Forever

Forbidden Passion

admin — Wed, 19 May 2010 23:59:00 +0000

Forbidden Passion is a paranormal romance centered around the relationship of Dr. Marlena Bender and Sheriff Dante Valtrez. Set in the small Southern town of Mysteria, the book begins with Marlena returning home to confront her troubled past. Twenty years before, Marlena witnessed the gruesome deaths of her mother and sister at the hands of two men in the woods. She was saved by Dante, then a local teenager.

Haunted by the events of that day, Marlena has pursued a career as a scientist, studying the genetic reasons for violent behavior. Dante, too, is haunted by that day, but for different reasons. He knows the truth about the attack on Marlena’s family: they weren’t attacked by men at all, but by a pack of demons; a pack that Dante himself used to be a part of. Ashamed of his dark past, Dante has devoted his life to protecting the citizens of Mysteria from the demonic forces that prey on them. Despite Dante’s resolve to stay away from Marlena, the two are thrown back into each other’s lives when a serial killer begins stalking Marlena, leaving her tokens from his victims.

This is the third, and I would presume final, book in Rita Herron’s Demonborn series. It’s your typical paranormal romance: the two main characters fight their mutual attraction to each other for half the book before finally succumbing to temptation. There are a lot of demon-related killings, as well as a prophecy and a high-stakes “good versus evil” showdown. Herron keeps the action coming at a pretty fast pace, so even though Forbidden Passion isn’t revolutionary, it isn’t boring either.

The book revolves mainly around the mystery/thriller aspect of the plot, throwing in bits of sexual tension here and there. This makes it a good read for those who prefer their romance novels to be driven by story instead of sex. In the end, Forbidden Passion was able to hold my interest for the duration of the book, but it wasn’t good enough for me to want to read the other books in the series.

Written by: Victoria Kroeger, May 19th 2010

Love You to Death

admin — Fri, 15 Jan 2010 01:03:00 +0000

By Shannon K. Butcher

Forever

Love You to Death raises many moral questions: How far would you go to have a loved one returned to you? Would you fly halfway around the world on a moments’ notice because you had a hunch something was wrong? Would you put your own life in danger to save a loved one?

Catching a last minute flight from Hong Kong to Illinois cost Elise McBride a fortune, but she would pay that numerous times over to make sure her sister came home safely. Ashley had only been missing a few days when Elise flew into town, a move thought as extreme by neighbors and local police. Ashley was a flighty twenty-one-year-old who they did not believe was missing until Elise persisted in the matter.

Doing everything she possibly can to track down Ashley under the unsolicited supervision of ex-cop Trent Brady, Elise finds a disturbing image on Ashley’s computer. Unbeknownst to Ashley, as she was snapping pictures of the animals outside, she caught the picture of a man hiding behind a tree in her yard. Ashley had become the object of desire by one very deranged maniac, Gary Maitland. As the days drag on and the body count rises, the search for Ashley becomes more frantic. Willing to do anything, including putting her own life in danger as bait, Elise wants her sister returned safely.

Maitland had lost his wife in a car accident many years before. Unable to let go of his perfect wife, he kept her body refrigerated in his basement, giving him access to her anytime her wanted. His need to keep his wife near sent him on a killing spree leaving many devastated families in his wake. Using body parts from the women that he kidnapped and murdered, Maitland was creating a new body for his beloved wife, whose was crushed in the accident. In his eyes, no other woman would ever measure up to Wendy.

Love You to Death brings together romance and murder in an expected way. Girl meets ruggedly hot neighbor, girl sleeps with ruggedly hot neighbor, well, you know how that goes. The plot itself seemed to lack the intrigue that made you want to know what happened next. The last seven chapters made the book. Love You to Death was a good casual read, but not something that gripped my undivided attention from start to finish.

Written by: Ryanick Paige, January 14th 2010

Chosen By Desire (The Guardians of Destiny)

admin — Fri, 15 Jan 2010 01:00:00 +0000

By Kate Perry

Forever

Kate Perry is a pretty kickass chick. Her childhood dream was to be a ninja, and she's now a seventh degree Kung Fu blackbelt. The serious study required in kung fu appears to have colored her novel, giving the 'paranormal' elements of this paranormal romance a more grounded feel than most Asian-inspired material written by Westerners.

