REVIEW: Princess Avenger by Bernadette Rowley

Princess Avenger by Bernadette Rowley

Publication Date:October 15th 2012

Publisher:Destiny Romance

ebook
Useful Info: Goodreads, Author's Website

Passionate and headstrong, Alecia is no ordinary princess. Angered by the cold-blooded murder of her first love, she sets out to avenge his death.

Army Captain Vard Anton, the epitome of masculine strength and grace, is dealing with some dark secrets of his own. When he is appointed Alecia's body-guard, both find it hard to ignore the chemistry between them.

With assassination attempts and the threat of an arranged marriage looming over her, Alecia realises her time is running out. But Alecia's biggest battle is the one within as she tries to suppress the raging desire she feels for the powerfully attractive Vard. Can Alecia resist Vard while trying to exact revenge and avoiding the lecherous attentions of her husband-to-be? Will the power of love and desire be enough to unite Alecia and Vard forever?

Though separated by class and palace intrigues, Alecia and Vard are entwined by desire in this wonderful fantasy romance.

Review first published at Book Lovers Inc

I had really high hopes for Princess Avenger by Bernadette Rowley. I may haven't read any reviews about this book prior to me picking it up but still, from the premise I was certain that I had an amazing story in my hands. And although in some departments, Princess Avenger delivered what the premise promised, in others, it didn't fair so well I'm afraid.

For the first 1/3 of the story, Princess Avenger was everything I was expecting it to be. There was an intricate world building, a strong and independent heroine and a very mysterious and sexy hero. I mean, everything at the beginning was indicating a fresh and unique story, having all those elements I'm searching for. But before I even reached the middle of the story, my initial thoughts about Princess Avenger started to change rapidly. I found myself tired and a little bit bored, so I had to put it down, read another book and then continue with it. I don't usually do this. When I start a book I either put it aside or finish it. I rarely pick up again a book that I stopped reading. But I had to give it another try because like I said, at the beginning I really liked it. And my three star rating reflects mostly that part and the fact that even if I couldn't connect with the story, Bernadette Rowley's writing style is pretty good.

My main problem with the book was with the world building. It was rather ambitious, but Princess Avenger never delivered in that area. It's mostly a fantasy novel with a focus on romance and let's face it, the beginning and end of a fantasy novel is the world building. At least for me. But unfortunately in this story the world building is loose and vague. Details are never given about how exactly the world ticks or what is going on. The whole plot is based on the fact that the reader takes everything described as given and never asks any why's or how's. And that is a major failure for me. Maybe the fact that Princess Avenger wasn't really that long a book, explains why the world building was a little bit vague. But still, I just can't take everything for granted.


The other problem is that Princess Avenger is primarily a romance and then a fantasy novel. And I have nothing against that, if and only if, the romantic plot isn't explored against the basic plot of the whole story. And sadly, that was the case with Princess Avenger. After a point, everything was focused on the romance between Alecia and Vard and everything other was lost. Never explored. The whole book was about them and all the other interesting things happening at the same time where just completely brushed off. There wasn't a balance. And still, if the romance was good, I may still not be having that many problems, but their romance was also sort of lukewarm. Maybe because both Alecia and Vard (especially Vard) felt so distant. As for the rest of the characters, they might as well haven't been there. There was no character development or there was, but a minimum one.

All in all, Princess Avenger was a rather ambitious attempt that I'm pretty certain that it could have been so much better. There was potential in there. But unfortunately, it failed to impress me and catch my interest.

* This title was provided for a review through NetGalley

The Secret of Mia Danvers Blog Tour: Interview with Robyn DeHart and Giveaway!

Today I'm very happy to welcome back to Books to Brighten your Mood author Robyn DeHart in celebration of her newest release with Penguin, The Secret of Mia Danvers, the first book in the author's newest Historical Romance series. The Secret of Mia Danvers is a book full of mystery and of course, romance! So let's welcome Robyn and don't forget to check at the end of the post for the contest details. 

- Hello Robyn and welcome to Books to Brighten your Mood. Could you please tell us a bit more about your newest release, The Secrets of Mia Danvers?

Thanks so much for having me! Here’s the blurb I used in my synopsis:

In the fall of 1888 a murderer terrorized the Whitechapel area in London, horribly mutilating prostitutes and leaving their blood-drenched bodies out to be found, taunting the police and paralyzing the poverty-stricken people with fear. In taunting letters to the police and the newspapers, he called himself Jack the Ripper. Then as quickly as he appeared, he vanished from the news, his reign of terror apparently at an end. Six months later another girl's body was found, but this time in prestigious Mayfair, and this time there was a witness.

