their honor. Now, Darroc can use this sapphire-eyed seductress to shatter his foes. Yet how can he deny the passion that burns between him and Arabella, and ruin the one woman who touches his very soul? 

My thoughts:

I was afraid I would think Darroc was an ass. But he wasn't! Let me explain ;)

Darroc hates the MacKenzies, they drove them to a godforsaken crappy island. He haaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaates them!

Arabella is on of the hated Mackenzies and she is shipwrecked on his island. And this made me all NOOOOO! I was afraid he would be all, haha, I will seduce her, leave her, and then in the end she still would crawl back. And I would be all no!!!!!

But instead we have a lovely story about she charms everyone. They get that she is not evil, even if her grandfather did something bad. She starts to fall for Darroc. There is talk about vikings (no more vikings then, but whatever.) The island sounds horrible. There is traces of old magic spun through the story. I liked that.

But of course they wont have it easy. Their families are feuding. He is an ass (but in a good way) and love wins.

Paperback, 375 pages
Published October 1st 2009 by Forever
MacKenzie #7
Historical romance
Own

She was ready to let her heart run wild . . . Merry Stewart has had enough! Enough of her brothers, whose behavior would make even the most improper lady blush. Enough of their Highland home, which would surely have fallen to ruin were it not for her. She dreams of escaping into the arms of her betrothed, Alexander d'Aumesbery;even though they haven't yet met. But when they do, Merry is devastated. It seems he's no better than the men in her family. 

So beautiful, so brazen . . . From the moment he meets Merry, Alexander is determined to make her his. Desperate to convince her he's nothing like the members of her roguish clan, he will prove he is every bit the well-mannered gentleman. Yet, beneath it all beats a heart as intense and uncontrollable as hers. And finally, when his life is threatened, Merry realizes he's the husband she's been waiting for . . . and their passion becomes the one thing that cannot be tamed.

My thoughts:

Highlanders! That was enough for me. Though how disappointing, the hero was English. Boooo.

Merry has idiots for a family. They drink and do nothing else. One would think they would have had liver failure by now, or some other clan would have attacked.

Alex is back from the crusades. His bride arrives. Well I got nothing bad to say about Alex. He was nice.

Merry Merry Merry, she really is a judgmental shrew. Also, the almost rape of her husband and touching was just, icky. Ewww. She was one weird woman. Weirdo.

But hey they will fall in love and live happily ever after. But before that someone is after Alex, who?

It was fun for a quick romance. But, they sure bathed a lot for this period. Bathing bathing, and one would think that growing up with animals she would understand that men like animals might have something growing. But hey maybe she never noticed. Never saw a bull, or a horse, or even a freaking dog.

Mass Market Paperback, 371 pages
Published January 26th 2010 by Avon
Devil of the Highlands #2
Historical romance
own

Joint Discussion: The rest falls away - Colleen Gleason

Author: Colleen Gleason

Title: The Rest Falls Away (The Gardella Vampire Hunters #1) 

Genre: Fantasy, Paranormal Romance, Historical Fiction, and action/adventure

Pages: ebook

First Published: 2014

Where I Got It: My shelf (Amazon/Freebie)

Beneath the glitter of dazzling nineteenth century London Society lurks a bloodthirsty evil…

Vampires have always lived among them, quietly attacking unsuspecting debutantes and dandified lords as well as hackney drivers and Bond Street milliners. If not for the vampire slayers of the Gardella family, these immortal creatures would have long ago taken control of the world.

In every generation, a Gardella is called to accept the family legacy, and this time, Victoria Gardella Grantworth is chosen, on the eve of her debut, to carry the stake. But as she moves between the crush of ballrooms and dangerous moonlit streets, Victoria’s heart is torn between London’s most eligible bachelor, the Marquess of Rockley, and her dark, dangerous duty.

And when she comes face-to-face with the most powerful vampire in history, Victoria must ultimately make a choice between duty and love.

Another joint review with Carole! :D This month we are giving 'The Rest Falls Away' a chance. :)

B: We will start with a simple one, how did you like Victoria?

C: At first I did not like her, I’ll be honest. I was worried she was going to be a “perfect” character, but as the story went along I liked her more and more. I think she’ll be even better in the next book. She seems like a badass in the making.

B: I can’t say I am overly fond of her. She was ok, a woman growing into becoming a vampire hunter. But I did feel she had a few TSTL moments, and I did not like how everyone just seemed to secretly lust after her.

C: I totally agree. It is annoying when every male wants her. However, I don’t think Max is that much in love...yet. I imagine he sees her as more as an annoying little sister. The ending...I think there was a shift. I think he is starting to lust over her now….which meh.

