Hidden Ecstasy by Setta Jay

            

           

Grade-C
Hotness Level-Inferno
Kink Level-No Kink
Series-Guardians of the Realms #0.5
Genre-Paranormal
Reviewed by Kay
35 pages

What do you get when you take a son of the goddess Athena and a Guardian of the Realm? It could be a new paranormal series for me to read.

Vane, the son of Athena is a Demi-god trying to stay hidden in the human world. You see, the Gods were put to sleep for their sins in the immortal realm. He and his siblings fight for humans, to keep them safe and hide out. He's been enjoying a very sexual relationship with Brianne, who is a Guardian for centuries. Neither view the other as their mate but definitely enjoy each other's company. Their protection of the humans is in the form of fighting human trafficking. This is a purpose very near and dear to his sister's heart.

In this short snippet of a story, Vane and his siblings are trying to rescue a young girl who was kidnapped because of her father's wrong doings. They track her down and rescue her and I think this will set the scene for the other books in the series. I enjoyed this story. It was easy to follow, a little exciting and a whole lotta steamy. Vane is an alpha male who's just hot as can be. There's not a whole lot of story regarding Brianne but I'm hoping for more as the series goes on. I'd love to really get into another paranormal series and I'm kind of excited this might be one.

Joint Review: Bite Me by Shelly Laurenston

       
Grade-C+(Kay) B(Anne)
Hotness Level-Blaze
Kink Level-No Kink
Series-Pride #9
Genre-Paranormal
Reviewed by Kay & Anne
384 pages

From Kay:I got approved to read this book from NetGalley and was so excited. I'm a huge fan of Shelly Laurenston's Pride series and have enjoyed most of them. I love the humor she brings into every story. Yes, sometimes it's over the top and ridiculous but that just seems to endear it to me even more. This installment is about Vic, a tiger/bear mix and Livy, a honey badger. I know what those of you that haven't read a Laurenston novel are thinking. Wtf?

In this book you get love, suspense and as I mentioned before, hilarious humor. I belly laughed quite a bit as I always do. Livy's fight to be accepted for who she is and the career she wants was very fun to read about. I mean, she's from a crime syndicate family and could probably lead that family but no, she wants to be an artist.

Vic has a law enforcement past and is an all around nice guy. His reactions to Livy are very sweet. He's very much the calm to her storm.  He dives right into helping her with no prodding. I loved the behavior description of Vic in the story. He's laid back, like a bear, until he can't be anymore. He has feline moments where he's kind of a hot mess.  Now, Livy is a hot mess all the time.

There were a couple of creep factor moments for me in the story though. They both had to do with during or after their lovemaking and his tail would pet her. Eww, I don't like mid-shift love scenes. That was my big complaint with this novel. If I had to pick the main reason for my lower than normal review rating for a Laurenston book, I just didn't warm to the characters as much as I have to other ones in this series.

I don't want to give too much away because this author can really tell a story and fans of this series want to savor every word from her. I am so very sad that she is going to take a break from this series for a while. What will I do without an update on my favorite characters from her other books? Mace, Dez, Smitty, Sissy Mae, Ronnie Lee, those Reed boys, Gwen, Cella, Irene, the Van Holtz family, Blayne, Toni and her siblings? Or my very favorites, the Shaw brothers, DeeAnn Smith and Bo Novikov? I'm already in mourning.

Side note- Anne, I will not get over my mourning by reading this author's Dragon Kin series, so don't even suggest it yet. I'll get there eventually.  (Note from Anne: you read my mind!  But I'll keep my mouth shut!)

In close, I'll leave you with some of my favorite quotes from this series.

"You just carry around piles of condoms?"-Vic"In case I feel like taking on the hockey team one night. You know, when I'm bored."-Livy

"I can see it in your big, dumb cat eyes.""Well, that was unnecessarily mean."

"I don't ask the hyenas to do it.""No. But you associate with the Smith Pack, Demon dogs of the Underworld."

