Give-Away at DIK

I'm over at the Island giving away a some free books (I'm making you work for them because I'm evil that way) and hanging out with the ever so fabulous

NALINI SINGH!

Come drop by and have drink and chat up Nalini! ^_^

Review: Branded by Fire by Nalini Singh

Published: July 2009 by Berkeley Sensation

Number of Pages: 345

Genre: Paranormal Romance

Stand Alone/Series: Psy-Changeling Book 6
1: Slave to Sensation
2: Visions of Heat
3: Caressed by Ice
4: Mine to Possess
5: Hostage to Pleasure

Why This Book: It's Nalini Singh!

From the Author Site: Though DarkRiver sentinel Mercy is feeling the pressure to mate, she savagely resists when Riley Kincaid, a lieutenant from the SnowDancer pack, tries to possess her. The problem is not simply that he pushes her buttons; the problem is that he’s a wolf, she’s a cat, and they’re both used to being on top.

But when a brilliant changeling researcher is kidnapped from DarkRiver territory, Mercy and Riley must work together to track the young man—before his shadowy captors decide he’s no longer useful. Along the way, the two dominants may find that submitting to one another uncovers not just a deadly conspiracy, but a passion so raw that it’ll leave them both branded by fire…

Read excerpt here.

Hero: Riley Kincaid, aka Mr. Mud Stick aka The Wall, is the SnowDancers' top lieutenant. Solid, dependable, unmovable, unemotional and boring may be words that have been used to describe him in the past. But with Mercy he feels the wild side of the his beast and definitely is out to get a piece of the cat that's been tempting him and annoying him for over a year. Riley dreams of mating the nice girl next door, a homemaker and someone who will stay safe and out of the danger. Too bad all he wants is Mercy, who is exactly the opposite of his dream mate.

Heroine: Mercy Smith aka Melisande (but don't call her that or she'll kick your ass), is a DarkRiver Sentinel and a woman who knows what she wants. Its just too bad her beast doesn't want to lay down for just anyone. Especially not some staid, emotionless wolf, even if he is totally hot and dominate enough to be acceptable to her cat.

Review: Nalini Singh just keeps the best-sellers coming. In over six books she's not missed a single beat. Each page turner of a book is perfectly crafted to ensnare the reader in a captivating tale that takes life right before the reader's eyes. And this one starts with a sizzle guaranteed to fog up your glasses.

The DarkRiver/SnowDancer alliance is solid but it takes constant work to keep the alliance from falling apart. Mercy and Riley are the ones responsible for maintaining that daily balance between the packs. In addition to their usual tasks as dominate members of their packs, they have to deal with each other and all the messy details of building and maintaining an alliance. The juveniles are still jocking for position within the mixed pack structure, the Psy are up to something mysteriously violent and the Human Alliance has come out of the woodwork shooting to kill.

Ms Singh tells a wonderful story and each is a delight to read. Really there isn't much more to say. I could sit here and gush on and on about how wonderful writer she is and what delightful characters she has created, but I'm not going to do that. I have only one thing to say. Go buy/borrow her books and read them for yourselves. You'll not be disappointed.

What I liked best: Mercy's ploy to get rid of her brother's girlfriend. Even though the scene is less than half a page, it had me giggling until I was in tears. The "tool" was just the final bit of perfection that made the whole scene irresistible.

What I least liked: I can't really think of the single scene that I didn't like. All the characters stay true to themselves, no great leaps of belief required and the Psy world is going to hell in a hand basket. Who could ask for more?

Okay I need more. More Kaleb, more Vasic, more Hawke and Sienna, just give me more story and a grandmother who will send me hotties (^_^)!

Keeper?: Most definitely

Recommendation: The series has progressed to the point where it must be read in order. Although it is probably still very enjoyable there is just too much of the back story to cover, even briefly, to bring the reader up-to-date.

Grade: A+
Series Grade to Date: A

ARC Review: Angels' Blood

This review is brought to you thanks to my book fairy (you know who you are)! I know it comes out next week but I was totally impatient and couldn't wait. And sure, I have it on pre-order but had to read it NOW! And it's GREAT! On to the review...

