Book 37 in the Long Tall Texans Series
To be truthful I really dont know why I still read this series, or indeed this author. Perhaps its become somewhat of a tradition for me, or perhaps I just keep hoping that there will be a suprise in the story? Whatever it is I still keep coming back to them.
I started reading Diana Palmer and the Long tall texans series donkey's years ago when I was an impressionable teen devouring mills and boons romance novels, at the time Ms Palmer was one of my all time favourite writers, lots of alpha males and sweet virginal women finding love. And the stories are still the same ...sometimes almost identical. There have been a few good books along the way that I really enjoyed but this wasnt one of them, in fact I would have to say that I have read this story quite a few times before from Ms Palmer, and it was boring. Sorry but thats my opinion!
Diana Palmer needs to move on, I still like Alpha males but I like a woman who can tame him, not just submit mindlessly. In this story Boone the ultra rich succesful rancher has been ignoring his sisters best friend Keely for years, to hid the fact that he is in fact attracted to her. Keely in turn has loved Boone for years, but she is a poor abused mouse of a child/woman. Ok need I go on? not really cos this could be any number of the the other Long tall texan books. You know whats going to happen, he's going to be really rotten to her, push her away, protect her, seduce her, then marry her. Oh and dont forget the drug dealers who are after the heroine! (the new constant in these books)
So why do I still keep reading them? I really do think its simply because she was one of my first favourite authors and I am loyal to her, but I really, really do wish just for once her heroine would be in her thirties, with a kick butt attitude who shocks the pants of the big tough alpha male. Oh well maybe the next one will be better!!!! (and you can bet your bottom dollar I will read it!)
Tazallie
Sunday, 31 August 2008
Friday, 29 August 2008
Jeanne C Stein - Legacy
Legacy is the fourth book in the Anna Strong Series.
Anna is a vampire, who was turned agaisnt her will and is desperately trying to retain her human life as a bounty hunter and as a daughter, lover and friend.
Each book has left me with a feeling that there is a back story just waiting to explode, but it hasn't happened yet!
You can't help but feel a little sorry for Anna, she didnt want this to happen to her, she just wants to be left alone to live this new and often difficult life, and yet from the very first she has been pushed into a direction that she just dosen't want to go. All of her human relationships are crumbling before her very eyes, no matter how hard she tries to hold on to them.
I like this series, but it isn't a page turner, however it does keep me looking forward to the next book, hopefully to solve the mystery that all the other supernaturals seem to be keeping from her. Just what does Williams want from her? and why is he so determined to get rid of her family? What is this destiny that people keep hinting at?
This book was perhaps a little slower than the others but I get the feeling it was a way of moving the series in a particular direction, perhaps setting up the pieces for the hidden sub plot that is hinted at throughout the series. Regardless it was a good read, if a little lacking in depth in places.
Tazallie
1) The Becoming
2) Blood Drive
3) The Watcher
4) Legacy
Anna is a vampire, who was turned agaisnt her will and is desperately trying to retain her human life as a bounty hunter and as a daughter, lover and friend.
Each book has left me with a feeling that there is a back story just waiting to explode, but it hasn't happened yet!
You can't help but feel a little sorry for Anna, she didnt want this to happen to her, she just wants to be left alone to live this new and often difficult life, and yet from the very first she has been pushed into a direction that she just dosen't want to go. All of her human relationships are crumbling before her very eyes, no matter how hard she tries to hold on to them.
I like this series, but it isn't a page turner, however it does keep me looking forward to the next book, hopefully to solve the mystery that all the other supernaturals seem to be keeping from her. Just what does Williams want from her? and why is he so determined to get rid of her family? What is this destiny that people keep hinting at?
This book was perhaps a little slower than the others but I get the feeling it was a way of moving the series in a particular direction, perhaps setting up the pieces for the hidden sub plot that is hinted at throughout the series. Regardless it was a good read, if a little lacking in depth in places.
Tazallie
1) The Becoming
2) Blood Drive
3) The Watcher
4) Legacy
Sunday, 17 August 2008
My book list for Aug/Sept 2008
I have to keep a list of what books I am waiting for so that I don't miss any, I will share this list each month because there may be books you didn't know were coming out or perhaps authors you hadn't heard of.
P= Paranormal
R = Romance
U =Urban Fantasy
Jayne Castle - Dark Light - 26th August -P
Jennifer Cruise - Agnes and the Hitman - 26th August -R
Jeanne C Stein - Legacy - 26th August -U
Diana Palmer - Heart of Stone -September -R
Sara Reinke - Dark Hunger - 2 September -P
Christine Feehan - Dark Curse - 2nd September -P
Diana Holquist - Hungry for More - 26th September -R
Christine Warren - One Bite With A Stranger - 30th September -P
What books are you waiting for?
