Ashwin Malhotra was "bred" for one purpose only, to be the best, most loyal, most efficient soldier he could be. As a5 Love Conquers All Stars
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Ashwin Malhotra was "bred" for one purpose only, to be the best, most loyal, most efficient soldier he could be. As a result, he is feared by all, as only a dog trained to kill by birth, can be feared. As a Makhai soldier, emotion should have been tortured out of him long ago. And it is... or so he tells himself. The one true exception to that rule is the most forbidden of them all.... Dr. Kora Bellamy.
Kora is everything a Makhai soldier isn't. Emotional and compassionate to an extreme degree, she is the best at what she does, which is saving other people's lives. Being naturally kind, she sees in Makhai soldiers what other people overlook... emotion may be hidden deep within after someone teaches you to relay it with pain but it doesn't really go away. And especially in Ashwin's case, she needs to believe that the emotions he stirs in her aren't one-sided.
But a relationship between them isn't simple... Ashwin is a man not allowed to love and Kora is a woman many would kill to have. But the worst enemy may not be outsiders but Ashwin's fierce need to protect her, no matter how much protecting her may damage them...
I was curious how Kit Rocha would go about spinning off the Beyond series. I was both hopeful that it would be as awesome as the original series and apprehensive that it would be exactly the same and have nothing fresh to offer. I shouldn't have worried. Sector One is just as complicated as Sector Four, just as interesting, just as captivating but at the same time, completely different. The cult-like political structure isn't something we see often, at least not on the good guys' side, but it has great potential. Mostly because the people in power are actually nice people.
Unlike Dallas who ruled his sector with brutal strength but also complete loyalty to his people, Gideon doesn't need strength or brutality to rule. In Sector One, Gideon Rios is god and his word not only law, but also followed with complete faith that it is right by his people. A man with that much power could have easily been corrupted but Gideon is well aware of the burden that being worshipped like that can be. Insightful, loyal and compassionate but also ruthless when the situation demands it, Gideon is what a leader should be. It will be a treat watching his character's development.
The romance aspect was as expected my favorite part. While I enjoyed the Beyond novels, the romance sometimes felt... completely sex-based. Don't get me wrong, the emotions where there but most of the time I thought that they were too widely spread with all the different partners and public sex. I'm not against it, hell, I loved Beyond, but this felt more real. Probably because I can't imagine wanting to share someone you're in love with. And the "only you can make me feel" storyline always hooks me. There's just something incredibly romantic in managing to bring a man, trained to feel nothing, to his knees. Not to mention that both characters were beautiful people, and I don't mean externally.
And then we have the secondary characters... The Riders are just yummy! And the women sufficiently sassy and independent to satisfy my high expectations. I can't wait for Zeke's, Deacon's and Maricela's books. And of course, creating a male or/and female strong enough to be with Gideon and all the responsibility he carries on his shoulders will definitely be a challenge for the author but I have every faith in them. We also had a few cameo appearances of characters we know and love, mainly our favorite O'Kane trio.
All in all, this was a great start to the series. I look forward to seeing what comes next!
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I was so happy when I saw this on Netgalley, my fingers went on autopilot requesting it. But, it being Friday, I thought I'd have to wait for Monday at least. So here I was, browsing my shelves, trying to find something interesting to read, when I get my reply... less than 10 minutes later!!!
I'm so happy to see what Kit Rocha have done with this spin-off!!
Garrett Graham has a serious problem, he is failing Ethics which is unacceptable if he is to continue to do what he loves, playing hocke8 Stars
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Garrett Graham has a serious problem, he is failing Ethics which is unacceptable if he is to continue to do what he loves, playing hockey. The solution? The unexpectedly compelling Hannah Wells. The obstacle? Hannah wants nothing to do with him. For once his charm, popularity and model good looks are failing in getting a girl to do whatever he wants. And that just makes the challenge more interesting.
Hannah has been crushing on a boy after a whole year of anyone failing to even get on her radar. But Justin might as well ive in a different planet for all the attention he is giving her. Instead she has the misfortune to attract the attention of the annoying captain of the hockey team. And all that because of an A' in a test.
But when Graham promises to give her what she wants, namely Justin's attention, in exchange for her tutoring him she might just say yes and change both their lives...