Title: Angels' Blood

Author: Nalini Singh

Published: March 2009

Genre: Urban Fantasy/Paranormal Romance

Stand Alone/Series: Guild Hunters Book #1
Novella (ebook only): Angels' Pawn

From the Author Site: Vampire hunter Elena Deveraux knows she's the best—but she doesn't know if she's good enough for this job. Hired by the dangerously beautiful Archangel Raphael, a being so lethal that no mortal wants his attention, only one thing is clear—failure is not an option...even if the task is impossible.

Because this time, it's not a wayward vamp she has to track. It's an archangel gone bad.

The job will put Elena in the midst of a killing spree like no other…and pull her to the razor's edge of passion. Even if the hunt doesn't destroy her, succumbing to Raphael's seductive touch just may. For when archangels play, mortals break…

Hero: Raphael, Archangel of New York. Dangerously beautiful, ruthless, lethal, seductive and alluring. He is definitely not one of those "nice" angel. He has the dangerous allure, the kind that has you fascinated from afar wishing you had the bravery to snuggle him up close and very personal. And as to his angel dust... he can dust me anytime he'd like, especially with that special blend of his! The quote that definitely sums up Raphael is:

“Don’t fail, Elena.” His eyes were mild but his smile, it spoke of things better not said aloud. “You intrigue me—I’d hate to have to punish you.”

Her mind flashed to that image of the vampire in Times Square, that broken mess that had once been a person… Raphael’s definition of punishment.

Heroine: Elena Deveraux, Guild Hunter. She is definitely gusty and stubborn as well as a bit reckless when it comes to Raphael. Elena is one of the hunter-born, born with skills that help her track vampire, and has probably the strongest set of those skills therefore when the Cadre of Ten (the Archangels) needs that special someone to track the impossible (Archangel gone bad), she's their gal. Like all good urban fantasy heroine's, she not afraid of the fight (even against the impossible), has a smart mouth (that only gets her into more trouble), is constantly armed and is more likely to kick ass and take numbers than wait for her hero to come get her out of the mess she's in. The quote that sums Elena up best is:

"Great." Elena walked out from behind Rahael. "Join the queue."

Micheala folded her arms across her front, plumping up her breast. "Do tell. It might be entertaining to see who gets to you first."

"Excuse me if entertaining you isn't at the top of my agenda." Oh, she could be brave now, when Raphael needed her. After... well, she had so many other problems, it didn't seem worth the effort to mollify a pissy archangel.

Review: Loved it! Nalini Singh definitely has another best seller on her hands as well as another great series. This is her first book in her new Guild Hunters series as well as her debut into the urban fantasy genre. Unlike other recent urban fantasy novels, this is told in the third person with some first person insights from the heroine, hero and villain. The style is in keeping with what one has come to expects from Ms. Nalini: a wonderfully crafted story with intriguing characters that take one out of the mundane world and into the fantastic. Her worlds are rich with fantastic character and situation while keeping everything believable.

The story is fast paced, packed full of action and tension right up to the end. It opens with Elena on a vampire hunt which leads her to a breakfast meeting with Raphael, Archangel of New York, and her latest, even if it is unwanted, gig of hunting down a rogue archangel with Raphael where failure, or quitting, is NOT an option.

The tension between Elena and Raphael is sublime. Elena can't help but be attracted by Raphael even though it's probably going to cost her her life. And Raphael is intrigued by Elena, something that doesn't happen frequently to this immortal, and she keeps telling him something he does not hear often, if ever, which is "No." They simple sizzle.

Angels in this story are not your nice, friendly, caring angels. They are a group of ruthless immortals who make and control vampires. They are ruled by the Cadre of Ten. The Cadre of Ten is definitely not a group to piss off. Basically they are the ten archangels who rule the world. Getting in on their bad side is worse than fatal. I think the maxin "Power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely" works well for these angels and archangels.

