Archangel's Heart by Nalini Singh

I know I have reviewed some of the books in this series, but the most recent one just came out and I am DYING. 

One of the most vicious archangels in the world has disappeared. No one knows if Lijuan is dead or has chosen to Sleep the long sleep of an immortal. But with her lands falling into chaos under a rising tide of vampiric bloodlust, a mysterious and ancient order of angels known as the Luminata calls the entire Cadre together to discuss the fate of her territory.

Accompanying her archangelic lover Raphael to the Luminata compound, guild hunter-turned-angel Elena senses that all is not as it seems. Secrets echo from within the stone walls of the compound, and the deeper Elena goes, the uglier the darkness. But neither Raphael nor Elena is ready for the brutal truths hidden within—truths that will change everything Elena thinks she knows about who she is…

Nothing will ever be the same again.

You can purchase it here on Amazon: Archangel's Heart (A Guild Hunter Novel)

So this book was AMAZING. now if anyone knows me at all or if anyone follows my (rare-ish) comments on Goodreads, then you know that I have a major thing for Illium and Aodhan. I just want the two of them to be together forever (who knows if Miz. Singh will give me that though). I was beyond pleased that we got to get to know Aodhan better in this novel. He had always been interesting to me with his horrific past, but I didn't really feel like I got the essence of who he was until this book. You see him through everyone else's eyes up until now, and he is a lot less calm and fragile then you originally think. I really really like him.

That aside, it was lovely revisiting the main pairing of this series Elena and Raphael. They are discovering new abilities and kicking major ass in the process. I love it when Archangels get pissed when someone over steps their bounds. Don't we all wish we could just smite the people who drive us crazy. The Duo go into what qualifies as a religious sect for the angels, and realize that not everything is how it seems.

I wish we could have gotten to know the other Archangels a little better. We know most of them in passing but it would have been interesting to get to know them a bit more.

The only drawback that I found in this one was that since Elena and Raphael's romance is very set in stone, I wanted to see new romance *cough* Illium/Aodhan *cough*.

I still enjoyed myself and I would definitely say that this book was 5 stars!!

Evensong's Heir (Songbirds of Valnon, Book 1) by L.S. Baird

I am not sure if you all remember, but I have a soft spot for feminine men. I love them. I want one. So, that being said the cover of this book really caught my eye. I thought the man of the front was so beautiful that I had to read it, I didn't even know what the book was about, but if that man on the cover was one of the characters, I was all in.

For centuries in the Temple of Valnon, young men have paid a tremendous price to be chosen as Songbirds. Every twelve years, a new Lark and Thrush are castrated for their heavenly voices, but few men have ever been capable of claiming the title of Dove: the holy avatar of Saint Alveron himself. In the six hundred years since the Temple's founding, Willim is only the third to buy the Evensong with his blood. A virtual prisoner of the Temple for the duration of his term, Willim pays little heed to anything but his duty to sing for Valnon. That all changes with the murder of the Songbirds' loyal bodyguard and Willim's rescue by Nicholas Grayson, a sell-sword who brings whispers of Temple scandal and ancient prophecy in his wake.

Plagued by ghosts and nightmares, betrayed by a fellow Temple Bird and forced into exile, Willim struggles to unravel the tangled history of his title in the hopes of understanding what it truly means to be Valnon's Dove. With his friends scattered and Valnon poised on the brink of war, Willim's only hope lies in summoning the ancient power of his saint: to Sing Down from Heaven a music that can fell an army in its tracks, or wipe a city from the surface of the earth. But the song of Saint Alveron is as unpredictable as it is powerful. Whether Willim's Song will bring salvation for his city or the destruction of everything he holds dear, only Heaven knows.

Click to View on Amazon: Evensong's Heir (Songbirds of Valnon Book 1)

This was an extremely beautiful book. I couldn't put it down, I was actually reading it in class. The whole concept of this book is that three young boys are selected based on their singing abilities to become the physical embodiment of saints, upon accepting the position the boys are castrated so that they can retain their youthful voices. Now, I am a singer, so this whole concept really interested me. I was curious as to how the author would describe the singing, because it can be a bit difficult to put amazing singing into words. (The author did beautifully).

Now, Willim, he is the dove, and it has been hundreds of years since the last dove was instated, so he is really precious to the temple. He is found wandering and covered in blood in the middle of the street by the sell sword Grayson. Grayson brings him back to the temple, where shit promptly starts to go down. This is an action packed book. And while it is toted as m/m romance, it is more fantasy adventure with a splash of love thrown in. I wanted more of the romance, but didn't even realize that until I was done with the book. I wasn't sitting there while I was reading thinking "Damn, when do they fall in love?" It was more like, I closed the book then thought, "Wait, wasn't that supposed to the a romance?" I am telling you guys, the story sucks you in.

