Mine to Possess (Psy-Changeling, #4) in Dangerous Hero Addict Support Group

Jan 31, 2010 Beanbag Love rated it really liked it

This installment of Singh's Psy-Changeling series was different in that neither of the two leads was a psy. I have to admit, I prefer that. The psy storyline always seems the same to me. We have to go through the whole 'awakening' thing and it always seems to present the same way. So this was a refreshing change and I liked the plot and story better.

However, the writing itself was weaker than the others. Singh reused several phrases to the point were I actually laughed a couple of times. "His le This installment of Singh's Psy-Changeling series was different in that neither of the two leads was a psy. I have to admit, I prefer that. The psy storyline always seems the same to me. We have to go through the whole 'awakening' thing and it always seems to present the same way. So this was a refreshing change and I liked the plot and story better.

However, the writing itself was weaker than the others. Singh reused several phrases to the point were I actually laughed a couple of times. "His leopard stilled" or "he stilled" or "he went leopard still" could have been a drinking game. I got this picture of a guy who would freeze in mid-conversation and it was actually pretty comical when of course it wasn't meant to be.

Then there were the inner arguments for Talin. "I love him but he can't love me but it will kill him if something happens to me but is he only with me for loyalty? No, damnit, he cares!" and on and on and on. Really it felt more like padding.

The mystery and the story itself was very good though. And I really liked the romance (even with the repetitive phrases and inner monologues). At first it seemed a bit squicky because he sees a woman with his childhood friend's scent and appearance, but thinks his friend is dead. The last time he saw her she was eight. But his first thoughts about this mystery woman are sexual. Huh? Doesn't add up for me.

Thankfully we move on from there and it doesn't feel squicky anymore because we forget that little tidbit, but it would have been nice if his first reaction had been a bit more chaste.

Clay and Talin were friends in a low income apartment complex. She was an abused foster child and he was a changeling living with his crazy human mother who demanded he suppress his leopard half. He's older than Talin by about five years. They meet when she's three and helps him after he's gotten hurt outside and nobody bothers to notice. She's not afraid of him and he immediately becomes her best friend and protector. Until he goes too far with the latter and they're cruelly separated just when they need each other the most.

There are several things that make this a really nice setup. One, they pretty much bonded as children without the romantic side to it. Two, they were separated by tragedy and violence that served to not only mark their destinies, but to bring them back together. Three, they haven't seen each other since childhood and so are getting to know one another while continuing to have this base of knowledge (regarding their past traumas) but also a store of good memories to draw from. It's a nice mix.

There's murder and mayhem and bad things happen to kids. Nothing with the kids is too graphic, but you are in no doubt about it's existence. Justice is served and the next book is set up nicely.

So far, all the Psy-Changeling books have gotten four stars from me. I have criticism of all of them, but they're all good solid reads.

(edited for clarity) ...more

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Feb 12, 2010 Zeek rated it liked it

Shelves: shifters, favorites-pnr

Singh continues to impress me with her Psy-Changeling world! She's built a cool world set in a future where mankind has evolved mentally and psychically, with "humans" caught somewhere in the middle. (They're all human, really- but the Psy's and Changlings are bit more!)

The only thing is- I didn't enjoy this one as much as the first three.

I had "issues" with the heroine.

Talin and Clay have known each other since they were children. But one blood soaked day, Clay went berserk protecting her from Singh continues to impress me with her Psy-Changeling world! She's built a cool world set in a future where mankind has evolved mentally and psychically, with "humans" caught somewhere in the middle. (They're all human, really- but the Psy's and Changlings are bit more!)

The only thing is- I didn't enjoy this one as much as the first three.

I had "issues" with the heroine.

Talin and Clay have known each other since they were children. But one blood soaked day, Clay went berserk protecting her from an abusive foster father, landing himself in jail and scarring her for life. Believing her dead, he eventually joined up with the Darkriver pack, the feline Changeling pack of Lucas and Sascha (Slave to Sensation) and Faith and Vaughn (Visions of Heat).

Now, years later, Tally has decided to overcome her fears and look for him. She desperately needs too, because someone is harming the children she protects and he's still the strongest man she's ever known.

Talin is a wounded heroine. Intelligent and sensitive, she suffered great damage at the hands of her abuser and because of what Clay did that fateful day, she's built walls up against him, (and the world, for that matter), to keep herself sane.

I am glad to see Singh was consistent in giving Talin the natural defenses adult survivors of child abuse usually set up. What I didn't buy, was the reasons for Talin's distancing herself from Clay. She had to have known he did what he did to protect her, and her fearful reactions to him, even years later, got on my nerves.

I liked Clay a lot. He's on the edge, being separated so long from Talin, but that's what endeared him to me. I liked his protectiveness, and even his possessiveness. I just wish he had been paired with someone who matched him.

The "missing children showing up dead" plot line worked for me, although I was curious throughout the story as to how that connected with the illness she had and "odd scent" Clay kept picking up on with Talin- because there was obviously a connection. In the end, it all made sense to the rules Singh's been establishing in her world, but I totally saw it going a different way- though I couldn't put my finger on what.

This book's strength is the further development of the Psy/Changeling world. I did like the way she incorporated the regular old humans into their world, and appreciated how she established the psy-changelings' need for them. As others have noted, this book marks a turning point for the Psy's- they're losing their grip on power and are getting desperate to keep it. And- The Changelings are gaining strength. I'm anxious to see how it all pans out!

Good, but not as engaging for me as the previous ones! ...more

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Nov 08, 2009 namericanwordcat rated it it was amazing

Shelves: 5-star-romance, paranormal-romance-series, friends-to-lovers, kick-ass-heroine, reread, fated-mate, warrior, loved-forever, tortured-hero, abuse-sexual-or-physical

Mine to Possess (Psy-Changeling Series #4) Clay Bennett is a powerful DarkRiver sentinel, but he grew up in the slums with his human mother, never knowing his changeling father. As a young boy without the bonds of Pack, he tried to stifle his animal nature. He failed...and committed the most extreme act of violence, killing a man and losing his best friend, Talin, in the bloody aftermath. Everything good in him died the day he was told that she, too, was dead.Talin McKade barely survived a child ...more

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Nov 28, 2010 Keri rated it really liked it

Shelves: romance-urban-fantasy, 2010s-read

Another fine entry into this series. It is all I can do not to dive into the next one in the series. It too me awhile to warm up to Clay and Talin, but once I got their total background I was able to get with their relationship.

I really enjoy learning more and more about Singh's world and how all these wonderful characters are dependent with one another in order for the entire story to work.

I cannot wait to get to the next story in the series. ...more

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Oct 02, 2010 Peep (Pop! Pop!) rated it really liked it

Shelves: read-in-2010, liked-cause-im-crazy, manly-alpha-man, adult-cravings

Well I went and read another one of these. Oh come on, it is hardly surprising anymore. I did read this one faster than I thought I would. I will say they seem to be getting better and better… in a book-I-clearly-don’t-like-but-keep-reading-anyway sort of way. I mean, yeah, they all seem to follow the same formula, but I don’t care. Why? That’s what I want to know: Why do I care? I have a few ideas but I’ll need to ummm do more uhhhh research *cough* by ummm reading the rest of the series. Stric ...more

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