Review: Love Hard - Nalini Singh

New York Times bestselling author Nalini Singh brings you the next sizzling story in her Hard Play contemporary romance series…

Jacob Esera, star rugby player and young single father, has worked hard to create a joyous life for his six-year-old daughter. After the death of his childhood sweetheart soon after their daughter’s birth, all Jake wants is safety and stability. No risks. No wild chances. And especially no Juliet Nelisi, former classmate, scandal magnet, and a woman who is a thorn in his side.

As a lonely teenager, Juliet embraced her bad-girl reputation as a shield against loneliness and rejection. Years later, having kicked a cheating sports-star ex to the curb, she has a prestigious job and loyal friends—and wants nothing to do with sportsmen. The last thing she expects is the fire that ignites between her and the stuffed-shirt golden boy who once loved her best friend.

Straitlaced Jacob Esera versus wild-at-heart Juliet Nelisi? Place your bets.

Rock Kiss Series:
Rock Addiction
Rock Courtship (Novella)
Rock Hard (Crossover with the Hard Play series)
Rock Redemption
Rock Wedding

Hard Play Series:
(Spin off from the Rock Kiss series featuring the Bishop brothers)
Cherish Hard
Rock Hard (Crossover with the Rock Kiss series)
Rebel Hard
Love Hard

Visit Nalini Singh's website for more information

Review:
He's a star on the rugby field but Jacob Esera's main focus has always been his family, especially his six-year-old daughter Esme. Jake has been a single father since his childhood sweetheart Callie died not long after Esme was born and it hasn't been easy but with the help of his family he's made it work and become a wonderful father. He's been so focused on Esme that he's forgotten how to unwind and have fun as an adult so when Juliet comes barrelling back into his life she's like a breath of fresh air.

Unlike Jake, Juliet never had the support of her family, in fact the only person she was ever able to rely on was Callie who was her best friend throughout school. Jake and Juliet were like chalk and cheese and never really got along but their love for Callie bonded them until bad girl Juliet was sent to Samoa to live with family. It's been years since they saw each other last and sparks start to fly the moment they meet again but they're both wary about getting into a relationship. Jake is scared to love again because he can't bear the thought of losing someone else while Juliet has been hurt before when her ex betrayed her and is totally off men in general but sports stars in particular. Destiny has a way of throwing them back together though and in the long run neither of them are able to resist temptation.

I absolutely love all of the Bishop-Esera brothers, Gabriel has always been my favourite (and we get to see the T-Rex make an honest woman of his mouse in this book as the story starts with their wedding!) but Jake came very close to topping him. In general I tend to prefer my romances child free but there was something so adorable about Esme that I enjoyed her role in the story. The main thing that kept me hooked was the chemistry between Juliet and Jake though. Their relationship is like throwing a lit match on a can of oil, they're argumentative and often clash but when they're on the same page it's absolutely explosive.

The two of them were seriously hot but there were also some really sweet emotional moments between them. I loved that Callie felt like a part of their story too, she was such an important person in both of their lives and it kind of felt like she was somehow responsible for bringing them together. We get to spend time with the whole clan and I don't think I'll ever get enough of this family. I'm already looking forward to Danny's book and hope we'll get stories for some of the other rugby team members after that. Nalini Singh can do no wrong in my eyes, I'm a paranormal girl at heart so I'll always love the Guild Hunter and Psy-Changeling series but her contemporaries always hit the spot too and leave me with a happy buzz.

Source: Received via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review

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Review: A Madness of Sunshine - Nalini Singh

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New York Times bestselling author Nalini Singh welcomes you to a remote town on the edge of the world where even the blinding brightness of the sun can't mask the darkness that lies deep within a killer...

On the rugged West Coast of New Zealand, Golden Cove is more than just a town where people live. The adults are more than neighbours; the children, more than schoolmates.

That is until one fateful summer - and several vanished bodies - shatters the trust holding Golden Cove together. All that's left are whispers behind closed doors, broken friendships, and a silent agreement not to look back. But they can't run from the past forever.

Eight years later, a beautiful young woman disappears without a trace, and the residents of Golden Cove wonder if their home shelters something far more dangerous than an unforgiving landscape.

It's not long before the dark past collides with the haunting present and deadly secrets come to light.

Visit Nalini Singh's website for more information

Review:
I don't usually read thrillers but Nalini Singh is such a favourite author of mine that she's an auto-buy no matter what genre she decides to write in. I was still a little nervous going into A Madness of Sunshine though because I really had no idea what to expect. It was very different to her other books with a much slower and more character driven plot that concludes in an action packed, edge of your seat finale and I found that I just couldn't put it down.

I really enjoyed getting to explore this small sleepy costal town in New Zealand through Nalini's eyes, we get an in depth look at the culture and atmosphere of small town living and it made me want to pack a bag and book a flight so I could go and explore Golden Cove for myself. There are a lot of secrets in this town, everyone seems to be hiding something and there were so many possible suspects that I really had no idea who was the killer. It was actually a bit disturbing the way most of the men in the town had such possessive and controlling feelings about the women around them.

Anahera left her hometown years ago and never planned to come back but after the death of her husband she just needs some time to lick her wounds and it's almost an automatic reaction to return to the place that is most familiar. So much about Golden Cove has stayed the same in her absence but there are some changes, like the addition of a permanent police officer, Will. It's only when a local girl goes missing, bringing back memories of past disappearances that haunt the town, that they realise there might be a killer still living among them.