Second in The Guardians of Destiny series, Chosen By Desire continues the modern legend of the Scrolls of Destiny, ancient writings that impart elemental powers on those who study them. Our heroine, Carrie, is a doctoral candidate looking for something to spice up her dissertation. On a tip, she travels to a Chinese monastery where her snooping uncovers exactly what she's looking for. Frantic not to get caught, she stuffs the scrolls in her bag to study later. To ease her conscience, she promises herself she will return them as soon as her paper is approved, and she's won a coveted position at her university.

But the legend is true and the current Guardians are onto her. Max, an American tapped to hold the power of Metal, follows her to California. Convinced that she is working with his rival to damage him, he invites Carrie into his home to translate the texts in his collection, giving him a chance to study her and learn her plans.

The book starts out well. Perry is good with scenes of action and tension (including sexual), but when times are good and everyone's relaxed she tends to lean on cliché. Max is the alpha male who is unable to trust, but I don't see why Carrie calls him arrogant, except that that's a stock description for that archetype. Due to the Power of Lourve, he makes an awfully fast switch from suspicion to loyalty. Then there is my least favorite Conflict Trope: everything could be resolved if people just talked to each other. Given, Perry does a much better job establishing why these people are close-lipped, but Carrie holds on to crucial information for way too long, even after she and Max are all but together.

Though I enjoyed the book for what it was (read: escapist fiction), I find myself dwelling more on its problems than its strengths. Carrie is a confused character. She has to be a Middle American Good Girl. Believably flawed, a serious doctoral candidate worthy of a professorship, and a sassy slang-slinging modern heroine all at once. Ultimately, she doesn't solve the mystery, save herself or anyone else's life, and she definitely doesn't find personal power (paranormal or otherwise). Things are just a little too easy for Carrie, sliding in and out of trouble without any lasting damage or lessons.

This is a shame, because Perry is not a terrible writer. I think she got caught up in what this sort of book is "supposed" to be like. She cut off her natural ability to render her characters as dynamic, interesting people. Writing romances is much more challenging than people think. I'm not going to give up on Perry, but I hope she gives herself the freedom to go a little wild and throw the formulas out.

Written by: Richenda Gould, January 14th 2010

Sleep No More

admin — Sat, 02 Jan 2010 09:02:00 +0000

By Susan Crandall

Forever

It starts in young children and for many continues throughout the early adult years: being afraid of night, the dark, and anything associated with what might happen when we close our eyes. Imagine closing your eyes while safe in your bed and then opening them find to find yourself standing in the middle of the living room. You have no recollection on how you got there or what you may have done in the process of getting there.

In this twisting tale of Sleep No More, Susan Crandall follows the solitary life of Abby Whitman. Abby is the town florist and a lifelong resident of Preston. While most are afraid of the dangers that can happen to us while we sleep, Abby is afraid of the danger she poses to others while she sleeps.

Abby had been sleepwalking her entire childhood until she puberty, but it wasn’t without incident. When she was just eleven years old, a sleepwalking episode destroyed the family home and scarred her sister for life. Or so she thought for the last twenty years. Because of this disturbing event, Abby spends her nights in solitude, unsure of herself and what may happen after she falls asleep.

To confirm those fears Abby wakes up at the scene of an accident where a Senator's son has been killed. Unable to remember the details of the accident, Abby assumes the worst - that her sleepwalking has claimed another victim. As the truth unfolds, evidence at the accident scene reveals that another person is involved just as Abby begins receiving threats.

A divorced father of two, psychiatrist Dr. Jason Coble is smitten with Abby, after seeing her at his ex-wife’s grandmothers’ funeral. He wants to save her from the dangers that are lurking along with her sleepwalking fears, not as a doctor, but as a friend or lover. To make matters worse, Abby is the only florist in the small town of Preston. The phone calls for the Senator’s son’s funeral arrangements come pouring in and she is faced to relive the nightmare again.

The more time she spends with Jason, the more threats Abby receives. The secrets of the past begin to unravel, leaving Abby to realize that her memories are not always what they seem. As Abby’s days collide with her nights, she has to decide which aspect is more terrorizing. Does she fear the lurking dangers in the day enough to let Jason protect her? Or will her fear of her sleepwalking keep her away from his arms?

