Kiss of Snow

Title: Kiss of Snow
Author: Nalini Singh
Series: Psy-Changling (Book 10)
Genre: Paranormal



Sienna Lauren defected from the Psy-Net with the rest of her family. She is a cardinal X and no cardinal X has ever lived past an age of twenty-five. It looks like she's getting closer and closer to synergy, which will cause her to burst into flames and consume everything around her and herself.

Hawke is the alpha of SnowDancer and has been attracted to Sienna since she showed up in his territory. Unfortunately, she was too young then, and he think she's still too young. There is a large age gap between the two. Hawke also lost what he thought was going to be his mate at a young age and is sure that he could never mate.

There is more uproar between the Psy and Changelings and it comes down to a full scale war in San Fransisco and surrounding areas. Being Alpha, Hawke is right in the middle of it.

Hawke and Sienna did a lot of dancing around each other for the book and I loved their relationship. Every time I read another Changeling book, I am reminded of how much I love the series. Something about Hawke and Sienna's relationship really reminded me of my own relationship and I spent a majority of the book fading in between the two relationships. It was an entirely different type of reading experience. I don't know if it was something that author did that many will feel in the story, or how close their relationship seemed to hit to my own.

This was the story that I have been waiting for the most, and I was not disappointed. Time to wait until 2012 for the next book in the series. I mentioned in December that I had thought I missed book 8. Looking for it, I still don't see it in my blog. Oddly enough, it's sitting on my bookshelf and I can't remember if I read it or not but I feel like I did. Looks like a good way to fill the gap between now and 2012.

The Darkest Secret

Title: The Darkest Secret
Author: Gena Showalter
Series: Lords of the Underworld (Book 7)
Genre: Paranormal Romance



Amun is the keeper of Secrets. He doesn't speak because if he opened his mouth the secrets of the world would come streaming out. We do see this happen once to him in the story.

Recently Amun has come back from a trip to Hell (to save Legion) and has managed to somehow take in more minor demons while he was there. They are pretty much driving him insane. So much so, that he is rarely conscious and is trying to kill himself.

Strider catches Baden's killer (a hunter named Haidee/Hadiee) and brings her to the fortress. In his hurry to check on Amun, he puts Haidee in the room next to Amun, just until he can get her to the dungeon.

Haidee hears Amun's voice crying out in her mind and goes to him. It is found that she quiets the demons and makes him relatively normal. The Lords discover this, and decide to keep her around him for the time being.

Amun learns from an Angel that the only way to get the demons out would be to travel back to Hell. He and Haidee make that journey and learn much about one another.

A relatively simple story, although I did enjoy the twist about Haidee at the end. Aside from that, to me Defeat stole most of the story. Strider is somewhat the secondary story. He's being set up for the next novel (which I believe will be his). Something about Defeat and the way he constantly asks, "Win?" just makes me laugh.

Time to wait until September 27th for my favorite Demon.

Shadowfever

Title: Shadowfever
Author: Karen Marie Moning
Series: Fever (Book 5)
Genre: Paranormal Romance



As with all of the fever series, it is very hard to give a description of this book without any spoilers. Let's just say it was amazing, and answered every question that I had had.

Who is the Beast? Check.
What is Barrons? Check.
What is up with Mac and the Prophecies? Check.
How did the Book Escape? Check.
Who Killed Alina? Check.

And so many more. I had noticed previously a small scene that happened that had me thinking the beast was/wansn't a certain character. When the opposite of what I thought would happen happened, I wondered how that was. Well - that was answered too.

Every time you think you have your understanding of what is going on, you are side swiped and everything changes. As a reader, you learn things that same way Mac does and I really felt for her.

This was an emotional book with lots of twists and turns. I cried in the first two chapters, was fist pumping and yelling a few more later, I was in shock, I was in denial, I was frustrated, I was saddened, I wanted revenge, I was hit over the head and my jaw dropped. It all came through in the near 600 pages.

I was pleasantly surprised at the end, in the about the author note that it said she was currently working on a new series set in the fever world. Although I assume it won't center around Mac and Barrons (and I love them), but I am kind of excited to see where the world goes. I'm thinking perhaps it will be about Dani? Her story was left slightly open at the end. Unless it's a totally new character.

As the book says in it's last pages. The end.... ...for now.