I loved the slow build romance between Anahera and Will but that definitely wasn't the focus of the story. These are both complex and layered characters who have plenty of secrets to uncover and it was fun getting to know them but I do wish we'd found out a little more about Will, about his family and where he came from before he ended up in Golden Cove. I made multiple guesses about the killer along the way but I was never able to pin down exactly who they were, they were one of my suspects but pretty low down on my list.

A Madness of Sunshine was very different to my usual reads and very different to the books Nalini usually writes but I enjoyed it all the more because of that. I really hope she decides to explore this genre further in the future and I'll definitely be first in line to buy the books if she does.

Source: Received from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review

Other Reviews:
If you have reviewed this book on your blog please leave a link to your review in the comments & I'll add the link here.

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Review: Archangel's War - Nalini Singh

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Return to New York Times bestselling author Nalini Singh’s darkly passionate Guild Hunter world, where human-turned-angel Elena Deveraux, consort to Archangel Raphael, faces a new challenge that threatens the balance of the world.

Wings of silver. Wings of blue. Mortal heart. Broken dreams. Shatter. Shatter. Shatter. A sundering. A grave. I see the end. I see . . .

The world is in chaos as the power surge of the Cascade rises to a devastating crescendo. In furiously resisting its attempts to turn Elena into a vessel for Raphael's power, Elena and her archangel are irrevocably changed . . . far beyond the prophecy of a cursed Ancient.

At the same time, violent and eerie events around the world threaten to wipe out entire populations. And in the Archangel Lijuan's former territory, an unnatural fog weaves through the land, leaving only a bone-chilling silence in its wake. Soon it becomes clear that even the archangels are not immune to this deadly evil. This time, even the combined power of the Cadre may not be enough . . .

This war could end them all.

The Guild Hunter Series:
Angels' Dance (ebook novella that is also included in Angels' Flight)
Angels' Judgment (novella included in Angels' Flight and the Must Love Hellhounds anthology)
Angels' Pawn (ebook novella that is also included in Angels' Flight)
Angel's Blood
Archangel's Kiss
Archangel's Consort
Angel's Wolf (novella included in Angels' Flight and the Angel's of Darkness anthology)
Archangel's Blade
Archangel's Storm
Archangel's Legion
Archangel's Shadows
Archangel's Enigma
Archangel's Heart
Archangel's Viper
Archangel's Prophecy
Archangel's War

Visit Nalini Singh's website for more information

Review:
I honestly don't know how to review this book without giving spoilers so I'm deliberately going to keep this quite vague. What I will say is that Archangel's War was everything I could possibly have wanted after that killer cliffhanger ending to Archangel's Prophecy! Elena and Raphael are both changing in ways they never could have imagined but they are still the power couple we know and love who are more than capable of kicking butt and taking names.

You can probably guess from the title that war is coming and all I'm going to say about that is when it arrives it is EPIC. Her creepiness from China has levelled up in all kinds of horrific ways and it's going to take the entire Cadre, along with a few new and surprising allies who have awoken from sleep, to put a stop to her madness.

Archangel's War is fast paced, full of action and an edge of the seat sense of foreboding. There were fantastically sweet moments between some of my favourite side characters but I also shed a few tears too. This is the book we've all been waiting for since the beginning of the series, we've been building up to this moment for such a long time and I just can't wait to see where Nalini Singh takes us next. I love this world as well as all of the characters and I'm so glad we don't have to say goodbye to it anytime soon!

Source: Received from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review

Other Reviews:
If you have reviewed this book on your blog please leave a link to your review in the comments & I'll add the link here.

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Excerpt: Archangel's War - Nalini Singh

Anyone who knows me should already be well aware of how much I love Nalini Singh's books, she is one of my favourite authors who just never fails to make me fall head over heels for her characters. Her latest release, Archangel's War, is the twelfth book in her Guild Hunter series and today I have a fab excerpt to share with you thanks to Nalini's US publisher Berkley. But first let me tell you all about the book..

About Archangel's War:

Return to New York Times bestselling author Nalini Singh’s darkly passionate Guild Hunter world, where human-turned-angel Elena Deveraux, consort to Archangel Raphael, faces a new challenge that threatens the balance of the world.

Wings of silver. Wings of blue. Mortal heart. Broken dreams. Shatter. Shatter. Shatter. A sundering. A grave. I see the end. I see. . . .

The world is in chaos as the power surge of the Cascade rises to a devastating crescendo. In furiously resisting its attempts to turn Elena into a vessel for Raphael’s power, Elena and her archangel are irrevocably changed. . .far beyond the prophecy of a cursed Ancient.

At the same time, violent and eerie events around the world threaten to wipe out entire populations. And in the Archangel Lijuan’s former territory, an unnatural fog weaves through the land, leaving only a bone-chilling silence in its wake. Soon it becomes clear that even the archangels are not immune to this deadly evil. This time, even the combined power of the Cadre may not be enough. . . .

This war could end them all.

Buy Links:

Amazon | Kindle | Barnes and Noble | Nook | Apple Books | Kobo | IndieBound

Excerpt:

Advance Excerpt From Archangel’s War by Nalini Singh

“We watch,” the Primary said. “We protect.”

But things were altering in front of them, a faint glow emanating from where the aeclari had been before the filaments obscured both Raphael’s body and Elena’s chrysalis.

Beyond the balcony doors now partially covered with the snow silk of the filaments, the Bluebell turned. His eyes widened at seeing the ocean of filaments, the glow. But before he could open the closed doors, a familiar voice entered all their minds.

