Unraveled, Whiskey Sharp 1, Lauren Dane

Genre: Romance

I love Lauren’s writing, both contemporary and paranormal. This book though has left me with mixed feelings. I really enjoyed it but there are parts I’m a little confused about.

 

It felt for much of the start that I was reading about maybe a spin off book ( and hey, I did that completely unintentionally!) It seemed to me that the characters should have felt familiar to me, that if I’d read another series I’d know them – you know, how in connected books its like reading about old friends, except I didn’t know these guys, hadn’t met them before so the mix of who was who and how they connected was a bit weird til I got to grips with it. 

I loved the setting, the barbershop/bar and Alexsei’s family living next door to Maybe and Rachel. It grounded the characters, gave them a base where they acted naturally and felt very real to me. I was hoping Rada would be more of a b itch…but that’s me, love a “good” bad character…

I enjoyed how Alexsei and Maybe sparked of each other, the tension between them, Maybe’s unashamed confidence in asking for what she wants, whether its a job, food, a date. Yet when it came to Rachel she was trying to support her but actually hiding things from her, almost taking away choices in her determination to be a good sister, a solid help. There were times when i felt Maybe was a little too abrupt, a bit too in-your-face, but I guess that’s a reaction to her past, a need to assert herself. Its either knuckle under or take charge, and she’s take charge.
Alexsei was pretty controlling but not to the point he didn’t consider what others needed, what their own wants were, he had a great balance, though I understood why Maybe needed to ensure he wasn’t like her father. 

Its an interesting, steamy story, some quite dark issues with Rachel’s past attack, and the awful upbringing Maybe had, and the treatment she still got from their parents. I couldn’t help wondering – just where did that start and why? Why treat them so differently? I felt for that poor kid Maybe was.
I didn’t really see either why Rachel was considered “disabled”. Yes, she had a horrific encounter, and its left her with some kind of PTSD, but physically she seems fine, its been three years and though I understood her security fears – I think anyone would, and the lasting mental effects it seemed her parents were still considering her as just out of hospital. Why? 

It was a big, slow built to the end drama, but for me that was over far too quickly, a kind of it’s-OK-for-now feeling, but we know there’s going to be so much more. I guess that’s for book two, and hopefully we’ll see more of Alexsei and Maybe there.
I felt a bit underwhelmed though, wanted a little more concrete action for an ending even though there’s two more books to come. Its not a cliffhanger, just felt very unresolved. I was even trying to “turn” the page on my kindle seeing if I was missing some pages it felt that unfinished. 

Stars: four, almost a five, a few parts where I was a little confused at the beginning but mainly that ending stopped it 

ARC supplied for review purposes by Netgalley and Publishers

Beneath the Skin, Lauren Dane

Beneath the Skin, Lauren Dane

Genre: sci-fi and fantasy, Romance

A reworking of an earlier series, this is book three.
I hadn’t read first two books, and they’re not on netgalley or available to buy, and that’s a shame as it would have helped the story a bit. There are characters and events from those that crop up here, and would have made understanding motives etc easier.
There are terms too – The Bringer, and the Jambouree – that I kind of worked out as I went along, but which would have been good to know early on exactly what they were.

Anyway, its a pretty fast flowing story, succinct and yet packed with action. I loved Mia, a strong lady, she’s no Baby to be tucked in a corner….and she’s a perfect foil for Gibson, tough guy, charged with overseeing justice for the pack.
He’s a real ladies man, but he’s also a true gentleman. He’s secure enough in his own skills to enjoy Mia’s strength, knows he wants to protect her but has to let her do so much for herself. Its who she is, and he has to let her be that person if they are to be happy together.

I enjoyed meeting the rest of the family, seeing how the Cats all connected, and working out what was going on, who the bad guys were. Its not a brain taxing thriller, but a fun and sexy suspense, and a perfect HEA sensual read.

I have to finish with a bit that made me snort. On my review blog i have a post called bad sex terms – and this has to go in, it’s perfect. “he nudged at her gate, pushing in very slowly. thick and meaty he filled her up…..” WTF? Her gate? Thick and meaty?? Oh that had me sniggering like a twelve year old….

Stars: five, bad sex terms aside 😉 its a fun short, a sexy and sensual quick escape into the supernatural world.

ARC supplied for review purposes by Netgalley and Publishers

Expose Me, Under His Protection and The Best Kind of Trouble

A change in format..As I’ve been getting more and more review books I’m trying grouping them together in one daily post, instead of one post per book, to save overloading people’s inboxes. I like the cleaness of separate posts for each novel but some days there are lots out at the same time and I don’t want to seem like a spammer sending multiple posts per day. If anyone has views on which way works best I’ve love to hear them.