From Anne:I was also really looking forward to reading this book.  Shelly Laurenston is one of my favorite authors, in my top ten for sure.  This was certainly not the best book in the Pride series, but I really liked it.  Usually Kay and I text Laurenston quotes back and forth to each other as we read.  It's taught me to be very careful about texting.  It's a little awkward when you text your 20 year old son a line from a Laurenston book.  So, yeah, my Laurenston reading time is generally punctuated by careful texting.  That didn't happen so much in this story.  It was really funny, but not so many of the one liners we text to each other.

For me the weakest part of the story was the romance between Vic and Livy.  The sex was hot, but their romance wasn't really memorable.  I did have the same issues with Vic's tail as Kay did.  I don't have have half-shifter issues, but a tail with it's own mind... yeah, that didn't work for me.

I did really enjoy Bo having a decent role in this book.  And the panda shifter, Shen was the best new character introduced to the series since Bo.  Well, Livy, too.  Best new character since Livy.  His panda ways really kept me laughing!

Even though we didn't text about it, we did share some emails, so here's our conversation:

Anne: I thought Bite Me read more like a Sci Fi book with a romance sub plot.  I mean, their relationship is clearly the focus of the book, I guess it just wan't really romantic for me.  What did you think, Kay?

Kay: I felt something was missing from the book. I was left wanting more. The humor was there but not in the over the top way it usually is. I have commented before about her heat level declining from earlier books in the series but now the humor is too. I read somewhere that she was taking a break from this series and maybe that's a good thing. Get some fresh ideas. Write about the Reed boys but include the Smith pack. Write about Marisa's Shaw or Mace's sister. Or Irene's kids. 

This is still worth reading but for the level of excitement I had, I couldn't help feeling let down.

Anne: Was there anything you really liked?  For me it was the relationship between Bo and Vic.  It just cracked me up!  I also really liked how she was always hiding in the cupboards.   

Anything you didn't like?  For me it was Vic's tail.  The thought that it had a mind of it's own, even jokingly, pretty much squicked me out!

Kay: 

I did like the relationship between Bo and Vic. Also the cabinet hiding was great and I totally agree about the tail. Ewwww. I liked Toni's part a lot, she made me laugh. The Panda was hilarious too.

In closing, we both enjoyed the story and would recommend you read it.  If what Kay heard about Laurenston taking a break is true, I'm sad!  But I've always got G.A. Aiken books to read, so I'll survive!

Desperate Housewives of Olympus by Saranna DeWylde

Grade-B
Hotness Level-Inferno
Kink Level-No Kink
Genre-Contemporary Set Paranormal
Reviewed by Kay
314 pages

Man, I enjoyed reading this book and had waited along time to do so. Oh, it was so worth it.

I've always loved Mythology although I'm no expert on it. I think my love of Mythology is because it's a soap opera and I've always loved soap operas. What's not to love? Love, sex,suspense, backstabbing and of course, it's very own over the topness. I don't know if topness is a word but you know what I mean. This novel is about several people. Hades, Persephone, Demeter, Eros, Zeus, Hera, Thanatos, Abstinence, Nyx (who I'd never heard of before) and Apollo(who I loved even after the book Styxx ruined him for me).

It's kind of like the T.V. show, Wife Swap a little bit. The couples you think you know are together aren't and you root for the new couples this very talented author created. You get so sucked in and invested in these couples' stories so quickly. These couples find out that:

1.) Sometimes you get a second chance to get it right.

2.) Loving someone with the heart of your youth doesn't mean forever but it's still an important love.

3.) Age doesn't really matter when it comes to love.

4.) Sometimes you get what you really need even if you never thought you wanted it.

5.) Trust and respect are the most important things in a marriage.

6.) Everyone answers to someone.

What a great read! This author is fantastic and I will absolutely read more by her. Try it if you love Mythology, hot sex, high emotion and finding love in unexpected places. I'll leave you with my favorite quotes from the book.

"Nyx's mother had been none to pleased and she was the scary bitch kitty deluxe in her family."

"I love you like the sun loves the sky-content to burn in its arms for eternity. My love is more constant than the stars and when they shudder into oblivion, it will still be there-strong in my heart as the day it was born. When the mortal world is nothing but dust and ash and all that makes us sentinent has slipped away in the granules of sand through the great hourglass-yes even then. No matter if you never feel your hurt beat again inside of your chest, no matter if you never feel anything but lust for me, I will love you."

