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romancejunkie1025's review
3.0
I was sorely disappointed in this story. I really loved Cameron's City of Angels series so i was hoping this one would like up to those same expectations.
However this story was just not realistic.
There was way too many different beings, all with very little explanation of what and why they were they was they are. It was confusing, all over the place and too much.
Th romance was greatly lacking as well. There was no relationship building, and very little intimate contact until the very end.
Maybe it was just that i had such high expectations and the book just didn't live up, but im not even sure if ill read the next one in this series. Glad i rented from the library instead of buying.
However this story was just not realistic.
There was way too many different beings, all with very little explanation of what and why they were they was they are. It was confusing, all over the place and too much.
Th romance was greatly lacking as well. There was no relationship building, and very little intimate contact until the very end.
Maybe it was just that i had such high expectations and the book just didn't live up, but im not even sure if ill read the next one in this series. Glad i rented from the library instead of buying.
shannon_cocktailsandbooks's review
3.0
This first book in the Chimney Rock series puts a slightly different spin on the paranormal world. Werehounds like on the outskirts of the human world hoping to one day gain their humanity and the ability to live amongst them. Werewolves are fighting them, desperate to gain dominance over the Wedbey Island were they all reside. Throw in some vampires and Fae and you have the setting
Niles Latimer is Alpha of the werehounds. He's haunted by the past and what his team did in the name of the United States in the Middle East. But he's been given new hope for himself and his pack when he finds out he has a true mate in the widow of one of the residents of Chimney Rock Cove. This mate means a lot to his pack, since all the female werehounds have died, but Nile is also cautious since they have all agreed that the human woman must know exactly what each of them is before they can "seal". While Niles knew the werewolves would stop at nothing to make sure the mating doesn't happen, he's unaware of the other implications his mate would have on the entire supernatural community.
Leigh Kelly has come back to Chimney Rock Cove and the small house her husband left to her. While it's difficult, she's come back because she thinks this is the one place where she'll be happy and feel like she belongs. When she meets Niles he senses an immediate connection to him...one she didn't have with the husband she dearly loved. Each time they're together, she can feel the connection growing. She soon learns that Niles is a man she feels safe with and can trust. It's because of those feelings that she doesn't shy away from him when she learns what he truly is.
A lot happens in this first book that sets up the rest of the series. We have werewolves kidnapping humans, vampires throwing in their hats with the werewolves in hopes of getting their hands on Leigh and those like her, Leigh's creepy brother-in-law who is very shady (to say the least) and the Fae Queen who undoubtedly is up to no good. While these elements don't really do much to speed along this particular storyline, you can tell they are being used to set up things down the road.
I was left with some unanswered questions about our lovely couple: was Leigh's husband's death really an accident, what happened with Leigh's family, how old exactly is Niles (he hints to working the Gold Rush...so he's at least a couple hundred years old), what happened to the only other woman Nile loved and what are those nightmares he suffers from. I'm hoping we'll get some of these question answered in future releases to the series.
Entertaining with a slightly different twist on the paranormal world than what I've read recently. Can't wait to see what happens with the series...especially with Sean who is my favorites of the werehounds so far.
Niles Latimer is Alpha of the werehounds. He's haunted by the past and what his team did in the name of the United States in the Middle East. But he's been given new hope for himself and his pack when he finds out he has a true mate in the widow of one of the residents of Chimney Rock Cove. This mate means a lot to his pack, since all the female werehounds have died, but Nile is also cautious since they have all agreed that the human woman must know exactly what each of them is before they can "seal". While Niles knew the werewolves would stop at nothing to make sure the mating doesn't happen, he's unaware of the other implications his mate would have on the entire supernatural community.
Leigh Kelly has come back to Chimney Rock Cove and the small house her husband left to her. While it's difficult, she's come back because she thinks this is the one place where she'll be happy and feel like she belongs. When she meets Niles he senses an immediate connection to him...one she didn't have with the husband she dearly loved. Each time they're together, she can feel the connection growing. She soon learns that Niles is a man she feels safe with and can trust. It's because of those feelings that she doesn't shy away from him when she learns what he truly is.
