Archive for July, 2010

AMETHYST BOOK 1: AMETHYST BOUND
L Shannon
ISBN: 978-1426890055
B003NX7BS0 (Kindle eBook)
June 7, 2010
Harlequin Enterprises/Carina Press
Short Paranormal Romance/Shape Shifter
Short Paranormal Romance/Fantasy
Short Urban Fantasy
 eBook

 

If you love a fantasy story full of dragons and magic, adventure and passion, then prepare to fall in love with Amethyst Bound.

Toni Giovanni is in the recovery business, otherwise known as burglary and her latest job is shaping up to be an easy ride. Well it may be a ride, but it is far from easy. When Toni opens the box she is to “recover” from an archeological expedition and touches what is inside, she finds herself inexplicably bound to a dragon, Amethyst, who is thrilled to be free from her long captivity.

Archeologist Dr. Ben Davis has a fascination with dragon legends in various cultures and is thrilled at his latest discovery. However, when that find is stolen by a beautiful thief, his troubles are just beginning. Suddenly the mutual attraction between Toni and Ben ignites a conflagration that results in Ben being Amethyst Bound as minion and… mate? to Toni.

However, the danger is just beginning when this unlikely trio discovers an ancient prophecy stating the world will be destroyed by dragons. Can Toni and Ben and Amethyst put a stop to Armageddon before it’s too late?

L Shannon has created a magical world in Amethyst Bound that I look forward to exploring on future visits. This fantasy story is populated with strong and sexy heroes and dark and deadly enemies. While Amethyst Bound is a shorter story, don’t let that full you. It is every bit as action packed as any full length novel. While we do have some closure to this chapter in the Amethyst saga, much is still left hanging, to carry over into later books.

Toni’s confusion and reluctance to take on her new destiny are real, causing readers to empathize with her and understand how she thinks and feels. Her relationship with Amethyst is often amusing and always exciting. Ben’s delight in meeting a dragon first hand after a lifelong drive to learn about them shines through, adding a touch of contrast to the darkness they are facing. Passion is strong and fierce between Toni and Ben, amplified in Amethyst’s bond to Toni and through her, to Ben.

I cannot recall if I’ve read stories by L Shannon in the past or not, but after finishing Amethyst Bound, I am eager for more by this talented author, especially additional installments to the Amethyst series. Giver this one a try, you won’t be disappointed.

© Kelley A. Hartsell, July 2010. All rights reserved.

THE TUDOR VAMPIRE CHRONICLES BOOK 1: KISS OF THE ROSE
Kate Pearce
ISBN: 978-0451230942
August 3, 2010
Penguin Putnam/Signet
Historical Romance
Paranormal Romance/Vampire
Mass Market Paperback

Close to losing the battle in a desperate attempt to defeat King Richard III and gain the crown for himself, Henry Tudor made a bargain with the Druids which bound him and his heirs to the Druids’ struggle against vampires.  Ever since that moment, the Llewellyns, a vampire- slaying family, have been in the Tudor king’s employ.  Now during the reign of Henry VIII, his father’s bargain has been almost forgotten-until bloodless corpses start to turn up in the king’s bedchamber. In order to save the king, Vampire slayer Rosalind Llewellyn must form an uneasy alliance with Druid slayer Sir Christopher Ellis. However, Rosalind soon faces an unimaginable truth: her sworn enemy may just  be her soulmate…

*** In the first book of this sexy new series Kate Pearce takes a bite out of the court of King Henry VIII, right on the heels of the conclusion of  the highly popular and (IMO fabulous)  HBO Tudor series.  In doing so it helped to put faces on a lot of the historical figures mentioned.   Admittedly, I wasn’t sure how I would like to have vampires added into such a highly noted period of historical significance, but I found myself extremely entertained.  The historical aspects were definitely there, no literary license was taken in messing around with the facts, but the author presented an entirely plausible story in fictionalizing what could be happening in the background of the lusty and outrageous happenings of Henry VIII’s court.

