Guest Review of Blade Song by J.C. Daniels

Publisher: Amazon Digital Services Inc & Hydra Publications (depends on the format)
Series: Colbana Files #1
Release Date: August 1, 2012
Buying Links:  Amazon    Barnes & Noble   The Book Depository

Book Blurb (from goodreads):

Reviewed By: Mikel. Mikel is a friend of mine from the message board of Patricia Briggs. He was looking for a place to post this review and I happily offered him a space.


Mikel's Thoughts:

Firstly, this book is not for everyone. It is not Kate and Curran. It is not Anita and her entourage, nor is it Mercy and her pack of wolves. What it is however, is Mercy’s courage, Kate’s perseverance, and thankfully, none of Anita (No offense to Anita fans. Anita is not an easy act to want to follow).

 From the beginning I found myself drawn into how Kit Colbana, half breed Investigator thinks in this world where Non-Humans have their own law and order to keep themselves in check with the Humans. You get into the depth of her thoughts and fears and how they play into this world created by J.C. Daniels. The rules of the world are straight forward, don’t kill the Humans or the Humans will kill us by any means necessary. In Kit’s case, she is enough of a half breed, she is often mistaken as a human, which as an investigator can make her job both easier, and harder. This also leaves plenty of avenues for the author to explore as Kit can interact with the authorities for both the Non-Human and the Human laws, taking investigative jobs on both sides of the coin.

Kit herself is the product of her upbringing, in more ways than one. Her upbringing breeds her courage and her perseverance. Her drive to see things through because anything less was unacceptable to herself. No matter how much she just wanted to walk away and crawl into a hole. At the same time, that upbringing wants to make her go crawl in a hole, pull the world in after her and nuke the rest.

Kit is a character with flaws, real flaws that you can sink your teeth into. Flaws, that some of us out there can relate to on some level, and see how it could crop up at just the wrong time landing you flat on your butt with the bad guy laughing at you. To me it is a nice departure from the impervious protagonist. She doesn’t forget what she can do, and doesn’t change the rules just so she can get out of harm’s way. Though, having a very large, well-built solid hunk of pissed off Cat-Were as backup can lead you to dive in over your head, but at least you get the hangover later to remind you of what you did.

The introduction of other characters is done smoothly; with just enough info you can figure out who is going to be a bit player, and who is in for the long haul. Something I rather enjoy in books I know are going to be a series from the beginning, and believe me, once you’re done with this book, that tidbit of a taste is going to sit on your tongue like a fine piece of chocolate tempting you to take a bite of the next book in line.

 "Night Blade", the sequel cannot get here soon enough!  

3 out of 5 stars-Solid book, but could have been a bit longer, allowing for more investigative story time.

Mikel received a PDF for review from the author.

Review: Beg Me by Shiloh Walker

Book Blurb: Beg me…there had been a time when those words made her burn with desire. But now, there was only fear.
 
Once, Tania Sinclair’s life was almost perfect…oh, it had its ups and downs but she was happily married to a guy that adored her, one who had no problem indulging every kinky fantasy she ever had. But a couple of tragedies later, she’s barely holding it together. A car accident took away her husband, and an attack from somebody she should have been able to trust has shaken not only her confidence, but it’s also stripped away her fantasies and even made it painful to look back on her memories of her husband without fear.

Two years after her attack, Tania is determined to take her life back and the first step is taking back herself…her fantasies, her dreams, her memories. There’s only one person she can trust to do it, too. One person she wants enough…Drake Bennett, her husband’s best friend.

Falling for your best friend’s wife—never smart. Drake’s watched Tania quietly for years, watched her…wanted her, knowing he’d never have her. First, she was taken. And then, that night two years ago—a night that still scars her, a night that’s left bruises on her that still haven’t healed. He does what he can, though, because he loves her too much not to. He’s her friend, there when she needs him.

And now she needs him. She’s asked him for a favor…one that just about blows his mind…

Warning: This book involves light bondage play, rape fantasy & role-playing. The acts between the hero & heroine are consensual, but they may not be ideal for all readers… 

My Thoughts: I'm not really one for rape fantasies, they strike me as wrong and make me squirm. Rape, real rape, is pretty horrific.That said, people do have rape fantasies and I knew what I was getting when I bought this book. Not only does the book description include the above warning (I added the bolding) but Walker was also up front about it in her pre-publication buzz, both on her blog and on Twitter. I appreciated the fact that she was so upfront about the topic and so careful to inform her readers. The book sounded interesting and I decided to take a chance.

