Book Review of Return Of The Wolf (Eye Of The Storm Book 4) by Dianna Hardy

Book Title: Return of The Wolf (Eye Of The Storm #4)

Genre: Erotic Paranormal Romance

Pages: 251

Author: Dianna Hardy 

Date Published: 30 October 2014

Synopsis:

The fourth book in the dark paranormal fantasy series, Eye Of The Storm. 
The full moon has been and gone, beginning a new phase of greater surety for the wolves of Surrey and the mated four who lead them. Ryan's old pack from Wiltshire – a force to be reckoned with – have ensured their immediate safety from The Trident ... but what will they demand in return for their protection?

As Lydia and Lawrence heal old wounds, finding solace in each other, Ryan battles with his own past. He'd do anything to keep the pack he loves safe, but 'anything' might have consequences he never imagined.

Meanwhile, Selena's sole focus is in keeping herself intact as Gabriel relishes in breaking her. What will she have to become in order to survive?

And Sarah has some tough choices to make, all of which will test her beliefs and challenge her boundaries of what makes good, and what makes evil.

Written in British English. Contains scenes of explicit sex and violence that some readers may find disturbing.

Reading order:

1. Releasing The Wolf

2. Cry Of The Wolf

3. Heart Of The Wolf

4. Return Of The Wolf

5. TBA

6. TBA

(It is planned that the sixth book will be the last.)

Review:

Return Of The Wolf by Dianna Hardy
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This is the fourth book in the Eye Of The Storm Series. I loved it!

Lydia is a fantastic character. I have really liked her from the start. She is a strong and stubborn woman, who has now had her first change and has fully embraced her mates and her life as a werewolf. However, her life is still complicated by the Trident's. Ryan, in a desperate attempt to keep his three mates safe, calls on his old pack for assistance.

I have been eagerly awaiting the release of this book for months! I started this story and couldn't put it down. In fact, I read this in one sitting! The story continues from the end of the third book and is again told from various points of view. I have missed these wolves a lot!

In this story, we get to know Ryan and his past in more detail. There are secrets in his past that, once revealed, made me love him even more. I was intrigued with his druid background, and this made me wonder if this is why he was able to connect with Lydia in her dreams before they met. I also loved watching his and Taylor's growing attraction for each other blossom.
Lawrence is still quite reserved, but since his story was revealed in book 3, he has begun to be more at ease with his mates.
Sarah, meanwhile, is going through her own problems now that Amil has disappeared. I love the one scene outside of her house containing cats and Tridents, but I will not go into detail because of spoilers, which I try not to include in my reviews.
I did feel a bit sorry for Selena for being accidentally mated to Gabriel, the Trident leader. However, as the story progressed, I found myself feeling sorry for Gabriel instead. Their story is rather twisted and convoluted, and it had me cringing at times. Gabriel is evil, but Selena is very manipulative. Their relationship takes a decided twist near the end of the book, which has me wondering what's coming next!
The story has several twists and turns, not to mention shocking revelations, and is masterfully told. The sensual heat factor in the story is hot enough to start a fire, and the ending has left me wanting more! I cannot wait to read the next book as soon as possible!

Dianna Hardy is one of my favorite authors. I love her writing style, which is fast paced and fluid. Reading her books are a joy, and I will continue to read them for as long as she keeps writing them.

Due to the explicit sensual content and some bad language, I do not recommend this book for younger readers. However, I highly recommend this book (and series) if you love HOT erotic paranormal romances with sexy werewolves. - Lynn Worton

View all my reviews

       

Book Review of Dhampiri by L.M. Smith

Book Title: Dhampiri

Genre: Dark Urban Fantasy

Pages: 213

Author: L.M. Smith 

Date Published: 20 September 2011

Synopsis:

Colleen Patrick thought she was just going to the market one autumn day in 1872, when everything she knew about herself – and the world around her – abruptly changed. Living the American dream, she had been happy with her young, Irish husband on their small farm in Kentucky. Little did she know the town’s exotic gypsy family is actually a family of Vampires with big plans for her: plans that did not necessarily require her consent.

At just twenty-two years old, tragically removed from her life and thrust into an existence for which she was carefully selected, she is now a murderer, a widow, and an immortal.

As this epic tale unfolds Colleen is abruptly taken captive by a clan of Valkyries, demanding vengeance for a war which happened long before she was born, turning her world upside down once more. Now she must choose between the family she has grown to love and the delicate toddler who's life is in her hands.

Review:

Dhampiri by L.M. Smith
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I love stories about vampires, so downloaded this book. I really enjoyed it!

Colleen Patrick is a very likable character. She had immigrated to America with her husband, Ronin, from Ireland in 1870 and had settled in Lexington, Kentucky. In the autumn of 1872, her life takes a dramatic turn when she meets the Deussen's. Her life will never be the same again.

This is a book I have been wanting to read for a while. I have read other books by this author, so I was excited to begin this one.
I started to read this book and was quickly drawn into the tale. The story spans 120 years and finishes in 1992. There are several points of view, but the story is mostly told through the eyes of Colleen. I was a little confused as to the motives of the Duessen's, especially Anca and Dorian, and why they would pick Colleen to be one of the family. There did not seem to be a sexual element to this choice, but rather a servile one. But, I did wonder if Anca had feelings for Colleen because of something Dorian said. However, this was not explored by the author.

