Mini-Review: Rock Redemption (Rock Kiss #3)

Rock Redemption (Rock Kiss #3)

by Nalini Singh

Blurb:

Kit Devigny could have loved rock guitarist Noah St. John. Their friendship burned with the promise of intense passion and searing tenderness…until the night Noah deliberately shattered her heart.

Noah knows he destroyed something precious the night he chose to betray Kit, but he’d rather she hate him than learn his darkest secret. All he has left is his music. It’s his saving grace, but it doesn’t silence the voices that keep him up at night. Chasing oblivion through endless one-night-stands, he earns a few hours’ sleep and his bad boy reputation.
When a media error sees Noah and Kit dubbed the new “it” couple, Kit discovers her chance at the role of a lifetime hinges on riding the media wave. Wanting—needing—to give Kit this, even if he can’t give her everything, Noah agrees to play the adoring boyfriend. Only the illusion is suddenly too real, too painful, too beautiful…and it may be too late for the redemption of Noah St. John.

Themes: contemporary

Rating: 4.75 stars
Heat Rating:
Review:

For previous fans of this series we have waited and wondered for a while when and if Noah would ever find his HEA and the woman that could settle his fears and heart.  Kit has been an important part of his life for so long that we might not have expected she would be the one to do it, but Noah found his mate for sure.  This story was so full of pain, heartbreak and forgiveness that I cried about 70% of the time I was reading it.  That being said the writing and storytelling skill that Singh fans have come to expect from any of her works is definitely found in every scene and it makes the love between Kit and Noah all the more perfect for its pure imperfectness.  The flaws that exist in all humans is what keeps us all wondering if we will find our perfect match, some more dangerous to our souls than others, and Singh brings that to life with Noah's life and love.  This story continues the lives and loves of the outrageously sexy and sensual rock stars that have personally all captured my heart and I cannot wait to see where the series goes at its continues and we get to learn more about Abe and his past.  

Noah and Kit's story is full of angst, betrayal, forgiveness, and drama.  The story revolves around their horribly troubled relationship and the way they each have to come to terms with their pasts.  Thrown in with all of that is a stalker that is currently after Kit.  There is so much going on in this story that giving any details would be major spoilers and the story is too good to do that to my fellow readers.  I'll just say that the fears and traumas of Noah's past and his not-so-smart way of handling things often causes him to push away Kit and break her heart to keep his secrets safe. 

All in all this story was one that will break your heart, again and again, but the things that the readers experience alongside Kit and Noah could just as easily be a story you are hearing from your best friend.  Noah is a good guy, but he is beyond lost as he deals with the emotions and horrors of his life to this point and dealing with the emotions that his love for Kit brings out leave him flounder more often than not.  His fear of losing her is the only thing strong enough to make him work through his issues and find a way to be the man she needs him to be.  Kit on the other hand is the kind of woman that all of us can relate to--hopelessly in love and unwilling to give up, no matter how many times Noah breaks her heart.  Her compassion and understanding, her willingness to forgive, along with her passion and love for Noah is what brings him back to her again and again even though he tries to resist her.  The passion between Noah and Kit, though palpable, was not the most important part of this story.  Instead it is the obviously deep love they each have for one another and how that love saves them both and gives them a chance to have a future together.  It was great to see the previous band members with their women and seeing how they come together to support each other shows they are the truest type of family.  I am greatly looking forward to Abe's story in the near future and I cannot wait to see him find his personal and emotional equilibrium and hopefully his HEA with the woman of his dreams.  Keep the hits coming Nalini, making your fans the happiest on earth.

 *eARC provided by publisher (via netgalley) for the purpose of an honest and unbiased review.  No compensation was provided.

Review: Shadows Strike (Immortal Guardians #6)

Shadows Strike (Immortal Guardians #6)

by Dianne Duvall 

Blurb:

The Immortal Guardians protect the innocent in secret. Sometimes the secret gets out...

U.S. law enforcement agent Heather Lane can read minds. But not the future. The dream of battle and blood that recurs every night must be a fluke, some obscure terror from her own mind. What its significance might be, she can’t guess: an attack from seven psychotic vampires at once, only separated from nightmare by an eighth very different immortal. A handsome, brave man fighting at her side, a man she misses when she wakes.

