REVIEW: Clockwork Princess by Cassandra Clare

Clockwork Princess by Cassandra Clare

Series: The Infernal Devices, #3

Publication Date: March 19th 2013

Publisher: Margaret K. McElderry Books

Hardcover, Collector's First Edition, 568 pages
Useful Info: Goodreads, Author's Website, Book Depository

Danger and betrayal, secrets and enchantment in the breathtaking conclusion to the Infernal Devices trilogy.

Tessa Gray should be happy - aren't all brides happy?
Yet as she prepares for her wedding, a net of shadows begins to tighten around the Shadowhunters of the London Institute.
A new demon appears, one linked by blood and secrecy to Mortmain, the man who plans to use his army of pitiless automatons, the Infernal Devices, to destroy the Shadowhunters. Mortmain needs only one last item to complete his plan. He needs Tessa. And Jem and Will, the boys who lay equal claim to Tessa's heart, will do anything to save her.

Clockwork Princess was one of my most anticipated releases of 2013 and not just for one reason... The previous book in the Infernal Devices series, Clockwork Prince, absolutely left me speechless, so naturally I couldn't wait to read how the story would finally wrap up. And what an ending did Clockwork Princess provide!

But let's take things from the beginning. To every reader that has read even a single book by Cassandra Clare, it's no news that this author knows how to grasp your attention and make you travel in fantastic worlds. And here, after having read and the final book in this prequel to the Mortal Instruments series, I just have to say that Infernal Devices is so much better than the MI and so much more mature. At least it felt that way and in any case I found myself enjoying Infernal Devices much more. And the thing I have enjoyed the most is the way the love triangle was written. Shocking, I know! I usually absolutely hate love triangles. But in Infernal Devices it was one of the best triangles I have ever read in a long time, maybe ever. In this story the triangle was there, centre to everything that happened throughout the whole story but at the same time it wasn't the sole focus of the story. It felt just natural, something that was absolutely essential for the narration and not just a trend.
And now that things have finally ended and I got my answer with whom Tessa finally ended up with and especially after that epilogue I can only say one thing: every reader will feel satisfied with how things wrapped up, at least in the romantic department. But I, felt that it was just too good to be true. That last 15 pages or so were so fitting to the story but they made me feel that I was reading a fairy tale with an ending that was too good for everyone. Yeah, one could say that I'm a bit torn towards that ending....

You see on a deeper level, I wanted for Clare to end her story the way she did. It was the best way for such a triangle to be solved. But still, no matter how fitting, no matter how I wanted it to end that way, I still felt that it was a bit unrealistic. As unrealistic after a moment felt for me the reactions of Tessa, Will and Jem. Who on earth is so civilised when such truths emerge? But that's a matter of preference. Because whether I liked the ending or not, it was written in such a way that I couldn't possibly not love it.

As far as the story is concerned, Clockwork Princess is the most action packed of all three novels in this series and that was to be expected. I loved every twist and turn of the plot and I literally devoured this book in a matter of hours. The best part for me? The genealogical tree at the end of the book. Silly I know to love such a detail from a great book but I can't help myself!I love those kind of details and I only wished that there were more characters' lineage there :)

All in all, Clockwork Princess was one of the best books I read by Cassandra Clare and even if I didn't agree 100% with the ending, I couldn't see how things could end otherwise. Any other ending would be a compromise to an outstanding series. All I can say now is that I can't wait for the new series Clare has in store and takes place after the MI.Something tells me that that series will be the best one yet!

REVIEW: Immortal Trust by Claire Ashgrove

Immortal Trust by Claire Ashgrove

Series:The Curse of the Templars, #3

Publication Date:March 26th 2013

Publisher:Tor Books

Mass Market Paperback, 464 pages
Useful Info: Goodreads, Author's Website, Book Depository

When archaeoloist Chloe Broussard acccepts the contract to lead a dig in Ornes, France, she has no idea she will uncover the Veil of Veronica. When she does, she discovers a danger far greater than the demons she's confronted since childhood. Azazel wants her, as well as the Veronica, and his chosen minion is her brother. Her hope lies with immortal Templar Knight Lucan. Her life depends on oaths she knows nothing about.

For countless centuries, Lucan of Seacourt has lived with the knowledge that his brother killed their family. Now, as Azazel's darkness eats away at his soul, old betrayal stirs suspicion. He trusts no one. Not even the seraph who can heal his dying spirit.

With the fate of the Almighty hanging in the balance, Lucan must find faith in something more terrifying than the dark lord's creations. He must learn to believe his heart.

Review first published at Book Lovers Inc

It's no secret that Claire Ashgrove's Curse of the Templars is among my favorite paranormal romance series currently. From the first book, Immortal Hope, I was fortunate enough to review until now, this series is just getting better book by book as well as more addictive :) Maybe because those books are about Templar Knights, whose myth I find very hard to resist, maybe because the writing style is simply amazing, but the bottom line is, that Claire Ashgrove has created a world that I just love to read about. Simple as that.

I mean, I really liked the first book. The second one was just as great but Immortal Trust was so good that I devoured it. And not only that but I didn't want it to end. I loved so much Chloe and Lucan's story that I didn't want for this book to reach its last page. Because who knows when the next book will be published? And Azazel is gaining more power book by book and I really need to see some of my favorite Knights find their Seraph and their salvation. See? Waiting for the next book to get published is plain torture!

Immortal Trust follows more or less the exact same pattern as the previous two books in the series but in this one I really loved both Chloe and Lucan as characters, more than I did the previous two couples. I really enjoyed how their romance developed and how believable Chloe was as a heroine, a quality that I found lacking a little bit both in Anne and definitely in Noelle. Chloe was as sceptical as any sane person would be when presented with the unbelievable without Noelle's stubbornness that made everything so difficult in the previous book. The only stubborn character in this book was Lucan, but still he was adorable.

One other reason I enjoyed so much Immortal Trust is Ashgrove's ability to describe beautiful places and artifacts in detail but in a way that she isn't tiring the reader. I had some problems with a few books recently, that delved into so much detail spoiling the whole narration. But Ashgrove's writing style is perfectly balanced, giving the reader the amount of detail and descriptions that are needed to imagine things and not lose your interest. And that is a balance not all authors can achieve so I really appreciate it when I find it.

