Review: Raven's Kiss - Toni LoTempio

Series: Raven Grace 1
Genre: Paranormal romance
Pages: 173 (out in PB and as an ebook)
Published: April 2011
Review by Lis

Raven Grace had ambitions of a career in law enforcement when she met the demon Aega, whose bite turned her from mortal to Shapeshifter.  Now a member of the Recovery Organization, Raven keeps the peace between humans and errant Hellhounds, trolls, wizards and the like – but her secret ambition is to track down Aega  and bring him to justice.  A chance encounter gives her the opportunity she seeks – in a universe that exists parallel to her own! Recovery Captain Finn McPhee doesn’t know what to make of the strange girl who’s entered his universe – and his heart – But Raven’s quest coincides with his own investigation, a series of murders committed by a serial killer. Complicating matters is the fact Finn is a Mentos – mind-prober- which means Raven has to keep her lusty thoughts under wraps.  Seeking answers, Finn takes Raven to the magickal underworld, where an ancient fae  informs them the demon’s quest is rooted in Scottish mythology and magick.  As they delve deeper into legend, the truth comes to light—Aega is only a pawn, subservient to another, darker demon. Now, Finn and Raven find their passion for one another must take a backseat to Raven’s battle with a  dark force who won’t be satisfied until he’s claimed her soul for his very own…

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As some of you might know, I’m in the middle of operation: dress 28 knights for two big oncoming shows. Together with a few other ladies, we’re elbow deep in coats of arms, fabric, tabards , tunics and what not. So reading books has become my way of relaxing, though not every book is as relaxing as it promises to be. However…holy mother of knights, I was damn happy to read Toni LoTempio’s Raven’s Kiss. Not only did it give me hope that there are romance writers out there who know what they’re doing, it also helped me take my mind of impending doom, erh knight shows. 

Raven’s Kiss is the story of rough, tough, independent and kick ass Raven Grace – and the first in a series. Once Raven was your typical college student with a promising future in Law Enforcement. Until she met the demon Aega who likes to feed on the blood of virgins and then rapes them. Aega’s bite turns Raven into a shapeshifter. Two years later she is no longer a naïve college student, but a tough recovery agent who kicks the rear bumpers of everything that going boink in the night. Of course, she does have her own agenda. She hopes to one day kick Aega’s rear bumper into the next world. 

The encounter with Aega left her bitter and it’s not until she’s forced on a two week leave by her boss that things start to roll. When she finds the Aega’s latest victim, she also finds a doorway to a parallel universe. Not only does she find answers there, she also finds the hunky, hot as all get out, sex on legs Head of the Recovery Agency Mr. Finn McPhee. Yu-meeeeeee! 

Suddenly the ball just doesn’t only roll, it spins and the story turns action packed and fast moving. 

With Raven’s Kiss Toni LoTempio creates an action packed romance with a wicked mystery plot and a rich supernatural world full of interesting, three-dimensional characters. The author didn’t only turn her attention to the two main characters, but at the world at large, making Raven’s Kiss a story that draws you right in and keeps you on the edge of your seat when not melting you in a puddle of goo. 

What I really liked in this story – apart from the world building – is the character of Raven. She’s a strong woman that doesn’t give up when she’s kicked down, but she’s also independent and I like that in my romance characters. There are too many girly girls who just hang onto their men. Raven’s role in this little mystery is a lot bigger than she thinks and she has a part to play. She just doesn’t know it yet. At the same time her character is also flawed. Yes she is strong and independent, but also bitter because of what happened to her and not an easy person to get along with, but I can appreciate that. All in all she is an unlikely character for a romance. 

Speaking of romance... The romance between her and Finn is believable. It builds and is not instant. Finn is a likeable character, besides very hot. He’s realistic and also a good influence on Raven. More positive. 

At the heart of Raven’s Kiss is a mystery. The focus of this book is equally divided between the romance and the mystery. And it’s not your typical romance mystery. This one actually leaves you wondering what will happened next and if what’s really going on is actually so. 

So to conclude: GO READ RAVEN’S KISS! Seriously peeps. After No Rest for the Wicca, this one is even better. I like Toni LoTempio’s style of writing and the worlds she creates. I can only hope I get to review more of her books! 

Guest review: No rest for the Wicca - Toni Lotempio

Genre: Paranormal romance / Urban Fantasy

Pages: 310, ebook

Published: 2010

Review by Lis

Communing with the dead is an everyday occurrence for PI Morgan Hawkes. A half-Wiccan witch who can commune with spirits of those caught between worlds, Morgan uses her talents to exorcise the trapped ghost or demon as part of the Paranormal Investigation Squad – until a string of murders with a voodoo slant prompts the Special Forces Agency to ask for her assistance. Someone’s killing pureblood witches- and the SFA’s convinced Morgan’s heritage (her father was a voodoo priest) could be instrumental in solving the mystery. Teamed with dashing SF agent Cole St. John – an Inheritor Vampire that sets her blood racing – the two of them fight their attraction for each other as they race to stop a madman from unleashing a demonic force upon the world.
 

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Ho boy! This book. Holy hopping cows! B. sure does know the books she sends me. This book... it's just. Gah. Now I have to form words to make you understand just how cool this book was. Does B. know was she asks of me?

Alright here goes.

No Rest For the Wicca (bad. Bad title. But fun) is about Morgan Hawkes, half witch, PI, ghost & demon whisper and an all-round sarcastic woman. In fact, if you look up sarcastic in a dictionary there will most likely be a picture of her. Morgan works for the Paranormal Investigation Squad (can you just imagine mentioning your line of work at a party and you have to say that?). Enter the mystery in the form of the killings of pure blood witches – now if that doesn't have an arian sting to it, I don't know – in a ghastly manner.  The Special Forces Agency asks for her assistance in solving the murders. Enter sexy sexy sexy agent and vampire Cole St. John. Did I mention he is sexy? Morgan thinks so too! Together they will have to save to world from a mad idiot with a plan.

This is a book that draws you right in and doesn't want to let you go. You'll be sorely disappointed if this books ends, let me tell you that. The story is a straight up mystery, but the plot moves quickly and it fits. There is quite a lot of world building with interesting creatures you don't normally find in an urban setting. But it is the characters that make this a well above average paranormal mystery. Despite her abilities, Morgan is a very human character who is weighed down by her past. She is a strong, witty, snarky and sarcastic woman who knows how to tell a story.

Cole St. John is her paranormal counterpart who is tortured by his past. He is Morgan's perfect counterpart. He is strong without dominant and he doesn't let her get away with anything. He's also a very seductive character! There are some really steamy scenes in this book that just about made me melt.

So did I like everything about this book? Almost. While the story is wickedly awesome and very very enjoyable, what it lacked was good editing. Yes, here I go again on my rant about e-books and editors. It's a minor thing that doesn't reflect badly on the story. There were a few typos and grammar mistakes, nothing major, but an editor would probably have had a good influence on some of the dialogues.

You also  might have caught my quip earlier about pure blood having an arian sting to it. It's something that I don't quit like, but you see it quite often in (urban)fantasy. The classification of paranormal beings into pure and not so pure. From Harry Potter to about half of the fantasy books out there. There is just something not quite right about saying someone is a pure witch, warlock, wolf or whatever. It made me wonder if authors know the impact of some words. Personally I prefer full blooded to pure. Though, of course, sometimes it fits if a character describes someone as “pure” or if a particularly evil group says so. But  not in a general description. However, this is my hang-up so don't let it stop you from reading this book!

Because this is also a book I can most definitely recommend. It impressed me. So go pick it up!!

Thanks Lis! It sounds good :D