Kristen Callihan - Shadowdance

Life has been anything but kind to Mary Chase. But the Society for the Suppression of Supernaturals has given her purpose. Now she's been tasked with catching a vicious murderer dubbed the Bishop of Charing Cross. But someone is already on the case—and the last thing he relishes is a partner.
Jack Talent has been alone with his demons for many years. He never expected to have the willful Mary Chase assist him on the Bishop case. Their age-old rivalry reaches new heights—even as their desire for one another reaches a fever pitch. Though he aches to bring her close, Jack's dark secrets are a chasm between them. With dangerous enemies closing in, Jack must find the strength to face the past...or risk losing Mary forever.

Comment: I was prepared to dislike this book and curse myself for even taking the time out of potentially better books to meet up my own rules of finishing things. I really was. After the last two books which weren't as amazing as the first one, I was ready to give up the series. But promises and opinions of others about the book after this one being so good, I went with this because I already had it.

This story follows the happenings of the previous book, Winterblaze, namely the lives of Jack Talent and Mary Chase, two of the secondary characters of that book.

Both these characters have had terrible experiences in their lives, things they had to go through until they reached the status they now have. In the previous book Jack went through an awful ordeal and Mary was the one who saved him, something he couldn't' forget.

However, there's a killer in London and Mary and Jack, as Regulators are teamed up to research and solve the case. At the same time, they have to talk and deal with each other and throughout the book they not only acknowledge the feelings between them, they also join forces to finally end the villain behind every issue between them.

I liked this story which was quite the surprise for me. After the previous books that didn't deliver what I expected, I confess I was a bit put off by jumping into this one so soon. On the other hand, at least I still remembered many things.

I decided to read this one, not only because I already had it and - if I ended up not really liking it anyway - I could think it was one less story to worry about being unread, but also because I didn't have to wonder about others, my time dedicated to this world would be over without my guilt.

However, my plans were put aside because I really liked this one. I mean, it wasn't perfect but I cared about the main characters and their relationship won me over.

This story, like I said, focus on Mary and Jack's relationship while they try to solve a case together.

We get to see many details of each of their personalities and the thing they have in common is how what they went through shaped their opinions of themselves. Neither believes the ones around them, who like them should love them. In a way I liked how this detail was the element that ended being the one that made them come together. Of course by the end they accepted the lesson that they are as worthy of their feelings and love as everyone else.

This didn't come easy and they had to go past many self prejudice and wrong ideas before that, but the path towards the HEA was one I could believe and accept.

Jack is a fascinating character, very dedicated and loyal and guilt and shame consume him. I understand his need to prove himself and his feelings of not wanting to be an emotional burden to those who care about him. But I could see his growth and no matter the surprises about his origins we find out here, I still think he's one of the most humane characters in the series.

Mary as a surprise too, I had the impression she was more aloof and distant from the previous story, but she really accepted who she is here and that what she went through helped her be the person best adjusted to love Jack and to be the one equal to him. And vice versa. Their relationship was quite balanced and I also liked seeing the little details about them and who/what they are.

The villain is defeated in the end. I admit I don't really pay much attention to this side of books when they have a strong romance going on. But of course it helped move the plot along so...

I was really more focused on Mary and Jack's relationship, the sexual tension between them and the way they slowly couldn't avoid their feelings anymore. I think the pace of the story was good.

However, I can't put aside the slightly boring passages where I really wanted to see what would happen. The little scenes with clues about other beings/characters are captivating but annoying as we know we have to read more to find out.

The world seemed easier to read in this story. I think the one before really disappointed in that level, at least more than here, where I think it was balanced.

Also, the cover. It's interesting but the couple isn't what I envision both Mary and Jack to be. It doesn't have anything to do with the story, I know, but it annoys me.

In the end I think this book won me over, I mean it's not perfect no, but it restored my faith in the world, which seems to get more and more detailed with each installment, but I had the feeling this one was more well thought and executed. It does give me hope to read the next one someday.

Grade: 7/10

TBR Challenge: Kristen Callihan - Winterblaze

Poppy Lane is keeping secrets. Her powerful gift has earned her membership in the Society for the Suppression of Supernaturals, but she must keep both her ability and her alliance with the Society from her husband, Winston. Yet when Winston is brutally attacked by a werewolf, Poppy's secrets are revealed, leaving Winston's trust in her as broken as his body. Now Poppy will do anything to win back his affections . . .
Winston Lane soon regains his physical strength but his face and heart still bear the scars of the vicious attack. Drawn into the darkest depths of London, Winston must fight an evil demon that wants to take away the last hope of reconciliation with his wife. As a former police inspector, Winston has intelligence and logic on his side. But it will take the strength of Poppy's love for him to defeat the forces that threaten to tear them apart.

