Sharing a Pond Author: Alex Whitehall Title: Sharing a Pond Series: Part of LT3's Intertwined Collection Genre: Paranormal Pairing: Poly Length: Novel Rating: Four Petals On the Author's Website: http://alexwhitehall.blogspot.com/p/my-works.html Summary: Brent shows up on Corey and Shane's doorstep in the dead of winter needing a place to stay—and hopeful his mates will provide it, and not mind he's a frog shifter. Being a shifter is nothing new to Corey and Shane, but neither is being mates. They've been together since before they first met Brent ten years ago—back when Brent was Brenda. Bringing a third into their relationship is more than a little complicated, but they're willing to try. But change is always easier said than done, and Brent wonders if he ever really stood a chance at being happy with the men he has always loved and admired. Maggie's Review:
I received this book as an ARC through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. This book wasn't at all what I expected. For some reason I thought it would be sweet and fluffy, and while there were portions of the romance that were definitely heartwarming, this story had so much more depth to it. I enjoyed reading it immensely because of that. Brent is on the run from an abusive boyfriend and his only hope is to find his true mates. He doesn't expect that they'll love him back, but he feels safe with them. So safe, in fact, that their relationship jumps from being mostly strangers who haven't spoken in ten years, to being deeply in love after just a short conversation. It's fast, but it's well explained thanks to their being mates. It doesn't feel fake despite the insta-love. They do spend the rest of the book learning how to work out the inevitable kinks of a threesome relationship, which helps to alleviate much of my initial concern about how quickly their romantic relationship progressed. One of my favorite scenes in the book was when Brent goes swimming as a frog. The way Whitehall described Brent shifting from human to frog and how his skin breathed was very well done. It showed just how much research went in to the characterizations in the book and helped elevate the story to four petals. The book was also technically a transgender story, which was a very interesting addition, however I don't feel it was explained properly. Brent was born as Brenda to a family of wolf shifters. When she first changed shape--the exact timing of which is never given--for some unknown reason she turned into a male frog. Those are the only details provided, which was a shame given how fascinated I still am with the idea. The only other thing that disappointed me was the fact that I kept waiting for something to happen. Brent ran away from a crazy boyfriend and, poof, problem solved. One of the side characters says something disparaging that causes a bit of drama, but that character is never handled. Brent sends an email to an old teacher, but nothing from his past comes back to haunt him. Admittedly, this story was supposed to be solely about the threesome relationship and their growing love. However, not having any additional plot to help carry the story left me with a slight feeling of boredom. I couldn't help wanting more from what was otherwise a very well written book. Maggie's Recommendation: I do recommend this book. It was a good read about a poly relationship. The romance did move too quickly, but I liked that after the immediate sex the characters worked to create a relationship based on communication and mutual understanding as well as sex. There were a number of things that needed to be explained better, including the part about Brent being transgender, and the book was missing a secondary plot line to help keep it from being monotonous, but overall it was good.
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Interview and Giveaway with Mell Eight
I am good friends with Mell in the real world. For ethical reasons I will therefore not be reviewing any of her books, but when I told her about my new blog, she offered to be my first interviewee.
Dragon Consultant, the first book in Mell's already best-selling Supernatural Consultant series, will be released on December 9, 2015 from Less Than Three Press. I asked Mell a few questions about the new book and the new series.
Tell us a little about Dragon Consultant:
Dragon Consultant is definitely a different type of book that I'm very excited to add to my bibliography. I haven't written a paranormal story in a while and this is my first paranormal series, which sets it apart from my other dragon-themed books. It's also about family, which is something none of my other dragon series have featured. There is a detective's badge on the cover. Is it also a detective story? Sort of. When I first started writing this story I did actually think about submitting it to LT3's Private Dicks, detective call, but Dragon Consultant quickly turned into a full series so I scrapped that idea. Dane, one of the main characters, is a private detective called the Supernatural Consultant. His goal is to help out as many people in the supernatural community that need his help, but that is only one part of his life. What is a favorite scene or character in the book? My favorite characters are the dragon kits. I can't choose just one because writing each of their individual messes was too much fun. I laughed when I wrote them and I hope my readers find them funny (or at least cute) too.
