Picking music for your midnight radio station can certainly be a difficult choice… especially when you have to deal with a fool of a manager.
This doesn’t really feel like much of a short story. More
like a little segue, look into Kitty’s daily life, managing her station
manager. It did help to crystalize some of the ways in which she views the
world though and highlight that before or else, she is a werewolf first and
sees things in terms of animal nature of instincts.
Kitty is so clearly an alpha figure in this story. It’ll be
interesting how this works into an urban fantasy world. There’s not many
stories which feature a strong, female werewolf without a whole slew of issues
from her male contemporaries.
Since this really felt more like an anecdote than a story, I
don’t really have all that much to say about this. It was fun, easy and makes
me keen to sink my teeth into Kitty and the Midnight Hour.
Title: Wild Ride Author: Carrie Vaughn Series: Kitty Norville #0.7 In: Kitty’s Greatest Hits (Carrie Vaughn) Rating Out of 5: 5 (I will read this again and again and again) My Bookshelves:Paranormal fantasy, Urban fantasy, Werewolves Dates read: 17th November 2019 Pace: Medium Format: Short story Publisher: Tor Year: 2011 5th sentence, 74th page: The Dustbowl was part of a row of simple wooden buildings set up to look like an Old West street but without disguising the modern shingles, windows, and neon beer sings.
He’s just discovered that he’s not as well as he wants to be. But a motorbike accident and a twist of fate might provide him with an out. Will he be brave enough to start a new life?
I’ve decided that I absolutely adore werewolf stories which feature gay werewolves. This is only my second. The other is the Mercedes Thompson series. There is just something that pulls me in… I’m not sure why. Probably something to do with the fact that werewolves are often used to indicate our animalistic side, which is very much associated with power and masculinity where the males are concerned… things that are not traditionally associated with gay men. Which is stupid, but that’s another soapbox for another day. The point is… I loved this.
This isn’t a greatly positive story. Although, it’s not entirely negative either. Unlike some of the other lead-up Kitty Norvilleshort stories, the man isn’t turned against his will and there’s really not much trauma associated with his turning. Rather, he trades one “cage” for another and then finds a way to live with the decisions he’s made. A much nicer and more PG story of paranormal turnings and becoming a monster.
What I loved most about this story though is the fact that
he actually walked away. Although it was scary, possibly dangerous and
could potentially lead to his death. He manages to stand up for himself, walk
away and be his own person. Something that not everyone can do. Especially when
surrounded by such intense peer pressure and an alpha figure such as the one in
this story. All in all, a fantastic read and one that I absolutely ripped
through.
Cormac managed to avenge his father’s death. But, he doesn’t think he’s quite done yet. When his younger cousin Bill follows him into the darkness, he realises that he may just have to readjust his priorities.
As a pre-story to a series about a woman who is a werewolf,
I was kind of surprised to find a story about a young werewolf hunter. One that
starts with the boy killing a werewolf in revenge for his father’s death and
continues with his journey for revenge. Yet, I’m pretty sure that this is an
origins story, one that will make a lot more sense when I meet Cormac and Bill
in the full-length novels.
Bill and Cormac are a fantastic pair of cousins. Like two
sides of the same coin – one is a tough, no nonsense, serious boy. The other is
kind of needy, wants to impress his older cousin and show that he’s made of
sterner stuff. Yet, it is ultimately this difference in personality and
relationship that saves both boys – their differences and ability to accept
each other that gives Cormac a chance to move on from his father’s death and live
his life.
This story really asks – when is someone actually a monster?
Is it just because they can kill you? Or because they do? I wonder how Cormac
will answer this question as the series unfolds…
Ruiz has been made into something he never dreamt existed. Never wanted to be and would rather didn’t exist at all. But he might be able to find a new beginning for himself, and just a small spot of revenge.
I don’t know much about the Spanish settlement of the
Americas. Actually, Zorro is my only exposure to such a time period and theme. Which
of course meant that this short story fascinated me from the outset. Especially
since Ricardo was a particularly noble and honourable lead. One who was thrown
into the world of the paranormal incredibly unwillingly.
Most stories I read about vampires feature a character who
is turned against their will. And this paranormal rape is frequently overlooked
or glossed over. Yet, that doesn’t happen in this short story. Actually, the
main focuses of this is on the horrors and atrociousness of being turned
against your will. It makes you feel incredibly sympathetic towards Ricardo and
make you question all of the vampires you’ve read about in books so far.
There is a bit of a Christian overture to this story. One
which seriously begs the question – how do you live when your life is a sin?
But suicide is also a sin? How can you balance your belief against such a
horror and intensity?
Title: Mate Set Author: Laurann Dohner Series: Mating Heat #1 Rating Out of 5: 5 (I will read this again and again and again) My Bookshelves:Paranormal romance, Shapeshifters, Werewolves Dates read: 8th November 2019 Pace: Medium Format: eBook, Novel Publisher: Ellora’s Cave Publishing Year: 2010 5th sentence, 74th page: Mika sighed and dropped her own.
It’s werewolf mating season. All the males are in heat and the driving, sexual lust of their beasts is almost uncontrollable. Mika is human, in an alley, surrounded by four horny werewolves. She knows she’s in deep shit. A tall, handsome werewolf rescues her then demands payment. Hot, sweaty, intimate payment. Grady is a half breed whose human mother abandoned him to his werewolf father, so he knows human women just aren’t safe to fall in love with. The wolf within him wants Mika as his mate, but Grady will not give in. Never. Ever. He’s willing to fight his emotions and his beast, no matter how much sexy Mika tempts him. But neither of them expected her Uncle Omar to assign Grady to protect her from other males—24/7, in her home, sleeping just down the hall. Mika decides to make the best of her vacation and keep the hot wolf in her bed. Grady can’t resist the scorching sex, but he is determined to resist the bond.
The night that I read this I had some serious insomnia.
Which was annoying… but on a positive note, I spent that time reading this very
fun, cute and kind of lustful novel. Mostly because it was on my ereader and I
didn’t want to keep my partner up throughout the night… and boy am I glad that
I spontaneously decided to read this… I absolutely adored it and just couldn’t
put it down!!!
If you’re planning on reading this, as a bit of a warning –
there is a potential rape scene. A close call that is intensely uncomfortable
and not for those that can be triggered by such an event. However, it is
fleeting, in the beginning and afterwards, makes an incredibly comfortable and
fun journey. One that I can’t imagine not having read now that I’ve finished
it. Having said that, in this trigger scene, I did reach out for my very big,
stocky, protective dog and pull him in close…
As with a lot of the romances that I read, this story
featured a woman who is the submissive character in the partnership. Not really
a position that I take myself, but one that does tend to work in paranormal
romance stories. However, Mika is able to still find a way to stick up for
herself. She is able to call Grady on his bullshit and find a way to keep her
sense of self, even as she falls head over heels for a guy she’s convinced she
can never have.
One of the most common tropes of a paranormal romance (and
yes, this book fits a lot of them, but it’s still great), is one or both of the
romantic leads stuffing it up in some way or another. Grady does this
fantastically in this story. In such a way that made me scream moron and then
laugh, because hey, it was late at night and he was kind of cute in his
moron-cy. Actually, most of his actions were kind of that typical male
inability to remember how communication actually works…
Catherine is the princess of spain, and about to enter marriage with a sickly Englishman. But, when she realises that there are paranormal forces at work, she bands with his younger brother Henry to get rid of the evil.
I only recognised that this was about Henry the VIII’s first wife, Catherine of Aragon because I read Falling Pomegranate Seeds. Which is amazing (read it). But, since I’m not all that well versed and, quite frankly, interested in Tudor History, I wouldn’t have really clicked as to what this story was actually about. Having said that, even if I hadn’t. I still would have thoroughly enjoyed it. It’s obviously a story about a historical figure, and it has a beautiful dose of the paranormal. Both things which always draw me in. Actually, I’m finding that the short stories in the lead up to Kitty and the Midnight Hour are so far beautifully able to mention historical moments that are quite well known. But in a oh so subtle way.
The political intrigue in this story immediately draws you
in. It makes it almost impossible to look away as you want to find out how the
Spanish princess will fare in an English court. Luckily, this is just a short
story. Otherwise I would have happily wasted an entire afternoon trying to
figure out who was up to what in this political tale.
Most people when they imagine Henry VIII, it’s a pretty bad
image. Someone who liked to behead his wives and eat a lot. But, this short
story gives a view of him as a young child. Before he begins to run around
beheading women and divorcing the ones he didn’t kill…
Roman was once a man called Gaius. Who was turned against his will. But, in his quest to find vengeance, he might go a little bit further than expected.
Thoroughly enjoyed the idea of a villain who is simply
seeking revenge on the entire paranormal community because he was forced to
join it. No more sinister, intense reason, nothing else going on… he’s
basically just cracking the shits because someone turned him against his will,
so he may as well burn the whole world down because of it. Talk about a temper
tantrum.
