R12: Team #2 ~ Read or PAIRish

[Steph, Serious series addict]

Welcome back, Mrs. NancyHelen! So happy for you and your hubby! Congratulations! Just knew the paper roses had to be a hit, glad to hear they were. :D

My three reviews coming up now.

[Steph, Serious series addict]

Series: Guild Hunter #8
Shelf: Favorite
Read: 5 Sept
Rating: ✮✮✮✮✮
Review:
From the start, Naasir, one of Raphael's Seven, has intrigued me as much as he has Elena. Nalini has provided us with enough information to know he is very different from Raphael's other trusted elite. Elena has called him a "tiger creature" and he has fangs; the vampire who wasn't a vampire, but his origins and nature are not known to many. One thing is certain - he's one of a kind.

Naasir wasn't anything natural. He hadn't been born of the earth; he'd been created by a monster.

It was Dmitri who helped Naasir realize that he is a person - a person who would be missed if anything ever happened to him. Dmitri ... was Naasir's father in all the ways it counted. He is completely accepting of Naasir's nature and his desire to understand others. ... Though he could put on a cultured skin that fooled people, inside, he sometimes still didn't know how to behave.

"I'm sorry. Sometimes I forget to think like a human."

When Raphael learns of a plot to murder Alexander, the former Archangel of Persia, he sends Naasir on a mission to discover the Sleeping Ancient's location. To do so, he will need the help of Andromeda, an angelic scholar studying under Jessamy at the Refuge. Due to the heartless, sexually abusive nature of her family, Andromeda's taken a vow of celibacy. Upon hearing that fact, Naasir is certain she's not his mate; No mate of his would ever be so ridiculous as to take a vow of celibacy.

I loved this Guild Hunter installment. It has humor, action, and romance. All of my questions about Naasir were answered. His childlike (yet very much not) attitude is a joy to read. I feel this series would appeal to PNR and UF fans alike. If you haven't started it yet, stop waiting and start reading!

[Steph, Serious series addict]

Series: Lone Pine Pride #5
Shelf: Meow!
Read: 15 Sept
Rating: ✮✮✮✮☆
Review:
Tangling with the Tiger follows a similar timeline to a previous installment, Hawk's Revenge; some of the events in both overlap. In this installment, the Pride's Task Force is making planned assaults on Organization facilities in an effort to not only free shifter captives but also capture Organization personnel to gain more knowledge about their operation.

Dominec Giroux, a French-Canadian Siberian tiger shifter, has been living with the Lone Pine Pride for two years. Since he's been living with versus becoming a part of the Pride no one really knows much about him aside from the fact that the left side of his face is badly scarred and he has a wicked temper. He prefers to hide in the shadows. Recently though, the Hawk-shifter Adrian Sokolov arrived with data on the Organization and now Dominec is insisting he be a part of the Task Force.

Because Roman, the Pride's Alpha, has reservations about sending Dominec, the tiger [with] a shit-ton of crazy flowing through his veins, on the mission Grace has accepted responsibility for him. Grace Calaveras is the first and only female Lieutenant in the Pride as well as the medic. Her life is busy and can be dangerous, but she prefers it that way. She's a strong lioness who can take care of herself, something her family struggles to understand. She's not afraid of the big bad Siberian tiger. In fact, to everyone's dismay, she finds herself drawn to him instead of the easygoing, laid-back lion who wants to date her.

I enjoyed this installment in the series and look forward to more to come. Vivi Andrews has done a great job of progressing the story as well as growing her characters.

[Steph, Serious series addict]

Series: Bewitched & Bewildered #4
Shelf: PNR
Read: 17 Sept
Rating: ✮✮✮½
Review:
Alder's series Bewitched & Bewildered is one that always makes me laugh. Each story revolves around a new couple's HEA as well as the mystery behind why ferals are working together for the first time in their history to kill off members of the paranormal community. The characters are quirky and lovable.

My Savior tells the story of Amelia Ironwood and Darian Vi'Alina. Amelia dreamt of her mate when she was just six years old. At that time, to calm her worries that he would forget her, Darian gave Amelia a part of his light to hold within her so that they would recognize each other when they met again in the future. So, it comes as a complete surprise to Amelia when they do meet again, over thirty years later, and Darian refuses to acknowledge that she's his mate.

