Review: All I Am by Jodi Ellen Malpas

I don't need a relationship. I have Hux, a decadent club where I quench whatever raw desire I choose. I take pleasure and I give it - no strings attached. So when Raya Rivers comes in asking for someone cold, emotionless, and filthy... well, no man ever takes his wicked pleasure quite the way I do. 

Only Raya is different. Vulnerable. And carrying some deep sorrow that gets past all my carefully constructed walls and inexplicably makes me care. Now craving controls me. Ice has given way to red-hot need.

But Raya has no idea about my other life - my real life. That I'm daddy to an adorable little girl. My two worlds are about to collide with the force of a supernova. Once Raya knows the truth, will she be able to accept all I am?

*eARC received via NetGalley*

Ebook.

Novella.

First Person.

No, I don't believe so!

No.

Yes.

What I Liked: 

This was a good length for a novella and it was well written, interestingly, from the male pov only. Drew was likeable, the story flowed nicely and it was hot. 

What I Didn't Like: 

I couldn't connect with Raya and the romance was a bit too close to instalove (and not the good kind if there is such a thing) for my liking. There was a bit too much drama for a novella and a crazy unbelievable chase at the end which caused a fair amount of eye rolling even though I laughed a lot (in a good way!). 

Other Thoughts:

I've heard of the This Man series but I've never read it. This novella can definitely be read as a standalone but I now have some cracking spoilers if I ever do decide to read the trilogy... Therefore I'd advise that if you have the This Man novels on your TBR, and spoilers bother you, that you pass on this until after you've read them.

If you have read the first three books then I'm guessing you'll love this as you get a good 'catch up' with Jesse, Sam and their women plus a nice HEA for Drew.

"When I get home, Ava," he breathes, strung out, his tone threatening to a point I'm even worried for Ava. "You better be hiding because there's a retribution fuck on the horizon for you, lady."

Review: Magic Strikes by Ilona Andrews (Kate Daniels #3)

*Minor spoilers ahead!*

When magic strikes and Atlanta goes to pieces, it’s a job for Kate Daniels…

Drafted to work for the Order of Knights of Merciful Aid, mercenary Kate Daniels has more paranormal problems these days than she knows what to do with. And in Atlanta, where magic comes and goes like the tide, that’s saying a lot.

But when Kate’s werewolf friend Derek is discovered nearly dead, she must confront her greatest challenge yet. As her investigation leads her to the Midnight Games—an invitation-only, no-holds-barred, ultimate preternatural fighting tournament—she and Curran, the Lord of the Beasts, uncover a dark plot that may forever alter the face of Atlanta’s shapeshifting community…

ebook

Full-length novel

First-person, single pov

Yes.
The book is heavy on the recaps so you could probably possibly read it without reading the first two books but I really don't think I'd recommend it.

Ooooh, just a wee bit! Can we say, gladiator games and freaky cannibal thingies?!

What I Liked: 
This book blew me away. It was fast-paced, action-packed and freakin’ awesome! Kate is a kick-ass character who is prickly as hell but fiercely loyal and likeable. The subtle shifts in her character from book to book are beautifully written. She’s evolving, her complete isolation and mistrust for all is changing. She has friends; she has people she cares about deeply. She’s – reluctantly – falling in love… It's great reading.

The whole crew were out in force in this book, it’s very shifter heavy and oh my word CURRAN! I don’t want to spoil anything but I now love him. In fact, I love all of the characters in this book. They infuriate me, make me laugh and I can’t get enough.

What I Didn't Like: 
Nothing. I’ve complained in past reviews about the overly wordy writing style and, while the comment stands, I also said I need to accept it and let it go for it is what it is… This is the last time I’m mentioning that with this series unless something in that department shifts for worse!

Other Thoughts:
I’ve commented in the past that I really loved how each of these books seems to focus on a different myth, legend or culture and this one kept up the theme! This time around it was Hindu mythology.

I also think it’s worth noting that, for me at least, this series is getting better and more exciting with every book!

“As he passed me, he leaned to Curran and handed him a paper fan folded from some sort of flyer.
Curran looked at the fan. “What?”
"An emergency precaution, Your Majesty. In case the lady faints.”
Curran just stared at him.
Raphael strode toward the Pit, turned, flexed a bit, and winked at me.
"Give me that,” I told Curran. “I need to fan myself.”
"No, you don’t.” 

💬

“I gave him a smile. I was aiming for sweet, but he turned a shade paler and scooted a bit farther from me. Note to self: work more on sweet and less on psycho-killer.”

💬

“He scooped me up and suddenly I was pressed against his chest. “Were you worried about me?”
"No, I’m ranting for fun, because I’m a disagreeable bitch!”

💬

“I lied. I need your help."
"Who are we killing?"
"Do you have a pen?”

Book Blogger Hop: If you are at a really good point in a book and the phone rings...

This week's question is:

If you are at a really good point in a book and the phone rings or the door bell rings, do you stop reading or let the phone or door bell go unanswered?

My Answer:

Honestly? If my phone is sitting beside me, I'd check who was calling and then decide whether I was going to answer it. Some people really like to talk and I just don't, especially if I'm in the middle of a book!

If there is a knock at the door, I'd debate whether or not they knew I was in and would probably go to answer it so slowly they'd hopefully be gone by the time I got there! lol.

The only time I'd jump up to answer the door would be if I was expecting someone or something, like a parcel, but I wouldn't be happy about it.

🌻

What about you? What would you do?

Review: Magic Burns by Ilona Andrews (Kate Daniels #2)

*Possible minor spoilers ahead.*

Down in Atlanta, tempers – and temperatures – are about to flare…

As a mercenary who cleans up after magic gone wrong, Kate Daniels has seen her share of occupational hazards. Normally, waves of paranormal energy ebb and flow across Atlanta like a tide. But once every seven years, a flare comes, a time when magic runs rampant. Now Kate’s going to have to deal with problems on a much bigger scale: a divine one.

When Kate sets out to retrieve a set of stolen maps for the Pack, Atlanta’s paramilitary clan of shapeshifters, she quickly realizes much more at stake. During a flare, gods and goddesses can manifest – and battle for power. The stolen maps are only the opening gambit in an epic tug-of-war between two gods hoping for rebirth. And if Kate can’t stop the cataclysmic showdown, the city may not survive…

Paperback

Full-length novel.

 

First-person, single pov.

Yes & No.

The book is heavy on the recaps so you could probably read it without reading book one but I don't think I'd recommend it.

No.

Yes. Lots.

What I Liked: 

I liked the pace of this book better than book one: Magic Bites. Maybe it was because I’d ‘met’ the characters and the ground work of the world had been laid but it was much easier to sink into the story and enjoy. 

The world is more developed in this book, as are the characters, and more characters, who I thought were awesome, like Andrea and the Boudas, were added into the fray.

One of my grumbles from the previous book was lack of any kind of romantic interest but this book sorts that out and I think I developed a fan girl crush on the Beast Lord…

I couldn’t put this book down and read it in a day, sneaking pages whenever I had a second to spare. It was addictive, emotionally engaging and despite the violence and chaos that frequently erupts there was a strong underlying humour throughout the book that made me giggle more than once. 

What I Didn't Like: 

The writing is still wordy and overly descriptive however I don’t think that is ever going to go away so I'm sure I'll get used to it eventually... Either way it’s something I’ll just have to accept for I won’t be leaving this world anytime soon!

Other Thoughts:

I really love how the author weaves mythology into these books. This one focuses on Celtic mythology, the one before was Slavic and I’m excited to see what pantheon / culture we get a taste of next. 

“I don't want it to be attributed to a loss of control on my part. When I throw you out of the window, I want there to be no doubt the act was deliberate.” 

💬

Why me?" He said finally. "Are you on some sort of mission to fuck up my life?" 

"I try my best to avoid you."

"You're doing a hell of a job."

"I honestly don't mean to cause you problems."

"You don't cause problems. An unpiloted vampire causes problems. You cause catastrophes.” 

💬

“I raged across the field, killing all before me. They ran when they saw me coming, and I chased them down, and killed them before they could take someone else's friend away from them.”