Expose Me, 5th Avenue Trilogy, Kate Hewitt
Review from Jeannie Zelos book reviews
Final book of the trilogy. This was a fun read, ties up all the lose ends from the earlier books and features the last man in the trio, Alex, and popular talk show host Chelsea. Alex needs Chelsea’s help to take down Treffen. She has an hour long, live special programmed in with him, and Alex and his friends want the final take down to be live TV. They’ve already dealt with his family, and are in the proceeds of closing his business, but they don’t want him to get away with anything, and need Chelsea’s help. Trouble is convincing her, she needs proof before she’ll believe he’s anything but the altruistic perfect man his publicity portrays. Those who have the proof are either dead or too scarred from the experience to come forward publicly. Add in the problems both Alex and Chelsea have with their hidden pasts, and the fact they both have a searing attraction to each other but Never do dating, relationships, sleepovers…anything that may hack at their tightly controlled emotions, and there’s a problems before they even start to talk about the programme.
Its another slick story, neatly tied up, and full of emotion and erotic, sensual heat. The course of true love, and taking down Jason Treffen never lies smooth…and this books shows just how hard it is for both. What’s also interesting is that I hadn’t realised til now that each part has a different author – they’ve clearly co-ordinated well as the writing style feels very consistent through each novel. A great read.
Stars: four
Arc supplied via netgalley and publishers

Under His Protection, Red Stone Security Series, Katie Reus
Review from jeannie zelos book reviews

I’ve read several of Katie’s paranormal series but somehow – despite this being book nine – this series has eluded me. Maybe because its shorter than I usually like at 42K words, but sometimes a shorter read fits in well with my schedule and this though shorter was packed with heat, sensuality and action. I like suspense when its part of a growing romance and not too bogged down with technical details. I don’t need to know all about the type of guns and ammunition used, bullet proof cars that can traverse all terrains, or what sort of protection the hero is using ( no!! not THAT sort of protection – the stuff that stops bullets not babies) Anyway also worth noting is that although this is part of a series its also a stand alone, so its not necessary to have read the others.
I know I enjoy Katie’s writing style and this mirrored what I’ve found with her paranormals, characters that are well fleshed, and that I can feel for and understand, and a basic but well established plot that makes sense. I’ve said before and stand by it – I’d rather have a book with one well written plot than one that has loads of ones that don’t make sense, wouldn’t work in reality, and stretch fiction a step too far. That last part is very important with non supernatural novels, if it feels unreal then for me I just switch off.
Anyway Julieta, I liked her character. Not an out and out OTT person but one who works hard, loves her family, values her friends. The sort of lady you’d like as one of your close friends. She’s got her own shop but is always looking to improve, to boost business and is an excellent businesswoman. She meets Ivan when he comes in as security for a new customer, and its instant attraction for both of them but they hold back. Julieta is careful about men, and though she likes Ivan she doesn’t really know him, and they don’t really get the opportunity to interact til out of the shop where they’re both at a function. She gets a text that shocks her, she’s recently had a couple of these unpleasant and threatening texts, and has no idea who or what’s behind it. Ivan sees her shock, and reads the text. It brings out his protective side and he talks to his bosses, who know of Julieta from mutual friends and he starts to watch over her using his own free time. Things escalate quickly, both the dangers and the action between Ivan and Julieta, and they are quickly into some sensual and erotic scenes. There’s hints over who may be behind the danger, but  Julieta is such a nice lady she hasn’t any real enemies, so its all a bit of a shot in the dark, trying to protect her but not knowing where the danger is coming from. When it does hit it’s all systems go….
Its a fun read, easy to follow with a perfect (for me) combination of romance, sex and danger.
Stars: Five, though as a shorter read its one I’m unlikely to re read.
ARC supplied via Netgalley and publishers

