Giada Shepherd is a Maja – an immortal witch of the Mageverse. When vampire knight King Arthur asks her to protect his mortal son from an assassin, she’s willing to do anything she must to keep Logan MacRoy alive. But Logan is no ordinary mortal – he’s a handsome seductive cop, intent on a romance with his beautiful new partner.
Trouble is, Arthur has ordered Giada to keep her distance from Logan. But that’s a lot easier said than done....
90% of the time I hate cover descriptions. They just never seem to convey what's really going on in the story. For most books by Nora Roberts or Jayne Ann Krentz I've stopped reading the damn things because the books end up being good no matter how ridiculous they sound.
Anyway, this book was a good read not only because it brings you back into a world I've enjoyed before, but introduces new characters and plot lines to help extend the series even further. Giada and Logan are an interesting couple, two people who both have their own fears and hangups that have to be addressed before their relationship can really begin. Even in the midst of danger and attraction, I would definitely call this a romance book. Their feelings for each other are at the forefront and when they bond and still manage to hurt each other, it's obvious that what the book has at its center.
I am VERY excited to read the next book though because Smokey was a great character and the preview included at the end of this book has me hyped!
Overall Feeling - Thumbs up. For some reason I never got it to buying every book from the series, but this one was a lot of fun - though I've never like cliff-hangery endings.
Series - 1) "Seductions Gift" (part of an anthology) 2) Master of the Night 3) "Galahad" (part of an anthology) 4) Master of the Moon 5) Master of Wolves 6) "Moon Dance" (part of an anthology) 7) Master of Swords 8) Master of Dragons 9) "Vampire's Ball" (part of an anthology) 10) Master of Fire
Cursed with the extraordinary power to feel other peoples’ emotions, Megan Fields has tucked herself away in a remote corner of New Mexico, working as a small-town sheriff’s deputy. She finds solace in the silence and heat of the desert. But when Breeds begin dying on her watch, Megan realizes that the secrets from her past can’t stay buried forever. Someone is out for blood - her blood.An arrogant Feline Breed, Braden Arness broods with feral intensity. His mission to solve the mysterious murders brings him to Megan, a woman who accosts his senses like no other. Only with him can she let down her guard - and surrender to the insatiable hunger that wracks her body. But as they team up to hunt the elusive killers, Braden and Megan find themselves becoming the prey…
I've already ranted about how annoying it is for authors to continue publishing in a series that started as E-books as if nothing has come before that latest installment - so I won't repeat myself. What I will say is that no matter whether it's print or virtual, Lora Leigh does a damn good job writing paranormal erotica. Not the usual 'shapeshifter' paranormal, this book focuses on characters called Breeds, beings that were designed to be a mixture of animal and human, the perfect soldier. Of course, those kinds of combinations, and the people who are willing to experiment with them, are never very pleasant. After years of incarceration and torture the Breeds are free (mostly) to find their way in the world and the people who will love them.
Just to give people an idea, being Breeds, when men or women meet their mate there is all sorts of hormonal connectivity and lusty-ness that goes on. I know some people hate the idea of that 'destined mate' or the like, but I personally think that Leigh does a wonderful job combining the heat of a hormonally perfect mate and the emotion that's needed to cement a true life bond. If you don't believe me, continue reading on and you'll see instances were one or both parts of the couple try to keep things just physical - it doesn't work out well.
Megan and Braden are unique because as a Lion Breed Braden can feel people's emotions to a certain extent and Megan as someone who is actually empathic can feel them all. So in the midst of all the blood and violence, her skill can be both a help and a hindrance depending on her ability to handle other people's emotions. Still the relationship between the two of them is a scorcher, with plenty of give and take and H.O.T. sex in between. Through in the action and mystery of a dangerous spy and you've got a damn good time!
Overall Feeling - Thumbs up. A reread that never gets old, it's an almost new beginning to an already fantastic series.
Series - The chronology of these books is long and confusing and split up between 3 publishers. Check out Leigh's explanation on her website, here.
Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:
* Grab your current read
* Open to a random page
* Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
* BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
* Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!
"So basically," I said, still a little out of breath, "this is masturbation for you."
His eyes sparkled with something like mischief. "Another one of those human hang-ups that don't make a whole lot of sense to demons. Besides, since I feel your pleasure, it gives me additional incentive to do a good job."
-- pg 158, The Devil's Playground by Jenna Black
Today’s MUSING MONDAYS post is about multitasking.
Do you – or are you even able – to do other things while you read? Do you knit, hold a conversation, keep an eye on the TV? Anything?
PLEASE LEAVE A COMMENT with either the link to your own Musing Mondays post, or share your opinion in a comment here (if you don’t have a blog). Thanks!