Although I didn’t feel sympathy for this villain (as I do
tend to do with a lot of villain POVs), I did gain a little understanding into
him. And that was kind of nice. After all, the best villains are the ones you
can understand, and even imagine yourself becoming… mostly I think that this
villain is a bit of a petulant child. And probably just needed to break
something. Too bad that someone came along and gave him the means to break the
world…
I absolutely love when you can recognise a historical moment woven into a series. Especially when it’s a contemporary, urban fantasy like Kitty Norville. But Pompeii is in this. And I have a slightly intense fascination with this, have had since I was a young child. Which meant I was completely digging the idea that the villain in this caused Pompeii. That that was one of his petulant child moments of destruction… completely brilliant and so much fun!!! Except for the peoples of Pompeii… not so much fun for them.
It’s the eve of their wedding, and something just doesn’t quite feel right. Until they find the love charms… and everything seems to start making sense. So, do they truly love each other? Or was it just someone’s magic getting involved?
I freaking adored this short story. Which really isn’t surprising since I tend to love everything written by Lori Handeland. She manages to write paranormal romance stories which are sweet and get the pulse racing. But they’re also not over the top. Most of the time, the romance is about pursuing a truth and justice. The kind of relationship that I prefer to be in – something that is about a great connection, lots of sparks, but also a sense of each other. Actually, Charmed by the Moon is more potent at this than any other story I’ve read by her thus far.
One of the aspects of this story that I truly loved was the idea
that even though the couple loved each other and were about to get married,
they were still willing to risk it all. Risk it all to make sure that what they
felt was true, and not the results of a spell that had been cast. It would be
easy to go along the easy route, but they chose the hard one so that they could
have something that was true, and not simply a figment of their imagination.
The last thing I probably loved about this story was the fact that it’s part of the Nightcreature series. I would have been a little devastated if it wasn’t, so I’m definitely glad that it is part of a larger series. After all, I don’t want the story to end there!
Casey is out in the wilderness trying to find a lost young man. But the werewolf who is assisting her might just be more of a temptation than she can bear.
This is one of those short stories that I thoroughly,
thoroughly enjoyed in the moment. But kind of forgot about once I turned that
final page. Even writing this review, I had to flick back to it just to
remember what I’d actually read. Maybe I’ve just been reading a little too much
werewolf / shapeshifter paranormal romance of late…
Something which this short story did was make me really, really want to pick up Lora Leigh’sBreeds series. The positioning of the werewolf as a totally separate species, and not human at all kind of reminded me of that. And also the stupidity that we kind of have in our own separations, if someone is not exactly like us, they are often considered as somehow less than human, even if there is a whole heap of evidence to the contrary. The fact that this was done through the vessel of a loner werewolf and outcast teacher made the point far more subtle, but it was still there.
The care for a child is something that I think ties everyone
together. Or at least, it does in this story. Even though the child in question
is sixteen, the cusp of innocence is still there are Casey and Mac race against
time and hunters to rescue him. It helped to bring a more humanitarian element
to the storyline and detract a little from the intense passion, which kind of
felt needed at this point of the collection.
For Devil’s Fork-based FBI Agent Dana Duran, the only way to fight a supernatural serial killer just may be to embrace life. But little did she know that voodoo could be so viciously sexy…
I’m really surprised that I haven’t read more stories which
feature the Voodoo religion. After all, it seems to come up in almost every TV
series I’ve watched. Although that’s mostly as a method of killing… I’ve never
read a story which has voodoo as the central storyline – one which involves the
manifestation of the evil, and the way in which to rid the world of it.
Balance was a key idea throughout this story. It was the imbalance
of nature and the world which bought the evil spirit to the small town. And it
was recreating this balance (in the most fun of ways) which bought about a
happy ending. As someone who has spiritual beliefs, discussions on balance and the
way the world twists and turns is so incredibly important, so of course, I just
completely lapped up this story. And then started researching how much it was
going to cost to get the first few books in this series… because you know, self-control.
Paranormal romance stories which feature a cop of some sort as the lead always capture my fancy immediately. I love criminal shows, don’t read the books as much because I get a little scared, so reading a paranormal version that I know isn’t going to happen to me is a perfect middle ground. The use of a female lead who is an FBI agent investigating some really horrific and confusing deaths… you really can’t go wrong. Now I just have to wait until I have some spare cash to buy Blue Moon and the rest of the series…
Earth and Skye 