*Buddy read with Mel <3*
DNF at 23%
I usually finish the books I start. But here I just couldn't.
The book started good, I really liked Drew and found him funny for the first 20% or so. Until they started to compete for the account. I'm sorry, but for me, two supposedly clever people competing for the most immature behavior isn't funny.
*Spoilers free review*
MacRieve is the thirteen instalment in the Immortals After Dark series. I’ve been eagerly waiting for this book for 18 months or so. I simply LOVE this series. For me this is one of the best in the paranormal romance genre. I also love Kresley Cole's historical romances, and when I loved her first foray in the YA genre (a genre I really don’t like) I thought that she definitely couldn’t disappoint me whatever she wrote.
I was wrong.
With Shadow’s Claim (The Dacians #1 — a spinoff of the IAD series) and this one, I was disappointed.
This book is directly linked to book 11 (Dreams of a Dark Warrior) and it started really good but in the end it didn’t deliver.
MacRieve aka Uilleam aka Will aka one half of the Hot and Hotter duet aka head case, is the epitome of the tortured hero. He really had to deal with a lot and I really liked him, even when he wasn’t so nice with Chloe.
Chloe starts as a witty, cheeky, strong and resourceful heroine. When something bad happens to her, her motto is “rub some dirt on it and move on”. Unfortunately, as the book went on so did her spunk.
The plot didn’t help, simply because there was no plot whatsoever. Worse, there was no action. Furthermore, a lot of things/reactions didn’t make sense for me and there was too many too easy coincidences or about turns. And what happened with Chloe’s father? Really??? *rolls eyes*
I’m sad to say that the short epilogue with its bloody cliffhanger was more interesting than the book itself. Hopefully, Munro’s book will be better than his twin’s.
*Spoilers free review*
“You are mine.” simple, quiet words that were a punch to the chest. “I will fight for you, today, tomorrow, and all the tomorrows to come.”
Oh, my! Saying that Nalini Singh delivered with this Psy-Changeling book is an understatement. I just LOVED this book, the heroes, the way NS describes their relationships, the general plot, the answers,... Everything!
Heart of Obsidian picks up right where Tangle of Need ended. This book is focused on the Psys and has a slower pace but it perfectly suits the story and the characters.
I’m so happy that two of my hypothesis were right :D Can't wait for the next book and wonder who will be the next couple...
Some random quotes...
“It feels like a full-body kiss,” she whispered as her inner muscles began to clench in a quieter but no less potent pleasure.
Then he bent his head and told her they should practice kissing, voice as chill as frost... And eyes licked with black fire.
“I can’t become who I’m meant to be in your shadow. I’m afraid of waking up one day and finding there’s nothing left inside me but this furious need for you that wrenches away my sanity.”
“Am I so important to you?”
“Yes,” he said. “You’re everything.” The entire reason for his existence.
" You are here,” he said in a tone that made her heart thump wildly against her ribs, “because you belong to me."
*Spoilers free review*
He gave her a contemplative stare as if he’d never had a woman tease him. Then again, who in their right mind would tease a sadist?
Amongst the BDSM themed books the sadist/masochist couples are part of the ones I like the least. I’m sorry, but I can’t find a sadist appealing so if I can help it I tend to avoid BDSM books with sadist heroes.
That being said, even though I knew that Sam and Linda fell in that category I couldn’t wait to read “This is Who I Am”. For three reasons. The first one is although Sam is a sadist, since book 5 I couldn’t help but like him. The second reason is because in book 6, wanting to help Linda, Sam ended up messing up big time. He knows something went wrong but doesn’t know what and feel bad about it. The last reason is because in this book the identity of the mole in the Shadowlands Club was to be revealed (this particular sadist was creepy).
And then he’d made a mistake; to this day, he wasn’t sure exactly what. He had ideas, but hell, he could be totally off base.
“I’m not sure what I did.” Where were all the arguments he’d come up with over the past months? “But I did something wrong. I’m sorry, girl.”
Still, because of the MC's preferences I was prepared to not enjoy this book as much as the other, so this book was a really really good surprise. I don’t know how she did it but somehow Cherise Sinclair managed to write the story in such a way that their relationship was just beautiful and right.
With Sam, she’d felt safe. Safe enough to let go, to let pain transform into pleasure, to let herself slide into her happy place. His strength, his voice, even his brutal honesty was reassuring. So was the way he’d hold her afterward with surprisingly tender hands, caring for her as if she... meant... something.
I think that one of the things that allowed this achievement is that during the different BDSM scenes, instead of focusing on too much technical details or the pain side, Cherise Sinclair focused on the pleasure felt by Linda.
Glorious, erotic rawness. Unsure if she hurt or felt wonderful, she whimpered.
Delight filled his eyes.
[...] The pain was —as Goldilocks said—just right.
Another thing that helped is that not only none of them is in the humiliation stuff but after her abduction Linda is determined to be threated with respect and Sam is there to help her recover her self-esteem and confidence. I really liked the game they played where she was to receive “good” punishment if she misbehaved and “bad” ones if she was polite and compliant.
After donning the suit coat she’d fetched, he gave her an approving smile. “Miss Madison, I’m Sam Davies, the CEO of Pain International.” He held his hand out. (LOL!)
Sam is a really thoughtful and watchful Dom (inside and outside the club), Linda is a strong and loving woman and together they were beautiful. I think the fact that they are both mature added a dimension to their story.
Expecting to see amusement in his gaze, she saw only concern. It didn’t matter. She rose to her feet, rattled when he did the same. But he was the kind of man who’d observe that old-fashioned courtesy. A gentleman sadist.
"May have less muscles, but women got more guts than most men."
Of course this book being part of the Masters of the Shadowlands series, there was also funny moments. And I absolutely can’t wait for Sally, Galen and Vance story!!!
"Those two. They’ve got tag teaming down to a science. And they make me feel stupid. I never feel stupid. I need a drink."