Bite Me If You Can by Lynsay Sands

Title: Bite Me If You Can
Author: Lynsay Sands

Publisher: Avon
ISBN: 978-0-06-077412-7
Pages: 356
Series: Argeneau/Rogue Hunter #6
Type: Adult Paranormal Romance
Source: Purchased
Goodreads


Leigh Gerard is walking home from work in the early hours when she is suddenly attacked by a vampire. Turns out it was a rogue vampire marked for termination but that doesn't help Leigh because she's already becoming a vampire. Lucian Argeneau is over two thousand years old and the only pleasure remaining in his life is hunting down rogues, but when he ends up forced to care for Leigh through her transition and welcome her into her new life he finds himself torn between the hunt and his heart.

This is the sixth book in the awesome Argeneau/Rogue Hunter series (after A Quick Bite, Love Bites, Single White Vampire, Tall, Dark and Hungry and A Bite to Remember) and features the grumpy Uncle Lucian. He's always been very brusque and bad-tempered in the previous books, but occasionally he has shown glimmers of being a nice guy underneath it all so it was interesting to find out more about him.

The plot is as densely plotted as usual with a good mix of tension and humour that kept me glued to the page. Whenever I pick up a Lynsay Sands book I know I'm in for a fun action-packed read and this is no exception. This follows in the slightly darker tone of the previous book and shows the reader for the first time what it's like to hunt rogue vampires. Lucian and Leigh's romance is also distinct from the previous ones, building on each of their lives.

Rogue vampires have been mentioned a few times, particularly in the most recent installments but there hasn't been a huge focus on why vampires go rogue or what happens after they do. This book changes that. It manages to show the reasons why some vampires go rogue while others don't and it gives insight into how and why they are hunted. Having someone like Lucian who has been hunting rogues for a long time to guide the reader through means info-dumping doesn't occur at all.

Lucian is the oldest character featured so far and at over two thousand years he definitely shows his age at times. He also hasn't eaten in decades so it is hilarious to see him trying various types of food. It's great to see why he's been such a jerk in the past (a certain scene with Greg in A Quick Bite comes to mind) and get to understand him better. Leigh is a brilliant match for Lucian. She's mature enough to be confident her relationship with Lucian, but young enough to make him realise that life can be really fun. Leigh very much has her own life that she's worked hard to build so becoming a vampire is a massive adjustment for her as it means losing a lot.

All in all, this was a great read and I'm looking forward to The Accidental Vampire.

Plot: 10/10
Characters: 10/10
Ending: 10/10
Enjoyment: 10/10
Cover: 9/10

Overall: 49/50

A Bite to Remember by Lynsay Sands

Title: A Bite to Remember
Author: Lynsay Sands

Publisher: Avon
ISBN: 978-0-06-077407-3
Pages: 362
Series: Argeneau/Rogue Hunter #5
Type: Adult Paranormal Romance
Source: Purchased
Goodreads


Vincent Argeneau is in trouble. His production company has been struggling with plays closing down due to freak accidents, random bad luck and at the latest - contagious anaemia. Before people start pointing the finger at his fanged self he asks his family for help and gets PI Jackie Morrisey on his doorstep. Jackie is determined to track down the culprit but she is uncomfortable near Vincent having sworn off vampires years ago. This culprit will need her full attention though as the attacks are about to become much more personal...and deadly.

This is the fifth book in the outstanding Argeneau/Rogue Hunter series (after A Quick Bite, Love Bites, Single White Vampire and Tall, Dark and Hungry) and is a little darker than those before it. The added darkness is a welcome change as it keeps the series fresh, and it also works better with the characters than a lighter tone would have. That said there are still some laugh out loud moments here.

The storyline is cleverly written with a gradual build of tension throughout as the events escalate. There are twists and turns galore as the storyline progresses and I found it hard to predict what would happen next, let alone try and figure out who was behind the attacks. It was also interesting to see more about what happens behind the scenes when people put plays on and it adds another dimension to the storyline.

Vincent was featured in the previous book and I found him fascinating then so it was great to see this book continuing his story on by picking up the plot threads from his introduction. He has worked incredibly hard to build his company so to have someone sabotage is deeply upsetting to him. Add that to the fact he feels isolated from other vampires as he is incapable of drinking from blood bags and you have a character who I rooted for from page one.

Jackie is very determined and headstrong but still carries scars from an abusive relationship with a vampire when she was still a teenager. This makes her biased against Vincent so it is hilarious to watch them fight their feelings for one another. Naturally Marguerite finds a reason to visit L.A. and "help" Vincent out with his romance. On the whole the romance is sweet and well written, but a little less head over heels than in previous installments which is a refreshing change.

Jackie's partner Tiny is a total scene stealer. He helps with the case and cooks up a storm, leading to some delicious descriptions of the various types of food he creates to tempt Vincent with. He is sweet and supportive and almost like a big brother to Jackie so their dynamic is fun to read.

All in all, this was a great read and I'm really looking forward to Bite Me If You Can.

Plot: 10/10
Characters: 100
Ending: 10/10
Enjoyment: 10/10
Cover: 9/10

Overall: 49/50

Lover Unleashed by J. R. Ward

Title: Lover Unleashed
Author: J.R. Ward

Publisher: Piatkus
ISBN: 978-0-7499-5565-6
Pages: 573
Series: Black Dagger Brotherhood #9
Type: Adult Paranormal Romance
Source: Purchased
Goodreads


Payne, twin sister of Vishous, is cut from the same dark, deadly cloth as her brother. After spending eons imprisoned by their mother, Payne escapes only to find her spine broken. To save her life and try to reverse the paralysis Vishous is forced to abduct human surgeon Manny Manello, the head of his field in neurosurgery. But when Payne and Manny meet sparks fly and it soon becomes clear that a romance is growing despite their different species.

This is the ninth book in the Black Dagger Brotherhood series and one I approached with trepidation. I'd heard this was different to the previous books and having read it I agree with that assessment. In previous installments the focus has been primarily on the featured couple with other storylines kept firmly in the background, while this barely focuses on Payne and Manny and has a lot of distracting plotlines.

What there is of Payne and Manny's romance was incredibly sweet and well written. Payne's spinal injury at the start of the book is delicately handled and yet accurate in terms of her emotions (I showed certain scenes to my Mum who also has a spinal injury). Manny's medical training does show through and it was interesting to see how the previous memory wipes have affected him. The Brotherhood have really changed his life, and not in a good way.

The predominant storyline of the book though focuses on Vishous and his relationship with Jane. I expected V to play a key role here as Payne's twin but his storyline takes over the book and huge chunks are dedicated to his life. It is almost as if this book is Lover Unbound part two rather than focusing on a new couple. There are also tiny cameos from pretty much every other character from the books, although most are only mentioned and never given any purpose or dialogue.

There are also three other storylines, the first being a heartbreaking view of the Qhuinn/Blaylock story from Qhuinn's perspective revealing his true feelings for the first time (their book Lover at Last is out next year) which was kept mostly in the background. Then you have the introduction of Xcor and the Band of B*****ds, a rival group to the Black Dagger Brotherhood formerly led by the Bloodletter who, while relevant to the storyline, take over with some unnecessary scenes. The third storyline is a human murder case which I expected to tie everything together so was disappointed to find not only does it fail at this, it's actually tied into the author's other series.

All in all this was an okay read and I'll still pick up a copy of Lover Reborn.

Plot: 7/10
Characters: 8/10
Ending: 9/10
Enjoyment: 8/10
Cover: 8/10

Overall: 40/50

Archangel's Storm by Nalini Singh

Title: Archangel's Storm
Author: Nalini Singh

Publisher: Berkley Sensation
ISBN: 978-0-425-24658-0
Pages: 337
Series: Guild Hunter #5
Type: Adult Paranormal Romance
Source: Purchased
Goodreads


When the archangel Neha's consort is murdered in the jewel-studded palace that was his prison her rage threatens to destroy the world. Raphael lends her his spymaster Jason, but to earn Neha's trust he is forced to swear a blood oath with her niece Mahiya. Mahiya hides secrets so dangerous she doesn't trust anyone and is loathe to find herself tied to an enemy spymaster. But Eris's murderer isn't done yet and Mahiya and Jason must work together to prevent Neha's court becoming a bloodbath.

This is the fifth book in the Guild Hunter series (after Angels' Blood, Archangel's Kiss, Archangel's Consort and Archangel's Blade) and the narration switches to Jason, Raphael's midnight-winged spymaster, while the setting moves to Neha's court in India which gives a host of new characters to get to know.

The storyline is densely plotted with several big twists and turns that I didn't see coming. The writing is as descriptively lush as always, made more prominent by the gorgeous jewel studded palace. I was worried I'd struggle with the change of location but descriptions were delicately interwoven with the storyline to create a three dimensional world. The mystery of the killer soon leads Mahiya and Jason into the twisted political machinations of an Archangel's court and I was glued to the page throughout.

Jason has always been featured as dark and secretive, barely showing any expressions and playing his cards close to his chest so to see him thrust together with Mahiya who has secrets of her own was an interesting mix. Each has their backstories interwoven with the main mystery and I soon came to like Mahiya for managing to survive a brutual childhood and not become tainted by it. Their romance develops while honouring each character's background and it is interesting to see how they relate to each other.

There is a background story showing Honor and Dmitri's marriage and progressing relationship. As Jason's story is quite dark overall, these sections work as moments of lightness showing their love and dedication to one another clearly. Venom also plays a role when he comes to pay his respects to his creator Neha. I really like him as a character and I'm hoping he gets to narrate a story in the future.

All in all, this was a great read and I'm looking forward to the next book.

Plot: 10/10
Characters: 10/10
Ending: 10/10
Enjoyment: 10/10
Cover: 9/10

Overall: 49/50

Archangel's Blade by Nalini Singh

Title: Archangel's Blade
Author: Nalini Singh

Publisher: Berkley Sensation
ISBN: 978-0-425-24391-6
Pages: 310
Series: Guild Hunter #4
Type: Adult Paranormal Romance
Source: Purchased
Goodreads


When the tattooed severed head of a nascent vampire is discovered, the case should have been passed directly to the Guild but Dmitri has an ominious sense of familiarity. In his long life as a vampire, Dmitri has seen many things and his search for the truth of the killing leads him to work alongside Guild Hunter Honor. But while Honor is a competent Hunter, she has just survived a brutual imprisonment by vampires and the last thing she wants is to be forced to work with one...especially one as powerful as Dmitri.

This is the fourth book in Nalini Singh's Guild Hunter series (after Angels' Blood, Archangel's Kiss and Archangel's Consort) and is the first to move away from Elena and Raphael as lead characters. Instead the book focuses on Dmitri who has been a supporting character from the start and introduces a new Guild Hunter named Honor. Elena, Raphael and all the other characters I've come to love are still featured despite the narration change.

The book is tightly plotted with dual storylines running together. The investigation into the severed head leads us into Dmitri's past while a concurrent investigation tracks down the vampires who abducted Honor. There is a fair amount of tension and some scenes manage to be deeply creepy which makes for compelling reading. The romance takes a backseat to the character's healing from their pasts, which works well both for the storyline and overall development of the characters.

Dmitri has been a favourite character of mine since the beginning of the series. He's always been portrayed as arrogant and controlling so it was fascinating to see why he is that way. He has lived a long existence but never recovered from the events surrounding his turning, leading him to become darker and more deadly. However, when he meets Honor he begins to change and it is fascinating to see how he develops.

I found Honor to be incredibly well written and the way in which she gradually deals with the horrors of her past feels believable. She is very different to Elena as while Elena is physically very strong and confident from the first page, Honor is broken and delicate yet holds herself together with an extreme level of self-control.

Holly (a survivor of Uram's rampage in the first book) and Venom both stand out as supporting characters with Holly's recovery being aided by Honor and Venom showing a slightly softer side. Interestingly the book steps back from the global changes in the previous installment to tell a tighter, more character focused story and this was a refreshing change.

All in all, this was a great read and I'm looking forward to Archangel's Storm.

Plot: 10/10
Characters: 10/10
Ending: 10/10
Enjoyment: 10/10
Cover: 8/10

Overall: 48/50

Archangel's Consort by Nalini Singh

Title: Archangel's Consort
Author: Nalini Singh

Publisher: Berkley Sensation
ISBN: 978-0-425-24013-7
Pages: 324
Series: Guild Hunter #3
Type: Adult Paranormal Romance
Source: Purchased
Goodreads


When a vampire attacks a girls' school in a fit of viscious madness, it is only the first in a string of violent events. Vampire after vampire is consumed by rampant bloodlust and Raphael is struggling to control them when he himself begins to show signs of uncontrollable rage. But when a massive storm threatens the New York the pattern behind the events becomes clear. An ancient is awakening and she seeks to reclaim her son. Caliane has returned...

This is the third book in the Guild Hunter series (after Angels' Blood and Archangel's Kiss) and is probably my favourite in the series so far. The storyline is densely plotted and packed with twists and turns, and the threat of an Ancient awakening is threaded through the book adding a vein of tension that enhances the plot. The suspense woven into the storylines is one of the things that I love most about this series, and this installment takes it to the next level.

After watching Elena's growth after the past few books, I was looking forward to seeing what was next for her and this takes things back to her family. It allows us to understand more about how her family functions and what role she was in. There is also a few surprises hidden in Elena's past and the flashbacks give her character even more depth. Her romance with Raphael is still going strong although at times I felt it drew attention away from the action.

The presence of Raphael's mother Caliane also means that flashbacks are again used to help develop their relationship by giving a window into their past. The flashbacks are always in italics and fit well within the story. Raphael is also dealing with the echoes of Lijuan's ascension and the changes that has made to the balance of power between the Cadre of ruling Archangels.

Once again the supporting characters shine through, particularly Dmitri who has been running things in New York while Elena recovered from her transformation. His book is up next and I'm eager to find out more about him. Bluebell also returns and there are some truly heartwrenching scenes with him that really made me feel for him.

All in all this was a great read and I'm really looking forward to Archangel's Blade.

Plot: 9/10
Characters: 10/10
Ending: 10/10
Enjoyment: 10/10
Cover: 10/10

Overall: 49/50

Archangel's Kiss by Nalini Singh

Title: Archangel's Kiss
Author: Nalini Singh

Publisher: Berkley Sensation
ISBN: 978-0-425-23336-8
Pages: 323
Series: Guild Hunter #2
Type: Adult Paranormal Romance
Source: Purchased
Goodreads


Elena Devereaux has spent the last year in a coma, her body healing after the fight that nearly took her life and transformed her into an angel. She awakens changed, but weakened and with much to learn. Elena is forced to learn quickly though as an invitation arrives to a ball at the ancient and deadly archangel Lijuan's home. But even as Elena and Raphael prepare, someone is determined to remove Raphael from power and strikes at the heart of the angelic sanctuary they are calling home.

This is the second book in the Guild Hunter series (after Angels' Blood) and picks up a year after Elena's transformation. I would recommend that new readers start at the beginning, and also don't read further as this review is likely to contain spoilers for the first book.

This book has a slightly slower pace than the last installment as a large amount of time is spent with Elena learning how to be an angel. She needs to learn the history of the angelic race and even simple things, like being able to walk with her wings folded, are a struggle. That said there is a layer of tension as someone is targeting Raphael and attacking people at the sanctuary, and there is the lingering threat of Lijuan's ball.

Elena develops a lot in this book as she is trying to find a balance between her new existence as an angel and her old life as a hunter. Her hunter born skills haven't deserted her and if anything are beginning to develop into something more complex, meaning Elena is able to gain some independence from her relationship with Raphael. Slightly more of Elena's past with the rogue vampire Slater Patalis is revealed, alongside the revelation that Elena herself doesn't fully remember the incident. The story is not complete though so I'm assuming it will continue on in the next book.

It isn't just Elena's past that is revealed though as Raphael begins to reveal more about his past and the nature of angels. Raphael is determined to protect Elena, and this means that Dmitri and Illium play key roles along with the newly introduced Jason and Galen. This book also reveals more about Raphael's Seven and their roles.

Elena's relationship with Raphael develops more, although this is much to the disappointment of jealous Michaela and Dmitri who thinks Elena is a threat to Raphael's safety. The romance itself is well developed as Elena and Raphael gradually let down their guards and begin to reveal their pasts whilst learning to deal with the fact that Elena craves independence as Raphael needs her presence.

All in all this was another great read and I'm looking forward to Archangel's Consort.

Plot: 9/10
Characters: 9/10
Ending: 10/10
Enjoyment: 10/10
Cover: 9/10

Overall: 47/50

Angels' Blood by Nalini Singh

Title: Angels' Blood
Author: Nalini Singh
Publisher: Berkley Sensation
ISBN: 978-0-425-22692-6
Pages: 339
Series: Guild Hunter #1
Type: Adult Paranormal Romance
Source: Purchased
Goodreads


Elena Devereaux is the best vampire hunter in the world, but even she may not be good enough for her latest assignment. She has been hired by the dangerous, and beautiful, archangel of New York Raphael to track down an archangel gone bad. This job will place Elena at the centre of a killing spree unlike any other...and put her at risk of falling for her employer's charms, either of which could mean her death.

This is the first book in the Guild Hunter series and, as a big fan of the author's Psy-Changeling series, a book I expected great things from. I definitely wasn't disappointed as the world building is just as unique and complex as that of her other books, taking vampires and angels in innovative new directions. Angels are the creators of vampires and as such own them for the first hundred years of their existence. Elena's job is to retrieve those who attempt to break that contract.

The storyline is cleverly plotted and well paced, although at times the density of the world building made it difficult for me to stay caught in the storyline. Unlike the Psy-Changeling books, this series stays with Elena and Raphael for more than a single book so their backstory isn't covered fully leaving lots undiscovered. I was a little annoyed that only snippets of Elena's history are revealed which means that the storyline will continue in the future books, but ends up being frustratingly incomplete in this installment.

Elena is an interesting lead character. As I mentioned before her traumatic past isn't fully revealed which leaves the reader only able to partly understand her, although her relationships with her friends (good) and family (bad) do explain a lot about her motivations. Likewise Raphael is fascinating and it is great to see him both acting normally and within "the cold", a side effect to a method of angelic communication. The cold removes all traces of humanity from Raphael and leaves him as a very scary being.

There were a few background characters that managed to steal scenes throughout the book: Raphael's right hand vampire Dmitri whose seductive scent keeps Elena on her toes, and Elena's bad boy hunter friend Ransom who adds a cute sideline as he realises he's fallen in love with his latest fling. The other character I loved was Illium who is the most accessible angel introduced in the book.

The villain of the piece Uram is incredibly disturbing and leads to some particularly horrifying scenes that place this book a lot closer to a gritty urban fantasy than a romance. Some of the scenes are quite graphic which I wasn't expecting, although they do fit within the storyline and aren't excessive.

The ending is outstanding and entirely not what I was expecting at all. I can't wait to see where the storyline goes next!

All in all this was a great read and I'm looking forward to Archangel's Kiss.

Plot: 9/10
Characters: 9/10
Ending: 10/10
Enjoyment: 9/10
Cover: 7/10

Overall: 44/50

Angel with Attitude by Michelle Rowen

Title: Angel with Attitude
Author: Michelle Rowen
Publisher: Warner Forever
ISBN: 0-446-61699-0
Pages: 347
Series: N/A
Type: Adult Paranormal Romance
Source: Purchased
Goodreads


Falling naked into the killer whale tank at MarineLand is going to ruin anyone's day, but when you've just been banished from heaven with a brief "don't talk to Tempter demons" speech it's even worse. Valerie Grace used to be an angel and after her dramatic banishment has ended up working as a maid at the Paradise Inn. But a random coincidence leads Valerie to realise that there is a stolen key to Heaven which would enable her to go home...as long as she can survive the very tempting Tempter Nathaniel.

This is one of my favourite stand alone books of all time, mostly because it is absolutely hilarious and cleverly written. The idea of an angel banished from heaven is interesting enough but by adding in her desperation to get back the author has created a brilliant story that travels from our world to hell and back. The storyline is well plotted, managing to branch in unexpected directions with some clever twists and turns.

Valerie is a brilliant lead character. She's really confused and upset by her banishment and is desperately clinging to her few fading memories of heaven. Valerie is willing to do just about anything to get back which leads to some hilarious situations. Nathaniel is the ideal Tempter Demon as not only is he drop dead gorgeous, but he isn't that good at tempting Valerie. It soon becomes clear that a potential romance is blooming, much to the horror of both Nathaniel and Valerie.

My favourite character has to be Reggie. He is Valerie's friend who upsets his witch girlfriend Claire who then demonstrates her powers by turning him into the rat she feels he is. Reggie is a rat for the majority of the book which adds another comedic twist to the story. The other character I loved was the demonic romance writer Lloyd who manages to steal every scene he is in.

All in all this was a really fun read that I fully recommend.

Plot: 9/10
Characters: 10/10
Ending: 10/10
Enjoyment: 10/10
Cover: 7/10

Overall: 46/50

Tall, Dark & Hungry by Lynsay Sands

Title: Tall, Dark & Hungry
Author: Lynsay Sands

Publisher: Love Spell
ISBN: 0-505-52583-6
Pages: 372
Series: Argeneau/Rogue Hunter #4
Type: Adult Paranormal Romance
Source: Purchased
Goodreads


After another of his mother's matchmaking attempts, Bastien Argeneau has relocated to New York in hopes of escaping to a more peaceful life. But with his brother Lucern getting married in the city, Bastien soon finds himself roped into helping by letting bride-to-be Kate's cousin Terri stay in his Manhattan penthouse. Terri and Bastien click straight away but with a wounded groomsman, Broadway actor vampire and all manner of wedding crises to deal with it looks like love will have to wait.

This is the fourth in the Argeneau/Rogue Hunter series (after A Quick Bite, Love Bites and Single White Vampire) and focuses on Bastien who has always been presented as the level-headed business oriented Argeneau. Moving the story to New York was a great choice and allowed for some beautiful descriptions of the city.

This is the third book in the series to feature a previous couple's wedding but this time the preparation is featured when Kate and Lucern unexpectedly have to travel and leave Bastien and Terri in charge. This adds a chaotic element to the storyline which is well paced and cleverly plotted, and some of the wedding issues are incredibly funny in how they are written.

Bastien has always managed to maintain an air of professionalism in the previous books, stepping in to help out his siblings when their romantic circumstances required it. As such it's hilarious to watch him make even bigger mistakes than they did. Terri is sweet and generous but older than her years with a tragic past that leaves the reader rooting for her to move past her fears. Their romance is hampered by each of their pasts, so it is interesting to see how they each deal with it.

Chris Keyes, Kate's friend and fellow editor is back and ends up as the butt of several jokes as he lives through what could possibly be the worst week of his life. Problem after problem besets him in a variety of amusing ways. My favourite character though is Vincent who is introduced to the series in an outstanding fashion and quickly fills the supportive/flirty/funny role that Thomas occupied in the first two installments. Vincent's book is up next so it's great to get to know him as a character, especially as Bastien is the last of Marguerite's children so she'll have to move her motherly matchmaking elsewhere.

All in all this was another great read and I'm looking forward to A Bite to Remember.

Plot: 10/10
Characters: 10/10
Ending: 10/10
Enjoyment: 9/10
Cover: 8/10

Overall: 47/50

Single White Vampire by Lynsay Sands

Title: Single White Vampire
Author: Lynsay Sands

Publisher: Love Spell
ISBN: 0-505-52552-6
Pages: 369
Series: Argeneau/Rogue Hunter #3
Type: Adult Paranormal Romance
Source: Purchased
Goodreads


Lucern Argeneau has moved from history texts to romance novels and as Luke Amirault has written a successful series about vampires. So successful in fact that his new editor Kate Leever's job depends on getting the reclusive writer to do some publicity work. So when force-of-nature Kate meets immovable-object Lucern, something has to give and with Lucern's vampire nature and all too real inspirations walking about, it has to give quickly.

This is the third book in the Argeneau/Rogue Hunter series (after A Quick Bite and Love Bites) although it was the first to be published as the first four were released in a mixed up order. This is the only book where the confusion shows and it is a little annoying, especially as mistakes (whether Lucern eats normally and Kate's home state) are made in terms of the series that mean this book doesn't sit right when the series is viewed as a whole.

The story is a lot of fun and well-paced with some laugh out loud moments (especially those relating to Etienne's coffin). I loved reading Kate and Lucern's letters at the start of the book, and Lucern's gruff nature definitely stands out from the other Argeneau siblings. That said I wasn't as swept away by this installment, possibly because there are two distinct locations that the characters move between and the gaps in the story between the two are a little jarring.

I really enjoyed the view into the publishing world, fictional though it is. Seeing how Lucern as an author interacted with his editor, and how hard Kate and her fellow editor Chris worked for all their authors made me realise how much effort goes into creating the books I read. I also now would love to attend Romantic Times although it sounds like such a blast here that it may be a little disappointing in real life.

I liked Lucern from the very beginning. He's rude and curmudgeonly and hilarious to read about, and his gruff nature fits with someone of over 600 years old. Kate manages to be determined without being overly pushy, pressing Lucern's buttons and generally throwing his life into chaos. The other Argeneaus make a welcome return with Greg and Rachel's wedding happening in the background and Marguerite happily interfering in Lucern and Kate's lives.

All in all, this was a fun read and I'm looking forwards to Tall, Dark and Hungry.

Plot: 9/10
Characters: 10/10
Ending: 10/10
Enjoyment: 8/10
Cover: 9/10

Overall: 46/50

Love Bites by Lynsay Sands

Title: Love Bites
Author: Lynsay Sands

Publisher: Love Spell
ISBN: 978-0-505-52553-6
Pages: 373
Series: Argeneau/Rogue Hunter #2
Type: Adult Paranormal Romance
Source: Purchased
Goodreads


Etienne Argeneau has a problem. Pudge, a fan of his game Blood Lust, has become obsessed, realised Etienne is a vampire and keeps trying to kill him. After being run down and shot, Etienne is blown up and ends up in the morgue being examined by reluctant nightshift ME Dr Rachel Garrett. But when Pudge tries to behead Etienne Rachel gets in the way and ends up mortally wounded so Etienne returns the favour and saves her life in return...although with the realities of being a vampire, Rachel may not be willing to thank him.

This is the second book in the Argeneau/Rogue Hunter series (after A Quick Bite) which is one of my favourite paranormal romance series. This continues in the same funny vein as the previous installment with some laugh out loud moments mixed in with the romance and drama. The storyline is well plotted and paced and the threat of Pudge lingers in the background of the novel adding a level of tension. This book is also different in that the mortal is turned at the beginning, rather than after everything has been explained leading to some amusing scenes.

Etienne is a great lead and I love that he's really a closet computer geek. It was great to see him and Rachel bonding over a love of computer games. Rachel does well as a human dragged into a paranormal world, and her reluctance to accept her new reality is hilarious. It was interesting how the idea of vampires not being able to read their true mates mind played into their relationship, especially as Etienne had 300 years of being able to judge his flirting technique through the eyes of his date.

I loved how Lissianna and Greg's relationship continues to develop in the background of this book, focusing on Lissianna's wedding shower and their wedding. It was also funny to see Greg giving Rachel advice over dating an immortal. I really enjoyed the world building here as more vampire based drinks unique to this series were introduced and explained such as Sweet Tooth, Sweet Ecstasy and Ever Enduring.

Another thing I loved about this book was that it allowed the reader to get to know the other Argeneau's better especially Margeurite, Lucern, Bastien and Thomas. The last book introduced a heap of characters and there wasn't really a chance to get to know many of them so this was a nice change, particularly given that each of these characters have their own book further into the series. Part of what was so great about the ending was that it created a little overlap with Lucern's story (up next) and hinted at the beginning of Bastien's (book 4).

All in all this was a great read and I'm really looking forward to Single White Vampire.

Plot: 10/10
Characters: 10/10
Ending: 10/10
Enjoyment: 10/10
Cover: 9/10

Overall: 49/50

A Quick Bite by Lynsay Sands

Title: A Quick Bite
Author: Lynsay Sands
Publisher: Avon
ISBN: 978-0-06-077375-5
Pages: 360
Series: Argeneau/Rogue Hunter #1
Type: Adult Paranormal Romance
Source: Purchased
Goodreads


Lissianna Argeneau suffers from hemaphobia and faints at the sight of blood, which wouldn't be such a problem if she wasn't a vampire. Given the new protocol of feeding from blood bags, Lissianna is treading a dangerous path between starvation and feeding off the wrong people. So as a birthday gift her mother kidnaps Dr. Gregory Hewitt, a phobia expert, in hopes of curing Lissianna...but given their growing attraction Greg may not be the most appropriate doctor for her daughter.

This is the first book in the Argeneau/Rogue Hunter series (although it wasn't the first to be published as the first four were published in the wrong order) which is a favourite of mine. These are really fun light paranormal romances that blend funny moments and romantic moments with a clever and unique backstory. In this series vampirism is caused by biological nanotechnology passed down from Atlantis, and this premise definitely makes them stand out from the crowd.

This story focuses on Lissianna, the youngest Argeneau (at only 202) and a human psychologist Greg. The story is well paced, getting started with a bang with Greg's abuduction and staying at a relatively fast pace throughout. The romance is sweet and develops well, with both characters being open from the start. The backstory is also well written with explanations for everything (which would be conspicuous if absent given the psychologist main character). There isn't any info-dumping and, other than introducing a relatively large cast of characters, this doesn't suffer to much for being the first book in the series. While the romance is the main storyline, there is also a mystery in the background that threatens Lissianna's life which adds a new level of tension.

Lissianna is really sweet and caring breaking the mould from the usual vampire vixen while Greg is incredibly accepting, especially given he starts off kidnapped and tied to a bed by Marguerite. Marguerite is every part the scheming matriarch, finding a way to play every situation to her benefit. My favourite character though has to be Thomas, Lissiana's cousin. He is hilarious but also protective of his cousin.

All in all this was a fun read and I'm looking forward to Love Bites.

Plot: 9/10
Characters: 10/10
Ending: 10/10
Enjoyment: 10/10
Cover: 8/10

Overall: 47/50

My Way to Hell by Dakota Cassidy

Title: My Way to Hell
Author: Dakota Cassidy
Publisher: Berkley Sensation
ISBN: 978-0-425-23443-3
Pages: 323
Series: Hell #2
Type: Adult Paranormal Romance
Source: Purchased
Goodreads


Marcella Acosta managed to do the one thing forbidden to demons - she defied Lucifer and ended up banished to limbo, a boring shop-free zone which she refers to as Plane Drab. Marcella stood against Lucifer to save her friend Delaney, so when she finds her now ghostly self summoned back to earth by Delaney's brother Kellen all she wants to do is check in on her friend. But Delaney has other ideas and ropes Marcella in to help Kellen with his newfound mediumship abilities. Marcella and Kellen have always clashed, but they're about to discover that beneath the surface they aren't that incompatible after all.

I recently read and enjoyed Kiss & Hell so I was really looking forward to this and it didn't disappoint. If anything I actually enjoyed this more than its predecessor. Marcella and Kellen are more fun than Delaney and Clyde, and the love/hate banter they have throughout the book is hilarious. Marcella is adjusting to being a ghost after being a reluctant demon, and finally all the hints about how someone who would sacrifice themselves for a friend in the last book could end up as a demon are revealed. I also liked how the attraction/repulsion between Marcella and Kellen was carried forward from Kiss & Hell.

The supporting characters are great and become key to the storyline very quickly. Delaney and Clyde return with small roles, as do Mrs Ramirez and Delaney's ghost dog Darwin. Mrs Ramirez's grandson Carlos is a big part of the book as a young medium who is being tormented by demons. I actually liked how this storyline was played out alongside the romance as it really gives the book depth. The storyline also moves a bit faster (though still at quite a leisurely pace) because of this. There's also a new reluctant demon Catalina, who I would love to see in her own book.

The only thing that bugged me a little about the book is that I figured out the connection between Marcella and Carlos quite early on, but I didn't figure out the specifics so I was still a little surprised.

All in all, this is a fun and highly recommended read.

Plot: 9/10
Characters: 10/10
Ending: 10/10
Enjoyment: 10/10
Cover: 10/10

Overall: 49/50

Kiss & Hell by Dakota Cassidy

Title: Kiss & Hell

Author: Dakota Cassidy
Publisher: Berkley Sensation
ISBN: 978-0-425-22785-5
Pages: 339
Series: Hell #1
Type: Adult Paranormal Romance
Source: Purchased
Goodreads

Delaney Markham is a medium who has turned into a hermit because, well, who actually wants to be friends with someone who thinks they can talk to the dead. She makes ends meet by holding the occasional seance, and it's during one of these that an incredibly annoying ghost appears...and refuses to leave. Turns out this guy Clyde isn't just a ghost, he's actually a trainee demon who has been sent to bring Delaney down to hell for Lucifer. But if Clyde and Lucifer think Delaney is going down with out a fight, they have another thing coming.

This is one of those books that sat on my TBR for ages before I got round to reading it. It wasn't because I wasn't interested in doing so, I just kept getting distracted. I've now finally read it and I have to say I loved it. I'm a big fan of Dakota Cassidy's Accidentally Paranormal series (starting with The Accidental Werewolf) and I love her snarky self-aware style. This is exactly what I was expecting - funny, sweet, romantic and a major page turner.

Delaney is hilarious - from her super-healthy lifestyle to her Ghost Whisperer obsession to her collection of random disabled dogs. I liked her from the start, and her spunky attitude meant I kept liking her throughout the book. Clyde, although I don't really like the name, is a great guy. He seems a little cookie cutter at first - the hot geek, who has no idea how hot he is - but that's literally only for a page or two. He quickly develops into an all around awesome guy: romantic, understanding of Delaney's medium skills and very sweet.

The supporting characters - Delaney's brother Kellen and her demonic best bud Marcella are the leads in the follow up book My Way to Hell. I'm thrilled and can't wait to read it as these two really stood out for me here. As bad as it may sound, I also want to know what happens next with Lucifer as he really comes across as a bit of a maniacal drama queen.

The plot is develops gradually, which isn't a bad thing as it allows the characters to fully develop and so the storyline doesn't take big jumps. The ending is awesome, really bringing the whole book together. The only story threads not completed are those of Kellen and Marcella, but I'm guessing they'll be tied up in the next book.

All in all, this is an awesome funny paranormal romance and I can't wait to read My Way to Hell.

Plot: 9/10

Characters: 9/10
Ending: 10/10
Enjoyment: 10/10
Cover: 10/10

Overall: 48/50

Darkfever by Karen Marie Moning

Title: Darkfever
Author: Karen Marie Moning
Publisher:
ISBN: 0-385-33915-1
Pages: 304
Series: Fever #1
Type: Paranormal Romance
Source: Library
Goodreads


MacKayla Lane is perfectly happy with her life. She tends bar, lives in small town Georgia and her car only occasionally breaks down. But all that falls apart when her sister Alina is brutally murdered in Dublin and when Mac receives a mysterious phone message, she heads to Dublin only to discover Alina had stumbled into a deadly world. With her own life now in jeapordy Mac must turn to the mysterious Jericho Barrons to learn more about the Fae before her untapped skills cost her her life.

This is the first book in the much lauded Fever series and for me a hard book to review. While I loved parts of it, other parts annoyed me. Darkfever is written as a first-person flashback and I found it hard to adjust to the style of writing, especially with Mac coming out with things like "I didn't know it then" or "it's one more thing I was wrong about". It didn't really add anything to the book and just distracted me from the main storyline.

The other real annoyance for me was that the Irish accents were just plain bad and didn't come off as Irish at all, but thankfully this pretty much stops by the end of the third chapter. The Dublin setting did however make the book stand out from other paranormal romance series and I enjoyed seeing Mac's southern belle dealing with a European city.

Mac was an interesting narrator, despite her obsession with describing peoples outfits and her nail varnish (right down to talking about the colour and shade name). Mac begins the book as a dumb blonde but, once she starts to learn more about the Fae world that her sister had stumbled into, gradually grows into a more well-rounded character. The mysterious Barrons helps her in her quest, but so little about him is revealed that I wish he'd been more upfront. By the end of the book, not much more is known about him than at the beginning.

The mythology of the world-building is where the book really caught me, and as more and more was revealed about the Fae I found myself glued to the page. Deliciously complex and fascinating I really enjoyed learning more of the Fae. Characters like V'lane are introduced and the author manages to show that while the Unseelie Fae are horrifying to see, the Seelie Fae can be just as dangerous. Mac's powers are well written and cleverly developed and I'm looking forward to seeing how they progress.

All in all, this was an interesting read and I'm hoping to pick up a copy of Bloodfever soon.

Plot: 9/10
Characters: 8/10
Ending: 8/10
Enjoyment: 8/10
Cover: 7/10

Overall: 40/50

Deep Kiss of Winter by Kresley Cole & Gena Showalter

Title: Deep Kiss of Winter
Author: Kresley Cole & Gena Showalter
Publisher: Pocket Books
ISBN: 978-1-451-60005-6
Pages: 520
Series: Immortals After Dark #8 and Alien Huntress #4.5
Type: Adult Paranormal Romance
Source: Purchased
Goodreads

This book combines stories from two of my favourite paranormal romance authors Kresley Cole and Gena Showalter. Kresley Cole's Untouchable fits into her Immortals After Dark series (the first book is A Hunger Like No Other) and Gena Showalter's Tempt Me Eternally is part of her Alien Huntress series (the first book is Awaken Me Darkly).

***Untouchable by Kresley Cole***

Daniela the Ice Maiden is widely known among the Valkyrie for being untouchable. As the daughter of the Queen of the Ice Fey, Danii's skin is ice cold and literally burns with any contact with warmth. Murdoch Wroth is a vampire most known for his human exploits as a warrior and ladies man. When a chance meeting results in his heart beating for the first time in three hundred years Murdoch knows he will stop at nothing to claim the untouchable Daniela.

This story is the reason behind my purchase of this anthology. Dani has been mentioned in several previous books and I was excited to learn more about her, and Murdoch is the last of the Wroth brothers to get his own story. I'd heard that this is supposed to fit between books 8 and 9 (Kiss of a Demon King and Pleasure of a Dark Prince) of the Immortals After Dark series, but it actually runs concurrently with the prequel novella in Playing Easy to Get and first four books. This gives a bonus of additional action, added to by the pursuit of Danii by the brutal Ice Fey.

I really enjoyed the story and loved getting to know more about Danii. It was also fun to get a different perspective on previous events although I found myself a little lost at times as not only has it been a while since I first read the books, I've also never read the prequel featuring Nikolai and Myst. I was pleasantly surprised by the duration of the story as many anthologies just feature insta-love whereas this is set over more than a year. The storyline is well thought out and I enjoyed the steady development of both the relationship and Danii's true nature. All in all, this is a great book that is a must read for IAD fans.

Plot: 9/10; Characters: 9/10; Ending: 9/10; Enjoyment: 8/10

***Tempt Me Eternally by Gena Showalter***

Aleaha Love can take the identity of anyone she chooses just through touching their skin. Her latest identity is Macy Briggs, an AIR (alien investigation and removal) agent. Her latest mission is to capture a group of otherworldly warriors but when her team is captured by the aliens Aleaha finds herself tempted. The alien commander Breean can see through Aleaha's disguise to her true form and his seductive nature means for the first time the only skin Aleaha wants to inhabit is her own.

While I have read some of Gena Showalter's books, her Alien Huntress series is completely new to me. That combined with the fact I rarely read anything even vaguely sci-fi meant I was more than a little apprehensive about this story. This falls between the fourth and fifth (Seduce The Darkness and Ecstasy in Darkness) books in the series, which does show in the novella. I felt like I'd been dropped in at the deep end as although some key events are mentioned, the backstory is rather brief.

The majority of the plot revolves around the romance between Aleaha and Breaan, and I was disappointed that more attention wasn't paid to the broader story. I found Aleaha's gift fascinating and I really enjoyed the glimpses into her backstory. Breean was well developed and again had a fascinating backstory. The problem is that there is a lot going on while the focus of the story remains in the bedroom. I'd have loved to have known more about what was going on with the prisoners, the evil Schon queen and the AIR so while I was disappointed in this story, I'll probably read more from this series in the future.

Plot: 7/10; Characters: 7/10; Ending: 7/10; Enjoyment: 6/10

***********************************************************

All in all, this is a fun read that I'd recommend for the authors' existing fans.

Average plot: 8/10
Average characters: 8/10
Average ending: 8/10
Average enjoyment: 7/10
Cover: 9/10

Overall: 40/50

Kiss of Snow by Nalini Singh

Title: Kiss of Snow
Author: Nalini Singh
Publisher: Gollancz
ISBN: 978-0-575-10013-8
Pages: 432
Series: Psy-Changeling #10
Type: Adult Paranormal Romance
Source: Purchased
Goodreads

Hawke is the Alpha of the SnowDancer wolf pack and has vowed to stay alone after losing the woman who would have been his mate. Sienna's family was adopted into the pack after abandoning their Psy lives to save her. Hawke is drawn to Sienna but has always managed to resist, until Sienna changes the rules. Sienna isn't a little girl anymore and is prepared to fight for the man she wants, even if she can only keep him for a short while before her Psy powers kill her.

This is the tenth book in the outstanding Psy-Changeling series and finally lets Hawke and Sienna take center stage. Ever since their introduction in the very first book (Slave to Sensation) there has been tension between the two, and now Sienna is an adult there is finally a chance of a relationship. One thing I would say is that if you are new to the series, start at the beginning. There is a lot of world building and character development in each book and this also reveals some of the endings of the previous novels.

I've liked both Sienna and Hawke since the beginning. Sienna has real spark and an attitude, but she's grown from an outspoken teen into a well-rounded confident woman. Hawke is very protective and responsible with a brooding streak. They are surprisingly well suited, and their romance is cleverly developed allowing them to deal with their issues realistically.

The book is really well paced. Sienna's powers as an X-Psy have never been fully explored in the previous books so the revelations here are amazing and keep the pages turning. I only meant to read a few pages and ended up reading the entire book in one sitting. There is also a bonus storyline that I wasn't expecting in this book. Another pair of characters manage to begin a relationship. I don't want to give away who they are, but the different issues between the couple presented a nice contrast to Hawke and Sienna.

As with all of the previous books, part of the storyline is focused on world development. The pro-Silence Pure Psy have decided that San Francisco presents a dangerous resistance to their cause and hope to destroy it, along with the SnowDancer and DarkRiver packs. Unlike the previous book, the romance between Sienna and Hawke doesn't drown out this storyline rather helps it develop.

All in all this was an incredible read and I can't wait for Riaz and Adria's book Tangle of Need.

Plot: 10/10
Characters: 10/10
Ending: 9/10
Enjoyment: 10/10
Cover: 10/10

Overall: 49/50

Play of Passion by Nalini Singh

Title: Play of Passion
Author: Nalini Singh
Publisher: Berkley Sensation
ISBN: 978-0-425-23779-3
Pages: 321
Series: Psy-Changeling #9
Type: Adult Paranormal Romance
Source: Purchased
Goodreads

Drew Kincaid is the tracker for the SnowDancer wolf pack. His job is to track down any wolves who have gone over the edge and either bring them back, or remove the threat entirely. Lieutenant Indigo Riviere is one of the highest ranking, most experienced soldiers SnowDancer has, and she doesn't date younger or less dominant males. Drew is determined to get Indigo to break her rule and let him in, and he's prepared to play any games necessary to win her over.

This is the ninth book in the Psy-Changeling series and while I was really looking forward to a changeling focused book after the last few were psy heavy, I must say I was a little disappointed. It was a bit like Psy-Changeling-lite. I liked both Drew and Indigo where they've appeared in the other books in the series, and was surprised that I didn't enjoy this more. There are a lot of similarities between this and Branded by Fire and I think that book was vastly superior to this.

Most of the focus of the book is on the relationship (normal for the series) but in this one it almost totally drowns out the background story. In the last book, the Psy Council split in two with some members supporting Silence and others beginning to reject it. This book has the pro-Silence Psy beginning to act against the things they regard as a threat, including the SnowDancer wolves. The storyline that was included was good, I just wish there had been a greater depth and more of a build up of tension.

There were also some little Hawke/Sienna sections thrown in. I know their book (Kiss of Snow) is up next so I didn't mind their appearance as they helped build my anticipation for that book.

All in all, this was a good read and I can't wait for Kiss of Snow.

Plot: 9/10
Characters: 9/10
Ending: 10/10
Enjoyment: 8/10
Cover: 9/10

Overall: 45/50

Bonds of Justice by Nalini Singh

Title: Bonds of Justice
Author: Nalini Singh
Publisher: Berkley Sensation
ISBN: 978-0-425-23544-7
Pages: 348
Series: Psy-Changeling #8
Type: Young Adult Paranormal
Source: Purchased
Goodreads

Max Shannon is a good cop but hasn't progressed far in his career within New York Enforcement because he has a natural shield, leaving his thoughts protected from the Psy. Sophia Russo is a Justice Psy able to see into the minds of criminals and extract relevant memories. When Psy Councillor Nikita Duncan's advisors begin dying in accidents and apparent suicides, she hires Max and Sophia to investigate because of their unique skill sets. But as Max and Sophia start work on the case they are irrevocably drawn to one another, and Sophia is forced to fight to preserve what is left of her mind.

This is the eight book in Nalini Singh's Psy-Changeling series, and while I am a big fan I approached this book with a little trepidation. I really missed having a changeling central to the previous book (Blaze of Memory) and was worried that this would be the same, especially as Max was introduced briefly like Dev in Mine to Possess. Thankfully I was wrong, and this book is a real return to form.

J-Psy's have been mentioned in previous books and it was great to see more of their world. I'm used to the author developing the world in each book, and I really liked how she portrayed the two approaches to justice - that of human cops alongside the J-Psy approach. I like cop-based storylines so the secondary story of a psycho killer was just as interesting to me as the main investigation.

I really like Max and Sophia, and I also like how Sophia is unique to the other Psy from the series. She is told at the beginning of the book that she has a month before her mind is totally wiped, and this means that she has more reasons to begin living her life the way she would like. As most of the book takes place in San Francisco, the DarkRiver changelings make frequent appearances which I really enjoyed.

All in all, this was a great read and I can't wait to get stuck into Play of Passion.

Plot: 10/10
Characters: 10/10
Ending: 10/10
Enjoyment: 10/10
Cover: 9/10

Overall: 49/50