The story is certainly unique with regards to vampire life. The characters were quite interesting, but I would have loved to have seen more interaction within the family unit. Large segments of Colleen's life seemed to have been skipped over, so on occasion I felt a bit lost. But, as soon as the Valkyries were introduced, things got even more interesting. I liked Pandora. She seemed level headed and logical for a Valkyrie. They have been at war with the vampires for a long time, and have been slowly recovering from the last battle 200 years previously. The Valkyrie queen, known as "Mother", is one ticked off lady, with a grudge against the vampires. In my opinion, her need for revenge made her deranged. I loved the scene where Pandora and Colleen bargain for food and diapers for Ancira, Dorian's half human daughter. All of the scenes in the book were well described, and I could picture them with ease. The end of the book was a little bittersweet, but I was also left wondering whether Ancira/Jennifer really was Dorian's child or just an innocent victim of a kidnapping. I guess I will never know, unless the author has plans for a sequel.

L.M. Smith has written an intriguing dark urban fantasy that will stay with me for some time to come. I love her fast paced writing style, but felt the flow wasn't as smooth as it could have been. However, this is one of her earlier works, so it doesn't have the polish of her later works. She is one of my favourite authors, and I am looking forward to reading more of her books in the future.

Although there is no mention of sex or sexual situations, I do not recommend this book to younger readers due to some violence. However, I highly recommend this book if you love paranormal fiction, horror or urban fantasy. - Lynn Worton

View all my reviews

              

Book Review of Kiera's Quest: Sacrifices - BOOK TWO (Kiera's Quest Series 2) by Kristy Brown

Book Title: Kiera's Quest: Sacrifices (Kiera's Quest Series #2)

Genre: YA Fantasy

Pages: 89
Author: Kristy Brown

Date Published: 3 August 2012

Synopsis:

Book Two in the Tween Fantasy

After almost beating the villainous Witch Queen, Kiera’s triumph is tainted with sadness for the loss of Joe and Daz. When the handsome Prince Zakk asks Kiera to re-enter his world in order to save her friend, she does not hesitate. On their perilous journey Kiera realizes that she is there to save many lives. As she comes face to face with her evil nemesis once again, Kiera comes closer to finding out the truth to why she has been chosen. Will she succeed? Will this be the end to Kiera’s quest?

Review:

Sacrifices by Kristy Brown
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I received a complimentary copy of this book in return for an honest review.

This is the second book in a YA series for children aged 9 to 16. I really enjoyed it!

Kiera Matthews is a wonderful character. She is a typical young teen with hopes and dreams. I liked her very much. She is kind, caring and sensible. However, after meeting Zakk, a prince from Zantar, a parallel world, and battling the Witch Queen there, Kiera is now struggling to come to terms with the loss of her friends, Joe and Daz.

This is a fantastic continuation of the series. I loved visiting these characters again. I was hooked from the first page of the story. It is told through several character's points of view, which made it interesting. I did miss the old version of the evil Witch Queen, though; she didn't seem so intimidating in this story. Maybe it is because she had been severely hurt and damaged by Kiera in their battle. She did terrible things, don't get me wrong, but her personality seemed more subdued. However, that being said, there are plenty of twists and turns in the story which took me by surprise. The scenes are all well described and I felt like I was there, watching it unfold. I was saddened when Joe was kidnapped in the first book, and angry at the Witch Queen for torturing and brainwashing him in this one. But I was totally shocked at one major revelation that I certainly didn't see coming regarding Kiera, and it completely floored me! I found myself on a roller coaster of emotion and even shed a few tears throughout this book; there is deceit and betrayal mixed in with loyalty and love in this tale. Unfortunately, I reached the end of the book all too soon, and I could have screamed in frustration; I groaned instead! I felt like I had only just started to read the story when it finished. I know this book is aimed for younger readers and I am an adult, but I thoroughly enjoyed journeying between Earth and Zantar. I am now looking forward to continuing the series by reading Perceptions as soon as possible!

Kristy Brown has written a fast paced YA story that was entertaining and exciting. I loved her writing style, and the flow was wonderful.

I highly recommend this book to middle grade children who love action, adventure and fantasy. I also recommend this book to adults who love to read younger YA fantasy novels. - Lynn Worton

View all my reviews

               

Audio/Book Review of A Plunder of Souls (The Thieftaker Chronicles #3) by D.B. Jackson

Book Title: A Plunder of Souls (The Thieftaker Chronicles #3)

Genre: Historical Urban Fantasy

Pages: 336
Audio Run Time: 12 hrs and 59 mins
Author: D. B. Jackson

Date Published: 8 July 2014

Synopsis:

Boston, 1769: Ethan Kaille, a Boston thieftaker who uses his conjuring to catch criminals, has snared villains and defeated magic that would have daunted a lesser man. What starts out as a mysterious phenomenon that has local ministers confused becomes something far more serious.