Then the dream comes true. Heather is flung into a war between predators and protectors of humanity, the man from her dreams beside her again. Except now that she’s awake, she isn’t sure she can trust Ethan, or the shadow organization he represents. The U.S. military doesn’t trust either of them. But against an onslaught of evil like the one that’s coming, it will take everything they have just to survive...

Themes: vampires, Other,  paranormal

Rating: 4.75 stars
Heat Rating:
Review:

I honestly cannot understand how one woman can come up with so many unique storylines that still tie into a greater and hugely imaginative story arc.  The skill of Dianne Duvall is astounding and there is no way to deny that she is one of the great voices of this generation of authors.  Duvall’s Immortal Guardians are individuals that you can easily believe exist somewhere in the world, keeping us safe from the unthinkable in the world and as we meet more and more of them and see them falling in love, she takes readers on a crazy ride of vampires, conspiracies, aliens,  and Others (still truly undefined).  I found this series quite by accident but it was one of the greatest accidents I’ve ever experienced. The story arc has developed through so many changes that I cannot recall just how everything developed, it was such an organic and natural process, but Ethan and Heather’s story brings a nice symmetry to a few things and brings some fun new characters in to the world of these amazing men and women.  If you haven’t read previous stories you will definitely miss some of the great underlying details, so I recommend reading the entire series ;), but you will get plenty of backstory so don’t feel like you’ll be lost if you just read Ethan’s story.  I am dying to see where Dianne takes all of this next and cannot imagine just how much more she can bring to these people, but I know whatever she does will be magical.

Ethan is going about his business, killing a pack of vampires, when he stumbles across a beautiful, sensual, and surprisingly efficient woman in the woods, one who saves his life when he falters under the assault of the many vampires.  Heather has been seeing this night and this man in her dreams for almost a year now, but she never actually believes she would find herself embroiled in a vampire battle. When she welcomes the gorgeous vampire that has inspired other, more erotic dreams, into her home, she never imagined how much her life would truly be altered, but Ethan pulls at her body, heart, and soul.  Ethan is just as attracted to Heather, especially when he learns of her special abilities, but keeping her safe is his highest priority.  They find themselves swept into a dangerous game between the Immortal Guardians and there newest and most deadly enemy, and only Heather and Ethan can keep danger from escalating to epic proportions.  Once the danger passes, can Heather embrace the opportunity for eternal life and love that Ethan is offering her, despite the dangerous life he leads?

What can I say about Ethan?  He is the perfect man! Just alpha enough to want to always protect his woman, but willing to let her spread her wings and find her way in the world.  He worries constantly about the danger she is placed in, but he allows her to be a part of his world.  He is sweet, loving, sensual, and gorgeous.  It is obvious that Heather never saw him coming or she might have been better prepared for the sensual assault he conducts on her senses and her heart.  It was interesting to see him find love after his relationship with Lisette ended and his behavior when that happened.  It’s obvious that he still loves Lisette, but with Heather’s entrance to his life, Ethan begins to understand the difference in loving someone and being deeply and eternally IN LOVE with someone.  He shows Heather at every turn that he is a man she can find happiness with, one that will treasure her for her differences, encourage her growth, and protect her with every molecule of his being.  His sense of humor and silliness also give this deadly and dangerous warrior a more human side, one that make him seem like an every man at the times he isn’t kicking serious ass.  I almost wish his story was longer just so we’d get to live more days with Ethan. 

Heather is similarly an awesome character.  From the very moment we meet her we wonder just what her story is.  She can kick ass with the best of them, carries a James Bond gun (!) and can read people’s minds, but she is a quiet and sweet personality under all her bravado and courage.  The dreams she’s been experiencing night after night for over a year have left her exhausted and confused, but she continues to confront the experience every morning, and when she finds herself thrown into a world she never imagined ran alongside her normal human world, she is suddenly faced with decisions that could alter not only her life, but the entire world.  Heather is the type of woman that I really love to read about.  She has fears, but she refuses to let them keep her from getting shit done.  She battles alongside her man and her new friends, determined to do her part to keep the world safe, but in the long run just wants a calm life with the love of her life, now that she has found him.  Her interactions with her father were also interesting, standing up to him when needed, but obviously Daddy’s little girl through and through.  I really related to Heather in a lot of ways and found that I liked her more with every appearance on the page.  I look forward to seeing more of her in future novels as she grows and changes within this extended family. 

