July 17, 2013 by Tina Williams

Lover At Last, Black Dagger Brotherhood Series #11, by JR Ward

From Friends to Lovers – Dark Sexy Paranormal at its Best!

m/m Romance Adult Content

In this long awaited book vampire super hotties Qhuinn and Blay, whom readers have known from their pre-transition days, finally succumb to their mutual attraction. The emotions and sexual tension are high and misunderstandings abound. Moreover the lovemaking scenes are off the Richter scale – what you would expect when two male vampire warriors finally get it on – the furniture in the mansion takes some serious pounding! Also I take my hat off to the author and publisher for not shying away from telling this couple’s story.

In Lover At Last Qhuinn has done his best to cope with the knowledge that for the past year Blay has been shacked up with Saxton, his own cousin, living alongside him in the Brotherhood mansion. Qhuinn has not had sex for a year, apart from with the Chosen, Layla, who came into her needing in the previous novel. However, their sexual union was strictly between friends, both of them keen to sire a young. Qhuinn believes that Blay is devoted to Saxton, for how can his own rough edges compete with such suave, sophistication and honeyed words? Blay for his part has been rejected by Qhuinn in the past and believes that Qhuinn has secured the future he has always sought as Layla is carrying his child.

I love the characters of Blay and Qhuinn, they complement each other so well. Blay comes from a stable, loving and supportive family. Qhuinn on the other hand, with his mismatched eyes, was considered a curse by his family and disavowed by them before his kin were brutally slain by the Lessers, enemies of the vampire race. The couple have had a long friendship, training, fighting and clubbing together, but despite their attraction they have never been lovers. Both are compelled to confront their true feelings and Qhuinn especially his own sexuality and it is a very emotional ride. Throughout much of the novel Qhuinn is subjected to one sucker punch after another, not just his relationship with Blay, but Layla’s pregnancy, events within the Brotherhood, in which he plays a key role, and a past which comes back to haunt him.

It is a very tangled web indeed that JR Ward weaves. Whilst I was itching for Qhuinn and Blay to find their HEA, I also sympathised with Saxton, who is deeply in love with Blay. I also enjoyed the scenes with Layla, who has really come into her own as a character. As one of the Chosen, who have decided to leave the home of the Scribe Virgin and reside on Earth, she has been faithful in her service to the other vampires when they have required sustenance in the form of her blood and is desperately seeking to make a life for herself. Her own life is complicated by the mutual attraction she has for the traitor Xcor, leader of the Band of Bastards, who recently made an attempt on Wrath the King’s life. I am looking forward to where the author will take their relationship. Xcor is still busy manipulating members of the glymera, the vampire aristocracy, for his own political ends in this novel. Although Xcor and his men are enemies of the Brotherhood, I am nevertheless both fascinated and entertained by their exploits, in battle, politically and sexually.

The Lessening Society is under the leadership of a new Fore-Lesser who is seeking to replenish their coffers via the drug trade. This brings them into direct contact with Assail, who is busy gaining control of the local drug circuit. Both the Brotherhood and the Band of Bastards battle with the Lessers throughout and there is one fantastically memorable battle scene between the Brothers and the Lessers early on in the novel. Also characters we have met in previous books make appearances, not just the other Brothers and their Shellans, but notably Trey and IAm, who we learn more about. Indeed, there are some interesting developments afoot for Assail (I am so in love with this bad boy character) and Trey in particular, with the introduction of possible love interests. Wrath and Beth’s relationship also begins to come into focus as the author begins to set the scene for the next book, The King, scheduled for April 2014. I can’t wait!

Lover At Last is a must read for fans of the Black Dagger Brotherhood. For those not inducted into the fabulous Brotherhood, I seriously recommend that you begin with the first novel, Dark Lover, which introduces the reader to their world and recounts the romance between Wrath, the King, and Beth, a human who does not realise that she is half vampire. The series is one sexy and addictive dark paranormal read, which just keeps getting better and better. I cannot recommend it more highly.

Reviewed by Tina Williams

If you like J R Ward you may also want to check out our review of Rapture, #4 in her Fallen Angels Series

Lover At Last Published 2013 by Piatkus

Cover images: Man copyright Shutterstock, city copyright the-parish.com

Design: www.the-parish.com

J.R. Ward website

July 8, 2013 by Tina Williams

Tangle of Need, #11 in the Psy-Changeling Series, Nalini Singh

Mating Bond versus Unconditional Love

I have been reading Nalini Singh’s Psy-Changeling Series since being bowled over by the first book, Slave to Sensation, which, like all that follow, is a fantastically sexy and phenomenally original read. I love the world that she creates, where the Psy, a race with powerful and sometimes terrifying mind powers, who have rejected emotion, vie against the Changelings and the Humans, in what threatens to culminate in a brutal war of cataclysmic proportions. The series contains palpable sexual tension and passionate lovemaking scenes, which contrast sharply with the political machinations and unspeakable acts of violence from some characters who are true sociopaths. There are also others who fight to defend their own race and foster harmony and some whose motives we are never quite sure of. The central romance in each book is set against the overall story arc, told in the manner of a master storyteller. You are advised to read the series in order for maximum enjoyment.

Tangle of Need follows on after book 10, Kiss of Snow, which covers the romance between Hawke, the alpha of the SnowDancer pack and Sienna, the powerful X Psy, and the battle against some of the Psy. At the heart of Tangle of Need is the romance between two wolf-changelings, the soldier Adria and Riaz, a SnowDancer lieutenant. The journey to their HEA is emotional and it pulls at the heartstrings. Adria has returned to the SnowDancers after a disastrous union with another, where she felt compelled to suppress her natural dominance. This has damaged her self esteem and she hides her true self under a prickly exterior, fearing commitment. Riaz, a lone wolf, has returned from Europe, where he met his true mate, only to be devastated when he finds that she is married to another she is very much in love with.

