BookThing would like to welcome Tracey Risebrow to our little book addicted corner of the interwebs. She matches Grete in her enthusiasm and voracity for reading and she has a special love for all romance genres.
Stay tuned for her reviews and you can also follow her on Twitter!
Just received a note from Piatkus announcing a new romance eBook imprint they’re kicking off in time for Valentine’s Day. From their press release,
Whether you’re lucky in love or still waiting for The One, we’ve got something guaranteed to inject a little romance into your Valentine’s Day this year …
February 14th sees the launch of Piatkus Entice, our brand new eBook-first romance imprint. With new titles each month from authors including Eloisa James, Laura Wright, Sarah MacLean, Mariah Stewart and many more, Piatkus Entice will be a one-stop-shop for romantic fiction, offering readers everything from virile vampires to fairytale endings, ravishing rakes and so much more besides.
The website is now live at www.piatkusentice.co.uk. Have a look around the site, then follow us on Twitter and Facebook, or sign up to the Entice newsletter for the latest romance news straight to your inbox.
Since I’ve fallen in love with my Kindle, I’m really excited about this new imprint and especially looking forwards to reading more Eloisa James and Laura Wright.
Be still my heart, Piatkus, you are Enticing me 
After loving her Faith, Love & Devotion series, I noticed Tere Michaels had released a new ebook. A bit of a sidestep from the MM romance genre, as I believe this falls into the category of Menage or MMF.
While the mere mention of the categories probably conjurs up interesting and gratuitous images, what attracts me most about Michaels’ writing is her characterisations. I love that she can create three very diverse and interesting characters, bring them to life and then set them into a story that not only makes sense but is also compelling.
While the story is obviously very adult and erotic, it’s also very well written and the love scenes well envisioned and tasteful.
Lily is a sheer force of nature. Dominant to her husband Riley, her love, compassion and awareness of her husband’s needs is amazing, as well as her understanding of his attraction to his best friend Nick. She is the one that realises the attraction is reciprocated and also the one that makes it possible. She does make mistakes which makes her all the more human but she is truly a brilliant character. I loved Riley and his sense of humour; being submissive doesn’t mean he’s a walkover and is the perfect foil between his wife and his best friend. Nick is very different, more serious and has his feelings for Riley well locked up. It was great seeing him unfold, learning to hope and trust. The three share so much and the relationship just made perfect sense to me.
It’s a very simple story but one full of emotion, passion and love.
As I’ve said before and will probably say again, I’m of the opinion that love comes in many forms and isn’t or shouldn’t be defined by social norms. I think that message is what I love most about Tere Michaels’ work.
Rating: 
2011 was an awesome year for finding new authors I’d never read before. Larissa Ione is the latest in a great list and is now firmly one of my favourites.
I loved the premise of the Lords of Deliverance series; Four siblings, born of a demon and an angel, almost brought the ancient world to ruin and as punishment, were cursed to be the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse. Technically it’s three horsemen and one horsewoman which was actually another facet I loved. The end of days will come but how soon depends on if the seals they were cursed with are broken. They fight on the side of good as long as their seals remain intact but should the unthinkable occur, they turn evil and will side with the bad guys, unleashing the full terrible force of their natures.
As this was the first book by Larissa Ione I’d read, I didn’t realise this series is actually a companion set from her main one called The Demonica. This also explains why I felt some names or characters were important and should have some deeper meaning for me. It didn’t spoil my enjoyment of Eternal Rider though and just made me want to catch up on the other series.
I loved the way Ione smacks you right in the face with one of the Horsemen’s seals breaking, just as you started liking him. It was just enough that you hope the remaining three and their uneasy allies can find a way to restore him before he destroys everything.
This book is Ares/War’s story and I absolutely loved it. Ares is a complex character with layers to his personality and can be quite a scary individual. Even as Ares, he is drawn to battle and tries to keep to himself as his mere presence can cause fights to break out. A lonely immortal existence but one he accepts for his part in the ancient war that nearly brought the world to its knees.
Cara is a human that I could identify with instantly, having a love of animals that borders on the paranormal. On the verge of bankruptcy and mourning the death of her father, she still can’t turn away an injured dog that was run over. She has the ability to heal animals and was her calling in her father’s vet practice, but lost all confidence in herself. Discovering the dog had been shot catapults her into a confusing world where nothing is as she thought it was, least of all that the dog was actually a Hellhound and now bonded to her.