"This is enough for me. I don't need anything else but what's in this space of breath between us. Can you feel it? Can you taste it?"

"I'm embarrassed to tell you." "Persephone, after a god has been ears deep in your nether bits,as you've described them, and you've ridden his face like a pony, nothing should ever be a taboo discussion between you."

Be Were by Eliza Gayle

Grade-C
Hotness Level-Inferno
Kink Level-No Kink
Series-Southern Shifters #5
Genre-Paranormal
Reviewed by Kay
175 pages

What was supposed to be a one night stand so they wouldn't have to be alone on Christmas turned into a mating for life. Dean sees Niki in his bar and she's about to punch a human who is drunk and trying to hook up with her. Dean steps in and stops Niki from hurting the human and they go back to his place. They have a hot night and Dean senses she's his mate. During their interlude, he bites her. Afterward he calls her mate and she runs out.

Dean finds out that his mate was kidnapped and he goes to get her. Oh, and she's pregnant. And she's a rare hybrid. A white cougar. It's a miracle Niki got pregnant since they were supposed to be infertile. That's what Niki thought anyway. She was led to believe that by her captors in the laboratory she was raised in and experimented on in. The real focus of the story is who masterminded the kidnapping of Niki.

This was a decent read. It flowed easily along. I liked the characters and the premise well enough. The sex was fantastic. I wanted to like it more but wasn't terribly disappointed. I've read another book in the series and enjoyed it as well. Very good humor too.

Asking For Trouble by Tessa Bailey

Grade-B
Hotness Level-Inferno
Kink Level-No Kink
Series-Line of Duty #4
Genre-Contemporary
Reviewed by Kay
250 pages

Brent Mason is an explosives expert with the police department. He's crude, rude and adorable. Hayden Winstead is a wealthy, beautiful woman with a whole lot of sass. These two have been circling each other since their best friends fell in love not too long ago. They have snipey comments and insults to hurl at each other all the time.

One night they banter back and forth, neither willing to back down. When the bantering goes to far, they have an encounter. This encounter has them seeing one another in a different light and it changes everything.

I so enjoyed this book. I always enjoy her foul mouthed heroes. I really enjoy them. I enjoyed her first book a lot. Then the next two stories were just okay for me. This one redeemed the series for me. Scorching hot sex packed with emotion, this was a homerun. The following quotes were my favorites:

"Be warned, though. If you take away the use of my hands, I'll only make up for it with my mouth."-Brent

"You think you know what I need? Enlighten me."-Hayden
"You need a good tongue-fucking."-Brent

"When I take them off, you're not going to...I mean..."-Hayden
"What? Throw you down on the floor and see if you fuck as hot as you kiss?"-Brent

Brent talking about Hayden bitching about his shoulders-"You didn't mind them last night when you were kneeling on them."

I just love her heroes' quotes!

Britton by Abby Niles

Grade-C
Hotness Level-Inferno
Kink Level-No Kink
Series-The Awakening #3
Genre-Paranormal
Reviewed by Kay
200 pages

I was very unsure of this book when I started reading it. The blurb sounded good but with paranormal being my least favorite genre, I was cautious.

In Carnal Ridge, yes that's the name of the town, they have a shifter police department. Val is a half-shifter, meaning she can't shift. That power is only for the males of the species. She inherited the position of being in charge after the leader at that time was demoted. His name is Britton and he is a full shifter. Oh, and they hate each other. While he flirts with every woman in the department, he saves his hatefulness for Val. That's okay with Val because she can't stand him but wonders what she has done to make him hate her. I know hate is a strong word but his reactions to seeing her are described with words like cringing and revulsion.

These two are assigned a case together when things are needed that go beyond what Val's abilities are. This is where it gets interesting. See, Britton has had his beast forced into dormancy because of a decision he made that allowed him to be seen as a shifter in front of humans. A twenty year sentence without his beast. But for this case he will get a serum injection that allows his beast to come forth so he can track a child shifter that has been kidnapped by a possible extremist group. With his full capabilities, he is able to track down leads to this case. He also notices that Val isn't as bad as he thought. She's even attractive he notices as he checks out her ass one day.

