Title: Demon Forged

Author: Meljean Brook

Genre: Paranormal Romance

Publisher: Berkley
Publishing Date: October 6, 2009
Paperback: 432 pages

Stand Alone or series: 5th full length novel in the Guardian series (8th if you count the 3 novelas). The books are written such that one could theoretically read them as stand alone novels, but I would highly recommend reading at least the full-length novels in succession to minimize confusion, and to get a better sense of the overall universe and continuity.This link will take you to our reviews of previous books as well as an interview and articles from the author.

Summary: Four centuries ago, Irena and Alejandro would have succumbed to the need smoldering between them — if a demon and a monstrous bargain hadn’t shattered the possibility of love. Torn apart by shame, Irena avoided Alejandro for centuries — until a vampire’s call for help throws her into his arms again.

Alejandro can control fire, but he’s never been able to control — or quench — the flames between him and Irena. And he knows Irena, hardened by her hatred for demonkind, will never accept that he now works at a demon’s behest. But even as he fights for a second chance, a shocking betrayal and a deadly prophecy shake the foundations of the Guardian universe, and all Hell threatens to break loose…

Why did I read the book: I am a devoted fan of this series. I read every single word written by Meljean Brook and I love all of them. I could have book babies with this series, that’s how much I love it.

Review:

Wow. I don’t even know where to start. This series is SO consistently good, this book is SO amazing (I want to have book babies with it). I feel like screaming from the top of my lungs: WORLD! READ THIS, ENJOY THIS!!!

_____________

Picking up where Demon Bound left off, the Guardians are working on the Prophecy that predicts that Belial will rise whilst at the same time trying to fight the Nephilim and assorted Demons. A few of the Guardians are still trying to come to grips with the news that Michael, the Doyen, is one of the Grigori, half human, half demon, son of Belial himself. As Demon Forged starts, two Guardians, Alejandro and Irena, are in Rome to meet with a vampire called Deacon and help him to get rid of a Nosferatu. They end up finding a nest of the creatures and an entrapped Guardian, Rosalia. They release the woman and destroy the nosferati and take Deacon with them to SI, which end up being a Very Big Mistake. The Nephilim, the Grigori, the vampires and the Guardians are all entangled in the ages long fight between Belial, Anaria and Lucifer for supremacy in hell and the story arc which started in Demon Angel and expanded in Demon Bound, reaches The Point of No Return: now it is only a matter of time (or two more books) until the climax of this fascinating, stupendous story.

Demon Forged is equal parts Romance, equal parts Big Picture plot. Alejandro and Irena’s story is central but completely connected with the overall story arc. We have seen Irena and Alejandro in Demon Bound and we knew that they had a Big History (very much reminiscent of Hugh and Lilith’s story) between them. We also knew that their Gifts are somewhat complementary: she is a Forger, he controls Fire. Or in the words of Alejandro she is a hammer, he is a sword. Irena is also the oldest Guardian after Michael, the Doyen and Alejandro was a much young Guardian who once trained with her. They were attracted to each other from the get go and became friends very soon but something went awry and they drifted apart.

Basically, these two have spent 400 years loving each other but being stuck in a complex web of shame and pride that prevented them from getting together ever since Irena had to strike a bargain to save Alejandro’s life. The one thing that you need to know about Irena is that she is uncompromising when it comes to Demons – shoot first, ask questions later, it’s her motto and that is one of the reasons why the need to strike a bargain with one of them is so abhorrent to her. Plus, the very nature of the bargain was horrible in itself. But ultimately, the mater of the fact is this: neither has fought to keep what they had and centuries went by before they come to realise how much time they lost. But there are undercurrents and they have a strong foundation in which to build their relationship.

It is a constant battle for Alejandro between his need and his will. She is so old as to be set in her ways and the need to change, to adapt, to be more flexible, to be able to see the big picture is paramount to her development as a character and a person. It is only when faced with the hope that maybe her relationship with her Olek (Alejandro in her mother tongue) is not an impossibility anymore that she starts to re-think her reactions. This is really great because one cannot happen without the other. The very fact that Irena opens up to Olek again points to the beginnings of change. It comes from love, it comes from hope, it comes from everything that is happening around her. To remain stale, unchanged by her environment would be unrealistic. Similarly, Olek’s need is ignited by the hope he is given by Irena.

They are SO perfect together. Alejandro is another dreamy hero but Irena, Irena is such an extraordinary female protagonist. I accept that I tend to concentrate a lot on the heroes but this has been changing over the past months and I have to say that Meljean Brook writes some of the best, most empowered, women. Independent, strong, capable, they are all of this and more.

Once again, Meljean Brook awes me with the details she infuses her story with. It is the red shoes that people wear, or the way Olek touches his chin, or how Irena decides which language to speak. For example, when they first started working together, when Irena was training Olek she spoke in Russian and he replied in Spanish. After the Incident with the Bargain, Irena only ever speaks French with him because she has to think before she says anything as French is not her mother tongue. The cadence of their respective accents were so very real too.

I have a lot of respect for an author who respects the reader back. Meljean Brook never has her characters behaving like retards. The stakes are extremely high (we are talking about the fate of the world here, after all) and the author plays accordingly, never backing off. In fact the overall story has an UF feel because of that.

We are also back to the discussion about Fate X Free will, a discussion that has increased tenfold with the addiction of the seer Khavi to their ranks. Every action has a meaning and they fall into place. The fighting sequences were superb and again, I need to point out how visual Meljean Brook can be, it is very easy to picture all of it . I loved the sequence where all Guardians make a stand – I am not saying how and why, but it is kick-ass. With each of the Guardians fighting to the best of their abilities and Gifts lead by no other than Jake. It is great how all characters from previous books have a role to play.

Michael appears quite a lot in Demon Forged and we have a good measure of who he is as we are given more glimpses of his past and what the future holds for him, thanks to Khavi. We also learn who his heroine is and I am glad that it is someone we already know – and for a long time. My heart broke a bit for Michael in this book as he becomes more and more human to my eyes. There is also the beginning of a secondary romance between Deacon and Rosalia – the seed is there, planted and I can’t wait to read their story next in Demon Blood. I predict a LOT of angst, which is one of Meljean Brook’s signatures. She sure likes to beat her characters around.

Ultimately Demon Forged is a well-balanced combination of romance and UF elements which knocked my socks off. I have said this before and I say it again: if you are not reading this series you are totally missing out.

I kept thinking, whilst I read it, that Meljean Brook’s strength lies on her carefully orchestrated writing and characters – the latter being like musicians that are deftly conducted by their maestro. The result is like music to my ears – of the highest caliber.

When all is said and done I can’t think of a single thing that I did not like about Demon Forged. I suppose I could mention that there is some info dump about previous events in the series, but this happened early in the book and it actually helped me to get my bearings again. But this is from a strictly intellectual point of view – emotionally speaking, I was enraptured by the story: I laughed, I cried (a lot, the epilogue made me sob), I was anxious about Alejandro and Irena getting together (Oh, the angst, it slays me), I was nervous about everything to the point where I was actually shaking when the grand finale came. And you better be prepared for it too, I had heard that the ending was major but I had no idea how Big and Twisted it was going be. If you like to read the ending first , I urge you not to, this time.

I will just say this, Demon Forged is to this series what The Empire Strikes Back is to Star Wars – a dark, bleak instalment where Huge Things happen by the end. But when push comes to shove and people are asked which of the Star Wars movie is their favourite, Empire Strikes Back is usually their answer as it is mine. Alejandro and Irena are now my favourite couple in the series and Demon Forged has become not only my favourite Guardian book but also one of my top 3 books of 2009.

Ever since I read Demon Angel, I thought that this series was excellent. With Demon Forged it has just become outstanding. Yes, it is THAT good.

Notable Quotes/ Parts: There are so many that I love. All of the interactions between Alejandro and Irena and between Irena and Taylor; the scenes with Colin and Savi; the scenes with Khavi (hey, I have a new crush) and Michael.

Meljean Brook has a couple of excerpts here and here. They are pretty good.

Verdict: Another fantastic, outstanding entry in my favourite PNR series. Meljean Brook can do no wrong in my book , she always delivers top notch writing, amazing romance and an overall story arc that matters. I wish all books I read would make me react like this. Demon Forged is one of my top 3 reads of 2009.

Rating: 10

Reading next: Leviathan by Scott Westerfeld

Giveaway details:

We are giving away one copy of the book. To enter, leave a comment here telling us which is your favorite character in the series so far. The contest is open to residents of the US and Canada, and will run until Saturday October 3rd at 11:59pm (pacific). One comment per person, please! Multiple entries will be disqualified. Good luck!

Title: White Witch, Black Curse

Author: Kim Harrison

Genre: Urban Fantasy

Publisher: Eos Books (HarperCollins)
Publication Date: February 2009
Hardcover: 512 pages

Stand alone or series: Book 7 of the ongoing The Hollows (Rachel Morgan) books. These books must be read in order.

Why did I read this book: This is, hands down, my most highly anticipated book of 2009. Kim Harrison is one of my favorite authors for her wonderfully detailed plotlines, her endearing characters, and her crisp writing–and The Hollows books compose my favorite Urban Fantasy series, period. I have loved every book in this series, thus White Witch, Black Curse was a no brainer.

Summary: (from amazon.com)
Some wounds take time to heal . . . and some scars never fade.

Rachel Morgan, kick-ass witch and bounty hunter, has taken her fair share of hits, and has broken lines she swore she would never cross. But when her lover was murdered, it left a deeper wound than Rachel ever imagined, and now she won’t rest until his death is solved . . . and avenged. Whatever the cost.

Yet the road to hell is paved with good intentions, and when a new predator moves to the apex of the Inderlander food chain, Rachel’s past comes back to haunt her.

Literally.

**A CAVEAT: This review contains spoilers for the first SIX books in The Hollows (Rachel Morgan) series. If you have not read the first six books and do not wish to be spoiled, this warning is for you!**

Review:

Rachel Morgan, magnet for danger, witch, and co-partner of Vampiric Charms begins her latest adventure with the sadness of Kisten’s murder still looming over her head. It has been months since Kisten’s death, and his killer remains free and unpunished. White Witch, Black Curse opens with Rachel in Kisten’s houseboat, trying to remember what happened that fateful night with the help of empath F.I.B. psychiatrist, Ford. Slowly details return to Rache about the powerful, undead vampire that tried to enslave her and who easily murdered her lover, but she still cannot place a name to her memories. Still, being at the scene allows Rache to uncover another vampire’s scent, and it’s only a matter of time before she, Ivy and Jenks discover who the culprit is and how to make him pay.

Things are never so simple in The Hollows, however, and soon Rachel is called to the scene of a new crime after good friend Glen, another F.I.B. agent and son of Captain Edden, is brutally beaten within an inch of his life. A new dangerous creature is on the loose in Cincinnati, one that Rachel and company have never faced before: A Banshee. Older than even some of the undead vampires, banshees are immensely powerful and destructive and this one will guard her own with a fierceness that destroys anyone in her path. Add to this impending disaster Rachel’s once again confusing love life, a ghost that knows Rachel from her younger days, family drama, and the ever-present demon Al, and it’s just another day in the chaotic life of Rachel Morgan.

I’m torn with White Witch, Black Curse. There are things that I loved, and things that I desperately disliked.

In many ways, White Witch, Black Curse is a reboot for Rachel, beginning a brand new story and character arc. In The Outlaw Demon Wails, Rachel comes to the shocking revelation that she is in fact a type of proto-demon; with her restored witch genome as the treatment for her childhood illnesses, this explains why Rachel can twist demon magic but it also means that any child she has will be a demon. In order to save her friends and Trent Kalamack, Rache agrees to become Al’s apprentice, coming to the resolution that she will no longer shy away from demon curses that have the potential to do good just because of a little smut on her aura. In the previous book, Rachel also discovered her mother’s deep secret about Rachel’s father and parentage, opening a whole new can of worms. The Outlaw Demon Wails marked the end of Rachel’s first character arc with these dual revelations, and White Witch, Black Curse begins a new chapter of Rachel’s dangerous life, exploring the implications of Rachel’s decisions and discoveries.

On the family front, this novel involves Rachel’s mother and introduces Rache’s long absent older brother Robbie. As always, Rachel’s mother is a wonderful character and a welcome presence in Rachel’s life. She’s slightly loopy, but still a strong and sane woman who loves and accepts her daughter’s choices. Conversely Robbie has never approved of Rachel’s life, but it is abundantly clear that he still loves her. Their relationship comes across as genuine, and I loved the dynamic between these two–Robbie’s resentment of Rachel’s helter-skelter life, Rachel’s anger at Robbie’s “safeness”. It’s a very telling glimpse into the lives of the Morgan family, and the contrast between brother and sister is wonderfully, uncomfortably revealing.

The other threads resumed in this novel concern the identity of Kisten’s killer, and Rache and her relationship with Big Al. Finally there’s some closure in this novel as Rache and Ivy finally learn who killed Kisten–and there’s a pretty huge revelation concerning undead vampires and their souls after death. In terms of Rache and Al, a ghost is discovered in Rachel’s kitchen and he is a presence from her past as a young 18 year old witch. Unfortunately, Al takes notice, and when Rachel is wounded from her first encounter with the Banshee and is unable to go to the Ever After for her usual apprentice work, Al is able to snag the ghost for his own purposes. I have to admit that I was disappointed with this storyline. I was expecting much more of the Ever After in this book, some details about what exactly Al teaches Rache and how this all figures out onto her smutty aura. Alas, this was completely sidestepped in this novel as Rache’s magical abilities are severely compromised and she cannot set foot in the other realm. I wasn’t all to crazy about the ghost storyline either–it felt like a device thrown in to distract Al, and provide Rachel with another love interest/excuse to do incredibly stupid things.

On the subject of Rachel’s love life and relationships, I felt that this book was a huge step backwards for her. The prior six books show Rachel making mistakes and her vulnerability when it comes to damaged, dangerous boys–but with the end of her earlier character arc with The Outlaw Demon Wails, I was expecting much more from her in this novel. Instead, all that progress she’s made since realizing that she’s addicted to danger seems forgotten in White Witch, Black Curse, and Rachel falls into the comfortable trap of making bad decisions, all over again. I’ve never before felt irritated with Rachel’s martyr crisis, or her pathological need to latch on to the wrong guys for relationships, in part because everything she has done up to this point is understandable and gels with her character. In this novel, however, Rachel is plain annoying especially concerning the two new boytoys in her life. Especially when, in my own opinion, the perfect partner for her is staring her in the face all along (yes, I think Rachel needs to get over her hangups and realize that she loves Ivy in much more than a platonic way. They are perfect for each other, and they really need to get over themselves already!). I cannot describe how infuriating it was to read some of the last pages where Rachel seems like she will be heading down the same terrible path with Pierce–it’s like banging your head against a brick wall. (It’s almost reaching Jack and Kate from LOST levels of irritation with me–and that’s saying A LOT)

There are also a number of Too Stupid To Live moments for Rachel in this book: After having her aura stripped, she decides to try and face the Banshee again; her half-cocked idea to summon Pierce from the Ever After to Make A Point with Al; her blunderings with Marshall; her googly eyes at Pierce…the list goes on. As I said before, I’ve never been so irritated with Rache before because in prior books, her decisions not only stemmed from good intentions, but also made sense. In White Witch, Black Curse, the good intentions are still there, but the reasoning is plain stupid. I really hope that this does not continue in later books; it’s hard to root for a heroine that keeps making irredeemably dumb decisions, even if they are borne of the best intentions.

Not to say that White Witch, Black Curse is bad–this is a Rachel Morgan book, after all. While the story begins at a surprisingly slow pace, by around 100 pages in the book picks up and delivers the usual adrenaline-fueled, complexly plotted novel we’ve come to love from Kim Harrison. The Banshee storyline is fantastic, and the usual interactions between Ivy, Jenks and Rache is top-notch. Rache and Ivy still haven’t come to terms with their relationship (seriously, get over it already and realize you two need love and need each other!), and there’s a tinge of looming sadness with Jenks and Matalina as they are nearing the end of their lifespans as pixies. All the things I love about these books is present in White Witch, Black Curse…but I have come to expect MORE from Ms. Harrison, having become accustomed to her raising the bar with each subsequent novel. I liked this book, but it felt like a step back from what has been accomplished in her other work. Still, a recommended read and an autobuy for any fans of the series.

White Witch, Black Curse is in stores February 24, 2009.

Notable Quotes/Parts: I loved the insights to Rachel’s character through her interactions with her family.

The car was warm and the windows defrosted, but cold hit me when Robbie’s last words finally penetrated and I blinked fast. I’m welcome anytime. I knew he had meant them to be full of acceptance, but that he had felt the need to say them said much more. He was getting married. He was moving on with his life, becoming a part of it, immersing himself and finding a place on the wheel. By getting married, he was no longer just my brother, he was someone else’s husband. And though we argued a lot, a bond was being broken by the simple fact that he was no longer alone. He was a part of something biger, and by inviting me in, he had unintentionally told me I was an outsider.

“Your mom makes really good pie,” Marshall said, and I smiled at him across the long seat. Mindful of the ice, he put the car in gear and slowly headed for the mall.

“Yes she does,” I said, depressed. Maybe I should look at it as if I hadn’t lost a brother, but had gained a sister.

Ri-i-i-i-ight.

You can also check out the first two chapters of White Witch, Black Curse online HERE.

Additional Thoughts: The Hollows books remain my favorite Urban Fantasy series, and I do highly recommend everyone give these books a read. Here are the books, in order:

1. Dead Witch Walking
2. The Good, the Bad, and the Undead
3. Every Which Way But Dead
4. A Fistful of Charms
5. For A Few Demons More
6. The Outlaw Demon Wails

We’ve also interviewed the fabulous Kim Harrison HERE.

Something else that’s pretty cool is that Harper Collins is now releasing each of Kim’s books online in E-book format! You can read ALL of Dead Witch Walking online now for free HERE.

For anyone still itching for their next Kim Harrison fix, her young adult novel will be coming out this year, very soon!

Here’s a bit from Kim’s website:

Once Dead, Twice Shy is my foray into Young Adult, and because this is my favorite audience to write for, I have hopefully given it just as many surprising plot twists as I do in my adult work. If you want a sneak peek, there is a novella in the anthology, Prom Nights from Hell, which you can find under Meg Cabot.

.
I, for one, cannot wait.

Verdict: While by no means my favorite entry in The Hollows universe, White Witch, Black Curse is still a strong, compulsive read. In true Kim Harrison fashion, this novel packs great characters and wonderfully complex, intertwined storylines. While it didn’t live up to my admittedly high expectations, it is still Rachel Morgan–the cream of the crop of the Urban Fantasy genre. Recommended.

Rating: 7 Very Good – and I hope for the slack to pick up in the next novel.

———-

GIVEAWAY INFORMATION:

Surprise! We’ve received an extra early copy of White Witch, Black Curse and will be giving it away to one lucky reader!

