Review: Touch the Sky by Kari Cole

Touch the Sky by Kari Cole 

Mated by Fate #2

Sheriff Vaughn Ellis’s very existence as a rare double-shifter defies the natural order. It also makes it extremely difficult for him to get close to anyone. To trust anyone. It’s nothing Vaughn can’t handle, until a seductively sweet woman arrives in Black Robe, and suddenly he can’t think about anything but her.

The product of a witch/werewolf pairing, Hannah Cochran gets the odd-wolf-out thing. But when she uncovers a major threat to the lycanthrope world, she finds herself playing nice with the sexy sheriff. Abiding by the law isn’t usually Hannah’s style, but nothing catches her breath quite like the commanding attraction she feels toward Vaughn.

Working closely together only intensifies their fated connection, making it impossible to deny—or resist. Hannah fears that getting involved puts Vaughn in danger. But when she becomes the target, it’s Vaughn who’ll have to decide which rules he’s willing to break to save the woman he can’t live without.

Kari Cole has done it again! TOUCH THE SKY was one heck of a Paranormal Romance read that kept me hooked from the very first page. From the characters (LOVE Vaughn and Hannah!) to the current plotline of Hannah's danger, to the over-arching Apex plot. this book had it all and then some. The romance is off the charts hot, but it's not bogged down with instalove. Instead, the progression is realistic considering just how much baggage the two were carrying. Very well done romance and plot! 

The only thing that kept me from rating this book a solid five was due to some pacing issues throughout the middle. I just felt like Hannah's past was kept unnecessarily shaded from the reader, and would have helped pacing if things had been revealed at least to the reader sooner. I understand the need to hide the truth from the hero for plotline purposes, but I just felt like the knowledge could have been shared with the cousin earlier as to not feel like a contrived wool over the reader's eyes. But that's just my opinion and take it with a grain of salt. The book was utterly fantastic otherwise.

It is extremely impressive to note that this is only Kari's second book. To be honest, her writing style and plotlines of danger mixed in with romance feel very much in the vein of Nalini Singh's Psy-Changelings. Considering just how much of a powerhouse writer Nalini is, trust me, this is a HUGE compliment for Kari. I cannot wait to see how she grows as a writer. I think there are many great things in store and I can't wait to get my hands on the next book!

(Received a copy from the publisher)

Rating:

Order Links:



Other Reviews:
     The Book Binge
     Once Upon a Book Blog

Previous Books:
     1. Hunt the Moon

Release Day Review: Worldshaper by Edward Willett

Worldshaper by Edward Willett

Worldshapers #1

For Shawna Keys, the world is almost perfect. She's just opened a pottery studio in a beautiful city. She's in love with a wonderful man. She has good friends.

But one shattering moment of violence changes everything. Mysterious attackers kill her best friend. They're about to kill Shawna. She can't believe it's happening--and just like that, it isn't. It hasn't. No one else remembers the attack, or her friend. To everyone else, Shawna's friend never existed...

Everyone, that is, except the mysterious stranger who shows up in Shawna's shop. He claims her world has been perfect because she Shaped it to be perfect; that it is only one of uncounted Shaped worlds in a great Labyrinth; and that all those worlds are under threat from the Adversary who has now invaded hers. She cannot save her world, he says, but she might be able to save others--if she will follow him from world to world, learning their secrets and carrying them to Ygrair, the mysterious Lady at the Labyrinth's heart.

Frightened and hounded, Shawna sets off on a desperate journey, uncertain whom she can trust, how to use her newfound power, and what awaits her in the myriad worlds beyond her own.

WORLDSHAPER had a very intriguing premise, the set up is there for something really incredible, but unfortunately the characters and actual plot line didn't always live up to that amazing premise. Don't get me wrong the story was enjoyable, but unfortunately in a mediocre way leaving me searching for the greatness I felt could be there. At times it really felt like critical information was being held, with no real reason behind it. I kept waiting for the pay off of explanations or reasons by the end, but unfortunately they never came.

