Category: vampires

Posted on

Body Magic Audiobook by Poppy Dennsion Narrated by Robert G Davis

Dreamspinner presents: http://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/store/product_info.php?products_id=3219

body magic

Blurb

Sequel to Mind Magic, Triad: Book Two
A pack is only as strong as its weakest member. Rocky Harris knows how the system works. He’s been on the bottom rung his whole life. But when his alpha consigns him to the High Moon Pack to help them improve security, he finds his beliefs not just challenged but outright assaulted.

Cade Montgomery’s confidence took a hit when the pack’s cubs were kidnapped on his watch. He’s prepared to do anything to protect his family, even if it means working with Rocky. Maybe Cade doesn’t trust Rocky, but with the turmoil surrounding pack Alpha Gray’s unpopular decision to break tradition and mate with a mage named Simon, Cade knows more threats are coming.

Then someone declares war on shifters and puts the entire pack in danger. Cade and Rocky will need each other’s strengths to survive the impending battle—and the power of their growing attraction.

Morgan’s Review

This is the sequel to Body Magic and we see a lot of Simon and Gray in this story – maybe even more than Rocky and Cade, the supposed MCs.

Simon and Gray are really hammering out their relationship and it was great to see them and to be able to follow them from their tenuous HFN to a more day to day relationship, watching their mating really solidify.  Simon waffles back and forth between wanting to trust his love for Gray but also wanting to be a good and independent wizard, separate from the pack and Gray.

Simon is also preparing for his final mage test with his uncle and this occupies a fair amount of time.  His uncle helps also him work through his emotional issues in addition to  his magickal issues as they prepare for his test.

The pack rescues an adorable little lion shifter after his family is decimated by the malevolent being from book one and integrating him into the pack proves to be more tricky than anyone thought.

There is discord when it is found that someone has infiltrated the pack – spying on the forbidden mating between shifter and wizard and the integration of a lion shifter into a wolf pack. When war breaks out there are people going to be hurt and loyalties will be tested.

Meanwhile, as almost a side note, Cade lusts after Rocky for a while and then they tentatively begin a relationship just before the pack is invaded.  Rocky is a very conflicted character and he needs someone solid, like Cade to help him get over his issues (the pack hates omegas and gays, both of which Rocky is.)  The budding relationship is almost lost when Cade realizes that Rocky was sent to the pack as a spy.  Cade is shocked at first but with a minimum of fuss the two work out that Rocky is loyal to his new pack (he’s willing to be a double agent for the pack) and the pair take tentative steps forward in their own relationship.

**

Overall, this was a great second book in that we get to see Gray and Simon develop more fully as a couple. I would have loved to see more of Rocky and Cade as they were equally engaging characters (Rocky in particular is very complex) but they didn’t get much page time.  Hopefully we will see more of them in future installments.

I’m looking forward to Book Three, since this left us with a sort of cliff hanger!

Audio:

Robert Davis does a really nice job with this narration, as well. Nothing too over the top but very clear and  differentiates all the different characters’ voices.  I really liked Simon’s Uncle Cormac genteel voice and Rocky’s Southern drawl.

I’m looking forward to his narrations in the upcoming books as well.

I give both the book and the audiobook 4 of 5 hearts

4

10805469_1500047746947637_197599976_n

Posted on

Mind Magic Audiobook by Poppy Dennison Narrated by Robert G Davis

Dreamspinner Presents:  http://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/store/product_info.php?products_id=2887

mind magicBlurb

Triad: Book One

Magical species must never mix. According to the rules, Simon Osborne should ignore the children’s cries for help. After all, they’re werewolf cubs, and he’s an apprentice mage. But for once in his life, Simon breaks the rules and rescues the cubs, saving them from a demon intent on draining them of their magic.

Of course, all actions have consequences, and Simon’s bold move earns him the displeasure of his peers and the attention of the cubs’ alpha, a man named Gray Townsend.

