This is a collection of paranormal romance short stories, each written by a different author. I picked this up because it includes the first story in the Guardians series.
"Falling for Anthony" by Meljean Brook: This worked well as an introduction to the Guardians series. Anthony & Emily's relationship was interesting and the mythos was intriguing without being overwhelming. The only downside for me was that I'm pretty burnt out on vampires so the parts of the story involving Collin weren't that interesting to me.
Grade: B
Will I read the next book in the series? Yes. I'm looking forward to reading more abut Hugh & Lilith.
I also read “Blood Kiss” by Shiloh Walker, but didn't like it nearly as much as "Falling for Anthony". I ended up feeling the same way about it that I did about The Missing---basically well-written, but not particularly original. Anyone familiar w/the genre knows this story, right down to the very convenient plot “twist” at the end. If I had liked the story more the fact that the main characters are Julianna Capiet & Roman Montgomery would have seemed like a fun shout out. Instead it just made me roll my eyes.
I didn't read the other 2 stories.
“The Breed Next Door” by Lora Leigh. I had to take Lora Leigh off my author list a while ago. Her writing switches my "scoff" button to the permanent on position, so I end up picking the story apart & that's not fun.
“The Countess's Pleasure by Emma Holly. I like her contemporaries. Her historicals/yama stories, not so much. I have far too many other books to read to spend time on something I know I won't really enjoy.
Sunday, March 29, 2009
Monday, March 23, 2009
Storm Front by Jim Butcher
Harry Blackstone Copperfield Dresdon is the only openly practicing in wizard Chicago. In addition to his private investigation business he also serves as a consult for the Chicago PD's Special Investigation unit. Business has been bad and Harry is behind on his rent, so he's grateful when Lt. Karrin Murphy requests his help with a gruesome double murder. When he arrives at the scene Harry quickly realizes that money is the least of his worries. Someone has violated the First Law of Magic by using it to kill. In order to find out who did it Harry will need to figure out how it was done. Unfortunately, in order to do that Harry will have to research very dark magic which could violate his probation with the White Council. If that happens Harry could lose far more than his lease.
For years people have been telling me how good the Dresden Files series is, but somehow I never got around to trying it. Now that I finally have I see why people kept recommending the books. Storm Front is an excellent series start. The world building is good. Most of the elements will be familiar to readers of urban fantasy, but they're used effectively. Butcher creates a picture of how magic works in Dresden's world without burying the story in details. The mystery is also solid, but not particularly original.
The strength of the story is the characters, especially Harry. The story is told in the first person so we see everyone, including Harry, from Harry's point of view. He sees himself as the magical equivilent of a computer geek, good at his job, but out of his depth in most social situations and somewhat inept at taking care of himself. For me one of the most interesting things about the story was comparing Harry's self-image with the way that other characters react to him. The fact that other characters not only respect Harry's talents but seem to fear them, hints that there is more to Harry than he gives himself credit for.
Grade: A-
Will I read the next book in the series? Yes, definitely.
Saturday, March 21, 2009
Spring Reading Thing 2009
Callapidder Days is hosting Spring Reading Thing from now until June 20th. I'm going to use this as incentive to read the books from my TBR that are leftover from the January, February & March 2009 TBR Challenges. I'm also going to include a couple of the DA BWAHA nominees that I wanted to read, but didn't get to before March Madness started. The list is long, but most of the books are categories that will be quick reads.