Both characters brought something different to the book and made it whole, even with the large supporting cast. I loved their interplay and interactions, often making me laugh as Cara is feisty and definitely a modern woman. It was a pleasure seeing them grow in personality, both individually and as a couple. They complement each other perfectly and also made for some very hot scenes. You may need a fan if you are a blusher!
The pace of the story was fast, often with no let up and the action scenes were exciting and well written. I was so engaged, I couldn’t put the book down and by the end I felt breathless. The teaser for book two at the end had me reaching for it and am very thankful I had it waiting!
A really interesting and exciting take on the Four Horsemen mythos and a series I can’t wait to read the rest of!
Rating: 
This isn’t a definitive list of what is being released this year, just books I am looking forwards to in particular. I have probably missed some and of course, there will always be authors that are new to me to be discovered. Let the reading begin… as they get released of course
January
Lothaire by Kresley Cole (Immortals After Dark #12)
Jacob by Jacquelyn Frank (The Nightwalkers #1)
Gideon by Jacquelyn Frank (The Nightwalkers #2)
Seven Princes by John R. Fultz (Books of the Shaper #1)
Unclean Spirits by M. L. N. Hanover (Black Sun’s Daughter #1)
The Duke is Mine by Eloisa James
Second Grave on the Left by Darynda Jones (Charley Davidson #2)
Copper Beach by Jayne Ann Krentz (Dark Legacy #1)
Heir of Night by Helen Lowe (Wall of Night #1)
No One Left to Tell by Karen Rose
Heir of Novron by Michael J. Sullivan (The Riyria Revelations)
Blue-Blooded Vamp by Jaye Wells (Sabina Kane #4)
Eternal Hunger by Laura Wright (Mark of the Vampire #1)
Eternal Kiss by Laura Wright (Mark of the Vampire #2)
It’s very hard to choose just one out of all the great books being released this month but my top pick for January is No One Left to Tell by Karen Rose.
February
Mass Effect: Deception by William C. Dietz
Darker Angels by M. L. N. Hanover (Black Sun’s Daughter #2)
Third Grave Dead Ahead by Darynda Jones (Charley Davidson #3)
A Walk in the Park by Jill Mansell
The Dread by Gail Z. Martin (Fallen Kings Cycle #2)
Eternal Captive by Laura Wright (Mark of the Vampire #3)
The Dread by Gail Z. Martin continues the Fallen Kings Cycle and is my top pick for February.
March
Bridge of Dreams by Anne Bishop (Ephemera #3)
Fair Game by Patricia Briggs (Alpha & Omega #3)
Recipe for Love by Katie Fforde
Elijah by Jacquelyn Frank (The Nightwalkers #3)
Damien by Jacquelyn Frank (The Nightwalkers #4)
Vicious Grace by M. L. N. Hanover (Black Sun’s Daughter #3)
Fated by Benedict Jacka (Alex Verus #1)
Infamous by Sherrilyn Kenyon (Chronicles of Nick #3)
Exogene by T. C. McCarthy (Subterrene War #2)
Lover Reborn by J. R. Ward (Black Dagger Brotherhood #10)
A Rising Thunder by David Weber (Honor Harrington)
March is a very tough month to choose a top pick from, with books out by several favourite authors. I am going to have to go with Lover Reborn by J. R. Ward since I love the Black Dagger Brotherhood and this is Tohr’s story!
April
Noah by Jacquelyn Frank (The Nightwalkers #5)
Killing Rites by M. L. N. Hanover (Black Sun’s Daughter #4)
Vengeance by Ian Irvine (The Tainted Realm #1)
Gathering of the Lost by Helen Lowe (Wall of Night #2)
The Love Letter by Fiona Walker
32 Fangs by David Wellington (Laura Caxton #5)
The Love Letter by Fiona Walker is my pick for April, her books never fail to amuse and entertain me.
May
The King’s Blood by Daniel Abraham (Dagger and the Coin #2)
Dragon Bound by Thea Harrison (Elder Races #1)
Born of Silence by Sherrilyn Kenyon (League #5)
Frostbite by Richelle Mead, Emma Vieceli and Leigh Dragoon (Vampire Academy Graphic Novel #2)
By May I will be jumping up and down with excitement with the release of Born Of Silence by Sherrilyn Kenyon, the next book in her brilliant League series!
