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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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Posted by Grete, on November 13th, 2009  As the genre of Paranormal Romance has evolved, one of its pioneers has been Sherrilyn Kenyon. She broke new ground with her Dark-Hunter series. It appealed to the many readers who were growing bored with the bodice rippers and outdated euphemisms for male genitalia that had saturated the romance market. That’s not so say it was bad fiction, just it had reached the point where something needed to change. I applaud the agents and publishers who took a chance on a new slant of an already established and huge genre.
So why should you read Sherrilyn Kenyon?
I am continually astounded by her ability to tell not only a great story, but by the worlds and supporting characters she creates with the different series. With each book, someone who might have been a minor character in a previous story becomes the focus. You learn their history and ride along with them as their present unfolds and you genuinely feel part of it. The characters are always compelling, interesting and flawed and it’s those three things that keep you reading and eager to pick up another of her novels.
The Dark-Hunter world is like a web with a different strand for each person but with one character in the middle who holds it all together. He appears in most of the Dark-Hunter books and finally had his own story told in Acheron which was outstanding.
While Sherrilyn is (thankfully!) a prolific writer, I’ve never felt she churns out the same material for the sake of it. I feel the love she has for her characters in every book and they are all emotional, very engaging and unique. How she keeps all the characters straight when they cross paths continually I’ll never know but it amazes me.
 Her male characters are hot, charismatic, dangerous, sensual but flawed and yes you’d expect that considering it is romance after all, but she also creates strong, determined and often ferocious women who you both love and can empathise with a great deal. The mix is explosive and very exciting and it’s the superb characterisations of both that bring them to life in your mind and utterly hook you.
So if you want books that you will absolutely fall in love with, you should read Sherrilyn Kenyon and my favourite series of all, the Dark-Hunters.
Posted by Grete, on October 27th, 2009  Life is anything but ordinary for Sophie Garou. Her mother is a psychic witch, her father who she’s never met, was a born werewolf. Being raised by her mother alone, for the first ten years of her life, they had to continually move as Sophie’s werewolf nature would cause her to go furry on a regular basis, not just tied to the moon but emotions too. Daycares and schools seem to frown on that for some reason. Having found a place in Austin, Texas without it’s own pack, they finally manage to set down roots and her mother perfects a recipe for a wolfsbane tea which suppresses the urge to change unless she wants to. Apart from the four equinoxes. Then she has no choice but to fur up and go wolf. With a job as an auditor, a hot lawyer boyfriend and a best friend, life should be good but her secret is something she is too scared to share. Things get very complicated as her boss and boyfriend both have plans for her on the coming equinox. When her mother is arrested for the murder of a local politician and the police not interested in looking for anyone beyond her, it’s up to Sophie to try and find who the real killer is. When she meets Tom, the golden haired and powerful born werewolf, her furry side hormones kick in to full. Yup, life is definitely anything but ordinary.
This is the first book I’ve read by Karen MacInerney and it’s a fun read. Nothing too deep, the story flows easily and engages you quickly. Often whimsical and funny, I couldn’t help but like the main character of Sophie. She’s brave and gutsy and the moments she starts wolfing out in inappropriate places just made me laugh. The chemistry between her and the mysterious Tom is well written and hot. In contrast when she is with her boyfriend Heath, while it’s good between them, you know there is something not quite right. Sophie’s best friend is funny too, acerbic and witty and willing to help solve the murder case and get her mother out of jail. Her mother is really the icing on the cake for the book. She’s scatty and loves her daughter, wants the best for her but her methods are usually a bit madcap and involve the use of attraction amulets or love potions. As a mix they work really well, their interactions are funny, well written and enjoyable.
The pace of the book is pretty good, and while the plot is fairly simple, it doesn’t really matter as the charm of story is the characters. There were a few plot devices that were actually pretty funny but it did jerk you out of the story to go hmmm… But it did keep me reading and entertained and by the end was relieved I have the second book on the shelf waiting.
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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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