Leave now. It was an order from an archangel. Clear the skies above. Empty the land around. GO.

The Legion were moving even as the last word echoed in their minds. They were Raphael’s Legion, Elena’s Legion, and they had been given an order. The Bluebell wasn’t Legion. He was one of the Seven. Unique. With his own mind.

Torment wrenched his features, but he inclined his head, and the Primary saw him form the word, “Sire.”

All of them moved.

The Bluebell dropped to the grass, then ran inside the house.

The Legion broke into four parts and swept the area. Winged beings were already flying toward the river at high speed, their faces stark and their jaws determined. The Legion dropped down in front of cars moving on the nearest road. The cars were not so close to the aeclari’s home, but the archangel hadn’t said how far to clear.

When the first two cars halted with a screech that caused a burning scent to rise to their nostrils, the Legion wrenched the doors open and hauled the startled vampires out. A group of the Legion rose into the air, two to a vampire. Another group found four humans in a third car, a vampire’s cattle heading home. The scared cattle whimpered at being taken by the Legion but didn’t struggle. Neither did the vampires after they saw the angels racing from the Enclave to the water.

Golden light poured out from the windows of the aeclari’s home.

Many of the angels streaming over the water held vampires or humans in their arms, getting their households out of danger. The Bluebell was one of the last to fly out of the Enclave, and though the Legion did not speak to many outside of the aeclari, they spoke to him: Are the aeclari’s people safe? This was important. The Legion knew. The aeclari had bonds to those who lived in the house.

Yes, I got them out. The Bluebell, who could fly faster than the Primary and sometimes raced with the cars of the Blade and the Viper, fell off the cliff with his wings licked by a golden light so bright that it was difficult to face. In one hand, he held a large rectangular thing, in his other items they recognized.

Several of the Legion flew to him, and took the things. They did not understand things, but these were linked to the aeclari in their mind. We will fly them to the Tower.

Most of the angels kept on flying toward Manhattan, and those of the Legion that carried vampires or mortals kept on going, too. But the Primary turned once he was over the center of the river, as did those of his brethren who flew only their own bodies.

The Bluebell halted in front of them, the silvery blue of his wings spread and his face awash in the burning golden light that had turned the river to gold.

And the light, it grew, and grew, and grew.

Until at last, the light was so bright that it became fire and even the Primary couldn’t bear it and threw up his arm in front of his eyes. The last thing he saw was an intense white brightness.

© Copyright 2019 by Nalini Singh

About the Author:

Nalini Singh is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of the Psy-Changeling, Guild Hunter, and Rock Kiss series. She lives and works in beautiful New Zealand, and is passionate about writing.

If you’d like to explore her other books, you can find lots of excerpts and free short stories on her website. Slave to Sensation is the first book in the Psy-Changeling series, while Angels’ Blood is the first book in the Guild Hunter series. The Rock Kiss books are all stand alone and can be read in any order.

STALK HER: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads

Review: Wolf Rain - Nalini Singh

The fate of millions of lives hangs in the balance in this new Psy-Changeling Trinity novel from New York Times bestselling author Nalini Singh...

Kidnapped as a young girl, her psychic powers harnessed by a madman, Memory lives a caged and isolated existence . . . until she comes face-to-face with a wolf. Labelled an empath by her bad-tempered rescuer, Memory knows that her 'gift' is nothing so bright. It is a terrible darkness that means she will always be hunted.

But Memory is free now and she intends to live. A certain growly wolf can just deal with it.

Alexei prefers to keep his packmates at bay, the bleak history of his family a constant reminder that mating, love, hope is not for him. But Memory, this defiant and fearless woman who stands toe-to-toe with him awakens the most primal part of his nature - and soon, he must make a choice: risk everything or lose Memory to a murderous darkness that wants to annihilate her from existence . . .

Psy-Changeling Series:
(Season One in the Psy-Changeling World)
Beat of Temptation (Novella included in Wild Invitation and the An Enchanted Season anthology)
Whisper of Sin (Novella included in the Burning Up anthology or as a separate ebook)
Slave to Sensation
Visions of Heat
Echo of Silence (Novella included in the Wild Embrace anthology)
Caressed by Ice
Stroke of Enticement (Novella included in Wild Invitation and The Magical Christmas Cat anthology)
Mine to Possess
Hostage to Pleasure
Dorian (Novella included in the Wild Embrace anthology)
Branded by Fire
Blaze of Memory
Bonds of Justice
Play of Passion
Declaration of Courtship (Novella included in Wild Invitation)
Kiss of Snow
Texture of Intimacy (Novella included in Wild Invitation)
Tangle of Need
Partners in Persuasion (Novella included in the Wild Embrace anthology)
Heart of Obsidian
Flirtation of Fate (Novella included in the Wild Embrace anthology)
Secrets at Midnight (Novella included in the Night Shift anthology)
Shield of Winter
Shards of Hope
Allegiance of Honour

Psy-Changeling Trinity Series:
(Season two in the Psy-Changeling World)
Silver Silence
Ocean Light
Wolf Rain

Visit Nalini Singh's website for more information

Review:
As much as I've enjoyed meeting the bears and spending time underwater with Blacksea in the last couple of books (and I am really hoping we'll get to spend more time with ALL of them!) I was still really excited that Wolf Rain would take us back to where it all began with the SnowDancer pack. I can't help it, I've loved this series for such a long time that spending time with the wolves (and the cats of DarkRiver) just feels like coming home and it was so wonderful to catch up with all the familiar faces.