Share your Aug/Sept lists here, because you might have authors others haven't read yet!
Tazallie
P.S. Dates may change as publication is not set in stone!
P= Paranormal
R = Romance
U =Urban Fantasy
Jayne Castle - Dark Light - 26th August -P
Jennifer Cruise - Agnes and the Hitman - 26th August -R
Jeanne C Stein - Legacy - 26th August -U
Diana Palmer - Heart of Stone -September -R
Sara Reinke - Dark Hunger - 2 September -P
Christine Feehan - Dark Curse - 2nd September -P
Diana Holquist - Hungry for More - 26th September -R
Christine Warren - One Bite With A Stranger - 30th September -P
What books are you waiting for?
Share your Aug/Sept lists here, because you might have authors others haven't read yet!
Tazallie
P.S. Dates may change as publication is not set in stone!
Patricia Briggs - Iron Kissed
Book 3 - Mercy Thompson Series
978-0441015665
Although this book has been out since the begining of the year I really wanted to review it here as it is one of my all time favourite books, and my all time favourite series.
I am not someone who can read a book twice, at least not very often, but this book has been the exception to that rule; and I even plan to read it and its sister books again when the fourth book in the series comes out next year (Bone Crossed Feb 2009)
So what is it about this book that I like? Where to start? Ok first off let me say that although there is a love triangle in this story this isn't a paranormal romance, I would say it falls more into the 'Urban Fantasy' realm of paranormal books.
The series is about a female mechanic called Mercy Thompson who is a Native American Coyote Walker...bit like a shapeshifter only different. She was raised by a werewolf pack in Montana when her mother discovered what she was as an infant, and felt unable to cope with her unusual daughter. Although she was raised by a caring foster family and accepted to a degree you always get the feeling she was on the outside looking in. But thats ok with Mercy, cos she knows who she is, even though she hasn't got a clue what a Walker really is.
Throughout the series Mercy interacts with many of the 'others' who inhabit this world, the fae, the vampires, the ghosts and of course the werewolves. In fact Adam, the Alpha of the local Tri Cities pack, has declared her his mate, but that doesn't mean Mercy is going along with it, or that Samuel another alpha werewolf from her childhood isn't going to try to win her back. But this book is so much more than that, its about human interaction even if those humans are other.
This book caused quite a bit of unrest when it came out due to an event that happens near the end.(not going to spoil it for anyone not read it) But I thought it was handled so well, awful things happen to people all the time, and the way Patricia Briggs handled the event itself, but also the aftermath, was in my opinion outstanding. She showed the devestation that Mercy felt and the confusion and pain of those who love her, but she did this by at one point focusing on, and giving a back story to, one of the other characters, allowing Mercy to curl up as a coyote and heal. Every time I read this part of the book I am moved to tears but more than that I am amazed by the skill it took to write it.
If you want to read this book though, I would really recommend reading the other two first, as it will give you a much better understanding of where all the characters are coming from, this isn't a stand alone, it is a true series, each book building on the last one.
If I had to be stranded on a desert island with only one book (Scary idea!!) it would have to be this one. (but I might just try to stick all three books together and say it was an omnibus edition!)
Tazallie
1)Moon Called
2)Blood Bound
3)Iron Kissed
4)Bone Crossed (Feb 2009)
978-0441015665
Although this book has been out since the begining of the year I really wanted to review it here as it is one of my all time favourite books, and my all time favourite series.
I am not someone who can read a book twice, at least not very often, but this book has been the exception to that rule; and I even plan to read it and its sister books again when the fourth book in the series comes out next year (Bone Crossed Feb 2009)
So what is it about this book that I like? Where to start? Ok first off let me say that although there is a love triangle in this story this isn't a paranormal romance, I would say it falls more into the 'Urban Fantasy' realm of paranormal books.
The series is about a female mechanic called Mercy Thompson who is a Native American Coyote Walker...bit like a shapeshifter only different. She was raised by a werewolf pack in Montana when her mother discovered what she was as an infant, and felt unable to cope with her unusual daughter. Although she was raised by a caring foster family and accepted to a degree you always get the feeling she was on the outside looking in. But thats ok with Mercy, cos she knows who she is, even though she hasn't got a clue what a Walker really is.
