Currently Reading: Rock Stars, Vampires, Demons, and Maids

Source: Review copies provided by the publishers through NetGalley.

Are you feeling cheerful today? Here’s a bunch of mini doom-and-gloom reviews to help you with that.

Rock Addiction by Nalini Singh

I was very excited when Ms. Singh announced that she was publishing a Contemporary Romance, but this book was a disappointment that I couldn’t even finish.

A rock star falls in love with the virgin, skittish heroine the moment he first sees her. There is absolutely no reason why these two would want to be together, not even to have sex. The problem here wasn’t the trite tropes and contrived plot, though, but how incredibly half-baked the book was. Nalini Singh’s books are all about complex world-building and interesting characters, and at first I thought that the shortcuts she was taking were the product of bad PNR habits that didn’t translate well to a contemporary setting. But whereas the fated mates in the Psy/Changeling series are nuanced people who take time to develop a relationship, this book had two stock, flat characters getting together for superficial reasons in what ultimately was an underdeveloped story. I hear the second half gets better, but I seriously doubt it, because the groundwork just isn’t there.

Grade: DNF
Purchase: Amazon

Criminals and Heartbreakers

Image Source: Someecards

Jane’s insightful review of The Devil’s Game by Joanna Wylde sparked a though-provoking twitter conversation about cracktastic reads, reader consent, and violence in Contemporary Romance. I was happy just silently following the discussion, but lately, I’ve been thinking a lot about violence in contemporaries, so I thought I should share those thoughts --which are in no way fully formed-- with you today.

Is Anticipation the New Gratification?

Source: Someecards

I’m slowly reading Midwinterblood by Marcus Sedgwick. I first heard of it last week after it won the Printz award, although so far I can’t tell what makes it Young Adult. It’s been an interesting experience. I hit the buy button without even reading the whole blurb, and proceeded to be thoroughly freaked out by the first few pages. The ambiance of the book is dark and filled with foreboding and dread. It’s a weird but oddly compelling and well done book, and I’m not surprised that it's getting praise and awards.

The reason why I’m telling you this is because everything about the book is surprising and makes me feel like I’m discovering something new and secret. The complete lack of expectations enriches the reading experience. It’s a feeling I haven’t had in a while, because ever since I started blogging, I’m hyper aware of new books, old books and, especially, of upcoming books.

The Good, the Bad and the DNF: A Mixed Bag of Current Reads

I have been an inconsistent blogger, but I have been a steady reader. Here are some thoughts on a few recent reads.

Source: Not all the books are review copies, but let’s assume they are. 

Ripped by Sarah Morgan

This novella is a very good blend of Chick-Lit and a Harlequin Presents. It’s told from the heroine’s POV; a heroine who is a bit goofy and socially awkward, but instead of being an insecure mess, she’s a confident rocket scientist whose dresses have the misfortune of ripping open in front of people.  The hero is an intense Italian hunk all brooding and disapproving, but not entirely overbearing. See? Chick-Lit + Harlequin Presents. It may not sound appealing, but the result is a charming and funny story that I highly recommend, even if I my issues with the price remain.

Grade: 4
Sensuality: McSteamy
Purchase: Amazon

Review: Archangel’s Storm by Nalini Singh

Source: we received an e-ARC of the book from the publisher through NetGalley for review purposes.

Nalini Singh is special. I don’t know how she does it, but she has created two very distinct, complex worlds. I admit that the Psy/Changeling books are closer to my personal taste, but I find the Guild Hunter series very compelling, especially now that we get to see the world through a different set of characters. I’ve been intrigued by Jason since he first appeared in the previous books, and I’m happy to finally learn what makes him tick.

For those of you unfamiliar with the series, the Guild Hunter books take place in an alternate present where angels and vampires live among us in relative peace. Angels have their own society and rulers, and one archangel is in charge of each territory. Raphael, the ruler of North America, has been the protagonist of the first three books, but now we also get stories for some of his closer friends and protectors. Jason, with his dark wings and ability to blend and listen to the wind, is Raphael’s spymaster and our newest hero.

Joint Review: Tangle of Need by Nalini Singh

Today I’m over at Breezing Through buddy reviewing Tangle of Need by Nalini Singh with our friend and awesome blogger, nath.

Stop by and let us know your thoughts on the book and the series, theories about the future are encouraged. If you haven’t read the books you probably won’t understand a word we’re saying but stop by anyway, maybe you’ll feel like reading them afterwards!

I will be out for the rest of the week so I won’t be able to answer comments until Sunday. Have a fun week and if you’re in the US, happy Independence Day!

More Someecards here.

Review: Angels of Darkness (Anthology) by Nalini Singh, Ilona Andrews, Meljean Brook and Sharon Shinn

I wonder if angels have replaced vampires as the supernatural creatures of the moment. Lately there’s been an explosion of books about angels or with angel-like beings, and they seem to have taken the romance world by storm -or maybe these creatures have always been a popular subject and I’m just catching on-.  Whatever it is, it’s clear that they are here to stay and I’m glad because they make fascinating book characters, as this anthology clearly proves.

