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Posted by Grete, on July 15th, 2010  BAD Agent Hunter Thornton-Payne is on a mission along with his own personal agenda. The assassin that robbed him of his best friend four years ago is back in play by the Fratelli organisation. While BAD’s interests lie with his own he is content to wait it out. When he meets Abbie Blanton and her quest for answers to her mothers mysterious illness, he sees a connection and opportunity that could lead him straight to the killer. With Abbie a target, he has to try to keep her at arms length and safe so he can find the answers they both need. Abbie has other ideas and is determined to help, leaving Hunter at risk of being hunted not only by the Fratelli, but BAD itself.
Silent truth is the fifth book in the B.A.D. series and I was really happy to see this book return to the excellent form of Bad Attitude. That’s not to say the others weren’t good, they were, I just felt there was something lacking that made the first book such an exciting read. Sherrilyn Kenyon and Dianna Love make a brilliant team and their love and pride of this series really shines through.
It was great to go deeper into the character of Hunter. When he appeared in previous books, he came across as a bit of an ass and that made me a little wary when I found out that he was the central male character. When I learned what made him become so, I realised there was so much more beneath the detached surface. Dangerous and highly trained yet hiding a compassionate heart behind his ruthless exterior. Very hot and definitely a character to fall in love with! Abbie was a solid and believable character as well, I loved her naivety despite what she had been through and given how strong and feisty she was, she was more than a match for Hunter.
The pace of the book was really good, well written action scenes and at times it was very tense. Of course that meant I HAD to keep reading to find out what happened which I can only count as a good thing. The way the sexual chemistry and heat was built up worked very well and left me almost as breathless as the characters.
The plot was actually quite intricate, several threads coming together that had been building up over the series and I got to see just how widespread the Fratelli organisation really was. I thought Linette’s character worked really well within it and I feared for her at every turn of events.
Now for the OMG NO! moment. I am still in denial and hoping for a miracle in the next book but as it stands, much kudos for it being so well played and emotional. It really got me.
I can’t say more than that without spoiling it but you will just have to read Silent Truth and find out for yourself. Enjoy!
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Posted by Grete, on July 3rd, 2010  The first book I read by J. R. Ward was actually the start of a companion series to the Black Dagger Brotherhood books. Covet impressed me in many different ways and I was curious about what her other more established series was like. Having now finished the Black Dagger Brotherhood series for a second time and having enjoyed it even more, I can’t recommend this amazing series enough.
So why should you read J. R. Ward?
The characters Ward creates are just phenomenal. The main cast are the Brothers and their individual stories are the focus for each book. What makes the series truly outstanding is the presence of the other major players through each one. You can’t have one Brother without having them all! Sometimes those appearances are brief and often they are integral to another’s story.
The series begins with Dark Lover and you are introduced to a world of vampires living alongside humans in secrecy. The Black Dagger Brotherhood are a group of elite vampires, engineered by breeding to be the most powerful and best warriors to protect the race not only from exposure to the humans but also from their unnatural predators – the Lessening Society. I love Ward’s slant on the vampire mythos, that the traditional view is mostly hogwash spread by the human media with a few truths hidden within the fiction. The truth is humans have nothing to fear from vampires. They can’t sustain themselves from human blood so basically, they are just another race that share the planet but in ever decreasing numbers. There is a war on, between the lessers and the vampires and the Brothers fight night after night to keep the remaining vampire population safe, often at personal cost to themselves. They are powerful, larger than life and very very hot!
 While the plot of each book might mainly be about a character unexpectedly finding their true love (they are romance novels after all), it’s the characters that make them as engaging as they are. J. R. Ward has such a clear and vivid way of writing that you get to know them so well and the mere mention of a name conjurs up their image in your mind and how they might act and react in certain situations. I also have to say not once in ten books have I read a scene and thought hang on, he wouldn’t do that!.
You can feel the love and sometimes exasperation Ward has for her Brothers and in turn, shares those things with the reader. They are all so fundamentally different and you just can’t help falling in love with them, cry for them and your heart bleeds at the sacrifices they have to make for the good of the race.
The females of the series are just as much of a revelation and again so very different from each other. Each has their own strengths and weaknesses that make them the perfect foil for the jaded and battle-weary Brothers. Sassy, fierce, loving and brave, each one finds her way into your heart just as easily.
 So if you love amazing and emotional stories with flawed yet solid warriors (did I mention they were also hot?) and the females that are more than a match for them then you should read J. R. Ward. I dare you not to fall in love with them!