- Your heroine Mia has lost her sight at a really young age. Where there any challenges you encountered while writing this novel because of that fact?

Oh yes, so many challenges. I don’t think I ever realized how much of a visual writer I am. But writing in Mia’s point of view I was forced to “see” the scenes through her other senses. It was a fascinating journey, but quite difficult too. It was also very important to me that Mia not be bitter or feel the victim, I wanted her to be a strong woman who had made her way in the world in spite of or perhaps because of her “disability.”

- What is that certain quality that made Alex fall in love with Mia?

I think it was definitely her resourcefulness and the fact that she doesn’t question her ability to do things.

- Could you please give us a short physical description of your two main characters, Mia and Alex?
 
I can do better than that! I can share the pictures I used as my inspiration. It’s very important to me that before I start writing a book I find what I call the character’s “essence” in a picture, it’s not the actor/actress, but the specific image that really speaks to me. So here are Mia and Alex.

- What are your future plans? What should we expect from you after The

Secrets of Mia Danvers?

Well, the Dangerous Liaisons series is planned as a trilogy, but the third book hasn’t yet been contracted so for now you can expect the sequel to Mia Danvers in November, The Temptations of Anna Jacobs.

Before that, in August, you’ll see the 3rd book in my Forbidden Love trilogy, A Little Bit Scandalous, it follows A Little Bit Wicked and A Little Bit Sinful. And I have even more books contracted for 2014!

- Is there any author who influenced your work?

Of course! I was a reader first and I think my work has been influenced most by Amanda Quick. It wasn’t intentional, but I don’t seem to be able to write an historical romance without subplots, so I’ll stick with the suspense and adventure and hope readers will go along with me.

- When not reading or writing how do you like spending your free time?

Well, I’m a mom to two little girls (currently 2 & 4) and they keep me very busy. So in the midst of potty training and dealing with tantrums, I write to get my pages done. Then every once in a blue moon, I find some reading time.  I also love to hang out with my husband, we do most of our together time in front of the TV these days, but there are worst ways to spend time than snuggling on the couch watching Person of Interest.

- What’s your guilty pleasure?

Well, speaking of watching TV with my hubby, we are totally hooked on Pretty Little Liars. It’s inexplicable, really because the show is full of unlikeable characters and convoluted plot twists, yet we can’t seem to look away.

- What is your favorite genre to read and could you please share with us some of your favorite novels?

My first love will always be historical romance and I’ll read anything that Suzanne Enoch, Teresa Medeiros and Amanda Quick write, they’re my go-to authors when I want to sink into a great historical. But I read a lot of romantic suspense; I like gritty police procedurals like the JD Robb books and Allison Brennan’s first several trilogies. I also like some urban fantasy, Jim Butcher and Kalayna Price. And I think I might need a 12-step program for Kristan Higgins’ books…

- Which place in the world are you dying to visit?

Oh man, I’d be happy at the Embassy Suites in my hometown at the moment. Mommy could use a break! But I don’t guess that’s what you’re asking. I love the beach more than any place else on earth, it’s the place that centers me the most, the waves, the sand…. That being said I’ve only been to England once and it was before I started writing seriously and I would so love to go back now that I know what I write. It would be a totally different experience.

- Thank you Robyn for stopping by today!

Thanks again for having me!

About Robyn:

A life-long love of stories and adventure, it was either become a stuntwoman for the movies or live out those adventures from the safety of her PJ's and computer. Award-winning author, Robyn DeHart chose the latter and couldn't be happier for doing so. Known for her unique plotlines and authentic characters, Robyn is a favorite among readers and reviewers. Publishers' Weekly claims her writing to be "comical and sexy" while the Chicago Tribune dubs her "wonderfully entertaining." Robyn is an award-winning author as well as being a four-time RT Bookclub Reviewers' Choice award nominee, and a three-time RomCon Reader's Crown nominee. Robyn lives in Texas with her brainy husband, two precocious little girls and two spoiled cats. You can find Robyn on-line at her website or at one of her group blogs, the Jaunty Quills or Peanut Butter on the Keyboard.