Graham turned out to be such an awesome character. My first though in the beginning of the book(especially after the description of his and his friends' house and how they spent most of their evenings) was: pigs. Yeap, that one little word. But then we get to know Graham and we see that there is more to him than the partying and the sleeping around. He is charming and compassionate and determined to get where he wants. He has had an awful childhood but he doesn't let the past control his life. I absolutely loved watching the development of his character. I also loved that EK didn't make apologies for how he was before meeting Hannah. He slept around a lot, he partied, he had fun and he has nothing to feel sorry for.
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Hannah was exactly as great as I though she'd be. Watching her rebuff Graham was hilarious. I enjoyed how strong and resilient she was. What I applaud EK most for is how she coped with her (view spoiler)[rape (hide spoiler)]. I enjoyed how she didn't let it break her or make her bitter and anti-relationship. She was a bit wounded but she wasn't broken. She was also not the usual bookworm of NA books. She was a good student but she wasn't exceptional. She enjoyed going out, she had friends, she knew how to have fun. She was also open and honest and had a sarcastic streak that made her even more interesting.
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Elle Kennedy has managed to add in her book what a lot of NA books lack, character growth. I honestly thought that there was no way I could ever love the "hockey" players but by the end of the book I was in love with them, partying, whoring and all. And yes, there was drama but it never veered into too-much territory. The balance between drama and humor was perfect! The relationship development from mistrust to friendship to lust to love was magnificent. And the writing, another thing I thought I'd hate(first person, multi-POV writing is usually a no-no for me), was just as great as everything else in this book. So... hello to a new favorite NA series!...more
It's been months since the events from Clean Sweep and Gertrude Hunt is still in dire need of guests. When Dina gets an of5 IA Never Fail Stars
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It's been months since the events from Clean Sweep and Gertrude Hunt is still in dire need of guests. When Dina gets an offer to host a peace summit between three waring factions she has a decision to make. Accept and risk losing everything if she is unable to control her hostile guests or deny and lose a great chance to boost both, the magic of the inn and her, admittedly, hurting bank account.
I enjoyed SiP very much. I liked the slightly darker vibe it had than CS. I enjoyed the politics. I loved the action. I LOVED seeing the characters from The Edge. And I absolutely adored the Turin Adin thingy!!!
SiP is full of feels. This book isn't just about the action and the fun. Watching how the war has affected all three, the Vampires, the Sun Horde and the Merchants, seeing the pain they've been through, what they've lost and what they hope to gain from this war is enough to make your heart ache for days. All of them need the peace but not all members of their endurances realise that.
And then there was the Arbitrator, George. Little George who used to drain himself just to keep animals from dying has grown to become a master manipulator. A man who doesn't hesitate to play people as pawns and sacrifice a few just so he can save more.
“They say the dead have no memories and know no pain.” George’s voice was barely above a whisper, but somehow it was louder than the pleas of the corpses. “It’s not that way for me.”
I know many readers weren't happy with the direction George's character has taken but to me he was just awesome. I honestly believe that there has to always be someone to take the hard decisions. George did it, he may beat himself up about it later but he didn't hesitate when he had to. I smell a tortured hero in the future.
“What can I do for you, Arbitrator?” I asked. “George, please. There is no hot water in my bathroom.” “Oh really?” You don’t say. “Yes. In fact, it’s ice-cold.” He raised a half-filled glass. Thin slivers of ice floated on its surface. “I drew this from the tap in my sink.” “How unfortunate. When did this happen?” “About two minutes ago.” “While you were in the shower?” “Yes.” “My apologies. I’ll get right on that.” George squinted at me, his face thoughtful, and waved the call off. Sophie leaned back and laughed. “You really love those trees.”
And Lark... That badass, half-broken girl from the Edge has grown to be a badass, half-broken woman, fighting to prove that she isn't the monster people, herself included, see her as.
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(view spoiler)[And then there was. He is represented as this melancholy, resigned to his fate person, one that will do anything for Dina, including sacrificing his life. But Dina is not giving up on their potential future without a fight. (hide spoiler)]
Of course with the whole doom and gloom vibe of the book, there had to be some characters there for comic relief. These come in the form of...
Orro the hedgehog Chef...
“This is blasphemy!” Odalon declared in the same way Gerard Butler had once roared “This is Sparta.” Sadly, Odalon had nobody to kick into a bottomless hole for emphasis, so he settled for looking extremely put out.”
“Like a primitive savage, who sets out to tame the wilderness armed with nothing but a knife and his indomitable will, I will persevere. I will wrestle victory from the greedy jaws of defeat. I shall rise like a bird of prey upon the current of the wind, my talons raised for the kill, and I shall strike true.” Oh wow. I hope the inn filmed that.
