Review: Ferryman - Claire McFall

"I exist because you need me."

When Dylan emerges from the wreckage of a train crash onto a bleak Scottish hillside, she meets a strange boy who seems to be waiting for her.

But Tristan is no ordinary teenage boy, and the journey across the desolate, wraith-infested wasteland is no ordinary journey.

Life, death, love - which will Dylan choose?

Visit Claire McFall's website for more information.

Review:
Dylan was travelling across Scotland to meet her father for the first time when the train she was on was involved in an accident. Regaining consciousness alone and in the dark tunnel she is terrified and can't work out why there are no rescue workers on hand to help her. When she finally stumbles out of the tunnel she finds herself completely alone on a Scottish hillside. That is until she spots Tristan, a teenage boy who seems to be waiting for her. But who is Tristan and where are all the other passengers? Why is Tristan so determined to get her to follow him and what kind of creatures could be making the terrifying noises she keeps hearing in the distance?

I wanted to read Ferryman from the moment I first heard about it, I was incredibly intrigued by the concept for the story and curious to see how it would play out. It's hard to say too much about the story because it would be easy to give things away but I found the world that Claire McFall has created was really interesting and I was kept hooked because I wanted to see how things would play out for Dylan and Tristan. The writing style is beautiful and descriptive but it took me a while to get used to the way the perspective would change from one paragraph to the next. It felt like I spent quite a lot of time backtracking as I tried to make sense of things and that did throw me out of the story more than once.

Although I found the world interesting I have to admit that I wasn't a huge fan of either of the main characters. I never really felt that we got to know Tristan well enough to understand Dylan's fascination with him, in the beginning he pretty much ignores her or is rude to her and although he opens up later on I just never felt that connected to the relationship between them. I think my main problem was that I found Dylan very hard to relate to. Her reactions just didn't feel realistic to me, she accepts what has happened to her far too easily and without really batting an eyelid but then gets completely hysterical when she is separated from a boy she has only known for a few days. Perhaps if I'd been more invested in the relationship with Tristan I might have found that easier to believe her reaction but it just had me rolling my eyes in frustration.

There were a lot of good things about the story though, the concept was great and the world was well thought out and described beautifully. I would have loved to have learnt about more about some of the other people who had crossed Tristan's path because I'm sure he would have some very interesting stories to tell. Nearly all of the reviews I have seen for Ferryman have been incredibly positive so even though there were some things that didn't work for me personally I am definitely in the minority in that regard so I would hate to put anyone off giving it a try. If you're looking for a paranormal romance that doesn't involve your standard vampires or shape shifters but instead brings something unique to the genre then it might be worth checking this out.

Source: Received from Templar in exchange for an honest review

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Review: Temptation's Kiss - Michelle Zink

Lily Montgomery is perfectly happy taking care of everyone else. That is, until her friendship with Shadowguard warrior, Kane Dawson, begins to blossom into something more.

But Lily has a secret. One that will keep her from ever making her feelings known to Kane.

One of the Shadowguard’s fiercest warriors, Kane has a soft spot for Lily. A long-standing member of the Shadowguard, he can’t figure out when his feelings for Ambrose Montgomery’s youngest daughter morphed from brotherly affection into desire and an unfamiliar longing that feels a lot like love.

Kane holds himself in check knowing that Lily deserves better. A man in a suit, dinner at six every night, rosy-cheeked children who won’t have to worry that their father might be killed by one of the Legion’s wraiths.

But when the pair are thrown together by a set of circumstances beyond their control, they are forced to confront their growing passion and decide if love is worth the risk of baring it all.

Shadowguard Series:
Temptation's Heat (Novella)
Temptation's Kiss (Novella)
Temptation's Fire (Novella)

Visit Michelle Zink's website for more information

Review:
Lily might be the daughter of the Shadowguard boss but she has never wanted to follow in his footsteps like her older siblings. She would much rather spend her time baking than fighting and loves to take care of everyone around her by running the home where the Shadowguards live together. She has been friends with Kane for years but her feelings for him are so much more than that, if only she didn't have a secret that would stop them ever being together she might be brave enough to tell him how she feels. Kane is one of the strongest warriors in the Shadowguard, he loves what he does and never wanted to be anything other than a fighter but thinks that Lily deserves so much more than that. In spite of their differences Kane is crazy about her and how can he resist temptation when the attraction between them is so fierce? What is Lily's secret and will it really keep them apart?