All in all, The Curse of the Templars is among my favorite series at the moment and for a very good reason. The writing style is amazing, the world building unique and fresh and each story in this universe is just better than the previous was. And that says much when you're talking for a very good series of books to begin with. I just really hope that Immortal Trust won't be the last book published in this universe. There are so many things still left to be said!

* This title was provided for review from the author

REVIEW: Forbidden Magic by Cheyenne McCray

Forbidden Magic by Cheyenne McCray

Publication Date:November 29th 2005

Publisher:St. Martin's Press

Paperback, 440 pages

Useful Info: Goodreads, Author's Website, Book Depository

Cheyenne McCray's paranormal romances seduce with an award-winning combination of heat and fantasy. Now, she weaves the first tale in an enthralling new series sizzling with dark magic and dangerous desires. Prepare to be spellbound by Forbidden Magic...

D'Anu witch Silver Ashcroft knows she walks a perilous line by practicing gray magic. But it's the only way to protect herself from the evil that surrounds her. After the horrors she has witnessed, Silver thinks she is ready for anything...until the most intensely arousing being she has ever encountered swiftly--and sensuously--proves her wrong...

Hawk is a Tuatha D'Danann warrior--powerful beings descended from the Fae. And for him duty has always come before pleasure. Then, clad only in moonlight, Silver Ashcroft welcomes him to her city of San Francisco and makes his blood sing with a passion beyond compare. She is the embodiment of fantasies he never knew he had, but the terrifying reality of his mission lurks in every shadow...

Only the strongest will survive the upcoming battle, and the forces of darkness are more powerful than ever. Now, warrior and witch must trust in their hearts above all else--for to claim victory, they first must claim each other...

This review was first published at Book Lovers Inc

Forbidden Magic was an utter disappointment for me I'm afraid... I have seen the mixed reviews on Goodreads, but still I thought that I should give it a try. After all, the premise sounded more than intriguing and Cheyenne McCray is a big name out there.

So, I picked it up, only to be quite certain from the very first chapters that I wouldn't like it. I just had that feeling and I knew that no matter how hard I tried, I wouldn't be able to get into this book. And I'm sad to say, that my opinion of Forbidden Magic didn't change as I kept reading. Somewhere after the middle of the book I just started reading this on the fast forward. I just skipped the various and informative sex scenes and just read whatever grabbed my attention. As it is, I don't think I missed much...

The first thing I noticed were the incredibly cheesy names... I could maybe go with Hawk (the hero has wings...) and Silver (the heroine's hair are blond) but Moondust??? Please! But the cheese doesn't stop there... The problem with Forbidden Magic is that is far too cheesy and far too predictable for me to enjoy it... There's immediate lust and even if the sex part between Hawk and Silver arrives a little bit later than what I expected, Hawk's constant hard on as soon as he laid eyes on Silver and Silver's tightening womb caused every single time Hawk moved, irked me to no end... And since I'm talking about cheesy, I can hardly refrain myself from mentioning that incredible scene were Silver and Hawk perform the ritual to call more D' Danann warriors through a perfectly nice blowjob! Nothing more powerful than that guys!

Anyway, Forbidden Magic leans more on the erotica side with paranormal elements than a paranormal romance story. There's too much sex, a bit meaningless at times, and those scenes where Junga, one of the demons, has sex in various positions and with various partners were completely unnecessary. There were at least three scenes where that Junga chick explores the submissive side of her human body and why should I care?

The plot like I said is cheesy and predictable, the character development barely there and even though the writing style is good, I'm afraid it couldn't save the whole book for me.

All in all, Forbidden Magic has received so many mixed reviews for a reason. Sadly, I find myself with those reviewers that didn't like it although I think that it's more a matter of preference. For some people to love it, it must have some qualities that I failed to notice.

REVIEW: Firelight by Kristen Callihan

Firelight by Kristen Callihan

Series:Darkest London, #1

Publication Date: January 31st 2012

Publisher:Forever

Mass Market Paperback, 372 pages

Useful Info: Goodreads, Author's Website, Book Depository

Once the flames are ignited . . .

Miranda Ellis is a woman tormented. Plagued since birth by a strange and powerful gift, she has spent her entire life struggling to control her exceptional abilities. Yet one innocent but irreversible mistake has left her family's fortune decimated and forced her to wed London's most nefarious nobleman.

They will burn for eternity . . .

Lord Benjamin Archer is no ordinary man. Doomed to hide his disfigured face behind masks, Archer knows it's selfish to take Miranda as his bride. Yet he can't help being drawn to the flame-haired beauty whose touch sparks a passion he hasn't felt in a lifetime. When Archer is accused of a series of gruesome murders, he gives in to the beastly nature he has fought so hard to hide from the world. But the curse that haunts him cannot be denied. Now, to save his soul, Miranda will enter a world of dark magic and darker intrigue. For only she can see the man hiding behind the mask.

I picked up Firelight, having more than high expectations from this book. Many trusted friends and reviewers loved it, so I started reading it feeling certain that I would fall in love with it. And once more, having high expectations from a book, did more harm than good to a book... Because I may enjoyed reading Firelight, but I didn't exactly fall in love with it...

First of all, I have to say that the way Kristen Callihan wove into her historical setting some paranormal elements, was my favorite part of the book. I love historical romances as well as paranormal ones, so having both those elements in a single book was perfect for me. And what was even better, is the fact that Callihan actually managed to pull of the coexistence of those elements in a spectacular way. And Callihan proved how good an author she is not only by that fact, but from the way she presented and developed her characters as well as from her intricate world building. So as far as the writing style is concerned, I loved pretty much everything.

Where my main problem with Firelight was though, is the romantic department. I'm not a big fan of instant love especially in adult novels. So, I just couldn't understand how Miranda especially, fell so quickly and so deeply in love with Archer. I could see why Archer was intrigued by Miranda and set his eyes on her, but I didn't expect that Miranda would so easily love him and be prepared to do everything for him. One would expect that a woman forced to marry someone would look him in a more suspicious way than Miranda did. As things were, Archer only had to talk about a couple of interesting topics and voila, he had Miranda's everlasting affections.

