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sienatiare's review against another edition
2.0
I would have given this three stars but the third novella was so strange and boring to me. I could barely make my way through it. I pretty much just skimmed the last five pages because I wanted it to be over so badly.
romancejunkie1025's review against another edition
4.0
Read only lucy monroes story but it was great. Sweet and naughty all at once and it was great to see Bryant find his mate.
angels_gp17's review against another edition
3.0
I only read Lora Leigh's The Devil's Due (Breeds #28).
3 Devils Stars
Lora Leigh returns to her familiar Breed world with The Devil's Due. This is the story of the dealer of Death, Devil, and his mate, Katie. What they undergo is not simply about finding each other, but also dealing with those enemies who want Katie dead.
We don't get the usual sexual tension and woman fighting the mating heat, but Lora does't disappoint us with the intense sexual Breed encounters that we have come to enjoy in this series.
I am an avid Breed series fan, but I had trouble at the beginning of this story understanding what was going on. Once I got into The Devil’s Due and read Lora Leigh’s Blog post (here) on this story; did I finally understand what was happening.
We see Kate's rescue as a child and a peak at the Bengal Breed that everyone has been hunting in the last few books. He has been hiding out in plan site at Lobo's ranch. He finally understands why he has been hunting the girl/women so intently.
Fan’s of the Breed series will not want to miss this story or her blog post on it, because she’s pulling some new things together for future stories.
3 Devils Stars
Lora Leigh returns to her familiar Breed world with The Devil's Due. This is the story of the dealer of Death, Devil, and his mate, Katie. What they undergo is not simply about finding each other, but also dealing with those enemies who want Katie dead.
We don't get the usual sexual tension and woman fighting the mating heat, but Lora does't disappoint us with the intense sexual Breed encounters that we have come to enjoy in this series.
I am an avid Breed series fan, but I had trouble at the beginning of this story understanding what was going on. Once I got into The Devil’s Due and read Lora Leigh’s Blog post (here) on this story; did I finally understand what was happening.
We see Kate's rescue as a child and a peak at the Bengal Breed that everyone has been hunting in the last few books. He has been hiding out in plan site at Lobo's ranch. He finally understands why he has been hunting the girl/women so intently.
Fan’s of the Breed series will not want to miss this story or her blog post on it, because she’s pulling some new things together for future stories.
leabookjoy's review against another edition
4.0
Salvage by Meljean Brook
When Georgie finds her husband Thom half dead on the beach near her home after four years of absence, she knows that something is wrong but she is still determined to get a divorce. But when she is kidnapped by a so-called pirate to force Thom to dive for him and get a chest of gold coins, she discovers she doesn't know so well her husband finally ...
A nice story very well told by Meljean Brook although a little too short =)
When Georgie finds her husband Thom half dead on the beach near her home after four years of absence, she knows that something is wrong but she is still determined to get a divorce. But when she is kidnapped by a so-called pirate to force Thom to dive for him and get a chest of gold coins, she discovers she doesn't know so well her husband finally ...
A nice story very well told by Meljean Brook although a little too short =)
tsukikomew's review against another edition
4.0
This review was posted at Tsuki’s Book Blog on August 10, 2013.
The Devil's Due (Breeds Bk 28) by Lora Leigh
I always feel novellas should be readable without having read the series it belongs to. For example Susan Mallery's "Christmas on 4th Street". I had never read a Fool's Gold romance before but I was able to jump right into the story and ignore the fact it was Bk 12.5. This novella was not like that. I was so horribly confused through the majority of the story, I was unable to enjoy it. I can honestly say the only sections I understood were the sex scenes and even then they were ripe with mythology.
From what I could gather there are Breeds who were genetically manipulated with human and animal DNA. There are different kinds and they form packs. They can mate. They have exceptional speed, strength, scents, etc. Also there are government agencies who seem to like to get involved.
The rest of the story was ripe with mumbo-jumbo and a slew of characters who rarely got any sort of explanation. I was so much more interested in all the side characters who had so little mentioned than I was with the hero and heroine. Sure Kate and Devil were sexy and had a whirlwind romance (mate=sex) but there was little actual chemistry between them. They were just magically in love followed by a lot of sex.
Frankly I found the whole thing full of confusion and it was a struggle to get through. Now since I didn't read any of the other books in the series so I cannot comment on the novella in terms of the series. For first time readers of the Breed series, this is NOT the place to start. I would hope things were more clear in the earlier books but I'm not sure.