I really enjoyed the first instalment to the Shadowguard series so was looking forward to reading Temptation's Kiss. The story picks up not long after Temptation's Heat ended and I think this is a series that you really need to read in order so that you get the most out of the world building and character development. We saw both Kane and Lily in the previous story so were already aware of how they felt about each other and that helped Michelle Zink to create a believable romance between the two of them in just over 40 pages. I love the fact that Lily is so different to her sister, she isn't a fighter and is much softer than Scarlet but there is nothing wrong with that and Kane is drawn to her because of the way she cares for everyone. Lily is the kind of woman that it is easy to imagine being friends with, she puts others first and is happy with the life she has. It is only her secret that stops her from approaching Kane but I don't want to say more about that because of spoilers.

Kane is a great guy, he is protective of Lily and his fellow warriors and respected by everyone he works with. He genuinely cares for Lily but it is obvious he wants more than friendship. The relationship between them is sweet but they still have an incredibly intense attraction and I enjoyed seeing them work through their issues and fears. It was also nice to see how Scarlet and Rowen are getting along and get to see a nicer side to the girl's brother Ivan. I have to admit that I didn't think I was going to like Ivan after what we saw of him in the first novella but I now have a bit more hope for his story which is the last instalment of the trilogy. If you enjoyed Temptation's Heat then I'm sure you'll love Temptation's Kiss. If you haven't started the series yet then I'd recommend reading the stories in order but these novellas are perfect for when you're looking for a quick, sexy read.

Source: Received from Swoon Romance in exchange for an honest review

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Review: Temptation's Heat - Michelle Zink

When Rowen Black is assigned to the elite unit of angelic assassins known as the Shadowguard, he thinks his biggest challenge will be overcoming his less-than-stellar reputation. But that’s before he meets his match in Scarlet Montgomery.

Beautiful, strong, and with a temper to match Rowen’s own, Scarlet is focused on the Shadowguard and her possible future as its leader. She’s become an expert at keeping her personal life separate from the Guard, all too aware that as the boss’s daughter, fellow warriors see her not as someone to be respected, but as someone to be protected.

Avoiding entanglements gets a lot harder when Rowen saunters into the room. Rowen puts the bad in "bad boy." Their connection is hot, visceral, and instantaneous.

When the pair are assigned to a joint investigation, they come face-to-face with their undeniable attraction, forcing Scarlet to consider that the connection is not only physical, but a destiny written in the halls of time.

Shadowguard Series:
Temptation's Heat (Novella)
Temptation's Kiss (Novella)
Temptation's Fire (Novella)

Visit Michelle Zink's website for more information

Review:
Scarlet works hard to prove herself to the other warriors in the Shadowguard, she wants to be respected for her abilities and doesn't want anyone to give her an easy ride because she is the boss's daughter. This is particularly important when she could potentially become their leader in the future so she has a rule never to get involved with her colleagues. Rowen has just been assigned to the same Shadowguard unit as Scarlet, he has a bit of a reputation as a trouble maker and wants to use this fresh start to prove himself. He needs to keep his head down and stay out of trouble but that isn't going to be easy when Scarlet brings out all of his protective instincts. When they have to work closely together on a secret investigation the sparks fly but is the attraction between them strong enough to risk everything they've worked so hard for?

I have to admit that I've never read anything by Michelle Zink before, I've heard great things about her books though and have her YA Prophecy of the Sisters series on my to read pile. When I was offered a review copy of her first adult novella Temptation's Heat I couldn't resist, I jumped at the chance of reading it and I'm very glad I did. This is a great start to the Shadowguard series and has left me excited to read more of her work in the future. Before I start this review I have to say that I tend to look at novellas slightly differently to full length books, when I'm picking up a story with around 60 pages then I expect that the romance will happen a lot faster than usual and it doesn't bother me so much as insta love does in a novel. If you go into Temptation's Heat expecting a long drawn out romance between Scarlet and Rowen then you'll be disappointed but if you're looking for a quick but satisfying read full of sexual tension and great chemistry then this will hit the spot perfectly.

