Blay and Qhuinn's book
Lover at Last (Black Dagger Brotherhood book 11)
by J.R. Ward
Book Blurb:
Qhuinn, son of no one, is used to being on his own. Disavowed from his bloodline, shunned by the aristocracy, he has finally found an identity as one of the most brutal fighters in the war against the Lessening Society. But his life is not complete. Even as the prospect of having a family of his own seems to be within reach, he is empty on the inside, his heart given to another....
Blay, after years of unrequited love, has moved on from his feelings for Qhuinn. And it’s about time: The male has found his perfect match in a Chosen female, and they are going to have a young—just as Qhuinn has always wanted for himself. It’s hard to see the new couple together, but building your life around a pipe dream is just a heartbreak waiting to happen. As he’s learned firsthand.
Fate seems to have taken these vampire soldiers in different directions... but as the battle over the race’s throne intensifies, and new players on the scene in Caldwell create mortal danger for the Brotherhood, Qhuinn finally learns the true definition of courage, and two hearts who are meant to be together... finally become one.
I just closed the cover on my long awaited read, Lover at Last. I can't really write a full out review because there was just to much stuff and I am probably the last person who is addicted to this series that has finally read the book. Here are my first impressions, likes and negatives:
1. J.R. Ward seriously needs to do some spin off books because there are waaaaaay to many stories swirling in one book. (and some I couldn't care less to read about *cough* iAM & Trez *cough*
2. J.R. Ward gave Qhuinn and Blay complete justice and this part of Lover at Last was stellar. There was emotion, great conversations and excellent M/M sex. At times it was raunchy & sexy and other times it was touching & soft ( even if no prep or lubrication was required *frowns* ). If the book was only about this long awaited couple, it would have been a solid 5 for me. Plus I totally love Blay's parents.
3. Now regarding Qhuinn & Blay's relationship, why was it so necessary for Qhuinn to determine and state if he was gay or not. Why can't he be bi? Why does it matter that he needed to be defined into one category or another? I don't know but it really annoyed me.
4. I have no idea what the heck is going on with Xcor and Layla. I mean whaaaaaat?!?! I'm not liking it. I like the new Layla but I get so angry that she is completely stabbing Wrath in the back with her thoughts of Xcor. I need loyalty. I'm not feeling that with her.
5. Why did Assail get so much page time? (refer back to #1) Regardless, I was totally digging the chemistry between Sola and Assail (even though I have no idea why they are getting any book time)
6. Looove the King storyline. I love the battles of wits here. They are going to fight with words and laws and I have a serious, full of angst, love/hate relationship with those types of storylines. I find those types of stories really smart and probably a hell of a lot harder to write. It will be odd because the BDB are fighters not scholars so we will see. At least I don't have long to wait for the next book.
7. Very interesting take on the laws in the vampire world. I love Wrath as king don't get me wrong but really when you think about it, it could be possible that a human (Wrath's offspring) could end up being the future king of vampires and that does seem really wrong to me. So much to take in.
8. The Lessors are becoming a bit of a yawn. I wanted to skip over those parts although I didn't. I swear.
9. I don't like the many inconsistencies. What I mean is how come Z couldn't materialize with his gun shot wound but Blay could? Why was it that Qhuinn flew the plane for Z when Blay was right there? John Matthew was left unprotected in a very dangerous position. Of course the story was better because Qhuinn flew the plan but really it should have been Blay. If the glymeria were so freaked out about Qhuinn's different coloured eyes and they are uncomfortable with Wrath's eyesight (and the BDB needs to keep his total eyesite loss a secret) why oh why would anyone even for a moment consider a serious deformity such as Xcor's cleft palate (which has been compared to that of a monster) be fit for a king's position?
10. The changing POV drove me nutso. I just hated that. Not a fan of that style at all.
11. I love that Qhuinn is officially a brother but I just don't think he should have been made before John Matthew. It just didn't feel right to me.
12. The last book had lots of Autumn & Tohr and John Matthew & Xhex. They were barely mentioned in this book. I was super surprised that John Matthew was hardly in Lover at Last at all because the trio have been best friends for so long. I didn't need a full out storyline but a bit more of a mention about Xhex or Autumn at least. It seemed very odd.
Nathan, Marquess of St. James and Lady Sara Winchester's book
The Gift (Crown's Spies book 3)
By Julie Garwood
Book Blurb:
Child bride Sara Winchester had grown into a winsome beauty, joyfully anticipating the day when her husband Nathan, Marquess of St. James, would return to claim her heart. Charmingly innocent, she dismissed the ancient feud that divided their families, and was totally unaware of his past exploits as the notorious pirate, Pagan. And Nathan was beguiled by Sara's sweet, defiant ways. But her love would soon be tested as a vile conspiracy tries to tear them apart.