B: I agree, after that ending he will suddenly lust after her. And what do we have then? A nice little triangle, I am so over them!!!

C: Ugh me too. However, I think it worked okay-ish...because she really only had eyes for Phillip for the majority of time...

B: Haha, ok there it was, yes majority of time. When she did lust after the other guy ;)

C: WHICH I thought Sebastian was a total creep! I do wonder if we’ll learn more about him….I am curious more so, because I didn’t like him.

B: You didn’t? I did ;) But then he was a bad boy so there’s that. I like them. he was a creep but I liked him. Philip was so dull, Max was so in your face I am awesome at hunting vamps and you can only dance at balls.

C: HAHA agreed. Honestly...I wouldn’t have picked any of them if I were Victoria. Maybe she’ll get a new love interest in the next book. *fingers crossed*

B: Gods, I hope not! But ok away with ye men. Let’s talk about how I felt it was YA? Was it yA? I do not know!

C: Technically it wasn’t a “ya”, but I can totally see it falling into that category. I think the only reason it isn’t is because of the naughty scenes. 

B: Yeah, that is what made me think ok this can’t be YA. But it so did not help with the whole love triangle, ok more than love triangle thing. And everything else felt sort of..nice too. More blood and gore please.

C: Agreed. When I have some vamp/paranormal action I want gore and blood everywhere! I think the author was trying to add a little spice of 19th century-ness too it, ya kno? 

B: I did like the whole 19th aspect. I liked how she danced at balls, was courted, etc etc and then went out and fought vamps..as a woman! And she wore pants a couple of time!” Ohhhhhhh

C: PANTS! haha, but yeah. I thought it was a fun concept! It’s like...19th century Buffy the Vampire Slayer. WHICH I wanted to talk about the plot. I totally see the lack of information presented by the author. I wish she gave more about the “family tree”, what I assuming is that they have a few kids and one is chosen to be the hunter.

B: I did feel that was plot hole land as I told you. Cos ok sure one chooses to hunt, one doesn’t. BUT Vic is told she can NEVER take a lover or marry..right. isn’t she the last Gardella? I did feel that it did not work. There should have never been any kids at all. And what if they have 10 kids and everyone wants to fight? Cos we are told they all can, if they wanna…

C: Hmmmm. Good point. However, there is the human element like Vic’s mom...she fell in love. GASP! Which is silly that she can’t do both. Well, she could but it prolly would end badly…*cough*

B: *coughs* I do think they could have both. Just marry another Venator. Stay at home while you are preggers and then fight again. Women can do BOTH! ;)

C: Yes, however, I think the gang is worried that the spouse will try and prevent or try and help (which could lead to death or worse) which will compromise the mission. I totally get it...but c’mon. Just make it a rule you can only marry a fellow hunter or something. OR the spouse HAS to be trained. Something, because if you don’t reproduce then you will not have a future generation to fight! (I almost rambled about the fall of Sparta...haha)

B: Sparta stays!

But yes that would make sense! And considering she is the LAST Gardella, then she must have kids or kill EVERY vampire on earth….

C: Which that would be a headache and a long, long list. So...ending? What did you think?

B: Ok so without SPOILERS, I liked the ending, it was..evil. BUT I did NOT like how TSTL it made her. I was very very very very VERY angry at her. ALL CAPS ANGRY.

C: It is SO hard not give away spoilers for this one...because I liked the ending. It was indeed evil….and I really didn’t expect it. I was expecting………….something else. YES! GAH! I was angry at her too. 

B: Your last thoughts then? I felt that it was good, ok at times, but I do not want to read more. I felt like one was enough for me this time. Even if the rest might actually be better.

C: I wouldn’t mind one more, but only if it is a freebie or I borrow it from the library ;) I would love to see the main baddie have a fight with Vic’s auntie. That would be fun! But overall, it was okay and a fun ride.

B: Let’s hope the last book in the series is a freebie one day and then we will read it and see ;)

C: Agreed! Good job! I am out of cookies since i am on major diet ATM, so here are some carrots in celebration *hands plate of carrots*.

B: Mmm rabbit food ;)

Go us :)

C: WOOT WOOT!

B: PP in April then :) Looking forward to it

Shades of Milk and Honey - Mary Robinette Kowal

Shades of Milk and Honey is an intimate portrait of Jane Ellsworth, a woman ahead of her time in a world where the manipulation of glamour is considered an essential skill for a lady of quality. But despite the prevalence of magic in everyday life, other aspects of Dorchester’s society are not that different: Jane and her sister Melody’s lives still revolve around vying for the attentions of eligible men.

