Caressed By Ice (Psy-Changelings, Book 3) by Nalini Singh

• • Title: Caressed By Ice (Psy-Changelings, Book 3)
  • Classification: Adult Fiction
  • Genre: Paranormal Romance
• Mass Market Paperback: 368 pages
• Publisher: Berkley (September 4, 2007)
• ISBN-10: 0425218422
• ISBN-13: 978-0425218426
• Author's Website: http://www.nalinisingh.com/

Two years ago the Laurens left the PsyNet when the Psy Council sentenced the entire family to be rehabilitated. That included Judd's brother, Walker; Walker's daughter Marlee; and Sienna and Toby, his niece and nephew by his deceased sister, Kristine. Rehabilitation was not a method which helped people to get back on their feet. It was a mechanism used to wipe a brain clean and turn the individual being rehabilitated into not much more than a walking vegetable. Judd, because of his vocation as an Arrow, had previously renounced his family ties and had, therefore, been excluded from the sentence.

In a desperate attempt to save their family, they defected to the SnowDancer Changeling territory hoping they'd be able to save at least the children. Walker and Judd had no expectations of surviving for the Psy and Changelings were not on friendly terms, and SnowDancer had the reputation of being one of the most powerful and ruthless groups of Changelings in the country. The Changelings, however, had surprised them and offered the entire family sanctuary. In return the Laurens swore allegiance to SnowDancer, but trust is something that needs to be earned and is not readily given.

Brenna had been the victim of horrible crimes committed by the now defunct Counselor Santano Enrique. Unbeknownst to her, Judd had had a crucial part in her recovery. While her body had healed, a part of her never would. She'd been changed and wasn't the happy, carefree, sweet natured girl she'd once been. She'd survived the torture and experiments, but Enrique had done something to her. Something that she feared now allowed her to see visions of murder through the eyes of a psychopath. Could Enrique have had an accomplice? Could he have somehow managed to survive in the net? Could she be going insane? When the victim in her vision shows up dead, she begins to wonder...

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Nalini's books are soooo good for many reasons. I feel like I should be spouting that famous poem by Elizabeth Barrett Browning....How do I love thee? (thee being the books) Let me count the ways... *giggle* I was reading this with my Goodreads buddy Southpaw and we were hoping the next book after Visions of Heat would be Judd's. We try not to peek at the next book we'll read in the series.  Judd is the strong and silent type. He is such a mystery and while Psy are known for not having emotions we get blurred glimpse of the ones he has buried beneath the surface of the icy exterior he has cloaked himself in.

From Judd we learn not all aspects of Silence are bad. As we all know, every good lie contains some grain of truth or its foundation starts to crumble. For some Psy, their powers are so volatile that for them Silence is a true blessing. Judd is one such Psy. We'll learn more about Judd's powers and his extraordinary but deadly abilities which totally blew my mind. It is something that makes him fiercely try to fight the attraction he has toward Brenna. He has no aspirations of ever being part of a loving relationship and that isn't just because of the Silence imposed upon him.

We also learn more about what happened to Brenna at the hand of Enrique. Some scars cannot be seen and for her they're still fresh and festering. She feels she can't go to her brothers who still haven't accepted she is a different and slightly broken person from the little sister they've previously known. She seeks out the help of Judd in figuring out what is happening to her. Their is something about him that makes her feel safe. Perhaps it's because he didn't know the old Brenna or perhaps it has something to do with his role in her recovery. Whatever it is she is drawn to Judd.

Kaleb Krychek was the candidate the Council favored most to replace Enrique in Visions of Heat. We'll get to learn more about him as he takes his newly found place on the Council. He's ambitious, and it's obvious he has a plan, but at present we can only speculate what that might be. Perhaps that is why right now I find him the most interesting of the Psy Council members. He truly intrigues me.

