Tuesday, September 13, 2016

Review: Secrets at Midnight by Nalini Singh

Title: Secrets at Midnight
Series: Psy-Changeling
Author: Nalini Singh
Read copy: eBook (Kindle)
Published: August 2, 2016
Publisher: InterMix
ASIN: B01839Q4YK

Bastien Smith is frustrated. A changeling male should be able to track his mate anywhere—through fire and hail, snow and rain. But he keeps finding and losing her scent in the city streets, ever since he first became aware of it two weeks earlier, when the elusive fragrance awakened the leopard within him...

Then Bastien is suddenly confronted with his prey. Kirby is an all-too-human woman who wants Bastien just as much as he wants her. But he can’t deny what his body and senses are telling him: there is a raging chaos inside of Kirby that he doesn’t understand, secrets that whisper awake at midnight and cause her terrible pain. If they’re to have any chance of forever, then he must solve the mystery that is Kirby...


My rating:

Review: Wild Invitation (anthology) by Nalini Singh

Title: Wild Invitation
Series: Psy-Changeling
Author: Nalini Singh
Read copy: Mass Market Paperback
Published: March 5, 2013
Publisher: Berkley Sensation
ISBN: 0425255131
ISBN-13: 9780425255131

In Beat of Temptation, innocent Tamsyn has always had a place in her heart for Nathan, a blooded DarkRiver sentinel. But is she ready for the fierce demands of the mating bond?

In Stroke of Enticement, a wary young teacher, skeptical about love, arouses the man—and the animal—in an aggressive leopard changeling who must prove his affections are true.

In Declaration of Courtship, Grace, a shy submissive wolf, finds herself pursued by the last man she ever would have imagined: a SnowDancer lieutenant said to be “mad, bad, and dangerous to know.”

In Texture of Intimacy, SnowDancer healer Lara discovers the searing joys—and unexpected challenges—of being mated to quiet, powerful Walker, a man used to keeping his silence.


My rating:

Sunday, September 11, 2016

Review: Wild Embrace (anthology) by Nalini Singh

Title: Wild Embrace
Series: Psy-Changeling
Author: Nalini Singh
Read copy: Paperback
Published: August 23, 2016
Publisher: Berkley
ISBN: 1101989718
ISBN-13: 9781101989715

Echo of Silence
In a deep-sea station, Tazia Nerif has found her life’s work as an engineer, keeping things running smoothly. But she wants nothing more than to break down the barrier of silence between her and her telekinetic Psy station commander...

Dorian
A changeling who can never shift lives a life of quiet frustration—until he learns how to let his leopard come out and play...

Partners in Persuasion
Still raw from being burned by a dominant female, wolf changeling Felix will never again risk being a plaything. But for dominant leopard Dezi, he’s the most fascinating man she’s ever met. She just has to convince this gun-shy wolf that he can trust the dangerous cat who wants to take a slow, sexy bite out of him...

Flirtation of Fate
Seven years ago, Kenji broke Garnet’s heart. Now the wolf packmates have to investigate the shocking murder of one of their own. And the more Kenji sees of the woman Garnet has become, the deeper he begins to fall once more. But even his primal instincts are no match for the dark secret he carries...


My rating:

Friday, September 9, 2016

Review: Allegiance of Honor by Nalini Singh

Title: Allegiance of Honor
Series: Psy-Changeling
Author: Nalini Singh
Read copy: eBook
Published: June 14, 2016
Publisher: Berkley
ISBN: 1101987774
ISBN-13: 9781101987773

The Psy-Changeling world has undergone a staggering transformation and now stands at a crossroads. The Trinity Accord promises a new era of cooperation between disparate races and groups. It is a beacon of hope held together by many hands: Old enemies. New allies. Wary loners.