June
Darkness Devours by Keri Arthur (Dark Angel #3)
Caliban’s War by James S. A. Corey (Expanse #2)
Blackout by Mira Grant (Newsflesh Trilogy #3)
Storm’s Heart by Thea Harrison (Elder Races #2)
Lethal Rider by Larissa Ione (Lords of Deliverance #3)
Cursed by Benedict Jacka (Alex Verus #2)
Messenger’s Angel by Heather Killough-Walden (Lost Angels #2)
The Golden Lily by Richelle Mead (Bloodlines #2)
A Night like This by Julia Quinn (Smythe-Smith Quartet #2)
Silver-Tongued Devil by Jaye Wells (Sabina Kane #5)
This is not getting any easier! June has so many books I am really excited about, but if my arm was twisted behind my back to choose (please don’t!) it would have to be Lethal Rider by Larissa Ione.
July
Thirteen by Kelley Armstrong (Women of the Otherworld #13)
July is a bit of an obvious one!
August
Time Untime by Sherrilyn Kenyon (Dark-Hunter #22)
Shadow Blizzard by Alexey Pehov (Chronicles of Siala #3)
Seawitch by Kat Richardson (Greywalker #7)
Kitty Steals the Show by Carrie Vaughn (Kitty Norville #10)
Kitty Steals the Show by Carrie Vaughn is my pick for August, I just love this series so much!
November
Death’s Angel by Heather Killough-Walden (Lost Angels #3)
This month speaks for itself
Nalini Singh is a new author to me, I picked this up on the fierce recommendation of two fellow bloggers (Looking at YOU Book Chick City and Literary Escapism)!
The Archangels and their brethren have lived for so long, that they have become inhuman, shedding their humanity millennia ago. The story revolves around The Cadre of Ten, Archangels that rule territories, and they are very different from each other, some so far removed from the world that they have become something else entirely. Elena Devereaux hunts rogue vampires; servants created by the angels who then try and cheat on their hundred years of service. The Guild Elena works for hunts them down and returns them to their owners.
I found the story a bit hard to get into at first. I liked the female protagonist Elena Devereaux well enough, and could easily empathise with her. Nalini made it easy to admire Elena, despite the horror in her past she didn’t give in to her father’s ultimatum to be a good girl and toe the line. I liked that Elena’s talents are natural and it costs her a great deal personally to use them in her Guild Hunter role, that personal sacrifice really added something to her character. I love that she was written as a snarky, sarcastic but likeable character with flaws that made her seem much more human.
The main problem I had at the start, was with Raphael, the Archangel of North America. He was detached, demanding, even a little cruel and he just didn’t gel with me.
Then I realised that was the point to his character, and was hooked. I credit Nalini Singh’s ability to create a character that isn’t instantly likeable but starts to sneak in to your heart anyway. But, it is risky, because had I not persevered, it could have put me off entirely. His interactions with Elena were often funny and very well written, her snark against his implacable logic and the heat that builds between them was seriously sexy.
The writing is crisp, clean and very easy to read and one facet that I really liked was that Singh didn’t try to explain why there were angels in the world. They have always been there, some very much in the public eye, so in her version of our world, it is a natural, if still wondrous thing.
I liked the plot a lot; seemingly simple but with several layers. One of the ruling Archangels with the Cadre of Ten has gone rogue, and they need Elena’s unique talents as a Guild Hunter to be able to track him. Of course it’s never that simple and Nalini Singh takes us through some pretty gritty and macabre scenes along with fierce action, and some truly heartrending moments.
By the end I was firmly in love with Singh’s world and her characters, and I can’t wait to read the next book in the series. I wholeheartedly pass on the recommendation that this is an author to love!
Rating:
I was a bit disappointed with Summer of Love which is unusual for me and a Katie Fforde novel since I usually ADORE them. It’s still a funny and sweet story but I felt it lacked Fforde’s usual sparkle. It’s by no means a bad book, I still read it in a day and would read it again, but it is not one of her best.