I loved the characters and how you could really see how these boys develop into the songbirds that they are. All the characters were so expertly created I just wanted to meet them in real life. And that last scene in the book, with Willim singing (I'm not giving anything away), man it gave me chills.

After finishing I went straight to see if the next book was out (It's not, boo). But I saw that there is a perfume line based on the books... what what? I want it, I don't even care what the perfume smells like, I just want it. Actually I just took a break to go look at the perfume, and on my next paycheck I will probably buy it. I know I can be a fangirl (And I am in no way ashamed of it) but I really liked this book and so I really want to help support this world that it exists in and the author who created it.

Here is the link to the website: http://www.valnon.org/

I give this a 5 out of 5

Seriously go read it!!

Took Another Break

I am sure that some of you have noticed that I have not been posting in quite a while and I want to apologize. I told myself that I was going to be really good at posting reviews. I told myself that even if I was busy I would post at least 1 review a week, but preferably 3. Well that went out the window when I started cosmetology school. But something was missing and I just need to share how I feel about these books, so I am starting up again. I know, I am like a yo-yo.

I have read a lot of books, and I am going to share them with you now :)

Flames Burn Hotter in Texas Trilogy by Naomi L. Wyatt

I was asked to review this book, but the following review contains entirely my own opinions.

Blush has fought tooth and nail to get out of her dusty old hometown and into the city where things move at a faster pace, evolving in the blink of an eye; a place that would keep up with her ambitions. When she finally returns home to visit her father, she experiences the benefits of a slower pace. Meanwhile, an old romance is rekindled in a way that stirs both her emotions and her sexuality so powerfully that she is now forced to choose between small town life and the high tech playground where she now resides.

 Click to view on Amazon: Flames Burn Hotter in Texas

I love small town romance stories, they just can get under my skin in ways that other romance stories can't. Maybe it is the nostalgia factor, but I just love them. And this is a story that falls right into that category. 

To start off with I want to say that I love the names in this book. Blush is such a unique name and it has such character, I love it... tucking that one away for the next time I need to name something. Cade is also such a hunky name. I think that the root of this story is something that almost anyone can understand: wanting to spread your wings and fly from the nest, try and make it on your own, cut the ties to your home town. It is certainly something that I have felt, and only recently have I grown up enough to really appreciate where I grew up and I think that Blush goes through a similar learning experience in this book, and she gets a hot guy to help her along the way.

I really liked how talented Blush was, I liked how she could just pick up the reins and start solving problems it really added a depth to her character that could have been lost in such an erotica heavy book. As far as the sex goes... it was pretty hot. I loved the scenes between Cade and Blush, sometimes I think they jumped into it a little fast, but then I remind myself that lust is lust, it hits hard and fast, so the speed of the relationship didn't bother me at all. What bothered me a bit was the relationship between Blush and Buck. For a while in the book it seemed like Cade was fading out of the picture and Buck was someone Blush was interested, but that wasn't to hard of an obstacle for me to get over, and I do understand that characters have to overcome challenges in order to grow, and it definitely added another facet to Blush's character.

When I first started this trilogy (it comes as a boxed set) I thought it would just be a fluffy erotica piece, but it showed surprising depth that I found very pleasing.

I give it a solid 4 out of 5 stars! Go check it out!

Her Second First Time by Victoria Voss

I was asked to review this book, but the following review it my honest opinion.

Ever wish you could have a “do-over” of your first time? Carla never thought it was possible…that is, until she met Morgan. Carla was always straight as an arrow; in fact she had quite the reputation for being “easy.” But under the surface, what secret was Carla keeping from everyone, including herself? The day she walked into the Blue Moon something changed…she was no longer able to deny what she has wanted to do all along. Just how far is Carla willing to take things with the irresistibly hot bartender…will this be her “second” first time?

Click to view on Amazon: Her Second First Time

I was pretty excited when I was asked to review this book. It is my first lesbian erotica book that I have reviewed. Actually, it was the first on that I have read, and it definitely has me looking into the genre.

Because it is a shorter story it just jumped into the action which was a little jarring, but the author did her best to try and fill in the details. She definitely had a lot of details that she wanted to add in about the characters and at times it was a little distracting, I wish the book was a longer book so that we would have time to get to know those details about the characters without the author having to interject them in... it just made it seem a little rushed.