For a first time reader: 2 Stars
The Curse of the Black Swan (Legend of the Black Swan Bk 1.5) by Alyssa Day
This is the second story in the "Enthralled" anthology and I want to say this:
All my problems with the first book were completely absent from this one.
On that note, I was pleasantly surprised by this one. I'm not a huge fan of 'cursed into animal' stories but I loved how it was juxtaposed with the plight of a closet fire demon. Both characters had issues that were magical and issues that were personal. They were perfectly balanced.
The story followed Sean (half-fire demon and firefighter) and Brynn (pet story owner and cursed to be a swan every third night). Sean was tracking an arsonist and met Brynn who was transforming from swan to human. They began pursuing a hesitant relationship due to Brynn promising to never have children so her child would not be subjected to the curse. Of course some action happened surrounding the arsonist and how to break the curse.
It was an enjoyable read and pleasantly light and fluffy. I was easily able to follow all the action and connect with the characters. I'm not a huge fan of overuse of paranormal creatures all at once but it worked in this story. Witches, demons, faeries, etc. were sort of casually mentioned while only a cursed swan and a half-demon made an appearance. For that I was grateful.
I would recommend this short story to any paranormal reader. It wasn't a deep read, nor was it particularly spectacular. It was short, fun, flirty, and all sorts of fluffy. The sex scenes were decently written while not particularly spicy. While it doesn't sound like an amazing sell, it was a lot of fun to read on a wet, stormy night.
On a random note, this is the summary of the story according to the back of the book: "New York Times bestselling author Alyssa Day introduces the League of the Black Swan...and the dangerous game one woman plays when her family's curse dooms her to kill the man she loves." Did the person writing the summary read the story? That part never enters into it. She doesn't have to kill the man she loves. It is not even part of the story. Seriously what happened there?
3.5 Stars
Salvage (Iron Seas Bk 3.5) by Meljean Brook
I've attempted Meljean Brook before and I intend to sit down and read her Iron Seas series but I haven't found the time yet. I was hesitant to jump to this novella since I intend to read the series but I figured I could always skip over it if I either didn't enjoy it or if it gave too much away. I was so happy when I finished it because it was amazing!
The story followed a broken marriage with Georgie being the wife at home, waiting for her diver/salvager husband. She had made a life for herself and was determined to get a divorce. Her husband Thom managed to get himself shot by pirates and washed up on the beach. As Georgie nurses him back to health they get kidnapped by pirates. While captive they rediscover their marriage and discover how they went so wrong.
I loved this story so much and I was a bit sad to see it end. It reminded me of that movie "Stardust" and specifically the pirate ship scenes except with no cross-dressing pirate or any sense of whimsy. Thom had a job to do and he was going to do it to protect his wife. They both knew their chances of survival were slim but they tried anyway. I love when people plot realistically. They actually sit down and consider their options. Go them!
Romances that detail the healing of a broken relationship are favorites of mine. I think it is true to say romances do not end with the "I love you" or the 'wedding' but rather they last the entire relationship. This novella shows how easy it is to misinterpret your partners words and how that misinterpretation can ruin a relationship. I adored the scenes where they simply talked about their views on their marriage and what they wanted from each other.
By the end of the adventure I was sad I couldn't go and read "The Iron Duke". Unfortunately my schedule is pretty tight right now so I can only hope I can get to it soon. I love the world in which these characters life with its slightly futuristic inventions in a historical setting. I haven't done much reading in the Steampunk world but it is certainly interesting.
4 Stars
Ecstasy Under the Moon (Children of the Moon Bk 3.5) by Lucy Monroe
I've read a few books by Lucy Monroe through Harlequin and was a tad underwhelmed. I was a bit hesitant with the story but since it was the final one in the anthology, I decided to try it. I'm glad I stuck it out. I really enjoyed this historical/paranormal story and actually spent some time looking into her other paranormal/historical works.
The story follows Una, an eagle shifter who lives in a hidden village. Years before she was captured by a group of wolf shifters and tortured. When her village is about to be opened up to a group of wolves, she is understandably upset. Once they arrive she begins meeting one on a spirit plane as a mate bound forms between them. Una had to deal with her past and learn to trust the man she was destined to be with forever.