In the end Shadows Strike was a story about two people finding love during turmoil and danger.  The dangers they find themselves in and the action packed battle scenes keep the story moving along as the team of Immortal Guardians, led by David and Seth, fight to keep the Other from creating Armageddon.  Ethan is the sweetest and most loving guy, deadly and dangerous to his enemies.  The dichotomy of the different sides of him makes him a truly great character and an individual that readers can relate to and fall in love with.  Heather was at time just as kickass as Ethan and the other immortals, but when she is with Ethan in the quiet moments you can see the true compassion and empathy that she feels towards others and the love she has developed for her Immortal.  Heather’s connections surprisingly play a very important role in this story and the prevention of disasters, and she comes into Ethan’s life at just the right moment.  The passion and love between Heather and Ethan is off the charts and there is no denying that they are a perfect match in every way.  It was wonderful to see Ethan get his HEA after the bruising his heart took when Lisette met her love.  I cannot wait to see who meets their match next and find out just where this crazy author is taking us on the wild ride through her imagination and the world of her sensual and deadly Immortal Guardians. 

*eARC provided by publisher (via netgalley) for the purpose of an honest and unbiased review.  No compensation was provided.

ARC Review: A Silver Wolf Christmas (Heart of the Wolf #17)

A Silver Wolf Christmas (Heart of the Wolf #17)

by Terry Spear  

Blurb:

Fans of shapeshifter romance will be thrilled to spend Christmas with the Silver Town werewolf pack...

C.J. Silver is eager to help the new she-wolves in town renovate the old hotel in time for the holidays, especially if it means spending time under the mistletoe with the alluring Laurel MacTire.

The bustle in the long abandoned hotel attracts the attention of human ghosthunters out to prove the place haunted, but the bigger problem is keeping them from discovering the werewolves in Silver Town. CJ and Laurel have to pull the wool over everyone’s eyes. Working together is a surprisingly hot holiday treat for two attractive and clever wolf shifters.

Themes:  Werewolves, Shifters, Paranormal

Rating: 4.5 stars
Heat Rating:
Review:

The Silver males have returned to steal our hearts and make us wish that we could find some sexy werewolves of our own hiding in the snowy mountains.  I have been a fan of this series since the beginning and have never found a story I didn’t in some way love, and this holiday inspired story is no exception.  I have long wondered just what type of woman one of the Silver cousins would find to claim for his own and Laurel was an inspiration.  She’s fiery, sweet, and independent, which counters well the heart and loyalty of CJ and his brothers.  If you haven’t read the other stories in this series, fear not, you will get caught up quickly and fall in love with these characters as much as we longtime fans did a long time ago.  This series continues to be one of my favorite about shifters and with each successive couple the love becomes more intense and the subplots and mysteries that accompany the romance gets more interesting as well. I am looking forward to seeing whose story will be next.  All in all a great read with a holiday theme that makes the love between CJ and Laurel as well as the familial relationships more emotional and sweet.

CJ and Laurel have been circling each other for a while, and CJ’s persistence has led Laurel to question her desire to leave Silvertown.  CJ wants her to stay and settle down, preferably as his mate, but he refuses to push things too quickly, afraid to scare her off.  When Laurel finds herself in need of help that can no longer be denied, CJ is right there to help her out.  CJ was the perfect mix of Alpha strength and silly sweetness that marks him as one of the lighter sided werewolves.  His playfulness and obvious lovability makes him impossible for Laurel to resist, even as she is worried about the truth of the past coming out and making their lives more complicated.  I enjoyed seeing all the different sides of CJ and of course worried right along with him that Laurel wouldn’t be able to find it in her heart to accept him as her mate.  Laurel was an intriguing female.  A wolf that has led her own little pack of her sisters for a long time, finally coming to terms with the fact that she needs help.  She had her own unique secrets that led CJ on a merry chase, but once they finally accept the love between them there is no denying they have found the perfect mate in one another.

