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Shifting Pride by Laura Diamond
Happy Release Day to my good friend, Laura Diamond. SHIFTING PRIDE is a great book.
Now, I haven’t read a lot of books on shifters. But I’m surely interested now. I’ve read Laura’s short story, New Pride, and now, this one, SHIFTING PRIDE. It’s a full novel geared for the Young Adult.
It’s got some steam, but not too much. Emotionally, it’s intense. I love how deep Laura got into the characters’ heads. And hearts.
She painted fantastic word pictures that thrust me right into the story. The scenery and imagery was top notch.
Nicely done, Laura Diamond.
Click here to find SHIFTING PRIDE on Goodreads.
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Hush, Hush…..
So, I found a new author I adore.
It was touch and go for a minute there, but…..I’m in.
Book one was Hush, Hush:
Book two was Crescendo:
Book three was Silence:
Now, book one ROCKED. Nicely paced, learned about the characters….kinda fell in love with them.
Book two, TOTALLY different story. I nearly put down the book and abandoned the series. It was definitely the “sophomore slump” as they call it.
But….I pressed on because I liked the idea of the story. I enjoyed Becca’s writing style, for the most part. She left the ending hanging big time (flirted with almost too much of a cliffhanger) so I figured I would do it.
I am SOOO glad I did. Book three was the best one so far. AND, it got me thinking. I have a “sophomore” book coming out in May of 2012. Awaited, Wasteland #2…
**bites nails**
I sure don’t think it’s a sophomore slump, but….I’m also sure someone out there will think it’s a sophomore slump. Hopefully they’ll push through and stick it out for the third (currently untitled and still really rough since it was just written last month for NaNoWriMo).
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So, what new authors have caught your eye lately? Not that I need to add to my ever-expanding TBR list. LOL
Head over to Goodreads and check the Hush, Hush books out: CLICK HERE. If you like anything YA, you’ll be happy with these (with mild exception to book 2).
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Siren Song by Stephanie Draven
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Siren Song, by Stephanie Draven
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Back cover blurb. No one can resist Chloe Karras when she sings-except for the sexy naval officer who is seemingly immune to her sensual allure. Maybe that’s why Captain Alex Shore is just the man she wants to take home after her performance-until he tells her what she thought were imagined powers are real…and dangerous.
Alexandros knows firsthand how seductive sirens are, as well as their potential to destroy. Yet the former sea soldier feels a powerful attraction to the beautiful rock singer that goes beyond her spell. Can he banish Chloe from the town he’s vowed to protect-or will he be drawn into the siren’s bed?
My Review:
I usually don’t read novellas. They normally don’t go as deep as full-length novels can take them. And you’ve heard me mention how much I love deep, complicated, and intriguing characters. Having said that, I was pleasantly surprised how much depth Chloe had. In such a short time I was drawn in to her life. I was cheering for her sooner than I’d expected!
Siren’s Song a pretty steamy read as you could tell by the back cover blurb. It’s also why I didn’t post the book cover on this review (it’s a little too close to Rated R for my liking-you can go to her site if you choose to see it.)
But I must admit. I did enjoy the story. I liked the creative twists on mythology. It kept me hooked on the story and I read it in one sitting.
Alexandros was an interesting hero. Tormented. Just how I like them. *evil grin* Yet, in his tormentedness (yes, I use that word *LOL*) he’s gentle and caring. So, if you are looking for a quick, fun read you could give this one a try. Just be warned…it’s a bit steamy.
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Darkness Dawns, by Dianne Duvall
Darkness Dawns, by Dianne Duvall
Back cover blurb from Barnes and NobleOnce, Sarah Bingham’s biggest challenge was making her students pay attention in class. Now, after rescuing a wounded stranger, she’s landed in the middle of a battle between corrupt vampires and powerful immortals who also need blood to survive. Roland Warbrook is the most compelling man Sarah has ever laid hands on. But his desire for her is mingled with a hunger he can barely control. . .
In his nine centuries of immortal existence, no woman has tempted Roland as much as Sarah. But asking her to love him is impossible–when it means forfeiting the world she’s always known, and the life he would do anything to protect. . .
My Review:
I won this book in a contest and boy am I glad. I hadn’t heard of Dianne Duvall to this point, but she is on my radar now. This is the first in her Immortal Guardian series and I’ll be anxiously awaiting her second book. And third. . .