These two wounded individuals are initially drawn together by an overwhelming physical attraction, despite their initial dislike of each other. There is a hugely sexually charged scene early in the novel, where this attraction is left in no doubt. However, Riaz subsequently rejects Adria when she proposes that they come together for physical pleasure alone. However, constantly thrown together in the course of their work, they begin to form a strong friendship, which soon progresses into ever stronger ties, unable to resist the primal draw that pulls them together. Yet what future do they have when Riaz knows in his heart that Adria will never be his mate and the guilt of betrayal holds him back? Also how will Adria cope with the fear of being second best and coping with yet another dominant male? In this novel Nalini Singh explores the strength of the mating bond versus the free will of true, unconditional, love and she does this beautifully. As usual the lovemaking scenes are supremely hot, especially in this novel, where Adria and Riaz are both powerful dominants.

Riaz and Adria, strong, yet vulnerable individuals are characters whom I really feel for. Adria is a seasoned soldier, but with a gentle and giving side to her nature, which Riaz starts to value more and more as they get to know each other. I loved how once he made up his mind to pursue Adria, after cruelly rebuffing her, he really went for it, despite his initial guilt over betraying his mate. His actions were very romantic and the novel is a real tear jerker before it reaches its conclusion.

There is a lot going on in the tale, apart from the main romance, not least the continuing sickness and disintegration of the Psy-Net and the power play between the Psy Councillors, which not only threaten the Changelings but world peace. In particular, Councillors Ming, Henry Scott and Kaleb make several key appearances and impact on the plot. Into this mix there is also the growing strength of the Pure Psy and the Human Alliance. In terms of the Changelings, we see little of the DarkRiver leopards in this book. Instead we catch up with those in the SnowDancer pack, especially Hawke and Sienna, who we see a lot of. We also meet other characters again, such as the Ghost, Alice, the brilliant researcher from the past who is recovering from being in statis, the Arrows and other factions which reveal themselves, seeking to align with others in the face of the oncoming war. The many sub plots, which exist alongside the central romance, make the book another gripping read and a great addition to the series.

I recommend this book to those who like to read paranormal romance or romance with a Futuristic/Sci-Fi theme. with deliciously sexy scenes, set within a complex world and overall plot which holds your interest and keeps you in suspense throughout. Like all of Nalini Singh’s fans I am also itching to read the latest book in the series, Heart of Obsidian, which is a much anticipated read.

GOLLANCZ FICTION

http://www.orionbooks.co.uk

http://www.gollancz.co.uk

Cover design by Craig Fraser

Photo copyright Aleksej Vasic/Getty Images

http://www.nalinisingh.com/index.php

June 22, 2013 by Tina Williams

Guest Blogger – Sabrina, ‘The Urban Book Thief’ – Deconstructing the Alpha Hero

Today we are thrilled to welcome Sabrina, aka ‘The Urban Book Thief,’ to our blog to give us an insight into the alpha heroes we love. In doing so she also shares some awesome book recommendations. Sabrina’s blog is bursting with fun and fantastic news and reviews of kick ass romance, urban fantasy and paranormal books. If this sounds like your thing (and it’s definitely mine), check it out, you won’t be disappointed! Over to you Sabrina and many many thanks! Tina 🙂

Deconstructing the Alpha Hero

Heroes. Male protagonists. The Alpha. The hottie with a body. Whether you love ‘em or hate ‘em – there’s just no avoiding them. For me, I just can’t seem to get enough. Unfortunately, this sentiment isn’t shared quite so much by my hubbie, who has to live in a house with hundreds of books featuring half-naked men on their covers. Meh.

So I was going about my day last week when I ran into a rather awesome website called All About Romance. The content is stupendous; please do check them out if you have the time. The authors have one or two very insightful things to say about romance heroes, and I read an interesting post about how they tried to determine how many different types of ‘Alpha’ hero there are out there in big bad world of fiction. According to them there are eight heroic archetypes. It’s totally legit. They even had focus groups where they ogled different men and everything.

I was so extra-ordinar-ily fascinated with this idea that I created my own (rather less insightful) response.

1. The Chief

This is the guy you want to stick around when the world is about to blow. He is uber powerful, doesn’t take no for an answer and can kill a man by just jauntily raising his eyebrow in mock humour (just kidding – actually no… I think some of these heroes actually could).

Think Roarke from Nora Robert’s In Death series, Hawke from Kiss of Snow or Jericho Barrons from the Fever series.

“I’m not the hero, Mac. Never have been. Never will be. Let us be perfectly clear: I’m not the antihero, either, so quit waiting to discover my hidden potential. There’s nothing to redeem me.” (Shadowfever by K.M Moning)

Chiefs will never admit to being the hero. They are THAT inflexible. Though it is probably because they had to leave a lot of casualties behind on their way to the top…

2. The Bad Boy

This is the guy you don’t want your parents to meet: he’s the one with the leather jacket, a confident swagger (like Jagger yo) and a past he wants to bury. Tut-tut. He’ll usually say the wrong thing and will likely flick the Chief the bird when asked to do something. Even when it’s polite.

Think Tack from Kristen Ashley’s Motorcycle Man, Wraith from the Demonica series or Gabriel from the Dark Magic series.