Jack and Gaston...
“Are you also a professional soldier? He grinned. “I’m more of a gentleman of adventure.” George laughed under his breath. “I save these two from themselves,” Gaston continued. “Occasionally I do a bit of skullduggery.” What? “Skullduggery?” “Scale a ten-foot wall, jump out of the shadows, break a diplomat’s neck, plant false documents on his body, and prevent an international incident type of thing to keep the war from breaking out,” Gaston said helpfully. “Dreadful stuff, but quite necessary.”
“Attosecond?” Gaston asked. “I’m guessing it’s a very, very small fraction of a second,” I said. “One quintillionth of a second,” George said, without raising his head from his reader. Jack pondered him. “Have you started memorizing random crap again to amuse yourself?” “No, I’m connected to the wireless,” George said. “I googled it.”
And of course Caldenia, the inn's resident psycho...
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Caldenia blinked. “Who are the attending parties?” “The Holy Anocracy represented by House Krahr, the Hope-crushing Horde, and the Merchants of Baha-char. They coming here for Arbitration and they will probably try to murder each other the moment they walk through the door.” Caldenia’s eyes widened. “Do you really think so? This is absolutely marvelous!” She would think so, wouldn’t she
So, I started this book 4 days ago and now I'm already reading book 4 so you can guess that I loved this, the bo5 I Should Have Read This Sooner Stars
So, I started this book 4 days ago and now I'm already reading book 4 so you can guess that I loved this, the book and the series so far.
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The first book was great. It had everything, a kick-ass heroine with a bad past, a powerful, slightly shady and richer than Midas hero, a great mystery and a serial killer, all that set in a futuristic world which was surprisingly well thought and realistic for a book written 20 years ago when even cell phones were a rarity. Also, despite the Sci-fi setting JD Robb does not make the mistake of overwhelming the reader with too much information about the discoveries and changes over the years. The world-building is smooth, with just enough details for the reader to coprehend what everything that's mentioned is but not enough to get fed up with info.
The mystery aspect of the novel was quite good. I had a new suspect every few pages, and still managed to be surprised when I found out who it was. I also loved how the author managed to write a book who was basically full of investigative work and not make it boring. To be honest, I've gotten used to UF where you have plenty of fights and magic to make the book more interesting so I wasn't sure if a good old suspense would do the trick. No fear there anymore.
My one tiny objection was on the romance side. Although I do love Roarke and Eve together, I thought the romance progressed way too fast. The series already has 40 books and no end in sight, so it could afford to prolong the "falling in love" a little. A little more tension and reluctance would have made it more believable and less mushy. Still, that wasn't enough to make me reduce the rating.
This book comes highly recommended from plenty of friends and my only GR friend who didn't like it was daddy, which really is more of a recommendation than anything else *bats eyes innocently*, so...book you better be good!
There is no question in my mind. I love this author. Her books are exactly how I like my Contempo5 Adorably Spicey Stars
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There are SPOILERZ.
There is no question in my mind. I love this author. Her books are exactly how I like my Contemporary Romances. They are cute, funny, adorable, with a tiny bit of drama and some spice to get away from the YA genre. In the last 2 days, I've added 3 of her books in my favorites shelf and they aren't even full length novels. She's managed to make me love 3 novellas.
The book had a humorous note with Hank and Sloane starting out as enemies, then becoming frenemies and then more. It made for some entertaining bantering and a couple "LOL" moments. It was also interesting to watch Sloane trying to fight his attraction to Hank because of thinking that Hank was straight. I loved reading all the logical musings Sloane had about how ridiculous it would be to fall for a straight guy and how they went out the window every time he laid eyes on Hank.
Hank on his part played the "Alpha, straight, male" heavy because he didn't want to be a "free spirit" like his hippy parents, who were HILARIOUS and crazy awesome, but I can see why a kid may be a little embarassed when he is young. This scene whould be telling enough...
"Don't come in, Dad!" Hank said. "Believe me, I won't," Karma said with a vocal shiver. "Just…I have, um, condoms and lube." And in a mutter, "Your mother made me."
And then there was Hank's brother, who was just as amazingly free spirited and hippy as his parents. I liked how he wanted to "experinment" and he never judged anyone and he was always there for his brother, even when he was acting like an idiot. And I kept picturing him like Samuel Larsen, so that didn't hurt.
[image] This guy is just freaking beautiful.
And the best part was (view spoiler)[the fact the Macho Man guy was the bottom in the relationship. (hide spoiler)] I loved that little detail.