Rosalind Llewellyn is a Druid vampire slayer, who was born with the mark of Awen making her a very ‘powerful’ slayer and having other talents that not all slayers have.  Along with her trainer and friend Rhys, Rosalind had to convince Henry VIII  and make him aware of the dangers which were threatening  his intimate court.  The author brought home the smugness and arrogance of the king who hesitated to believe that vampires existed, let alone think that one small beautiful little female could protect Him.  Whether convinced or not, Henry was honor bound by the pact made by his father and would go along with the plan as long as his life and pleasures would not be disturbed! 

Sir Christopher Ellis was a Druid slayer sworn to protect Vampires and he was also sent to Court at the same time as Rosalind so as protagonists go, this was quite a match-up.  What they discovered through a Vampire intermediary was that even the Vampire council wanted this “rogue” vampire brought down, consequently Christopher and Rosalind (naturally physically attracted to one another) would have to play nice and rely on each other’s expertise to slay the vampire.

The author keeps the suspense and the action going in this very fast-paced novel with sights and sounds of the era described with a deft hand while in keeping with historical accuracy and the build-up for future episodes involving our two protagonists.   Ms. Pearce’s creativity is amazing and KISS OF THE ROSE delivers excitement, suspense, and a heavy dose of sensuality most will find quite appealing leaving the reader itching for more to come!

THE REBELLIOUS SONS BOOK 1:  THE WICKED WYCKERLY
Patricia Rice
ISBN: 978-0451230713
July 2010
Penguin Putnam/Signet Eclipse
Historical Romance/Regency
Mass Market Paperback

Inheriting an earldom, along with a crumbling estate and massive debts that would take him a lifetime to pay back, John Fitzhugh Wyckerly the new seventh Earl of Danecroft considered his options; one of which was running away to America and letting his wealthy cousin inherit both title and the debts!  But Fitz was not a quitter, and decided he should do the right thing, so he set out to reclaim his illegitimate daughter Penelope and travel to London in search of a very wealthy wife! Abigail Merriweather has been devastatingly quiet since she lost custody of her four half-siblings. Without warning, a roguish gentleman (Fitz) and his uncontrollable terror of a daughter descended upon her farm when they were unceremoniously booted off of the post chaise taking them to London.  Abigail  took note of how his parenting skills were quite appalling but his good looks and flirting were very heady.  Abigail needs a lawyer, or husband, to help her regain her siblings, so why does Fitz keep looking like the best candidate, even though both know it could never work?

***  When thinking about Patricia Rice I tend to think of the magic and mystical worlds she has so delightfully charmed her readers with over these past few years.  In THE WICKED WYCKERLY she has left the magic behind and relies solely on the magic of true love and an enchanting romance set in the lively Regency world where social standing and money are of prime importance in the beau monde and glittering ballrooms of the ton.

Fitz as the new Earl of Danecroft, despite his rakish life style before inheriting the title as a second son, never prepared or trained to become an Earl.  He’d lived by his wits and remarkable mathematical abilities surviving solely on his expertise in gambling to modestly support himself in his bachelor rooms.  However, after the loss of father and brother so close together, he found he wasn’t able to brush off the responsibilities so lightly.  So Fitz decided to try and do better than his forbears and show that not all of his line deserved the “Wicked Wyckerly”  title.

Rice developed Fitz by giving him a conscience beginning with taking charge of his six year old illegitimate daughter Penelope even while he didn’t have a clue as to what fatherhood entailed.  The author showed a correlation between Fitz’s upbringing and Penelope’s  when he realized his uncaring attitude was much like what he himself had experienced.  

 Abigail was fleshed out perfectly and was a complete joy. For  Fitz, who had never been shown love or caring, meeting up with Abigail whose abundance of love and plain common sense was captivated by her beauty and her character.  Rice couldn’t have created a better match up than Fitz and Abigail.  Their attraction and what each brought to the table in terms of natural talents to enhance one another was perfection.  Fitz needed to marry money and Abigail needed someone with a stellar reputation in order to regain custody of her half-siblings. 

Rice added a plethora of secondary characters that kept the action going, from a ‘fairy godmother type’ in the guise of the Abigail’s dowager marchioness cousin who decided to play matchmaker; to Fitz’s cousin and heir as well as the few friends who actually were mourning his rumored  demise  as well as Fitz’s faithful butler.  Add to that the lovely humorous and sensual romance;  several attempts made to Fitz’s life; and the delight of  Fitz learning to deal with his six year old daughter and you have one perfectly enchanting read that I can HIGHLY recommend.  As always when Patricia Rice pens a novel it turns into total fun!

