SOUL TAKEN by Patricia Briggs

  

 

A Mercy Thompson Novel Book 13
Ace Publishing
August 23^rd, 2022
978-0-440-00161-4
Paranormal, Urban Fantasy Action, Werewolves/Shifters, Vampires
Hardcover

Reviewed by Dawn (love2read28@gmail.com)

Obtained by Self Purchase

5 Hearts

For Mercy Thompson, having a vampire stalker is bad, the stalker being Wulfe, a vampire who can wield magic in some form and is one of the scariest people she has had to deal with takes it to another level of fear. But when Wulfe goes missing, people in the Tr-Cities are dying and now the threat to a fragile alliance Mercy and her mate, Adam made with the vampires and the neutrality of the place where they live is at stake. An enemy is determined to destroy the pack and Mercy herself. The question is, can Mercy figure out who took Wulfe, why and save their vampire allies before all she holds dear is gone and Mercy is left bleeding on the ground?

Sweet lord above, SOUL TAKEN is one heck of a ride from start to finish. I am going to try to not spill any spoilers in case you haven’t read this one yet but suffice to say, be ready to ignore everything around you as you go on t his merry go round of a story that will leave you breathless. SOUL TAKEN is a story that has been coming since the events of Silence Fallen (Book 10) and the twists and turns in this newest addition in the Mercy Thompson series has me eager to see what is going to happen in the future. In SOUL TAKEN, Mercy is resigned to Wulfe being a nuisance stalker but when he goes missing, an ancient artifact shows up and death follows, well let’s just say that Mercy is about to find herself tested in ways that even she didn’t see coming. What I love about this series is how the author keeps it fresh with each book. We got characters that are as mysterious as the day they showed up in the series and we got long reigning characters popping in with secrets ready to be told, magic abilities that seem to scare the dickens out of people and danger is all around. Mercy is Coyote’s daughter and as always chaos follows but, in this case, it is a on the fence if it’s a good thing or not, especially as Mercy finds herself with abilities not the norm for her pop up. This is a story rich in character development, world building that keeps me glued to the pages and wishing for a map to refer to in the book and a story that continues to weave around this area of the Tri-Cities like a river. For myself, I felt like I was right there alongside Mercy, Adam, and the pack as they took on this foe that threatens not just them but everyone they love and care for. Patricia Briggs delivers in SOUL TAKEN the next part of Mercy’s story and delivers such depth in her storytelling, I never looked at the clock until I could put this down in order to sleep last night.

SOUL TAKEN is more than heroes get to fight danger and live another day. It’s also Wulfe’s story as a we get to know more of how he became the scary vampire who can wield magic at times and is powerful in a broken sort of way. The fact that the author kept the pacing a bit slower than I expected from the beginning until halfway through before revealing specific twists, information and more in the last half of the book is like night and day here. I am not sure if that was by design or not but when that happened, it took me a bit to get back into the story as I was jarred out of it all. SOUL TAKEN delivers all the bells and whistles that is a Mercy Thompson novel but also, we get insight on some of the long-term characters we didn’t have before, as well as questions from a few past books get answered even as new questions pop up by the end of SOUL TAKEN. What I do know after finishing SOUL TAKEN was this: Get ready for Mercy to go boom on her enemies because this time, she is playing for keeps.

If you haven’t gotten into the Mercy Thompson series before, I highly recommend reading it from the beginning (Moon Called, book 1) and I can attest, if you love quirky characters, worldbuilding that is on par with Jim Butcher’s Dresden Files or Yasmine Galenorn’s Wild Hunt series) then this series will keep you entertained, engrossed and ready for more. Now I am eager to see what Ms. Briggs has in store for Mercy, Adam, and the gang in the future books because SOUL TAKEN just about upped the ante in danger and intrigue.

 

This is an objective review and not an endorsement

 

 

 

THE CHRISTMAS VILLAGE by Annie Rains

 

Publisher: Forever
Date Published: October 12, 2021
ISBN#    ‎ 978-1538703472
Contemporary Romance
Reviewed by Gina (myreviewbooks@aol.com)
Obtained via publisher

5 Hearts

Lucy Hannigan hasn’t had the best year. With her mom first getting stick and then dying, the holidays are looking pretty bleak. Added to that are the stream of seemingly never ending bills her mother left behind. What was her mother thinking with all these changes and additions to her home?  Making things even harder is that the love her life, the man she was engaged to be married to, but who dropped her without a word, is still in town. Not only is Miles Bruno still in Somerset Lake, he’s a deputy sheriff.

Miles Bruno never left his home town and really hasn’t wanted to. Despite having a hard life growing up, things are looking pretty good for him now, as an adult. He has a good job, good friends and looking to buy his first home. He still hurts from his broken engagement and can’t help but hope to make amends when Lucy moves back in town. Can Lucy and Miles put their past behind them and move forward to a happy ever after now?

Sometimes you just need to sit down with a cup of tea, a cat on your lap and sigh over a really good romance. Annie Rains gives her readers that exact thing in her CHRISTMAS VILLAGE. There are themes in the story we can all relate to and Rains ties them all into a wonderful read. While the story takes place from just before Thanksgiving through the New Year, it is an ideal book to read anytime because of how she delves into the foibles of human nature. Broken and mended hearts, down on their luck families with friends and neighbors who are there to support them, a gossipy character who makes you laugh and an adorable dog and cat, what’s not to like?

The CHRISTMAS VILLAGE is the second book in Rains’ Somerset Lake series but stands completely on its own. She does catch readers up a bit on Jake and Trisha from The Summer Cottage, but the focus of the story is on Miles and Lucy. There are hints as to who will have the next story and what their futures hold. Book 1 had a few quick appearances by the town’s blogging gossip, Reva. She’s more present in the CHRISTMAS VILLAGE and a hoot. Rains doesn’t rush the relationships between her characters, but takes them through the ups and downs we all encounter at some point. She writes for any age and guys would enjoy this one too because it shows they too have a softer side. It’s an ideal read to introduce a teen to reading romance while at the same time, perfect for an adult to curl up when you just want a good read.

 

This is an objective review and not an endorsement of this book.

 

                                                                           

ONE OF US IS DEAD by Jeneva Rose

 

Publisher: Blackstone Publishing
Date Published: April 26, 2022
ISBN#   ‎ 979-8200706846
Suspense
Reviewed by Gina (myreviewbooks@aol.com)
Obtained via Library

5 Hearts

Jenny is the owner of the premier salon in Buckhead—Glow. Building it from the ground up she started as your basic stylist and now has an essentially members only full service—tanning, waxing, mani/pedi, style salon. It’s the go to place for anyone who is anyone in Buckhead. Among her top clients are Olivia, Shannon and Karen. Along with her friend and employee, Keisha, Jenny takes the best care of her clients. But things are changing in Buckhead.

Karen and her husband Mark haven’t been intimate for months and frankly, she could care less. Shannon has been traded in by her husband for a younger model named Crystal. Crystal has her own set of secrets. Olivia is the queen bee—and don’t you forget it. She thinks she is the keeper of all the secrets. And then there are the husbands who have their own hidden lives. But most of all there is someone who knows more than the wives, Olivia and the husbands put together.

Things start falling apart when Olivia decides that Crystal needs to join the manis and maitai’s weekly do at Glow and that Shannon is going to be on the outs. And then there is the night of the party…a party no one wants to attend, but really, have no choice. Who will make it out alive and who will die?

It’s been awhile since I’ve picked up a book that I made excuses not to see friends, stayed up way too late at night….or was it early morning and basically just couldn’t put down till I got to the oh so delicious end. I have had some good reads, some really good reads, but Jeneva Rose’s ONE OF US IS DEAD is one of the best books I’ve read in awhile. Like the best chocolate you want to savor it, but just can’t stop eating it. (Those of us who are chocoholics know what I mean).

I “discovered” Ms. Rose in my library (the fabulous Novato library) sent out its weekly new book newsletter and it sounded good. I immediately went to check it out and then couldn’t put it down. Told from Shannon, Olivia, Jenny, Crystal and Karen’s points of view you become part of the drama. By half way through the book you feel like you’re part of their group and wonder just what you’re doing with them. I couldn’t wait to see if Shannon and Jenny got back at Olivia for her snotty, bitchy, attitude toward them. But at the same time, I didn’t want it to happen because then the book would be over.

Somehow I missed her two earlier books but have already ordered them. She is one addictive writer!  Her next one can’t come soon enough for me!

 

This is an objective review and not an endorsement of this book.

 

                                                                           

HOW TO SURVIVE A SCANDAL by Samara Parish

 

Publisher: Forever
Date Published: May 25, 2021  
ISBN#   ‎  ‎ 978-1538704486
Historical Romance
Reviewed by Gina (myreviewbooks@aol.com)
Obtained via publisher
5 Hearts

Lady Amelia has never doubted her place in society. Raised to be the epitome of the most accomplished wife of a Duke from childhood she is beyond dismayed when she finds herself half naked in an unfamiliar house after being rescued from certain death in a snow storm. At first glance her rescuer is an over large behemoth of a man with no class or culture. Making matters worse, her finance as well as the county’s number one gossip are present when she wakes. It is quickly decided the only way to save her reputation is to marry her rescuer. The solution is not acceptable to her. After all, she did nothing wrong!

 

Benedict Asterly didn’t give it a second thought when he came upon the carriage seemingly abandoned in the snow only to find a woman inside who appeared near death.  At a minimum he would have been happy with a thank you. What he gets instead is a arrange by the woman who soon becomes his wife. Oh he doesn’t want to marry Amelia. She’s one of the last people who he wants anything to do with, but he is the kind of man who will do the right thing. In short order Amelia and Benedict find themselves in a marriage neither ever wanted. Can two people so ill-suited to each other find common ground?

HOW TO SURVIVE A SCANDAL is probably the best read I’ve had yet this year. Samara Parish has the kind of voice that immediately draws you into the story and then you find you just can’t put it down until you’ve read the last page. I’ve read a few Regencies lately and Parish reminds me once again why I love stories from this era. She brings to life the constraints women had to live with and how, if so inclined, they managed to work around them.  When we first meet Amelia she is totally a woman of her time. Parish then develops her into someone you would like to have has your neighbor and friend. There isn’t a sudden transformation, but one that shows a woman coming into her own and while in the process of becoming true to herself, becomes a truly marvelous person.

Benedict is your basic nice guy – with his own set of prejudices. It’s those prejudices that keep him from seeing the changes he himself brings about in Amelia. He seems determined to break her and she continues, time after time, to show him her true self. Give his size one assumes he has no vulnerabilities, but he does and Parish brings those out for her readers in a way you just fall in love with him.

I loved this story and cannot wait to read book 2 in this series, HOW TO DECEIVE A DUKE.

 

This is an objective review and not an endorsement of this book.

 

                                                                           

VEIL OF STARS by Yasmine Galenorn

 

Series: The Wild Hunt, Book 17
Nightqueen Enterprises
August 23^rd, 2021
9798460354818
Paranormal/Urban Fantasy, action adventure, Ghosts, Vampires
Paperback
Reviewed by Dawn (love2read28@gmail.com)
Obtained by Self Purchase
5 Hearts

The battle that has threatened the world has finally come as the Dragonni make themselves known and hatch a plan to bring the Father of Dragons, Typhon, back into the human world. The Wild Hunt and its allies have raced against the clock to try to stop Typhon and as the final battle looms, they find themselves at a crossroads. If the Mother of Dragons, Echidna, doesn’t stop Typhon and put him back into stasis, the world as they know it will falter and chaos will emerge in the dust. Ember, Herne, and the Wild Hunt are on the sidelines as the battle between the titans begins alongside their allies of gods and others against Typhon and his ilk who want to destroy everything here on Earth. But as a shockwave from these two titans’ hit, Ember, Angel and Raven find themselves sent into the realm of the Silver Wheel, Caer Arianrhod. Now the clock ticks as these three try to stay away from the Star Hounds of Arianrhod and keep themselves alive as each of the women have something to live for in their future.

Wow, the final full-length novel in the Wild Hunt Series, Veil of Stars, delivers one wild ride from start to finish. With each book, the readers have been on a journey with Ember, Angel, and the Wild Hunt gang as they dealt with keeping the fae kingdoms of Earth from starting a war, dealing with issues such as love hate and more but now the father of Dragons is here ad his allies have the Wild Hunt and their allies in the crosshairs. I found this final novel full of twists and turns, secrets and set up of a world so vast that it has me eager to know more. With the broad stroke of a keystroke, this author delivers a rousing story arc finish that hit all my love buttons multiple times. From seeing the main characters, we have grown to enjoy and love so much grow and find their own happiness in the aftermath of the final battle as well as some things yet left unsaid and hinted at speaks to future novellas to delve into. I loved every inch of this book and series as a whole so much. Though I am sad to see it end for now, Ms. Galenorn delivers a story that ties up loose ends of a multi-storyline begun many books ago and introduces some new characters to be intrigued about.

VEIL OF STARS is the final battle between Typhon and his allies against the Wild Hunt, its allies and Echidna. The question that has been lingering in the last few books was, ‘Can the Wild Hunt send Typhon back to sleep or will they lose everything they have worked so hard for?’. I got to admit I was wondering how this would all turn out as the hints from the last few books had me eager to see just how this author would tie those questions as well as others up in VEIL OF STARS. I will admit that some things were shocking to read but others had me humming in pleasure as the story weaved a spell around me. The characters have grown so much all through the books and I will miss them all. For me though, the highlight was seeing more of this world Ms. Galenorn built from her first book, The Silver Stag. It’s vast, has untapped potential (which the readers will see in a few spin offs already announced by the author) and the promise of revisiting the Wild Hunt characters in the future.

If you enjoy a complex world filled with captivating characters, wild action and lots of romance, friendship and more then you will enjoy the Wild Hunt series immensely. With the author promising one more novella to round out the series coming in 2022, this reader may be sad to see this series end but am really excited to see where the author goes within this world of hers that she created.

This is an objective review and not an endorsement