Reviewing Bad Kitty by Eliza Gayle

Bad Kitty (Southern Shifters #1)by Eliza Gayle 4*
BLURB: If you think you've lost everything. Think again.
Kitty lost her father, her home and her clan. Clinging to what's left of her pride, she's forced into the neutral zone, the supposed safe haven for half-breeds and outcasts. An attack forces her to the wrong side of the treaty line and into an even more dangerous situation. Determined to greet death with the last of her dignity, she is suddenly rescued by a tall, gorgeous...wolf???
As the next alpha leader of his pack, Rafe Comyn has more than enough to handle with pack politics and precarious treaties. The last thing he needs is a pissed off feline landing in his lap, especially when her scent triggers his overwhelming drive to mate. While the daughter of a former rival is quite a conquest, she's both forbidden and dangerous.
But as the heat of desire threatens to consume them, their differences escalate and Rafe must keep his own pack from killing the one woman he can't live without.
My Review:Complimentary Review Copy Provided by Publisher Through NetGalley. This was a fairly ordinary shifter romance, in as much as the main couple end up fated mates and end up together very rapidly. What made it less ordinary and out of the norm was the excellent writing and the well balanced storyline to sex scene ratio. I enjoyed this story and look forward to reading more of the author's Southern Shifter books in the future.

Reviewing The Martian:A Novel by Andy Weir

The Martian: A Novel by Andy Weir 5*
BLURB: I m pretty much f**ked. That's my considered opinion. F**ked. Six days into what should be the greatest two months of my life, and it's turned into a nightmare. I don't even know who'll read this. I guess someone will find it eventually. Maybe 100 years from now. For the record... I didn't die on Sol 6. Certainly the rest of the crew thought I did, and I can't blame them. Maybe there'll be a day of national mourning for me, and my Wikipedia page will say - Mark Watney is the only human being to have died on Mars. And it'll be right, probably. Cause I'll surely die here. Just not on Sol 6 when everyone thinks I did. Let's see...where do I begin?
My Review: Complimentary Review Copy Provided by Publisher Through NetGalley. I would love to see this story in a cinema as a film done in the style of I Am Legend. It's a futuristic Robinson Crusoe story with the place of marooning being Mars. So not only does the Hero have to survive, he has to survive in a place with no human resources except those he can provide for himself. I loved Mark and his determination, his MacGyvering will-to-live and, most of all, for his wicked sense of humour. There were so many fine and amusing lines from him in his log that it would be hard to choose just one So I won't even try, you'll just have to read it yourself and find them all. Anyone who enjoys a good story with a tense atmosphere and snarky comments, plus the odd 70's TV & music references, will love this book.

Review Of White Wolf by David Gemmell

White Wolf (Drenai Saga, #10)by David Gemmell 4*
BLURB: White Wolf marks a return to the bestselling Drenai series and David Gemmell's most popular hero of all, Druss the Legend.
Skilgannon the Damned had vanished from the pages of history. No-one knew where he had gone, following the terrible triumph at Perapolis, and the assassins sent by the Witch Queen could find no trace of his passing. Three years later, a murderous mob gathers outside a monastery, faced by a single, unarmed priest. In a few terrifying seconds their world is changed for ever, and word spreads across the lands of the East -- Skilgannon is back.
Now he must travel across a perilous, demon-haunted realm seeking a mysterious temple and the ageless goddess who rules it. With assassins on his trail and an army of murderous foes ahead, the Damned sets off on a quest to bring the dead to life. But he does not travel alone. The man beside him is Druss the Legend.
In this tale of love, betrayal and treachery, in a world torn by war, White Wolf examines the nature of heroism and friendship and the narrow lines dividing good and evil.
My Review: I've always enjoyed David's Drenai books and this one was no exception, even though it is a reread. It has one of the least flawed of his heroes, who still ends up doing stuff for evil people, until he tries to hide away from everyone. Naturally that isn't going to last or we wouldn't end up with this really charismatic guy giving us action a plenty. I especially loved that one of my favourite heroes, Druss, was given plenty of page space as his fighting companion. I recommended this to those who like a really meaty fantasy book or just enjoys David Gemmell's Drenai books .

