Jeaniene Frost - Into the Fire

For nearly six hundred years, Vlad Tepesh cared for nothing, so he had nothing to lose. His brutal reputation ensured that all but the most foolhardy stayed away. Now falling in love with Leila has put him at the mercy of his passions. And one adversary has found a devastating way to use Vlad’s new bride against him.
A powerful spell links Leila to the necromancer Mircea. If he suffers or dies, so does she. Magic is forbidden to vampires, so Vlad and Leila enlist an unlikely guide as they search for a way to break the spell. But an ancient enemy lies in wait, capable of turning Vlad and Leila’s closest friends against them…and finally tearing the lovers apart forever.

Comment: Here's finally the last installment in the Night Prince series, a spin off of the Night Huntress series by Jeaniene Frost. This book took some time to be released, by reasons explained by the author in a note in the beginning of the book. Still, no matter exterior facts, the reality is this book, to me, wasn't as amazing as others by her have been.

In this book, Leila and Vlad are almost catching up with Mircea, Vlad's nephew and their enemy for the past books. There is a necromancer spell connecting Mircea and Leila and if one dies, so does the other, so out couple wants to find a way to break the spell and a clue takes Leila into finding more about her heritage and what she finds out will have interesting repercussions...

But will the path towards finding a solution be without its own risks? What about the price demanded of them and their friends?

I mostly didn't think this was a perfect story because despite the adventures, despite the acceptable drama that a situation like Leila's could provoke, I still think their relationship wasn't well portrayed and if it had been, then everything else would have felt better too.

Their connection just didn't seem very strong in this book even considering the love acts they dedicated to one another. I guess I needed them to interact more often or, at least, in a way that would be more obvious showing their love and devotion. Their interactions felt a bit too cold at times and even the intimate moments between them seemed rather clinical.

The plot had its moments. Of course finding a way to solve the curse while discovering a bit more about Leila's ancestors was interesting but these actions led to a path I confess I'm not overly fond of, namely because we get to see some choices I find to be expected but still not necessary.

I can understand why certain actions took place. I also can understand why we would have the need to know a stronger base when it comes to follow some of the characters' choices and that definitely happens when we have Leila meeting someone from her family and why the conversations with her sister go the way they do but... I just can't help thinking that all the new knowledge we get isn't very linear or easily inserted into the story. It's like different parts of the whole thing were given step by step but not in a continuous way. I feel almost dissociated from the general plot and that sort of ruined the reading for me a bit.

I mean, I can't really complain because there is drama, emotion, fun scenes, key characters we care about and even one or two clues about things to come, which, by what happens to Ian, will be a great starting point for the next spin off, featuring him and Veritas, a character we've met before but that here got a slightly more important role.

But overall, things simply didn't go as smoothly and romantically as I imagined, considering this is the last installment in a series that features characters inserted in a romance genre too.

I think that, after four books, this story had its moments but I definitely expected more romance. More brightness than just Leila's personality. Because at the end of the day, no matter plots and ideas, this would be about redeeming Vlad and seeing him become a happier person because he found the perfect mate and there were times that it wasn't obvious.

Grade: 6/10

Jeaniene Frost - Bound by Flames

Leila’s years on the carnie circuit were certainly an education. What she didn’t learn: how to be a vampire, or how to be married to the most famous vampire of them all. Adjusting to both has Leila teetering on a knife edge between passion and peril, and now the real danger is about to begin…
Vlad must battle with a centuries-old enemy whose reach stretches across continents and whose strength equals his own. It isn’t like Vlad to feel fear, but he does…for Leila, because his enemy knows she is Vlad’s greatest weakness. As friend and foe alike align against him—and his overprotectiveness drives Leila away—Vlad’s love for his new bride could be the very thing that dooms them both…

Comment: It's been a year since this book arrived in the mail but I've left it in the shelf for all this time, not that I didn't want to read it, because I did, but other titles got in the way, then time between titles' release increases and it keeps being delayed until today, I just picked and that was it.