So, since I couldn't come to terms with the way Miranda and Archer's love bloomed, it is only natural that I cared little about how their love developed. Surely, I wanted them to have their HEA, but I wasn't dying to see them get to it. I just kind of read their story, not really investing in their emotions. Maybe this is a little harsh judgement, but again, I had so high expectations, that I just wanted something more. Because the potential was all there.

Apart from the romantic department, I liked pretty much everything else about Firelight. The writing style as well as the plot and character development were incredible, even though there were some details about the world building that I would like to be more explored. But that's what future books are for :)

All in all, Firelight is a great book, one that HR lovers out there should definitely read, but I personally think it could have been so much better. All the potential is right there.

REVIEW: Immortal Surrender by Claire Ashgrove

Immortal Surrender by Claire Ashgrove

Series:The Curse of the Templars, #2

Publication Date:September 25th 2012

Publisher:Tor Books

Mass Market Paperback, 448 pages

Useful Info: Goodreads, Author's Website, Book Depository

Farran de Clare, loyal member of the cursed Knights Templar, wants nothing to do with predestined mates. Even the Almighty won’t turn him into a fool again—he’d rather sacrifice his soul. Yet in the scientist Noelle Keane, a devout atheist, Farran meets the seraph designed for him.

Ordered by the archangel Gabriel to protect Noelle, the possessor of a sacred relic that could give Azazel incredible power, Farran swears to do his duty—but in name only. Fighting an attraction that grows with each day, he’s determined that he’ll never pledge himself to her.

As they war over her future, their mutual passion ignites a conflict far more damning. But before Noelle will agree to eternity with him, she demands the ultimate sacrifice – his heart.

Review first published at Book Lovers Inc

Immortal Surrender is as good as Immortal Hope was and then some! Claire Ashgrove does an amazing job on her paranormal series about hot Templar Knights!

I remember saying in my previous review on Immortal Hope, that Templar Knights always fascinated me. So The Curse of Templars series starts for me with a huge advantage over similar paranormal romance series that feature vampires or werewolves or any other paranormal creature. That particular myth is among my favorites and most intriguing. So, thumbs up to Claire Ashgrove for creating such a fresh and unique universe and story. I really needed that amongst the overuse of all the other paranormal elements.

I enjoyed reading Immortal Surrender, even more than I did the first book in the series, even if I didn't fall in love with Farran as much as I did with Merrick :) Farran was as alpha as one could hope, but he overdid it with his surliness and in more than one cases I hoped he would stop living in the past and do what he can with his present. So, Merrick was a far more preferable main hero for my taste I'm afraid... Not that I didn't like Farran at all, it's just that after a certain point I was tired seeing him acting the way he did towards Noelle and I couldn't help but think that he did so just because he was still in love with his first wife Brighid (who had died more than 500 years ago...).

Noelle on the other hand, was just the perfect leading lady. Smart, independent, full of insecurities and ready to sacrifice herself to save Farran. A damsel in distress that actually saved the guy of the story in more than one ways and at last someone who actually stops to think and not believe immediately every paranormal story she hears. I mean, I'm tired of characters just taking for granted every irrational story they hear. Yeah, it might be the truth, but when you're raised believing certain things you can't just assume that what you hear is the truth and not the product of some mental illness... Noelle in that department won me over and her character in overall was believable.

The romance between them was scorching hot, despite Farran's back and forths. There was unmistakable attraction between them and like in the first novel, Ashgrove did a splendid job with building some sexual tension and not throwing her characters in bed from the first chapters.

The story is action packed, with maybe a few less action scenes than Immortal Hope had, but they were far better and more powerful. The scene of the final battle was simply incredible. The pace is even, not boring for a single moment, even when nothing crucial happens.

And last but not least, one of my favorite things about Claire Ashgrove's writing is the way she develops her characters, both main and secondary ones. Everyone has a certain role in her world and the way she develops her characters sets the motions for the next books in the series.

All in all, I absolutely loved Immortal Surrender and I can't wait to get the next book in my hands. If you love paranormal romance, just give this series a chance. It won't disappoint you.

REVIEW: Demon Hunting in the Deep South by Lexi George

Demon Hunting in the Deep South by Lexi George

Series:Demon Hunting, #2

Publication Date:July 31st 2012

Publisher:Kensington

Paperback, 336 pages

Useful Info: Goodreads, Author's Website, Book Depository

The warrior and the wallflower . . .

Shy, self-conscious Evie Douglass tries to stay under the radar, especially when her nemesis Meredith Peterson, aka The Death Starr, is anywhere around. Meredith and her bitch posse of skinny girlfriends have tormented Evie since the seventh grade, calling her names like The Whale and Thunder Thighs.

Evie tries to stay invisible, but that’s not an easy thing for a plus-sized gal to do in a small town like Hannah, Alabama. She finds it doubly hard to avoid Meredith’s wrath once she takes a job at the lumber mill. You see, Meredith’s husband is Evie’s new boss. Translation: more torture time for The Death Starr.
Evie thinks things couldn’t get much worse until the morning she finds Meredith’s bloody body sprawled across her desk. Typical Meredith, she gets herself dead mere days after a very public scene in which Meredith accuses Evie of having an affair with her husband. Worse, the murder weapon is found in Evie’s car.

Suddenly, Evie is the Number One suspect in a sensational murder case. But she’s got bigger problems. Hannah is infested with demons—soul sucking, body snatching creatures of evil—and, for some reason, they want Evie. The only thing standing between Evie and death or possible possession is a hunky blond demon slayer named Ansgar.

Ansgar is a Dalvahni warrior, a supernaturally gorgeous race whose sole purpose is to hunt down and capture rogue demons.

Evie could almost swear that Ansgar is interested in more than demons. He seems interested in her. Ridiculous, of course, because he’s sex on two legs and she’s…

Well, she’s Whaley Douglass.

