Book Review: Kiss of Steel by Bec McMaster

I really enjoyed this fast paced steampunk version of a not quite Vampire tale.

Kiss of Steel
by Bec McMaster

• Mass Market Paperback: 448 pages
• Publisher: Sourcebooks Casablanca (September 1, 2012)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1402270275
• ISBN-13: 978-1402270277

Genre: Paranormal Romance, Steampunk
My Rating: 4.5 of 5.0

Book Description
Release Date: September 1, 2012
"Action, adventure, steampunk, and blazing hot seduction...Bec McMaster offers it all."—Eve Silver, author of Sins of the Flesh
A brilliantly creative debut where vampires, werewolves, and clockwork creatures roam the mist–shrouded streets of London...
When Nowhere is Safe
Most people avoid the dreaded Whitechapel district. For Honoria Todd, it's the last safe haven. But at what price?
Blade is known as the master of the rookeries—no one dares cross him. It's been said he faced down the Echelon's army single–handedly, that ever since being infected by the blood–craving he's been quicker, stronger, and almost immortal.
When Honoria shows up at his door, his tenuous control comes close to snapping. She's so...innocent. He doesn't see her backbone of steel—or that she could be the very salvation he's been seeking.

Review:
This 'vampire' story has a different bite. It is set in a wonderfully steampunk Victorian England with strong characters and a good action plot.

In Honoria's world the upperclass are the infected Blue Bloods, the ruling houses of the Echelon who are allied with the Queen. They have their armies of metaljackets and the specially trained Nighthawk warriors. Honoria was once a 'lady' with expectations of becoming a respected "thrall" to one of the Blue Blood families. Her father was a brilliant scientist who was experimenting to develop a cure or at least a vaccine against the blood craving virus that will first give a man strength and heightened abilities but eventually degenerates into the bestial vampires that are executed at first signs of deterioration. Honoria was her father's research assistant and kept a diary almost as good as his.

When her father is murdered by his cruel and vicious patron, Lord Vickers, Honoria flees with the diaries and her younger sister and brother. They are in hiding in Whitechapel which is full of dangers and under the control of the infamous Blade. Honor has caught the eye of Blade and although she resists his interest she is soon desperate with nowhere else and no one else to turn to for help.

Blade is the most famous infected being who escaped the clutches and experiments of the Echelon. He now rules in Whitechapel with the aid of a mixed group of henchmen including a 'verwulfen' and some mechanically strengthened humans.  In addition to her beauty, Blade is interested in Honoria because he knows that Vickers has a price on her head. Blade has a personal score to repay for his own tragic loss brought about by Vickers.

Blade bargains with Honoria and her reluctance falls under his odd form of courtship. She discovers she can trust his gentleness as she has a way of bringing out his more honorable traits and even calming the beast within.

Blade has to cooperate with one of the Blue Blood lords, Barrons, who has some connection to Honoria. He doesn't want to be jealous but he doesn't like the secrets that keep Honor at arms length. As Blade and Barrons battle a rogue vampire a trap is set to capture Honor. Will Blade be able to save Honor from Vickers before he does harm? Will Honor be able to find a cure before Blade's disease progresses out of control?

I really loved Honor and Blade and their cautious courtship that finally blossoms with their passion. Their romance is sensual and steamy without ever seeming vulgar. Ms. McMasters does a grand job with world building a setting that is different and fascinating, especially since I enjoy steampunk features. The plot is believable and provided fast paced action and suspense. The secondary characters are drawn with appropriate depth to make them likeable or horribly villainous. I recommend this to readers who enjoy strong, romantic characters who face dangerous odds. Even if you aren't a big fan of vampire stories you might enjoy this steampunk version with its twisted bite.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Blade's sad thoughts:

A blue blood had no personal scent. No warmth. Sometimes he felt as tough he were slowly turning to marble, devoid of any of the touches of humanity that surrounded him. Until nothing but the hunger remained. Page 51.

What Honoria wants:

Someone to love her. Someone to hold her in his arms, to tell her that she was the center of his world. That he would look after her. Someone to trust. Someone to love back. Page 223

Thank you to Sourcebooks and Ms. McMaster for providing the book to review, sharing in Interview and providing Giveaway copy! See the Giveaway and Interview post next.