Faefever

Title: Faefever
Author: Karen Marie Moning
Series: Fever (Book 3)
Genre: Paranormal



You can read about the first time I read Faefever here and the second time here.

Faefever fills in many blanks. This book of the series seems to answer a lot of questions and brings in a lot of information about the characters (but unfortunately, not Barrons) and the Fae stories. I felt like while I was rereading this, my eyes were opened once again. With the exception of the ending of Dreamfever and Mac's battle against becoming Pri-ya, I don't remember much of the story line.

I still feel like this is on a different level then the first two. Much like the Harry Potter series, that got dark and serious quite fast, Faefever does the same thing for the Fever series.

For some odd reason, I feel like I love Barrons way more this time around. Maybe because I've been doing my best to envision him the way he is portrayed instead of my own twisted way - and is he Hot.

Bloodfever

Title: Bloodfever
Author: Karen Marie Moning
Series: Fever (Book 2)
Genre: Paranormal (Romance?)


There is one major thought that is running through my mind as I reread these books. Who is the Beast (from Dreamfever). I feel like in Dreamfever it points to Barrons, but I feel like that will not be the best for the storyline and I feel like it's too obvious.

It's interesting that in Bloodfever there is a lot of mentions of full moons and rainy (well it IS Ireland) nights. Whenever the moon is full, Barrons isn't around, or Mac hears strange beastly noises from the underground vault.

I feel like the Darkfever and Bloodfever go together well with their story line encompassing Malluce. On some blogs, I've read that people think if this does go ahead and become a movie that the first two books will be made into a single movie.

Every time I read these I pick up more things that I connect to the later books. I love that I can do that, yet the story is not yet finished. I really think that these two books are kind of like the exposition to the Fever story. We are learning the major players and they are feeling each other out. Then in the next two books - all hell breaks loose.

Darkfever

Title: Darkfever
Author: Karen Marie Moning
Series: Fever Series (Book 1)
Genre: Paranormal/Romance



In anticipation of Shadowfever, I have started to reread (again) the Fever series. It has been a year and a half since I read the series last, and I want to be ready when the conclusion comes out.

You can see my previous reread post of Darkfever here and the original here. You can look for a description of the book there. I'll just post a few things that stuck out to me this time around.

I felt that the book seemed to be getting to the point where it seemed dated. It has a copyright of 2006. At one point Mac says that her cell phone doesn't have texting capabilities or a camera. What phone doesn't have those things in this day? I laughed a bit as I thought back to myself in 2006. I had a pink LG Chocolate phone and had just started texting. I did so little that I paid per text instead of having a plan. Compared to now, when I have a Droid. There was something else that also said dated to me, but I can't recall what it was.

Every time I reread a description of Barrons, I get a wake-up call. I don't know why, but I don't imagine him at what age he is described as. Darkfever puts him at about 30 and of course very attractive. For some reason, when I imagine Barrons I don't imagine him correctly. I think of him as a little older than that (well let's be realistic, we don't know much about Barrons, he could be over 100 for all we know). I know he has this sexual tension with Mac, and I don't envision him as unattractive, but I don't think of him as drop dead gorgeous either.

I did some searching online and he seems to be compared to Gerald Butler. I will remember that now.

I think this is one of my all time favorite series. I have a very light touch with my books. The spines are never broken, pages never bent. Pick up any of my books and they look brand new. They always have that stiff book feeling. I noticed while reading Dreamfever that my book has started to feel worn in. It is still in excellent condition, but the pages are a little less crisp, the book a little easier to open. It may be the most read book of my collection.

Time for Eternity

Title: Time for Eternity
Author: Susan Squires
Series: Da Vinci Time Travel Series (Book 1)
Genre: Paranormal Romance, Time Travel



Frankie is a vampire in the 21st century, she was made a vampire in the 18th century. Her maker was a vampire she thought herself in love with, but she didn't know what he was. She was made a vampire and then abandoned by him. This has caused her to always move on in life, never letting anyone get close. This has also made her hard and bitter. Frankie is working as a bartender when one night another vampire comes in and upon seeing/hearing Frankie's bitterness, let's Frankie know that she has a time machine which could let Frankie go back and fix her life. Although she doesn't 100% believe, Frankie decides to check it out and finds out it's real. She transports back to the time when she became a vampire.