A ruthless, extremely powerful conjurer seeks to wake the souls of the dead to wreak a terrible revenge on all who oppose him. Kaille’s minister friends have been helpless to stop crimes against their church. Graves have been desecrated in a bizarre, ritualistic way. Equally disturbing are reports of recently deceased citizens of Boston reappearing as grotesquely disfigured shades, seemingly having been disturbed from their eternal rest, and now frightening those who had been nearest to them in life. But most personally troubling to Kaille is a terrible waning of his ability to conjure. He knows all these are related...but how?
When Ethan discovers the source of this trouble, he realizes that his conjure powers and those of his friends will not be enough to stop a madman from becoming all-powerful. But somehow, using his wits, his powers, and every other resource he can muster, Ethan must thwart the monster’s terrible plan and restore the restless souls of the dead to the peace of the grave. Let the battle for souls begin in Plunder of Souls, the third, stand-alone novel in Jackson’s acclaimed Thieftaker series.

Review:

A Plunder of Souls by D.B. Jackson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is the third book in a fantastic historical urban fantasy. I loved it!

Ethan Kaille is an interesting character. He is a Thieftaker, a conjurer who uses his magic to track down thieves and the stolen items. I liked this eighteenth century gent. He has a very sharp mind, and is quite talented as a magical detective. He has a dark past, which gives him an air of mystery.

I downloaded this as an audio book, so I could listen to it while doing housework, or just before going to bed.
The tale was again narrated by Jonathan Davis, who brought the characters and story alive with his narration. I love his smooth tone and could listen to him speak for hours!

In this story, Ethan is hired by the minister of the local church to investigate a case of grave robbing, but what he stumbles across is even more sinister than just a few missing trinkets. Ethan finds himself facing even more danger than ever before. He will have to unite with fellow Conjurers and even his nemesis, Sephira Pryce, to outwit a deadly foe.

The story has several twists and turns, which kept me hooked from beginning to end. The descriptions of the characters and scenes brought Boston in 1769 to life; I could picture it quite clearly. The book is set about a year after the previous story. There is still tension between Britain and her colony, but Boston is struggling to deal with an outbreak of smallpox on top of the highly volatile political situation. There is plenty of action and danger in the story, but unfortunately, some of the scenes seemed to be slightly overly long and tended to drag. I did like the scene where Ethan joins forces with the other conjurers, but some of the plot leading up to that point felt a bit weaker than it should have done. I did feel a little disappointed that the villain didn't really make an appearance until two-thirds or more into the book, and, when he did appear, he hid behind the captured "souls" he had plundered. This made him seem more cowardly, rather than sinister than he should have been. This, however, did not affect my overall enjoyment in this story. I am now looking forward to reading/listening to the next book in the series as soon as it becomes available.

D.B. Jackson has written a fantastic historical urban fantasy. I love his writing style, which is fast paced and action packed. But, the story flow was not as fluid as his previous books, and the plot had a few holes that were a bit ambiguous. However, I would most definitely read more of this author's books in the future as I am fast becoming a huge fan.

There are a few scenes of a sensual nature, though not explicit, and scenes of cutting (for spell making) that may upset some readers. Therefore, I do not recommend this book for younger readers or those of a nervous disposition. However, I highly recommend this book if you love paranormal, urban fantasy, mystery, thriller or detective genres. - Lynn Worton

View all my reviews

               

Book Review of To Tame a Highland Earl (MacLean Highlander Novel Book 1) by Tarah Scott

Book Title: To Tame a Highland Earl (A MacLean Highlander Novel #1)

Genre: Historical Romance

Pages: 306
Author: Tarah Scott

Date Published: 14 May 2014

Synopsis:

A man torn between two worlds. Both need him… neither wants him.
Groomed for a life amongst the English aristocracy, Lord Erroll Rushton is unexpectedly thrust back into his father’s Scottish world when the Englishwoman he compromises refuses to marry him.
No gentleman breaks into a lady’s bedchamber...but then, no lady sleeps with a pistol under her pillow.
Miss Eve Crenshaw will marry for love or won’t marry at all. When London’s most notorious rakehell breaks into Eve’s bedroom in the dead of night and compromises her beyond repair, she plans a daring elopement that shocks even the earl.

Review:

To Tame a Highland Earl by Tarah Scott
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author in return for an honest review.

This is a fantastic historical romance. I loved it!

Lord Erroll Rushton is a wonderful character. I really liked him. He is a man used to getting his own way and is a bit of a ladies man. When his honour is called into question, he makes a rash decision to confront his accuser, but due to a case of mistaken identity, finds himself in an even bigger mess.

Eve Crenshaw is also a wonderful character. I really liked her. She is a stubborn woman who made a mistake as a young girl. Now older and wiser, she is determined to marry for love. When Lord Rushton mistakenly enters her room instead of her sister's, Eve is determined to extricate herself from the situation she finds herself in.

I hadn't read a historical romance in years, so when I was offered the chance, I took it as it made a nice change from the usual paranormal romances I normally read. I had forgotten how much I actually enjoy reading "bodice rippers". I used to read a lot of Barbara Cartland books as a teen, but once I found the paranormal romance genre, they fell to the wayside. Which is really sad, because I have now come to realise that I have missed reading these types of books.