**MUSING MONDAYS is hosted by Rebecca at Just One More Page...
I would say that I try to do other things while I read. One of my favorites would be 'watching' Nightmare Before Christmas while I read, but I'm not sure it can be truly classified as reading. I'm not actively engaging with that storyline, just looking up from time to time and enjoying the music. My attention is more focused on the book and that world. I can't even imagine trying to knit! Just going beyond that lack of adequate hands, I'm no where near enough good enough at that activity to do it while reading. It's probably why I can only manage to do it for a few hours at a time when I'm in the groove to listen to new music. I have to look at my hands when I knit, so I'm not even really going to be watching TV and trying to do it.
But to get back to the topic at hand, I would say that the easiest thing to actually accomplish while reading is listening to music. Not singing along to music mind you, but listening to it and kind of just enjoying it as background noise. I think having that in the background actually helps me read for enjoyment better, which is why one of my best reading moments lately was just in the food court of the mall. I wasn't there with any friends, just returning something, and after gradbbing food I just sat there and finished up LKH Flirt; random I know, but it was a great way for me to finish the book.
Sheltered in a French convent school, Helena has little knowledge of men. But that changes one snowy Christmas Eve when she unexpectedly meets a mesmerizing Englishman who leaves her with a powerful kiss.
Grown into a stunning beauty, Helena cannot forget that forbidden kiss. Now, though, she must put aside her dreams and marry, an obligation that takes her to London.
There she is determined to meet Society's most eligible bachelor, Sebastian, Duke of St. Ives, a man sworn never to wed. But when they are introduced, Helena is shocked...for Sebastian is none other than her wild Englishman.
No matter how many times I pick up historicals by other authors, Laurens still remains my favorite. Maybe it's because the romance is paramount to me, but when I read a historical I actually don't care all that much about accuracy. I don't need to know the intimate details of the worst experiences of being a member of London high society - if I wanted to know, I'd read a history book. I read these for pleasure, and the joy of imagining some well to do woman scorning her place in life and going out to do what she wants to is just more interesting. Laurens in particular writes stories of women who are opinionated and want to make a difference, but understand that being born into certain families come with some responsibilities. Thus they can't always make the decisions they'd want to, though luckily Laurens creates a great journey and happy ending for them anyway.
As a prequel to the rest of the Cynster line up, I love this book just for the look it gives you at the beginning of a dynasty. The Cynster's are known for a very particular set of qualities and reading about the man who started it all, who set the pace for the generations of males who came after him, is both enlightening and engaging. Helena and Sebastian's love permeates through every book in this series, and reading finally the whole thing not only gives you a deeper understanding of the books you've already read but, if you haven't read the series yet, gets you excited to continue on to the rest.
Overall Feeling - Thumbs up. One of Laurens' best, the story of Helena and Sebastian is filled with adventure as well as romance.
Series - There are 16 books (so far) in the Cynster series and that's a bit much to list here. Check out Stephanie Laurens' website, but know that while this book was released 8th in the series it's a prequel so it doesn't really matter when you read it.
Weddings have the strangest effect on people. How else to explain the fact that Sissy Mae Smith woke up in Mitch Shaw's bed the morning after her brother Bobby Ray tied the knot? Or that gunmen are trying to kill Mitch, and Sissy Mae now has to escort a bleeding, stubborn, yet still incredibly sexy lion shifter to her Tennessee Pack's turf to keep him safe? It doesn't help that Mitch's appraising gaze makes her feel like the most desirable creature on earth, or that the ultimate stray cat is suddenly acting all kinds of possessive...
Mitch is an undercover cop who's about to testify against some dangerous ex-associates. Even more worrisome, he's harboring hot, X-rated fantasies about the fast-talking little canine-and he has to deal with every male in Sissy Mae's Pack sniffing around her in a way that makes his hackles rise.. Mitch has his pride, and he intends to show Sissy Mae that when a lion sets out to make you his mate, the only thing to do is purr, roll over, and enjoy one hell of a ride...
Just so people are aware - I know I have an almost unnatural love for everything that Shelly Laurenston writes. I go on and on about how her books are so funny, about how the characters are probably some of the realest I've ever read.
Yes. I know I say this a lot.
That's why, though I can still go on and on about how great this book is, how this series is my go to whenever I feel crappy, I won't. I'll leave you to create your opinions about HOW FREAKISHLY WONDERFUL THIS SERIES IS.
So ok then. Go read.
Overall Feeling - Thumbs up. Mitch is hilarious and together with Sissy Mae Smith they have the best time just f*cking with the people around them. Fantastic.
Series - 1) The Mane Event 2) The Beast in Him 3) The Mane Attraction 4) The Mane Squeeze 5) Beast Behaving Badly (June 2010)
Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:
* Grab your current read
* Open to a random page
* Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
* BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
* Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!
"He was an egomaniacal genocidal killer; impressed or not, he wouldn't show it. Egomaniacal genocidal killers rarely did. If they did, they'd be sensible, modest genocidal killers, and those were fucking hard to come by."
--pg 165, Roadkill by Rob Thurman
