The Carver’s Magic by B.L. Brooklyn
***A complimentary copy of this read was furnished by the author in exchange for an unbiased review***
The supernatural community wasn’t very fond of the unique powerful, multi-blooded Carvers, but they’d defeated them once, changing their fates and would do it again. Carvers were forced to give up their children to be raised by humans until they were 18 in hopes that delay in learning their magic would keep them from realizing the full potential of their power.
When young Carvers Shane and Beth were taken to spend time with their biological families neither were receptive to hearing that they were the future of Carver domination and should seek out their carver mates and join the fight. Having learned bits of magic on their own, Beth and Shane decided on tamping down their powers and masquerading as human in the world they knew.
Bartender Shane looked forward to seeing a shy, tiny, dainty, human every Friday at the Amber Line but not her take no prisoners sister, Beth. Uncomfortable that Cory’s drawn the attention of a swaggering wolf and Beth has drawn his ire. With a clientele of fairies, werewolves, witches, vampire and a smattering of humans, Shane’s even less pleased when the sisters become his new workmates.
Beth is annoyed at having to bartend weekends at the Amber Line to protect Cory, Beth had pledged her heart to high school crush, werewolf Dar, while he healed from an accident. Afterward, Dar acted like Beth didn’t exist and the years hadn’t brought change. Dar still acted like Beth didn’t exist even while forcing the wolf’s attention from Cory and ignoring her.
Their human boss and customers are oblivious to the supernatural influx during sisters first weekend. Dar upsets Beth’s equilibrium by coming both nights, Cory’s infatuation with Shane may be coming to an end as she’s assigned to work the closed door vampire area and Shane’s off-kilter after seeing the fae police, his father’s emissary, an obsessed werewolf and learns Beth’s a carver too.
Readers will find an intriguing tale of supernaturals positioning for a species war, where enemies stand shoulder to shoulder, secrets and deception reign and no one can stand on the sidelines. The characters and the well paced story are easy to invest in and the multi-layered, exciting world had this reader saluting this author’s heady debut.
Rating: 4.5stars
Pack Enforcer by Lauren Dane
Though florist Nina Reyes was living life on the straight and narrow these days, when her brother came to her in fear for his life, she couldn’t say no. Looking at Nina, Cascadia enforcer Lex Warden saw what he was expected to see when he went to her house looking for her brother. With a criminal past and the desire to protect her brother the last thing she would do was tell the sexy wolf anything.
Sneaking out to help her brother, he and Nina are caught by Rogues but she’s saved by Lex and his brother, Cascadia alpha, Cade. With her brother dead and her home destroyed, Nina goes for the protection Lex offers though they’re both doing their best to ignore the attraction between them but it’s not working.
Nina breaks through the computer her brother had hidden and uncovers theft and a plot against humans and werewolves which concerns both Cade and Lex since it means they’ve been betrayed. As they try to find the person responsible for the deaths and the information, Nina convinces the brothers to use her street rat savvy to help them. The plan works like a charm until she slaps the Third.
While this reader started the series at novel 6, I was intrigued with this world and wanted to read from the beginning as the Wardens, first family of the Cascadia pack find their mates. The foundation tale is a fast paced and clear explanation of the major arc, pack and family dynamics plus the fairly good and sexy romance of two control freaks, snarky, abrasive Nina and laid-back, powerful, overprotective Lex.
Rating:4stars
Reluctant Mate by Lauren Dane
Successful Financial Planner Layla Warden’s determined to live life her way, good times with none of that mate stuff despite the pack and her influential, loving and boisterous family. Visiting his cousin, tattooed artist Sid Rosario, wanted more than dinner when he saw the red-headed beauty seated too far away for his taste. Layla and Sid both knew how the evening would end when he sat at her table.
Their eventful one night stand took a detour when the pair they discovered they were mates. Sid was happy with the hand Fate had dealt and try as she might, it wasn’t something Layla could ignore or walk away from. The scorching heat of tri-bond this series introduces was extremely erotically sensuous. Enjoyable but extremely short, this reader wanted much more.
Rating:4.25stars
Alpha’s Challenge by Lauren Dane
***A complimentary copy of this read was furnished by Carina Press through NetGalley in exchange for an unbiased review***
Dr. Grace Pellini is living in constant fear. She can’t trust her co-workers, her family or the rest of her pack, she can’t let herself be discovered neither can she hide, hinder the project or stay much longer. Her brother, Warren, is close to perfecting a bio-weapon dangerous to humans and shifters, he’s also suspicious of her and has begun to ship samples away so she can’t follow his progress.