Throughout the series Mercy interacts with many of the 'others' who inhabit this world, the fae, the vampires, the ghosts and of course the werewolves. In fact Adam, the Alpha of the local Tri Cities pack, has declared her his mate, but that doesn't mean Mercy is going along with it, or that Samuel another alpha werewolf from her childhood isn't going to try to win her back. But this book is so much more than that, its about human interaction even if those humans are other.
This book caused quite a bit of unrest when it came out due to an event that happens near the end.(not going to spoil it for anyone not read it) But I thought it was handled so well, awful things happen to people all the time, and the way Patricia Briggs handled the event itself, but also the aftermath, was in my opinion outstanding. She showed the devestation that Mercy felt and the confusion and pain of those who love her, but she did this by at one point focusing on, and giving a back story to, one of the other characters, allowing Mercy to curl up as a coyote and heal. Every time I read this part of the book I am moved to tears but more than that I am amazed by the skill it took to write it.
If you want to read this book though, I would really recommend reading the other two first, as it will give you a much better understanding of where all the characters are coming from, this isn't a stand alone, it is a true series, each book building on the last one.
If I had to be stranded on a desert island with only one book (Scary idea!!) it would have to be this one. (but I might just try to stick all three books together and say it was an omnibus edition!)
Tazallie
1)Moon Called
2)Blood Bound
3)Iron Kissed
4)Bone Crossed (Feb 2009)
Saturday, 16 August 2008
Jayne Castle, Dust Bunnies and the Ghost Hunter Series
I love Jayne Castle (Aka Jayne Ann Krentz) but more importantly for me I love her dust bunnies!
Jayne Castle has been writing paranormal romances since before their was a genre called paranormal romance and her Ghost Hunter series is a fantastic example of this type of book.
Set in a futuristic world called Harmony that once had ties with Earth but has since been isolated when the curtain closed a long time ago. Shutting them off from Earth, her technology and her people. It is a series about a world that is filled with psychics and ghost hunters (although the ghosts are almost pure energy and are perhaps the original inhabitants of the world)
This is a world that is both technologically advanced whilst also seemingly part mediveal, where marriage is rarely for love but more usually for convenience or procreation.
The stories are filled with alpha males and strong women who have no intention of missing the action. Each story stands alone but when read as a series allows the world of Harmony to grow and flourish in your imagination.
But perhaps for me the best of these stories are the dust bunnies!!! Cute little balls of grey fur that are loving and loyal and will take your hand of with their needle sharp teeth if you upset them and send them into hunter mode! And I want one! I love the way that Jayne Castle has created in some of the stories a secondary romance with these cute little predators, and with each book in the series I have to first check there is in fact a dust bunny in the story (I'd still read it if there wasn't but I wouldnt enjoy it half as much!)
So if you like a good romance, filled with alpha males and women who can tame them...and if you like cute bunnies that can kill you before you even realise they are mad go read this series!!
1)Bridal Jitters
2)After Dark
3)After Glow
4)Ghost Hunter
5)Silver Master
6)Dark light (26th August 2008)
(Checkout the Utube videos below for a trailer)
Tazallie
Jayne Castle has been writing paranormal romances since before their was a genre called paranormal romance and her Ghost Hunter series is a fantastic example of this type of book.
Set in a futuristic world called Harmony that once had ties with Earth but has since been isolated when the curtain closed a long time ago. Shutting them off from Earth, her technology and her people. It is a series about a world that is filled with psychics and ghost hunters (although the ghosts are almost pure energy and are perhaps the original inhabitants of the world)
This is a world that is both technologically advanced whilst also seemingly part mediveal, where marriage is rarely for love but more usually for convenience or procreation.
The stories are filled with alpha males and strong women who have no intention of missing the action. Each story stands alone but when read as a series allows the world of Harmony to grow and flourish in your imagination.
But perhaps for me the best of these stories are the dust bunnies!!! Cute little balls of grey fur that are loving and loyal and will take your hand of with their needle sharp teeth if you upset them and send them into hunter mode! And I want one! I love the way that Jayne Castle has created in some of the stories a secondary romance with these cute little predators, and with each book in the series I have to first check there is in fact a dust bunny in the story (I'd still read it if there wasn't but I wouldnt enjoy it half as much!)
So if you like a good romance, filled with alpha males and women who can tame them...and if you like cute bunnies that can kill you before you even realise they are mad go read this series!!
