Showing posts with label shifters. Show all posts
Showing posts with label shifters. Show all posts

Tuesday, January 23, 2024

Belong to the Night by Shelly Laurenston, Sherrill Quinn, Cynthia Eden

"The Wolf, The Witch, and Her Lack of Wardrobe" takes place ten months after the first story in this series. I am sorry that the series hasn't been finished yet because it is an interesting overlap of the Smith Pack with some witches.
In this town, Tully Smith is the mayor. He's laid back, takes care of his people, and walks everywhere so that he can be available to his townspeople. But he will work hard if they need protection. And Jamie Meacham, the lead of the witches is bringing trouble to his doorstep. She's been called to be a warrior for a god and that is bringing all sorts of odd creatures into town. Creatures that can be driven out by sex magic. Too bad that won't work on his father. 
Not full developed but, to be fair, it is a short story. 

Long Island Coven #2
Three stars
Hard copy of mine
Opinions are my own

Tuesday, January 16, 2024

When He Was Bad by Shelly Laurenston

Miss Congeniality by Shelly Laurenston
Professor Irene Conridge doesn't have time for anything that isn't work. Like many of the people in this series, she was a child prodigy. Her area of expertise is... science...y... stuff (?). But more important, she's caught the attention of Niles Van Holtz. Well, she caught it seven years ago when he thought she was a freshman on campus and he hit on her. She was actually a visiting professor.

Magnus Pack #3.5
Three stars
This book came out June 1, 2008
Hard copy of mine
Opinions are my own


Monday, January 8, 2024

Can't Get Enough by G.A. Aiken

Shalin the Innocent wouldn't mind sleeping with Ailean the Wicked but doing so would set off the rampant jealousy of her princess who is obsessed with the male. So she's been sent to the human realm to protect her. 
However, Ailean sees her after a night of debauchery with another woman and he kisses her. When word gets back to the princess, Shalin is suddenly sold to a dragon in the Northlands. Ailean is irate. But he's going to get his woman. 
The origins of Bercalek. Too short but adorable. 

Four stars
Dragon Kin #0.1
This book came out September 1, 2008
Followed by A Tale of Two Dragons
Borrowed from Audible Plus
Opinions are my own

Sunday, January 7, 2024

Chains & Flames by G.A. Aiken

If you've read the G. A. Aiken Dragon Kin series, you've encountered the Queen of Dragons, Rhiannon and her mate, Bercelak. Their story started when Bercelak fell in love. He battled to make himself invaluable to her mother's court and now her mother has finally decided that they are to be mates. But first, she binds Rhiannon so she can no longer turn into a dragon. She is dropped off as a human at Bercelak's cave. While he isn't happy that she is hurt, he is elated to know that she will finally be his. At least she will be as soon as he finishes wooing her. And makes sure that her mother won't kill her. 
A short story that could have been longer but gives some history to the Dragon Kin stories.

Three stars
This book came out... at some point (?)
Borrowed as Audible Plus book
Opinions are my own

Saturday, November 25, 2023

Born to Be Badger by Shelly Laurenston

If you are one of the people, like me, who wait with baited breath for anything that Laurenston releases, this book will not disappoint. Full of the same antics, the need to completely turn off your disbelief and just enjoy the ride, and the exclamation points (!), this book pairs up another of Max McKilligan's teammates with one of the Malone brothers. Somewhat rigid Tock (time management is NOT just about being on time) might not initially be thought of with the laid back Shay (he's a tiger shifter who owns dogs) but the two actually work really well together. Tock isn't actually as rigid as she appears, she just prefers to have a schedule. Shay isn't lazy, he just doesn't care about most things. But he appreciates Tock's need to be on time as well as how well her personality meshes with his daughter's. Except for the felonies. But Tock does try really hard to keep that from her. 
There are, of course, also old grudges and new characters that come into this book as well as a lot of killing. A LOT of killing. Especially since Tock's grandmother. But we do finally get to know more about what happened with the Malones' father and you can definitely see the beginning of how Laurenston will be able to wrap up this arc in the last book. 

Honey Badger Chronicles #5
Four and a half stars
This book comes out November 8, 2023
ARC kindly provided by NetGalley and Kensington Books
Opinions are my own

Reread as audiobook from Audible January 2024


Sunday, December 18, 2022

The Tyrant Alpha's Rejected Mate by Cate C. Wells

I don't remember which podcast I heard about this on and I'm not sure why I enjoyed this book so much but I did. If I had to guess, it was just waiting to see what happened next. I'm not sure I'll read other books in the series since they seem to focus on young/new adults and that's not my favorite but I am glad I read this one.
Una is one of the lowliest members of the her pack. She is unmarried, unmated, female, and has a bad leg resulting from a childhood injury. So why is she suddenly going into heat and telling the entire pack that her mate is the alpha. He tells everyone that she is wrong or maybe moon mad. Una runs and accepts the local healer's offer to break their bond. But Fate is tricky and Killian is stubborn. It may just end up that Una is his mate after all. And, if that's true, he's not letting her go.

