Category Archives: Paranormal

September 25, 2010 · 7:12 pm

Wild Rain (Leopard, #2) by Christine Feehan

Purchased

What has she done? With a new identity, a staged death, and a chance to flee the treachery that stalks her, Rachael has escaped from a faceless assassin. Now, thousands of miles from home, under the lush canopy of the rain forest, she’s found sanctuary.

Where can she hide? In this world teaming with unusual creatures walks the most exotic of them all. His name is Rio. A native of the forest imbued with a fierce prowess, he is something to be desired. Possessed of secrets of his own, he is something to be feared.

Whom can she trust? But as Rachael’s past looms as oppressively as the heat of the forest, and as Rio unleashes the secret animal instincts that course through his blood, Rachael fears that her isolated haven has become an inescapable hell… (from Goodreads)

This book is definitely an improvement on the novella The Awakening that I posted about last. Because it is a full length novel (358 pages), there was time to develop the story and characters. I loved both Rachael and Rio although I think Rio is just too good to be true.

There are only two more books in the series so far and I have to go see who they are about. I really want Drake’s or Elijah’s story. Of course, there is always Joshua too.

On a side note, I have decided to think of this blog as a book journal rather than a review site. That is what I really want to do . . . keep track of the books I read. Of course, I will have to review the Young Adult titles since I read them for the kids. Really, I only read them for the kids . . . not because I am addicted to YA Lit myself!

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Filed under Contemporary, Paranormal, Ramblings, Romance

September 24, 2010 · 5:08 am

The Awakening in Fantasy anthology (Leopard, #1) by Christine Feehan

Purchased

Under the blazing heat of the Borneo sun…
…a beautiful naturalist’s dream comes true–to live among the feral jungle creatures. But an untamed, irresistible beast of another sort forces her to explore her own wild side.

I really don’t care for short stories. I prefer more time for the story to develop. However, Feehan does a good job of world building in this one which sets the stage for her Leopard series.

I also learned something new. Borneo is located northwest of Australia. I had heard of the island before, but had no idea of its location.

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Filed under Paranormal, Romance

September 21, 2010 · 5:58 pm

Dark Slayer (Carpathian, #20) by Christine Feehan

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A rumor has persisted in the vampire world of a dark slayer — a woman — who travels with a wolf pack and who destroys any vampire who crosses her path. Mysterious, elusive and seemingly impossible to kill, she is the one hunter who strikes terror into the hearts of the undead.

She is Ivory Malinov. Her only brethren, the wolves. Long ago betrayed by her people, abandoned by her family, and cast out by everyone she held dear, Ivory has lived centuries without companionship or love. She has sustained her sanity by preparing for one purpose — to destroy her greatest enemy. Until the night she picks up the scent of a man, her unexpected salvation. Her lifemate. The curse of all Carpathian women. (from Goodreads)

He is Razvan. Branded a criminal, detested and feared, he is a dragonseeker borne of one of the greatest Carpathian lineages, only to be raised as its most despised — and captive — enemy. Fleeing from his lifetime of imprisonment, Razvan now seeks the dawn to end his terrible existence. Instead he has found his deliverance in the Dark Slayer.

In spirit, in flesh and blood, in love, and in war, Ivory and Razvan are made for each other.

For as long as they dare to live.

This was actually a re-read for me, although I did not remember reading this book until I got into it. I have been reading this series for several years and with the exception of one title, I have loved them all.

This book explains so many things that have been alluded to in earlier books. Characters that have always been the bad guys may not be after all. Others are even worse that I realized.

I want to dive right into the next book, but she is weaving her Jaguar series into this one, so I am re-reading those next. I have to keep everything straight in my mind.

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Filed under Contemporary, Paranormal, Romance

September 18, 2010 · 9:59 am

The Reformed Vampire Support Group by Catherine Jinks

Library

Think vampires are romantic, sexy, and powerful? Think again. Vampires are dead. And unless they want to end up staked, they have to give up fanging people, admit their addiction, join a support group, and reform themselves.
Nina Harrison, fanged at fifteen and still living with her mother, hates the Reformed Vampire Support Group meetings every Tuesday night. Even if she does appreciate Dave, who was in a punk band when he was alive, nothing exciting ever happens. That is, until one of group members is mysteriously destroyed by a silver bullet. With Nina (determined to prove that vamps aren’t useless or weak) and Dave (secretly in love with Nina) at the helm, the misfit vampires soon band together to track down the hunter, save a werewolf, and keep the world safe from the likes of themselves. (from Goodreads)

Okay, this is definitely a different interpretation of the vampire legend. They have absolutely no romantic appeal at all. I have no idea who to recommend this book to because the vampire lovers won’t like it and who else would be vaguely interested.

It’s not a badly written story. It’s just very strange. I did have a difficult time with the beginning because so many characters were introduced all at once. I actually ended up making up a character description list to refer to for the first several chapters.

This book is one of this year’s YALSA’s Teens Top Ten nominees. These books are selected by teenagers around the country, so this one obviously has an appeal to someone. Maybe it’s just me that is having a difficult time with it. Give it a try if you want an interesting and different read.

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Filed under Contemporary, Paranormal, Young Adult

September 12, 2010 · 5:57 am

Last Dragon Standing (Dragon Kin, #4) by G. A. Aiken

I know what they see when they look at me. The charming, soft-spoken dragoness bred from the most powerful of royal bloodlines. A disguise stronger than any battle shield that allows me to keep all suitors at tail’s length. A technique that’s worked until him. Until Ragnar the Cunning, handsome barbarian warlord and warrior mage from the desolate Northlands. Unlike those who’ve come before him, he does not simply submit to my astounding charm and devastating smile. Instead, he dismisses me as vapid, useless and, to my great annoyance, rather stupid!

Yet I’ll allow no male to dismiss me. Soon he’ll learn my worth, my many skills, and the strength of my will. For this one challenges me enough to make me want to ruthlessly taunt him, tease him and, finally, when the trap is set, bring him to his knees. (from Goodreads)

This is a great author who also writes under the name Shelly Laurenston. Her books are funny, exciting and hot. This series is about a world with dragons who can take human form. There is a real difference in the mindset of humans who take animal form an creatures who can take a human form. Katie MacAlister shows this as well in her Aisling Grey series.

The only problem I had with this book is I could not remember the back story very well from the previous titles. I would normally have gone back and re-read the series, but did not take the time. That was definitely a mistake. When her next book is released, I will definitely do so.

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Filed under Erotica, Humor, Paranormal, Romance

September 5, 2010 · 7:46 am

Blameless (Parasol Protectorate, #3) by Gail Carriger

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Quitting her husband’s house and moving back in with her horrible family, Lady Maccon becomes the scandal of the London season.

Queen Victoria dismisses her from the Shadow Council, and the only person who can explain anything, Lord Akeldama, unexpectedly leaves town. To top it all off, Alexia is attacked by homicidal mechanical ladybugs, indicating, as only ladybugs can, the fact that all of London’s vampires are now very much interested in seeing Alexia quite thoroughly dead.

While Lord Maccon elects to get progressively more inebriated and Professor Lyall desperately tries to hold the Woolsey werewolf pack together, Alexia flees England for Italy in search of the mysterious Templars. Only they know enough about the preternatural to explain her increasingly inconvenient condition, but they may be worse than the vampires — and they’re armed with pesto. (from Goodreads)

I just finished this book after waiting since FEBRUARY for it to be published. The last book, Changeless, had a real cliff-hanger ending. Even though this one did not have much interaction between the main characters, I think it was even better than the last. There were some wonderful lines in it that I had to read out loud to people. The author has a wonderful and funny way of turning a phrase.

Blameless, thank goodness, did not have a cliff-hanger ending, but there is a sequel scheduled for July 2011 titled Heartless. It’s not on Amazon yet, so I will have to wait to preorder it. It’s definitely on my list though.

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Filed under Humor, Paranormal, Romance, Steampunk

September 4, 2010 · 1:52 pm

Midnight Crystal (Dreamlight, #3) by Jayne Castle

Purchased

Adam Winters has enough responsibility as the new head of the local ghost hunters’ guild without being saddled with the family curse. He’s convinced his recent nightmares and hallucinations will lead to him becoming a psychic rogue – unless he can find a stolen relic and a woman who can read dreamlight. Marlowe Jones rides into his life on a motorcycle and, though a descendant of the rival Arcane family, she’s just what Adam needs: a psychic private investigator and dreamlight reader extraordinaire. Together, amid the glowing catacombs and steamy underground jungles of Harmony, Adam and Marlowe must break the curse, save the entire underworld – and fight a passion that could destroy them both. (from Goodreads)

Not only is this book the third in the Dreamlight series, it is the ninth in the Arcane Society series, and the seventh in the Harmony series. I love it! Although it does make it problematical in regards to shelving. LOL

It has taken several hundred years and a journey across galaxies, but finally the Jones and the Winters are together. Of course, I can’t wait to see another contemporary book to see how the Joneses of our time fare with their romances.

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Filed under Paranormal, Romance, Science Fiction

August 29, 2010 · 2:00 pm

Jamie (Visitation, #5) by Lori Foster

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Carrying a naked woman up a mountain in a driving storm – now there’s a way for a man to start the day. But for Jamie, the unconscious redhead in his arms is an intruder, one who could bring harm. He has his reasons for hiding out in this mountain cabin; for keeping his emotions hidden; for never, ever getting too close to anyone. And he’s not about to stop now. (from Goodreads)

I only re-read this book because my new Jayne Castle/JAK book had not arrived yet. That may have been a mistake. I love Lori Foster’s books. This title is a culmination of her Visitation series and now I want to re-read all of them.

I remember the summer I discovered Lori Foster. I bought her entire backlist which included a couple of titles that I had to get directly from her. She had them in boxes in her garage and sent them to me for a donation to her local humane society.

Unfortunately I have been reading so many authors the last couple of years, she has slipped off my radar. It is obviously time for me to see what I have missed and revisit all my friends.

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Filed under Contemporary, Paranormal, Romance

August 28, 2010 · 4:23 am

Burning Lamp (Dreamlight, #2) by Amanda Quick

Purchased

The Arcane Society was born in turmoil when the friendship of its two founders evolved into a fierce rivalry. Sylvester Jones and Nicholas Winters each sought to enhance their individual psychic talents. Winters’ efforts led to the creation of a device of unknown powers called the Burning Lamp. Each generation the Winters man who inherits it is destined to develop multiple talents—and the curse of madness.

Plagued by hallucinations and nightmares, notorious crime lord Griffin Winters is convinced he has been struck with the Winters Curse. And the instincts that have helped him survive the streets and rise to power are now drawing him toward Adelaide Pyne, the bothersome social reformer. But even as he arranges a meeting with the mysterious woman, he has no idea how closely their fates are bound, for Adelaide holds the Burning Lamp in her possession.

A dreamlight reader, Adelaide should be able to manipulate the Lamp’s light to save both Griffin’s sanity and his life. But their dangerous psychical experiment makes them the target of forces both inside and outside of the Arcane Society. And though desire strengthens their power their different lives will keep them apart—if death doesn’t take them together. (from Goodreads)

This book even more than most tells the story of a man saved by the love of a good woman. Of course, he doesn’t think he deserves or needs to be saved, but why let that get in the way of a good story.

Griffin is an underworld boss in London, although he does draw the line at prostitution. That is fortunate, because Adelaide is determined to shut down the “houses of ill-repute” in the city.

Sometimes I am bothered by the coincidences that arise in these books, but the author does explain it as part of the paranormal activities taking place. The necessary people are drawn together at the right time by their abilities and by various artifacts.

Works for me . . . because JAK can certainly write a wonderful story.

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Filed under Historical, Paranormal, Romance

Tagged as Jayne Ann Krentz

August 27, 2010 · 4:29 am

Fired Up (Dreamlight, #1) by Jayne Ann Krentz

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More than three centuries ago, Nicholas Winters irrevocably altered his genetic makeup in an obsession-fueled competition with alchemist and Arcane Society founder Sylvester Jones. Driven to control their psychic abilities, each man’s decision has reverberated throughout the family line, rewarding some with powers beyond their wildest dreams, and cursing others to a life filled with madness and hallucinations.

Jack Winters, descendant of Nicholas, has been experiencing nightmares and blackouts-just the beginning, he believes of the manifestation of the Winters family curse. The legend says that he must find the Burning Lamp or risk turning into a monster. But he can’t do it alone; he needs the help of a woman with the gift to read the lamp’s dreamlight.

Jack is convinced that private investigator Chloe Harper is that woman. Her talents for finding objects and accessing dream energy are what will save him, but their sudden and powerful sexual pull threatens to overwhelm them both. Danger surrounds them, and it doesn’t take long for Chloe to pick up the trail of the missing lamp. And as they draw closer to the lamp, the raw power that dwells within it threatens to sweep them into a hurricane of psychic force. (from Goodreads)

This is the first book in the Dreamlight series. Like her other Arcane Society novels, she will alternate between a contemporary title and an historical one (Burning Lamp). In this trilogy, however, she is finishing up with a book set in her futuristic series set on the planet Harmony. I am in the process of re-reading all of the Harmony series and the two Dreamlight titles to be ready for the new book.

Like all of her books, this one has humorous aspects to it, but the Arcane series is much more intense than some of her others. It is really striking to compare her books now with the ones she wrote 25 years ago. There are many differences, but I can tell a JAK no matter what name it is under or time period it is in.

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Filed under Contemporary, Paranormal, Romance

Tagged as Jayne Ann Krentz