 

In this third installment of the Night Prince series, Leila is adjusting to having become a vampire, Vlad is still looking for to destroy his greatest enemy and the two things will connect in someone's wish for revenge.

Both Leila and Vlad have agreed they love each other too much to let other things get in the way of their relationship but some experiences can be too strong to overcome...or can they?

Then something happens and Vlad and Leila have friends to help them fight their enemy and in the end the identity of someone unexpected will be quite the surprise.

 

I'm not sure how to talk about this book. I liked it simply because it followed a couple I rooted for in the previous books and because it's by an author whose work I've loved but to be very honest, there isn't much to be said about this book as it is very basic in its execution.

 

The story is basically about Leila dealing with being a vampire, the run from an enemy, destroying that enemy and getting over another hurdle in their relationship. Nothing truly advances and although I understand the need to tell the story and how well received it can be by the fans, there isn't much advance in this and I assume the fourth installment won't offer much news either, so maybe the two original books would have been enough.

 

I've read in GR someone saying the relationship should be developed and I agree. I fully expected to see more of the protagonist's personalities, their relationship, how being in love would affect their opinions and change in behavior. Yes, Vlad alone is older and has a lot of experience under his belt, especially when it comes to being a vampire and Leila doesn't but those things aren't addressed and I'm not certain why this story had to happen.

After all things considered, battling an enemy didn't improve or enhanced their relationship. I think it only offered some little angst scenes that were easily dealt with so the conflict didn't feel as strongly developed to me.

 

Some readers don't like Leila. I do and for the most part I agree with her behavioral patterns. In this book something bad happens to her, but she's quite realistic and overcomes that. In a way, I applaud her because that surely avoided repetitive whining but at the same time how could she deal with such a thing so quickly? I had the feeling, it was something to happen, to be dealt with and put aside for the next situation and that kind of removed the need for its existence in the first place. After all, we all can guess how special and strong vampires can be, even more so if they are in love and so on...

 

I'm giving this book a good grade in my perspective but the more I think about it, the more I want to get one number lower. Because this book didn't really move me. I struggled a bit to read despite the big letters and easy story. I really feel this is the weakest book of them all so far and what happens outside their relationship isn't enough to carry it out. I appreciate the author's work and writing and I want to feel glad for that but this story didn't seem solid or good enough if we are to remove the insta-appreciated parts first.

I also didn't remember many things from the first books. Really time between releases isn't easy and waiting more than a month to read following installments can be tricky on our memory...my fault too to have left the book waiting an year extra after having it but.. not a good thing if you barely remember important things.

 

All in all, a very weak 7 grade, only given for dedication reasons and for being a fan of the author's work. I really hope the final fourth installment is a great end and redeems this one.

Grade: 7/10

Jeaniene Frost - Up From the Grave

Lately, life has been unnaturally calm for vampires Cat Crawfield and her husband Bones. They should have known better than to relax their guard, because a shocking revelation sends them back into action to stop an all-out war…
A rogue CIA agent is involved in horrifying secret activities that threaten to raise tensions between humans and the undead to dangerous heights. Now Cat and Bones are in a race against time to save their friends from a fate worse than death…because the more secrets they unravel, the deadlier the consequences. And if they fail, their lives—and those of everyone they hold dear— will be hovering on the edge of the grave.

Comment: Well, here it is. Jeanine Frost has said this would be the last book in the Night Huntress series and here it is, released and apparently loved, if one looks at GR averages. I have to admit, I feel a little bit melancholic over this...books are like friends, they stay with us for so long, and more so books in series we love, because they speak the strongest to us. 

My comments won't be very plot related I'm afraid... I feel the idea of seeing a series reach an end after years with it, and this at a point where I can't say it's in decline, as a matter of fact, the opposite happens. I know if the author carried on for...say, more three or four books, certainly she could find sub plots to work out and faithful fans would find intrigue enough to follow.