I will add this title to my New Author and ARC Challenges as well as Steampunk list.

Book Review with Giveaway Link: Dangerous Shift by Jill James

This is a good suspense with a twist on shapeshifting.
Dangerous Shift
By Jill James

• File Size: 294 KB
• Print Length: 254 pages
• Simultaneous Device Usage: Unlimited
• Sold by: Amazon Digital Services, Inc.
• Language: English
• ASIN: B008RDPN72

Genre: Paranormal Romantic Suspense
My Rating: 4.5 of 5.0

Book Description
Publication Date: July 31, 2012
HE IS MR. BY-THE-BOOK, WITH A SECRET...
Shapeshifters live among us but remain unknown to most people except for the highest echelons of law enforcement, the military, science, and medical fields--until now.

SHE IS A LOOSE CANNON WITH AN ATTITUDE...
When a fatal virus strikes Shapeshifters all over the West coast, including members of the Shapeshifter Task Force in San Laura, California, reinforcements are called in from around the United States.

TOGETHER, THEY JUST MIGHT CATCH A KILLER.
Lt. Nikki Hill of Missouri comes to San Laura and is partnered up with Lt. Sean Evans. They quickly butt heads on everything from proper police procedures to the moral ethics of euthanasia. They can't seem to get a lead on the serial killer even as members of their own families are stricken with the virus. In their grief they turn to each other and hope they have time to discover if their relationship stands a chance or if they might just be the next victims of the species extinction disease.

Review:
There is a race of shapeshifters in the world that is little known to ‘normal’ humans. These shifters generally have male and female shifter personalities, with one being their dominant shape.  They have the ability to shift features, hair color, size and even to imitate other humans. Although there are latent animal traits they do not consciously shift to animal forms.

Lt. Sean Evans is a strong male cop; organized and by the book. He only uses his female side occasionally if needed for undercover work. His unit is suffering losses.  A vicious virus has killed his partner’s mate and his partner, Rodriguez is missing and it is feared he has been kidnapped by the serial killer. The virus speeds up the metabolism of the shifters causing continual shifting that wastes the body in painful contortions. Clearly shifters are the targets and so far the scientists have not been able to locate a cure.

Lt. Nikki Hill is brought in from the midwest to help the investigation team that is trying to find and stop the virus and whoever is using it.  Nikki is quick on her feet with an attitude that has allowed her to be strong and successful in her career.

Sean and Nikki have a bit of an antagonistic meeting but soon things heat up between them personally.  Surprisingly, they work well as a team, with their strengths of organization and deductive thinking balancing well together. But they are soon at odds again when Nikki learns details about Sean’s family that he didn’t warn her about. They also have differing opinions on euthanasia being used to stop the suffering of the infected shifters. Nikki is appalled by the idea until she is faced with the issue in a personal situation.

The villain is wonderfully psychotic and twisted. It is sad that the villain has forced and wrapped others into the scheme to eliminate the shifter race. The virus strikes close to home and Sean and Nikki find themselves in a race to trace the few clues to the killer before they become the next victims.

There are plenty of plot twists and action that kept this a good suspenseful read. There were a few scenes I questioned in my mind but they weren't enough to detract from the enjoyment. There are also several pretty spicy romance scenes. The characters are well developed with distinct personalities that lead to conflict and passion. I enjoyed the arguments Ms. James presents on the society biases and prejudices as well as discussion of the mercy killing for the virus ravaged shifters. The writing flows well with good pacing that makes the book move fairly quickly.

If you enjoy romantic suspense and paranormal you should try this book. Even if you don’t normally read paranormal, if you are a strong romantic suspense reader I still recommend you try this as it has a lot to offer in suspense, conflict, romance and societal issues.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Sean responds to Nikki’s attitude about ‘normal’ humans.

“If we call them norms, what does that make us? Abnormal? Most of the trouble in the world is from placing labels on each other.”  Location 256.

Nikki realizing that perhaps she could love Sean.