Comment: Here is another TBR pick, and this month the theme is Series Catch-Up. Since I enjoy following the themes, I picked this book, which is #3 in Darkest London series and that I had for some time now. 

In fact, the series is now up to 6 books, and I've read the one before this third one in 2012.

I wasn't very eager to get to it, but this challenge seemed the better "excuse" to do so.

This story starts after the end of Moonglow - whose story I liked but abhorred the end -and how the two main characters, Winston and Poppy have to face the fact their long marriage had many secrets. Most of them come from Poppy, whose dedication to the paranormal and protection of innocents led her to hide who she is from the man she loves with all her heart.

But Winston came close to that world where Poppy is a key player and he couldn't believe the secrets between them. Even worse, a demon claimed bargains from them and now they have to talk, deal with each other, work together among the distrust in their marriage to salvage much more than just their bruised feelings. But there are more surprises to show up and they might not be good ones...

I wasn't pleased with the end of Moonglow. That is the biggest reason why I put off reading this book for so long. I was kind of mad about something I thought would have been better differently.

Another "no" about this book was the fact the protagonists were a married couple who would need to deal with problems which would certainly mean talking, remembering, working with known facts about the other one, all the things I dislike in the lovers reunited troupe, my least favorite of them all.

I was really not looking for to read about any issues pertaining these things, so I delayed and delayed the reading until now. I thought it was time to just get it over with and perhaps I might even be positively surprised.

I wasn't.

I mean, it's not a bad book and not that annoying considering my personal tastes. It's just that after the things I dreaded being an obvious part of the story just like I always imagined, I also had to deal with the villain being one of those who acts clever and superior to everyone else and having key scenes throughout the plot. I also really don't like that type of villain interactions.

It seemed that, one thing after the other, things just piled up to make me not like the book after all.

However, I do have to acknowledge the author for creating original ideas and ways of constructing her characters, her development of things. Even when I thought I couldn't be surprised, I was, when the protagonists find a certain detail about the villain and his importance in their lives which I surely wasn't expecting. That counts for something.

Just like I predicted, the main couple talks about their marriage and spends a lot of time thinking about what happened, how things were and there are chapters dedicated to show us how their relationship began, although short ones. This is done to obviously to assure us of their bond, their perfection for each other, their absolute devotion and complement. Sure, but for me it's also annoying and boring to read. The new things they find out kind of help of making it not that bad overall, but I still struggled to read about them without wanting to skip pages. I found their difficulty in being intimate more interesting because it was something new and believable after the issues between them.

Still, they do get their HEA - again - and this time it's meant to be forever, after all.

Secondary characters play an important part in the book. Being them just there to fill a space or handy for a situation of being set up for the next installment, there are many faces to consider. We see a certain couple getting ready to be protagonist in the next book. 
Just like in the book by Catherine Bybee I've recently read too, this author starts up the next story in the current one to make the reader invested in what happens and in getting us eager to keep reading. Sure I want to know what happens but I don't feel the urge to do it soon. One day...

After all things considered, I can understand why the series is popular for so many readers. I admit the first book was refreshing and amazing in the genre. But for me some things don't work as time goes by and the way things are told, the way the author makes the path for her characters isn't that appealing for me anymore. While it has good things to speak about, for me it isn't the marvel it could be and that is why it's not going to be something highlighted in my reading future.

Grade: 6/10

Kristen Callihan - Moonglow

Once the seeds of desire are sown . . . 
Finally free of her suffocating marriage, widow Daisy Ellis Craigmore is ready to embrace the pleasures of life that have long been denied her. Yet her new-found freedom is short lived. A string of unexplained murders has brought danger to Daisy's door, forcing her to turn to the most unlikely of saviors . . . 
Their growing passion knows no bounds . . . 
Ian Ranulf, the Marquis of Northrup, has spent lifetimes hiding his primal nature from London society. But now a vicious killer threatens to expose his secrets. Ian must step out of the shadows and protect the beautiful, fearless Daisy, who awakens in him desires he thought long dead. As their quest to unmask the villain draws them closer together, Daisy has no choice but to reveal her own startling secret, and Ian must face the undeniable truth: Losing his heart to Daisy may be the only way to save his soul.

Comment: Some months later, here I was, reading the sequel to Firelight, a book I enjoyed a lot.

In this second book we have Daisy's story, she's one of Miranda's sisters and she has been in a loveless marriage. Then her husband died and for the past year she's been presenting an appearance of mourning, although she couldn't be happier about being a widow. Daisy thinks she's finally free to have the life she wanted, full of adventures and carefree meetings.