Rebellion (The Colony #1) by J. Tomas 5*
BLURB: Sixteen year old Aine lives in the Colony, and his whole life was decided before he was born. In two years he will marry the girl next door, Brin, who was assigned as his Other at birth. Then he will be given a position in the Colony's workforce that best suits his talents. Each night he takes four pills, like everyone else in the Colony, and he knows the pills keep them safe and their world in order.
Everything is fine. Perfect, in fact. Until Aine accidentally drops one of his pills.
Terrified, he tries to hide the mistake, but when he dreams for the first time in his life, he discovers all he's been missing. What scares him more than not taking the pill, though, is how alive his dreams make him feel. Because it isn't Brin he dreams of but his best friend Kyer.
Another boy.
Suddenly Aine's world turns upside down, and he doesn't know what to think or who to trust. All he knows for sure is he's falling in love with Kyer, which is forbidden by the Colony's Code, and he will do anything to protect their budding relationship.
Even if it means defying the Overseer and leaving the Colony behind.
My Review: Complimentary Review Copy Provided by Author. I don't usually give quotes from the books I have read but, this one sums up the beginning of the book so well, that I couldn't resist using it. "Everyone was happy in the Colony. They had to be. We took pills for it." The 'Big Brother Is Watching You All The Time' gave this a scary feel as Aine discovers just how much he's been programmed by the pills and the cleverness of the writing made this an enjoyable read. I think the author did a wonderful job of building an original world in an old trope and making it all very fresh and readable. I hope to read more from him in the future.

Review Of Make Me Whole by Marguerite Labbe

Make Me Whole by Marguerite Labbe 4*
BLURB: After a grueling battle in ancient Greece, lovers Dexios and Lykon committed their lives to each other in the name of Goddess Cythera. After the war, fearing the strength of his love for Dexios, Lykon abandoned his vow and returned home. Heartbroken, Dexios called on Cythera, who changed him into four unfinished statues. In that form he would wait for his fickle lover to return, break the curse, and make him whole.
Thousands of years have passed when Galen Kanellis finds the disassembled pieces in the storeroom of a Seattle museum and makes them the focus of his new exhibit. Needing information, he contacts his ex-lover Nick Charisteas. Nick has a lifelong dream of finding the Dexios Collection, and the last thing he expected was for it to wind up in the hands of the man who broke his heart. As both men search for answers about the statues, worries of abandonment and fear of loss test their renewed relationship, threatening to separate them again—this time permanently.
My Review: This was originally going to be a short story in my daughter's Anthology Passionate Exhibitions and, after reading it, I am not surprised that Ms Labbe changed her story for that one and extended this to a full novel. It is a wonderful story that takes you from ancient unfinished Greek Statues to a modern gay romance with a twist. It has a depth of emotion to it that defies description and there is enough mystery to keep most people happy. I can't tell you more without spoilers but suffice to say it will be well worth your while to pick it up and read it.

Reviewing Dance Only For Me by Megan Derr

Dance Only For Me (Dance With tHe Devil #6) by Megan Derr 4*
BLURB: Jackie Black is a cowboy and sorcerer and proud of both. He spends his days breaking curses and locating items of interest for other abnormals. His pride and joy are the alchemy-enhanced pistols at his hips. The love of his life is Roman, a businessman and witch. Tired of living several states apart, Jackie decides to surprise Roman by moving closer.
But instead of being a happy surprise, Jackie finds himself the victim of an unpleasant one. Alone in a strange city, with nowhere to go and his world in pieces, Jackie is taken in by an old man who says he is a paranormal detective and could use someone of Jackie’s power and abilities to catch a killer.
My Review: I have a thing about cowboys and when they are magical sorcerers too then I am obviously going to be predisposed to enjoy the story. However Ms Derr has, as usual, produced a book that had me riveted to the last page and kept me entertained the whole way. Apart from the magical cowboy, she introduced me to an alchemist, who was also a bratty trouble magnet, a demon who was covered in runes and an evil that had me biting my nails hoping the first three could stop it in time.