Three and a half stars
This book came out November 12, 2021
Followed by The Heir Apparent's Rejected Mate
Borrowed as ebook from Kindle Unlimited
Opinions are my own

Monday, September 19, 2022

Soul Taken by Patricia Briggs

Mercy has barely recovered from the events of the last book when Marsilia shows up and tells her to find Wulfe. That, if Mercy can't find him, the Pack will be blamed. And rumors start up soon after that the Pack can't actually protect the people it claims to protect. A number of magic users (not very powerful but having some magic; mainly witches and goblins) have gone missing. Could it be the Soul Taker? 
There is a movie that has just finished filming that purports to be based on a local urban legend involving a young man who was possessed by a scythe and compelled to murder. Mercy discovers it was not so much legend as truth since Zee was called in to destroy the artifact. But he might have been slipped a fake. That seems especially like a possibility since similar deaths are cropping up. And at least one ghost isn't allowed to leave this plane of existence.
Regular readers will really enjoy this book but I would not recommend starting with this one. We get quite a bit of history for a couple of characters, one that adds a little bit of a wrinkle for pack dynamics.

Four stars
This book came out August 23, 2022
Follows Smoke Bitten
Followed by Winter Lost
Borrowed as hard copy from library
Opinions are my own


Sunday, August 21, 2022

A Duke at the Door by Susanna Allen

Tabitha Barrington and her twin brother Timothy have been traveling the continent for some time escaping some trouble at home. She is chafing being back in England but she is excited to have the chance to practice her poultices and concoctions at the Duke of Lowell's estate. Especially once she learns that the estate has a number of shapeshifters, one in particular that needs her help.
Alwyn Ap Lewin, Duke of Llewelyn, was held captive in his lion form for a number of years. It became bad enough that, when he was finally freed, he no longer wanted to be a part of the world. But Tabitha intrigues him. 
This series is filled with drama and this book is no different. It mirrors the Gothic novels written by one of the characters in the book. Is it silly? Oh yeah. Is it enjoyable in the right mood? Yes. Lots more world building in this one and setups for any number of following books in the series.

Four stars
This book comes out August 23, 2022
ARC kindly provided by Sourcebooks Casablanca and NetGalley
Opinions are my own

Sunday, June 19, 2022

A Most Unusual Duke by Susanna Allen

Beatrice, Marchioness of Castleton, was married to a very old man at a young age. What made the marriage even worse? The dude was a shifter and scared the ever loving stockings right off of her. But he's dead now and she's free to do whatever she wants. Well, sort of. She's just been informed by the Prince Regent that she must marry again and to another shifter. 
Arthur Humphries, Duke of Osborn, isn't any happier about the marriage than Beatrice is. In fact, he's down right grumpy about it. Beatrice just doesn't smell like anything. How is he supposed to accept her as his true mate?
His staff, on the other hand, is happy to help. Even though he hasn't been there in years, after the death of his father, they are happy to see him, even if they are all a lot older. 
Still as zany as the first book and I flew through it as well. The zany worked a little less well in this second book but I'm still enjoying the series.

Three and a half stars
This book came out December 28, 2021
Followed by A Duke at the Door
Borrowed as ebook from Libby
Opinions are my own


Tuesday, June 14, 2022

A Wolf in Duke's Clothing by Susanna Allen

For five years, Alfred Blakesly, Duke of Lowell, has been looking for his mate. He traveled the world
looking for her. He needs to find his mate because the shifters are dying out and, as Alpha, his pack can not find love until he does. He is an unusual Alpha in that he does not just collect wolves (his shifter animal.) Instead, he collects all of the animals that are normally considered runts (meaning he now has a LOT of footmen.)Despairing, he has returned to England and the glittering ballrooms of the ton. And it is there that he finally smells her, his mate. 
Felicity Templeton is so close. As an orphan, she is a wallflower but she has plans. In eleven days, she will reach her majority and be out from under her uncle's thumb. Being kidnapped from a ball and spirited away to the country was definitely not a part of her plans. Though nice, the residents in this house are... odd. 
But what the Duke and Felicity don't know is that there is a timeline to their courting and they will need to have some frank discussions if they want to find their HEA.
This book was a little loopy and not tightly written but I enjoyed the ride.

