Tag Archives: Paranormal Romance

Demon Angel by Meljean Brook

Book Review, , , , ,

Overview

Demon AngelTitle: Demon Angel
Author: Meljean Brook
Series: The Guardians #1
Rating Out of 5: 5 (I will read this again and again and again)
My Bookshelves: Angels, Demons, Paranormal romance, Vampires
Pace: Medium
Format: Novel
Publisher: Berkley Sensation
Year: 2005
5th sentence, 74th page: He lowered to his heels next to her.

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Synopsis

For two thousand years, Lilith wrought vengeance upon the evil and the damned, gathering souls for her father’s armies Below and proving her fealty to her Underworld liege. Half-demon, half-human, bound by a bargain with the devil, and forbidden to feel pleasure, she draws upon her dark powers and serpentine grace to lead men into temptation – Heaven’s own Sir Hugh Castleford…

Once a knight and now a Guardian, Hugh spent centuries battling demons – and the cursed, blood-drinking nosferatu. His purpose has always been to thwart the demon Lilith, even as he battles his treacherous hunger for her. But when a deadly alliance unleashes a threat to both humans and Guardians in modern-day San Francisco, angel and demon must fight together against unholy evil – and against a desire that has been too long denied…

Thoughts

The play on demons, angels and much of the Christian faith worked so well. The use of Lilith, Lucifer and Michael to create a great paranormal world over top of our own gave the strength of millennia to the battles and moments which help to form Lilith and Hugh’s relationship in the first part of this novel. The second part of this slightly builds upon the mythos used to create this world, but also furthers the relationship to and great understanding of the characters throughout.

I loved the complexity of the storyline and world that The Guardians is built in. Brook has managed to create a world in which there are layers upon layers of complexity that will (I’m sure) slowly be peeled back throughout the rest of the novels in this series. Yet, it’s not so intensely complex that I’m constantly feeling confused by the details and minutiae of the world that the characters live in. Most of my brain power is reserved for the characterisation and the race to save Lilith and Hugh (from each other, or their fates, I’m still not 100% sure).

As cliché as it seems, I found the idea of a demon and an angel falling in love stupidly fun. The idea that the “perfect” angel would fall for a demon ensures a fun story in the least. But the great characterisation of both, and the vulnerabilities that help them to rub up against one another makes it seem a whole lot less cliché. And made the entire thing so enjoyable that I almost took an extra long lunch break so that I could finish this really fun story…

 <- Falling for Anthony Review Paradise Review ->
Image source: Goodreads

Dangerously Driven by Deborah Blake

Book Review, , , , , ,

Overview

Dangerously DrivenTitle: Dangerously Driven
Author: Deborah Blake
Series: Broken Riders #3.5, Baba Yaga World #6.5
Rating Out of 5: 5 (I will read this again and again and again)
My Bookshelves: Fae, Mythology, Paranormal romance
Pace: Medium
Format: Novella
Publisher: Deborah Blake
Year: 2018
5th sentence, 74th page: “Ah,” Jazz said, lifting one finger into the air.

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Synopsis

The Riders… three legendary brothers who were born to aid the Baba Yagas, until tragedy changed everything. Separated by guilt and circumstance, they will finally have a chance to come back together. But what will happen when they do?

Neither Mikhail, Alexei, nor Gregori are enthusiastic about the invtiation to join the three Baba Yagas at Bella’s home in the Wyoming woods. But Bella and her apprentice Jazz have just spent a year in the Otherworld after Jazz’s disastrous attempt to cure the Riders’ loss of their immortality, so it isn’t really a summons any of them can refuse. As much as they might wish they could.

Each brother has his own reason to feel guilty, and they all mourn what they have lost despite having built themselves rewarding new lives. None of them is quite ready for a reunion. But they no longer have all the time in the world. So they get on their enchancted steeds (now a black Harley, a red Ducati, and a white Yamaha) and head out across the country, never expecting the adventures that lie ahead.

The brothers travel different roads to get to Wyoming, but they all end up on the same path. A surprise visit from an old friend might just show them that the journey is more important than the destination… especially when you travel it with those you love.