I would recommend Sleep No More to anyone looking for a book that will keep your brain working from the beginning to the end. The fear that Abby feels because of her past sleepwalking episodes can be unbelievable at times throughout the book. However, it does make you wonder how a traumatic experience would impact your life and to what extremes you would go through to prevent it from happening again.

Written by: Ryanick Paige, January 2nd 2010

A Black Tie Affair

admin — Tue, 22 Dec 2009 17:01:00 +0000

By Sherrill Bodine

Forever

Sherrill Bodine is back with more characters from Chicago's fated world of fashion and money in her second book A Black Tie Affair. Rebecca Covington, a previous character of Bodine's, makes an appearance, but this story follows Athena Smith and Drew Clayworth, two former loves who still hold torches for one other.

The title fits the story, since it truly is A Black Tie Affair as we follow Athena and Drew through the glitz and glamour of Chicago's fashion world as they try to find four very special dresses stolen from the Clayworth's secret closet. These dresses hold more than a link to the past, of which Athena wishes to take full advantage of displaying them for the world in Chicago's fashion museum. They are also the only things giving Drew and Athena their long deserved second chance with a load of problems dragging behind them.

This book isn't just another story about a shallow fashionista looking for her rich and handsome forever love. A Black Tie Affair has substance with themes such as family loyalty verses loyalty to self, fighting for what you believe in, and looking beneath the surface—not just in people but in situations.

You don't have to come from Chicago or know anything about the city to appreciate this story. I didn't, but as I read through the first few chapters I had the oddest feeling that a part of the story was missing, and I had to wonder if this was a continuation from Bodine's first novel. My advice to readers is to stick with it. This book is worth the confusion in the end.

This is a story worth the read with splashes of mystery, romance, and inner torment that will make you wonder the next time you see a fashion mimicking the past.

Written by: Nina Lopez-Ortiz, December 22nd 2009

Dark Hunger

admin — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 01:05:00 +0000

By Rita Herron

Forever

Where do I begin? I guess I should start with an admission. I’m a horror geek. I love horror movies, both the good and the bad; horror novels, ghost stories, midnight walks, supernatural based TV shows, and even a good Scooby Doo episode. I also love romance. Give me a good love story, and I’m hooked in spite of myself. So when I saw Dark Hunger, the second book in Rita Herron’s Demonborn series, I was looking forward to it. I learned my mistake quickly. I should have known—the title is Dark Hunger.

To summarize, Annabelle Anderson, a beautiful CNN reporter, follows a lead to Quinton Valtrez (the Demonborn of the series name), who is an assassin for a covert army group. He is fighting his demonic birthright, and doesn’t want anyone to worry. She is determined to get to the bottom of her story, and is drawn to the strong, handsome, sexy Quinton. Issues occur, as does sex. Stop me if you’ve heard this one.

This book is terrible. The plot makes little sense, the characters are poorly conceived, badly written and trite, and there is nothing original in the entire book. Quinton’s demonic side manifests itself as a desire to kill and an addiction to sex. This trait he shares with his newly found brother, Vincent. Luckily, Vincent figured out the answer to his habit in the first book of the series, and is now happily married. There are bombings and a creepy evangelical preacher, a whiny editor demanding an update every five pages and an overly sinister army General.

As for the “horror” side of things, there are crows, an angel of death, a demon named Zion (guess who he is), and some mind control. That’s pretty much it. Nothing scary, original, interesting or even clearly ripped off of someone else. The sex scenes, the real reason anyone reads romance novels, are numerous, and well written.

If you see this book in a bookstore and are tempted to pick it up, go get a Clive Barker book instead. It’ll be a lot better in every category, including the sex scenes. However, if you do get it, don’t say I didn’t warn you.

Sometimes we accidentally duplicate a review. What can we say? Perfection is an illusion. Click here for another Feminist Review writer's vantage point this book.

Written by: Taylor Rhodes, November 15th 2009

Bound to Please

admin — Sun, 23 Aug 2009 04:53:00 +0000

By Lilli Feisty

Forever

I haven't read a romance novel in years, and the only BDSM material I've ever read was Anne Rice's Beauty trilogy (which she wrote under the name A. N. Roquelaure)—and even then, I only browsed through the first book. One would think that from the title of Lilli Feisty's first novel—Bound to Please—the reader would know what to expect. This reader, however, did not.

Bound to Please is a supercharged, erotic, (mild) BDSM book. The back cover even warns, "Read it only if you can handle the heat." Think you can?

The book centers on Ruby Scott, an event planner in San Francisco who is so tightly wound that someone, preferably a man in her perspective, needs to seriously loosen her strings! Ruby is a raven-haired beauty whose retro style and self-limitations are more reminiscent of June Cleaver than Morticia Adams, while Meg, her sidekick and business partner, is a sassy punk with a passion for vintage clothing. Both women end up delving into a world of bondage, domination, and submission.

Ruby has dabbled with some kinky sex with an ex-boyfriend but has never been able to fully give herself or submit, until she meets "almost famous" rock musician Mark St. Crow. He's young, gorgeous, and has an urgent need to dominate—and Ruby is just the woman to satisfy his desire.

Reading through the first twenty pages or so, I had to stifle back giggles at some of the writing and the actions of the characters. Shudder, quiver, and tremble are some of the words used to describe Ruby's reactions to Mark's touches, and the reader knows immediately that he's made a deep connection with her when Ruby starts eating ice cream straight from the carton—something she's never done before! This girl is hooked!

The writing isn't Tolstoy or Austen, but it's not supposed to be, and, I admit, the story took me away. I found myself wondering: How far will Ruby go to please Mark? Will she allow herself to be dominated? Will Meg use sex to solve her marriage woes? Will Mark stay in San Francisco? And will Ruby eventually lose her June Cleaver attitudes toward relationships and her own sexuality?

Bound to Please is not a BDSM 101 book, but I did find out what a top, bottom and switch are and where to shop if I'm ever in need of a, um, paddle or whip. I guess it's true that you learn something new every day!

Written by: Su Lin Mangan, August 23rd 2009

Seducing a Scottish Bride

admin — Fri, 12 Jun 2009 17:11:00 +0000

By Sue-Ellen Welfonder

Forever

Divorced from reality, romance novels are fantasy novels by definition. Gorgeous, strong women with quirks instead of flaws and hunky, sensitive yet manly men hiding six-packs under nerdy glasses and three piece suits attract, repel, and then attract again in a frenzy of beautiful and expensive things and very detailed sex scenes. When I discovered Seducing a Scottish Bride had an explicit fantasy element, I was intrigued to see how the two similar genres might inform each other. I was also hoping for a good read. Neither hope was fulfilled. The story was simple: a young, headstrong woman from a Scottish highland tribe named Gelis McKenzie is brought to Castle Dare, a cursed castle owned by the Dare family, to marry the twice-widowed Ronan Dare, who is nicknamed the Raven. The death of his most recent wife in an accident Raven believes he caused, makes him reluctant to remarry. Attacks by the supernatural elements within the Castle and threats from the outside push the would-be lovers together until they admit their love and defeat the curse. Happy endings ensue.

Welfonder’s lack of knowledge about fantasy tropes, even those in the folklore she loves, is immediately apparent. Gelis possess a second sight that is ill-defined to an almost comical degree. She announces she inherited it from her mother just moments before she leaves for her marriage, and it reappears as only one other vision throughout the entire book. All of the characters seem to understand this, but she never gives the reader any explanation. The castle is a creepy, dark place, but Welfonder seems content to leave it at that. She never explores any of the potential supernatural aspects beyond the simple, giving the book the feeling of a Sci-Fi Channel movie. She gives the characters Scottish accents, but the phonetic spellings are poorly done, and detract more than inform the characters.

Welfonder’s love of Scotland shines through. She succeeds in instilling her vision of a place that is more of her imagination than fact, full of mystery and without flaw, into the novel. While I can’t recommend this novel without reservation, I commend Welfonder’s enthusiasm. Seducing a Scottish Bride is not an unpleasant read, but ultimately, it is not worth the time.

Written by: Taylor Rhodes, June 12th 2009