Jane resists this fate, and rightly so: while her skill with glamour is remarkable, it is her sister who is fair of face, and therefore wins the lion’s share of the attention. At the ripe old age of twenty-eight, Jane has resigned herself to being invisible forever. But when her family’s honor is threatened, she finds that she must push her skills to the limit in order to set things right--and, in the process, accidentally wanders into a love story of her own.

My thoughts;

Ok so here I go, it was good, but I expected more. Dang you expectations! *shakes fist* I could, I would have enjoyed it more if I had not constantly thought, it could be better...

Which is wrong to think cos it was a perfectly enjoyable book. Jane and her horrible sister Melody (I hated her, she was a sulking bitch) want to find men. But Jane is plain, Melody is pretty. And tadaa there are new neighbors, eligible men.

So yes this is written in the Austen way. It's not a re-telling since all her books are thrown in in a way.

I did have some issues though with the world building. Had there always been "magic"? Does other countries have magic? Is there only glamour and illusions? Why not other things? Why do only bored women who want to catch a man use it? I did want more answers about this part. I think the book would have been fine without it now when it was just a plothole.

Conclusion:

But, life goes on. There will be hearts broken, hearts mended. Drama and a ball. I did enjoy the book. I guess it was just a bit more ordinary than I would have expected.

Cover

Pretty

Paperback, 320 pages
Published 2013 by Tor Books (first published July 26th 2010)
Glamourist Histories #1
Historical romantic fiction paranormal
Own

#FitReaders: Weekly Check-In Jan 30 2015 and A Dark Guardian Review

#FitReaders hosted by Geeky Bloggers Book Blog  and That’s What I’m Talking About.

Sat, 1 hour walk, and 30 min walk

Sun, 1 hour walk

Mon, 4 km bike, 30 min walk

Tue, 1 hour yoga, 6 km bike, 30 min walk, 1 hour workout class

Wed, 4 km bike, 45 min zumba, 30 min walk (and hitting over 17 000 steps :D

Thu, 4 km bike, 1 hour walk

Fri, 30 min walk, 4 km bike

Yay for getting 17 000 steps that one day. I also forgot my fitbit one day, so that sucks. But all in all a good week.

I have also noticed that I work a lot at work so that is good, on weekends, not so much, but that is what walks are for.

........................

Have you ever wanted to travel through time with weapons crafted by the Fae themselves? To experience adventure so thrilling and dangerous you don't know if you will live to see tomorrow? To know that the lives of your men and villages depends on the accuracy of your instincts? To lead a group of highly skilled warriors from other times and realms? Now my men and I are faced with fighting creatures only thought to live in legend but which have been brought to Earth by evil bent on annihilating all the realms. That is my life--and I love it.

At least I did until I found myself staring into the angelic, innocent face of Lady Mina of Stone Crest. In all the time I have led The Shields I have trusted my instinct to keep us alive, yet now I don't know what to believe. Everything points to Mina as the evil summoning the creatures, but she proclaims her innocence.

I should be able to see through her lies, if she is indeed lying, but my attraction to her blinds me to even that. The last time I found myself so attracted to a woman, it nearly cost me the lives of my men. I cannot allow that to happen again. I won't allow that to happen again.

Yet every time she looks at me, begging me with those blue-green eyes to believe her, I find myself sinking farther under her spell. Her mouth is a temptation mortal men will never know and her love will either bring me the peace I thought I'd never find--or the death I've managed, thus far, to avoid.

My thoughts:

Arghh, it could have been so much better! It was all there! Romance, danger, medieval times, drama and a monster. But, omg they screwed it up.

Ok so your sister keeps telling you are ugly, and you are too blind to see that everyone else loves you? I know that shit can mess with your mind but I got so sick of it.

But seriously, the worst part was how Hugh kept believing that Mina was the bad guy up till the end. Even when he had heard she was not. Even after he knew he loved her, even after they had sex! No, she is the bad guy, he feels it. Omg, really? It's so obvi not her! Maybe look at that bitch of a sister, that drunk of a bother, hey look at a villager. But no, it's her.

And there comes to a point where I just go all wtf, not again! EVERYTHING in this book could have been explained if people would have chilled for 1 second and asked a question, explained or just stop being effing children!!!

It's still gets a 2 though even if I hated everyone. Cos it had potential, it just got messed up by everything else.

ebook, 316 pages
Published 2006 by DL Grant, LLC
The Shields #1
Historical paranormal romance
own

Review: The Magic Between Us - Tammy Falkner

Love triumphs over all differences…even those of wings and magic…

Marcus Thorne was groomed to be one of the Trusted Few in the land of the fae, but now he must step into his father's title in the British ton. 

