Review: Convergence (Proud to be a Vampire) by Talya Andor

Rating: 4 stars out of 5

Long time friends Chris Bryant and Ling Tam work for Chris’ father in Bryant’s Teas and Curiosities, a store that buys and sells antiques and oddities. Chris and Ling have long searched for a certain treasure and now they think they have found it. But in order to succeed they need the assistance of a very special and dangerous being, a vampire. Chris places a discreet ad in the newspaper and it is answered by Dorran Gracen, a Welsh vampire who accepts the job and the challenges of the journey.

But traveling with a gorgeous predator has its own challenges and attractions, physical attractions that Chris Bryant has kept hidden from his family and society. As their journey to China continues, he starts to yearn for more from Gracen than just his help to obtain the treasure. At the journey’s end, will Chris and Ling find the treasure they have searched for or will Chris’ attraction to the vampire cost them everything they have worked for and his life as well.

Convergence is a wonderful little story by Talya Andor that reaches beyond its 22,000 word scope for something larger and, for the most part, succeeds. It appears to take place in England sometime in the 1800’s, but this England is a place where vampires are a reality, although a carefully hidden one. Andor crafts a totally believable world, from Chris’ store to the voyage that takes the trio to China and their buried treasure.

I loved the relationship between Chris and Ling as well as the one that develops between Chris and Dorran. Given the time period, unusual relationships such as those between people of differing races and social rank are not easily tolerated. So in a lovely twist, Andor shows that while Chris and Ling consider themselves to be equals, they hide their true friendships. A neat twist is that they consider themselves almost brothers, but still have to pretend to have a master/servant relationship, one that switches around once they reach China.

It is a time when it is equally dangerous to be gay so among the many things Chris is hiding, he is also careful not to disclose his homosexuality. The only one who knows he is gay is Ling, his straight friend. So many secrets here in Convergence, including the true nature of Ling and Chris’ collection of artifacts. Then Andor adds another layer of deception with the introduction of her Welsh vampire, a somewhat civilized predator with an agenda of his own and truly, all paths and deceptions converge within a mountainous lair of puzzles and treasure.

The treacherous path to the jeweled artifact is a lovely combination of torturous puzzles and challenging physical hurdles. I really enjoyed the planning and thought that went into this hunt. The vivid descriptions made the atmosphere and setting come alive. I had only one quibble with one hurdle that I am sure the author could have answered given a longer length. Ok, how did those sharks stay alive given their location? Hmmm? But the rest of it was so neatly planned out, that I can look past this curiosity.

The only other quibble I had with this story was that I wanted a little more of the growing relationship between Chris and Dorran. The scenes we were given were so tantalizing that it made me want so much more. They are a great couple and the ending makes me hopeful that there will be more of this couple and their hunts for oddities and treasures. Whether you love vampires or romance or a combination of both, this is a story you won’t want to miss!

Note: It appears as part of a bundle titled Proud To Be A Vampire, No. 1 and No. 2 but I don’t see any further references to these main characters so I am not certain where this story comes in. It can certainly be read as a stand alone.

Cover designed by Aisha Akeju works wonderfully for the story and the treasure within.

Book Details:

ebook, 22,000 words, approx. 80 pages

Published October 9th 2013 by Less Than Three Press LLC

original title Convergence

ISBN13 9781620042519

edition language English

url http://www.lessthanthreepress.com/books/

series Proud to be a Vampire

Review: Hunter By Blood by Robin White

Rating: 2.75 stars out of 5

Werewolf hunter Kayn is in pursuit of a werewolf when he is bitten by his prey. Found by another hunter, the injured Kayn is returned to headquarters to shift and meet his fate. But there is something different about Kayn. The transformation isn’t normal. Kayn can control the wolf and its hunger. Kayn is also much bigger and a different color than was expected. The leader of the Hunters lets Kayn live and his decision has long lasting ramficiations for all. For the answer to Kayn’s transition and the new werewolf he has become is hidden in plain sight. Behind the red door in the Hunter Headquarters lies the answers Kayn needs and his future requires.