My List, in no particular order:
- Sugar Daddy by Lisa Kleypas
- Blue-Eyed Devil by Lisa Kleypas
- Unleashed by Lori Borrill
- Night Watch by Suzanne Brockmann
- Hero Under Cover by Suzanne Brockmann
- Letters to Kelly by Suzanne Brockmann
- Stand-In Groom by Suzanne Brockmann
- Time Enough for Love by Suzanne Brockmann
- Kiss and Tell by Suzanne Brockmann
- No Ordinary Man by Suzanne Brockmann
- Scenes of Passion by Suzanne Brockmann
- Shameless by Tori Carrington
- Reckless by Tori Carrington
- Restless by Tori Carrington
- Grin & Bear It by Leslie LaFoy
- The Money Man's Seduction by Leslie LaFoy
- One Tough Avenger by Diane Pershing
- Deadly Temptation by Justine Davis
- The Man Behind The Cop by Janice Kay Johnson
- Mustang Wild by Stacey Kayne
- Scent of a Woman by Jo Leigh
- Silent Witness by Lindsay McKenna
- Unforgiven by Lindsay McKenna
- A Man To Rely On by Cindi Myers
- Beyond His Control by Stephanie Tyler
- Do Not Disturb by Christine Ridgway
- Just One of the Guys by KristenHiggins
- The Chef's Choice by Kristin Hardy
- Broken Wing by Judith James
- Your Scandalous Ways by Loretta Chase
- Private Arrangement by Sherry Thomas
- Outlaw Bride by Jenna Kernan
- Winter Woman by Jenna Kernan
- Season of Storms by Susanna Kearsley
- The Loner by Geralyn Dawson
- Lone Star Surrender by Lisa Renee Jones
- Mackenzie's Mountain by Linda Howard
- Mackenzie's Mission by Linda Howard
- Her Montana Man by Cheryl St John
- Too Hot to Sleep by Stephanie Bond
Wednesday, March 18, 2009
2009 TBR Challenge for March: High Plains Bride by Jenna Kernan
March TBR Challenge---Historical Novel
This book takes place in the American west just before the start of the Civil War.
Tom and Sarah were childhood sweethearts who shared one night together before Tom left home to make his fortune in the gold fields. By the time Sarah realized that she was pregnant Tom was presumed dead. When his older brother Samuel offered to marry her Sarah felt she had no choice. It was not until years later that Sarah discovered that Tom was still alive and by then it was too late for them to be together. Sarah and Samuel's marriage was not a happy one, but she was content raising her daughter Lucie until Samuel decided that the family should move west. First Samuel died of cholera and then the wagon train was attacked and Lucie was taken captive by the Sioux. Sarah is still angry with Tom for not letting her know that he was alive, but she has no option but to find him and ask for his help to save their daughter.
Because Samuel lied to him Tom believes that Sarah knew he was alive and abandoned him to marry his brother. He has never gotten over his sense of betrayal or the guilt he feels over the death of his younger brother, who followed him west. He lives alone and doesn't expect that to change. Finding out that he has a daughter is a shock, but Tom is determined to save Lucie. He can't face the idea of disappointing Sarah again and desperately wants a chance to have a family. To make that happen he and Sarah will have to overcome the pain of their past while fighting not only hostile Indians but also the uncaring US Army and the unforgiving landscape.
This was definitely not a lighthearted book. Tom & Sarah are both so unhappy and their pain is palpable throughout the story. They both have reason to be angry with Samuel but he's dead so they aren't able to confront him or get any answers about what he did. Tom feels guilty for just about everything he's ever done, but mostly for the death of his brother Hyatt. If he fails to save his daughter it will confirm every negative thing he thinks about himself. Sarah has had her whole life turned upside down more than once and losing her daughter may be more than she can handle.
This book proves that there really is an exception to every rule. The plot has elements of two tropes that I dislike---the Secret Baby and the Big Misunderstanding. I was able to accept them in this story partially because communication was so difficult at that time and Samuel's interference played a big part in Tom & Sarah's mistaken assumptions, but mainly because Ms. Kernan simply wrote characters that I found convincing.
My only complaint about the book was that I wanted more of the story. I was interested to know what happened to the secondary characters after this story ended and Ms Kernan doesn't seem to have written any follow-up.
Grade: A
Because I'm sort of burnt out on historicals the only other one I pulled from my TBR this month was Untamed by Pamela Clare, which I also enjoyed.
This book takes place in the American west just before the start of the Civil War.