Now the sex scenes were great, I liked them a lot. I have never read lesbian erotica before and so I wasn't sure what to expect, but the scenes were very hot. I really liked Morgan and how mischievous she was, it just made everything about the sex seem so fun. Every girl should go find a Morgan. And I actually found it interesting that Morgan seemed to be the more dominant partner, it was refreshing.

I enjoyed the story a lot. I wish there was a little more plot and background because it would be interesting to see more of who the characters are, but over all it was a solid piece of erotica.

Four out of Five stars for hot scenes and for turning me on to the genre!

Velocirapture by Desdemona Devereaux

I was asked to review this book, but the following review is my honest opinion.

Dr. Lexxia LaBelle is not just one of the most brilliant scientists of her age, she is also an adept trained in the graceful art of harnessing the sexual pleasures of the flesh.

When the galaxy is threatened by an unknown energy field working to tear the very fabric of space apart, she vows to use all her training to stop it. She discovers Astra, a beautiful primitive whose sexual power is drawn from the center of the rift, a primal place in space and time whose raw energy offers mankind's best hope for saving the galaxy.

But to travel to that primordial plane means leaving her own flesh behind. She must capture the ancient hunger of the velociraptor in order to return with the power she needs.

Click to view on Amazon:Velocirapture: (Dinosaur Erotica) (The Salaxastrum Saga Book 1)

 Now this was an interesting read, and I actually found it a little difficult to review. So, I think in this case I am going to break down the book into two aspects: Plot and Sex. As far as the plot goes... it is not where the strength of this book lies. Lexxia must save the universe with sex, Which was an interesting concept but I was worried it would get cheesy really fast. That being said, while the plot left me wanting more, the shining point really was the creativity of the sex scenes.

I read a lot of romance novels and sometimes I find myself just skimming the sex scenes, either because they or boring or unoriginal. That was definitely not the case with this book. The sex scenes were very original. There is a little bit of everything, and also some gender bending and even some metaphysical sex. I kind of wish that there had been more of it, more of the unusual ideas, I know there is a second book, so maybe I will go and get it to see what else this author can think of.

So saying that about these two points. I would give the plot a 3 out of 5, but I don't want people to see that and think that it is a bad book, because it's not, it is an excellent book for it's specific genre, so for the sex I give it a 5 out of 5. So over all I guess that averages out to 4 out of 5. If you want to spice things up and get some reptilian surprises pick this book up.

By My Choice by Christine Blackthorn

I was asked to review this book, but the following review contains my own opinions and thoughts.

Sometimes the path of life seems inevitable — what does it mean to choose?



Jennifer Ashton has spent her whole life in one Supernatural court or the other but the realities of what this means are only brought home to her when her best friend is forced to sell her to a vampire, and not any vampire, but one she knows well. Caught in the double betrayal of friendship and love she needs to decide what her life is going to be.

Jennifer is a financial manager, her control over every aspect of her own life complete. She does not allow anything to upset her rationality, no emotion, no sensation, no desire. The only weakness she has accepted is her unlimited loyalty to her best friend, the friend who betrays her by selling her to a competitor. She joins her new master in Paris where she begins to realise that he has as little choice as she does. Can she accept that by giving up everything, by giving him everything, they might both regain their lives?

Click to view on Amazon: By My Choice

When I was first asked to review this book, I made a little woops and didn't read the description before I opened the book, so by the cover I knew it must be a romance of some sort but that's about all I knew. So when vampires started popping up I was totally surprised. But I am glad I read the book.

I liked the book. I liked it a lot. I thought that the descriptions of the courts were interesting. At first I was really curious as to what was wrong with Jen, I thought she was going to be some kind of supernatural with a unique talent, I did not expect what she turned out to be. Adrian was a really interesting character. When the author brought up the picture of him and his sons it really made me want to read more. I also was really curious as to why Jen had to give up all of her belongings before going to Adrian's court. So there were a couple of missing pieces that weren't essential to the story, but that I was very curious about.

The one thing that I didn't like about the book was that at times it was a little rape-y. It made me a little uncomfortable at first, but then Adrian was like, I feel rape-y doing this, and that made it a bit better. That being said, I really liked the way that the scenes were written, it was really easy to picture what was written. I really wanted to see where the characters went, but then the book ended, maybe there is another one on the way.

I give this book a 4 out of 5 stars. Give it a try!