I was most ecstatic the other day when I realized that there were two Julie Garwood historical romances out there that I had not yet read. Even more exciting was that I already owned them and they were sitting there on my shelf just waiting for me. I had seen them for so long I just assumed that I had read them. I love Julie Garwood's historical romances so I felt like I won the lottery.
The Gift is book 3 in the Crown Spies series. You can easily read The Gift as a stand alone. There is very little character carry over. Regardless of the previous characters involvement with past books, you will not be lost if you read The Gift out of order.
One of the magical components of a Julie Garwood historical romance is that she often has the bride and groom married near the beginning of the book. The marriage that took place in The Gift occurred right in the prologue and it was one of the earliest aged marriages ever. Nathan was only fourteen years old and Sara was a darling child of four. Of course there was no marital consummation because this forced marriage contract started before Sara could even print. The King, suffering from beginnings of dementia, was tired of the feuding families and arranged this mockery of a marriage. He set up the contract details, married off these youngsters and left the feuding families to deal with the consequences. Ultimately each child was returned to their respective families and for years each family plotted how to get out of the contract.
Once the reader is done with the ceremony in the prologue, the story's first chapter starts 14 yrs later.
Garwood's heroines are my most favourite in the historical genre. They are witty, adorable and they are so innocent that they could be viewed to be on verge of being a bit daft. This innocence is exactly the case with Lady Sara. She is a dreamer, an idealist and so darn likable that you have to forgive her constant mishaps. She believes that since she is married to a ship's captain that the men are her "staff". She deducts that since a captain is the master of a ship she equated that station to that of a Lord of a mansion. She has a heart of gold but unknowingly is oblivious to her surroundings. I dare you not to like her.
Nathan is both patient and yet an overbearing yeller. He scowls and is fiercely protective of her. After their forced marriage as children, neither Nathan or Sara meet again until she is 18 years old. He has no idea what she looks like or what her personality is. All he wants is get married to honour the contract and collect on his due.
I really enjoyed reading about the pair getting to know each other and ultimately fall in love. Sara made me giggle with her antics and Nathan was a great hero for her to fall in love with. I am rating 3.5 because although the story was cute, it did fall a little bit short of what I come to expect from a Julie Garwood historical. So I am rating The Gift against other Garwood stories.
Teasers: saving her aunt, away on the ship, dangerous soup, paradise island
Frost Burned (Mercy Thompson book 7)
by Patricia Briggs
Book Blurb:
Mercy Thompson's life has undergone a seismic change. Becoming the mate of Adam Hauptman - the charismatic Alpha of the local werewolf pack - has made her a stepmother to his daughter Jesse, a relationship that brings moments of blissful normalcy to Mercy's life. But on the edges of humanity, a minor mishap on an ordinary day can turn into so much more. After an accident in bumper-to-bumper traffic, Mercy and Jesse can't reach Adam - or anyone else in the pack for that matter. They've all been abducted. Through their mating bond, all Mercy knows is that Adam is angry and in pain. Outclassed and on her own, Mercy may be forced to seek assistance from the most unlikely of allies: the vampire seethe.
I just love this Mercy Thompson series. A whole bunch of my favourite books recently came out in paperback and Frost Burned was one of them. I had to endure months and months of avoiding spoilers and book reviews while Frost Burned was only available in a hardcover issue or a really expensive ebook. Frost Burned was worth the wait!
The Mercy Thompson series are not stand alone books. Patricia Briggs provides great little reminders in each story so that the reader can quickly recollect where the last book left off but if you would pick up a book in the middle of the series, you'd not enjoy and understand the detailed and fabulous backstory.
One of the reasons I totally love this urban fantasy series is the continuity of the married couple, Mercy and Adam. I just love a book collection where the protagonists are strong, happily married and each book is a new adventure. This particular couple is top notch amazing because of the wolf pack mentality that is so ingrained into each book. Whether good or bad,a wolf pack is a wolf pack and the story doesn't deviate away from the characteristics of a pack of wolves. (Just to quickly mention that Mercy is not a wolf shifter but rather a coyote shifter) Patricia Briggs stays true to form and doesn't bend her own rules just to make the story flow in a different direction.
Mercy once again is the hero of the Frost Burned. She does so by being smart although no one is more surprised by Mercy's brilliance than Mercy. That is another trait that is so enduring about her. She has no idea how incredibly special she is. I could not possibly adore her any more than I already do.
As always, a fabulous cast of secondary characters adds to action packed and mystical world that Particia Briggs has created.
Teasers: baby question car crash, ghostly encounters, mating bond communication, silver puke