Cecelia Hewitt, a half fae/half human, has always lived in the human world and is not accustomed to wings and magic. 

Completely unprepared for their new positions, Marcus and Cecelia strike up a partnership to teach each other about their respective worlds. In the process, they discover they have more in common than they ever expected—including a burning mutual attraction.

My thoughts:

The romance between these two were different in away. They did not struggle as much, but they still struggled some. The thing is that they were in love from page one, they had been since childhood but then...drama!

The book is a part of a series but you can still read it as a standalone. Marcus found out about his parents in the human world and his father want him to take over the title. So that is where we are. Marcus wants to show his parents he loves them so he leaves Faerie and Cecilia behind. Big mistake, why leave the love of your life!? Oh Marcus. No wonder Cecilia is pissed when she comes to England on a mission. The rest of the book he tries to win her back. There is also another plot which shows why Cecilia can't marry him and that was a more emotional plot.

I liked Marcus and Cecilia, they clearly belonged together. They just both had to find a way to be together as they lived in different worlds.

Conclusion:

Lots of passion promised.

Cover

She is all, I love you sweetie!

And he is all, omg, will I never get rid of her

Mass Market Paperback, 320 pages
Published January 7th 2014 by Sourcebooks Casablanca
Faerie #3
Paranormal historical romance
for review

Review: Everlasting Enchantment - Kathryne Kennedy

Sir Gareth Solimere, knight of King Arthur's Round Table, has been trapped inside Merlin's relic for centuries, cursed until he finds his one true love. When he finally finds her in the unexpected form of a beautiful were-panther named Millicent Pantere, he has to use all of his charms to try to make her love him in return. But if he manages this feat, will he finally be free to live a normal life?

My thoughts:

You can easily read this one before the other books. At the beginning there is an explanation about the relics and the start of this society. So it works.

In this book Millicent, a were panther and hired to find a relic. And a relic she finds, and with it a sexy knight called Gareth. Adventure and romance follows.

But things are never that easy. Cos of things I will not explain Millie is not exactly falling all over him and their way to love is long (which I always like). There is also someone in the need of a rescue, an evil guy to take down, a curse to break and love to find.

Conclusion:

A nice adventure with a strong woman who could take care of herself.

Cover

ok

Mass Market Paperback, 384 pages
Published December 3rd 2013 by Sourcebooks Casablanca
Relics of Merlin #4
Historical paranormal romance
For review

Early Review: Legend of the Highland Dragon - Isabel Cooper

The MacAlasdairs are not like other men. 

Descendants of an ancient alliance, they live for centuries, shifting between human and dragon forms. Some wander the earth; some keep to their lands in Scotland. And Stephen MacAlasdair, the newest lord of the family, must go to London to settle his father’s business affairs. He brings an object of great power and greater darkness. He finds an enemy from his past, whose wrath is still living and deadly. And he meets an ally he’d never have expected.

1894 London, doesn't provide an easy life for women of the lower class, but Mina Seymour has managed to work herself up to a position as the secretary of a famous scholar. When a tall, dark Scottish stranger demands to see her employer, Mina is irritated; when MacAlasdair's departure leaves the professor worried, she’s suspicious. Determined to figure out the situation, she investigates further - and finds a world and a man she could never have imagined.

My thoughts:

Dragons and evil things afoot. Stephen is a dragon, seems there are a few "people" around who can shift into dragons in this world. And this one hails from Scotland ;) I do like the sword and kilt and background, sadly nothing of that happens as the book takes place in London.

Anyway. Dragon meets guard dog and because of things I shall not say, Mina, the guard dog aka secretary for a professor comes to work for Stephen. Learns of his second nature and helps him with the issue at hand...those pesky evil things that are happening.

There is of course romance coming too as they are drawn to each other but know they should not act upon it. But they sure still do ;)

Conclusion:

Romance, danger and fights. Mysteries and legends. We also meet his brother at one time and I hope there is a book about him too.

Would I read more?

'Yes

Cover

Nice

Mass Market Paperback, 352 pages
Expected publication: December 3rd 2013 by Sourcebooks Casablanca
Historical paranormal romance
For review

Review: My Lady Quicksilver - Bec McMaster

Determined to destroy the Echelon she despises, Rosalind Fairchild is on seemingly easy mission. Get in. Uncover the secrets of her brother's disappearance. And get out.

In order to infiltrate the Nighthawks and find their leader, Sir Jasper Lynch, Rosalind will pose as their secretary. But she doesn't count on Lynch being such a dangerously charismatic man, challenging her at every turn, forcing her to re-evaluate everything she knows about the enemy.