To add to Evie’s troubles, Meredith doesn’t even have the decency to stay dead. She shows back up as a ghost and she’s more of a beyotch than ever. Meredith has deathnesia—she can’t remember who killed her—leaving Evie to solve the mystery herself, or go to jail for a murder she didn’t commit.

Review first published at Book Lovers Inc

Demon Hunting in the Deep South is one of those books I find it extremely hard to review from time to time. For different reasons in most cases, but difficult nonetheless. And it's so hard for my to rate and review this one because even though I knew that it was part of a series, I was under the impression that it could be read as a stand alone just as well. But that, was a mistake.

Let me explain. Demon Hunting in the Deep South, has a different set of characters from the first book in the Demon Hunting series BUT the same characters that are now the main couple, had a rather extended presence in the first book of the series, Demon Hunting in Dixie. And when I say extended, I mean that they had so much history, that I couldn't possibly keep up with their story. There were so many things that tied Evie and Ansgar together, so many things that happened between them in the first book that no matter how many explanations the author gave me, I always felt that there were some pieces missing.

And that feeling of loss extends to the world building and plot as well. Lexi George does an amazing job with the complexity of her world but not everything is explained in detail. Or in enough detail to be able to grasp exactly how everything works. Granted, some things are explained but there are many that are not making it difficult for me not only to understand how the world ticks but to evaluate the author's ability to present her world to her readers. I simply don't know if things are left unexplained or were explained in the first book.

For example, in Demon Hunting in the Deep South you will meet a diversity of paranormal creatures: demons, fairies, ghosts and lots of magic. There are so many different paranormal elements but they don't form a solid world I'm afraid... I can't see any connection between them. They are just thrown in the story, without so much of an explanation or reason for existence. Nothing. And as I said, I don't know if those explanations I was seeking were given on the first book of the series, or not at all. SO, you see my problem in making my mind about the world building and the writing style...

Apart from that, there's one thing I immensely enjoyed about this book though: the sarcastic tone and humour of the author. Lexi George simply has a voice that stands out and knows how to write a villain who you love to hate. And that is Meredith. She may not be the main villain but she's definitely not angel material. But I loved her to pieces even when she was a total bitch. Especially when she was one :)

As far as Evie and Ansgar are concerned, there where things I liked and disliked in both of them. In Evie I liked how she developed throughout the novel and how loyal she was, but she was far too shy for my taste and honestly, the part where she gets arrested and her main concern is that she's commando, made me roll my eyes more than once.

Ansgar on the other hand, is your typical, drool-worthy alpha male, which is always a plus, I loved his brutality and how he fought his feelings for Evie, but I thought that he approached her far too easily and quickly for a man that did everything he could for Evie to forget all about him. He kind of contradicted himself.

The sex scenes, were fairly good written and sexy and you could see the chemistry between Evie and Ansgar, but again due to their history form the first book, the make out scenes came far too quickly before I could connect with the characters, and that is something I don't usually like. That, and reading sentences like "touche me there" or "touch her houhah" in the middle of a sexy scene that completely turned me off.

All in all, Demon Hunting in the Deep South is a book I had some problems with, problems that I wouldn't probably have if I had read the first book in the series. As it is, my review and rating is based solely without any previous knowledge to Lexi George's world and I really want you to take that into consideration. To fans of this series, Demon Hunting in the Deep South is a must. To the rest, take my advice and read those books in order. Lexi George's sense of humour is worth it! That, and I want you to meet Meredith :P

REVIEW: Once Burned by Jeaniene Frost

Once Burned by Jeaniene Frost

Series:Night Prince, #1

Publication Date:June 26th 2012

Publisher:Avon

Mass Market Paperback, 346 pages

Useful Info: Goodreads, Author's Website, Book Depository

She's a mortal with dark powers...

After a tragic accident scarred her body and destroyed her dreams, Leila never imagined that the worst was still to come: terrifying powers that let her channel electricity and learn a person's darkest secrets through a single touch. Leila is doomed to a life of solitude...until creatures of the night kidnap her, forcing her to reach out with a telepathic distress call to the world's most infamous vampire...

He's the Prince of Night...

Vlad Tepesh inspired the greatest vampire legend of all—but whatever you do, don't call him Dracula. Vlad's ability to control fire makes him one of the most feared vampires in existence, but his enemies have found a new weapon against him—a beautiful mortal with powers to match his own. When Vlad and Leila meet, however, passion ignites between them, threatening to consume them both. It will take everything that they are to stop an enemy intent on bringing them down in flames.

Review first published at Book Lovers Inc

Jeaniene Frost is back! And with a novel I highly anticipated from the moment I read that Vlad would finally get not only one book but his own series of books! Once Burned, is here folks, and it's mind-blowingly amazing!

Vlad is HOT! Shock news here, I know, but I can't stress that enough. From the first moment his character was introduced in the Night Huntress books, it was love at first sight, kind of like my feelings towards Bones :) Well, I might be sentimental and Bones will always be first in my heart but Vlad is equally hot and sensual in ways Bones never "explored". His possessiveness, his arrogance, his natural sexiness, all that makes Vlad an alpha male of his own league! Do I need to gush a little more over how much I love Vlad or do you get the picture?

Leila was a nice character, strong and her power, well, I wasn't really expecting that. But coming to think about it Leila was the perfect match for Vlad with her ability to electrocute everyone except for him. Their chemistry was sizzling hot! The scene where Leila gets a flash of the future with Vlad "working" on the lower half of her body and their reaction to the vision afterwards was delightful! After all, it's no news that Jeaniene Frost knows how to pull off sexy scenes.

The plot is standard Jeaniene Frost book plot. Nothing extraordinary but at the same time I just found myself unable to put the book down. Which is common for me for all the books of this author. And a thing I really appreciated is that when things went south, Cat and Bones didn't make their appearance to save the day like in First Drop of Crimson for instance. Not that I would have minded, but I appreciated how Vlad took care things himself, not relying on anyone else. After all, I wasn't expecting anything less of him :)

Granted, Cat, Bones, Mencheres and Kira made their appearance but it was a short one, just to add a couple of funny notes in the narration. The scene where Bones teaches Leila how to bloke her mind was precious!

