Review: Fire & Frost - Anthology

Speed Mating by Jessica Sims – Estrella may be going into heat, but she’s determined to remain in control. Just because she’s ovulating doesn’t mean she has to settle for just any man (or his beast). Her sexy alpha’s determined to find her a tiger to take care of her heat and father her child…but no one seems to look quite as good as the man in charge. Will giving in to her need for her alpha ruin her tenuous relationship with her clan or be a match made in heaven?

Conjuring Max by Carolyn Crane – The witches of the world ridiculed and rejected nerdy Veronica for trying to use newfangled computers to enhance old world spellcasting. Well, it’s 1984 now, and she’s perfected her spellcasting computer program. Hey, who needs friends when you can conjure virtually anything…or anybody? So when Veronica makes powerful new enemies, she conjures Max, a pitbull of a cop, to deal with the pesky hitmen who keep coming around. Maybe Veronica can finally get some peace and quiet so she can work on her computer. 

Wrecked by Meljean Brook – Elizabeth has spent the past five years running from her father; her father’s huntsman, Caius, has spent the past five years pursuing her. But when he finally catches up to her on an airship flying above Europe’s zombie-infested cities, Elizabeth discovers that Caius isn’t the only danger she has to fear—and now that he’s found her, Caius doesn’t intend to let her go…

My thoughts:

First up was the novella that turned out to be my fav. Speed Mating by Jessica Sims (but then I do love Jill Myles' work :)

The story was sexy, fun and worked so well just as a novella. But I of course want more by Jessica Sims now.

Conjuring Max was the story I did not really care for. It had it's moments, but it felt like it would have worked better as a book. I felt a bit confused at times.

The last story was a story of the Iron Seas, I miss that series now, even if nothing compared to book 1. Even if this novella was good, I also felt here that it would have worked better as a book. But then I am not a fan of novellas in the end.

What did I learn? I need to read Jessica Sims and I miss the Iron seas series. I mean stuff is happening, more please.

Paranormal romance
Published May 25th 2013
series: Iron Seas #3.4, Code of Shadows 0.5
Own

Review: Riveted - Meljean Brook

A century after a devastating volcanic eruption forced Iceland’s inhabitants to abandon its shores, the island has become enshrouded in legend. Fishermen tell tales of giant trolls guarding the land and of seductive witches who steal men’s hearts. But the truth behind the legends is mechanical, not magic—and the mystery of the island a matter of life and death for a community of women who once spilled noble blood to secure their freedom.

Five years ago, Annika unwittingly endangered that secret, but her sister Källa took the blame and was exiled. Now Annika serves on the airship Phatéon, flying from port to port in search of her sister and longing to return home . . . but that home is threatened when expedition leader David Kentewess comes aboard.

Determined to solve the mystery of his own origin, David will stop at nothing to expose Annika’s secrets. But when disaster strikes, leaving David and Annika stranded on a glacier and pursued by a madman, their very survival depends on keeping the heat rising between them—and generating lots of steam . . 

My thoughts:

Iron Sharks, Airships and scary trolls. I do love steampunk and the world is just so fascinating, things that could have happened (even if not likely ;). I did miss the zombies though, I never thought I would say that but they do give a nice chase.

This book works fine on it's own, we do not see the previous characters around but if you want to know more about the Horde, the tower, zombies, then you really must start with book 1.

Annika is a mysterious woman who does not talk about her past. She hails from Iceland, the land of trolls and witches...or what is really going on? Annika was hard to get to know, but that was the idea, as she kept her secrets close. We knew them, but she would not let anyone else know. So it was not easy at times to get to know her, and therefore like her.

The hero, David is from the new world, and would by some not be called pretty exactly as he has legs of iron, fake eye and scars. But such a  nice and sweet guy. Love him.

There is adventure as bad things are coming. David are off to explore volcanoes, Annika has secrets to guard. Friendship is growing, passion is slowly emerging. And when it finally does come around, then it's hot and fast.

Conclusion:
I did feel a bit sad that there was no Mina or Rhys, but I can live with that. And I do hope that there will be more from this fascinating world.

Cover:
Love it! Though I'd want more color on her clothes as she loves and wears that.

Series: The Iron Seas #3
Genre: Steampunk romance
Pages: 416
Published: September 4th 2012 by Berkley Trade
Source: Won

Review: Heart of Steel - Meljean Brook

Series: Iron Seas #2
Genre: Steampunk romance
Pages: 311
Published: Nov 2011
Publisher: Berkley
Source. Shelf

Growing up in the dangerous world of the Iron Seas, the mercenary captain of the airship Lady Corsair, Yasmeen, has learned to keep her heart hard as steel. Ruthless and cunning, her only loyalty is to her ship and her crew-until one man comes along and changes everything...Treasurehunter Archimedes Fox isn't interested in the Lady Corsair-just the captain and the valuable da Vinci sketch she stole from him. When it attracts a dangerous amount of attention, Yasmeen and Archimedes journey to Horde-occupied Morocco- and straight into enemy hands.

My thoughts:

I liked it, I just did not like it as much as book 1. In that aspect I felt rather disappointed.

I still liked the steampunk angle, the zombies and the adventure. But this time I felt the romance was lacking, I actually never felt that Yasmeen and Archimedes liked each other. I felt no sexual tension, it was more that he said how much he wanted her but I did not feel it. What I did feel was her heart of steel and how she did not want or need a man in her life. That I got. And when she did fall, yes I am saying it again, I did not see it.

The book was still good, do not get me wrong. Steampunk rocks, Yasmeen was cool in her tough shell, Archimedes is a true adventurer and hey it has zombies. One has to like that.

Conclusion:

But in the end I just wish I had liked it as much as I liked book 1. I hope book 3 will be better because I'd like to read more.

Cover:

Eh, he looks, thin

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My flash fiction for this week

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: The Iron Duke - Meljean Brook

Iron Seas 1
Genre: Steampunk romance
Pages: 378
Published 2010

After the Iron Duke freed England from Horde control, he instantly became a national hero. Now Rhys Trahaearn has built a merchant empire on the power-and fear-of his name. And when a dead body is dropped from an airship onto his doorstep, bringing Detective Inspector Mina Wentworth into his dangerous world, he intends to make her his next possession.

But when Mina uncovers the victim's identity, she stumbles upon a conspiracy that threatens the lives of everyone in England. To save them, Mina and Rhys must race across zombie-infested wastelands and treacherous oceans-and Mina discovers the danger is not only to her countrymen, as she finds herself tempted to give up everything to the Iron Duke.

Plot:

How to even start explaining this book? Ok the Horde showed up and lay waste to Europe, people fled across the seas. Those left behind were infected with nanoagents and it went terribly wrong and they became zombies. In England it worked better and the Horde had complete control over their emotions. Then The Iron Duke came and destroyed their hold on the people and the Horde left. Europe is zombie infested, England tries to move on, and the Horde still control big parts of the world.

Our heroine is Mina, daughter of an Earl, and she works as an inspector. Her mother become pregnant with her during a frenzy, that is when the Horde wanted the people to breed. She looks like them, and people do not forget easily. Rhys is a Welshman turned pirate, and become a Duke because of his service to the country. Everyone loves him, just as no one likes Mina.

My thoughts:
 I liked Mina, she was brave and smart. Yes people spat on her and called her jadewhore, but she went on with her job. I respected her. Rhys, he was an enigma, I did like him too, because come on, he was a pirate. But there was so much more to him. He wanted her, but she held back because she knew what she was, and what she could not have. Doomed romance, I loved it.

But truthfully the best part is the world. Rich and just awesome. Zombies, nanos in the blood that control you and make you stronger, people with drills for arms, flying ships, seas that have krakens and other monsters. A world turned upside down and a world so great that I need to know more about it. I guess that is also the only negative part, I wanted more info about the Horde.

The plot was good too. A body left at his estate, why, and a bigger plot in it all.

Recommendation and final thoughts:

Yes, yes and one more yes. What are you waiting for? Read this book. It has something for everyone, romance, steampunk, zombies, action, mystery, great characters and wonderful worldbuilding. I closed the book and I needed more.

Reason for reading:

Peer pressure ;)

Cover:

Meh, I mean the things around it are great, but him with his shirt open and a nipple showing, not so much.

PS.
Steampunk is an alternative version of history, most often the Victorian era is used and to make a long story short, they got more technology