Neon Gods and Local Bookstores

 

Have you read this book? It's very spicy! I picked it up at my local bookstore, Love's Sweet Arrow. I'm very lucky not only to have a local bookstore but one that is a romance bookstore! This month one of the bookstore's book clubs is reading this book, and I am excited to go and be part of the discussion when the book club meets later this month! 

Neon Gods has over two hundred thousand reviews on Goodreads! Amazing, clearly this has been a very popular book. If you ask me, part of the reason why this is popular is not because there is a sex dungeon, but because it's a great update to the ancient story of Persephone and Hades. I read a physical copy of the book and it took me about four sittings to read it. I liked the world enough that I was ready to go straight from this book to the next book in the series. I loved that in this story, Hades isn't described as very handsome but not tall or particularly imposing, even though he is Hades. Most importantly for me, in this story, Persephone isn't kidnapped by Hades. I like this version better. 

Have you read this book? What did you think?

House of Vampires and Exciting News for Me (Hopefully)

It was a dark and stormy night, and there I was scrolling Facebook or was it Twitter (RIP) when I was served several times with an ad for House of Vampires --a highly-rated vampire paranormal romance.  According the the ad, loads and loads of people apparently love this series and I would be missing out if I didn't download it and start reading ASAP.

The Algorihim knows me, how could I not give this series a try?  I made room on my KU shelf and added House of Vampires.  A couple of days later, I'd finished it and was on to the next book.  Here are some things you should know about this series.

If you like a young scrappy heroine who is down on her luck and open to trying new things, you'll like Lorena.  If you are looking for a book with a conclusion at the end, this is not it.  The book ends with all the plots wide open; however, the books in this series are short and there are fifteen books in the series. The book is told from Lorena's POV.  When you start to read this book, you may think that there is going to be a polyamorous relationship between Lorena and the Vampires, but that is quickly dispelled so if you come into the series looking for poly, you'll be disappointed--at least in the short term, maybe it chances? 

I rate this book a 4. I wanted a Vampire story, that was an easy read, and this is, it's a real slow burn, not much happens in this book, but I'm thirsty for more. 

****

Word in the school halls, is that they may have finally hired someone for the open Lunchroom Supervisor position. Keep your fingers crossed for me, we've been down a person since last Thanksgiving and we could really, really use the help! I hope you are having a great week! I'm going to get back to my reading now! 

Lord of Population, why isn't this a Netflix series already?

 

I heard about this book when I was listening to the podcast Fated Mates* (link here: FATED MATES) The book is a take on vampires, in this book they are aliens but they drink human blood so yep, vampires! This post-apocalyptic tale of a badass human trying to survive in the harshest of conditions was so hard to put down. I stayed up way too late reading because I had to know how in the world Abel and Kane would get to a HEA.  But they do. This book is action-packed.  I love when a character has to question their own belief system, so this book really worked for me. Plus I do enjoy vampire stories, I'm not so much into aliens, but this is a great mix of both. 

If you decide to read this book, or if you have read it already please let me know if you think it would make a great limited series or movie.  Do you know who could play Abel?  Zendaya! Ah yes, I can see it now. The question is who could play Kane? 

* Here is the description of what the Fated Mates podcast is about from their website: "Fated Mates is a romance novel podcast co-hosted by author Sarah MacLean and romance critic Jen Prokop. Weekly episodes include romance novel read-alongs and discussions of the work of the genre, highlighting the romance novel as a powerful tool in fighting patriarchy…with absolutely no kink shaming."

One Foot In The Grave #Readalong 2022!

 

I'm so excited to talk about One Foot in the Grave, in general, I love the second book in a series!  Second books are where often learn deep dark backstories and they often have some great action because the main characters are already set up.  This book is no exception!  

Click to read the rest of my review on Books of My Heart's Blog today

 

The Hallmark Channel Itself Could Not Out Do This Book For Perfect Autumn Romance Ambiance!

 The Ex-Hex By Erin Sterling is like a perfectly made Pumpkin Spice Latte in Book Form.  This book feels like it was blessed by the Good Witch Cassie Nightingale herself.  

I can't imagine anyone who enjoys Autumn or tales of sorcery who would not enjoy this book.  It really puts you in the spirit of the Spooky season.  As I was listening to this book and really enjoying the story unfold, I realized that when it comes to romance, I enjoy the romance more if there is an obstacle that the couple has to unite to overcome. On that front, like most paranormal romances this book delivers.