To make things interesting, as soon as Frankie is anywhere near her 18th century self for the first time, she is sucked into the same body as her old self. This means that 18th century Francois, who has no idea about vampires and what she is there for has run of the body. She only hears a voice, which is Frankie. Francois thinks she's going a little crazy when she keeps hearing a voice telling her to kill Henri.

The Henri the second time around is nothing like the Henri that Frankie remembered. Henri dotes on Francois and the two fall in love with each other enough to risk their lives for one another. Their story is taking place while France is in an uproar and people are being mobbed and beheaded left and right. Francois learns of a kind Henri who does his best to make things right secretly.

It doesn't take too long for Frankie to realize that she is going to change the past, but not in the way she thought.

I have never read a book by Susan Squires, nor heard of her. I've been racking up a ridiculous amount of Border's Bucks lately and ran out of things to buy with them so I picked up this entire series.

I thought the story was perfectly matched between romance and the turmoil of France and Francois/Henri's involvement. I find that too often one is more focused on then the other and it can be either good or bad, but this was a fantastic blend.

The characters grew to have their own personalities and I thought I could smell cinnamon when Henri entered where I was reading. The passion between the two at times was red hot. I am all to excited to see where the series moves to next.

Spun By Sorcery

Title: Spun By Sorcery
Author: Barbara Bretton
Series: Sugar Maple Series (Book 3)
Genre: Paranormal/Contemporary Romance



After Chloe beat Isadora in Book 2, she and Luke are ready for a big, hot breakfast. Only problem is that they seem to have lost Sugar Maple. Their beloved town is no where to be found. The two and Janice start a trek to Salem to see if they can find any information on their missing town.

The idea is that since the Sugar Maple original townies were from Salem, that someone must have stayed behind and there must still be magic in Salem.

The roadtrip to Salem is anything but ordinary or safe. The trio have several near death experiences, which leads them to believe that they are indeed on the right track. When they finally arrive, things seem relatively normal and not very magic like, until everything seems to happen at once.

Luke finds some interesting information on a never aging resident of Salem, Chloe is attacked in an antique shop and Janice finds something a bit off about Penny. They figure out where Sugar Maple went, and start the epic battle to win back the town.

Although it was interesting to learn a bit more about the history of Aerynn and how Sugar Maple came to be, this book was missing the "magic" of Sugar Maple. It was almost a book about a roadtrip gone horribly wrong, without any humor. I can see how it may be an essential part to the series, but now that everyone is back in Sugar Maple, I can't wait for Book 4. Especially after the teaser at the end.

The Darkest Lie

Title: The Darkest Lie
Author: Gena Showalter
Series: Lords of the Underworld (Book 6)
Genre: Paranormal Romance


Gideon is the keeper of Lies. He cannot utter any truth without being overwhelmed by pain and incapacitated. It has gotten to the point where he cannot even call anyone by their name, because that indeed is a truth. Most of the Lords have gotten use to "Gideon Speak." They know he means exactly the opposite of what he is saying. Gideon can also tell if what anyone is saying is truth or lie.

Scarlet is the keeper of Nightmares. She cannot be awake during the daytime, as soon as the day hits she falls into a sleep that she cannot be woken from until it is nighttime again. While she is asleep, Scarlet visits others in their dreams and gives them nightmares, which satisfies her demon.

Gideon has tattoos of a pair of eyes, lips and the phrase "To part is to die." These things haunt him in his dreams and he gets the feeling that it is someone that he should know. Everything connects when Scarlet is captured by the Lords and thrown in their dungeon. Gideon meets her and knows she is the one he dreams of. Scarlet then drops the bomb on him that they were/are married. Gideon has no idea how he cannot remember her, but he is drawn to her none the less.

He decides he's going to "kidnap" Scarlet so they can learn each other and he can learn the information she is hiding. It drives him nuts that she has memories of him that he cannot remember. The two have to work together against the Gods and Hunters.

Initially I had a difficult time with this book, having to read everything twice. Once in Gideon Speak, then thinking about it and translating it to what he really meant. After I was a bit into the book, however, I didn't notice anymore. There even becomes one part where Gideon is able to speak the truth without being in pain. I was amazed at the skill used for this part of the book, I could immediately see a different Gideon, one who wasn't weighed down by the need to lie.

