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Showing posts with label Coreene Callahan. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Coreene Callahan. Show all posts

Sunday, October 13, 2013

Fury of Desire by Coreene Callahan

Wick's story is finally here! It feels like I haven't read a Dragonfury book in forever, even though it's only been a year since the previous one was published. The first three books were published only a few month apart, so prior to this fourth one, I guess I felt lucky to be able to buy and read them so close to one another. After about a year of waiting, we finally get to read Wick's story and let me tell you, the wait is definitively worth it.

Wick is the sort of character that grows on you because of his mysteriousness and his bad boy attitude. A loner and a guy that doesn't say much, we didn't get to know him all that much in the previous books. In FURY OF DESIRE, we finally understand why he's  such a broken character and why he will go to such great lengths to avoid contact with another dragon or human. His past is a dark one and I feel very sympathetic towards him and his sad childhood. Even though it's to be expected, I'm actually happy that he found a mate of his own to love and to protect him from his past.

Personally, I find J.J. (or Jamison) is a character full of clichés. A girl that was in an abusive relationship, she was forced to take matter into her own hands when her boyfriend threatened to kill her sister, Tania. In jail for killing said boyfriend, she's then abused by a horrible prison guard and she will do just about anything to be set free. Especially after getting beaten close to death, which lands her in the hospital with life threatening injuries. In comes Wick to save the day. So in my opinion, quite a cliché character and relationship, but still very entertaining. The scenes between Jamison and Wick are delightful, and even if Wick is a character that doesn't say much, the dialogue between the two is so entertaining.

I love how this series is expanding with each new book. At first, the series concentrated on dragon conflicts within the city of Seattle, but now the war between dragons is going international. Many different background characters now play a role in the battle between "good" dragons and "bad" dragons, some by simply backing it financially while others trying to get involved first hand. The world of dragonkind politics is a complicated one and I think Coreene Callahan has only given us an brief introduction. I anticipate more plot twists and intrigue in future books.

A paranormal romance at heart, like all the other books of the series, FURY OF DESIRE isn't without a good dose of action. However,  it feels like there was a little less romance in this one, compared to the first three, but that made the scenes between Wick and Jamison that much more precious. The romance will leave you desiring more, while the action will keep you on edge. I probably said it before, but I highly recommend this series, if you're a fan of the genre.

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Sunday, December 16, 2012

Knight Awakened by Coreene Callahan

coreene callahan - knight awakened

Knight Awakened by Coreene Callahan

Book Stats:

Reading level: Adult
Genre: Historical Paranormal Romance
ARC: 443 pages
Publisher: Montlake Romance
Release date: December 4, 2012

Series: Circle of Seven #1

Source: Publisher (via Jenn)

Reviewed by: Stéphanie

Purchase: Amazon | Book Depository

In AD 1331, warlord Vladimir Barbu seizes control of Transylvania. But in spite of his bloody triumph, his claim to the throne remains out of reach. The king of Hungary opposes his rule, the Transylvanian people despise his brutal ways, and the high priestess needed to crown him has vanished without a trace. But Barbu hasn’t come this far only to be thwarted by a woman. He unleashes his best hunters to track her down and bring her to him — dead or alive.

For Xavian Ramir, killing is the only life he has ever known. Torn from his family when he was a child, he was trained from an early age to be an elite assassin. But now he longs for something more, vowing to start anew after one last job. The bounty on his target’s head is enough to set him up for good — if he can resist the long-dead conscience that stirs to life when he meets his beautiful mark.

Afina Lazar never wanted to become high priestess, but the brutal murders of her beloved mother and sister leave her no choice. Now she is running for her life, desperate to protect the magical amulet entrusted to her care. But when Barbu’s assassin comes for her, she realizes her only chance of stopping the warlord’s rise to power is to convince this enigmatic — and handsome — hunter that she is more valuable alive than dead. Dramatic and fast-paced, Knight Awakened is a stirring love story between two people searching for a second chance in a magical world of assassins, warlords, unearthly beasts, and nonstop.