Visit Robyn

Website ~ Twitter ~ Facebook ~ Goodreads

About the Book

Title: The Secret of Mia Danvers
Author: Robyn DeHart
Genre: Historical Romance
Release Date: June 18th 2013
Publisher: Intermix
Buy it at: Amazon, Barnes and Noble

A lone witness finds her protector…

Since losing her sight in a childhood accident, Mia Danvers has resided in a small cottage on the vast Carrington estate. Thought to be dead, Mia lives a life of virtual seclusion—until one night, while walking home, she happens upon a horrendous crime.

Alex Foster, Eighth Duke of Carrington, lives according to society’s expectations for him. He’s never met the woman who lives in the cottage at the edge of his property. But when she arrives at his door in the pouring rain terrified and claiming she has witnessed a murder, she seizes his attention.

Mia is determined to help the authorities track down the culprit, even though the only person willing to accept her aid is the handsome, arrogant duke. Working closely together proves difficult as Mia’s beauty and independence tempts Alex to ignore convention and follow his desire. But what neither of them know is that this murderer has struck before in Whitechapel, taunting the British press only to vanish—a ruthless killer who knows that Mia is the only living witness to his crime…

~~~~~~~~~~~~GIVEAWAY~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Robyn DeHart will be giving away winner's choice of the following: Amazon Paperwhite, Nook Glow or a $120 Gift Card for Amazon or Barnes & Noble. Open to US residents only.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

REVIEW: The Indigo Spell by Richelle Mead

The Indigo Spell by Richelle Mead

Series:Bloodlines, #3

Publication Date:February 12th 2013

Publisher:Razorbill

Hardcover, 401 pages
Useful Info: Goodreads, Author's Website, Book Depository

In the aftermath of a forbidden moment that rocked Sydney to her core, she finds herself struggling to draw the line between her Alchemist teachings and what her heart is urging her to do. Then she meets alluring, rebellious Marcus Finch--a former Alchemist who escaped against all odds, and is now on the run. Marcus wants to teach Sydney the secrets he claims the Alchemists are hiding from her. But as he pushes her to rebel against the people who raised her, Sydney finds that breaking free is harder than she thought. There is an old and mysterious magic rooted deeply within her. And as she searches for an evil magic user targeting powerful young witches, she realizes that her only hope is to embrace her magical blood--or else she might be next.


Populated with new faces as well as familiar ones, the Bloodlines series explores all the friendship, romance, battles, and betrayals that made the #1 New York Times bestselling Vampire Academy series so addictive—this time in a part-vampire, part-human setting where the stakes are even higher and everyone’s out for blood.

It's no big secret that I absolutely love Richelle Mead and her writing style. I mean she has written some of my favorite books, both adult and YA. So, it's only natural that I couldn't possibly wait to get my hands on Indigo Spell, the third book in her spin off series. Because you see, even if Bloodlines, isn't yet half as good as Vampire Academy is, I still love both Mead's writing style and the world she created. And after feeling a little bit disappointed with the previous two books in this series, I think that finally, things are starting to slowly get better.

Indigo Spell, was great! Simple as that. Not perfect or mind blowing, but great nevertheless and definitely way better than the previous two books. At least I saw it that way.

Sydney is finally starting to resemble a human being with emotions and flaws, well, she's not flawed, she's still the most perfect heroine ever, but in Indigo Spell she starts showing signs of emotional capability. And I really liked that about Sydney. I may not hated her before, but she definitely was a character I just didn't care about. I didn't hate her, but I wasn't her biggest fan either. And for a number of reasons that I have stated before, so no need to repeat myself. But in Indigo Spell there are signs of improvement in her character. She stops moaning the whole time and judge everyone, including herself. She feels more relaxed, she starts questioning things and act a little bit like the super smart person she's supposed to be. She embraces her magic and most importantly, the fact that she actually feels something for Adrian.

And that is the second part of this book that I really loved. Sydney and Adrian finally, and after that ending in the second book, are slowly starting to roll!There are cute scenes between them, romantic ones as well as funny. Well, it's a Richelle Mead book, of course there would be some funny scenes. But even though Adrian and Sydney's romance is finally moving forward, the story in Indigo Spell isn't just focused there. There's also some action, not an explosive one like in VA, but there's definitely action, and even though this third book in the series is a "bridge" between what happened and what is about to come (and I usually hate bridges, they bore me out of my mind), it is fast paced and a story hard to put down. Well, you guessed right, I devoured it in one sitting. I couldn't help it!