Overall, I gave this one 5 out of 5 roses. I liked the mystery of who the killer was and learning the full extent of Judd's power. He is truly a man most would never wish to face in a fight. His gift is a double edged blade because it's both a gift and curse, it all depends on how his powers are used. Additionally, I loved how Brenna manages to finally crack through the ice Judd so carefully enclosed himself in. We're  given a great view into the heart of the man who has so carefully hidden it away. On the Lisarenee Romance Rating Scale, this one gets a  SHOWER rating--a cold shower is necessary (need I say more?). Some books should come with a warning - make sure your significant other is handy or your shower is in working order. lol

Order of Series:

Sneak Peek at Forbidden (World of the Nightwalkers) by Jacquelyn Frank

Coming October 30th

Book Synopsis:
From New York Times bestselling author Jacquelyn Frank comes this first book in The World of the Nightwalkers—an exciting and sensual new spin-off series in which the Bodywalkers, an ancient race of the night, battles the evil forces who prey on them.

The unexpected happens in an instant. On her way to work, secretary Docia Waverley hurtles into a crashing crossroads, and she quickly begins to suspect that things will never be the same. Then, when a tall, blond, muscular stranger intervenes on her behalf, telling her it is his duty to protect her at all cost, what is just a feeling turns to proof positive. That is, as long as Docia’s savior doesn’t turn out to be a crazed kidnapper.

When Ram finds Docia, he has no doubt that she is his queen. But as this golden warrior sweeps in to protect her, he feels something more than body heat every time they touch. He is overwhelmed by a searing connection that goes deep into the twin souls inside him. A desire rises in him that is forbidden—this woman is his queen, the mate of his king, his leader, his best friend. And yet Docia is so vulnerable and attractive that she awakens a hunger in Ram that is undeniable, a carnal craving he cannot yield to . . . not without risking the very survival of the Bodywalkers.Forbidden (World of the Nightwalkers) by Jacquelyn Frank

Poison Princess (The Arcana Chronicles, #1) by Kresley Cole

• Title: Poison Princess (Arcana Chronicles, Book 1)
• Classification: Young Adult
• Genre: Paranormal/Dystopia
• Format: Hardcover, 384 pages
• Publisher: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers (October 2, 2012)
• ISBN-10: 1442436646
• ISBN-13: 978-1442436640
• Author's Website: http://kresleycole.com/
• Notes: Under age drinking. 
• Sexual Content: Talk of cashing in one's V-card (virginity), kissing with a bit of heavy petting and talk of doing the deed, but nothing overly graphic.

"The Beginning is nigh..."

Legends, myths...call them what you like, are all usually based from some semblance of truth and hold significance even today. They hold lessons and warnings of what could happen again. Over the years and centuries, however, some of these stories have all but been forgotten, falling through the cracks of time. Such is the case with the Arcana and the true meaning of the Tarot cards. For the cards are more than just a means for telling a person's fortune. They hold the key to an ancient people known as the Arcana who will rise from the ashes of the earth only to once again engage in an ongoing battle so ancient that only a few living souls, the Tarasova (aka the chroniclers of the Tarot), have been able to pass on the information on from one generation to the next. A battle, or game if you will, that all began with the Gods.

Evangeline Greene, Evie to her friends, had been one of the most popular girls in her high school. She was a cheerleader, dating Brandon, a football player who possessed a movie star like grin which left many a girl swooning in its wake. She was friends with pretty much everyone and considered the school her queendom. But during her Sophomore year everything changed. She started having hallucinations. Nightmare like dreams during the day while being wide awake. Brutally disturbing hallucinations of death, destruction, and the end of the world. Dreams which depicted people with unbelievable powers causing gruesome and disturbing death and destruction in their wake. Her mistake had been in confiding what she was experiencing to her mother, and when her mother found her notebook where she had meticulously documented all she saw, it had been the key to her incarceration to the funny farm, aka the Children's Learning Center, a behavioral clinic for kids. When the events from her hallucinations and notebook start to actually take place, however, Evie will need to come to terms with the fact that she might not be just a normal average teenager. She'll set out to find her grandmother who prophesied the events and was locked away years ago, when she attempted to kidnap Evie, so she could "prepare" her for her destiny. A destiny Evie has no clue about.