     I'm glad that I did. The topic is handled with great sensitivity and I can almost see the appeal. I say almost because I just don't run that way. Of course, the story is a romance too and that was my favorite part. I liked how it unfolded though I did think the ending was a bit rushed. Still, the characters are well-written and the story held my interest. My main quibble has to do with the behavior and actions of Tania's in-laws, especially her brother-in-law. I had no trouble believing his actions at the beginning of the book, but what we find out later about him and his mother, that was less believable. Despite that, the story flowed well and I enjoyed it. I even enjoyed some of the sex scenes. Walker handled the emotional fallout of the rape fantasies with a deft touch.

     Overall, a good book, well worth reading.

Publisher: Shiloh Walker, Inc.

Release Date: November 19, 2010

This e-book is owned by the reviewer.

Review: Tarnished Knight by Shiloh Walker

Book Blurb: The mind forgets, but the body remembers. Everything.

Grimm’s Circle, Book 4

One look at Jack Wallace and Perci knows he’s going to be trouble. Even surrounded by soul stealers, he’s a one-man wrecking crew. What does he need Grimm training for? He’s already hell on earth, a warrior bent on destruction. And something…more.

He’s too strong and fast to be a mere mortal. Even covered in blood, he makes her forget she’s only here to do a job and get out. It’s twisted. Sick. She hasn’t felt this alive in three centuries.

Born with a natural talent for killing unnatural things, Jack has always known things he shouldn’t. The fact that Perci is one of them glows all over her. Giving him an unholy urge to see just how far he can push her before don’t touch me melts into touch me there.

When they come together, it isn’t careful or cautious. It’s heaven and hell, exposing all their raw and wounded places to healing heat, resurrecting memories of a destined love from the distant past. But the evil that destroyed them once before has tracked them here, threatening their second and last chance at forever. Demanding a sacrifice no one—Grimm or human—should ever be asked to make…

Warning: Dark, sexy, a little bit scary—this fairy tale is only for grownups and is best saved for bedtime.


***Warning: Mild Spoilers Below***


My Thoughts:  Ok, first a confession. Prior to reading this book, I had read only one book by Ms. Walker. Actually, I tried to read a book, Through the Veil, but I couldn't even finish it. A friend had recommended it so I got it from my library and once I started it, had zero interest in it. Then some acquaintances at Goodreads suggested the Grimm series and when I looked it up, it sounded right up my alley. Then, last week, when I was logged into Twitter, Ms Walker tweeted that she was looking for some people to review Tarnished Knight, provided that they could read it and get the review up before it's release tomorrow, the 26th. (Yes, I know, I squeaked in under the wire). I eagerly responded and to my surprise I was one of the reviewers that she picked. I was surprised because my blog is so new, so small, and not at all well known. Still, I was very happy.

      I'm still happy. I really enjoyed this book. Walker has taken Grimm's fairy tales, updated them, and given them her own spin. I've always loved fairy tales, and I'm a sucker for a well-done update. Many readers don't realize or have forgotten that the original fairy tales were not in the least "child friendly" as we in this century would define it. They were bloody, gory, sometimes erotic tales that were usually meant as cautionary tales. Ms Walker has kept that spirit.

     The Grimm are supernatural beings,who fight demons and who, some of them anyway, were humans in  a prior life. Walker takes a fairy tale, tweaks it, and brings those characters into her world, making them Grimm. For this book she has used Rapunzel, or more accurately, an older lesser known version, called Persinette. I wasn't familiar with it but it has commonalities with some versions of Rapunzel that I've read.

     Perci, AKA Persinette survived her fairy tale, as did her husband, and they became Grimm. They did not, however, get an HEA. Enter Jack, who is not  Grimm but who has some of their abilities and is aware of their existence. Perci is emotionally broken and her pain feels very real. She is smart, sexy, and strong in some ways while weak in others. Jack is also not emotionally whole. Together, sparks fly but they connect emotionally as well as sexually. The story is sexy and fast paced, the characters well-written and believable. I hadn't read the preceding stories which was not a problem; Ms Walker does a very nice job of keeping it a stand alone story while smoothly working in series details and background without doing the dreaded info dump.

I enjoyed this story very much and will be adding the others to my TBR pile.

Publisher: Samhain


Release Date: 10/26/2010


This book was received as a PDF from the author.

Bea