Buy it from Red Sage:

TIME PIRATE
Trinity Blake
ISBN:  978-1-60310-484-5
Red Sage Publishing
June 2010
Erotica/Time Travel
eBook

In the twenty-second century one of the most lucrative trades is reclamation. Reclamation is where people go back in time to ships about to be lost at sea and claim the treasure. Rhaina is one those people. She needs one last reclamation before she has enough money to get out of the business and settle down. When her boss sends herself and another reclamator back in time to Captain Nate Grave’s Dark Phantom, a ship that never went down, Rhaina smells a rat. And she’s right; her partner strands her back in time where she soon finds herself the prisoner of man known for sexual prowess and on a ship where there are no women and they’re even considered to be bad luck. Now she just has to bide her time until she can hop a ride back to her time from another reclamator scheduled to arrive in six months on another ship. However, Nate’s magnetism is hard to resist.

I really enjoyed the TIME PIRATE. The TIME PIRATE’s premise was one of the most unique ones that I’ve read in a long time. Rhaina and Nate were interesting, never boring, and never predictable. I also loved the fact that I totally bought into Rhaina and Nate’s chemistry and their growing and developing feelings for each other, which I don’t always find in erotic romance. The story was not predictable and I was left wondering until the end on how Rhaina and Nate would be able to resolve their issues and make their way toward each other. I was not disappointed and was in fact on the edge of the seat and teary eyed when Rhiana and Nate made the decision for their future. I never read a book by Trinity Blake before, but the TIME PIRATE won’t be my last.

Buy it from Red Sage:

CRYSTAL GENIE
Opal Carew
ISBN:  978-1-60310-479-1
Red Sage Publishing
June 2010
Erotic Romance/Paranormal Romance/Fantasy
eBook

Celeste’s world is turned upside down when she buys an exquisite quartz crystal at a local shop. When she tries to clean it, to her shock a genie appears . . . a genie who tells her that she has three days to make three wishes. Zurvan, the genie of the crystal has been trapped inside for centuries at the whim of a woman, a more powerful genie whose advances he refused. The last thing Zurvan wants is to be under the command of another woman, but Zurvan gets the shock of his life when he realizes Celeste is the reincarnation of the woman he once loved who was ripped away from him. Now instead of being angry that he’s under Celeste’s thumb for three days, he’s wondering how he’ll be able to spend the rest of his existence without her.

CRYSTAL GENIE is every woman’s fantasy come to like. CRYSTAL GENIE is like winning the lottery and the hottest guy on the planet all on the same day. I loved the writing and the premise and if I may be frank the sex scenes were hot. However, I missed an emotional connection between Celeste and Zurvan that went beyond the awesome sex. I was also disappointed with CRYSTAL GENIE’s climax. Without giving anything away, I was expecting something more complex with a harder resolution where Celeste and Zurvan had to fight more. Other than that, I loved CRYSTAL GENIE and I would defiantly buy another book by this author.

GARNET LACEY SERIES BOOK 5: HONEYMOON OF THE DEAD
Tate Hallaway
ISBN: 978-0-425-23412-9
Kindle ASIN: B003L784NY
May 2010
Penguin Putnam/Berkley Trade
Paranormal Romance/Vampire
Paranormal Romance/Fantasy
Trade Paperback

Sebastian Von Traum and Garnet Lacey are finally married and are going on their honeymoon… but things are about to go seriously awry. First, they create an “incident” when they refuse to stay on the plane after Garnet spots a Frost Giant on the plane’s wing. Then, they realize they are stuck in Minneapolis with stalkers, gods, goddesses, and Homeland Security. Will Garnet and Sebastian ever get a true honeymoon or will all of the complications derail it permanently?

HONEYMOON OF THE DEAD is the fifth and final book in the Garnet Lacey series and frankly it is past time for this ending. Unfortunately, HONEYMOON OF THE DEAD is neither a stand alone nor does it satisfactorily conclude a series that has suddenly taken a downward spiral after the first three books were so spectacular. The paranormal elements are a better part of the story than in DEAD IF I DO where they seemed more an afterthought to an essentially chick lit book. Still, HONEYMOON OF THE DEAD seems disjointed, to say the least.