1)Bridal Jitters
2)After Dark
3)After Glow
4)Ghost Hunter
5)Silver Master
6)Dark light (26th August 2008)
(Checkout the Utube videos below for a trailer)
Tazallie
Christina Dodd - Into the shadow
ISBN 9780451224514
Out July 2008
This is the third book in Christina Dodds, Darkness Chosen Series, which falls very much into the paranormal romance genre, in fact it reminded me of a modern bodice ripper - you know the ones? where the pirate kidnaps the lady? Well this was one of those set today...and I have to say at first I was very, very skeptical...but it worked very well.
This is an easy read, but it still manages to raise some very interesting questions on good and evil and how the line can often be blurred.
Take the hero; he was raised in a loving family that has a curse hanging over it. They are shape shifters, but their power is a direct result of a pact with the devil made a thousand years ago...to change strengthens the evil that resides in them. And Adrik embraces his power after a choice as a young man makes him feel he has cursed his soul already. Adrik becomes a mercenary without remorse in the Himalyan mountains and eventually kidnaps the heroine Karen.
Yes the hero is a mercenary, yes he has killed and has dammned his soul to hell but is he evil? or a victim of a pact that was nothing to do with him?
I liked the first book in this series, wasnt so keen on the second but really enjoyed this one. Overall this was a well written action packed romance, one that it well worth a read.
Tazallie
Dont Miss
Into the Flame - book 4 in the series (Aug 2008)
Out July 2008
This is the third book in Christina Dodds, Darkness Chosen Series, which falls very much into the paranormal romance genre, in fact it reminded me of a modern bodice ripper - you know the ones? where the pirate kidnaps the lady? Well this was one of those set today...and I have to say at first I was very, very skeptical...but it worked very well.
This is an easy read, but it still manages to raise some very interesting questions on good and evil and how the line can often be blurred.
Take the hero; he was raised in a loving family that has a curse hanging over it. They are shape shifters, but their power is a direct result of a pact with the devil made a thousand years ago...to change strengthens the evil that resides in them. And Adrik embraces his power after a choice as a young man makes him feel he has cursed his soul already. Adrik becomes a mercenary without remorse in the Himalyan mountains and eventually kidnaps the heroine Karen.
Yes the hero is a mercenary, yes he has killed and has dammned his soul to hell but is he evil? or a victim of a pact that was nothing to do with him?
I liked the first book in this series, wasnt so keen on the second but really enjoyed this one. Overall this was a well written action packed romance, one that it well worth a read.
Tazallie
Dont Miss
Into the Flame - book 4 in the series (Aug 2008)
Hi From Tazallie
Well I thought it might me nice if you got to know me a little, so here is the the nutshell version of me!
I am the mother of Pinky (who is trying to take over the world with brain, who also happens to be the boss of unicorn tree books and her aunty---work it out yep thats right brain is my sister!)
So that lets you know that we are a family goup...and we provide the family fights as extra entertainment in store!
I love books, lots of books, anything from paranormal/urban fantasy, to romance, or thriller or historical or chick lit or... (list could go on) but please dont ask me about women's sagas cos I dont like them and dont want to read them (foot stamping here).
So what qualifications do I have for writing reviews?? absolutely none! Except that I love books, reading books, talking books and even possibly writing them...and at the end of the day what better qualification is there?
Thats all I can think of for now but if there is anything you want to know - ask!(although I wont promise to answer everything LOL)
Tazallie
I am the mother of Pinky (who is trying to take over the world with brain, who also happens to be the boss of unicorn tree books and her aunty---work it out yep thats right brain is my sister!)
So that lets you know that we are a family goup...and we provide the family fights as extra entertainment in store!
I love books, lots of books, anything from paranormal/urban fantasy, to romance, or thriller or historical or chick lit or... (list could go on) but please dont ask me about women's sagas cos I dont like them and dont want to read them (foot stamping here).
So what qualifications do I have for writing reviews?? absolutely none! Except that I love books, reading books, talking books and even possibly writing them...and at the end of the day what better qualification is there?
Thats all I can think of for now but if there is anything you want to know - ask!(although I wont promise to answer everything LOL)
Tazallie
Friday, 15 August 2008
New Titles Just Out
So OK this is a quick Top New Titles round up:
Please add reviews by adding a comment!
The Long awaited 'Acheron' (9780749908669) by Sherrilyn Kenyon is now in - this is in fact two books rolled into one big book and it is going like hot cakes!
Now here in Lincoln this is probably because we were the only ones to have had stocks in up until at least 2pm today! now whether Waterstones and WHSmiths have now had theirs in I cannot say, but I can say if you want one you better hurry as we only have a couple left on the shelves now! However elsewhere in the world it is probably doing so well due to a fantastic pre-publication campaign and lots of advance info on it - oh and of course it is by a top selling author!