Well, all I can say is that its just too bad that so many neat ideas ended up in such an less finished, and disconnected story. I love werewolf stories and the author has included some intriguing elements created for Hunter by Blood. Unfortunately she has buried it in a morass of confused storylines, a lack of any sort of universe building, frustrating disconnected plot threads and lack of defined characterizations. Everything about this story is as murky as its cover. From the start we have no information about the universe we are reading about. We learn nothing about the city and society. Ditto about the band of hunters killing the werewolves. And sometimes vampires? We don’t know anything because the story lays no foundations for anything, it’s just confusing.

Equally confusing are the relationships among the men we meet. Or the people we meet, some might be men and some are…..something else? Not human? Again, just don’t know. Kayn and another hunter, Bryce. They arrived to join the Hunters on the same day (which according to the story is odd but it never explains why). Since that moment, the men have competed (in what again we dont know) and have been at odds ever since. Or have they. One, Kayn, has dark coloring and Bryce is his exact opposite. What does that mean if anything? Kaye’s wolf shape is white with red stripes., when he should be black. Again why?

At certain points in the story its mentioned that they might have feelings towards each other but as we aren’t supplied with any history or evidence of such, it turned into a throwaway line until it reappeared towards the end. The Hunter group appears to have been created along the lines of the French Foreign Legion where each person leaves their family and past behind. Only the author keeps bringing Kayn’s past up, although without any details, just vague references to some family ties that make him an even better hunter. Trust me, after 20 pages or so, you will be frustrated beyond belief at the lack of details given that the author clearly wants you to think is a great mystery instead of the great pain in the you know what it actually is.

Here is an example with Aaron, the head of the Hunter group in his rooms and a furred demon snake appears floating at his head. sigh:

“I haven’t seen you this nervous in quite a while, Aaron.”

The voice seemed to come from nowhere, and something like smoke seemed to rise from the shadows. Aaron sighed quietly, but he smiled as the smoke formed into something he often compared to a snake covered in fur and and infused with a very talkative personality. Biblios, a word demon, had been one of his few trusted companions for quite some time and was always offering his advice. The other hunters didn’t know about the strange creature, and for that Aaron was grateful. His long, sleek body curled up on top of Aaron’s desk, silver runes glowing in his dark fur. Biblios seemed to have recently digested, in his way, a story once again. The way it worked was a riddle to Aaron, but it wasn’t of concern for the moment. He needed to talk about his current situation to someone, and Biblios was just the right … entity to talk to.

“You are worrying about Kayn’s condition, correct?”

“Yes. It should be impossible for him to even think rationally any longer, yet he stood before me and even talked about his worries about what the infection might entail for him.” Aaron tilted his head to one side. “I simply don’t understand it.” “Well …” Biblios exhaled, a cloud of silver-white smoke coming from his nostrils. “That is a mystery indeed. We already know that there’s a multitude of different werewolves out there, every single of those variants with very specific attributes and abilities. But what we see happening with Kayn might be a completely new species, without any ties to a werewolf.”

Aaron shook his head. “No, Biblios, that strains credulity too far. He was bitten by a werewolf. There is no doubt he will— well, you know …”

No we don’t know and quite frankly neither do they. Although I have to admit I liked Biblios, a word demon who consumes words the way others devour hamburgers. He is a inventive creation, quite wasted in this story. But liking a segment here or appreciating an element there doesn’t add up to a whole story. For me, it just frustrating because even with all the small interesting bits, it just doesn’t work as a finished product. So I am giving this werewolf tale a pass. You should too.

Cover design by London Burden.

Book Details:

ebook
Expected publication: November 13th 2013 by Less Than Three Press LLC
original titleHunter by Blood
ISBN139781620042830
edition languageEnglish

February 2014 Summary of Reviews and Best Covers of the Month

February 2014 Review Summary

*Key:
S series
C contemporary
F-fantasy
SF-science fiction
PN-paranormal
SP-supernatural
H-historical
HR-horror
N-Nonfiction
YA-young adult

Rating Scale: 1 to 5, 5 stars is outstanding

*****************************************************************
5 Star Rating:

Be My Valentine, Bobby Bryson by Geoffrey Knight C, short story
Lying With Scorpions by Aleksandr Voinov, S, SF
Of Last Resort by Megan Derr, S, F

4 to 4.75 Star Rating:

Battle of Will by Sasha L. Miller (4.5) F, S
Bloody Love Spats by Valentina Heart (4.25) S, SP
Ghosts of Bourbon Street by Rowen Speedwell (4) SP
Kept Tears by Jana Denardo (4), F
It’s All Geek To Me by J.L. Merrow (4.25) C
It’s Only Make Believe by Havan Fellows (4.25) C
Reviewing Life by Lara Brukz (4), S, C
Second Star to the Right by A.F. Henley (4.25) C
Strain by Amelia C. Gormley (4) S, SF
Succulent Dark by D. J. Manley (4.25), S, SP
The Experiment by Alicia Nordwell (4), S, SF
Where You Lead by Mary Calmes (4), C

3 to 3.75 Star Rating:

Cupcakes by Sean Michael (3.5) C
Jasper’s Mountain by John Inman (3.75), C
Pretty Poison by Kari Gregg (3.75) SP
The Prince and the Practitioner by Christian Baines, (3) HR, SP

2 to 2.75 Star Rating:

Nightfall by Jenna Byrnes (2.75) S, SP

1 to 1.75 Rating: None

Best Covers of February 2014

*******************************************************************************

Bloody Love Spats, Cover artist Maria Fanning
Ghosts of Bourbon Street, cover artist Jared Rackler
It’s All Geek To Me, cover art by LC Chase
Jasper’s Mountain, cover art by Reese Dante
Pretty Poison, cover art by Lou Harper
Kept Tears, cover by Paul Richmond
The Experiment, cover art by Christine Griffin
Where You Lead, cover art by Reese Dante

Review: Night Fall (Frostbite #2) by Jenna Byrnes

Rating: 2.75 stars out of 5

South Side Chicago Detective Cullen Ryder lives for his job after a drunk driver killed his lover, leaving Ryder alone and grieving. In the past few weeks, the number of homicides has jumped dramatically. Someone is killing the homeless and prostitutes, leaving them drained of blood in the streets and alleys where they were found. The coroner laughingly suggests a vampire on the hunt but why are they drained of all their blood?

Vampire Ethan Harte has returned home to Chicago after the last city he visited got too hot to stay. Even in winter the poor seedy side of Chicago is full of victims for a hunting vampire. Than Ethan runs into his old high school friend, Cullen Ryder in a bar and things turn sexually and emotionally intense in just one night.

But Ryder is a Homicide Detective with 15 years of experience and he’s hunting a killer. A killer that just happens to be his old friend and newest love. Ethan knows it dangerous to stay in Chicago with Ryder on his trail but he wants just a little more time before he has to leave. If Ryder discovers who and what Ethan is, can their newfound love survive the discover and Ryder’s sense of duty?

I loved the premise of this story but found the author’s Night Fall lacking in quite a few ways. Cullen Ryder is the better of the two characters. He is a seasoned detective, still hurting over the death of his lover by a drunk driver. Byrnes gives this character a back history that rounds out his persona while letting us into his every day life to see the respect he has garnered as a detective on the force. Unfortunately as the story progresses the author seems to forget about the character she has created as Ryder changes and his character adjusts to accommodate her storyline. Furthermore, her vampire, Ethan Harte enjoys being a predator while giving lip service (however, briefly) to the moment he was changed. Statements from Ethan to Ryder like “This relationship is over when I say it is over”, and the unpleasant actions that follow serve to derail the story and any sort of romance the author had intended.

The ending was, in my opinion, so off putting that I have no intention of reading the followup story even though an excerpt is included at the end of Night Fall. Unless you are a diehard fan of jenna Byrnes or must read every vampire story that comes along, I would give this a miss and head over to the other Frostbite tales instead.

Book Details:

ebook, 1st Edition, 52 pages

Published December 13th 2013 by Total-E-Bound Publishing (first published December 12th 2013)

ISBN 178184853X (ISBN13: 9781781848531)

edition language English

series Frostbite #2

The Frostbite Collection includes:

Gravedigger (Frostbite #1) by Aurelia T. Evans
Night Fall (Frostbite #2) by Jenna Byrnes
Succulent Dark (Frostbite #3) by D.J. Manly
The Study of Blood in Winter (Frostbite #4) by Catalina Dudka

Review: Succulent Dark (Frostbite #3) by D.J. Manly

Rating: 4.25 stars out of 5

Vampire hedonist Teak has finally gone too far with that last drunken orgy and seduction of that priest. Now the council has given him two options. Be entombed in a coffin for over a 100 years or be vanished to the wildnerness of Canada, forbidden to feed on the locals and ordered blend in by resuming his mortal profession, a physician, something he hasn’t done since 1923.

Teak has no intention of following orders in Canada until he meets pharmacist Marcus Kent who confounds him totally. Attracted to Marcus, Teak tries his tricks but nothing works! Marcus seems immune. Can a potential seducee become the seducer? Teak is about to find out.

I loved this story. In Teak, Manly has created the total unrepentant vampire who also happens to be the local vampire bad boy. Teak loves to party, love to drink blood and have sex and if he can do all three together, than he will do it to the extremes. Manly’s Teak is over the top outrageous and absolutely charming, even when hanging from silver chains about to the sentenced by the Vampire Council. Teak is the shameless bad boy of rock, without the band of course and the reader will fall for him immediately.

Banished to Canadian wilderness, Teak is a vampire out of water. It’s city boy vampire meets Northern Exposure and it works as Teak encounters one unknown after another, from curling to an attractive mortal immune to vampire lures. The other main character, Marcus Kent, is not as fully fleshed out a character as Teak but still he works as the tasty human morsel who turns into the first real love Teak has ever known. Their romance was charming and a tad old fashioned, just a lovely change of pace for Teak and the reader.

If I had a quibble about the story, it would be that it (and the character of Teak) turned a little overly gushy towards the end. With his love for Marcus hanging, Teak turns almost weepy, definitely not in keeping with the characterization Manly has established. I would also have loved to have seen more of Teak in his doctor’s office interacting with his patients because other important part of the changeover for Teak is the reigniting of his love for his profession. He loves being a doctor again. It’s a wonderful element of the story and I would have enjoyed seeing Teak’s reaction to medical advancements.

Succulent Dark is a succulent little piece of supernatural fiction, highly enjoyable and leaving the reader wanting more of this couple and this universe. I definitely recommend this story, it’s the best of the Frostbite collection.

Collection cover art by Posh Gosh, great cover.

Book Details:

ebook, 1st Edition, 54 pages

Published December 13th 2013 by Totally Bound

ISBN 178184867X (ISBN13: 9781781848678)

edition language English

series Frostbite #3

The Frostbite Collection includes:

Gravedigger (Frostbite #1) by Aurelia T. Evans m/f
Night Fall (Frostbite #2) by Jenna Byrnes m/m
Succulent Dark (Frostbite #3) by D.J. Manly m/m
The Study of Blood in Winter (Frostbite #4) by Catalina Dudka m/f

Review: Bloody Love Spats (Among Wolves #2) by Valentina Heart

Rating: 4.25 stars out of 5

Despite having a coven queen for a sister, Tomislav “Tomi” Vugrin feels anything but powerful himself. Considered young by vampire standards, Tomi has unusual powers, like telekinesis, that he can’t control and run in his family, making Tomi a freak of nature in the other vampires in his coven. Disliked and taunted, Tomi spends his days reading, watching tv or getting into trouble. But nothing prepares him for what happens when he finds a lost cellphone during a walk in the woods.

Stone Marik, the new Alpha werewolf of the East Pack, is out looking for his brother’s cellphone in his Pack’s territory. The cellphone happens to have an incriminating picture of Stone taken when they were much younger and Stone wants the picture erased. But first he must find the phone. Then he smells something wonderful and traces the aroma to a young vampire in possession of the lost phone. The instant lust tells Stone that the vampire is his mate, something unheard of between two species separated by culture and law.

What follows the mating of Tomi and Stone is nothing anyone could have expected. Will the mate bond and love be enough to hold Stone and Tomi together or will the centuries of prejudice and laws bring destruction down upon them and the East Pack.

Bloody Love Spats is the sequel to Sebastian’s Wolves and it picks up the story in the aftermath of the battle for the East Pack and the death of its corrupted Alpha. Now Stone Marik is Alpha of the East Pack and has been busy trying to rebuild the pack and its wolves. But the years of pain and torture have left a pack cowed and broken and Stone is unsure of his ability to rebuild not only the structures that house them but make the pack into a cohesive strong unit they have the promise to be.

