Universal Love: Alien Romance

This genre (alien/scifi/fantasy romance) is normally categorized under "cheesy" and "ridiculous", but books that are fun and outrageous can be a true escape. If you're dealing with day-to-day stress, sometimes you need to be silly. Reading about smokin' hawt aliens is an easy way to find out-of-this-world release from our mundane, earthy problems.

VENOMOUS by Penelope Fletcher

3.5 stars
As you can tell from the cover, the guy in this novel is...textured. That is not the only, or most pressing, difference between his species and humans. Ms. Fletcher did an AMAZING job with the world-building, and the aliens in VENOMOUS are diverse and interesting. Culture, physiology, and language were all varied, and she used a generous dollop of scifi terminology to make readers feel like this was more than just an alien abduction (although that is part of the plot...). For those reasons alone, I'd recommend this novel. It's not often that I stumble across such a well-defined universe.

But, as much as I'd love only to sing VENOMOUS' praises, there were a few downsides to note. The editing wasn't as good as it could have been, and that did detract from my overall enjoyment. And, aside from that, I was a little disgruntled by the "lesser mate" aspect, especially since Lumen made her opinions/fears well known and she still was pressured into the ceremony. Felt a LOT like rape via coercion. Speaking of which, the scene in the beginning of this novel is also very uncomfortable, for similar reasons. There was no intent to harm, or malicious acts, but our gal Lumen still ended up in a situation that I do not envy--she reasoned her way through it, made the best of it, and ended up figuring our why it happened, but reading about her introduction to alien sex was uncomfortable. That said, the consensual sex throughout the rest of the novel was awesome.

I recommend to readers who enjoy life-mate type romance, but aren't particular about inter-species relations ;) Those who find multiple partners exciting will find this titillating, as Luman has more than one "husband", and female-led polygamy is kinda an on-going theme.

OBSESSION by Jennifer Armentrout

4 Stars
This is a spin-off of Ms. Amrentrout's LUX series, and I really enjoyed it. Although LUX is YA, this is more NA, and there is sexual content.

OBSESSION is the alien equivalent of opposites attract. Serena is a (semi)sweet human and Hunter is an alien asshole. His one redeeming quality is his love for her...though it takes him a while to figure that shit out. Personalities aside, they have awesome chemistry.

I recommend to readers who enjoy light scifi, dominant (alien) men, adventure, and HEAs (Happily Ever Afters).

GRACIE'S TOUCH by S.E. Smith

3.5 Stars
The cover lacks sophistication, but don't let that stop you from enjoying this light scifi romance!

There are a handful of editing issues, and the first couple of chapters need work, but this novel hits its stride after a few tiny stumbles, and I'm glad I stuck it out to read the whole thing. This whole novel can be summed up easily: Gracie sacrifices herself to save earth from alien invaders only to mysteriously end up on a deserted planet, and is discovered several years by her soul mate. Oh, and then she kicks those alien assholes in the gonads again.

Gracie is awesome.

Overall this was a satisfying read, and I'd recommend it to those who enjoy life-mate type romances, readers who like strong, smart female protagonists, and fans of light scifi.

GRIM by M.K. Eidem

3.5 Stars
Once again, the cover is less than appealing to those seeking romance...but don't be fooled.

The main character is Lisa, a widowed mom of two little girls; she's strong, smart, and kind. I was surprised by how much I liked her and her resiliency. Grim is...grim. He has very little sense of self-worth, but ends up being a fantastic husband/father. I enjoyed the dynamics of this family as they got to know one another. Lisa and Grim have communication/species differences that add frustration and angst to the story, but it all ends up resolved for a HEA.

I didn't give GRIM 4 stars because there are grammar issues--commas are thing, Ms. Eidem--and because readers need to suspend belief a few times. For instance, the kidnapped earth gals don't show a whole lot of anger at their situation. Other than Lisa, they are single and childless, but that doesn't mean they lack other connections to our blue planet...and yet, there was little mention of homesickness or frustration (except the anger aimed at the Empress, though that was simulated and part of a subplot--intriguing, hm?).

Still, I enjoyed this novel and would recommend it to fans of light scifi, those who enjoy slow-building trust and love, and family-oriented romance (Lisa's kids play a role in this story).

Headstrong Heroine: Into the Veil

**I received a free copy in exchange for an honest review**

3.5/5—it hurts to rate this novel under 4 stars, but there are glaring grammar and spelling errors.

This is one of those stories that I really, really, really like. Part of me wishes I could let slip the other L-word. There’s a spunky heroine, tons of adventure, a dash of romance, a mystery, and magic. Unfortunately, the story outpaced the author.