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This was such a fun and unique book. It did get a little gory at times with some of the descriptions, but I enjoyed the mystery of what was going on, and who or what Evie truly was. The contrast between Evie and who she ends up being is very interesting, and I look forward to finding out more in future books. 

Evie is a very interesting character. In some ways, Evie feels guilty for not warning her friends about the events she had foreseen in her visions. She had feared she'd loose their friendship if she confided in them and couldn't imagine they'd believe her crazy visions. After all, she had a hard time believing them herself. She's thrust into a seemingly impossible situation. The Flash, as they refer to the event that was triggered by solar flares, destroyed all the vegetation on the planet, evaporated all the water outside, and killed the majority of the population. Only those who took shelter survived unscathed. An additional side affect of the Flash were new zombie-like creatures which Evie refers to as Bagmen. If they don't kill you, a wound can turn you into one of them. 

After months of living alone with her mother, and only a minimal amount of interaction with their few surviving neighbors, Jackson Deveaux, a former classmate from the wrong side of the tracks, rides into town and literally saves her from a horrifying fate. The question is: can and should she trust him with her secrets or her life? According to the boy who haunts her visions, when Jackson helps, he hurts. Will she be able to accept her fate and will the boy she'll come to rely on be able to as well, or is a relationship between the two doomed before it has a chance to truly begin? Will they have to part ways? 

Jackson is a very complicated character. He seems extremely accepting of so many things, but I keep thinking there is more to him than meets the eye. He seems to be the type of guy where actions speak louder than words, which throws Evie a little bit. When we first meet him, I wasn't sure I liked him; he seemed a bit stalkerish in his fascination with Evie. As we get a little bit more of his background and get to know him a little better, however, I started getting a better picture of who he was and began to like him. He's very protective of those he cares about, but is a little rough around the edges and has no sense of tact at times. Evie is different from the girls he's dealt with, and he has no idea how to handle her.

The use of the Tarot cards in the series was very ingenious thing to do. I've always thought Tarot cards were quite beautiful with their intricate designs. Creating a story around them was a very clever idea. While we're starting to skim the icing on the cake with this book, I can't help but feel the real layers of the story have yet to be uncovered. 

Overall, I gave this one 5 out of 5 roses. The ending of this one is a cliffhanger, but not the type that makes you want to throw the book and shout a few choice words at the author. It does, however, make you want to know what happens next. A perfect read for this time of year.

Notes to keep you in the know:
There are 22 cards included in the Major Arcana of a Tarot deck. Each is associated with a particular number, so when Matthew refers to himself as "Matthew Mat Zero Matto", we now know why--the fool's card is often considered the zero card. Each picture is surrounded by symbolism. As there are many different decks associated with the Tarot, I can't be certain the following would have all the appropriate symbolism which is used by The Arcana Chronicles series, but I felt it was a good representation/illustration of the Major Arcana cards of the deck. It should be noted there are also Minor Arcana cards as well which we'll have to wait and see if Ms. Cole will incorporate into her series.

(the above picture found on photobucket)

None (0 or 22) The Fool
1 The Magician
2 The High Priestess
3 The Empress
4 The Emperor
5 The Hierophant
6 The Lovers
7 The Chariot
8 Justice
9 The Hermit
10 Wheel of Fortune
11 Strength
12 The Hanged Man
13 Death
14 Temperance
15 The Devil
16 The Tower
17 The Star
18 The Moon
19 The Sun
20 Judgement
21 The World

The Great Escape (Wynette, Texas, #7) by Susan Elizabeth Phillips

• Title: The Great Escape: A Novel
• Classification: Adult Fiction
• Genre: Contemporary Romance
• Format: Hardcover, 432 pages
• Publisher: William Morrow; 1 edition (July 10, 2012)
• ISBN-10: 0062106066
• ISBN-13: 978-0062106063

Author's Website: http://www.susanephillips.com/

There are certain events in a person's life which bring a certain clarity that couldn't be seen prior. When you realize you are at a crossroads and need to decide whether to make the initially, easier, but incorrect choice or the right, yet more difficult choice. It's times like this when only your best friend, the person who's got your back will tell it to you straight and nudge you toward the right decision and today, the day Lucy was to marry Ted Beaudine, was one such day:

"He's wonderful, Luce. Everything you said. And you absolutely can't marry him."