We all know about and have probably read books part of series that slowly go to their painful end. The author also said she didn't want that to happen with Night Huntress. She wanted it to end while it was on the high end and while people still loved it. She didn't want to keep writing just because and taking the risk of letting the series down somehow and to die at a point where it would be mercy. Well, not her words per se, but it's how I saw it to mean.

In a way I agree with her...many times I've kept going on with series I, personally, feel are dragging and dragging just to milk dry an original story that has given its best and its worst eventually. I applaud ms Frost for her rational decision, although many certainly might feel she just didn't want to go on. I wonder how this could be, after all her books are her family too, she more than any reader would feel that way. It certainly must be bittersweet to finish this. Something that gave her recognition, respect, fans and happiness over its success, now ends and a part of her feels sad too, I'm sure.

But this doesn't mean it's the end for her as a writer or of this world, just not Cat and Bones as protagonists, at least this was how I understood it. 
Still, like I said, a part of me is sad over this. I confess when I read the last scene in the book, I didn't cry but I sure felt like it! I think the notion of the end together with the kind of goodbye Bones and Cat give the reader...I won't tell spoilers, but the story ends with Cat and Bones going to live away from everyone for a while... very apropos to the reality, wouldn't you say? Everyone was saying a sort of goodbye and to see the characters almost partake on this idea...it made me sad, despite accepting the reason why is stopping.

The book is the end, so expect the solution to some unfinished business. Expect surprises too, and some emotion. I was riveted to the story as always, and in a way, this book is the proof Cat and Bones are solid, and look out for each other. I couldn't be happier with the notion they are happy and in love forever.

The end is here, then. All of us had to say goodbye to many things and it's hard to think about it. We can live for other things and people after, but despite the memories, there's still the frozen feeling of that moment when you realize it's goodbye. This is hard to deal with. How silly, it's just a book, one we can re-read until exhaustion...but it's still goodbye and I dare any devout reader to not understand the feeling. Curtain's call has come at last.
Grade: 8/10

Jeaniene Frost - Twice Tempted

Leila's psychic abilities have been failing her, and now she isn't sure what the future holds. If that weren't enough, her lover, Vlad, has been acting distant. Though Leila is a mere mortal, she's also a modern woman who refuses to accept the cold shoulder treatment forever–especially from the darkly handsome vampire who still won't admit that he loves her.
Soon circumstances send Leila back to the carnival circuit, where tragedy strikes. And when she finds herself in the crosshairs of a killer who may be closer than she realizes, Leila must decide who to trust– the fiery vampire who arouses her passions like no other or the tortured knight who longs to be more than a friend? With danger stalking her every step of the way, all it takes is one wrong move to damn her for eternity.

Comment: This book arrived last week and like with most series I love, I couldn’t wait to read it. This is the second of three books in the Night Huntress spin off series about Vlad and Leila.

After getting together in the last book, Vlad and Leila aren’t yet in HEA mode. Leila still thinks Vlad doesn’t really love her and after a dinner where she hoped he might ask her what she longed for, she feels hurt because he certainly didn’t so what she thought he would, so she leaves him. However, things aren’t that easy and Leila is still in love with Vlad so, when something bad happens, she can’t help turn to him again and maybe this time she get her wishes sooner than she thinks.

I liked this second story focused on Vlad and Leila. Other characters also show up, bit mostly to add some help to certain moments. Anyway, I still feel that there’s some lack of intensity here, the same strength seen in the first books of Cat and Bones. I can’t really say what I hoped for, but there’s something that I wish I could see, still have to think about it. I mean, I liked the story and it interesting, had all the expected twists and also some news I didn’t see coming, but there’s something there…

This doesn’t mean there aren’t good scenes, because they exist. For some reason I read the book pretty non stop until the end. I liked how Leila felt bad about her feelings not being returned by Vlad, but she didn’t give up on her heart and still tried to contact him through her dreams because she couldn’t let go. She knows he’s different from anyone else but she really loves him and just wanted to be loved back. When things didn’t work she tried to leave but circumstanced brought them back together and from that moment on, se even tried to show Vlad she meant it when she claimed she could deal with his past. This decision was the start to a new development, something we all imagined would happen, so despite not being a surprise, it was still interesting to see.

