Early Review: American Witch by Thea Harrison

American Witch by Thea Harrison

American Witch #1 (Elder Races)

Power can change a person…

For months Molly Sullivan endures the inexplicable: electrical surges, car breakdowns, visions. She even wonders if she might be the cause… and wonders if she might be crazy. Then she discovers her husband has cheated on her. Again. Now Molly realizes she is a newly awakening witch and a woman pushed over the edge.

Revenge can shape a person…

Josiah Mason is a Powerful witch and the leader of a secret coven with a shared goal: to destroy an ancient enemy who has ruined many lives. Josiah lost years to this man, and his sole focus is revenge. He’s prepared for every contingency—except encountering a beautiful new witch who understands nothing of the immense Power building within her or the attraction she wields over him.

Danger can bring them together…

When divorcing her husband, Molly uncovers a dangerous secret he’s willing to kill to protect. She turns to Josiah for help, and they discover a connection between Molly’s husband and Josiah’s enemy.

As they work together, a spark ignites between them that threatens to become an inferno. But Molly is done compromising herself for any man, and Josiah’s mission is his top priority. And the enemy is cunning, cruel, and drawing ever closer.

As the danger escalates, so does the tension between them. Is a lasting relationship possible? Will either of them live long enough to try?

I truly love the Elder Races world, and it's such a treat to meet a new couple and dive into this expansive world even further. This time around things had a different feel as the heroine didn't know about her abilities until her soon to be ex-husband's cheating pushed her over the proverbial edge. And boy did the sparks fly. Molly is an intriguing woman, both vulnerable and emotional, and yet also has a core of steel. It felt like a bit like of a coming of age story, but instead of a teenager, Molly is a grown woman finally living for herself and finding out who she really is. I had to admire her strength with everything that was thrown at her in such a short amount of time. She really is an amazing character.

Onto the romance. I'm a very romance driven reader, and I'm happy to report that the romance more than delivered in AMERICAN WITCH. It's a relatively quick progression, but it never felt rushed or unrealistic, which I appreciated considering everything the heroine is going through. The hero's massive amount of baggage didn't help either, and yet the quicker romantic progression still worked well. And that they started off as somewhat enemies only sweetened the romance for me as that's my favorite trope.

All in all, it comes as no surprise that AMERICAN WITCH was a very enjoyable read. Thea Harrison really is a powerhouse in the paranormal romance genre and I can't wait to see what's next!

(Received a copy from the publisher)

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Other Reviews:
     Tome Tender
     Smokin Hot Book Blog

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Review: Lionheart by Thea Harrison

Lionheart by Thea Harrison

Moonshadow #3

King Oberon reigned over his Dark Court in Lyonesse for centuries, until an assassination attempt laid him low. Now he lies unconscious in his snow-bound palace, while his Power battles the enchantment that threatens to end his life.

A skilled trauma surgeon and magic-user, Dr. Kathryn Shaw reigns at the top of her profession in New York. Then comes a challenge she can’t resist—she is asked to cure the uncureable. Just getting close enough to try healing Oberon is a dangerous proposition. When she does reach him, he awakens too soon.

Roused from darkness by Kathryn’s presence, Oberon confronts the beautiful stranger who claims she wants to save his life. But the enchantment has frozen his emotions. How can he learn to trust her when he can’t feel anything?

Oberon’s desire is icy, devoid of all tenderness. Not only must Kathryn match wits with him, she must also fight her reaction to his touch, because there is so much more at stake than her own endangered heart.

For the Dark Court faces its most deadly peril yet. Its ancient enemy Isabeau, Queen of the Light Court, is obsessed with its annihilation, and Oberon must be brought to remember his loyalty and affection for his people.