I’m not a huge fan of anthologies and it’s unusual for me to find one where I actually am familiar with all the authors involved (I haven’t read anything by Shinn but she has been on my TBR list for ages), which is the reason why I wanted to read this book.

Review: Archangel's Blade by Nalini Singh

Warning: the review has a huge spoiler, one of those that might ruin the book for you, so if you haven’t read the book or want to be surprised please don’t read it. I hid it as best I could but just in case you want to read the review and skip the spoiler be careful.

Confession time: I’m not really a fan of this series. I did like the first book but the only reason I kept reading the others was because the secondary characters were fantastic, and even though Elena and Raphael weren’t my favorites I loved everyone else, especially Dmitri. I was so happy when Nalini Singh announced that she was writing his book but now that I have finally read it I honestly don’t know how I feel about it. There were some amazing things about the book, but I was also a bit disappointed.

GIVEAWAY: Archangel's Blade by Nalini Singh

As you probably know we are HUGE fans of Nalini Singh. Since we can’t wait to read her new book Archangel’s Blade, we decided to throw a little giveaway because we have been waiting for this book ever since we first read about Dmitri and we want to share our excitement with all of you. 

If you want a chance to win it just leave a comment telling us which one would you rather be: vampire, angel or human? Leave the comment and fill in the form after the break, there are extra entries available if you want to increase your chances.

Synopsis:

Trying to discover the identity of a murder victim brings together the vampire Dmitri and a hunter for the Guild, Honor. And as the gruesome murders continue, a lethal sensuality explodes between them.

Archangel's Blade by Nalini Singh

Berkley. September 6, 2011.

Review: Kiss of Snow by Nalini Singh

Consider this review a spoilerfest, so if you haven’t read the book then please skip the review. You have been warned.

Kiss of Snow is the 10^th book in the Psy/Changeling series by Nalini Singh, and if you are a regular reader of our blog you know that I was anxiously waiting for it because I’m a bit of a fan-girl when it comes to Nalini.

I’m assuming that you are a fan of the series because if you are not then there is no point in starting with this book. Not only will you be lost and won’t know any of the characters, but most important you won’t be emotionally invested in them and that is the key element for a series to work, you need to care for the characters, but that is impossible if you don’t know them. So please go and read this series in order because you are missing out on something amazing.

Waiting on Wednesday: Kiss of Snow

All right folks! This is the big one. Since Kiss of Snow comes out next week I just wanted to feature it here because this is the most anticipated book of the year, at least it is for me.

Today I’m doing things a little bit different, instead of telling you a bit about the book, I’m going to tell you about my love story with Nalini Singh. Are you ready? Here it is:

It was a lone and rainy day about a year ago and I was bored. I went online to my favorite dating website Amazon.com. My dating record with Amazon was very successful. They introduced me to some of my old lovers like Nora Roberts, Julie Garwood, Linda Howard and Suzanne Brockmann (yes, I’m a bit slutty). That day I happen to notice a little book called Slave to Sensation, he was purple and it didn’t looked appealing but everyone talked about him like he was a stud. So I made a date with him and that was it, it was love at first page because once I read it, it took me less than a week to go through the rest of them (apparently I was horny).

Thanks to Nalini I’ve experience an arrange of emotions that when you put them together The result is something very similar to love: I fell in lust with Lucas, was charmed by Vaughn, wanted to be Brenna (because of Jude, not for the being tortured part), cried for Talin, was intrigued by Ashaya, wanted to be as strong as Mercy, was annoyed at Dev, was kept on the edge of my seat by Max and Sophia, and went on a wild ride with Andrew. See? Just like love!

I’m sure that my love affair will continue next week with Hawke and Sienna. I’ll be sure to let you know. Right now I’m just excited and counting the days!

If you haven’t read this series but are intrigued by all the talk about Kiss of Snow, my advice would be to go and read it in order. Is very complex and you will need the back story to really appreciate the book.  I’m sure you are going to love it, and the best part is that you won’t have to wait for Hawke’s book!

Since the moment of her defection from the PsyNet and into the SnowDancer wolf pack, Sienna Lauren has had one weakness. Hawke. Alpha and dangerous, he compels her to madness. 

Hawke is used to walking alone, having lost the woman who would've been his mate long ago. But Sienna fascinates the primal heart of him, even as he tells himself she is far too young to handle the wild fury of the wolf. 

Then Sienna changes the rules-and suddenly, there is no more distance, only the most intimate of battles between two people who were never meant to meet. Yet as they strip away each other's secrets in a storm of raw emotion, they must also ready themselves for a far more vicious fight... 

A deadly enemy is out to destroy SnowDancer, striking at everything they hold dear, but it is Sienna's darkest secret that may yet savage the pack that is her home-and the alpha who is its heartbeat.

Kiss of Snow by Nalini Singh

Berkley Hardcover. May 31, 2011.

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event hosted by Breaking the Spine that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.