We've met Alexi before, he's one of Hawke's lieutenants and is a powerful member of the pack. Strong but caring and very protective of the ones he loves, he holds himself at a distance from the others due to some dangerous family history. He has good reason to fear the future but meeting Memory gives him a reason to fight for what he wants. Memory is a brand new character, she's a Psy who has been held captive for decades and although that would have sent many people completely insane she's a survivor who made it through. She isn't like a lot of the Psy we've met before, she never managed to achieve Silence so she's much warmer than I expected. I'm not going to say much about her abilities but she's always believed they are a curse and that she's evil but working alongside the empaths and the Arrows she starts to realise that she is capable of more than she ever imagined.

These two have a lot going against them, the least of which is that her captor is hunting her determined to get her back under his control, but they both know what they want and they're willing to fight for it. One of the things I love most about Nalini Singh's stories is that she never manufactures unnecessary dramas, instead she focuses on creating well rounded characters with believable motivations. It is always so easy to love her characters and even the side characters who have never been in the spotlight feel like old friends.

It goes without saying that her world building is phenomenal too, the Psy-Changeling world is so full of depth that it's hard to believe it isn't a real place. I love the way the balance has been changing between the changelings, humans and psy since the fall of silence and that the different groups are starting to realise how much they all need each other. Things was always much easier amongst the changelings and humans but the psy are now learning so much more about themselves and the others.

As well as being a fabulous romance Wolf Rain really moves the overarching plot forward too and I can't wait to see where the story takes us next. Nalini Singh's books just never disappoint!

Source: Received from the publisher exchange for an honest review

Other Reviews:
If you have reviewed this book on your blog please leave a link to your review in the comments & I'll add the link here.

Hardback / Kindle:

Review: Archangel's Prophecy - Nalini Singh

UK Cover

Return to New York Times bestselling author Nalini Singh’s darkly passionate Guild Hunter world, where human-turned-angel Elena Deveraux, consort to Archangel Raphael, is thrust center stage into an eons-old prophecy....

Midnight and dawn, Elena’s wings are unique among angelkind…and now they’re failing. The first mortal to be turned into an immortal in angelic memory, she’s regressing. Becoming more and more human. Easier to hurt. Easier to kill.

Elena and Raphael must unearth the reason for the regression before it’s too late and Elena falls out of the sky. Yet even as they fight a furious battle for Elena’s very survival, violent forces are gathering in New York and across the world.

In China, the Archangel Favashi is showing the first signs of madness. In New York, a mysterious sinkhole filled with lava swallows a man whole. In Africa, torrential monsoon rains flood rolling deserts. And in Elena’s mind whispers a haunting voice that isn’t her own.

This time, survival may not be possible…not even for the consort of an archangel.

The Guild Hunter Series:
Angels' Dance (ebook novella that is also included in Angels' Flight)
Angels' Judgment (novella included in Angels' Flight and the Must Love Hellhounds anthology)
Angels' Pawn (ebook novella that is also included in Angels' Flight)
Angel's Blood
Archangel's Kiss
Archangel's Consort
Angel's Wolf (novella included in Angels' Flight and the Angel's of Darkness anthology)
Archangel's Blade
Archangel's Storm
Archangel's Legion
Archangel's Shadows
Archangel's Enigma
Archangel's Heart
Archangel's Viper
Archangel's Prophecy
Archangel's War

Visit Nalini Singh's website for more information

Review:
I have been a fan of Nalini Singh's Guild Hunter series for a long time now and I always look forward to every new release, especially when I know it's going to be a book about Elena and Raphael (although I'm desperate for Illium or Aodan to take the spotlight too!). The blurb for Archangel's Prophecy had me slightly nervous though, that mention of Elena's angelic powers regressing and her starting to loose the immortality she has been gaining was pretty worrying and there was definitely an underlying sense of fear throughout this story.

The weirdness caused by the Cascade is increasing, with more natural disasters occurring around the world, many angels attaining new powers and poor Elena who seems to be losing everything she gained when she became the first angel made. It's a worrying time for everyone and nobody is sure what is happening to Elena or why and she's the first of her kind so it's not like there is anyone to ask for advice either. I love seeing how far Elena and Raphael have come since the first book, they are such a strong couple now and it is clear that Raphael would risk everything to keep Elena safe but no matter how powerful he is as an archangel what's happening now seems to be completely beyond his control so it's really interesting to see him trying to deal with that.

Elena may be worried about her own failing health but when her brother-in-law is attacked she puts her own fears aside to protect her sister's family. If she is running out of time then the one thing she is going to do is make sure the people she loves are safe before she dies. I always enjoyed seeing Elena work with her allies to solve a case and that was no different here, especially given the ever increasing danger caused by the Cascade and a mysterious new watcher who appears to be stalking Elena's every move. We see plenty of all of our favourite characters and I found the scenes between Elena and her father particularly interesting, he's been such an awful father to her but then we get these tiny moments when he hints that he actually cares. It's hard to know what to make of him really.

The last few chapters of this book were devastating in a lot of different ways, there are some huge changes coming and things take a really shocking turn so I was left desperate for the next instalment. I can understand why some people aren't happy with that ending because we are left with a LOT of unanswered questions but at the same time I think we were given enough to ease some of our fears and no matter how much I want the next book I still loved every minute of this one. This series remains one of my all time favourites and I can't wait to see where Nalini is going to take us next because it's guaranteed to be one heck of a ride!