Because if he won’t fight for them, Lyonesse itself may very well be destroyed…

Man do I love a grumpy, surly hero. Oberon in many respects has filled the "hole" left behind with Dragos no longer getting featured books. There's just something so yummy about reading a book with such an "overbearing" hero and the tough as nails heroine that tames them. LIONHEART more than delivered in this aspect. Kathryn is the match for Oberon and then some. She gives as good as she gets and I truly enjoyed watching these two dance around each other. Their romance was a slow but fierce burn, exactly perfect for the pair.

Aside from the romance, the rest of the world, characters, and plotline were all fantastic as well. The war with Isabeau has come to a boiling head, ratcheting up the intensity. And the sideline characters added a richness to the story. I have to admit the Puck stole the show for me. I want to see him grow and heal, and maybe some day find love of his own. Hopefully he's on the author's mind for the future!

I've really enjoyed the Moonshadow trilogy and I can only hope Thea changes her mind and decides to continue this spin off series. I love these characters, and all of the Elder races books. Regardless, if Thea writes it, I'll be first in line to read it. Fans of the Elder Races will be more than pleased with LIONHEART and will want this one on their e-reader asap!

(Received a copy from the author)

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Other Reviews:
     The Bookish Sweet Tooth
     Angel's Guilty Pleasures
     Tome Tender

Previous Books:
     1. Moonshadow
     2. Spellbinder

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Early Review: Planet Dragos by Thea Harrison

Planet Dragos by Thea Harrison

Elder Races #9.8

From New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Thea Harrison comes the final novella featuring Pia and Dragos…

Pia’s latest pregnancy has become a daily challenge, her relationship with Dragos strained with argument. That hasn’t stopped them from achieving a compromise and traveling to Las Vegas to celebrate their friend Rune’s wedding to his mate Carling.

From the moment they arrive, the trip goes awry. Death walks in Vegas, and Pia is kidnapped as an ancient enemy makes a move to destroy the Great Beast once and for all.

But the Great Beast has other plans. On Planet Dragos everything goes the way he arranges it—unless someone decides to cross him, and God help them then, because he doesn’t know how to back down, and he doesn’t ever, ever let up.

Wow. For PLANET DRAGOS being "just" a novella, an incredible amount of game changing events happen. My head is still spinning from the whirlwind of events. It's always so bittersweet to say goodbye to much loved characters. And as this is the last installment to directly feature Dragos and Pia, I was hoping for a proper send off. PLANET DRAGOS more than delivered. 

From the first page, things take off with a bang and Dragos speaks of Pia's kidnapping. Then we're thrust a few days in the past to a very pregnant Pia and Dragos trying to navigate their relationship. Their squabbling and learning to navigate through their issues felt so real and relatable. Then of course the actual kidnapping occurs and the book is an utter whirlwind from there. It's non-stop action and fury with all the favorite characters from previous books returning leading up to one heck of a climax. I was seriously hooked and on the edge of my seat from all the action. But what I appreciated even more was that after the incredible climax, there was a good bit of page time afterwards bringing things to a close and setting things up for the future. It was really well balanced and I loved every minute of it! 

PLANET DRAGOS felt like an end and a beginning all in one, both bittersweet for this reader and yet hopeful for the future to come. With one door closing and another one opening, Thea Harrison proves that there is so much potential to the amazing Elder Races world. I can't wait to see what's in store next!

(Received a copy from the author)

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Other Reviews:
     Books in Brogan

Previous Books:
     1. Dragon Bound
     2. Storm's Heart
     3. Serpent's Kiss
     4. Oracle's Moon
     5. Lord's Fall
     6. Kinked
     6.5. Dragos Takes a Holiday

     6.6. Pia Saves the Day

     6.7. Peanut Goes to School 

     7. Night's Honor

     8. Midnight's Kiss

     8.5. Dragos Goes to Washington

     8.6. Pia Does Hollywood

     9. Shadow's End

     9.5. Liam Takes Manhattan

     9.7. The Chosen

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Review: Amid the Winter Snow by Grace Draven, Thea Harrison, Elizabeth Hunter, Jeffe Kennedy

Amid the Winter Snow by Grace Draven, Thea Harrison, Elizabeth Hunter, Jeffe Kennedy

As the snows fall and hearths burn, four stories of Midwinter beginnings prove that love can fight its way through the chillest night...

THE DARKEST MIDNIGHT, by Grace Draven
The mark Jahna Ulfrida was born with has made her a target of the cruel and idle all her life. During the long, crowded festivities of Deyalda, there’s nowhere to escape. Until a handsome stranger promises to teach her to save herself…

THE CHOSEN, by Thea Harrison
In her visions, Lily sees two men fighting for her tiny country’s allegiance: the wolf and the tiger, each deadly, each cunning. One will bring Ys chaos and death, one a gentler path—but she’s destined to love whichever she chooses. The midwinter Masque is upon them, and the wolf is at her door…

THE STORM, by Elizabeth Hunter
When her soul mate died in a massacre of the half-angelic Irin people, Renata thought she’d never feel happiness again. She’s retreated to the snowy Dolomites to remember her hurts—until determined, irrepressible Maxim arrives to insist on joy, too. And before she can throw him out, they discover a secret the Irin have to know…

THE SNOWS OF WINDROVEN, by Jeffe Kennedy
As a blizzard threatens their mountain keep, the new Queen Amelia of the Twelve Kingdoms and her unofficial consort Ash face their own storm. Ash knows a scarred, jumpy ex-convict isn’t the companion his queen needs. But when a surprise attack confines them together in their isolated sanctuary, the feast of midwinter might tempt even Ash into childlike hope…

This anthology was the perfect evening read escape for this hectic holiday season. Each day has been filled with all the crazy planning and prepping, errands, and work galore. But each evening I had this fun anthology to look forward to, and it was just what I needed. Despite not being familiar with most of the worlds behind the stories below, I found myself easily slipping right into the stories.

THE DARKEST MIDNIGHT, by Grace Draven 5/5
I hadn't read anything from this series previously, but I will have to remedy that soon. The world behind this novella was incredibly rich and had so much to offer. While Grace is a new to me author, her storytelling was truly masterful. The characters, the plotline, the world, everything hooked me in from the start. I particularly enjoyed seeing Jahna's progression from damaged child to a fully confident woman as the story was told over many years. The romance was a slow and sweet build, and just the right pace. Great read!

THE CHOSEN, by Thea Harrison 5/5
I have to admit the entire reason I picked up this anthology was to read Thea's novella. I absolutely love the Elder Races series, and this story was no exception. While it's on a smaller realm that I'm not too familiar with, there were boundless expansions to this already rich world that I truly enjoyed. The idea of the Chosen with a wolf like hero out to conquer, well it was delicious read. I loved the sparks between the two, and every part of this novella. I hope to see more from them in the future!

THE STORM, by Elizabeth Hunter 4/5
Just like Grace's installment, despite not being familiar with the world, I had no problem slipping right into Elizabeth's novella. The fallen angel lore was truly fascinating, and like Grace's installment this one also took place over a period of many years. I'm finding that I'm really enjoying these longer time period books as they allow for such a rich and realistic progression with the hero and heroine. The poor heroine in this story comes with so much baggage and rightfully slow. I truly enjoyed seeing the hero chip slowly away at her armor. Very enjoyable!

THE SNOWS OF WINDROVEN, by Jeffe Kennedy 3/5
I have to admit that this book was my least favorite of the anthology, mostly due to that I don't feel like it stood alone. I have not read anything from this author/world, and this novella felt like it was started right in the middle of a couple's story. The entire time reading it, I felt like I was trying to play catch up. Also, it's told from the hero's point of view, and frankly he was much too whiny for my tastes. However, that could be an unfair judgement based on just this novella due to all my missing backstory. The parts of the world that I did see and the rest of the characters were very rich and well written, I just was missing too much outside required knowledge to really enjoy this one.

