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Review: Pia Does Hollywood by Thea Harrison
Pia Does Hollywood by Thea Harrison
Elder Races #8.6
After making a diplomatic pact with humankind and the other leaders of the Elder Races, Pia Cuelebre, mate to Dragos Cuelebre, Lord of the Wyr, reluctantly heads to Hollywood to spend a week with the Light Fae Queen, Tatiana, before the busy Masque season hits New York in December.
Dragos has never let the lack of an invitation stop him from doing anything he wanted. Unwilling to let his mate make the trip without him, he travels to southern California in secret to be with her.
But when an ancient enemy launches a shattering assault against the Light Fae, Dragos and Pia must intercede. The destruction threatens to spread and strike a mortal blow against all of the magically gifted, both human and Elder Race alike.
Working with the Light Fae to neutralize the danger, Dragos and Pia find their deepest vulnerabilities challenged and their most closely held secrets threatened with exposure.
I really love these novellas that bring us back to my favorite pair, Dragos and Pia. They always seem to get themselves in such a mess, and this time around is no exception. They really "stepped" in it this time, and I was thoroughly entertained watching their latest fiasco unravel. There's so much going on in this novella despite it's short length, and I found myself wishing for just a bit more by the end. Everything continued at a frenetic pace to the point where I wanted this to be a full length book and slow down to expand on things. Who am I kidding though... I'd find any reason to ask for a full length featuring Dragos and Pia. There's just something electric about the pair that keeps me wanting more. And I'm thankful for any tastes we get to see of the pair. So all in all, I highly recommend PIA DOES HOLLYWOOD to fans of the series. There's some pretty interesting and important reveals as well as a great deal of fun that you won't want to miss!
(Received a copy from the publisher)
Rating:
Order Links:
Other Reviews:
Love Affair with an e-Reader
Tome Tender
The Window Seat on a Rainy Day
Previous Books:
1. Dragon Bound
2. Storm's Heart
3. Serpent's Kiss
4. Oracle's Moon
5. Lord's Fall
6. Kinked
6.5. Dragos Takes a Holiday
6.6. Pia Saves the Day
Kirsten Reviews: Tower of Thorns by Juliet Marillier
Tower of Thorns by Juliet Marillier
Blackthorn & Grim #2
Award-winning author Juliet Marillier’s “lavishly detailed”* Blackthorn & Grim series continues as a mysterious creature holds an enchanted and imperiled ancient Ireland in thrall.
Disillusioned healer Blackthorn and her companion, Grim, have settled in Dalriada to wait out the seven years of Blackthorn’s bond to her fey mentor, hoping to avoid any dire challenges. But trouble has a way of seeking out Blackthorn and Grim.
Lady Geiléis, a noblewoman from the northern border, has asked for the prince of Dalriada’s help in expelling a howling creature from an old tower on her land—one surrounded by an impenetrable hedge of thorns. Casting a blight over the entire district, and impossible to drive out by ordinary means, it threatens both the safety and the sanity of all who live nearby. With no ready solutions to offer, the prince consults Blackthorn and Grim.
As Blackthorn and Grim begin to put the pieces of this puzzle together, it’s apparent that a powerful adversary is working behind the scenes. Their quest is about to become a life and death struggle—a conflict in which even the closest of friends can find themselves on opposite sides.
Disillusioned healer Blackthorn and her companion, Grim, have settled in Dalriada to wait out the seven years of Blackthorn’s bond to her fey mentor, hoping to avoid any dire challenges. But trouble has a way of seeking out Blackthorn and Grim.
Lady Geiléis, a noblewoman from the northern border, has asked for the prince of Dalriada’s help in expelling a howling creature from an old tower on her land—one surrounded by an impenetrable hedge of thorns. Casting a blight over the entire district, and impossible to drive out by ordinary means, it threatens both the safety and the sanity of all who live nearby. With no ready solutions to offer, the prince consults Blackthorn and Grim.
The story picks up shortly after the conclusion of Dreamer’s Pool, the first book in the series. The story is told from the perspective of Grim, Blackthorn, and the person who they are attempting to help, in this case, Lady Geleis. Of note, her motives are not straightforward, and this complicates the protagonists’ work and also serves to heighten the overall tension of the book.
As with most series, the second book is an opportunity for the author to expand on the world, its people and rules, and this is the case in Tower of Thorns, allowing Marillier to delve further into the politics, family relationships, and religious beliefs.
While Blackthorn and Grim have been damaged by the things they have been through, their strength and abilities are explored further, and their bond strengthened by the challenges they face in this book. They are not cheerful adventurers, and their complicated histories and the lessons they are learning, serves to help them heal as much as it does the people they seek to help.
As a whole, the book moves the characters forward, but does not put them on a pedestal, keeping them on a path that will compel them to grow, which will make readers eager to read further books in the series.
(Received a copy from the publisher)
Rating:
Other Reviews:
Rabid Reads
The Bibliosanctum
The Eater of Books!
Previous Books:
1. Dreamer's Pool
Release Day Review: Fangs for the Memories
Fangs for the Memories by Molly Harper
Half-Moon Hollow #4.5
How did Andrea and Dick Cheney fall in love? Join Half-Moon Hollow’s favorite couple for a trip down memory lane—to a time when Mr. Wainwright was newly dead, Jane Jameson was a newbie vampire, and a budding paranormal romance was not yet uncorked…
Half-Moon Hollow’s supernatural social event of the season—Zeb’s Titanic-themed werewolf wedding—is coming up, and Dick Cheney (not that Dick Cheney!) needs a date. But Andrea’s had enough of clever, handsome, and rakish to last a lifetime, and Dick Cheney is certainly not the sort of man you bring home to mom (not that Andrea’s deadist parents are speaking to her ever since she dropped out of college and became a blood surrogate.) Shameless, relentless, roguish, with a Stetson-worthy swagger, a naughty sparkle in his eyes, and a constant smirk—oh, and fangs—no, Dick is the last person (er…vampire) Andrea wants to date.
But the infuriatingly irresistible man who lives quietly on the edge of a criminal underworld knows exactly what he wants, and once he surprises Andrea with a thrilling hot and dirty kiss behind the paranormal bookshop, she knows what she wants too: Dick. All it takes to ignite their unconventional courtship is a near-undeath experience that confronts Dick with a choice between turning Andrea, losing her forever, or tapping into his countless shady resources).
I'm a huge fan of the Half-Moon hollows series. There's just something so comforting about them. In fact this series is one of my favorites to listen to on audio for rereads. And with each new book, I always know I'll get a solid block of entertainment and hilarity that will have me laughing out loud. Fangs for the Memories is no exception. This one is a bit different from the rest of the series as it goes back a bit in time to the beginning of Dick and Andrea's relationship. I've always wanted to see more about how this rough, roguish, and slightly sheevy vampire could win over the polished Andrea's heart. Of course knowing everything we do now so much further in the series, Dick's no where as bad as he seemed. But this story takes place before all that and I really enjoyed the further insight. It only made me love Andrea and Dick even more. So, all in all this is a fun little treat for fans of the series that's not too be missed.
(Received a copy from the publisher)
Rating:
Order Links:
Other Reviews:
Rabid Reads
Reanne Reads
Give Me Books
Previous Books:
1. The Care and Feeding of Stray Vampires
1.5. Driving Mr. Dead
2. A Witch's Handbook of Kisses and Curses
2.5. Undead Sublet
2.7. I'm Dreaming of an Undead Christmas
3. The Dangers of Dating a Rebound Vampire
4. The Single Undead Moms Club
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