Source: Received from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review

Other Reviews:
If you have reviewed this book on your blog please leave a link to your review in the comments & I'll add the link here.

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Excerpt: Archangel's Prophecy - Nalini Singh

Anyone who knows me should already be well aware of how much I love Nalini Singh's books, she writes two of my favourite series and she just never fails to make me fall head over heels for her characters. Her latest release, Archangel's Prophecy, is the eleventh book in her Guild Hunter series and today I have a fab excerpt to share with you thanks to Nalini's US publisher Berkley. But first let me tell you all about the book..

About Archangel's Prophecy:

US Cover

Return to New York Times bestselling author Nalini Singh’s darkly passionate Guild Hunter world, where human-turned-angel Elena Deveraux, consort to Archangel Raphael, is thrust center stage into an eons-old prophecy....

Midnight and dawn, Elena’s wings are unique among angelkind…and now they’re failing. The first mortal to be turned into an immortal in angelic memory, she’s regressing. Becoming more and more human. Easier to hurt. Easier to kill.

Elena and Raphael must unearth the reason for the regression before it’s too late and Elena falls out of the sky. Yet even as they fight a furious battle for Elena’s very survival, violent forces are gathering in New York and across the world.

In China, the Archangel Favashi is showing the first signs of madness. In New York, a mysterious sinkhole filled with lava swallows a man whole. In Africa, torrential monsoon rains flood rolling deserts. And in Elena’s mind whispers a haunting voice that isn’t her own.

This time, survival may not be possible…not even for the consort of an archangel.

Excerpt:

Excerpt from ARCHANGEL’S PROPHECY

By Nalini Singh

Illium turned in a direction that would take them to the Catskills if they kept on going.
Sweeping closer to him, she said, “You just want to fly?”

Hair rippling in the quiet but cutting wind, he twisted down in a complicated fall before flying back up to her side. She laughed at his showing off. That was Illium. An angel of violent power who had a heart that might almost be mortal. And, these days, she could appreciate his tricks again. Not a single angel in the city had been ready to witness his acrobatics in the immediate aftermath of the day he’d crashed out of the sky.

Elena would never forget her screaming fear.

To his credit, Illium had flown with absolute discretion for months, letting the memory dull and fade.
When he returned to her side today, his face was flushed, the gold of his eyes rich. “Sky’s too beautiful to shut ourselves away in a club.”

“Just don’t forget I’m not as fast as you. Also, I’m currently lame.”

Illium lifted one cupped hand close to his shoulder, the other moving back and forth . . . and she realized he was playing a tiny violin in response to her morose tone.

“Crossbow, Bluebell.” Narrowed eyes. “Remember the crossbow.”

He dived, his wicked laughter floating up on the night air. Lips twitching, Elena continued to glide, letting the air currents sweep her along with cold but gentle hands. Illium, meanwhile, flew circles around her—but he never went far, always close enough to halt her descent should she tumble.

She landed a number of times to rest her wings, once in an isolated park whispering and dark. A luminescent insect appeared then disappeared from sight before she could truly see it, an earthbound star. The ghostly owl sitting on a tree branch watched her with eyes even more luminous.

A sigh deep in her mind, an old, old presence restless in Sleep.

The hairs rose on her arms.

Then Illium shot them both up into the sky again, and together, they flew far beyond the diamond-bright skyline of the city and over the sleeping homes of ordinary people who lived in a world of vampires and angels, blood and immortality.

Another rest stop for Elena.

Another throb of pain from the cut on her forearm.

Another watchful owl, this one landing on Illium’s shoulder without his knowledge. Ashwini had told her not to be afraid of the owls, so Elena ignored the goose bumps and said, Hello, with her mind. A good night to fly.

A vein began to throb at her temple.

The answer came a long time later, after they were in the air again, the glow of the sinkhole visible from the distance.

It has been an eon since I flew.



Posted by arrangement with Berkley, a member of Penguin Group (USA) LLC, A Penguin Random House Company. Copyright © Nalini Singh, 2018.

UK Cover

About the Author:

Nalini Singh is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of the Psy-Changeling, Guild Hunter, and Rock Kiss series. She lives and works in beautiful New Zealand, and is passionate about writing.

If you’d like to explore her other books, you can find lots of excerpts and free short stories on her website. Slave to Sensation is the first book in the Psy-Changeling series, while Angels’ Blood is the first book in the Guild Hunter series. The Rock Kiss books are all stand alone and can be read in any order.

STALK HER: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads

Review: Rebel Hard - Nalini Singh

New York Times bestselling author Nalini Singh continues her Hard Play series with a sweet, sexy romance featuring big, fat, OTT weddings, a meddling grandma, and a too-serious hero who needs to be unbuttoned…

Nayna Sharma agreed to an arranged marriage in the hope it would heal the fractures in her beloved family… only to realize too late that a traditional marriage is her personal nightmare. Panicked, she throws caution to the winds, puts on the tiniest dress she can find, and ends up in the arms of a tall, rough-edged hunk of a man who has abs of steel—and who she manages to mortally insult between one kiss and the next.

Abandoned as a child, then adopted into a loving family, Raj Sen believes in tradition, in continuity. Some might call him stiff and old-fashioned, but he knows what he wants—and it’s a life defined by rules… yet he can’t stop thinking about the infuriating and sexy woman who kissed him in the moonlight then disappeared. When his parents spring an introduction on him, the last woman he expects is her. Beautiful. Maddening. A rulebreaker in the making.

He’s all wrong for her. She’s all wrong for him. And love is about to make rebels of them both.

Rock Kiss Series:
Rock Addiction
Rock Courtship (Novella)
Rock Hard (Crossover with the Hard Play series)
Rock Redemption
Rock Wedding

Hard Play Series:
(Spin off from the Rock Kiss series featuring the Bishop brothers)
Cherish Hard
Rock Hard (Crossover with the Rock Kiss series)
Rebel Hard
Love Hard

Visit Nalini Singh's website for more information

Review:
Nayna has always felt like she has to be the perfect daughter to make up for the disappointment her parents felt when her older sister became a rebel. She's always done what was expected of her and has never wanted to hurt them by pushing her boundaries which is why she has agreed to an arranged marriage. But as she meets one disastrous match after another she starts to question whether she really wants to let herself be trapped in a life of someone else's choosing and her bet friend talks her into attending a party for a night of fun and dancing. The attraction she feels for Raj is instant but their first meeting goes horribly wrong so she is completely shocked when she realises that he's the next match her parents have found for her.

Raj was abandoned as a child and although he was adopted into a loving and supportive family he continues to crave love and security. He believes in tradition and is looking for a woman who will be the centre of his world, someone who will be a loving wife and mother and who would never abandon him. From the minute he meets Nayna he can't stop thinking about her but knowing how much she hates the idea of being forced into marriage he has to choose between his dream and allowing her the freedom to make her own choices.

Nayna and Raj both made an appearance in Cherish Hard as the best friends of Isa and Sailor so I was already excited about this story but it was even better than I had hoped for. They're both such brilliant characters, Nayna is sweet and funny, a little shy but also becoming increasingly brave as she finds her confidence. She loves her family and wants to do right by them but she also desperately wants to get a taste of freedom before she settles down and marries. Raj is a perfect hero, he claims he doesn't believe in romance but he's surprisingly good at the small romantic gestures that every woman longs for. He cares enough about Nayna to want to help her spread her wings and he stands up for her with both her family and his own when it comes to letting her have the chance to pursue her dreams.

The couple have fantastic rapport from the very beginning, they spark off each other and argue but the chemistry is there from the get go and you just know things are going to be explosive when they finally give into temptation. I loved the playful banter between them but also how they were always there for each other when anything went wrong. There is very little drama between them because they talk through their issues and are both willing to make compromises which is something I always appreciate in my romances. I also really loved both of their families, yes they have some issues but they all had a deep bond and clearly loved each other. It was really fun to see the families interact with each other and slowly blend into one big loving, supportive group around our couple.

We all know that Nalini Singh is a queen of paranormal romance but she's also just as good at writing fantastic contemporary romance with heroes you're guaranteed to fall for. T-Rex from Rock Hard has long been my favourite of her contemporary heroes but I think Raj may just have taken first place! Rebel Hard was absolutely perfect, great characters, swoon worthy romance, wonderful family dynamics and some huge and OTT Indian weddings! I'm already excited for the next book in this series.

Source: Received from publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review

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Review: Ocean Light - Nalini Singh

New York Times bestselling author Nalini Singh dives beneath the surface of her Psy-Changeling world into a story of passionate devotion and selfless love . . .

Security specialist Bowen Knight has come back from the dead. But there's a ticking time bomb in his head: a chip implanted to block telepathic interference that could fail at any moment - taking his brain along with it. With no time to waste, he should be back on land helping the Human Alliance. Instead, he's at the bottom of the ocean, consumed with an enigmatic changeling . . .

Kaia Luna may have traded in science for being a chef, but she won't hide the facts of Bo's condition from him or herself. She's suffered too much loss in her life to fall prey to the dangerous charm of a human who is a dead man walking. And she carries a devastating secret that Bo could never imagine . . .

But when Kaia is taken by those who mean her deadly harm, all bets are off. Bo will do anything to get her back - even if it means striking a devil's bargain and giving up his mind to the enemy.

Psy-Changeling Series:
(Season One in the Psy-Changeling World)
Beat of Temptation (Novella included in Wild Invitation and the An Enchanted Season anthology)
Whisper of Sin (Novella included in the Burning Up anthology or as a separate ebook)
Slave to Sensation
Visions of Heat
Echo of Silence (Novella included in the Wild Embrace anthology)
Caressed by Ice
Stroke of Enticement (Novella included in Wild Invitation and The Magical Christmas Cat anthology)
Mine to Possess
Hostage to Pleasure
Dorian (Novella included in the Wild Embrace anthology)
Branded by Fire
Blaze of Memory
Bonds of Justice
Play of Passion
Declaration of Courtship (Novella included in Wild Invitation)
Kiss of Snow
Texture of Intimacy (Novella included in Wild Invitation)
Tangle of Need
Partners in Persuasion (Novella included in the Wild Embrace anthology)
Heart of Obsidian
Flirtation of Fate (Novella included in the Wild Embrace anthology)
Secrets at Midnight (Novella included in the Night Shift anthology)
Shield of Winter
Shards of Hope
Allegiance of Honour

Psy-Changeling Trinity Series:
(Season two in the Psy-Changeling World)
Silver Silence
Ocean Light
Wolf Rain

Visit Nalini Singh's website for more information

Review:
Nalini Singh is one of the few authors who has never let me down, I preorder her books the second they pop up on amazon, devour them the minute I can get hold of them and I always know that I'm in for heartwarming romance, fantastic characters and wonderful world building. Her Psy-Changeling series is one of the best paranormal romance series out there and this new second phase of the series is proving that she's still at the top of her game. As much as I love the SnowDancer and DarkRiver packs I'm really enjoying the expansion of this world first with the bears in Silver Silence and now getting to know the water changelings of BlackSea in Ocean Light.