Adrian, well, like I said, he's Adrian. He can't disappoint his fans and he has a way to make you love him even if you don't want to. He managed to change Sydney's opinion, who am I to resist? The rest of the team isn't really making that great an appearance in this book though. Jill and Eddy only appear in a few scenes, while Rose, Lisa or Dimitri just have a line or two in the whole book. Can't complain that I missed them though. I had a lot of things to focus apart from them like the elusive Marcus Finch. I had a hard time deciding whether I liked him as a character or I couldn't care about him. I still haven't decided. He definitely had his moments, but I wasn't convinced. I'll have to wait to make up my mind about him on the future books.

All in all, Indigo Spell is my favorite book in the Bloodlines series so far. There were moments that I actually remembered how it feels to read a book written by Richelle Mead, something that sadly wasn't the case with the other two books. Let's hope that we have even better things to hope for with the future books!

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: Dare you To by Katie McGarry

Dare you To by Katie McGarry

Series: Pushing the Limits, #2

Publication Date: May 28th 2013

Publisher: Harlequin Teen

Hardcover, 462 pages
Useful Info: Goodreads, Author's Website, Book Depository

Ryan lowers his lips to my ear. "Dance with me, Beth."

"No." I whisper the reply. I hate him and I hate myself for wanting him to touch me again....

"I dare you..."

If anyone knew the truth about Beth Risk's home life, they'd send her mother to jail and seventeen-year-old Beth who knows where. So she protects her mom at all costs. Until the day her uncle swoops in and forces Beth to choose between her mom's freedom and her own happiness. That's how Beth finds herself living with an aunt who doesn't want her and going to a school that doesn't understand her. At all. Except for the one guy who shouldn't get her, but does....

Ryan Stone is the town golden boy, a popular baseball star jock-with secrets he can't tell anyone. Not even the friends he shares everything with, including the constant dares to do crazy things. The craziest? Asking out the Skater girl who couldn't be less interested in him.

But what begins as a dare becomes an intense attraction neither Ryan nor Beth expected. Suddenly, the boy with the flawless image risks his dreams-and his life-for the girl he loves, and the girl who won't let anyone get too close is daring herself to want it all...

What can I possibly say about Dare you To that could do this book justice? I mean honestly, once more, Katie McGarry delivers a heart wrenching story, a story so full of meaning and deep, that words can't possibly describe it. You just have to read this book to fully understand what I'm saying.

Dare you To is one of those books that will just stay with you long after you've finished reading it. Much like with Pushing the Limits, the first book in this series, the second story is not just a romantic YA story between two deeply troubled teens. Oh no, it's so much more... One might think that with how popular the New Adult genre has become lately and how most of the books in that genre feature a deeply troubled hero and/or heroine, that Dare you To would almost feel like a repetition. One couldn't be more wrong about it. On the contrary, Dare you To, is a shining example of how one should write about troubled and emotionally scarred characters without becoming repetitive and shallow while handling such delicate issues. Katie McGarry is just the kind of author one should study in order to understand how to talk about difficult things not simply because that is the trend but because they actually have something important to say with their story. She's the author whose stories reminded me why I like so much to read about far from perfect heroes. I have to admit that lately, because more and more stories feature heroes with a troubled background but too shallowly portrayed, I had forgotten why I did. I'm glad that there are still authors out there that can remind me of how much can a complex character add to a story. A complex character that has a background that is.

Anyway, I don't know what more can I say to describe what a brilliant author Katie McGarry is. You simply have to read her books and you'll understand what I mean. I won't even say anything about the plot. I think it's better for Ryan and Beth to tell you their story for themselves. I will only say that Dare you To is a great story, an incredibly well written one, with characters that are flawed but real, like every real person is. Both main and secondary characters have a voice of their own and a place in the story. All characters have a great and solid background. In the end of day, Dare you To is just the kind of story that will speak directly to your heart. I almost cried for Beth, I cried at how she had to change herself in order to survive and how in the end all that she actually needed was for someone to care about her.

All in all, Dare you To is a story that no one should miss the opportunity reading. It's the best YA book that I read in quite sometime. Surely I loved other books too, but Katie McGarry managed once more with her story to remind me what it feels to read something that goes way further than just enjoying myself with a book. Dare you To is the kind of book that will make you cry, think and love. One of the best books of 2013!

* ARC copy provided via NetGalley for review purposes

REVIEW: Bare it All by Lori Foster

Bare it All by Lori Foster

Series:Love Undercover, #2

Publication Date:April 30th 2013

Publisher:HQN

Paperback, 480 pages

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

"A cop's craving to know more about the woman next door could prove fatal in the steamy new novel from New York Times bestselling author Lori Foster"

As the person responsible for taking down a brutal human trafficker, Alice Appleton fears retaliation at every turn. No one knows about her past, which is exactly how she prefers it...until the sexy cop next door comes knocking.

Detective Reese Bareden thinks he knows what makes women tick, but his ever-elusive neighbor keeps him guessing like no other. Is his goal to unmask Alice's secrets? Or protect her from a dangerous new threat? One thing is certain: their chemistry is a time bomb waiting to explode. And with no one to trust but each other, Reese and Alice are soon drawn into a deadly maze of corruption, intrigue and desire-and into the line of fire....

Review first published at Book Lovers Inc

Lori Foster is a huge name in the romantic suspense genre, and after reading a couple of books of hers I can definitely understand why! This author knows how to write great romance and even greater characters! Bare it All is her newest book and the second in her Love Undercover series and follows the story of Reese and Alice who had also made an appearance in the author's Men who Walk the Edge of Honor series.

One thing that I really like in Lori Foster's stories is the way she builds her characters and how they feel real and solid. I remember while reading A Perfect Storm, how much I liked Arizona's character and how deeply I cared for her. Much like then, Alice just stole my heart in this story. She's one of those characters who are really beautiful, not only on the outside but on the inside too. She's one of those characters who's deeply wounded but still finds a joy in life and is strong and generous. All in all, she's a character I can't help but care for. And I honestly believe that the best thing in Bare it All is Alice. She's the reason I enjoyed a story I found not so memorable otherwise.

Bare it All has a really slow beginning. I mean really slow. Nothing crucial happens for the best part of the book and when things finally pick up they are wrapped up quite easily and quickly. So as far as the suspense or action department goes, Bare it All, wasn't something special. Now let's talk about the romantic department which also wasn't something really special I'm afraid. I mean I loved Alice, the main heroine, and thought that Reese was an interesting character too but the romance between them fell just flat for me. There were no sparks. Maybe because one of the things I really enjoy in a romantic story is the building of a relationship, to read about the way the main couple becomes something more than friends or strangers, to witness their growing attraction but in Bare it All, all I got was a couple who was already halfway in becoming something more. Now here, I have to add that both Reese and Alice made an appearance in the previous novel of the series, so that is maybe the reason why things were a bit progressed between them, but even though I read the first book in the series, I remember little of it I'm afraid and even less about a secondary romance in it... But since those books are meant to be read as stand alones too, I think that things should progress on a slower pace nevertheless.

Anyway, despite Bare it All being a rather typical romantic suspense book, I still managed to enjoy myself while reading it and that is mostly because of Lori Foster's writing style. I mean this author is simply amazing, so it's not a wonder how every single one of her stories is a success! The way she builds her characters, main ones and secondary alike, is simply incredible. She has the ability to make her readers care for all her characters and feel their emotions or understand their action and their motives.

All in all, Bare it All, isn't the best book I have read by the author, but it is still a good read and it is definitely better than the first one in the series. Maybe I feel that way because of Alice, I don't know, all I know is that I enjoyed reading it a lot more than I did the first book of the series!

*This title was provided for review from MediaMuscle

REVIEW: Blood Shadows by Lindsay J. Pryor

Blood Shadows by Lindsay J. Pryor

Series:Blackthorn, #1

Publication Date:November 27th 2012

Publisher:Bookouture

Paperback, 380 pages
Useful Info: Goodreads, Author's Website, Book Depository

For vengeance - would you trust a vampire?

For justice - could you betray your family?

For love - are you ready to question everything you believe in?

Gifted with the ability to read the shadows of 'third species' beings, Caitlin Parish is the Vampire Control Unit's most powerful agent. Despite that, her mission to hunt down Kane Malloy - a master vampire - comes with a death wish. Many have tried, but few have survived.

For Caitlin, tracking Kane is about more than just professional reputation. With her parents both mysteriously killed 7 years apart to the day, Caitlin knows that without Kane's help she is next.

She has four days to make a deal with the wicked, the irresistible, the treacherous Kane Malloy. The vampire who despises everything she stands for. Or die.