Ian is a shapeshifter refusing to acknowledge his heritage. He wants to be as normal as possible because being a lycan in the past has cost him his family and happiness. However, things happen and he is somehow forced to accept his past and has to deal with it, not only because it's his duty but also because it means protection to people he's come close to.

We've met these two characters in the first book. Neither has provided a very agreeable side, at least I didn't care for them at all. Ian seemed someone who'd do what he pleased no matter the consequences and daisy looked selfish and superficial.

In this book we are presented with a different side of both of them. We learn about their pasts and how they become shaped by it and, of course, why they act the way they do. After getting to realize this, I understood they deserved happiness and I was curious to see how the author would change their behavior.

I was actually quite surprised to see how Daisy really was and what her life was to make her look so vain in the first book. I think it was quite the lesson on waiting to know all facts before having an opinion on something.

The author has done a good job with both protagonists and I ended up wanting to see them overcoming the obstacles and getting their HEA. I just have to say this, I didn't like the end that much. I mean, it's happy, it's for life, it's full of promise and eternity but I didn't like the way it was made possible. I think it was a disappointment...oh well.

The author has inserted many new themes in this book. The first one seemed to show a certain environment about the paranormal world created, but in this second book we are given many more clues about how things really happen. Many are interesting and imaginative and made me think, especially the clues about the three sisters and other species around in the world. Other things, just one here and there weren't as interesting, but I guess it will depend on how they might be used in future books.

I ended up enjoying this book a lot more than I imagined. the characters were good, well done and their motivations rather strong and plausible. Apart form the end, it was a good book to read and I hope the third one, coming out next year will be as well.

Kristen Callihan - Firelight

London, 1881 Once the flames are ignited . . . Miranda Ellis is a woman tormented. Plagued since birth by a strange and powerful gift, she has spent her entire life struggling to control her exceptional abilities. Yet one innocent but irreversible mistake has left her family's fortune decimated and forced her to wed London's most nefarious nobleman. They will burn for eternity . . . Lord Benjamin Archer is no ordinary man. Doomed to hide his disfigured face behind masks, Archer knows it's selfish to take Miranda as his bride. Yet he can't help being drawn to the flame-haired beauty whose touch sparks a passion he hasn't felt in a lifetime. When Archer is accused of a series of gruesome murders, he gives in to the beastly nature he has fought so hard to hide from the world. But the curse that haunts him cannot be denied. Now, to save his soul, Miranda will enter a world of dark magic and darker intrigue. For only she can see the man hiding behind the mask.

Comment: After so much buzz about this book in some places I usually visit, I've decided to get it and read it.
Lord Archer wants to marry because he thinks it's time to have a wife and a son but his reasons for choosing that particular bride are his own. Miranda Ellis accepts the marriage proposal because she wants to finally be free of her father and of what he forced her to do to help the family finances.
I liked the whole idea of Beauty and the Beast theme, that he was hiding his face because he feared what other might say and this was what first caught my attention. I'm happy with the way this fact was treated in the story and to a certain point the why of it. However, in the end we discover Archer's secret and why he hides and although the whole story behind it it's something not seen very often even in paranormals much less historicals, still part of me was a bit ehh about it. I mean, it's interesting why, it fit the story and the atmosphere created, but to me, personally, it was a bit of a letdown. I won't spoiler it but I thought what he was hiding was a different kind of disfigurement.
Then there's the heroine. She feels guilty because part of the blame for her family's financial status is hers but her father never forgave her and she does things as penance for it (not prostitution) and her father keeps looking at her like it's all her fault even though she had been 10 at the time a fire she caused destroyed her father's warehouse. So, she sees the marriage as the end of her penance although one could say that by marrying an ugly man she wasn't really getting free of penitence in a way...but from the start things aren't what they seem to those two.
Step by step that start to understand and accept each other and it's beautiful to see them fall in love and even better when they declare themselves to the other. Beautiful love declarations in this book.
There are many (important) secondary characters. I found them to be pertinent to the storyline and their presence wasn't simply to fulfill space. As a matter of fact, some will definitely show up the following book coming out in August.
The writing is good I think, I easily read the story and it wasn't boring or repetitive and the author's style seemed fine. Her characters have flaws and things I don't particularly enjoyed reading but that's fine. I also liked that her villain didn't have an active voice until the very end.
In the end I liked the book yes, I'll read more. It's actually a nice story apart from a small detail, well actually a big one considering the plot, but it's fine, it's just my personal taste that didn't like it that much, it's not a real issue in the story.