Garnet Lacey is a character I thoroughly enjoyed in the first three books. She was quirky and sometimes a bit temperamental thanks to her inner goddess, Lilith.  I’m not sure what happened in the last two books but suddenly she’s like the heroine in the horror movie that you scream at but she still opens the door and goes into the dark cellar. I couldn’t help but sympathize with Sebastian for having to put up with her antics as Garnet sure didn’t act like a happy bride on her honeymoon in this particular book!

Worse yet, the battles between good and evil that have made this series so interesting are practically nonexistent. Even William’s brief appearance couldn’t rescue a plot this full of holes. So many questions are left unresolved- even if it weren’t the last book in the series, I would still feel dissatisfied as the plot seems more rambling than building towards anything. Skip this book and read the first three if you want to see just how good a Garnet Lacey book can be.

ORDER OF THE SICARI SERIES BOOK 1: ASSASSIN’S HONOR
Monica Burns
ISBN: 978-0-425-23416-7
Kindle ASIN: B003NX7O1Y
June 2010
Penguin Putnam/Berkley Sensation
Paranormal Romance/Fantasy
Trade Paperback

Emma Zale is stunned to realize that her parents were right- the Sicari actually do exist! She doesn’t have a chance to celebrate, however, before one of the other archaeologists (and a long time friend of her parents) is murdered, in the exact same manner her parents were killed. Now, Emma finds herself tracked for an object she’s never heard of and the one man offering her sanctuary is Ares DeLuca, a Sicari assassin.

Monica Burns introduces readers to the Sicari, an order of assassins. The world building is fascinating as the rules that guide the order are unveiled through Emma’s missteps. The world itself is a bit dark so Emma’s initial hesitation is more than understandable. Monica Burns does a great job at making the reader care about the Sicari, as they appear noble despite their very obvious roles as assassins. The conflict between the Sicari and Praetorians adds an element of danger that ramps the tension up.

Ares exemplifies the Sicari and it is impossible not to like him. He’s dark, mysterious, honorable, and loyal- a fantastic hero! The secondary characters in the Sicari, such as Phae, Lysander, and Atia are also quite intriguing and I am looking forward to reading more about them in future books. However, it is Emma who detracts from the tale for me. She consistently creates problems for Ares, ones that are quite dangerous actually. At first, I could excuse it because she isn’t familiar with the various rules that govern the Sicari but her continuous bumbling starts to annoy after awhile. You would hope an archaeologist would know a little about respecting other cultures- and yet, over and over, Emma disrespects Ares and the Sicari.

ASSASSIN’S HONOR is an interesting start to a new series. I am fascinated by the world Monica Burns has created. I actually wish she’d taken more of an urban fantasy route as the writing excels in those areas. The paranormal aspects are fascinating and I would have liked to see more development around the various powers. The romance between Emma and Ares somewhat detracts from the story, particularly since I think Emma is annoying. I have high hopes for the next story, however, as it features Phae and Lysander.

MAGIC SERIES  BOOK 3: A BREATH OF MAGIC
Tracy Madison
ISBN: 9780505528360
April 27, 2010
Dorchester Publishing/Leisure Books
Paranormal Romance/ Fantasy
Mass Market Paperback

Chloe Nichols has been searching for a happy family circle since her parents were tragically killed while she and her younger sister were still children. Her long-time boyfriend, Kyle, however, seems in no particular hurry to move their relationship to a new level.  Not realizing that her own secret magic talent has begun to assert itself, Chloe begs her cousin, Elizabeth, for a spelled cake to help encourage Kyle to pop the question. Things get out of hand quickly when her cousins and aunt stage an “magic intervention” and she sees the pictures of her future that Alice has drawn.

A Breath of Magic continues the stories of the female descendants of the magical gypsy Miranda and their romantic misadventures when they each come into their own magical powers.  During the second book (A Stroke of Magic) we meet Chloe and watch as she discovers that she and her sister actually have long lost cousins, and one of those cousins is none other than her best friend, Alice.

I liked the nice subplot of the young teenager that Chloe meets and helps, and enjoyed all the mentions of other characters and plots that could easily be spun into future books.  I hope that Chloe’s sister, Sheridan, soon has her own book.  I was really intrigued with her character, and the hints that wacky Grandma Verda will continue to have a key matchmaking role in future romances was also a welcome bit of news.