“His voice was low and rough … “What about you? Do you like bad boys?” “There’s definitely appeal,” she breathed. “Good,” He bent and clipped her earlobe with his teeth … “Because they don’t come badder than me.” (Passion Unleashed by Larissa Ione).

Ooooh! Count me in for a side serving of rebel with lashings of extra sarcasm. The bad boy is good for making with the funny and delivering the ultimate wise-crack put downs. Slam!

3. The Best Friend

This guy is known by many different names – my cuddly snookums, the one guy everyone gets along with, the sweetheart or the hero who declares his love within the space of almost three chapters. He remembers your birthday and will surprise you with flowers when it isn’t even Valentine’s Day. He’ll rock your little socks off.

Think Drew Kinkaid in Nalini Singh’s Play of Passion, Packard from the Disillusionists series or Jack from the Travis Family series by Lisa Kleypas.

“I respect you,” he murmured. “And your views. I think of you as an equal. I respect your brains, and all those big words you like to use. But I also want to rip your clothes off and have sex with you until you scream and cry and see God.” (Smooth Talking Stranger by Lisa Kleypas).

In paranormal romance, this type of hero is usually referred to as a Beta – and you know what ladies? Beta’s tend to be practical, they’ll pick their clothes off the floor without any prompting and will even cook dinner for you if you ask nicely… I’m sold. Where can I find one? My house needs cleaning…

4. The Charmer

This guy will sweep you off your feet with sweet, sweet words and a devilish smile. He’s fun, he’s sm-oo-th and usually has the gift of the gab which almost always get him into – and also out of – trouble. Think Bones from the Night Huntress series, Reseph from Rogue Rider or Gwenvael the Handsome from the Dragon Kin series.

“Wrong way, Bones. The men’s showers are in the opposite direction.” “I’ll file that away with all the other information that doesn’t pertain to me” was Bones’ mocking reply. (One Foot in the Grave by Jeaniene Frost)

He’s a playboy with a heart of gold… well, most of the time anyway. A word of warning, he’s not always the responsible type so don’t pen his name down for babysitting duty – not until he has been trained.

5. The Lost Soul

This guy is the one you want to take home and put your arms around cause life has just pure sucked for him in the past. Big brooders the lot of ‘em. Think Demetrius from the Night Prowler Series, Kere from Born of Silence or Dageus from Dark Highlander.

Also like honor and courage and love, sometimes the truth can be lost, and you have to find your way back to it, crawling over fields of broken glass and dead bodies, your knees and hands bloody and raw, until you get to it and it’s even sweeter than before because of what you suffered on the way. (Rapture’s Edge by J.T. Geissinger).

The Lost Soul is usually no stranger to torture, suffering or pain. In fact, if he wasn’t so god damn sexy we would probably have to put him out of his misery. Poor thing. Nice abs though.

6. The Professor

No, he hasn’t always got his nose in a book – but this guy does have book smarts, and lots of them too. This is a hero who is logical, practical and one to stick to the facts. Plus, I reckon he would definitely be able to complete The Times crossword puzzle. In an hour.

Think Ian from the Highland Pleasures series, Gabriel from Gabriel’s Inferno or Lock from the Pride Series.

When she knew she had her voice back, she asked, “So I’m your girlfriend now?”

“Yup. We’re going to attempt what’s known in the nonintellectual world as a rel-a-tionship.” He sounded the word out and Gwen struggled not to laugh. (The Mane Squeeze by Shelly Laurenston).

Cool as a cucumber and smart as a badger (badgers are dead smart. This I know because I’ve never actually seen one. In fact, I do not know anyone who has seen a real life badger. So unless they have all mystically met their maker, I have deduced that they are cunningly clever ninja spies). This guy can also count without having to use his fingers too. This will definitely help when he goes grocery shopping. Definitely.

7. The Swashbuckler

Step back Indiana, these guys have it covered. Fearlessly brilliant, this is a group of gainly gentlemen know how to dodge a deadly viper while simultaneously bouncing on a space hopper and eating a Big Mac. The Swashbuckler is not afraid to get dirty. In fact – he loves it. Oooh soldier!

Think Strider from Lords of the Underworld, Archimedes Fox from the Steampunk series Iron Seas or Garreth MacRieve from the Immortals after Dark series.

“At fifty times the distance, you dispatched that ko-bold with three arrows to the neck. I’ve earned a trio to the chest. Seems you slapped him while you’re tickling me. You doona want to kill me, which is a good sign. Maybe this is your way of flirting?” (Pleasure of a Dark Prince by Kresley Cole).

These thrills – they be multiplying. And boy do these guys love their thrills. Though just check yourself before you wreck yourself because this man likes to invite chaos and havoc along his merry way.

8. The Warrior

This is the guy you want with you when battling the demons lurking under your bed. These heroes are men’s men. Intensely masculine, hard as nails and potential knights in shining armour – although they may grumble about it and say things like ‘it was my duty’ or ‘I protect all my peoples, even lovely wenches such as yourself’.

Think Curran from Ilona Andrews’ Kate Daniels series, Rain from the Tairen Soul series or Sin from the Dark-Hunter series.

“I turned to leave and paused before the gap in the ruined wall. “One last thing, Your Majesty. I’d like a name I can put into my report, something shorter than typing out ‘The Leader of the Southern Shapechanger Faction.’ What should I call you?” “Lord.” I rolled my eyes. He shrugged. “It’s short.” (Magic Bites by Ilona Andrews).

When the warrior comes out to play it’s time for the bad guys to git cause this guy leaves no stone unturned – so be sure to leave plenty lying around in your back garden in case he comes over for a cup of tea.

Thank you for visiting us from ‘Down Under’ Sabrina. I love all of the alpha archetypes identified, although I’ve currently got a major thing for The Warrior – hence the post image, which I could not resist! I also admit to adoring Barrons (The Chief), Bones (The Charmer) and Wraith (The Bad Boy), from the alpha heroes that you identified. I think that all of our readers will have their favourites. Once again thank you for sharing your insights with us. Tina 🙂

The Urban Book Thief blog

All About Romance

Post image: CURAphotography/Shutterstock.com

June 21, 2013 by Tina Williams

Wicked Nights (Angels of the Dark #1), by Gena Showalter

Heavenly Match between Human and Angel

Wicked Nights is the first book in Gena Showalter’s Angels of the Dark, a spin off series from her fantastic Lords of the Underworld series. Gena writes hot paranormal romances with uber alpha heroes, snarky heroines and passionate and toe curling lovemaking scenes. The scorching cover of this novel certainly lives up to its promise!

In Wicked Nights, the brutal and emotionless angel, Zacharel, whom we met briefly in her LOTU series, is put in charge of a ragtag army of warrior angels. Zacharel’s deity is frustrated with his lack of compassion and both he and his army have to work together as a team and above all refrain from killing humans in their war against the demons, or risk falling and losing their wings – not easy when you meet the less than angelic warrior recruits who all have mega issues! As part of their duties, Zacharel’s army are given the task of destroying demons attacking an institution for the criminally insane in the human realm.

The human Annabelle has been incarcerated there since being wrongly convicted of slaughtering her parents, her claim that they were murdered by a demon being dismissed. Since the attack, Annabelle has been tormented by other demons and is often heavily sedated to minimise her violent outbursts, in which she defends herself against demon attacks unseen by others. She has also suffered physical abuse from other inmates and wardens and sexual abuse from one warden in particular.

During the attack, Zacharel is drawn to Annabelle. He becomes intrigued by her and takes her to his cloud, despite realising that she is in fact a demon’s consort. Things then get complicated as Zacharel’s frozen heart begins to melt and he starts to feel strong emotions for Annabelle, wanting to protect her. Annabelle in turn is attracted to her captor and decides to use the opportunity to learn from him how to fight demons. However, it is not long before demons attack Zacharel’s cloud and Annabelle is put in danger. Yet what will happen when the demon high lord who has marked Annabelle as his consort decides to claim her? Will Zacharel and Annabelle consummate their relationship, when Annabelle struggles with deep seated fears of intimacy and trust? What long term future do they have when angels live for thousands of years, yet a human life is over in the blink of an eye? As usual Gena Showalter has plenty of tricks up her sleeve before the action packed plot concludes.

Zacharel, a truly tortured hero, is a complex character, despising demons with a passion and for very good reasons. He is not only an alpha, but a VIRGIN to boot and has locked away his emotions since a personal tragedy devastated him and gave him major guilt issues. Annabelle is a strong heroine. She has somehow kept hold of her sanity, but is also deeply vulnerable due to the horrors she has endured. She will fight the demons and the demon high lord who wishes to claim her, even if it leads to her own demise. She finds Zacharel attractive from the off, but is fearful due to her prior experiences.

I loved the developing romance between the couple in this book, which I felt was truly a match made in Heaven. The banter was both poignant and amusing and I enjoyed the fact that the hero, once his emotions had come to the fore, would do anything for his woman. I particularly enjoyed the fact that Zacharel finds himself wanting to bond with a woman who has been marked by a demon, a race he despises. The lovemaking scenes are both sweet and hot, as Zacharel strives to overcome Annabelle’s fears and assert his new found sexuality. Fortunately for a virgin he is a fast learner!

I enjoyed meeting the other angels of Zacharel’s army, who no doubt will each have their own story. I also welcomed the appearance of some of the characters from her Lords of the Underworld series. The demon foes are truly hideous and there are plenty of violent, gut spilling scenes full of blood and gore to keep readers entertained and to contrast with the romance. The author has done a great job of balancing the main story with the world building and the introduction of major characters to feature in subsequent books, which can be difficult in the first book in a series.

I am looking forward to reading the next book, Beauty Awakened, which tells the story of Koldo, one of Zacharel’s men, whom we are introduced to in this book. I recommend the series to lovers of steamy paranormal romance which is also full of humour, passion and action.

Reviewed by Tina

Gena Showalter’s website

Goodreads link to Wicked Nights reviews

Publisher Harlequin’s website

June 3, 2013 by Tina Williams

Borderland Beauty (The Borderlands Legacy #2), by Samantha Holt

Besotted Lord versus a Lady Scorned – Sensual Medieval Romance

After meeting Lord Dominic in Borderland Bride, the previous book in the series, I have been impatient to meet the woman who will tame him. Samantha Holt has done an excellent job in Borderland Beauty, which contains plenty of passion, humour and danger. Dominic battles to win the heart of the lady he becomes enamoured with, a lady who has every reason to despise his silver tongue and his reputation. The path to their HEA is further complicated by subterfuge, misunderstandings and the danger posed by the borderland reivers who plague Northumbria.

Dominic, who needs a wife to help him manage his keep and warm his bed, is surprised to learn of a marriage contract, pledging him to marry the daughter of a neighbour, Lord Montgomery. Dominic does not recall having met his daughter, Lucy, and invites the family to spend Christmas at Thornewall to see if they suit. However, Lord Montgomery, forbids Dominic to mention the contract, fearing Lucy’s reaction. As soon as Dominic sees Lucy he is smitten by her curvaceous beauty, strong personality and wit and intends to quickly convince her to become his wife.

Unaware of the contract Lucy reluctantly agrees to attend the festivities and she is mortified when Dominic takes an interest in her. Lucy has no wish to marry, especially a man such as Dominic, who she views as a degenerate womaniser. Lucy does not consider herself attractive to men due in part to unkind comments about her appearance, made in the past by none other than Dominic, when she was but a teenager and he a swaggering youth, comments he has long since forgotten. Lucy believes that Dominic views her simply as a short term diversion and refuses to respond to his charms despite being blindsided by a strong attraction to him. But how long can she keep up this resistance and what if she finds out about the contract?

Dominic is rendered tongue tied or says the most inappropriate things to Lucy– his usual charm deserting him. This I loved as it makes for some very amusing exchanges! There are many fun and sensual scenes which push the bounds of propriety as the two embark on a merry dance around each other. Yet will Lucy’s constant rebuttals be too much for even a man as determined as Dominic? Their love and trust will be truly tested by each other and meanwhile the borderland reivers are becoming increasingly violent and daring, posing a threat to all.

I enjoyed the couple’s romance. This handsome man who can usually effortlessly bend others, especially women, to his will is brought to his knees by a forthright and headstrong young woman whom he cannot woo with passion and sweet words alone, torture indeed! I loved the banter between the couple as their courtship progresses and how Lucy comes to realise that there is a lot more depth to the Lord of Thornewall than she originally thinks.

I welcomed the Yuletide setting of this novel and the descriptions of the customs and festivities in and around the keep, the author’s knowledge of the period adding depth to the tale. I also enjoyed the secondary characters in the novel, including Lucy’s parents, members of Dominic’s household and Dominic’s half-brother Jake and his wife Isabel, the hero and heroine of the previous novel, who also make a brief, but welcome, appearance.

Samantha Holt’s Borderlands Legacy series continues to deliver sensual and loving romances whilst giving readers an insight into life in the borderlands. I recommend it to readers who like to read medieval romances with alpha heroes and heroines who often test their love and devotion, making for some entertaining tales.

A copy of this book was given to me by the author for the purpose of a fair and honest review.

Find Borderland Beauty at Jupiter Gardens Press

Cover art by Valerie Tibbs

Samantha Holt’s website

Please click on the links for A Reader’s Review Blog’s reviews of other Samantha Holt’s medieval romance novels:

The Angel’s Assassin

Borderland Bride (book 1 in the Borderlands Legacy)

May 24, 2013 by Tina Williams

The Silk Romance, by Helena Fairfax

Gallic Charm in the City of Silk – Sweet Contemporary Romance

The Silk Romance, author Helena Fairfax’s first novel, is a sweet and emotional contemporary romance and such a romantic read. At its heart is a complex relationship between a rich, sophisticated Frenchman and an impoverished Englishwoman. Yet this is no simple Cinderella tale as their HEA is fraught with family tragedy, deception, misunderstandings and the difficulties which can arise when two very different worlds collide.

Sophie Challoner and racing driver Jean-Luc Olivier spent a passionate night together in Paris four years ago, after which Sophie fled to the safety and responsibilities of her family awaiting her in London. Sophie is committed to the promise that she made to her dying mother – to look after her father and brother. Four years later Sophie is shocked when Jean-Luc appears once more and uses his power and influence to arrange for her to spend two months on a student work placement at his silk mill in Lyon, France. Jean-Luc is hell bent on solving the mystery of Sophie and why she ran away from him. Sophie, for her part, resolves to keep her distance, knowing that they can never share a future. The couple cannot deny their growing attraction, yet how can they have a relationship when their worlds are so far apart and when a family emergency compels Sophie to return home to honour her promise to her mother?

The story shows that money cannot buy love. There are many obstacles to their romance: both characters have strong misconceptions of the other, which must first be overcome; there is also the gulf that exists between them in terms of Sophie’s family responsibilities and their different worlds, one of fancy restaurants and haute couture the other of fast food and rundown housing estates.

On the surface Sophie is a strong and determined young woman, working hard to support her family financially and emotionally. However, her carefully constructed façade crumbles as soon as Jean-Luc appears, and she begins to unravel, revealing her vulnerabilities and exposure to Jean-Luc’s world opens old wounds. She has not had a relationship since the night she spent with Jean-Luc in Paris, a night she often dreams of. Her resolve to keep her distance from Jean-Luc is put to the test by events which show him to be far from the shallow celebrity she believed him to be and Jean-Luc’s strong determination to breach her fragile defences and find out the truth.

Jean-Luc is an alpha hero with a strong sense of honour and is full of Gallic charm, making me go weak at the knees just thinking about him! He is a man who likes to exert control in his life and has his own secrets. However, with Sophie he is flummoxed as he cannot understand her motivations, let alone control her. He does know that he wants to protect Sophie and knows that he must be patient if he is to prevent her running away again. He is wonderful hero, who has learned a lot in the years since he first encountered Sophie in Paris.

I also enjoyed the main setting for the novel, the romantic city of Lyon and lost myself in the evocative descriptions of the architecture, the silk mill and ‘la vie en France.’ There are also scenes which take place in Paris and London. I was pulled into the story immediately with the opening scene, where Sophie meets Jean-Luc for the first time since that fateful night four years ago. The tension and the emotional link between the main couple jump off the pages and was maintained throughout the novel. The publisher, MuseItUp Publishing (click on the link) has a lovely excerpt of this scene on their website if you want to find out more.

I found The Silk Romance to be an extremely romantic and engaging novel, in which I was aching for the couple to overcome the obstacles to their happiness and embrace their future together. It is a very impressive first novel, exploring both romantic love and family ties and I am looking forward to the next novel by the author, The Antique Love, which is in the pipeline.

A copy of this book was given to me by the author for the purpose of a fair and honest review.

To read about what inspired Helena to write this novel and the characters within it and to read her author bio please scroll up or click here.

Author Helena Fairfax’s Website

Publisher MuseItUp Publishing – click for details of the book and for excerpt

Cover art for The Silk Romance by Charlotte Volnek

May 15, 2013 by Tina Williams

Archangel’s Storm, by Nalini Singh

Sensual Tale of Love and Vengeance

Nalini Singh is one of my automatic ‘go to’ paranormal authors, where I know that I can be guaranteed an awesome read. I have been following her series of Guild Hunter Novels and also her Psy/Changeling Series for some time now and they are both amongst my favourite paranormal series. The Guild Hunter Series novels, the first of which was Angels’ Blood, take place on an earth where the Cadre of Ten Archangels, supported by vampires, rule across the various continents. These angels however, are far from angelic. They are thousands of years old and have become jaded in their immortality, indulging in great power games to stave off their boredom and trying to avoid the madness that can overcome them.

In Archangel’s Storm, Jason, the taciturn spymaster for Archangel Raphael, is sent on a mission to the court of Archangel Neha. Neha’s consort Eris has been murdered and her rage threatens cataclysmic devastation unless Jason uses all his skills to unearth the killer. Neha, like many of the Cadre’s Ten, is deadly and capricious and to earn her trust necessary to complete his mission, Jason is compelled to tie himself to her bloodline through a blood bond to the princess Mahiya. Jason believes that Mahija will pose no threat to his investigations. However, Mahija has secrets and an agenda of her own and neither she nor Jason is willing to trust each other. Neha’s court is dangerous however, and there is a great deal more than politics at play as the body count continues to rise. As Jason and Mahija are thrown together they are blindsided by an unexpected passion they feel for one another. Yet can Jason, who has kept his emotions tightly controlled after a horrific childhood experience, find it within himself to let Mahija in, and will Mahija survive the machinations of the Archangel and her court and other dark forces that are at play?

Mahija and Jason, like all of the author’s heroines and heroes are a great couple. Mahija has been abused both physically and mentally by Neha, her aunt. Her crime being that she was born out of a liaison between Neha’s sister Nivriti and Neha’s consort Eris. Neha murdered Nivriti as soon as she birthed Mahija, who has paid for her mother’s sin on many occasions. Despite her tortured past, she has not allowed her aunt to poison her mind. Indeed, she has an inner strength and optimism, despite her outward facade of compliance, which many see as weakness. Jason soon sees through this outward show however and connects with the strong but vulnerable woman within.

Such was the extent of Jason’s childhood trauma, that he has closed his mind to any close emotional attachments. He tells Mahija that he can never offer her a long term relationship. However, I loved that Mahija little by little, through her acceptance of what Jason was willing to give, managed to break down the barriers that he had put up for his own protection. It was beautiful to watch how the relationship developed between them and there were plenty of sensual and erotic lovemaking scenes, which the author excels in.

I also enjoyed the character of the Archangel Neha, who we meet in previous books. Although not at all likable, she is complex and unpredictable, with her own code of honour, which Jason and Mahija must play on to survive. It was also gratifying to meet other characters integral to the Guild Hunter world, such as Archangel Raphael and his consort Elena, the vampire Dmitri and his new wife, the Guild Hunter Honor and other characters such as the vampire Venom.

Nalini Singh has a fantastic ability to create a beautiful love story at the heart of each of her Guild Hunter novels, setting them within the framework of the overall story arc, neither of which detracts from the other. Her novels also contain vivid and beautiful descriptions of the magical world she creates. In this novel, for example, many of the buildings comprising Neha’s court she has based on forts in Rajasthan, India. This beauty contrasts vividly with the violence which she does not shy away from featuring in great detail. Her descriptions of broken bones, blood and internal organs ripped from body cavities is not for the squeamish, but reflect events which can occur in the world she has created.

I recommend this novel for lovers of paranormal romance and urban fantasy. Whilst I feel that it could be read as a ‘standalone’, the reader would gain maximum enjoyment by reading the Guild Hunter Series novels in sequence.

Cover art by kind permission of Patrick Knowles

Author Nalini Singh’s website

www.orionbooks.co.uk

www.gollancz.co.uk

May 9, 2013 by Tina Williams

Burn’s World, by Eve Rabi

Crazy and Compelling Love Story!

Burn’s World (books 1-4) describes a compulsive and addictive love triangle. Once again Eve Rabi has created a unique plot full of humour, mayhem and emotional highs and lows. The tale is also peppered with hilarious observations of the human condition. This is the second book that I have read by the author, the first being Gringa – In the Clutches of a Ruthless Drug Lord (click for review). Once again I could not stop reading until I had finished it as I was so enthralled. Although more light hearted than Gringa, it does contain profanities, racial slurs, drug taking and some violence and is therefore suited to those aged 18 and over.

In Burn’s World, we witness the trials and tribulations of Burn, an American of mixed race, from her teenage to her adult years. Her main source of both joy and heartbreak is the love she develops for two men who are polar opposites, thus creating the classic love triangle. She also has to grapple with a ‘special gift’ she has inherited, giving the story a paranormal twist.

When the tale begins, Burn and her little sister Angel are living with their aunt Carlene and her two daughters Daisy and Lanie, where they have lived since the death of her parents. Carlene is a tramp and her daughters are lazy and selfish and all three are happy to let Burn keep house and hold down a part-time job on top of her school work. Burn does all this so that Angel, the sister she adores, does not go without.

At school Burn is the butt of many a racist remark, especially from a group of white boys led by Bud McGraw. She meets Brody McGraw, the school heartthrob and all American boy and they fall in love. Brody is Burn’s first boyfriend and she is ecstatic. However, their love is doomed as Brody’s parents do not approve of a girl of mixed race. Heartbroken, Burn walks away, realising that she will never be good enough for Brody’s family. Brody and Burn however, still have strong feelings for each other, which manfest in some memorable scenes throughout the tale. At this point badass Trojan moves in on Burn, wanting what the ‘white boy’ has. His gang has had a run in with Brody and his cousins and Burn fears that Brody is Trojan’s next target. In return for leaving Brody untouched, Burn allows Trojan to ‘date’ her. Trojan does so and tones down his bad boy image and he supports her through some rough times. They form a strong attachment and become a couple.

However, how will Burn react when Brody once again walks into her life? Is her future with Brody or Trojan, who has given up so much for her? The road to love is a rocky one for Burn as she leaves her teenage years and enters adulthood and there are many unexpected plot twists, where Burn is forced to examine her feelings for Trojan and Brody. The tale is both tragic and heart warming. Where will it all end? Will Burn’s ‘special gift’ endanger her as it exposes her to those who have secrets to keep? There is resolution to the love triangle but it is a tale that had me hooked from start to finish and made me laugh, cry and feel every emotion in between.

Burn is a great heroine, sassy and strong, with an inner goodness that shines through. I really felt for her when she was faced with the open hostility of Brody’s racist parents and I empathised with how she could love two men. Although I thought that Brody stayed under the influence of his parents for too long, I was pleased with how his character turned out and that when Burn faced some difficult situations he did step in to help. Unlike Brody, Trojan has had to fight to survive. He has a heart of gold and is very protective of her and those she cares for. Yes he is violent on occasion, but he does change for Burn and this was endearing. I really felt the love that the two guys had for Burn and the love making scenes between Burn and Brody and Burn and Trojan ranged from sweet to downright hot and I loved them!

There is a great cast of supporting characters, from Burn’s skanky aunt, to her cousins, friends and co-workers. Of special mention are Hawk and Erro, who are connected with Burn’s special gift. I love Eve Rabi’s characters, as they embrace all types of human strengths and frailties and the plot highlights these traits in the extreme, making for an entertaining and insightful read. Her characters are not perfect, they do not always make the right decisions or act within the law, but they are all the more believable and lovable because of it.

I recommend this series to those who like an emotional and sometimes hilarious read, full of romance, mayhem and vibrant characters.

A copy of the Burn’s World series was given to me by the author for the purpose of providing an honest and fair review.

Eve Rabi’s website

Burn’s World on Goodreads, Amazon UK, Amazon US and Smashwords , where there is also a great video promo of the series.

May 3, 2013 by Tina Williams

Bloodright, by Karin Tabke

Erotic Paranormal Romance

Adult Content/18+

Lycan Love Triangle

Bloodright is the second instalment in the erotic paranormal romance Blood Moon Rising Trilogy by Karin Tabke. It continues the tale of Falon who has been drawn into a blood feud between two alpha werewolves, Raphael and Lucien. Do not read any further if you intend to read this series and have not yet read book 1, Blood Law, as this review contains spoilers for book 1. Click to see my review of Blood Law.

Bloodright takes off immediately after Blood Law ended. The Amorak Council has decreed under Blood Law that Falon’s life will not be forfeit to Lucien. Instead Falon is his to either return to Raphael as his chosen one, or to make her his own mate. Raphael is left to find and mark another, to ensure that the Vulkasin pack continues. Falon is heartbroken, not believing that the Council could reach such a decision. When Lucien and Raphael start to fight to the death, she shoots herself to save Raphael’s life. Lucien takes her back to his Mondragon pack and heals her. Lucien is ecstatic that circumstances have played into his hands. He is filled with lust for Falon and believes that it is just revenge on Raphael for killing Mara, his own mate, as he will suffer greatly as Falon now belongs to him.

Lucien and Falon could not have had a worse start. Falon knows that she can never stop loving Raphael. However, she allows Lucien to mark her as his, to secure the future of Lucien’s pack, essential to defeat the Slayers at the coming Blood Moon. She resolves that Lucien will never have her heart. Lucien and Falon’s lovemaking however is off the Richter scale and Lucien pushes her well out of her comfort zone and their physical connection is something magical.

As Falon and Lucien try to accommodate their turbulent feelings, their physical attraction grows into more emotional bonds. Raphael’s state of mind suffers greatly at the loss of Falon and her growing attraction to Lucien. Also the spirit of the ancient wolf Fenrir, contained in the ring worn by Raphael, fights for release. At the same time Lucien and Falon have a number of violent encounters with the Slayers. Raphael is compelled to choose another mate and some major truths are revealed before the novel reaches yet another startling conclusion, setting the scene for the final book in the trilogy.

I love the characters of both alphas. However, I felt for Lucien more as it becomes clear that his bad ass personality is really a front and he has great capacity to feel emotions. He soon develops deep feelings for Falon and cannot accept that she still loves Raphael, even though she is his chosen one. He wants her heart not just her body. Raphael is devastated at his loss of Falon and knows that there will never be another that holds his heart. Yet again he is bound by his strong code of honour and prepares to mark another.

Falon goes through a lot in this novel – the loss of her chosen one, becoming the mate of a hated enemy and then dealing with her conflicted emotions. Although she initially despises Lucien, she begins to see a different side to him and grows to love him. Falon also discovers some secrets of her own birthright and begins to explore her ever growing powers, which are at their strongest when united with both brothers.

Once again Karin Tabke has successfully woven the erotic romance into a great plot and a cast of supporting characters. We learn a great deal more about the Slayers in this novel and characters come to light that impact on the pasts of Falon, Lucien and Raphael. The Amoraks, the human spirit keepers of the wolves also play a role. As the Blood Moon approaches packs and Slayers converge for the great battle yet to come.

This novel is full of mind blowing erotic Lycan sex. If you are not comfortable with explicit love making scenes, ranging from violent to sweet, wolf/ wolf sex and on one occasion human/wolf sex and a ménage scene (albeit in a dream state), you will not want to read this book. However, if you sometimes like your paranormals to get down and dirty and only an erotic romance can do, you will love this series. For lovers of erotic romance and paranormal romance who wish to experience a passionate read. The final book in the trilogy, Blood Vow is already near the top of my ‘to read’ pile.

Cover photo – kind permission received from Claudio Marinesco

Author, Karin Tabke’s website http://karintabke.com/

Cover design – www.isitdesign.co.uk

Published by www.headline.co.uk www.eternalromancebooks.co.uk

April 26, 2013 by Tina Williams

Blood Law (A Blood Moon Rising Novel #1), by Karin Tabke

EROTIC PARANORMAL ROMANCE

ADULT CONTENT

Vengeance, Love and Lycan Destiny

Blood Law is an erotic paranormal romance. It is the tale of two alpha werewolves, twins Raphael and Lucien and of Falon, who is inadvertently drawn into their blood feud.

In Blood Law, Raphael slew Lucien’s chosen one, believing that she was a Slayer, pledged to eradicate his kind. Under Blood Law, which governs the Lycans, Lucien now has the right to kill Raphael’s chosen one. Raphael therefore remains unmated, not wanting to lose his future consort. This has prevented his pack from procreating, for it is only when an alpha’s mate conceives that the females become fertile. Similarly Lucien remains unmated and his pack has also declined, a great risk with the coming Blood Moon, when wolves will be pitted against slayers in a violent showdown.

Raphael rescues Falon from a Slayer and thinking that she, a human, has seen too much, he orders one of his men to kill her. However, he uses his Lycan powers to bring her back from death’s door, intrigued as to what the Slayer could have wanted with her. At the same time he removes a ring, the Eye of Fenrir, from the finger of the dead Slayer. The ring holds the powerful spirit of the immortal wolf Fenrir, who aided the Slayers and nearly annihilated the Lycans centuries ago. He takes Falon back to his pack, heals her and marks her as his mate, willing to sacrifice her, a non Lycan, to the Blood Law. This will leave him free to mate with one of his own kind, allowing his pack to procreate.

Lucien scents that Raphael has claimed a mate and appears ready to kill her. Falon, an orphan, has always felt apart from humans and once marked by Raphael, her ability to heal and her physic powers increase, as does her strength. Falon physically repels Lucien and he departs, vowing to return to exact his due. Raphael and Falon’s bond grows and Raphael wars with himself over whether he can sacrifice her life. Falon proves herself a worthy mate, is useful in the war with the Slayers, and is accepted by his pack. However, it is the Lycan Council who will decide her fate.

Both brothers are natural alphas, Raphael the light twin and Lucien the dark, and I adored them. Honour rules Raphael and although I understood that as alpha he has to put the future of his pack first, I disliked that he deliberately mated with Falon, accepting that she would die by his brother’s hand. However, as his love for Falon grows, his attitude softens. For Lucien, the prodigal son, passion rules and I loved his bad ass attitude, particularly when sparring with Falon, with whom there is a strong attraction.

Falon is a strong heroine, in an impossible situation, where she could lose her life, through no fault of her own. She is drawn to Raphael and quickly falls in love, having an affinity with him, but also his pack. She nevertheless feels a strong pull to Lucien, a pull which he exploits, undermining her relationship with Raphael. Falon’s powers grow the longer she is mated with Raphael and as the Council meeting approaches, we wonder whether she will pay the ultimate sacrifice. The novel does end in a cliff hanger, but as all three books have now been published, the final one in December 2012, you will not have to wait long if you choose to indulge!

There is a strong cast of supporting characters, including the evil Slayers, the Amoraks, the human spirit keepers of the wolves, and Lycans loyal to Raphael and Lucien in their respective packs. I loved how the author explained the history of the Lycan nation and their 800 year old battle with the Slayers, entwining both medieval English history and Inuit culture and beliefs.

This novel has a strong plot , punctuated by frequent and scorching sex scenes, often lasting several pages, as you would expect from an erotic romance. If you are not comfortable with reading erotic romance, I would not recommend this novel to you. However, if, like me, you enjoy descriptions of rampant and inventive sex scenes between consenting adults who exhibit great stamina and supernatural powers you will enjoy this book. For lovers of erotic romance or those who want to experience some explosive passion with their paranormal read! I plan to read book 2 in the series, Bloodright and book 3, Blood Vow very shortly – I desperately need to know what happens next!

Cover photograph – Kind permission received from Claudio Marinesco

Cover design by Rita Frangie

Text design by Laura K. Corless

Publisher’s website Penguin – Berkely Heat

Author, Karin Tabke’s website http://karintabke.com/