Not only do you have some great interactions between Scarlet and Rowen you also have some really interesting world building and we get to meet both of Scarlet's siblings (Lily and Ivan) who will each get their story told in this trilogy. I'm very curious to find out more about the members of the Shadowguard, they are descended from angels and the organisation exists to protect humanity from demons. On the other side you have the Legion who are descended from demons and are there to keep the balance between good and evil. I do have some questions about the treaty between the Shadowguard and the Legion but I think these will be answered as the series continues. I won't know for sure until I've read the second story Temptation's Kiss (which I'm planning on doing as soon as I finish this review) but I have a feeling that this is a series that needs to be read in order, there are too many open ends at the end of this story that I'm sure will be picked up in the next instalment.

If you're looking for a hot story that can be read in less than an hour then I'd recommend picking up Temptation's Heat. I'm looking forward to continuing the series and I will definitely be reading more by Michelle Zink in the future.

Source: Received from Swoon Romance in exchange for an honest review

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Review: Shadow Fall - Erin Kellison

Sacrifice
Custo Santovari accepted pain, blood, even death, to save his best friend. But a man with all his sins just isn't cut out to be an angel.

Mystery
One moment he's fleeing Heaven: the next, he's waking up stark naked in Manhattan. In the middle of a war. Called there by a woman who's desperately afraid of the dark.

Shadow
It gathers around Annabella as she performs, filled with fantastic images of another world, bringing both a golden hero and a nightmare lover.

Wolf
He pursues her relentlessly, twisting her desires even as she gives herself to the man she loves. Because each of us has a wild side, and Annabella is about to unleash the beast.

Shadow Series:
Shadow Bound
Shadow Fall
Shadow Touch (Novella)
Shadowman
Shadow Play (Novella) (April 2012)
Fire Kissed (July 2012)

Visit Erin Kellison's website for more information

Review:
I really enjoyed Shadow Bound so was looking forward to picking up Shadow Fall which is the second book in Erin Kellison's Shadow series. Please note that this review will contain slight spoilers for the first book in the series so please don't read further if you've not already read it.

I had expected the story to pick up immediately after the ending of Shadow Bound so it was quite a surprise when I discovered that two years had passed since the events in the first book. Custo was tortured and killed while protecting Adam and Talia from their enemies and doing so earned him a place in Heaven as an angel. He doesn't want to stay in Heaven though, the last thing he discovered before he died was that there was another traitor in the Segue Institute and he is determined to find a way to warn his best friend Adam that he is still in danger.

As Custo journeys through the Shadowlands trying to find his way back to earth he stumbles across Annabella. She is a ballet dancer who is so skilled that her dancing has opened a pathway between the two realms. But Custo isn't the only one who has spotted Annabella - she has also drawn the attention of a dangerous hunter who has now followed her to earth and is determined to claim her as his own. Can Custo protect her from Wolf and at the same time track down the traitor in the institute to make sure Adam and Talia are safe?

As much as I liked Shadow Bound I have to confess I wasn't a massive fan of Adam as the hero so I was pleased to discover that this was Custo's story because I already liked him a lot more. Custo went through hell to protect Adam and even died for his friend so I was already impressed by his bravery and the more I found out about him the better he got. Custo doesn't feel like he should be an angel, he has done things in his past that he isn't proud of and doesn't feel worthy but the more you find out about him the more you realise that he has always had honourable intentions. I liked the way Custo is so protective of his friends and also of Annabella but I really wanted him to put himself first just once, or for someone to stand up and fight for him for a change. He is so protective that it turns into more of a self destructive streak!