The thing I really loved, well, apart from all that sexiness, was how Frost worked on Vlad's history and background, presenting something fresh with a villain that has nothing to do with the previous books set in the same universe and I seriously hope that more than two books will eventually be written about Vlad. What can I say, I just can't get enough of him.

All in all, Once Burned was everything that I had hoped it will be, introducing a heroine I enjoyed reading about and preparing the ground for at least one more great book. Highly recommend it!

REVIEW: Nightfall (Dark Age Dawning,#1) by Ellen Connor

Nightfall by Ellen Connor

Publication Date:June 6th 2011

Publisher:Berkley Trade

Paperback, 327 pages

Buy via Book Depository

First in a stunning new post-apocalyptic paranormal romance trilogy.

Growing up with an unstable, often absent father who preached about the end of the world, Jenna never thought in her wildest nightmares that his predictions would come true. Or that he would have a plan in place to save her-one that includes the strong, stoic man who kidnaps and takes her to a remote cabin in the Pacific Northwest.

The mysterious ex-Marine named Mason owes a life-debt to Jenna's father. Skilled and steadfast, he's ready for the prophesied Change, but Jenna proves tough to convince. Until the power grid collapses and mutant dogs attack-vicious things that reek of nature gone wrong.

When five strangers appear, desperate to escape the bloodthirsty packs, Jenna defies her protector and rescues them. As technology fails and the old world falls away, Jenna changes too, forever altered by supernatural forces. To fight for their future, she and Mason must learn to trust their instinctive passion-a flame that will see them through the bitter winter, the endless nights, and the violence of a new Dark Age.

Review posted at Book Lovers Inc

Nightfall is a perfect example of how a dystopian pnr novel should be written. I mean both Aguirre and Loft (aka Ellen Connor) have done a splendid job in writing and delivering a world where all hell has broken loose but still people manage to survive and create something new in the ashes of a damaged world.

The world both writers created is dark and wonderful, full of blood and magic and love. The writing style is plainly amazing and to be honest, after reading Enclave by Ann Aguirre I didn't expect anything less. The world portrayed in Nightfall is simply amazing. I loved how a group of so different people struggled to survive and make the best they could given the circumstances.

But despite how much well written is Nightfall, I struggled a bit to finish it. The pacing was somehow uneven, with little things happening in the beginning, then things picked up a bit, slowed down again and finally picked up once more at the end. There were moments that I couldn't really focus in the story.
The romance, although hot at times, also left me a bit uninterested. I couldn't see a spark between the heroes and although I liked them together, they didn't really work for me as a couple. I couldn't understand their reservations and their back and forths at times. Honestly, I just enjoyed more some of the secondary characters rather than the main, my feelings towards whom are a bit indifferent. I just couldn't really care about them, whereas I really enjoyed Tru and I found Penelope a really intriguing character what with her withdrawal and her strange way of acting. Needless to say, I just can't wait to read their story in the third book of the series.


All in all, Nightfall is a really well written novel, that promises the start of an exciting dystopian series and even though I wasn't really thrilled with it, I will definitely read the next books in the same universe. After all, I really want to understand how that universe operates!

REVIEW: Shadowlander (Shadow Sisters,#1) by Theresa Meyers

Shadowlander by Theresa Meyers

Publication Date:November 1st 2011

Publisher:Entangled Publishing

e-book

Four sisters, three rules to live by, one big problem.

O'Connell Family Rule #1: Don't let the Fae know you see them.
O'Connell Family Rule #2: Don't talk to the Fae.
O'Connell Family Rule #3: Never, ever follow them.

Most people only believe what they can see. Gifted with the ability to see the deep, dark fae of Shadowland, Catherine Rowan Mary O'Connell would prefer not to. When the fae abduct her friend Maya, Cate breaks the sacred O'Connell Family Rules and sets a trap for the handsome fae who haunts her every step.

Rook, High Court Advisor to the Shadow King, has been following Cate since she was sixteen. When Cate reveals herself as one of the fabled "Seers", Rook is stunned—she is one of the few that can permanently open the gates between their worlds. If he turns her over to the Shadow King, his court will rule the human realm.

Cate knows she has precious little time to find Maya. By midnight, the glamour of Mid-Summer's Eve will fade, leaving her trapped forever in the Shadowland, but Maya's abductor won't give up the woman he's mesmerized easily.

The midnight hour is almost at hand. Cate must choose: her freedom or her destiny.

I was dying to read Shadowlander ever since I read that amazing premise. It kind of sounded like Fever series meets Wicked Lovely to me and to be honest I was just desperate to find my next great UF series with fae, so when I picked this novella up, I was just certain that it would be great. Only to be hugely disappointed once more...

I'm not a big fan of novellas and that is why I try to avoid them usually. I simply think that there's not enough "room" in a novella to develop enough your characters or your plot. Well, one might contradict that there are 500 pages books that seriously lack in both those aspects development, but ok, you get what I mean...

Shadowlander was just a quick read, heavy on the romance department but aside from that a read that I won't remember for long and to sum it up in a sentence: A book that I shouldn't have bothered reading.

It may have been a really quick read as I said and although the story was something I would usually enjoy I just didn't care about the characters or the story whatsoever. I found Rook creepy what with him following a girl for 16 years and Cate a bit "lukewarm" and acting in a stupid way in some cases.

The story was progressing really, really quickly that I couldn't possibly invest or care about the characters and maybe that is something to be expected by a novella but that can't change my feelings I'm afraid. The book starts with Cate having lunch with her best friend, a best friend who is acting nothing like a friend I must add, who is later kidnapped by a fae and Cate rushes to her rescue. Don't get me wrong but from the little I got to know about that best friend I got the feeling that she was a self centered person and where was the need for our heroine to jeopardise everything, her family most importantly to save her from a fate she didn't even know how bad it was? I don't know, I just couldn't get Cate's sacrifice. The next major let down was when she formed a kind of a plan to save that friend, exposed herself to that creepy fae that has been stalking her for 16 years and from one minute to next she's madly attracted to him and talking about "recharging" sex (think of sex as a form of battery for the energy sources of a fae). Just couldn't go along with it for some reason.