The overall storyline of this novel was jam packed with mysteries, secret identities, hidden truths and some seriously intense relationship building.  CJ’s determination to find a way to keep Laurel for himself ran right alongside his silliness and desire to teach her about the lighter side of life, dragging her away from work to teach her to play as a wolf and a woman.  Laurel becomes a really great characters when she begins to unwind and embrace all the greatness that accompanies being part of the pack and having a mate.  The families in this story were all interesting and lead me to wonder if they will be the next round of stories we receive.  The supporting characters, both single and mated from previous stories, are essential for this story and come with their own measure of weirdness and challenges.  Can’t wait for wherever the series goes next, but for sure I will enjoy every step along the way. 

*eARC provided by publisher (via netgalley) for the purpose of an honest and unbiased review.  No compensation was provided.

Mini-Review: Dragon on Top

Dragon on Top (Dragon Kin 0.4)

by G.A. Aiken 

Blurb:

Try a little dragon tenderness.

I am Glheanna the Decimator. I am a warrior. A soldier. I know no fear. No pain. No mercy. I do, however, know acute embarrassment! How could I not after getting dumped by a bastard dragon in front of my own troops? So I tuck tail and return to my cave, drowning my sorrows in ale—as is my family’s way. But instead of leaving me to my misery, I’ve been summoned to the Dragon Queen’s court.

As if my life wasn’t pathetic enough, Her Majesty now has me escorting the highborn Bram the Merciful through dangerous territories—not exactly the best use of my military training. And just so he can negotiate with enemy dragons instead of battling them? Honestly, what has my world come to? Then again…Bram is quite easy on the eyes. And the perfect distraction for what ails me. Perhaps I’m looking at all this the wrong way. Maybe there is a place for a little “mercy” in my life…

Themes: Dragons, alternate realities

Rating: 4 stars
Heat Rating:

Review:

Unbeknownst to me, I had previously already read this story in the Supernatural anthology, but as always with Aiken, this story was enjoyable.  Full of sarcasm, strangely compelling characters and the dragon humor I’ve come to expect from this series, Bram and Glheanna were an odd couple but they were awesome all the same.  Bram was a sweet, loving, and oblivious kind of guy, but when he wins the affections of his dragon lady he is determined to overlook all the weirdness and danger that comes with mating her (not to mention becoming a member of her family) so that he can have his love.  Glheanna coming from a rather bloodthirsty family and having a father with a rather sketchy past, has come to believe that no man will want her for just herself or can ever really understand her.  When she is given her task to keep Bram safe on his diplomatic journey she never imagined it would be him saving her life and stealing her heart once and for all.  I loved seeing these two fall in love in their own unique way.  It was always hilarious to see how they dealt with each other’s eccentricities.   Bram’s obsession for Glheanna has been obvious to everyone around him a long time, but he never imagines he’d actually get a chance to win her.  Glheanna on the other hand has been chasing after the wrong type of guy from the beginning.  This early story in the Dragon Kin world is one that should not be missed, and though I still firmly wish I had read these in chronological order, sometimes one cannot force a writer to tell their stories that way.  So take a trip back in time if you are a loyal fan and if this is your first foray into Aiken’s unique world enjoy the journey and be prepared for the oddity and sarcasm that marks these arrogant and hilarious dragons and the humans that come into their lives. 

*eARC provided by publisher (via netgalley) for the purpose of an honest and unbiased review.  No compensation was provided.

Review: Primal Force

Primal Force (K-9 Rescue #3)

by D.D. Ayres

Blurb:

Passion is always worth fighting for…

Jori Garrison trains dogs for Warrior Wolf Pack, which provides service animals for disabled veterans. Four years ago, she was wrongly convicted of a crime—thanks to her no-good ex-fiancé. Now she just wants to live her life in peace with her beloved dogs. No men, no complications. But it’s hard to play it cool when a lethally hot male is on her tail—and the attraction is fierce, mutual, and dangerous…

Lauray "Law" Batisse is a Military Police veteran who was wounded in Afghanistan. Haunted by the loss of his K-9 partner in combat, he’s reluctant to accept a service dog named Samantha into his life. But once he meets her trainer—the gorgeous Jori Garrison—he can’t fight his primal instincts. And neither can Jori. This sexy alpha male might be the only man strong enough to unleash her desires. And when unseen enemies start hunting them down, he and his new K-9 partner might be her only hope… to survive.