But by gum is it a mighty brick of a book, However three of those that purchased the book on Wednesday have been back in today to extol the virtues of the book and story and get new books because they had finished the 700+ pages and say it is that good a read! Flicking between his past - the first part of the book and then going right up to the present it really does tell the full unremitting story of Ash.
The youtube Official Acheron Trailer!
Official Acheron song by Warchild!
We also have in the New Stephenie Meyer Book 'Breaking Dawn' (9781905654284) - another mighty book and worth the read!
Stephenie Meyer talks about Breaking Dawn
Here's an odd conundrum for you all, Josephine Cox - top British author - has had her new book 'Songbird' (9780060896980) come out in paperback in the states before it has here! and not just a few days before but almost 2 months before!
So it's just as well we are a specialist in US Imports, otherwise you would all have to wait until the 1st October before you could read it in paperback!
The first one on the shelf this afternoon sold within 7 minutes! So look likely ladies as once this batch are gone it will be another 7 days before the next batch gets in from the States!
Please add reviews by adding a comment!
The Long awaited 'Acheron' (9780749908669) by Sherrilyn Kenyon is now in - this is in fact two books rolled into one big book and it is going like hot cakes!
Now here in Lincoln this is probably because we were the only ones to have had stocks in up until at least 2pm today! now whether Waterstones and WHSmiths have now had theirs in I cannot say, but I can say if you want one you better hurry as we only have a couple left on the shelves now! However elsewhere in the world it is probably doing so well due to a fantastic pre-publication campaign and lots of advance info on it - oh and of course it is by a top selling author!
But by gum is it a mighty brick of a book, However three of those that purchased the book on Wednesday have been back in today to extol the virtues of the book and story and get new books because they had finished the 700+ pages and say it is that good a read! Flicking between his past - the first part of the book and then going right up to the present it really does tell the full unremitting story of Ash.
The youtube Official Acheron Trailer!
Official Acheron song by Warchild!
We also have in the New Stephenie Meyer Book 'Breaking Dawn' (9781905654284) - another mighty book and worth the read!
Stephenie Meyer talks about Breaking Dawn
Here's an odd conundrum for you all, Josephine Cox - top British author - has had her new book 'Songbird' (9780060896980) come out in paperback in the states before it has here! and not just a few days before but almost 2 months before!
So it's just as well we are a specialist in US Imports, otherwise you would all have to wait until the 1st October before you could read it in paperback!
The first one on the shelf this afternoon sold within 7 minutes! So look likely ladies as once this batch are gone it will be another 7 days before the next batch gets in from the States!
Unicorn Tree Books Paranormal and Romance Review Site now open!
Hi All,
We hope that this will become a premier site for Paranormal Book and Romance Book Reviews.
Those of us involved in running this blog all work at an independent bookshop based in Lincoln, UK and one of our top selling sections (and one of our personal favourite sections to choose a book from) is the Paranormal and Romance Genre sections.
These days this spans a wide range of styles, titles and mediums - yes graphic novels, manga, chapter books and the full out 700+ page or multibook spanning epics.
However we love to read them, we love to sell them and yes we love to talk about them (and now type about them!), but we love it when we interact with others too, so we want this to be a site where you all come in and add reviews too, add them in the comments section and see them get added as full on blog posts in time.
make suggestions of other titles, authors and yes even genres - get involved, share your thoughts, feelings and favourite reads.
jump in - the waters fine! Ohh and Dive to the bottom of the page to find our YouTube playlist of book video trailers!
We hope that this will become a premier site for Paranormal Book and Romance Book Reviews.
Those of us involved in running this blog all work at an independent bookshop based in Lincoln, UK and one of our top selling sections (and one of our personal favourite sections to choose a book from) is the Paranormal and Romance Genre sections.
These days this spans a wide range of styles, titles and mediums - yes graphic novels, manga, chapter books and the full out 700+ page or multibook spanning epics.
However we love to read them, we love to sell them and yes we love to talk about them (and now type about them!), but we love it when we interact with others too, so we want this to be a site where you all come in and add reviews too, add them in the comments section and see them get added as full on blog posts in time.
make suggestions of other titles, authors and yes even genres - get involved, share your thoughts, feelings and favourite reads.
jump in - the waters fine! Ohh and Dive to the bottom of the page to find our YouTube playlist of book video trailers!
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