Book:

Author:             Jennifer Ashley 

Publisher:        Dorchester      

ISBN/ASIN:     9780843960051         

Rating:            4.5 stars

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In Ashley’s world, shifters do not live side by side harmoniously with humans. To humans, shifters are little more than animals and not much is known about them. In fact they are sequestered in “shiftertowns” on the fringes of society. They cannot own businesses, share the same restaurants as humans, or have cable. The government has done their utmost to ensure that shifters can’t have access to technology. And the worst of all, they are collared. The silver collars, magically enhanced by the Fae, are required.

When a human woman is found murdered, local police and government are quick to point the finger at shifters and its up to attorney Kim Fraser to prove that they are wrong. But more than that, she believes in the innocence of the accused. And in order to defend him appropriately she must embed herself in his shiftertown, to fact-find, provide an alibi, or a motive of another in order to exonerate him. She’s not going to be able to do this on her own and that’s where dishy Liam Morrissey enters the picture.

Liam Morrissey is devilishly likeable as a hero. Part Irish cavalier, part lethal shifter, and with his father as Master of Shiftertown, he enjoys a lot of power. But it doesn’t go to his head. Ashley has painted him as grounded, a family man, and caring of his community. Kim Fraser is steely, facing situations head on and analytically. The combination of her strong inquisitiveness butting heads with Liam’s leashed lethalness is sexy and mesmerizing. Especially when the trail of the killer leads all the way up the food chain to the clan leader of the Felines of South Texas. Liam must make a desperate choice to keep Kim safe. Ashley does very, very, well building up the relationship between Kim and Liam. It is believable, anticipatory, and yes smoldering.

The most significant thing about Pride Mates is that the romance and paranormal aspects are carefully balanced…one does not take away from the other. Ashley has made them work together very well. This is why I enjoyed it so much because it was so skillfully balanced. I adore thrilling and exciting reads, as well as smoking hot romance, and Jennifer Ashley has given it all to us in one sizzling read. I am so looking forward to reading the next in the series. Will Liam’s shifters be able to cast off their bonds? That could be in the future…

A Fiendishly Bookish Review

Author:          Kresley Cole

Publisher:      Simon & Schuster

ISBN:               9781416580959

Rating:         Four Stars

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In A Hunger Like No Other, Kresley Cole introduced us to the incomparable couple of Lachlain MacRieve and Emmaline Troy. In Pleasure of a Dark Prince, Cole continues the story with Garreth, another equally likeable and lick-a-licious Lykae who also happens to be Lachlain’s brother.

Pleasure of a Dark Prince seems more sumptuous in plot and visuals than previous novels, and Cole capitalizes on the innate banter that richly flows between the Valkyrie sisterhood, as well as the Lykae. You’ll catch yourself laughing…frequently. The texting between Regin and Lucia, as well as the infallible Nix-isms is infectious and always delivers. It was definitely an enjoyable read, with the overall impression that more work went into plotting of this book. The key is mining back to that original story, and fans obsession with the Lykae, which I will admit, I am just as guilty of, as any other.

This time, Cole’s arrow shoots true by continuing a story that remains on most readers and reviewers lists as their top favorite paranormal romance.  The attraction between Garreth and Lucia is scorching hot and Cole has outdone herself with the whoopee scenes. Really, really sizzling! The stakes are higher, with Cole also hinting at the impending Accession in the Lore, and hot on everyone’s heels. Action speeds up towards critical mass in Pleasure, but the characters have their own issues to deal with despite the impending cataclysm of warring supernatural factions.

Cole takes the reader back to the familiar territory of Val Hall in New Orleans, and the Lykae manse compound Kinevane in Scotland as Garreth tracks his Valkyrie/Skathian mate, Lucia the Archer. A new setting this time, Cole brings the characters to the wilds of the Amazon channeling some serious Dirk Pitt, William Race, and Lara Croft as Garreth and Lucia try to acquire the dieumort, an arrow that possesses the power to off a god.  Lucia is desperate for this weapon of power due to the fact that the god they are trying to off is…her own husband, Cruach, aka Crom Cruach, The Broken, Bloody One.

For readers just discovering Cole, I highly recommend reading A Hunger Like No Other and Wicked Deeds on a Winter’s Night just to familiarize themselves with the Immortals After Dark series as well as the schism between Valkyrie, Lykae, Vampire Horde as well as Lachlain and Emma’s story. Pleasure was a memorable, scrumptious read, that most likely I will read to tatters just like Hunger, especially since we have been left a Lore cliff-hanger of epic proportions. Greedily looking forward to what is revealed when Cole’s next installment, Demon from The Dark is released!

A Fiendishly Bookish Review

Book:         Wilderness (Silhouette Nocturne Bites)

Author:      Barbara J. Hancock

ISBN/ASIN: B001GFKJF4

Publisher:  eHarlequin

Ratings:     Three Stars

Sometimes it’s nice to pick up a small tasty bite of paranormal romance because it can be just as satisfying without all the heavy calories.  Let’s call it cleansing the palate. Part of my New Years resolution was to discover more category romances gems, and I’ve just recently discovered Silhouette Nocturne Bites, novella styled romance quickies.

Wilderness came highly recommended, and despite the shortness of the story and an uncomplicated plot, I found the draw of its two main characters extremely sensual and well thought out. Colin Masterson and Tess Haverty clearly have a tangible love connection when Tess rescues Colin while working for H.A.E.S (Humans Against the Exploitation of Supernaturals). Colin is the last of the Masterson line, the Alpha of his werewolf clan, and fighting for his clan’s survival in the wake of a decimating flu epidemic that exposes paranormal species all over the world. Now anyone exhibiting any paranormal traits are on the endangered species list as they are hunted down and destined to become government experiments. This is the world that Tess and Colin live in and through circumstance, find one another.

 For readers who might be turned off by extremely heavy world building and a surfeit of racy, steamy situations in other novels, Silhouette Nocturne Bites might prove very appealing, especially Wilderness. It’s satisfying ending, sensual and almost innocent pace end up being just the right size to savor. Highly enjoyable in a small package.

A Fiendishly Bookish Review

Book:          Leader of the Pack (Tales of an Urban Werewolf Series)

Author:       Karen MacInerney

ISBN:          0345496272

Publisher:   Ballantine Books

Rating:         Four Stars

One of the reasons why MacInerney's series is not "just another werewolf tale" is that it really has its own flavor. The main character, Sophie Garou hasn't grown up in a Pack. So the reader is not withered down immediately with all the hierarchical rule weaving that most authors strain to include at the very beginning of a series. And it's refreshing because the reader goes on the journey of discovery with the character.

So in addition to not growing up in a pack, Sophie's natural talent of shielding herself has enabled her live right under the noses of the Houston pack of werewolves for most of her natural life. This has come with its advantages and disadvantages. The disadvantage being that when she is finally discovered by a rogue packette, and a werewolf enforcer, she is thrust into a series of events that she won't be able to wiggle out of.

Leader of the Pack is the third in this urban werewolf series and usually in the third book there is a big payoff. In On the Prowl, readers were left off with wondering exactly who and what Mark was. Was he some type of demon or spirit? Perhaps both. Wondering if Tom Fenris and Sophie were ever going to make a love connection. Wondering if the mission she completed would get her out of owing any allegiance to the Houston pack. But while there were some resolutions, I expected just a tad more.

We see more development in Mark, Tom, Lindsey's and Heath's character and overall that makes them more interesting in relation to Sophie. And the introduction of Sophie's absent father who is now on trial by the Houston pack plunges her and her friends into new territory of pack politics and a battle for succession, which has a surprisingly satisfying ending.

Readers might be reminded by the Kitty Norville series by Carrie Vaughn with regard to pace and plot development. I'm a fan of MacInerney's and I'd say, let's up the ante just a bit. But Leader of the Pack doesn't disappoint and it was an incredibly good bubble bath read that I enjoyed. 

A Fiendishly Bookish Review