One of the things I find outstanding in her writing are the characterisations; they are loveable, believable and sometimes larger than life. In Summer of Love this is still the case but some of the reactions and interactions just missed the mark and I found some conversations a little confusing.
The plot itself while simple and sweet felt very close to a few other books I’ve read in the past which is perhaps why it didn’t feel quite right to me. ‘Girl meets boy, has only one day before he has to leave the country, mad romp ensues and has unexpected consequences. Forward five years to see where Girl is at now and ends up meeting Boy again, confused feelings, arguments then Happy Ending’. Usually that’s the kind of story I love, but it just seemed to lack the impact her books usually bring.
I did like the main characters however, Sian and Rory were funny and a great mum and son team. Fiona was just loveable and I think everyone would want her as a friend! James was a nice surprise and became much more than he first appeared. Gus had moments when he irritated me but on the whole he was just what Sian needed.
The character I didn’t like at all was Richard, he just didn’t really seem to have any impact whatsoever, except to give Sian a different option, and not really a very good one at that.
There were also a few typos which jerked me out of the story, and again this is very unusual for a Fforde book. If I had to describe how the book felt, I would simply say it felt rushed.
Definitely worth reading since it is a sweet story but not one of her best, I’m sad to say.
Rating:
Faith & Fidelity is a sweet, touching tale of two men finding unexpected love, dealing with what it means, and being able to accept it.
The two male lead characters are interesting and often funny individuals trying to cope with their own pain. NYPD Vice Detective Evan Cerelli is a man broken by his wife’s tragic death and trying to keep it together for the sake of his four children. Former Homicide Detective Matt Haight is a man tainted by doing the right thing as a cop, but having it thrown back at him, effectively ending his career.
I have to say this was not a title I would have sought out, but I was intrigued by a recommendation on a webcomic site I visit daily (thanks Unshelved!) and I’ve been wanting to broaden the genres I read.
The underlying message of the book is the thing that drew me in the most; that love doesn’t always lead you to an expected place, person or gender.
The two men are great – believable, lovable and I really cared about them and whether they could make it work. They have some great banter as well as affection and emotion, and I really felt for them every time they arrived at a confusing place in their relationship. Evan’s kids and their interactions with Matt were often hilarious and provided some really engaging moments. Friends, other family and partners provide the rest of the cast to make this a well rounded and heart-warming book.
The story itself is well written and the pace is a blend of fast lifestyle changes and slow periods of contemplation and understanding. The erotic scenes were extremely hot, but also tastefully written. I’m definitely looking forward to reading more by Tere Michaels, including the next two books in the series. Faith & Fidelity is highly recommended!
Note: I’m not sure if this is only the case in the Kindle version but there were odd errors and words inserted in the wrong place. It is a minor thing but thought it worth mentioning.
Rating:
Jane True is a young woman living in a small town, with a love for the sea that borders on the unnatural and a history she can’t seem to escape from. On one of her nightly swims, she finds a body and while trying to avoid even more unwanted attention, she lands right in a world she never thought could possibly exist.
Nicole Peeler is another author that is new to me and I kept putting off reading Tempest Rising in favour of authors I regularly read. I feel like smacking myself now having just finished the first book in the series because it is spectacular.
The characters and setting are so vividly written that it was very easy for me to see it all in my mind’s eye as I was reading. I couldn’t put the book down and devoured it in one sitting. It’s funny, entertaining, gripping and exciting with love scenes that are hot but don’t leap over the fence into gratuitousness.
The major character of Jane True is really well created and I absolutely loved her. I think I connected with her so much because I could see a little bit of myself in her. Obviously not the being half-human part, but her humour, blurting out comments without being brain filtered first and tripping at the worst time possible. I think perhaps a lot of people will feel that connection as keenly as I did!
The character of Ryu quickly grew on me too, blasting into Jane’s life like a hurricane but without the aggressive/possessive/misogynistic masculinity that seems very prevalent in the genre at the moment. I quite enjoy aggressive and possessive but I really find misogyny a bit of a turn off for me. Having a male character that is hot, charming and extremely personable was refreshing and I couldn’t help but like him.
Jane’s history is both poignant and sad. Integrating that history into the plot was very well done, and it was nice not to have it all laid out for you right away. The murder/mystery aspect isn’t exactly original but Nicole Peeler put her own slant on it and made it her own.