The last thing Gray needs is a mage in his life, but Simon did save his son. Since Simon is now a friend of the pack, Gray doesn’t have much choice about it—or the forbidden attraction that goes along with it. Unfortunately for the alpha, he needs Simon’s help to track down the demon behind the kidnappings—before it strikes again. Simon and Gray must join forces to protect the pack, even as they struggle to resist the temptation that threatens to destroy them both.

Morgan’s Review

Simon is a mage, and mages don’t mix with Others (vampires, shifters, demons) but when Simon “hears” some shifter children crying for help, he runs to their rescue despite this “rule”.

Gray is the father of one of the children Simon rescues and he is immediately indebted and attracted to Simon.

Together they work to find the demon who kidnapped the children and also unravel a mystery that involves Simon’s own powers.

Gray reveals that Simon is his Mate and though it should be impossible for two from different “groups” to mate, the chemistry is undeniable and very hot. They fight the attraction for a while, but it turns out to be necessary to save Simon’s life so they both joyfully and somewhat cautiously mate, unsure what the future will hold.

This was a sweet romance, most of the angst was about the “mystery” and the romance was pretty straight -forward. However, their relationship is far from solid and we will see it evolve in future stories as they experience being a couple on a day to day basis.

I liked this book a lot and am happy to keep reading the series.

Poppy’s world building is exceptional and her characters are fun and engaging.  I enjoy exploring her world further with book two.

Audiobook:

Robert G Davis narrates the entire series and does a pretty great job.  I really love his dialog.  He’s good with the unique voices, uses some great accents and does a fantastic job voicing the children.

The sound quality is good and the pacing is excellent.

My only peeve is that while reading straight descriptive text (no dialog or specific action sequence) he tends to lilt his voice in such a way that every sentence ends with a higher inflection, like everything is a question or vaguely exciting.

If you put that out of your mind, the rest far out ways that gripe and it’s a great way to experience this series.

I recommend this book and the audiobook and give both  a 4 of 5 hearts

4

10805469_1500047746947637_197599976_n

Posted on

Covenant in Blood (Partnership in Blood Book 2) by Ariel Tachna

Dream spinner Presents:  http://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/store/product_info.php?products_id=5558

covenant

Blurb

Book Two in a Four Book Series. The wizards and the vampires have forged an alliance based on blood and magic, hoping to turn the tide of the war against the dark wizards. A few wizard-vampire bonds are as successful as Alain Magnier’s and Orlando St. Clair’s, but some are much less so, leading to arguments, resentment, and outright fights between the allies despite their mutual goals. Following his best friend Alain’s example, Thierry Dumont determinedly forms a partnership with vampire Sebastien Noyer, despite the wizard’s discomfort with being so close to a vampire a man so soon after his wife’s death. But they find that desperation may be the key to forming a covenant that works: Thierry and Sebastien are almost immediately devoted to one another’s safety. With new strength behind it, the Alliance’s leaders move to announce its existence to the whole world, hoping to rally support against the dark wizards who threaten to destroy life as they know it. Struggling to find its way in the expanding war, the Alliance discovers that despite its advantages, the partnerships are affecting the balance of magical power in the world, which may be an even bigger threat than the war itself.

Morgan’s Review

In this, the second book, we start to see where all those new relationships forged in book one are headed. There are so many, it’s sometimes hard to keep track. And they come in all flavors: m/m, m/f, f/f.

Orlando and Alain are growing closer day to day. Orlando is still a bit stand-offish, so scarred that it’s hard for him to let Alain in. Alain is becoming impatient and hurt by this seeming “rejection” and it briefly separates them. On the one hand, I too was feeling that Orlando was being ridiculous, but as Orlando points out, he was tortured for years and has been holding on to these feelings for years and the TEN days that he and Alain have been together, no matter the magic, can’t undo the damage that quickly.

Jude, the traditionalist is matched with Adele, the strong woman. It’s a clash of the centuries with him acting like a caveman and Adele showing him what a modern woman can do.

Thierry and Sebastian.   This is Sebastian coveting Thierry and Thierry feeling guilty over wanting someone so recently after his wife has died – and a man to boot.

Caroline and Mirielle are learning how to be a couple, with Caroline’s confidence blossoming under Mirielle’s care.

David the conservative is matched with Angelique the madam.  “Nuff said.

Raymond and Jean are two stubborn mules matched head to head.

The conflict part of the story also moves forward a little. We learn that there is magic to be gained from these vampire/warlock pairings and that when vampires feed while having sex that magic is restored faster than just from feeding alone.

Mostly, however, this very, very, very, very long book was about character development. It was a bit trying and confusing.  Luckily, for the most part, if you focus on the characters you most want to follow, you can still make sense of the storyline.  For example, I read in one review, “If there is a pairing you are uncomfortable with(i.e. m/f or f/f) , just skim their part!” I believe that’s mostly true. Very little would be lost if you ignored one couple, but the sex between couples is mostly Alain and Orlando. This is still mostly their story.

I think that a good editing would narrow this book down and we wouldn’t lose the interesting elements of the story.  With a little less detail (and perhaps a few less couples) the story would be cleaner and have a more immediate and strong impact.

As it stands, it’s kind of like Dickens.  You read through a lot to get a good story, but … you read through A LOT.

So, if you have a lot of patience and time, I recommend continuing on with this super creative series.

I’d give book two a 4 of 5 hearts, with points subtracted for length.

4

10805469_1500047746947637_197599976_n

 

 

 

Posted on

Alliance in Blood (Partnership in Blood Book 1) by Ariel Tachna

Dreamspinner Presents:   http://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/store/product_info.php?products_id=5684

alliance

Blurb

“Partnership in Blood Volume One”

Can a desperate wizard and a bitter, disillusioned vampire find a way to build the partnership that could save their world?

In a world rocked by magical war, vampires are seen by many as less than human, as the stereotypical creatures of the night who prey on others. But as the war intensifies, the wizards know they need an advantage to turn the tide in their favor: the strength and edge the vampires can give them in the battle against the dark wizards who seek to destroy life as they know it.

In a dangerous move and show of good will, the wizards ask the leader of the vampires to meet with them, so that they might plead their cause. One desperate man, Alain Magnier, and one bitter, disillusioned vampire, Orlando St. Clair, meet in Paris, and the fate of the world hangs in the balance of their decision: Will the vampires join the cause and form a partnership with the wizards to win the war?

Morgan’s Review

There is a war being waged by renegade wizards. The good wizards seek an alliance with the vampires who have had an animosity towards the wizards for years. In order to broker a peace agreement, the emissary for the wizards, Alain, agrees to have his blood sampled by the emissary from the vampires, Orlando, as an olive branch and also as a means to prove his sincerity and honesty. Instead of merely proving these, which it does, it also gives Orlando a burst of magic that is both erotic, and provides safety from the sun!

The bond between them is so strong that the couple quickly goes from allies to lovers. However, this is no simple case of “insta-love/lust”. Yes, they are both immediately and exaggeratedly attracted to each other, but Orlando has a long history of mistrust. His “maker” raped him and abused him in other ways, repeatedly, over years. Only by killing him did Orlando get free, though he is still crippled by the emotional scars left behind. Alain is a true and gentle soul who seeks only to make Orlando feel whole again, both for the sake of the alliance and for their budding relationship.

Meanwhile, the other wizards and vampires must find their own “pairing”. It is determined that this bond between Orlando and Alain can also be found with others (though not necessarily the deep, sexual bonding). They test one another and several couples emerge.

Once the couples are joined they begin their work to spread this knowledge among vampires and wizards and begin to build their part of the resistance.

