The King Review

The King by J. R. Ward
Black Dagger Brotherhood Book 12
Published April 1, 2014
4 Bloody Fangs


"Sometimes you don't know what it is you really want, until its taken away from you."




Synopsis -

J.R. Ward's # 1 New York Times bestselling Black Dagger Brotherhood continues as a royal bloodline is compromised by a grave threat to the throne.

Long live the King… 

After turning his back on the throne for centuries, Wrath, son of Wrath, finally assumed his father’s mantle--with the help of his beloved mate. But the crown sets heavily on his head. As the war with the Lessening Society rages on, and the threat from the Band of Bastards truly hits home, he is forced to make choices that put everything--and everyone--at risk.

Beth Randall thought she knew what she was getting into when she mated the last pure blooded vampire on the planet: An easy ride was not it. But when she decides she wants a child, she’s unprepared for Wrath’s response--or the distance it creates between them.

The question is, will true love win out... or tortured legacy take over?  (Goodreads)

Review -

After an attempt on his life, the last thing Wrath expects is to lose his throne to the pen as apposed to the sword.  The Band of Bastards may be merciless when it comes to violence and mayhem, but the Glymera are relentless with their conniving, and cowardice.  What truly comes as a surprise to the Blind King is when he realizes though he despises being trapped behind that desk, he truly does value the crown that was forced upon his head.  That realization just may be too little too late.  Unfortunately for him, that may not be his only loss.  With his Queen and Shellan, Beth, obsessing over having a child, which he is adamantly opposed to, trying to bring about her needing, he comes to a crossroads.  Wrath's decision on whether to service her or drug her when her needing does come about just may be null and void when destiny decides to take control and throw them both a curve-ball.  

Two more couples are on the forefront in this one as well; Sophia and Assail, Xcor and Layla.  At the end of Quinn and Blay's book, Lover at Last, Sophia was being kidnapped by Benloise's men.  Thinking she is on her own, she does whatever it takes to ensure her survival.  Helpless damsel she is not.  And even though she is only human, she is by no means weak and knows how to work with whatever she needs to.  All the while she is planning her own rescue, Assail, with the help of his twins, is out desperately and bloodily trying to find her.  Which would probably be easier is he wasn't so quick to kill everyone of Benloise men seeing how dead men can't speak, and if could stop snuffing powder up his nose.  

Meanwhile, Layla still cannot bring herself to stop thinking of the male with the grotesque scar upon his face, Xcor, only to her, it is not grotesque at all.  The only she disapproves of when it comes to him is his ambitions to gain the crown.  And she is more than willing to use his feelings for her, as well as her body, to thwart his plans.  Xcor just may have found a foe he cannot defeat, his heart.  And while Layla may not fear for herself around Xcor, she does not feel that way around his right hand man, Throe.  Throe just may be even uglier on the inside than Xcor is on the outside.

There also seems to be another couple in the making; Trez and Selena.  Though both of their times just may be up, one may not have much longer until they join the Fade while the other may be forced to live up to a fate they have running from for a very long time.

Interactions with long time favorites, as a lot of what's going on hits to home with them, and they are more than willing to open up to their brother, Wrath, in his time of need; Tohrment and Zsadist.  John Matthew (offnote: if they don't hurry up and figure he is indeed Darious I just may shoot somebody!!!) also plays a part, after-all Beth is his "sister" (I swear, that is probably the only thing keeping from giving this a full 5, it is driving me insane!).  iAm not only looking after his brother, but also helping with the Brothers and the Queen.  Rhev gets the opportunity to smack the Glymera in the face.  And a new character is introduced, s'Ex, the executioner of the s'Hibe, well, if you as the women at the Iron Mask, the Love god.  

The King has been long awaited by fans of The Black Dagger Brotherhood for a very long time.  Though some aspects may disappoint, sorry I am just hung up on the John Matthew/Darious bit, to me it has gone on long enough and when he had that first seizure in this book I thought for sure... Anyway, it was still well worth the wait.  This book, and series, is a true Must Read, though definitely not as a stand alone. 

