Hello, beautiful readers! In just one week, the school year will be over, and I am very much looking forward to summer break. I was able to sneak in some reading this month. I am still wrapped into my vampire series. It's just SO good, and I love living in a world that exists in over twenty amazing books. Passionflix has created a mini-series for the first book (Dark Lover) and they plan to turn at least eleven of the books into shows, so my friends and I are trying to read all the books already written before the first show comes out. If you aren't into vampires or werewolves, this month's book reviews won't be too interesting for you. Anyway, here are my reviews for this month. All reviews receiving three or more stars.
Genre: Paranormal Vampire Romance
Pages: 365 pages
Book Blurb:
A heart-wrenching tale of love and betrayal in the Black Dagger Brotherhood world from #1 New York Times bestselling author J. R. Ward.
Framed for the grisly murder of his shellan, Kane is condemned to the notorious prison camp—unaware of the dark truth behind his arranged mating. Centuries later, when he is horribly burned while attempting to save others, he prays he’ll finally be reunited in the Fade with his mate…not knowing what revelations await him.
Nadya is a self-taught nurse who does what she can to ease the suffering of the prisoners. When Kane comes under her care, she cannot help but empathize with his condition for very personal reasons—and as the guards take him away one last time, she fears he is facing a terrible death.
After a daring rescue, Kane is offered a treatment that will change his very nature. Choosing life, for the time being, he goes back for the female who took such good care of him—but his duty to Nadya sets him on a collision course with his own past. When long-buried secrets are exposed, his self-destruction is inevitable…unless true love can save his soul.
Framed for the grisly murder of his shellan, Kane is condemned to the notorious prison camp—unaware of the dark truth behind his arranged mating. Centuries later, when he is horribly burned while attempting to save others, he prays he’ll finally be reunited in the Fade with his mate…not knowing what revelations await him.
Nadya is a self-taught nurse who does what she can to ease the suffering of the prisoners. When Kane comes under her care, she cannot help but empathize with his condition for very personal reasons—and as the guards take him away one last time, she fears he is facing a terrible death.
After a daring rescue, Kane is offered a treatment that will change his very nature. Choosing life, for the time being, he goes back for the female who took such good care of him—but his duty to Nadya sets him on a collision course with his own past. When long-buried secrets are exposed, his self-destruction is inevitable…unless true love can save his soul.
My Review:
This story picks up where the previous one left off. Kane is taken to the wolven camp and must decide whether he wants to live or die. With thoughts of saving Nadya from the prison camp, he chooses to live. Unbeknown to him, his only way to survive is to transform into something of a hybrid. I had a little difficulty getting into the story at first because I didn't like the idea of Kane's personality and his dynamics with his friends changing. Luckily, the author made me fall in love with his character again.
Nadya is amazing, and I love the storyline she was given. I also enjoyed how Kane and Nadya's pasts collided. This story really brings a new sense of hatred for the glymera. I really loved the scenes with Callum and Apex, but I don't understand why the author hasn't written another book in this series since there are things that are unresolved. I can only imagine that she shifted this cliffhanger over to her other side series, Lair of the Wolven. So, I'm off to read those because I just have to know what happens to Callum.
If you enjoy paranormal stories of vampires and were-animals with steamy scenes, you will love this series.
Claimed (Lair of the Wolven, Book 1)
by JR Ward
Genre: Women's Romance Fiction
Pages: 523
Book Blurb:
A heart-pounding new series set in the Black Dagger Brotherhood world, about a scientist fighting to save the gray wolves—and getting caught in a deadly trap herself...
Lydia Susi is passionate about protecting wolves in their natural habitat. When a hotel chain develops a tract of land next to the preserve, Lydia is one of the most vocal opponents of the project—and becomes a target.
One night, a shadowy figure threatens Lydia’s life in the forest, and a new hire at the Wolf Study Project comes from out of nowhere to save her. Daniel Joseph is both mysterious, and someone she intrinsically wants to trust. But is he hiding something?
As the stakes get higher, and one of Lydia’s colleagues is murdered, she must decide how far she will go to protect the wolves. Then a shocking revelation about Daniel challenges Lydia’s reality in ways she could never have predicted. Some fates demand courage, while others require even more, with no guarantees. Is she destined to have true love...or will a soul-shattering loss ruin her forever?