Four stars
This book came out April 27, 2021
Borrowed as ebook from Libby
Opinions are my own

Thursday, August 26, 2021

Breaking Badger by Shelly Laurenston

I loved this story. It didn't focus quite enough on the romance between Finn and Mads but it read quickly and had a lot of the fun that readers expect from a Laurenston book with just the right amount of exclamation marks (they were a little thick on the ground in the last book.) 
The Malone brothers have been divided from most of the rest of the shifter community since their father was murdered and no one else acknowledged it as such. The oldest three are working to figure out who did the actual deed. They don't care so much about the why (at least that I read) as they do about justice.
Mads and her teammates (they're certainly not friends!) have been sent to a mysterious island where they once again encounter the Malone brothers (you don't HAVE to have read the previous books in this series but why wouldn't you?). When the Malones figure out that the only way they might find out what happened to their father means kissing up to the badgers, Finn is nominated to be the one to do the kissing which is going to be especially hard since his brother kicked the badgers out after they brought thank you pastries (I just love this idea so much.) 

Four stars
This book comes out August 31st, 2021
Followed by Born to Be Badger
ARC kindly provided by Kensington Books and NetGalley
Opinions are my own

Reread as audiobook from Audible

Saturday, May 29, 2021

Burn Bright by Patricia Briggs

Not every werewolf is part of a pack but that doesn't mean that the Marrok doesn't take care of them. Even if there are some wolves that are too wild doesn't mean that they all have to be put down. But when the wildings are targeted and the Marrok has left town, Charles and Anna will have to step up to try and save as many as they can.
Ufda. This book feels like there was more death than usual in it. But also some tie-ins with witches to the next Mercy Thompson which was really interesting to me. There was also a bit more about Bran's relationship with Leah even though he is absent for most of the book.

Three stars
Follows Dead Heat
Followed by Wild Sign
Borrowed as ebook from CloudLibrary
This book came out March 6th, 2018
Opinions are my own

Wednesday, May 26, 2021

Dead Heat by Patricia Briggs

An old friend of Charles' calls and asks him to come down to Sedona. They can visit and Charles can look for a horse for Anna. But the visit starts off with a bang when the Charles has to help a dying woman become a werewolf. Her husband's grandfather is the local Alpha and he is less than pleased about the decision because she is witchborn but Charles feels like it is the right decision. The woman had stabbed herself rather than kill her children when she was under some serious fae magic.
It may not be up to Charles and Anna to figure out what is going on but they take it on anyway since they are the only ones around to protect the innocent.  

Three stars
Follows Fair Game
Followed by Burn Bright
This book came out March 3rd, 2015
Borrowed as ebook from CloudLibrary
Opinions are my own 



Fair Game by Patricia Briggs

Anna is worried. She fears that Charles's duties to his father, the Alpha of all Alphas, are wearing on his spirit. She knows that their mate bond isn't what it could be. So she appeals to the Marrok for something else for Charles to do. Instead, Bram assigns Anna to help the FBI solve a particularly heinous group of serial killings. Charles goes with Anna as her bodyguard. And it's good because they'll need both of them before the end of the book.
An interesting book that starts off a series of explosions further down the Mercy Thompson series. A little slow in places but overall a nice read.

Three stars
Followed by Dead Heat
This book came out
Borrowed as ebook from CloudLibrary
Opinions are my own 


Sunday, May 9, 2021

Wild Sign by Patricia Briggs

Leah and Bran's relationship has been touched on in past books but the origins of it have remained murky. It is cleared up a little bit in this story when Leah's past comes to haunt her present. 
The book opens with Leah, Rachel, Sage, and Anna on a girls' outing some time before the beginning of the last book. They are having some drinks (although alcohol doesn't affect werewolves) when Sage gets Leah to open up a little bit about how the two became mated. And even just this section proves Briggs' mastery of timelines as she deftly bobs and weaves between the past and present of two overlapping series.
This new story sends Charles and Anna along with the berserker, Tag, to the California mountains where a whole town has disappeared. They were there one week after being checked on by the Forest Service and then... gone. An old evil has popped up again and is joining forces with a group that has had past interactions with both the Alpha and the Omega as well as the Columbia pack.
I wish we had seen a little bit more with Bran and Leah. After the big set up of learning more about her past, we don't see a lot of them. Of course, the series does focus more on Anna and Charles so that makes some sense.