Sword Of The King by Megan Derr

Sword of the King (Dance with the Devil #5)by Megan Derr 4*
BLURB: Dragons are amongst the most feared creatures in the paranormal world, nigh unbeatable and barely controllable. Every year, countless men and women who bear dragon potential are stolen away and turned into beasts, their former lives lost forever. They are drugged to compliance and trained to fight in the notorious Pits for the profit of the crime lords who breed them.
Blaze has been a pit fighter all his life, and it is a life he hates. The only thing that keeps him going is that if he stops, he risks losing the only thing that matters to him: his dragon, Erie. Though pit rules say it's a bad idea to get too close to the dragons, Blaze has never been able to help it. He'll do anything to protect Erie.
Ken and his dragon Nevada were once victims of the pits, stolen from their normal lives and made to fight. Now, they work to bring down the pits they despise, though the battle seems futile. Everyone who has ever tried has wound up dead. Stopping the pit fights once and for all would take a miracle—or a legend.
My Review:I love Dragons, so any book I find with Dragons has me a little biased from the outset. However, that said, this book really was very good. It had action, Heroes and Dragons enough for any reader to drool over. Also, as I am finding is usual with Megan Derr's books, it also had lots of interesting relationship interaction to give the story plenty of depth.

Reviewing In Knots by Celia Kyle

In Knots (Knots #1)by Celia Kyle 4*
BLURB: Jesse is in search of a night of passion. One that includes being spanked, tied up, and at another man's mercy. It’s a good thing that Knots, his club of choice, has everything he's lusting for, and more.
Nicholas, an alpha wolf who’s so gorgeous that his good looks should be legal, is going to be the Dom to give it to him.
My Review: I liked the dynamics between the two main characters and the fact that the sub knew exactly what and who he wanted :D My only problem was that I wanted so much more than what I got. I hope the author decides to write more about these two men as there is so much more about their growing relationship that I would love to read.

Reviewing Disturbed Connections by Kia Zi Shiru

Disturbed Connections (Otherkin Spirits #2)by Kia Zi Shiru 4*
BLURB: A werewolf and a vampire, forbidden love. What could go wrong?
Chris, a werewolf on the run from his abusive clan, hides in a vampire house. Alec, a vampire who has comfortably lived in the house for years, has no intentions to ever leave it.
Their connection is obvious from the first time they meet. But the house rules are strict, werewolves and vampires can not date. Unable to fight their attraction and unwilling to leave, they instead choose to hide their love.
Then Chris’ old clan finds him and takes him back. Will Alec ever see Chris again?
My Review: Complimentary Review Copy Provided by Author. This author seems to be getting better with each book. I had no problems understanding any of this story (Unlike with the first one). I enjoyed reading about Chris and Alec as well as learning how they cope with their 'forbidden' love. There is action aplenty with Chris' old clan still being after him. Without giving spoilers all I can add is you need to read this if you enjoy a different take on vampires or just like a great YA m/m romance.

Reviewing All The Colours Of Love by Jessica Freely

All The Colors Of Love by Jessica Freely 5*
BLURB: It sucks being the son of a super villain. At home, Harry spends half of his time getting medical treatments and the other half tied up in his father's underwater lair. It was different when his mother was alive, but she disappeared when Harry was six. He can't seem to stay out of trouble at school, and his new room mate, Antonin, thinks he’s a spaz, but somehow Harry has to find a way to stop his father's evil plans.
Antonin Karganilla wants to become a comic book artist, but other than that, being gay is the most normal thing about him. His uncle is an aquatic plant man, his aunt is a molecular biologist back from the dead, and his mom is an overprotective pain in the butt. Antonin's in boarding school and it's starting to look like he and this Harry kid might have a lot in common... and that means a whole new set of problems.
My Review: Complimentary Review Copy Provided by Author. My inner teenage comic book geek girl was giddy with delight whilst reading this story. I loved the depth of worldbuilding and the characters, but I especially loved the interaction between them all. Even though it is a young adult coming of age type story it is also a painful story about abuse and surviving it with dignity. Ms Freely writes her characters so well that she even managed to make me feel sorry for the villain by the end of the book and that takes some doing! If you like well written human interaction, the odd mention of super heroes and mutants or just a plain well told tale then you need to read this book.