This is a bit different from our usual giveaways. We have one stipulation: the winner of the giveaway must agree to review this book on his or her website (or conversely if the winner does not have a website, he or she can send the review to us, and we will post it here). In order to enter, all you need do is leave a comment. The contest will run until Tuesday at midnight (PST).

Good luck!

Title: Fourtold

Author: Michael Stone

Genre: Short fiction, horror

Stand alone or series: A stand-alone book comprised of four novellas.

Summary: (from BaysgarthPublications.com)
Four novellas of dark and darker fantasy from Michael Stone.

Lemon Man
The being blinked slowly, his long gold eyelashes glinting. “I must introduce myself. I am a principality of the Third Choir. You will follow me.” He strode away, leaving a silvery line of footsteps in the dew. John noticed then the wings sprouting from between the principality’s shoulder blades; small and inchoate, like vestigial organs or something intended for purely symbolic purposes.

Why did I read this book: On the recommendation of Joel A. Sutherland (whose Fried! anthology we reviewed earlier this year), Michael Stone contacted us with a copy of his soon to be re-printed collection of novellas. When I saw the cover alone, I was instantly sold!

Review:

When it comes to horror as a literary genre, really, truly good novels are hard to come by. Sure, there are the easy scares, the cheap thrills and senseless gore that saturate most of the works in the market–nothing against cheap thrills or gore, as I have a soft spot in my heart for both. But the truly scary novels that make a reader think, those novels that shock on a deeper level are few and far between. This debut collection from Michael Stone, however, manages to do just that. Fourtold frightens, disgusts, delights, and–most importantly–provokes an eerie sense of unease that resonates long after closing the back cover. I absolutely loved it.

As one can surmise from the title, Fourtold is a collection of four short tales. The opening story, “San Ferry Anne”, is a tale of redemption, of hope lost and found again for two men, in the aftermath of the first World War. Charles Spencer is an Englishman who will not return home, and travels from town to town peddling his medicines. Kevin Mackenzie is a young Australian veteran, who refuses to return home to his family for the guilt he feels over his brother’s death on the battlefield. Together, Spencer and Mackenzie wander in the cold, with their Clydesdale-pulled wagon, selling their wares and drifting along companionably. Until one night when a young girl, naked and clearly very sick stumbles into their camp. Mackenzie immediately takes her in, compelled to save the poor waif’s life, while Spencer looks more indifferently on the scene–with a cold detachment Mackenzie has never seen from him. Surmising that the girl probably has the deadly influenza, Spencer would rather leave her in the cold, but Mackenzie refuses to give up on her.

The journey these two characters make is an emotional, spiritual one–coming to grips with their pasts, learning to forgive and see that the fragile light of salvation has not yet abandoned them. While this is my least favorite story of the four, it certainly holds its own as a poignant tale. In the few pages of this novella, one comes to deeply care for both protagonists–the cathartic path for these men is truly touching.

The second story, “The Reconstruction of Kasper Clark” is a Boschian delight, and my favorite of the bunch. Kasper is an average man, working an average job, and with a somewhat average personality. He’s mild mannered, avoids aggression, and keeps his head down. Kasper, however, has one very non-average characteristic–his small uneven gash of a mouth is located in the center of his forehead, while the skin beneath his nose down to his chin is smooth and bare. A birth defect, Kasper’s physiology is completely unique and defies surgical correction–as doctor after doctor tells him after endless CAT-scans that there is nothing they can do. That is, until Kasper’s case is accepted by a secretive radical plastic surgery clinic. Kasper is reluctant to go through with the surgery when he sees the eerie location–seemingly in the middle of nowhere–but is spurred on by his girlfriend Julie, who refuses to marry Kasper until he corrects his abnormal appearance. What Kasper discovers in the clinic, however, is not exactly what he signed up for.

“Kasper Clark” is written in a completely different tone and is much darker and far more surreal than the raw, straight-forward style of “San Ferry Ann”. “Kasper Clark” oozes blood and crunching bone, it seeps under your skin with its delightful, twisted images of nightmares and rancid scents. The entire story is a psychological jump–literally–into depravity, with Kasper painfully re-making himself in his own image. What I love the most about this story is the gradual changes we read in Kasper himself–how he changes from mild-mannered average joe afraid to take the jump, to craving the pain and the rush–and eventually, even the thrill of punishment. And all the while, the Prince of Darkness watches patiently. Mr. Stone’s vivid descriptions and brutal characterizations in this piece cannot help but evoke a sort of “Garden of Earthly Delights” comparison–and I completely loved every second of it.

“The Terracotta Warrior” is the third story in this piece, and again Mr. Stone shifts tone and atmosphere for this next tale. While “San Ferry Ann” is more of an emotional journey and “Kasper Clark” was an exercise in the descent to willing, loving damnation, “Terracotta Warrior” is more of a traditional ghost story. Set in the swing of 1925, a young insurance agent named Solomon Barley sets off to evaluate an old war hero’s property. Charles Morris, Major, retired of the 6th Heavy Brigade is a real working man and enjoys taking the piss out of pencil pushers like Sol. He’s also an eccentric collector of rare artifacts, as Sol comes to see when the old Major enlists Sol’s help in carrying a crate with his newest addition–a terracotta soldier. Unfortunately for Sol and the retired Major, something ancient and menacing is alive in the statue, and it isn’t happy.

“The Terracotta Warrior” is another solid entry by Mr. Stone–it’s a cool new sort of twist on the mythical cursed mummy, this time in the form of a clay soldier(and please keep in mind this was written before the latest Mummy franchise movie came out). Of all the novellas, I believe this is the best overall story, a good campfire tale chock-full of action and suspense. The characters in this yarn are also wonderfully developed–I felt myself eagerly cheering on Sol and the Major as they come together to destroy an ancient, regenerating evil. With makeshift flame throwers. On a motorcycle.

The final story in Fourtold is “Lemon Man”. This is the perfect way to finish the collection–and this is the one tale that lingers long after reading it. In my humble opinion, “Lemon Man” is the standout best of all four novellas, and certainly the most haunting. Russell Hamilton is a man who is married to the woman he loves. The story begins with a recounting of Russell’s memories, and how Maria has always been–and always will be–the love of his life. The memories of happier times, however, are interspliced with real-time events, and despite his better efforts, Russell’s marriage is falling apart. Since his late adolescence, Russell has developed increasingly severe narcolepsy, coupled with cases of sleep paralysis and hallucinations. To try to counter its effects, he tries stimulants and other drugs, with disastrous, heartbreaking effects.

“Lemon Man” is a winding, strange gem of a novella–the reader is not quite sure exactly what is going on until the bitter end. As I myself am a sufferer of sleep paralysis, I could relate somewhat to the main character’s fears and the more surreal elements of the story, but the truly terrifying portions of the novella come in Russell’s sleepless, drug induced haze. The other part of this story takes place on a different plane, involving Thrones, Cherubim and Seraphim; of Angels, Archangels and Principalities. The schism of the City of Heaven, and how the angel hordes fit in with Russell’s story is deftly handled by Mr. Stone. I loved this imaginative, well researched novella, in all its strangeness and tragic beauty.

Fourtold is like a non-stop run of some exceptionally great Twilight Zone episodes, or flipping through a collection of favorite Tales from the Crypt comics. Finishing the final novella left me hungry, yearning for more. Michael Stone certainly is a shining new talent–and I cannot wait to read more from this promising new author.

Notable Quotes/Parts: A particularly memorable scene from my favorite novella, “The Reconstruction of Kasper Clark”–concerning a story about a water-borne insect larvae, hatched and burrowing its way into Kasper’s brain:

“Now things turned ugly. You forced the tip of a knitting needle down your right ear, smearing the needle with petroleum jelly to help it slide in that little bit further. Your ear and nose bled pretty badly, but what did deafness and blood matter when there was a brain-eater in your head?

“Then inspiration struck one morning when you gargled with mouthwash and the minty fumes roiled up in the back of your throat to fill your nasal cavities. You’d smoke him out. You’d never smoked in your life – filthy habit – but got through a pack of twenty by two o’clock in the afternoon and threw your guts up at two-thirty. You blew your nose and smacked your temples, listened for the chittering inside your head. Nothing. But that meant jack shit, as far as it went.

“So you uncapped a bottle of bleach and filled your mouth, inhaling deeply through your nostrils. It took a few seconds for the pain to hit.”

Additional Thoughts: On the cover–isn’t it a stunner? It warms the corners of my heart, as it reminds me of Neil Gaiman’s The Corinthian (from The Sandman graphic novels)–one of my favorite characters.

Rating: 8 Excellent – and easily my favorite short fiction collection of 2008.

Reading Next:

Title: Demon Bound

Author: Meljean Brook

Genre: Paranormal Romance

Stand Alone/ Series: 4th full-length novel in the Guardians series. The books are written such that one could theoretically read them as stand alone novels, but I would highly recommend reading at least the full-length novels in succession to minimize confusion, and to get a better sense of the overall universe and continuity. (Thanks Thea)

Why Did I Read the Book: The Guardians series is my favorite Paranormal romance series and I am Meljean Brook’s fan.

Summary: Alice Grey is known as the Black Widow—a woman trapped in a web spun by the demon Teqon. Jake Hawkins is a novice Guardian whose gift of teleportation could be invaluable to Alice in determining her next move. But can they survive when fear and secrets threaten not just their lives and souls, but the fate of the universe?

Review:

Demon Bound is the 7th book in the Guardians series (4th full length novel) and much more than being a stale installment in the middle of a series it actually represents a corner stone and a breath of fresh air. It picks up threads started in the previous books and expands them in what can only be described as a complex, multi-faceted journey – in time and in history that tells and expands the Guardians’ tale; For the hero Jake, who goes from boy to man; And for the heroine Alice, who goes from being bound in every possible way to absolute freedom.

Thesaurus: bind – definition #1 -To place under legal obligation by contract or oath

Jake Hawkins is a Novice Guardian, who died in the Vietnam War and is training under the tutelage of Drifter (hero of Demon Night) to become a full –fledged Guardian. What usually takes 100 years to achieve needs to be cut short by the recent Ascencion in which the majority of Guardians basically quit their “jobs”. Jake sounds and acts like a young, restless man and when we saw him in Demon Night he fucked up his mission and that had serious consequences for Charlie, the heroine of that book. He has a recent found Gift of Teleportation, which he is still trying to control and at the moment it works only he feels fear –one of the things he fears the most is…..

the Guardian Alice Grey, the Librarian in Caelum known as the creepy Black Widow for her Gift which connects her deeply with spiders giving her heightened senses. Alice is bound by a Bargain with a demon called Teqon. A Bargain she stroke before becoming a Guardian, when she was still human: either she will give him Michael’s (the First Guardian and their leader) heart – or she will freeze in hell for eternity.

Her only way out of the Bargain is to find something Teqon wants more than Michael’s heart. Since Teqon works for Belial, she believes that if she can find out more about the Prophecy that says that Belial will one day rise to beat Lucifer, she will be able to get out of it. This ties up nicely Demon Bound to Demon Night by expanding that particular storyline. She believes she can beat the demon by investigating and exploring these Temples that mysteriously appear and disappear, Temples that have been built over the centuries and which have the history of the Guardian’s carved in stone. Her passion for archaeology connects her to Jake who also shares a passion for excavation and when he is able to see past her creepiness they get to work together with this common goal.

Their pursuit for answers leads them to temples all over the world and to Hell until eventually they find more than they were looking for, and the History they learn is much more than they bargained for, with surprising information about the origin of the Nephilim, about Michael, their leader, and possibly tragic consequences for the future of the series.

Thesaurus: bind – definition #2 – to unite with emotional ties or commitment.

It is hard to say what is more incredible about Demon Bound – the plot or the characters. I should probably say both as they prove to be cohesive, coherent which consequently translates as a kick-ass, good quality story.

At first it is the plot that gives the impulse that the characters need to get together – by coincidently putting them at the same place as the book opens. From that moment on, for a little while, the characters take over as we learn more about them and at first what leaps from the pages is the difference between these two:

creepy, Victorian Alice; Prim, proper, lonely Alice. She is bound by her bargain to the Demon and this bind is everything to her. It determines the way she lives – in hiding, in solitude, not bonding with hardly anyone, even though there is enough love in her for her friends which makes it all the more poignant. She doesn’t risk connection because she can’t bear to lose it. She is also bound to her service as a Guardian and in what she believes and is that belief that tells her she can’t and won’t ever fulfill a bargain that will send her to hell anyway. She is bound to spiders even though at first, her Gift has scared her and the why she is stuck with such a Gift is even creepier and sad. She is also bound by fear and by guilt and regret for accepting the bargain in the first place. And again, (can you sense a theme here?) she is also bound to her past – she is a Victorian woman in all , in the way she dresses, in the way she speaks, in the way she still allows what her horrible husband has done to her to consume her nonexistent sexual life in which “settling her nerves” is the most she will experience, until The Novice comes along.

Jake. Wonderful, funny, young Jake. I have fallen in love with him back in demon Night the minute he uttered words quoting Karate Kid. Jake thinks about sex all the time and has no finesse whatsoever and one of the ongoing jokes in the book is how he is always uttering words before thinking about them and in fact, the first time they have a real conversation, there are some words uttered by Jake to Alice, who responds in kind:

Jake decides to be trained by Alice as well as by Drifter once they discover their shared passion for the Temples they find. He tells Alice what he is going to say to Drifter to convince him to let him train with her as well….

“You’re pretty much the only female who doesn’t make me think about sex when I am near you. So I’ll point out that you’ll be good practice for when I am around real women”

ouch. But she replies:

“you may come to me, novice, if it teaches you how to behave around real women. But I suggest you return to Ethan’s training, where you might learn to behave like a real man”

and this is the onset of their relationship, where these two are far apart not only in age but physically and mentally. The Jake that we start with is utterly different from the Jake we end up with – a clear transformation from boy to man.

When he realises he is falling for her against all odds, mid way through the book, the scare is so huge he ends up teleporting them to Hell – the event that propels both the story, their relationship and initiates Jake’s transformation.

In the end he is the one of all heroes in Meljean Brook’s world so far to make the highest sacrifice, to make the toughest decision one that proves how much of a man he truly is. Jake in the end, is Guardian. He is a Man and with his help and his stubborn pursuit of Alice she goes from someone unable to make plans to someone who dared. His greatest gift to Alice and one that opens one of the greatest lines in the whole of the series?

The one that makes her go from being Certain to Uncertain – freeing her from the certainty of doom to the uncertainty of hoping.

Thesaurus: bind – definition #3 – To make certain or irrevocable

And then, of course there is the writing. What I love about Meljean Brook’s writing and which I mentioned before in my review of Demon Night – it how very graphic and very visual her descriptions are – for example there are small gestures that end up describing her characters and make them more REAL. Be it the way Alice walks, or how Jake every time he is thinking he walks around with his hands linked behind his head. I am not a very visual person and it is difficult for me to create images in my head. It is testimony to the writer’s skills that I can visualise almost in a cinematographic way everything that happens in her book. From the fighting, to the archaeological remains becoming alive in my mind to the weapons and the way I was able to see them with my mind’s eye – a good example is Alice’s Naginata. I never heard of this word before and as soon as Meljean spoke of it, I “saw” it and I proceed to google and voila, exactly what I imagined.

This review is already way, way long and I haven’t even mentioned the secondary characters, the new ones that are introduced (Irena! Alejandro!) and the old favroties we get to see again. Or how the sex doesn’t happen until late in the book when they already love each other and how it was not magically amazing from the get go and they had to work at it to make it good. I guess I should let things for you to find out by yourself.

I read Demon Bound for the first time a couple of months ago and I thought it was incredible and I knew it was one of the best books of the year. Before writing this review, I decided to re-read my favorite parts in order to refresh my memory and ended up reading the whole book again and by doing so, I realised how much I loved every.single. line.

Is Demon Bound perfect? No: there are some plot developments that were a bit contrived – like for example, the accident jump into hell that ends up being exactly what was needed to further the story or the long Architect scene (damn you, Thea) also set in hell whereupon a new character dumps historical information and everything is explained. Or how I still don’t understand exactly how Jake was such a young gun even though he was 60 years old: was it the effects of Enthrallment? Or the 30 years spent in orgies?

It is another evidence of Meljean Brook’s writing qualities that despite the above, the chapters in Hell were the best part of the story with the way Alice and Jake team up (seriously the whole sequence in hell is pure fun coupled with nerve-twisting action and unparallel emotional development for Jake ) and Jake ended up being my favorite of her heroes to date; which is to say that Demon Bound’s strengths are numerous and outnumber its weaknesses tenfold.

Golly gee Ana…could this mean?…. Yes, Demon Bound is the ninth book to make my top 10 reads of 2008.

Notable Quotes/ Parts:

There is one scene set in Hell which is absolutely brilliant and according to the author was inspired by a Tim O’Brian’s The Things They Carried. Alice is sick and sleeping. Jake has been walking around the barren scenario for more than 60 hours carrying her in his arms. It reminds him from when he was walking in Vietnam when he did a mental list of the things he had. His new list starts just like the list when he was walking through the jungles in Vietnam and it includes the memories if his grandma and grandpa, his then girlfriend, Barbara the mother of his daughter. It now expands to include the things he has done over the past 40 years as a Guardian – the things he learnt, the friends he has made. Also his fuck ups (including Charlie’s situation in Demon Night), the years he spent doing nothing; The weapons in his cache, the toothpick in his mount and his Gift of Teleportation that he couldn’t allow to go haywire anymore – it goes on and on until the gets to the most important:

He had a woman sleeping against him who was in danger of being trapped in a frozen screaming wasteland, and he had a deep ache that settled in his chest whenever he thought of it. And whether she knew it or not, he had the burden of her bargain on his shoulders now, too. He had the dread and the terror that came with it.
And he had every intention of freeing her, no matter what he had to do to accomplish it. (…)
He had Alice in his arms, but he didn’t have her – and she had over a hundred years’ practice keeping anyone from getting too close.
And that, he thought , was the item that topped a list made in Hell.

Verdict: I don’t think I need to say more – Demon Bound is on the top 5 reads of 2008 and Jake Hawkins is my top 1 hero of 2008. I absolutely adore this series.

Rating: 9 Damn Near Perfection – I am also bound by Rules and even though I would love to give this a 10, I need to take into consideration the very minor issues I listed above.

Additional Thoughts: NOW FOR THE GIVEAWAY !!!

Leave a comment on this post until Thursday 3pm Pacific Time when our Smugglers Sorting Hat will pick 4 winners – first winner will win a copy of Demon Bound. The 3 following winners get to pick one book each from Meljean Brook’s awesome backlist.

Good luck!

Title: Immortal Warrior

Author: Lisa Hendrix

Genre: Paranormal Romance/ Historical (England circa 11th century)

Stand Alone/ Series: Book 1 in a series about cursed Immortal Vikings.

Summary: He came to England in search of treasure. Two hundred years later, he’s found her…
Ivar Graycloak is a brave warrior, a man known for his strength and integrity. He is also a man with a terrible secret. Long ago he was part of a Viking crew cursed by an evil sorceress to live for eternity as were-creatures. An eagle by day and a man by night, Ivar has lived a solitary existence for over two centuries. Then the king orders him to marry.
Lady Alaida is everything a man could want in a bride—intelligent, spirited, and beautiful—and their wedding night is a balm to Ivar’s lonely spirit. Then a seer brings him word of a dark vision, one that makes Ivar vow to stay away from his lovely wife forever. But now that Ivar has sampled Alaida’s passion, her humor and warmth, he is enthralled. His traitorous body-his very heart-longs for that which he
can never possess.
Lady Alaida may surprise him yet, though, for she has a power of her own-a power that will either destroy everything they hold dear or ultimately set them free…

Why Did I Read The Book: I received an ARC from the publishers and I decided to give it a go as soon as I learnt that it was about cursed Vikings – if you ask me, there aren’t enough historical-paranormal novels out there.

Review:

Immortal Warrior is the first in a brand new series that has a very interesting paranormal premise: In 9th century, a raid of Viking warriors are sent by their Norse Chieftain to investigate the tales of a Saxon treasure in Britain and bring the gold to him. Led by the fiercest of their warriors, Brand Einarsson, this band of brothers face Cwen, the witch that guards the treasure and the phantom army created by her and led by her own son to fight the Vikings. Slaughter ensues and Brand, their leader is possessed by such a fury and gains the strength of ten beserkers and slains every single one of them – even Cwen’s son. Consumed with grief, Cwen binds the surviving Vikings – all nine of them – and curses the warriors, turning them into shadow beasts, cursed to eternally live half day as animal, half day as man, each taking the animal form of his own fylgia, a spirit companion that each warrior carried in a chain as an amulet and which is the key to free them – she then proceeded to scatter the amulets across the world. The men tried to live together but could not since those who were beast during the day attacked those who were beast in the night and vice-versa. Forced had to live apart, their chances of ever being able to fight Cwen and end the curse are diminished. Brand, their leader, has vowed to find Cwen and make her pay. Centuries passed and still Brand seeks the Witch and all of his warriors are now settled in Britain, trying to make their living the best way they can.

Immortal Warrior is the story of Ivar, the warrior that turns into an Eagle every morning. He has settled into working for King William as a spy and as the book opens, he is granted some land and a wife by the King, for services rendered. He is, at first, torn about accepting it because how could he ever have a wife with his immortal half-life? But after centuries of living alone, apart from friends, he is taken with the very idea of having a home, a bed and a woman to sleep next to him. It is too much of a temptation to say no to and so he accepts it and plans to live like this only but a few months and then disappear. His first action though is to search for Brand and enlist his help to take care of his land – he needs to build a castle and he needs backup because the former lord stood against the Norman King and he may find resistance within the walls – maybe even from the previous lord’s granddaughter Lady Alaida, the woman that is to be his bride.

Brand, who is a bear during the day decides to help and together with another warrior, Ari, raven by night and man by day, and therefore to be Ivar’s voice during day time, the three go to Anlwick.

Things go smoothly enough for them to start with and Ivar could not be happier with his new life. The land is great and Lady Alaida, is feisty but prepared to take him as a husband even though the man is mysterious and disappears before the sunrise. They have one night together but then Ari who is a seer of sorts, predicts that there will be a baby and the baby will be an eagle. Devastated at the thought of condemning his unborn baby to such a curse Ivar starts to back away from Alaida and any relationship that they might have had starts to crumble down. He spends his day as an eagle and his nights away from her bed. Alaida is crushed and thinks he doesn’t like her but with a bit of patience and some seduction she takes him back into her bed. By that time though she is already pregnant and Ivar needs to think of a plan to take the baby away if it is born as an eagle – with the help of Ari, Brand and the healer-witch that inhabits the forest and becomes their ally.

My feeling is that with that premise this can be an incredible adventure series –a bunch of heroes cursed going through the ages looking for their freedom. The relationship between the men is engaging and sometimes even poignant. I could feel the weight of their curse, the sadness of the friends that could never talk to each other – like Ari having to leave messages to Brand and Ivar and who seems to be the lonelier of the trio, as he never gets to interact with either of them. The climax of the story with a face –off with their enemy was well done as well and I can honestly say I did not see the twist coming.

But this is not an adventure series – it is romance and this is where Immortal Warrior is lacking. I hardly cared for Ivar and Alaida’s love story. I thought there was a lack of emotion, lack of chemistry and I never truly believed in Ivo’s love for Alaida. For starters they didn’t spend a lot of time together and I was horrified at the callous way he thought about their future. Ivar was less than preoccupied about what would happen to Alaida once he was done playing house.

Although I could understand what motivated him into accepting the marriage – the despair, the solitude – this understanding was a more post-reading intellectual exercise on my part than an emotional comprehension, as my feelings were not engaged with them at all. Ivar fell into a trap and caused his own misery out of his own accord without a care about what his actions would cost to the woman he wed – it was as if any woman would do. And he did not regret the pain he would cause her, only the pain that would cause HIM. It was all for his own convenience and as the book ended I never truly felt that he went full circle and grew as a character – things were solved in a way he didn’t have to regret or revise his actions. It actually felt like he was rewarded for bad behaviour.

I was much more into Brand’s budding relationship with the healer – a woman with whom he falls in love with and whose tragic end and last lines points to an everlasting love story through the ages that has the potential to add even more angst to Brand’s life who is already loaded with guilt over being the cause for his men’s curse. If each book is to be for each of the warriors, his probably will be the last and possibly the best.

The premise is an interesting one, the writing is not bad, the story has a nice flow and some very good lines of dialogue – but because I was completely uninterested about the central plot between Ivar and Alaida I firmly sit on the fence for this series.

Notable quotes/ Parts: When Ivar as an Eagle greets his first-born and is relieved to find out that the kid is not an eagle. The friendship between Ivar, Ari and Brand.

Additional Thoughts: want to see for yourself what Immortal Warrior is all about? We have one copy to give away to a lucky winner – just leave a comment on this post answering the question: if you were to be cursed into becoming an animal during the day, what animal would you rather be? Contest runs until Wednesday 4pm Pacific Time, when the Sorting Hat will pick a winner.

Verdict: The series has a lot of potential which book one failed to meet specially with regards to the romance. What is good though, is just about good enough to keep me here for the next round.

Rating: 5 – on the fence.

Immortal Warrior comes out on the 4th November.

Reading next: Phenomenal Girl 5 by A. J. Menden

Title: Night Falls Darkly

Author: Kim Lenox

Genre: Paranormal Romance/ Historical

Stand Alone/ Series: Book 1 of Shadow Guards series.

Summary: ARCHER, Lord Black, returns to England at the behest of Queen Victoria to immerse himself in the dark, hellish streets of London’s East End. Among the immortal Shadow Guard, he is the most prolific and cunning of the Reclaimers. He revels in the hunt of his current prey: an ill-mannered, reluctant soul reviled in the daily newspapers as Jack the Ripper. Archer has only one weakness … one distraction … the young woman he spared from death two years before.
ELENA WHITNEY has never wanted for anything – not since coming under the protection of her mysterious and absent guardian, Lord Black, who has gifted her with everything a young woman of quality could ever hope for, including an enviable address, an unlimited income and entrée into the drawing rooms of high society. But now, after nearly two years of indifference, he believes he can sweep into her life and rid himself of her by marrying her off. If he knew anything about her – anything at all – he’d know she had greater aspirations than that.

Why did I read the book: Time for a confession: I asked the author for a copy of the book. I saw this at Kmont’s site a few months ago and I just HAD to have it. I took a deep breath and decided to be cheeky and was actually surprised that Kim Lenox not only replied but also was kind enough to send me a review copy. After the deed was done , of course I was terrified because what if I didn’t like the book? What would I do? Thank God, it turned out to be a very good one. I loved the book.

Review:

Archer, Lost Black is an Amaranthine – a race of immortal beings that once walked the earth alongside humans but now have retreated to the Inner Realm where they live apart from mortals only intervening when the boundaries of their domain are threatened. That happens when mortal souls are so corrupted they are close to Transcend – and a soul once Transcended becomes so powerful they can cross to the Inner Realm. The Shadow Guards are an order of elite assassins that walk the earth Reclaiming these souls that have become so morally deteriorated they are a danger to mortals and immortals alike. Archer is an Ancient Shadow Guard and one of the most powerful and respected Reclaimers.

He has walked the earth for more years he can count, enjoying the thrill of the hunting but killing the souls almost dispassionately. Archer has not once strayed from his single-minded path until one night two years ago when he is hunting an assassin and rapist and is surprised when he realizes the assassin has a hostage; a girl Elena, who has odd eyes – one blue, one brown – with whom Archer shares an immediate connection and even though he is not supposed to, he intervenes and saves her life. He erases her memory of that night but by doing so he also erases her entire past and he leaves her at a hospital to recover. He tells his secretary to take care of the girl’s future and then he leaves for his next assignment, not planning to return any time soon. Two years later, he is called back to London with a new task and a new criminal to catch and is completely surprised to discover that his sectary has set up Elena as his ward and she has been living at Black House. And all those feelings he is not supposed to have come running back when he meets her again.

This would be like any other paranormal romance out there except for one distinct feature – it is set in London during Victorian times and that makes all the difference. Because who calls Archer back is Queen Victoria herself and the person he must Reclaim is that of Jack, the Ripper – whose soul is so corrupted he is very close to Transcend and become way too powerful.

This is the first Paranormal Romance I read which has a historical setting – I know there are others out there though like Kathryn Smith’s Brotherhood of Blood and Teresa Medeiros’s After Midnight – and it really works. There is a clever use of historical setting and historical characters that are never too much and only add to the story. For example, there is an encounter between Archer and Elena and a famous writer at the Reading Room of the British Museum that was s delight to read.

Similarly, Victorian London is a place that is full of life but also death and Kim Lenox manages to capture the atmosphere of both High Society and its Balls and afternoon teas but also the poorer, less privileged parts – the description of the foggy streets of Whitechapel in the nighttime were not only atmospheric but also quite horribly suffocating – the different between rich and poor very distinct in the outcome of some of the characters. Some sequences were so cinematographic I kept having flashes of movies like From Hell and Sweeney Todd both of which managed to capture the gothic feel of hopelessness of how I imagine the streets of London to have been back then.

Jack The Ripper in the movie From Hell

Another Powerpuff Girls Review! Both Katie (Blossum) and Ana (Bubbles) got review copies so what better way to go about it than to have another one of our joint efforts? By now, you must know the drill, Bubbles writes her thoughts here, Blossum at her place and we learn what each other thought – and we usually agree on our opinions. What will happen this time?

You may (or may not) be wondering, “but what of the third Powerpuff girl, Buttercup AKA Thea”? Well, believe it or not, naughty Buttercup is spending some time with Batman. I am not sure whether they are having an affair (ooooo, the jealousy!) or if Buttercup is just trying to be the next Robin, but I am telling you, that girl is going places!

So, for this review, we were joined by Dot Warner A.K.A JenB! Aw, she is so cute (and crazy).

Dot will be posting her review today as well, it will be interesting to learn what she has to say!

Title: Hex Appeal

Author: Lisa Wisdom

Genre: Paranormal Romance

Stand Alone/ Series: Book 2 of the Hex series. Book 1 was 50 Ways to Hex your Lover

Summary: The second book in the Hex series features feisty witch Jazz and her drop-dead gorgeous vampire cop boyfriend in a new installment. On again, off again for over 300 years, Jazz and Nick are finally back together, but then Jazz thinks Nick has bitten her. Separated again, upset and angry, the two of them start having violent, recurring dreams in which each one figures in disturbing and menacing ways. They can’t sleep, they can’t eat, and they finally figure out they’d better get together and discover who’s poisoning their dreams—and their relationship.

Why did I read the book: I read book 1 upon recommendation of Katiebabs and when I was offered a review copy of book 2 I was glad to accept it.

Review:

Hex Appeal is the second book in the Hex series and it is as fast-paced and full of action as the first one, 50 Ways to Hex Your Lover. A lot happens here: they are still living the repercussions of last book’s adventure when they destroyed evil Clive Reeves; then there are the dreadful nightmares that both Jazz and her now steady boyfriend, vampire-detective Nick are having which are causing a backlash to their relationship – they are both dreaming of the things that scare them the most. On top of everything, Jazz’s adorable (yeah, right) bunny slippers have been accused of murder and Jazz has little time to find the real culprit before they are arrested and possibly, terminated.

Plus, she still has her day-time job as curse eliminator and her night time job as limo driver for the paranormal creatures. It’s a lot of stress for one person, but if someone can do it, it’s Jazz, damn it!

Working together with Nick to figure out who has been attacking them via dreams proves to be more agreeable than they first thought and their relationship takes a new turn. After 300 years of an on and off affair, maybe they are ready for something else?

The book is populated with interesting characters – my favourite being room-mate and Internet mogul Krebs. But really, Hex Appeal (much like 50 Ways to Hex Your Lover) belongs to Jazz. She is a very likeable character and her antics have a je ne sais quoi that makes her even more adorable. Maybe it’s the Scarlett O’Hara’s disregard for reality maybe it’s the whimsical feel of the whole book that reminds me of the Queen Betsy books by MaryJanice Davidson. In fact, Jazz and Betsy have a lot in common with their penchant for not thinking things through and just going with the flow but with a difference: the Hex book have a bit more of a clear plotline, as the story is obviously proceeding to a yet- to–be revealed but clearly defined point.

My main peeve with the story is the relationship between Nick and Jazz. I have been hoping for a bit more – most specifically a little bit more of communication between them. There are many things left unsaid, many things left in the air and 300 years of history between them that we know very little about. We see from their internal monologue that they indeed love each other a lot but very little in their actions or conversation actually point to that fact. I find that quite frustrating. It wouldn’t be a huge problem if the book wasn’t categorized as “Paranormal Romance” – I was promised romance so I want romance! Although to be honest, the story reads more like Chick Lit to me – Jazz is the epitome of Girl Power: assertive, independent and very powerful on her own. And she knows how to have fun.

Notable Quotes/ Parts: I know Katie loves the slippers Fluff and Puff but I am in love with Jazz’s new stiletto crocodile shoes: Croc and Delilah, they are such girls, they blow kisses, use makeup, change colours according to Jazz’s outfits and try to snuggle with Krebs and Nick. They are really funny and cute.

Additional Thoughts: WE HAVE ONE COPY OF HEX APPEAL TO GIVEAWAY (US AND CANADA RESIDENTS ONLY) . ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS LEAVE A COMMENT HERE! The contest closes on Saturday at midnight (PST)! Good luck!

Verdict: Hex Appeal is a light, fun read. I recommend it for funs of MaryJanice Davidson and Marta Acosta .

Rating: 6, good

Reading Next: To be confirmed!

Title: It Happened One Night

Authors: Mary Balogh, Stephanie Laurens, Jacquie D’Alessandro and Candice Hern

Genre: Historical Romance

Stand Alone/ Series: All fours stories are stand alone

Summary: It Happened One Night . . . and nothing was ever the same again!

In these four amazing tales, four heroines will come face-to-face with the men who got away . . . only to discover that, instead of anger, there is still a passionate connection that cannot be denied. And while each of their lives is quite different, and their pasts utterly unique, they will all make a common discovery – that one night can change everything . . . forever.

Why Did I Read the Book: I received an ARC from the publishers.

Review:

The idea behind the book is a very interesting one. One day, coming back from a book tour Mar Balogh came up with the idea of writing an anthology with three other writers where all four of them would be given the same premise and go from there: “a man and a woman, who have neither seen or heard from each other for ten years, meet again when they find themselves staying at the same inn for a twenty-four hour period”. The purpose is to go against the general assumption that all romance novels are the same – read one, read them all -by having four romance novelists writing their stories without talking to each other or exchanging ideas. The result is It Happened One Night and the goal has been achieved – all four stories are very different not only in the development of the premise but also in the quality of the end result: two of them are very very good and two of them are….not.

The Fall of Rogue Gerard by Stephanie Laurens

Robert “Rogue” Gerrard is a notorious rake – or at least he was for several years. About four years ago his life has taken a turn for the better and he has become a better man, not that anyone will believe it. One night, whilst traveling he is caught in a tempest and has to make an overnight stop at an inn. There, he takes refuge at the parlor only to be joined by a ghost from the past – also feeling the storm , there it was Lydia Makepeace, the only woman he has ever loved.

Robert and Lydia had been childhood friends , they walked and they talked and when he was 22 and she was 16, he started developing feelings that were too much for someone so young and because he didn’t want commitment at this point of his life, he fled, because he refused to believe she was his destiny. So he became a libertine, a gambler, etc, etc. But

“fate, circumstance, and coincidence, it seemed, were once again taking a hand in his life

”

Lydia right now, is about to do something stupid (courageous, depending on the point of view) – she is trying to help her sister getting rid of incriminating evidence of a compromising past and Robert decides he needs to help her. And Lydia who thinks she will die an old maid, decides to it is about time to get matters in her hands and seduce the rogue – he is ravished, seduced and finally understands that all resistance is futile.

This was a good, solid, entertaining story – with the premise of soul mates being present and being believable. It may be a short story but Stephanie Laurens managed to pack a lot and still make it well worthwhile a read.

Rating: 7 very good.

Spellbound by Mary Balogh

Nora Ryder is a companion who has just quit her job. She is on her way to catch the stagecoach to London when there is an accident and the stagecoach is stranded overnight. Penniless and trying to figure out how in the world she will be able to afford staying at the inn when she runs into Richard Kemp – her husband. Or is he? Richard, who was somewhat responsible for the accident is also stuck at the small village and cannot believe his eyes when he sees his wife (or is she?) a woman he has been trying to forget for a long time. He is torn: he doesn’t want to see her, he doesn’t want to be near her, he still hurts, he doesn’t want to care that she has nowhere to go and not money, but he does, so he invites her to stay with him. This is a story that starts full of hurt and angst because each believes they have been wronged by the other – ten years ago, Richard was her father’s secretary and they eloped. They got married, consummated the marriage and then her father bursts in and takes her back. Neither understands why the other hasn’t act upon this.

But it is May Day and they decide to call it a truce and enjoy the festivities at the small village and little by little their shields drop and they start to realize that every single assumption they have made about each other, about what happened on the day they married is wrong.

This is my favorite story of them all and I would say it’s worth buying the full book, specially for Balogh’s fans. The story and the writing itself are very good and what starts in a dark place , ends in light and happiness. The way the ice around their hearts start to melt was so beautiful and sometimes, even lyrical. There are no missed word, no missed steps in here and every single moment has a significant. I loved this story.

Rating: 8. excellent.

Only You by Jacquie D’Alessandro and From This Moment On by Candice Hern.

These two stories were my least favorite. It was my first story by both these writers and if I am to be honest, they haven’t made such a positive impression that I would go and read more by them.

Only You is the story of the stable Ethan Baxter who has loved Lady Cassandra Heywood, FOREVER. They were friends when they were children, but they both knew Cassandra would go on to do great things, i.e. marry a peer. Ten years on, Cassandra is a window after many years of a unhappy marriage and Ethan is the owner of an inn. He has always believed that she has been happy all these years and he dies a bit inside when he learns that it wasn’t so. She shows up at his door, trying to catch up and spend the day with him. At the end of it, he asks her to stay the night and finally learns what pleasure is.

From This Moment On has Middle-aged Captain Sam Pellow retiring from the army and is on his way to a friend’s house when it starts to rain and he must stop at an inn. And to his surprise in there walks Wilhelmina, Duchess of Hertford, his one time lover, the love of his life. He has loved and hated her for 25 years – ever since they were both poor. Sam was a fisherman and one day was lost at sea and everyone thought him dead. Without prospects , Wilhelmina becomes the lover of a painter and later a famous courtesan until one of her patrons, a Duke asks her to marry him. Sam who had not been dead (duh) , returned to find “his girl” a courtesan and has never forgiven her. They had many encounters throughout the years full of hurt feelings. There has been no encounter for the past decade though and now Willie decides it is time they have a good time together, specially with everything she has learnt over the years.

I found both these stories to have a lot potential, but both ended up being cheesy and clichéd. After reading two very good stories and learning that it is very possible to have a very fulfilling, rounded love story in a few pages, I felt rather disappointed at how the last two seemed to rush the plot to get to the “really good parts” aka, The Sex. There were also some sloppy bits of dialogue. One that comes to mind is a sequence from From This Moment On, when the heroine tells the hero that way back when she lost their child and he feels utterly sad and his reaction is and I quote: “noooooo. Oh no, Willie, my love” . Not only the dialogue was a turn off , also the fact that this could have been a much more emotional moment, but the feeling that came out of it was the writer was hurrying up through the motions to get them in bed, which happened merely two pages later.

Rating for the last two stories: 5. meh.

In any instance, the first two stories are really good and well worth the time. Maybe even the money. Who knows, maybe you will even like the stories I didn’t? It has happened before……

Title: The Magical Christmas Cat

Authors: Lora Leigh, Nalini Singh, Linda Winstead Jones and Erin McCarthy

Genre: Paranormal Romance

Stand Alone/ Series: It can be read as a stand alone but at least two of the stories (Nalini Singh’s and Lora Leigh’s are connected to their ongoing series Psy/Changeling and Breeds, respectively.)

Summary: New York Times bestselling author Lora Leigh and top-selling authors Nalini Singh, Erin McCarthy, and Linda Winstead Jones have a special gift for readers this year: never-before published holiday stories featuring passionate romance, paranormal adventure, and a distinctly alluring feline touch. With four new stories—including one featuring Lora Leigh’s genetically altered Feline Breeds—this is a collection packed with more surprises than Christmas morning, and more chills than the snowiest winter night…

Why Did I Read The Book: We happened to get a review copy from the publishers but I was going to buy the book anyway as I am a NaliniSinghaholic and needed my fix until her next book is out.

Review:

Well, colour me surprised. I actually thought all 4 short stories in this anthology were enjoyable, some more than others. They are all set around Christmas time but there is hardly any mention of Christmas expect for some of the epilogues. They are therefore, not Christmas-y at all. In fact, I would say that rather than “Christmas”, the key word here should be “cat” : two of stories have heroes who are feline changelings; there is one where the cat is the villain and another where the cat is a witch’s familiar.

Stroke of Enticement by Nalini Singh

The story: Annie Kildaire is a human; a primary school teacher and most of her students are changelings. One day one of the kids picks up a fight and she has to call his uncle
Zach to come and talk to him as the boy will not explain the reasons behind the fight. Zach Quinn is a DarkRiver soldier and a ranger at the Yosemite park and as soon as he sees Annie he feels attracted and a few moments later it hits him square in the chest – she is his mate. That visceral feeling that everything is right and from then on he starts wooing Annie: asking her out, talking about their lives, meeting her family, introducing her to his own family and his pack (with cameos by Lucas and Sacha).

The development of their relationship is fast but it doesn’t feel rushed and as with any of Nalini Singh’s pairings it is heart-warming. Annie has had a sad, lonely childhood because she was involved in an accident and almost lost her leg. Furthermore, she has seen her parents’ relationship decaying into something sour and she is scared to death of being trapped in a loveless relationship. Zach is ever so patient and yet determined, as any of Nalini Singh’s heroes.

There is very little in this story, of what makes Nalini Singh’s series unique – the world building and the Psy-Changeling conflict; I sort of missed that interconnection between her romantic elements and her overall story but I understand that this is a really short story and to be honest, at this point in time, I am taking anything that will keep me going until the next full-length novel comes out.

Verdict: I love Nalini Singh’s love stories, and specially her male protagonists – the changelings that are so strong and yet so ready to die (and to kill) for their mates.

Rating: 7 Very good

Christmas Bree by Erin McCarthy

The Story: Bree Murphy is an empathic in a family of witches who has a very close relationship with her two sisters and a very close connection with the house she lives in which she inherited from her grandmother. She is a tarot reader who wears goth clothes and given her empathic gift ends up dating needy guys who take a lot and give back little.

When her younger sister who is just developing a gift for predicting the future foresees her getting together with an executive she thinks she is deluded. But destiny calls when successful lawyer Ian Carrington knocks at her door. Ian and Bree have met briefly once at a coffee shop one year ago and ever since then Ian has been having hot dreams with Bree which is driving him nuts specially because he usually goes for corporate women, does not believe in witchcraft and things Bree is the opposite of what he wants. Still, he jumps at the chance of meeting her again and getting her out of his system when one of his clients decides to make an offer on her house.

This is my first Erin McCarthy story and I was pleasantly surprised. The story that a nice feel to it , both Ian and Bree feel like real people falling in love and learning that they both have been dreaming about each other probably because they both day-dream about the same things: commitment, family, home. The cat here is her familiar who turns out to be working on his own to bring them together.

Verdict: cute, sweet love story with a real-life feel to it even though the heroine is a witch.

Rating: 7 Very Good.

Sweet Dreams by Linda Winstead Jones

The Story: Ruby is a baker who after the death of her Aunt Mildred , inherit their house in Holland Court, a friendly, perfect neighbourhood. As the story opens they are all at their annual Christmas Party and the secret santa exchanges have been made. One last anonymous present is left to be open though, and it is addressed to Ruby: a small jade statue of a cat.

She thinks the gift is beautiful but her neighbour, Zane Benedict, a quiet, sturdy professor of parapsychology recognises the statue for what it is : Il Gato Nero or Soul Collector , a cat-demon who awakens every 200 years or so to collect a soul and is only one soul away from becoming real with enough power to destroy the world. When Ruby is given the cat it means that she is the next soul to be collect and her chances of surviving are close to zero. Zane turns out to be a member of the Brotherhood of Madani, a sect who has been trying to kill the demon for centuries. Now he must find out who in the neighbourhood is working for the demon whilst at the same time, trying to protect Ruby, whom against his better judgement, he has developed feelings for. Meanwhile Ruby, unawares of what is going on, starts dreaming about the 8 previous women that were taken by the demon and is terrified when the statue starts following her around the house.

Talk about a misnomer, there is nothing sweet about this story and much less about the dreams the heroine has. There is very little romance here (a few kisses and the promise of a date when all is said and done) and a lot of horror – I was terrified as the statue moved around the house showing up at places it wasn’t supposed to be. I have no idea how this story made into a romance anthology but I am not complaining. I quite liked it and I was impressed with the fact that the writer did not try to pack some heated, fear-induced, last-chance-before-we-die sex in the mixture.

Verdict: Well done horror and suspense with a bit of romance.

Rating: 6 Good.

Christmas Heat by Lora Leigh

The Story: Haley McQuire, is a Librarian that overhears a conversation between a breed and two scientists linked to major pharmaceutical companies, interested in doing research about the breeds in what seems to be an ongoing storyline – there is just enough information here so I was not completely lost in the plot since this is my first story by Lora Leigh. Noble Chavin is a jaguar breed enforcer who has been friends with Haley for a year and knows deep inside she is his mate. He is terrified at the prospect of losing her when the villains try to kills when they learn she is a witness. He decides it is his job and his duty to protect her but the mating heat may get in the way.

To be honest, I have heard of the Breeds series by Lora Leigh but never read any of the books and was excited at the prospect of having a taste and leaning more about it. The Breeds are humans who have been genetically modified with the DNA of predators such as lions, and jaguars. There is a small introduction before the story starts that explains there is something called Mating Heat, which is the breed’s biggest secret – the fact that there is one mate for each breed that belongs exclusively to them and which causes a reaction that binds them emotionally and physically. Oh well, she lost me right there and then – specially when the Mating Heat is described as being their Achilles’ heels.

Contrary to what may look like since I am a major fan of C.L. Wilson’s Tairen Soul series, Nalini Singh’s Psy-Changeling and Kresley Cole’s IAD, I have a hard time accepting “Mated for Life” stories. The prospect of either the male or the female not having any choice or any saying in a relationship that is supposed to last forever doesn’t sit well with me. For me to actually buy it, it has to be firstly, well-written and believable and then have some mitigating circumstances. Like for example the fact that a mating bond will not come into place until the two accept it and that only happens when there is trust and love (CL Wilson’s and Nalini Singh’s are like that). Most of all, I don’t want the sex or the physical aspects of their relationship to be so binding as to be hurtful if they don’t have it and I certainly don’t want to read about a mating bong being the couple’s Achilles’ heels– again, I use the example of Nalini Singh’s mated couples who feel that finding their mates is the best thing that could ever happen to them – a gift that actually makes then stronger.

In Christmas Heat, Haley is interested in Nobel, finds him hot and has an emotional link to him but because she is human she doesn’t understand what the mating heat means and when he explains it to her –she has very little choice in the matter – I have no idea how she didn’t run as fast as she could: “when I kiss you the taste of that kiss is going to make you crazy for more. The hormone in the small glands beneath my tongue will be released into your system, and the mating hormone will begin to fill your senses. It’s like a drug for sex. It’s like a need that only one thing will ease, and that’s my semen pumping inside you. When that happens, a small, thumb-shaped extension will become erect from beneath the head of my cock. It will lock me inside you (…).”

Oh the horror, the horror. Is it me, or does this whole conversation sound ridiculous? I don’t know if in one of the full-length novels in the series, the love story or the mating heat are better developed and more palatable but in here, it all appeared to be an excuse for all the hot sex in the book. Which is a shame since I was able to appreciate the story up until that point and the epilogue was also very sweet.

Verdict: Well-established fans of Lora Leigh will probably like it – I am just not one of them and don’t think I will ever be.

Rating: 5 meh.

Notable Quotes/ Parts: from Nalini Singh’s of course! I loved the conversation between Zach and Annie’s mother. She is woman has overprotected her daughter because of her bad leg and who has been trying to fix her up with men that are more academicals than physical beings. This is one of the reasons why she has never wanted her daughter going near a changeling, because she is too, scared her daughter will suffer the same disillusion she has suffered with Annie’s father. But then she realises that there is no danger to Annie from Zach, that he would die to protect her and then she asks him to always look at her daughter like she is everything to him. And he just says, of course. Aww.

Additional Thoughts: Since we are talking about cats, have a look at this hilarious video that Katibabs posted last Saturday at her blog. Honestly, I was in hysterics watching it. It’s the Ninja Cat!

Later today: another review of another anthology: It Happened One Night with stories by Stephanie Laurens, Mary Balogh, Jacquie D’Alessandro and Candice Hern

Title: Seduce me at Sunrise

Author: Lisa Kleypas

Genre: Historical Romance

Stand Alone/ Series: The second in The Hathaways series

Summary: Win has been an invalid ever since she suffered a near-fatal case of scarlet fever. Merripen is a Romany Gypsy who was taken in by the Hathaway family when he was a boy. He has always kept his fierce passion for Win a secret, believing a romantic relationship would never be possible.
But Win goes to an exclusive clinic, far away from Merripen and the rest of her family, and makes a remarkable recovery. And when she returns two years later, a changed woman, the explosive passion between these long-denied lovers threatens their family, their future, and even their lives . . .

Why did I read the book: Win and Merripen were secondary characters in Mine Till Midnight and they completely stole the show with their longing for each other – I have been waiting for their story ever since.

Review:

“Kev loved her. Not in the way that novelists and poets described. Nothing so tame. He loved her beyond earth, heaven, or hell. Every moment out of her company was agony; every moment with her was the only peace he had ever known. Every touch of her hands left an imprint that ate down to his soul. He would have killed himself before admitting it to anyone. The truth was buried deep in his heart. Kev did not know if Win loved him in return. All he knew was that he didn’t want her to”

There are some love stories that are so powerful they leap from the pages and beg to be told. Kev and Win’s is one of those – a pair of secondary characters that first appeared in Mine Till Midnight, Amelia Hathaway and Cam Rohan’s story. In all honesty, I somewhat enjoyed Mine till Midnight but I didn’t think it was the best Lisa Kleypas offering. At least not when it came to the central couple – my favorite parts of Mine Till Midnight were the ones about Win and Kev. They completely stole the show with their love that could never be.

She: Amelia’s invalid sister who never fully recovered from Scarlet Fever and who loves the strong and powerful Kev; He: the Roma who had been adopted by the family when he was a child and was completely, utterly devoted to Win, even if it means to keep away from her. Every single scene when they were together spoke of a longing and the promise of a beautiful love story – one that I have been waiting for since I read Mine Till Midnight.

Seduce me at Sunrise opens and we learn that Win is about to leave on a journey to France to try a new treatment for her illness. She is sick and tired of being an invalid and believes this is what keeps her and Kev from getting together. She wants to get well and she wants to enjoy life and she wants him. Kev, even though loving Win with every bit of his heart ever since they were children, believes himself unworthy of her – his soul being too dark from the violent things he have done when still living with his tribe and her being too radiant to be tarnished by his. It kills him, but he thinks she deserves better, a gentle soul of a gentleman. She wants him to wait for her, wants him to be there for her – and he will be but only as a friend. So she leaves.

And we then go back twelve years in the past to learn how the Hathaways rescued Kev (beaten up and close to death), after his tribe left him behind and how he came to fall in love with Win. I absolutely loved these chapters that showed the connection between these souls. Kev behaves and feels like a wild dog, savage, broken. Prepared to leave at first opportunity, as soon as his body recovered but there is one moment that changes everything. He feels Win’s presence outside his bedroom and is restless until she finally comes inside to tend to him – that moment seals their destiny. It is quite simply, a case of Soul Mates, sharing a deep connection, the dark and the light that become friends and he chooses to stay because of her. It is very reminiscent of the Cathy-Heathcliff relationship in Wuthering Heights – there are things that are set in stone, there is no reasonable explanation, they just are. This is the case of Kev and Win.

It was heart wrenching to read all the scenes regarding the bout of scarlet fever that consumed Win – the despair on her part to get him away from her so that he wouldn’t fall ill and his despair and his decision not to leave her side and to nurse her back to life. Some of the best, most gut-wrecking scenes of agonising love when Kev breaths the same air coming out of her lungs because if she has to leave, he will follow suit. My dear friends, this just about killed me.

And yet, the stubborn man who is prepared to die for the woman, refuses to live with her. And so we go the future, to two years after Win has gone to France, when she finally comes back home. Body restored, prepared to live and with her, she brings a suitor, Dr Harrow, the man who helped her recover and who is prepared to ask for her hand. Kev agonises when he learns she has someone but since it is his choice not pursuit their love, he has to live with it. Except is easier said than done.

From that moment on it is just really a matter of how and when Kev would eventually let his stubbornness subside and realise he could not go on denying both of them their happiness. Win, one of those quietly strong heroines, is bent on the pursuit of her own happiness and she pushes Kev’s buttons and calls him on his arrogance on the unfairness of he being the one to decide their fates. But even if she realises theirs is one of those once in a lifetime love, she won’t be sitting around waiting for him, she wants a family of her own. And by gawd, she will have it. Sick and tired to be worshiped from afar, she wants everything she can get from him and when he finally relents she learns that she was never on a pedestal and he shows her just how much he too, wants everything from her, heart, soul, mind and body. And it is so.very.good.

But as much as this is a wonderful love story, there are also some secondary plots that were quite endearing. With this second book, I have come to love the Hathaways as a family and to look forward to their interactions. There are a few scenes between Cam and Kev and between Kev and Leo (the Hathaways brother) that are full of camaraderie and some between Cam and Amelia that I thought were better than their scenes in their own book. I think it is also worth mentioning that there is a otherworldliness to this series that comes from its connection with the gypsy world (curses, ghosts, Coincidences with a capital C) that adds a supernatural feel without really being a complete foray into paranormal area.

The only minor issue I had with the book comes from what I have come to call The Curse of the Romance Novel where we have, towards the end of a novel, a too villainous villain doing villainous acts and a care-bear resolution that wraps every single thing with pink cellophane paper with purple polka dots and rainbows – thank the gods it’s Lisa Kleypas writing which makes everything better. But even if the ending is not to my particular taste, still Kev and Win’s love is stuff for legends and with Kev, Lisa Kleypas has yet another wonderful hero that I am sure, will be making the rounds in top 10s henceforth.

Notable quotes/ Parts:

Kev’s love for Win clearly borders obsession but something needs to be said for these heroes that would do anything for their heroines. Damn me if I don’t love him -specially since he reminds me so much of Heathcliff.

“I’m not good enough for you. But no one is. And most men, good or bad, have limits to what they would do, even for someone they love. I have none. No God, no moral code, no faith in anything. Expect you. You’re my religion. I would do anything you asked. I would fight, steal, kill for you. I would…
“shhh.Hush. My goodness.” She sounded breathless. “There’s no need to break all the commandments, Kev.”

And later on, after he finally capitulates, there is an AMAZING inner speech about his love for her. I won’t spoil the whole thing but it ends like this:

“I love you for being the answer to every question my heart could ask”

So terribly romantic.

Additional Thoughts: a secondary plotline which started in Mine Till Midnight is Leo Hathaway’s. In that first book, Leo is going through hell after the death of his beloved. Drunk, not caring about anything, deep in despair. In Seduce me at Sunrise, Leo is starting to recover, becoming more centred and I have the feeling we have been introduced to his heroine, none other than the girls’ stern new governess who dislikes him at first sight (or does she) and whom he has repartees with.

There is also one scene that I thought was absolutely brilliant. Leo is trying to get through to Kev and they have a talk. Leo tells Kev that he knows that when Leo and Win fell ill all those years ago with the same disease that killed Leo’s fiancée, Laura and Kev ministered an unusual medicine as a last attempt to save their lives :

“(…) you would have taken the rest of that poison. And I’ve always hated you for that. Because you forced me to stay alive without the woman I loved, while you had no bloody intention of doing the same”

and then he shows an insightful side and says:

“if you had the bollocks to die with her, don’t you think you could work up the courage to live with her?”

Needless to say Leo’s book can not come soon enough. I really want to see how Lisa Kleypas will have him finding love again.

Verdict: Win and Kev’s love story reminded me of Wuthering Heights, one of my all-time favourite novels: their love was gripping, unrelenting and eternal. It should come as no surprise that Lisa Kleypas has another winner in her hands.

Rating: 9, damn near perfection

Reading next: A Wallflower Christmas by Lisa Kleypas