It’s update time again :)
Below are the newest reviews I’ve written here on Wit and Sin. The master list and categorical lists on the right-hand side are updated as well.
Reviews for upcoming releases:
- The Pleasures of Passion (The Sinful Suitors, Book 4) by Sabrina Jeffries (available 6/20/17)
- Lost and Found Sisters (Wildstone, Book 1) by Jill Shalvis (available 6/20/17)
- The Red by Tiffany Reisz (available 7/11/17)
All other new reviews:
- House Rules (Dossier, Book 2) by Cathryn Fox
- Kiss of the Irish (Foreign Fling, Book 1) by Lauren Hawkeye
- The Girl Who Knew Too Much by Amanda Quick
- Silver Silence (Psy-Changeling Trinity, Book 1) by Nalini Singh
Upcoming reviews:
- The Conquering Dark (Crown & Key, Book 3) by Clay and Susan Griffith
- Wildfire (Hidden Legacy, Book 3) by Ilona Andrews
- The Wicked Deeds of Daniel Mackenzie (Mackenzies & McBrides, Book 6) by Jennifer Ashley
- Wild Man (Dream Man, Book 2) by Kristen Ashley
- Ash and Quill (The Great Library, Book 3) by Rachel Caine
- The Invisible Library (The Invisible Library, Book 1) by Genevieve Cogman
- The Masked City (The Invisible Library, Book 2) by Genevieve Cogman
- Wicked Ever After (Blud, Book 4) by Delilah S. Dawson
- Fire Bound (Sea Haven, Book 5) by Christine Feehan
- Bound Together (Sea Haven, Book 6) by Christine Feedhan
- At Last by Addison Fox
- Baking for Keeps (Bachelor Bake-Off, Book 4) by Jessica Gilmore
- His Game, Her Rules by Charlene Groome
- All I Want for Halloween by Marie Harte
- Illegal Contact (The Barons, Book 1) by Santino Hassell
- Duke of Desire (Maiden Lane, Book 12) by Elizabeth Hoyt
- Base Instincts (Demonica) by Larissa Ione
- The Volatile Amazon (Alliance of the Amazons, Book 4) by Sandy James
- Breathe (In Vino Veritas, Book 2) by Lauren Jameson
- Linger (In Vino Veritas, Book 3) by Lauren Jameson
- My Fair Lover (Legendary Lovers, Book 5) by Nicole Jordan
- Archer (Hard Body, Book 1) by Debra Kayn
- There You Stand (Between Breaths, Book 5) by Christina Lee
- Yours All Along (Loving on the Edge, Book 6.5) by Roni Loren
- Break Me Down (Loving on the Edge, Book 8.5) by Roni Loren
- Going Dark (The Lost Platoon, Book 1) by Monica McCarty
- Kiss of Steel (London Steampunk, Book 1) by Bec McMaster
- Captive Prince (Captive Prince, Book 1) by C.S. Pacat
- Prince’s Gambit (Captive Prince, Book 2) by C.S. Pacat
- Kings Rising (Captive Prince, Book 3) by C.S. Pacat
- His Royal Secret (His Royal Secret, Book 1) by Lilah Pace
- His Royal Favorite (His Royal Secret, Book 2) by Lilah Pace
- Raw Desire by Kate Pearce
- Soul Sucker by Kate Pearce
- The Fifth Favor by Shelby Reed
- Laugh (Burnside, Book 2) by Mary Ann Rivers
- Beauty’s Kingdom (Sleeping Beauty, Book 4) by A. N. Roquelaure
- Rock Addiction (Rock Kiss, Book 1) by Nalini Singh
- Fighting the Fall (Beyond the Cage, Book 2) by Jennifer Snow
- The Angels’ Share (The Bourbon Kings, Book 2) by J.R. Ward
- A Reluctant Betrothal (The Grantham Girls, Book 3) by Amanda Weaver
- Single Player (Slices of Pi, Book 3) by Elia Winters
- Takeover by Anna Zabo
Monday in Review
Review: The Pleasures of Passion by Sabrina Jeffries
The Pleasures of Passion by Sabrina Jeffries
Series: The Sinful Suitors, Book 4
Publisher: Pocket Books
Genre: Historical Romance
ISBN: 9781501144462
Release Date: June 20, 2017
Source: Publisher
Buy it here: Amazon | B&N
Sabrina Jeffries Reading Order
There’s nothing I love more than a well-written reunion romance, and with The Pleasures of Passion Sabrina Jeffries has delivered an excellent one. Niall and Brilliana’s story is lively, engaging, passionate, and so addictive that I read it in one sitting.