While INTO THE VEIL is well-imagined and the characters are nicely developed, it’s impossible to ignore that an editor could have bumped this novel up to a 4. There were mistakes all throughout that distracted and confused me. That alone is annoying in the midst of a gripping scene…but the writing itself was patchwork. Not bad, just not cohesive. For instance, the writing is much less sophisticated in the first several chapters than in later chapters. I would go so far as to say it would appeal more to MG than YA, though later scenes amp up enough to warrant a YA label.

That being said, this novel wouldn’t rank a 5 for me, even with the help of an editor. I enjoyed how unique the world was, and I enjoyed seeing it through Lyric’s eyes, but there are several plot holes that hindered me from enjoying the story as much as I might have. Little quirks, like how the twins were “in hiding” but couldn’t even be bothered to hide their white-blond hair with a little dye, or their ice-pale skin with a touch of bronzer, bothered me. I mean, pink streaks? I get wanting to be rebellious, but at what cost? And that was just one example.

But with grammar and plot holes aside, there’s a lot to admire in INTO THE VEIL. The concept of veilwalkers being sages—a subgenre of witch that is almost extinct—is unique and intriguing. As is the budding romance between Lyric and Aiden. I do love moody men. *sigh* I wish I had a better grasp of what he looked like, to be honest, but his fierce loyalty combined with his sensitive moments are enough to make me swoon.

 And don’t get me started on the world! The mystery! The danger! It’s all so exciting, and it makes turning each page an adventure all its own. I can’t wait to find out more about Lyric’s mother and the scandalous affair that may or may not have resulted in murder. It’s like a magical soap opera, except without the bad lighting.

In all seriousness, I didn’t expect to be as attached as I am. I’m truly invested in Lyric, especially since by the end of the novel she feels so alone. I can’t lie: I just want to hug her. And possibly beat Aiden overtop the head with his own bad attitude. But if they kissed and made up, I’d totally be fine with that, too.

My hope is that in the following novels, Lyric comes into her own power. Maybe not magical power, but into some confidence and intrigue that will give her more footing in her dangerous world. When Gemma told her to grow up, it seemed harsh…but it was the truth. I’m excitedly looking forward to see if that happens.

Would I recommend INTO THE VEIL (except to my grammar-nazi friends)? Yes, because I think fans of paranormal fantasy will enjoy the unique world and spunky main character—but also because this is an outstanding example of indie writing. I only hope to find more authors like Jennifer R. McDonald!

Violently Beautiful: Throne of Glass

This book is sitting on my nightstand, next to three other novels. It will probably stay there until I lose the ability to read. I know that doesn't mean much to y'all, but having only four books on my 'favorite' list is...meaningful. Over the last ten years, I've read well over a thousand books. I mean that literally. I love, love, LOVE to read.

But only a very few, very rare books hit home. I'm not just talking about books that have brought out my emotions or made me think deep thoughts, but actually hit home. The impact is something you don't forget. Considering that, Throne of Glass definitely makes my favorite shelf.

The world is decline, almost completely overtaken by a cruel tyrant. Cool story, Bro.

There is a love triangle. Ugh. Neither guy would be my first choice, but whatevs.

There is a competition that moves the pace along like good, obedient plot device. Meh.

...but then there's Celaena. Forget everything else. Forget the magic-less mess of a world, the dueling heartthrobs, and the competition. None of that matters. I swear to you, the rest of the novel will fall away if you focus on her.

Not because the rest of the novel is bad, mind you. No, I don't mean that at all. But the rest of the novel has nothing on this one character. Of all the character-driven novels you've ever read, this one takes the lead. Celaena is my ultimate girl-crush.

She's not perfect. In fact, if Celaena had any more flaws she'd be useless as a champion. It was a razor-thin edge to walk, but she's *just* flawed enough. As contradictory as it sounds, Celaena's truly amazing. Not once did I ever think huh? why would she do that?--and that's rare. Writing an organic, original character is hard, which is why soppy, simpering idiots are the heroines in most YA novels. UGH.

The unwinding of Celaena's mysterious background, as well as her secrets, is also beautifully done. You won't find annoying info-dumps that bog down the writing. Sarah Maas knows what she's doing, and her skill kept me up 'til dawn, reading like a fiend.

I give this 5 stars--not because it's perfect, but because Maas has made me crave more. Seriously, I feel like a druggie waiting for my next hit. In my opinion, that's more valuable than a "perfect" novel.

Bookgasm: Night Huntress Series

I have a dirty little secret. 