This story hooked me from the first page. The characters were well thought out and they felt real. The bedroom scene in the beginning made me snicker, because I could picture it so clearly; it was quite comical in content. In fact I really loved the way the author described all the scenes as they unfolded; I could picture them so clearly and I felt like I was actually there. There is an amazingly daring kidnapping attempt, danger lurking around in horse drawn carriages and an all round smoldering romance that got my heart pumping! I must admit though, that I was not particularly enamored with Eve's younger sister, Grace, who came across as selfish and more than a little bit manipulative. She's definitely ambitious about securing herself an important position within Society. In a way, I pity the poor fool who either falls for her, or decides to marry her. Don't get me wrong, she does have a heart, but she is not exactly wearing it on her sleeve either. The story gets even more interesting when the characters arrive in Scotland and the Earl's home in Mull. There, we meet even more of Lord Rushton's family; they are certainly a lively bunch! I liked meeting Erroll's brother, Ash, as well as his mother, the Marchioness and his cousins. They are all wonderful characters too. This book has had me on a roller coaster ride of emotion. I was very sad when I reached the end of the story, because I really wanted to keep reading. However, since I have now renewed my love for historical romances, I will be on the look out for more books in this genre to read in the future.

Tarah Scott has written a wonderful historical romance novel. I loved her fast paced writing style and the flow was absolutely wonderful. I have another one of her books, not a historical romance but a paranormal one, sitting on my "want to read" list. I am going to have to add her historical romances onto there too! She has found a fan in me!

Due to scenes of a sexual nature that are a little on the explicit side, I do not recommend this book to readers under the age of 16. However, I highly recommend this book if you love historical romances with sexy men and stubborn/strong females. - Lynn Worton

View all my reviews

              

Audio book review -- Baby Proof by Emily Giffin

Now you have to agree this is a stunning cover.  Click on it to go to Amazon to get your copy....

About this book on Audio

AUDIOBOOK

Baby Proof

UNABRIDGED

• By Emily Giffin
• Narrated By Christine Marshall
• Length: 10 hrs and 47 mins
• Release Date: 07-23-10
3.7 (154 ratings)

Audiobook/B003X3HJVO/ref=a_search_c4_1_1_srTtl?qid=1413896872&sr=1-1

Here is more about the plot....

First comes love. Then comes marriage. Then comes...a baby carriage? Isn’t that what all women want? Not so for Claudia Parr. And just as she gives up on finding a man who feels the same way, she meets warm, wonderful Ben. Things seem too good to be true when they fall in love and agree to buck tradition with a satisfying, child-free marriage. Then the unexpected occurs: one of them has a change of heart.

Now here is my review.  

A 

 three puppy read.  

**** SPOILER ****

I listened to this on audio. If I had to read it I might have given up the moment Claudia decides that after 35 years of not wanting children, she would go ahead and have a baby or two as long as she can spend some time with her very irritating ex husband.

Now at 41 the one thing I have never wanted was a baby, the idea alone makes me shudder. I will not be a good mother. I know that, the fact that I don't want to be one adds fuel to that fire....

By 35 I have never changed my mind and by now, I still have not lived to regret my decision. Now do not misunderstand me..... I am not one of those woman who secretly yearns for a multiple orifice spewing little thing that I wish were mine if only.... as far as I know I am able to have a baby, I simply do not want to. So this protagonists desire to make a 360 degree turn and "offer" to bear children as long as she can have her man back.... that is so wrong.

So why did I keep listening. Cause audio makes for fun cleaning, cooking etc and not even Claudia acting like a 13 year old could keep me from what was other wise a good listen.

Click on the pic to go to audible for your copy.....

Audio/Book Review of Good Side of Sin (Save My Soul Book 3) by K.S. Haigwood

Book Title: Good Side of Sin (Save My Soul Book 3)

Genre: Paranormal Romance

Pages: 366
Audio Run Time: 12 Hrs 26 Mins

Author: K.S. Haigwood

Date Published: 22 November 2013 (Kindle)
17 September 2014 (Audio)

Synopsis:

Josselyn has just spent the last three months in intense Line of Defense training so she could join Malcolm’s search party. Little did she know the archangels had no intention of letting her bring back into Heaven an angel who had opened a portal between Heaven and Hell, at least not before saving God's creations from the tight grasp of Lucifer first.
Three months have passed since the angel Rhyan released nine repented demons from Hell, and now innocent people are dying, but their souls are not going to Heaven. Josselyn's mission is to find the demon responsible for stealing the souls and bring it to justice before Lucifer gains enough power to rise and claim Heaven and earth as his own.
Her whole world is shaken when she discovers what tool Lucifer is using to track down the one key to the release of his eternal damnation. Thoros is one half-souled immortal she prayed she would never see again. The ex-Prince of Lust had stolen her heart and crushed it with a cheeky smile. Now, not only is she being forced to put her damaged ego aside and face the only man that has ever hurt her, but she has to work with him in order to complete her assignment.
Is she strong enough to keep from falling in love with him again? Or is their love the only thing that can keep Lucifer from getting the one thing he wants most? Heaven.

Review:

Good Side of Sin by K.S. Haigwood
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This is the third book in the Save My Soul Series. I loved it!

I downloaded this book as an audio book, so that I could listen to it while doing household chores. This audio book was narrated by Pyper Down. I loved her narration; her vocal interpretations of the characters made them come alive. She did a fantastic job! Her voice was melodic and smooth, and I found myself drawn into the story more easily. I would definitely listen to more books narrated by her.

Josselyn is a wonderful character. I really liked her when I met her in Hell's Gate. Getting to know her better in this story has been a pleasure. Although she is an angel, she has an almost "take no prisoners" attitude that I like. Still trying to find Malcolm, Josselyn will have to team up with the last person she would want to. Thoros, the ex-Prince of Lust.