The characters are intriguing and full of potential, but again pieces felt to be missing. Shawna is your typical powerful heroine that didn't know she was powerful, which is a common storyline in this genre. However the problem was that the reasoning behind her memory lapse/lack of knowledge was withheld and I felt it detracted greatly from the story. I wanted to be given so much more than I was, and it just made her character feel half formed. She never got to grow enough in my eyes and her quirky personality lent to so much I think. Karl, her supposed savior wasn't much better as he just felt to be a unthinking soldier rather than a solid addition to the story. Any time Shawna questioned anything he became irate and all but threatened to leave her to die. It just left a bad taste in my mouth.

And also speaking of being half-formed, the Adversary, the villain, wasn't really fleshed out at all. He's supposed to be this terrifyingly evil man, and yet, which he does do a few things, honestly I just felt like he was the opposition rather than a true villainous force. Don't get me wrong, I wouldn't root for him, but I didn't really feel any true animosity either, which made it harder to attach to our heroine's plight.

All in all WORLDSHAPER is a book with an intriguing premise, but had a rocky start to this series. I am interested in seeing where things head next and I hope much more will be revealed in the next book. 

(Received a copy from the publisher)

Rating:

Order Links:



Other Reviews:
     Gizmo's Reviews

Early Review: Vampires Like it Hot by Lynsay Sands

Vampires Like it Hot by Lynsay Sands

Argeneau #28

“Vampires...”

When Raffaele Notte pulls a barely dressed, disoriented woman from the ocean, the last thing he expects is for her to utter that word. The immortal has come to the island resort to help his cousin, but now, it seems, there are rogue vampires dining on unsuspecting tourists. And he soon realizes that not only is Jess a target, she’s also the life mate he’s been waiting for…

Vampires are real. Jess would’ve never believed it until she saw them with her own eyes. She knows she has to get off the island, and her gallant rescuer has offered to help. There’s something about Raffaele that’s unlike any man she has ever met, and his touch sends pleasure through her that is beyond all imagining. But when Jess discovers who he really is, will she risk life as she knows it for a chance of forever by his side?

VAMPIRES LIKE IT HOT was a fun tropical romp that felt more lighthearted than some of the most recent releases in this series. Don't get me wrong, this entire series has plenty of humor, but this one was more on the lighter side, and I really enjoyed every hilarious moment of it. The "vampirates" were nothing short of hilarious, especially the captain, one of our trusty heroine's potential life mate. That's right TWO lifemates for our heroine, Jess nothing easy or straight forward here with Raffaele Notte playing a white knight role as the other lifemate. But getting back to the captain, he's crude and greasy, but oh so outlandishly hilarious in the way he speaks to Jess. Honestly he's everything you'd expect from a vampirate.

The premise of the story is largely a cat and mouse in each of the potential lifemate men trying to keep Jess from the other. It became quite comical at times and perhaps a little eye roll worthy at the heroines ability to make a few rather poor decisions in order to further the white knight plot despite being level headed at others. But we can't always be on the top our game I guess. That being said it was pretty obvious from the start who she'd end up with, but that didn't detract from the story at all. The steamier scenes are absolutely delectable and fit the story perfectly.

All in all, VAMPIRES LIKE IT HOT is a fun filled romp that kept me laughing the entire book. If you are looking for a humor filled, steamy read, this book is for you.

(Received a copy from the publisher)

Rating:

Order Links:



Other Reviews:
     WTF Are You Reading?
     Urban Book Reviews
     Tome Tender

Previous Books:
     1. A Quick Bite
     2. Love Bites
     3. Single White Vampire
     4. Tall, Dark, & Hungry
     5. A Bite to Remember
     6. Bite Me If You Can
     7. The Accidental Vampire
     8. Vampires Are Forever
     9. Vampire, Interrupted
    10. The Rouge Hunter
    11. The Immortal Hunter
    12. The Renegade Hunter
    13. Born to Bite
    14. Hungry for You
    15. The Reluctant Vampire
    16. Under a Vampire Moon
    17. The Lady is a Vamp
    18. Immortal Ever After
    19. One Lucky Vampire
    20. Vampire Most Wanted
    21. The Immortal Who Loved Me
    22. About a Vampire
    23. Runaway Vampire
    24. Immortal Nights
    25. Immortal Unchained
    26. Immortally Yours
    27. Twice Bitten