Themes:  K-9 Cops, contemporary

Rating: 4.5 stars
Heat Rating:
Review:

 Ok I have to say, I did not like this story in the beginning.  I have enjoyed the previous stories in this series, but the characters and the storyline took a darker and slightly uncomfortable turn with this installment.  The character backstories were a lot more complicated and there were some real tragedies in their pasts, but it was the way that Law let that past affect him so greatly that made me really dislike him in the beginning.  If you enjoy reading suspenseful authors such as Pamela Clare or stories with hints of humor from the animals that share these couples’ lives like Jill Shalvis novels, you will probably enjoy this series.  Having read the entire story now I will say that it ended well and the writing was done considerably well, but I still didn’t care all that much for Law until he pulled himself together, but that is the beauty of these types of “heroes”—they don’t always begin as the most likeable characters but in the end you find yourself invested in their lives and rooting for them to get the girl. Those this is part of a series, each of these stories truly are stand-alone novels with only a loose thread in them, though this one hits closer to home for those that have enjoyed the entire series. 

Jori and Law have been thrown together at a time in their lives where neither are very trusting of the opposite sex, or really humanity in general.  Jori has just been paroled after serving years in prison for a crime she never committed and Law is recovering from a tragedy during service that has left him feeling incomplete and enraged.  Jori is doing her best to try to understand this man that has attracted her from the very beginning, but though they have the physical chemistry needed in a relationship, she cannot break through his walls to find the man she knows has been buried under the trauma of his past.  When Jori becomes the center of an investigation, Law decides that keeping her close and helping her clear her name is a good way to be able to have a relationship with her, but he has no intentions of opening up to her—and certainly doesn’t plan to fall in love with her impulsive and loving nature.  In the end their difference far outnumber their similarities, but love really can conquer all, and with the help of Law’s new k-9 partner, Sam, they just might find a way to save their own lives and be together. 

Law was an asshole in the beginning of this story, let’s be honest.  He was rude and combative to everyone, including his sister Yardley and especially to Jori.  Perfectly willing to bed her and disappear, Law never intended for Jori to become part of his life, but when she kept ending up in his space he began to see that being with her makes him a better man and just maybe he should shape up so he can keep her.  He really transformed as he came to terms with his past and his feelings for Jori, and Sam to an extent, proving that the love of a good woman and dog are all a man really needs in life.  Jori similarly finds her ability to trust again and the love of her family when Law forces her to confront her past and find out the truth.  I like Jori a lot, even though she had a few hang-ups of her own, and was glad that she finally found a man that could keep her safe and that she would complete.  She was the kind of woman that shines from the inside once she finds her strength and courage. Seeing Law and Jori interacting at different points in the story we see how they grow individually as well as a couple and ultimately as a family. 

Primal Force was one of those stories that I really had to stick with to get to the parts I enjoyed.  The beginning was a bit too choppy for my liking, but once the plot became clearer and we got to see Law and Jori together the story improved greatly for me.  Law was one of those guys that have to grow on you, like a fungus, before you can appreciate how good a guy he really is.   The traumas of his past shaped him and left him feeling like he could never return to his top grade, but accepting that sometimes the new version is better than the last Law finds a way to accept the changes in his life and embrace his new destiny.  Jori has finally found her independence and she is determined that nothing will ever tear her down and leave her trapped again, especially not a man.  Jori strangely is the more likeable of the two even though she is more closed off emotionally, but seeing them come together and find a way to be their best selves together is what makes their relationship so realistic and great to be a part of.  Not to be forgotten, one of the most interesting and important characters in this story is Samantha, aka Sam, the service dog that brought Jori and Law into one another’s lives.  Her POV is addressed a few times and we get to see her be the hero as well as the healer in this story, making you want to go out and hug your own furry loved ones.  Not the best story in this series, but a solid addition to the shelf and one that gives us a tighter thread to the other stories through Yardley, Law’s sister and the trainer we’ve met in previous stories, and I’m wondering when/if she’ll be getting her own story.  Looking forward to whatever comes next and meeting the k-9 hero in their story.

*eARC provided by publisher (via netgalley) for the purpose of an honest and unbiased review.  No compensation was provided.

Review: On the Hunt (anthology)

On the Hunt (The Sentinels #2.5)

by Alexandra Ivy, Rebecca Zanetti, Dianne Duvall, Hannah Jayne

 

Blurb:

 Four of today’s most intriguing paranormal authors entice readers deep into the shadows, where vampires, immortals, and other supernatural creatures heat up the night...

On The Hunt by Alexandra Ivy

Mika Tanner has loved Bailey Morrell, a beautiful Healer, since childhood. But his duty as a Sentinel, a supernatural guardian of an ancient race, clashed with her rebellious spirit. Now a dangerous new anarchist group not only threatens life as they know it—but any chance of their being together again...

Scorpius Rising by Rebecca Zanetti

With a deadly disease spreading like wildfire across the country, microbiologist Nora Medina needs to focus all her energy on stopping the pandemic. Playing with dynamite—in the form of her way-too-hot ex—is the last thing she should be doing. ​But forced to work with Deacan McDougall against unexpected enemies with the seconds ticking by, she knows the explosion is coming...

Phantom Embrace by Dianne Duvall

Immortal Yuri Sokolov was born with the ability to see spirits, yet he's never seen one as lovely as Cat Seddon, the woman who haunts his home and his dreams. But amid their star-crossed love, a new danger may have Yuri facing a different kind of eternity.

Stake Out by Hannah Jayne

Vampire fashion designer Nina LaShay has a lot on her plate—just two days until fashion week and the model who was flirting with her photographer boyfriend is now a corpse in her studio. But when dead turns into undead and dangerous, Nina must find out who’s responsible…before the beautiful baby vamp takes too many bites out of the Big Apple.

Themes:  paranormal, anthology

Rating: 4 stars (overall)
Heat Rating:
Review:

On The Hunt by Alexandra Ivy

Rating: 4 stars
Heat Rating:

Well the amazing and talented Alexandra Ivy strikes again with her heartfelt love story and sensual reunion of two characters that have been separated by their own insecurities for far too long.  I have enjoyed learning about the world Ivy has created with the Sentinels series and meeting each new and exciting couple.  Mika and Bailey’s story was intense and touched on a lot of subjects, not the least of which was that sometimes you just have to trust in your heart even though your head tells you something different.  Bailey was an intriguing mix of vulnerability and strength, believing wholeheartedly in her mission to protect and heal all who need her gift, but at the same time not understanding how special she is to Mika, even though she drives him crazy.  Mika was the perfect alpha hero, one that can kick ass and get shit done, but at the same time woo and romance his woman.  I loved seeing these two find their way back to each other and find a way to handle their differences and goals.  I cannot wait for the next book in the series and if it’s not Wolfe’s book I demand that happen soon. ;)

Scorpius Rising by Rebecca Zanetti

Rating: 4.5 stars
Heat Rating: 

Wow that was some serious scary all too real biological danger shoved into a romance novella!  Being a science major I often have issues with the science behind stories like this, but Zanetti has made it entirely believable that the world is coming to an end with a serious outbreak.  Deacan and Nora obviously have some serious issues going into this relatively short story, being ex-spouses and all, but it is apparent immediately that times they are a changing and Deacan is ready to get back the only woman he has ever loved. When she is swooped off the beach in Maui, Nora never realized that the world was about to come crashing down around her, but having Deacan at her side, though admittedly confusing at first, gives her the solid support she needs.  The love between them is one that can stand the test of just about anything and Rebecca definitely puts them through their paces with this story.  Deacan hasn’t always been the man that Nora needed in the past, but as the disease they are battling spreads rapidly around them and the danger to Nora increases exponentially, Deacan knows there is nothing he won’t do to keep her safe and healthy.  I must say that while Rebecca’s definitely skilled in writing her heroes, her villains are also a force of nature too; really who else could come up with the “villain” in this story.  I am looking forward greatly to seeing where this story leads and what the fallout from this one short week of deadly outbreak.

