ARC Review - Beautiful Danger by Michele Hauf

Title: Beautiful Danger
Author: Michele Hauf
Series: In the Company of Vampires #1
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Date of publication: July 1st 2013 by Harlequin

Could Her Sworn Enemy Lead Her Out of Darkness?
As a member of an ancient order of hunters, Lark has found that eliminating dangerous vampires is about more than duty. It's personal—a kill for every day her husband was held captive before his death. Staking her prey isn't a challenge until she confronts Domingos LaRoque. Mad with vengeance and the blood of a powerful phoenix, Domingos tests her skills…and seduces her soul.

Once a talented musician, Domingos can't escape the constant music in his head …or his need to destroy the werewolf pack that tortured him. Though trusting the hunter ordered to kill him could be his gravest mistake, the dark desires between them can't be refused. Yet as he and Lark become allies to defeat a mutual threat, loving the enemy may be the ultimate sacrifice.

*Note: I received this as a free eARC through Netgalley*

Oh, the cover is awesome! Great concept, finally it's not the mainstream, one woman, one man posing in some kind of sexy way (I don't have real probelem with those, other than they're extremely boring). It screams of mystery, danger and a strong lead character. So the outside truly does reflect the inside, although at first I thought (and hoped) it was going to be some kind of light sci-fi. 

They say the forbidden fruit tastes the sweetest, and I think this is absolutely true. People want what they can’t have, it’s in our nature. I think a forbidden romance is way more interesting, but I also prefer a conflict between the two characters in these cases. I love when they're starting out as enemies, I think it makes it more interesting, exciting and entertaining. But obviously, everything depends on the the writing and the story. 

I loved this story. It's kind of unique in a way that the hero is literally going crazy and he is truly dangerous, and as a reader I too felt unsure what he would do next. On the other hand it's fascianating and also sad. It took some time for me to fall in love with Domingos (I still don't like his name, though), but he got under my skin too. He's such a riveting character, even though the character development is not the strongest aspect of this book. Lark also is a great character; kick-ass, strong, funny. However her constant guilt drove me nuts. I get it, but bringing it up in every situation wasn't helping her and it definitely won't help the readers get to like her story. It's a good impulsion in her job, but it got out of hands. And frankly, I didn't see why she would mourn that relationship for years with such force... it was an awful relationship! 

Anyway, I liked the first half of the book more, because the cat and mouse game between these two was entertaining without getting boring, and there was something else going on in the backround between the Order and the werewolves, so it was quite interesting. But from the moment Lark gave into the temptation, everything was about sex *sigh*. I know it's a romance driven story, but those can be balanced too, and I don't feel this was. In the second half, the characters were getting annoyingly restless. "Oh there's probably a price on both of our heads? Who cares, let's just running around and have sex and then just split up, so they can easily kill both of us, why not?! It'll be fun!" Whatever, at least something truly exciting happened again. Now, don't get me wrong, I loved their romance, and it was well built-up, I just didn't like the balance of the lustful sex scenes (whis sometimes felt pretty forced) and their actual connecting along with some other events. Events like what the hell is going on between the hunters and the werewolves??? Probably it's gonna be explained in the next books in the series, but right now it's just a big fecking mess!

Some other things that got on my nerves were, for example the leader of the pack is called principal...what.the.hell. Would it hurt to write alpha or there's some sort of other meaning to this, if so then what is it because this irritated me as f*ck. Also, I'm usually not a member of the grammar police, but sometimes complete words were missing and the author used "about" instead of "around" many times in situations that aren't right...

Overall I really enjoyed the story, and the uniqueness of the characters and the romance between them. I don't regret that I read it, it was a fast and entertaining read despite of my issues with it. 

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ARC Review - Mist by Susan Krinard

Title: Mist
Series: The Midgard Series #1
Author: Susan Krinard
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Date of publication: July 16, 2013 by Tor Books
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Centuries ago, all was lost in the Last Battle when the Norse gods and goddesses went to war. The elves, the giants, and the gods and goddesses themselves were all destroyed, leaving the Valkyrie Mist one of the only survivors.

Or so she thought.

When a snowy winter descends upon modern-day San Francisco in June, Mist’s quiet existence starts to feel all too familiar. In quick succession, Mist is attacked by a frost giant in a public park and runs into an elf disguised as a homeless person on the streets…and then the man Mist believed was her mortal boyfriend reveals himself to be the trickster god, Loki, alive and well after all these years.