Thoros is also a wonderful character. Being a Prince of Hell, he intrigued me in Hell's Gate, because I wasn't quite sure what his motives were where Josselyn was concerned. However, as I got to know him better, I realised that, even though he was the Prince of Lust, he is really a nice guy. Now living on Earth with half a soul, his life has become a nightmare. Joining Josselyn's mission could either save him, or damn him forever.

I started listening to this story and was quickly hooked. The story is told through various characters' points of view, which made it interesting. In this story we are also introduced to Ethan. He is a courier for hire - mostly drugs and money. He is an ordinary human with an extraordinary destiny. I really liked meeting him. He is actually a very pivotal character in this tale and, as the story progressed, his importance becomes revealed. This story has several twists and turns that completely threw me. There is danger, adventure and romance throughout the book. I loved listening to the sparks fly between Josselyn and Thoros. I found myself giggling at Thoros's thoughts and confusion over his emotions about Josselyn. Yes, he was an ex-Prince of lust, but he has no idea what to do about the emotion of love. Watching him scramble with this emotion made me feel a bit sorry for him. However, his jealous streak shows itself when they visit Limbo and they meet Omega. Omega is a character I wasn't sure whether to like or not. He has a bit of an identity crisis and I couldn't make up my mind whether he was a Dr. Jekyll, or a Mr. Hyde personality type. However, things are not as they seem and the reason for the split personality is shocking when it comes to light.
As I said before, there are several twists, but I was totally surprised by the one scene at the end of the group's visit to Limbo. I certainly didn't see that one coming! I can understand why Isaiah did what he did, but his choice did make me feel sad. I reached the end of the story and it was a bit bittersweet for me; I was happy for the characters, but sad that the story had to end.

I don't know if there will be anymore books in the series, but if not, I have enjoyed the roller coaster ride this series has taken me on. However, if there are more books to come, I look forward to reading/listening to them in the immediate future.

K.S. Haigwood has written a wonderful paranormal romance. I love her fast paced writing style, and the flow of the story was wonderful. I am fast becoming a fan of hers, and am looking forward to reading more of her other paranormal series as soon as possible.

Due to scenes of violence and some explicit sexual scenes, I do not recommend this book to younger readers. However, I recommend this story if you love older YA or erotic paranormal romance genres. - Lynn Worton

View all my reviews

              

Book Review of Winter Queen (Fairy Queens Book 1) by Amber Argyle

Book Title: Winter Queen (Fairy Queens 1)

Genre: YA Dark Fantasy

Pages: 254

Author: Amber Argyle

Date Published: 19 June 2013

Synopsis:

~Becoming a winter queen will make Ilyenna as cold and cruel and deadly as winter itself, but it might be the only way to save her people from a war they have no hope of winning.~

Mortally wounded during a raid, seventeen-year-old Ilyenna is healed by winter fairies who present her with a seductive offer: become one of them and share their power over winter. But that power comes with a price. If she accepts, she will become a force of nature, lose her humanity, and abandon her family.

Unwilling to pay such a high price, Ilyenna is enslaved by one of the invaders, Darrien. While in captivity, she learns the attack wasn’t just a simple raid but part of a larger plot to overthrow her entire nation.

With the enemy stealing over the mountains and Darrien coming to take her to his bed, Ilyenna must decide whether to resurrect the power the fairies left behind. Doing so will allow her to defeat Darrien and the other invaders, but if she embraces winter, she will lose herself to that destroying power—forever.

Review:

Winter Queen by Amber Argyle
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author in return for an honest review.

This is the first book in a YA Dark Fantasy series. I loved it!

First off, I would like to say that I love the cover! I am not usually attracted to a book on just it's cover alone, but I think it totally suits the book completely.

Ilyenna is a wonderful character. She is the daughter of the Chief of the Shyle clan, and also their new clan mistress. I really liked her. She is only seventeen and is unsure about taking on such a responsible role, but I think she handles herself well. She also happens to be a stubborn and proud woman.

I love reading fantasy, so when the opportunity to read this book came up, I took it. I am glad I did, because I really enjoyed it!

This story is a wonderful mix of fairy tale and dark fantasy; I was quickly hooked from the first page. The descriptions of the people and scenes were quite vivid, and I loved the fairies (both the winter and the summer ones) and I loved meeting the Summer Queen, Leto too. I also loved Ilyenna’s brother, Bratton. He is both a pain in the neck to, and extremely protective of, Ilyenna; in fact a typical sibling. I also have a tiny crush on Rone, Bratton’s best friend from childhood. He is one of the nicest characters I have met between the pages of a book; he is an honourable and gentle man. Darrien, from the Tyran clan, on the other hand, is one of the meanest, foulest, sickest pieces of filth to grace a page (to put it mildly). However, his father is a close second behind him. Both of these characters managed to make me so mad, I was shouting at the Kindle!

The story is full of twists, turns and surprises, which kept me interested. Some of the story was a bit confusing at times, but I kept going and my confusion about some events cleared when they were resolved. However, I was in awe of how the Shyle clan reacted and behaved in the face of such barbarism at the hands of a megalomaniac. They are truly a warrior clan. They are definitely as strong as stone, and as supple as a sapling. It has been an honour to meet them.