The Best Kind of Trouble, Lauren Dane
Review from jeannie zelos book reviews
I’ve mixed feelings about this book. The romance side works well, but overall it was a little lacking in drama for me until the big split. The background too – the rock and roll part, well – I expected that to take a more major role. I guess i’ve been reading too many NA high drama rock stories 🙂
This is first in a trio of books featuring the Hurley brothers, who are the stars in a leading rock band. They’re a close knit family, all living on the family ranch, though in seperate houses. Paddy, as lead singer is the charmer in the family and he’s used to girls falling at his feet. Then he sees Natalie, in his home town on a break from touring. He’s never forgotten the sensual and hot two weeks they had many years ago, before the band made it big. He wants to see if they can pick up. Natalie has had her own problems though and the last thing she needs is to have somone like Paddy sapping away at her hard won control. He’s persistent though, and its not long before he finally wears her down. There’s a lot to be dealt with though on both sides before they can get to a HEA.
I liked Paddy – well, who couldn’t. He has a great family too, and the next book about brother Ezra sounds good – he will make an interesting lead I think! Paddy is just so sweet, so good, so charming ( ok there’s the hundreds of women but that part of the lifestyle for some so I’ll get past that!) that he just feels to me a little…bland? I wanted a bit more excitement from him, more action and reaction. He gets there finally, but of course that when the problems start. Poor guy, I’m not giving him much of a break am I? Then there’s Natalie. Her background comes out slowly and its pretty bad, not in a typical physical way, but certainly she didn’t have a good start in life and was let down by those who should have looked after her. She’s now very tightly in control of her life, has her home and work, a good friend in the wonderful Tuesday and the others from her college days. We meet some of them briefly, and also of course the rest of Paddy’s family. It makes for a gentle, easy to read novel, some sensual and erotic moments in among a light romance story. I enjoyed it, but I’d need more drama for me to love it. It’s a fun one off for me, but for those who like light and gentle it’ll be perfect.
Stars: three – it’s a good book, well written, well characterised but just a little too light for me to rate higher.
ARC supplied via Netgalley.

Blade to the Keep. Lauren Dane

 

Blade to the Keep. Lauren Dane

Review from Jeannie Zelos Book reviews.

As this is the second in a series, and I hadn’t read the first I downloaded the Amazon sample as usual in this situation, so I could get some background info. What I hadn’t bargained on was getting so hooked on the book I simply had to buy it, and read it before getting to this ARC. It was a fabulous read, and though I could have read this without knowing all that was in book one, it certainly heightens the enjoyment and understanding having that background. The price is excellent too for such quality writing and story line.

Anyway – on to this book. It picks up where book one leaves off, with Rowan now made the Liaison between Vampires and Hunters, and trying to get through an amendment to the existing Treaty. The last book brought forward a problem where the Vampires held some important information which Rowan, needed but they were not obliged to share, so she had to wait until permission was granted. That meant a very dangerous vampire was on the lose for longer than needed. She wants essential information to be mandatorily shared. As always though there are dissidents, and Rowan being they person she is, she makes enemies easily 🙂 though she also has some really good and strong friends. This novel is set in her childhood home, the residence of The First, the man who brought her up and taught her to be what she is. He’s also the person who killed her parents, and who she has seen only on occasions since she found that out.

The story is full of twists and turns, double dealing, danger with Vampires and Hunters alike harbouring a grudge against Rowan. Her vampire boyfriend ( can I call him a Boyfriend when he’s 450 years old? Can’t really think of another term though…) is also there in his guise of Scion to the First. Clive and Rowan got off to a shaky start, but the sensuality and attraction sparked between them overrode that, and they’ve been a team ever since, though they both still hold strong and often opposing views. There are Hunters that resent her for him, and her ties to the First, and vampires that resent Clive for his connection to a Hunter. Its a dangerous path they have to navigate to keep their relationship, while still being open and unbiased in their decisions. Brigid the Goddess Rowan is Vessel to comes out more in this book. Rowan certainly needs her help when things are stirred up by a very old and little known Vampire Enyo, who’s against everything Rowan wats to achieve, regards humans as disposable and clearly has an unpleasant history with Brigid.

Clive is fantastic, enjoys Rowans strength and the fact she’ll argue with him, stand up to him and then….have passionate, sensual hours in bed with him. They both take – and both give, and its a great partnership. Brigid; it’s a bit hard to get my head around the “vessel” concept but Lauren makes it work and work well, giving Rowan a part of Brigid’s strength and knowledge when she needs it. I enjoyed seeing more of the other main vampires and Hunters, of learning more about Rowan’s childhood, and more about the tenuous relationship she has with her foster father.

Its a great read for those who want a good story to go with the hot sex, who want the passion and romance to be tempered with danger and adventure, and I love the way both books are complete and yet link up, and I can see the way into book three, which I’m really looking forward to.

One for the keeper files it’s an excellent price at £1.87 for 192 pages and one I know I’ll re read.

Stars: Five – loved it 🙂

ARC supplied by Netgalley