Loki has big plans for the modern world, and he’s been hanging around Mist for access to a staff that once belonged to the great god Odin. Mist is certain of one thing: Loki must be stopped if there is to be any hope for Earth. But the fight is even bigger than she knows….

Because Loki wasn’t the only god to survive.

Note: I received this as a free eARC through Netgalley

When I first saw this book I couldn’t believe my eyes. An adult Urban Fantasy with Norse mythology? A Valkyrie for the protagonist? Loki as the main villain? "I must be dreaming" was my first thought. I’m in Love with all kinds of mythology, but I can’t seem to find a good adult urban fantasy with a great amount of mythology in it. As for Norse mythology, I always loved it, but forgotten about it. However my current favorite TV show, Lost Girl (you should watch it, if you don’t already!) reminded me of how much I'm intrigued by it so after the clouds in my mind dissolved, I knew that MIST was a MUST READ for me.

I’ve never read any of Susan’s book yet, so I didn’t know what to expect from her writing style, but what I hoped for was an enthralling, fast paced, compelling story with a strong, smart and dignified heroine, a crafty, so-much-more-than-simply-evil REAL villain and plenty of Mythological references.

What I actually got, fortunately, doesn’t alter much from those above. Like I said, I’m fascinated by the Norse Mythology, but I don’t know much about it yet, only scratching the surface. And MIST made me feel like I’ve been thrown into the deep water, even though I still had yet to learn to swim. However this is NOT negative. I had to google on some things, because the author didn’t explain every single thing to satisfy my ever growing curiosity, but I loved and enjoyed it. This book had everything on the mythology level. Runes, creatures, gods, weapons, spells, myths, really everything I could hope for. From the start ‘till the very end it's fast, interesting, there is always some fighting/chasing or mystery waiting to be solved to keep up my interest. Mist, the heroine is a real Valkyrie and so much more! She is strong -stronger than anyone expected, feisty and full of determination. I really liked her. She has a guardian, an elf. Dainn is an extraordinary elf with secrets and a quest on his own. By the end of the book, I've fallen in love with him. He is a complex, mysterious and intriguing character. Loki seemed like a great villain, a Master Manipulator in the first half of the book. I enjoyed his scenes. But then something changed and he was a simple minded megalomaniac. I still loved his driven-by-real-emotions-yet-evil personality, but he has fallen from a 1st class to a 2nd class villain. Also, I should mention that he has a “love interest” and there’s a little male/male “romance” thingy, which caught me by surprise and throw me off a little, but I managed to deal with it, and it is really not that big thing or that graphic. Speaking of relationships… Everyone has some relationship with Freya, using Loki's words; "The bitch goddess". I hate her! But I have a feeling I would hate every god and goddess in this series. I LOVED the development of the relationship between Mist and Dainn. It’s not a romance story, so don’t expect many romantic scenes, but without giving away anything, I can say that their relationship is extremely complicated, but well built.

The writing style is absolutely fascinating, even though I had some issues, like the fact that wherever the characters went the author basically drew a complete map for us telling almost every street they stepped on. It was a bit like reading a guide book and at some point most of the "bad guys" kept saying things that could easily fit into an erotic novel, rather than an Urban Fantasy. And a little more humour wouldn't hurt either. But other than these, the description of both places and events are full of life, creating a magical atmosphere. I felt as if I were a part of it. Absolutely stunning storytelling! Aaaaaand Cliffhanger alert! Yes, there is NO END yet, so I should start crating a survivor plan, because the waiting for the next book is already killing me, and this one isn't even out yet!! Oh Odin's hairy balls!

Overall: I got what I expected and I'm really glad that I had the opportunity to read this wonderful book, despite the issues I had. One of my eyes is smiling, while the other is crying over the fact that it's going to be a trilogy, because waiting for the next one is one of the worst kind of tortures, but I'm also happy because there's so much more to explore of this amazing world. I highly recommend the book to anyone who like the genre.

Early Review ~ Kept by Shawntelle Madison

Author: Shawntelle Madison
series: Coveted #2

genre: Urban Fantasy

length: 320 pages (e-book)

release date: November 27th 2012
publisher:  Ballantine Books

Fresh from defending her pack in battle, Natalya Stravinsky, a whip-smart werewolf with a lovable neurotic streak, wants a little rest and relaxation. Once an outcast, she’s now eager to rejoin the ranks of her New Jersey pack, and has even gotten a handle on her obsessive urge to hoard holiday ornaments. Yet Nat barely has time to revel in her progress before the next crisis comes howling at her door.