Cascadia wolf alpha Cade Warren is resigned to waiting until after the war to search for his mate. In the meantime it’s good for him to be seen in Chicago especially with an insider willing to give info about the new bio-weapon. When Grace walked into the meeting, every wolf knew there was now a female alpha in Cascadia. Warren was furious when he found out and demanded Grace’s return.
Cade refuses Warren’s request and continues his work with the regional Alpha’s on their war efforts while Grace earns her way into the pack and continues her work on combating Warren’s weapon. Annoyed that his sister would dare to mate his enemy, Warren increases attacks on both populations and when that doesn’t work according to plan, he makes a challenge that can’t be ignored.
This quick, fun read was easy to get into, though this was a new to me series, there was no problem following the stories (and I’ve already got the others on my reader). There was much appeal for my taste in this outing, shifters, a bit of romance, good sex and a strong enough conflict to intrigue me to dig into TBR-land for more of this series.
Rating:4.25stars
Midnight Unbound by Lara Adrian
Breed Hunter Scythe fell hard for widowed breedmate Chiara Genova when he sheltered and defended her family six weeks ago. Since then he’s thought of little else. Hearing from a fellow Breed that he was needed to keep Chiara safe, Scythe was on his way almost before the call ended. While thankful for Scythe’s help previously, Chiara wasn’t keen to leave her son or to be alone with Scythe.
Determined not to give in to his growing blood and sexual frustration for Chiara, Scythe became more surly and broody. Chiara couldn’t stop thinking of the swirling emotions or the heat that zinged through her body when he was near. Soon the storm outside matches the one raging between them. Chiara’s vengeful stalker arrives in time to spoil their coupled afterglow and aims true when he shoots.
Rating:4stars
The Vampire King by Heather Killough-Walden
Vampire Charles Alexander Ward hates his king, Roman D’Angelo, and vows vengeance for the death of his magic mentor. Through magical help, Charles learns vampire secrets to use against Roman and the perfect tool for the king’s downfall would be paranormal author Evelynne ‘Evie’ Farrow. Charles would ensure Roman never forgot he’d been bested him whenever he saw his Queen.
Two days ago, Evie was in the coffee shop scribbling notes and hoping to be inspired enough for another best seller when he came over, looking and acting like one of the heroes she never tired of writing, A sultry, sexy, smoldering vampire even his name, Roman, conjured ideas of vampires. Evie decides lust time is over since Roman thinks he is a vampire and she needs to be protected from his enemies.
While the many tried and true tropes used and fairly good characters gaining powers supported a solid outline of a paranormal King finding his Queen, for this reader’s taste the pacing, multiple POV’s and storylines plus too much explanation did not. Sometimes confused and unable to connect to the characters wasn’t the outing was not this reader’s idea of a good time.
Perhaps its foundation story jitters urging caution on a second helping of the series for this reader. (Overwritten to the point of confusion on the too many threads, also the foundation story read like the series bible.) Perhaps it isn’t jitters. (There was intrigue, a good heroine and the hero wasn’t too stupid. Also the foundation laid out the direction, rules and parameters of this series world.)
Rating: 3.5stars
Etched In Bone by Anne Bishop
Recovering from Namid’s teeth and claws retaliation, invited and welcome elements descend on Lakeside Courtyard as well as the unwelcome and uninvited, all striving to find a new normal. Among those is Montgomery’s malevolent, manipulative, conniving criminal brother, Cyrus. His arrival is chosen to be the measured answer to the Elders all important question, ‘How much human will we keep?”
Properly despicable villain Cyrus’ presence disrupts the courtyard’s serenity, his poisonous schemes and mischief aggravate familial strife, causing a ripple effect of hard choices, aggression and the need to discipline and reject him. With their soft underbelly exposed to the enemy and a mandate from the elders, the harmonious community is forced to consider how much human they would tolerate.
Payback from the Others escalate as Cyrus’ schemes become increasingly desperate in his determination to have things his way at any cost. Each gard working to their own strength was vividly portrayed as Cyrus refused the Other’s form of rehabilitation and went much too far inciting their predatory instincts. As the cost is weighed of their experiment even the Elders realize they have much to learn.