"I know," Lucy hears herself whisper in return. "But I' going to anyway. It's too late now to back out."

Meg had given her a fierce shake. "It's not too late. I'll help you. I'll do whatever I can."

And so after a briefly telling her would be groom, "I can't," she found herself literally running away from her perfect fiance, her dream wedding, her friends and family. Basically from her life. That's when she met him. He was everything Ted wasn't... 

'He had too-long black hair that curled past his collar, cold blue eyes set above high cheekbones, and sadistic lips.'...'His nose was blunt, square at the tip. A wrinkled necktie poked out of the pocket of his ill-fitting suit coat. And that long, wild hair, all curls and tangles, looked like a finger paint of a van Gogh night sky made from a sloppy pot of black ink.' And when he asked, "Wanna go for a ride?" She  climbed on the back of his motorcycle and left her oh so perfect, yet imperfect life behind. 

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This is the seventh book in the Wynette, Texas series. Lucy was first introduced in First Lady as a child. While you don't have to read the whole series before reading this book, I do recommend reading Call Me Irresistible first. Everything gets set in motion for this novel in Call Me Irresistible and you'd probably feel like you'd missed something if you didn't read it first.

This was a very fun read. I think all of us at one time or another have wanted to runaway from our lives and just figure things out. I think Lucy had the worst timing ever when she finally got up the courage to do what she should have done probably months before, but sometimes timing is everything and we don't see right away what we so clearly see at a later date. I think what I like best about Lucy is she doesn't make the decision as lightly as it might first appear. I think since she was adopted into such a high profile family (her mom is a former President of the US), that she felt the need to be perfect even if what she wanted and what would be deemed the 'perfect' choice conflicted. Her best friend, Meg, realizes that Lucy would never be happy married to someone so seemingly perfect. She'd never feel at ease, and she'd always feel the need to be perfect. Meg sees clearly what others do not.

Panda (I wish we would have had this name explained), was a complicated character. He's a protector by nature who at one time failed his little brother when he was killed. The loss compounded with some of his other life experiences have scarred him and made him feel a long term relationship is not in his future. While a relationship might be what he craves, he feels it's not something he'd ever be able to commit to. He has his reasons which will slowly be revealed. He grew up in foster care, ended up in jail, but later turned his life around. He is far from perfect, but deep down he's got a beautiful soul.

While at first a relationship between these two seemed ill fated, we slowly get to know each of them  and that's when everything clicks into place and makes sense. I loved the battle of wills between the two, and the way Panda realizes early on that Lucy has a way of seeing past the facade he puts on and perhaps sees a little more than he'd like. Lucy sees that underneath, the rough and tough exterior he attempts to portray, and sees an intelligent and down right decent guy. I think it's partly the challenge of figuring out who Panda truly is and piecing together the contrasting glimpses she gets of him during their initial time together that makes Lucy seek him out after he leaves her at the airport figuring she'd fly back home. It's kind of like the resident pass she finds and later uses the information from to find Panda which says, "Your Pure Michigan Adventure Begins Here." I felt that when she gets to Michigan the book shifts from Lucy feeling a little lost and unsure how to proceed to slowly coming back into herself and beginning to figure out who she truly is and what she wants. In other words, that's when Lucy's story really begins.

Overall, I liked the book and found it rather charming. I gave it 3 1/2 out of 4 roses. I liked seeing both Panda and Lucy come out of their shells. I liked how while the attraction was instantaneous, it took a while for a relationship to grow between the two and how Panda realized if he truly wanted a relationship he had to analyze himself and get some assistance in dealing with his past. Perhaps not as lighthearted a read as some of  Ms. Phillips' other books, but I liked it just the same. On the Lisarenee Romance Rating Scale this one scored a STEAM rating--too hot for a fan, but you still have a handle on things. You should use extreme caution when reading a book with this rating in public. People may inquire as to why you looked flustered and flushed.

