Tag Archives: Wild Invitation

Stroke of Enticement by Nalini Singh ReRead

Book Review, , , , ,
Overview

Title: Stroke of Enticement
Author: Nalini Singh
Series: Psy-Changeling #4.5
In: Wild Invitation (Nalini Singh)
Rating Out of 5: 5 (I will read this again and again and again)
My Bookshelves: Paranormal romance,  Shapeshifters, Urban fantasy
Pace: Slow, Medium, Fast
Format: eBook, Novella
Year: 2013

Thoughts

It doesn’t matter how many times I read this novella, Zach and Annie are still so incredibly sweet and cute. I mean, they just zing from the first moment, and I love that Zach understands the need for patience in courting his sweet mate. Plus, there’s the absolutely beautiful nature hike dates that they go on… picture perfect in every way.

Zach’s qualifications as a PhD work brilliantly to subvert Annie’s family expectations of who and what an academic should be. I also love that he is quiet about it, and doesn’t use his intelligence to show off or put others down (something I’ve seen too much of in the recent past).

I seriously enjoyed how Zach slowly builds the relationship. However, like many people, he makes a few too many assumptions, and probably could stand to be a little more honest in the future. Still, it doesn’t take away from how yummy and cute this whole story is. And I will reread this again and again and again.

<- Mine to Possess ReReadHostage to Pleasure ReRead ->

Image source: Nalini Singh

Beat of Temptation by Nalini Singh ReRead

Book Review, , , , ,
Overview

Title: Beat of Temptation
Author: Nalini Singh
Series: Psy-Changeling #0.5
In: Wild Invitation (Nalini Singh)
Rating Out of 5: 5 (I will read this again and again and again)
My Bookshelves: Paranormal romance,  Shapeshifters, Urban fantasy
Pace: Slow, Medium, Fast
Format: eBook, Novella
Year: 2013

Thoughts

No matter how many times I read it, I still absolutely adore Tammy and Nate’s origin story. They are just too damn cute and adorable. And their whole relationship is such an important foundation for a lot of stories and couples throughout the rest of the Psy-Changeling series. It’s also a great reminder that even the most solid couples have rocky moments throughout, and Tammy and Nate are no different.

Nate’s reluctance and controlling nature, whilst coming from an admirable place are incredibly frustrating to read about. I mean, I love that he’s originally supressed his urges because the age difference was yucky. But then, he just stubbornly decides that he knows more because Tammy is young and somewhat naïve. Luckily, before you get really irritated, he realises that he’s doing more damage than good. And makes amends…

As with most books / romances that I read, it’s the woman I like to resonate the most with. I absolutely adored Tammy from the first moment I read about her, and that feeling hasn’t changed with all of my rereads. I love that, even if she’s fumbling a little in her relationship, she is actually incredibly confident in her self and own abilities. She’s also, ultimately, confident enough in herself to actually go after what she wants in life.

<- More Nalini SinghWhisper of Sin ReRead ->

Image source: Nalini Singh

Texture of Intimacy by Nalini Singh

Book Review, , , , ,

Overview

wild-invitation

Title: Texture of Intimacy
Author: Nalini Singh
Series: Psy-Changeling #10.5, Psy-Changeling Season One #10.5
In: Wild Invitation (Nalini Singh)
Rating Out of 5: 5 (I will read this again and again and again)
My Bookshelves: Dark fantasy, Paranormal romance, Shapeshifters
Pace: Fast
Format: Novella
Publisher: Gollancz
Year: 2013
5th sentence, 74th page: Looking into Marlee’s room, he saw her sprawled out in her sleep, her arms and legs thrown every which way.

Synopsis

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

Thoughts

Although Walker and Lara’s romance begins, and is even cemented, in Kiss of Snow, it is nice that they get their own short story. It is a poignant reminder that, in spite of their mating, in spite of finding someone that you will spend the rest of your life with, relationships still require work.

Lara’s willingness to adopt Walker’s children, his family as her own is a kind, caring act that doesn’t necessarily occur so seamlessly in most people’s lives. Their desire to create a family of their own, and provide a caring environment that is open to everyone is one of the most admirable traits of all of Singh’s characters. At least, in my opinion – unconditionally accepting anyone and everyone into your life just because they need the comfort is an amazing trait that more people should have.

Walker’s slowly unfolding tale and recounts of the past finally help the last pieces of the puzzle that is the Laurens fall into place. It is also a great illustration of the very far reaching, and horrific impacts of Silence. And the creation of the Arrows, something that is becoming more and more important as increasingly more characters come to play in the Psy-Changeling war.

<- Kiss of SnowTangle of Need ->

Image source: Nalini Singh

Declaration of Courtship by Nalini Singh

Book Review, , , ,

Overview

wild-invitation

Title: Declaration of Courtship
Author: Nalini Singh
Series: Psy-Changeling #9.5, Psy-Changeling Season One #9.5
In: Wild Invitation (Nalini Singh)
Rating Out of 5: 5 (I will read this again and again and again)
My Bookshelves: Dark fantasy, Paranormal romance, Shapeshifters
Pace: Fast
Format: Novella
Publisher: Gollancz
Year: 2013
5th sentence, 74th page: I gave him a couple of days off so he could go to his father’s birthday party in L.A.

Synopsis

Grace, a shy submissive wolf, finds herself pursued by the last man she ever would have imagined: a SnowDancer lieutenant who intrigues her.. and has a reputation of being ‘mad, bad, and dangerous to know’.

Thoughts

This is a great little side-story in the greater brewing war of the Psy-Changeling world. It doesn’t further the overarching story and there isn’t a great point of contention within the story, rather, it is simply a tale of two characters courting and finding acceptance in one another. Which was so thoroughly enjoyable to read.