Thoughts

This was a cute way to tie in the three brother Riders after the Broken Riders series. It also lets us revisit the Baba Yagas and their apprentices. Something that I found incredibly enjoyable and refreshing. There’s also the lingering hint of a future tale in the last words and scene of this novella.

I loved the world of the Baba Yagas and every time Blake creates a new novella or story that fits into the world, I have a lot of fun revisiting something that I so thoroughly enjoyed previously. And Dangerously Driven was no different. It let us revisit all of our beloved characters and also find out how their lives ended up.

Dangerously Driven visits each of the three brothers and follows them as they journey to their reunion. In more ways than one. It left such a happy feeling in the pit of my stomach to find the three brothers united and with a goal in life yet again. Definitely a nice way to tie up the Broken Riders trilogy and one that I would certainly suggest to lovers of this series.

 <- Dangerously Fierce Review Wickedly Dangerous Review ->
Image source: Amazon

Viper’s Bite by Delilah Devlin

Book Review, , , ,
Overview
The Mammoth Book of Vampire Romance

Title: Viper’s Bite
Author: Delilah Devlin
Series: Night Fall #6.2
In: The Mammoth Book of Vampire Romance (Trisha Telep)
Rating Out of 5: 4 (Really good read!)
My Bookshelves: Paranormal romance, Vampires
Pace: Medium
Format: Short story
Publisher: Robinson
Year: 2008
5th sentence, 74th page: Every part of him strained outwards.

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Synopsis

One night of pleasure…

His name is Viper—a dark mysterious enigma who rules the seedy, dangerous vampiric underworld. For one night, he will escape his murky prison and tempt an innocent.

…can last a lifetime…

Beautiful Mariah haunts him. Lures him from his den with a glimpse of his past. One she doesn’t remember. This night, he’ll be her dream lover. He’ll seduce her, make her fall in love with him—then leave her. Again.

One night of pleasure is all they must know.

Thoughts

This was kind of a typical vampire romance. He was obsessive (I really don’t know why this is a recurrent theme in “romances”, but that’s another rant for another day). And she is completely oblivious until their very first meeting. Then she is drawn to him. And yada yada yada.

What surprised me about this was the previous relationship of the two leads. They have one night to rekindle an old flame and life and remember what once was. It was kind of bittersweet in this way. It lent a strong sense of borrowed time and love like it’s your last moment to a tale that would have otherwise just been too cliché.

<- Knowledge of EvilDreams ->

Image source: Goodreads

Animal Magnetism by Maggie Shayne

Book Review, , , ,

Overview

Wild ThingTitle: Animal Magnetism
Author: Maggie Shayne
In: Wild Thing (Marjorie M. Liu, Maggie Shayne, Alyssa Day & Meljean Brook)
Rating Out of 5: 5 (I will read this again and again and again)
My Bookshelves: Cops, Paranormal romance, Romance
Pace: Medium
Format: Novella
Publisher: Berkley Sensation
Year: 2007
5th sentence, 74th page: Plump, ripe, sweet.

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Synopsis

Listen to the secrets of the beautiful animal whisperer who’s drawn intimately closer to danger, and to the most suspect of all male animals – man…

Thoughts

This was such a great and fun novella. Okay. Maybe not really fun. And not really the kind of novella you want to read just before bed if you are a woman living alone. Since it features a rapist. It’s pretty intense actually, and although I really enjoyed this, I kind of wish that I hadn’t read it just before bed.

Although, once I focused on the beauty of the romance, and the fact that the lead female can actually talk to animals… which is the one superpower I’ve always wished I could have. The ability to communicate with my four-legged friends. Using this ability to not only solve a crime, but somehow entrance a man into her bed was fun. What I loved the most was when she asked Jay’s dog what his fantasies were so that she could re-enact them. On second thought, it’s probably best not to read this novella if you’re in a bit of a dry spell… it makes you feel quite lonely.

My biggest disappointment from this story is the fact that it’s not part of a greater series. It works brilliantly as a stand-alone but I want more of Macy and Jay!

 <- Wild Thing Review Paradise Review ->
Image source: Amazon

Knowledge of Evil by Raven Hart

Book Review, , , ,

Overview

The Mammoth Book of Vampire RomanceTitle: Knowledge of Evil
Author: Raven Hart
In: The Mammoth Book of Vampire Romance (Trisha Telep)
Rating Out of 5: 4.5 (Amazing, but not quite perfect)
My Bookshelves: Dark fantasy, Paranormal romance, Vampires
Pace: Fast
Format: Short story
Publisher: Robinson
Year: 2008
5th sentence, 74th page: “What?” I was becoming intoxicated – the point at which I would be unable to stop drinking her blood even if I wanted to; the point at which if I were going to make her a vampire, I would have to feed her my own blood.

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Synopsis

He’s a vampire who loves the pursuit of knowledge. She’s a vampire expert who is obsessed with having more time to find more information. Is this the perfect match, or something far more sinister?

Thoughts

I have a more-than-slight obsession with tales about intellectuals. I am an intellect. I’m obsessed with learning. And understanding. And just experiencing in general. So it was really fun to read a vampire romance that featured two such characters. Alright, the rest of the story was so incredibly cliché. And more than a little irritating in parts, but mostly, it was just fun to read about people who wanted to be immortal simply for the fact that it means a forever of learning.

I thoroughly enjoyed this story, but I found the ending a little too predictable and cliché. The couple ended up together, and he was way too smitten. It was a great story, but the ending did fall a little flat.

 <- The Righteous Review Viper’s Bite Review ->
Image source: Goodreads

Grave Witch by Kalayna Price

Book Review, , , , ,

Overview

Grave WitchTitle: Grave Witch
Author: Kalayna Price
Series: Alex Craft #1
Rating Out of 5: 5 (I will read this again and again and again)
My Bookshelves: Fae, Ghosts, Grim reapers, Paranormal romance
Pace: Fast
Format: Novel
Publisher: Roc Fantasy
Year: 2010
5th sentence, 74th page: Which still didn’t explain why it didn’t register as dead.

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Synopsis

Grave witch Alex Craft can speak to the dead, but that doesn’t mean she likes what they have to say.

As a private investigator and consultant for the police, Alex Craft has seen a lot of dark magic. But even though she’s on good terms with Death himself – who happens to look fantastic in jeans – nothing has prepared her for her latest case. Alex is investigating a high-profile murder when she’s attacked by the “shade” she’s raising, which should be impossible. To top off ehr day, someone makes a serious attempt on her life, but Death saves her. Guess he likes having her around…

To solve this case Alex will have to team up with tough homicide detective Falin Andrews. Falin seems to be hiding something – though it’s certainly not his dislike of Alex. But Alex knows she needs his help to navigate the tangled webs of mortal and paranormal politics, and to track down a killer who wields a magic so malevolent, it may cost Alex her life… and her soul.

Thoughts

I need to start this by saying that my sister and I have now read this book so many times that my version is starting to lose it’s cover. That is the level of obsession that I have had with Grave Witch and Alex Craft since I first found it about five years ago. It has moved across all seven houses with me. And as much as I want to get a new copy, there is something wonderful about still having the first copy that both my sister and I have so completely loved.

There are a number of reasons that I love this series, and everytime I read one of the novels, I found a few more reasons to add to the list. But something that really struck me with this read through was the fact that Alex is broke. She is surviving off crappy food, and struggling with emotions and is just having an incredibly human existence. There is a constant battle for survival and money that most other stories I read don’t have. And yes, sometimes finances get in the way of a good story, but it’s a little frustrating to constantly read stories about people who don’t have to worry about where their next meal comes from. It just helps to make Alex all that much more realistic and relatable. At least for me, a PhD student with a book-shopping problem.

I also love the love triangle that starts in Grave Witch. It is organic, and confusing, and it’s really hard to decide which character I want Alex to end up with more. But it’s not annoying and angsty. It doesn’t involve the lead female half leading either of the men on and although there is a bit of steaminess in each relationship, it’s not overbearingly so. And even though I’ve read the next two books before, I can’t wait to see how this relationship unfolds all over again!

 <- Grave Ransom Review Grave Dance Review ->
Image source: Kobo

Earth Bound by Christine Feehan

Book Review, , , , , , ,

Overview

Earth BoundTitle: Earth bound
Author: Christine Feehan
Series: Sisters of the Heart #4, Sea Haven #11
Rating Out of 5: 5 (I will read this again and again and again)
My Bookshelves: The Coast, Elements, Family, Magic, Paranormal romance
Pace: Fast
Format: Novel
Publisher: Jove
Year: 2015
5th sentence, 74th page: I’d like to come if I have time.

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Synopsis

After escaping from a cult, Lexi found refuge with her sisters on the farm that more than sustained her body – it nurtured her soul as well. But she never forgot the terror she left behind or the always present fear that the cult would find her again, and claim her. Then her nightmare came true.

Lexi was discovered and threatened – only to be suddenly saved by a stranger. He is Gavriil Prakenskii, and he’s awestruck by the woman he has rescued. She is destined for him. He can feel it in his soul. But how can Lexi find happiness with a man steeped in secrets and shadows, one intimately acquainted with violence, and whose very love could be the death of them?

Thoughts

This was so heart wrenching. And heartbreaking. And just generally completely gut wrenching. Lexi is such a sweet and adorable character. And her past is stomach-curdlingly ill-inspiring. The fact that she ends up with the most damaged of the Prakenskii brothers too helps to make this both beautiful and… well, heartbreaking. There really is no other word. This seriously tore at the heartstrings and made it impossible to put the story down.

Where most of the other tales feature sex quite strongly, Lexi’s past makes it almost impossible to have this featured so strongly. And it was kind of a nice way to change the pace and trajectory of the storyline. This was also a lot more violent and bloodthirsty. Which was good. Because the whole cult at eight-years-old and all sorts made me feel incredibly bloodthirsty while reading this. I might have actually cheered when Lexi’s past is finally overcome. Also when she kicks Gavriil for being annoying.

Gavriil and Lexi’s story doesn’t strongly feature the noose around the Prakenskii brothers’ necks. But it does help to tighten the noose and set up the tale perfectly for Fire Bound. There’s also the surprise reveal about Lissa’s past which makes me want to read the next story all the more. But, really, I need to actually get some work done… I might just have to hide the book from myself in an attempt for some self-control.

 <- Air Bound Review Fire Bound Review ->
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Air Bound by Christine Feehan

Book Review, , , , , , ,

Overview

Air BoundTitle: Air Bound
Author: Christine Feehan
Series: Sisters of the Heart #3, Sea Haven #10
Rating Out of 5: 5 (I will read this again and again and again)
My Bookshelves: The Coast, Elements, Family, Magic, Paranormal romance
Pace: Fast
Format: Novel
Publisher: Jove
Year: 2014
5th sentence, 74th page: He was systematically destroying her world.

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Synopsis

For as far back as she can remember, Airiana Ridell has always been aware of her extraordinary gift. She can intuit revealing and illuminating “patterns” in the air around her – whether in a spary of mist, in billowing clouds or in the dense swirls of an impenetrable fog. Her abilities led to her placement in a secret government training facility when she was a child, but everything changed after her mother was murdered.

Airiana fled the program, but she couldn’t outrun the desperate members of a shadowy cabal who want her, who need her, who will kill to get her. Kidnapped and held abroad a ship bound for dangerous seas, her only chance for rescue is Maxim Parkenskii. He has his reasons for helping her, but he isn’t about to reveal them to Airiana. Not yet. Not as the two are drawn together as moth to flame. Not when there are so many secrets yet untold that could shatter the quaint community of Sea Haven and all who reside there…

Thoughts

I’ve been relating to all of the women throughout the Sea Haven novels in one way or another. But I certainly related to Airiana on a whole other level. She gets lost in numbers and her thoughts. And although I don’t get lost in patterns and numbers to the same degree, I honestly spend days on end in my own head, forgetting what else is around me. I’ve not really read any other stories that understand this level of distraction that your thoughts can drag you into.

This is the first of the Sisters of the Heart books that isn’t actually set on the farm. I also felt like Maxim helped to kind of destroy the no-killing thing that the previous two couples were trying to set up. In Water Bound and Spirit Bound, Levi and Thomas are sort of discouraged (and banned) from killing people as their first aim of defense or protection for the women. After all, they want to start their new lives together. And then Maxim comes along. He literally runs around this entire time killing. Where the previous nine Sea Haven books involving very little murder and mayhem, Maxim is more than able to make up for this. I found it kind of hilarious that all the hard-won “new life” that had been discussed for the Prakenskii brothers very quickly went down the drain. It was kind of hilarious.