What's next for the series?
The next book is Dragon Deception. It comes out February 10, 2016 from LT3. You can preorder it today. The third book, Dragon Dilemma, is currently in edits. I hope to also have a release date for it soon. Tell us about some of your other current projects. As always, I'm working on far too much right now. There are a lot more books in my Supernatural Consultant series to write. I'm also hoping to have one of the two books in my Out of Underhill series ready to go soon. The best way to keep track is to go to my Current Projects page on my website. Speaking of your website, where can we find you on the internet? I am everywhere on the internet! But the best places to reach me are all the usual suspects.
Thanks for stopping by, Mell Eight. I hope you'll come back soon. It was great to talk with you, Maggie. I'll definitely be back if you'll have me when Dragon Deception comes out. You're on my calendar. The Giveaway:
Sword of Truth Series Author: Terry Goodkind Series: Sword of Truth Genre: High Fantasy Pairing: M/F Length: Novel Rating: Three Petals On the Author's Website: http://www.terrygoodkind.com/books-01 wizardsfirstrule.shtml Summary of the First Book in the Series, Wizard's First Rule: In the aftermath of the brutal murder of his father, a mysterious woman, Kahlan Amnell, appears in Richard Cypher's forest sanctuary seeking help... and more. His world, his very beliefs, are shattered when ancient debts come due with thundering violence. In a dark age it takes courage to live, and more than mere courage to challenge those who hold dominion, Richard and Kahlan must take up that challenge or become the next victims. Beyond awaits a bewitching land where even the best of their hearts could betray them. Yet, Richard fears nothing so much as what secrets his sword might reveal about his own soul. Falling in love would destroy them--for reasons Richard can't imagine and Kahlan dare not say. In their darkest hour, hunted relentlessly, tormented by treachery and loss, Kahlan calls upon Richard to reach beyond his sword--to invoke within himself something more noble. Neither knows that the rules of battle have just changed . . . or that their time has run out. This is the beginning. One book. One Rule. Witness the birth of a legend. Maggie's Review:
If I were writing this review on just Wizard's First Rule, this would be a much more positive one. I loved the first book in the series. Since the plot in Wizard's First Rule is fairly contained, it is possible to read it as a standalone and I highly recommend you do that. Whether you continue on to the rest of the series is a separate decision. At its heart, this series is not about magic or wizards. Those are present and certainly are a very large and active part of the series, but they are secondary in nature. The series is about philosophy and family and how those two intertwine throughout the books is always well done. One of my favorite examples of the philosophy in the series stems from the first book. Any reader would immediately think that Wizard's First Rule would be something about the first steps of learning magic, but that's not true at all. Rather, Wizard's First Rule is that people are stupid. It's about finding trust in others and having the intelligence to know and understand what makes people tick. What weaknesses make them stupid and how can Richard and other leaders in the world help them overcome that to make the world a better place. I like books that make me think and this series does that extremely well. The story is also about family. Richard's struggle to find a family of his own when his parents are dead, his brother isn't a great guy, the love of his life is revered and coveted by all, and children might be an impossibility. I loved reading every moment of that. However, Wizard's First Rule is the best book in the series and each subsequent one continues in a downhill path. I only read nine of the fifteen books in the series. When I picked up the tenth I was unable to finish it. The series wanders from plot to plot and doesn't seem to have any continuity. There isn't a larger, overarching plot to carry the series and make it feel cohesive. It instead began to feel preachy and somewhat whiny. Maggie's Final Recommendation: You should definitely read Wizard's First Rule. I highly recommend it. I am unable to recommend the rest of the series. The beauty of the prose and the crafting of the philosophy in the first book quickly turned preachy and whiny in the later ones. Dark Currents Author: Jacqueline Carey Title: Dark Currents Series: Agent of Hel Genre: Paranormal Pairing: M/F, F/F Length: Novel Rating: Three Petals On the Author's Website:http://www.jacquelinecarey.com/books.htm Summary: The Midwestern resort town of Pemkowet boasts a diverse population: eccentric locals, wealthy summer people, and tourists by the busload—not to mention fairies, sprites, vampires, naiads, ogres, and a whole host of eldritch folk, presided over by Hel, a reclusive Norse goddess. To Daisy Johanssen, fathered by an incubus and raised by a single mother, it’s home. And as Hel’s enforcer and the designated liaison to the Pemkowet Police Department, it’s up to her to ensure relations between the mundane and eldritch communities run smoothly. But when a young man from a nearby college drowns—and signs point to eldritch involvement—the town’s booming paranormal tourism trade is at stake. Teamed up with her childhood crush, Officer Cody Fairfax, a sexy werewolf on the down-low, Daisy must solve the crime—and keep a tight rein on the darker side of her nature. For if she’s ever tempted to invoke her demonic birthright, it could accidentally unleash nothing less than Armageddon. Maggie's Review:
I have read and enjoyed many of Jacqueline Carey's novels throughout the years and I expected great things from her newest series, Agents of Hel. She is known for her carefully crafted prose, her deep and twisting plots, and her intense scenes of love and devotion. Dark Currents has none of that. The goal of this review, therefore, is to take the book as it is rather than what I had hoped it could be. The most interesting aspect to Dark Currents is the very different magical community Carey has embraced. Norse mythology is not a pantheon I have seen used often--if at all--in modern fantasy and paranormal literature, but Carey introduces these very different Gods and Goddesses with ease. The Norse pantheon has also been seamlessly intertwined with Christian concepts of Hell, the Irish/Celtic Fae, and more, all set within the modern world. Carey makes all the very different belief systems and cultures woven together in the book feel normal. What the book lacks is any real depth of plot. It feels very linear. Everything that occurs in the story is expected, well foreshadowed, and therefore unsurprising. Even when I remove my original disappointment in the lack of expected plot depth from how I read this book, it still feels flat. That said, it was enjoyable to read. The characters are interesting and the plot is fun, albeit uninspiring. I particularly liked how the main character's bisexuality was never made to be an issue. She likes men and women equally and neither she nor those around her see any issue with that. Maggie's Final Recommendation: While this book did lack the prose and depth of plot I've come to expect from Carey's books, I still found this to be an enjoyable read. I do recommend it and I will be reading the sequel. Prickly Business Author: Piper Vaughn and Kenzie Cade Title: Prickly Business Series: Portland Pack Chronicles 1 Pairing: M/M Genre: Paranormal Length: Novel Rating: Four Petals On the Author's Website: http://pipervaughn.com/books/series/portland-pack-chronicles-series/ Summary: Some people might call Avery Babineaux a prick. He’s a hedgehog shifter from an old-money Louisiana family with a penchant for expensive shoes and a reputation for being a judgmental snob. His attitude is why he and his fated mate are estranged. Not that Avery cares. He doesn’t want to be mated to some blue-collar werewolf anyway. Or so he keeps telling himself. No werewolf likes to be looked down upon, least of all Dylan Green. He doesn’t need a mate, especially not some snotty hedgehog who sneers at his custom motorcycle shop and calls him a grease monkey. But when Avery gets into trouble with a shady loan shark, Dylan can’t stand by and let him be hurt—whether he wants the brat or not. Yet once Dylan steps into Avery’s world, he realizes there’s more to Avery than his prickly exterior, and that unexpected vulnerability calls to Dylan’s protective instincts. The sassy little hedgehog needs a keeper, and despite their horrible first impressions, Dylan starts to believe he might be the wolf for the job. Maggie's Review:
The concept of a hedgehog shifter is absolutely adorable and it's not something I've ever read about before. Vaughn and Cade did an excellent job crafting it. They did their research on hedgehogs and created a character that in human and hedgehog form embodies the spirit of the animal. I am very impressed with the characters in the book. The plot of the book is also well done. It is at its core a story of personal growth as Avery learns that he has lived a spoiled and privileged life, yet there is more to the world than just what his daddy's money can buy. The supernatural elements of shape shifting are cleverly weaved in to enhance Avery's growth. I wanted to give this book five petals, but there's something missing that made me decide to only give it four. It honestly took me a while to figure out what was bothering me: it was all too easy. Avery is a spoiled brat and when he's cut off from his money he smoothly and easily transitions to a life with a real job and real responsibilities. He was also having relationship problems with Dylan, but after an easy conversation all the misconceptions are gone. Avery gets in trouble multiple times throughout the book--I won't elaborate so I don't spoil them--and it's unbelievably easy for Dylan