March 22, 2011

Angels' Blood by Nalini Singh

Angels' Blood
By Nalini Singh
Series: Guild Hunter #1
290 Pages
Ebook
Published March 3rd, 2009
Genre: Paranormal Romance, Urban Fantasy
Monster Focus: Angels, Vampires

Oh my a book about angels, this one is right up my alley! hee hee Ok seriously though, I was not expecting what I got out of this one. Remember my review for Slave to Sensation? Well get ready for the complete and utter opposite here.

Simply amazing! I was completely engrossed from the start and finished this in only a couple of sittings. I have found a new favorite series from an author I never expected to try again. I was so incredibly disappointed with Slave to Sensation that I just figured that Nalini Singh was not the author for me. Boy how wrong was I! Maybe it was a matter of not being able to identify with the forced, emotionless character of her Psy-changling series, or the fact that a lot of great series' start out with a not so great first book. Whatever the case, Singh has redeemed herself in my eyes with Angels' Blood. I loved the characters, especially suffocatingly hot, dom Raphael. The plot and world development were engaging, the writing gripping, and the tension between Elena and Raphael blistering. I can't wait to read the second book!

Thunderous applause to you Ms. Singh for writing these characters and offering a story that is gritty and horrifying one second and sultry and tantalizing the next! I expect wonderful things from this series which is only up to book 3 so far. Great read.

Cry Wolf

Cry Wolf
By Patricia Briggs
Series: Alpha and Omega #1
320 Pages
Ebook
Published July 29th, 2008
Genre: Paranormal Romance, Urban Fantasy
Monster Focus: Werewolves

Another excellent story by Patricia Briggs! I thoroughly enjoyed this one, dare I say, more than the Mercy Thompson series...gasp! To truly understand this book, you really need to read the Alpha and Omega short story in the On The Prowl Anthology. This sets everything up and introduces the characters and their first interactions. Without this back story, you will be pretty confused as Cry Wolf starts off the morning after the events of Alpha and Omega.

This series runs parallel to the Mercy Thompson series and puts the spotlight on characters that are only briefly mentioned or dealt with in Mercy's storyline. I really loved getting to see more of the Marrock, Bran and his son Charles. I was also really captured by Anna, the female lead. She has a lot of layers and her progression through the story is really well written. Briggs offers heat tempered with love and affection and always cuts off the best parts like she is protecting the modesty of her beloved characters. Gah! It's frustrating, but the depth of the characters and plot really makes up for it all. I can't wait to pick up the second book!

Holy Back Log Batman!

Let me just say this first, I am sooooo sorry for my three week absence! Things have been crazy and as a result I am way behind on my monthly book quota! I recently got an amazing job as a case manager with a new small company QMRP-NV. We work with direct service providers, who care for adults and children with special needs and disabilities, to help manage their case load and create effective nutritional and behavioral plans for their clients. All this helps them help the clients enjoy better quality of life and be as independent as possible. I really love my job and love the fact that it goes right along with the bachelor's degree I'm working on right now.

That being said... I have obviously had very little time to read, but I am trying to make up for it so that this isn't a losing month for my challenge. I've gotten through four books so far which is seven less than last month, but I will try to make it to eight before the end of the month. I will post reviews for some of the books, however after reading books 3,4,and5 of the Night Huntress series in a row, I've decided to just sum those up in one review.

I know not many people read this blog, so I don't feel too terribly bad about being absent, but I do feel guilty for the three followers I have. I did this challenge and blog for myself, so I do feel like I have let myself down a bit, but I will make it up to myself!

On another note, thank you so much to the people who do read this blog and have voted on my list on goodreads.com! We have reached 112 votes!!! I can't believe it! You guys are awesome and are appreciated!

Angel kisses!!

<3<3 IBA