Paranormal Romance Month Review: A Quick Bite by Lynsay Sands (Argeneau Vampires #1)

Publisher - Avon Books
Publication Date - 10th February 2006
Paperback - 384 pages
Genre - Paranormal Romance

Source - Library

Rating - 3 out of 5: I liked it

Book Info - That hot guy tied to Lissianna Argeneau’s bed? He’s not dessert – he’s the main course!

Lissianna has been spending her centuries pining for Mr. Right, not just a quick snack, and this sexy guy she finds in her bed looks like he might be a candidate. But there’s another, more pressing issue: her tendency to faint at the sight of blood… an especially annoying quirk for a vampire. Of course it doesn’t hurt that this man has a delicious-looking neck. What kind of cold-blooded vampire woman could resist a bite of that?

Dr. Gregory Hewitt recovers from the shock of waking up in a stranger’s bedroom pretty quickly – once he sees a gorgeous woman about to treat him to a wild night of passion. But is it possible for the good doctor to find true love with a vampire vixen, or will he be just a good meal? That’s a question Dr. Greg might be willing to sink his teeth into… if he can just get Lissianna to bite.

My Thoughts - I had mixed feelings about this book whilst reading it. I think I’ll start off by mentioning a couple of the things that I wasn’t keen on. Firstly, not much happens in this book. It definitely lacks pace and for quite a large chunk of the book I was wondering when something was actually going to happen. Secondly, the mystery part of the novel wasn’t that strong as I was able to guess from the beginning who was after Lissianna and Greg and this kind of spoiled the ending for me as there was no surprise twist to make things interesting.

Now, onto the good stuff. I really liked the explanation of what vampires are and how they came into existence. For me, this was a very new idea and completely different to any other vampire novels I have read in the past. I also really liked the style of writing – it was easy to read and very funny in places.

Lissianna is a great character who I really liked. She is kind, intelligent and is always willing to put other people first. Greg is another great character who is incredibly likeable. However, I found it a bit difficult to believe that a man who was being held captive by a group of vampires would be more concerned with getting one of them into bed than with trying to escape. I loved all of the character is Lissianna’s family and they helped to provide many of the funny moments during the course of this book.

Summary - Despite the not-so-good points that I mentioned, I did enjoy the book quite a lot and I will be looking for the other books in the series.

Other books in this series:
1. A Quick Bite
2. Love Bites
3. Single White Vampire
4. Tall Dark and Hungry
5. A Bite to Remember
6. Bite Me If You Can
7. The Accidental Vampire
8. Vampires are Forever
9. Vampire, Interrupted
10. The Rogue Hunter
11. The Immortal Hunter
12. The Renegade Hunter
13. Born to Bite
14. Hungry for You
15. The Reluctant Vampire

Other reviews of this book:
Fangs for the Fantasy / Under the Covers / Yummy Men and Kick Ass Chicks

Paranormal Romance Month Review: Archangel's Kiss by Nalini Singh (Guild Hunter #2)

Publisher - Gollancz
Publication Date - 4th March 2010
Paperback - 336 pages
Genre - Paranormal Romance

Source - Purchased

Rating - 4 out of 5: I really liked it!

Book Info - Welcome to a dark new world where lethal, beautiful archangels hold sway over immortals and mortals both, with the Guild Hunters caught in between, tasked with retrieving those vampires who break their contracts with their angelic masters.

Elena Deveraux is a Guild Hunter. She was hired to do the impossible – to hunt down a rogue Archangel – and she succeeded where none had believed she could. But in the process, she fell in love. And not just with anyone: with the Archangel Raphael. It a love that’s as powerful, entrancing and incredible as it is terrifying, and dangerous. But the world won’t stand still while Elena and Raphael enjoy their new-found love. Vampires and angels still go rogue, and it’s still Elena’s job to hunt them down, and return them to their angelic masters. For all that she is exceptional, Elena isn’t invulnerable – and the more obvious her talents become, the bigger a target she could find herself…

My Thoughts - This book continues on from where the first book in the series, Angels’ Blood, left off. If you haven’t read Angels’ Blood then I would advise reading that one first as it will be difficult to completely understand the events in Archangel’s Kiss if you do not read the series in order.

Once again, the romance between Elena and Raphael made for very interesting reading. Elena was a strong and independent woman when she was human, and nothing has changed at all now that she is an angel. She still has trouble obeying Raphael and she prefers dealing with her troubles on her own rather than leaning on her archangel lover. Raphael, on the other hand, is used to being completely in control, so he finds Elena’s independence quite hard to deal with at times. But because of their love for each other they are willing to work hard to try and find a compromise. Also, there is a huge amount of chemistry between these two that will leave most readers feeling a bit hot and bothered!

Although most of the story is told from Elena’s point of view, there are parts told by Raphael and this adds a whole new dimension to the story. Raphael has a tough outer shell that comes from being one of the most powerful archangels around. But the parts of the story written from his viewpoint allow the reader to see exactly how he feels about Elena. He loves her above all else and will do all he can to protect her. The reader also sees that Raphael has a vulnerable side as we get to see the intense fear he feels whenever Elena is in danger or is hurting.