Reviewing F.A.S.T. Balls by Tara Lain

F.A.S.T. Balls (Balls To The Wall #5) by Tara Lain 5*
BLURB: F.A.S.T. — Firefighter Assist and Search Team
Firefighter and surfing champion, Jerry Wallender, looks like a hero to the world, but he can't see it. He keeps falling for these intellectual guys who end up making him feel dumb and unneeded. On top of that, Mick Cassidy, super-gorgeous firefighter and total homophobe, makes Jerry’s life miserable with his slurs. Then one day Mick’s nice to Jerry and, at the Firefighter’s Ball, Jerry offers a helping hand and ends up with a hand-job. What the hell is going on?
Mick Cassidy is great with fighting fires and solving math problems but rotten with people. Raised by a gay-hating preacher, Mick’s carefully constructed world of gay bashing starts to crumble when he meets Jerry, the nicest, kindest man he’s ever known. Mick’s never wanted a woman and can't stop thinking about sex with Jerry. In fact, he can’t stop doing it. Does that make him gay? And if he’s gay, what happens to his whole life? A hook-up between sweet Jerry and mean Mick might be total disaster — or the smartest idea Jerry ever had.
My Review: Complimentary Review Copy Provided by Author. I hadn't read any of the Balls To the Wall series but I knew I was in for an exciting and interesting read from Tara, having read other works by her, and I wasn't at all disappointed. The worldbuilding and the background info were skillfully integrated into the story and it made absolutely no difference to the reading enjoyment that this was my first one in the series. She even managed to make me sympathetic to a Homophobe and root for Jerry & Mick's romance to go well. Well I for one am now adding the first four of this series to my wishlist and adding Tara to my list of auto buy authors.

Reviewing The Bane by Keary Taylor

The Bane (The Eden Trilogy #1)by Keary Taylor 5*
BLURB: Before the Evolution there was TorBane: technology that infused human DNA with cybernetic matter. It had the ability to grow new organs and limbs, to heal the world. Until it evolved out of control and spread like the common cold. The machine took over, the soul vanished, and the Bane were born. The Bane won't stop until every last person has been infected. With less than two percent of the human population left, mankind is on the brink of extinction.
Eve knows the stories of the Evolution, the time before she wandered into the colony of Eden, unable to recall anything but her name. But she doesn't need memories to know this world is her reality. This is a world that is quickly losing its humanity, one Bane at a time.
Fighting to keep one of the last remaining human colonies alive, Eve finds herself torn between her dedication to the colony, and the discovery of love. There is Avian and West – one a soldier, one a keeper of secrets. And in the end, Eve will make a choice that will change the future of mankind.
My Review: Complimentary Review Copy Provided by Publisher Through NetGalley. I read that blurb and had to read this book. It sounded like the perfect mix of dystopian story and Star Trek 'Borg'. Luckily if the Borg were the author's spark of inspiration her story was nothing like that. She has given depth of feeling to Eve that has the reader entranced from page one right through to the bitter end. She then adds in lots of action, pathos, intrigue and survival of the fittest to make for a wonderful story. The world building is so evocatively described that I can see someone with imagination making a film of it one day. I recommend this to anyone who really enjoys dystopian, end of the world, romances or just enjoys a truly captivating story.

Two shorts that pack a punch

Slave by Kol Anderson 4*
BLURB:It's the worst feeling in the world, seeing him with someone else. There's nothing I wouldn't do, no limits I won't go to get him back. But he won't give me a chance. He won't so much as look at me because he thinks I don't belong to him anymore.
But that's the whole thing.
I don't belong anywhere.
Doesn't matter where I go or who I am with I am always alone. There is something wrong with me, there has to be because no one else seems quite as miserable at being without a master.
But don't we all owe our freedom to something?
People are slaves, aren't they? To their jobs, to their partners, to their children, even to their lifestyles?
We all have those little kinks that we don't tell anyone about, because we think we're going to be judged for them, and because we're slaves to society's rules.
In a world where slavery is the norm I'm a slave to my needs.
To him.
And I need to get him back.
WARNINGS: HARDCORE BDSM, DUB-CON, NON-CON
My Review: This is a short but emotion packed story that needs that warning! It is heartrending and tear jerking. I reckon I will be keeping an eye open for this author for when I need a good story that will give me a true emotional depth to it.