Air Bound also helped to further twine the storylines together in a way that you know two epic showdowns are about to occur. It makes me not only want to read the next love story, but also to find out how these intricately intertwined stories are all going to come to a head in the finality of this series, Bound Together.

 <- Spirit Bound Review Earth Bound Review ->
Image source: Amazon

Spirit Bound by Christine Feehan

Book Review, , , , , ,

Overview

Spirit BoundTitle: Spirit Bound
Author: Christine Feehan
Series: Sisters of the Heart #2, Sea Haven #9
Rating Out of 5: 5 (I will read this again and again and again)
My Bookshelves: The Coast, Elements, Family, Magic, Paranormal romance
Pace: Fast
Format: Novel
Publisher: Jove
Year: 2011
5th sentence, 74th page: He lives the way he wants to live.

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Synopsis

Lethal undercover agent Stefan Prakenskii knows a thousand ways to kill a man – and twice as many ways to pleasure a woman. That’s why he’s looking forward to his new mission. He must go to the coastal town of Sea Haven and insinuate himself into the life of an elusive beauty who has mysterious ties to his past and a link to a dangerously seductive and equally elusive master criminal who wants only one thing: to possess her.

Judith Henderson is an artist on the rise, an ethereal and haunted woman whose own picture-perfect beauty stirs the souls of two men who have made her their obsession. For years she has been waiting for someone to come and unlock the passion and fire within her – waiting for the right man to surrender it to. But only one man can survive her secrets and the shadow she has cast over both their lives.

Thoughts

I like damaged artists. There is something about them that just seems to work really well and makes a kind of perfect sense. Yes, it’s a bit of a cliché, but it’s one that really works. Judith is haunted and stunning. She is the epitome of a feminine artist and wonder. And something about that makes this story feel kind of ethereal and stunning all of itself.

I’m still not really sure whether to call Thomas, Stefan or Thomas. Throughout the tale, Stefan almost seemed to suit him better and added an extra layer of mystery to him. Thomas is just so simply ordinary, and there is nothing ordinary about the leading man in Spirit Bound. Or the woman either for that matter. They are both withdrawn and spirited, a contrasting set of ideals that somehow work incredibly well. Add to this a backdrop of intrigue and mystery, danger from Judith’s past, and an amazingly not-so-sleepy coastal town.

Spirit Bound starts to set up a greater storyline and intrigue that has been hinted at in Water Bound. The defense system and man who Gavriil almost died for starts to tie himself in amongst the girls’ lives. As each storyline unfolds, the pieces click into place. As does the reason for their eventual demise (if the big, bad Russian man has his way). And now I can’t wait to find out how this will continue to unfold, and whether the Prakenskii brothers will finally find a way to their own happy endings…

 <- Water Bound Review Air Bound Review ->
Image source: Amazon

Fangs for Hire by Jenna Black

Book Review, , ,

Overview

The Mammoth Book of Vampire RomanceTitle: Fangs for Hire
Author: Jenna Black
In: The Mammoth Book of Vampire Romance (Trisha Telep)
Rating Out of 5: 4.5 (Amazing, but not quite perfect)
My Bookshelves: Paranormal romance, Vampires
Pace: Fast
Format: Short story
Publisher: Robinson
Year: 2008
5th sentence, 74th page: Had he smelled it on my breath last night?

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Synopsis

She is an assassin hired to take out a mark. But the mark turns out to be something far more than expected. And incredibly desired.

Thoughts

I loved this short story. The idea that there is a vampire hit woman. And she runs into another vampire. And of course, there is sexual tension (because it’s in a book of vampire romance after all). It was just cute and funny. Easy to read and a good bit to read just before sinking into bed to try and get some sleep.

I loved that the two vampires showed two flip sides to vampirism – the one who tries to kill the bad guys, and the ones who want to send others to their rest. The assassin and the carer (in a weird, twisted way). I’ve seen both tropes in a number of vampire stories, but never coming against one another. Certainly an enjoyable and slightly altered way in which to see vampirific interactions…

 <- Ode to Edvard Munch Review The Righteous Review ->
Image source: Goodreads