Review: Luck of the Wolf by Susan Krinard

Luck of the Wolf by Susan Krinard

Amazon Product Description:
Branded an outcast by the noble branch of his werewolf clan, Cort Renier had come to San Francisco seeking fortune—and revenge. What he found was a mysterious beauty who could not—or would not—reveal who she truly was. At first glance she seemed vulnerable and afraid, like so many girls caught up in the debauchery of the city's whiskey-soaked gambling dens. But one look into her stunning turquoise eyes and he knew he'd found the winning hand.

Aria di Reinardus had reasons of her own for concealing her identity, but Cort's kisses were more than enough to convince her to go along with his plan to transform her into a missing heiress and return her to her "family." But they were not the only ones with secrets to keep and vengeance in mind, and they were about to discover that some destinies couldn't be outrun….

My thoughts:

This was a good story and I enjoyed reading it.

The author builds some decent characters, an interesting storyline, and puts it all together pretty well.

Good or bad - I fell in love with Cort Renier from the start.  I wasn't thrilled with Aria and her secret keeping - I guess I understood it for awhile, but at some point - LONG before he knew the truth - she should have told the truth!

Cochrane is the kind of bad guy you love to hate! Yuri is nasty in almost all circumstances!  I do love that part of the plot.  

The shifter aspect of this story is different from most shifter stories, as most find it unappealing and wrong to shift.  The whole "Upper class" thought pattern is wrong in so many ways for me.  

Although this was not my favorite shifter story - I will pick up the sequel, if one comes out, just to see if Cort can get over his uppity, society issues and what happens after they go home to his family. 

Review: Iron Daughter by Julie Kagawa (belated)

I was looking at my NetGalley review list today and realized that I have never posted a review of this story by Julie Kagawa! 

I read Iron King and fell in love with her fantastic characters and of course I was totally hooked!  Couldn't wait for the next one: Iron Daughter!

Amazon Product Description: 

Half Summer faery princess, half human, Meghan has never fit in anywhere. Deserted by the Winter prince she thought loved her, she is prisoner to the Winter faery queen. As war looms between Summer and Winter, Meghan knows that the real danger comes from the Iron fey—ironbound faeries that only she and her absent prince have seen. But no one believes her.  

Worse, Meghan's own fey powers have been cut off. She's stuck in Faery with only her wits for help. Trusting anyone would be foolish. Trusting a seeming traitor could be deadly. But even as she grows a backbone of iron, Meghan can't help but hear the whispers of longing in her all-too-human heart.

My thoughts: 

In this second book, Meghan is at the mercy of the Seelie court.  After taking her brother home, she goes back to fulfill her promise to Ash, but doesn't realize that he will be so distant and change so rapidly.  She is lonely and sad, suddenly without friends or family.  The Fey are scary at the court and not always what they seem to be.  The politics involved are incredibly complex and there is a lot of deception and trickery that I wasn't expecting.  

Puck makes his return - Yeah!  Which of course leaves us with the love triangle: I have to say I've had enough of that in my books, but I still love the series - can't imagine having two such choices!  

The secondary characters in this book really make the story.  I liked the Iron King a bit more than I liked this one, but still enjoyed it very much.  I wasn't ready for the end to happen the way it did and am looking forward to finishing the story!

Can't wait to read the Iron Queen, which is on the kindle as this gets posted.

It's Friday - - I am finally hopping again!

Jennifer from Crazy for Books has created this meme. 

If you'd like to participate, here's Jennifer's instructions:

So, if you'd like to participate, just repost this on your blog, sign MckLinky and check out other blogs inMckLinky! Let's connect and make new book bloggy friends!! So, if you consider yourself a book blogger, come join the fun!

Question of the week: What book influenced or changed your life? How did it influence/change you?

I guess if I had to choose a book that influenced my life I would say:

Black Beauty by Anna Sewell

I read it in the third grade because my teacher said she thought I would like it - I loved it and have been an avid reader  ever since.

Paranormal Romance Challenge

Bitten By Paranormal Romance is hosting - of course - The Paranormal Romance Challenge for 2011!

I will be listing my books on my sidebar along with dates completed and links to reviews!

1. Alpha by Rachel Vincent - - 1/4/11 - - reviewed here
2. Marked by PC Cast & Kristin Cast - - 1/15/11 - reviewed here (I think this one counts as a romance)
3. Unearthly by Cynthia Hand - 1/19/11 - reviewed here (I think this one counts as a paranormal romance - she is part angel).
4. Iron Queen by Julie Kagawa - 1/25/11 - reviewed here
5. Legacy by Kate Kaynak - 1/28/11 - reviewed here
6. Serengeti Heat by Vivi Andrews - 2/14/11 - reviewed here
7. Serengeti Storm by Vivi Andrews - 2/15/11 - reviewed here
8. Serengeti Lightning by Vivi Andrews - 2/16/11 - reviewed here
9. The Arrival by Nicole MacDonald - 2/25/11 - reviewed here
10. The Vampire Voss by Colleen Gleason - 3/5/11 - reviewed here
11. The Trouble with Spells by Lacey Weatherford - 3/17/11 - reviewed here

Review: Alpha by Rachel Vincent

Alpha by Rachel Vincent - - book 6 in the Shifters series

Amazon Product Description:

The unscrupulous new Council chair has charged Jace, Marc and me with trespassing, kidnapping, murder and treason. Yeah, we've been busy. But now it's time to take justice into our own hands. We must avenge my brother's death and carve out the rot at the heart of the Council.