There are so many twists and turns to this story, which I guess reflects on the story being about lies. I never really felt a pull toward Gideon, but as usual, this story was written in a way where I became emotionally invested in his well being. I loved learning that his demon (Lies) is a female.

Next up in the series is Amun, keeper of Secrets story. The Darkest Secret is currently set to be released March 2011.

Goddess of Spring

Title: Goddess of Spring
Author: P.C. Cast
Series: Goddess Summoning (Book 2)
Genre: Paranormal Romance


Carolina is a middle aged bakery owner who just found out she owes the IRS a lot of money. She's decided to do something to expand her bakery to make more money to pay them off. She finds a Goddess Cookbook and follows the ritual, which includes making a offering to a Goddess, to make a new type of pizza. Near the end of this ritual a Narcissus grows on a tree. Lina smells it and is whisked away to trade places with Persephone.

Persephone needs to grow up and her Mother has concocted the plan of Lina and Persephone switching places for 6 months. Lina wall travel to the Underworld to bring joy to the undead while Persephone will try and breathe new life into the bakery.

The story then follows pretty much only Lina and her Underworld Adventures. On her way to meet Hades, she meets a young spirit who she adopts as a keeper of sorts. Then she meets Hades.

Who would have thought that he could be a romantic love interest? And a fabulous one at that. This book blew me away. I had gotten it from the library once, but returned it before I read it. Boy, I didn't know what I was missing. Hades is a majorly lovable (yet often gruff) character. So many interactions between he and Lina made me laugh out loud, or sometimes burn with lust. I also enjoyed all the contractions that were made from the mythology stories that I already knew.

Midnight's Master

Title: Midnight's Master
Author: Cynthia Eden
Series: Midnight (Book 3)
Genre: Paranormal Romance


Niol is a level 10 demon and pretty much the biggest bad ass in town. He's also the owner of Paradise, an Other bar that has come up often in the other books in the series. He's not particularly proud of the life he's lived, but he's had to do what he's had to do.

Holly Storm is a reporter, who knows about the Others and uses many of them for sources. She's drawn to Niol and is aware of the less than stand up things he's done in the past, but he's also saved her life several times. Things start to go sour for Holly when her sources start getting murdered.

Holly and Niol decide to team up to find this demon killer. They "pretend" to be dating, even though they pretty much really are. It works to both of their advantages being able to get into places they otherwise would not. Not surprisingly, the killer turns their attentions to Niol and Holly.

Cynthia Eden is just such a hot writer. Her scenes between the main characters simply sizzle and this was another book that was finished in one sitting. I had no trouble jumping right back in, even though I've been waiting for my library to get this book for over a year.

I loved the relationship between Niol and Holly, they didn't want to be attracted to each other, but didn't fight it either. They let things take a natural course.

The Darkest Passion

Title: The Darkest Passion
Author: Gena Showalter
Series: Lords of the Underworld (Book 5)
Genre: Paranormal Romance



Aeron is the keeper of Wrath. Whenever he meets someone he sees the bad things they've done in the past and wants to punish them in the same (or similar) way that they've hurt someone else. If he comes across a wife beater, he wants to beat them to death. A womanizer who has broken many hearts, he wants to slice their heart into pieces. This makes it difficult for him to be with women because he wants to punish them all.

Aeron has an "adopted daughter," Legion. She is a small demon creature that is bound to Aeron. He cherishes her and does everything he can to keep her happy, including decorating his room in pink and lace. Legion is the one "person" who his demon seems to accept. Unfortunately, she is a little possessive of Aeron and can hurt everyone by the poison that drips from her teeth.

Lately Aeron has been feeling a presence watching him. Legion has left due to this presence that she tells him is an angel. Little does Aeron know, but this angel has been sent to kill him because he has helped Legion escape from hell. Fortunately for Aeron, this angel has strong feelings for him and has chosen to fall from Heaven and loose her wings so that she can be with him and not have to kill him. The only problem with this is that another angel is going to be sent in her place.

The angel's name is Olivia. She is pure as angels should be and has had to literally claw her way up from hell to find Aeron. Aeron feels drawn to her, but doesn't want to like her due to too may complications. If he's with Olivia, Legion cannot come back, he has been threatened by another angel with death if he soils Olivia. On top of all this, there is still the normal Hunter business to deal with and looking for the artifacts.

