Book Review

Shadow Spell

shadow spell

Shadow Spell (The Cousins of O’Dwyer #2) By: Nora Roberts

Plot:

With the legends and lore of Ireland running through his blood, falconer Connor O’Dwyer is proud to call County Mayo home. It’s where his sister, Branna, lives and works, where his cousin, Iona, has found true love, and where his childhood friends form a circle that can’t be broken… A circle that is about to be stretched out of shape—by a long-awaited kiss. Meara Quinn is Branna’s best friend, a sister in all but blood. Her and Connor’s paths cross almost daily, as Connor takes tourists on hawk walks and Meara guides them on horseback across the lush countryside. She has the eyes of a gypsy and the body of a goddess…things Connor has always taken for granted—until his brush with death propels them into a quick, hot tangle. Plenty of women have found their way to Connor’s bed, but none to his heart until now. Frustratingly, Meara is okay with just the heat, afraid to lose herself—and their friendship—to something more. But soon, Connor will see the full force and fury of what runs in his blood. And he will need his family and friends around him when his past rolls in like the fog, threatening an end to all he loves…

Review:

This one was definitely better than the last. I felt like it had more structure and was clearly defined as a paranormal romance. The first one suffered from being too light on romance but not heavy enough on the paranormal and just seemed confused on what it wanted to be. I didn’t get that from this one and it was better because of that.

The heroes and heroines have too much going on to worry about stupid things, which I like. So even though the blurb makes you think Connor’s a dog and that Meara might get caught up on all the women he’s bedded, there’s no time wasted on that at all. She recognizes that she’s had other men and it ultimately it doesn’t matter.

Meara didn’t come off as strong as I would have liked. It was mainly just the other characters telling her that she was but she always had to have Connor save her. It was frustrating. In the battle at the end of the book she didn’t get hurt and she didn’t do something stupid, but the rest of the book she was always susceptible to the evil magic.

Still I liked the book for the most part. It was a nice return to a Nora Roberts trilogy. As a side note it could have been shorter but it was written in Irish. Meaning that almost everyone spoke with an Irish accent so the syntax was longer. It got a bit tiring.

3/5

Dream Eyes

dream eyes

Dream Eyes (Dark Legacy #2) By: Jayne Ann Krentz

Plot:

The death of her friend and mentor, Evelyn Ballinger, brings psychic counselor Gwen Frazier back to the small town of Wilby, Oregon, and brings back memories she would rather forget. Two years earlier, a killer stalked the members of one of Ballinger’s research studies including Gwen. And though she survived while two others didn’t, Gwen knows that Ballinger’s death is related. Sent by a friend to help Gwen, psychic investigator Judson Coppersmith arrives in Wilby barely in control of his own talent and his own life, haunted by urgent dreams. His attraction to Gwen is primal, but there are secrets he must keep to protect himself from surrendering to her completely, even as their investigation draws them into dreamscapes, into decades of deception, and into the paranormal fires of a desire too strong to resist. . . .

Review:

Krentz has created such an interesting world with the Arcane and her just plain old psychic series. Its been a while since I’ve read a Dark Legacy book so there was a little catching up to do with the side characters but since the previous characters played such a minor role it wasn’t a big deal.

The mystery was kind of puzzling and while she did give you enough facts to figure it out on your own, I didn’t. I was too caught up in the romance and psychic parts to really pay attention to the subtle clues.

If you aren’t familiar with her books I don’t think this one would be a good place to jump in. At this point she’s developed a language unique to her world and it could be too distracting to new reader. If you’re in to psychic abilities, though, I would highly recommend starting at the beginning cause her books are a real treat.

4/5

Deception Cove

deception cove

Deception Cove (Harmony #10) By: Jayne Castle

Plot:

As a light-talent, Alice North has the rare ability to make things disappear, including herself—a gift that comes in handy during her magic act with her dust bunny Houdini. Business mogul Drake Sebastian is day-blind, since his sight was nearly destroyed in a lab accident. But he’s the one man who can see Alice when she disappears—and he needs her. On Rainshadow Island, two dangerous Old World crystals are missing, igniting a paranormal storm. Drake thinks Alice is the key to finding them, and proposes they head there, but only after a Marriage of Convenience. Alice’s honeymoon on Rainshadow is guaranteed to be memorable, as the island—and the passion between her and Drake—is about to explode…

Review:

I’m getting kind of tired of Alice in Wonderland references. There were only one or two in here, but because of the mentions each time her name was said I thought of it. It wasn’t what the book was about, but it’s as if people think if they name a character Alice they have to reference it.

Other than that this was a good addition to the Rainshadow series. Love the world Castle has created. It’s just different enough from ours to make it interesting but not take away from the love stories.

3.5/5

Heroic Abduction

 

heroic abduction

Heroic Abduction By: Eve Langlais (Alien Abduction #5)

Plot:

Bucking family tradition, Dyre is determined to become his planet’s first hero, even if it breaks his mother’s heart. He sets out on numerous quests to save the universe, however his altruism never seems to turn out quite as expected. Who knew doing the right thing was so hard? In between saving those who don’t want his help—and the chaos that follows—he rescues a damsel in distress. She doesn’t appreciate his heroic abduction, and even worse, once Dyre gets to know the outspoken human, he entertains less than noble thoughts about ravishing her. It takes only a couple of comical mishaps, some hot kisses and danger for Dyre and Betty to discover their happily ever after—and thank the stars for a heroine who ends up saving this hero, and the galaxy, from his chivalrous side.

Review:

I love this series. I love almost everything that Eve Langlais puts out. I’m so happy that she seems content to just keeping pumping books out.

Anyway back to this book. Dyre really just wants to be a hero the only problem is he was raised by mercenaries and his entire race has evolved to be the best at that profession. Betty just wants to find her friend. Sexiness happens. Liked the story and the characters, now I just have to wait for more.

5/5

Jinni’s Wish

jinniswish

Jinni’s Wish (Kingdom #4) By: Marie Hall

Plot:

A long, long time ago there lived a man. A Jinni, who had one wish. To know love. But the woman he thought he knew betrayed him and the love he thought they shared. Tortured for his crimes, he was cast out of Kingdom, stripped of all his powers, left to languor in pain and solitude, until eventually he becomes nothing but a ghost… Paz Lopez is an artist with a dream. To buy a ridiculously large penthouse in the swankiest section of Chicago. But there’s just one hitch, she has no man to share her dream with. A fateful visit to a carnival and Madam Pandora’s tent sends Paz on a mission to find the love of her life before it’s too late. But the Madam forgot to tell Paz one very important detail… to meet him, Paz will have to die first.

Review:

The plot sounds more dramatic that it came off in the story.

***Spoilers***

She doesn’t really die. She’s in a coma and while in the coma she meets Jinni and their souls connect.

There wasn’t much romance in this one it was more of a love at first sight sort of thing. He tells her the story of why he was punished and she listens and paints. Falling in love while the story is told. Not really my cup of tea.

Still I like the world that is being built and I will continue on to the next one.

3/5