It was a sweet story. The romance between the hero and heroine is so intriguing I had to smile nearly the whole time. What I liked most was that it was more sweet than the usual romances. It didn’t center around constant sex, more of the relationship and trust building up to it. Don’t get me wrong, there are some sex scenes in this book, just to warn you, but the story doesn’t focus on just that, which is why I like it so much, I think.
For me, I love to know about the relationship, how it’s destined to work out despite the odds. The first blush when they hold hands or the first kiss. I don’t need the rough and tumble bedroom scenes to show me the love. The history of the vampire and immortal in this story is amazing. And Seth. . . I sure hope the next book, or at least one of them, is his story. He isn’t a primary character in this one, but oh….I fell in love with his character.
Dianne Duvall really hooked me with this book. I highly recommend it.
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A Hunger Like No Other, by Kresley Cole
A Hunger Like No Other, by Kresley Cole
Back cover blurb from Barnes and Noble A mythic warrior who’ll stop at nothing to possess her . . .
After enduring years of torture from the vampire horde, Lachlain MacRieve, leader of the Lykae Clan, is enraged to find the predestined mate he’s waited millennia for is a vampire. Or partly one. This Emmaline is a small, ethereal half Valkyrie/half vampire, who somehow begins to soothe the fury burning within him.
A vampire captured by her wildest fantasy . . .
Sheltered Emmaline Troy finally sets out to uncover the truth about her deceased parents — until a powerful Lykae claims her as his mate and forces her back to his ancestral Scottish castle. There, her fear of the Lykae — and their notorious dark desires — ebbs as he begins a slow, wicked seduction to sate her own dark cravings.
An all-consuming desire . . .
Yet when an ancient evil from her past resurfaces, will their desire deepen into a love that can bring a proud warrior to his knees and turn a gentle beauty into the fighter she was born to be?
My Review:
This is the first of the Immortals after Dark series and the first time I’ve read anything by Kresley Cole. I’d been hearing her name around the “loops” and figured I give her a try. I was impressed with her writing. It drew me in right away. The opening about Lachlain “scenting” his mate was pretty intense. I love the idea of finding a mate, one person for life, no ifs, ands, or buts about it.
Unfortunately, that means a ton of sex in most romance novels. Kresley’s was no exception. She gets pretty graphic, too. I liked the story behind all the sex, though. The idea that, from way below the surface, he scented out his mate. An instinct tripped deep down in his psyche that someone roaming around up there belonged to him and he to her.That’s the part of the romance genre I really and truly loved.
And then to see how Lachlain helped shape Emmaline into more than she currently was-love it! They both morph into some pretty amazing characters. Specifically, I loved watching how Emmaline bloomed. It was fun to read.
I learned a lot about writing from this book, too. I always try to with anything I read. Kresley’s has a fun, energetic voice, so I’ll probably keep reading her stuff.
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Wolf Fever, by Terry Spear
Wolf Fever by Terry Spear
Back cover blurb from Barnes and Noble
She may be his destiny, but she’s not his first choice…
Hospital nurse and newly turned red werewolf Carol Woods is being pressured by her pack leader to find a mate, but he’s the only guy in the pack who remotely attracts her.
Why is he playing so hard to get?
The fate of the pack rests on his shoulders…
Gray pack leader Ryan McKinley doesn’t want anything to do with Carol unless she’s willing to embrace her wolf nature-no matter how beautiful she is.
But when a virus infects the local lupus garou pack, Ryan realizes just how wrong he’s been not to seize the moment with the woman he’s come to love. And now, it may be too late…
My Review:
I’m new to Terry’s writing. I think this is book number six in the series, but I haven’t read the others. I wasn’t lost really at all. I might even go back and read the rest eventually.
I liked this book. Good writing, intriguing plot, and fascinating characters. I get drawn in by strong characters, especially strong female leads. I got a little annoyed by Carol a few times because she was so stubborn, but that’s a personal preference. Terry obviously did a good job depicting her since I got annoyed, right?
I was tentative about “wolf” books because they’re not my favorite to read about. But it’s obvious Terry knows a thing or two about them. She yanked me into the scenes, and I could literally picture the wolf’s ears swiveling, listening for things to come. That was cool.
There’s a bit of sex in this book. Much of it revolves around that, and the whole mating thing. It has its place for sure, and I like the concept of once mated, mated for life, no other partners, so they took the whole sex-thing really seriously instead of just random sex. But it seemed like it was steamy all the time. Again, personal preference.
Good writing. Good book. She’s created an interesting world and engaging characters!
Terry Spear’s website: CLICK HERE
