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3.5 stars

3.5 stars

I didn't know what to expect when I received this book as part of the Avon Addict program.  I love historical romances, but I had never been introduced to Sarah MacLean in all my reading travels.  Boy was I missing out.  I LOVED this book!!  So much so that I've deliberately not read the ending where a major plot reveal is made, mainly because I want to go and read the first two books in the series  "Rogue By Any Other Name" and "One Good Earl Deserves a Lover."  But enough about the series and onto "No Good Dukes Goes Unpunished."

I'm blown away with the writing of "No Good Dukes Goes Unpunished;" which I always am when an author can make me both love and hate the main characters. MacLean has a true talent for allowing her characters to be flawed in a manner that is easily relate-able and emotionally engaging.  William Harrow, Temple as he is known in the book, was thoroughly ruined by the heroine Mara Lowe one night and has brutally made his way in the world the last twelve years. He turned his back on his heritage and went out and molded a new existence on the ruins of his past life; it is a brutal and violent existence; not typical for a fallen duke.  What I found so engaging about Temple was his undukeness, he was a normal, everyday guy just intent on getting through one day at a time. In all my historical romance reads I can't think of another male lead character like him; which is why I found him so likeable.

Mara Lowe, on the other hand, had my instant dislike, for what she did to William that fateful night. When she goes to Temple to make a deal and his condition was to know what happened that night, I was right there with him.  Mara is stubborn though and just would not tell him.   I was sitting on the edge of my chair screaming at her to let us really know what happened that night and why it happened.  However, as the story continues I found it hard pressed to continue to dislike Mara.  She is a strong woman who also carved out a new existence for herself and I respected her for her choices.

What was intriguing were the parallels between the two characters once their lives were changed.  Both managed to create new lives, a new existence and they were both much stronger for it.  I shudder to think that there would have been no Temple if Mara had not done what she did.  We would have been left with that spoiled fop of a boy William that never have developed into Temple and even Temple tells us that in the story.  It was also ironic how the character that caused all the hurt and destruction was a woman; usually it is the male character doing the damage with the woman providing forgiveness in the end to heal the relationship.  Very cool turnaround in  "No Good Dukes Goes Unpunished" with the roles reversed.

"No Good Dukes Goes Unpunished" is one of my favorite reads of 2013!  Even though it is a historical romance it did not have that historic romance feel to it; mainly because the story is focused on the relationship between Mara and Temple and doesn't involve the ton, estates, propriety as other historical due. So even if you are not a historical fan this may be one to add to your reading pile.

3.5

2.5/5

3.5 stars

3.5 Stars

3.5 Stars

Grimspace is the first book in the Sirantha Jax series, a science fiction series about rouge jumper Sirantha Jax. She has a unique genetic trait that allows her to “jump” spaceships over great distances in a short amount of time. Jax is one of the best jumpers and unfortunately was involved in an incident that leaves her in a precarious situation. Enter March to spring her from her imprisonment and give her a shot at a new life.

The first couple of chapters start out with a lot of action and a lot of information thrown at you. It may seem like a lot but hang in there and you will be entertained with a first class science fiction (with a bit of romance) book! The relationship between Jax and March develops quickly but the authors explanation of the link between a pilot and jumper explains this (although I am left wondering if all pilots get it on with there with jumpers just because of the bond), the secondary cast of characters is superb, and the plot developments had me engaged through the entire novel.

If you are an urban fantasy, paranormal romance reader than this is one series you may want to look at as it has some of the elements of those genres woven into it, even though it is science fiction based.

This one is another great addition to The Iron Druid series. In Tricked, Atticus and Granuaille have managed to move on from the events of Hammered and trying to find a path on their new life. As part of that new life, Atticus ends up owing a favor to Coyote; not a wise thing to do, as you just know that trickster has something up his sleeve. Yep he does and that is the basis for the storyline of Tricked.

The great thing about Tricked is Atticus finally opening himself up for more than a lasting relationship with his dog Oberon. We also learn details of Atticus’s past and understand better why relationships are difficult for him. The interaction between Atticus and Granuaille is slowly evolving from mentor/student to “I’m interested in you but shouldn’t be/I’m interested in You". I’m not entirely sold on a relationship between the two of them; sparks just aren’t there for me.

Overall, Tricked has tons of actions, twists and turns, and I loved them all.

Wow, wow, wow!! Absolutely amazing! I was riveted to this story from the beginning. The world building is exceptional; the characters unique, as well as the whole premise for the novel. So

Poison Princess is set in a future apocalyptic world. The apocalypse is relatively new and things are settling into a “new” world. Evie has been pretty much protected by her mother and is truly a babe in the forest. Jack is an old soul in a young man’s body. He has seen too much and been through too much, even before the apocalypse. Evie and Jack initially met in high school and their very dissimilar worlds is a hugh barrier initially, but an apocalypse has a way of changing things and Evie struggles to reconcile what used to be with what is.

I’m going to say very little about the storyline here, mainly because anything I write will just ruin it. Needless to say, Evie’s and Jack’s relationship and struggles are intense and emotional and they are left at the end of Poison Princess with a wider bridge between them, than when they were in high school.

I’ve already ordered my copy of Endless Knight, the next book in the series. No release date for it yet, but I just do not want to miss any of this series.

When I finished River Marked, the sixth book in the Mercy Thompson series, I wasn’t quite sure which direction the series was going in. Well, with Frost Burned, I have no doubts; the series is back on track with everything that I fell in love with in Book 1.

Mercy is an interesting character for me. She’s strong, but not that angry, kick-ass heroine we get in a lot of UF books. She seems normal; well as normal as one can be when one is a shapeshifter. Maybe it’s the mechanic thing or perhaps her ability that gets her stuck in the middle of every seeming event that happens around her. In Frost Burned, that is no different. While on a shopping trip with her step-daughter Jessie, Adam and the pack are kidnapped and it falls upon Mercy to find them.

The conflict forces Mercy to fight to save the ones she loves in a complex and nail biting showdown with a mysterious force that has been manipulating everyone in Tri-Cities area without their knowledge. The ending is action packed and well resolved. I can’t wait to see what happens in the next book.

Tink’s Little Green Apples - This series continues to be one of my favorites. Although Ivy is sparse in the story; Rachel, Jenks, Algaliarept, Newt and Trent are all present and didn't disappoint. I am going to be so sorry when this series ends!!

Rachel and Trent’s relationship continues to develop and for all their differences they combine to bring out the best of each other. I don’t want to say too much about the story; because there is a lot going on and this is one book you just need to read without alot of spoilers. But I can say that Harrison’s world building is at finest in Ever After and the threads she has laid in the precursors to Ever After are now woven into a complex and rich story; which hopefully will resolved as I hope in the series finale. Best read in order to truly appreciate the depth of the series, jumping into the middle is not recommended.

3.5 Stars

This is the third book in the Sabina Kane series and so far my favorite. I like the evolution of Sabina’s character and her developing relationships with Adam and Giguhl; she’s a bit softer in this book as she explores her inner self. Wow, that sounds a bit sappy and really the book isn’t that at all. It’s full of fast paced action as Sabina heads to New Orleans to find her twin sister. The addition of a drag queen, voodoo priestess, dwarf and werewolf all add to the complexity of this series.

Ya can’t go wrong with a Dark Hunter Novel when you need a bit of paranormal romance and Unleash the Night is one of the better ones of the series. Wren is a cutie and although he has been introduced in other books I’m so glad he got his own, because his story is one of the more unique ones of the series.

Can’t say that I like Maggie right off the bat; but I came to enjoy her with Wren. They have that chemistry and balance together that makes a great couple. Good story but nothing too earth shattering to make it a great read.