Karen Marie Moning - The Dark Highlander

I am Dageus MacKeltar, a man with one good conscience and thirteen bad ones, driven to sate my darkest desires...

From his penthouse lair high above Manhattan, Dageus looks out over a glittering city that calls to the darkness within him. A sixteenth-century Scot trapped between worlds, he is fighting a losing battle with the thirteen Druids who possess his soul, dooming him to an eternity of sexual pursuit. When Chloe Zanders, student of antiquities, is drawn into his world, she finds the insatiable alpha male an irresistible lure.Before long, she is caught up in an ancient prophecy that will sweep her back into time to medieval Scotland. Plunged into a world of timeless magic and dark seduction, she will soon face the challenge of a lifetime: fighting thirteen evil spirits for the heart of one irresistible man....

Comment: I liked this book way more than the one before. I think the overall storyline was much better. I also think the scenes seemed more well done in this book, at least most of them didn't seem to have been "worked over", it makes the book look more fluid, like things run smoothly in this book. I think in part it's the storyline, and also the characters.
Dageus and Chloe are a couple that rings true, I think the chemestry between them was easier to believe than the one between Drustan and Gwen in the previous book.
One thing that really makes me think it's the small tidbits about fae, I mean I've read the other series the author has written and in there the focus is more on the story than romance, there's also writing differences, but the fae are portrayed in a certain way and some of the fae show up. I can't help but compare it and see how different it is. How is this, considering the two series cross in the other one and some things so important there (namely the fae court) seem almost inconsequential in this one?
I'll have to keep reading to see where this goes in this series.
Once again, I loved how some characters made an appearance again. I love seeing characters from older books, it doesn't seem the main characters live in a bubble with no else around, how strange is that? In this case, I liekd seeing some of them and enjoyed the story much more.
I'm happy with the way the HEA worked and will look forward to read Adam's story.

Catherine Anderson - Comanche Moon

They called him Hunter, the fierce Comanche warrior chosen by his people to journey across the western wilderness in search of the elusive maiden who would fulfill their sacred prophecy:
For the sake of the Comanche, find the honey-haired woman; bring her among us, and honor her as you never will another.

Loretta Simpson came to him as in a vision, a proud, golden-haired beauty. Loretta had lived in terror of the Comanche since the brutal murder of her parents at their hands. Now she was a Comanche prisoner and nothing could ease the fear and hate she felt. What she did not know was that she and Hunter were bound by more than the bonds that held her--they were bound by destiny. She swore to defy her captor, but could she defy her heart?

Comment: I love the author's books, they're full of emotions and there's always a good HEA to make us believe in forever love, so it's garanteed a good time and a even better romance. In this case, the book was also very good, I loved it but yes, there's also a heavier sense of sorrow.
The two main characters hate waht the other represents. The story isn't only about seeing someone you might hate through loving eyes, it's about accepting a whole different culture in your life. the thing is, both of them had plenty reasons not to trust the other and to avoid atatchment because they feared it might see what really was behind the culture. I think it was an intelligent tactic of the author to portray the differences between the cultures and the fight between them. This way we believe it more when both Hunter and Loretta finally accept the love they feel for the other as true, because there's nothing else in their way to each other. I loved that.
What was difficult to read were the losses throughout the story, the things they lost and can't get back. I've cried a lot of times. I think this book was heavier than some of the others I've read by her because there's so many things I wish could have gone better...so many hard feelings to overcome and deaths to process. I didn't like seeing some things happen the way it was.
The romance was good, I was convinced and I liked the slow pace, the slow conquering of both their feelings. It was magical to see.
The book focuses a lot on the two cultures and the differences between them but it's not pro anything..both sides are well portrayed and both have good and bad things about them. I liked the fact I could choose to accept whatever from both sides.
This was a smart book, with a good romance but the HEA..although happy and promising..it's not a perfect one. Too much stuff happened before for it to be perfect, but...I hope the second book is easier to read and more obvious on the happiness.

ML Rhodes - True of Heart

A hundred years ago, the high sorcerer of Velensperia launched a swift and deadly attack against the draegans—a race of dragon shapeshifters who’d always lived in harmony with the humans. The draegans were all but destroyed, with the few who remained, scattered and in hiding. Now, a group of them have united and begun to fight back. Their leader, Keiran Hareldson, seeks to free his people from the cruel repression the high sorcerer’s reign has imposed on them.

Gaige Rizik is captain of the sorcerer’s High Guard, and known for his lethal ability to hunt down his prey with no remorse. His orders are to infiltrate the draegan rebels’ camp, learn their plans, and identify their leader so he can be destroyed. But when Gaige joins the rebels, posing as a human sympathizer to the draegans’ cause, he discovers the shapeshifters aren’t the bloodthirsty beasts he’s been led to believe, and their leader is a passionately captivating man who only wants what’s best for his people. Keiran sparks powerful emotions in Gaige, tearing down his walls of steely control, and stirring a longing in him he can’t deny.

Torn between his duty to the high sorcerer and his growing feelings not only for Keiran, but for the draegan way of life, Gaige knows he’s damned no matter which he chooses. In a world of lies, deception, and dark secrets, one false move will bring destruction to all he’s begun to hold dear. With the fate of so many lives on his shoulders, Gaige’s only hope is to follow his heart...and pray it’s true enough to save them all.

Comment: Since I've started reading m/m, I've read several reviews and coments about the dragon books by this author and all of them stated they were great and wonderful to read.
They were right.
I liked the story a lot, I couldn't put it down. I liked the descriptions, the world the author created and the sense of adventure in the book. I was always very curious to what would happen next, always wondering when who the main characters really were was going to be revealed. It was very good to see how things developped and even better that it happened in a believable pace. I think it helps a lot if the author can use vocabulary to help creating a sense of time passing by without being rushed. Very good.
The two main characters are a great couple and I was so happy to see they were mates and how it happened. I love romance and I enjoyed seeing theirs.
I'm so curious to how the fact they're mates will affect others around them, which means I can't wait to read the other books.
I also liked the secondary characters and want to know more about them. All in all, every little detail in the story worked for me. The story itself was fun and addictive and the said details really made it all better.
It was a great world indeed and I loved the book. Totally worth the time I've waited to read it and a great pick for this challenge.

Anne Herries - An Ideal Match

It was obvious to everyone except Miss Jane Osbourne, who kept her feelings to herself while she tended to the wounded man. Max, Lord Massingham, was not only handsome and generous, she thought, but he would make an ideal husband for some lucky bride, perhaps her ward, the lovely Amanda. Max's hopes were not on Amanda, but on Jane herself. Yet before he could declare his love, he had to protect Jane and her ward from harm, as well as uncover an unknown assailant wanting to take his fortune and his life.

Comment: Bored. This is the adjective that defined me when I started this book, while I was reading this book and when I've finished this book.
I found this book in Bookmooch and someone was kind enough tos end it to me and in the end I couldn't be more bored. Since the first pages I figured out I wouldn't spend a great time but as I have a personal rule to finish all books, there I went...but I admit I read some sentences very fast.
The plot is predictable, but in these kind of books we know what to expect, we are hoping to be challenged by writing and the emotions, not exactly by surprises.
Anyway, the story really wan't for me...I've read historicals, I've read stuff published by harlequin and I've nejoyed several books combining the two, but this one...the two protagonists didn't have chemestry, I dind't think their personalities was well done, they were too perfect in their good aspects and too silly in the bad ones, there was no balance, no trueness. The way they behaved also seemed artificial. The secondary characters were better but not enough to redeem the book to me.
Also, usually the labguage used in historicals doesn't bother me but in this case... I don't know, perhaps it was just one more thing and I got mad but the fact is it bothered me and didn't help my likeness for the book.
This book really didn't convince me. I don't recommend it.

Tess Gerritsen - The Sinner

Not even the icy temperatures of a typical New England winter can match the bone-chilling scene of carnage discovered at the chapel of Our Lady of Divine Light. Within the cloistered convent lie two nuns -- one dead, one critically injured -- victims of an unspeakably savage attacker. The brutal crime appears to be without motive, but medical examiner Maura Isles's autopsy of the dead woman yields a shocking surprise: twenty-year-old Sister Camille gave birth before she was murdered. Then another body is found mutilated beyond recognition. Together, Isles and homicide detective Jane Rizzoli uncover an ancient horror that connects these terrible slaughters. As long-buried secrets come to light, Maura Isles finds herself drawn inexorably toward the heart of an investigation that strikes close to home -- and toward a dawning revelation about the killer's identity too shattering to consider.

Comment: I'm enjoying this author's books more and more. The author clearly intended to write deep thrillers, where there's lot of suspense and we don't know exactly what makes the killers do what they do. In this case, I think she was very smart in creating all the clues the detectives are discovering, in order to make us think something and in the end...I was surprised until the very end. I had an idea and it was close to it, but I didn't really see what was the killer's real motivation to commit those crimes. So, I guess the thriller part was again, well done, because it makes us think about everything going on.
Some people I talked to have said the details are too specified and someone without medical background has more difficulty to understand some technical things. Well, yes some things need to be read with more attention, but I didn't find them too harsh, I've read many medical thillers and although I don't really know how the procedure is or why it's done like that, it doesn't put me off, so I don't see why it's such a discussed topic.
I also like the books because the author puts in a certain dose of romance, not much, and most of it is implyied, but nevertheless, it's enough to entice. In this third book we see an evolution of one of the character's personal life from the last book and in th end we can't help smiling because of it. There's also more information about another protagonist and we get to see some tidbits of her childhood and ended marriage. I guess the author is giving small doses of their personal dilemmas to increase this sense of dicovery, to make us curious but not dumping everthing at once and thus, making us want to read more.
I, personally, am convinced to keep going.

2 More Stories

As one of the most ancient in the Argeneau clan, Cale Valens has given up on finding a life mate. His friends and family, however, have not. In fact, they believe they've finally found his perfect match. Getting them together, however, requires one little white lie ...
Alexandra Willan is in a panic. Her restaurant is due to open in two weeks, but her chef just walked out. Then a highly recommended replacement arrives, an impossibly handsome culinary genius who sends electric tingles racing through her body ...
Except he can't cook. In fact, Cale hasn't eaten real food in two thousand years. Yet he's determined to prove to Alex his prowess in the kitchen ... and elsewhere. Because never has he hungered so for any mortal woman. And not just for a taste of her, but for the whole delicious feast!

Comment: I liked this book much more than the previous one. It brought back several characters from other books, and it was fun to see them. I also liked how the news of vampires were given to Alex, although her reaction and acceptance appeared too fast to be realistic. the romance was good and they had chemestry which contributed to make things seem more believable.
I think it was a nice new installment in the series.

* * *

She's turned her family's Georgia apple orchards into a booming enterprise, kept hidden the painful truth about her late husband and their marriage, and sent her son, Davis, to Harvard. Nothing, it seems, can faze Hush McGillen. Until Davis speeds home from college in a cloud of dust, Secret Service in hot pursuit, to present her with his new bride--the daughter of the President of the United States! Suddenly Hush's carefully ordered life is thrown into chaos. Reporters are crawling everywhere, the First Lady's temper is showing, the newlyweds are fighting...and federal agent Nick Jakobek is getting under Hush's skin. With the scandalous elopement the talk of the nation, it will take a bold move on Hush's part to save her reputation, her family, and her business. But when unexpected love strikes, nothing will be able to protect her heart.



Comment: I loved this book, much more than the previous two I've read. This story focused on a different set of rules and issues and it was a good variation from the usual things the author puts in her books. The story was both funny and tender and I liked the fantasy government there. I think it was a fluid story, not so "dark", and allows the reader to enjoy it more. I mean, I also shed a tear here and there but I wasn't consummed with bad feelings because of what was happening. A very good story.

Ava Rose Johnson - Breaking Ground

Buddies since kindergarten, Ray Jenkins and Eric Richards have never crossed the line into a sexual relationship. But when Ray breaks the news to Eric that he’s leaving for war, their friendship suddenly slides into something deeper, and what’s intended to be a guys’ night in turns out to be a guys’ night in bed.

Two years later, their one night of hot sex is a distant memory and having heard nothing from Ray since his abrupt departure, Eric can’t believe it when his old friend shows up. Using his mouth and his hands, Ray makes it clear how much he still wants Eric, and unable to resist, Eric falls right back into Ray’s bed. But fear that Ray will leave again holds him back, and despite the passion growing between them, Eric can’t let go of the pain he suffered while Ray was gone. Ray has to convince him that this time ’round he’s not going anywhere or else their burgeoning relationship will be over before it has the chance to begin.

Comment: This book wasn't what I thought. It's well written, sure, but the story didn't make an impression on me.
To summarize things, guy is straight and is going to war but has gay night with gay best friend, tells him to get out and leaves to war. Returns years after knowing the gay friend is the one. While trying to convince gay friend to be his everything shares him with gay friend's roomate in an menage à trois.
Huh?
Ok, someone has doubts and actually has curiosity to try a gay relationship, gets confused, there's the usual mix-ups, but after two years that guy is the one and in the, say...path to discovery, must try someone else just to make sure oh and have the one at the same time? I was surely not convinced.
The blurb seemed promising and I pictured some possibilities in my head of how the story might developp, but in the end I was just too numb to care, I mean, the characterization and writing are well done, but the realistic part of things seemed too much "created", it sounded fake. I guess there's people in the world who behave like that, but honestely this isn't what I like in my books. I like my gay books the same way I prefer all the others, with a touch of romance and this one didn't captivated me.
I don't think the protagonists were breaking ground, they were experimenting and they had doubts. But I wasn't convinced of their feelings, I didn't feel urgency or chemestry between them.

Lorraine Heath - Texas Glory

SHE WAS GIVEN TO A STRANGER
Cordelia McQueen was a virtual prisoner in her father's house. Until everything changed when she was shamelessly traded in a battle for land and water rights, and thrust into an unfamiliar world as the bride of Dallas Leigh.
HE BELONGED TO THE LAND
Dallas had given his life to the land. Now he aimed to put West Texas on the map. But as he gazed into the eyes of the lovely stranger who belonged to him, he caught a glimpse of another ambition--a warm, radiant desire of the heart. Was this the woman who would walk beside him as, together, they carved out a rich future with all the promise of love?

Comment: Lots of people say the first book in this trilogy by Lorraine Haeath is the best, but personally I liked this second one much more!
Dallas was a character in the first book I cared about and felt sorry when his dream marriage ended because he wasn't in love with Amelia anyway. I think he would be a very good hero and not reluctant liek we see so many heroes in romance novels.
Cordelia..I liked her from the first moment, since she was afraid of even walk with her head high until the very end. I liked how realistic she seemed and how her fears were legimit and the author didn't rush things between them, making Cordelia a passionate woman just because.
There was a fine balance between Dallas and Cordelia and I liked seeing how they slowly, one scene at a time, fell in love.
The book overall offered everyhting one hopes for in this kind of romance but I must confess I felt a bit sad because of a certain thing that happened, right at the moment everything was so smoothly well. But we learn with everything and I believe Dallas and Cordelia are stronger characters because of that.
One thing I enjoyed was seeing the previous characters all there. I always like to see what is happening to beloved characters.
One thing happens in this book that sets the action to the third and final book, Austin's. Can't wait to read his story too, next month.

Two more small comments

As Montana Grant struggles to lead her late father's company, her estranged mother suddenly reappears, spouting nonsense about Mount Olympus, immortal warriors, and curses. But after an event that puts the company's future-and Montana's life-at risk, she decides to take her mother's last but of advice.
Quinn Tanner is Montana's security specialist-and a Taurus Warrior. With worldwide peace hanging in the balance, it's up to Quinn to help Montana rise to her destiny-even as they're falling in love.

Comment: I enjoyed this new installment in the series. There's always something new happening in terms of action, but waht I enjoy the most is the connection and interaction betwenn the characters. I loved the fact girls fight too and they are friends, which allows for very good scenes. Still, I wish we'd see more mythology.

* * *

Having narrowly averted an (under)World War, Cat Crawfield wants nothing more than a little downtime with her vampire husband, Bones. Unfortunately, her gift from New Orleans's voodoo queen just keeps on giving -- leading to a personal favor that sends them into battle once again, this time against a villainous spirit.

Centuries ago, Heinrich Kramer was a witch hunter. Now, every All Hallows Eve, he takes physical form to torture innocent women before burning them alive. This year, however, a determined Cat and Bones must risk all to send him back to the other side of eternity -- forever. But one wrong step and they'll be digging their own graves.

Comment: I'm much more happy with this book than the previous one in the Cat and Bones series. The previous book was a disappointment, but this one offered much more interesting scenes and possibilities. I can't wait to see what happens with Cat's mother and what will happen in the next book, considering the things stared in this one.
I love this series, and except for the 5th book, this is one of the best out there.

Melanie Dickerson - The Healer's Apprentice

In this historical romance loosely based on the Sleeping Beauty fairy tale, a woodcutter's daughter becomes the town healer's apprentice. Rose's job is to care for the sick and injured in Hagenheim Castle. But she gets sick at the sight of blood and is more suited to making up stories than sewing up wounds. She is determined to overcome her weakness and prove herself a competent healer, or she faces marrying a disgusting old merchant her mother has picked out for her.
Lord Hamlin, the future ruler of the region, is injured and Rose must overcome her squeamishness to save him. He is everything that is noble and good, but loving him is forbidden. He is already betrothed to a mysterious woman in hiding.
With two noble-born brothers vying for her affections, Rose learns that the people of Hagenheim are not always who they seem.

Comment: I admit it, I confess it...I can argue what I want, but I confess I only bought this book because of its cover (blushing now)...
I avoided blurbs, comments, reviews, anything, in order to read the book without influence. This is a risk, after all God knows whatever is in there and one can be seriously disappointed. Or one can get a very good book or simply a passable one.
Clearly, if I had read the blurb I'd see it was directed more to teens than to adults, but after having read it, I don't think that it's that obvious because the story is set in medieval times and then a 17 year-old girl was considered in the perfect age to marry, so...
Rose is a poor girl who works as an apprentice to the castle's healer. She knows it would be a good path for her...or she would have to marry someone she doesn't like. The story follows Rose and her meetings with Lord Hamlin, the duke-to-be, and his younger brother. At first she starts to fall in love with lord Hamlin but he is betrothed and she tries to forget him...but in the end she can't.
I think the author was smart trying to put in some sort of fairy tale flavour in there but the writing still felt too simplistic to me. I mean, what do I know, I can't write, but the way I read it, it seemed so. I like the story and how it ended, although there's a time it becomes pretty obvious what's going on and how it will end. Some situations seemed to rushed, like she wanted them to happen but she introduced things too quickly, without much thinking. It works out, but I don't know, comparing to other medieval writers, like Elizabeth Chadwick, I think she has to work on her style a bit more.
Still, it was a good first effort anf I might read the next one one day...but for the next one I'll be reading the blurb first.

Astrid Amara - The Archer's Heart

In the ancient kingdom of Marhavad, noblemen dominate the lower castes, wielding mystic weapons, known as shartas, against any who oppose them. For generations the rule of Marhavad’s kings has been absolute. But now the line of succession is divided, and whispers of revolution are heard in even the royal palace.
Keshan Adaru, an outspoken man of unearthly charms, welcomes these changes. All his life he has foreseen an uprising that will shatter the castes and end the tyranny of the old laws. His visions have driven him but now, at the brink of their fulfillment, he finds himself obsessed with Prince Jandu Paran-- a man whose entire family must be destroyed if the kingdom is to be freed.
Tarek Amia would gladly see Jandu Paran brought low. Born the son of a charioteer, Tarek has no love for the royal princes who have slighted and insulted him all his life. Only Keshan’s philosophies have elevated him from the brutal ranks of common soldiers. Tarek owes Keshan his devotion, but he is a pragmatic man and when he discovers Keshan’s reckless affair he realizes that Keshan may have to be sacrificed for the sake of his own revolution.
Young Prince Jandu Paran has never concerned himself with court intrigue. His life has been dedicated to the lordly art of archery and mastering the immense powers of the shartas. Handsome and arrogant, he is sure that no man can surpass him and yet Keshan Adaru’s mere touch brings Jandu to his knees. But his desire for Keshan is more than forbidden; it threatens to destroy Jandu’s pride, position and family. In the midst of this turmoil, an unspeakable event forces Jandu to redefine the meaning of honor and loyalty.
And now, as armies arise to war, each man must decide where his allegiance lies and what he will sacrifice in his heart and on the battlefield.

Comment: The best m/m book I've read so far this year! Totally amazing. I recommend it to everyone who likes m/m and a bit of fantasy. I even contacted the author to say so, something I don't usually do.
This out of the way, now to my comment...well, I don't even know where to start, everything worked out for me in this story. Even the things that let me sad work within the story.
Basic things first: the story is divided in 3 parts (you can have them all in ARe, if you want) and each one follows a step in the main character's lives. I won't explain as it would spoil things and this book deserves to be savoured without influence. I only read the general blurb in the author's site before reading and thankfully I could appreciate the story completely.
The world is a bit of fantastic as there's references to magic and demons in a different dimension but seriously, I'd say it's more of a historical but with the detail it shows the influence of the indian caste system, so it's not a free and happy world in the west...it's a different kind of society but I think this was one of the things that made me read it in the first place, because it got me curious how it would suit the story.
The two main characters are Jandu and Keshan and both have a very solid way of seeing the world and what to expect from it, but during the whole story they grow up and they face things and end up changing their POV's on what is really important to them. I loved their romance, I think it's very well balanced and believable.
One strong point in the book is the secondary characters and how they all seem real. There are some who are more villains than others but everyone has something good and something bad about them...just like a normal person. I think the author must have had lots of work creating anf balancing them so none looks too uch of anything.
I like the writing a lot, the story flows and I wanted to keep going but I had to sleep and work...but I was thinking about the story the whole time.
I don't even know how to describe the feelings I got while reading without explaining things and it would be a spoiler, so, please someone read this and come back so we can talk! I felt happiness, I laughed and I cried because it hurt to think about some things...But we can see all the effort she put into this novel and I'm really happy to have read it. I think this is really a very good novel. I ended it at night just before going to sleep and I couldn't for a long time because I was thinking about everything. The way it ends..somethings broke my heart, but there's a HEA, don't worry. A very good HEA, with lots of lessons learned before, but still a good HEA.
If nothing better comes along, I'd say this is THE BEST m/m book I read, for sure.

Stan Nicholls - Quicksilver Rising

In the land of Bhealfa, magic defines and controls the social order. But the most powerful and expensive spells are used by the authoriti6 to control the entire population.

Reeth Caldason is one of the last remaining members of a warrior race that was brutally massacred decades ago. Cursed with episodes of blind, uncontrollable rage, he is forced to wander the world seeking revenge for his people and a cure for his magical affliction. But the spell that binds Reeth is highly mysterious, and only when a young sorcerer's apprentice tells him of the mysterious Covenant does he regain a glimmer of hope. Forming an uneasy alliance, the two head for Bhealfa's capital city in search of the secretive magical society, unaware that they are about to be drawn into a dangerous world of conspiracy and treachery.

Comment: My first attempt with this writer. I followed a recommendation by a friend who loves fantasy and we shared our taste for several books before so it was no hard decision to try this one too.
After having read it, I must say I liked it but felt too "all over the place" to me. Lots of things happening at the same time and a lot of information to process.
The idea interested me, as I like to see fantasy books with the premise of diference in the status, diference in the magic levels, plus romance and I'm in. There are many things I'm curious about, especially about the main character's past and what will happen to them once some of those things get solved. However, they aren't completely new for me to feel eager to know the rest. I will read the 2nd and 3rd volumes somewhere in the future, but I can resist easily that urge.
I think the author could've written a bit more about each character instead of creating so much mystery with those he presented because now I feel a bit lost and some things seem too weird.
Of course, good things existed, the magical references in the book, what can be done with magic is very interesting and I could easily imagine it, such were the author's descriptions.

Note: After this book there are Quicksilver Zenith and Quicksilver Twilight. Interesting that in the US, these books have different titles.