Wow. I think this is one of the best books I've read all year. I always forgot how much I love this series (and the author in general) until I pick them up again. Her scenes are so vibrant and her love scenes so steamy. She introduces you to the characters in the perfect way where you don't feel overwhelmed by the amount of them. (Unlike The Sword, which I also read recently)

I feel so connected to the characters, even the ones that are not the main character for this particular book. I cannot wait to read Paris' story, especially after the little tidbit at the end of this book. I feel like he is such a tormented sweetheart. I also cannot wait to read Gideon's Story (The Darkest Lie - up next).

Goddess of the Sea

Title: Goddess of the Sea
Author: P.C. Cast
Series: Goddess Summoning (Book 1)
Genre: Paranormal Romance


Christine Canady (CC) has an okay life. She isn't overly attractive, nor ugly. She is a Sargent for the US Air Force, but lives alone. Her parents have forgotten her birthday as has her best friend. To top it all off she's about to be deployed to Saudi Arabia and has to take several planes. She hates to fly.

Her life dramatically changes when the cargo plane she is traveling on crash lands in the Mediterranean Ocean. There she meets a Mermaid and is kind of tricked into changes bodies and lives with her.

CC now finds her self being called Princess Undine. She is the daughter of Gaea, Goddess of Earth and Lir (think Poseidon), God of the Sea. Her half brother is lusting over her and tries to rape her. When Gaea finds this out she decides to send Undine/CC to live temporarily on land. CC must return to the sea every 3 days to turn into a mermaid else she will die. If she finds true love on land, she will be able to petition her father for the ability to keep her legs and live on land with her true love.

The only flaw to this plan is that she falls in love with a handsome merman, Dylan. Although it isn't as easy as that with her half brother constantly interfering.

This was a bit Little Mermaid meets Splash in my opinion but I loved every minute of it. I picked it up because it is by the same (well one of the same) authors as the House of Night series. There were several times when I just sat there reading with my jaw dropped. It was not short on action or surprising me. I cannot wait to pick up Goddess of the Spring, the next in the series. Simply Fantastic!

Tales of the Otherworld

Title: Tales of the Otherworld
Author: Kelley Armstrong
Series: Women of the Otherworld Accompaniment
Genre: Paranormal



There were several short stories packed into this book. Some better then others. I'm not entirely sure what Kelley Armstrong was trying to achieve in this book. I know they are her e-serials packaged together in a book form, but some of the stories were so short and without real plot that I wasn't sure why they even really exist.

Rebirth
A mere 18 pages in length, I thought this was definitely one of the weaker stories. Told from the point of view of Aaron, we learn about his brief struggle with being a vampire in the first year of his life and how he met Cassandra. Decent for a little character building, but really doesn't explain the relationship that they have now.

Bewitched
Told from Eve's point of view, this was one of the better stories. I feel like we know little about Eve, especially her life. I enjoyed learning how she and Kristof got together and how Savannah came about. A real eye opening to Savannah's relationship with her actual "grandfather" who refuses to acknowledge her.

Birthright
Logan has been dead for as long as I can remember in the series. We know he was a good friend of Elena's and that she was upset when he died. This is another quickie, where we learn where Logan came from and how he came to be part of the pack. I personally always love a good pack story.

Beginnings
The longest story and I am happy to say the best. Told from both Clay and Elena's point of view we get to learn how they met. Their entire story is told from the time when they didn't know each other to the point where Elena is bitten. A beautiful prequel to Bitten.

Expectations
Another quickie at 14 pages that in my opinion falls flat. Lucas hears out a man who wants him to steal a grimoire because it is in the hands of a witch. Logan does so and ends up meeting Eve, who he is stealing from.

Ghosts
The shortest of them all at 10 pages, we get a brief look into Jeremy's mind.

Wedding Bell Hell
Lucas and Paige meet and eventually get married in the series, but we never actually get to be part of the series. This remedies that and is quite humorous.

The Cast of El Chupacabra
The second longest in the series and only okay by my standards. It encompasses several known characters: Savannah, Sean, Paige, Lucas, Cassandra and more. A murder mystery surrounding Vampires and Chupacabra.

Having LOVED the Men of the Otherworld I was very excited by this and thought that overall it did not live up to my expectations. However, it was a nice way to keep my mind fresh with the characters while waiting for the next story in the installment.