The pace of the book is a bit like the sea that Jane loves so much, it ebbs and flows but in a natural way. It never felt forced or dragged and the quiet reflective times were no less gripping than the action scenes.
All in all this is a book I wish I had read ages ago and goes firmly into my list of favourites. Nicole Peeler is a breath of fresh sea air to the genre!
Rating:
Rose’s story is told across six books in the Vampire Academy series. You can read all the reviews I’ve done for them before reading this one if you should so desire: Vampire Academy, Frostbite, Shadow Kiss, Blood Promise, Spirit Bound.
To say life is complicated for Rose Hathaway would be an understatement. She is imprisoned and awaiting trial for a murder she didn’t commit, her father insisting she will not face trial and inevitable execution. Abe seems to have something up his sleeve and all Rose’s friends seem to be in on it, but they are determined to keep her out of it. Once the plan is underway, she goes on the run with her ex-Strigoi ex-boyfriend Dimitri, and much to her surprise, Sydney the Alchemist. Firm instructions are given for Rose to stay safe and hidden until the others can figure out who framed her and why, but safe and hidden aren’t in Rose’s vocabulary, especially not when her loved ones are at risk. She has a plan of her own, one that could see Lissa’s royal family name restored. Now she just has to convince Dimitri to go along with it, convince herself that Adrian is the one she wants to be with and convince everyone else that she hasn’t gone completely off the rails. Simple really.
So here we are, on the last book to finish Rose’s story. In the Vampire Academy series, we’ve watched her grow in just a few short years, from a young and impetuous teenager into a formidable and fiercely loyal guardian with no qualms about her duty to Lissa. She’s known love, loss and rejection, she’s travelled the world to try and save the man she loves. While she wants to be Lissa’s guardian she knows with some of the choices she had to make to keep the people she loved safe, that she would be deemed unsuitable to guard a Princess of Lissa’s stature. Now she is on trial for a crime she is innocent of, but someone has gone a long way to make sure she will be found guilty.
Lissa has truly come into her own as a spirit user, being able to cure Strigoi and turn them back into their former selves. Something that was once thought impossible, but her love for Rose and affection for Dimitri gave her the strength to fight for them. Her confidence has increased with Christian’s love, the unwavering support of her friends and her shadow kissed bond with Rose, meaning the last of the Dragomir royal line is never really alone.
It’s been quite a journey and one I’m so glad I made. Right from the first book, Vampire Academy, Rose has been an outstanding character; funny, determined, loyal and fierce and she has fast become one of my favourite heroines. I love the fact that she isn’t perfect, she makes wrong choices, she gets confused by her hormones but she does her utmost to ultimately do the right thing. Those she loves mean everything to her and she would do anything for them, especially Lissa.
While the point of view is always from Rose’s perspective, that she can see through Lissa’s eyes because of the bond, is a unique way of letting the reader know what is going on with her. It works really well and as they spend a lot of time apart in this book but is essential you know what is happening back with Lissa, it was a clever way to achieve this.
The writing, as it has been all the way through the series, is consistently crisp, clean and easy to read. The characters have always been consistent, their personalities solid and very real.
The plot in Last Sacrifice is simply outstanding. I knew there would be a twist at the end but for the life of me, I didn’t see it coming. I even went back and re-read to see if I’d missed any clues but no, nothing. It was very well done.
The plot arc that connects all the books was also very good, often coming to full circles on a couple of issues. Again, I thought it a very nice touch.
When the real action kicks off in this last book, it doesn’t let up til the end, carrying you with it until it’s inevitable conclusion. That unseen twist, Lissa’s surprise and the last sacrifice pretty much finished me off and I had to break out the tissues. I can give no higher praise than that.
While Rose’s Story may have ended with Last Sacrifice, there will be more from Vampire Academy to come and I can’t wait to see who it will be about next. They will however have big shoes to fill to be comparable to Rose.
There is only one negative thing I have to say about Last Sacrifice and that is the Author’s note at the start. Just one line took away any mystique as to whether Rose would survive. I understand why the author’s note is there and for the most part, it’s appropriate, but maybe putting that part at the end with the acknowledgements would have been better.
That doesn’t stop it from being an incredibly engaging and exciting book, even so.
Rating:
Recent Comments