Heart delivers a different book and characters than the one we read in Sebastian’s Wolves. Instead of dwelling solely on the wolf shifters and the pack structures, she adds the politics and relationships of a vampire coven to the wolf shifter universe she has been building to turn it into a combustive mixture of primal animal needs versus an ancient vampire culture so rigidly structured that all they have left to amuse themselves are with internal gamesmanship and alliances borne of self interest. It is those political and social “headgames”, ones that potentially could end up in lashes and confinement for decades for breaking the vampire laws and social strictures that garner most of our attention, mostly because Tomi so often breaks them.

With her characterizations, Heart also deviates from the types of characters we originally met in Sebastian’s Wolves. Unlike the older, experienced Sebastian who is just part of the pack, here the reader is given two completely different yet younger characters to connect with. Alpha Stone, with his Beta brother Tait, are younger wolves than Sebastian. Stone is less experienced but also an Alpha who feels responsible for his new pack and the amount of rebuilding needed for the Pack’s infrastructure and emotional needs as well. By his very nature as an Alpha, Stone’s universe is much larger than Sebastian’s. We meet individual pack members as well as the adorable young pup, Naji, who he has adopted as his son. And almost in tandem, we have Tait, Stone’s brother who is both incorrigible but also loyal. I loved Stone and thought he and the East Pack could have used their own book, so huge are the issues they are dealing with at the moment, nothing less than an entire restructuring of the pack, from the buildings they live in to the manner in which the pack will live and deal with each other.

Then we have Tomi. He is a young vampire, by vampire years and by personality. Tomi has been cosseted by his sister, the Vampire Queen. She has kept him insulated inside the castle, insulated by proximity but not isolated enough that he is not aware that the rest of the coven not only actively dislikes him but considers him a freak of nature because of the other powers he possesses but cannot control. Tomi is childlike, he presses against the vampire society’s boundaries, he tests his sister’s patience and the Ancients laws which she can’t always protect him against. He is adorable, quixotic, and a character anyone can relate to, especially if you are familiar with teenagers at their most exasperating. He wears a hoodie, watches The Big Bang Theory and drives a Smart car. How could you not love him?

It’s their mating that starts an explosion of cultures and ancient laws with a bloody back history Valentina Heart only hints at. I expect the following books to fill in the missing parts of the werewolf/vampire shared history and the reasoning behind the mutually agreed upon need to keep separate. A separation that Stone and Tomi has just destroyed by their mating and continued existence.

I think those who loved Sebastian’s Wolves and thought they were getting an continuation of that character and story might be disappointed when they get something different in scope and tone in Bloody Love Spats. Even the title gives the reader a hint that something quite different is to follow. The format also might take some getting used to. It alternates pov between Stone and Tomi so we understand each person’s internal insecurities and feelings towards each other. It will also bring one of the character’s pain home in bloody detail.

I really enjoyed this story and the characters of Stone and Tomi. Certain characters from the original book make an appearance or two and new characters are created as a bridge to the next story and the battle of the species. I can’t wait to see where Valentina Heart will take this series next. I am sure it will be just as unexpected as the two books she has given us already.

Cover art by Maria Fanning is gorgeous. I love that model and its perfect for the story.

Among Wolves series consists of:

Sebastian’s Wolves
Bloody Love Spats

Book Details:

ebook, 200 pages, sequel to Sebastian’s Wolves

Published October 2013 by Dreamspinner Press

ISBN13 9781627981385

edition language English

url http://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/store/product_info.php?products_id=4268

series Among Wolves #2

January 2014 Summary of Books Reviewed

The new years has started with an explosion of wonderful books and new authors for me. SE Jakes and two of her marvelous series dropped into my hands and heart so I will be passing those recommendations on to you. SA McAuley released a new contemporary fiction novel, Treadmarks and Trademarks, the start of a new series. Ditto Susan Laine with her Sparks & Drops. LA Witt inspired with her gender shifter novel Static, a must read for all. Shira Anthony’s Symphony In Blue brought her Blue Notes characters together for a series holiday story, perfect reading for all lovers of romance and music. Horror, fantasy and comedy are all represented here as well as a great non fiction tale by Joel Derfner, Lawfully Wedded Husband:How My Gay Marriage Will Save The American Family, a must read.

So many great books, see what stories you have missed, and make a list. And don’t forget to check out the best book covers of the month at the end.
*Key:
S series
C contemporary
F-fantasy
SF-science fiction
PN-paranormal
SP-supernatural
H-historical
HR-horror
N-Nonfiction
YA-young adult

Rating Scale: 1 to 5, 5 stars is outstanding
5 Star Rating:

Catch A Ghost by SE Jakes C, S
Long Time Gone by SE Jakes C, S
Static by LA Witt, SF
Symphony In Blue by Shira Anthony, C, S
The Engineered Throne by Megan Derr, F
The Fall by Kate Sherwood C. S

4 to 4.75 Star Rating:

A Small Miracle Happened by Mari Donne, (4.5 stars) C, holiday
Dirty Deeds by SE Jakes (4.75 stars) C, S
Home for the Hollandaise by BA Tortuga,Julia Talbot *4.5 stars) C
Horsing Around by Torquere Authors, (4.5 stars) A, C
In Discretion by Reesa Herberth (4.5 stars), SF
Lawfully Wedded Husband by Joel Derfner (4.75 stars) N
Refined Instincts by SJ Frost, (4 stars) SP, S
Serenading Stanley by John Inman (4.5 stars), C
Sparks & Drops by Susan Laine (4.5 stars), P, S
Texas Christmas by R.J. Scott (4.75 stars), C, S
The Dreamer by M. King (4 stars), HR
The Lightning Moon by Sylvia A. Winters (4.75 stars) SP
Tread Marks & Trademarks by S.A. McAuley (4.5 stars) C, S

3 to 3.75 Star Rating:

Ashland by Lynn Lorenz (3.5 stars) SP, S
The Actor and the Thief by Edward Kendrick (3.75 stars) C, S
Tor by Lynn Lorenz (3.5 stars), SP, S

2 to 2.75 Star Rating:

Dime Novel by Dale Chase (2.75 stars) H

1 to 1.75 Star Rating: None

*******************************************************************

Best Book Covers of January 2014

This month includes just an overall gold star to LC Chase whose great covers include the Hell or High Water series and Dirty Deeds.

**************************************************************************************

In Discretion by Reesa Herberth, Artist Simone’
Mindscape by Tal Valante, Artist LC Chase, who is having an incredible year
Sparks & Drops by Susan Laine, Artist Brooke Albrecht
Static by LA Witt, Artist LC Chase. A Stunner with it’s Shifting Gender Person
Tread Marks & Trademarks by S.A. McAuley, Wilde City Press, no artist credited

Reviews: Refined Instincts (Instincts #5) by S.J. Frost

Rating: 4 stars out of 5

Broken and starving, vampire outcast Troy Raines has returned to Chicago where everything went all so wrong to die the final death. The death of his best friend and former lover Isaac,and their misguided revolution against the Tribunal and the Ancients cost him everything. Now all Troy wants to do is finish the job vampire Daniel Valente started when he threw Troy off a building.

Renart Bellerose has been busy since the ending of the rebellion repairing the damage caused by his young, misguided vampires. Renart has tried to make amends by being the Master he should have been to those he Turned and now he is seeing the results in those around him. But they also serve to remind him of what and who Renart has lost, specifically Troy Raines. From the moment Renart looked upon Troy, he wanted him. And after Turning Troy, Renart gave him everything he thought Troy wanted, power, money, but those weren’t the things Troy craved. Troy wanted Renart’s love and attention and when he didn’t get those, his anger exploded into a rebellion that cost many their lives and has the Tribunal hunting him down for treason.

When Renart finds Troy in Chicago, their reunion erupts into a moment of passion and anger, reinforcing the feelings they had always had for each other. But danger is all around them as the Tribunal closes in on Troy and Renart finds himself a target of the Ancients wrath. Will it be too late for Renart and Troy to find the happiness they always wanted or will the laws of the Ancients cost both of them their lives?

Refined Instincts brings back two of the most confounding characters of this series, ones that the readers will have mixed emotions about, and unites them in a relationship full of regret, guilt, and passion. Throughout the Instincts series, Lord Renart Bellerose has been a sort of prickly, charming and untrustworthy thorn in the side of Lord Titus Antonius and his lover, now Eternal Partner, Andreas Nikandros (Natural Instincts – Instincts, #1) . Even more, his attitude those young men he Turned and the shear number of Turned earned him the scorn of other Ancients as well, such as Lord Ryunosuke Kimura and his Eternal Partner, Sir Daniel Valente (Enduring Instincts – Instincts #2). Renart has always hovered around the edges of the action in the preceding stories, a lively persona that picked at our curiosity each time he appeared on the pages.

Troy Raines also has had a reoccurring role in the series and not a admirable one. As the leader of the rebellion, Troy oversaw the capture and torture of series favorite Daniel Valente as well as the kidnapping of Andreas, lover of Lord Titus. I am sure that there are many readers who still retain some dislike for this character based upon his actions in previous books. All it took was for Daniel to throw Troy off the roof to start his transformation from villain to misguided, tragic reformer. S. J. Frost started Troy on his path to redemption in Enduring Instincts when it becomes evident that the rebellion and the power is Isaac’s, not Troy’s. Then when Troy is injured and unable to care for himself, he becomes an object of pity. Bit by bit, Frost takes this character apart until the reader is left with nothing but compassion for the person he has become.

I found both characters intriguing and loved the manner in which Frost brings them back together. It completes the rebellion aspect of this series and does so by fleshing out two secondary characters in a charming and wholly satisfying way. It is definitely a favorite of mine of the series. I thought that instead of glossing over past issues, Renart’s part as the igniting factor of the rebellion due to his poor treatment of his Turned and Troy’s blindness over Isaac are given equal treatment to help flesh out the characters and past events. Renart’s past history does give the character a much needed foundation for his actions and behavior towards others around him.

I did feel that the arrival of all the other couples from the series, other than Titus and Andreas, was a element that needed a little different treatment. It was if they arrived just so the author could please all the readers who had favorites, not really because the plot absolutely required it. And of course the trial was over very quickly after so much was made of the Tribunal hunting them down. I would have loved to have seen this aspect of the story given more dimension and depth.

Refined Instincts is a wonderful addition to a series many have come to love. I am not sure how many more the author has planned for Instincts, but given the vitality of this story, the series is healthy indeed. I recommend this story to all fans of the series, those readers who love vampire stories as well as fans of S.J. Frost. But if you are new to the series, this is not a stand alone story. It must be read as part of the series so go back to Natural Instincts to see how it all begins.

This is how it all starts:

The silence in the dark alley broke with the shuffle and drag of uneven footsteps. Troy slowly made his way, his keen eyesight picking out trashcans, litter, dips and holes in the pavement. He may bear an eternally broken body, but his other vampiric senses were still sharp, so much stronger than when he’d been human…those three short years ago.

Troy shook his head, wishing the motion would scatter his memories. But like his shadow behind him, they were dark ghosts that forever clung to him, never parting from him. Even when he couldn’t see them, just as a shadow waits for light to show itself, so his memories waited for a moment of weakness to bring him down.

He should’ve known returning to Chicago would strengthen them…and weaken him, but he needed to come back. This was where it all began. This was where he wanted it to end.

And he did want it to end. All of it. The memories, the regrets, the guilt, the pain—physical and emotional. He no longer wanted eternity. He wanted peace.

Books in the Instincts series in the order they were written and should be read to understand the characters and the events that transpire:

Natural Instincts (Instincts, #1)
Enduring Instincts (Instincts, #2)
Loving Instincts (Instincts, #3)
Adapting Instincts (Instincts, #4)
Refined Instincts (Instincts,#5)

Book Details:

Published October 31st 2013 by MLR Press
ISBN 1020130160
edition languageEnglish
urlhttp://www.mlrbooks.com/ShowBook.php?book=SJF_REFI
seriesInstincts #5

Brrrrr…..its cold Outside and the Week Ahead in Reviews

Our region has seen single digit temperatures, ice, snow and flash freezing. OK, it is January, a winter month, but still this is far too cold for this area and I think we are in shock. I have kept the bird feeders full, as they are emptying them almost within an hour of being filled. Same goes for the suet cakes hanging in the trees.

My yard is full of evidence of nightly visitors, deer tracks, fox tracks, raccoon and opossum. That is the opossum track to the left, notice the tail drag in the middle. Their ears and tails are naked, getting frostbitten on nights like these. They crisscross and circle in search of food and shelter from the bruising cold winds and frigid Arctic air. I always loved tracking in the woods after it has snowed. So many stories are written on the glistening surface just waiting for someone to read them.