All in all, great writing, fun characters, little drama, a couple of hot sex scenes and a really lovely Christmas story....more
I said I wanted fluffy, romantic Christmas books and this definitely fit the bill. It was so freakin' cute! I had this5 Freakin' Adorable Stars
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I said I wanted fluffy, romantic Christmas books and this definitely fit the bill. It was so freakin' cute! I had this goofy smile on my face the whole time I was reading it that just didn't seem to go away.
This book has a decisively YA feel and if there wasn't a slightly more explicit sex scene(nothing too much) I would shelf it like that. I haven't read many MM books and the ones I have tend to be on the more angsty side with the whole "coming out of the closet", "homophobic idiots making my life difficult" kind of story, so this one was a very pleasant surprise. There was a tiny bit of drama of course but there was no angst and in the end it was just sweet and light and Christmasy.
Mick is the "jock" in the story, he has been with a lot of girls and is generally considered a man-whore on campus because he slept around but always chose girls who didn't demand a real relationship, but he's always had secret little fantasies that he doesn't let get out. Mick was nice. He was a genuinely good guy who had a tiny bit of problem with accepting that he is gay. The fact that he didn't deny it all the way to drama-land is something that made me like him more.
But as nice as Mick was, Fielding stole the show. Fielding is a genious with a very overprotective mom, which means he has spent his whole life inside a book until he comes to live with Mick. I loved how Fielding wanted to learn everything and how his lack of social education made him unable to understand why asking your seemingly straight friend to teach you how to kiss just isn't something people do. For him there was no straight or gay prejudices. He liked Mick and made no apologies for it.
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PS. Samantha(Mick's best friend) was also pretty cool and full of great advice....more
Naasir's book finally came and for once a book exceeded every single one of my fairly high expectations. 5 Naasir Can Come Cuddle With Me Stars
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Naasir's book finally came and for once a book exceeded every single one of my fairly high expectations. Both the romance side of the story and the progressive storyline regarding the Cascade were as well developed and awesome as I've come to expect and demand from Nalini Singh.
Seven months Naasir had been hunting. Seven months since he'd told Ashwini he was ready to find a mate. Seven months and still his mate hadn't made herself known to him. Didn't she know he was looking for her?
I thought that I knew what to expect when it came to Naasir, other authors have written about heroes who are both human and animal, but even after the sides of his character that were revealed in Archangel's Shadows, I wasn't prepared for the miracle that was Naasir. His childlike innocense and black-and-white vision of the world when combined with his fierce loyalty and intelligence made Naasir a character that had you conflicted between wanting to cuddle him and wanting to jump his bones. Slightly feral, slightly "other" and a lot sexy, Naasir easily jumped to the top 10 of my favorite male characters in books.
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"You have secrets," he said slowly. "You wear another skin, too."
And then came Andromeda and my first thought was "WTH??". How could Naasir be paired with a scholar? A scholar who had actually taken a vow of celibacy nevertheless... But Andromeda proved herself a fitting mate for a creature that most of the world would consider an abomination. With her hidden strength and her determination not to let herself become as twisted as her family, Andromeda wasn't just a scholar lost in her books. She was a warrior in disguise. I loved how she understood Naasir and accepted him just as he was. And if I had a couple moments that I wanted to kill her for not telling him her secret, I quickly got over it.
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Together Naasir and Andromeda are sent on a mission to find Alexander's Sleeping Place and try to stop Lijuan from commiting yet another atrocity by killing a sleeping Ancient.
All the while the Cascade is getting stronger and power among angels is more fluid than ever. Archangels and angels alike gain power, sometimes with catastrophic consequences, new alliances are forming every day and change is a given.
I also have to mention that I liked that this book didn't have as much sex as the books on Raphael and Elena seem to have these days. Athough NS can write spectacular sex scenes, it lately seems to be a bit on the "too much" side. Luckily this book had little sex and plenty of romance developement.
And I just have to get into that "club" and say that if Ilium and Aodhan don't end up together, Nalini Singh is an evil person for teasing us with what we can't have. Their scenes were nothing short of epic!
I can't wait for what's coming next in the series and now I have a new character I want a book on, Alexander would be great with Caliane!!!
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Look at that cover...The feral eyes looking through the claw marks! I want this freakin' book soooooooooo badly!
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It's Naasir's book!!*fangirling*
And it's coming in September!
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Another year to wait...