Posted by Grete, on February 26th, 2010  With a hidden history and a talent with a twist, Grace Renquist tries to keep her head down and act like a good librarian for the Arcane Society’s Geneology department. When she is sent on a mission to read the aura of someone suspected of being in Nightshade, an underground and sinister organisation she is paired with the enigmatic Luther Malone as her bodyguard. When Grace gets a look at the target, she realises more is going on than meets the eye and it’s linked to the past she has tried hard to escape. Can she trust Malone with the truth and not turn her in and can he protect her against the unstable assassin with a lethal singing ability, that decides they are a threat to her mission.
I’d not come across Jayne Ann Krentz before and went to start reading Running Hot then realised this is actually the fifth book in the series. It can be hard picking up the ‘lore’ or the way the author’s world works when you don’t start at the beginning, but actually I had no trouble figuring things out which was really nice. I’ve said in reviews before that I’m a sucker for secret societies, struggling to keep the world safe and sane against their darker counterparts and since the series is called the Arcane Society, that pushed the right buttons for me to get started. I like the world Krentz has built, the Arcane Society made up of remarkeable people with remarkeable abilities. Everyone registered has measurable and quantifiable abilities that fall under different categories. Strats who can spot patterns in chaos, Aura readers who can tell what a person is feeling or if they’ve experienced trauma or Aura manipulators who can tinker with someone’s emotions. The main characters of Grace and Luther were well written and engaging. Grace is an Aura reader with a twist and Luther uses his Aura calming talent as a bodyguard and bartender. They make a great couple and the romance intertwined with the plot is very sweet. I have to touch on how the bad guys were written. In some books I’ve read of this genre, the antagonists come across as a bit incompetent or not really all that bad. I was impressed that Krentz chose to make hers have quite a lot of impact. The plot wasn’t overly complicated and while mostly predictable, it didn’t make it any less of a good read. The pace was good and the story kept you turning the pages hoping that it would work out between Grace and Luther. I enjoyed it enough to want to find the previous books in the series.
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Posted by Grete, on February 13th, 2010 Marian Keyes is one of those writers that can capture ordinary moments in life and turn them into something special. Funny, witty, sarcastic yet also sombre and poignant, she is not afraid to draw on her own darker personal history to give her books that something extra.
So what do you do when you have read everything she’s written and looking for more? Along with Marian, here are some of my favourite reigning queens of ‘chicklit’.
Jill Mansell
A funny, amazing storyteller who reminds me that while life can be difficult and painful, there are always moments of hilarity and joy that can make the day seem so much brighter. Lighter of heart than Marian Keyes but just as good.
Jenny Colgan
I find Jenny Colgan’s books the lightest in mood from all the authors on this list, but she shares Marian Keyes’ knack for writing and capturing characters that feel so real and funny or sad. She combines that with stories that keep you engaged and reading right until the end.
Katie Fforde
It’s a pleasure reading Katie Fforde’s work, it’s full of life, love and those moments where you just have to stop and take a good long hard laugh at yourself. Light in tone but gets you in the heart when you least expect it. Highly recommended.
Fiona Walker
Another excellent author who can look at life and take both the good and the bad and turn them into funny, powerful and heart-warming stories. A great match for everyone in this post.
If you have any other authors or books you feel would be enjoyed by people who loved Marian Keyes, feel free to comment on this article with your recommendations.
Posted by Grete, on January 27th, 2010  One night, seven years ago Beth Denison’s life changed when she was savagely attacked. The man responsible went to jail for a different crime and Beth worked hard to create a new life for herself and her daughter. Now he’s out and sending mutilated dolls to Beth as a warning that he’s coming for her. Former FBI Agent Neil Sheridan was involved in a related case seven years ago and consults for the FBI and the Police when a string of murders turn up and all seem connected to Beth Denison in some way. Neil is determined to find out what hold the killer has over Beth and unexpectedly finds something he never thought he would again. The chance of a new life and some peace. First though, he has to keep Beth safe from the hands of a demented killer who wants to hear her scream.
It’s been a while since I read a good crime book, having lately been absorbed by paranormal romance and fantasy. It’s the first time I’ve read anything by Kate Brady and having just finished One Scream Away, it will certainly not be the last. Her writing is very smooth and easy to read, even the little bits of back-history that were inserted didn’t jerk me out of the story. Some parts of the book were extremely harrowing and if I didn’t already find collectible porcelain dolls creepy, I certainly would now!
The pace built up gradually until it was rushing along and carrying me me breathlessly with it, and I really couldn’t see what the outcome would be. I thought the plot was extremely clever, several layers going on at once until they were slowly stripped away to a single one by the end. Empathy with the main characters of Neil and Beth built the same way as the pace of the book. I didn’t really feel much for them at the start but by the end I loved them and really cared about what happened. Even minor but key characters I didn’t come to know that well tugged at my heart in certain scenes.