It's embarrassing, really, how I let it build up. First there was just one. I told myself I would stop because it wasn't prudent. Or respectable. But then I let myself slip, and I added more to my collection.

Now it is hidden under my bed, and in the darkest shadows of my closet, stacked in deceptively neat piles. 

No, not dead bodies. 

My dirty little secret isn't illegal (in this country)--it's books. Very smutty books. Smuttiest of the smutty, in fact. But despite the incredible number of naughty novels, only a few authors stand out. At the top of my go-to list is Jeaniene Frost.

If you're a fan of Gena Showalter or Kresley Cole, you'll love Jeaniene Frost. And I mean LOVE.

I needed to scratch my paranormal romance itch, and I was randomly browsing Goodreads' Listopia when I came across Frost. Her ratings are impressive and I had to check out what the big deal was. I had no idea what I was getting into, and I actually ended up starting her series backwards on accident--oops!

But you want to know the funny thing? Even without a clue about what I was cannon-balling into, I fell in love. Her writing is easy and fun, but her characters are full and vibrant and real. Well, as real as badass vampires can be ;P 

The girls are spunky--no wimps here!--and the men aren't just hulking chauvinists, as in many romance novels. *blissful sigh* It is so rare to stumble upon such a great series! Especially since her novels are fast-paced and full of twists and turns. Nothing so easy as a bite-and-bang, that's for sure.

If you've never read her work, be aware that the sexy scenes made me blush--and I've been hoarding a dirty little secret. I've read a lot, but Frost keeps things interesting. My only comment on the smut: I hate the word loins, so the repeated use of it bothered the heck out of me...otherwise, expect a bookgasm. 

Overall, the first three books in this series rates a solid 4 stars from me. Some of her novels, of course, rate higher or lower than others, but the quality of the writing is fangtastic. *begs forgiveness* --I couldn't help the pun! =P

Decadently Dark: SHADOW AND BONE

 I avoided this series without every stopping to think about why.

Sometimes a book/series/author becomes familiar, blending in with the rest of the information we learn to temper. Like when Twilight suddenly exploded onto everything and millions of tweens lost their pubescent minds. A lot of older people did the internal cringe--you know what I'm talking about. It's a lot like grade school cooties. They may or may not be real, but you don't want to be the one to find out. (ha! TwiHards have cooties!)

...it's fear. Seriously.

I cringe internally a lot more than I should. I feel like I've been duped one too many times. Which is why I hate hype. If my writing ever takes off, I'm sure I'll regret saying hype is evil, but as a reader, it remains the truth. And it's not because people lie. It's not because everything on the market is crap.

Basically, in a nutshell: It's me, not you.

Except I'm not breaking up with publishing. I'm just saying that I'm an individual, and my tastes reflect that. So imagine my absolute shock when I read SHADOW AND BONE by Leigh Bardugo...

When I say this is a tale of "Don't judge a book by it's cover", I mean it. I passed this book over more times than I can count. I'm not gonna lie: the gothic feel of the cover art doesn't draw me in and neither does the title. It was easy for me to overlook.

...the writing was not so easy to dismiss. In fact, Bardugo totally surprised me. Swept me off my feet, even. I won't go so far as to say that I would have run away to Vegas with this book, but I did swoon a little. Maybe more than a little.

Okay, fine. I totally loved SHADOW AND BONE.

I don't like ruining books by giving away secrets, so I'll keep my raving to a minimum. And, of course, I have to start with Alina. She's scrawny and clumsy and totally in love with a playboy, starting on page 1. Kinda impossible not to feel bad for the girl. Behind the exterior, she's smart and funny and loyal. And so sad.

And then, of course, she's swept up into this story...and I was swept up with her.

Bardugo's characters are great, and her plot is wicked--but it's her worldbuilding that sets her apart. I've never read about anywhere quite like Ravka. The Grisha, the steampunk element, the Unsea...it's enthralling. Add in The Darkling and I'm salivating.

And then Mal makes his entrance--his real entrance. We don't see who he is until the novel is almost finished, but it's worth it. I fell for the kid. And by kid, I mean hunk. I'll just say this: Bardugo gave this story the right amount of romance. The love-triangle-thing was interesting, but it didn't overpower an actual plot. Did keep me guessing for a while, though ;)

Ultimately, this is a quest novel. Alina needs something, and we spend a LOT of time following her around as she tries to find it. But it didn't feel like a quest. Readers don't yawn between descriptions of each landmark. That is a testament to Bardugo's skill in weaving the characters, plot, and world into every page.

I'll post about books 2 &3 later.