It snowed considerably the first year I worked as a Park Naturalist in Rock Creek. And my first journey into the woods was amazing. I remember walking deep into the hickory oak forest and finding a small pile of Red Shouldered Hawk feathers on the ground, the snow spotted with blood. As I looked around I noticed another grouping of feathers about 12 feet away, and then another. And here and there the wing prints of a large bird, one who had landed with its prey, plucked for a while before taking off again with its heavy load. Further and further I tracked until I finally found my culprit. A great horned owl’s nest, high in a dead white oak tree, the base of which was strewn with owl pellets and fresh feathers. I stood in awe of such a majestic and efficient predator. A silent killer whose wings were capable of carrying a meal almost its own size, a shark of the skies where everything was considered fair game, including other owls. I stood there for a while until throughly chilled, picked up a feather and owl pellet and headed back to the nature center, memorizing my path as I went. I knew I would return there to check for owlets in another month or so and to see what other prey the Great Horned Owl had found. This adventure cemented my love for raptors and owls in particular.

This week a Snowy Owl appeared in downtown Washington, DC. It appeared unconcerned that it stopped all traffic, vehicle and foot, as people gazed on in amazement. How marvelous….

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/capital-weather-gang/wp/2014/01/24/snowy-owl-joins-capital-weather-gang-at-the-washington-post/

The cold is lingering into this coming week, a perfect time for reading a book or two or three. Here are the books I reviewed this week.

Monday, Jan. 27: The Dreamer by M. King

Tuesday, Jan. 28: The Fall by Kate Sherwood

Wed., Jan. 29: Long Time Gone (Hell or High Water #2) by SE Jakes

Thurs., Jan. 30: Refined Instincts by SJ Frost

Friday, Jan. 31: January 2014 Best Covers and Book Review Summary

Sat., Feb. 1: Bloody Love Spats by Valentina Heart

Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words Best Covers of 2013

Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words Best Book Covers of 2013

What is a book without its cover? That’s a question that gets asked more frequently in this age of eBooks and ePublishing. For myself and, I think, many others, book covers are still the marquee for an author’s story, the path to a book and the delights found inside. ScatteredThoughtsandRogueWords loves, loves book covers and the artists that work so hard to bring the author’s stories to life. Whether it is through photography or illustration or any combination thereof, 2013 had outstanding covers in every genre. There are series whose covers are always marvelous, rich in design and emotion. There were stand alone novels whose covers drew you into the story and beyond. Here are some of the covers in 2013 that made me gasp, made me laugh and made me wish I had a copy of it for my wall:

Outstanding Contemporary Novel Covers:

Fire Horse by Mickie B. Ashling, Cover by Anne Cain
Illuminations by Rowen Speedwell, Cover by LC Chase
Lost and Found by Z.A. Maxfield, Cover by LC Chase
Still by Mary Calmes, cover by Reese Dante
The Sky is Dead by Sue Brown, Cover by Christine Griffin
Venetian Mask by Kim Fielding, Cover by Shobana Appavu

Outstanding Historical Novel Covers:

On A Lee Shore by Elin Gregory, Cover by Mina Carter
Promises Made Under Fire by Charlie Cochrane, Cover by John Kicksee

Outstanding Humorous Cover:

Shy by John Inman, Cover art by Paul Richmond.
Too Stupid Too Live by Anne Tenino, Cover by LC Chase
When Dachshunds Ruled The Serengeti by Michael Murphy, Cover by Paul Richmond

Outstanding Fantasy Cover:

Faire Fugitive by Madeleine Ribbon, Cover by Fiona Jayde
Goblins by Melanie Tushmore, Cover by Ria Chantler
Too Many Fairy Princes by Alex Beecroft, Cover by Lou Harper

Outstanding Paranormal/Supernatural Covers:

Creature Feature by Mary Calmes, Poppy Dennison, Cover by Paul Richmond
Into This River I Drown by TJ Klune, Cover by Paul Richmond, Kyle Thompson
Josh of the Damned by Andrea Speed, Cover by LC Chase
Strange Angels by Andrea Speed, Cover by LC Chase

Outstanding Horror Cover:

The Mingled Destinies of Crocodiles and Men by Eric Arvin, Cover by Amy Morrison
The Beast Without by Christian Baines, Cover by David P. Reiter

Outstanding Science Fiction Cover:

Aria of the Eclipse by Vivien Dean, Cover by Trace Edward Zaber
Freedom by Jay Kirkpatrick, Cover by Anne Cain
Mindscape by Tal Valante, Cover by LC Chase