Bowen has always been a character I've been curious about, as the human leader of the Alliance he has a lot of power in his hands but the ticking time bomb of the telepathic blocker implanted in his brain has him desperately looking for answers. Then there was the shocking attack in the last book which of course left me even more keen to get answers. He's such a sweet hero, I loved how open and honest he was with Kaia from the very beginning and how determined he was to make the most of the time he had left if they weren't able to fix his implant safely. I've always admired the way he wanted to put humans on the same playing field as the Changelings and Psy too, even though humans are physically weaker than the Changelings and defenceless against most Psy telepathic abilities they vastly outnumber those two groups and Bowen is fighting for equality amongst the races.

Kaia is a character we've not met before but she was brilliant too, very intelligent but the best thing about her was her huge heart and the way she cared for everyone in her circle. Kaia is the kind of person that is always there to offer a shoulder to cry on or moral support but who never wants to burden anyone with her own problems so she always sees to her own needs last. Bowen saw that immediately and went to great effort to show her how important she was to him. They fitted together really well and balanced each other out in a lot of ways.

There is no denying that the first half of Ocean Light is a little slower paced and more character driven than most books in this series, the action doesn't really pick up until later on but I was having so much fun exploring BlackSea's underwater home and meeting so many different water changelings (whales, turtles, sharks and so many more - including ones with tentacles!) that I really enjoyed the change of pace. Later on as the danger increases and things get more complicated I was so fully invested in the characters that I was on the edge of my seat waiting to see how the story would end. This was another fantastic instalment in the series and I can't wait to find out who will be the stars of the next one!

Source: Received from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review

Other Reviews:
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Review: Cherish Hard - Nalini Singh

New York Times bestselling author Nalini Singh kicks off her new Hard Play contemporary romance series with a sizzling story that’ll leave you smiling…

Sailor Bishop has only one goal for his future – to create a successful landscaping business. No distractions allowed. Then he comes face-to-face and lips-to-lips with a woman who blushes like an innocent… and kisses like pure sin.

Ísa Rain craves a man who will cherish her, aches to create a loving family of her own. Trading steamy kisses with a hot gardener in a parking lot? Not the way to true love. Then a deal with the devil (aka her CEO-mother) makes Ísa a corporate VP for the summer. Her main task? Working closely with a certain hot gardener.

And Sailor Bishop has wickedness on his mind.

As Ísa starts to fall for a man who makes her want to throttle and pounce on him at the same time, she knows she has to choose – play it safe and steady, or risk all her dreams and hope Sailor doesn’t destroy her heart.

Rock Kiss Series:
Rock Addiction
Rock Courtship (Novella)
Rock Hard (Crossover with the Hard Play series)
Rock Redemption
Rock Wedding

Hard Play Series:
(Spin off from the Rock Kiss series featuring the Bishop brothers)
Cherish Hard
Rock Hard (Crossover with the Rock Kiss series)
Rebel Hard
Love Hard

Visit Nalini Singh's website for more information

Review:
I love the whole Rock Kiss series but Rock Hard was definitely my favourite so I was thrilled when I found out that Nalini Singh was writing a spin off series about the rest of the Bishop/Esera brothers. They're such a tight-knit family so I was really looking forward to getting to know everyone better. If you've read Rock Hard then you'll have already met Sailor and Isa because Cherish Hard is actually set before Gabriel and Charlie's book but it was really fun to go back and see how they met and became a couple. It was also interesting to see a different side to Gabriel from back when he was still single and to get to know the other brothers a little better too.

Isa comes from a wealthy and very driven family and her mother is determined to see Isa follow in her footsteps and take over the family business. All Isa really wants is a peaceful life though, she'd much rather focus on her career as a teacher but her mother uses her younger siblings to emotionally manipulate her into doing what she wants her to. Sailor comes from a very different, much more supportive family, one who supports him and has helped him follow his dreams to become a landscape gardener. He's been so busy focusing on his business that he doesn't have time for romance but that all changes when he meets Isa and he's determined to prove to her how great they would be together.

This was such an enjoyable story, the romance between Isa and Sailor was really sweet and I liked that there wasn't much drama between them as a couple, any stresses on their relationship come from outside factors but they work together to deal with their issues and sort things out like sensible adults. I felt so sorry for Isa, her mother was such a nasty piece of work but luckily she had a great bond with her siblings. She was really like a replacement mother for them and I loved the way Sailor stepped up beside her to help them when they were in trouble. I also enjoyed seeing the Bishop/Esera clan welcome Isa and her family into the fold. I can't decide which brother's story I'm more excited about but I have a feeling I'm going to love them all so I guess it doesn't really matter!

Nalini Singh has been an auto-buy author for me ever since I got hooked on her Guild Hunter and Psy-Changeling series so I'm happy that her contemporary romances are just as brilliant as her paranormal ones.

Source: Received from publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review

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Review: Archangel's Viper - Nalini Singh

Enter New York Times bestselling author Nalini Singh's breathtakingly passionate Guild Hunter world with the story of a woman who isn't a vampire or an angel . . . or human . . .