A lot happens in this first book that sets up the rest of the series. We have werewolves kidnapping humans, vampires throwing in their hats with the werewolves in hopes of getting their hands on Leigh and those like her, Leigh's creepy brother-in-law who is very shady (to say the least) and the Fae Queen who undoubtedly is up to no good. While these elements don't really do much to speed along this particular storyline, you can tell they are being used to set up things down the road.
I was left with some unanswered questions about our lovely couple: was Leigh's husband's death really an accident, what happened with Leigh's family, how old exactly is Niles (he hints to working the Gold Rush...so he's at least a couple hundred years old), what happened to the only other woman Nile loved and what are those nightmares he suffers from. I'm hoping we'll get some of these question answered in future releases to the series.
Entertaining with a slightly different twist on the paranormal world than what I've read recently. Can't wait to see what happens with the series...especially with Sean who is my favorites of the werehounds so far.
novelesque_life's review
3.0
2.5 STARS
(I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review).
Leigh Kelly has been a widow for 18 months and misses her husband every day. Little every day things remind her of her loneliness. She heads to Chimney Rock where she and Chris had once been happy. She leaves her job at the Microsoft and now works for Gabriel owner of the bar in town. On her first moment back she meets the sexy neighbour Niles and feels an eeriness in town. Something strange is going on and she is someone in the middle of it.
I was confused. Um....yeah. The novel felt like it had potential so I kept reading, but now looking back I have no clue what the storyline was really about. The characters were all right but no one stood out in my mind. I don't think I will read book 2 on this one.
(I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review).
Leigh Kelly has been a widow for 18 months and misses her husband every day. Little every day things remind her of her loneliness. She heads to Chimney Rock where she and Chris had once been happy. She leaves her job at the Microsoft and now works for Gabriel owner of the bar in town. On her first moment back she meets the sexy neighbour Niles and feels an eeriness in town. Something strange is going on and she is someone in the middle of it.
I was confused. Um....yeah. The novel felt like it had potential so I kept reading, but now looking back I have no clue what the storyline was really about. The characters were all right but no one stood out in my mind. I don't think I will read book 2 on this one.
tamreel_stitches's review
2.0
It was ok, but somewhere in the middle there was this weird fae, vampire, and werewolf dynamic. I just couldn't read it any more.
ezichinny's review
3.0
This book had a really good premise but it ended up being just okay for me. A solid 3 stars.
Heroine Leigh Kelly moved to Chimney Rock (located in Whidbey Island) to live in a cottage left to her by her recently deceased husband. She chose to Chimney Rock because it held some special memories for her and her late husband Chris. While she was healing, she also wanted to cherish the happy times of her past. She quit her job at Microsoft and got a job as a Manager of the local Diner in Chimney rock. Her new boss Gabriel remembers her and Chris eating there, so he tries to ease her transition into the town. One of the ways he helped her was by arranging for his friend Niles Latimer to chop wood for her fireplace.
Niles Latimer is a former special-ops solider, who just returned from the Middle East. He seems like a nice guy, just suffering from a little Post-Traumatic Stress disorder (or at least that is what I attribute his nightmares to). Plus, he is dealing with another kind of stress. Niles was the alpha leader of a Were-hound pack that was dying out. Niles needed to mate and reproduce, and Leigh was a compatible match for this rare were-breed. In fact, all the female were-hounds have died due to their hard child birthing process. So Niles set out to gain Leigh’s trust, and hopefully win her affections one day. The problem is that time is against him as the pack needs to start increasing their numbers and as well as guard against their various enemies such as the werewolves.