If you’ve been following my reviews here on Tynga’s Reviews this past year, you might have noticed how much I’ve enjoyed Coreene Callahan’s Dragonfury series so far. It reminds me so much of J.R. Ward’s Black Dagger Brotherhood series because of the brotherly bond between the warriors and the intense bond they share with their mates. While this newest series of hers has those qualities, it’s a forage into a different genre altogether. Although KNIGHT AWAKENED does have a few dragons, the story concentrates more on the high priestess Afina Lazar and her bodyguard of sorts, Xavian Ramir who has declined the task of bringing Afina to the evil warlord Vladimir Barbu for a bounty.

This book promises non-stop action in a wonderful historical setting of greedy lords, yummy warriors and humble heroines. I really enjoyed the first book in this new series mainly because of the admirable characters and dragons shapeshifting dragons. The main characters, like in all Coreene Callahan books, are unforgettable. Afina has the right amount of strength and tenacity to survive and protect her niece while being hunted by an evil warlord. It’s her dedication to goodness that makes her an admirable and loveable character. The fact that we see her grow as a character in a short amount of time, makes her a more believable character. As for Xavian, he might seem like your typical warrior but his history and dark past add depth to his character. He is undoubtedly haunted by the things he’s done as an assassin and feels unworthy of Afina’s love.

While the story itself can seem like your typical woman-in-distress-meets-strong-warrior, I have no problem with the storyline because for me, that type of hook will never get old. It’s what happens during the rest of the novel that keeps you entertained anyways. Afina is wanted by many parties because of her magical powers and her high priestess title. As she runs away with Xavian from anybody that wants to harm her, an obvious bond starts to form between the two. I’m glad the author didn’t rush the relationship between the two. I’m not going to reveal too much about Afina’s magical powers and her quest because finding out everything is one of the charms of this book.

There’s a huge cast of secondary characters in this book, which made it hard to keep track of them sometimes. That’s probably the only negative thing I have to say about the novel. I understand the author wanted to introduce us to all the members of her prophesized Circle of Seven (the name of the series), but I think it’s the additional characters like the dragons, the bad guys and the various townspeople/household members that made it hard to keep track of everyone. Despite this minor inconvenience, the story is still very clear and enjoyable.

I have a guilty pleasure for historical paranormal romances and KNIGHT AWAKENED was able to satisfy my craving for the genre. There’s something special about this genre that makes me want to read more of it. With some of the secondary characters being shapeshifting dragons, I believe this Circle of Seven series might be a prequel of sorts to the Dragonfury series. If that’s true, I can’t wait to read more of either series so I can learn more about the magical world of Coreene Callahan’s dragon shapeshifters.

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Thursday, November 29, 2012

Coreene Callahan's Top 10 Dragon Tips + giveaway!

Coreene Callahan We're skipping Daring You To Read this week because we have a guest post from Coreene Callahan, author of the Dragonfury series, which Stéphanie loves!

As the only girl on all guys hockey teams from age six through her college years, Coreene Callahan knows a thing or two about tough guys and loves to write about them. Call it kismet. Call it payback after years of locker room talk and ice rink antics, but whatever you call it, the action better be heart stopping, the magic electric, and the story wicked, good fun.

After graduating with honors in psychology and working as an interior designer, she finally succumbed to her overactive imagination and returned to her first love: writing. And when she’s not writing, she’s dreaming of magical worlds full of dragon-shifters, elite assassins, and romance that’s too hot to handle. Callahan currently lives in Canada with her family and writing buddy, a fun-loving golden retriever.

Stay tuned for Coreene's Top 10 Dragon Tips and enter to win a copy of her latest Dragonfury book, FURY OF SEDUCTION!

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I don’t know about you, but I’m a big believer in the slogan “knowledge is power”. That kind of attitude has saved by tuckus more than once, enabling me to stay healthy while writing about dragon-shifters. They are, after all, a difficult—think…crazy, secretive, sometimes violent—bunch. And tend to get upset when I reveal things Dragonkind would rather we not know. Secrets like, oh say, their strengths and weaknesses, how and where they live along with—

Well, I could go on, but prefer to stay alive, so…

Today, I decided to share my top ten Dragon Tips. The ones that will help you recognize the warning signs and get the heck out of Dodge if necessary. I hope each stands you in good stead should you ever come nose-to-scales with a dragon-shifter in a snit or ah-hem…a more amorous frame of mind.