But a century of distrust and suspicion can’t be so easily forgotten and threatens to shatter Trinity from within at any moment. As rival members vie for dominance, chaos and evil gather in the shadows and a kidnapped woman’s cry for help washes up in San Francisco, while the Consortium turns its murderous gaze toward a child who is the embodiment of change, of love, of piercing hope: A child who is both Psy...and changeling.

To find the lost, protect the vulnerable—and save Trinity—no one can stand alone. This is a time of loyalty across divisions, of bonds woven into the heart and the soul, of heroes known and unknown standing back to back and holding the line. But is an allegiance of honor even possible with traitors lurking in their midst?


My rating:

Thursday, September 8, 2016

Review: Shards of Hope by Nalini Singh

Title: Shards of Hope
Series: Psy-Changeling
Author: Nalini Singh
Read copy: Mass Market Paperback
Published: December 29, 2015
Publisher: Jove
ISBN: 0425264041
ISBN-13: 9780425264041

Awakening wounded in a darkened cell, their psychic abilities blocked, Aden and Zaira know they must escape. But when the lethal soldiers break free from their mysterious prison, they find themselves in a harsh, inhospitable landscape far from civilization. Their only hope for survival is to make it to the hidden home of a predatory changeling pack that doesn’t welcome outsiders.

And they must survive. A shadowy enemy has put a target on the back of the Arrow squad, an enemy that cannot be permitted to succeed in its deadly campaign. Aden will cross any line to keep his people safe for this new future, where even an assassin might have hope of a life beyond blood and death and pain. Zaira has no such hope. She knows she’s too damaged to return from the abyss. Her driving goal is to protect Aden, protect the only person who has ever come back for her no matter what.

This time, even Aden’s passionate determination may not be enough—because the emotionless chill of Silence existed for a reason. For the violent, and the insane, and the irreparably broken...like Zaira.


My rating:

Tuesday, September 6, 2016

Review: Love on Main Street (anthology) by Juliet Blackwell, Rachael Herron, Lisa Hughley, Ruby Laska, Cecilia Gray, Adrienne Bell, L.G.C. Smith

Title: Love on Main Street
Author: Juliet Blackwell, Rachael Herron, Lisa Hughley, Ruby Laska, Cecilia Gray, Adrienne Bell, L.G.C. Smith
Read copy: eBook
Published: October 20, 2013
Publisher: Pens and Friends
ISBN: 1940785022
ISBN-13: 9781940785028

Where love begins on Main Street and ends happily ever after....

Christmas, the most magical season, is almost upon the small mountain town of Snow Creek. For seven couples, holiday wishes mean more than just gifts or parties. Can Snow Creek pull off its annual holiday miracle of bringing love to town?

Seven original romances from sweet to sinfully sexy by New York Times and bestselling authors as well as promising new talent.


QUEEN OF HEARTS BY JULIET BLACKWELL

Serafina Rogers is not an impulsive person, but lately something’s gotten into her. She walked away from warm San Diego, her scumbag ex-fiance, and her teaching job in order to come to Snow Creek and take over her deceased aunt’s witchy supply store. Unfortunately, her hunky cowboy landlord, Joe, has other plans for the space, which hasn’t turned a profit in years. Neither Joe nor Serafina believe in magic, much less romance. But when a Yule log is tossed on the fire, Serafina begins seeing things in her aunt’s deck of cards, and Joe’s niece goes missing...they might just have to change their minds.


THE HOLIDAY SHOW BY LGC SMITH

Christy Monroe hates Christmas. The excess, the inevitable disappointments—bah. Dan Rose loves Christmas. The fun, the way his bakery smells—it’s all a little magical, especially in Snow Creek. When their first-grade daughters decide they want to be sisters, Christy and Dan had better watch out. The girls maneuver their parents into organizing the elementary school holiday show together. It doesn’t take long for Dan to make it his goal to change Christy’s mind about Christmas—and taking a chance again on love.


