Monthly Archives: September 2020

Must Love Dogs ….and Hockey by Kelly Jamieson-a review

Posted on by
11

Must Love Dogs ….and Hockey by Kelly Jamieson-a review

Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / B&N / KOBO / Chapters Indigo / Google Play

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date September 8, 2020

Lilly: My life is like the love child of a train wreck and a dumpster fire right now. I’ve been canned, my professional reputation is shredded, and now I’m walking dogs to make ends meet.
But I still believe everything will work out. Somehow.
Then a dog at the park attacks my friend’s dog. At first, I’m ready to give the owner hell—but it turns out he’s in desperate need of doggie daycare. I figure, why not? I love dogs and I need the cash.
Too bad his cocky bad boy attitude annoys me. He’s too damn cute for his own good. And I’m not talking about the dog.

Easton: My coach is riding my ass and I’m not handling it well. When I’m saddled with an abandoned pooch, my teammate thinks a dog will keep my temper in check. I think I have enough problems already.
But when my new dog gets into a tussle that leads me to meet a smoking hot chick who knows how to handle the rascal, I start to think pet ownership isn’t all bad. At least it gives me an excuse to see Lilly again. . . .
Neither of us are interested in a relationship. First they steal your bed, then they steal your heart. And I’m not talking about the dog.

••••••••

REVIEW: MUST LOVE DOGS …AND HOCKEY is the first instalment in Kelly Jamieson’s contemporary, adult BEARS HOCKEY erotic, hockey, romance series focusing on the members of the New York Bears professional hockey team. This is professional hockey player Easton Millar, and former hotel hospitality manager Lilly Evans’ story line.

Told from dual first person perspectives (Lily and Easton) MUST LOVE DOGS…AND HOCKEY follows the building romance and relationship between professional hockey player Easton Millar, and former hotel hospitality manager Lilly Evans. Easton Millar has no idea what to do with the dog he rescued from a near elevator mishap until coming face to face with a woman who is willing to dogsit…for a price. Lilly Evans is struggling to make ends meet in the aftermath of being fired for blowing the whistle on a business scam but when professional hockey player Easton Millar begs Lilly to look after a stranger’s dog, our heroine discovers that doggy daycare may be the career path she never knew she wanted. When no one comes to claim ‘Otis’, Easton finds himself falling for both woman and dog, a fall that is threatened as Easton’s professional hockey life slowly spirals out of control. What ensues is the building romance and relationship between Easton and Lilly, and the potential fall out as the past threatens to overwhelm our story line hero.

Not all is well in Easton’s professional career as his team endures the physical and emotional abuse of a coach who is unable to see beyond the almighty ‘win’. Pulling from recent real-world accounts in both professional and junior A hockey, Kelly Jamieson weaves a heart breaking tale of loss, betrayal and abuse as Easton must come to terms with what happened in the past, and take the first step in stopping the racism and abuse in both amateur and professional sport. Lilly Evans’ own life is on a downward spiral: her wayward father is embroiled in a midlife crisis; her grandmother got caught up in a time-share scam; Lilly is currently suing her previous employers; she is in debt with the possibility of losing her home; and she has been blacklisted from the hotel hospitality industry.

The relationship between Lilly and Easton begins as a business arrangement when Easton hires Lilly to look after Otis, the dog he rescued from a potential accident. Lilly doesn’t want to mix business with pleasure but a few afternoon lunches and coffees quickly grows into something more. The $ex scenes are intimate, erotic and passionate without the use of over the top, sexually graphic language and text.

We are introduced to Lilly’s roommate Carlin, and several members of the Bears Hockey Team- Jamal Jordan aka Jammer, JBo, Owen Cooke aka Cookie, Goose, Larry, Russ, Igor Barbashev aka Barbie, Wendell aka Wendy.

MUST LOVE DOGS… AND HOCKEY is a story of family, friendships, relationships and love; of loss and acceptance; of racism and abuse. The premise is emotional, heart breaking and captivating; the romance is seductive and flirty; the characters are energetic, colorful and fun.

copy supplied by Netgalley

reviewed by Sandy

Share

Winston (Savage Kings MC) by Lane Hart & DB West-a review

Posted on by
11

Winston (Savage Kings MC) by Lane Hart & DB West-a review

Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / Amazon.uk / Amazon.au /

Don’t own a Kindle? Download the FREE Amazon Kindle App for your mobile device or pc

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date September 10, 2020

Winston Prescott has been a grumpy SOB for the past ten years. None of his brothers in the Savage Kings MC knew why, not until the day one of them made the mistake of posting a sexy centerfold on the wall of the clubhouse.

The gorgeous model posing topless on sports cars and motorcycles isn’t just any girl. Her name is Zoe Donahue, and she also happens to be Winston’s stepsister.

While the two haven’t spoken since the day Winston reluctantly let Zoe go so that she could pursue her dreams, an explosive reunion is on the horizon.

Zoe’s been holding a grudge against Winston for how things ended the day she left. While she’s home for a week, her plan is to torture her brooding stepbrother by wearing as few clothes as possible while promising Winston that she’ll never let him touch her again.

Winston will do anything it takes to earn Zoe’s forgiveness. And this time around, he isn’t going to let her leave without putting up a fight.

••••••••

REVIEW:WINSTON is the second instalment the Savage Kings MC: South Carolina contemporary, adult, erotic MC romance series co-authored by Lane Hart and DB West. This is thirty-one year old, Savage Kings MC vice president and mechanic Winston Prescott, and twenty-eight year old,topless model Zoe Donahue’s story line. WINSTON can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty. Any important information from the previous story line is revealed where necessary. The Savage Kings MC: South Carolina is a spin off from the author’s Savage Kings MC series.

NOTE: Due to the nature of the story line premise, there may be some triggers for more sensitive readers.

Told from dual first person perspectives (Zoe and Winston) WINSTON follows the forbidden relationship between thirty-one year old, Savage Kings MC vice president and mechanic Winston Prescott, and twenty-eight year old,topless model Zoe Donahue. Winston Prescott fell in love with his step-sister fifteen years earlier but knew that he had to remove himself from the family unit until the day, five years later, Zoe won an model scholarship to train in Europe. A one night stand, and Winston pushing Zoe out of his life, led our heroine to keep her distance until it was time to come home. Fast forward to present day wherein Zoe Donahue, now a topless/nude model is struggling for work, and finds herself face to face with her step-brother when a job is offered through the local MC. What ensues is the rebuilding romance and relationship between Zoe and Winston, and the potential fall-out when their parents discover the truth about Zoe and Winston, and the club sets up a plan to take down a porn production company linked to a series of abductions and deaths.

Winston Prescott has never stopped loving his step-sister Zoe but believed their relationship was all kinds of wrong. Trying to protect Zoe, Winston all but threatened her father when he let his daughter move to France, a move Winston believed would threaten the safety of the woman he loved. Zoe Donahue had always lusted after Winston from afar but the day he pushed her out of his life Zoe’s own life began to spiral out of control. A few successful months modelling on the runway led down a darker path wherein our heroine was struggling to move beyond the past.

The relationship between Zoe and Winston is a forbidden romance between step-siblings; a second chance relationship in which Winston reveals that truth about why he pushed Zoe out of his life; and Zoe’s battle in the face of her ‘failure’ as a runway model. The $ex scenes are erotic and intense but I struggle with the use of a certain four-letter word which is always used liberally in MC romance story line.

There is a large ensemble cast of secondary and supporting characters including Zoe’s father Martin Donahue, Winston’s mother Debra; Roman and Charlotte (Roman #1), Tessa and Verek, as well as several members of the Savage Kings MC-Emerald Isle (Reece, Abe, Chase, Torin Fury) and South Carolina (Miles, Leo, Cannon). The requisite evil has many faces.

WINSTON is a story of family, relationships, vengeance and love. The character driven premise is fast paced and gritty; the romance is provocative; the characters are edgy and animated.

Click HERE for Sandy’s review of book one ROMAN

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Sandy

Share

Beyond Power (Florida Wildlife Warriors) by Connie Mann-a review

Posted on by
11

Beyond Power (Florida Wildlife Warriors) by Connie Mann-a review

Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / B&N / KOBO / Chapters Indigo /

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date September 2, 2020

Sultry romantic suspense set in Florida’s untamed wilderness…

When your heart’s involved…
If you dare venture beyond Disney’s magic and Miami’s high-rises, you’ll find yourself in Florida’s untamed wilderness. A bush pilot and officer for the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, Josh Tanner is one of the tough cops needed to manage these rugged areas. And the minute he finds Delilah Atwood deep in the woods without a good explanation, he knows something is very wrong…

All the stakes are raised…
Delilah barely escaped her ultra-fundamental militia family years ago. Now she’s back to save her sixteen-year-old sister, and no government man is going to stop her. Josh isn’t going to stand by and watch Delilah risk her life, but unless he can get her to trust him, she may end up being the next victim.

••••••

REVIEW:BEYOND POWER is the second full-length instalment in Connie Mann’s contemporary adult FLORIDA WILDLIFE WARRIORS romantic suspense series. This is Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission officer Josh Tanner, and Masters wildlife researcher Delilah Atwood’s story line. BEYOND POWER can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty. Any important information from the previous instalment is revealed where necessary.

Told from dual third person perspectives (Josh and Delilah) BEYOND POWER follows Delilah Atwood in her search for her younger sister Mary. Growing up as part of fundamental militant survivalist family Delilah knows only too well that her sister’s future is out of her control. Under the guise of studying a family of monkeys in Ocala, Florida, Delilah hides in plain sight in an effort to uncover the whereabouts of her mother and sister but Delilah never expected to face off against Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation officer Josh Tanner when a man is found murdered, with possible connections to the militant organization of which Delilah was once connected. As Delilah struggles to locate her sister, our heroine will find herself targeted in a game of cat and mouse. What ensues is the slow building romance and relationship between Delilah and Josh, and the potential fall-out when Delilah’s life hangs in the balance, and her time in Ocala, Florida comes to a close.

Delilah Atwood is a strong and independent woman determined to rescue her sister, with or without the help of local law enforcement. Placing herself in danger on more than one occasion, Delilah has a little bit of TSTL (Too stupid to live) mentality, often disregarding orders from the people in charge.

There is a large ensemble cast of secondary and supporting characters including Hunter and Charlee (Beyond Risk #1), fellow officers Pete Tanner, Marco Sanchez, Lisa Bass aka Fish, IT specialist Byte, counselor Kimberly Gaines; Delilah’s father John Henry, her brother Aaron, her mother and sister Mary; as well as militia member Nate

BEYOND POWER is a story of a dysfunctional family whose militant ideals are threatened by outsiders, and the power of the local law enforcement community. In an effort to merge for a stronger organization, the local fundamental militia has made a deal, a deal that will directly affect Mary and our story line heroine. As Delilah continues to work on her studies, she uses the research as a means to track her ‘at risk’ sibling. The premise is intriguing and entertaining; the romance is passionate; the $ex scenes implied; the characters are stubborn, strong, colorful and energetic.

Copy supplied by Netgalley

reviewed by Sandy

Share

Heart Bones by Colleen Hoover-Review & Excerpt Tour

Posted on by
12

Heart Bones by Colleen Hoover-Review & Excerpt Tour


Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / Amazon.uk / Amazon.au /

Don’t own a Kindle? Download the FREE Amazon Kindle App for your mobile device or pc

Add HEART BONES to Goodreads: https://bit.ly/30Dk2Xx

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date August 19, 2020

Life and a dismal last name are the only two things Beyah Grim’s parents ever gave her. After carving her path all on her own, Beyah is well on her way to bigger and better things, thanks to no one but herself.

With only two short months separating her from the future she’s built and the past she desperately wants to leave behind, an unexpected death leaves Beyah with no place to go during the interim. Forced to reach out to her last resort, Beyah has to spend the remainder of her summer on a peninsula in Texas with a father she barely knows.

Beyah’s plan is to keep her head down and let the summer slip by seamlessly, but her new neighbor Samson throws a wrench in that plan.

Samson and Beyah have nothing in common on the surface.

She comes from a life of poverty and neglect; he comes from a family of wealth and privilege. But one thing they do have in common is that they’re both drawn to sad things. Which means they’re drawn to each other. With an almost immediate connection too intense for them to continue denying, Beyah and Samson agree to stay in the shallow end of a summer fling. What Beyah doesn’t realize is that a rip current is coming, and it’s about to drag her heart out to sea.

•••••••••

REVIEW:HEART BONES by Colleen Hoover is a contemporary, new adult stand alone romance story line focusing on nineteen year old Beyah Grim, and twenty year old Samson.

Told from first person perspective (Beyah Grim) HEART BONES follows nineteen year old Beyah Grim in the days and weeks following the death of her mother. Evicted within hours of her mother’s death, Beyah turned to her father, a virtual stranger she hadn’t seen in years, but a man who is completely unaware of our heroine’s plight. Upon her arrival at her father’s summer home in Texas, Beyah would meet neighbor Shawn Samson, or Samson as he calls himself, the young man with whom our heroine would fall in love. What ensues it the slow building romance and relationship between Beyah and Samson, and the fall-out as Samson’s life is about to implode.

Beyah Grim knows poverty, neglect and desperation first hand having struggled through years of her mother’s addictions but hours after her mother’s death, Beyah is homeless, and with no source of hope. Spending the summer with her father, and his new family, Beyah will learn that ‘family’ is who and not necessarily about blood, and in the Beyah will be pulled into the aura that is a young man called Samson.

Samson has a secret, many secrets that are about to destroy his friendships and the relationship with the woman he loves. A life matched only by the heart break of the sea, Samson’s lies and pain will push Beyah out of his life.

The relationship between Beyah and Samson begins as part of a group of friends but quickly turns into a summer romance with an end date as our couple prepare for the next chapter in their lives but the summer will end when Samson’s secrets are finally revealed. The $ex scenes are passionate without the use of over the top, sexually graphic language and text.

We are introduced to Beyah’s father Brian, his wife Alana, and Alana’s daughter Sara; Sara’s boyfriend Marcos, as well as Samson’s neighbor Marjorie and her son Kevin.

HEART BONES is an emotional and heart breaking story of secrets, lies, friendships and love. The premise is captivating; the romance is seductive; the characters are broken and raw.

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Sandy

 

Samson’s knee brushes high up on my inner thigh and I’m glad he can’t see anything from my chin down, because my body is covered in chills right now.
“I didn’t think there were many people in the world like me,” he says.
“You think we’re alike?” I want to laugh at that comparison, but there’s not an ounce of humor in his expression.
“I believe we have a lot more in common than you think we do, Beyah.”
“You think you’re as alone in this world as I am?”
He folds his lips together and nods his head, and it’s the most honest thing I’ve ever seen. I never would have thought someone so well off could have a life as shitty as mine, but I can see it in the way he’s looking at me. Everything about him suddenly seems familiar to me.
He’s right. We are alike, but only in the saddest ways.
My voice comes out in a whisper when I say, “When I first met you on that ferry, I could tell you were damaged.”
There’s a flicker of something in his eyes as he tilts his head to the right. “You think I’m damaged?”
“Yes.”
He moves even closer in the water, but there wasn’t much space left between us to begin with. It’s deliberate, and so much of me is touching so much of him now. “You’re right,” he says quietly, slipping a hand around the back of my left knee. “There’s nothing left of me but a fucking pile of debris.” He pulls me to him, wrapping both my legs around him. That’s all he does, though. He doesn’t try to kiss me. He just connects us together as if that’s enough while our arms keep us both afloat.
I’m swiftly succumbing to him. I don’t know in what way. All of them, maybe. Because right now, I need him to do something else. Anything else. Taste me. Touch me. Drag me under.
We watch each other for a moment and it’s almost like looking into a broken mirror. He leans in slowly, but not toward my mouth. He presses his lips against my shoulder, so gentle it feels like a graze.
I close my eyes and inhale.
I’ve never felt anything so sensual. So perfect. 


 

Colleen Hoover is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of several novels, including the bestselling women’s fiction novel It Ends with Us and the bestselling psychological thriller Verity. She has won the Goodreads Choice Award for Best Romance three years in a row—for Confess (2015), It Ends with Us (2016), and Without Merit (2017). Confess was adapted into a seven-episode online series. In 2015, Hoover and her family founded the Bookworm Box, a bookstore and monthly subscription service that offers signed novels donated by authors. All profits go to various charities each month to help those in need. Hoover lives in Texas with her husband and their three boys. Visit www.colleenhoover.com.
Social Media Links
Share

Yours to Keep by Lauren Layne – Dual Review

Posted on by
15

Yours to Keep (Man of the Year #2) by Lauren Layne – Dual Review

 

Amazon / Amazon.ca / B&N / KOBO / Chapters Indigo (paper) /

 

Description:
Pro baseball shortstop Carter Ramsey is about to be Citizen magazine’s Man of the Year, but the only title that matters to him is out of reach: World Series MVP. Benched by a recent injury, Carter retreats to his hometown to recover. His ten-year class reunion and a potential reconciliation with the sweetheart he left behind could be perfect distractions. Until another old acquaintance throws Carter a curveball.

Olive Dunn admits that her former high school science partner is still a handsome charmer. But she wasn’t swayed then, and she won’t be swayed now. Because Olive remembers Carter’s little shortcoming: he tends to bail the moment it suits him, without a backward glance. Best to keep her feelings strictly platonic while he’s in town.

Except the entitled boy she knew is a changed man: solid, reflective, and generous. As they ease back in to their familiar friendship, things take a surprising turn, and Carter and Olive must decide if what they have is a passing flirtation or a real shot at love.

 

Sandy’s Review: YOURS TO KEEP is the second instalment in Lauren Layne’s contemporary, adult MAN OF THE YEAR romance series. This is professional baseball player Carter Ramsey, and high school biology teacher Olive Dunn’s story line. YOURS TO KEEP can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty.

Told from dual third person perspectives (Olive and Carter) YOURS TO KEEP follows in the aftermath of a possible career ending injury for our hero, and Citizen Magazine’s Man of the Year Carter Ramsey. Returning to his home town of Haven for his ten year high school reunion, Carter finds that his pregnant sister has volunteered his time on the reunion committee where he will me his former lab partner Olive Dunn. Olive is now the high school biology teacher, having never moved from their home town but Olive never expected to fall for Carter, the boy who had fallen in love with someone else. What ensues is the building romance and relationship between Carter and Olive, and the potential fall-out as Carter’s old flame returns looking for a second chances, and Carter’s time in Haven, comes to a close.

Carter Ramsey struggled in the aftermath of an injury with the potential to end his career but Carter had a couple of secrets including the real reason he had returned to his home town of Haven. Working with Olive meant getting a change to know the outspoken, animated and ‘perfect’ woman but Carter never expected to fall in love. Olive Dunn was never the prom queen or high school cheerleader, in fact, Olive was the high school nerd. Knowing that Carter was only in town for a few short weeks, Olive finds herself falling for a man who was about to break her heart.

The relationship between Olive and Carter is a friends to lovers relationship with an end date that will come sooner rather than later. Carter Ramsey’s career meant time in Haven had come to an end, as had his relationship with the woman with whom he had fallen in love. The back and forth banter between Carter and Olive is quirky and delightful. The $ex scenes are intimate and passionate without the use of over the top, sexually graphic language and text.

We are introduced to Olive’s friend Kelly Blakely; Carter’s sister Caitlyn and her husband AJ; Carter’s high school friend Jacob Jakey Kutcher and his wife Becky; Carter’s parents Warren and Tracy, and his ex Felicity George.

YOURS TO KEEP is a sweet and sexy story line; a fast paced tale of attraction and love, friendship and happily ever afters. The premise is engaging; the romance is seductive; the characters are sassy and fun.

Barb’s Review:
Yours to Keep by Lauren Layne is another one of her wonderful romances and the 2nd book in her Man of the Year series.  We meet Carter Ramsey, our hero, who is a famous professional baseball player who is now sidelined from an injury and will miss the rest of the season.  Prior to his injury, he knew that his face will be plastered on all magazines, as he was named The Man of the Year. Carter is a bit depressed about his injury, worrying he may never return to the game he loves. He decides to back to his home town, for a little privacy, and as his pregnant sister tells him that his high school sweetheart is also coming to town. When Carter arrives at his rented house, to his shock he learns that the girl next door is his old lab partner.

Olive Dunn, our heroine, has no qualms of pushing her way into people’s lives, and when she realizes that her temporary next-door neighbor is Carter, she immediately takes over everything that he needs to have done; a rented car, fix the house, make him help her co-chair their high school reunion, etc.  The town loves Olive, as she is friends with everyone, and they love her flamboyant way helping others and telling them what to do.  Carter is amused how Olive takes control of his life, as she is a whirlwind talking nonstop, that even I got a bit dizzy.  But who cannot resist a friend like Olive? 

While Carter awaits the arrival of his ex-high school sweetheart that he has not seen for 10 years, he and Olive become friends, as she has him helping her with everything, including fun outings, drinking with old friends.  They remember the old days when they were lab partners, and now Olive is a science teacher at their school.  Olive is not Carter’s type, but over time he begins to see her in a different light, and enjoys the fun flirty bantering between them.  In a short time, Carter realizes he is having fun, enjoying his time with Olive, even if she can be a bit complicated or even over board a few times, but as time goes on, he knows he is falling for her;  but he also knows she will never leave town as she loves her job, and he wants to go back to playing baseball.  Is there a future for them?

What follows is a slow build romance between two unlikely people.  Yours to Keep was a fun, enjoyable, fast paced story that was very well written by Lauren Layne.  Olive was a fantastic heroine, and Carter was fun, sweet and hot.  The chemistry between them escalated as we got closer to the last 1/3 of the story.  If you enjoy pure sweet feel good romances, look no further this Man of the Year series, and a fantastic writer in Lauren Layne.

Share

Wayward Witch by Zoraida Cordova – a Review

Posted on by
12

Wayward Witch by Zoraida Cordova – a Review

 

Amazon / B&N / Kobo / Google Play / Apple / BAM / Book Despository

 

Description:
Rose Mortiz has always been a fixer, but lately she’s been feeling lost. She has brand-new powers she doesn’t understand, and her family is still trying to figure out how to function in the wake of her amnesiac father’s return home. Then, on the night of her Deathday party, Rose discovers her father’s memory loss has been a lie.
 
As she rushes to his side, the two are ambushed and pulled through a portal to the land of Adas, a fairy realm hidden in the Caribbean Sea. There, Rose is forced to work with a group of others to save Adas. Soon, she begins to discover the scope of her powers, the troubling truth about her father’s past, and the sacrifices he made to save her sisters.
 
But if Rose wants to return home so she can repair her broken family, she must figure out how to heal Adas first.

 

 

Review:

Wayward Witch by Zoraida Cordova is the 3rd book in her Brooklyn Brujas series.   I have not read the first two books in this series, and was not sure how that would affect my reading this book.  However, I am happy to say that Cordova gave us a glimpse at the family characters early, and Wayward Witch read very well as a standalone.  In each book, each Mortiz sister (there are three) takes center stage, and in Wayward Witch, the story revolves around the younger sister, Rose. 

The story starts out with Rose’s family having her Deathday party, as well as with them all dealing with their father returning and not remembering where he had been.  Rose is also trying to come to terms with her new found power, which is hacking magic from others.  Almost immediately, when she is talking outside with her father, they are both grabbed and transported through a portal to Adas, a magical fairy realm to help stop the rot that is destroying the land. The King of Adas wants Rose’s powers, and has her father locked up to ensure she helps them, since the father supposedly was partially responsible for this issue.

Rose will begin to train with a group of others that have magical ability, with Iris (King’s daughter and commander) and Arco (King’s son) leading the adventure to save Adas.  There were a number of very good characters created by Cordova, especially the team, and the bad King.  At first I thought Iris was too tough, but over time I really got to like her, as she was a very good heroine to work with Rose. I also loved Lin, who became her best friend, as well as Arco, who was not only cute, but a friend to help them find the dark rot and destroy it.  Iris and Arco know their father is evil, and will think nothing of eliminating anyone who disagrees with him.

What follows is an exciting, action packed, intense adventure with Rose able to use some of her powers to save her new friends, and especially Iris. Though at times, some of them become resentful that she is able to pull on their powers, but it is Rose who will find the truth about the dark rot, and pull them all together to right a wrong and save the land. Wayward Witch was a wonderful intriguing story that not only captivated me, but kept me unable to put the book down.  This different world was so very well written by Zoraida Córdova.  If you enjoy fantasy, great world building and exciting adventure, you need to read this book.  I for one plan on going back and reading the first two books. 

Reviewed by Barb

Copy provided by Publisher

Share

Dark Song (Carpathain) by Christine Feehan – Dual Review

Posted on by
11

Dark Song (Dark / Carpathian #30) by Christine Feehan – Dual Review

 

Amazon / B&N / Kobo / Google Play / Apple / BAM / Book Depository

 

Description:
Stolen from her home at a young age and tormented for centuries, Elisabeta Trigovise is scared to show herself to anyone. Even though she has been rescued and is now safe within the Carpathian compound, she has lived in fear for so long she has no idea how to survive without it. She wants to answer the siren call of her lifemate–but the very thought terrifies her.

Before he found Elisabeta, Ferro Arany was an ancient warrior without emotion. Now that his senses have come alive, he knows it will take more than kind words and soft touches to convince the fractured woman that they are partners, not master and prisoner. For now, he will give her his strength until she finds hers, allowing the steady rhythm of his heart to soothe Elisabeta’s fragile soul.

But even as she learns to stand on her own, the vampire who kept her captive is desperate to claim her again, threatening the song Elisabeta and Ferro are writing together.

•••••••••••••••

Barb’s Review:
Dark Song by Christine Feehan is the 34th book in her wonderful Carpathian series. I was thrilled to find out that Elisabeta was our heroine in Dark Song, and could not wait to read it.  I am happy to say I loved the story and both lead characters, Elisabeta and Ferro.

Elisabetha Trigovise was rescued in the last book, and takes center stage in this one, as does Ferro Arany, an ancient who was close to death when he discovered she was his lifemate. Ferro comes across as hard and cold, but he turned out to be a fantastic hero and mate to Elisabeta, as he patiently protected her while she was slowly healing in the rich soil, and he would reach her mind singing a song that would become their own.  Elisabeta has been held prisoner for centuries by the evil Sergey Malinov, as he tortured, terrified and ruled her all those years.

Ferro was very gentle with Elisabeta, as he slowly brought her out of the soil and began to teach her how to cleanse and dress herself, as well as to learn to trust him and become confident in herself.  It would take awhile before Elisabeta can get past the memories of her suffering and terror, especially of Sergey coming back for her. Everyone in Tariq’s compound at first feared that Ferro was too strict and rigid for Elisabeta, but he was determined for her to rise up, and learn to use her powerful capabilities.   They really were the ultimate lifemates, with a strong bond that Ferro helped her build with his gentle patience.  I loved when he taught her to learn to shift into an owl and fly.  Despite her continued fears, Elisabeta’s growth over time was amazing, and she became such a powerful asset to all the Carpathians.

It was nice to see many of our favorites, with Gary, Tariq, Julija, Lorraine, and a few of Ferro brethens. But it was great to see an old favorite, Traian and Jolie, who came to the compound with Josef; especially for Traian to finally see his sister (Elisabeta) after all these years of trying to find her.  I also loved seeing many other favorites who came to help fight the vampires; such as Julian, Darius, Tempest, Desari, Maxim, Blaze, Charlotte, Dragomir, Emeline, etc. 

Elisabeta was a wonderful heroine, who despite her many years kept captive by Sergey Malinov, was able to use her memories to help the Carpathians be ready for the vampire attack, and stop them from destroying the compound.  What follows is an exciting, intense story line where both Ferro and Elisabeta have to be one step ahead of Sergey and his vampire cronies.  To say too much more would be spoilers, and a lot happens in this book.

Christine Feehan outdid herself with how she handled the romance between Ferro and Elisabeta, which was so wonderfully done.  The Malinovs have been villains’ throughout many of the books, as well as Xavier.  Will Dark Song be able to stop Sergey?  You need to read this book to find out.

___________

Sandy’s Review: DARK SONG is the thirtieth instalment in Christine Feehan’s adult DARK / CARPATHIAN paranormal, erotic, romance series. This is ancient Carpathian warrior Ferro Arany, and Elisabeta Trigovise’s story line. DARK SONG can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty. Any important information from the previous instalments is revealed where necessary. Elisabeta is Traian Trigovise’s sister (Dark Descent).

SOME BACKGROUND: All Carpathian males must find their lifemates before they turn vampire or greet the dawn. Without a lifemate, the males no longer see in color, feel pain or experience emotions. A lifemate is the light to their dark. She is the keeper of his heart and the keeper of his soul. As the unmated Carpathian male ages, the darkness begins to envelope his soul, eventually turning the male vampire or forcing him to greet the dawn.

Told from numerous third person perspectives including Ferro and Elisabeth DARK SONG follows the building romance and relationship between ancient Carpathian warrior Ferro Arany, and Elisabeta Trigovise. Centuries earlier a teenaged Elisabeta was abducted by a Carpathian male nearing the end of his life of honor but in the ensuing years the male would turn vampire using and abusing our heroine, starving her in the hopes of recapturing his soul. Upon her rescue and recovery in the healing soil, Elisabeta would trigger Ferro Arany’s emotions, and find herself waking as the lifemate to an ancient warrior but all is not well as Elisabeta’s rescue has angered the master vampire, the remaining Malinov brother, and his vengeance will target many people at Tariq’s Carpathian compound. What ensues is the building romance and relationship between Ferro and Elisabeta, as the master vampire enacts a well conceived and intricate plan of revenge against the Carpathian warriors.

Elisabeta Trigovise grew up never knowing how to be a Carpathian female. Stripped of her memories of a time before her violent abduction, a fragile and broken Elisabeta struggled to perform the basic of needs yet within days of her claiming, our heroine would become one of the Carpathian’s most powerful females. As an ancient warrior, Ferro Arany knew very little about the modern world and battled to accept the rise of feminism in the Carpathian community thusly, Elisabeta, from a time long ago, is the perfect foil for a man who prefers his woman submissive and meek.

The relationship between Elisabeta and Ferro is a fated mating. Elisabeta’s rescue and ultimately her voice would trigger Ferro’s colors and emotions, and in this there are no questions as to the reality and truth of who is her lifemate. Elisabeta struggled with her freedom, preferring or opting to have Ferro speak when spoken to including the inability to acknowledge her brother’s love. Ferro ids a warrior who never thought he would find his fated mate. His patience and need to protect the woman he loves manifests with songs of love, nature and a time long ago. The $ex scenes are intimate, erotic and intense.

There is a large ensemble cast of secondary and supporting characters. All of the Carpathians remain guarded at Tariq’s American compound. Several of the original Carpathians return to help fight the master vampire including Josef but much of the other’s presence is more by way of acknowledgement and mention. As to the master vampires, once again, Ferro recognizes a number of his former warriors and friends-the list of names and connections are many.

If you are a long time reader of the Carpathian series you will recognize a familiar format and pattern to the author’s latest story line-reminiscent of Xavier’s attempts to destroy the Carpathian’s and of one woman’s ability to heal the wounded. Saying that, when an author recycles and repeats a previous formula, I question the author’s lack of innovation and imagination as he/she is relying on the success of a former story line arc. I also struggled with the heroine’s earlier fragility and inability of comprehend basic personal needs and survival skills, yet within days she is one of the most powerful females with abilities beyond comprehension, and is able to direct the most skilled of warriors. The information she reveals and her competence and skill level is a complete shift in direction to her initial introduction and behavior yet there is no mention of hidden abilities that seemingly manifested overnight. She waffled between powerful or apprehensive on numerous occasions.

I would also like to note how Feehan’s vampires have evolved to modern day IT techs and wizards….something I didn’t see coming !

DARK SONG is an intoxicating tale. The premise is familiar yet captivating; the romance is seductive.

Share