Once a broken girl known as Sorrow, Holly Chang now prowls the shadowy grey underground of the city for the angels. But it's not her winged allies who make her a wanted woman - it's the unknown power coursing through her veins. Brutalised by an insane archangel, she was left with the bloodlust of a vampire, the ability to mesmerise her prey, and a poisonous bite.

Now, someone has put a bounty on her head . . .

Venom is one of the Seven, Archangel Raphael's private guard, and he's as infuriating as he is seductive. A centuries-old vampire, his fangs dispense a poison deadlier than Holly's. But even if Venom can protect Holly from those hunting her, he might not be able to save himself - because the strange, violent power inside Holly is awakening . . .

No one is safe.

The Guild Hunter Series:
Angels' Dance (ebook novella that is also included in Angels' Flight)
Angels' Judgment (novella included in Angels' Flight and the Must Love Hellhounds anthology)
Angels' Pawn (ebook novella that is also included in Angels' Flight)
Angel's Blood
Archangel's Kiss
Archangel's Consort
Angel's Wolf (novella included in Angels' Flight and the Angel's of Darkness anthology)
Archangel's Blade
Archangel's Storm
Archangel's Legion
Archangel's Shadows
Archangel's Enigma
Archangel's Heart
Archangel's Viper
Archangel's Prophecy
Archangel's War

Visit Nalini Singh's website for more information

Review:
I can't tell you how much I enjoyed being back in this world, I love everything about this series and diving into a new book is always like getting the chance to catch up with old friends who you haven't seen in months. I have to admit that I was a tiny bit disappointed that we didn't get to see what has been happening with Elena since the huge discoveries she made about her family in the last book (I don't recall her being in this book at all but I could be wrong!) but that's partly because the timeline of this story overlaps slightly with Archangel's Heart so at the start of the book Elena and Raphael are both away from New York at their meeting with the Luminata. Besides, this is Venom and Holly's story and it's only right they should take centre stage!

Holly has been through so much since she was attacked by Uram in the first book, she survived something horrific but it has changed her in ways that have never been seen before so nobody is able to tell her what to expect or help guide her through the process. She has started to come to terms with what has happened though and is working hard to rebuild her life, even if it's not the life she originally intended. It was so great to see how far Holly has come since the beginning, she still lives in fear that Uram's madness might have tainted her, especially since she is hiding some disturbing symptoms, but she is determined to make the best of things and she refuses to quit.

I've always been intrigued by Venom, he's quite a mystery man but I wanted to know how he came by his snake like eyes and his poisonous fangs! He's been out of the city for a couple of years but he's called back to help keep things under control while Raphael is out of the territory and he finds that the baby vampire who refused to answer to anything but Sorrow who he left behind is now all grown up and changing into the woman he always thought she could be. When someone puts a price on her head it's obvious she needs back up and Venom can't resist being the one to watch out for her.

Theirs was a quieter more slow burn romance than some of the others in the series, there has always been a low key level of respect between them that felt like it could become friendship but as they also have a lot in common that connects them in a unique way. They are both unusual, even for vampires, and their abilities are enough to scare others but their similarities mean they understand each other in a way nobody else manages to. I really enjoyed spending time with them both and seeing Holly grow into her own strength and them grow closer as a couple.

I don't want to talk about details from the plot but there are a lot of really interesting revelations in Archangel's Viper that kind of tie back into some of the things Elena and Raphael found out in the previous book. Things are definitely getting interesting and I can't wait to see how it plays out over the next few books. Add in that we get to spend time with the Legion, and with one of my favourite angels Bluebell and I enjoyed every minute of this book. Nalini Singh has created such a fabulous world here and I love spending time in it!

Source: Received from Gollancz in exchange for an honest review

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My Favourite Books from the First Half of 2017

It's always interesting to look back and try to pick my favourite books of the year but it can be really hard to narrow it down to a reasonable number so I thought I'd make a start on my top books of 2017 list early by having a look at my favourites from January to June. I limited it to first reads only (the books I reread are already favourites so would have an unfair advantage!) and no more than one book per author (again some authors would end up on the list multiple times!). The books can be old or new as long as they're new to me but as it happened this time around they're all 2017 releases and there are quite a few debuts on the list which is great.

My favourite YA books from the first half of 2017:

(Click the links to read my reviews)

1. Strange the Dreamer by Laini Taylor
2. Dawn Study by Maria V Snyder
3. Royal Bastards by Andrew Shvarts
4. Flame in the Mist by Renee Ahdieh
5. Caraval by Stephanie Garber

I don't really read contemporary YA so it's no surprise that this list is full of fantasy titles. We are really getting spoiled with the huge amount of YA fantasy being released right now and there are so many more books that I'm really excited to read and already suspect will end up on my final list at the end of the year!

My favourite adult books from the first half of 2017:

(Click the links to read my reviews)

1. White Hot by Ilona Andrews
2. Silver Silence by Nalini Singh
3. The Bear and the Nightingale by Katherine Arden
4. Scorpion Trap by Pippa DaCosta
5. Silence Fallen by Patricia Briggs

It doesn't surprise me that my favourite adult tiles are all branches of fantasy either, my favourite genres are still definitely urban fantasy and paranormal romance but fantasy in general always hits my hot spot! This list includes 4 of my favourite authors who are nearly always in my top book lists and Katherine Arden's debut has me incredibly excited to follow her writing career.

What are your favourite books of the year so far? Do any of mine make your lists too? If you have any fantasy recommendations (old or new) please do leave them in the comment, I can never have too many books on my to read mountain!