Four stars
Follows Burn Bright
Gifted an ebook on Kindle
This book came out March 16th, 2021
Opinions are my own


Wednesday, April 28, 2021

Cry Wolf by Patricia Briggs

Anna and Charles were introduced in a short story and it would definitely help to have read it to understand a lot of this book but I don't think it's entirely necessary (edited: I have since read the short story and it helps a little but not necessary). There is some world building in this book as well, setting up the same rules we read in that story (how werewolves function, their packs work, etc.)
Anna has only been a werewolf for three years but her previous pack kept much of the knowledge of being a werewolf from her. Charles, on the other hand, has been a werewolf for almost two hundred years and his father is the Alpha of all Alphas. The book opens when Charles, having determined that Anna is his mate, has brought her to Montana. She is immediately soaked in pack politics as they are dealing with the funeral of a beloved townsperson. Plus, there appears to be a rogue wolf killing people in the nearby wilderness and Charles is the person who is best suited to figuring out what is going on, even though he is healing from being shot with silver bullets.
I generally enjoyed this story and am liking where Charles and Anna are going (no love triangles! Woot!).

Four stars
Followed by Hunting Ground
This book came out July 29th, 2008
Borrowed as ebook from CloudLibrary
Opinions are my own


Alpha & Omega by Patricia Briggs

For three years, Anna Latham has been a part of a living nightmare. At the bottom of a werewolf pack in Chicago, she is a monster who is trapped by circumstance. But she works up the nerve to call the Marrok, the head of all werewolves, and tell him that things are wrong where she is. 
The Marrok, Bram, has known that there is something wrong in Chicago so he sends his enforcer, his son Charles, to figure out what is going on. Bram directs Anna to pick up Charles.
It's immediately up on seeing Anna that Charles realizes that she is his mate. He also realizes that she is not a submissive wolf as she has been told, rather, she is an Omega. Omegas are a rare type of wolf who can bring peace to other wolves. And that is exactly the reason Anna has been treated the way she has... something is rotten in the state of Denmark and it will take both Anna and Charles to solve it.
For a short story, this is really good at introducing two strong characters as well as building a complete world.

Four stars
Followed by Cry Wolf
Published in On the Prowl, August 7th, 2007
Borrowed as ebook from CloudLibrary
Opinions are my own


Thursday, April 8, 2021

Bring the Heat by G.A. Aiken

Aidan the Devine and Branwen the Awful have fought together before. This time is definitely to help save a nation. But this time they are not on the front lines. Instead, Branwen, Aiden, and a group of others will have to work behind the scenes to make sure that the eyeless zealots don't kill off everyone. 
This book ends the arc that has been flowing through most of the series so there is a lot of wrapping up to do but we still do get to see Branwen and Aidan go from war buddies, to sex buddies, to something more. The world building of this series was so fun, I hope that the series is not entirely over but am satisfied with the ending if it is.

Dragon Kin #9
Three stars
This book came out August 27th, 2017
Characters next found in The Princess Knight
Ebook borrowed from Hoopla
Opinions are my own

Reread as Audible plus audiobook January 2024


Monday, April 5, 2021

Magic Rises by Ilona Andrews

Kate and Curran are worried about their Pack's children. Too many of them are going Loup. There is a cure in Europe but the Europeans aren't sharing. Well, unless the American Beasts come and protect a woman who is being used as a pawn by several European shifter factions. She's pregnant by two men (it happens) and which ever twin is born first will inherit a good chunk of land.
This is going to be a slog anyway but then it turns out that Kate's father's right hand, Hugh D'Ambry, is hosting the entire mess.
I liked this one, but it did make me sad in places,which is fine but I'm not a good place in my life to deal with the deaths of even fictional characters. (Even on re-read, this one hurts.)

Three and a half stars
Follows Magic Slays
Followed by Magic Breaks
This book came out July 30th, 2013
Borrowed as ebook from Libby
Opinions are my own



Magic Slays by Ilona Andrews

Kate is no longer working for the Order; she's set out on her own. She's not had any clients so far but then there's an unmanned vampire, the PAD is in her yard, and all hell is breaking loose. Her best friend Andrea has just showed up after eight weeks of no word and Kate finally gets her first client. And then she gets two new employees (Derrick and a 15-year-old Bouda). And she is going to get ready to go to battle (again). Just in time for her adopted daughter Julie to show up.
Lots of action in this book but I wish we had seen more character development. Still a good book in the series.

Three stars
Follows Magic Bleeds
Followed by Magic Rises
This book came out April 25th, 2011
Hard copy borrowed from library
Opinions are my own