Love and happiness didn’t happen every day. Sometimes you missed what was right in front of you because you grew too busy rushing around trying to find it, and all the time it was there.  Location 3176.

Thank you to the author for providing the eBook to review through Bewitching Book Tours.  Giveaway of Two Print copies and $25.00 Gift Card at this link.

This book will be added to my ARC and New Author Challenge lists.

ISBN: 9781476499673

ASIN: B008RDPN72

Number of pages: 222

Word Count: 76,000

Cover Artist: Elaina Lee, For The Muse Designs

Amazon   Barnes & Noble    Smashwords   All Romance eBooks

Author Bio:

Jill James didn’t start out wanting to be an author. Along the way she wanted to be an astronaut, President of the United States, a lawyer, and a doctor. Once married with children she realized she could be all those things in the pages of the stories she wrote.

She lives in Northern California with her husband, who is the inspiration for all her romance novel heroes.

http://www.jilljameswrites.com

http://www.twitter.com/jill_james

http://www.facebook.com/Jill.James.author

http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4654661.Jill_James

EXCERPT:

Prologue

Fort San Laura Army Base

San Laura, California

May 2017

Sean Evans turned away as tears rolled down his ex-partner Colin Rodriguez’s face. The man sat by his fiancée’s bedside, her hand clasped in his, waiting for her to die. The sound of boot heels echoed up and down the hospital corridor. All marched past the closed door, none brave enough to stop at this room.

Sean stared at the dying woman. Paulette’s red hair was the only color in the monochrome-toned hospital room. Colin’s hand shook as he brushed the hair back from Paulette’s sweaty face. The virus wreaked havoc on the young woman.

Sean swallowed bile rising in his throat as the young Shapeshifter in the bed screamed. Her flesh boiled, roiling beneath the surface, and she screamed again. Her back arched off the bed. For months now, the Shapeshifter Task Force had been working to track down the cause of the virus and it struck close to home, killing two of their own. First, his own partner, Barry, and now, Paulette.

Her fingers turned into talons that dug into Colin’s hand. Blood dripped from the cuts onto the crisp, white sheet. Colin held her hand; the only sign of his pain was the grimace on his tanned face.

Sean rubbed his burning eyes, surprised to find tears on his own cheeks. He scrubbed the wetness away and raked his fingers through his hair. His tears wouldn’t help Paulette or Colin. Nothing could help them now. His hands clenched into fists at his side. He ached to punch a wall, anything to kill the tension in the room.

A scream built in his throat. Just last week he had sat here, forced to watch the young man, new to the task force, breathe his last. He stared into the ceiling lights, his eyes watered with the brightness. He repeated his personal mantra of calm and cool until his emotions mellowed, until they no longer threatened to overwhelm him.

He turned his head back as Paulette’s screams died down to whimpers. She had lost all control of her shifting. She grew fur and it disappeared. Her head changed shape as she shifted into a canine form, then a feline form, then back to her own. Her limbs flopped against the mattress as she convulsed. The shifting now happened every few seconds.

Colin threw himself across her body as if he could stop the tragedy from its conclusion.

“Noooo.” His voice ricocheted across the room and down the hall.

Sean rushed to his best friend’s side and ripped him up off of the dying Shifter. No one had discovered yet how the virus was transmitted. They didn’t need masks and gloves anymore, not in the last several months at least, but no one wanted to find out what full-body contact might do.

Colin struggled against Sean’s hold. Tears blurred Sean’s vision as Paulette struggled to breathe, and Colin’s cries became anguished sobs. His shoulders shook under Sean’s hands.

The monitor blared as Sean searched Paulette for any life signs and found none. Her chest didn’t move. She was gone. Just like Barry. Just like all the other Shifters in the past few months.

Sean turned away as Paulette’s flesh jellified and sank into the mattress, only a slight bump under the covers to show a living being had been there.

Colin’s anguish pierced his soul, and when Colin threw himself across the bed again.  Sean didn’t bother to stop him.  What did it matter when his friend had just lost his partner and the love of his life?

The sounds of harsh breaths and sobs still echoed in Sean’s ears when the door opened and the Captain of the Task Force rushed in. Sean turned to the man and shook his head.