It's definitely not a new premise. I've read this premise many times in its basic form. The first that comes to mind is the first book in the Kresley Cole series (A Hunger Like No Other) except its a lycae and a Valkyrie/vampire mix. Even though the premise was oddly familiar, I was captivated by the story. The characters were interesting and created sympathy in the reader. It is very difficult to make your readers truly feel for the characters they are reading about.
I loved the progression of the relationship from looking, to spirit plane meeting, to real meetings, to trust building, etc. Bryant recognized Una's skittish nature and he allowed her to grow comfortable at her own pace. He sat back and let her eagle come to him and he told her all about him so she would feel more comfortable. He argued for her strength and showed he didn't view her as damaged. He fell in love and as a reader I believed it.
This was the story I felt had the best pacing and length. From beginning to end I didn't feel rushed or bored. I felt like I wanted to spend some time in the village and get to see each of the wolves find their mates. I also want to comment on the ease of following the mythology. Like other stories in this anthology I wasn't bogged down with mythology that was difficult to follow. I was able to enjoy the story. For that, I was grateful.
4 Stars
Overall Anthology Rating:
3.5 Stars
Published by Berkley Trade
July 2, 2013
464 Pages
Provided by: the Library
The Devil's Due (Breeds Bk 28) by Lora Leigh
I always feel novellas should be readable without having read the series it belongs to. For example Susan Mallery's "Christmas on 4th Street". I had never read a Fool's Gold romance before but I was able to jump right into the story and ignore the fact it was Bk 12.5. This novella was not like that. I was so horribly confused through the majority of the story, I was unable to enjoy it. I can honestly say the only sections I understood were the sex scenes and even then they were ripe with mythology.
From what I could gather there are Breeds who were genetically manipulated with human and animal DNA. There are different kinds and they form packs. They can mate. They have exceptional speed, strength, scents, etc. Also there are government agencies who seem to like to get involved.
The rest of the story was ripe with mumbo-jumbo and a slew of characters who rarely got any sort of explanation. I was so much more interested in all the side characters who had so little mentioned than I was with the hero and heroine. Sure Kate and Devil were sexy and had a whirlwind romance (mate=sex) but there was little actual chemistry between them. They were just magically in love followed by a lot of sex.
Frankly I found the whole thing full of confusion and it was a struggle to get through. Now since I didn't read any of the other books in the series so I cannot comment on the novella in terms of the series. For first time readers of the Breed series, this is NOT the place to start. I would hope things were more clear in the earlier books but I'm not sure.
For a first time reader: 2 Stars
The Curse of the Black Swan (Legend of the Black Swan Bk 1.5) by Alyssa Day
This is the second story in the "Enthralled" anthology and I want to say this:
All my problems with the first book were completely absent from this one.
On that note, I was pleasantly surprised by this one. I'm not a huge fan of 'cursed into animal' stories but I loved how it was juxtaposed with the plight of a closet fire demon. Both characters had issues that were magical and issues that were personal. They were perfectly balanced.
The story followed Sean (half-fire demon and firefighter) and Brynn (pet story owner and cursed to be a swan every third night). Sean was tracking an arsonist and met Brynn who was transforming from swan to human. They began pursuing a hesitant relationship due to Brynn promising to never have children so her child would not be subjected to the curse. Of course some action happened surrounding the arsonist and how to break the curse.
It was an enjoyable read and pleasantly light and fluffy. I was easily able to follow all the action and connect with the characters. I'm not a huge fan of overuse of paranormal creatures all at once but it worked in this story. Witches, demons, faeries, etc. were sort of casually mentioned while only a cursed swan and a half-demon made an appearance. For that I was grateful.
I would recommend this short story to any paranormal reader. It wasn't a deep read, nor was it particularly spectacular. It was short, fun, flirty, and all sorts of fluffy. The sex scenes were decently written while not particularly spicy. While it doesn't sound like an amazing sell, it was a lot of fun to read on a wet, stormy night.
On a random note, this is the summary of the story according to the back of the book: "New York Times bestselling author Alyssa Day introduces the League of the Black Swan...and the dangerous game one woman plays when her family's curse dooms her to kill the man she loves." Did the person writing the summary read the story? That part never enters into it. She doesn't have to kill the man she loves. It is not even part of the story. Seriously what happened there?