It's not going to be easy, and loss seems unavoidable, but I have promised to protect my Pride, no matter what. With a target on my back and Marc at my side, I'm heading for a final showdown that can—that will—change everything forever. A showdown I'm not sure I'm ready for.
But life never waits until you're ready.


My thoughts:  (spoilers - careful)

I love this series!  I fell in love with Marc from the go - and Faythe is an amazing character!  Rachel Vincent writes characters that you love to love and you love to hate!

The story is well written, the characters are fantastic, the storyline moves smoothly and I found myself not wanting to put it down.  It was a 1 1/2 day read for me.  I couldn't wait to find out what was going to happen next.  I would recommend this story to anyone who loves shifters, great, strong characters, love stories, or action!

Okay - the spoilers start here:

I was completely thrown for a loop when Faythe's father was killed.  I did not expect that at all.  I guess I figured she would become the Alpha of the pride (from the title) but I thought that Greg would retire and name her, not that he would die.  I was in tears when he was shot and all over again when they brought him home and had to tell her mom.  How much death can one woman cope with!  Karen is one of my favorite characters in the series.  She is the woman we all hope to be in some way - - the heart of her family.

I was sure that I was completely done with the whole love triangle thing and that I didn't need to read another one, but I have been WAITING for this book!  I think Jace is a fantastic character with a ton of potential as someone's partner, but like I said - I love Marc.  By the time Marc walked out of the hotel room, I found myself (for maybe only the second time in my life) reading ahead to see if I was going to be broken hearted.  I don't know if I could have finished the book if she was going to choose Jace over Marc.

The finish:  I was pleased to see that Ryan gets to do something noble before the end.  I was sad to see their mom forced to suffer more, but it was a great way to solve the Ryan problem and to give their mom closure.  I love that Owen and Manx get to be together and that the tabby's will all have the chance to live up to whatever potential they have in them.  It goes without saying, okay I guess I'm saying, that I was thrilled that Faythe gets to run the pride with Marc by her side.  I truly love that they are fighting for ideals.

Review: World's End by Jake Halpern and Peter Kujawinski

World's End: The Second Book of Dormia by Jake Halpern and Peter Kujawinski

I got this ebook from Net Galley as an ARC - - the publish date was 12/12/2010 - - I was hoping to get it read and reviewed prior to that date, but as you can see from the date of this post I have just finished.  The book is a good read.  I was hampered by my desire to read the first book before starting this second book, but realized (apparently too late) that I would be unable to finish the first and get the second reviewed on time,  I am sorry to say I still didn't get the second reviewed prior to the pub date - I am sorry.  

Amazon product description:

Ever since returning from Dormia, Alfonso has enjoyed sleeping in a bed like a

normal person. No more waking up at the top of a tree or the edge of a cliff. In fact,

no sleepwalking at all. But then, while visiting France on a class trip, Alfonso feels that strange and

familiar pull of sleep. Upon waking, he finds himself in the belly of a ship headed

to Egypt. In his backpack are a few old books and a vial of medicine he stole while

asleep. Something is calling Alfonso back to Dormia. Perhaps it’s the Founding Tree? Or

perhaps it's the man he sees in his dreams—the one who looks just like his deceased

father? Whatever it is, Alfonso is powerless to resist.

Storytellers Jake Halpern and Peter Kujawinski take Alfonso on another fantastical

quest to Dormia—and beyond—to a vast underground world that holds the answer

to a terrifying message: Let me tell you of a dark shadow tree and the world's end.

My thoughts: 

The characters are interesting, but I had a hard time investing in them because they live their lives being most productive while they are sleeping. - I have to say that my favorite ones are Alfonso and Bilblox, and of course Bilblox's wolf Korgu.  Because of the whole sleeping while they work and such - the world of Dormia was hard for me to get super excited about, although I really enjoyed certain aspects of it.  The authors created some amazing landscapes, animals, and history/mythology to go with their world.  I loved the giant anteaters and the razor hedge.  I was so-so about the snow snakes.  The powers that the "Great Sleepers" could use when they entered the state of hypnogogia were great, but once again I struggled with the concept of those powers being used by sleeping people.

The story started out holding my interest and I was enjoying it, but I struggled through the middle.  My struggles could have been because of the holidays or circumstance, so I wouldn't make any choices about giving this story a chance based on my opinion of the middle.  I feel that the authors made a huge comeback towards the end of the story and it finished strong. 

Although I wouldn't call this my favorite read of 2010, I will be getting the first book in the series to check out what happens there and see if I can learn more of Leif's story and more about Alfonso's early life.