Phantom Embrace by Dianne Duvall

Rating: 4 stars
Heat Rating:

Ok so let’s get real here, there was no way Dianne was going to sell me on a romance story where one of the lovers was a ghost, so I went into this one with an amazing amount of skepticism, but being part of my favorite series I knew I couldn’t skip it.  And, wow, did she make an ass out of me for assuming that she couldn’t pull it off.  First I have to say that this series is one I have loved from the very beginning, mainly because of Dianne’s skill with writing her characters and making her plots so believably unrealistic.  The ways she brings her characters together against all odds, while still having them kicking ass against both vampires and immoral humans is a thing of beauty, so if you haven’t picked up the series I demand you do so NOW.  That being said Yuri and Cat’s story was one that had me crying a lot even as I fell in love right along with them.  Yuri was a sweet and unassuming kind of guy, obviously falling in love with Cat even though they weren’t able to have a truly physical relationship, bringing to mind the love stories of the 18^th century when lovers can together first in their minds.  Cat, being a ghost and all, never imagined she would find love with Yuri, but love always finds a way.  Cat was a sweet girl and a good match for Yuri with her intelligence and fierce protectiveness.  Though the ending was a bit sad, more than anything it was a poignant reminder that while there is sadness in life there can also be joy and love in the strongest of places if we just remember to look with our hearts.  I am dying to know what happens next for these warriors and see some new immortals fall under the blade of love.

Stake Out by Hannah Jayne

I did not read this portion of the anthology as it is a part of a long standing series that I have never read.  

*eARC provided by publisher (via netgalley) for the purpose of an honest and unbiased review.  No compensation was provided. 

 

Mini-Review: Tamed

Tamed (Club Sin #5)

by Stacey Kennedy

Blurb:

 USA Today bestselling author Stacey Kennedy returns to the tantalizing world of Club Sin in an enticing novel of control and surrender.

Porter Marshall has nearly achieved his goal of becoming a Club Sin Master, but his new sub poses a much bigger challenge than he anticipated. Despite their mutual attraction and red-hot dungeon sessions, Kenzie Hart plays her own games. Her bratty, you-can’t-break-me attitude masks terrible personal hurt—pain that only the exquisite touch of a skilled Dom can release. But when Porter suggests taking their connection to the outside world, Kenzie denies him . . . which only makes him want her more.

Kenzie can’t ignore the raw, fierce bond she has with Porter. But she can’t give in to his dangerous demands, either. Is the passion they share real, or is he using her to solidify his status at Club Sin? And yet, who else can she trust with the shattering secrets she holds within? As Porter expertly brings her to the point of no return, Kenzie surrenders her body—and, piece by piece, her heart.

Themes: erotica, BDSM

Rating: 4.5 stars
Heat Rating:  

Review:

Time for another trip into the erotic and sometimes emotional world of Club Sin and the Dominants and Submissives that play there.  I have noticed that this series, while definitely erotic, seems to focus more on the emotional needs of the D/s relationships that form each novel, which I have to say I LOVE! So often series that revolve around “dungeons” or “BDSM” focus only on the sexual aspects of those relationships, but I have learned there is just so much more to those relationships, and Kennedy is a master of bringing that to life.  I enjoy all her characters, even when they often frustrate me and I want to smack some sense into them, but the core of her writing is the way she pulls her readers into the lives and traumas of those characters and reminds readers that everyone deals with their pasts and fears in their own ways. Kenzie is the Brat of Club Sin, challenging every Dom that she has ever played with, so when she is asked by the owner to serve as Porter’s test to become a Master she is more than willing to play with the sexy new Dom.  Porter knows he has a challenge in Kenzie, but as he studies her and learns what makes her tick, not only does he begin to suspect she has some very serious issues, but he begins to fall deeply under her spell. 

When danger begins to stalk Kenzie, Porter’s protective instincts are riled and he forces his way into her life to keep her safe, leading them both down and emotional, turmoil filled journey.  Kenzie has protected herself in the only way she knows how, distance from everyone, but Porter is not going to allow that distance for long.  Determined to meet Kenzie’s true needs, Porter will do whatever it takes to make her understand that the chemistry and connection between them is not to be denied and in the end only by truly giving up control can Kenzie get everything she wants and needs.  I loved this story, even more than the others in the series, but I am wondering who will find their mate next and have their lives forever changed by Ms. Kennedy’s skillful hand.  A truly great series that shows that love can develop anywhere if you allow yourself to feel those emotions.

*eARC provided by publisher (via netgalley) for the purpose of an honest and unbiased review.  No compensation was provided.