Amber Argyle has written a wonderful dark fantasy. I love her fast paced writing style, and the flow of the story was wonderful. Although, there was what seemed to be a continuity inconsistency where the story seemed to jump from one scene into a completely different one near the end without explanation, which I found to be a bit jarring. However, this did not make me like the story less. I am now looking forward to reading this author’s other books as soon as possible.

Due to scenes of violence and abuse, I do not recommend this book to younger readers (under 15) or to people of a sensitive nature. However, I highly recommend this book if you love reading YA books with strong female characters or dark fantasy ones with a compelling tale. – Lynn Worton

View all my reviews

              

The WaAr featured authors for September 2014

Our first author...

By Julie Cassar

Wow, I love this series. Have since paragraph one of book one. The story of a girl who loves ice cream. Talks to fairies etc, has captured my imagination from book one. In this, the latest book I can however comment on how much the author has grown. It is incredible to see how a talented author works on their craft. Growing better with each book. This book has the most amazing flow. It starts of, almost never lets up on character growth or adventure and if you figured that now that the love interest is fulfilled the book will be without tension think again.

I loved this book and by now I love the authors brother. At the start of every book she thanks him basically for kicking her behind in action. With every dedication I feels as if I get to know him better. That has absolutely nothing to do with the story. Or does it? Cause in the story you find a brother and sister combo (actually two), and I am sure much of their interaction is based on the authors love of her brother and their mutual respect and admiration that shines through.

This book has fairies, a love story, dragons, romance, a family life and so so much more. I simply love the fact that these books have little to no teenage angst. Kind of hard to feel sorry for yourself when dragons want you dead. It has prophecies, wingless fairies…argh. Read it. You will thank me.

WaAr

This is not your normal YA book and certainly lends it self a lot toward the fantasy genre with a touch of the YA paranormal to boot.

The book is not a fast read due to the epic quality and the scope of the novel. It is however well worth the read.

Hey, it is free. Try this one for yourself and see.

WaAr

By Amber Argyle

An epic saga in scope this book is a brilliant debut novel.

I read a lot of children books. Even a lot of picture books for children and 99% of the time I walk away thinking...are kids getting dumber or are adults simply ill equipped to write s stimulating stuff for children.In this book I have my questions answered.

Here you have an interactive book - although on my first generation kindle the interaction part even when I put on my glasses did not work so well - that covers more than the simple basic island trip.

Papa Smith, our tour guide is a fun character

This is according to me a fun colorful children's book ideal for general knowledge building and sure not to put junior or dad to sleep.

An added bonus is that all proceeds goes towards cancer research!

Get your copy today!

WaAr

Book Review of Dragon Blues by Edie Ramer

Book Title: Dragon Blues

Genre: Erotic Paranormal Romance

Pages: 276

Author: Edie Ramer

Date Published: 15 February 2011

Synopsis:

Once a dragon...
Saxophone player Noah Long shifted from dragon to human 2500 years ago, but the dragon blood still coursing through his veins has kept him healthy and virile. Now his secret is out, and the man who discovered it will do anything to make Noah's blood his own. Noah's only ally is martial arts expert Lila Fox, who heats up the fire in his belly...and his heart.

Twice a killer...
Lila Fox's first kill was at age sixteen after her stepfather put her mother in a wheelchair. Fourteen years later, she kills another abuser to save a woman's life. When the man who wants Noah's blood kills her sister, she can't let the death go unanswered. She teams up with the strangely compelling Noah, and discovers he's not all man and has a few tricks of his own.

Review:

Dragon Blues by Edie Ramer
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is an interesting paranormal romance. I really enjoyed it.

Noah Long is an interesting character. He is a dragon, who has shape-shifted into human form to enable him to "fit in" with the human population. He has a deep appreciation of treasures and flashy items, but his greatest passion is music, Blues to be more precise. That is until he meets Lila Fox.

Lila Fox is also an interesting character. She is a strong, independent woman, who has not had a wonderful childhood. After (accidentally but on purpose) killing a man in self defense, she finds herself in Noah's store, but having to deal with more than she bargained for.

I downloaded this book when I first bought my Kindle back in 2012 as the synopsis intrigued me. I have read lots of stories where people shape-shift into dragons, and only one other book besides this one that has a dragon shift into human form to blend in. This story captured me from the first page. Unfortunately, about one third of the way in, I felt that the momentum of the story seemed to fizzle. It was as if the author was struggling to come up with something to tie certain scenes together. Other readers may disagree, because the book I downloaded was published in 2012 and, as this book was re-released in 2013, I don't know if my copy was updated with any changes. However, I persevered reading. The story picked up pace again and climaxed in an amazing fight scene near the end.

I am all for instant attraction, but insta-love after knowing someone for four days? I'm not so sure. Be that as it may, I loved the interaction between Noah and Lila, but most of the other characters seemed not as well developed as they could have been. I was also not happy with the villainous character of Carter Fromm. He didn't seem very convincing as a villain. He did have a huge ego and, although he had a crippling disease, I couldn't feel anything for him. I think that Carter Fromm got what he deserved in the end though.

Edie Ramer has written a paranormal romance that kept me entertained from beginning to end. Her writing style was fast paced, though the flow could have been better. I have not read any other books by this author, but I would definitely try her other books in the future.

Due to scenes of a sexual nature that are a little on the explicit side, I do not recommend this book to younger readers (under 16). However, I recommend this book if you love paranormal romances or stories with sexy dragons. - Lynn Worton

View all my reviews

            

Book Review of Her Avenging Angel (Her Angel Romance Series Book 7) by Felicity Heaton

Book Title: Her Avenging Angel (Her Angel Romance Series Book 7)

Genre: Erotic Paranormal Romance

Pages: 327

Author: Felicity Heaton

Date Published: 11 October 2014

Synopsis:

Once a proud angel of Heaven, Nevar is now a servant of Hell, bound to a new master—the King of Demons. Consumed by darkness and driven to seek revenge, he set in motion a series of events that awakened the Great Destroyer, a force that will bring about the apocalypse. Now, he is the creature’s master and the fate of our world rests in the hands of an angel with only darkness in his heart.

Lost in the mortal realm without any recollection of how she came to be there, Lysia is only aware that she has survived a great battle. When she stumbles into a demon bar, she finds more than a chance to discover what happened to her—she finds a dark and deadly angel warrior who stirs fire in her veins and awakens soul-searing passion she cannot deny.

With the mounting threat of the Great Destroyer, the forces of Heaven and Hell against him, and a band of dangerous angels intent on capturing Lysia on his heels, can Nevar protect the beautiful woman who is light to his darkness and find the strength to save the world?

Review:

Her Avenging Angel by Felicity Heaton
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This is the seventh book in Her Angel Romance series. I loved it!

Nevar is a wonderful character. I really didn't know him very well when he was first introduced in Her Demonic Angel as Erin's Guardian Angel, but I am now glad for the opportunity to get to know him better. Now more demon than angel and under servitude of The King of Demons, Asmodeus, Nevar is struggling to come to terms with his actions of awakening the Great Destroyer, as well as his addiction to Euphoria, a mixture of demon blood, demon poison and alcohol. When a mysterious woman walks into his life, Nevar finds he will move Heaven and Hell to keep her safe.

I have been eagerly awaiting the release of this book. This is the first series I started to read from this author, and the angels and demons in these stories have become my friends as the series has progressed. This book quickly captured my attention from the first page; I read this book in one sitting, because I couldn't put it down. Nevar felt a bit self-pitying to me in the beginning, and I wanted to shake him to get his head out of his you-know-what. I can understand him being angry at Asmodeus though, so I can totally see why he would want revenge. But revenge is best served cold, and Nevar is too hot headed and impulsive to truly think things through properly. Thus, his impetuous attack on Asmodeus at the end of Her Wicked Angel, which now sees him being made the master of the Great Destroyer.

This story is full of emotional ups and downs, as well as several twists and turns. The scenes and characters are well described and I felt like I was in the midst of the action and part of the group. I loved meeting Lysia. She is a character I felt great empathy for. She has not had an easy life. However, I was left wondering why someone would create a being that would destroy all three realms (Heaven, Earth and Hell)? If all life in these realms were destroyed, what would the Great Destroyer do or go next? Would she cease to exist too? Anyway, that's a discussion for another day - back to the book! There is a wonderfully described battle scene, which was epic in scale! I also loved the prison escape scene in Heaven; Asmodeus's first visit there was quite amusing too. The attraction between Nevar and Lysia is magnetic and hot. Their passion fairly set the pages on fire! I also loved meeting Erin and Veiron's young son, Dante, who has everyone wrapped around his little fingers; even his Grandfather - the Devil. I wonder if his story will be told one day?

This book is actually the end of the series, but there were some new characters that were introduced that will be starring in a new series, which I am now looking forward to reading.

Felicity Heaton is number one on my Favourite Authors List. I love her fast paced writing style - it is extremely fluid and flows beautifully! I am in awe of her talent to weave stories with characters that come alive on the page. I felt like I could bump into them whilst doing my shopping!

Due to the explicit scenes in the story, I do not recommend this book to younger readers under 17. However, I highly recommend this book (and series) if you love erotic paranormal romance or stories with sexy angels and/or demons! This story could be read as a standalone, but I would highly recommend that you read the other 6 books too, to get a fuller understanding of the complex relationships between the characters! - Lynn Worton

View all my reviews

          

Book Review of Incredible Dreams (A Time Travel Romance) by Sandra Edwards

Book Title: Incredible Dreams (A Time Travel Romance)

Genre: Time Travel Romance

Pages: 232

Author: Sandra Edwards

Date Published: 15 August 2010

Synopsis:

A modern-day ghost whisperer travels through time to save the life of a WWII fighter pilot and ends up jeopardizing her own existence.

Review:

Incredible Dreams by Sandra Edwards
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This was a very interesting time travel romance. I really enjoyed it! I downloaded this book when I first bought my Kindle, but had never managed to read it until now.

Isabelle (Izzy) Miller is a modern day ghost whisperer. She is a very likable character, who has been hired to clear an old, abandoned WWII Air Force base hanger of a ghost. I really liked this character. She has a steely inner strength and a determination to succeed.

This is a wonderful time travel romance that takes the reader on a wild ride. The story is told mostly through Izzy and Jack's point of view, but there are also a few other characters that have their say, which gives it an interesting twist. I started this book and was reminded of a British TV comedy series called "Goodnight Sweetheart", where a young man finds a tear in the fabric of time and it leads back into 1940's London. However, this story is slightly different as it is set in the US, the main character is female and this book is most definitely not a comedy. Izzy goes back in time to save the life of the pilot, Captain Jack Baker from a tragic accident. This story is full of twists and turns, as well as interesting characters. The romance between Izzy and Jack was sweet, but hot. I liked Jack too. He is full of charm and charisma. There is danger and excitement, as well as adventure in this really sweet story. This time travel romance was a refreshing change of pace from the normal paranormal romance books I read, and I found myself on an emotional roller coaster from beginning to end.