He could be her most dangerous nemesis—or the ally she never dreamed existed.

My thoughts:

This had to be my favorite in the series so far. I really liked reading about Rosalind aka Mercury and Lynch.

I am so torn. Yes the vampires are bad, but they are good ones too. Yes the humanists have a worthy cause, but some have done bad things. I do wonder how it will all turn out in the end...

Rosalind then, who is also Mercury, is the leader of the Humanists. She was resourceful and strong. Lynch was also strong and well he did not have to do much, I just thought he was such a hottie. He is the leader of the Nighthawks and plan to hunt down Mercury. Ohhh drama, sexy drama.

The world is cool, vampires ruling, humans are low class and food. A paranormal London and people are unhappy. But steampunk, eh, just that you give someone a mechanical hand does not steampunk make. Still it works as it is.

Conclusion:

There will be romance, danger and cool things to come

Cover

Cool

Mass Market Paperback, 425 pages
Published October 1st 2013 by Sourcebooks Casablanca
London Steampunk #3
Paranormal romance / Steampunk romance
For review

Review: The Magic of "I do" - Tammy Falkner

Claire Thorne is a faerie on a mission. When the governing body of her world puts a prohibition on magic, she escapes to the human world and straight into the arms of Lord Phineas Tremble. When he insists on being her crime-solving partner, she does everything she can to get rid of him—until she realizes his gift for smooth talking might come in handy when tracking down a killer. Before long, Finn has his hands full keeping Claire out of trouble, because the two of them together create more sparks than her faerie dust ever could...

My thoughts:

This book takes place after book 1 ended, but you do not have to read book 1 to be able to follow it. Instead you get to know one angry fairy who is "kidnapped" by a rogue, the brother of the man her sister married.

Yes so Claire is a fairy from fairyland. Her sister married a duke and got a HEA. While Claire is sent with Phineas to be out of the way. And that can mean only one thing, romance. Claire tries to stay by her fairy rules, but attraction is something you can avoid for a while, but not forever. While Phineas, oh he is a rogue. I mean one thing that happened had me looking up and saying wow almost. Cos well that is not something I would have thought would take place. What you wonder? Ha, like I would spill the beans. Just trust me, roguish behavior, in a sort of good way.

The drama takes place in that well she is duh a fairy and should not fall for a human. Then there is something else. And then at last there is a really bad guy who I want to kick. Powers conspire to keep them apart.

Conclusion:

It was cute with a few hot moments. A light book that I read fast.

Cover

Cute

Faerie #2
Historical paranormal romance
Mass Market Paperback, 384 pages
Published June 4th 2013 by Sourcebooks Casablanca
For review

Review: If he's tempted - Hannah Howell

Lady Olympia Wherlocke has the gift of foresight. When Lady Agatha Mallam asks Olympia to locate her brother so he can rescue her from an arranged marriage, she knows exactly where to find Lord Brant Mallam, Earl of Fieldgate. What happens next is something she never envisioned… 

Since his betrothed died, Lord Brant Mallam has drowned his sorrow with wine and women. His dissolute ways have only emboldened his calculating mother. But with the help of the enchanting Olympia, he concocts a daring plan to end his mother’s devious designs for his sister. While each step in their bold scheme works to perfection, the sins of the past could unravel a growing desire that neither Olympia or Brant can control…

My thoughts:

It was book 5, but it went well just jumping right in. I soon had the hang on things. And as it was HPNR the books all have different couples.

This book is about Lady Olympia. She was so kind, all big heart. Smart and just the kind pf person that would be a perfect friend. She also knew what she wanted and never gave up. She does have some secrets that we later learn.

The hero is a rake with a truly bad rep, but then he also have the mother from hell who does everything to destroy his rep even more. Oh she was beyond evil. But Brant is not as bad as he seems and together they make quite the team as they try to save his sister and more. Sparks fly.

Danger and passion is what makes this book. Because it gets dangerous, and they get close. But there is also more, her warm heart and her big family. Yes we meet a lot of them, some that has had their story told and some whose story is yet untold. What a family they are, and it made me curious.

Conclusion:

It was a good historical paranormal romance, and I liked the dangerous aspects, it gave the story something more.

Cover

I am tempted

Wherlocke #5
Historical paranormal romance
Paperback, 352 pages
Published April 2nd 2013 by Zebra

Review: Double Enchantment - Kathryne Kennedy

When Lady Jasmina accidentally creates a double of herself who knows nothing about Society propriety, the mix-up brings her into a very compromising position with a sexy were-stallion.