Sex and the Single Vamp Review

3.5 Fangs

"Perfect book for Contemporary Romance readers who would like to take a dip into PNR."

Review - 

Robin Covington, usually a Contemporary Romance author, dips her hands into the ever-growing pool of the Vampire world.  Many authors have tried to venture off into unknown territory and failed miserably.  Covington didn't do too bad, a little more blood, gore and violence, and a little more believe-ability, and she'll be right there hitting the mark.   So true vampire fans, this is a great quick read for when in between reads, when impatiently awaiting for that next book in a series to come out, it's an excellent filler.  As long as you look past the slights and miscalculations, and aren't too much of a stickler for detail, like me.  Contemporary readers, especially those who are virgin's to all things vampire, this is a great read to tip-toe you in.

Felicity "Cici" Trenton has always believed in and longed for true love.  Since she hasn't been able to find it for herself, she has done the next best thing, in her own eyes anyway.  Opening up a Match Maker business, "Your 'Other' Half", where Others, such as Were's, Vampire's, Shapeshifters', are paired up with humans.  Not just for a casual hook up, but for holy matrimony.  Something I am in full agreement with Deacon, her Maker/Fling/First Love on, that has got to be the most insane thing she could have come up with.  Its one thing for an 'Other' to inadvertently fall in love with a human.  But to actively seek one out, not knowing if their body/blood would be compatible to change them over to what you are, and you would only have one lifetime with him/her and continue to live a dozen more...  So it should come as to no surprise that other people think that way as well, and it puts under the scrutinizing gaze of fanatics than would like nothing more than to see her business in ruins, but to see her completely dead.  Well, her dead and vengeance on Deacon, and killing Cici would be like getting two birds with the same stone.  What is a surprise is who the killer turns out to be.

Death Defying Review

Death Defying by Nina Croft  (ARC Review)
Blood Hunter Book 3
Published February 24, 2014 by Entangled: Select
4 Bloody Fangs!


"Well, this book has cinched it, Nina Croft is definitely now one of my favorite authors."



Summary-

Part snake, part human, and—some would say all bitch—Captain Tannis of the starship El Cazador has one goal in life—to earn enough credits to pay for the Meridian treatment to achieve the immortality she craves. And one last job will get her there. The assignment: protecting the most powerful man in the Universe.

Being leader of the known universe isn’t all it’s cracked up to be. In fact, it sucks big time. And after five hundred years, Callum Meridian, founding member of the Collective, is bored out of his mind. But as things are changing, he’s changing—into what, though, he isn’t sure. Callum is determined to discover the truth, and he’s employed the crew of El Cazador to help him do it.

Not everyone agrees with his plan, though. His own people will stop at nothing to prevent the truth coming out, the Church is taking advantage of the confusion and attempting a coup, and even the crew of El Cazador seem close to tossing him out the airlock without a space suit. But defying death has never been more dangerous, sexier, or more fun.  (Goodreads)

Review -

I love Nina Croft.  Unlike most of today's authors', she does not shy away from sensitive topics or afraid to off a few characters if/when the story-line calls for it.  Granted, when a character dies, it has the ability to bring readers to tears and cause them pause to continue on with the book.  But it is a sure sign of that authors' ability in storytelling when a reader truly mourns the loss of a fictional character as if they were a full flesh and blood human in which the reader had vested interest in him/her.  That being said, be sure to pick a box of Kleenex before you read.

Another subject that I admire her handle on is love; fated vs. true has been one of the biggest controversies in the PNR world for a very long time.  Croft takes on the True Love aspect more often than not.  And watching Callum and Captain Tannis fall first in lust then develop into love was a wonderful thing indeed.  Especially when both are leading figureheads in their own right, neither using taking orders only giving them, its a constant battle figuring out who is in charge.  Afterall, while Tannis may be captain of the ship, Callum is the ruler of the entire Universe.  But when Callum employs the El Cazador's services, well, you know how the old saying goes...."my house, my rules".  Callum is desperate, and determined to learn the truth about what he and his fellow Collective are becoming.  The only way to do that is to travel to Trakis Seven, the planet where very few will travel to willingly when going there is no more than a death sentence.  So, he has no choice but to ask the Renegade crew aboard the El Cazador, since they will take on pretty much any mission, at the right price.  Little do they know that in the end, that price will not be worth what they lose in the end.