I would start praying that it's either Naasir's or Aodhan's story but I'm afraid to hope! I need the book or at the very least a BLURB!!
4.5 The Most Awesome Historical Heroine Ever Stars
Lady Grace Mabry has a problem. Her dowry is too large. Her parents gave it to her out of love but i4.5 The Most Awesome Historical Heroine Ever Stars
Lady Grace Mabry has a problem. Her dowry is too large. Her parents gave it to her out of love but it seems to have attracted every money-grabbing shark in the waters of upper society. How is she to separate the ones that want her from the ones that want her for her inheritance?
Enter the Duke of Lovington. Once a firm believer of virtue and proper behaviour but now well-known for his less than exemplary way of life. After his wive's and daughter's death, Henry fell apart and decided that living the life of a scoundrel, drinking, gambling, sleeping around was the way to avoid any further heart break.
Who better than Lovington to teach Grace how to discern who of her suitors are in it for selfish reasons and who want Grace for what she has to offer apart from the money and her family's status?
I loved this book and it was mostly because of Grace. Henry wasn't bad but he wasn't all that special either. He was the usual commitment phobic in denial of his feelings until it was almost too late. We've all seen it before and we will all see it again. Nothing awful there, just nothing extraordinary.
Grace on the other hand was made of awesome. She was unlike any other Historical Romance heroine I've ever encountered. She was strong and independant and funny and completely innapropriet at times. She behaved like a woman who knew society's standards and could meet them when she wanted but wasn't about to compromise her life and happiness to do so. She also knew that marriage was important but she didn't think that the world would end if she didn't find her dream husband.
She cursed Lovingdon for not taking her problem seriously, but then she supposed it wasn’t truly a serious problem. No one would go hungry, be without shelter, or die because of her choice. And if she didn’t choose, her parents weren’t likely to disown her. She supposed she could live very happily without a husband, but it was the absence of love that was troubling. As far as she knew, no one had ever been madly, deeply, passionately in love with her. She believed that a woman should experience the mad rush of unbridled passion at least once in her lifetime. Was she being greedy to want it permanently?
And she never let anything bring her down. She fought for her life (view spoiler)[I found it very interesting that she had breast cancer. These things never seem to be an issue in Romance Books but especially in Historicals they are never mentioned. I was starting to wonder if they were only a Contemporary problem or if they never noticed them in the past. (hide spoiler)], and for her happiness and when everything doesn't go her way she doesn't sit around whining and waiting for her prince to save her.
She didn’t know how long she sat in the cottage. Without looking back, he’d slammed the door in his wake. She didn’t know why she’d confessed what she had. Well, she certainly wasn’t going to sit here all night feeling sorry for herself.
She also drank and smoked and made fun with her friends about things that would have most of the ladies at the time locked into their room until their husbands from the marriages arranged by their parents showed up to take them.
The only thing that I thought slightly bizarre was how much importance Grace gave to her heart break when Henry got married to another woman. She was all of 11 at the time and although I do realise that for such a young girl it would be a big deal but 8 years later to still believe that your crush married another woman when you were ELEVEN is kind of too much.
The other thing I loved about the book was the Duke of Greystone and how much he obviously loved his daughter. He never once tried to clip her wings and make her behave in a more proper way. He trusted her to know what she's doing and not disappointing him. And he loved her just the way she was. The other parents were awesome too but Sterling Mabry's behaviour was all the more special because he was her father and allowed her so much freedom....more
5 If I Could I Would Kidnap IA And Make Them Tell Me Stories Forever Stars
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There might(definitely) be untagged SPOILERS.
In 1863 European scientists discovered the Osiris serum, a concoction which brought out one’s magic talents. These talents were many and varied. Eventually the world realized the consequences of awakening godlike powers in ordinary people. The serum was locked away, but it was too late. The magic talents passed on from parents to their children and changed the course of human history forever. Those who previously married for status, money, and power now married for magic, because strong magic would give them everything.
Now, a century and a half later, families with strong hereditary magic have evolved into dynasties. It is a world where the more magic you have, the more powerful, the wealthier, and the more prominent you are. Some magic talents are destructive. Some are subtle. But no magic user should be taken lightly
In a world where Magic is the currency that talks and the Houses(families with strong magic genes) rule the world, Nevada Baylor is a very small fish in a huge pond. She works as a PI and she loves it buts he also carries the responsibility for her family's wellfare on her shoulders since her father's death. When MII, the company who owns their mortgage, sends Nevada in a suicide mission to deliver a Prime(the most powerful magic users) pyrokinitic who doesn't want to be delivered, back to his family, she has two options. Deny the job and lose everything, the bussiness, the house, the cars and all their savings, fail the job and lose everything, or succeed and earn a considerable amount of money. At least her family will get the bussiness back if the worst happens. Reassuring? Not really.
So Nevada has to manage to talk Adam, a narcissistic psychopath who has taken a liking for her, to return to his family and as if that wasn't enough, Mad Rogan, a Prime telekinetic with off the charts power, is after Adam too and is willing to walk all over her to get there. The chances of survival don't seem in her favor.
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What can I say that will describe IA's brilliant minds? This is the first installment in a brand new series, a brand new universe and I wasn't bored for a minute. The world building and the story were so well-done that I felt like I knew the rules from the beginning. No struggling to understand, no slow parts that magic is explained in length. They let the story flow and gave you enough information to keep you from being confused but not enough to overwhelm you.
Nevada is a brilliant heroine. She has Kate Daniels' spirit and snark but she is more responsible, more logical and not quite as quick to jump in dangerous situations. Just like Kate though danger seems to be drawn to her whether she wants or not. I liked how relatable Nevada was with her everyday problems of keeping her family bussiness afloat and her not always being the biggest badass around town. She is also highly moral and surprisingly law abiding which is a nice change for an UF heroine. The fact that she has a magic talent that must be hidden if she doesn't want to end up forced to do a job she won't like only adds more to the story.
And then comes Mad Rogan. Mad Rogan is powerful, arrogant, completely lacking in empathy and thinks everyone is beneath him. He is by all accounts a sociopath and makes no excuses. He used to work for the military but has retired and at the moment he has zero purpose in his life until he is given a distraction in the faces of Adam Pierce and Nevada Baylor. He could level a town with his power and probably wouldn't feel much regret later, he kills with hard, cold logic just like he does everything else in life. In a world full of badasses he knows he is the most badass of them all.
“You have no regard for human life,” I said. “You saved the city, but I don’t think you did it because you genuinely cared about all those people. I think you did it because Adam Pierce got under your skin. You hire desperate soldiers, but you don’t do it to save them either. You do it because they offer you unquestioning loyalty. You rescued your cousin, but you had been content to ignore the existence of that whole branch of your family. You don’t feel that rules apply to you. If you want it, you buy it. If you can’t buy it, you take it. You don’t seem to feel bad about things, and you offer gratitude only when you need to overcome some hurdle. I think you might be a psychopath. “I can’t be with you, no matter how crazy you make me, because you have no empathy, Rogan. I’m not talking about magic. I’m talking about the human ability to sympathize.”
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Adding to the awesomeness of the book is the fact that despite Nevada's attraction to Rogan she doesn't jump in bed with him. There is insta-lust but they don't act on it so it doesn't count. This is something that IA always do well, they develop the relationship, give it time and space to mature and by the time they get there you know why, you can't deny that they belong together. As frustrating as the unsatisfied sexual tension is, the end result is definitely worth it.
Also the bad guy of the story is suficiently cruel and demented but he isn't the one pulling the strings so we see the foundation for a bigger story arc. I want the next book so badly. We'll see how this develops but I have every faith I will ove it.
The secondary characters... IA know how to do secondary characters. From the overprotective mother who never misses a shot, to the crazy grandmother who loves a good eye-candy and is always there for everyone, to the teenage troublemakers in the family, they are all special snowflakes, hilarious and full of awesome.
“You're Mad Rogan!" Leon burst out. "Yes," Mad Rogan said, his voice calm. "And you can break cities?" "Yes." "And you have all this money and magic?" "Yes." Where was Leon going with this? My cousin blinked. "And you look . . . like that?" Mad Rogan nodded. "Yes." Leon's dark eyes went wide. He looked at Mad Rogan, then glanced back at himself. At fifteen, Leon weighed barely a hundred pounds. His arms and legs were like chopsticks. "There is no justice in the world!" Leon announced.
“If you’re really hard up, I can introduce you to my grandmother. She’s a fan.” Adam blinked. “She doesn’t typically sleep with pretty young things, but she would make an exception in your case. You might even learn a trick or two.”
“Do you have a girlfriend?” Grandma Frida asked. I put my hand over my face. “No,” Mad Rogan said. “A boyfriend?” Grandma Frida asked. “No.” “What about . . .” “No,” Mom and I said in unison. “But you don’t even know what I wanted to ask!” “No,” we said again together. “Party poopers.” Grandma shrugged.”
Coming to a close to my description of why IA is awesome... I'm looking forward to knowing exactly how powerful Nevada is and how her exposure will go down. (view spoiler)[It is obvious she will turn out to be a Prime after Rogan's cryptical comment when she was ranting about all the Primes' problems.
“You know what your problem is? ‘You’ as in Primes, in general?” “I think you’re about to tell me.” Mad Rogan leaned forward with rapt attention. “Your problem is that nobody ever tells you no. You think you can do whatever you want, enter wherever you want . . .[...]You play with people’s lives. When cops show up, you wave your hand and make them go away. Because you are Primes and the rest of us are, apparently, nothing.” “Mhm,” he said. “The irony of this is so rich, it’s simply delicious.” “I don’t see what’s so ironic about it.” “I’d tell you, but it would ruin the fun.”
So much better than the previous one! I'm damn glad I gave this a chance! Review may or may not come whenever I get a new laptop!(My nephew broke my lSo much better than the previous one! I'm damn glad I gave this a chance! Review may or may not come whenever I get a new laptop!(My nephew broke my last one, which is why, among other reasons, I haven't been around at all.)...more
I can say with all honesty that this was the hottest "book" I've read in a while. It's the first part in a three volume stor5 Hot as Hell Stars
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I can say with all honesty that this was the hottest "book" I've read in a while. It's the first part in a three volume story and it's really short but it definitely made an impression!
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And that end... I couldn't pick my mouth off the floor for a while.
But not the right kind of shock. I'm shocked I can't bring myself to give this book a 5 star rating but4 I Can't Believe It's Less Than 5 Stars
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But not the right kind of shock. I'm shocked I can't bring myself to give this book a 5 star rating but it just felt like a step back for me, it was on the same level as the first two books, which were good of course but they hadn't reached the series' potential yet. The last two books, relationship issues and slight incosistencies in characters aside, were pretty epic in the revelations and bad guys department. They kept my attention 100% of the way. This book sadly lacked their allure.
What I wanted in this book before starting was 3 things. I wanted to see how Kate and Roland would handle their new frenemies status, I wanted to see more of Hugh getting his ass kicked and I wanted to see how the whole "Pack without Curran" thing would work out. I got nothing on Hugh, very little on the pack and just crumbs on the Roland-Kate thing.
Instead what I got was a new bad guy, who wasn't nearly as interesting as Roland, Hugh or even Esra had been. The first 40% of the book was less than interesting and the ending was almost completely lacking excitement. And the side characters... Were where my favorite side characters? Where was Desandra and Derek?? Why were they so unimportant in the story? Derek appears to be used as a tracking dog with no personality and wit at all...
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That being said, this was Kate Daniels, from the one and only pair that is IA. The book still was better than most other authors have to offer. It still had great moments. (view spoiler)[I find Roland's intervention on the marriage thing hilarious, and shapeshifters are always there to add to the fun. (hide spoiler)] The side characters are as always awesome, even when they are not the ones I wanted(Luther was great and I always love Nick), and Curran and Kate finally got over their annoying relationship problems. And Chapter 11 was an emotional roller coaster.
I seriously hope the next book will have more Roland and Hugh in it and not some random baddie that I care not at all about or some new, uninteresting investigation plot.
Some awesome moments to remember:
“Does everybody think I am an asshole?” Curran asked. “Only people who know you or have met you.”
“Why am I the expert all of a sudden?” “Of the two of us, you have more stalking experience.” He leaned back. “Really?” “Yes. When you let yourself into my apartment before we were dating, did you fidget while you watched me?” “Will you let it go?” he growled. “No.” “I didn’t fidget. I checked on you to make sure you hadn’t gotten yourself killed. I wanted to know that you weren’t dying slowly of your wounds, because you have no sense and half of the time you couldn’t afford a medmage. I didn’t stand there and watch you. I came in, made sure you were okay, and left. It wasn’t creepy.” “It was a little creepy.” “It worked, didn’t it?” “Worked how?” “You’re still alive.” “Yes, of course, take all the credit.”
“Did you think I was sitting on my hands?” “I thought you might be injured.” He looked at me. “We’ve met, you and I?” I deliberately took a big step back. “What?” he growled. “I’m making room for your ego.”
“Besides, if I’d decided to pull Carver’s spine out of his body, I would’ve done it already.” “Can you actually do that?” Curran frowned. “I don’t know. I mean theoretically if you broke the spine above the pelvis, you could, but then there are ribs . . . I’ll have to try it sometime.”