Blood Shadows is book one in the Blackthorn series, brought to you by Lindsay J. Pryor - a British Paranormal Romance author who writes dark, intense and passionate stories.

Lindsay's trademark powerful vampire heroes and utterly combustible sensual romances have earned Lindsay comparisons with both J.R Ward and Sherrilyn Kenyon.

Review first published at Book Lovers Inc

I just have to admit that the main reason I accepted Blood Shadows for review was the fact that I somewhere saw mentioned that the main hero, Kane, is the new Bones... Yeah I know, I shouldn't be that superficial in my pickings, but wherever I see Bones' name I'm sold. Well, I also read the premise and it was something that I could easily enjoy, so I didn't even think twice before picking Blood Shadows. I was rather excited to read it to be honest.

Now that I read it, not that I had a bad time while reading it or I didn't enjoy it, but the level of excitement for that title has seriously decreased. My primary thought about Blood Shadows is tiresome. I felt tired while reading this book, like it wouldn't end, ever!And although for some books that is a good thing, like I don't want it to end, that wasn't the case with Blood Shadows I'm afraid.

But let's take things from the beginning. And I will start with the good things about this book. Because undeniably, Blood Shadows is a very well written story. Lindsay J. Pryor has done an exceptional job with the way she wrote her story, so good a job, that I even skipped the various editing mistakes. Because in the copy I received there were a few. There were repetitions of words and some grammar mistakes. But still, even if usually those typos annoy me and ruin my concentration on a book, in Blood Shadows, I managed to completely brush them off. Pryor has a way with words and knows exactly what to say and how to say it. I don't think that I have said that before in any of my reviews, but this author's vocabulary is exceptional!

The world building in Blood Shadows, is another thing I really liked in this book. Let's face it, vampires are an overused concept in both UF and PNR, but Pryor's world has something fresh and new. The world she envisioned is intricate and unique but even if I did enjoy that aspect of this story, still, by the end I was left unsatisfied about the way exactly the world worked. For a book that delved too much into various details, I sure expected more about what made this world tick. Not that the reader hasn't enough to understand things, but when I read pages of details about things of no real value then I get to be a bit demanding and need something more about what really matters in a story.

The other thing about Blood Shadows I liked, well, to no one's surprise that is Kane. Be warned, he has nothing to do with Bones, and I can't really understand where the comparison even came from, but still, he's a great character. Even if he was too manipulative for his own good, I still liked him. And in general, the character development in Blood Shadows was pretty good. Not perfect. But good enough.

And now let's start about the things I had a few problems with. First thing, is the author's obsession with details and the very descriptive narration. I have nothing whatsoever against details and I even like some detailed descriptions on occasion, but the excessively detailed narration in most cases tires me. And the thing that made me like this book less than I probably would have otherwise, is exactly that. No matter how good a story is or how much I enjoy it in overall, when I'm feeling tired while reading it is bound to lower my overall appreciation of it.

Especially the part where Caitlin is locked with Kane in his house made me think more than once to put this book aside. All those details and nothing really happening. One of the reasons I really like PNR and UF is how fast the story goes and the action packed scenes. Well, in Blood Shadows, the story couldn't progress any slower and the action scenes were less in comparison and too short. Well, the action is almost non existent, even in the final scene, everything just clicked way too easily ruining the whole climax of the book.

The character development was pretty good like I said, but I have some complaints here as well. Let's face it, Blood Shadows isn't exactly a small or short story, in fact it's the opposite and if you consider how detailed it is and how intricate the world building is, then I kind of expected that we would get to know more about the secondary characters and not just the main ones. And even though the secondary characters are somewhat explored, still Pryor focuses way too much her story on the main couple and their emotions, something that reflects on the time and "room" she gives to the other characters of this story to develop. To put it simply, we get to know many unnecessary things about both Kane and Caitlin when all that space could have been used for another character.

Anyway, Blood Shadows isn't a bad book, not by a long shot. Lindsay Pryor proved with her debut novel that she can write and really good at that. All my problems with this book, could have easily been fixed through a good editing process in my opinion. If Blood Shadows was a few chapters shorter, minus all those details, it could easily have been much better. As it is, it's an interesting story, written really well, that still tired me a lot while reading it.

* This title was provided for review from the publisher