Leigh and Niles make an immediate connection. When her feelings for him grow, Niles is forced to admit to Leigh that he isn’t quite human. The pack agreed that any human female that they connect with, must have full disclosure before they can seal with that female. Fortunately, Leigh takes the news like a trooper.
The problem is that every species wanted Leigh for one reason or another. As the story unfolds, we learn a little bit of Leigh’s background. Specifically, she is half-fae, so her offspring would have some powerful abilities. We also see that the vampires, werewolves and faes don’t want to see Niles and Leigh end up together because they are all trying to gain more power as well as control the Chimney Rock territory.
This book had some issues for me. First of all, it got more and more elaborate and complicated as the story unfolded. There was just so much going on. Add to that, the writing was a little choppy. Second, I really didn’t connect with Leigh. I liked Niles a lot, but I didn’t connect with them as a couple. I kept reading to find out what happened, but I didn’t get that butterfly in my stomach feeling that I get as the action unfolded. Also, I can’t think of a single passage in the book that I read again or care to read again. I don’t think the author’s writing style appealed to me. I can’t say that I enjoyed this book. I do think Sean’s book will be a better book because we got a chance to get to know him so there is a great foundation to build upon. I may read Book 2 as I always try to give series a minimum of 2 books to win me over.
***copy received by Netgalley***
Heroine Leigh Kelly moved to Chimney Rock (located in Whidbey Island) to live in a cottage left to her by her recently deceased husband. She chose to Chimney Rock because it held some special memories for her and her late husband Chris. While she was healing, she also wanted to cherish the happy times of her past. She quit her job at Microsoft and got a job as a Manager of the local Diner in Chimney rock. Her new boss Gabriel remembers her and Chris eating there, so he tries to ease her transition into the town. One of the ways he helped her was by arranging for his friend Niles Latimer to chop wood for her fireplace.
Niles Latimer is a former special-ops solider, who just returned from the Middle East. He seems like a nice guy, just suffering from a little Post-Traumatic Stress disorder (or at least that is what I attribute his nightmares to). Plus, he is dealing with another kind of stress. Niles was the alpha leader of a Were-hound pack that was dying out. Niles needed to mate and reproduce, and Leigh was a compatible match for this rare were-breed. In fact, all the female were-hounds have died due to their hard child birthing process. So Niles set out to gain Leigh’s trust, and hopefully win her affections one day. The problem is that time is against him as the pack needs to start increasing their numbers and as well as guard against their various enemies such as the werewolves.
Leigh and Niles make an immediate connection. When her feelings for him grow, Niles is forced to admit to Leigh that he isn’t quite human. The pack agreed that any human female that they connect with, must have full disclosure before they can seal with that female. Fortunately, Leigh takes the news like a trooper.
The problem is that every species wanted Leigh for one reason or another. As the story unfolds, we learn a little bit of Leigh’s background. Specifically, she is half-fae, so her offspring would have some powerful abilities. We also see that the vampires, werewolves and faes don’t want to see Niles and Leigh end up together because they are all trying to gain more power as well as control the Chimney Rock territory.
This book had some issues for me. First of all, it got more and more elaborate and complicated as the story unfolded. There was just so much going on. Add to that, the writing was a little choppy. Second, I really didn’t connect with Leigh. I liked Niles a lot, but I didn’t connect with them as a couple. I kept reading to find out what happened, but I didn’t get that butterfly in my stomach feeling that I get as the action unfolded. Also, I can’t think of a single passage in the book that I read again or care to read again. I don’t think the author’s writing style appealed to me. I can’t say that I enjoyed this book. I do think Sean’s book will be a better book because we got a chance to get to know him so there is a great foundation to build upon. I may read Book 2 as I always try to give series a minimum of 2 books to win me over.
***copy received by Netgalley***
alexiachantel's review
3.0
Darkness Bound is a great introduction to a new shifter series. This series has shifters, vampires, fae and all sorts of paranormal beings, but don’t worry about being bored. You will get caught up in the characters and mystery surrounding Leigh and find yourself staring at the end of the book before you know it.
Niles is an impressive alpha male, who also happens to be the alpha of the werehounds. He is powerful and lethal, and he also has this fragile thing called hope. If he didn’t truly want a mate he would have left Leigh alone, and as much as she calls to him he doesn’t immediately fall in love. A nice change, he still had to go through the process of getting to know her first. But eventually he succumbs, he may not be very smooth but he does describe what love is in the best way any hero can.
Leigh is a mystery; yes she has potential to be the mate for Niles. But more than that there is something special about her and that something special will end up getting her into trouble more often than not. You may keep waiting and waiting for some hidden magical powers to surface and allow Leigh to kick butt, nothing that impressive though. Maybe there will be more information on her and what she is in future books.
The only other character that almost stole the show is Blue. You first meet Blue as this giant horse of a dog. His emotions are great and easy to read, which makes sense considering he is the werehound Sean. This fierce lovable dog is loyal and protective, and maybe just wants a little loving. Sean/Blue is one character that will leave you wishing book two was released at the same time as Darkness Bound.
Review posted at Reading Between the Wines blog:
http://readingbetweenthewinesbookclub.blogspot.com/2012/03/review-darkness-bound-by-stella-cameron.html
Niles is an impressive alpha male, who also happens to be the alpha of the werehounds. He is powerful and lethal, and he also has this fragile thing called hope. If he didn’t truly want a mate he would have left Leigh alone, and as much as she calls to him he doesn’t immediately fall in love. A nice change, he still had to go through the process of getting to know her first. But eventually he succumbs, he may not be very smooth but he does describe what love is in the best way any hero can.
Leigh is a mystery; yes she has potential to be the mate for Niles. But more than that there is something special about her and that something special will end up getting her into trouble more often than not. You may keep waiting and waiting for some hidden magical powers to surface and allow Leigh to kick butt, nothing that impressive though. Maybe there will be more information on her and what she is in future books.
The only other character that almost stole the show is Blue. You first meet Blue as this giant horse of a dog. His emotions are great and easy to read, which makes sense considering he is the werehound Sean. This fierce lovable dog is loyal and protective, and maybe just wants a little loving. Sean/Blue is one character that will leave you wishing book two was released at the same time as Darkness Bound.
Review posted at Reading Between the Wines blog:
http://readingbetweenthewinesbookclub.blogspot.com/2012/03/review-darkness-bound-by-stella-cameron.html
francesca_rock's review
1.0
This book was impressively bad. It was actually so bad that I am impressed with it. I almost forgot that books could be this bad. Thank you for reminding me Stella Cameron.
Hmmmm, where to start. I guess where I usually do - with the characters. They were completely flat. Something about them just did not pop off the page for me. They seemed so emotionless and uncaring no matter what was happening. And the chemistry between the two mains? There was none. Because of this flatness, when Niles finally made his move, I was like "uhhhhh, what now, he likes her?!" And the whole bit where she was meant for him?? That was only idly mentioned - making me think I was reading a subsequent book in a series rather than the first book where you're supposed to introduce concepts like that. Brutal.
Also, the plot sucked. Although, I did like that werewolves were the bad guys - that doesn't happen too often - they're normally the heroes. I was not moved by the story here at all. Not to mention there were a lot of holes. Suddenly the werehounds could fly? Where the fuck did that come from. I didn't realize that dogs could fly - good on them - it wasn't explained at all, so the reason that they are able to fly wasn't given. Ugh. I'm done with this book.
At best, it was spotty. At worst (and most honestly), this is the worst book I've read in a while.
Check out more of my reviews at http://whatabookbitch.blogspot.ca
donnah's review
3.0
I was looking forward to this book. I have followed Stella Cameron for many years and usually love her books. With Darkness Bound I kept thinking someone else had to have wrote this book. The first part of the book was confusing, the writing was choppy. The book was somewhat better in the last half.
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