The action/mystery aspects of the novel are gripping and make it a page-turning read, however, at times I found the book to be slightly confusing due to the sheer number of minor characters involved. A lot of names are thrown around whilst trying to find out who is behind the threats towards Elena without many reminders as to who these people are. So I ended up spending quite a bit of time trying to remember if the character in question is archangel/angel/vampire/human and which side they belong to.

Summary - Overall, I loved this story with its interesting mix of unusual angel/vampire mythology, romance, action and mystery. I would recommend this series to all Paranormal Romance fans.

Other books in this series:
1. Angels' Blood
2. Archangel's Kiss
3. Archangel's Consort
4. Archangel's Blade

Other reviews of this book:
Book Chick City / Dear Author / Feeling Fictional / Love Vampires

Guest Post and Giveaway with Author Dani Harper! (GIVEAWAY NOW CLOSED)

Today I have the pleasure of welcoming author Dani Harper who will be telling us all about her paranormal romce series. At the end of her guest post she will also be giving you the details of a fantastic giveaway that she is hosting here at Once Upon a Series. So don't be shy, give Dani a warm welcome and don't forget to enter the giveaway!

Changelings 101 - not your mother's werewolves

Hi, I’m Dani Harper and in my new paranormal series from Kensington-Brava, I’ve created a world in which wolfen shapeshifters live as humans among us, hiding in plain sight. Extremely long-lived and very strong, they call themselves Changelings and they regard their innate ability to become a wolf at will as a gift.

Each story revolves around a member of the Macleod family. Driven from Scotland two centuries ago when wolves were being exterminated there, these Changelings found sanctuary in the wilds of northern Canada. An entire community has since sprung up around them and the Macleods and their pack are part of the human community. But there’s just enough unspoiled forest left for them to joyfully run as wolves whenever they please. They seem to have the best of both worlds – but there are still dangers lurking for their kind. And love, when it arrives, brings dangers and complications of its own.

There are 2 immutable laws in the Changeling world:

1. Never harm a human

2. Never turn a human against their will

The wolf within, however, has its own set of primal rules. If a Changeling’s life is in danger, the wolf will emerge to defend it. The wolf will also rise, unbidden, to defend a mate at all costs. And Changelings mate for life.

HOW TO RECOGNIZE A CHANGELING

Changelings in their lupine form are attractive. Graceful and swift, they stand on all fours like natural wolves. Aha, you say, then how do you tell a Changeling from a real wolf? Easy. Changelings are much bigger. And while their fur color seldom corresponds to the color of their human hair, their eyes never change.

Stealthy as a ghost, a Changeling is intent on guarding his secret identity. Humans are unlikely to ever encounter him in his wolfen persona. Unless of course you’ve been foolish enough to endanger him, his pack or (worst of all) his mate. Yes, Changelings have rules they choose to live by, but that doesn’t mean they’re tame!

As for recognizing a Changeling when he’s on two legs? Not going to happen. They may run on four feet in their free time but they choose to live as humans. They have jobs, pay bills, drive cars … they could be your neighbor, your boss, your banker. The only thing that’s certain is that you will never, ever know. But don’t worry. Thanks to the rules, a Changeling will never harm humans unless he turns rogue. And that’s only happened once. So far….

THE CHANGELING BOOKS

There are 3 books in the series at present (and by the way, each has been written to stand alone). Changeling Moon focuses on Connor Macleod. Changeling Dream is about James Macleod, the oldest of the siblings. And my newest release, Changeling Dawn is about the youngest Macleod, Kenzie. Here’s the blurb:

Kenzie Macleod has spent her whole life hiding the fact that she's a werewolf. She's not about to open up to any man, even one as powerfully attractive as wildlife expert Josh Talarkoteen. But legend says that a Changeling cannot escape the call of her true mate, even in the wilderness of backcountry Alaska. An isolated archaeological site, a terrified Changeling cub, a shadowy research facility - as Kenzie and Josh face the ultimate betrayal, his obsidian eyes promise untold pleasure and hint at dark secrets of his own...

For more information, reviews and excerpts of each of my novels, check out my website!

WHERE TO FIND DANI HARPER

Website / Facebook / Twitter / Newsletter / Blog

DANI'S GIVEAWAY FOR READERS (GIVEAWAY NOW CLOSED)
I love to talk books and I love to give away prizes! So name one or more of your favorite paranormal or urban fantasy series authors. (I love Patricia Briggs, Karen Chance, Jeaniene Frost and Keith Hearne myself!) A name will be drawn at random from the commenters on Feb. 21st . The winner will receive a signed copy of my new release, Changeling Dawn, and a “Dani Harper” tote bag to put it in. PS – the giveaway is International!

Paranormal Romance Month Review: Eternal Kiss by Laura Wright (Mark of the Vampire #2)

Publisher - Piatkus
Publication Date - 5th January 2012
Paperback - 320 pages
Genre - Paranormal Romance

Source - Received from publisher for review

Rating - 3 out of 5: I liked it

Book Info - His father unknown, his mother dead, Nicholas Roman was raised by the vampire Breed with one wish: to live as a normal vampire. But when he's transformed against his will into a gifted immortal, Nicholas has one goal: to stop the Eternal Order of vampires from controlling his life. Then comes a beautiful stranger with a startling secret.