Vanilla Boy (Club Floggers #1)by H.C. Brown 4*
BLURB:When Nash Mage sees an innocent vanilla virgin in Floggers' charity sub auction, it's game on.
NOTE: This book was originally published under the title "Dominate Me" as part of "Floggers' Holiday Sale" at Noble Romance Publishing in December 2010.
My Review: I wasn't into m/m back in 2010 so missed this with it's original title but both title's suit the story well. I liked both the characters and the action well enough to have an interest in finding more from the Club Flogger series in the future.

Review of Disturbed Fate by Kia Zi Shiru

Disturbed Fate (Otherkin Spirits #1)by Kia Zi Shiru 4*
BLURB: Marc, a small pet shop owner and seer, needs help with his store, but his new employee, Galen, brings with him more trouble than expected. Marc tries to keep their relationship professional even if Galen seems insistent on taking it to the next level. And then there is the problem of Galen’s past.
Keiran, a hard working medical student and Marc’s best friend, has a small problem, a stalker. One night he confronts the man and finds that his stalker vampire, Devlan, is too alluring to turn down. But Devlan isn't who he seems to be.
When the four men meet up for a night out their lives fall apart. Marc’s premonitions turn out to be wrong and everything points towards one autumn night a couple of years ago. Now they need to figure out what happened that night, before someone dies, again.
Time is running out. The visions might be false, but they don't paint a pretty picture, not about their futures and, especially, not about their pasts. They need to reverse the change before it is too late.
My Review: Complimentary Review Copy Provided by Author. This is a hard book to review for me. Mainly because it was so different to what I normally read. It had lots of stuff going on that made me think I was dropped in half way through a longer story. However that said it is a really good story that had me interested enough to keep going and things became much clearer the longer I read. Luckily that brought me to a very surprise ending that made it all worthwhile. Oh and one more thing, if you like unique versions on Vampires then you will find it here. I have book two to read which actually has a vampire as a main character and I am hoping it will follow this uniqueness too.

Reviewing A Stranger in Skoria by John Tristan

A Stranger in Skoria (Skoria #1)by John Tristan 3*
BLURB: Jason Vale has just been unceremoniously dumped by his long-time boyfriend, and decides he could use a change of scenery; what he gets instead is a change of world. After setting out on a road trip to 'find himself', he barely gets a mile before a freakish storm sets him down on a tundra of silver grass with a alien sky overhead. This world is called Skoria, and it soon turns hungry eyes toward him, most keenly in the form of Aedar Rictus, the cyborg pirate who covets him as a pet.
Collared and chained to Aedar's will, Jason slowly comes to realise two uncomfortable truths: first, he is not entirely unhappy as Aedar's property, and second, the chains that bind him to his new owner go both ways. An unexpected mind-link between cyborg and human throws the certainties of brutal Skorian law into disarray. With pleasure and pain linking them in a feedback loop of sensations, the boundaries between owner and property--machine and man--begin to blur.
My Review: Although this had a lot of things that attract me to a story it just didn't seem to deliver what I was looking for. Yes there were aliens, mostly all very nicely described. Yes there was an alien world, also very nicely described. There was a touch of BDSM, almost vanilla in essence and yes there was an unusual method of arriving on the new world. So why didn't it hit the spot as it were? I have no idea. The writing was good, the Characters were well developed but somehow it just didn't make the grade. I think the first problem was when the main Character (from Earth) starts to use a very alien terminology about another character that has no male or female gender. Then there was the rather overly rapid way he accepted being made into a pet. Unfortunately these two and a few other small niggles dropped my rating to three instead of the four it would otherwise have received.

The Last of Love Has No Boundaries Stories

Love Has No Boundaries

10th August
Surrender by Eric Alan Westfall 3*
The Road from Maryville by Gabbo De La Parra 4*

11th August
The Missing Pieces by Wt Prater 3*
Seeing Lagos by Alessandra Ebulu 3*

12th August
The Executive Lounge by Angela Benedetti 5*
Running Deer and Hidden Badger by K.D. Sarge 5*


So I have got to the end of LHNBs stories and am a little sad that there aren't more of these excellent writings. Mind you it has given me many new authors to look out for so it's all good in the end.

Review of The Dark Collector by Vanessa North

The Dark Collector by Vanessa North 4*
BLURB: Jeffrey Kuyper was a once-in-a-generation talent and I was his muse.
Jeffrey's death shocked the art world and upended my life. His last portrait is an intimate reminder of our final weeks together. Now it's up for auction and I want it more than anything. When a cold-mannered man in a dark suit outbids me, I'll agree to anything to buy it from him--even a weekend in his bed.
My Review: Review Copy won from Author Contest Hot, Gritty, Real, Interesting, Dark. All these words are good ones to describe this story from Vanessa North but most of all I have to say this was a lot of story for just 0.5KB. I can't say much else without giving away the story but if you want to feel grief, love and renewal then read this one as soon as it's published. Expected publication is November 13th 2013.

Reviewing Affliction by Laurell K Hamilton

Affliction (Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter #22)by Laurell K. Hamilton 4*
BLURB: Some zombies are raised. Others must be put down. Just ask Anita Blake.
Before now, she would have considered them merely off-putting, never dangerous. Before now, she had never heard of any of them causing human beings to perish in agony. But that’s all changed.
Micah’s estranged father lies dying, rotting away inside from some strange ailment that has his doctors whispering about “zombie disease.”
Anita makes her living off of zombies—but these aren't the kind she knows so well. These creatures hunt in daylight, and are as fast and strong as vampires. If they bite you, you become just like them. And round and round it goes…
Where will it stop?
My Review: This was a good story with lots of gory action and, for a change, not too much sex to distract from it. It was interesting to read about Anita meeting 'family' but in one way I was very disappointed that, for over half the book, Micah and his family seemed to get forgotten whilst Anita went hunting. At least the series seems to be heading back to what attracted me to it in the first place and that's the incredible action and the kick arse fighting of monsters.

Back to reading Love Has No Boundaries stories.

Love Has No Boundaries

2nd Sept
Fated by Lexi Ander 4*

7th Sept
Three Part Harmony 4*

8th Septt
Carry On by Cam Kennedy 4*

9th Sept
Hands-On Justice by Laurie Terson 4*

More Magic from Mercedes Lackey

Magic's Promise (Valdemar: The Last Herald-Mage #2)by Mercedes Lackey 5*
BLURB: The wild magic is taking its toll on the land, and even Vanyel, the most powerful Herald-Mage to ever walk the world, is almost at the end of his strength. But when his Companion, Yfandes, receives a call for help from neighboring Lineas, both Herald-Mage and Companion are drawn into a holocaust of dark magic that could be the end of them both.
My Review: This story follows on from Magic's Pawn but a few years later after Vanyel has become a powerful Herald Mage. I love this story and like book one my copy is fast falling apart because of it. In this case it's the emotions and mystery that keep me rereading and yes, I know I know the answer to the mystery now, but it is still a good read.



Magic's Price (Valdemar: The Last Herald-Mage #3)by Mercedes Lackey 5*
BLURB: The final chapter in Mercedes Lackey's spellbinding fantasy trilogy! The Herald-Mage, Vanyel, and his Companion, Yfandes, are alone responsible for saving the once-peaceful kingdom of Valdemar from the forces of a master who wields a dark, forbidding magic. And if either Vanyel or Yfandes falters, both Valdemar and its Herald-Mage must pay the ultimate price.
My Review: I love/hate this book. I can never leave it out when I reread the trilogy but I hate the ending! Mind you it is a little bit redeemed by the epilogue. Overall this is a well written emotional read that is very much a norm for Valdemar stories, if you don't want your heartstrings pulled to pieces then don't bother starting them.

One other thing - I have a new ereader :D It's a Kobo this time and as soon as I get familiar with it I will be catching up on all the 'please review this' books I have :D

More from Love Has No Boundaries

More from Love Has No Boundaries

31st August

Guarding Lucas by Mitchell E. Sanford 3*

Falling Apart by Kathleen Hayes 4*

1st Sept

From Don To Dom by Naaju Rorrete 4*

Yet again the reader is kaput!

Darn Levro reader broke again - this time the on/off switch fell off and now I can't get at my books :(

Luckily before it broke I managed to read Ruffskin by Megan Derr and since then I have reread an old favourite Magic's Pawn by Mercedes Lackey. So on to a couple of reviews:



Ruffskin (Dance With The Devil #4)by Megan Derr 3*
BLURB: An ordinary rainy day at the Bremen is interrupted when a strange courier shows up with a package for Peyton Blue, the Bremen's much-loved owner and bartender. When the package turns out to be a piece of Peyton's past and brings that past violently into the present, it is up to Johnnie to resolve a years old problem and put the past where it belongs once and for all.
My Review: I gave this only 3* because it seemed rushed and didn't really give me a feeling of a full story. There was a cameo appearance of Johnnie and Grim but the main romance of Peyton seemed like it had something missing. Not that what was there wasn't good because actually it was very good, it just wanted as much as the story deserved.



Magic's Pawn (Valdemar: The Last Herald-Mage #1)by Mercedes Lackey 5*
BLURB: Vanyel Ashkevron is beautiful. He's a talented musician. He's his mother's pride and joy. Too bad his father and siblings don't feel the same way about him. For that matter, too bad Vanyel doesn't feel the same way about himself. He can't seem to do anything right as far as anyone else is concerned. It seems like the only person who really loves him is his sister, Lissa. And she's just a woman, she doesn't have enough influence to protect him. So he lives, enduring the hatred of everyone, never able to do anything right, to please anyone. Then his father finally gets fed up with him and makes a decision that will change the course of his whole life. Vanyel is to be sent to the capital, Haven, and his Aunt Savil, one of the famous Herald-Mages of Valdemar. Anyone else would be thrilled, but Vanyel has met his Aunt once before, and he knows that she hates him just as much as everyone else. He has no choice but to go to Haven though, and maybe, just maybe, he'll find what he's been looking for, and the life he was destined to lead.
My Review: Even though I have read this book so many times the thing is falling apart (again) I am still moved to tears at the tragic tale of Vanyel. Mercedes Lackey has a knack of putting so much emotion on the page that your feel every word. In the case of this, the first one in a trilogy, it is more obvious than ever. Vanyel seems to have the ability to attract bad luck no matter what he tries to do to avoid it. The story is full of magic, action, romance and tragedy. The magic is believable, the action is bloody and the romance and tragedy go hand in hand and will bring most people to tears.

Review Of Midnight by Megan Derr

Midnight (Dance with the Devil #3)by Megan Derr 4*
BLURB: From the world of Dance with the Devil...comes the tale of Devlin White, Duke of Winterbourne, the last in a long line of powerful witches who assist the Demon Lord of London in keeping control of the nightwalkers living amongst normal men. All but one of his siblings gone to the new American colonies, his proud family line all but ended, Devlin is kept from gloom and despair only by his unusual ward, a young man who is neither alive nor dead, but somewhere in between thanks to powerful magic. Powerful magic that someone seeks, someone who will stop at nothing to obtain the secrets that Devlin would die to protect.
My Review: I think this is one of the few Zombie stories I have read that I truly enjoyed. Mind you Midnight is not your typical brain-eating, rotting corpse type zombie. In fact it is this total uniqueness of Midnight that drives most of the story. The action is richly described and there is a little romance and plenty of odd characters to be entranced by. Would love to read more about them in other books.

Reviewing Office Toy by Cleo Peitsche

Office Toy (Office Toy #1)by Cleo Peitsche 1*
BLURB: Elle’s job interview starts with Cunningham throwing away her cheap clothes and sending his assistant to buy new outfits. He’s got her naked, so of course he’ll lay her out on the conference table and claim her mouth. Soon Elle is trussed up, all of her holes stretched full while three hot men have their wicked way.
She loves her first tastes of liberated, naughty sex. But she’d better not start falling for her boss—no matter how safe he makes her feel—because while office sex is encouraged, romance is strictly forbidden.
My Review:Complimentary Review Copy Provided by Publisher Through NetGalley . I'm afraid I very quickly got bored with this story. It started out alright and I was interested in Elle and why she was interviewing for a job (which is never actually named), that is until she went in for that interview and the whole thing turned into sex, sex, sex and no storyline at all. It would have been a lot better for the sex to have at least been toned down with a little background on the guys or a whole lot of world building to explain why her interview turned out the way it did. Unfortunately it read to me more like guy porn I've seen in mags like Fiesta or Mayfair. I would not recommend this to anyone who likes a good story with their sex scenes.