All Captain Tannis has ever dreamed of was getting enough money to purchase herself the Meridian treatment.  Seeing as how her greatest fear her entire life has been death, of course she would long for immortality.  After living a life from the tender age of four until seventeen of being experimented on and watching all of her friends and loved ones die since they were not considered human, when she finally escapes her captivity, she can think of nothing more, besides seeking revenge.  And the idea of sex appalls her rightfully so, considering some of those experiments were on a very personal level.  So when her libido finally awakens and her heart begins to unthaw for none other than Callum Meridian, let's just say shes not a very happy camper when she begins putting puzzle pieces together, one being an emblem from the guard's uniform, the initials C.M.  Coincidence??

Full of action, fire power, technology in the future at its best, Croft truly knows her Sci-Fi.  That delicacy where fantasy meets possible reality.  Science at this point can viably put both eggs and sperm in chryo, who's to say a thousand years from now they won't be able to do the same with people?  Or that they aren't already....  And no matter how advanced civilizations ever becomes, you will always have your Zealots believing only one race should be allowed to live.  Enters the Church, its  not a race issue with them but a humanity one.  Those not one hundred human do not deserve to live.  While Callum is away looking for answers, the Church is at bay plotting a galactic takeover.  

The only thing stopping this from being a full 5 Fang review is my own fault.  This book CAN be read as a stand-alone, the prologue provide plenty of background information on Tannis, where the reader will understand her ploy.  But....without having read the first two books in the Blood Hunter series' certain aspects will not have the same impact as they were truly meant too.  So readers I deplore you to not deprive yourself the way I did, and begin from the beginning.  Its' like starting Star Wars in the middle of an episode, while you may be able to enjoy it you wouldn't realize why you should care who Anikan Skywalker is.

All in all, Death Defying is truly a great read.

Covet Release Day Blast

Covets have all the sexiness, emotion, and happily ever after that readers have come to expect and love from Entangled. They are firmly grounded in the contemporary world, but each novel brings in supernatural twists, breaking the contemporary and paranormal rules, alike. To find out more about their titles, chat with authors, participate in special events, and to find out what books you’ll be coveting next, visit the Entangled website, follow them on Twitter, Like their Facebook page, and join the Book Club.


Today I'm happy to be featuring Covet's February releases:

Hot Rock by Annie Seaton

Special $0.99 Introductory Price!

Megan Miller is on a dream trip to research her doctoral thesis at a rock festival in England. When she arrives in town she’s stunned that her temporary neighbor is the spitting image of her 70’s rock idol, too bad he’s also a world-class jerk. So why can't she stop thinking about him?

Seventies rock star Davy Morgan is a man with a secret: rockin’ in one time and living in another. He holds his privacy close to his heart, so when a beautiful girl who not only loves but truly understands his music moves in next door, he works overtime to keep her at a distance. Easier said than done.

Megan follows Davy to the rock festival, but it’s not what or when it seems. The lure of the music draws them closer, but can their newfound love span across the decades, or will it get lost in time?

Find Out More!

Pan's Conquest by Aubrie Dionne

Special $0.99 Introductory Price!

Syrinx pulled a fast one on Pan to escape his raging lust. The God of Chastity wasn't about to break her vows and succumb to his temptations. Transported to the twenty-first century, she runs a florist shop—fulfilling her fake, mortal life. Until the breathtaking Parker Thomas hires her to decorate his grand estate for a gala. Five hundred roses? Easy enough. Except Parker makes her feel things she can't ignore...

As the God of Fertility, Pan is used to maidens flocking in droves to his pastures. So when Syrinx denies him, he's determined to win the one that got away. He poses as a mortal to get close to her, but he doesn't count on falling hard for his conquest—hard enough to make a life and stay.

But Syrinx is falling in love with a man that doesn't exist. Can Pan hide his identity forever, or will the truth tear them apart?

Find Out More!

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