Captain Connors motioned for Sean to talk to him outside. Sean shot a quick look to Colin and followed the captain outside to the hallway.

“Lieutenant Evans, with Robertson’s death today, added to the others, the task force is low on numbers. We will need to send word to the other task forces and ask for reinforcements.”

Sean’s hands formed into fists at his side. The human captain made no bones about his dislike of Shapeshifters, but Paulette’s body wasn’t even cold yet and he drudged up business decisions.

He took deep breaths and relaxed his hands. As the Lead Lieutenant in the task force, business took priority. Even over death.

“Will you send a request to the Southwest office in Las Vegas?” Their own task force office covered the Northwest—Northern California, part of Nevada, and all of Oregon, Washington state, and Idaho.

The captain shook his head. “A few cases have been reported in Los Angeles. We can’t risk it. I’ll request someone from the Midwest. No cases have been reported yet out there. There is a small task force in Columbia, Missouri, an hour outside St. Louis.”

Book Review: I Own the Dawn: The Night Stalkers by M.L. Buchman

This is a full action, high intensity read with great details! 

I Own the Dawn: The Night Stalkers

by M.L. Buchman

• Mass Market Paperback: 416 pages
• Publisher: Sourcebooks Casablanca (August 1, 2012) 
• Language: English 
• ISBN-10: 1402258135 
• ISBN-13: 978-1402258138

Genre: Military, Romantic Suspense

My Rating: 5.0 of 5.0

Book Description

Publication Date: August 1, 2012

Name: Archibald Jeffrey Stevenson III

Rank: First Lieutenant, Dap Hawk Copilot

Mission: Strategy and execution of special ops maneuvers

Name: Kee Smith

Rank: Sergeant, Night Stalker Gunner and Sharpshooter

Mission: Whatever it takes to get the job done

You Wouldn't Think It Could Get Worse, Until It Does...

When a special mission slowly unravels, it is up to Kee and Archie to get their team out of an impossible situation with international implications. With her weaponry knowledge and his strategic thinking, plus the explosive attraction that puts them into exact synchrony, together they might just have a fighting chance.

Review: 

Kee Smith is a female “warrior”.  She was a street orphan and trouble landed her in the Army where she found a ‘home.’ She tested and scrambled her way to the top level of warriors as a sharpshooter so that she could get assigned to the elite Special Operations Aviation Regiment division, SOAR, and specifically to the Night Stalkers. 

Kee comes to the camp with a hostile attitude. She has always had to prove herself and she is inclined to believe that even the ‘legendary’ Major Emily Beale, with her FBI father, was handed her position. Kee soon learns that each member of the SOAR team, including Beale, clearly earned their wings and respect.

Archie is a chopper piolet and an amazing tactician, strategist, with SOAR. He has flown with Beale since they became friends at West Point. He comes from a family of influence with a father who builds boats and a CEO mother who has learned to navigate the political and financial world of alliances and trade groups.

On an early protective run the team picks up an eleven-year-old girl hidden in the rocks.  She has clearly been walking a long time, alone and scavenging to stay alive. Kee takes her under her wing before she even realizes she has chosen to protect the girl. Kee makes Dilyana feel safe while Archie brings her calm and smiles.

The street smart Kee and 'Professor' Archie may not seem a likely pair but they are pulled together by their mutual attraction. They take vacation with Dily in tow and Archie’s parents showing up unexpectedly putting Kee into an emotional quandary she is unaccustomed to.

Kee struggles with her mixed feelings and fear of closeness as they are called back to base for a secret flight. Although they experience misunderstandings and mis-communication, soon they have to learn to trust each other to complete a near impossible, full risk mission. They are the last chance to prevent a terrorist event that could trigger a major war.

This book has great action, a plausible plot and amazing detail. Mr. Buchman’s descriptions put you in the midst of the action.  Even in the middle when the scenes are personal there is great emotional investment that keeps the reader’s attention moving forward.