Top 10 Dragon Tips Everyone Oughta Know:

1. Dragon-shifters are notorious pranksters, so be careful—you start it, they’ll finish it…every time.

2. Never piss off a frost dragon. You’ll end up in a cryogenic deep freeze.

3. Never lend a dragon-shifter your car. Dragons love to drop things from high places, just to see them go crunch. He’ll call it a scientific experiment while you’re calling your insurance company.

4. Invite a dragon-shifter to dinner. He’ll not only cook for you (flambéed entrees in an instant!), but bring an excellent vintage from his wine collection too. Serve it up hot, sprinkle on some sexy, and enjoy HIM along with the meal.

5. Dragons fear water. There is, however, one exception to the rule…Mac (the hero of FURY OF SEDUCTION). So before you drop the towel on the deck to take a midnight dip, check the bottom of the pool. Mac’s been known to “borrow” one every now and again.

6. Never play poker, strip or otherwise, with a dragon-shifter. You’ll end up broke, homeless, and probably naked too.

7. Dragons love to show off. Ask yours to take you on a midnight flight. You’ll get a bird’s-eye view and the ride of your life...during and afterward.

8. Dragons love to give chase. So don’t run…unless, of course, you wish to be caught and thrown into an erotic free-fall toward the nearest bed. (*sigh* We should all be so lucky!)

9. Where there’s smoke, there’s fire…which probably means Wick is in the area. Stay inside and away from the windows. Hiding under the bed is advisable too, cuz yeah…Wick finding you? Not even close to a good idea.

10. Courting a dragon-shifter’s forgiveness? Treat him to a night filled with the THREE Ls: laughter, lingerie and lots of loving. Works like a charm every time. He’ll forget his own name, never mind what upset him in the first place.

So there you have it. The Top 10 list of Dragon Dos and Don’ts. A huge thanks to Tynga’s Reviews for inviting me to visit today. It’s been great fun! To learn more about the Dragonfury Novels and my Circle of Seven series, stop by my website www.coreenecallahan.com. I’d love to hear from you!

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Thanks for visiting us, Coreene! What a great list!

Want more Coreene? You can find her online at her website or on Facebook, or Twitter.

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More about FURY OF SEDUCTION:

Fury of Seduction by Coreene CallahanSuccessful landscape designer Tania Solares prides herself on living by her own terms, relying on no man to provide for her. But her carefully controlled life takes a turn for the extraordinary when her inquiry into the disappearance of her best friend thrusts her between two warring factions of dragon-shifters. Suddenly Tania’s survival depends on Mac, a newly initiated dragon-warrior who will break every rule to keep her safe.

Now that Tania knows the truth about Dragonkind, returning to her old life is too grave a risk. Ivar, leader of the Razorbacks, plots to decimate the human race, and Tania is just the tool he needs. Despite the danger, Mac cannot deny her a choice: Trade the independence she’s fought so hard to achieve for safety in a magical world, or turn her back on the man she’s grown to love in order to reclaim a freedom that might not last? It is an impossible choice. And yet a sacrifice must be made…

Stéphanie's thoughts

Read an excerpt

Purchase: Amazon | Book Depository

To learn more about the first two Dragonfury books, click on the covers!

Coreene Callahan Fury of FireCoreene Callahan Fury of Ice

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giveaway

Coreene is graciously offering one (1) print copy of FURY OF SEDUCTION to a lucky reader!

To enter the giveaway, obey the Rafflecopter!

Ends Thursday, December 13, 2012

Open internationally

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Jenn

Sunday, November 11, 2012

Fury of Seduction by Coreene Callahan

coreene callahan - fury of seduction

Fury of Seduction by Coreene Callahan

Book Stats:

Reading Level: Adult
Paperback: 449 pages
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Publisher: Montlake Romance
Release Date: November 13, 2012

Series: Dragonfury #3

Source: eARC from the publisher

Reviewed by: Stéphanie

Purchase: Amazon | Book Depository

Successful landscape designer Tania Solares prides herself on living by her own terms, relying on no man to provide for her. But her carefully controlled life takes a turn for the extraordinary when her inquiry into the disappearance of her best friend thrusts her between two warring factions of dragon-shifters. Suddenly Tania’s survival depends on Mac, a newly initiated dragon-warrior who will break every rule to keep her safe.

Now that Tania knows the truth about Dragonkind, returning to her old life is too grave a risk. Ivar, leader of the Razorbacks, plots to decimate the human race, and Tania is just the tool he needs. Despite the danger, Mac cannot deny her a choice: Trade the independence she’s fought so hard to achieve for safety in a magical world, or turn her back on the man she’s grown to love in order to reclaim a freedom that might not last? It is an impossible choice. And yet a sacrifice must be made…

There’s no doubt in my mind that there’s something special about this Dragonfury series. Not only did she create a wonderful kind of dragon shapeshifter, but Coreene Callahan has succeeded in creating great characters that have you coming back for more. I think, FURY OF SEDUCTION has been my favorite of the series so far, especially since it features one of my favorite dragons, Mac.

Mac hasn’t been a dragon for a long time. Actually, he’s only known about his true nature for a few weeks now. He has always been drawn to water, especially when he was a Navy SEAL. Now that he knows he’s a water dragon, everything makes sense. The only problem is, water dragons are very rare, especially since one water dragon wants to remain the only one in existence and will do pretty much anything to eradicate any new water dragons, including Mac. It’s a good thing that Mac has joined the Nightfuries, warriors who will do anything to protect humankind. They have vowed to fight against the Razorbacks, who plan to kill off the majority of humankind and who have made this rogue water dragon one of their own.

Of course, this book wouldn’t be complete without the romance between Mac and Tania. Unfortunately, like all the other books in this series (and many paranormal romance book, truthfully), I found love was mentioned too soon and without any real foundation. What seems to bound these dragons to their mates is a strong energy that inevitably makes them fall in love. Not very realistic, I know, but a girl can wish for a strong and buff dragon of her own, can’t she? This has been my only problem with the series so far. The fated mate thing can get repetitive, so I hope author creates more obstacles in the relationships in the future books.

Nevertheless, Tania and Mac seem to be well matched. She’s the type of woman that never really trusted men since she’s always been afraid of revealing her emotions in fear of rejection. On the other hand, Mac has always been a one-night-stand kind of guy and has never thought of trying for a relationship until Tania stepped into his life. Since Tania is one of the prime targets for the Razorback breeding program, Mac will stop at nothing to protect and save her from kidnappers.

While Tania’s background story was very detailed and developed, I was a bit disappointed that we didn’t learn more about Mac’s past. However, because of his relationship with the rogue water dragon, I’m hoping more will be revealed in the future books.

The first two books introduced us to the silent war between the Nightfuries and the Razorbacks, and focused mostly on characters in the Seattle area. Now, with FURY OF SEDUCTION, Coreene Callahan has expanded her story to Europe and introduced other major key player of this war. I have a feeling we have only skimmed the surface of this secretive dragon world and I suspect were in for quite a ride in the upcoming books. If you’re a fan of dragons and/or of hot and dominant shapeshifters, do try this series if you haven’t already. I love that they’re reasonably priced for the kindle and kindle apps, since I’m the type of person that hates buying e-book for more that $5.

Read an excerpt

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Sunday, July 22, 2012

Fury of Ice by Coreene Callahan

coreene callahan - fury of ice - tynga's reviews - @StephLrx

Fury of Ice by Coreene Callahan

Book Stats:

Reading level: Adult
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Paperback: 431 pages
Publisher: Montlake Romance (Amazon Publishing)
Release date: June 5, 2012

Series: Dragronfury #2

Reviewed by: Stéphanie

Source: Personal e-shelf

Purchase: Amazon | Book Depository

Homicide detective Angela Keen thrives on the city’s rough streets. But when she becomes the prize of all prizes in the dragon-shifter world due to her “high-energy” status, she gets more than she bargained for. Kidnapped by Lothair of the Razorback clan, Angela barely survives captivity before managing to escape. Hurt and alone with nowhere to hide, she faces certain death when Lothair uses the trace energy she leaves in her wake to hunt her down. But before he can reach her, a mystery dragon-shifter intervenes and saves Angela’s life.

Now a guest of the Nightfury clan, Angela regains her strength as her rescuer, Rikar, the last living frost dragon, gradually breaks down her mistrust. Surrendering to her desire for Rikar, but still uncertain of her feelings, Angela goes against his wishes and agrees to be used as bait to lure Lothair into the open. As the battle commences, the true struggle comes from within: Will Angela return home to the life she loves, or forsake it all to be with Rikar?

Dragon, dragons, and more dragons! I’ve been reading so many books about dragons lately, and I’ve become obsessed with them since reading book of this Dragonfury series, Fury of Fire. Although, not as exciting as its predecessor, FURY OF ICE succeeded in feeding my new addiction, and has me wanting more.

Obviously, these dragons aren’t your normal fire breathing dragons. Actually not all of them breathe fire. Some breathe ice, while others acid or venom. But one thing’s for sure—all the “good dragons” are very hot and very sexy men, when not in dragon form, of course. Some of these good dragons have formed a group and they call themselves the Nightfuries. They have more or less vowed to protect humans from their dragons enemies, known as the Razorbacks. Obviously, the idea of good vs. evil isn’t a new one, but the war between the two groups of dragons gets hotter and hotter as each ruthless battle is fought.

The thing I love the most about these dragons, is their dedication to their mate. Their natural instinct to care for and protect their female makes me want a dragon of my own. This and the fact that they form some sort of brotherhood really reminds me of J.R Ward’s Black Dagger Brotherhood series. Obviously, the two stories are very different, but the feel and the flow of both series is quite similar. So if you enjoyed one, I highly recommend the other.

This second book of the series primarily concentrates on the story between Rikar, a frost dragon and Angela, a homicide detective. You would think being kidnapped by the Razorbacks would make Angela afraid of dragons, but on the contrary, she and Rikar develop a very intense relationship. I really appreciated Angela’s doubts about this new relationship because it makes her seem so much more realistic, and as a strong female character, it reminds us that she’s still human, despite her her battle ready attitude.

When every book in a series has different main characters, I really appreciate when an author doesn’t forget about the previous main characters. In FURY OF ICE, Coreene Callahan kept us updated on Myst and Bastien’s relationship, which burgeoned in the previous book. Even after this sequel, their story still isn’t quite finished since the “mystical” bond between mates still hasn’t really been explained. Myst’s life is in jeopardy and the author is definitively keeping her readers on their toes by omitting such tantalizing information.

FURY OF ICE will take you on a chilly ride of dragon fights and dragon passions. Great characters makes this story worthwhile and the easy flow of dialogue and action has kept me interested until the very end. I’m just glad book 3 is only a few months away because I think I’m running out of good dragon-romance books to feed this new addiction of mine.

If you’re interested, check out what Coreene Callahan does when she’s not writing and see her top 10 Reasons to Take a Dragon-Shifter Camping.

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Tuesday, June 05, 2012

"When I'm not writing" with Coreene Callahan + giveaway!

Coreene Callahan

Today's guest is Coreene Callahan, author of the Dragonfury books. The first book, FURY OF FIRE, came out in February, and the second one has just been released today! We're excited to have Coreene here to celebrate her pub day and hope that you'll all enjoy finding out what she does when she's not writing. Coreene is providing a wonderful giveaway to accompany her guest post so make sure you stick around and enter.


WINW_logo

I get asked all the time what I do when I’m not writing. “Trying to survive” is usually my answer. Wrangling imaginary characters, after all, is much easier than keeping track of a husband, three kids, and one mental, but very lovable dog. Throw that together with a crazy schedule, and…you guessed it. Most of the time I’m not sure which way is up. Or, ah, down.

But never mind that.

I’m much more interested in how the question has morphed lately. It’s no longer what I do when I’m not writing, but rather, how I’ll be spending my summer vacation. I would like to say, “Oh, nothing special. Just a few weeks in Rome.” But alas, I’d be lying. I’ll be doing the same thing I do every summer.

Camping.

Yes, you heard me right. Two weeks of nothing but the great outdoors. And if you guessed it’s not my favorite activity, you’d be bang on. But my family adores it, and I’m a good sport, so I go. I see. I experience (and enjoy for the most part), but while planning our most recent adventure, I got to thinking. What if I could bring along a helper? Someone to do all those pesky jobs like, oh say, planning meals, trips to the laundromat, and airing out the tents. And poof, in a flash of inspiration the answer came to me. I need a Dragon-Shifter camping buddy, and then—in true writer form—made a list of all the reasons why.

So without further ado, here they are…

10 Reasons to Take a Dragon-Shifter Camping

- He’ll light your fire. No matches required.

- All dragons are excellent watchdogs. No need to worry about wild animals (or the human variety either) wandering into your campsite when he’s around.

- Forget about the BBQ. He’ll flambé your shish kabob within seconds.

- Stargazing takes on a whole new meaning when he whisks you off for a romantic midnight flight.

- Mosquitoes are afraid of dragons.

- Leave the extra blankets at home. You’ll never suffer a chilly, damp tent again.

- Razor-sharp claws make chopping firewood a breeze.

- His glowing eyes come in handy when you can’t find the flashlight for a 3 a.m. bathroom run.

- He’s a great hiking buddy. When you get tired of walking, hitch a ride on his back.

- Dragons scare fish out of the water. Great for a quick meal when your camping larder is empty.

So there you have it. All the reasons I think I need a Dragon-Shifter of my own this summer. Somehow, though, I don’t think my husband will agree.

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Thank you for taking the time to visit us, Coreene!

For more information about Coreene and her books, check out her website or follow her on Facebook and Twitter.

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Here's the scoop on FURY OF FIRE and FURY OF ICE:

Coreene Callahan Fury of FireWhen duty calls, a warrior answers—no matter the consequences.

A clandestine race of half-dragon, half-humans known as dragon-shifters lives among us. Bastian, leader of the Nightfury dragon clan, is sworn to protect humankind at all costs. For him, honor and duty always come first. When the clan dictates he take a human mate to sire a son, he falters, aware that for a human to birth a dragon-shifter she must die. Myst, the woman given into his care, is the most extraordinary he’s ever met, and though he can’t bear the thought of harming her he is bound by duty.

Myst loves her life in the human world, but Bastian has captured her heart in an instant of electric connection. But Bastian and his warriors are in the middle of a deadly battle with the Razorback dragon-shifters, intent on killing every Nightfury clan member—and the humans they protect—the fate of their world and ours hangs in the balance.

An extraordinary blend of action, fantasy, and steamy romance, Fury of Fire brings to life a dangerous new world intertwined with the survival of humanity, all while exploring the meaning of honor and the nature of true love.

Stéphanie's thoughts

Purchase: Amazon | Book Depository

Coreene Callahan Fury of IceHomicide detective Angela Keen thrives on the city’s rough streets. But when she becomes the prize of all prizes in the dragon-shifter world due to her “high-energy” status, she gets more than she bargained for. Kidnapped by Lothair of the Razorback clan, Angela barely survives captivity before managing to escape. Hurt and alone with nowhere to hide, she faces certain death when Lothair uses the trace energy she leaves in her wake to hunt her down. But before he can reach her, a mystery dragon-shifter intervenes and saves Angela’s life.

Now a guest of the Nightfury clan, Angela regains her strength as her rescuer, Rikar, the last living frost dragon, gradually breaks down her mistrust. Surrendering to her desire for Rikar, but still uncertain of her feelings, Angela goes against his wishes and agrees to be used as bait to lure Lothair into the open. As the battle commences, the true struggle comes from within: Will Angela return home to the life she loves, or forsake it all to be with Rikar?

Purchase: Amazon | Book Depository

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giveaway

Coreene is generously offering two (2) sets of Dragonfire books to our lucky readers!

To enter the giveaway, obey the Rafflecopter!

US/Canada

Ends Monday, June 18, 2012

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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Do you guys have suggestions for who you’d like to see featured on the blog? If so, you can make your suggestions on this page. No guarantees that your favorite authors will be able to participate but we’ll try!

Authors, would you like to visit and share with us? Please email me at jennblogs (at) gmail (dot) com and we’ll set it up!

Jenn

Sunday, March 04, 2012

Fury of Fire by Coreene Callahan

Fury of Fire by Coreen CallahanFury of Fire by Coreene Callahan

Book Stats:

Reading level: Adult
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Paperback: 400 pages
Publisher: Amazon Publishing
Release date: February 7, 2012

Series: Dragronfury #1

Reviewed by: Stéphanie

Source: Amazon Kindle

Purchase: Amazon | Book Depository

A clandestine race of half-dragon, half-humans known as dragon-shifters lives among us. Bastian, leader of the Nightfury dragon clan, is sworn to protect humankind at all costs. For him, honor and duty always come first. When the clan dictates he take a human mate to sire a son, he falters, aware that for a human to birth a dragon-shifter she must die. Myst, the woman given into his care, is the most extraordinary he’s ever met, and though he can’t bear the thought of harming her he is bound by duty.

Myst loves her life in the human world, but Bastian has captured her heart in an instant of electric connection. But Bastian and his warriors are in the middle of a deadly battle with the Razorback dragon-shifters, intent on killing every Nightfury clan member—and the humans they protect—the fate of their world and ours hangs in the balance.

An extraordinary blend of action, fantasy, and steamy romance, Fury of Fire brings to life a dangerous new world intertwined with the survival of humanity, all while exploring the meaning of honor and the nature of true love.

This is the first book of the Dragonfury series, which also happens to be the author’s first published work. In this story, we are introduced to a special group of warriors who happen to be dragonkind, a half human, and half dragon species. These warriors call themselves the Nightfuries, and have given themselves the duty to defend humans by fighting the Razorbacks, a group of rogue dragonkind who use and kill women for their power. The Razorbacks are also trying to wipe humankind from the earth.

The author has created a unique kind of shape-shifter world. Oddly, the dragonkind are a male only species—there are no female dragons. These males must depend on human females to extract power from the Meridian which allows them to feed and heal themselves. This Meridian, which links every live thing to the earth, undergoes a special alignment twice a year. The dragonkind are only fertile during these alignments, and if they decide to breed, the female will get pregnant. Unfortunately, carrying a dragonkind baby is very difficult and leads to the death of the mother during childbirth.

At first, this whole concept felt very sexist because, truthfully, why shouldn’t females be dragon shape-shifters too? And those dragonkind males! They’re so domineering and possessive of their females, to the point where one would attack a brother if he simply touched his female. And seriously, “feeding” from women only? Another sexist checkmark in my book.

But as I read and got to know these strong and sexy dragonkind males, they grew on me. Their alpha-male attitude is a theme we’ve been seeing a lot in paranormal romance lately, but for some reason, it never fails to entertain me. In this book, Bastien, the main male character, obviously cares a lot about his female and tends to show it by being overprotective. As the leader of the Nightfuries, Bastien takes his role very seriously and tries to lead by example. He is conflicted because his kind, even if they live for many years, is slowly dying off. Their role as warriors is taking a toll on their numbers and he’s decided to breed with a human female, Myst Monroe, whom he believes is his the perfect mate. Not only is she perfect for him, but they have completed a very unique and rare bond. Unfortunately, he doesn’t want her to die in childbirth, which will probably happen if she gets pregnant.

I loved the romance story between Bastien and Myst. I thought it was well thought out and put together. However, the action scenes seemed to lack maturity and refinement. At times, it felt like words just put together in a rush and I couldn’t get a clear image of what was going on. Obviously, the author spent more time and words on the romance, and that might have been the favourable way to go. The love and romantic scenes were pretty perfect and made me love the two main characters. Evidently, their story isn’t finished in this book and will be continued in future releases.

I also really liked the secondary characters, and some of them will obviously have their own lead in future books. One can only hope that their stories will be as enjoyable as this one. The second book, Fury of Ice, will be released June 5th, 2012.

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