Archangel`s Viper by Nalini Singh

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Archangel's Viper by Nalini Singh is book ten of the Guild Hunter series. These books work as stand-alone novels, but I suggest reading the entire series. Holly's introduction in the first book Angel's Blood starts the conflict that develops her character to the point we see her in Archangel's Viper. However, all pertinent information is summarized when relevant, so it is not necessary to read the entire series to enjoy Archangel's Viper.

Holly and Venom have interacted in several other books in the series, so their connection has unfolded over time. In Archangel's Viper, we get more of a look at Holly's capabilities caused by Uram`s attack in Angel's Blood. Holly is less angry and afraid and is able to live close to a normal life. When Viper returns from his latest mission for Raphael the two begin to realize their feelings go beyond Viper mentoring Holly to her new existence. There was hesitation in them both with seeing the other romantically, but not enough that I felt they were wasting time getting together. It was just enough to amplify the passion between the two. Holly and Viper were beautiful together and had fantastic chemistry.

Some of the Guild Hunter books are better for me than others. Although I thoroughly enjoy the Archangel Raphael, whom Viper is part of his loyal "Seven" warriors, most of the Archangels and their various plays for power in their Cadre doesn't necessarily hold my attention. I prefer those stories where that focus is less prominent. Archangel's Blade, Archangel's Shadows, and now Archangel's Viper are among my top favorites in the series, partly because of that shift.

One thing that appeals most to me in the Guild Hunter series is the strong bond the Seven have with Raphael, each other, and those connected through them. Demitri, Raphael's second and one of the most powerful vampires in Raphael's territory, rules through fear. At the same time, he fiercely protects those he loves. Demitiri does things like embrace Holly gently and kiss the top of her head, or act almost offended when Holly just assumes he would have her executed at the snap of a finger. The Seven would die for one another and Raphael without hesitation. Admiring the type of loyalty and love they feel for each other keeps me invested in their stories.

I eagerly anticipated the next installment in the Guild Hunter series. All opinions herein are my own and may not be identical to others. I urge all readers to come to their own conclusions.

Ride by Allison Gatta

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The first story in the Wild Hearts series is the novella Ride by Allison Gatta. I received an ARC copy from NetGalley in exchange for my honest opinion. Quinn decides to leave her fiancee without telling her sister Zoe just minutes before the wedding. Zoe blames Ian, Quinn's best friend, for Quinn's fleeing, so Zoe demands Ian help her find and bring Quinn back. Ian drives Zoe to places he tells her Quinn may be and the couple starts to see each other in ways different than before.

Zoe and Ian start off in conflict. I enjoy a story where the main characters begin hostile with each other, and then it develops into something more. Reaching the point when the couple begins to click it was believable. At the height of this, I got a little teary-eyed by the sweetness when Zoe met Ian's parents. Of course, it all comes crashing down, and it was at this point I felt less connected to the characters. You couldn't exactly call it love at first sight since Zoe and Ian know each other through Quinn, but the story jumped right to that shared declaration of love. It is a possibility, especially because of the close quarters Zoe and Ian spent with each other for three days, but I always have a hard time with that cliché. Here their story did not quite convince me of the truth in it.

Despite my reservation, I still enjoyed Zoe and Ian's tale. Perhaps if the story was a novel and they interacted more prior to looking for Quinn, their journey would have felt different for me. Either way, Ride was worth a read. All opinions are my own and may not match that of others. I urge all readers to come to their own conclusions.

Indiscretions of A God by Sunniva Dee

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Indiscretions of a God by Sunniva Dee is the third book in the Porn Star Boyfriend series. Each book is a stand-alone novel, no prior knowledge of the series is necessary to enjoy this installment. Isaias is a mogul currently heading Lucid Entertainment, a high ranking company specializing in adult entertainment. Isaias is asked for a favor by family one evening and meets Tatiana, who is training to be a nun. The couple is immediately drawn to each other and keep getting thrown together. The attraction between them grows as danger closes in around them.

The emotional feel in this book is different for me than the other two books in the series. The threat from Isaias's mobster ties is the main drive in Indiscretions of a God, rather than the struggles derived from a partner making adult films. Within the crime thriller plot is the love story and a good one at that. Isaias and Tatiana have this sharp bantering they do which I enjoy. Isaias is quite rough around the edges and very full of himself, but Tatiana is a strong female character that gives as good as she gets. You get the hint early on Tatiana is more than she seems, and she is the perfect match for Isaias.