The cast of secondary characters is fantastic. You have Elena's best friends: Sara and Ransom. Then you have Raphael's guys: Dimitri, Venom, Illium and Jason. As well as the other archangels in the Cadre of Ten. Can't wait to read more about them in the future adventures of Elena and Raphael. I would love to see the back story on Sara and her tracker husband, Deacon, as well as that of Archangel Elijah and Angel Hannah.

The only part I didn't enjoy was the bit confusing part/interaction with Elena's family. Didn't think it really added much to the story, other than a bit of "huh?" and the affirmation that Elena's family is a bunch of self-centered losers who don't care about Elena is the least.

The book also has some great teasers included. The steamy excerpt from Nalini Singh's next Psy/Changling book, Branded by Fire and a sneak teaser into Angels' Kiss the next book in the Guild Hunters series.

Keeper?: Yes

Recommendation: A must read for all Nalini Singh fans. And if you haven't read any Nalini Singh, well here's your chance.

Rating: A

Excellent book day!

Today is an excellent book day and just in time for mom's birthday... I get presents on my mom's birthday... right?!

Anywhoo... Released today are three must-have for me:

The next exciting chapter in the Gabriel's Ghost universe, Hope's Folly!

This is Phillip's story. I was lucky to get an ARC copy awhile ago. See review here.

I have to say that after reading Gabriel's Ghost and Shades of Dark, Phillip wasn't exactly hero material to me, but after reading Hope's Folly I've had to change my mind. He's a totally hawtie!


Also out today is the sequel to Anton Strout's Simon Canderous debut book Dead to Me, my review of Dead to Me here.

Okay so poor Simon is in for even more trouble than before as he continues in his job at the DEA (that the Department of Extra-ordinary Affairs!). What exciting new adventure await for Simon? Here's the blurb from Amazon.com:

It’s been 737 days since the Department of Extraordinary Affairs’ last vampire incursion, but that streak appears to have ended when a boat full of dead lawyers is found in the Hudson River. Using the power of psychometry—the ability to divine the history of an object by touching it—agent Simon Canderous discovers that the booze cruise was crashed by something that sucked all the blood out of the litigators. Now, his workday may never end—until his life does.


Last, and definitely not least, is Nalini Singh's e-book Angels' Pawn, the bonus novella in Nalini Singh's Guild Hunter world.

Check Nalini's blog for where to buy. A nice little appetizer to get all ready for Angel's Blood which will be out in early March (the 3rd to be exact!).

So many books... it's so hard to choose which to sink my teeth into first!

Have Taken Nalini Hostage...

In honor of the release of Hostage to Pleasure, I and my fellow partner in crime (Alice) have taken the One and Only Nalini Singh hostage, but we'll give her back... promise... *wink*


This is a bit late but come over to the DIK Island and check it our interview (she'll be with us until Sat.)!



Also thanks to Alice (who got it from Christine)...

The Ice Cream Cone Personality Test

• You are an incredibly modest person. You don't feel comfortable bragging about yourself... or even receiving complements.

• You have a wild reputation, but you're not as wild as you seem. You take risks, but only measured risks.

• You are a very open minded, liberal, and flexible person. You love many things. You tend to have tastes that range from down home to cosmopolitan.

• You are a natural multitasker. You feel alive when you're doing more than one thing at a time.

• You are a serious and contemplative person. You definitely do your own thing in life.

Take The Ice Cream Personality Test

Nalini Singh Takes Us All Hostage to Pleasure

Brought to you by the help of a very, very nice book fairy! You know who you are. *HUG*

Title: Hostage to Pleasure

Author: Nalini Singh

Published: September 2008

Genre: Paranormal Romance

Stand Alone/Series: Book 5 of Psy-Changling
Book 1: Slave to Sensation
Book 2: Visions of Heat
Book 3: Caressed by Ice
Book 4: Mine to Possess

From the Author Site: Separated from her son and forced to create a neural implant that will mean the effective enslavement of her psychically gifted race, Ashaya Aleine is the perfect Psy--cool, calm, emotionless...at least on the surface. Inside, she's fighting a desperate battle to save her son and escape the vicious cold of the PsyNet. Yet when escape comes, it leads not to safety, but to the lethal danger of a sniper's embrace.

DarkRiver sniper Dorian Christensen lost his sister to a Psy killer. Though he lacks the changeling ability to shift into animal form, his leopard lives within. And that leopard's rage at the brutal loss is a clawing darkness that hungers for vengeance. Falling for a Psy has never been on Dorian's agenda. But charged with protecting Ashaya and her son, he discovers that passion has a way of changing the rules...

Review: Nalini Singh's wonderful style again brings to life the Psy-Changling world as it is going through its revolutions and power struggles. We get to see more of the Psy Council's power struggles, the secret rebellion that is starting to become more public, the power and ruthlessness of the Human Alliance and the continuing relationship of the DarkRiver Leopards and SnowDancer Wolves. The Psy-Changling world is complex and continues to become more intricate keeping readers fascinated but not so complex that a new reader would get lost. Read more about the series at Nalini Singh's website.

Ashaya brings more humanity to the Psy, the love of a mother for her child, the struggle to keep those around her safe from her evil twin but also to keep her twin safe from the world. Ashaya is a delightful character, she is smart and sassy with an icy facade and an incredible mind. Ashaya is full of secrets and as we learn them one by one, she become an increasingly more interesting character. She has been a lone warrior fighting her secret war for a long time and when Dorian step into her life, she is forced to accept help in her battle. She also finds Dorian strangely fascinating, as she struggles to maintain her Psy facade.

Happy-go-lucky Dorian struggles with his internal demons and his need to keep those he loves from harm. Dorian is more than a pretty face, he's a trapped leopard, an over-achiever, and a man holding on to his sanity with his finger-tips. He has never gotten over the death of his sister at the hands of a Psy killer and his silent rage has pushed him to the borderline of becoming a rouge. When Ashaya enters his life, everything changes. He is helplessly attracted to her and his rage must battle his increasing attraction to the Psy doctor.

Amara is delightfully evil and that's all I'm going to say about her. Vasic, whom we have been told by the wonderous Nalini is a character to keep an eye out for, is supercool, mysterious and has a kick-ass Psy power.

This book is pivotal to the storyline. The Psy world is fracturing and unraveling along the edges as hinted in Mine to Possess. More and more Pys are loosing their cool. The Psy council is also changing, first with the introduction of Anthony Kyriakus (also the leader of the silent rebellion) to the council. Then some insight on Henry Scott. And the introduction of yet another Psy faction. We also get a glimpse of the Human Alliance, which up until down has only been referenced.

Nalini Singh once again delivers a great love story and keeps the on-going storyline moving along smoothly. The story in delightful with surprises and suspense up to the very end. The book is beautifully created with just the right amount of humor, romance and suspense to keep reader interested and completely satisfied to the end. It was a hard book to put down. Definitely a great page turner and you just couldn't wait to see what happens next. It also has a wonderful teaser into the next great Psy-Changling adventure.

Keeper?: Definitely

Recommendation: You MUST read this book.

Rating: 5 of 5

Hostage to Pleasure Contest!

Nalini Singh is holding a contest to celebrate the upcoming (September 2nd!) release of Hostage to Pleasure the 5th full-length entry in the Psy/Changeling world.

What's up for grabs? US$75 gift certificate to the winner, chosen at random.


Goto Nalini Singh for the details.
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Which fictional hero (from books, TV, movie...) would you most like to hold hostage?H,,,, Hari (Marjoire M. Liu) Rand R'Ash from (Celta series by Bobin Owens,

Which fictional hero would you most like to be held hostage by? So many choices... Rainier Vel'En Daris aka Rain Tairen Soul (CL Wilson Tairen Souls book) or Deamon Sadi (Anne Bishop's Black Jewels books) or Colin Ames-Beaumont (Demon Moon by Meljean Brook)

Which fictional world would you most like to be held hostage in? The Pys-Changling world. Because is a cleaner, greener version were where I already live. (Nalini Singh's world)