Unbeknownst to Amelia, Darian has been struggling for some time. He fears he's on the edge of going dark - becoming feral. His light is dimming and there doesn't appear to be anything else he can do to stop it. He doesn't want to harm Amelia or take her down with him, so he denies their connection. Yet, Amelia's not afraid of the darkness inside of him and she refuses to let him deny their fate any longer.

I'm looking forward to the next installment, My Brother's Keeper, due out 17 Nov, (view spoiler)[ which will tell the story of brothers Keelan and Kendrick Ashwood and mate Anne Bennett.

In this installment, we learned that although Keelan has been having dreams of his mate he's not attracted to her at all. This is quite unusual as all of the other warriors have had the opposite reaction and have done everything possible to find their mate. Furthermore, Keelan's soul was ripped from his body by one of the feral's stones. So, the others are keeping his body safe while they search for his soul in hopes of saving him. And, at the end of the story, Kendrick, Keelan's older brother, arrives after experiencing the traumatic event through Amelia when she lost control of her magic.

My Brother's Keeper's blurb provided at the end of this installment

Two hundred years ago Kendrick Ashwood had a premonition that showed him the gruesome image of his baby brother being killed in the line of duty while serving with the Alpha Unit. When centuries go by and Keelan is still alive and well, he begins to relax. He believes that his prayers sent to the Gods to make him wrong this one time have been answered.

As Kendrick feels his godsdaughter's magic flare out of control he immediately merges with her in an attempt to rein it in. That is when he learns of the tragedy that has taken his only family away from him.

Using every resource at his disposal he immediately heads for Lycaonia to find out for himself who would be suicidal enough to harm his brother. What he finds shocks him to his core.

Anne Bennett gets a phone call that changes her life. Her new best friend Keelan has been hurt and his commander is asking her to move in with them to help take care of him. Her heart breaks when she hears from his family that the dreams she has been having of them together were shared by Keelan and that he was meant to be her mate.

Upon meeting Kendrick, her entire world is shaken. His more mature appearance and perpetual frown makes him look more like the man from her dreams than Keelan ever did. When she can no longer fight her attraction for him she confesses her feelings only to have them rebuffed. Kendrick is adamant that he would never steal his brother's mate. But Anne is almost positive that she was never Keelan's mate to begin with.

As the Alpha Unit races to find the enemies who have stolen Keelan's soul and covered Lycaonia in black magic, Kendrick begins to uncover dreadful truth behind the necklaces. When turning to Anne feels more natural than it should, Kendrick faces the fact that Anne truly is his mate.

As the paranormal world teeters on the brink of darkness, he finds himself protecting not his brother's mate, but his own.

Should be a good one!

(hide spoiler)].

[Sandra, Kindle Operator Licence Required]

Yay, glad everything went well NancyHelen!!!!

[Vivian]

I can't believe there hare 8 Guild Hunter books out already! Steph - your reviews always make me want to start/continue a series. You are no good for Mt TBR lol. I now need to know why ferals are killing off members of the paranormal community.

ETA: I also updated our shelves here. Please let me know if I missed anything :)

[Nancy]

Whoops, forgot to update!

Favourite

by Maggie Stiefvater
Read: 16 September
Rating: 4*

In typical Maggie Stiefvater fashion, the writing in this, the third book of the Raven Cycle series, was just so good that it took my breath away at times. I just don't know how she gets such a flawless flow in the dialogue and descriptions. As Blue, Gansey, Adam and Ronan get closer to finding the sleeping king though, there were aspects of the story which lost their way a little and which I just wasn't convinced by. In particular, I kept expecting to discover that Gansey was somehow older than he was, because the fact he lived with Mallory for a year and then travelled alone to Mexico and various other places, all while he was about 15, just didn't ring true. But those criticisms aside, I absolutely love this author and her books are like sinking into a soft feather bed of sheer pleasure.

[Steph, Serious series addict]

Vivian wrote: "I can't believe there hare 8 Guild Hunter books out already! Steph - your reviews always make me want to start/continue a series. You are no good for Mt TBR lol. I now need to know why ferals are k..."

LOL! bwahahaha My evil plan is working! >:D

Oops! I forget which stuff may be spoilery to those who haven't caught up or started the series. Sorry 'bout that.

[Nancy]

Argh, I am in the midst of packing hell at the moment! Half our house is packed up, and the packing guys have just arrived to do the other half. Already we are finding things we want which are already in boxes, so we won't be able to get to them until December when they arrive at last in Australia! Stress!!!

So I am a little slow on my reading as I have been up until past 11.00 each night trying to get this house organised. Then it is Kindle only for a while as all my books are neatly packed in boxes bound for a large ship.

Argh! Moving is awful!

[Vivian]

I don't quite have the move you do (across a city isn't quite the same as across the world lol) but going to move in a few weeks and I'm not looking forward to packing.

Glad you enjoyed the wedding and honeymoon and the book theme was a hit! Good luck with the move and hope you squeeze a tiny bit of reading in - Moon Called and Magic Bites are the start of two super amazing series :)

I'm enjoying Skinwalker a lot, will probably finish it and get a review up in the next day or so.

[Steph, Serious series addict]

Yeah, moving can be a bear, for sure! Hang in there!

[Steph, Serious series addict]

Hey ladies! Our shelf this week is: Cover Love. So, we have to read a book that features cover art you love.

My choice is . I've been waiting a while to start this one. :D

Hope everyone's having a great week so far. Happy Reading!

[Vivian]

Is time travel a new YA thing? I was looking at a listopia for YA covers and the two books I happened to click on were both time travel/alternate dimension type books.


<-- so pretty!

[Steph, Serious series addict]

I've noticed that as well, Vivian. I'm okay with some time travel, but it's not my favorite.

I think so too :D

[Vivian]

I can handle shapeshifters and magic and all that jazz, but I just don't get time travel. It doesn't make sense to me so I tend to fixate and don't enjoy the stories.

[~JustMel~]

Hey ladies!! Been MIA for quite some time now, but good news!! I have no classes next month! So after this coming Sunday, I'll be free to read to my hearts content again! Woo Hoo!! I'll alps be posting my review for Dark and Stormy shelf, and my picks for the remaining shelves. Hoping to catch up quickly!!!

[Vivian]

Shelf: Meow!
Date finished: Sept 23
Rating: 3 stars

Skinwalker is the first in the Jane Yellowrock series. Jane is a vampire hunter and skinwalker, and she all around kicks ass. She has a I-don't-give-a-bleep attitude that I absolutely loved. The world is rich with skinwalker lore, vampire politics, and a touch of witchy magic. I enjoyed being part of the world and genuinely enjoyed the plot. Jane is hired to find and kill a rogue vampire in New Orleans. Along the way, she discovers and tries to stay away from vampire hijinks, attempts to avoid uncovering her identity as a skinwalker, meets some interesting characters who of course are never who they seem to be, and learns a little more about her past.

This is a really solid story that was just bogged down by an overabundance of words; it took a couple pages to explain how to make a pot of tea (Jane takes her tea seriously) and environments are described in detail to the point that my thoughts wandered. The descriptions kept me from fully engaging in the book and I read this in 1-2 chapter chunks. On a side note, the chapters have really fun titles: "I'm a tea snob", "Stick a dollar in your garter?", "Crap, I'm starting to like vamps".

Another side rant: Jane must have a magical hoo-ha because just about every guy she comes across wants her and she is ready to jump every one of them. If that's what I wanted, there's another vampire hunter series I could read.

I do think I will enjoy the series but I don't have an overwhelming desire to pick up book 2 immediately.

[Vivian]

~JustMel~ wrote: "Hey ladies!! Been MIA for quite some time now, but good news!! I have no classes next month! So after this coming Sunday, I'll be free to read to my hearts content again! Woo Hoo!! I'll alps be pos..."

Welcome back! Yay for a month of reading and relaxation :)

[~JustMel~]

Thanks Vivian! Lord knows I need the time off... smh...

[~JustMel~]

Good morning ladies! Here are my picks for the shelves I've missed:

Favorites:

Meow!:

PNR:

Cover Love: (tentative)

[Steph, Serious series addict]

Welcome back, JustMel! And WOOHOO to a month of reading time! :D Always a plus!

Great review, Vivian. Though she does start of as a bit of a dude magnet (had forgotten that) that does tone down a bit as the series progresses. I'm an uber-fan though, so I tend to only see good in all things Jane.

Oh and yeah, time travel confuses me much of the time. For example, as much as I love (love, love) Chance's Cassie Palmer, the jumping here there and every-damn-where does get confusing at times.

[Vivian]

Updated our shelves.

My cover love pick is . I'm listening to the audio and so far so good. Zuzana is the best.

Jane is awesome, she is what I love about urban fantasy heroines. I'm sure as I get further into the series I'll enjoy the books more.

[Steph, Serious series addict]

Right?! I love Zuzana! And I really enjoyed listening to that series. Hope you enjoy it too!

:D

[Nancy]

Hey ladies. I'm knocking and echoing around in a completely empty house right now. I wish I was kidding. We have a garden table and chairs to sit at, a cushion in the front room, two mattresses and a borrowed travel cot - and that's about it. 10 days to go until we leave and counting...

Vivian, if you want to keep going with the shelf updates, that's great. It takes the pressure off of me a little bit and you're doing a fabulous job.

Amidst all this I managed to finish one of my books:

Shelf: Paranormal romance

by Patricia Briggs
Read: 23 September
Rating: 4*

As I read more and more paranormal books, I am finding I am liking them more and more. I'm still amazed at myself! If you had spoken to me this time last year I would have said that I would never pick up a paranormal book if you paid me. Goodness, wouldn't I have missed out. This, the first book in the Mercy Thompson series, was a fantastic start. I immediately took to Mercy and her personality - intelligent but willing and happy to work in a garage, attractive but not in a bombshell kind of way, feisty but without ever being annoying. I also liked her ability to change into a coyote - that particular animal form suited her so well and set her apart from the werewolves.The story unfolded at a good pace and there were enough surprises (I had thought Mac was going to play a bigger role) to really keep you going. And I really liked that it wasn't a hit-you-in-the-face obvious who Mercy's romantic interest was going to turn out to be - Adam? Or Samuel? Or both? I am really looking forward to moving on with the series as I have heard it just gets better. Another one to chalk up on my 'must read' list.

[Nancy]

For cover love I am going to read (I can never say no to a bit of Maggie)

[~JustMel~]

Thanks Steph! :)

[Steph, Serious series addict]

Glad you enjoyed Mercy, NancyHelen. The series gets better and better, IMO.

:)

[Vivian]

Nancy Helen - Glad you have joined the paranormal bandwagon! It is quite addicting :) I'm fine with taking over captain duties, things are manageable from my end. And I adore the Mercy series, the audios are pretty good too if you're looking to multitask.

[Vivian]

Bookshelf: PNR
Date finished: Sept 28
Rating: 4 stars

It's been 3 years since my last Kitty book and I forgot how much I enjoy this series and Vaughn's writing. I had fun joining Kitty in London as she attends a conference on supernatural beings. With her inability to keep her mouth shut, Kitty makes friends and enemies and incites some werewolf rebellion along the way. There's plenty of action and excitement with vampires, wolves, evil scientists, and ex-lovers, and after a long break my love for the series has been renewed.

[Steph, Serious series addict]

That was a fun one. Glad you enjoyed it. Just a handful more in the series after that one.

I finished my COVER LOVE book this weekend, but don't have time to write up my review just yet. I'll get something together and share tomorrow. It was just okay, IMO. I was kinda disappointed b/c I really enjoyed the first book and was anxiously anticipating this one. :/ Oh well. Can't all be ✮✮✮✮✮ reads.

[Vivian]

I saw there's a Cormac book which should be interesting, especially with Amelia in his head. I'm sorta glad there's only a few more because I'm afraid the drag out of the Long Game will get a little tedious. I might read Kitty Rocks the House for the upcoming shelf if it fits, gotta keep the momentum going!

I'm guessing I have 3 hours left in my Cover Love book. I don't love Days of Blood & Starlight as much as DoSaB but I'm happy to check it off my list. Bummer you didn't love this week's book but maybe next week's will be better :)

[Steph, Serious series addict]

Low Midnight? It was a good read, I thought. I liked having a book from Cormac's POV, especially, as you said, with Amelia in his head.

I actually liked #2 more than #1, I think b/c it took me a bit to really get into the world and characters initially. But, really fun listen - all of them!

Thanks. Me too!

[Steph, Serious series addict]

Series: Souls of Fire #2
Shelf: Cover Love
Read: 27 Sept
Rating: ✮✮✮☆☆
Review:
Wicked Embers picks up where Fireborn left off with Hellfire Investigations partners Emberly and Jackson, a fire fae, hunting for the missing notes that they hope holds the key to curing the deadly red plague virus. They are not alone in their desire to obtain the notes.

Additionally, the Paranormal Investigations Team (PIT) as well as Em and Jackson are hunting and trying to stop a mysterious shifter-type creature Em saw in a prophectic dream. On their hunt, they frequently cross paths with Em's ex-boyfriend, Sam Turner, a PIT cop. Tensions continue to rise between these two as it's obvious neither is completely over the other.

Furthermore, although Jackson is a fire fae he's able to manipulate fire in ways he's never been able to do before. They're assuming this is because of the actions that Emberly took in Fireborn (view spoiler)[to heal Jackson she'd ... become spirit, allowing him to not only siphon [her] flames but use them to heal his body" (hide spoiler)]. What the full consequences of her actions are though none of them can be certain.

I've been a big fan of Keri Arthur's series for years. Yet, sadly, I kinda struggled to complete this book. It was really easy to put down and sometimes hard to pick back up again. Certainly not what I expected after reading Fireborn last July and being very excited for things to come. I'll continue on with the series in hopes the third installment has a better pace.

Couple'a other tidbits to remember before book 3, Flameout in June 2016:
(view spoiler)[
* "Gray-cloked stranger", leader of Red Cloaks, Luke - Sam's brother, thought to be dead, killed by Sam
* Sam and his partner, Rochelle (fae) have both been infected with the red plague virus
(hide spoiler)]

[Vivian]

Shelf: Cover Love
Date finished: Sept 28
Rating: 3 stars

Days of Blood & Starlight. What to say about you. I started listening to the audio and was immediately engaged in Taylor's pretty words. It was like returning to a magical land and I was hopeful I would love this book as much as Daughter of Smoke & Bone. Somewhere in the middle something went wrong. Maybe it's because war is dark and depressing (and violent at times) and I wasn't in the mind frame for it, maybe it's because Akiva and Karou get a little too teenage angsty for me and gone was the fiesty blue-haired girl I remembered. While I didn't love the story wholeheartedly I'm still glad I finished the book and do plan on getting through the trilogy at some point.

Khristine Hvam does a fantastic job narrating and I would definitely recommend the audiobook.

Zuzana is the bestest friend a girl can have and is a favorite of mine.

[Steph, Serious series addict]

Vivian wrote: "Khristine Hvam does a fantastic job narrating and I would definitely recommend the audiobook.

Zuzana is the bestest friend a girl can have and is a favorite of mine. "

Definitely agree!

[Sandra, Kindle Operator Licence Required]

Steph, not reading your review, and whilst I'm not quite finished it, your rating is about what I was thinking too.

[Steph, Serious series addict]

:/ Kinda bummed over that installment. Feels very same/same to me.

[Nancy]

Whoops, I actually finished this a few days ago but forgot to post. I'm about a third of my way through cover love but feeling sadly underwhelmed with it right now :-(

Shelf: Feline Shifter

by Ilona Andrews
Read: 26 September
Rating: 4*

I have started a lot of new series lately, but this one would have to be up there as one of my favourites. I will admit, I did have to work hard throughout the book to fully understand the world and the rules which applied within it, but Kate was just such a brilliant heroine that it was definitely worth the effort. I really liked the fact that this was clearly an adult series. There was swearing, but not too much - just enough to have an impact (and cause a laugh). There was definitely the building of a romance between Kate and Curran which I can't wait to see how it turns out. And there was enough graphic description without it ever becoming unpleasant. Again, I loved Kate herself. Her attitude, her sass, her ethos and her flaws made me want to be her. I can definitely see why so many people rave about this series. My poor, poor TBR.

[Steph, Serious series addict]

That sucks. Sadly, I was underwhelmed by mine too. Hopefully this week's read will be better for ya.

SO glad you enjoyed Kate & Curran! Definitely an all-time, must-buy favorite of mine (and many SOSers)! :D

[Nancy]

Steph wrote: "SO glad you enjoyed Kate & Curran! Definitely an all-time, must-buy favorite of mine (and mamany SOSers)! :D..."

I am just gagging for the excuse to read the next one. Let's hope tonight's call gives me that as I've got it crying out to me on my Kindle...

[Steph, Serious series addict]

Hopefully :)

[Vivian]

Yay for Kate and Curren! I love the world-building but I know some people who thought it was a little info-dumpy in book 1 so if you got past that, the rest of the series is smooth sailing :) And not to add to the growing TBR but the authors' other series are equally fantastic.

[Steph, Serious series addict]

Vivian wrote: "And not to add to the growing TBR but the authors' other series are equally fantastic."

Agreed! LOL! Poor NancyHelen. Little did she know that joining SOS and playing BSB she'd see her TBR stack sore to such heights.

[Steph, Serious series addict]

Good news, NancyHelen!
Our shelf for this week is: Itchy Witch
Read a book: featuring a witch/warlock or any form of magic

I'm thinking I'll probably read , but I might go with . I'll let ya know which I settle on.

[Nancy]

Woo hoo! Well, I definitely think that means qualifies so I'll be reading that :-)

It is the weirdest thing - I suddenly realised that I am going to have to figure out when next week's call is as I am going to be on a completely different timezone. I am thinking it is going to be very early Thursday morning for me in Adelaide, probably around 6.30am. I'll probably be awake because of the jet lag. That is so strange. Next call, I'll see you ladies in the other hemisphere!

[Sandra, Kindle Operator Licence Required]

NancyHelen, it is Thursday 6am for me in Sydney, but daylight savings starts this Sunday, so the time will change. Not sure if S.A. does daylight savings though.

[Vivian]

I'm going to try Blood Engines. Totally new author, series showed up on a thread for recs similar to Dresden so we'll see how it goes.

[Steph, Serious series addict]

Good luck and safe travels, NancyHelen! Enjoy OZ!

I think my husband might've read that one, Vivian. Hope you like it.

I've settled on MAGIC FOR A PRICE by Monk. No big surprise since I've been obsessed with this series. Sad it's the finale but anxious to see how it'll all end. Then I'll get started on the spinoff.

[~JustMel~]

All right ladies! Two for one tonight!!!



Shelf: Dark and Stormy
Date Finished: 9/23/15
Rating: 4/5 STARS

This was actually a pretty good start to the series. There was action from the beginning, but to me it seemed a bit bland. However, the author does develop a flow and the story begins to pick up. By the middle of the book, I was fully engrossed and hating work for cutting into my reading time. By the end, I was ready for the next book in the series.

The Calydons reminded me a bit of the Black Dagger Brotherhood. Right down to the scary, angry one that you wouldn't want to meet in a dark alley. I do enjoy the idea that there is someone for everyone... the idea of the fated mate, so this actually wound up being a very good read for me. The characters themselves were very well written. Quinn was the perfect "take what's his" warrior, and didn't hesitate to let Grace know that she was going to be his. Grace is a strong woman with a very troubled past, who doesn't intend to let destiny rule her. Together they make a great team.

I am looking forward to adding the remaining books to my "To Read" list. I'm sure Stephanie Rowe's writing style will improve even further and each story will be as engrossing as this one.

[Vivian]

Yay Mel for a new series! Hope the rest of the series is as fun :)

NancyHelen, good luck with the move and safe travels!