All in all if you are looking for a fun holiday read, AMID THE WINTER SNOW is for you. I hope you enjoy these stories as much as I did!

(Received a copy from the author)

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Other Reviews:
     Reading the Paranormal
     Bambi Unbridled
     The Word Nerd

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Early Review: Spellbinder by Thea Harrison

Spellbinder by Thea Harrison

Moonshadow #2

Kidnapped while on tour, musician Sidonie Martel is transported to the mystical land of Avalon. A human without magical ability, she is completely vulnerable to the deadly forces surrounding her.

When she defies her captors and refuses to share her music, an act of violent cruelty leaves her broken, her ability to play silenced, maybe forever. Her only hope is a whisper in the dark, gentle hands that offer healing, and a man who refuses to show her his face yet who offers advice she dare not ignore.

One of the most feared and powerful sorcerers in history, Morgan le Fae serves a Queen he despises, Isabeau of the Light Court. Once a famous bard and an advisor to kings, Morgan has been enslaved to Isabeau for hundreds of years, acting as enforcer and the commander of her deadly Hounds.

Sidonie’s music touches Morgan in places he had abandoned centuries ago, and her fiery spirit resurrects feelings he had believed long dead. For Sidonie, trapped in captivity, passion offers a comfort she cannot resist.

But Isabeau holds Morgan bound in magical chains that only Death can break. And in the court of a cruel, jealous Queen, the only thing that burns hotter than love is revenge…

Oh my goodness did I love this book! You just can't go wrong with two of my favorite things meshed together, Thea Harrison's writing in the Elder Races world and Camelot. This take on the King Arthur lore has to be by far the most unique I've ever read and I enjoyed every moment of it. In fairness, it's not really set in Camelot, and really has little to do with it in these modern times, and yet there was plenty of that lore to keep me more than thrilled. It just was very well done, and I loved every minute of this book!

The characters, just like the world and premise were utterly fantastic. Morgan is truly a tortured soul held by unseen chains that to the outside world make him seem like the worst evil, and yet there's so much more than meets the eye to him. I thoroughly enjoyed watching the truth unfurl in this book. Moving onto the heroine, Sidonie, I loved her just as much. She was full of fire and spunk and yet all so vulnerable at the same time. She's not your typical kick butt heroine, and yet her inner core was astounding. I loved her just as much as Morgan! That being said I did have one small confusion about how her OCD was handled. Early on in the book it was all consuming, but towards latter parts of the book it barely played a role, sometimes only as an afterthought. Perhaps her having to find strength to overcome the obstacles led her to be able to suppress the OCD somewhat, but it was a bit jarring for me. It just seemed a bit off, and inconsistent. That being said it didn't really detract from the story, just struck me as odd, but worth mentioning even though this book is still earning a resound five star rating from me.

All in all, fans of the Elder Races will be absolutely delighted at this latest installment from Thea Harrison. If only she could write fast enough for my voracious appetite for this world and these characters. Bravo, Ms Harrison, Bravo!

(Received a copy from the publisher)

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Other Reviews:
     The Genre Mix
     Tome Tender
     Smokin' Hot Book Blog

Previous Books:
     1. Moonshadow

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Review: Moonshadow by Thea Harrison

Moonshadow by Thea Harrison

Moonshadow #1

Her past is a blank, her future uncertain….

Recovering from a shooting, LAPD witch consultant Sophie Ross leaves her job and travels to the U.K. to search for answers about her childhood. When she encounters a Daoine Sidhe knight of the Dark Court, she becomes entangled in an ancient hatred between two arcane forces.

He has given his body and soul to fight for his people….

Barred from his homeland along with his surviving brother knights, Nikolas Sevigny is embroiled in a conflict that threatens everything he holds dear. Only by uniting his people’s resources can they hope to prevail against Isabeau, the deadly Queen of the Light Court. He will do anything and use anyone to return home to Lyonesse.

When Nikolas encounters Sophie, he sees a tool to be used. The insouciant witch might be the key to unlocking every passageway that has been barred to the knights of the Dark Court, even as a fascination for her takes root in what’s left of his soul.

Sophie has no intention of becoming anyone’s pawn, yet the fierce Nikolas is so compelling, she can’t deny the temptation that endangers her guarded heart.

As magic threatens Lyonesse, Queen Isabeau unleashes her merciless Hounds, and Nikolas and Sophie become embroiled in a race for survival. Meanwhile, the passion that ignites between them burns too hot to be denied and quickly turns into obsession.

Thank goodness they both know better than to fall in love…

MOONSHADOW had all the great things I've grown to love about the main Elder Races books. The rich world behind these books is simply amazing, and I'm practically giddy at the limitless possibilities this new spin off has opened up. With a whole new race and otherland, a new nemesis, and cast of characters I'm utterly delighted at the new path these books are taking.

Hands down without a doubt, enemies to lovers is by far my favorite trope and MOONSHADOW had this in spades. There's just something so very delicious about a hero and heroine completely at odds with each other. Sure Sophie and Nik aren't technically enemies in the truest sense, but as they couldn't stand one another at the start and they bicker nonstop (well other than during the parts that they couldn't keep their hands off each other), that trope holds true in this case. I can't tell you how many times I giggled out loud at some of the incredibly outlandish things that Sophie would say to him. And of course he gave her a run for her money as well. Even as they slowly became a couple of sorts, that combativeness between them only lessened. I'm a word, this couple together were simply, delightfully fun.

What can I say? MOONSHADOW was simply fantastic. I loved every single moment of this book and am so glad Thea is continuing this phenomenal world in this spin off series. I can't wait to see what's in store next. 1-click this one right now! You won't regret it!

(Received a copy from the publisher)

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Other Reviews:
     The Book Nympho
     Angel's Guilty Pleasures
     Tome Tender

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Review: Liam Takes Manhattan by Thea Harrison

Liam Takes Manhattan by Thea Harrison

Elder Races #9.5

Reeling from a deep loss, the magical prince of the Wyr, Dragos and Pia’s son Liam Cuelebre, turns inward and withdrawn as he struggles to come to terms with who he is, along with the challenges that lie before him.

Hoping to ease his heartache and offer comfort, a concerned Dragos and Pia offer him a gift, something he has desired for a long time. Liam’s response has a ripple effect across all of New York. Soon miracles of all kinds start arriving just in time for Christmas, along with a visit from a mysterious person who gives Liam hope and a vision of his future.

I love this series, and all the characters, but Dragos/Pia/Liam hold a special place for me. So this novella trilogy has been a real treat, and I especially enjoyed Liam's story rounding things out. His incredibly rapid growth made him a bit of an unknown, and this peek inside his head really opened things up. I mean abstractly while he showed to be very intelligent and extremely fast developmentally, both I and Pia/Dragos still saw him as only a child. But what else could you expect when you consider that technically he's less than a year old. This novella while incredibly short showed a turning point for Liam, and paved the way for full novel(s) from his perspective. After reading this and the previous two installments in this novella trilogy, I'm only more desperate for the next book in this fantastic series, a sure sign of a great read. A perfect bonus treat for fans of the series, LIAM TAKES MANHATTAN is not to be missed.

(Received a copy from the author)

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Other Reviews:
     Smexy Books
     Coffee, Cookies, and Books
     Tome Tender

Previous Books:
     1. Dragon Bound
     2. Storm's Heart
     3. Serpent's Kiss
     4. Oracle's Moon
     5. Lord's Fall
     6. Kinked
     6.5. Dragos Takes a Holiday

     6.6. Pia Saves the Day

     6.7. Peanut Goes to School 

     7. Night's Honor

     8. Midnight's Kiss

     8.5. Dragos Goes to Washington

     8.6. Pia Does Hollywood

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Shadow's End by Thea Harrison

Shadow's End by Thea Harrison

Elder Races #9

The author of Lord’s Fall and Midnight’s Kiss returns with an enchanting and sizzling new tale about debts that cannot be repaid and hunger that cannot be satisfied…

For Beluviel, consort to the Elven High Lord, and Graydon, gryphon and First Sentinel of the Wyr, even the slightest desire for each other is forbidden. But two hundred years ago, after a desperate play to save Beluviel’s stepson left them indebted to the cruel Djinn Malphas, they found their fates inexorably linked together—and the hunger between them growing too strong to ignore…

Two centuries later, with their debt to Malphas coming due, Beluviel and Graydon realize that, if they are to stand any chance of saving their souls, they must once again work together—this time more closely than ever before. But every moment they spend with each other brings them nearer to losing something even more vital—their hearts…

This is one of those books that brings everything together in a long running series. There's been so many different pieces leading up to this book and so many threads, that it was really enjoyable to finally see how everything ties together. From the elves, to the Djinn, the Nightkind, plenty of politics, and a long running forbidden romance, this book has so much going on tying those threads together from all the books and I enjoyed every moment of it.

The convergence of all the threads would have kept me more than thrilled with the book, but when you consider that I've loved Graydon from the very first book, the romance took things a step further. Sure their epic love affair is a bit of a instalove stretch if you really think about it, but it worked nonetheless. I couldn't help feeling so much for Graydon and Beluviel, making for the best kind of romance.

I could go on and on, but I'll keep vague to avoid spoiling. A seriously game changing installment in the Elder Races series, SHADOW'S END is a must read for fans of the series. It proves once and for all that Thea Harrison is a master at her craft and I can't wait to see what happens next.

(Received a copy from the publisher)

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Other Reviews:
     Hot Listens
     Red Hot Books
     Smexy Books

Previous Books:
     1. Dragon Bound
     2. Storm's Heart
     3. Serpent's Kiss
     4. Oracle's Moon
     5. Lord's Fall
     6. Kinked
     6.5. Dragos Takes a Holiday

     6.6. Pia Saves the Day

     6.7. Peanut Goes to School 

     7. Night's Honor

     8. Midnight's Kiss

     8.5. Dragos Goes to Washington

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Review: Pia Does Hollywood by Thea Harrison

Pia Does Hollywood by Thea Harrison

Elder Races #8.6

After making a diplomatic pact with humankind and the other leaders of the Elder Races, Pia Cuelebre, mate to Dragos Cuelebre, Lord of the Wyr, reluctantly heads to Hollywood to spend a week with the Light Fae Queen, Tatiana, before the busy Masque season hits New York in December.

Dragos has never let the lack of an invitation stop him from doing anything he wanted. Unwilling to let his mate make the trip without him, he travels to southern California in secret to be with her.

But when an ancient enemy launches a shattering assault against the Light Fae, Dragos and Pia must intercede. The destruction threatens to spread and strike a mortal blow against all of the magically gifted, both human and Elder Race alike.

Working with the Light Fae to neutralize the danger, Dragos and Pia find their deepest vulnerabilities challenged and their most closely held secrets threatened with exposure.

I really love these novellas that bring us back to my favorite pair, Dragos and Pia. They always seem to get themselves in such a mess, and this time around is no exception. They really "stepped" in it this time, and I was thoroughly entertained watching their latest fiasco unravel. There's so much going on in this novella despite it's short length, and I found myself wishing for just a bit more by the end. Everything continued at a frenetic pace to the point where I wanted this to be a full length book and slow down to expand on things. Who am I kidding though... I'd find any reason to ask for a full length featuring Dragos and Pia. There's just something electric about the pair that keeps me wanting more. And I'm thankful for any tastes we get to see of the pair. So all in all, I highly recommend PIA DOES HOLLYWOOD to fans of the series. There's some pretty interesting and important reveals as well as a great deal of fun that you won't want to miss!

(Received a copy from the publisher)

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Other Reviews:
     Love Affair with an e-Reader
     Tome Tender
     The Window Seat on a Rainy Day

Previous Books:
     1. Dragon Bound
     2. Storm's Heart
     3. Serpent's Kiss
     4. Oracle's Moon
     5. Lord's Fall
     6. Kinked
     6.5. Dragos Takes a Holiday

     6.6. Pia Saves the Day

     6.7. Peanut Goes to School 

     7. Night's Honor

     8. Midnight's Kiss

     8.5. Dragos Goes to Washington

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Review: Dragos Goes to Washington by Thea Harrison

Dragos Goes to Washington by Thea Harrison

Elder Races #8.5

Dragos Cuelebre, Lord of the Wyr, needs to throw a party without maiming anyone. That isn’t exactly as easy as it might sound.

After the destructive events of the last eighteen months, the Elder Races are heading to Washington D.C. to foster peace with humankind. Not known for his diplomacy skills, Dragos must rely on his mate Pia to help navigate a battlefield of words and polite smiles rather than claws. With Dragos’s mating instinct riding close to the surface, his temper is more volatile than ever and the threat of violence hovers in the air.

Then the human spouse of a prominent politician winds up murdered and Dragos and Pia must race against time to hunt down those behind it before they are held responsible for the crime.

For fans of DRAGON BOUND and LORD’S FALL, the latest novella in the Elder Races holds passion, peril, political intrigue, and revelations that will change Dragos and Pia’s lives forever.

I'm a huge fan of the Elder Races series, and I have to admit while I love all the characters, Dragos, Pia, and Liam are by far my favorites. So these small outtake novellas are the perfect "fix" for me. I'm also always impressed at how much emotion and actual events Thea always manages to pack in these considering how short they are and this novella was no exception. It kept me hooked from the very first page, and even brought a tear felt moment by the end. Perfect for fans of the series who need a bit more Dragos and Pia in their lives like I do, DRAGOS GOES TO WASHINGTON is not to be missed. I'll be counting down the days until the two follow up novellas arrive, and of course the next full length coming soon. If you haven't started this series yet, what are you waiting for?

(Received a copy from the author)

Rating:

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Other Reviews:
     Where the NightKind Roam
     Tome Tender
     Books in Brogan

Previous Books:
     1. Dragon Bound
     2. Storm's Heart
     3. Serpent's Kiss
     4. Oracle's Moon
     5. Lord's Fall
     6. Kinked
     6.5. Dragos Takes a Holiday

     6.6. Pia Saves the Day

     6.7. Peanut Goes to School 

     7. Night's Honor

     8. Midnight's Kiss

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Early Review: Midnight's Kiss by Thea Harrison

Midnight's Kiss by Thea Harrison

Elder Races #8

In the latest Novel of the Elder Races, two souls who have long buried their passions are about to be consumed…

Ever since their scorching affair ended years ago, Julian, the Nightkind King, and Melisande, daughter of the Light Fae Queen, have tried to put the past behind them—and distance between them. But when a war breaks out between Julian and Justine, a powerful Vampyre of the Nightkind council, they find themselves thrown together under treacherous circumstances…

Kidnapped as leverage against Julian, Melly is convinced that her former lover won’t be rushing to her rescue. But when Julian gives himself up to save her, they both end up Justine’s captives. Armed only with their wits and their anger, Melly and Julian must work together to escape. But will they be able to ignore their complicated history, or will the fiery passion that once burned them blaze again?

I have to admit I wasn't sure how I felt about this one in advance. Julian seemed too much of a jerk hero when it came to how he was towards Melly. Don't get me wrong, I'm all about enemies to lovers, but prior to reading this one, I felt like his behavior against her was too much. And then on the flip side, from initial impressions I found Melly to be too immature for my tastes, so I wasn't sure how this one was going to work out for me. Luckily while both of those issues are there at the start of the book, they actually worked really well and made things more interesting as the book progressed. Melly has an outward immaturity, but an underlying core of steel showing there's much more than meets the eye to her. And Julian had reasons for being so much of a jerk, but when push came to shove he swallowed his pride and risked everything. So these "flaws" actually wound up enhancing the story in the end, and that's the best kind.

With the amazing tension, high stakes risk, and off the charts steam, this one should have easily been a five star read. Unfortunately the plot itself held it back from that perfect rating. While things felt high stakes with the risks against both Melly and Julian, there just didn't feel like there was a lot of forward momentum in the book. It just felt like it was all high stakes that were focused so much more on than the outcome. There was this whole build up that kept me on the edge of my seat, but the resolution kind of fizzled at the end. The entire book is spent wanting the villans to "get there's" but when that actually happens, well it was rushed and just overall wasn't satisfying enough after all that build up for me. I just wanted more from it, and that's why this one is a solid four star for me.

Overall while the resolution just wasn't enough for me, I enjoyed every other moment of this book. I read it in one sitting as I just couldn't put it down. Fans should be more than pleased with this latest installment in the Elder Races series as no one does enemies to lovers like Thea Harrison. No one.


(Received a copy from the publisher)

Rating:

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Other Reviews:
     Reading in Pajamas

Previous Books:
     1. Dragon Bound
     2. Storm's Heart
     3. Serpent's Kiss
     4. Oracle's Moon
     5. Lord's Fall
     6. Kinked
     6.5. Dragos Takes a Holiday

     6.6. Pia Saves the Day

     6.7. Peanut Goes to School 

     7. Night's Honor

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Early Review: Night's Honor by Thea Harrison

Night's Honor by Thea Harrison

Elder Races #7

In USA Today bestselling author Thea Harrison's latest Novel of the Elder Races, a woman finds herself in need of protection—and seduced by honor…

On the run from her former employer, Tess knows that she’s vulnerable on her own amongst the Elder Races. That’s why she decides to audition to become the human attendant of a powerful Vampyre of the Nightkind demesne. But while her position affords her the safety she seeks, her protector turns out to be more than she bargained for.

The right-hand man of the Nightkind King, Xavier del Torro is both terrifying and alluring. While his true nature frightens Tess, she can’t ignore the appeal of his innate sense of integrity and self-restraint. Thrown into Xavier’s world, Tess must quickly learn to navigate the dangers—both to her life and to her heart. But the biggest threat comes from her own past….

Night's Honor was a slower read than I prefer. It just didn't seem to move anywhere fast and the big bag threat frankly didn't seem that bad at all. It was more of being told that he was so horrible rather than actually feeling that danger which kept me a bit apart from the story and made it difficult to identify with Tess's plight.

I'm a very character and romance driven reader. You can have a slower book and I'll still be completely satisfied as long as the characters are strong and the romance is there. Unfortunately it just wasn't there for me. It seemed to be another case of needing to show rather than tell just like the threat from the big bag. I just want feeling the attraction or connection between them at all. It just felt forced despite taking most the book for any forward momentum.

Overall this was just a mediocre read for me. Considering how much I love this series and look forward to each new installment, I really feel let down. I realize I've said that several times throughout this review but there's no better way to explain my feelings about this book. I have a feeling other readers  who are not so romance driven may wind up liking this book a lot more than I did. That being said, I am excited for the next book as based on the ending events of this one, the couple in that book, while still not wyr, have an explosive relationship and I always love to see that kind of romantic tension. So here's to hoping this series and I get our "mojo" back next time around.

(Received a copy from the publisher)

Rating:

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Other Reviews:


Previous Books:
     1. Dragon Bound
     2. Storm's Heart
     3. Serpent's Kiss
     4. Oracle's Moon
     5. Lord's Fall
     6. Kinked
     6.5. Dragos Takes a Holiday

     6.6. Pia Saves the Day

     6.7. Peanut Goes to School 

read more