For my taste, the majority of this busy read was ‘soft’ and ‘filler-ish’, settling characters and wrapping threads but a thrilling, nail-biting conclusion was the payoff. Lovable Skippy was heroic as he awkwardly learned, Meg and Simon moved closer to an approved mating and the strong secondary characters waved goodbye in excellent cameos while the outing left plenty of questions for an exciting finale.
Rating: 4.75stars
Undiscovered by Sara Humphreys
*** Complimentary copy of this read furnished by Sourcebooks Casablanca through NetGalley in exchange for an unbiased review***
For 500 years dragon twins Zed and Zander Lorens have shared a curse. Immortal, unable to shift and the recurring nightmare of their worst torment, Zed perpetually hibernates in the dream realm while Zander occupies the human world. Rena McHale’s recurring nightmare burns her alive but one night it’s different, escape with the word mine ringing in her ear.
With the deadline looming there isn’t much time to convince Rena she’s meant for Zed, Zander’s hopeful for the first time in centuries. Rena’s flabbergasted as she looks up and literally sees the man of her dreams as Zander walks in asking for help to save his brother. One look at Rena and Zander’s certain Rena’s Amoveo and can break the curse.
Zander tries to teach Rena about her Amoveo heritage and keep his distance at the same time as they make their way to the Amoveo ranch. Their relationship gets more complex when neither Zander nor Rena can ignore the volatile attraction between them and Zander’s old enemy appears to be the opposite for Rena and a bone of contention for their future.
Cameos by some Amoveo fan favorites link the series but it’s not necessary to read the previous series to enjoy these new characters as dragons are introduced. Rena and Zander are great complementary characters and their journey introducing the dream-walking, shape-shifting hybrid Amoveos is well done for new fans.
Rating: 4.5stars
Between a Wolf and a Hard Place by Terry Spear
*** Complimentary copy of this read furnished by Sourcebooks Casablanca through NetGalley in exchange for an unbiased review***
Ah, Victorian Days are upon Silver Town again! Green Valley wolves are visiting and the McTire cousins are chasing a new ghost for an upcoming show. Brett and Ellie seem headed for a dream mating until Brett makes a suggestion that’s taken all too seriously. When Brett gifts a family heirloom to the sisters for the inn in time for the celebration, the last thing Ellie and her sisters expect is a new ghost!
Unfortunately, Victorian Days this time around wasn’t the best time this reader ever had in Silver Town. The meandering mystery and unsteady romance complete with pseudo obstacles as the couple figured it out felt like so much filler. Though Brett and Ellie are likeable, sparkled as secondary wolves and have chemistry, for this reader’s taste this outing missed out on any real heat between them.
Rating: 3.5stars
Styx’s Storm by Lora Leigh
Storme Montague is on the run from the Breeds & the Council after her scientist family is killed by a Coyote Breed as she looked on in terror. Now she’s trapped and her only escape is accepting help from her mortal enemy in the form of charming Scottish coyote enforcer Styx Mackenzie. Storme knows accepting help from Styx doesn’t mean she has to trust him or fall for his charms as she holds onto a secret that could shatter the entire Breed community.
For this readers taste, 75-80% of the read wasn’t enjoyable and felt like a betrayal with the lack of continuity; leaps of logic; bigotry; snits & mediocre storytelling. I found Storme more exhausting than dislikable and Styx’s smarm – I mean charm got to be wearing within four pages (I swear I got that he had blue eyes and liked chocolate the first 50 times I was told in this poor outing).
***SPOILER ALERT***
reasons this outing even made Storme dizzy.
Luckily I learned survival skills at 14 (driving a car, fighting & shooting, etc.) that have helped me elude the Breed and Council people looking for me over the last 10 years. During my time on the run, I’ve joined a pure-blood/breed hate group but I don’t know if my enemy is Breed or Council.
I’ve also learned to hack computers so I can find all the Breed and Council secrets, even the ones my Council buddies don’t tell me. I even have the names of the spies at Sanctuary but I haven’t had time to learn to read this pesky chip from Dad. Dad did always like Breeds best but I’m traumatized by witnessing his death at the hands a Coyote Breed.
My father was afraid of the council people he worked for and his last wish was to free breeds. With his last breath, he gave me a chip to give to someone and said they’ll have a code phrase so I’ll know he sent them.
More headscratchers? My inept past lovers didn’t do a good job and Styx will know I’m still a virgin. What braintrust knows the phrase and led a team chasing me for 10 years thinks the only way to gain my cooperation is either bully or screw it out of me? (WTF?)
Rating: 2.75stars
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