LET IT SNOW BY CECILIA GRAY

After losing her parents, Jessica can't bear to lose her childhood home and family bookstore, too. When they're taken from her, she has nowhere to go...except the arms of Daniel, Snow Creek's resident hero paramedic. It's not the Christmas miracle Jessica wanted, but it might the one she needs...


SECOND CHANCES BY ADRIENNE BELL

There’s no doubt in Eileen Ledger’s mind that the last time she saw hockey superstar Paul McAlester she made the biggest mistake of her life. Only, she’s never been sure if the mistake was in kissing him, or in running away. But ten years later, Paul is back in town for Christmas, and Eileen has a second chance to make things right...as long as she can keep herself from falling in love again.


A CHRISTMAST YARN BY RACHAEL HERRON

Knitting has always served as a distraction, something that Clara can hide behind. After a significant weight loss, though, she's still not sure if she wants to be noticed. When sexy Lincoln ends up on the front porch of her yarn store, he seems to see everything clear as day. Will Clara finally be seen for her true self?


MISS BONNY'S BURIED TREASURE BY RUBY LASKA

Caroline Bonny has always known about her family curse: no Bonny daughter will ever marry until her great-great-great-grandfather's buried treasure is found. Caroline has made her peace with her life as a spinster-turned-cosmetologist, until easy-on-the-eyes schoolteacher Lance Carter comes to town determined to drown his recent breakup in holiday festivities.


ONE SILENT NIGHT BY LISA HUGHEY

Nick and Ally Carpenter split up months ago after years of infertility treatments crushed their marriage and their dreams of children. When the couple reunites for the holidays to make a dying woman happy, can an unexpected miracle show them the way back to love or is it too late?


My rating:

***copy provided by publisher through NetGalley***

I didn't "get" Queen of Hearts. It was too short for any kind of character development, the characters were bland and one-dimensional, and the "plot" forced.

While the first one was too short, The Holiday Show was too long. Convoluted, slow, stretched-thin...I couldn't care less about the characters, their reasoning, or their motivations.

Let It Snow was cute. The heroine was a bit idiotic with her fantasies, the hero was a bit idiotic doing "the honorable thing", but it still worked. Cute, sweet, and funky.

Second Chances was pretty "meh". A second-chance-romance, that would've worked better with a little more background, and length.

A Christmas Yarn was yet another miss in this collection. I just couldn't get past the heroine's obsession with looks. I guess the hero's handicap was supposed to "enlighten" her that beauty is in the eye of the beholder, but I just didn't care.

Cute, sweet, and funny, Miss Bonny's Buried Treasure was the highlight of this collection. Just the right amount of quasi-angst, and romance, and that added touch of humor, created a great combination.

One Silent Night could've been a nice little bow on the present, but I hate miscommunication stories. The issues and missed signals are there only as plot ploys, without them there would be no story. Cheap tricks are not my thing.

Review: 'Til Death Do Us Part by Amanda Quick

Title: 'Til Death Do Us Part
Author: Amanda Quick

Read copy: eBook
Published: April 19, 2016
Publisher: Penguin
ISBN: 069819361X
ISBN-13: 9780698193611

Calista Langley operates an exclusive “introduction” agency in Victorian London, catering to respectable ladies and gentlemen who find themselves alone in the world. But now, a dangerously obsessed individual has begun sending her trinkets and gifts suitable only for those in deepest mourning—a black mirror, a funeral wreath, a ring set with black jet stone. Each is engraved with her initials.

Desperate for help and fearing that the police will be of no assistance, Calista turns to Trent Hastings, a reclusive author of popular crime novels. Believing that Calista may be taking advantage of his lonely sister, who has become one of her clients, Trent doesn’t trust her. Scarred by his past, he’s learned to keep his emotions at bay, even as an instant attraction threatens his resolve.

But as Trent and Calista comb through files of rejected clients in hopes of identifying her tormentor, it becomes clear that the danger may be coming from Calista’s own secret past—and that only her death will satisfy the stalker...


My rating: