Bite Me, Your Grace by Brooklyn Ann

At first, this book reads like your typical historical romance but the author, Brooklyn Ann, intelligently included vampires in her story. I usually love reading these two genre separately, but together they form the ultimate guilty pleasure. What's more, is that the author created wonderful and smart characters to tell the story and I especially loved the gutsy and eccentric heroine, Angelica Winthrop.

Fascinated by Gothic tales and literature, Angelica Winthrop hopes to become the next great authoress. However, limited by her sex, she vows to try everything in order to get published. Including visiting the Duke of Burnrath's mansion, which is presumed haunted. But when things go wrong and Angelica is found by the Duke, Ian Ashton himself, Angelica and Ian become prime gossip material because of their unseemly encounter which a servant became aware of. Gossip by the haute ton is the worse kind of attention one can get, especially when you're a vampire trying to hide in the middle of high society. Ian Ashton has always been careful, but there's just something about Angelica that makes getting exposed worth it. Ian figures that the only way out of the unwanted situation is to propose and marry Angelica. However, Angelica has other plans since she doesn't want to get married.

I love the way Angelica and Ian interact with one another. Their romantic story may have been predictable at times, but it was still highly entertaining to listen to their banter and to see them fall in love. As an early feminist, Angelica is the type of 19th century woman I admire, but in hindsight, probably never existed. Her stance on woman's rights is very progressive (maybe a little bit too progressive for that time) but I still love how the author created such a wonderful and strong leading lady. Ian is pretty great too and his vampire status is definitely an advantage. I don't know if I would have liked him as much if he weren't a vampire because otherwise, I fear he would have been a little bit too boring.

I thought it was pretty great that the author named quite a few real historical figures. Angelica is a great admirer of Mary Shelley and even though I'm not a really big fan of Frankenstein, I can see how Angelica might be fascinated by her and her writing. Along with Mary Shelley, Percy Shelley, Lord Byron and John Polidori are also mentioned. The later actually has a pretty important role in the novel and despite the fact that the other three are never actually present in the story, they have a major influence on some of the characters.

Bite Me, Your Grace reads like your typical historical romance novel but the paranormal elements makes it original and a lot more interesting. This fusion of genre was a definite success and I'm definitely checking out the rest of the series.

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Posted by Tynga at 01:42

 Brooklyn Ann, Historical Romance, Inc., Library, Paranormal Romance, Review, Scandals with Bite, Sourcebooks, vampires  4 People left their mark

Lord of the Hunt by Shona Husk

Having Shona Husk visit us during our Paranorm'All Hallow's Eve event made me realize I'm a little behind on her Court of Annwyn series. I'm really glad I decided to follow through with this series and pick up LORD OF THE HUNT because, truthfully, it has everything you want in a Paranormal Romance. Sexual tension, steamy scenes and mysterious characters are all present.

Annwyn, the land of fairy, is in trouble. The King and Queen are fighting which makes the world of Annwyn unstable and start to dwindle and die. As the Lord of the Hunt, Verden tries to do as much as he can, but ultimately he knows the only way for Annwyn to survive (and not bring an apocalypse to the mortal world), a new King needs to be appointed or the current King and Queen need to get along (impossible!). Usually, Verden wouldn't care so much but the impending doom has brought a new fairy to Court and everyone, even Verden, is intrigued. Taryn is visiting the Fairy Court for the first time with a single mission: get a pardon for her father. If he doesn't get pardoned, he would need to stay in the mortal world during the power shift and perish when the new King is appointed. Taryn is set on doing pretty much everything in order to bring back her father to Annwyn, however, she never planned on falling for the Lord of the Hunt.

Verden and Taryn are the most unlikely pair but their relationship seems to work. If it weren't for all the court politics, their love story would be a simple one, but when it comes to fairies, nothing is simple. Their doomed romantic relationship is fun to read because Verden has his duties as Lord of the Hunt, and needs to be loyal to the King, however, Taryn wants something from the King and the only way to get what she wants seems to be flirt and befriend with the King.

I wish the characters could have been a little more developed. We know Taryn is a fairy that was raised in the mortal world but we don't know much about her life in general. As for Verden, we know he dedicated his whole life to climb to the top of the fairy court but the author doesn't go into much detail on how he got there. All we know is that he went from a farm boy to the King's most trusted adviser.

If the author didn't spend much time on character development, she did however go into quite some detail about her fairy world. The world building was exceptional and the Fairy Court and world very original. There's just something about an impending apocalypse that makes to want to read more and more. As far as Fairy Courts go, this one is not overly dark. It does, however, have the political mischief and the twisted court etiquette. It's definitely not a place I would want to find myself in since the fairies always need to look over their shoulder to avoid any backstabbing. Also, everyone's looking out to acquire extra favors, in order to advance higher in the court hierarchy, and they'll stop at nothing to gain popularity.

Some of my favorites scenes are when Taryn introduces Verden to the mortal world. Verden is no stranger to the mortal world, he just never took the time to mingle with humans. Taryn introduces him to burgers, however, he doesn't eat meat so he's not too fond of those. She also introduces him to alcohol, which he takes a liking to. Obviously, the scenes in the mortal world feel more natural, because they can be themselves, but back in the Fairy Court, they are back to ignoring each other, in order to play the court games.

Since the first book of the series is held mostly in the human world, I really appreciated that LORD OF THE HUNT is held mostly in Annwyn. It's easy to compare the two worlds and see the advantages of both. I anticipate the third book will link together the human and fairy world a little better, since the heir to the Fairy throne will be looking for his human Queen. As a fan of paranormal romance, I really enjoyed this short read. There's just something special about fairies and Shona Husk has a particular gift at giving them life and making their stories delectable. I'm definitely going to dive into the next book very soon!

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Posted by Tynga at 02:10

 Court of Annwyn, fairy, Library, Paranormal Romance, Review, Shona Husk, Sourcebooks  Leave your mark

"When I'm not writing" with Sara Humphreys

Today we're welcoming Sara Humphreys to the blog and I couldn't be happier about it! Sara's the author of the Dead in the City series and she's celebrating the release of the second Dead in the City book, VAMPIRE TROUBLE, which came out at the start of the month. You may also know her Amoveo series, paranormal romance novels about shapeshifters. Without further delay, here's Sara!

When I'm not writing I'm usually spending time with my boys and/or my husband. Family dinners, trips to the zoo, watching Castle or Law & Order, or laughing about something that's probably inappropriate.

With four teenage boys and a hubby, you can also find me doing laundry.

A lot of laundry.

Can we talk about how much I hate laundry? Seriously. It sucks. You do it and five minutes later there's more. A whole lot more. Ugh. It's the never-ending chore.

Wait. The other thing you'll find me doing is dishes. That's second only to laundry because my boys seem to forget that we have a dishwasher. Or a sink. If I'm not dragging laundry up or down stairs, you can find me playing the where-are-all-my-glasses scavenger hunt around the house.

The answer? Everywhere.

Yesterday I found a glass and a plate on the floor next to the couch. The best part? When I asked who left it there, I was met with a series of denials. That's right. It must have been the dog.

Which brings me to the other thing you'll find me doing. Vacumming up dog hair. Our blonde Cocker Spaniel sheds so much,  I can't believe he's not bald. I find tumbleweeds of white hair everywhere.

And you know what? I wouldn't have it any other way. Our house is loud, crazy, messy, and full of life and love.

I'm living my own happily ever after---it's covered in dog hair---but it's all mine.

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Thanks so much for visiting us, Sara! For more about Sara and her books, check out the following links:

Website | Facebook | Twitter

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Here's the scoop on VAMPIRE TROUBLE:

Shane Quesada, a four-centuries-old vampire sentry, is known for cold, unemotional precision when hunting rogue vampires. Maya Robertson is a youngling vampire who will not be controlled—and to prove it, she rejects Shane’s protection, only to find herself in over her head with werewolf royalty.

When a war between the coven and the werewolf clan threatens to ignite, Maya and Shane flee to Louisiana, where their passion for each other grows, as does Maya’s power. When she finds herself at the center of the conflict, will she finally trust Shane with her life—and her heart?

Read an excerpt

Purchase: Amazon | Book Depository

And here's where it all began:

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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 favourite authors will be able to participate but we’ll try!

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

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Posted by Tynga at 02:00

 Sara Humphreys, Sourcebooks, When I'm not writing  Leave your mark

Hunter by Night by Elisabeth Staab

I don't usually start a book in the middle of a series but I requested HUNTER BY NIGHT without thinking about the fact that it was the third book in Elisabeth Staab's Chronicles of Yavn series. (Yes, the NetGalley blurb even states that it's part of a series but guess who got distracted by the interesting blurb. I guess I was having a dumb moment.) Thankfully, it wasn't too hard to understand the ins and outs of the world that Staab has created: Vampires and wizards hate each other and have been fighting for ages. Wizards don't have to market cornered on superpowers: vampires also have unique talents, though it varies from vampire to vampire. Staab does a good job of giving the reader a sense of the series mythology -- even someone who's come late to the game like I did -- but I didn't see a lot in HUNTER BY NIGHT that was terribly original. There are a lot of genre standards (both in terms of urban fantasy and romance) and they're executed successfully but not in a way that makes me want to rave about the series.

In HUNTER BY NIGHT, we get the outsider and the general falling for each other. Alexia is an oddball, a human living among vampires, because her best friend became the vampire queen (back at the start of the series, I think). Now, the queen is pregnant and Alexia is planning to disappear after the birth because she's chafing at the lack of freedom. Unfortunately for her, the vampires' old enemy appears to be back from the dead and so Alexia's safety is threatened along with everyone else's. Staab creates a decent sense of suspense and danger, particularly around the midpoint of the novel, but I think my lack of complete investment ratcheted the stakes down fairly significantly.

On the plus side, the romance between the two lead characters is nicely written. From the start, Alexia and Lee have strong chemistry. Lee's the typical broody old vampire with issues. He hates humans, which makes his attraction to Alexia extremely awkward, and he's got a few other things holding him back as well. Alexia is also trying to avoid her attraction to Lee but it's not as angst-ridden for her since she hasn't had hundreds of years to build up hatred and distrust against vampires as a species. And when they finally start to act on their attraction, they definitely smoulder.

Generally, I liked HUNTER BY NIGHT. The characters were good, the world interesting, but I wasn't completely blown away. Maybe it's because I haven't been with the series from the start -- but I do think HUNTER BY NIGHT can be read as a stand alone. I may buy the first two books the next time there's a sale, just to see what they're like, but I'm not 100% gaga over the Chronicles of Yavn, at least not right now. I'd suggest that you try the excerpt below and decide for yourselves.

Read an excerpt (click on Excerpt tab)

 

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Posted by Tynga at 03:00

 Adult, Chronicles of Yavn, Elisabeth Staab, Netgalley, Paranormal Romance, Review, Sourcebooks, Vampire  4 People left their mark

Her Perfect Mate by Paige Tyler

Paige Tyler has created a very sexy adventure in HER PERFECT MATE. I wasn't expecting to enjoy it as much as I did -- Tyler has a fantastic sense of pacing and the book kept getting more intense and more interesting.

The two main characters, Landon and Ivy, have a really strong romantic connection and, after some initial unease (mostly on Ivy's part), they build a very supportive and trusting professional relationship as well. I loved that Landon has major respect for Ivy's abilities and is willing to work with her even though her abilities -- her very existence -- are a complete surprise. Landon's forced to face a whole new reality but it does it with aplomb and an open mind, two things that Ivy wasn't expecting. It was a refreshing change from the "little lady" attitude that we see in some paranormal romances featuring strong male leads; this was just one of the pleasant surprises in HER PERFECT MATE.

The worldbuilding in  HER PERFECT MATE is also well done. The X-Ops series is a closed world with a supersoldier vibe to it since shifters hide from the general populace but have been recruited as part of a crimefighting task force. The shifters aren't trusted by all of their human co-workers, including their partners sometimes, which makes for a tense working environment, particularly for Ivy, who had a would-be rapist and a chauvinist as partners before Landon was assigned to the unit.

As you would expect, there are some large action sequences in HER PERFECT MATE. There are well-written and engaging. Tyler has a nice balance between action and romance in this novel, though there are aspects of the plot that were a bit predictable. This may just be me and my obsession with these types of stories, however, so perhaps you'll be surprised by some of the big moments in the story. ;) I want to stress, though, that I truly enjoyed HER PERFECT MATE, even though some of the moments are not unique to this world.

If you're looking for an extremely steamy romance with a good helping of adventure, you should try HER PERFECT MATE. I think you'll enjoy Tyler's voice and the world and characters she has developed. I, for one, am glad I gave this series a shot and look forward to the next offering in the X-Ops world.

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Posted by Tynga at 03:00

 Adult, Netgalley, Paige Tyler, Paranormal Romance, Review, Shifter, Sourcebooks, X-Ops  9 People left their mark

A Lady and Her Magic by Tammy Falkner

When I picked up this book, I really didn't expect this story. A magical Regency romance, A LADY AND HER MAGIC is charming and whimsical, and while pleasantly entertaining, it's really not a novel for everyone. The light fluffy romance and the somewhat naive protagonist won't be for everyone, especially those who are looking for hardcore faeries. While these faeries have strict rules, they aren't scary  at all and aren't radiating power and strength.

The faerie lore is very original and while it somewhat lacks a bit in detail, I think it's the most interesting aspect of the story. There are different types of faeries, but the most popular ones in this story are mission faeries. Apparently, their purpose is to travel to the human world and when entrusted with a mission, they help humans through ordeals or with their problems. Sophia, the female protagonist, is a mission faerie but probably not the best one on the job. She steals this particular mission from her sister because she want to redeem herself and prove to the Trusted Few (the governing body of the fae) that she should keep her wings.

Right off the bat, Sophia fall for her charge's father, and the more she tries to help the young Lady Anna, the more she fall for the "dangerous duke." The Duke of Robinsworth, Ashley, is rumored to have killed his wife and while Sophia hesitates to believe the rumor of the ton, she is quick to admit that there might be whole different story that is hidden from society. The romance between Sophia and Ashley is obviously the main story in the novel and while Sophia's missions are the main reason she's there in the first place, I can't help but wonder why it takes her so long to accomplish one easy mission. As we learn later on, the missions are a set up but it just feels like there are a few inconsistencies and I just can't get past the idea that  Sophia and her grandmother are invited to stay over at the Duke's mansion, while they are mere acquaintances of his mother and had never met the Duke before all this. And invited for a party that goes on for more than a week no less... Like I said, there just seems to be something weird about the whole scenario, as if the author needed a reason for Sophia to be there, and came up with an "easy" justification.

The secondary character are what makes the story funny and light. Ronald the garden gnome will have you entertained every time he's in a scene. Margaret is also a wonderful character. As a house faerie, she acts as Sophia's maid when she's in the human world, and while she does what Sophia asks of her, she makes it known that she thinks the job is beneath her. Lady Anna, the duke's daughter is Sophia's mission, but the little chit is loud, spoiled, and uncontrollable (by anyone other than her father and Sophia).

The story is full of faerie dust that will enchant you and I still can't get over the garden gnome. If anything, he deserves his own book. Falkner charmed me with her easy writing and her whimsical ideas. I might continue reading this series when I'm in the mood for an easy and fun read, but for now, I'm left satisfied with Sophia and Ashley's story.

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Posted by Tynga at 02:00

 fae, faerie, Library, Magic, Paranormal Romance, regency historical romance, Review, Romance, Sourcebooks, Tammy Falkner  1 Person left their mark

Legend of the Highland Dragon by Isabel Cooper

You're in for a treat if you decide to pick up this book. I dove right into it, only knowing that it would be about dragons and I was pleasantly surprised when I realized that it was a historical paranormal novel involving dragons, magic and romance. You can't really blame me because I tend to be attracted to anything dragon so I didn't read the synopsis, but if I would have, I would have known that the book was set in Victorian England. I'm quite glad the book doesn't have any steampunk elements like most Victorian paranormal series seem to have these days.  However, one might find some similarities to well known series such as The Parasol Protectorate because of the eccentric characters, the comical comments and the constant presence of tea. Fans of Gail Carriger will most likely enjoy this new series and it will surely please a good amount of historical romance buffs.

Mina Seymour is the perfect main character for this novel because while she is a free thinking and independent woman of Victorian England,  she still believes and follows society's morals. While she might like stretching the rules from time to time, and does consider herself a modern woman, I really appreciate the fact that the author didn't modernize Mina too much and ruin the historical elements. She's a working class secretary/typist and absolutely has no part in the London scene, which is uncommon but refreshing for an historical romance novel of this era.

Her relationship with Lord Stephen MacAlasdair begins as a working relationship, Stephen hiring Mina as his personal secretary because of extreme circumstances and because she unexpectedly finds out he's a dragon. As things heat up, they become more and more attracted to one other which creates wonderful scenes between the characters. Obviously, living in the same house will do that to a couple and Stephen has given himself the role of protector since Mina is now at risk from a supernatural attack because of her links to him. Stephen is a mystery that unravels as the story progresses, but for some reason, despite his imposing stature, he really didn't do it for me. His personality was a little bland and he was a little hard to read. However, his feelings for Mina, and the scenes they shared alone together did make up for that small detail.

I really enjoyed reading the banter between Mina and Stephen, and their inability to ignore one another, even after agreeing that being together would be sociably unacceptable. One of the minor letdowns of the book is that with all the heat and the buildup of lust, Mina and Stephen finally fold and make love in a disgusting building full of grime and dust. I don't see the setting as romantic and I thought it was a poor choice. I can understand kissing while waiting to be rescued, but to actually do the deed for the first time in a creepy setting, it's not too pleasant for the reader, let alone for the characters.

Isabel Cooper keeps my obsession with dragons alive with this new series of hers. I can't wait to read the next installment, not just to see what happens in Mina and Stephen's lives but also to read more about Colin, Stephen's brother. Cooper has only briefly introduced us to her world of dragons and magic and I hope she elaborates on it in future books. This fast paced book is easily addictive if you like dragons and historical romance.

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Posted by Tynga at 02:36

 Adult, Dragon, Highland Dragon, Historical, Historical Romance, Magic, Paranormal Romance, Publisher, Review, Romance, Sourcebooks, Victorian England  Leave your mark

Jaguar Fever by Terry Spear

Maya and Wade met in the amazon before and left a strong impression on each other. Fortunately for Wade, Maya isn't married with Connor as he first thought, she is his twin sister! Less than favorable circumstances will bring them together once more as they fight a bunch of hunters trying to capture jaguars (the cats, not the shifters) to sell them in the States for illegal hunts. Who would've thought murder and romance can share the spotlight?

Jaguar Fever is the second book in the Heart of the Jaguar series, and despite not having read the first book (something I usually never do!) I didn't have a hard time getting into this world. I figure that first book was about Wade helping Maya, Connor & Kat in the amazon, and without really sharing the particulars, Spear provided enough back story to make my experience comfortable.

At first I wasn't really comfortable with Spear's writing. I couldn't quite put my fingers on the problem but something felt off, slightly awkward, but as I got used to it, I started enjoying the story. Terry did a really good job creating an inviting world with some nice touches. In her world, there are two kinds of jaguars shifters, the wild ones whom return to the wild nature regularly and the city cats who never set paw out of the city. I thought it was an interesting personal touch. Furthermore, I truly appreciated the author's dedication to the protection of this endangered specie. Using her novels to raise awareness is a smart move and it did not impair the reader's experience in any way.

One thing bothered me though, and it's not that significant but I have to mention it. Everyone and their mother seems to have a twin in this series. What's up with that? Maya and Connor are twins, so are Wade and David & Kat (Connor's wife) is expecting twins. There are two other pairs of siblings as well (Maya's cousins and the Bettinger brothers) and it wasn't explicitly mentioned that they are twins also, but it wouldn't surprise me. I don't know where this twin fixation is coming from but I thought it was just too much. Twins aren't uncommon, but c'mon there isn't a pair at every street corner either!

Now about the characters themselves, it wasn't love at first sight, but they did grow on me as I discovered them. I particularly liked David despite his having a secondary role, and if I decide to keep on reading this series (haven't made up my mind yet) I would definitely love to see more of him. Surprisingly, Wade & Maya's romance didn't blow me away. It was ok, but I wasn't hooked onto their every moves. Maybe there was something missing chemistry-wise? I don't know.

My favorite part was definitely the plot. I liked how action-packed this novel was and it's what kept me turning the pages at a steady pace. The exotic Belize set-up set my imagination free and I could almost feel the hot humid air. The character's determination to protect their non-shifting pairs was commendable and I truly enjoyed how the author handled that situation.

Jaguar Fever isn't perfect, but I'm sure the shifter lovers out there will find something they like in this series. Jaguars aren't that popular in paranormal romance and it's always fun to discover new species!

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Posted by Tynga at 00:41

 Adult, Heart of the Jaguar, Netgalley, Paranormal Romance, Review, Shifters, Sourcebooks, Terry Spear, Terry Spears  2 People left their mark

My Lady Quicksilver by Bec McMaster

Sad to say but this is probably my least favourite London Steampunk novel. It's written with McMaster's characteristic steam and action but I didn't like MY LADY QUICKSILVER nearly as much as KISS OF STEEL or HEART OF IRON. Don't get me wrong -- MY LADY QUICKSILVER is a good book but it didn't meet the admittedly high expectations I hold after reading the first two books in the series.

Here's the good: McMaster takes us to a different side of her world, with her heroine being a member of the human resistance rather than a member of the supernatural society. Rosalind got involved with the movement because her deceased husband Nathaniel was active. After he died, she took on the mantle of Mercury and leads one pocket of the resistance. (There is dissent within the ranks, which is a key part of the plot.) She's interesting because she lacks many of the physical advantages of her opponents but her upbringing has made her more than a match for Jasper Lynch, the leader of the Nighthawks. She's got great spycraft and it was a lot of fun getting to know her.

Jasper is also an interesting lead. He's the law and he's tasked with finding Mercury. I actually liked him a lot more than Rosalind, partially because he's been in other stories and I've been very curious about how he ended up as Master of the Nighthawks, and also because I loved his devotion to his team and justice. He has a much better sense of the political situation in the London Steampunk series than Rosalind, who I found frustrating sometimes.

I enjoyed their developing relationship but I thought the ending was overly tidy. I could predict how they were going to get their HEA and I think that's why the story lacked some punch for me.

There is a really neat subplot that involves the murders that Lynch has to solve. I thought this was a really smart part of MY LADY QUICKSILVER and it's probably one of my favourite things in the novel.  I won't talk too much about it since spoilers aren't any fun but this plotline made me quite curious about what other folks are doing in the series universe.

There's nothing really bad about MY LADY QUICKSILVER but I didn't enjoy it nearly as much as the first two books in McMaster's series. I do hope that you enjoy MY LADY QUICKSILVER more than I did. Despite the fact I'm not as effusive about this one, I'd still recommend this series to people who are looking for sexy steampunk romance with a supernatural bent because McMaster has created an amazing world and has a captivating writing style.

 Read an excerpt

 

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Posted by Tynga at 03:00

 Adult, Bec McMaster, London Steampunk, Netgalley, Review, Sourcebooks, steampunk, Steampunk romance, Vampire  Leave your mark

Stacking The Shelves {73}

Stacking The Shelves is all about sharing the books you are adding to your shelves, may it be physical or virtual. This means you can include books you buy in physical store or online, books you borrow from friends or the library, review books, gifts and of course ebooks!

If you want to find out more about Stacking The Shelves, please visit the official launch page!

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Hey everyone! Happy Saturday! After a crazy Friday the 13th, it's my turn to Stack the Shelves this week. Most books I bought for myself , but I do have a few review books too. I hope you all have a wonderful weekend and find the time to share your book haul with us this week.

For Review

Legend of the Highland Dragon by Isabel Cooper
The Lotus Palace by Jeannie Lin (eARC)

Purchased

Grave Mercy by Robin LaFevers
Omens by Kelley Armstrong
Beyond the Shadows by Brent Weeks
Gold by Talia Vance {Review}

What did you add to your shelves?

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Posted by Tynga at 01:00

 Harlequin, Sourcebooks, Stacking The Shelves  44 People left their mark

Flirting Under a Full Moon by Ashlyn Chase

Book stats:
Reading level: Adult
Mass market paperback: 384 pages
Genre: Paranormal romance
Publisher: Sourcebooks Casablanca
Release date: May 28, 2013

Series: Flirting with Fangs #1

Source: eARC via Netgalley

Reviewed by: Jenn

Purchase: Amazon | Book Depository

Brandee has been dumped in every way possible, but by text is the last straw. That's it—she's officially done with men. Unfortunately, she's just been told her "soul mate" is the drool-worthy hottie all her friends call One-Night Nick.

Nick has been searching for true love for one hundred years. After all, werewolves mate for life, and he does not want to mess this up. As soon as he kisses Brandee, he knows she's the one. But how will he convince a woman who knows nothing of paranormals that she's about to be bound to a werewolf forever?

Ashlyn Chase is a new-to-me author and I thought that FLIRTING UNDER A FULL MOON sounded like a lot of fun when I saw it on NetGalley. I checked it out online and saw some very positive things as well so I went into it hoping for a fun, flirty paranormal romance. Unfortunately, I was underwhelmed. There are some nice aspects to FLIRTING UNDER A FULL MOON but it wasn't the fun paranormal romp I was hoping for. There's nothing inherently wrong with FLIRTING UNDER A FULL MOON -- it's nicely written and has a good plot and characters -- but the book definitely wasn't to my tastes.

Stuff I liked:

- The Boston setting. I visited Boston for the first time this year for a conference and I thought it was a great city. I loved seeing it featured in a novel.

- Brandee's optimism. I don't see a lot of truly optimistic, sunny characters in the books I read. I don't only read gloomy books but it's not all that often that you see a character with Brandee's unbridled hopes, at least not one who can also maintain a sense of practicality. I like that Brandee has dreams and that she's working hard to achieve them. And she's a genuinely nice character with a clear set of values. It's great to see a leading lady who has dating rules and doesn't throw them out the window the instant a hottie tells her he's interested. Don't get me wrong -- the two characters have some sexy moments but she doesn't completely change once Nick expresses his interest.

- The supporting characters. I was really interesting in Anthony and some of his customers. Sometimes more interested in them than in Nick and Brandee, so perhaps this isn't as positive as I thought it was when I started this bullet point. But I like a well-rounded cast in my stories and there are some interesting folks in the wings, presumably for future books.

- A more technical one: Chase's ability to explain relationships from past books. I didn't realize it when I requested FLIRTING UNDER A FULL MOON but it's actually a spin-off of Chase's Strange Neighbors series. Having never heard of her before, I assumed that this was a stand-alone or a start of a series but it's actually a spin-off. To Chase's credit, even though it's obvious that there are books for some of the characters we encounter, she has a deft hand at explaining how the characters met. There's a vampire couple that obviously had a book of their own (THE VAMPIRE NEXT DOOR) but I still felt like I understood Sly's motivation and history, even without the previous book. Not everyone can do this in a smooth way but I think Chase did a great job of reminding/introducing readers to her old characters.

So why didn't I like it? The root of the problem for me is that FLIRTING UNDER A FULL MOON was just too silly in places for me. Brandee is lactose intolerant, for example, and her gassiness pops up as a problem for a moment in the novel. I'm all for injecting a bit of realism in fiction but it didn't really advance the plot. And then there's Gaia -- Mother Nature is a total crackpot in this one and I found the scenes with her to be painfully over-the-top. I realize she was supposed to be a diva and all that but I cringed when I was reading her scenes. There were also some corny lines and cheesy moments, which I usually don't mind, but it was a bit too much for me when combined with all the rest. I know there's a strong market for these types of books but I am definitely not the target audience.

So there you have it. FLIRTING UNDER A FULL MOON is a perfectly fine book. I'm sure it will appeal to fans of paranormal romance who enjoy a light tone. It's not the book for me but I think folks who enjoy authors like G. A. Aiken or MaryJanice Davidson should give Ashlyn Chase a shot.

Read an excerpt

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Posted by jenn at 07:01

 Ashlyn Chase, Review, Sourcebooks, werewolf  6 People left their mark

Flirting Under a Full Moon by Ashlyn Chase

Ashlyn Chase is a new-to-me author and I thought that FLIRTING UNDER A FULL MOON sounded like a lot of fun when I saw it on NetGalley. I checked it out online and saw some very positive things as well so I went into it hoping for a fun, flirty paranormal romance. Unfortunately, I was underwhelmed. There are some nice aspects to FLIRTING UNDER A FULL MOON but it wasn't the fun paranormal romp I was hoping for. There's nothing inherently wrong with FLIRTING UNDER A FULL MOON -- it's nicely written and has a good plot and characters -- but the book definitely wasn't to my tastes.

Stuff I liked:

- The Boston setting. I visited Boston for the first time this year for a conference and I thought it was a great city. I loved seeing it featured in a novel.

- Brandee's optimism. I don't see a lot of truly optimistic, sunny characters in the books I read. I don't only read gloomy books but it's not all that often that you see a character with Brandee's unbridled hopes, at least not one who can also maintain a sense of practicality. I like that Brandee has dreams and that she's working hard to achieve them. And she's a genuinely nice character with a clear set of values. It's great to see a leading lady who has dating rules and doesn't throw them out the window the instant a hottie tells her he's interested. Don't get me wrong -- the two characters have some sexy moments but she doesn't completely change once Nick expresses his interest.

- The supporting characters. I was really interesting in Anthony and some of his customers. Sometimes more interested in them than in Nick and Brandee, so perhaps this isn't as positive as I thought it was when I started this bullet point. But I like a well-rounded cast in my stories and there are some interesting folks in the wings, presumably for future books.

- A more technical one: Chase's ability to explain relationships from past books. I didn't realize it when I requested FLIRTING UNDER A FULL MOON but it's actually a spin-off of Chase's Strange Neighbors series. Having never heard of her before, I assumed that this was a stand-alone or a start of a series but it's actually a spin-off. To Chase's credit, even though it's obvious that there are books for some of the characters we encounter, she has a deft hand at explaining how the characters met. There's a vampire couple that obviously had a book of their own (THE VAMPIRE NEXT DOOR) but I still felt like I understood Sly's motivation and history, even without the previous book. Not everyone can do this in a smooth way but I think Chase did a great job of reminding/introducing readers to her old characters.

So why didn't I like it? The root of the problem for me is that FLIRTING UNDER A FULL MOON was just too silly in places for me. Brandee is lactose intolerant, for example, and her gassiness pops up as a problem for a moment in the novel. I'm all for injecting a bit of realism in fiction but it didn't really advance the plot. And then there's Gaia -- Mother Nature is a total crackpot in this one and I found the scenes with her to be painfully over-the-top. I realize she was supposed to be a diva and all that but I cringed when I was reading her scenes. There were also some corny lines and cheesy moments, which I usually don't mind, but it was a bit too much for me when combined with all the rest. I know there's a strong market for these types of books but I am definitely not the target audience.

So there you have it. FLIRTING UNDER A FULL MOON is a perfectly fine book. I'm sure it will appeal to fans of paranormal romance who enjoy a light tone. It's not the book for me but I think folks who enjoy authors like G. A. Aiken or MaryJanice Davidson should give Ashlyn Chase a shot.

Read an excerpt

 

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Posted by Tynga at 03:01

 Ashlyn Chase, Flirting with Fangs, Netgalley, Paranormal Romance, Review, Sourcebooks, werewolf  7 People left their mark

The Outcast Prince by Shona Husk

Book Stats:

Reading level: Adult
Paperback: 320 pages
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Publisher: Sourcebooks
Release date: July 2, 2013

Series: Court of Annwyn #1

Reviewed by: Stéphanie

Source: Netgalley

Purchase: Amazon | Book Depository

Caspian Mort can feel the history in anything he touches, a gift he inherited from his father, the Crown Prince of Annwyn. Devastated over his ex-wife's infidelity, Caspian has withdrawn from human contact except when working as an antiques dealer.

While assessing the contents of the historic Callaway House he encounters the beautiful Lydia Callaway and senses that her home is haunted by a banished fairy. But what does the dangerous exile want? Unbeknownst to Lydia, she's the owner of the last remaining portal to Annwyn—a mirror hidden somewhere in the house. To keep Lydia safe, Caspian will have to divulge the secrets of his heritage, and risk losing his heart again.

I really didn’t know what to expect when I started reading THE OUTCAST PRINCE. Before this, I had never heard of the author, but since I ended up really enjoying this first of her new series, I’ll probably end up reading some of her other books while I wait for book 2 to be published.

THE OUTCAST PRINCE is a great introduction to the fairy world of Annwyn, even though we don’t spend much time in it. Most of the book is spent in the mortal world while beings and fairy forces never fail to plague Caspian “normal” life. All he’s ever wanted is to live his life without being bothered by anything fairy but since politics are unstable in Annwyn, the mortal world is feeling repercussions. Caspian is more or less forced to search for a fairy mirror/portal, which in the wrong hands, could lead to some very awful things, both in Annwyn and in the mortal world. His psychometry ability to see an object’s past just by touching it is what makes him so valuable. As a changeling, a mortal being with some fairy abilities, he shouldn’t be important in this deadly game of fairy politics, but since he’s the son of the fairy prince, he does have a significant role to play.

Overall, I loved Caspian as a character. His generosity and selflessness when it comes to protect those who matter to him is respectable and admirable. In my opinion, him and Lydia might have fallen in love a little too quickly since after just a couple of days, it seemed like they were already in love and were thinking of moving in together. But who wouldn’t want to live together, especially in such a historical house like the Callaway House Lydia inherited from her deceased grandmother.

Lydia has a history of her own and while she’s a well developed character, there’s just something submissive about her that I’m not too crazy about. While I like that she had an open mind and was able to accept Caspian’s parentage and abilities so easily, it just seemed like she could have been a little bit bolder in her thoughts and actions. After just a couple of days, she started to depend and rely on Caspian way to much for my taste, and while I understand she was still grieving her grandmother’s death, she could have made some decisions without relying so much on Caspian’s opinion. Otherwise, I find Caspian and Lydia make a great pair, and they found each other at the perfect time. I think, because they both have their own eccentric history, they are able to understand and accept each other rather nicely.

THE OUTCAST PRINCE is before all a romance book with some supernatural action included. I was sad to leave Lydia and Caspian behind because they had such a great relationship going on. I hope we hear more about them in the future books because from what I understand, the next books will have different main characters. I also hope we get to spend more time in Annwyn. THE OUTCAST PRINCE and its fairy world is very enticing. This first book  feels like a tease because while we learn a lot about Annwyn, there seems to be so much we don’t know about it. Shona Husk created a wonderful world and populated it not only with great main character but also with entertaining secondary characters. I look forward to the continuation of the series and I hope book two will be a page-turner, much like this one was.

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Posted by Unknown at 06:50

 Fairies, Review, Shona Husk, Sourcebooks  Leave your mark

The Outcast Prince by Shona Husk

I really didn’t know what to expect when I started reading THE OUTCAST PRINCE. Before this, I had never heard of the author, but since I ended up really enjoying this first of her new series, I’ll probably end up reading some of her other books while I wait for book 2 to be published.

THE OUTCAST PRINCE is a great introduction to the fairy world of Annwyn, even though we don’t spend much time in it. Most of the book is spent in the mortal world while beings and fairy forces never fail to plague Caspian “normal” life. All he’s ever wanted is to live his life without being bothered by anything fairy but since politics are unstable in Annwyn, the mortal world is feeling repercussions. Caspian is more or less forced to search for a fairy mirror/portal, which in the wrong hands, could lead to some very awful things, both in Annwyn and in the mortal world. His psychometry ability to see an object’s past just by touching it is what makes him so valuable. As a changeling, a mortal being with some fairy abilities, he shouldn’t be important in this deadly game of fairy politics, but since he’s the son of the fairy prince, he does have a significant role to play.

Overall, I loved Caspian as a character. His generosity and selflessness when it comes to protect those who matter to him is respectable and admirable. In my opinion, him and Lydia might have fallen in love a little too quickly since after just a couple of days, it seemed like they were already in love and were thinking of moving in together. But who wouldn’t want to live together, especially in such a historical house like the Callaway House Lydia inherited from her deceased grandmother.

Lydia has a history of her own and while she’s a well developed character, there’s just something submissive about her that I’m not too crazy about. While I like that she had an open mind and was able to accept Caspian’s parentage and abilities so easily, it just seemed like she could have been a little bit bolder in her thoughts and actions. After just a couple of days, she started to depend and rely on Caspian way to much for my taste, and while I understand she was still grieving her grandmother’s death, she could have made some decisions without relying so much on Caspian’s opinion. Otherwise, I find Caspian and Lydia make a great pair, and they found each other at the perfect time. I think, because they both have their own eccentric history, they are able to understand and accept each other rather nicely.

THE OUTCAST PRINCE is before all a romance book with some supernatural action included. I was sad to leave Lydia and Caspian behind because they had such a great relationship going on. I hope we hear more about them in the future books because from what I understand, the next books will have different main characters. I also hope we get to spend more time in Annwyn. THE OUTCAST PRINCE and its fairy world is very enticing. This first book  feels like a tease because while we learn a lot about Annwyn, there seems to be so much we don’t know about it. Shona Husk created a wonderful world and populated it not only with great main character but also with entertaining secondary characters. I look forward to the continuation of the series and I hope book two will be a page-turner, much like this one was.

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Posted by Tynga at 02:50

 Court of Annwyn, Fairies, Netgalley, Paranormal Romance, Review, Shona Husk, Sourcebooks  Leave your mark

Heart of Iron by Bec McMaster + giveaway!

Heart of Iron by Bec McMaster

Book stats:
Reading level: Adult
Mass market paperback: 448 pages
Genre: Steampunk romance
Publisher: Sourcebooks Casablanca
Release date: May 7, 2013

Series: London Steampunk #2

Source: Personal shelf

Reviewed by: Jenn

Purchase: Amazon | Book Depository

In the mist-shrouded streets of London’s dreaded Whitechapel district, werewolves, vampires and a clockwork army are one step away from battle…

Lena Todd is the perfect spy. Nobody suspects the flirtatious debutante could be a rebel against London's vicious elite—not even the ruthless Will Carver, the one man she can't twist around her little finger.

Will Carver, is more than man, he's a verwolfen and he wants nothing to do with the dangerous beauty who drives him to the very edge of control. But when he finds Lena in possession of a coded letter, he realizes she's in a world of trouble. To protect her, he'll have to seduce the truth from her before it's too late.

Readers who enjoyed Bec McMaster's debut can raise their expectations because HEART OF IRON is even better than its predecessor. I really liked McMaster's debut but I found myself completely absorbed by the rollercoaster of emotion and action that is HEART OF IRON. (For an introduction to the series, I'd suggest checking out my post on KISS OF STEEL.)

The main characters in HEART OF IRON were introduced in KISS OF STEEL. Lena is Honoria's sister and Will is Blade's lieutenant. I was quite fond of these characters in the first London Steampunk novel so I was thrilled to see them front and centre in this novel. (Fans of KISS OF STEEL's Honoria and Blade will enjoy a glimpse into their lives post-HEA since they are featured in HEART OF IRON (but not in a gratuitous way).) Lena and Will had something of an instant attraction when they met but Lena has since left Whitechapel and Will has moved out on his own as well, leaving Blade and Honoria to themselves. He still works for Blade but their bond isn't as easy as it used to be. They're both strong-willed, opinionated characters devoted to their friends and family, and it was great fun watching them come together romantically.

Will has a really unique position in the series. He's the only verwulfen in London, since the blue bloods (vampire-type aristocrats) kill verwulfen on site. (He's safe in Whitechapel since it's Blade's domain but he's in danger every time he leaves.) He's given a brief reprieve, though, because the blue bloods need him to help them negotiate a treaty with the verwulfen populations from other parts of Europe. At the same time, Lena has been living in high society, working as a spy and courier for the humanist movement, a group that is rebelling against blue blood rule. Of course, it wouldn't be any fun if their two missions didn't bump into each other and boy do they collide! The plotting and pace in HEART OF IRON is truly outstanding and I needed to find out how this tangled plot would be resolved.

The introduction of other verwulfen really opens up the world of the London Steampunk series. Where KISS OF STEEL explored blue bloods and vampires, KISS OF IRON shows us more about verwulfen and their place in society. We also get to learn how verwulfen come to be and how their societies work, which I found quite interesting. The foregrounding of the humanist movement also added to the depth and breadth of McMaster's worldbuilding, and really fleshed out the setting.

Once again, though, I did have some issues with the use of dialect. Dialogue that's written in dialect is not my favourite thing, though I understand that McMaster uses it to highlight class differences. As I said when discussing KISS OF STEEL, it may not bother other people but it's something I'm hyperaware of in books, movies, TV, you name it. =)

HEART OF IRON is an engrossing, thrilling sequel to KISS OF STEEL. If you liked KISS OF STEEL, you'll love HEART OF IRON because it has all of the elements that made KISS OF STEEL a strong debut, with even more worldbuilding, intrigue, and steam.

Read an excerpt

---------------------------------

The lovely folks at Sourcebooks Casablanca are kindly offering one (1) copy of KISS OF STEEL (the first book in the series) to a lucky reader!

US/Canada only

To enter the giveaway, listen to the Rafflecopter!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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Posted by jenn at 07:04

 Bec McMaster, giveaway, Review, Sourcebooks, Vampire, werewolf  14 People left their mark

The Vicious Deep by Zoraida Córdova

The Vicious Deep by Zoraida Córdova

Book Stats:

Reading level: YA
ARC: 370 pages
Genre: Paranormal
Publisher: Sourcebooks
Release date: May 1, 2012

Series: The Vicious Deep #1

Reviewed by: Stéphanie

Source: Won

Purchase: Amazon | Book Depository

For Tristan Hart, everything changes with one crashing wave.

He was gone for three days. Sucked out to sea in a tidal wave and spit back ashore at Coney Island with no memory of what happened. Now his dreams are haunted by a terrifying silver mermaid with razor-sharp teeth.

His best friend Layla is convinced something is wrong. But how can he explain he can sense emotion like never before? How can he explain he's heir to a kingdom he never knew existed? That he's suddenly a pawn in a battle as ancient as the gods.

Something happened to him in those three days. He was claimed by the sea...and now it wants him back.

When I was child, one of my favorite movies was Disney’s The Little Mermaid. So it comes to no surprise that I would be interested in this mermaid/merman book. There’s just something special and attractive about the ocean, and so I felt compelled to pick up this book. While I did enjoy the story and the mythology, it did have a few shortcomings.

I think my expectations were set too high and I was disappointed with the result.The actual story was very entertaining and the mythology of the merfolk was well thought out, but I was a bit disappointed with the writing. The pace of the story was very fast, and while sometimes that means non-stop action, in this case it felt like the scenes were rushed and unfinished. At times, it was hard to follow the storyline since the change of scenes was too quick and I felt lost entering a new one. I think the introduction of vampires was unnecessary and it introduced us to characters that didn’t have any real purpose. In my opinion, some scenes should have been cut out, while others could have used a little more expansion.

I did find Tristan Hart, the main character, a little egocentric but that’s to be expected with a teenage boy, especially when he learns he’s in line to be the king of the merfolk. And especially when he learns he’s a merman. Right until a freak storm hit Coney Island, he had no clue about his heritage. With a human father and a mermaid mother, he was raised as a human boy after his grandfather, the king, bound his tail when he was a baby. However, nothing could pull him away from the sea. A great swimmer and a beach lifeguard, you could say water runs in his blood.

Tristan’s relationship with Layla, his best friend, is typical in the sense that both want to be together but their long friendship prevents either of them from making the first step. Their almost-relationship is entertaining but my favorite characters have to be Kurt and Thalia, Tristan’s “mermaid cousins.” Thalia’s naivety about the human world is funny and Kurt’s a riot because he tries to be so serious all the times.

I’m anxious to learn more about these mermaids—oops—merfolk. These are definitively not similar to the ones portrayed  by Disney. Some are absolutely vicious, while others will simply charm you senseless. Even if I’m not crazy about THE VICIOUS DEEP, I do plan to read the next book. Hopefully the writing will improve because the story has only just begun! Tristan’s quest to prove that he would be a worthy king will certainly bring new adventures to him and his friends. The cliffhanger at the end will definitively leave you hanging because if feels as if the author stopped right in the middle of Tristan’s “quest.”

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Posted by Unknown at 07:00

 Magic, Mermaid, Review, Sourcebooks, Zoraida Córdova  6 People left their mark

Darker Still by Leanna Renee Hieber

Darker Still by Leanna Renee Hieber

Book Stats:
Reading level: Ages 12 and up
Genre: Historical/paranormal YA
Paperback: 336 pages
Publisher: Sourcebooks Fire
Release date: November 8, 2011

Series: Magic Most Foul #1

Source: Personal Shelf

Reviewed by: Tynga

Purchase: Amazon | Book Depository

I was obsessed.

It was as if he called to me, demanding I reach out and touch the brushstrokes of color swirled onto the canvas. It was the most exquisite portrait I'd ever seen--everything about Lord Denbury was unbelievable...utterly breathtaking and eerily lifelike.

There was a reason for that. Because despite what everyone said, Denbury never had committed suicide. He was alive. Trapped within his golden frame.

I've crossed over into his world within the painting, and I've seen what dreams haunt him. They haunt me too. He and I are inextricably linked--bound together to watch the darkness seeping through the gas-lit cobblestone streets of Manhattan. Unless I can free him soon, things will only get Darker Still.

Natalie Stewart has been very lonely her whole life. After her mother died in a traumatic accident, she lost her ability to speak. Hoping to help her, her father sent her away at an institute, without success. A lot awaits her when she comes back to her home though. A mysterious painting has been brought to New York, one of a young Lord who supposedly committed suicide. Natalie can’t help to be drawn to it, attracting trouble to herself by the same occasion.

I bought Darker Still because it was only 1,99$ on kindle (still is if you’re interested) and I think it was a good deal. Leanna penned an intriguing paranormal mystery, set in New York, 1800s, and I’m glad I read her highly original tale. Many elements make it original and I think it’s important I point a few. First, Natalie is a mute girl. It’s very rare to have main characters with disabilities in a novel and I loved that it didn’t impair her. She was strong and confident despite what most thought of her, thus would make a great model for teens in this situation. Miss Hieber also chose to narrate the story in the form of a diary, letting her main character pouring her soul onto the pages, an highlight of this story. And last, the concept was simply unique. Having a young Lord trapped in a painting isn’t something I read of before, and his fate in the hands of Natalie made it that much more engrossing.

Not action-packed, the novel was sustained by its characters. Natalie was very likeable, but the secondary characters strongly enriched this magical tale. Lord Dendury was particularly magnetic in both his forms. You see, his spirit is looked in the painting, but his body is walking the streets, causing havoc. Mrs. Northe was actually my favorite. She is kind and knowledgeable, her motherly figure really hit home with me somehow and her relationship with Natalie was very endearing.

Even though the plot progressed somewhat slowly Leanna managed to keep the reader engaged the whole time and I truly enjoyed following the heroes putting together the clues to free Lord Denbury. The only mistake Hieber did, I think, was to wrap-up the tale so tightly. Even though I liked the novel, there’s no loose ends or cliff-hanger at the end, and I don’t feel the urge to get my hands on the second book.

With its gothic atmosphere, Darker Still will definitely please fans of mystery and paranormal wrapped in a pretty package.

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Posted by Tynga at 07:09

 Leanna Renee Hieber, Review, Sourcebooks, young adult  5 People left their mark

Entice by Jessica Shirvington

Entice by Jessica Shirvington

Book Stats:
Reading level: Young Adult
Genre: Paranormal
Hardcover: 464 pages
Publisher: Sourcebooks

Release date: September 4, 2012

Series: The Violet Eden Chapters #2

Source: Publisher

Reviewed by: Lili

Purchase: Amazon | Book Depository

Violet Eden is Grigori - part angel, part human. Her destiny is to protect humans from the vengence of exiled angels.

Knowing who to trust is key but, when Grigori reinforcements arrive, it becomes clear everyone is hiding something. Even Lincoln. The only thing Violet does know: Phoenix's hold over her is more dangerous than ever.

The race to find the one thing that could tilt the balance of power brings them all to the sacred mountains of Jordan, where Violet's power will be pushed to the extreme. And the ultimate betrayal exposed.

Enticed is the second compelling book in The Violet Eden Chapters.

The second book in the Embrace series did not disappoint! Having fully embraced as a Grigori, Violet struggles to reconcile with Lincoln while keeping life-altering secrets. Oh, and let’s not forget the fact that she will never, ever truly be safe anymore. If anything, this gripping tale has even more secrets than the first. Webs of lies are spun repeatedly and somehow Violet always ends up in the center of them, making the story all the more juicer and enjoyable for the reader.

It’s very easy to get into this book since it picks up directly where book one leaves off. The action scenes are not only plentiful, but intense, and Violet’s journey to discovering her creator brings about many more curiosities! The plot was continuously thickening and its fast pace made it easy to blast through this book without hesitation.

My biggest qualm with EMBRACE was the ever-present love triangle. While it was executed better then some, a love triangle is still a love triangle. The one in ENTICE is much more subtle. It’s still there because Phoenix will never fully be out of the picture, but because Phoenix plays such a little role in this novel, most of the romantic interest is focused on Lincoln despite the fact that him and Violet can never be together because they are partners. And he’s keeping secrets! That’s never a good thing… More or less, this revelation made me really happy as a reader because the love triangle was no longer in my face, though part of me does hope that Phoenix shows up to play a larger part in book three. This aspect of the novel greatly improved from the previous book.

Full of lies and deception and a tiny rocky romance on the side, it’s impossible to hate the second installment to this series with a unique and interesting twist on angels! It’s an exhilarating page-turner that will leave you begging for book three! Once again, Shirvington did not disappoint.

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Posted by Lili at 06:00

 Angel, Review, Sourcebooks, young adult  Leave your mark

Kiss of Steel blog tour: Interview with Bec McMaster + giveaway!

We have an exciting visitor today: debut author Bec McMaster! She's the mind behind a new steampunk romance series; the first book, KISS OF STEEL, was released at the start of the month. She's stopped by Tynga's Reviews to chat about KISS OF STEEL and her publishers have graciously offered up a giveaway copy for one lucky reader.

Keep reading to get to know Bec and the world of her London Steampunk series!

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Hi, Bec, and welcome to Tynga's Reviews! To start, can you tell us a little bit about the world you've created for your London Steampunk series?

Hi! And thank you for the welcome!

Kiss of Steel is set in a world where the Echelon rules London; blue bloods who are afflicted with a virus that makes them crave human blood. Faster, almost immortal and terribly dangerous. Humans are considered a lesser class, existing only to serve and below them are the mechs – those forced by circumstance to take a metal limb or organ and considered less than human. Into this world comes Honoria Todd, with a secret that could change the very social structure of London. On the run from a duke who would kill to get his hands on her secret, the only one she can turn to is Blade, the notorious Devil of Whitechapel – and one of the very creatures she despises.

So far, we've met blue bloods (who can eventually turn into vampires) and verwulfen. Are there other supernatural beings in the London Steampunk world? Can we expect to encounter different beings or creatures in future installments?

There will be creatures, but whether they are supernatural, mechanical or human is something I might keep to myself. There is so much to explore in the blue blood and verwulfen worlds that I doubt I will delve too deeply into other supernatural tropes, but that’s not to say never. I know where the main arc is going, but my best writing occurs when I let surprises pop up.

Did you do any research for Blade's accent? Was it challenging to write in dialect?

The funny thing is, Blade came to me almost fully formed and that was simply how he spoke. I could almost hear him in my ear, whispering in that distinctive dialect. Of course, there was a lot of slang I researched, but the majority of it was simply Blade. I didn’t find it challenging at all, though a few of the other characters speak the same dialect and I had to work at them a little bit more.

One of the ideas you introduce in KISS OF STEEL is the possibility of a vaccine that saves people from being infected with the virus that turns them into blue bloods. Will we see more of this science in future novels?

Yes. Though the effects of it won’t be felt for a little while. Blade’s not about to let it become common knowledge – for protective reasons – and it’s the sort of thing that might change the entire structure of the world.

If you only had seven words to describe KISS OF STEEL, what would you say?

Dangerous dukes, devilish rogues and blue-stocking heroine.

What inspired you to write steampunk and paranormal romance?

I love it. Pure and simple. But the main inspiration was this world where there was an entire aristocratic class comprised of blood-drinkers, almost like the ton, but paler. And far more dangerous. For any writer, most ideas are sparked by asking questions about that hint of inspiration. How could this ruling class hold their power? What is the history behind it? And what does the future hold for them? From this, the steampunk elements sprang up.

What are your favourite aspects of steampunk fashion?

Honestly, I spend far too much time trawling the internet for Victorian fashions. I do love corsets though. I’ve always had a fascination with them, and there are some amazing examples out there. Something in leather… with brass buttons. That’s the type of steampunk fashion I adore. Or maybe parasols. Especially lacy ones.

Why do you think steampunk (specifically steampunk romance) has exploded in recent years?

I hesitate to call steampunk a genre on its own, as I think it “corrupts” a lot of other genres and that is the appeal. For example, most readers will find strong paranormal romance elements in Kiss of Steel, and it can appeal to readers of historical romance as well. Also, it’s so much fun. It’s sexy and it’s unique. For those who are fed up with the same-old, it’s a breath of fresh air.

Thanks very much for visiting us as part of your blog tour, Bec!

Thank you so much for having me!

-------------------------

More about KISS OF STEEL:

A brilliantly creative debut where vampires, werewolves, and clockwork creatures roam the mist–shrouded streets of London…

When Nowhere is Safe…

Most people avoid the dreaded Whitecapel district. For Honoria Todd, it's the last safe haven. But at what price?

Blade is known as the master of the rookeries—no one dares cross him. It's been said he faced down the Echelon's army single–handedly, that ever since being infected by the blood–craving he's been quicker, stronger, and almost immortal.

When Honoria shows up at his door, his tenuous control comes close to snapping. She's so…innocent. He doesn't see her backbone of steel—or that she could be the very salvation he's been seeking.

Jenn's thoughts

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Award-winning author Bec McMaster lives in a small town in Australia and grew up with her nose in a book. A member of RWA, she writes sexy, dark paranormals and steampunk romance. When not writing, reading, or poring over travel brochures, she loves spending time with her very own hero or daydreaming about new worlds.

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Posted by jenn at 07:04

 Bec McMaster, giveaway, Interview, Sourcebooks, steampunk  37 People left their mark

Kiss of Steel by Bec McMaster

Kiss of Steel by Bec McMaster

Book stats:
Reading level: Adult
Mass market paperback: 448 pages
Genre: Steampunk
Publisher: Sourcebooks
Release date: September 1, 2012

Series: London Steampunk #1

Source: Personal shelf

Reviewed by: Jenn

Purchase: Amazon | Book Depository

A brilliantly creative debut where vampires, werewolves, and clockwork creatures roam the mist–shrouded streets of London…

When Nowhere is Safe…

Most people avoid the dreaded Whitecapel district. For Honoria Todd, it's the last safe haven. But at what price?

Blade is known as the master of the rookeries—no one dares cross him. It's been said he faced down the Echelon's army single–handedly, that ever since being infected by the blood–craving he's been quicker, stronger, and almost immortal.

When Honoria shows up at his door, his tenuous control comes close to snapping. She's so…innocent. He doesn't see her backbone of steel—or that she could be the very salvation he's been seeking.

I've been looking forward to this book for quite some time. The cover is absolutely gorgeous, even if the lady's outfit is far too scandalous for the period. Between the amazing cover and the cover copy, I knew that I had to pre-order KISS OF STEEL! And once it arrived, I dived right in.

I really like the world that Bec McMaster has created. In fact, it's probably my favourite part of the novel! The author brings a different take on the supernatural, with many of the upper class (the Echelon) being infected with a virus that makes them crave human blood. These blue bloods are faster than humans and nearly immortal. If their counts get too high, however, they succumb to their bloodlust and becoming rampaging killing machines. The blue bloods tend to be choosy about who they infect but sometimes non-nobles get infected, like Blade, the Devil of Whitechapel and the male romantic lead in KISS OF STEEL. Honoria Todd, our heroine, has only recently entered Blade's domain, after her father, a man of science, was murdered by a blue blood, who hunts for Honoria and her two siblings. This world is also inhabited by verwulfen and mechs, who have metal parts and are considered the lowest class, making KISS OF STEEL a very engaging read. I love books that blend genre elements and KISS OF STEEL has a little bit of everything: there's steampunk, paranormal romance, mystery, and more!

Honoria was a great main character. I empathized with her from the start and was really rooting for her. She has a lot of adversity but she makes the most of her situation. I also liked that she's smart and tries to figure out the best way to survive her situation. I'm not a fan of helpless heroines who wait for people to take care of them and Honoria is very independent, even in a setting where keeping her independence is a challenge, particularly in a Victorian era.

In contrast, I wasn't as keen on Blade. He's got an interesting history and I really enjoyed his relationship with Honoria but I couldn't get behind him 100% because of the fact that his speech is written in dialect. The author's done a nice job of it, and uses the presence or absence of Blade's Cockney accent to tell you whether he's in control of himself or not (which was a great device), but the linguist in me always gets nervous when people decide to write in dialect, especially when it's not their native variety. For me, it's distracting. I don't know if other people have the same problem but it's just one of those things that I'm hyperaware of, no matter how well it's done.

On the whole, however, I very much enjoyed KISS OF STEEL. The romance is steamy, the world really captured my imagination, and Bec McMaster has me desperate for more! There are ideas that were left unresolved and I hope they'll be discussed in the next book, which features secondary characters from KISS OF STEEL.

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Posted by jenn at 07:01

 Bec McMaster, Review, Sourcebooks, steampunk, Vampire  1 Person left their mark