3.5 Stars
Salvage (Iron Seas Bk 3.5) by Meljean Brook
I've attempted Meljean Brook before and I intend to sit down and read her Iron Seas series but I haven't found the time yet. I was hesitant to jump to this novella since I intend to read the series but I figured I could always skip over it if I either didn't enjoy it or if it gave too much away. I was so happy when I finished it because it was amazing!
The story followed a broken marriage with Georgie being the wife at home, waiting for her diver/salvager husband. She had made a life for herself and was determined to get a divorce. Her husband Thom managed to get himself shot by pirates and washed up on the beach. As Georgie nurses him back to health they get kidnapped by pirates. While captive they rediscover their marriage and discover how they went so wrong.
I loved this story so much and I was a bit sad to see it end. It reminded me of that movie "Stardust" and specifically the pirate ship scenes except with no cross-dressing pirate or any sense of whimsy. Thom had a job to do and he was going to do it to protect his wife. They both knew their chances of survival were slim but they tried anyway. I love when people plot realistically. They actually sit down and consider their options. Go them!
Romances that detail the healing of a broken relationship are favorites of mine. I think it is true to say romances do not end with the "I love you" or the 'wedding' but rather they last the entire relationship. This novella shows how easy it is to misinterpret your partners words and how that misinterpretation can ruin a relationship. I adored the scenes where they simply talked about their views on their marriage and what they wanted from each other.
By the end of the adventure I was sad I couldn't go and read "The Iron Duke". Unfortunately my schedule is pretty tight right now so I can only hope I can get to it soon. I love the world in which these characters life with its slightly futuristic inventions in a historical setting. I haven't done much reading in the Steampunk world but it is certainly interesting.
4 Stars
Ecstasy Under the Moon (Children of the Moon Bk 3.5) by Lucy Monroe
I've read a few books by Lucy Monroe through Harlequin and was a tad underwhelmed. I was a bit hesitant with the story but since it was the final one in the anthology, I decided to try it. I'm glad I stuck it out. I really enjoyed this historical/paranormal story and actually spent some time looking into her other paranormal/historical works.
The story follows Una, an eagle shifter who lives in a hidden village. Years before she was captured by a group of wolf shifters and tortured. When her village is about to be opened up to a group of wolves, she is understandably upset. Once they arrive she begins meeting one on a spirit plane as a mate bound forms between them. Una had to deal with her past and learn to trust the man she was destined to be with forever.
It's definitely not a new premise. I've read this premise many times in its basic form. The first that comes to mind is the first book in the Kresley Cole series (A Hunger Like No Other) except its a lycae and a Valkyrie/vampire mix. Even though the premise was oddly familiar, I was captivated by the story. The characters were interesting and created sympathy in the reader. It is very difficult to make your readers truly feel for the characters they are reading about.
I loved the progression of the relationship from looking, to spirit plane meeting, to real meetings, to trust building, etc. Bryant recognized Una's skittish nature and he allowed her to grow comfortable at her own pace. He sat back and let her eagle come to him and he told her all about him so she would feel more comfortable. He argued for her strength and showed he didn't view her as damaged. He fell in love and as a reader I believed it.
This was the story I felt had the best pacing and length. From beginning to end I didn't feel rushed or bored. I felt like I wanted to spend some time in the village and get to see each of the wolves find their mates. I also want to comment on the ease of following the mythology. Like other stories in this anthology I wasn't bogged down with mythology that was difficult to follow. I was able to enjoy the story. For that, I was grateful.
4 Stars
Overall Anthology Rating:
3.5 Stars
Published by Berkley Trade
July 2, 2013
464 Pages
Provided by: the Library
emreadswhatshewants's review against another edition
5.0
Read Salvage by Meljean Brook and *now* I can say I have read a perfect novella.
smitch29's review against another edition
2.0
2.5
I liked the book. It was very similar to all the other Breeds though, so no points for much originality. I also felt like Lora Leigh relied on past Breeds novels to set the standard for this book. She seemed to skip some explanations didn't really elaborate on how the heroine, Katie, really dealt with some thought processes. I think it could've been more developed even for a novella.
I liked the book. It was very similar to all the other Breeds though, so no points for much originality. I also felt like Lora Leigh relied on past Breeds novels to set the standard for this book. She seemed to skip some explanations didn't really elaborate on how the heroine, Katie, really dealt with some thought processes. I think it could've been more developed even for a novella.