Nailbitingly tense in the extreme.
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Posted by Grete, on January 11th, 2010  Devyn Kell joined the League to save lives as a doctor and help those whose lives were being torn apart by conflict. He didn’t bank on the League being one of the corrupt oppressors involved in the war and in one moment, throws his career and nearly his life away to save an innocent child. Hunted by both the League and an old enemy with a family grudge, he becomes a runner to bring supplies, medicines and aid to those in need. Alix Garran is a slave offered her freedom and the lives of her mother and sister if she can bring in the notorious rebel. When an opening is made in Devyn’s crew, she’s forced to apply for the engineering role and find evidence that will convict Devyn and his crew. If she can’t find it, she’ll have to fabricate it and time is ticking. Not expecting to find a cause she can believe in, or people she can trust, Alix finds herself horribly torn between her family, and a man she can finally respect.
I expected this book to follow along the same timeline as Born of Night and Born of Fire and was surprised to find it was about their now grown up children. Devyn is the son of Syn and Shahara and some of the major cast of characters are offpsring from Nykyrian and Kiara, his crew and friends. I thought that was a great idea! Sometimes you get to see what happens after a book is finished, not often you get to see what happens nearly a generation later. I thought the character of Devyn was nicely written as a blend of his parents temperaments but not a mirror of either. Alix is a character that brought out a lot of sympathy from me and at times I empathised a lot with. Her life has never been her own, enslaved along with her mother and sister to her own father. It was a nice switcharound that it was the female lead character in this book that had the traumatic life instead of the male, although saying that, Devyn has his own issues too. I liked that the parents were kept out of the book as much as possible and when they appeared or ‘interfered’ it was called for in the story rather than being in it just for the sake of it. This isn’t as much of an action book as the first two but when it happened it was explosive and fierce and highlighted Devyn’s nature of preferring to heal than harm. That’s not to say he’s not willing to fight and happens to be very good at it. Alix is just gutsy, even as self-effacing as she is, having had enough of being her father’s punching bag. Two brilliant leading characters who you can admire and love. There is more humour in this book also, maybe due to the larger cast but their banter is very funny and there are a couple of scenes that made me laugh out loud. Luckily I was reading at home!
A very engaging, exciting and passionate book that I highly recommend you read! I do hope there are more coming in this series.
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Posted by Grete, on January 9th, 2010  C.I. Syn the deadly, predatory and notorious filch has been accused of an horrific rape and murder. The warrant out for his capture is picked up by Seax Shahara Dagan, desperate for money to pay for her sister’s medical bills. Had she not been in such need, not even she would have gone after the son of one of the worst criminals in history. Branded by his father’s sins and a universal assumption that the son would follow in his evil footsteps, Shahara goes in fully prepared to meet a monster. What she finds though is what she least expects, an honourable man trying to escape a past that continually haunts him.
After finishing Born of Night, I was eager to get right into the escapades of Nykyrian’s best friend but it took a while for me to get a copy. I thought I might have to re-read the first book to get back into the setting but only a few pages in, I was well into the story. I love how Sherrilyn Kenyon can write so astutely from another’s viewpoint in a different book. Born of Night was Nykyrian’s story in which Syn featured quite a lot and while I liked him, he was a grumpy soul with obvious issues from his past. In this book, seeing life from his point of view told me so much more. As I learned his history and how he’d been treated just because of who his father was, my heart just went out to him. Shahara’s struggle to keep her family together and their ability to get themselves into trouble, expecting her to bail them out all the time was well written too and her love tinged with exasperation and weariness were very tangible. I loved these two characters together, right from their first encounter, there were sparks flying. As the story progressed and perceptions changed for them both, I just fell in love with them more and knowing what was likely to happen at the end, made it all the more heartbreaking. Everything fit so well together, the pace of the book, the action, drama and love scenes and at no point did I feel any of it was gratuitous. The only negative thing I can find to say is she re-uses one or two phrases which can get annoying but it’s a minor thing and those phrases do carry a lot of weight.
As an added note, these books are not just Dark-Hunters re-created in space but their own unique stories, completely separate from the rest of Sherrilyn’s work and even if you aren’t a sci-fi fan, if you enjoy her books, definately read these!
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Posted by Grete, on December 8th, 2009  Carlos Delgado, an operative of B.A.D. has spent the last sixteen years running from his past. When the agency receives some information from the mysterious Mirage about the kidnapping of a young girl and a possible connection to the Fratelli society, they realise they have to find out who Mirage is and bring them in. B.A.D. fears Mirage could pose a major threat to national security and Carlos is sent in to capture them for questioning. What he finds is not at all what he expects. Certainly not a woman in hiding and definately not someone from a high profile family with the technical skills she possesses. Carlos fears nothing but his past catching up with him and this strangely captivating woman unknowingly threatens just that.