Nat’s father has suddenly gone missing, captured by the Russian werewolf mafia. And as Nat steps up to save her dad from a mob boss’s deadly game, two men step in to play another round for her heart: her gorgeous alpha ex-boyfriend, Thorn, and her new flame, the sweetly sensitive wizard Nick. With her life growing more harried by the minute, Nat must stay cool, calm, and collected . . . or else risk losing everything.

My Thoughts:

I wanted to love this book, really. But couldn't.
Also, I wanted to write a spoiler free review, like I always do, but there are sooo many things that were driving me nuts and I have to explain WHY I give this book three stars.

I started the book with the thought that it certainly will be better than the first one. At least the critics said that. Well, the story wasn’t bad but it wasn’t too good either. The first book’s conflict was better. Can’t they make one book out of these two?

** Spoiler alert: Read on...If You Dare! **

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So, about the story... Nat wants to join to the pack again at all costs, and she gets her chance to prove herself. She needs to pass and win a test. She should train hard, but her father disappears without a word.  Nat, her brother and Thorn are searching for her father, and Nat ends up in a debt to the Mobster leader, who gives her a task. A consignment shall be delivered in less than 24 hours to another werewolf pack wolf, or else… as the old Code states:  The debt should be paid with sweat and blood. She doesn’t know what’s the shipment is, but it’s in a big truck that she has to drive to dogs…I mean werewolves.

Nat starts her journey alone (because the good old Thorn, who said he will always be there to help her, went home to his fiancé…) And finally, FINALLY the road has some surprises. Action, action! It comes in all kinds of magical creatures determined to stop Nat.

Since the first half of the book bored me to death, no wonder I was almost jumping from joy when they nearly killed Nat and her little crew. Oh yes, because FINALLY she asked the right person to help her, the wizard who dropped everything and rushed to fight at her side. TEAM NICK!! A muse and a siren accompany him, who are officially became my favorite characters in the book. Those two fools would be sin to miss. They’re sooo funny!

Unlike the previous book, in Kept, the conflict with the mafia does not last until the end of the book. It takes only 20-30 pages to solve. Then comes the test, where Nat can show that she’s worth to be a pack member. Since Thorn’s bride beats the shit out of Natalya a day before the test and swears Nat (what the hell?) not to tell anyone about this, otherwise Nat will find herself in serious trouble (again, what the hell?? And the stupid girl is, of course obeying… *facepalm*) so Nat can past the test only with the help of the other competitors. In the final dual, she has to beat her opponent in a physical confrontation (in human form… not a big surprise that she loses.).

But this is still not the end, because Thorn states in front of everyone, that he loves her, and he won’t marry Erica- his fiancé. And here where’s all hell breaks loose, and Erica challenges Nat to fight to the death right then.  When Nat’s about to die, by some miracle, she finally comes to her senses, and shift to a wolf form (it’s about damn time for the end of the Book 2!!) and beats the crap out of Erica and wins the title of an ALPHA (but she’s not ready to fulfill, yet).

The love triangle has never been a triangle. I hate when the girl is playing with one of the boys, especially if I am rooting for that boy, because even if Paul Marron portrays the other one, namely Thorn, on the cover, he’s still a huge jackass and I would totally kick him out in a heartbeat (and it really says something in my case).


Natalya is still annoying and pathetic. For example: Nick has to drain her life force (Thorn was tortured like this for 4 years) in order to protect themselves from raging werewolves in en impossible life-threatening situation. When Nat figured this out, she started to bitching, because seriously, how could Nick do that to her??  She didn’t think about that they’re still alive only because of Nick’s fast reacting… UNBELIEVABLE!

Nat’s family had not changed much, but her aunt is highly overtops everyone in the local b*tch competition.  In Nat’s place, I would have killed her!  Of course she just stood there and listened to the mental abusing her aunt was throwing at her, and sometimes she even thought her aunt is right. *beats her head in the table and gives up to understand this girl*

I wonder if there is going to be a 3rd book, because there are still some unanswered questions, but not much has been referred to a possible sequel. We'll see and pray for that if we get a third book, Nat will finally grow into a good character, because she does have the potential.

So, I say, everyone read this series at your own risk!

*I received a copy from the author for review purposes.

Please consider that these are MY thoughts, MY opinions about the book, that doesn't mean it's not good! It's just doesn't do it for ME! There are plenty good ratings for this series, so you might will enjoy it. You'll never know, if you don't give it a try!

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It was OK.