The Phoenix Charm

Title: The Phoenix Charm
Author: Helen Scott Taylor
Series: The Magic Knot (Book 2)
Genre: Paranormal Romance



Michael, Niall's twin brother from The Magic Knot, is a quick talking ladies man. His charm just draws the women to him. Although she wouldn't like to be as entranced by him as she is, Cordelia can't seem to get him out of her mind.

Michael and Cordelia are left in charge while Niall, the pisky King, and his wife (From the Magic Knot) are on vacation. Things go awry when one of Niall's twin sons is kidnapped and locked in the Underworld.

Michael and Cordelia have to learn to work together and rely on each other more than either of them are use to to get the son back. They travel to the Underworld and learn many things about each other and those they love.

As with The Magic Knot, I liked some of the magical references, such as the Magic Knot. I found it interesting that Cordelia was bonded to a cat in mind and soul. I enjoyed this story more than the Magic Knot, but still don't think that it was too spectacular. Something about the world that was created didn't totally capture my attention and sometimes I felt confused about things.

If there is a next book in the series, I'll probably read it to see where the story goes, but so far both of the books in this series were semi-difficult to get through.

The Amazon's Curse

Title: The Amazon's Curse
Author: Gena Showalter
Series: Atlantis Series (Book 4)
Genre: Paranormal Romance



Zane, a vampire and Nola, an Amazon, met while they were thrown together in The Vampire's Bride. The two seemed drawn to each other and we saw a little of their story.

This book takes place months after The Vampire's Bride. Delilah is pregnant and living happily with Layel. Nola is living out her curse from the Gods. She cannot be seen, heard or felt and is attached to the Amazon camp. Zane is also living out his curse as a slave to the Amazons.

Nola confesses to Zane things about how she feels about him (even though initially he cannot hear it). Every times he confesses something she gets something back. He is able to see her, hear her, eventually touch her and the final piece is when she is able to leave the Amazon camp.

The two have a whirlwind romance. Seem to fall in love too quickly and everything is tied up too fast.

This book is only available in digital format. I have come across that in the past but have never had a digital reader before. Now that I do - this was the first time I was able to read it and I was excited. The excitement didn't last - the story wasn't long enough and you never get to really know and feel for the characters. It was merely lukewarm.

The Vampire's Bride

Title: The Vampire's Bride
Author: Gena Showalter
Series: Atlantis Series (Book 3)
Genre: Paranormal Romance



Layel is the king of the vampires. He has already found his mate - but she was brutally raped and murdered, as well as their unborn child, by the Dragons. Needless to say Layel is set on revenge. For the past 200 years he has been trying to wipe out the entire Dragon race.

Delilah is an Amazon - a woman warrior who only takes a man during mating season and then casts him out never to see him again. Unfortunately for Delilah, this is not the type of person who wants this. She is contemplating breaking all of the rules set for her and her sisters of race to find true love.

The two are thrown together with a large cast of characters for the amusement of the gods. Ever since Poseidon meddled in Atlantis's business in book 3, the rest of the Gods are realizing that Atlantis could be interesting and want to have some fun with it too. The Gods decide that they should hold a competition - each God choosing a race and then setting them to compete against each other. The God who chose the winning race gets Atlantis.

2 from each race: Amazons, Demons, Dragons, Vampires, and some lesser races. There are 2 teams, each made up of 1 from each race. They then compete. The loosing team has to vote someone off and that someone gets beheaded. The winning team is given something positive - usually food.

Layel and Delilah are on separate teams and it is interesting to watch the two try and help each other while still helping their teams. There is a lot of jealousy between this couple.

Another interesting romp through a world full of supernaturals. It kind of reminded me of all the reality TV that we have. A paranormal Survivor of some sort. After each of the battles that the Gods have been throwing at the teams, I felt that the final battle was a little anti-climatic. I felt that the ending happened too fast and then BAM! the book was over. All of a sudden the Gods show up and start teleporting this person here and that person there. I felt that there also was little in the way of conflict. Sure Layel felt like he was betraying his previous mate - but we know they're going to end up together in the end.

Perhaps this is contradictory because in The Nymph King I mentioned how the book doesn't always need an elaborate plot. Maybe I just can't read two of those in a row.