Order of series:

Sneak Peek at The Recruit (Highland Guard, #6) by Monica McCarty

Book Synopsis:

Scotland’s King Robert the Bruce is retaking his kingdom from the invading English. To win, he’ll need all the grit and courage of his elite band of warriors, the Highland Guard, men who fight without fear and love without limits.

Fiery, aggressive, and bold, Kenneth Sutherland is a true champion—skilled with any weapon and driven to win. Now Kenneth is ready for his greatest challenge: joining Robert the Bruce’s secret army to fight among the elite. Kenneth’s best chance to attain that honor is by winning the Highland Games. Focused and prepared for victory, he is caught off guard by a lovely wisp of a woman—and a stolen moment of wicked seduction. Her innocent arousal and her shameless hunger fire his blood. He will win his place in the guard—and in Mary of Mar’s bed.

The ruggedly handsome hero-in-the-making stirs a heart that should know better. Mary vows that her surrender will be sport only—no promises, no heartbreak, just one night of incredible passion. Nothing, she swears, will persuade her to give up her hard-wrought independence and put her fate in the hands of another powerful man. But with every gentle touch and heart-pounding kiss, Kenneth makes her want more. Now Mary wants his heart. But is this determined champion willing to surrender everything for love?

Sneak Peek at Iced by Karen Marie Moning

The synopsis:
From #1 New York Times bestselling author Karen Marie Moning comes the first book in her hotly anticipated new urban paranormal trilogy, set in the world of her blockbuster Fever series.

The year is 1 AWC—After the Wall Crash. The Fae are free and hunting us. It’s a war zone out there, and no two days are alike. I’m Dani O’Malley, the chaos-filled streets of Dublin are my home, and there’s no place I’d rather be.

Dani “Mega” O’Malley plays by her own set of rules—and in a world overrun by Dark Fae, her biggest rule is: Do what it takes to survive. Possessing rare talents and the all-powerful Sword of Light, Dani is more than equipped for the task. In fact, she’s one of the rare humans who can defend themselves against the Unseelie. But now, amid the pandemonium, her greatest gifts have turned into serious liabilities.

Dani’s ex–best friend, MacKayla Lane, wants her dead, the terrifying Unseelie princes have put a price on her head, and Inspector Jayne, the head of the police force, is after her sword and will stop at nothing to get it. What’s more, people are being mysteriously frozen to death all over the city, encased on the spot in sub-zero, icy tableaux.

When Dublin’s most seductive nightclub gets blanketed in hoarfrost, Dani finds herself at the mercy of Ryodan, the club’s ruthless, immortal owner. He needs her quick wit and exceptional skill to figure out what’s freezing Fae and humans dead in their tracks—and Ryodan will do anything to ensure her compliance.

Dodging bullets, fangs, and fists, Dani must strike treacherous bargains and make desperate alliances to save her beloved Dublin—before everything and everyone in it gets iced.

Here is a sneak peek at the highly anticipated Iced (A Dani O'Malley Novel) by Karen Marie Moning. It releases on October 30th! Pre-order your copy today.

Iced: A Dani O'Malley Novel (Fever Series) by Karen Marie Moning

 

The Lady Risks All by Stephanie Laurens

• Title: The Lady Risks All
• Classification: Adult Fiction
• Genre: Historical Romance
• Format: Paperback, 496 pages
• Publisher: Avon; Original edition (September 25, 2012)
• ISBN-10: 0062068636
• ISBN-13: 978-0062068637

Author's Website: http://www.stephanielaurens.com/

Gambling. It is a game of chance, luck, skill, and risk.  For a small percentage of the populous the game becomes addictive, an obsession they cannot resist. The stakes are high and the games have been the ruin of many a man and family. It was also a known danger or curse, as the family looked upon it, for the men of the Delbraith family. One that seemed to have a habit of taking hold of just about every male member. But what surprised most of the family twelve years ago, was that the man with ironically the better poker face, the man who had more to lose and had been groomed to be the more responsible of the two Delbraith brothers was the one who had succumbed to the obsession and lost it all.  No one had had a clue until the day he took a pistol to his head and let loose a tidal wave of chaos. He could no longer hide nor live with the choices he had made and had taken the coward's way out.