We may be too old for trick or treating, but we can still treat ourselves to Halloween treats right?  This book is better than any fun-sized Snickers bar by far! 

Four Stars to The Ex Hex! 

I am lucky enough to be in a book club that is going to have Erin Sterling as a guest! I plan to ask if this book is to be a series. I'm hoping maybe it will be! I would like to return to this town!

Speaking of Halloween-- How cute are these two! (I'm pretty sure this picture is from about 2004)

Happy Friday! #Readalong Review! And Some Summer Talk!

 Well as Mother Nature is wont to do, last week we had temperatures in the mid-80s and sunshine galore.  This weekend, the official start of the summer season, the skies are a uniform cloudy grey and the temperature is 46!!! 46!!! literally, 40 degrees Fahrenheit colder than this time last week. 

It's really harshing my budding pool lifestyle. 

My little pool which my daughter makes fun of because it's only 33 inches deep, but hey, it's easy for me to maintain and big enough to swim a little and float a lot!  Alas, this 3-day weekend it is going to stay covered, as temps won't even hit 70. 

When it was summer weather, I spend a few afternoons floating in my pool and reading Blaze of Memory by Nalini Singh.  This is the 7th book in the PsyChangeling series that we are reading this year.  You can find out more about the read-along and join us here. 

As I have said before, I treating enjoy Nalini Singh's ability to keep raising the stakes in these paranormal romances. Once again, I had my doubts as the book was nearing the climax that Dev Santos and Katya Haas would find their HEA.  During this book, I found that I didn't care as much or root for this couple like I had in the previous book which was the love story between  Mercy and Riley.  For me, I think this was because Mercy was a strong, passionate woman who wasn't a virgin like the Psy, and because she was an equal match to Riley. Yes, Katya, survived and made it to Dev, but she is very fragile and since she has amnesia is one-dimensional. 

In Blaze of Memory, Nalini Singh takes us back to the beginning of Silence and tells the story of one family's exodus to become part of the fallen. This is done through letters a mother writes to her son. I liked this method of storytelling.  Additionally, we learn more about how Judd's special set of skills can work for the good.

I would have liked to have a better understanding of what Dev's affinity with metal meant and how it developed as he grew up. I wanted more of his backstory. 

Next up is the story of the human cop Max Shannon, I have been hoping he would get his own book from the first time he walked on the scene!  

Have a great weekend even if the weather stinks! It's a great excuse to kick back and enjoy a good book! 

Happy Friday! Time for a #Readalong Review! Hostage To Pleasure by Nalini Singh #ParanormalRomance

 My approach to the month of April in Chicagoland boils down to if it ain't snowing I'm happy. We had some unusually awesome weather to begin the month and now it seems, fingers and toes crossed, to have settled into mostly sunny skies with temps in the mid to high 50s. I'll take it! 

I don't know about your, but I love watching the trees flower and then leaf out! 

Today's review is for Hostage to Pleasure by Nalini Singh.  It is the fifth book in her Psy-Changeling series and I'm reading it as part of the COYER/Books of My Heart 2021 read-a-long. 

The romance of this installment in the series centers on Dorian one of the Dark River pack's sentinels and  Ashaya Aleine an M-Psy and arguably the top medical researcher for all the Psy. We knew at the end of Mine To Possess that the start of a romance between Dorian and Ashaya was imminent. 

In this book, Nalini Singh features a Psy for whom Silence never really took, so that was a new revelation for the readers.  We also get a manifestation of the duel nature of the net. As for Dorian, he is a latent shifter meaning, he is as jaguar as all his packmates, except he can't physically shift.  This causes him physical and emotional pain.  As I read, I *knew* at some point, some way Dorain was going to finally shift.  I had full confidence that Nalini wasn't going to keep mentioning his inability to shift without at some point overcoming the problem.  That's one of the reasons I am loving this series.  I'm a rider on this journey, I'm not sure exactly what roads we are taking, but I have complete trust in our driver.  Both Dorian and Ashaya have perceived flaws that make them different than others like them. Dorian can't shift and the Silence protocol didn't work on her. This leads to a deeper understanding of each other. 

In addition to the relationship between Dorian and Ashaya, so much was happening in the political worlds of the Psy/Changeling/Humans.  It's clear that the Psy Council is going to come crashing down.  We don't know yet what that will mean for the PsyNet as a whole and now we have a new Human organization on the scene, what are their motivations and how will that affect the characters we have come to love.  I am in awe at all the plot plates that Nalini Singh is able to spin at once--so much is happening in this world and I love to read it! 

As I was reading, the sentences below said by Ashaya Aliene really struck me.  

I thought to myself, Wow, now I get it! That is a description of white supremacy with the Psy being the white supremacists--focused only on their 'race'.  Over and over we have read how the Psy believe the Changelings and Humans as lesser beings driven by their emotions.  The Psy only care about their bloodlines and having power through wealth. The Psy don't even seem to realize that Psy/Changelings/Humans are the same species and what hurts the Changelings and Humans also hurts the Psy.  

Until the Psy realized they are all part of one humanity (for lack of a better descriptor) bad stuff is going to happen.  Fortunately for us, we already know of a nascent network connecting all three races has taken root like a seed that will one day become a mighty forest by the end of this series.  

Presidents Day Today, Paczki Day Tomorrow and #BloodHeir by Ilona Andrews

 Should you feel like celebrating Presidents' Day, I suggest a viewing of Hamilton on Disney Plus--that is if you enjoy a good musical.  Or you could one of the many, many biographies of our many presidents, OR you could dive into President Obama's biography. Since President Obama's biography which is a part one biography, is over 700 pages, if I read it I'm thinking I'll do the audio.  I like his voice. When I was a kid we would sometimes have cherry pie for Presidents' Day because of the old legend that Washington was asked if he chopped down a cherry tree and he said he couldn't lie and admitted he chopped down the cherry tree. 

These days there will be no pies on Presidents' Day, but this year the day after is Fat Tuesday and that means Paczkis!  Basically, Paczkis are Polish jelly or custard-filled donuts.  Interestingly, according to the internet while we here in Chicagoland call the day before Ash Wednesday Paczki day, in Poland Paczki day is Fat Thursday (the last Thursday before Ash Wednesday).  Moving forward I'm going to try and have a Paczki week. I like the raspberry-filled the best.  Custard filled dough of any kind is not my thing. 

*****

Today's book review is for a new book from the husband and wife writing team known as Ilona Andrews. Blood Heir is a new book in a familiar world. Julie, who got to know previously is now a grownup- with a new face and a new name, Aurelia Ryder. 

She's finally home, but if she visits her family, they will die. We are in a very new territory. This book can be read on its own.  If you have not read the Kate Daniels series, you can enjoy all those books after this one, as you wait for the next book in this new series. As a reader who comes to this book after years of enjoying the Kate Daniels series, my reading of Blood Heir is enriched as someone who has spent time in Ilona Andrews' post-shift world.  

The book is filled with ancient mythology and failed technology.  Aurelia holds her own against very powerful foes and we learn a little bit about her old crush, who is now a very different kind of Wolf. The transformation of Derek is as big as the transformation of Julie and I am really looking forward to what happens next.  

The first time she was called Knight Ryder I chuckled and then later in the book I see this exchange. So Night Ridger existed in this world too! 

Happy Valentine's Day! #TheSundayPost Feb 14th!

 

The Sunday Post is a weekly meme hosted here @ Caffeinated Reviewer. It’s a chance to share news~ A post to recap the past week on your blog and showcase books and things we have received. Share news about what is coming up on our blog for the week ahead.  See rules here: Sunday Post Meme

Happy Valentine's Day to You! 

I recycled a Cheryl's Cookies box to package up the Hubs Valentine's Day present.  I got him Four Sigmatic Mushroom Coffee we will see if it lives up to their ad which says it doesn't taste like mushrooms...

The halfway point of February is here and this is the point of winter where my attempts to find the beauty in Winter fades away.  Ugh. snow, slush, sliding, cold air, cold wind, cold face, cold feet, and dry inside air. If I could go somewhere warm and sunny for a week to recharge I would go but that is definitely not going to happen this year--maybe in 2022?  That would be so refreshing. 

Well back to Valentine's Day, I hope you feel the love today!  I plan to give some chocolate to the kids and eat some myself! 

Upcoming this week-

Tomorrow I'll be talking about Paczki Day and reviewing Blood Heir by Ilona Andrews

Wednesday I'll be sharing a recipe from Real Simple for Spicy Chicken and Polenta along with a review of a fun upcoming book called Yoga Pant Nation.

Friday I'll be sharing a Cozy Mystery Book Club review of Crime & Punctuation

Are you celebrating Valentine's Day today?  What about Mardi Gras on Tuesday?  

#ReadAlong Caressed By Ice #ParanormalRomance

This year I am participating in a Read-Along organized by Anne at Booksofmyheart.net. You can click here to read about the Read-Along and Giveaways. 

I've just finished reading the third book in the series and we will be having a group discussion about it on January 21st.  Books are even better when you get to talk about them with other people! 

And now here's my review of book #3, Caressed by Ice by Nalini Singh. 

Writing a series of books is hard. Juggling characters and plots and settings has to be harder than hearing cats. Knowing this, I appreciate how well Nalini Singh has crafted the Psy-Changeling series.  As I read book three, I continue to see how the book's universe is slowly expanding. Characters that were just mentioned in book one or two are moving into prominent positions.  New details about how the Psy-Changeling world is continuously added like brush strokes of different shades of color to a landscape being painted.

Each book in the series so far, like many other romance series, focuses on a different couple. This book is the story of Judd and Brenna.  Unlike the first two books, Judd's conditioning to Silence protocol isn't failing. He has been out of the PsyNet and with the Changelings for months before things heat up between him and Brenna. The timing of this book in the Read-Along is perfect as in the book it is also winter so we read descriptions of snow in the mountains near Tahoe.  

This book deals with trauma, specifically the sexual trauma Brenna has experienced and slow imperfect healing from that trauma.  Even in this paranormal world, there aren't shortcuts and magical overnight healing for Brenna. Having started this journey into the Psy-Changeling world two books ago, by this book I think we as the readers are ready for Brenna's gut-wrenching struggles and are able to understand that this story will not have steamy sex scenes until Brenna is ready. 

We also learn more about the Psy-council who are the big bads of this series and about an unknown character "The Ghost" who is leading a nascent revolutionary group. I'm staying spoiler-free for this series so totally speculation on my part here when I say, I wonder if Ghost is Kaleb the new member of the council.  There are so many threads to pull on in this series, it's such a delight to read! 

How sad would that be!  I wonder if at some point some of the Psy characters we are learning to love will begin to sing? 

Thanks for reading! Happy Wednesday! Do something nice for yourself today! 

  

#ReadAlong Visions of Heat #ParanormalRomance

 It's the last Friday of January already!  How are you doing?  Hanging in there? We had some snow this week and I got to try out my YakTrax which work great for walking or running in the snow. I'm still looking forward to the snow melting so I can run without the snow.  In my perfect world, among many amazing advancements; we would have sidewalks and streets that warmed up when it snowed and we'd not have to shovel or trudge through unshoveled sidewalks and we'd have dry streets that didn't turn into sheets of ice. 

Along with the snow has come gloomy grey skies, but since Groundhog Day is around the corner that's when we usually have sunshine to ensure six more weeks of winter!  That sun scares the poor little dude!

 

Visions of Heat by Nalini Singh
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Because Nalina Singh had laid a foundation of the Psy-Changeling world in "Slave to Sensation", I was able to appreciate the expanding universe of this book and deepen my understanding of the Psy-Net.

In direct contrast to Sascha and Lucas's relationship, Faith and Vaughn have a slow, slow burn. There is much to be learned about Faith's family and I look forward to knowing more about the F-Psy Clan in the future. This book is almost all Faith and Vaughn with as much DarkRiver interaction as Sascha had in book one. I noticed that Nalini Singh purposefully uses images of heat, fire, gold to describe Vaughn throughout the book, Singh wants us to notice and understand Vaughn is the sun and Faith is the night sky. Vaughn is a passionate being, an artist more at home in the wild and Faith is a logic-driven woman who lives in her mind-- and sees the beauty of the Psy-net. Their approaches to the world are polar opposites and Nalini Singh shows us how perfectly they fit together.

At the end of the book, we get some information on a character and I was pleased to see that character isn't who we thought they were earlier in the book, I look forward to them coming back into the picture and home someone they are related to plays a role in these books as well.

At the end of this book, we have some idea of how the Dark River/Snow Dancer Clans with their adopted Psy members may someday be able to usher in an end to the Silence and I am here for it!

View all my reviews