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*** March 2015 reads***
Yes, I read yet another series out of order―specifically, books #4-6, and then back to #1. Chalk it up to cranky book fussies (or female’s prerogative) partly due to #1’s basic storyline. ;-)
GENRE: PNR; Steampunk
LENGTH: 432 (MMP pgs)
HEAT LEVEL (content): sexy-hot (m/f vanilla; frank but not overly explicit/extended)
PUBLISHER/pub date: Forever (GCP/Hachette); August 2014
SERIES INFO (timeline): Darkest London #5 (@ 1yr after end of #4)
FORMAT (source): MMP (own); Audio (borrow)
BLURB:
Once the night comes...
Will Thorne is living a nightmare, his sanity slowly being drained away by a force he can’t control. His talents have made him the perfect assassin for hire. But as he loses his grip on reality, there is no calming him—until he finds his next target: the mysterious Holly Evernight.
Love must cast aside the shadows...
Holly cannot fathom who would put a contract on her life, yet the moment she touches Will, the connection between them is elemental, undeniable—and she’s the only one who can tame his bouts of madness. But other assassins are coming for Holly. Will must transform from killer to protector and find the man who wants Holly dead...or his only chance for redemption will be lost.
Still captivated by the narrating skills of Moira Quirk, I barely touched my DTB copy & continued with this series via audio. Thus, 4-star rating is influenced by my listening experience. If I were to rate the story on its own, it would be more 3-3.5 stars.
Overall, I did enjoy this installment of the Darkest London series but it fell a bit flat, especially after a 5-star reading (listening) of the previous book, Shadowdance. Unlike in earlier books, I found some diversions from the main storyline to be more disruptive than necessary. And plot-wise, there were more than a few weak and/or unaddressed points (some due to minor instances of deus ex machina). This resulted in a vague feeling of dissatisfaction with the dénouement of both the action/mystery and the romance. And the final (tiny) nail in coffin was a personal pet peeve: even with certain open items, the epilogue dealt with the next book/couple, as opposed to wrapping up things re: Will and Holly. :/
Nonetheless, I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend this book (and entire series) to PNR/steampunk fans. And despite loss of some momentum re: series, I already got & listened to the next book, Soulbound, which was released on 24-Feb-2015.
Oh man, why can't I listen faster?! LOL/*smh*
This series continues to progress in strong fashion, with this book #5 picking up @ 1yr after book #4, ‘Shadowdance’. I’ve been too busy reading this series to pause for anything other than quick posts on GR or verbal chit-chat IRL, so may post an abbreviated ‘series in review’ soon. Unless *cough* waylaid due to reading ‘Soulbound’, #6 which is due out today :)
In meantime, here’s a tidbit from ‘Evernight’... Be well, everyone!
“I’m going to…” She cleared her throat. “I shall rub you down, thoroughly concentrating on each area. Hopefully, it will slow the progress of the metal more effectively than simply putting my hand upon your chest.”
A slow, wide grin pulled at his lips. “Let me see if I have this correctly,” he said, struggling not to crow, “you are going to rub your hands all over my body…”—she narrowed her eyes in distaste, which only made his grin reach epic proportions—“slowly and thoroughly—”
“Really, Mr. Thorne.”
“While my part in it is to lie here and take it?” His cheeks ached from smiling. “Is that the plan?”
...
By the time she’d finished with him, with a little encouraging pat and a request that he rest quiet like a good lad, there was no point in denying it: Holly Evernight would be the death of him.
GENRE: PNR/HR/steampunk
LENGTH: 427 (MMP pgs)
HEAT LEVEL (content): sexy-hot (m/f vanilla; frank but not overly explicit/graphic)
PUBLISHER (pub date): Forever/GCP/Hachette (Dec 2013)
SERIES INFO (timeline): Darkest London #4 (almost 2yrs after #3)
BLURB:
Once a heart is lost in shadow...
Life has been anything but kind to Mary Chase. But the Society for the Suppression of Supernaturals has given her purpose. Now she's been tasked with catching a vicious murderer dubbed the Bishop of Charing Cross. But someone is already on the case—and the last thing he relishes is a partner.
Only someone who lives in darkness can find it.
Jack Talent has been alone with his demons for many years. He never expected to have the willful Mary Chase assist him on the Bishop case. Their age-old rivalry reaches new heights—even as their desire for one another reaches a fever pitch. Though he aches to bring her close, Jack's dark secrets are a chasm between them. With dangerous enemies closing in, Jack must find the strength to face the past...or risk losing Mary forever.
Best in series thus far!
Very quick thoughts b/c I’ve got several books to read before I can return to this series and read “Evernight” (book #5) prior to the Feb 24th release of “Soulbound” (book #6).
In a nutshell, I’m thoroughly loving this series. So *really* fortunate that I managed to get over hump re: “Firelight” (book #1), due to fantastic narration (IMHO, ‘voice acting’ truly applies here) by Moira Quirk. [More specifics re: that to be in forthcoming recap of books #1-3, probably by this weekend.] I’m so impressed by Ms. Quirk that I’ve stayed w/ audio for all books―which is *very* unusual for me b/c ABs usually take me 3-4x longer.
The MCs in “Shadowdance” were introduced in the previous books
GENRE: Erotic Sci-Fi Romance
LENGTH: 109 (Kindle pgs)
HEAT LEVEL (content): Erotic (see FYI below)
PUBLISHER (pub date): self (19 March 2014)
SERIES INFO: n/a
BLURB:
Kit Sawyer works for the government. It’s a sweet deal: easy work, good pay. Enough money to buy the drugs she needs to forget how much she hates having sex with good-for-nothing jerks.
Wait. Yeah. Maybe it’s not so sweet after all.
Kit lives on a remote planet, a wasteland colonized by intergalactic mining conglomerates. It’s an awful place, and nobody wants to be there. That’s where the Department of Domestic Affairs comes in. Employees sent to undesirable locations get a nice perk out of the deal: a live-in willing body.
Kit goes where she’s told. Does what she has to. But she has a bad attitude, and it lands her in hot water. She’s sent to a problem client. A real creep, though he’s filthy rich. One of the elite. And she discovers, to her surprise, that even the high and mighty need a little companionship
Unexpectedly more :)
* Review copy provided by the author.
What a surprise! Initially expected a quick, enjoyable erotic romp, but by the ending, got a story with greater depth & emotions―with a (presumed) HEA to boot. IDK why but this book reminded me of the movie, Pretty Woman. As with the movie, I wouldn't mind seeing a sequel to see how Kit & Pike fare. :)
Interesting concept of sex trade turned corporate, with licensed 'companions' getting assignment contracts & pay, as well as bonuses for consenting to extra duties. Light world-building, just enough to maintain sci-fi feel. Diverse mix of characters/clients, with plenty of sex scenes (altho some more for plot movement whilst others definitely for arousal).
I liked how Kit's attitude & character slowly changed due to her new assignment. I only wish that I knew how/why she became the way she was in the beginning. As for Pike, I liked him immediately & could relate to his caution.
Also loved Ms. Vora's writing in this one―overall, very well-written, with some sections being almost poetic. Example:
... A breeze ruffled her hair, bearing the sharp scent of greenery, the perfume of live flowers. Real sunlight warmed her cheeks, the backs of her hands.
And everywhere she looked, she found something to delight her eyes. Pike's fabulous complex. The trees and towers and shining windows of nearby residences. Parks and fountains and mother-of-pearl paths that glittered from afar.
It really was too good to last. Too beautiful, too pleasurable, too perfect. ...
Definitely recommend this for anyone looking for a hot, erotic read with varied sex content. If one were to classify this as 'dark erotica', then I would consider it to be on the 'lighter' side, meaning more grey than black. But do check to see if anything in the content FYI poses a problem. ;-)
___________
Content FYI:
drug use by h in beginning; multiple partners due to occupation/companion work policies; a client into humiliation; m/f, m/f/f, orgy at party; rough/hint of dubcon sex; attempted rape; mild BDSM themes/scenes
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