to find him and mount a rescue attempt every time. There wasn't any struggle for the growth that happens to Avery or any deeper depth to the plot. The twists were predictable, but it was still a fun read. Maggie's Final Recommendation: This book is worth reading and I am interested in reading the sequel as well. The difficulties the characters endured were solved a little too easily, but overall I found the story interesting and engaging. The High King's Golden Tongue Author: Megan Derr Title: The High King's Golden Tongue Series: Tales of Harken 1 Genre: High Fantasy Pairing: M/M Length: Novel Rating: Four Petals On the Author's Website: http://www.lessthanthreepress.com/books... Summary: Prince Allen has trained his entire life to follow in the footsteps of his illustrious mother, who has made their kingdom one of the wealthiest and most influential in the empire. For the past few years he has trained to become the new consort of the High King. The only thing no one prepared him for was the stubborn, arrogant High King himself, who declares Allen useless and throws him out of court. High King Sarrica is ruling an empire at war, and that war will grow exponentially worse if his carefully laid plans do not come to fruition. He's overwhelmed and needs help, as much as he hates to admit it, but it must be someone like his late consort: a soldier, someone who understands war, who is not unfamiliar with or afraid of the harsher elements of rule. What he doesn't need is the delicate, pretty little politician foisted on him right as everything goes wrong. Maggie's Review:
This book was first released as a free short story and I have been waiting for the longer version since then. The best part of the book was definitely the world Derr created. She created an empire comprised of many different kingdoms each with their own distinct culture, appearance, language, and more. That amount of attention to detail is remarkable and it makes this book stand above many others in the genre. Prince Allen, the main character in the book, is one such person who comes from his own distinct place, but he has made his life's work the ability to understand the other cultures of the rest of the empire. In particular, he has learned their languages and dialects. He hopes to use his special skills to help keep the empire running smoothly, although the prickly king doesn't see that. In order to get the king to see his strengths, Prince Allen embarks on an epic journey. This longer version does closely follow the plot from the original short story, which is both the book's strength and its downfall. Because the plot was already fleshed out, it allowed Derr to enhance the setting and to introduce new and very interesting characters. I really liked learning more about the castle. However, being stuck within the confines of the plot of a short story kept the plot itself from growing. It was a little too simple and lacked any real twists and turns, which could have been added had the plot not already been set. Maggie's Final Recommendation: This was a good book that is certainly worth reading. The attention to detail for each one of the kingdoms and cultures within the empire is amazingly done. The only drawback was that the plot was unable to grow beyond the original one set out in the short story. I will read the sequel whenever it is published. Cast in Shadow Author: Michelle Sagara Title: Cast in Shadow Series: Chronicles of Elantra 1 Pairing: None Genre: High Fantasy Length: Novel Rating: Five Petals On the Author's Website: http://michellesagara.com/books/ cast-in-shadow/ Summary: Seven years ago Kaylin fled the crime-riddled streets of Nightshade, knowing that something was after her. Children were being murdered -- and all had the same odd markings that mysteriously appeared on her own skin... Since then, she's learned to read, she's learned to fight and she's become one of the vaunted Hawks who patrol and police the City of Elantra. Alongside the winged Aerians and immortal Barrani, she's made a place for herself, far from the mean streets of her birth. But children are once again dying, and a dark and familiar pattern is emerging, Kaylin is ordered back into Nightshade with a partner she knows she can't trust, a Dragon lord for a companion and a device to contain her powers -- powers that no other human has. Her task is simple -- find the killer, stop the murders... and survive the attentions of those who claim to be her allies! Maggie's Review:
The weaving of plot in this book is so intricate and well crafted. I have reread this book before every new book in the series comes out and every time I find something new and innovative that amazes me. In addition, the world Sagara created has layers to it that only add to the wonder of this book. Kaylin isn't what any reader would immediately consider as an officer of the peace. She's deeply flawed and damaged by a past no one should ever have to endure, but she's able to use that as fire to drive her forward. I immediately started rooting for her. Kaylin is mostly ignorant of the world around her, but the reader learns with her experiences as she works to solve the mysterious murders. There are very few drawbacks to this book, but if I had to name one it's that a lot of the explanations must be taken on faith. Many explanations of events and magical occurrences that happen in this first book are not provided until a future book in the series and even then it often takes a few reads before some of those explanations become clear. Maggie's Final Recommendation: This book makes me think. It's not a simple read, but it is worth every moment. You will want to reread. I highly recommend it. Tempting Danger Author: Eileen Wilks Title: Tempting Danger Series: World of the Lupi 1 Genre: Paranormal Pairing: M/F Length: Novel Rating: One Petal On the Author's Website: http://eileenwilks.com/#!/tempting-danger Summary: Lily Yu is a San Diego police detective investigating a series of grisly murders that appear to be the work of a werewolf. To hunt down the killer, she must infiltrate the clans. Only one man can help her--a were named Rule Turner, a prince of the lupi, whose charismatic presence disturbs Lily. Rule has his own reasons for helping the investigation--reasons he doesn't want to share with Lily. Logic and honor demand she keep her distance, but the attraction between them is immediate and devastating-and beyond human reason. Now, in a race to fend off evil, Lily finds herself in uncharted territory, tested as never before, and at her back a man who she's not sure she can trust.... Maggie's Review:
I need to start this review by stating that I was not able to finish reading this book. I will base my review off of the two thirds of the story I was able to get through before putting it down. There were positives to the book. I did enjoy the world the author created. The book is set in a world where magical creatures are second class citizens, but they are working towards getting equal rights under the law. The Lupi are werewolf shifters eager to not be killed on sight or forcibly registered into a government database. Their society does show some levels of intricacy, but at the moment the author could have wowed me with her interesting characters she instead pulled back. I never felt like I got a full introduction or invitation into the world she created. The romance was also very disappointing. It was insta-love, but it wasn't crafted well at all. One sniff told the wolf in the relationship that they were mates. After very little interaction to build the relationship, the two main characters are having sex and madly in love. It honestly wasn't believable in the least bit. Of course, the romance wasn't the only disappointing aspect to the book. The plot itself was very one dimensional and predictable. I admittedly did not read the ending, but I easily guessed every other twist and jump the story offered. There was no pull to make me want to continue the book. Maggie's Final Recommendation: As I said, I was not able to finish reading the book. It was boring and predictable with one dimensional characters and plots. I therefore am unable to recommend it to anyone. Burn for Me Author: Ilona Andrews Title: Burn for Me Series: Hidden Legacy 1 Genre: Paranormal Fantasy Pairing: M/F Length: Novel Rating: Five Petals On the Author's Website: http://www.ilona-andrews.com/hidden -legacy/ Summary: Nevada Baylor is faced with the most challenging case of her detective career—a suicide mission to bring in a suspect in a volatile case. Nevada isn’t sure she has the chops. Her quarry is a Prime, the highest rank of magic user, who can set anyone and anything on fire. Then she’s kidnapped by Connor “Mad” Rogan—a darkly tempting billionaire with equally devastating powers. Torn between wanting to run or surrender to their overwhelming attraction, Nevada must join forces with Rogan to stay alive. Rogan’s after the same target, so he needs Nevada. But she’s getting under his skin, making him care about someone other than himself for a change. And, as Rogan has learned, love can be as perilous as death, especially in the magic world. Maggie's Review:
Burn For Me was the authors' first official foray into the romance world. I must admit, I am a fan of Andrews' other works in the paranormal world and this book hit all the right buttons yet again. The world in Burn For Me is unbelievably unique. Governments found a way to give amazing magical abilities to their soldiers, not realizing that those abilities would be passed down to their kids and grand-kids and therefore disseminated throughout the world. The strongest people with magical powers are called Primes and Primes and their families essentially run the world. Nevada is hiding her ability, but Rogan is not. That dichotomy of power makes for some very interesting character interactions. The best part of the book is the character development. Each character has a distinct personality, a full backstory, and an individual voice. I really liked how both Nevada and Rogan have families and lives that impart true depth to their characters. The only drawback to this book is the romance itself. The book feels like a prologue in terms of the romantic relationship. There are some sweet scenes, including a flower one that I really wish my future boyfriend might emulate, but zero in terms of eroticism. For a book billed as a romance novel, that is disappointing. However, I have to point out that because the relationship feels like a prologue, the future potential almost makes it possible to forget all that. The next book in the series will hopefully continue the romance like this book is promising it will. Maggie's Final Recommendation: I did enjoy the fact that this book refused to fall into any of the readily available stereotypes that most romance books embrace. The realness of the characters makes this a must read. An Intrepid Trip to Love Author: Charlie Cochet Title: An Intrepid Trip to Love Series: A Little Bite of Love 1 Genre: Paranormal Fantasy Pairing: M/M Length: Novella Rating: 4 Petals On the Author's Website: http://www.charliecochet.com/a-little-bite-of-love/ Note: Free; Part of the M/M Romance Group's "Love Has No Boundaries" event Download Here: http://www.mmromancegroup.com/... Summary: Tristan ‘Trip’ Hagan is a Husky shifter who was born to be the Hagan Clan’s next Alpha, a position of honor and nobility, a position he never wanted and was all too happy to pass onto his younger brother. But when they discovered his brother couldn’t have pups, the responsibility of continuing the Hagan Alpha line fell back to Trip. Under the weight of the Hagan Council’s demand to fulfill his duty, Trip settled down and produced an heir, but after years of struggling to uphold his family’s traditions, Trip found the courage to do what no other Hagan Alpha had done in the history of the clan: he came out. Five years later, and Trip is living a happy life with his cheeky pup and their own little makeshift family. True mates within canine shifter clans are very rare, but Trip has had one since he can remember. Despite losing his heart to Boone twenty years ago, Trip holds little hope of ever getting to bond with the sexy Enforcer, as it’s against clan laws for pure-bloods to bond with half-breeds. With the call from their feral halves to seal the bond growing stronger by the day, can Trip and Boone find a way to be together without losing everything? Maggie's Review:
From page one all the way to the end, this story pulled me in and kept me there. The world building was absolutely exquisite. Chochet creates a world where shapeshifters live in a modern world torn apart by the emergence of magic. It is slowly healing and in the wake of that disaster new societies have bloomed. Like shifters live in packs and communities together, and the reader is deposited directly into the center of a pack of husky wolf shifters. Their customs and culture are deeply thought out and the struggles the characters go through are real and very heartfelt. For those afraid of spiders, you will definitely commiserate--and laugh--with the characters. I won't go into too much detail so as not to spoil the book. The romance is a type of insta-love, but it is crafted in a way that it feels genuine. Trip and Boone know they are mates thanks to their shifter abilities, but it is a forbidden love because of pack politics. Trip is next in line to be Alpha while Boone is a Devil Dog, a type of body guard. Their struggle to allow their love to blossom amid pack rules that forbid it is very well crafted. I rooted for them every moment. The best part of the book is definitely Robbie, Trip's son. He's bubbly and buoyant. Robbie helps make the book humorous and breaks up the serious moments with perfectly timed and adorable jokes. The book is worth reading just because of him. The major drawback to the book is the fact that it is very short. There is so much of the world that is not explained, including a nightmare creature that allegedly lives in the woods. There is a lot of foreshadowing about this creature, yet it is arbitrarily forgotten underneath the struggles among the pack. It also was never realy explained how the world became as dysfunctional as it is. Additionally, in the introduction the author mentions that there are other types of shifters and a wider society set in the United States and Canada, yet that larger world is completely forgotten. The book feels small and isolated because of that. Much of this is admittedly caused due to the short length of the book, but a lot of potential was unfortunately lost. Maggie's Final Recommendation: This book is a cute and fun read with enough plot twists that the book doesn't feel too much like fluff. A must read! I'm hoping the sequel, Healing Hunter's Heart, expands the world and erases the few drawbacks in this book. |
Magnolia's Reviews
Maggie reviews paranormal and fantasy novels and novellas. She also interviews authors and hosts giveaways. Archives
April 2018
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