Gena Showalter remains one of my favorite paranormal authors, but I did think this was one of her weaker series. Didn't mean that I enjoyed it any less though.

The Nymph King

Title: The Nymph King
Author: Gena Showalter
Series: Atlantis Series (Book 3)
Genre: Paranormal Romance



The Nymph King, Valerian, has noticed that his men are running low on energy. The only way to bring it back up is through sex. They are awaiting a invasion by the Dragons and there are no women around. Valerian gives some of his men the okay to go to the surface through the portal and bring some of the women back to Atlantis.

All but 2 are willing. Shaye and Brenna. Neither of them fall so easily under the Nymphs' spell as the rest of the women. But both are to be mated to different Nymphs - not that they can stop that from happening.

Shaye is afraid of love. She hasn't had the best family relationship and is afraid to let Valerian in. Brenna has been physically hurt by another man is afraid of letting another in.

I felt like this book was full of sex. If not being had, then definitely being talked about or lust after. The plot...was a little lacking, but in my opinion watching the Valerian and Shaye fight it out made up for that. I don't always feel like I need a extremely intricate plot.

Jewel of Atlantis

Title: Jewel of Atlantis
Author: Gena Showalter
Series: Atlantis Series (Book 2)
Genre: Paranormal Romance



Gray is sent by the OBI (Otherworld Bureau of Investigation) to Atlantis to find and potentially destroy the Jewel of Dunamis. He is in a world where being a human means that he's on just about everyone's to kill list. He's trying to save himself Dragons, Vampires, Demons, Mermen and everyone else.

While trying to save himself he hears the voice of a beautiful (so he guesses) woman who helps lead him to safety. As a thank you he goes and rescues her from the Demon Queen and the two are soon on the run.

Soon after we are bombarded with odd happenings between the two, but we never really learn why. Jewel (the woman, who happens to also be the Jewel of Dunamis) can hear everyone's thoughts as well as influence what they are thinking. She can originally do that with Gray as well, but soon no longer can. I was hoping we would find out why, but we never did. There was also a point where Gray could hear her thoughts, but that was short lived and also never explained.

Gray is bitten/scratched by both a Vampire and a Demon and starts to take on characteristics of them both, which makes for interesting fights and survival for he and Jewel. The two have a slightly disappointing story between them. They both have dreamed of each other, but alas, we never learn why that is either.

The story seems to be them fighting off everyone and never really getting a chance to work on their connection. Perhaps this is why Gray was able to walk away so easily in the end...another irritant of mine.

Overall an okay book, I'll continue to read the series. I was also disappointed to see that this book and the first one in the series really only had the connection that they were set in the same world. We don't see a crossover of characters until the very end. I like being able to keep an eye on characters past and see how they are doing, and wasn't given the chance to really do that in this one.

Heart of the Dragon

Title: Heart of the Dragon
Author: Gena Showalter
Series: Atlantis Series (Book 1)
Genre: Paranormal Romance



Grace is roaming around the Amazon jungle looking for her missing brother. Things aren't going so well, her guide abandoned her and she is basically out of food and water. She does, however, still have the dragon necklace he gave her. Little does she know, that the combination of her necklace and place in the jungle will transport her to the mythical land of Atlantis.

Atlantis isn't all mermaids and beauty, but dragon changelings, vampires, and all sorts of other "nasty" mythical beings. Darius, is not only a dragon changeling, but a keeper of the mist. Every time a human comes through the mist, he is required to kill them to keep Atlantis a secret. He has closed himself off to everything, he only sees black and white, has no sense of taste, smell, ect. He is a killing machine and the head of his soldiers.

Then Grace comes tumbling into his world. He immediately notices her red hair - what? Color! He is drawn to her in the most incredible way and eventually learns that she is tied up, unintentionally, with the other humans who have camptured her brother and killed many in Atlantis. Together the two must save Atlantis.

I love the idea of bringing someone who doesn't know our world into it and having to explain everything to them. Darius having his first Chocolate Eclair (Yum!) and getting a glimpse of NYC, to me is just fantastic. I really enjoyed this world that has been created.

On a side note - this is the first book I have read totally on my Sony Reader. I received one for Christmas, but have been too busy reading the other physical books that have been in line on my shelf first. I purchased this series as a bundle (because I do enjoy Gena Showalter) and am not disappointed at all. I love my new reader!