Lydia Susi is passionate about protecting wolves in their natural habitat. When a hotel chain develops a tract of land next to the preserve, Lydia is one of the most vocal opponents of the project—and becomes a target.
One night, a shadowy figure threatens Lydia’s life in the forest, and a new hire at the Wolf Study Project comes from out of nowhere to save her. Daniel Joseph is both mysterious, and someone she intrinsically wants to trust. But is he hiding something?
As the stakes get higher, and one of Lydia’s colleagues is murdered, she must decide how far she will go to protect the wolves. Then a shocking revelation about Daniel challenges Lydia’s reality in ways she could never have predicted. Some fates demand courage, while others require even more, with no guarantees. Is she destined to have true love...or will a soul-shattering loss ruin her forever?
My Review:
As you may already know, I am a huge fan of JR Ward's vampire series. I decided to take a chance on this wolven series, and I'm enjoying it. I love that the vampires are interwoven into this story (even though the connection isn't made until almost the end). This story follows Lydia as she tries to protect the wolves in the preserve. She's a scientist and is very passionate about her job at the Wolf Study Project. Daniel comes into her life, pretending to need a job as a handyman. The attraction between them is instant, but Lydia tries to keep her distance.
There are very few books that can throw me for a loop, but this one had such an amazing plot twist that I was stunned. For almost the whole book, I was thinking one thing, never suspecting the true hidden secret. I loved that she got me, though I wish it would have happened much sooner. This book was a bit slow-moving, but I still enjoyed it. It also ends on several cliffhangers. I know many people hate that, but I'm completely fine with it. I'm diving into book two now.
Genre: Werewolf & Shifter Romance
Pages: 478
Book Blurb:
Lydia Susi and Daniel Joseph’s story continues in the Lair of the Wolven series from #1 New York Times bestselling author J.R. Ward.
For Lydia Susi, there is no sweet sorrow in saying goodbye to the man she loves. As a wolven hiding among humans, she’s used to being alone—until destiny gives her the kind of love she never dared to dream about. But after a sudden devastating diagnosis, grief is the only thing she sees in her future.
As an operative for a clandestine arm of the United States government, Daniel Joseph always expected to die an early death. He just assumed it would be out in the field—not in a laboratory hospital bed. With his time running out, he refuses a potentially lifesaving treatment to focus on making sure that Lydia finds her wolven clan.
Following an attack on the lab’s compound, Daniel fears his former boss is coming after the two of them. Marshaling his strength, he must call on all of his training to protect his love…even if it means her moving on without him.
For Lydia Susi, there is no sweet sorrow in saying goodbye to the man she loves. As a wolven hiding among humans, she’s used to being alone—until destiny gives her the kind of love she never dared to dream about. But after a sudden devastating diagnosis, grief is the only thing she sees in her future.
As an operative for a clandestine arm of the United States government, Daniel Joseph always expected to die an early death. He just assumed it would be out in the field—not in a laboratory hospital bed. With his time running out, he refuses a potentially lifesaving treatment to focus on making sure that Lydia finds her wolven clan.
Following an attack on the lab’s compound, Daniel fears his former boss is coming after the two of them. Marshaling his strength, he must call on all of his training to protect his love…even if it means her moving on without him.
My Review:
Although this book was a much slower pace, I still enjoyed it. I'm okay with slow moving books as long as they lead somewhere, and this one definitely did. The twists and turns toward the end were fantastic! I was so happy to hear Callum mentioned, and I really hope to hear more about him in the next book.
This story picks up where Claimed left off. Daniel is still dying and refuses to take the experimental drug that might save his life. Lydia is struggling with letting him go. C.P. Phalen is struggling with her own issues and surprises. Gus is frustrated with his situation and looking for a resolution. And everyone is his/her own ticking time bomb.
Then, there's Xhex. I love that she is a part of this book, but I don't think her true purpose has been revealed yet. The scenes with her and John shredded my heart. The author really knows how to gut out the reader's heart and then mend it back together.
This story also ends on a crazy cliffhanger, and I cannot wait to see how it all gets resolved in the next book! All I know is Daniel better live!
What have you read this month? I'd love to hear from you. :-)