My thoughts:

This is book two, but it works perfectly as a stand alone and you can just jump straight in. There is a little prologue at first explaining why and what magic is.

And on to the book. Jasmine is a proper young lady, until a spell backfires on her. Which leads her to meet a shapeshifter, and those are just so beneath her social standing. Too bad Sterling is a total hottie and sparks fly. The book is about Jasmine trying to find a missing magical relic, and the twin she created with magic. Her very naughty twin. Sterling is sent to help her, and he wants her. But he does seem to have a few issues to deal with.

Oh and there is a gnome! At first I did not like him, but he was fun in the end. And annoying! Poor Jasmine. Also loved her aunt Nettie. So glad about a thing that happened *giggles*

A magical story set in an alternate England.

And now on to the spoiler....

Sterling meets the illusion twin first and has sex with her! Wtf? And lusts after her. Then he gets disappointed when he meets the real deal. But oh she is after a while nice too. All while All I can think of is that he had sex with her TWIN! Fail!

Conclusion:

A very different kind of London, and rules will be broken.

Cover:

Can you see the little gnome, creepy

Series. Relics of Merlin #2
Pages: 352
Genre: Alternate history /paranormal historical romance
Published: March 5th 2013 by Sourcebooks Casablanca
Source: For review

Review: Wolfishly Yours - Lydia Dare

Accustomed to running wild with her Lycan brothers in the swamps of Louisiana, Miss Liviana Mayeux is shipped off to London where Lady Hadley offers to sponsor and assist her. Before she knows it, Vivi finds herself in the middle of a pack of English wolves who are all vying for her attention. But Lady Hadley's handsome son Grayson is determined to keep her out of trouble. If only he knew how...

My thoughts:

Lycans, how can I not love them. Here we meet Grayson (introduced in previous books) and he is getting his match.

If you have read Dare's book you know what to expect, if not, then I will tell you. There is humour, banter, flirting, fun, werewolves trying to behave and romance.

Grayson Hadley drinks, gambles and is not the kind of man mothers introduce daughters too. But he is kind and well, he is a Lycan. He does try his best to behave and now and his brother even have a tutor to help them along. I like him, he knows what he wants.

Liviana is an American sent to England to learn proper manners. Yes you see a pattern here. At one time she say something that, well trust me it will be good. She is not timid and proper. And in the end she is everything a Lycan would want. I also liked that she knew his secret from start.

When these two meet there is a clash of wills. The romance grows, which I liked, because things does not happen at once. Though if I would say something negative is that Livi does something at one point that had me really disappointed. Have some faith woman!

Also, it does work as a standalone

Conclusion:

Dare does it again. She knows her Lycans

Cover:

Nice, but he does not look that happy

Series: Westfield wolves #6
Genre; Historical paranormal romance
Pages: 384
Published: November 6th 2012 by Sourcebooks Casablanca
Source. For review

Review: Kiss of Steel - Bec McMaster

Most people avoid the dreaded Whitecapel district. For Honoria Todd, it's the last safe haven. But at what price?

Blade is known as the master of the rookeries--no one dares cross him. It's been said he faced down the Echelon's army single-handedly, that ever since being infected by the blood-craving he's been quicker, stronger, and almost immortal.

When Honoria shows up at his door, his tenuous control comes close to snapping. She's so...innocent. He doesn't see her backbone of steel--or that she could be the very salvation he's been seeking.

My thoughts:

The steampunk aspect, well there was not much mention of it, except for a mechanical spider or two. The paranormal aspect, oh yes, that was there, and because of the steampunk vibes it felt much darker than usual.

Honoria is hiding with her siblings in a part of London that is ruled by the mysterious Blade. The rest of London belongs to the vampire council. And they are not good guys. But then they are the rules of England. Vampire beings who keep humans as thralls to feed upon. And humans pay taxes in blood. It's a darker world. It's a good world, and interesting world to read about.

Honoria is kind, too kind at times, she wants the best for her poor siblings. I liked her, I felt sorry for her, and I could respect her too. She could take back. Blade, our vampire renegade hero was, well let's just say he was alpha. Tough, and doing all to protect those within his realm. They are not a couple that should be, him bloodthirsty, and she not wanting anything to do with that world. But we all know the old story, passion is a sure thing when they meet. Even if they try to fight it. Some should just be together.

Conclusion:

An interesting world. A good couple and evil vampires that rot in the end.

Series: London Steampunk #1
Genre: Steampunk romance /historical paranormal romance
Pages: 448
Published: Sep 2012 by Sourcebooks Casablanca
Source: For review

Review: A Lady and her Magic - Tammy Falkner

A Lady and Her Magic

Rules Are Made To Be Disobeyed...

Sophia Thorne is new to the Regency's glittering high society, which resembles her magical homeland only insofar as both places are filled with ridiculous rules. Which means no matter where she goes, she's bound for trouble...

And Scandals Are Meant To Be Shocking...

The Duke of Robinsworth has flaunted and shocked society for years. In a moment of fateful mischief, Robinsworth encounters the enchanting and distinctly scandalous Sophia. Between her streak of magical mischief and his penchant for scandal, they're about to take rule-breaking to a whole new level...

My thoughts:

Cute is the word. What else to expect when Fairy (and then I mean wings and all) meets a handsome, brooding duke.

Sophia was a breath of fresh air, she was fun, sweet and not always thinking where her feet took her. She was just cute. She is also a fairy with a mission.

Our handsome duke is a recluse as everyone things he killed his wife..and he also says this on the first page. So I did wonder about that, but he was so nice and all so of course couldn't he have killed her. Well this at least I hoped.

Together they are not so proper. She is not bound by the ton's rules (just by fairy rules which she breaks too). And he feels alive for the first time since his wife's death. They were cute and passionate.

It was amusing and different. A paranormal romance in a historical setting. A fun sweet story about loosing your head and heart. 

Conclusion: 

I did not want to put it down after having started it.

Cover: Cute

Note: Tammy Falkner will stop by tomorrow for an interview and contest :=) See ya then

Genre: Historical paranormal romance
Pages: 352
Published: Sep 4th 2012 Sourcebooks Casablanca
Source: For review

Review: Enchanting the Lady - Kathryne Kennedy

Enchanting the Lady

Kathryne Kennedy's first historical fantasy romance series features a light and wonderful Victorian England, where magic never dies and every level of the aristocracy has its own special powers. 

Sir Terence Blackwell is a lion shapeshifter who is determined to find the magical relic that killed his brother. When he sniffs out the taint of magic on Lady Felicity Seymour, a disinherited duchess, he's sure that she's far craftier than she first appears. Terrance believes that the easiest way to learn all of her secrets is to court the young miss. Unfortunately, Terrance's plans for vengeance are soon thwarted when he finds himself falling under the lady's enchanting spell... 

My thoughts:

I found this book to be adorable, it was just so cute and fun. Not to mention that I liked the society that in this alternate England.

Magic is still around and English society is infused by it. The Royals have the most powers and then the Dukes and so forth. If you are without then you are stripped of titles and lands. Magic rules and different titles have different magic. I really liked what she created and it was interesting.

Our heroine is truly naive, but that is the only way she could be. No one ever notices Felicity and she believes she is a grey little mouse. But there lives a fighter in her that wants to peak her head out. She was sweet and innocent.

While the hero Terrance is something else entirely. There is one class of nobility that has no magic and that magic can't touch and that are the shapeshifters. But the Royals use them as spies since they can sense relic magic. And Terrance, well I wanted to be angry at him for using sweet Felicity, but at the same time he was falling for her so I forgave him. His beast knew better than he did.

A relic of evil magic must be found, a couple fall helplessly in love and all is not well in the country of England.

Conclusion:

Such a sweet story that I devoured in a day. Easy to read, easy to fall in love with

Cover:

Cute

Series: Relics of Merlin #1
Genre: Historical paranormal romance, alternate history, historical fantasy
Pages: 320
Published: August 1st 2012 by Sourcebooks Casablanca (2008), Source: For review

ARC Review: Moonglow - Kristen Callihan

Once the seeds of desire are sown . . .
Finally free of her suffocating marriage, widow Daisy Ellis Craigmore is ready to embrace the pleasures of life that have long been denied her. Yet her new-found freedom is short lived. A string of unexplained murders has brought danger to Daisy's door, forcing her to turn to the most unlikely of saviors . . .


Their growing passion knows no bounds . . .
Ian Ranulf, the Marquis of Northrup, has spent lifetimes hiding his primal nature from London society. But now a vicious killer threatens to expose his secrets. Ian must step out of the shadows and protect the beautiful, fearless Daisy, who awakens in him desires he thought long dead. As their quest to unmask the villain draws them closer together, Daisy has no choice but to reveal her own startling secret, and Ian must face the undeniable truth: Losing his heart to Daisy may be the only way to save his soul.

This review will contain small spoilers for Firelight and Moonglow.



Six months ago--has it really been that long?--I read and reviewed the first of Kristen Callihan's Darkest London novels, Firelight. I might have complained a lot in my review, but the truth is that her story left an indelible mark. That's why when I saw Moonglow on NetGally I clicked the little request button and sat on my crossed fingers until I was accepted.

