Tag Archives: romance

White Hot

Review of White Hot (Hidden Legacy #2), by Ilona Andrews

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I borrowed White Hot, by Ilona Andrews, from my local library. I reviewed the first one last in 2015.

Description from Goodreads:
Nevada Baylor has a unique and secret skill—she knows when people are lying—and she’s used that magic (along with plain, hard work) to keep her colorful and close-knit family’s detective agency afloat. But her new case pits her against the shadowy forces that almost destroyed the city of Houston once before, bringing Nevada back into contact with Connor “Mad” Rogan.

Rogan is a billionaire Prime—the highest rank of magic user—and as unreadable as ever, despite Nevada’s “talent.” But there’s no hiding the sparks between them. Now that the stakes are even higher, both professionally and personally, and their foes are unimaginably powerful, Rogan and Nevada will find that nothing burns like ice …

Review:
Can I start by saying that I think this series has some of the most off-putting covers ever? I really hate them and they really don’t represent the tone of the books? Do yourself a favor and don’t judge the books based on them. Ok, having said that, moving on.

It’s been a while since I read the first in this series, Burn For Me, and I admit that I’d forgotten a lot of the details. I was still able to catch up and follow the story well enough. However, I seem to remember loving the characters a lot more than I did here. I mean, I liked them, but with all the action and running around and killing people and blowing things up, I don’t really feel like the story slowed down and gave me much time to get to know them again.

One of the things I like most about Ilona Andrews is their ability to write alpha males who are all alpha, but still able and willing to support and encourage their kick-butt partners (not to mention the strong females). You get that here in much the same way you do the Kate Daniels books and that’s what keeps me coming back. No doubt I’ll be finishing this series out too.

Lastly, I appreciate that there is a pleasantly diverse cast in the Hidden Legacy universe.

Book Review of Forbidden Blood, by Anna Wineheart

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I received a copy of Forbidden Blood from the author,  Anna Wineheart for the purposes of review.

Description from Goodreads:
Since he killed a vampire eight months ago, Oriel has been on the run. The coven wants him dead, and the feds want his blood to eradicate the vampires. Exhausted, he sneaks into an obscure mansion, rummaging for food. What he doesn’t know: a vampire lives there.

Three centuries ago, a human lover betrayed Seb, selling him to the hunters for some quick gold. When his chef quits, Seb is left hanging… until he finds the thief in his garage. He captures Oriel, only to discover that Oriel needs protection. And the one thing Seb wants? A purpose to his life again.

Oriel sets one condition when Seb hires him: Seb cannot drink his blood. Except Oriel’s blood tempts him from a distance, tempts him in bed. If he tastes it, he’ll be addicted, completely dependent on Oriel. And the hotter Oriel kindles his desire, the harder it is for Seb to stay away.

Review:
This wasn’t necessarily bad if you’re into the whole instant lust, instant love, instant meaningful relationship sort of story. The problem is that I really am not. What’s more, I like a little world building in my vampire stories, even novella length ones, and there isn’t any here.

For me, the problem isn’t that the story is underdeveloped, though it is, the problem is that this particular story has been written again and again and again and again and again. While the idea of a human with addictive blood might be interesting (though I’m sure I’ve come across it already) the idea of an immortal meeting their mate, falling into INSTANT sex (even though one is supposedly in fear of their life) and then instant love, one leaving to protect the other, the one left behind protecting the leaver in some moment of mortality, a sacrifice being made and then them making up and living happily every after, with all challenges magically swept away is just so done, I mean DONE. To call this story predictable is an understatement. I had hoped for a lot more out of it.

The writing and editing were fine.

Book Review of Mature Content (Cyberlove #4), by Megan Erickson & Santino Hassell

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I received an ARC of Mature Content, by Megan Erickson and Santino Hassell.

Description from Goodreads:
My life plan is to be brutally honest all the way to the bank. Don’t believe me? I run a popular YouTube channel called TrashyZane, and my claim to fame is oversharing about every aspect of my personal life. Sometimes while tipsy. Not everyone loves my style, but I have a long history of icing out people who can’t handle me. I have no time for judgmental foolishness.

Except, apparently, when it comes to Beau Starr. His channel is the polar opposite of mine, and so is he. Wholesome, inspirational, and clean-cut. Everything about him should turn me off, but when we hook up following a confrontation at a convention, my world flips upside down. Not only does Beau Starr turn me on, he uses the exact combination of dirty talk and roughness needed to turn me out.

But we still hate each other. I think. 

Review:
I liked it more than Hard Wired and less than Strong Signal or Fast Connection. So, I guess I’m pretty middle of the road on this, as much as I adore Hassell and Erickson’s writing. As always I found that writing lovely, if somewhat repetitive at times, and the sex was scorching. Plus, I liked that what they did together was characterized as ‘mild kink.’ I feel like a lot of authors write mild kink and then pretend (or honestly think) it’s super hard core. I liked that they acknowledged that they weren’t vanilla, but didn’t pretend to be harder than they were.

The complaints I have are generally personal ones. In the first couple books I really felt like the characters were dealing with deep intra-/interpersonal issues. Here we have two people who just don’t like each-other, but still want to have sex, plus a little bit of external drama. (See where the emphasis is?) Additionally, the first couple books were mostly about regular, relatable guys. Here (and in Hard Wired) we’re dealing with, and in the head of pseudo-celebrities. (I’ve seen the same trend in Hassell’s Five Boroughs series. They started out focused on blue color men and now seem focused on the rich and internet famous. I miss soldiers and dock workers and school teaches. That’s a large part of what I loved about his books. More sensational characters doesn’t necessarily mean a better book. I’m just saying.)

So, I didn’t connect with these characters or their situations anywhere near as deeply as I have past ones and thus, didn’t like the book as much. Now, not liking something as much as something else is a long way from not liking it. I liked the book just fine and recommend reading it, but I didn’t love it. I will continue to follow the series and the authors though. Hassell especially is one of my favorite romance authors.