I think I‘d like to have a chapter here and there from Vlad’s POV. There are things happening that, because the plot is narrated by Leila, we don’t get to see and it’s a pity, for I think it would add some more clues to what some things mean.

This book showed some turnabouts related to another couple of characters. I wonder what it will mean for the last book, but as the end of the book wasn’t conclusive, I have an idea of what it might lead into. I just hope there are no more betrayals because it’s a plot device that although working in some cases, can get tiresome.

I was happy with how Leila and Vlad were feeling in the end of the book. Nothing like talk of true love to spice things up and to make us believe HEAs really can happen.

Jeaniene Frost & Gena Showalter

After a tragic accident scarred her body and destroyed her dreams, Leila never imagined that the worst was still to come: terrifying powers that let her channel electricity and learn a person's darkest secrets through a single touch. Leila is doomed to a life of solitude...until creatures of the night kidnap her, forcing her to reach out with a telepathic distress call to the world's most infamous vampire...
Vlad Tepesh inspired the greatest vampire legend of all--but whatever you do, don't call him Dracula. Vlad's ability to control fire makes him one of the most feared vampires in existence, but his enemies have found a new weapon against him - a beautiful mortal with powers to match his own. When Vlad and Leila meet, however, passion ignites between them, threatening to consume them both. It will take everything that they are to stop an enemy intent on bringing them down in flames.


Leader of the most powerful army in the heavens, Zacharel has been deemed nearly too dangerous, too ruthless-and if he isn't careful, he'll lose his wings. But this warrior with a heart of ice will not be deterred from his missions, at any cost...until a vulnerable human tempts him with a carnal pleasure he's never known before.
Accused of a crime she did not commit, Annabelle Miller has spent four years in an institution for the criminally insane. Demons track her every move, and their king will stop at nothing to have her. Zacharel is her only hope for survival, but is the brutal angel with a touch as hot as hell her salvation-or her ultimate damnation?



Comment:These two books are the most recent ones by two authors I usually don't wait to read.
Once Burned is the story of Vlad a recurrent character from the author's Night Huntress series. In this first installment of a new series featuring Vlad we see him waking up when someone invaded his mind. The person who did was Leila, a young woman from a continent away who has the power to electrocute someone who might attack her with just one touch. The same touch can show her the person's worst sin and what's on their mind, so she avoids people in order to stop her power to activate. But one day she just couldn't help it and helped a woman from being killed by her husband. Somehow, some bad vampires found out about her powers and they want to know where Vlad is by forcing Leila to touch something of him and trying to see if she knows where he will be in the future. Leila is smart though and finds a way to alert Vlad. From then on, they meet and he tries to save Leila from the bad vampires by taking her with him to his place and they eventually start being involved.
The bad vampire who wants to destroy Vlad is a surprise and the story felt quite interesting despite Vlad's personality being a bit too alpha, because he had to have things his own way and seducing Leila was part of his agenda too. I liked him better in the other books where he showed up. I hope the second book is better in terms of personality development. I'm curious about them though, so I ended up enjoying the story a lot.

Wicked Nights is the first book in the author's new series about warrior angels, a kind of spin off from the Lords of the Underworld series. Zacharel is a character we know from some of the LOTUs series and this is his story. He's the appointed leader of a group of angels who must prove themselves or else they Fall. In this book, Zacharel saves Annabelle, a girl from a mental institute because she claims to see demons and acts strangely because she says she's defending herself from them. The reason why might be a spoiler so I won't tell, but it's related to a demon still in Hell, one of the High Lords (like the demons inside the LOTUs warriors). Anyway, Zacharel rescues her and gets to know her and starts feeling things and in the end they find out a truth I didn't see coming, so this book surprised me for that alone.
The writing remains the same and like always, we get to see other character's POV's and little tidbits that might be important to future plots. I was happy with the book and I'm very eager to see how the next protagonist will deal with his issues and who might be his mate. Besides I like the cover..it's very faithful to the character's descriptions and how happy I also was with that!

Lynsay Sands, Jeaniene Frost - The Bite Before Christmas

In Lynsay Sands' "The Gift," Katricia Argeneau knows grey-eyed cop Teddy Brunswick is her life mate. She just needs to convince him they belong together, and being snowbound in a secluded cabin will make this a Christmas neither will forget.
It's "Home for the Holidays" in Jeaniene Frost's Night Huntress series. Cat and Bones may long to wrap presents and set up a tree, but this Christmas, an evil vampire and long-buried family secrets will threaten to take a bite out of their holiday cheer.

Comment: When I realized this anthology featured two authors I like, I didn't think twice before buying it. It arrived and I was very happy with it, it has a shiny cover, perfect for christmas and the hardcover underneath has a beautiful design and colors. I know gorgeous covers don't mean good stories but hey, this is two authors I like, so I was on the mood for christmas right away.

The Gift - Lynsay Sands
In this story we see Teddy Brunswick again. He appeared in several Argeneau books, in one way or another. He is an old man and thinks he doesn't have anything else to give thw world, so he spends his christmas alone, after all most his friends have someone or are vampires themselves.
In comes Katricia Argeneau, she heard about Marguerite's matchmaker powers so whn she is told by her that Teddy might be her mate, she goes to the cabin near the one where Teddy is staying to see if it's true.
When they both realize he is indeed her mate, they must overcome Teddy's issues about being too old and the fact he had been in love with someone else.
I liked this short story because it brings many beloved characters, and we see Teddy having an HEA, after all he's done to help the Argeneaus he deserves it. When Katricia is putting a move on him he's confused because he can't understand what she sees in an old man, and his reasons seemed valid. I think the author portrayed well someone wanting to be happy but cautious. It warmed me how happy they got and it gives us hope too.

Home for the Holidays - Jeaniene Frost
In this short story Cat tries to make a surprise christmas/birthday party to Bones but in the end Annette is the one who comes up with the best present.
However, the present reveals soemthing deeper and it's not exactly what it looks like. With the help of Ian (of all people), Denise and the ghost Fabian, she has to help Bones and their friends before the present "wins" them all.
As always, I enjoyed a Cat and Bones story, it's wonderful to see their relationship is strong and tight. In this short they face an unknown enemy and things could have gone bad for them, but with the help of friends, Cat will avoid a bad end for Bones and herself. I really enjoyed knowing a bit more about Bones and Ian and in the end we have a surprise too.
I'm very happy with the story and we get a surprise, this is a great gift to the reader.

Both stories are set in worlds we've come to love so it's never a waste of money to get this great anthology, full of hope and promises, even after some bad things.

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.

Jeaniene Frost - This Side of The Grave

Danger waits on both sides of the grave

Half-vampire Cat Crawfield and her vampire husband Bones have fought for their lives, as well as for their relationship. But just when they’ve triumphed over the latest battle, Cat’s new and unexpected abilities threaten to upset a long-standing balance…


Comment: Once again, I enjoyed a book by this author a lot.
I've been a fan of this series since I read the first book, a couple of years ago. I haven't regret it even once. I know what I'm paying for and mrs Frost delivers.
This is another adventure of beloved characters Cat and Bones, after the spin-off books last year featuring other characters.
I love the interaction between those two. It sems to me th author tries to give them a trueness, usually not seen in romance novels, where everything has to end well with no bumps in the way. In this series we see what Cat thinks, but this way we also see her thoughts on how to deal with everything, including how to work things out with Bones, when things are well, and especially, when they're not so good.
In this new novel, ghouls are trying to take out Cat because they fear her powers. I think, bearing in mind the plots of all the books so far, this one is not the strongest, but all the news that pop up in this book make up for that. I won't tell in order not to spoil, but they're a lot and they rock! Can't wait to see where the author is going with so many new interesting things!
Next book will be out in the fall, and I'll faithfully wait for it.