A Breath of Magic is a frothy, magical romantic romp that also manages to slip in some very wise lessons about the negative consequences of trying to control other people, as well as your own destiny, instead of letting the future develop naturally. I recommend it for a cozy weekend curled up in your favorite easy chair.

SABINA KANE BOOK 2: MAGE IN BLACK
Jaye Wells
ISBN: 978-0-316-03780-8 (Mass Market Paperback)
B00351DS3W (Kindle eBook)
April 1, 2010 (Mass Market Paperback)
April 8, 2010 (Kindle eBook)
Hachette Book Group/Orbit Books
Urban Fantasy
Mass Market Paperback and eBook

I fell in love with this series with Red-Headed Stepchild and after Mage in Black, I love this series more than ever! How I will wait for book 3, Green-Eyed Demon I have no idea.

Mage in Black picks up almost immediately where Red-Headed Stepchild left off, with Sabina and company on the way to NYC to meet her long lost twin Maisie, living with the mage side of her family, as part of the Hekate Council. Before they even get there, attempts on Sabina’s life make her begin to wonder if she’s just running from one mess of trouble to another.

Upon arrival, Adam is called off on another mission and Sabina is to begin her mage training. Unfortunately, trouble follows Sabina wherever she goes, putting those closest to her in grave danger. Just when she thinks she is adjusting to her new life, Sabina discovers a prophecy that she, a misfit vampire-mage hybrid Mage in Black is destined to unite all of the magical races. How she will manage that with battling werewolves, demons, and an old lover, Hekate only knows.

Sabina is a tough girl who is wounded on the inside as a result of family betrayals and finds it very hard to trust anyone. Here we see her opening up a little bit more to the few people (or demons) she does trust, and discovering that in spite of her past experiences, not everyone in her life is out to wound her. Maisie is the exact opposite of Sabina and so excited to meet her sister finally that Sabina finds herself drawn to the relationship her sister wants to create. We also see Sabina growing even more comfortable with Giguhl, her trusty demon familiar, whose nickname “Mr. Giggles” so perfectly suits him every time he puts in an appearance. I always find myself laughing out loud over his exploits, most meant to protect Sabina from those who wish to harm her. I also enjoyed the mentoring relationship Sabina develops with her magic instructor, Rhea, who plays a significant role in events unfolding.

Every bit as action-oriented and fast-paced as Red-Headed Stepchild, Mage in Black is a powerhouse of a book that kept me on the edge of my seat from beginning to end, right up to the dramatic cliffhanger ending. With plenty of battles to keep things interesting, a whole passel of newly introduced magical beings in this universe, and danger around every corner, Mage in Black is a true nail-biter of a fantastical adventure. Jaye Wells is an incredible storyteller whose star is only beginning to rise. I plan to keep a very close eye on her, eager to see where she will take us next.

© Kelley A. Hartsell, July 2010. All rights reserved.

FIREFIGHTERS OF STATION FIVE BOOK 4: LINE OF FIRE Jo Davis
ISBN: 978-0451229786
May 4, 2010
Penguin Putnam/Signet
Romantic Suspense
Mass Market Paperback

Tommy Skyler once hoped to follow his budding career as a star quarterback when tragedy intervened. Although successful in his firefighting job, he still questions his new choice of career.  The only thing he is sure of is that he and nurse Shea Ford are meant to be a couple.  Trouble is, Shea is not of like mind. Conspiracy and arson combine to further complicate the couple’s lives.  Will Shea and Tommy both manage to live long enough to work out their differences?

I was delighted to see a new entry in Jo Davis’ sizzling Firefighters of Station Five series. Davis has a wonderful talent for creating bigger than life heroes with hearts of gold. Line of Fire continues the excellent formula with heart stopping suspense and steamy romance between Tommy and Shea.  The Station Five guys/gal have become like a big extended family over the past several novels, and I always look forward to a new visit for a chance to follow up on the lives of previous heroes and look forward to the yet coming stories of some of the remaining staff.  If you like your romance served with an edge of your seat tension, try the Firefighters of Station Five series.  You won’t regret it.