I was very impressed with the detail of the military setting and tactics as well as the political complexities that would be effected by the terrorist act. If you like romantic suspense with full on action, impressive detail and intense emotions this is an author and a series you need to read.

~~~~~~~~~~~~

Kee thinks of Dilyana seeing her parents killed up close and recalls this vivid imagery:

The more you heard, the better your imitations. You learned to break it down. The timbre of the initial snap, the shriek of the whistle while it passed within a couple of inches, the Doppler drop-off as it moved on. And that dreadful wait, hoping it hit rock or dirt with a sharp slap rather than turning into a silent moment and then the cry of the gut-shot guy who was supposed to have your backside. Page 97.

Kee’s life is changing due to a child and a man:

Faced the world in her own way at her own pace. And the Kee Smith she knew only had one pace. Full thrust.
Now an eleven-year-old girl braided her hair and a SOAR officer held her hands and spoke of dreams.
She tried to breathe past the tightness in her chest. P285.

Thank you to Sourcebooks for providing the book to review and for allowing me to host a Giveaway.See the next post, the author interview, for the Giveaway.

Book Review: A Little Mischief by Amelia Grey

This is quick and light reading.

A Little Mischief

by Amelia Grey

• Mass Market Paperback: 320 pages
• Publisher: Sourcebooks Casablanca; Reprint edition (August 1, 2012)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1402239807
• ISBN-13: 978-1402239809

Genre: Historical Romance
My Rating: 4.0 of 5.0

Book Description
Publication Date: August 1, 2012

How can a lady avoid a scandal...

Just as Miss Isabella Winslowe is finally achieving comfortable respectability, the fascinating and decidedly unrespectable Earl of Colebrooke inconveniently appears...

When a gentleman is so determined to flirt...

The darkly handsome Daniel Colebrooke is intrigued and alarmed when an alluring young lady arrives at his door in need of assistance. In a moment of impetuosity, Daniel decides he must keep a close watch on Isabella, and what better way than to strike up a not–so–innocent fliration...

Together they'll cook up more than a little mischief when a disappearing dead body and a lascivious scandal spins their reckless game entirely out of control.

Review:
Isabella currently lives with her vivacious spinster Aunt enjoying the society life and freedom of living in London. Her father has been off with his new wife and Isabella hopes she can remain in London another few months until she is 21.  Then she will not have to return to the country as she will receive her own allowance.  She plans to live with some independence like her Aunt rather than seeking marriage and living under the thumb of a man.

Isabella was a wallflower her first season in London but she watched her self assured Aunt and decided to emulate her, developing her own confidence. She has taken a group of misfit young ladies under her wing. These girls are not the diamonds of first water but still lovely girls. Isabella invites them into her reading group where she shares tips on building confidence while sharing the fun of reading too.

Isabella’s plans and reading group are at risk when one of the young ladies, Gretchen, plans a clandestine meeting with a suitor and fears she has killed him in Isabella’s garden.  Isabella takes the hysterical girl to her brother, the imperious Earl of Colebrooke.  He scoffs at the story especially when they return to the garden and find no body.

Daniel was a rakish and disreputable younger son until his father and brother died and thrust him into the role of responsibility. Now he has returned to town to find a respectable wife to settle down with as he manages the family estates. Daniel doesn’t need a free spirited young woman who seems to be up to some mischief that he hasn’t figured out yet. When they discover Gretchen standing over the body again Daniel admits concern but wants Isabella to stay out of the investigations.

The immediate conflict and intensity between these two makes for a fun romance. The story is somewhat predictable but charmingly presented. The romance develops nicely with a warm acknowledgment of their love in the end.  The writing is light and this makes an easy, enjoyable read.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Isabella’s initial reaction to Daniel:

“He is positively arrogant, scornful, impatient, judgmental, and formidable.” ... “I forgot infuriating.” Location 488.

Daniel’s thoughts about Isabella:

She was too open -minded. He needed a woman who would obey him and be a proper Countess, not a woman who wanted to chase after a murderer.  Location 2150.

