Okay, kids...we waited, and Larissa Ione has DELIVERED. Anyone who knows me well can attest to my love for this incredible author and her words. Ione pOkay, kids...we waited, and Larissa Ione has DELIVERED. Anyone who knows me well can attest to my love for this incredible author and her words. Ione possesses the unique talent of mixing laughter and pathos, drama and delight--and that's just talking about the plot! Against the backdrop of the most unique and heartfelt stories I've ever read in PNR-Fantasy are always-ALWAYS the most beautiful and layered characters in RomatansyLand. Eva and Logan are absolutely no exception: a pair determined to hate each other but unable to resist each other, engaged in a steamy push-pull that's more than enough emotion and chemistry for my K-drama loving heart, mixed with sexy times for my kinky girl side to gorge on. All in all, an AMAZING start to what I know if going to be a dramatic, twisty, delicious PNR ride. I'm here for it ALL!...more
If you love books that pull at your heart in all the most gentle ways before serving up a last act of heart-pounding action and emotion, look no furthIf you love books that pull at your heart in all the most gentle ways before serving up a last act of heart-pounding action and emotion, look no further than this gorgeously written book by two masterful goddesses of the craft. Kincade and Bishop set up such a lovely story with many of my very favorite tropes, but with just enough subtle spins on each that my eyebrows were lifting and my heart was thoroughly snagged. But while this story really grabbed in all the right places for my heart and soul, what I loved the most about this book were the two main characters. They are going to cling to my memory for a good while to come! Artemis is, in one word I save for only my favorite heroines, so real and relatable--and this, despite that fact that she's a bonafide goddess of Olympus! But in this book, she's also a single mom saddled with so many of the HUMAN emotions that brings, helped by a gal-posse we'd all love to call our own. Her hero, Finley is a dragon shifter (!!! YES!!!) who, despite his beastly side (because don't we all have them?) is rendered beautifully human in his attributes by snagging a job with the Underworld daycare, where his new little-man bestie spends a lot of time bragging about what a great mom he has...tee hee! When Artemis and Finley's worlds finally converge, the sparks fly--and I do mean SPARKS!--in a subtle but sexy tale that had me turning pages all the way up to, and through, a climactic third act. It was such an amazing ride...truly a 5-star read! ...more
While Ms. McFionn has been one of my favorite creators for quite some time, this book notched the estimation up by several levels. This reading experiWhile Ms. McFionn has been one of my favorite creators for quite some time, this book notched the estimation up by several levels. This reading experience reminded me of WHY I love reading so much, with a plot that unfurled with perfect timing, but never felt rushed--probably because I was too busy falling in love with the three main characters so much! Have to start with my absolutel fave: the sweet, sexy, and absolutely irresistible RHYS! You guys, WHERE is all the fan merch for this guy? (Im so desperate for more Rhys, I may just have to cosplay him soon...) But then, just as I thought I was saturated with adoration for HIM, in walks the dark, demanding, and utterly gah-worthy Zac, who STILL has me wanting to throw out a staring contest just so I can look my fill of his gorgeousness. (Again: WHERE'S THE MERCH, people?) To adequately balance both of these guys, the task fell to McFionn to write a heroine worthy of the job--and she did NOT let me down. Camille is half snark, half smarts, and A LOT of beautiful heart. While I was relating to her through so many of her struggles, she was also engagingly funny, quick-witted, and more than a n awesome challenge for the guys. Pick this up for the premise, but stay for the characters. No need to order a side snack with your read, either. You'll be too busy laughing, crying, and turning pages as fast as you can. I really LOVED this read SO much!...more
It's not often that I'm grappling for words about how to describe my love for a book. I can seriously say that since finishing this book close to a weIt's not often that I'm grappling for words about how to describe my love for a book. I can seriously say that since finishing this book close to a week ago, I've struggled at considering the feat for Rebekah Ganiere's incredible story of the Norse god Fenrir and the woman created to finally love his soul. First off, let me say that this book had some huge shoes to fill. It's the third in Ganiere's track of the Speed Dating with the Denizens of the Underworld series: she's dialed into the Norse entities like no other writer I've enjoyed with the subject since Neil Gaiman's legendary book. Like Gaiman, Ganiere pushes past the typical stereotypes for these characters and gets to the gorgeous core of their human traits: strengths, weaknesses, and all. NOT an easy feat, considering the lead-in books for Fen were Thor and Loki respectively. With Fenrir, there was the added challenge of familiarizing readers with a character that hasn't had as much of the spotlight as his uncle and father. Moreover, Fen's scars aren't just skin deep. Being the "guy who does the dirty jobs" for the gods hasn't helped the man's self-esteem at all. On the outside, he's a giant with enough muscles to shatter walls and break necks just by thinking about it. But on the inside, the violence he's had to deal to the world is also the damage he's stabbed to himself. Needless to say, when Fen meets the shy and skeptical Grace at the Underworld's speed dating party, neither of them trust their magical insta-attraction--and yet neither can ignore it either. They're caught in a push-pull with each other, hardly daring to breathe for fear of destroying their connection, yet helpless to control their magnetic pull. The romance unfolds with a poetic majesty that's entrancing to witness and impossible to put down. Yes, kids, this is one of those couples you'll be thinking about even when you have to fix dinner or mop the floor. Fen will be that tightly woven around your soul, and Grace will hypnotize that much of your heart. Because at the core of all this, despite the fantastical settings and the fantasy-grade characters, here comes those majestic pieces of mortality that Ganiere had a special and singular way of digging to. At the end of things, we're all covered in that awesome dirt--and thanking her for it. As always with a Ganiere novel, the last act is the very best part of the story. again, it rings true without being disingenuous or too high-flying to suspend the disbelief. You'll ride the wave with breath held and heart racing--and in the end, a gigantic smile of gratitude. Mostly, you'll be thanking yourself for not missing this one. Absolutely magical.
With this installment in the Filthy Rich Vampires world, Geneva Lee has established herself as a reigning goddess of fantasy romance. I am in AWE of wWith this installment in the Filthy Rich Vampires world, Geneva Lee has established herself as a reigning goddess of fantasy romance. I am in AWE of where she took this world--especially in that AMAZING THIRD ACT!!--and all of these intriguing, incredible characters. Julian, Thea, and all of their friends--as well as MANY adversaries--are transported from San Francisco to Italy in this part of the story. The pair has made it through some harrowing trials so far, but now find out that the happy ending they're looking forward to is only the beginning of another arduous test of their love. As the angst and heartache intensify, it's intensified by an unfurling tapestry of Venice's famous pomp and pageantry, concluding in a masked ball that I seriously devoured like I'd never read about one at all. Oh, and have I mentioned the thoroughly un-put-downable third act? No? Seriously, we're talking up-to-3am time, folks. GAH. Overall, the story has this gorgeous majesty that even I just cannot describe. Like the shifting shadows of Venice, the two don't know what is real or imagined--and Ms. Lee skillfully brings her reader right along on that journey of captivated unknowingness. The juxtaposition of glorious wealth but shattering tragedy is rolled out like a Shakespearean play, which had me gasping in romantic delight during the same moments that the daggers were being driven through my heart. Though Thea and Julian are still at the forefront of the story, there was also plenty of room to expand on secondary characters too--and I was really grateful for that, because I've fallen in love with so many of them just as thoroughly. All in all, these books are masterpieces of vampire fantasy, sealing Ms. Lee as a craftswoman who thoroughly knows her way around the genre--as well as the hearts and souls of her readers. While this is fabulous fantasy at its best, it's also deeply human and tormentingly emotional. SO WONDERFUL. Now I just want to know when the movie is happening!!...more
It takes a daring creative to tackle a character like the king of the Greek Gods. Zeus is so remarkably famous for so many things, and has been iteratIt takes a daring creative to tackle a character like the king of the Greek Gods. Zeus is so remarkably famous for so many things, and has been iterated so many times, that digging deep for that "new angle" can be a failing quest. But Fiona Starr has done just the opposite. In Ms. Starr's newest installment into the "Speed Dating with the Denizens of the Underworld" series, Zeus--"Zee" to his friends and loved ones--is an electric and charismatic rock star known for raining actual lightning bolt finales onto his concert stage. But the roar of the crowd has grown old, and the ruler is feeling more than restless for something new. He's lonely, empty, lost--all aspects that written so beautifully in this book. Zee meets, and connects with, the beautiful Jade in a chance encounter at the DeLux speed dating event--but his one-night love cannot be his forever mate due to an incredible (and highly unique) back story that ripped at my heart and really had me turning pages as fast as I could. This was a situation where I KNEW everything would be okay but I was still terrified it wouldn't. Yes, this author is THAT freaking good at her craft. The craft of this book was truly so terrific, but so were the emotions, intensity, and masterful storytelling abilities. I'm definitely a new fan of Fiona Starr. ...more
This series is just getting better and better--and BETTER. At the "ensemble cast" of these books is growing by incredibly awesome degrees, it's wonderThis series is just getting better and better--and BETTER. At the "ensemble cast" of these books is growing by incredibly awesome degrees, it's wonderful to see that Ms. Collins never forgets the couple who started it all: Ike and Sidney. Their continuing love story is not without some true challenges in this one, with ghosts of the past rising up to haunt both of them in visceral and heart-rending ways, but they weather the storms by consistently coming back to each other, learning their love can be a touchstone for even the hardest of days. It's so unbelievably swoony, sexy, and addicting to read! The added frosting to this cake is a sweet layer of side stories that are layering this world with magnificent timing and true mastery on Ms. Collins' part. A reader can tell she's just as invested in all these secondary characters as we are! Each of the side stories circles back around to Ike and Sid's plot in some way, making the story even more exciting to read--down to the very last act with its awesomely great twist! Ike Taylor is my new Harry Bosch--only better! I am absolutely invested in these wonderful, powerful books....more
Y'all...THIS BOOK. I was already broken into a thousand shards from the first installment of this INCREDIBLE series, and truly thought I was braced foY'all...THIS BOOK. I was already broken into a thousand shards from the first installment of this INCREDIBLE series, and truly thought I was braced for more of the same from the amazing Geneva Lee--but alas, no. Ohhh, no no NO. I can say that I made it relatively okay through the first act of this one--but in act two was when Ms. Lee turned up the heat, figuratively AND literally. Things have FINALLY gotten spicy for Thea and Julian (thank GOD), but as that "pressure" is relieved, they face even hotter fires from all kinds of directions beyond their blissful bubble--and must make some extremely tough decisions to fight for their love. In that process, they are tested in ways that literally had me gasping, sobbing and nearly grinding my e-reader to shreds. To say I am am eagerly jumping into book 3 is a vast understatement. This series is that addicting, alluring, and unbelievably mesmerizing. #TeamJulianForever...more
Loading...