At seventeen and twenty-three respectively, Brilliana and Niall were hopeful, naïve, and in love. But when Niall was forced to flee England after a duel, Brilliana refused to run away with him. It’s easy to see why the two of them were first torn apart: they were young, unprepared for what happened, and easily manipulated by those they trusted. Seven years later, Niall has been pardoned and is allowed to return to England while Brilliana is a widow determined to build a good life for her son. Sparks flew between them when they met again for the first time in the previous Sinful Suitors book, The Danger of Desire, but with so much hurt and misunderstanding between them, both are content to merely avoid one another. Fate has different plans for them. Both of them are forced to work together to try and learn if Brilliana’s father is involved in a counterfeiting scheme, and close quarters mean old feelings are sure to surface. Normally I’m not a fan of big misunderstandings or secrets, but surprisingly it didn’t bother me in The Pleasures of Passion. Even though I wanted Niall and Brilliana to open up right away, it was logical why they had trouble trusting one another and why they kept their secrets close to their hearts.
As individuals, Brilliana and Niall are likeable characters; they’re smart, loyal, have good hearts, and they care deeply for their loved ones. As a couple, their chemistry is fantastic. It’s clear that – old wounds aside – the two of them have never stopped loving each other. Because of this, there’s emotion running through every scene, making the pages fairly crackle with energy. I couldn’t put The Pleasures of Passion down because I wanted to see them find the happily ever after that was so long overdue for them. Add in a web of lies and deception the two of them must untangle in order to crack a counterfeiting case, and it’s easy to see why there’s never a dull moment in this book. I absolutely adored Niall and Brilliana’s story and I cannot wait to see what Ms. Jeffries has in store for the intriguing spymaster Baron Fulkham in the next Sinful Suitors book!
FTC Disclosure: I received this book for free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Series: The Sinful Suitors, Book 4
Publisher: Pocket Books
Genre: Historical Romance
ISBN: 9781501144462
Release Date: June 20, 2017
Source: Publisher
Buy it here: Amazon | B&N
Sabrina Jeffries Reading Order
When Niall Lindsey, the Earl of Margrave, is forced to flee after killing a man in a duel, he expects his secret love, Brilliana Trevor, to go with him, or at the very least wait for him. To his shock, she does neither and sends him off with no promise for the future. Seven years and one pardon later, Niall returns to England disillusioned and cynical. And being blackmailed by the government into working with his former love to help catch a counterfeiter connected to her father doesn’t improve his mood any. But as his role as Brilliana’s fake fiancé brings his long-buried feelings to the surface once again, he wonders who is more dangerous—the counterfeiter or the woman rapidly stealing his heart.
Forced to marry another man after Niall was exiled, the now widowed Brilliana wants nothing to do with the reckless rogue who she believes abandoned her to a dreary, loveless life. So having to rely on him to save her father is the last thing she wants, much less trusts him with…But as their scheme strips away the lies and secrets of their shared past, can she let go of the old hurt and put her pride aside? Or will the pleasures of their renewed passion finally enable them both to rediscover love?
There’s nothing I love more than a well-written reunion romance, and with The Pleasures of Passion Sabrina Jeffries has delivered an excellent one. Niall and Brilliana’s story is lively, engaging, passionate, and so addictive that I read it in one sitting.
At seventeen and twenty-three respectively, Brilliana and Niall were hopeful, naïve, and in love. But when Niall was forced to flee England after a duel, Brilliana refused to run away with him. It’s easy to see why the two of them were first torn apart: they were young, unprepared for what happened, and easily manipulated by those they trusted. Seven years later, Niall has been pardoned and is allowed to return to England while Brilliana is a widow determined to build a good life for her son. Sparks flew between them when they met again for the first time in the previous Sinful Suitors book, The Danger of Desire, but with so much hurt and misunderstanding between them, both are content to merely avoid one another. Fate has different plans for them. Both of them are forced to work together to try and learn if Brilliana’s father is involved in a counterfeiting scheme, and close quarters mean old feelings are sure to surface. Normally I’m not a fan of big misunderstandings or secrets, but surprisingly it didn’t bother me in The Pleasures of Passion. Even though I wanted Niall and Brilliana to open up right away, it was logical why they had trouble trusting one another and why they kept their secrets close to their hearts.
As individuals, Brilliana and Niall are likeable characters; they’re smart, loyal, have good hearts, and they care deeply for their loved ones. As a couple, their chemistry is fantastic. It’s clear that – old wounds aside – the two of them have never stopped loving each other. Because of this, there’s emotion running through every scene, making the pages fairly crackle with energy. I couldn’t put The Pleasures of Passion down because I wanted to see them find the happily ever after that was so long overdue for them. Add in a web of lies and deception the two of them must untangle in order to crack a counterfeiting case, and it’s easy to see why there’s never a dull moment in this book. I absolutely adored Niall and Brilliana’s story and I cannot wait to see what Ms. Jeffries has in store for the intriguing spymaster Baron Fulkham in the next Sinful Suitors book!
FTC Disclosure: I received this book for free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Review: Lost and Found Sisters by Jill Shalvis
Sunday, June 18, 2017
Lost and Found Sisters by Jill Shalvis
Series: Wildstone, Book 1
Publisher: William Morrow Paperbacks
Genre: Contemporary Fiction
ISBN: 9780062448118
Release Date: June 20, 2017
Source: Author
Buy it here: Amazon | B&N
Jill Shalvis Reading Order
Lost and Found Sisters is a journey of love, heartbreak, learning to live again, and finding home. Jill Shalvis’s women’s fiction debut has all the humor and heart I’ve come to expect from her work, and it’s all wrapped up in an engaging, emotional story of life after loss.
Quinn’s world was turned upside down after the loss of her sister two years ago, and she has never quite recovered. Though she seems to have the perfect life, Quinn is really just going through the motions. Then she receives some news in the form of an inheritance that will change everything she thought she knew about herself and sends her to the small town of Wildstone. Quinn is an endearing heroine; she’s funny, caring, and wonderfully flawed. I liked that she was in over her head and knew it, but she never backed down from any curveballs thrown her way. She also has a huge heart, and though she’s still grieving at the beginning of this story and is overwhelmed by everything coming at her, she doesn’t close herself off from the people she meets who need her.
It’s difficult to talk about the plot of Lost and Found Sisters without spoiling the story, which I’m loathe to do. Suffice it to say that Wildstone – a struggling town with character and heart – offers Quinn a chance at a new, vastly different life. Love – both romantic and familial – is central to Quinn’s journey of learning to live again, and it’s beautiful to watch multiple relationships develop. Mick, Quinn’s love interest, is incredibly appealing, as one would expect from a Jill Shalvis hero. He’s strong, patient, kind, and funny, but not perfect. He has his own journey to take over the course of the story, as he too is at a crossroads. It was easy to become invested in Quinn and Mick’s romance because they’re both incredibly likeable people with solid chemistry.
As I previously mentioned, Lost and Found Sisters is Ms. Shalvis’s first women’s fiction novel. I should disclose that this isn’t one of my go-to genres, so I wasn’t quite sure what to expect. But since Jill Shalvis is one of my favorite authors, there was no way I was going to skip this book. I’m so glad I didn’t. While it took me a while to get into the story (there’s just enough of a difference in pacing and focus compared to romance that I needed to adjust), I ended up adoring not just Quinn, but every single character in this story. The book is mostly centered around Quinn, but there are multiple characters and plotlines (which again, I can’t talk about without spoiling the story) that bring the world of Wildstone to life. Ms. Shalvis is a master at crafting small towns with quirky characters, and it was easy for me to fall in love with Wildstone and come to care about the fate of the struggling town. All in all, Lost and Found Sisters is a winsome tale with characters who will make you laugh one minute and tug on your heartstrings the next. I can’t wait to see what’s next for the Wildstone series.
FTC Disclosure: I received this book for free from the author in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Series: Wildstone, Book 1
Publisher: William Morrow Paperbacks
Genre: Contemporary Fiction
ISBN: 9780062448118
Release Date: June 20, 2017
Source: Author
Buy it here: Amazon | B&N
Jill Shalvis Reading Order
They say life can change in an instant…
After losing her sister in a devastating car accident, chef Quinn Weller is finally getting her life back on track. She appears to have it all: a loving family, a dream job in one of L.A.’s hottest eateries, and a gorgeous boyfriend dying to slip an engagement ring on her finger. So why does she feel so empty, like she's looking for a missing piece she can't find?
The answer comes when a lawyer tracks down Quinn and reveals a bombshell secret and a mysterious inheritance that only she can claim. This shocking revelation washes over Quinn like a tidal wave. Her whole life has been a lie.
On impulse, Quinn gives up her job, home, and boyfriend. She heads up the coast to the small hometown of Wildstone, California, which is just a few hours north, but feels worlds apart from Los Angeles. Though she doesn't quite fit in right away, she can't help but be drawn to the town’s simple pleasures…and the handsome, dark-haired stranger who offers friendship with no questions asked.
As Quinn settles into Wildstone, she discovers there’s another surprise in store for her. The inheritance isn't a house or money, but rather something earthshattering, something that will make her question everything she thought she knew about herself, about her family. Now with a world of possibilities opening up to Quinn, she must decide if this new life is the one she was always meant to have—and the one that could finally give her the fulfillment she's searched so long for.
Lost and Found Sisters is a journey of love, heartbreak, learning to live again, and finding home. Jill Shalvis’s women’s fiction debut has all the humor and heart I’ve come to expect from her work, and it’s all wrapped up in an engaging, emotional story of life after loss.
Quinn’s world was turned upside down after the loss of her sister two years ago, and she has never quite recovered. Though she seems to have the perfect life, Quinn is really just going through the motions. Then she receives some news in the form of an inheritance that will change everything she thought she knew about herself and sends her to the small town of Wildstone. Quinn is an endearing heroine; she’s funny, caring, and wonderfully flawed. I liked that she was in over her head and knew it, but she never backed down from any curveballs thrown her way. She also has a huge heart, and though she’s still grieving at the beginning of this story and is overwhelmed by everything coming at her, she doesn’t close herself off from the people she meets who need her.
It’s difficult to talk about the plot of Lost and Found Sisters without spoiling the story, which I’m loathe to do. Suffice it to say that Wildstone – a struggling town with character and heart – offers Quinn a chance at a new, vastly different life. Love – both romantic and familial – is central to Quinn’s journey of learning to live again, and it’s beautiful to watch multiple relationships develop. Mick, Quinn’s love interest, is incredibly appealing, as one would expect from a Jill Shalvis hero. He’s strong, patient, kind, and funny, but not perfect. He has his own journey to take over the course of the story, as he too is at a crossroads. It was easy to become invested in Quinn and Mick’s romance because they’re both incredibly likeable people with solid chemistry.
As I previously mentioned, Lost and Found Sisters is Ms. Shalvis’s first women’s fiction novel. I should disclose that this isn’t one of my go-to genres, so I wasn’t quite sure what to expect. But since Jill Shalvis is one of my favorite authors, there was no way I was going to skip this book. I’m so glad I didn’t. While it took me a while to get into the story (there’s just enough of a difference in pacing and focus compared to romance that I needed to adjust), I ended up adoring not just Quinn, but every single character in this story. The book is mostly centered around Quinn, but there are multiple characters and plotlines (which again, I can’t talk about without spoiling the story) that bring the world of Wildstone to life. Ms. Shalvis is a master at crafting small towns with quirky characters, and it was easy for me to fall in love with Wildstone and come to care about the fate of the struggling town. All in all, Lost and Found Sisters is a winsome tale with characters who will make you laugh one minute and tug on your heartstrings the next. I can’t wait to see what’s next for the Wildstone series.
FTC Disclosure: I received this book for free from the author in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Review: The Red by Tiffany Reisz
Tuesday, June 13, 2017
The Red by Tiffany Reisz
Publisher: 8th Circle Press
Genre: Erotic Fantasy
ISBN: 9781537217765
Release Date: July 11, 2017
Source: Publisher
Buy it here: Amazon | B&N
The Red is a fantastically filthy read where the lines between reality and fantasy are blurred. This is not a story for the faint of heart – it’s explicit, uninhibited, and there’s mind games as well as erotic games – but if you’re up for the ride, it’s well worth it. Tiffany Reisz knows how to pack a punch with inventive, incredibly dirty erotica.
Mona made a deathbed promise to her mother that she would do anything to save The Red, her mother’s art gallery. Just when Mona’s at her lowest and ready to close The Red, a mysterious stranger arrives. Malcolm will give her a way to save the gallery if she sells herself to him for one year, giving him carte blanche to do whatever he pleases so long as he doesn’t do permanent damage. It’s a bold, honest, unromantic offer, but Mona takes it, thus beginning a journey that both tangles her up and sets her free.
I loved that Mona was a strong heroine, confident in her sexuality to begin with. She’d have to be, given that her erotic encounters with Malcolm test her every limit and at times make her think she’s losing her grip on reality. It was interesting to watch her change over the course of the story, just as it was interesting to see the layers of Malcolm’s character revealed. I can’t really say too much about either him or the plot because it would spoil the story. Just know that if it seems at times that The Red is going off the rails when it comes to reality versus fantasy, stick around. Ms. Reisz brings everything together in an incredibly satisfying (no pun intended) manner.
The Red travels primarily from one erotic interlude to the next, but it’d be remiss of me to talk about the book and not mention the characters’ love of art. Art – and every character in the book’s passion for it – is central to the tale and breaths even more life into the story. Malcolm and Mona’s passion for art (not to mention the way it inspires them) was wonderful and after finishing the story I had to look up every single piece mentioned in it.
The Red is dark, passionate, unique, honest, and interesting. Ms. Reisz doesn’t hold back and readers should prepare themselves for one hell of an adventure.
FTC Disclosure: I received this book for free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Publisher: 8th Circle Press
Genre: Erotic Fantasy
ISBN: 9781537217765
Release Date: July 11, 2017
Source: Publisher
Buy it here: Amazon | B&N
Never make a promise you don’t intend to keep…
Mona Lisa St. James made a deathbed promise that she would do anything to save her mother’s art gallery. Unfortunately, not only is The Red painted red, but it’s in the red.
Just as she realizes she has no choice but to sell it, a mysterious man comes in after closing time and makes her an offer: He will save The Red if she agrees to submit to him for the period of one year.
The man is handsome, English, and terribly tempting…but surely her mother didn't mean for Mona to sell herself to a stranger. Then again, she did promise to do anything to save The Red…
The Red is a fantastically filthy read where the lines between reality and fantasy are blurred. This is not a story for the faint of heart – it’s explicit, uninhibited, and there’s mind games as well as erotic games – but if you’re up for the ride, it’s well worth it. Tiffany Reisz knows how to pack a punch with inventive, incredibly dirty erotica.
Mona made a deathbed promise to her mother that she would do anything to save The Red, her mother’s art gallery. Just when Mona’s at her lowest and ready to close The Red, a mysterious stranger arrives. Malcolm will give her a way to save the gallery if she sells herself to him for one year, giving him carte blanche to do whatever he pleases so long as he doesn’t do permanent damage. It’s a bold, honest, unromantic offer, but Mona takes it, thus beginning a journey that both tangles her up and sets her free.
I loved that Mona was a strong heroine, confident in her sexuality to begin with. She’d have to be, given that her erotic encounters with Malcolm test her every limit and at times make her think she’s losing her grip on reality. It was interesting to watch her change over the course of the story, just as it was interesting to see the layers of Malcolm’s character revealed. I can’t really say too much about either him or the plot because it would spoil the story. Just know that if it seems at times that The Red is going off the rails when it comes to reality versus fantasy, stick around. Ms. Reisz brings everything together in an incredibly satisfying (no pun intended) manner.
The Red travels primarily from one erotic interlude to the next, but it’d be remiss of me to talk about the book and not mention the characters’ love of art. Art – and every character in the book’s passion for it – is central to the tale and breaths even more life into the story. Malcolm and Mona’s passion for art (not to mention the way it inspires them) was wonderful and after finishing the story I had to look up every single piece mentioned in it.
The Red is dark, passionate, unique, honest, and interesting. Ms. Reisz doesn’t hold back and readers should prepare themselves for one hell of an adventure.
FTC Disclosure: I received this book for free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Review: Silver Silence by Nalini Singh
Sunday, June 11, 2017
Silver Silence by Nalini Singh
Series: Psy-Changeling Trinity, Book 1
Publisher: Berkley
Genre: Paranormal Romance
ISBN: 9781101987797
Release Date: June 13, 2017
Source: Publisher
Buy it here: Amazon | B&N
Nalini Singh Reading Order
Excitement, danger, love, and laughter all come together to create a dazzling story in Silver Silence. Nalini Singh once again knocks it out of the park with this incredibly fun, addictive, imaginative start to her Psy-Changeling Trinity series. Between the unforgettable characters, the unique world, and the twists the story takes, it’s easy to see why I fell head over heels for Valentin and Silver’s tale.
Valentin is one of my favorite Nalini Singh heroes (and given how many fantastic heroes she has written, that’s a tough list to crack). He’s playful, protective, doesn’t give up on people, and has a heart so huge and loving it’ll make you melt. He teases Silver by sending her gifts from “Mr. I. M. A. Medvezhonok” (Mr. I’m a Teddy Bear), and he really is her teddy bear. A huge, loveable teddy bear who doesn’t take himself too seriously and cares so much for those he loves that he’ll internalize any wound to put them first. But Valentin is no doormat; he’s an alpha through and through, one who will protect, fight for, and defend those he loves. I loved everything about Valentin – just thinking about him makes me smile.
A fantastic hero deserves and equally fantastic heroine and Silver is just that. She’s long been a supporting character at the edges of the Psy-Changeling series, and I’ve been incredibly intrigued by her all along. Now that she gets to take center stage, she shines. Silver is a Psy, one whose abilities make it necessary she keeps a strong hold on her Silence, even after the fall. Despite the fact that she looks to all the world to be an ice queen, Silver has a hidden flame that jumps out at you. She’s got a brilliant brain and is phenomenal in her job as the director of EmNet, but she’s so much more. She’s a caring, loving person whose emotions aren’t as buried as she seems to think. I loved how Valentin helped tease the real Silver out, and Silver coming into her full potential was a wonderful journey to watch unfold. As individuals, both Silver and Valentin are incredibly appealing characters. Together? They’re a heartwarming, engaging, unforgettable pair. I was rooting for them through every up and down, every twist and turn, and couldn’t wait to see them get their happily ever after.
Silver Silence is the first book in the Psy-Changeling Trinity series which Ms. Singh has described as “season two” of the Psy-Changeling world. Season one of the Psy-Changeling books – the Silence storyline – was mostly centered in California and often around the DarkRiver and SnowDancer packs. I admit to being a bit anxious at leaving that beloved part of the world behind, but I shouldn’t have been. Silver Silence had a lot of what I loved about the very first Psy-Changeling book, Slave to Sensation. I’d forgotten how fantastic it was to fall in love with a whole new clan, this time the StoneWater bears. The StoneWater clan is warm, welcoming, and filled with numerous bears who grabbed my heart and didn’t let go. While Silver Silence takes us into the new era of the Trinity Accord and all the problems that come with it, I don’t think the Psy-Changeling Trinity series can completely stand on its own. Everything is connected and the world continues to build on itself. You don’t have to have read all fifteen Psy-Changeling novels before diving into this new series, but you should definitely be familiar with the world.
The overarching storyline of this new series involves the new, post-Silence world of Psy, Changelings, and humans, and those who would seek to disrupt the Trinity Accord, whether out of fear or for profit. I can’t say much about the non-romance plotlines without spoiling the story, so I’ll leave it at this: Ms. Singh is a master of world-building. I loved that we not only saw what our heroes were fighting for, but also the logic of the villains. Having fleshed out bad guys makes the fight all the more interesting. I cannot wait to see where Ms. Singh takes readers next!
Silver Silence has everything I love about Nalini Singh’s books: a strong hero and heroine, clever worldbuilding, humor, and a whole lot of heart. It’s a passionate, compelling read that made me smile, sigh, and want to live in the Psy-Changeling world.
FTC Disclosure: I received the e-book edition of this book for free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Series: Psy-Changeling Trinity, Book 1
Publisher: Berkley
Genre: Paranormal Romance
ISBN: 9781101987797
Release Date: June 13, 2017
Source: Publisher
Buy it here: Amazon | B&N
Nalini Singh Reading Order
Control. Precision. Family. These are the principles that drive Silver Mercant. At a time when the fledgling Trinity Accord seeks to unite a divided world, with Silver playing a crucial role as director of a worldwide emergency response network, wildness and chaos are the last things she needs in her life. But that’s exactly what Valentin Nikolaev, alpha of the StoneWater bears, brings with him.
Valentin has never met a more fascinating woman. Though Silver is ruled by Silence—her mind clear of all emotion—Valentin senses a whisper of fire around her. That’s what keeps him climbing apartment buildings to be near her. But when a shadow assassin almost succeeds in poisoning Silver, the stakes become deadly serious…and Silver finds herself in the heart of a powerful bear clan.
Her would-be assassin has no idea what their poison has unleashed…
Excitement, danger, love, and laughter all come together to create a dazzling story in Silver Silence. Nalini Singh once again knocks it out of the park with this incredibly fun, addictive, imaginative start to her Psy-Changeling Trinity series. Between the unforgettable characters, the unique world, and the twists the story takes, it’s easy to see why I fell head over heels for Valentin and Silver’s tale.
Valentin is one of my favorite Nalini Singh heroes (and given how many fantastic heroes she has written, that’s a tough list to crack). He’s playful, protective, doesn’t give up on people, and has a heart so huge and loving it’ll make you melt. He teases Silver by sending her gifts from “Mr. I. M. A. Medvezhonok” (Mr. I’m a Teddy Bear), and he really is her teddy bear. A huge, loveable teddy bear who doesn’t take himself too seriously and cares so much for those he loves that he’ll internalize any wound to put them first. But Valentin is no doormat; he’s an alpha through and through, one who will protect, fight for, and defend those he loves. I loved everything about Valentin – just thinking about him makes me smile.
A fantastic hero deserves and equally fantastic heroine and Silver is just that. She’s long been a supporting character at the edges of the Psy-Changeling series, and I’ve been incredibly intrigued by her all along. Now that she gets to take center stage, she shines. Silver is a Psy, one whose abilities make it necessary she keeps a strong hold on her Silence, even after the fall. Despite the fact that she looks to all the world to be an ice queen, Silver has a hidden flame that jumps out at you. She’s got a brilliant brain and is phenomenal in her job as the director of EmNet, but she’s so much more. She’s a caring, loving person whose emotions aren’t as buried as she seems to think. I loved how Valentin helped tease the real Silver out, and Silver coming into her full potential was a wonderful journey to watch unfold. As individuals, both Silver and Valentin are incredibly appealing characters. Together? They’re a heartwarming, engaging, unforgettable pair. I was rooting for them through every up and down, every twist and turn, and couldn’t wait to see them get their happily ever after.
Silver Silence is the first book in the Psy-Changeling Trinity series which Ms. Singh has described as “season two” of the Psy-Changeling world. Season one of the Psy-Changeling books – the Silence storyline – was mostly centered in California and often around the DarkRiver and SnowDancer packs. I admit to being a bit anxious at leaving that beloved part of the world behind, but I shouldn’t have been. Silver Silence had a lot of what I loved about the very first Psy-Changeling book, Slave to Sensation. I’d forgotten how fantastic it was to fall in love with a whole new clan, this time the StoneWater bears. The StoneWater clan is warm, welcoming, and filled with numerous bears who grabbed my heart and didn’t let go. While Silver Silence takes us into the new era of the Trinity Accord and all the problems that come with it, I don’t think the Psy-Changeling Trinity series can completely stand on its own. Everything is connected and the world continues to build on itself. You don’t have to have read all fifteen Psy-Changeling novels before diving into this new series, but you should definitely be familiar with the world.
The overarching storyline of this new series involves the new, post-Silence world of Psy, Changelings, and humans, and those who would seek to disrupt the Trinity Accord, whether out of fear or for profit. I can’t say much about the non-romance plotlines without spoiling the story, so I’ll leave it at this: Ms. Singh is a master of world-building. I loved that we not only saw what our heroes were fighting for, but also the logic of the villains. Having fleshed out bad guys makes the fight all the more interesting. I cannot wait to see where Ms. Singh takes readers next!
Silver Silence has everything I love about Nalini Singh’s books: a strong hero and heroine, clever worldbuilding, humor, and a whole lot of heart. It’s a passionate, compelling read that made me smile, sigh, and want to live in the Psy-Changeling world.
FTC Disclosure: I received the e-book edition of this book for free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Entangled Historical Romance Q&A and Sale
Wednesday, May 31, 2017
Hopefully summer frees up a little bit of time for reading. And with Book #1 of these three series on sale for just 99¢, it's time to start a new series (or 3).
To celebrate the sale, authors Robyn DeHart, Ally Broadfield, and Harmony Williams are spending the week with us! To start, we asked them a bit about the characters in their series.
What do you love about the hero & heroine in the first book in the series?
Ally Broadfield (author of the How To series): How stubborn they are. They're a classic enemies to lovers couple, but both of them fought hard against the pull of attraction.
Harmony Williams (author of The Ladies of Passion series): I love the banter between them. Rose can be stubborn but Warren is not willing to back away from the obvious chemistry between them.
Robyn DeHart (Author of The Brotherhood of the Sword series): How stubborn they are. They're a classic enemies to lovers couple, but both of them fought hard against the pull of attraction.
What characters have been your favorite to write? Why?
Ally: Thornbrook and Louisa from How to Bewilder a Lord. They were both secondary characters in How to Bewitch an Earl, and I had no intention of anything ever happening between them. Luckily they had other ideas.
Harmony: Mary's go-getter, brazen, "I'll fix this" attitude is a huge amount of fun to write. She is fearless, even if she is sometimes out of her depth.
Robyn: I love Evie from Undercover With the Earl. She was so fun. I kind of imagined her as Mary, the middle Bennett sister from P&P only with more personality. ;-)
Start the How To series, by Ally Broadfield, with How to Beguile a Duke.
Start the Ladies of Passion series, by Harmony Williams, with How to Play the Game of Love.
Start the Brotherhood of the Sword series by Robyn DeHart, with Undercover with the Earl.
Waiting on Wednesday: Duke of Desire by Elizabeth Hoyt
Tuesday, May 30, 2017
Waiting On Wednesday is a weekly event hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine which spotlights eagerly anticipated upcoming releases!
Elizabeth Hoyt's Maiden Lane series is one of my absolute favorite series. Her characters are always unique and their stories captivating. I was re-reading some of my favorite bits of Duke of Sin last night (because I can't resist Val) and falling into Ms. Hoyt's writing once again made me incredibly eager for the next Maiden Lane book, Duke of Desire.
Title: Duke of DesireSeries: Maiden Lane, Book 12
Author: Elizabeth Hoyt
Genre: Historical Romance
Publisher: Grand Central Publishing
Release Date: October 17, 2017
Elizabeth Hoyt Reading Order
Book Description (from Amazon):
A LADY OF LIGHT
Refined, kind, and intelligent, Lady Iris Jordan finds herself the unlikely target of a diabolical kidnapping. Her captors are the notoriously evil Lords of Chaos. When one of the masked - and nude! - Lords spirits her away to his carriage, she shoots him...only to find she may have been a trifle hasty.
A DUKE IN DEEPEST DARKNESS
Cynical, scarred, and brooding, Raphael de Chartres, the Duke of Dyemore, has made it his personal mission to infiltrate the Lords of Chaos and destroy them. Rescuing Lady Jordan was never in his plans. But now with the Lords out to kill them both, he has but one choice: marry the lady in order to keep her safe.
CAUGHT IN A WEB OF DANGER...AND DESIRE
Much to Raphael's irritation, Iris insists on being the sort of duchess who involves herself in his life-and bed. Soon he's drawn both to her quick wit and her fiery passion. But when Iris discovers that Raphael's past may be even more dangerous than the present, she falters. Is their love strong enough to withstand not only the Lords of Chaos but also Raphael's own demons?
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