**

This is the first of four books. It is a unique take on the “mate” that we see in a lot of paranormal books in that (at least at first blush) not every “mate” is a sexual partner. (That remains to be seen in further books.)

Orlando and Alain share a deep and instant, but very imperfect bond and it is clear that their struggle to overcome Orlando’s past will play an important role in the coming books.

The other couples look like they, too, will play important roles in upcoming story lines and some of the pairings are m/f and f/f.

The overall feel of this book is very dark and as some have said, “gothic”. The language is more formal and stilted, perhaps because it takes place in Europe, though it is in modern times.

These are long books. The world building is significant and lengthy. There is a fair amount of the “love story” but that is at least equaled by the “other”. IE The other couples, the war, the world building, etcetera.

I really like Alain. He’s just generous and giving and so sincere. It’s obvious how much he cares for Orlando already, though it’s only been days. The other couples are intriguing as well. Orlando is a bit much. He is moody and guarded and scarred. Something like a old, vampire, emo teenager. I am hoping we see him open up as the story evolves, and that we see him returning the adoration fed him by Alain. Right now it feels very lopsided.

Overall, this is a great start to a fascinating series with a very complex, dark and yet romantic world.

I give it 4 of 5 hearts

4

10805469_1500047746947637_197599976_n

Posted on

Night Shift Audiobook by Kim Fielding Narrated by Max Lehnen

night

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dreamspinner Presents:

http://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/store/product_info.php?products_id=5588

 

Blurb

Aside from a sympathetic parole officer, Aiden Finn is alone in the world. He knows this is his last chance—after a lifetime in and out of prison, one more mistake will land him there to stay. Unfortunately, his job as a night custodian at a motel is neither satisfying nor good for building his confidence, and booze and burglary are always just a step behind him.
Enter beautiful, exotic, and secretive Luka Gabor, the motel’s new security guard. He seems to know a great deal about literature, history, and travel but otherwise remains a mystery. Aiden has to admit, the sex has never been better, and he might even be feeling the beginnings of friendship. He dares to hope that this time, he won’t mess things up—if lurking monsters don’t ruin his plans.

My Review

Aiden thinks he’s a “loser”. He’s an ex-con on parole ,working at a nothing job, his last chance before being sent back to prison for life. He’s got a GED but nothing else. No money, no friends, nothing much to do. Until he meets Luka.

Luka is the new security guard at Aiden’s work and every night, during Aiden’s dinner break, Luka gives Aiden a BJ! He never seeks reciprocity and refuses to see Aiden in daylight hours. Sure they enjoy some lovely conversation as well, but most of their “relationship” is confined to these encounters.

At first Aiden goes with the flow, enjoying the benefits of Luka’s peculiar form of contact, but then he begins to get attached, and his feelings get hurt.

To make himself “a better man” (and to distract himself from Luka), Aiden joins a book club, considers going to community college and starts to think about the future. Where does Luka fit in to his new life plan?

Eventually, Luka has to tell his secrets and Aiden has to decide if his monsters can co-exist with Luka’s.

**

This is a short, sweet love story. Both Aiden and Luka are so alone and so … troubled. The secret is pretty easy to figure out, it’s not meant to be a great mystery, but I liked how it gets divulged and this is a unique take on the vampire theme.

I really felt like Luka and Aiden had a chance at making a go of things, and I wished the book had continued on- maybe another chapter or two at least – to give us a picture of the two of them together, as a couple, with no secrets.

This was a great, unique, vampire story and I highly recommend it, giving it a 4.5 of 5 hearts, dropping it down from 5 only because it was too short.

Audio:

Max Lehnen did a good job with this. His accent for Luka was good (I wished it were a little more pronounced) but the “vaguely European” accent he used matched what I imagined Luka having.

The sound quality and editing was good as well.

I give it a 4 of 5 hearts.

Overall I’d give it a 4.25 of 5 hearts (rounded back to 4.5 to keep things easy).

4.5