Anyway, there were a couple more things that made me roll my eyes while reading this novella but bottom line is, that although the premise indicates a story more than intriguing, the execution of the story spoiled things for me. Maybe I shouldn't be expecting more, cause this is a novella after all, but truthfully I don't really think that's the case. The thing is that for this to be a good story there were lots and lots of things that should be added. As it is, I feel that Shadowlander is the plan of a full book that will be written again in the future.

REVIEW: Until the Morning Sun (Sun,#1) by Kimberly Montague

Until the Morning Sun by Kimberly Montague

Publication Date: September 5th 2011

Publisher: Kimberly Montague

Kindle Edition, 220 pages

Buy via Amazon.com

24 year-old Aeva has existed and survived by a somewhat sheltered and ordinary life. As a high school librarian, her life experiences have primarily come through the eyes of characters in novels. She's never really been in love, never travelled the world, and never experienced the adventures and magic life can offer.

But all this is about to change when she discovers that her father, who died six years earlier, is not actually dead. Now, she must struggle with the very powerful form of magic inside her as she finds out that the paranormal adventures she's only read about in books are not-so-fictional.

With the help of the experienced playboy, Grey, she enters into a new world of vampires, magic, and at long last, love. But can she handle the horrors lurking around every corner when her life tends more toward nightmare than fairy-tale?

Until the Morning Sun was a fun read, one that I really enjoyed and for that I am deeply grateful to the author Kimberly Montague for providing me with a copy of her book.

Until the Morning Sun is a very interesting read, the world building has some fresh and new elements and although the book had some awkward moments many first book in a series have, it managed to entertain me up to the end.

I really liked the way Montague sketched her main heroine Aeva. She was a real character if you know what I mean, I just could easily picture her as the woman next door, so down to earth and so realistic, I just really liked the way she was portrayed.

Grey was a bit of a mystery to me for the better part of the book and I guess that was the author's intention.

Now, despite the fact that I enjoyed Until the Morning Sun, as I said there were a few awkward moments in it. And those for me, mostly consisted of the way the plot progresses. I mean, the book has a good and strong first 1/3, then it slows down just to pick up again by the end of the story. All the middle of the plot focuses solely on Aeva's training and nothing actually happens. I get that her training was crucial to the story, but I kind of needed more to happen. Reading about only Aeva's training and her romance with Grey just wasn't enough. And talking about the romance, that itself was a bit awkward at times as well. I just wanted a little less back and forth in their relationship to fully connect with them.

All in all, Until the Morning Sun was a fun read that I enjoyed reading.

EARLY REVIEW: Immortal Hope (The Curse of the Templars,#1) by Claire Ashgrove

Immortal Hope by Claire Ashgrove

Publication Date: January 3rd 2012

Publisher: Tor Books

Mass Market Paperback, 368 pages

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Centuries ago, Templar knights defied the archangels and unearthed the copper scroll that revealed the locations of the gates to hell. Cursed for their forbidden act, they now roam the earth, protecting mankind from evil. But darkness stalks them, and battles they fight bring them ever closer to eternal damnation. One promise remains to give them salvation—the return of the seraphs.

Embittered by his purpose, Merrick du Loire must honor an ancient pact and bring peace to his cousin’s soul, releasing him from the clutches of their enemy. When he stumbles upon history professor Anne MacPherson, he discovers that she possesses a sacred artifact that marks her as a seraph. Duty demands he set aside his personal quest and locate the knight she’s fated to heal. As Merrick struggles with conflicting oaths, Anne arouses buried hope and sparks forbidden desire that challenges everything he’s sworn to uphold.

Anne has six weeks to complete her thesis on the Knights Templar. When Merrick takes her to the Templar stronghold, he presents her with all she needs—and awakens a soul-deep ache that he alone can soothe. Yet loving Merrick comes with a price. If she admits she is destined for him, her gift of foresight predicts his death.

Review originally posted at Book Lovers Inc.

Immortal Hope surprised me!Really and truly surprised me in a really pleasant way! When I picked this title, all I knew about it was what the blurb revealed, there were no reviews about it at the time so to be honest, I didn't really know what to expect. And believe me, maybe knowing absolutelly nothing abou it was what made me love it as much as I did!

Immortal Hope is like reading BDB but with Templar Knights instead of vampires! Don't get me wrong, there aren't any similarities with BDB whatsoever, just the concept of a group of warriors who wait for their predestined mate. That's where the similarities between the two series begin and that's were they end.

From the very first pages of the story, the action is non stop and not only that, but the action scenes are so well written and vivid that it's like each battle is being unfolded before your eyes!

The characters are well developed and consistent and I'm not just talking about the main ones but about the secondary as well. I'm guessing that since some of the secondary characters appearing in Immortal Hope are going to be the main ones in future books, Ashgrove just wanted to give each of her knights the chance to tell something about him.

I was always fascinated by Templar Knights, and have read a number of books about them but most of them were mysteries. I could never imagine them starring in a paranormal romance and that's what intrigued me most about Immortal Hope. And I'm so glad I had the chance to read this book, cause let me tell you knights can be equally hot with vampires or any other paranormal creature out there, or at least, that's what Claire Ashgrove made me believe!

One other thing I was a bit afraid of was the religious connection that is unavoidably associated with the Templars and how would that be handled in a paranormal romance story. But once more, Ashgrove just proved wrong all my fears.

There are religious mentions in the book, there are angels in it but they are handled in such a way that they could as well not been there.

All in all, Immortal Hope is a very well written paranormal romance title, set in an intricate world, whose sequel I just can't wait to read!

REVIEW: One Grave at a Time (Night Huntress,#6) by Jeaniene Frost

One Grave at a Time by Jeaniene Frost

Publication Date: August 30th 2011

Publisher: Avon Books

Mass Market Paperback, 358 pages

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The grave is one wrong step away.