The idea of one of the most submissive wolves in the pack falling for one of the most terrifyingly dominant hasn’t really been explored throughout the Psy-Changeling stories thus far. Most of the women that the supremely dominant males choose are dominant themselves, in one form or another. Even the Psy, trained not to feel give back with zest. Grace’s total submissiveness draws an entirely new dynamic into the courtship between herself and Cooper than previously seen. With a new dynamic, there comes new obstacles for the couple to overcome. Something that didn’t allow me to put my book down until I had read every single page of the novella.

<- Play of PassionKiss of Snow ->

Image source: Nalini Singh

Stroke of Enticement by Nalini Singh

Book Review, , , , , ,

Overview

wild-invitation

Title: Stroke of Enticement
Author: Nalini Singh
Series: Psy-Changeling #4.5, Psy-Changeling Season One #4.5
In: Wild Invitation (Nalini Singh) & The Magical Christmas Cat (Lora Leigh, Erin McCarthy, Nalini Singh & Linda Winstead Jones)
Rating Out of 5: 5 (I will read this again and again and again)
My Bookshelves: Dark fantasy, Paranormal romance, Shapeshifters
Pace: Fast
Format: Novella
Publisher: Gollancz
Year: 2013
5th sentence, 74th page: Annie.

Synopsis

Stroke of Enticement introduces Annie, a wary young teacher who is sceptical about love, and who arouses that man – and the leopard- in the aggressive changeling Zach Quinn. He must prove his affections are true if he’s to win her over.

Thoughts

I loved the beginning of this story – Bryan’s stubbornness and, cuteness, sprung from the page as the seven year-old argued with his teacher. The resultant courtship between Bryan’s uncle Zach and his teacher Annie followed this tone. It was cute, sweet and full of two people who are as stubborn as one another to get their own way in life.

The prejudice and worry of Annie’s mother was both endearing and frustrating – understandable when you view it through the lens of Annie’s past, but irritating when her present is considered. However, the prejudice of her academic family is quickly altered as more of Annie’s familial life is unfolded. Annie’s acceptance of this aspect of her mother’s personality was truly about unconditional love, and accepting the love of someone else, even when it might be more than a little irritating.

Zach, much like Nate, and many other men that have a possessive, protective streak, has a serious faux pas. His wish to protect Annie from the big, nasty world and realities of their mating, has the exact opposite effect.

<- Mine to PossessHostage to Pleasure ->

Image source: Nalini Singh

Beat of Temptation by Nalini Singh

Book Review, , , , ,

Overview

wild-invitation

Title: Beat of Temptation
Author: Nalini Singh
Series: Psy-Changeling #0.5, Psy-Changeling Season One #0.5
In: Wild Invitation (Nalini Singh) & An Enchanted Season (Nalini Singh, Maggie Shayne, Erin McCarthy & Jean Johnson)
Rating Out of 5: 5 (I will read this again and again and again)
My Bookshelves: Dark fantasy, Paranormal romance, Shapeshifters
Pace: Fast
Format: Novella
Publisher: Gollancz
Year: 2013
5th sentence, 74th page: But it made her feel good.

Synopsis

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

Thoughts

This story was so sweet that it bought tears to my eyes – although, what more could you expect from the love story of Tammy and Nate? Add to that fact that this was also a Christmas story, and this is quite possibly the sweetest, most endearing paranormal romance story that I have read in a long time. Although, like the rest of the Psy-Changeling stories, there is the steamy attraction between Nate and Tammy, this somehow screams innocence far more potently than the other stories.

Christmas has always been a time of family and surrounding yourself with people that you love (and those you must tolerate), and this story reminded me of the beauty of coming together. The symbolism of Tammy’s giant, living Christmas tree was a great way to highlight this. The juxtaposition of this beautiful time of year and Nate’s pigheadedness worked beautifully and helped to pluck at my heart strings throughout the story.

<- More Nalini SinghWhisper of Sin ->

Image source: Nalini Singh

Wild Invitation by Nalini Singh

Book Review, , , , , ,

Overview

wild-invitation

Title: Wild Invitation
Author: Nalini Singh
Series: Psy-Changeling Companion, Psy-Changeling Season One Companion
In: Wild Invitation (Nalini Singh)
Rating Out of 5: 5 (I will read this again and again and again)
My Bookshelves: Dark fantasy, Paranormal romance, Shapeshifters, Short story collections
Pace: Medium
Format: Collection
Publisher: Gollancz
Year: 2013
5th sentence, 74th page: But it made her feel good.

Synopsis

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.

Plus 2 NEVER BEFORE PUBLISHED NOVELLAS

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.

Thoughts

This was a great collection of Psy-Changeling short stories, each with its own beautiful love story that helps build upon the amazingly intricate world that Singh has so painstakingly built. I love that each tale can be read in isolation to the series, but they can help to introduce peripheral characters that are mentioned within the main novels.

The four short stories in this collection are not only held together by their romantic themes and their ability to remind us all that we can all find love, but also in their ease of reading and simplicity. Where the couples in the key novels in the Psy-Changeling series are constantly fighting against themselves, one another and their circumstances, those within the stories in Wild Invitation have shorter, and far less dramatic courtships. That’s not to say that there isn’t a flavour of drama to keep us intrigued, but it is not so frustrating to constantly read about couples that are only ever capable of messing up their potential relationships.

A great introduction to the world of Psy-Changeling if you’re curious about this fantastic paranormal romance series. Singh manages to make you feel emotionally connected to every single one of her characters, hoping to see them triumph in their chosen lives.

<- More Nalini SinghWild Embrace ->

Image source: Nalini Singh