As always the time spent at Lucid is not just an opportunity to insert sexual encounters. Those present are there to do a job, and it is as respectable as it can be. There is a nice subplot here I later learned has a connection to a prior series, which I now plan on reading. One side note on a specific Lucid character I feel compelled to express, Belen is just horrible. I hated her personality in Twin Savage, and this book did not help my opinion in the least. If she ever gets a full story, she will have to work hard to gain my sympathy. She is very much an antagonist.

There many sides to the character's personalities in the Sunniva Dee stories I have read so far. I enjoy the realness of the emotions she creates. Love does not come easy for all people, trust is not automatic in couples, and not everyone easily obtains their happily ever after. These things are what keeps me coming back to the Porn Star Boyfriend series. I will be moving on to her other stories soon. All opinions are my own and may not match that of others. I urge all readers to come to their own conclusions.

Heat by Donna Grant

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I was lucky enough to get an ARC copy of Heat by Donna Grant from NetGalley. Heat is the latest installment in Dark Kings series, but reading it as a stand-alone alone novel is possible. Past plot points relevant to the current storyline are summarized when necessary. I like to read books part of a larger world, and the Dark Kings are one of my favorites. Several of the subplots reach climactic levels in this story.  I dread these conflicts playing out as much as I cannot wait for them to happen, as a lot is on the line for these characters. Nikolai and Esther integrate into the Dark King world in an authentic way that held my attention.

Esther goes to Dreagen under mind-control to be an assassin when triggered. The Kings contain the threat she presents, but Esther remains troubled by her missing memories. Nikolai has carried the weight of guilt since his mentor Ulrik's banishment. Nikolai was content to spend his time sleeping as a dragon in his mountain, but the growing threats to the Kings have required him to awaken. Since Esther's arrival at Dreagan, Nikolai can think of nothing but her.

Esther and Nikolai are well paired.  Their connection to each other gives Esther hope to find her lost memories and helps Nikolai find peace with his past.  Their gravitation toward each other was believable from the beginning, and their physical encounters were very seductive. Nikolai and Esther did not deny the attraction they felt for each other. I prefer this to a couple that spends half their story convincing themselves the reasons they can't be together are insurmountable.

Heat lived up to my expectations of this series. Nikolai and Esther are my favorite Dragon King couple since Ryder and Kinsey in Smoke and Fire. I am very eager for the story to continue. All opinions are my own and may not match that of others. I encourage all readers to come to their own conclusions.

Consent by Charmaine Pauls

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Consent by Charmaine Pauls is Part 2 of the Loan Shark Duet.  Consent begins with the cliffhanger that Dubious ended on.  For that reason, I would suggest reading Dubious before Consent.

I enjoyed Consent more than I did Dubious. With the first novel, I had a hard time getting past the way Gabriel made Valentina his property. Gabriel's past abuse tainted how he could express love, and Valentina wasn't as much of a prisoner as it seemed, but it still bothered me. In Consent, this changes. Gabriel and Valentina learn of a shared connection from their pasts. Due to this, they get free of his mother's hold over them. Although these past events were a terrible way to gain that freedom, it works to their advantage. The twist was welcome. I also loved the way their story unfolds so that they can be together. Valentina gains control and is no longer at Gabriel's mercy.

Be warned this is a dark romance. There is a strong domination/submission theme in this book. I had slight issues with their story because of Gabriel's possessiveness, but in the end, I thought it turned out beautifully for the couple. I applaud the author for ridding my unease with Valentina's relationship with Gabriel. I recommend giving Dubious and Consent a try.

All opinions are my own and may not match that of others. I encourage readers to come to their own conclusions. I voluntarily received an ARC copy of this book through NetGalley.

The Wicked Vampire (Last True Vampire 6) by Kate Baxter

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The Wicked Vampire by Kate Baxter is part 6 of the Last True Vampire series and the first book of this series I have read.  I had no problem following the story line of the main couple.  I could tell, however, a lot of subplots/ background characters present had further plot clarification elsewhere in the series.  This lack of knowledge did cause some minor irritation but could motivate me to start from book one in the series at a later date.

Ewan is a berserker, mortal enemies of the vampire race.  He is attempting to make money in a fighting ring to the death to get free of his ruthless leader.  During a fight, Ewan feels a bond form with Sasha who turns out to be a vampire. The couple must come to terms with their relationship, confront the hatred their races have for each other and decide if they can stay together.

The world building present in this story is quite enjoyable. There are several races of supernatural beings which I appreciate in an urban fantasy/ paranormal romance. It keeps everything from getting stale. I would like to learn more about several of the background characters. I haven't read many stories where a berserker played a prominent role. It was an interesting interpretation of their race.  The mating bond of the vampire was a unique approach I appreciated.

I am partial to forbidden love, and here it was handled well.  There was a great deal of chemistry between them, which made their distrust in each other that much more suspenseful. Ewan could be a little overbearing, but he is a berserker, so it fits. And I tend to enjoy more aggressive males in romance. In the end, everything played out as it should in any HEA novel, but I did like the process of getting there.

All opinions are my own and may not match that of others. I encourage all readers to come to their own conclusions. I voluntarily received an ARC copy of this book through NetGalley.

Blood Fury: Black Dagger Legacy 3 by J.R. Ward

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Blood Fury is the third of the Black Dagger Legacy series, a spin-off of the Black Dagger Brotherhood, by J.R. Ward. I found these books at a time when I was going to give up reading vampire paranormal romance novels. I was prepared to give them one last try and be done. Admittedly, I am still wary of the sub-genre, but this series is now one of my favorite paranormal romances. The Black Dagger Brotherhood helps keep the vampire race safe from the Omega and his Lessening Society. The Legacy books deal with the training of the next generation of fighters against this threat.

The focus characters in this novel are Payton, Novo, Saxton, and Rhun. Although feasible one could read this book as a stand-alone, I would not suggest it.  In Blood Fury, the romances develop for the main characters, but each individual has been a part of past storylines, sometimes interacting together. Their bonds will be more fulfilling if you first experience some of their lives.  Personally, I most enjoy series novels when they follow multiple characters over several books.  I feel more invested in them and their relationships this way. Without spoiling any plot points, all I can say is the romance in this book was very satisfying for me.

The development of the characters in Blood Fury was compelling through their good and bad situations. The relationships they formed and actions they took felt natural to my prior conception of who they are as individuals.  A concept throughout the Black Dagger series is with the aristocratic vampires, or glymera, and their rules against socializing with the civilian vampires. There is, however, a good balance between the aristocracy and more open-minded beings uninterested in the glymera's agenda. Every book I read the dry, sarcastic humor makes me laugh out loud.  With the injustices done trying to keep the vampire race segregated, I need that laughter to ease the irritation I feel. Although humor, in general, is an addition I prefer in any book.

Now begins the wait for the next installment in the Black Dagger world. I would highly suggest this series for any who enjoy urban fantasy/ paranormal romance. All opinions are my own and may not match that of others. I encourage all readers to come to their own conclusions.

Ramses the Damned The Passion of Cleopatra by Anne and Christopher Rice

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Ramses the Damned: The Passion of Cleopatra by Anne and Christopher Rice continues the story of the immortal Ramses the Great, a former Pharaoh of Egypt. I read The Mummy decades ago and forgot most but a vague outline if the story. All major plot points in The Mummy are refreshed when relevant to Ramses the Damned.  In no way did I feel lost reading the second book this far from the first.  I imagine any reader just starting with this installment would not need to read the first to enjoy it.

Ramses and his newly immortal fiancee Julie learn of Cleopatra's escape from the fire they thought ended her existence.  Cleopatra is desperate to learn more about the strange things happening to her since her resurrection, driving her to confront Rames after he abandoned her. As Cleopatra nears Rames and Julie, other Immortals reveal themselves. Without knowing the intent of these individuals, Ramses, Julie, and Cleopatra must decide who best to align themselves with to remain safe.

It has been some time since I read an Anne Rice novel. This book was an excellent reminder of how much I enjoy her supernatural beings. The characters were sympathetic in a very human way.  They are all trying to find a sense of self, belonging, and humanity, especially those with the gift of immortality.  The subject of reincarnation of the soul is a prominent one. My favorite part of this story was how this relates to Cleopatra. Ramses and Cleopatra are everything you would believe ancient Egyptian royalty to be. The addition of Bektaten and Saqnos stirred things up for the characters in a thrilling, edge of your seat kind of way. I almost wanted to just hang out with these characters in their original timeline. Aristocratic England, or even America, in 1914 is not my favorite setting. 

The authors paint a very vivid picture when describing their scenes. Instead of a character crumpling a piece of paper an tossing it, one reads this - 

“So she took the newspaper clipping and crumpled it in her fist as one might a dispatch from an enemy in war. Then, once she had crushed it into a ball, she dropped it to the floor.”

This attention to detail does an excellent job of immersing one in the world.  I am however more of a big picture reader. The new Immortals/ characters introduced paired with the vivid descriptions, was a minor cause of frustration for me. I got a bit bogged down by it on occasion. Getting to the point where all the characters intersected was mildly tedious. In the end, the side stories were necessary, and once everyone's lives came together, it was worth it.

Overall I was very pleased with this book. It made me nostalgic for Anne Rice's Vampire Chronicles.  All opinions are my own and may not match that of others. I encourage all readers to come to their own conclusions. I voluntarily received an ARC copy of this book through NetGalley.