Having felt Phantom in the Night rocketed along at an excellent pace, I expected more of the same with this one. I was very surprised that it progressed at a much slower speed and slowly built up to its conclusion. That’s not to say it’s a bad thing and I felt it suited the book and the plot that was unfolding. Had it been rushed, it would have spoiled the build up. It took me a little while to ‘get’ Carlos as the male lead and not as the smart alec pain in the ass minor character he’d appeared as in the first two. You do end up loving him though and realise his previous comments are very him and the sense of humour he has. I thought the character of Gabrielle was well done, I didn’t expect to like her as much as I did. Her whole silk outside, steel inside demeanor was great and fit really well with the other women of B.A.D.
While the book was as engaging as the first two, the emotional side felt slightly off at first, so it took me a while to connect with the main characters. Since that is the only negative thing I can say about it, I think it’s another great addition to the series and the collaboration between Sherrilyn Kenyon and Dianna Love. Exciting stuff and I hope there will be more coming!
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Posted by Grete, on November 25th, 2009  Terri Mitchell is an undercover agent for B.A.D. working as a consultant for the New Orleans Police Department. The Bureau suspect there is a terrorist group being fronted and funded by a notorious drug lord, operating within New Orleans. Terri’s mission is to find out who they are and what they are planning.
Nathan Drake is a phantom. An ex-covert operative for the US army and now ex-con, he’s lost everyone he ever loved to the organised crime ring and he wants revenge.
When Terri’s path keeps being crossed by the mysterious phantom that has the criminal underworld in a panic, she realises they might just be working towards the same goal. Both trained by life and profession to not trust anyone, they must attempt to work together or die trying. If they don’t, an entire city could perish.
I was a little sceptical about the second book in the B.A.D. series being co-written by Sherrilyn Kenyon and Dianna Love as not all pairings work, especially when Bad Attitude was such a great solo effort by Kenyon. Having been unable to put the book down until I’d finished, I’m happy to say it seems like a match made in heaven. I’m unfamiliar with Dianna Love’s work but while Kenyon’s trademarks are clearly present, the superb characterisations and hot scenes definately had an extra level to them. The plot is more intricate and in depth than I would say are Kenyon’s usual style and I think the collaboration has created something special there, definately an interesting setup for further books to be based around. The love scenes while extremely erotic, are well written and the mystery and tension building up between the two main characters throughout the book left me quite breathless. The action is fast paced and quite brutal at times but never overdone or just for the sake of it. Everything just fits in together so well to create an exciting and outstanding book.
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Posted by Grete, on November 25th, 2009  J. D. Steele is a former US Army sniper fallen from grace after his partner is killed, and he is left to take the blame for another’s bad decision. A foolish attack on the person responsible lands him courtmarshalled and rotting in jail. Approached by a mysterious trio, a man and two women who claim they can give him his life back. All he has to do is join their shadow agency and perform a simple task. Unable to trust anyone, not even the alluring Sydney Westbrook who is assigned as his partner, and unwilling to kill again, he wonders how he can escape from this predicament and keep his life. The Bureau of American Defense does not mess around.
I’ve yet to come across a genre within Romance that Sherrilyn Kenyon doesn’t excell at. Spy romance? Not quite sure what to call it but oh my it’s good. As she has with her other series, Sherrilyn creates an interesting world for her characters to play in and gives them solid backgrounds. I like the B.A.D. Agency and I love the characters of Tee and Joe even if they are minor characters for this book, I do hope I get to see them in their own story.
The main characters here however are Sydney Westbrook and J. D. Steele. Sydney is a shorter, curvier Angelina Jolie lookalike with a kickass attitude, and an iron knee, who couldn’t love her? Then there is the very hot and mouthwatering J. D. Steele. Oh my!
I love the fact Sherrilyn Kenyon doesn’t just create copies of other characters with minor changes, they are all unique in their own way and have their own flaws and idiosyncrasies. I have to say though that this book feels more erotic and sensual than others have been and no, I don’t think that’s a bad thing, just keep a fan handy 
Fast action, absorbing plot, hot scenes and brilliant characters make this a book you have to read.
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Very young children eat their books, literally devouring their contents. This is one reason for the scarcity of first editions of Alice in Wonderland and other favorites of the nursery.
Rosenbach, A. S. W.
About BookThing! BookThing! is a website where Grete can indulge her passion for books. There are reviews covering a range of genres (paranormal romance, crime, fantasy, romantic comedy), bibliographies for selected authors, features and sometimes the odd free book giveaway!
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