Besides the gambling curse it was also known that once every few generations or so the family would birth a son with more than enough luck or skill that even if the curse took hold they would somehow always manage to come out of the games on the plus side. Perhaps they were born under a lucky star, or it was fates way of keeping balance and order in the world. And so Twelve years ago, in an effort to save the family, Julian decided to risk it all and has never taken a look back. For on that day, Lord Julian Roscoe Neville Delbraiths ceased to exist and Neville Roscoe was born.

Miranda Clifford knew all about family curses. It was known in her family that those who strayed from the straight and narrow would meet with disaster and/or death. So she'd lived her life accordingly, and when she thought her brother, Roderick, might be straying into dark territories she followed him one night to see what kind of trouble he might be getting into. What she never expected was to follow him right into the dwelling of Neville Roscoe, "the most celebrated--as in infamous and notorious--denizen of the neighborhood. He was London's acknowledged gambling king, the owner of a vast array of hells, dens, and clubs catering to the wealthy, the affluent, the aristocratic." 

Miranda is about to learn that just like you can't judge a book by its cover, neither can you always judge a person by their persona.

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This was such a delightful tale that had me swooning over the the hero. Roscoe was first introduced by Ms. Laurens in her novel The Edge of Desire (Bastion Club, #7)  then again in  The Reckless Bride  (Black Cobra Quartet, #4) . So if you haven't read the two series you may wish to do so now. I always love it when an author ties their books together via a character mentioned in another.

 Roscoe is like two people spliced into one. His Roscoe persona is one of a dangerous man who you don't cross if you want to live, but his Julian persona, which is his true self, is much different from his alter ego. With all his wealth and involvement in London's darker and seedier side, you'd think he would have succumbed to his own vices and be tainted by it all. Yet he never strayed far from his aristocratic roots and upbringing. As you can probably surmise from my synopsis, Julian created his alter ego as a way to support his family and get them out of ruin. To do so, however, he had to separate himself from them so they wouldn't be tainted through association.

Roscoe is sort of a sheep in wolf's clothing. Upon becoming a rich and notorious gambling king, Roscoe decided to lend a helping hand to those who would not otherwise have the opportunity to better themselves or their situations.  He doesn't just hand out money to the poor and less fortunate, he makes sure the money is used to teach skills so they may better themselves. It's a bit of the "If you give a man a fish you feed him for a day. If you teach a man to fish you feed him for a lifetime." type of philosophy. He does all this in secret and only a chosen few know. Ms. Laurens described Roscoe in an interview she did with USA Today as an inverted Batman. To see the whole article CLICK HERE.

Miranda is in some ways is very like Roscoe. They share a common loyalty toward family and feel responsible for them. When her brother doesn't come home after a late night meeting with Roscoe, Miranda seeks out his help in finding him.Curse or no curse, Miranda throws caution to the wind and does what no proper lady would do--she accompanies Roscoe as they follow the trail to find her brother and that is when the real fun begins.  While their first encounter sparked an awareness of the other, it's not until later, while on the path to finding Miranda's kidnapped brother, that the two realize those first sparks have ignited something more heated between them.

Overall, I adored this book and gave it 5 out of 5 roses. I loved the character Ms. Laurens created in Roscoe. I thought he was refreshingly unique from the other heroes I've read in historical romance novels. I loved how Miranda at one point has to take the reigns of the relationship into her own hands and the way the two worked together to figure out the who, what, and where of her brother's kidnapping. I also enjoyed how the two had to figure out how to redefine their relationship once back within the bounds of London society. On the Lisarenee romance rating scale, this one gets a FAN rating--the temperature in the room seems to have suddenly gone up a couple of degrees and a fan would be nice.

Listen to a portion of the audio book prologue: