Friday, February 22, 2013

Review: Winterblaze by Kristen Callihan

Winterblaze by Kristen Callihan
Series: Darkest London, Book 3
Publisher: Forever
Genre: Historical Paranormal Romance Winterblaze Cover
ISBN: 9781455520794
Release Date: February 26, 2013
Blue Ribbon Rating: 5 out of 5 — Recommended Read
Original Review Link
Book Purchase Link
Kristen Callihan Reading Order

Poppy Lane learned at a very young age how to keep secrets. Her powers and her position in the Society for the Suppression of Supernaturals mean that she has to hold back a part of herself from everyone, including her husband, Winston. But when a werewolf attacks and nearly kills Winston, Poppy’s secrets are revealed; and her husband, who has no stomach for lies, leaves her. Poppy knows Winston still loves her, but she doesn’t know how to win back his trust. She’ll have to find a way, especially now that a demon is targeting them both. It will take the combined strength, intelligence and love of this husband and wife team to defeat an immortal evil hell-bent on their destruction.

The DARKEST LONDON series just gets better and better! Author Kristen Callihan is at the top of her game in WINTERBLAZE, an exciting, sensual, imaginative story that will sweep you away to a world unlike any other.

Poppy and Winston are interesting, endearing characters, and as a couple they’re simply irresistible. It’s clear from page one that they’re meant to be together, but the obstacles in their path aren’t easy ones for them to overcome. I love that Ms. Callihan weaves the story of how they first fell in love into WINTERBLAZE; it gave me a good sense of the foundation of their relationship and provided a nice contrast to the present day, showing how they’ve grown and changed in the fourteen years they’ve been married. While I can’t say much about the plot of WINTERBLAZE without spoiling the gripping twists and turns the story takes, I will say that Ms. Callihan had me rooting for Poppy and Winston all the way through the book. The only downside to this was that I didn’t want to put WINTERBLAZE down, no matter how late the hour.

Almost but not quite stealing the page from Winston and Poppy are their companions on the adventure, shifter Jack Talent and GIM Mary Chase. The chemistry these two have is undeniable and each has scenes in WINTERBLAZE that left me heartbroken and dying to read the next DARKEST LONDON book, SHADOWDANCE.

The paranormal Victorian-era world of the DARKEST LONDON expands by leaps and bounds in WINTERBLAZE, so I recommend reading the first two books in the series — FIRELIGHT and MOONGLOW — before reading WINTERBLAZE. There are new supernatural creatures to be discovered, paranormal politics to be played and a host of surprises that are sure to have you avidly turning the pages of WINTERBLAZE. Again, I’m afraid I’ll have to be vague to avoid giving away any of the fantastic twists and turns in WINTERBLAZE. Suffice it to say that you will NOT want to miss this book.

WINTERBLAZE is a phenomenal romance that I highly recommend. Kristen Callihan is an author to watch — it’s clear she’s a master at her craft. I foresee many, many more spellbinding stories coming from her and I, for one, cannot wait to read them!


Note: My review was written for Romance Junkies and is cross-posted here with permission from Romance Junkies.

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