Having narrowly averted an (under)world war, Cat Crawfield wants nothing more than a little downtime with her vampire husband, Bones. Unfortunately, her gift from New Orleans' voodoo queen just keeps on giving--leading to a personal favor that sends them into battle once again, this time against a villainous spirit.


Centuries ago, Heinrich Kramer was a witch hunter. Now, every All Hallows Eve, he takes physical form to torture innocent women before burning them alive. This year, however, a determined Cat and Bones must risk all to send him back to the other side of eternity--forever. But how do you kill a killer who's already long dead?

The review was originally published at Book Lovers Inc

Oh well, what can I say about Jeaniene Frost and her series Night Huntress that I haven't already said???I seriously love and admire that woman beyond words and so I do with her work!One Grave at a Time,is yet again a brilliant addition to her succesfull series!

One Grave at a Time flows easily,is full of adventure and action packed scenes,as the previous books in the series,and although I was a bit afraid that this time the story would drag a bit (I don't know, I think I was afraid that everything was already set in order somehow,I guess) I'm glad to say that it didn't,not even one tiny bit,drag that is...!

Jeaniene Frost delivers a story so well thought and well built and gives her readers indications that there are so many more things to say about that universe,that the series can easily continue to the next books.And here's how easily my previous fears that everything was set for Cat and Bones are dispersed...!

I liked the new elements that were introduced in the series,how things resume after Don's death and Jeaniene Frost's imagination never ceases to amaze me.Cat and Bones is the hottest couple in PNR literature.I have only one complaint,just one tiny little complaint... I missed the hot sex scenes that Frost has accustomed her readers in this book.There was just one,and although creative didn't really have the spark some of her other's scenes have.

All in all,One Grace at a Time is as good as the previous books of the series and honestly,if there's someone who hasn't started this series yet,needs to do so immediately!

READING: Nocturne by Syrie James

Nocturne by Syrie James

Publication Date: January 4th 2011

Publisher: Vanguard Press

Hardcover, 224 pages

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When Nicole Whitcomb’s car runs off a Colorado mountain road during a blinding snowstorm, she is saved from death by a handsome, fascinating, and enigmatic stranger.


Snowbound with him for days in his beautiful home high in the Rockies, she finds herself powerfully attracted to him and soon comes to realize that the feeling is mutual. But there are things about him that mystify her, filling her with apprehension—and Nicole can’t shake the feeling that he doesn’t want her there.


Who is Michael Tyler? Why does he live alone in such a secluded spot and guard his private life so carefully? What secret—or secrets—is he hiding?


Nicole has secrets of her own and a past she is running from—but Michael understands her better than anyone she has ever known. Soon, she is falling as deeply in love with him as he is with her.


But as the sexual tension between them builds, the clues mount up. When Nicole learns the terrifying truth—that her host is an ages-old vampire who is torn between his love for her and his desire for her blood—there’s nowhere for her to run but into the blizzard raging outside, and he’s the only one who can save her life.


Filled with unexpected twists and surprises, Nocturne is a page-turning, haunting, and deeply romantic story of forbidden love that will grab your heart and not let go.

Nocturne by Syrie James was a quite pleasant surprise!The reviews I read about this book were a bit mixed,so I was a bit hesitant when I started reading it,but quickly after a handful of pages in this novel,all my reluctance disappeared!

Syrie James managed to create a wonderful novel and an amazing atmosphere by only using two characters throughout her whole book!It must be the first time I read a book where only two characters appear and the whole story is evolved just around them.Surely,I've read some novels where a couple is mainly feautured,but not one where noone else ever appears...And to be honest,the fact that James manages to catch and preserve the reader's attention with just two characters,tells a lot about this book!

I really liked Nicole as a character.Sweet,smart and sensitive and at last a heroine of a paranormal romance who struggles a bit more to accept the paranormal truth of things and reacts as any normal person would have reacted if stuck in a situation like hers.Surely,she accepts some things and falls in love with the "monster" but at least her reactions are a bit more believable and rational...

Michael on the other hand,may not be one of those male characters that will stick in your mind for a long length of time with their hotness,but a likeable character nonetheless.I liked the way he struggled internally to preserve anything human left in him,but not in a much too troubled and way too tormented way I am usually used to.

Both Nicole and Michael are what I call "quiet" characters (the kind of characters that have rational and measured reactions) but despite that they manage to grow fond of you and stick in your memory.

The atmosphere also,was among my favorite things in this novel.All the secluded,and trapped in a -luxurious surely!- place vibe just excited me!Who wouldn't want to be stranded with a gorgeous stranger (not the dangerous kind let me clear!) in a magnificent place and fall in love with that stranger while a blizzard is raging outside?I'm a sucker for those kind of stories and I just ignore in that case the rational part of me who says that a stranger isn't always the gorgeous and to die for guy but that this kind of situation could easily turn to be the staff of nightmares are made off...

But what made me love this book was its ending...An ending unlike any other!You don't get to have your typical ending with Nocturne,that's for sure.For the first time,I get to read a book that surprises me the whole time,even with its ending!Don't wanna say too much about it,only that:It will make me remember this book,even if all details are blured for a really long time...

READING: This Side of the Grave (Night Huntress,#5) by Jeaniene Frost

This Side of the Grave by Jeaniene Frost

Publication Date: February 22nd 2011

Publisher: Avon

Mass Market Paperback, 357 pages

Buy via Book Depository 

Danger waits on both sides of the grave.


Half-vampire Cat Crawfield and her vampire husband Bones have fought for their lives, as well as for their relationship. But just when they've triumphed over the latest battle, Cat's new and unexpected abilities threaten to upset a long-standing balance . . .


With the mysterious disappearance of vampires, rumors abound that a species war is brewing. A zealot is inciting tensions between the vampires and ghouls, and if these two powerful groups clash, innocent mortals could become collateral damage. Now Cat and Bones are forced to seek help from a dangerous "ally"—the ghoul queen of New Orleans herself. But the price of her assistance may prove more treacherous than even the threat of a supernatural war . . . to say nothing of the repercussions Cat never imagined.

I think that I have been waiting to read This Side of the Grave since forever, I guess...!The gap between Destined for an Early Grave and the 5th installment of The Night Huntress series was too long.And the spin off series didn't do much to appease my waiting time...I wanted the next adventure of Cat and Bones and finally the book arrived!And I couldn't been more excited about it!

This Side of the Grave is good!!!Not as good as the first two books in the series but absolutely great nevertheless.I just couldn't put it down,like every other book in this series to be honest.

The story starts about a year after the events of Destined for an Early Grave and the story takes into account all the events that happened at the two books of The Night Huntress World series so to anyone that hasn't read those books yet,keep in mind that this story has some possible spoilers.

At last,after the 3rd and the 4th book in the series,the plot in This Side of The Grave starts to be more substantial and melding perfectly with the past book in the series.To be honest,both the 3rd and the 4th book,intoduced some new parameters in the plot,thus their story seemed to stand out in comparison with the previous two.But,now,everything falls into place.The war between vampires and ghouls that was avoided when Cat turnned into a vampire, now is on the bridge of happening.Cat's unusual abilities and feeding habits give once again the perfect excuse for the ghouls to turn against the vampire nation in an attempt to gain more power with a destructive war.

As you can guess,politics,both vampire and ghouls,play a crucial part in this story.And although by no means I was bored with this book,I have to admit that the politics tired me a bit.I'm not a huge fan of politics and always find an excesive mention to them in a book tiresome.But that's a personal thing and besides,those exact politics were what made the whole story in here,so I kind of understand the need for the details!

Cat and Bones are perfect!I don't think I've ever loved a couple in a book more...Well,I love Bones more,but what girl who respects herself doesn't, right?I can rumble on and on about why I love Bones but then I'm afraid I will be of topic and since this review is of the 5th book,I'm guessing that everyone knows by now how hot and perfect Bones is,so no need for me to drool all over the review...(sigh!)

One more thing... Keep your mind on chapter 21!It's the new chapter 32 but to be honest,although I enjoyed,it wasn't half as good as chapter 32 is...Quite imaginative I have to admit but not as good.Maybe that's just me,but I think that the effort to duplicate that chapter,a bit reversed since Cat is doing the whole job but still duplicate, was wrong to begin with.The comparison between the two scenes was inevitable and I think that the whole deal with chapter 32 was due to it's high fantasy and originality so seeing that again somehow didn't work for me as good as I thought.

Anyway,words aren't enough to describe what a perfect series The Night Huntress is,so to anyone who might yet to pick this series I'm just strongly and highly recommending to do so!You're in for a big treat!This Side of the Grave had its' ups and downs but to be honest,I didin't really care,as I didn't previously also.I'm so in love with the characters and the writing style that it would take a really horrible story for me to say that I didn't like a book in this series!

READING: Kiss of Midnight (Midnight Breed,#1) by Lara Adrian

Kiss of Midnight by Lara Adrian

Publication Date: May 1st 2007

Publisher: Dell

Mass Market Paperback, 402 pages

Buy via Book Depository

He watches her from across the crowded dance club, a sensual black-haired stranger who stirs Gabrielle Maxwell’s deepest fantasies. But nothing about this night—or this man—is what it seems. For when Gabrielle witnesses a murder outside the club, reality shifts into something dark and deadly. In that shattering instant she is thrust into a realm she never knew existed—a realm where vampires stalk the shadows and a blood war is set to ignite.


Lucan Thorne despises the violence carried out by his lawless brethren. A vampire himself, Lucan is a Breed warrior, sworn to protect his kind—and the unwitting humans existing alongside them—from the mounting threat of the Rogues. Lucan cannot risk binding himself to a mortal woman, but when Gabrielle is targeted by his enemies, he has no choice but to bring her into the dark underworld he commands.


Here, in the arms of the Breed’s formidable leader, Gabrielle will confront an extraordinary destiny of danger, seduction, and the darkest pleasures of all. . .

I have to admit it, when i picked up Kiss of Midnight by Lara Adrian,despite all the good reviews i've read, i didn't expect many things.To be honest,i expected another paranormal romance book with vampires like all the others out there.And i was both right and wrong in my assumptions!

Lara Adrian's Midnight Breeds series has many similarities with many paranormal romance series i've read and especially with the Black Dagger Brotherhood series.But in its own ways is different and a totally enjoyable read!

This book follows Lucan and Gabrielle and as the first book in the series spends a good part explaining the world where the story is built.As i said,the similarities with BDB series are many.Both series follow a group of vampire warriors and the romance between the heroes blooms in the midst of a war.There are other similarities too,but since it's been some time since i read the BDB series i don't remember them in much detail,but to anyone who's read both these series those resemblances are hard to miss.

Anyway,i have to admit,although it's hard for me to say it,that i enjoyed Kiss of Midnight much more than i did Dark Lover!There,i said it!I enjoyed far more the way the romance between the two characters evolved,i found it was evenly paced and neither too slow nor too fast moving.The attraction between Lucan and Gabrielle is instant but at least the sex part isn't coming that quickly and definitely you don't get to hear declarations of love soon after the first sex scene.

I always find declarations of love really soon in the story a bit annoying.Lust,is a whole different subject,but i just don't believe in love at first sight.So,i always appreciate it when in a book,love comes a bit later in the plot.Guaranteed,when reading a romance, or paranormal romance in that case, you expect to have those emotions playing a huge part,i just want them to be revealed a bit later!

So,in Kiss of Midnight,Lucan and Gabrielle may lust for each other,but at least they fall in love as the story progress.

Another thing i really liked,was that the characters' reactions were believable and justifiable.Gabrielle struggles to believe the possibility of anything paranormal existing and not just suck up that what she's raised to know for certain is a myth,actually walks at night among us.I also liked Lucan's character and how he struggled to preserve his sanity and not give in to his cravings.

The world building isn't something completely original but nevertheless grabs your attention.The ending certainly leaves enough threads loose for the second book in the series but at the same time wraps up Lucan's and Gabrielle's story.

All in all,Kiss of Midnight is a promising first book in a series i will certainly continue reading.After all,Dante,the hero of the second book seems promising enough!