Although I like Custo more than Adam I didn't enjoy Shadow Fall as much as I enjoyed Shadow Bound. I think that was mainly because I didn't connect with Annabella in the slightest - I just couldn't believe how stupid she was to go off with Custo so quickly (literally the first time she meets him). When the heroine is so scared of the hero that she leaves a voice mail message telling people who she is with & where she was taken in case they find her body I find it hard to accept that she has the hots for him a few minutes later. I had to laugh when Custo called her sensible for making the phone call - OK so if she is murdered the police might be able to find her killer but that wouldn't make her any less dead would it? That hardly makes her sensible in my eyes! As much as I know Custo is the hero she didn't have a clue who he was and I lost all respect for her at that point and didn't get it back. I also found myself quickly getting bored with the descriptions of her dancing but that is probably because ballet is something that has never interested me in the slightest - I don't know the names of the dance moves so found it hard to picture the dances in my head. If you're a ballet fan then you would probably enjoy that part of the story a lot more than I did. The romance between them was so fast that I didn't find it even slightly believable and I just didn't feel enough of a connection between them to like them as a couple.

Unfortunately I was disappointed with Shadow Fall but I'm still curious enough about this series and the world that Erin Kellison has created to try the next book. I'm hoping that I'll enjoy the next instalment much more and am interested in finding out what happens with Adam, Talia and Custo even if I don't particularly care about Annabella. I'm also desperate to find out more about Shadowman who I fell for in the first book and love even more now.

Source: I was given a copy of this book at AADPhilly in exchange for an honest review

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Review: Shadow Bound - Erin Kellison

Death
Some people will do anything to avoid it.  Even trade their immortal souls for endless existence.

Wraiths
Secretly, inexorably, they are infiltrating our world. sucking the essence out of unsuspecting victims with their hideous parody of a kiss.

Segue
Adam Thorne founded the Segue Institute to study and destroy his monster of a brother, but the key to its success is held in the pale, slender hand of a woman on the run.  There is something hauntingly different about Talia O'Brien, her unknowing sensuality, her uncanny way of slipping into Shadow.

Twilight
This is the place between life and what comes after - a dark forest of fantasy, filled with beauty, peril, mystery.  And Talia is about to open the door.

Shadow Series:
Shadow Bound
Shadow Fall
Shadow Touch (Novella)
Shadowman
Shadow Play (Novella) (April 2012)
Fire Kissed (July 2012)

Visit Erin Kellison's website for more information

Review:
Adam started the Segue Institute after his brother Jacob was turned into a wraith and killed both of their parents.  Adam is set on revenge and will do anything to find a way to destroy his immortal brother and the wraiths that seem to be multiplying in numbers at a horrifying rate.  Humanity may not be aware of it yet but it looks like we are on the brink of a supernatural war with Adam's team our first line of defence.  After reading Talia's thesis Adam is convinced that she has information that could help him beat the wraiths, he just has to track her down and get her to help him.  But Talia is in hiding and when Adam manages to find her it quickly becomes clear that she is hiding something.  Why are the wraiths so determined to capture her?  Can Adam convince her to use her unusual abilities to help him?

I was hooked into Shadow Bound from the prologue where we are introduced to human Kathleen and the mysterious Shadowman.  We don't spend much time with the couple but you get a really good sense of how much they mean to each other.  Skip forward 26 years and the story picks up with their daughter Talia.  She knows she is different but she doesn't understand why and her parents were never available for her to find out.  All she wants is to live a normal life so she keeps her ability to wrap herself in the shadows a secret and knows nothing about the supernatural world.  It comes as quite a shock when she is attacked by a wraith, she doesn't know what this creature is but she manages to escape using the shadows.  Her first instinct is to run and hide and I can't really blame her for that.

When she meets Adam and starts to learn more about both what she is and the enemy that she is facing it takes her a while before she decides to fight.  I wanted her to be a bit more proactive and work harder at learning how to use her powers but it takes quite a while before she stops trying to run.  I did find her a likable character I just wanted her to be a bit more kick ass.  I found it easy to sympathise with Adam but there were times when I found it very difficult to like him.  His attitude and the constant lies and secret keeping were a real turn off for me and at first I struggled to see what Talia saw in him.  I liked the chemistry between them though and I do feel he'd redeemed himself by the end of the book.

I enjoyed the world building in the story, the mythology was a bit different to most of the paranormal romance stories I've read and it was woven into the story well so you weren't overwhelmed with info dumps.  I did find myself getting confused at times though, a couple of characters had very similar names and for a while I wasn't sure if they were the same person or not.  Despite the minor problems I really enjoyed the story overall and I'm looking forward to continuing the series.

Source: I was given a copy of this book at AADPhilly in exchange for an honest review

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