This was an interesting read after the reason he was repulsed by her was explained. The kidnapping plot made sense but was overall kind of weak in my opinion. I may catch up on this series later but not right now. Abby Niles has a good voice and I would like to read her again but preferably in a non-paranormal genre.

                      

Rocky by Bianca D'Arc

Grade-D
Hotness Level-Inferno
Kink Level-No Kink
Series-Tales of the Were #3
Genre-Paranormal
Reviewed by Kate
158 pages

Maggie is pregnant and has been on the run from an all powerful demon mage since he killed her husband Tony months ago. She heads to childhood friend Rocky's house because she promised Tony she would go there when she was ready to deliver her babies. Rocky, like Tony, is a were-bear shifter, and will be able to provide the leadership that Maggie's cubs will need. Rocky is more than happy to take on the role of alpha for Maggie and Tony's cubs, but he wants the role of Maggie's husband as well.

 

I'm trying to cut Maggie some slack because she's obviously emotional and hormonal throughout the entire book-despite being magically healed after her labor by her magical cubs. But I got really tired, really fast of her waffling between Tony and Rocky. It starts off right away with her comparing everything Rocky is with what Tony was. Then suddenly, she becomes certain that Rocky is the one that she's always been supposed to be with, her true soul mate. Next thing you know, she's always loved them both, and Tony (in spirit form) is approving of her relationship with Rocky.

 

But it was the all powerful evil demon mage that was the final straw for me. This demon mage has been hunting Maggie and her super magical, über-rare, twin were-bear cubs (who always sleep when the story calls for it) since he killed her husband. Seriously. Tony was a strong mage himself, so this demon mage must be extra powerful. There's a lot of suspense built up around this evil demon mage. So in my mind, I'm picturing some kind of cross between Darth Vader and Hannibal Lector. But when the mage finally appears (in the very final pages of the books), Rocky is able to quickly defeat him and only walks away with bloodied knuckles. Such a let down. And makes me question how strong a mage Tony really was if he was defeated by evil demon mage, King of the Wusses.

 

I need to be up front and admit that this is the first of the Tales of the Were series that I read. And I can't help but wonder if I would have liked the book more, had I had the world building knowledge that has to be present in the first two books. As it was, I just couldn't connect with the world that Rocky was a part of. It was just fill with a lot of WTF moments for me.

So, what was your last total fail of a book?

Bad Kitty by Eliza Gayle

Grade-C
Hotness Level-Inferno
Kink Level-No Kink
Series-Southern Shifters #1
Genre-Paranormal
Reviewed by Kay
155 pages

Kitty is a cougar shifter and has a past as a bit of a wild child. She's been exiled from her Pride and sent to a neutral zone. A neutral zone is where the misfits and rejects from various shifter breeds are sent when they can't stay with their own kind. Kitty's father did some very bad things that Kitty was aware of but didn't stop, although all those things were not discussed in this book.

Rare is a wolf shifter who is in line to be Alpha of his pack. He rescues Kitty after she is attacked by some of her former Pride in the neutral zone and nearly raped by members of his own pack. His uncle is the current Alpha and is retiring soon. since he has no sons, Rafe is next in line, if no one challenges him. He senses something in this damaged female he and his friend, Simon, nurse back to health.

The attraction between Rafe and Kitty sizzle the pages as only forbidden love can. He recognizes her as his mate and doesn't truly fight it. Kitty fears the ramifications of a relationship between the two of them. They have Pack politics, claiming rights, mating frenzy and retribution to face. This was a good start to a new series and I enjoyed it. This is a spin off of another one of Eliza Gayle's series but I don't feel like I have to read the other one if I don't want to. This had action, love and some pretty good sex in it.

                      

The Darkest Craving by Gena Showalter

Grade-A
Hotness Level-Blaze
Kink Level-No Kink
Series-Lords of the Underworld #10
Genre-Paranormal
Reviewed by Kay
466 pages

Kane is the keeper of Disaster and everywhere he goes that's exactly what happens. Horrible things befall him and he is a constant danger this fellow Lords of the Underworld. He recently spent time in Hell and it has left him a changed man. And not necessarily in a good way. When he is rescued by a fragile female, which he has no recollection of, confusion swamps him. Apparently he made a deal with her and she's ready to collect.