Thank you to Sourcebooks for providing this title through NetGalley. Please check the next post for an interesting Guest Post from Ms. Grey and a chance to win this charming tale.

Book Review with Kindle Giveaway Link: Nirvana (The Samsara Chronicles Book 8)

I really enjoyed this episode of The Samsara Chronicles!

Nirvana (The Samsara Chronicles Book 8)

 by Diana Kemp and Gabriella Bradley

• File Size: 145 KB
• Print Length: 59 pages
• Simultaneous Device Usage: Unlimited
• Publisher: eXtasy Books (May 25, 2012)
• Sold by: Amazon Digital Services, Inc.
• Language: English
• ASIN: B0086FRWZW

Genre: Science Fiction
My Rating: 4.25 of 5.0

Book Description

Publication Date: May 25, 2012

Dylan, Aislinn and the chosen humans arrive on Nirvana but now the pair faces another alien threat, this time to their homeworld.

Aislinn and Dylan’s joyous homecoming to Nirvana is tempered by yet another crisis. Aliens, assisted by a traitorous member of Nirvanan security and a threat to the royal bloodline, have kidnapped Aislinn’s parents and hold them hostage on the dying world of Klatria. Aislinn and Dylan now face the task of rescuing them before they are killed.

Review:
Book 8 starts with beautiful descriptions of Nirvana as Aislinn and Dylan settle into the Royal apartments. Aislinn has to assume her role as the leader of her people.  Aislinn and Dylan meet with the Nirvana council and Altithronus to discuss how to proceed.  They have learned that the Klatrians are intelligent and resourceful. They have survived the collapse of their planet and managed to kidnap Aislinn’s parents, probably with the help of a traitor. It is possible it is other tribes on Nirvana who may be jealous of the power of the skull even though all appears peaceful. There are factions who oppose Aislinn placing herself at risk in tracking her family.

Aislinn sees some visions of the further destruction on earth. She is stunned by the devastation and concerned when she views the struggles of Piper, who is to play a role in the future rebuilding of earth. But for now her focus is to rescue her parents.

I liked the author's creativity surrounding the Klatrians. Those sent to infiltrate Nirvana are mechanical Kamikazes. They are hard to spot as they are not a life force but if they are out in the sun too long they ‘melt’.  Even when they don’t die of exposure, they seem to self destruct. Aislinn attempts to interrogate one of the enemy and learns more vulnerabilities. 

The tension in the saga builds as Aislinn and Dylan man a ship and prepare to face the enemy. They aren’t really sure where they are headed until their guiding eagle appears before them.  Then they are ready to set off to the next episode, Netherworld.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

A nice description:

A blooming creeper similar to honeysuckle draped the finely hewn surface in a lush mantle, a myriad of tiny golden blossoms trembling in the breeze enveloping the couple with their heady scent. Location 21.

An interesting observation by Altithronus to Aislinn:

The legacy of the skull, the guidance of the Antiquitas is yours, but you must learn to become one with the power. To use and abuse are merely  reflections of the same word. Location 420.

I received the eBook from the authors as part of a Pump Up Your Book Tour. - with Kindle Giveaway link

~ ~ ~ KINDLE FIRE GIVEAWAY ~ ~ ~

Pump Up Your Book and The Samsara Chronicles are teaming up to give you a chance to win a Kindle Fire!

Here’s how it works:

Each person will enter this giveaway by liking, following, subscribing and tweeting about this giveaway through the Rafflecopter form placed on blogs throughout the tour.  If your blog isn’t set up to accept the form, we offer another way for you to participate by having people comment on your blog then directing them to where they can fill out the form to gain more entries.
This Kindle Fire promotion will run from June 1 – August 31. Winner will be chosen randomly by Rafflecopter, contacted by email and announced on September 1, 2012.
Each blogger who participates in The Samsara Chronicles virtual book tour is eligible to enter and win.
Visit each blog stop below to gain more entries as the Rafflecopter widget will be placed on each blog for the duration of the tour.
If you would like to participate, email Dorothy at thewriterslife(at)gmail.com. Last day to sign up is July 27. What a great way to not only win this fabulous prize, but to gain followers and comments too! Good luck everyone!

Click on the graphic below to find out how you can win!

[If the picture link doesn't work, go to this page].

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One lucky person who comments the most on The Samsara Chronicles’ blog stops will receive a $50 gift certificate. The blog host who receives the most comments through the tour will also receive a $50 gift certificate!