Vampire Kate Everborne claims she's sheltering Nicholas's long lost son. If this is true, then who is the mother? And how endangered are they if, indeed, Nicholas does possess the bloodline so coveted by the Order? These are questions that with every seductive whisper and every silken touch draw Nicholas and Kate intimately closer, and nearer still to the truth.

Review - I hadn't heard of this author or series before being sent this book for review, and I became very intrigued by it after reading the blurb. And I will admit that Eternal Kiss provides a fairly unique take on a subject that has been done a lot.

I really enjoyed the world building in this book around the different classes of vampire. There are Purebloods and Impurebloods (human/vampire halfbreeds) and they are all controlled by the Eternal Order - a group of ten Purebloods who punish any vampires who break the rules and who keep their existence hidden from the humans. Also there is a breeding male who can impregnate any female vampire at will and who is kept in a cage at all times as his desire to reproduce is uncontrollable.

I instantly fell into the world that the author describes but I did have a bit of trouble with some of the language. The author has created some words in a new language that the vampires use and it isn't always necessarily clear what they mean during reading (eg. Balas = vampire child / Paven = male vampire of pureblood / Veana = female vampire of Pureblood. And this is just a small selection). A glossary is provided at the start of the book but it can definitely affect the flow of reading when you have to keep flicking to the front of the book to find out what a word means. But I got to grips with these words after the first few chapters so I was then able read on quite happily and I felt that it did add to the world created by the author.

I really liked the two main characters. Kate is fearless and always does the right thing even if it brings trouble to her doorstep. And Nicholas is very sexy in an overbearing Alpha male kind of way. There are descriptions of some tragic things that happened in his past and, although they made for uncomfortable reading and added a very dark tone to the story, it made me understand him so much better.

There is a lot of chemistry between the two of them which doesn't feel forced at all like it can in some paranormal romance novels. Vampires each have a True Mate who they are destined to be with and they share the same mark somewhere on their bodies. Kate and Nicholas are True Mates but I loved the fact that their feelings started to develop before they even realised they were destined for each other. It just made the romance feel a lot more real to me.

My biggest problem with the book was the overuse of a certain four lettered C-word during some of the more intimate moments. This is a personal peeve as it is a word that I really don't like and it kept on distracting me from what was happening on the page. I can see how it fit in with the tone of the story, which is very dark, but I just wish the author could have occasionally used another word for that part of the body.

Summary - Despite this complaint, I am still very intrigued by the world of the Roman brothers and I am hoping to read the next book in the series, Eternal Captive, very soon and I may even go back and read the first book that I missed, Eternal Hunger.

Other books in this series:
1. Eternal Hunger
2. Eternal Kiss
2.5. Eternal Blood
3. Eternal Captive

Other reviews of this book:
A Bookworm's Haven / Good Choice Reading / Leontine's Book Realm

Paranormal Romance Month Review: The Darkest Fire by Gena Showalter (Lords of the Underworld #0.5)

Publisher - Mira Books
Publication Date - 16th April 2010
Paperback - 80 pages (this is a novella that is included in Dark Beginnings)
Genre - Paranormal Romance

Source - Purchased

Rating - 4 out of 5: I really liked it

Book Info - He is the guardian of hell, more monster than man.

She is the goddess of oppression, more angel than woman.

Together they will enter the flames to battle a horde of demon lords -- and discover a passion unlike any other...

Discover the origin of the dimOuniak and the demon spirits trapped within.

My Thoughts - The Darkest Fire is a novella that explains the origins of the Lord of the Underworld series. It tells the story of Geryon, the demon who is tasked with guarding the gates of Hell, and Kadence, the Goddess of Oppression, who has to make daily checks of the walls of Hell to make sure they are secure. They have to work together to ensure that a group of demon lords do not escape from Hell.

It is an enjoyable short story that gives a good background to the story of the Lords of the Underworld series. Geryon, despite being a demon, comes across as a very likeable character - he saves Kadence's life and he obviously takes his job incredibly seriously. Kadence seems very unsure of herself and it's not until later on in this story that she gains in strength and confidence.

There is a lot of chemistry between these two characters, but the romance between them is sweet and tender. The author's writing style had me hooked from the start and I really enjoyed the way she described the interactions between Geryon and Kadence. The ending is very heart-warming and leads nicely onto the first novel in the series.

Summary - Although it's not essential to read this story to fully understand what is happening in the other books in the series, I highly recommend it anyway. A very sweet love story set in the depths of Hell sounds like it shouldn't work at all - but it really does!

Other books in this series:
0.5. The Darkest Fire
1. The Darkest Night
2. The Darkest Kiss
3. The Darkest Pleasure
3.5. The Darkest Prison
4. The Darkest Whisper
5. The Darkest Passion
6. The Darkest Lie
7. The Darkest Secret
8. The Darkest Surrender

Other reviews of this book:
Dear Author / The Babbling Bookworm / The Wormhole