Josephina is half human and half Fae. She's the King of the Fae's illegitimate daughter. She was sent to Hell as a punishment for something her half sister, the Princess did. In the Fae society they have blood servants who take punishment for the crimes committed by the royal family. Her treatment at the hands of he family is horrific. She has terrible self esteem issues and has no self worth. She sees Kane, a hero in her land,as her only way out.

If you haven't read this series by Gena Showalter, you are missing out on one of the most entertaining paranormal romance series going today. Her characters are total bad asses and very sexy. I have been waiting for Kane's book and boy was it worth it! These two characters were totally meant for each other. Josephina had self image issues and Kane was always the odd man out with his group of friends because of Disaster. Seeing them acknowledge their shortcomings and their acceptances of them was heart breaking and heart warming all at the same time. You also had multiple story lines going that held your interests just as well as the main one.

I can not wait for the next book, it's about,wait for it,Torin! If you haven't started this series yet, get hooked on this hilariously delightful series. If I had to complain about something it would be the heat level. It seems to have been turned down a little bit from her other books.

Styxx by Sherrilyn Kenyon

Grade-A
Hotness Level-Blaze
Kink Level- Moderate Kink
Series- Dark-Hunter #23
Genre-Paranormal Romance
Reviewed by Kay
836 pages

Back many months ago when I read the blurb for this book, my heart raced. I'll admit I was a little tentative about a book featuring Styxx, but the blurb says that we only know half of the story. If you don't want to read a review with spoilers stop now.
Here's a little refresher on this very long series. Styxx is the identical twin to Acheron except for the eyes. They shared a womb even though they were not blood related. I'm not going to summarize all the details to Ash's (Acheron) conception and subsequent birth. Just know that Ash was put in a queen's womb who was already pregnant as a way to protect Ash from those who were hunting him. See, Ash is the son of the Destroyer and he can bring an end to the world.
In Ash's book, we learn of his birth and life up until this point. He and his twin, Styxx hated each other. Ash was made to suffer atrocities that no one should suffer, especially a small child. We all developed a hatred so intense for the golden child, Styxx. But in this book, we realize that we only knew Ash's story. Styxx's story was in my opinion even worse. Not only was it over one hundred pages longer but it was almost double the size of Ash's back story. A back story that had me either too stunned to cry or sobbing uncontrollably. I won't say anything more about the back story other than you have to read it to truly know the story and the ultimate betrayals that take place.
The most beautiful part of this book is the love story between Styxx and Bethany. It was so precious and innocent. Styxx is the future king of his country and became a true war hero and a master strategist. His one and only true love was a blind girl who he met when she was fishing.
He didn't realize that his love was really the Goddess of Misery as she didn't realize he was Prince Styxx.
I don't want to give away too much about the book. Just read it even though it is 836 pages long. It moves quickly and I devoured it in less than 48 hours. I'll end this review with my favorite quotes from the book.
"Never once in my life did I feel the sunshine on my skin until the day you touched me."
"And without my Bethany, I dwell in total darkness."
"It's not fair that we're forced to live without them while the world goes on, oblivious to the fact that it's missing the most vital part of it."
"I let go of your hand eleven thousand, five hundred thirty nine years, one hundred and eighty three days and roughly ten hours give or take a few mintues ago."
"You really did count the heartbeats."
"Oh Beth, you have no idea."
This time Styxx knew that nothing would ever separate them again. And if anyone or anything was dumb enough to try they were going to learn the lesson he had given both Archon and Apollo. Styxx of Didymos fought for what he wanted. He didn't back down. He didn't give up. He didn't lose. Even if it meant coming back from the dead, he wouldn't be stopped and he would never again live without his most vital part. Bethany.

Menage Monday - Training Their Mate by Vella Day

Grade-C
Hotness Level-Inferno
Kink Level-High Kink
Series-Pack Wars #1
Genre-Paranormal/Shifter
Reviewed by Kate

When Liz makes a botched attempt to kill Harvey Couch(who raped her mother), Harvey sends some thugs after her. But not just any thugs, werewolf thugs. It's a good thing that Trax overhears Couch's orders and manages to save Liz from the attack, but not before she discovers the existence of werewolves. Trax takes Liz to the home he shares with his brother Dante do they can protect her from other attacks by Couch.

Trax and Dante recognize Liz is their mate(they're werewolves too-but good ones) but are afraid that if they reveal their furry selves, she'll run and be in danger. They decide to wait until she's fallen for them before they tell her the truth. we all see where this is going, don't we?

Liz's character is filled with the need for revenge, But surprisingly, she's smart enough to realize she's out of her league dealing with werewolves. So she leaves Couch to Trax and Dante. Of course, once she's no longer worries about revenge, she has nothing else to focus on except Trax and Dante. Trax and Dante are part of an organization who take out the bad werewolves like Couch. Dante is a bit of a softy as far as Liz is concerned. But Trax has a one track mind and can't pay much attention (or be nice) to Liz until after Couch is caught. Trax is a dominant, so when he does pay attention to Liz, it usually involves tying her up. I honestly pictured the pair doing a good-cop/bad-cop routine throughout the whole book. Trax was unfeeling and Dante was always there to soften the harshness of Trax's character.

My frustration with this book came not from the characters or the plot, but more from the world the author has created. I had so many questions that went unanswered until the very end ( if they were ever answered), even though they had no bearing on the plot. Questions like: How did Dante and Trax know that Liz was their mate? Was it normal for two males to share a mate? Could non-werewolf females be impregnated by werewolves? The list went on for a while. I feel part of the responsibility of a paranormal/shifter author is to make the reader aware of the rules in their world, because let's face it-each author's world is a unique. Not knowing the rules of this world really pulled me out of the story quite a bit.

I am an occasional reader of shifter romance. How about you? A huge fan or not so much?

Macrieve by Kresley Cole

Grade-B
Hotness Level-Inferno
Kink Level-No Kink
Series- Immortals After Dark #13
Genre-Paranormal
Reviewed by Kay
358 pages

Uilleam Macrieve, Will, is a Lykae. He has a twin brother, Munro. He's extremely powerful, handsome, wealthy and on a course of self-destruction. Ever since his parents' deaths and his part in it he has been guilt ridden. Couple that with his capture and torture at the hands of the Order, he is a train wreck. Fighting, drinking and rough sex are his normal. He has given up on any happiness. His only hope, finding his mate.

Chloe Todd is a human soccer player headed for the Olympics. She has had to fight for everything she has ever wanted, despite having a loving father. She has noticed changes in herself for a while now. Subtle changes but changes still. After a rather disturbing discussion with her father, her world implodes. She's faced with things she's only read about. Horrible things. She's rescued by a huge, scary, sexy Scotsman.

This installment of Cole's outstanding IAD series is a great book. Funny, sexy and a little mystery thrown in. You find out who Chloe's add really is, what she really is and if she can save the doomed Macrieve. My two complaints with the book: Will's treatment of Chloe before he accepts her and not enough of the Valkyries. Not having enough of the Valkyries brought the rating of the book down for me. Otherwise, a great addition to one of my very favorite series.

Shadow's Claim by Kresley Cole

Grade-B
Hotness Level-Inferno
Kink Level-None
Series-The Dacians #1
Reviewed by Kay

Trehan Daciano is the Prince of Shadows from the kingdom of Dacia. He is an assassin tracking Caspian, a demon that escaped from his secret realm. When he arrives to the kingdom of Abadin on Caspian's trail, he finds Bettina. Bettina is the princess and soon to be queen. His vampire heart starts beating and he realizes she blooded him. That means she is his mate. Bettina fights their attraction for all she worth. To win Bettina, Trehan has to enter of fighting contest which is a last man alive contest. The winner of the contest gets the princess and gets to be King.

I loved Trehan as a hero but Bettina drove me nuts! Constantly moaning over a guy who made it plain for all to see that he didn't want or love her. I thought Trehan deserved better. This was my first audio book and I think I liked listening to it better than if I would've read it. I had a great narrator. Over all I enjoyed this book and look forward to the next one but probably only in audio format. I apologize for any and all misspellings as I didn't read the book, I listened to it.

Dark Wolf by Kate Douglas

Grade: B+

Hotness Level: Inferno

Kink Level: Low Kink

Genre: Shifter, menage

Series: Spirit Wild #1

Reviewed by Anne

 

Lily is a successful leader in her community of Chanku (shifters).  They are known in the human world and she's sort of an unofficial princess and official representative of her people.  Sebastian is the son of the Chanku's most outspoken opponent.  Lily's Chanku heritage allows her to shift into a wolf, and she has magic as well.  Sebastian uses magic alone to shift into wolf form. Sebastian grew up separated from his father, only discovering his existence when his mother was dying.  Despite her objections, Sebastian sought out his father and is now regretting his actions. 

Recently a serial rapist and killer has been attacking human women.  The women are raped and then savaged by wolves, which points to a Chanku killer.  However, Sebastian also has weird things going on in his life that make him wonder if he or his father are somehow involved.

 

This book really worked for me!  Though it's listed as first in a series on Goodreads, I could tell as I read that there had been books before it.  A little research shows that this Spirit Wild series is a spin off or next generation series from the Wolf Tales (and other books) the author has written.  Still, I read Dark Wolf with no problems keeping up with the many characters.  I also thought the world building was done well.  It came in little pieces as I read, and again, I had no problems keeping up. 

The book reminded me of Lora Leigh's Breeds series and Kit Rocha's O'Kane books.  Lora Leigh because of the animalistic, even in human form, characters as well as their highly sexual nature.  The Kit Rocha comparison comes because of the multi partner accepting and sexually open society the Chanku have.  Initially that caught me off guard, but I liked the community the author created.  I was a bit surprised at how accepting Sebastian was of this when he learned of it.  That was a bit unrealistic for me.  I did like their society/pack and enjoyed reading about it.

 

Another small weakness to me was in the secondary storyline between Annie and Alex.  Annie pops on the scene with no mention her beforehand around page 100.  She's been out of the country and mostly out of touch for years, but suddenly she and Lily are best friends.  I also thought the Annie and Alex story arc felt a bit rushed, but that was just a minor quibble for me.

The sex scenes were very well done and hot.  I enjoyed them!  Lily and Sebastian were great characters and I could really understand where they were coming from.  I liked the world the book took place in a lot.  I've already mentioned the sexually accepting society, but I also liked the pack and mate telepathy as well as the mate bonding.  The women were strong and essential parts of their pack, which I appreciated. Lily even came across as stronger and more sure of herself than Sebastian, and it's rare to see something like that in a romance, and especially to have it work so well!  

Sometimes the things going on seemed a little over the top, but I liked it overall enough to set aside those moments.  I'm putting this book on my Best of 2013 list and I really look forward to reading another book in this series!

Lover At Last by J. R Ward

Grade-B
Hotness Level-Inferno
Kink Level-Low
Series-Black Dagger Brotherhood #11
Reviewed by Kay

Beware there are spoilers below!

Blay and Qhuinn? Where do I start? I loved it! I just loved it! Okay, first off, I am so glad J.R. Ward finally brought them together. We have all waited forever. The relationship has been painful to watch over the years. My heart has always went out to Blay and in the last two books, Qhuinn. Before that, Qhuinn was kind of an asshat. I know he was in denial but come on! Watching their love unfold in this novel was beautiful. I couldn't be anymore happy.

The fight for the throne? Yikes, I'm kind of scared about this one. It should be very interesting how this unfolds. Wrath and Beth? A baby? I hope so. Wrath handling the glymera? Loved it!

Qhuinn's brother? Hmm? We'll have to see about him. I'm still mad at him for his previous treatment of his brother.

Xcor and Layla? Wow! I can not freaking wait for their story!

Trez and Iam? Oh, please, please, please. Now!

Saxton, what's he up to? I really like him. I wonder if he's gonna upset me.

Qhuinn and Layla? What a wonderful relationship! I'm glad Qhuinn has an actual female friend.

An induction into the Brotherhood? Qhuinn? What about John Matthew and Blay?

I had three big problems with this book though. One was Blay's dishonesty with Qhuinn about the end of his relationship with Saxton. Two was Qhuinn being okay with what he thought was cheating with Blay against Saxton. And three, Assail, in general. Don't like his character.  I hope I will learn to like him like I did Rev.

This was a great read and I can not wait for the next book! I wish the next book was Xcor and Layla but no, it's Wrath and Beth. Oh well!