“Okay," Juke said. "Your horse is a donkey, your poodle is a giant wolf breed, and your boyfriend is whatever the hell he is. You have problems.”
IA are torturing us with a teeny-tiny bits from this book. Mean people!
Don't open if you haven't read Magic Breaks.
(view spoiler)[“I can’t.” The big shapeshifter arranged his face into apologetic expression. “Jim won’t like…” Dali leaned forward, her stare direct and heavy. “I don’t care what Jim likes. Do it.” Rodney hesitated. “What are you waiting for?” Dali asked. Her voice made it clear she wasn’t interested in an answer. “He’s waiting for an or,” I told her. “What?” “Usually there is an or attached to this kind of threats. Do it or something bad happens.” “He doesn’t get an or.” A faint green sheen rolled over Dali’s irises. “There is no or. Do it. Because I said so.” Rodney ducked his head. “Yes, Alpha.” We watched him retreat down the hallway. “You’re getting good at this,” I told her. She shrugged. “I figured it out. Most of the people will do just about anything you tell them to do, if you act with authority, give them no choice, and accept the responsibility for their actions. That’s kind of scary, isn’t it?” (hide spoiler)]
(view spoiler)[“Get out,” Doolittle said, his voice icy. Curran opened his mouth. “Get out or I’ll have you removed from the Keep.” Curran spun on his foot and stalked out.
Oh snap! Someone isn’t the Beast Lord anymore. He-he! (hide spoiler)]
(view spoiler)[I deliberately took a big step back. “What?” he growled. “I’m making room for your ego.” “Fine. I should’ve left a note!” “You should’ve.” “Answer me this, did you hesitate at all or did you see the seventy foot tall ****, went “Wheee!” and ran toward it with your sword?” “She ran toward it,” Juke quipped. “He was biting people in a half!” I growled. “I rest my case,” Curran said. “A note wouldn’t have made any difference.” (hide spoiler)]
(view spoiler)[A deep inhuman sound rolled through the Guild, the sound of a predator’s voice, humorless and ice-cold, and I realized it was Curran laughing. I swallowed the sudden clump in my throat.
Curran studied ***, as if he hadn’t really seen him before until this moment and now he finally noticed *** existed and decided to dedicate his complete attention to that fact. His eyes sparked gold, his gaze pinning *** in place. I knew the weight of that stare. It was like looking straight into the jungle’s hungry maw. It knew no mercy and no reason. It only knew that it was hunter and you were prey. Blood rushed to your limbs, your breathing sped up, and your thoughts fractured and melted into your brain until only two options remained: fight or flight. Picking one was torture.
*** paled. He stepped back, almost in spite of himself, falling into a familiar defensive stance, half turned toward Curran, his hands raised. All of his bluster faded. Suddenly everyone knew who was the baddest monster in the room and nobody wanted to be his target." (hide spoiler)]
(view spoiler)[Ghastek stood by the floor to ceiling window, sipping coffee from a white mug that said, “Graveyard Shift: we do it in the dark.” From this side, the glass of the window was crystal clear, offering an excellent view of the undead stables, and Ghastek surveyed it like he owned it, because he pretty much did. He wore a tailored pair of sleek navy pants and a woven grey sweater with a hint of blue. Both looked elegant and deceptively simple, which probably meant they were hideously expensive. A small black velvet triangle interrupted the texture of the weave just below the flat-knit collar. The triangle alone probably cost him extra $300.
The clothes fit him with some slack. He needed to eat more.
For some reason, the thought of Ghastek and food made me uneasy. I puzzled over it until the answer floated up oh so slowly: we starved together in Mishamar. That was it.
“So you liked the mug?” I asked. I had sent it to him for Christmas. (hide spoiler)]
*******************24/10/2014*******************
Meh... I don't like the cover much, which sadly happens a lot with this awesome series. In the beginning I hated it but it's growing on me, I guess it was only because I prefered the previous model for Kate. I liked the last two though so this was bound to happen. But the BLURB makes up for it. Damn, I can't wait!!!<3 (hide spoiler)]...more
Before I started the book I thought that Rafe would be my favourite brother and I was absolutely right. Although I liked all of them, I found Rafe extra enticing. Not that I exactly approve of his behaviour towards Evelyn but I just get over it and move on!!
I have many books to review and I'm already bored so you'll have to wait for the re-read for a full review. ...more
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