Well, not literally, but you get the sentiment.

It's turn for the second Ellis sister, Daisy, to find her freedom and happiness after a year of widowhood. She's making do with her own special gift after her late husband left her destitute and embracing her basic desires when she stumbles on a dead body and is attacked. That's when Lord Ian Ranulf, Marquis of Northrup, picks her up and whisks her to the safety of his home. There are many obstacles on their way to happiness not least of which is his fascination with her sister, Miranda.

I liked the demons and the fire starter in the first book, and in this one we get to see the some of lore explored further. Daisy and her sisters are elementals. This made my poor physicist heart ache because, although, I could accept earth and fire as the elements worshipped in the past, mixing it with ice made no sense to me. Poppy controlling water in all four of its states--ice=solid, water=liquid, steam=vapour, plasma--would have been more logical.

Truth is I'm jealous of Callihan's imagination. She's taking these known myths and legends and making them hers with an unexpected twist. She's always surprising me, which isn't easy to do these days. I might not understand the need for splitting werewolves and lycans into two and making the myth sound somewhat contrived, but I can appreciate the story it gave me. Ian learning to live again and embracing all the feelings he'd been hiding from so long was a joy to read. I cared less about Daisy, but at least she never truly irritated me. Her choice in the end was something I saw coming from early on, but the manner of it reduced a certain lore aspect to a mere plot point. Or that's what I'm going to assume until Callihan expands on it in another book.

Where Firelight was more about a mystery and a marriage of convenience, Moonglow is about emotions such as fear, regret, and loneliness. There's a mystery too, but not for its own sake. It's about the characters and their reactions.

Overall, Moonglow is more polished a novel than Firelight and the raw talent it showed. I could see Callihan's growth as a writer on the page. The sex scenes where actually sexy--huge part of it was the delayed gratification--and I never got the feeling that they simply didn't fit. The descriptions were more to the point, though, I'd appreciate a fewer mentions of sinew and cord-like muscles. There also was the unfortunate use of word globes and something called a Gaelic shrug. Callihan has yet to hit the perfect balance on implied accent, but she had the decency of use it sparsely.

As I'm incapable of proper squeeing or oohing and aahing, I'll let the rating speak for itself.

4 

I received an Advanced Readers Copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley.

Series:           Darkest London #2

Pages:          327 (epub ARC)

Publisher:      Grand Central Publishing

Imprint:         Forever

ISBN:           9781455508587

Published:      expected, July 31st 2012

Source:          NetGalley, Publisher

Review: The Wolf who loved me - Lydia Dare

A new sexy Regency paranormal trilogy by bestselling author Lydia Dare features hunky werewolves who need to learn how to behave in polite society. Can this pack of 'gentlemen' be trained in the ways of the ton, or is it too late to teach an old Lycan new tricks? 

Lady Madeline Hayburn is called upon to lend her respectability and introduce the Hadley brothers to society. Mr. Weston Hadley admires her from afar, yet his very presence draws her in...

Series: Westfield Wolves #5, Genre: Historical paranormal romance, Pages: 420, Published: April 3, 2012, Publisher: Sourcebooks Casablanca, Source: For review

My thoughts:

Yes this is part of a series, but it can be just as well be read as a standalone since it is also starting a new trilogy. To make a long story short, first there were the 3 Westfield Brothers, then we had Dash who stood a bit alone, then we got 3 vampire books with the remaining witches and now we have 3 more brothers (related to Dash)and they will find love. I made it sound complicated didn't it? Anyway, it works on its on in the end.

We met the brothers in previous books and they are just rakes and bad ton, not to mention they are broke. But Weston has been in love with Madeleine for years but she is the daughter of a Duke and he is a nobody. A bad boy, and I do love to see them change. While Maddie is a little princess, but at least she knows that she does not want to marry the idiots her father wants her to marry. Yes he makes rash decisions, but he is honorable and she is falling for him. And I do like the ones were they do fall fast, but at the same time they (well one of them) do not like each other. He can't just snap a finger and make her love him.

In this one I also saw who is brother Archer will fall for and that only leaves one brother, and I do wonder who his lady will be. But that is for later books and this is now, and once again I like Dare's easy style, the passion between the couple and sprinkle of paranormal. He might be a werewolf but it does not take over. It's a historical romance with paranormal elements. Elements that fits so easily that I could easily think there are werewolves hidden there.

Conclusion:

I am happy with this latest installment and I am looking forward to more. Dare's werewolf are just too sexy!

Cover:

Yay, this one I like, look look! Heads :D