Time travel is a paradox; if you went back in time, would you become your own grandmother/father or some other relative? This is a question that has always intrigued me from when I first read H.G. Well's Time Machine. I am no scientist, but one wonders if there are people from the future travelling back to our time and beyond. Scary? Maybe, but it wouldn't surprise me.

Sandra Edwards has taken the concept of time travel and written a wonderful romance that was touching and sweet. I loved her fast paced writing style and the flow was wonderful.

Due to scenes of a sexual nature that, although not as explicit as some books I have read, are rather on the steamy side, I do not recommend this book to younger readers (under 16). I do, however, recommend this book if you love older YA, paranormal or time travel romances. - Lynn Worton

View all my reviews

            

Audio/Book Review of Thieves' Quarry (Thieftaker Chronicles #2) by D.B. Jackson

Book Title: Thieves' Quarry (Thieftaker Chronicles #2)

Genre: Historical Paranormal Fantasy

Pages: 317

Author: D.B. Jackson

Date Published: 2 July 2013

Synopsis:

Ethan Kaille isn’t the likeliest hero. A former sailor with a troubled past, Ethan is a thieftaker, using conjuring skills to hunt down those who steal from the good citizens of Boston. And while chasing down miscreants in 1768 makes his life a perilous one, the simmering political tensions between loyalists like himself and rabble-rousing revolutionaries like Samuel Adams and others of his ilk are perhaps even more dangerous to his health.

When one hundred sailors of King George III's Royal Navy are mysteriously killed on a ship in Boston Harbor, Ethan is thrust into dire peril. For he—and not Boston’s premier thieftaker, Sephira Pryce—is asked to find the truth behind their deaths. City Sheriff Edmund Greenleaf suspects conjuring was used in the dastardly crime, and even Pryce knows that Ethan is better equipped to contend with matters of what most of Boston considers dark arts. But even Ethan is daunted by magic powerful enough to fell so many in a single stroke. When he starts to investigate, he realizes that the mass murderer will stop at nothing to evade capture. And making his task more difficult is the British fleet's occupation of the city after the colonials' violent protests after the seizure of John Hancock's ship. Kaille will need all his own magic, street smarts, and a bit of luck to keep this Boston massacre from giving the hotheads of Colonial Boston an excuse for inciting a riot—or worse.

Review:

Thieves' Quarry by D.B. Jackson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This is the second book in a fantastic historical urban fantasy. I loved it!

Ethan Kaille is an interesting character. He is a Thieftaker, a conjurer who uses his magic to track down thieves and the stolen items. I liked this eighteenth century gent. He has a very sharp mind, and is quite talented as a magical detective. He has a dark past, which gives him an air of mystery.

I downloaded this as an audio book, so I could listen to it while doing housework, or just before going to bed.
The tale was again narrated by Jonathan Davis, who brought the characters and story alive with his narration. I could listen to his voice for hours! In fact, I did! I became so involved in the story that I didn't realise how much time had gone by!

The story took me on a journey into eighteenth century Boston. I am not a history buff, but I am interested in this period in America's early history. The author has woven a wonderful tale into this backdrop.

Ethan Kaille reminded me of Jim Butcher's Harry Dresden. However, Ethan is very much his own character and has his own quirks and way of doing things. He uses elemental magic - earth, wind, water, air and fire - for his spells. It has been a pleasure watching this character grow in confidence with his conjuring abilities, and trying new spells.

In this story, he is hired by the Customs office to investigate a mysterious mass murder on board a Royal Navy ship. The mystery of the deadly conjuring sees Ethan facing even more danger than ever before. Meanwhile, Sephira Pryce, Ethan's nemesis and fellow Thieftaker, is determined to get more clients by hiring her own conjurer.

The story has several twists and turns, which kept me hooked from beginning to end. The descriptions of the characters and scenes brought Boston in 1768 to life; I could picture it quite clearly. I did, however, feel that some of the scenes were a little too long and drawn out at times. However, that being said, there was plenty of action and danger with which to keep me interested and entertained. There was one scene in particular that upset me. Not because it was particularly gruesome or anything like that, but just because Ethan was rendered helpless and I wanted to rescue him. Silly, hey? The mystery of who was behind the deaths on the ship was a huge surprise; I never guessed who the culprit was, and was totally shocked when they were revealed. The end of the story has a twist that I didn't see coming, and has me looking forward to reading/listening to the next book in the series, A Plunder of Souls as soon as possible.

D.B. Jackson has written a fantastic historical urban fantasy. I loved his writing style, which was fast paced and action packed, and the story flowed wonderfully from beginning to end. I would most definitely read more of this author's books in the future.

There are a few scenes of a sensual nature, though not explicit, and scenes of cutting (for spell making) that may upset some readers. Therefore, I do not recommend this book for younger readers or those of a nervous disposition. However, I highly recommend this book if you love paranormal, urban fantasy, mystery, thriller or detective genres. - Lynn Worton

View all my reviews