Tom and Sarah were childhood sweethearts who shared one night together before Tom left home to make his fortune in the gold fields. By the time Sarah realized that she was pregnant Tom was presumed dead. When his older brother Samuel offered to marry her Sarah felt she had no choice. It was not until years later that Sarah discovered that Tom was still alive and by then it was too late for them to be together. Sarah and Samuel's marriage was not a happy one, but she was content raising her daughter Lucie until Samuel decided that the family should move west. First Samuel died of cholera and then the wagon train was attacked and Lucie was taken captive by the Sioux. Sarah is still angry with Tom for not letting her know that he was alive, but she has no option but to find him and ask for his help to save their daughter.
Because Samuel lied to him Tom believes that Sarah knew he was alive and abandoned him to marry his brother. He has never gotten over his sense of betrayal or the guilt he feels over the death of his younger brother, who followed him west. He lives alone and doesn't expect that to change. Finding out that he has a daughter is a shock, but Tom is determined to save Lucie. He can't face the idea of disappointing Sarah again and desperately wants a chance to have a family. To make that happen he and Sarah will have to overcome the pain of their past while fighting not only hostile Indians but also the uncaring US Army and the unforgiving landscape.
This was definitely not a lighthearted book. Tom & Sarah are both so unhappy and their pain is palpable throughout the story. They both have reason to be angry with Samuel but he's dead so they aren't able to confront him or get any answers about what he did. Tom feels guilty for just about everything he's ever done, but mostly for the death of his brother Hyatt. If he fails to save his daughter it will confirm every negative thing he thinks about himself. Sarah has had her whole life turned upside down more than once and losing her daughter may be more than she can handle.
This book proves that there really is an exception to every rule. The plot has elements of two tropes that I dislike---the Secret Baby and the Big Misunderstanding. I was able to accept them in this story partially because communication was so difficult at that time and Samuel's interference played a big part in Tom & Sarah's mistaken assumptions, but mainly because Ms. Kernan simply wrote characters that I found convincing.
My only complaint about the book was that I wanted more of the story. I was interested to know what happened to the secondary characters after this story ended and Ms Kernan doesn't seem to have written any follow-up.
Grade: A
Because I'm sort of burnt out on historicals the only other one I pulled from my TBR this month was Untamed by Pamela Clare, which I also enjoyed.
Monday, March 9, 2009
The Shadowy Horses by Susanna Kearsley
When Verity Grey's former lover offers her a dream job working on an archaeological dig near the Scottish border she knows there must be a catch, but she's still surprised by the sponsor of the dig. Peter Quinnell has spent decades searching for evidence of the fate of the lost Ninth Roman Legion. He feels certain that he has found it at Rosehill, but his certainty isn't based on any scientific information. Peter is relying on the "sight" of a young boy who lives on the property. The other archaeologist on the dig is a man named David Fortune. He doesn't seem worried, but Verity is concerned both about her professional reputation and the strange things happening at the dig.
In spite of her douubts Verity's can't bring herself to leave so she sets about doing her work cataloging and drawing the artifacts that are found, even though she isn't convinced of the site's authenticity. As the work progresses Verity finds herself more and more drawn to David. What starts out as a working relationship builds into a romantic attraction as the two find themselves dealing not only with the dig, but with the increasingly strange events at Rosehill.
This was my first time reading a book by Susanna Kearsley and I enjoyed it very much. The book is a Gothic and reminded me of early books by Mary Stewart. Kearsley definitely has her own writing style though. She made the setting and the details about the archeological dig come alive and kept the story absorbing. I look forward to reading more of her work.
Grade: A
In spite of her douubts Verity's can't bring herself to leave so she sets about doing her work cataloging and drawing the artifacts that are found, even though she isn't convinced of the site's authenticity. As the work progresses Verity finds herself more and more drawn to David. What starts out as a working relationship builds into a romantic attraction as the two find themselves dealing not only with the dig, but with the increasingly strange events at Rosehill.
This was my first time reading a book by Susanna Kearsley and I enjoyed it very much. The book is a Gothic and reminded me of early books by Mary Stewart. Kearsley definitely has her own writing style though. She made the setting and the details about the archeological dig come alive and kept the story absorbing. I look forward to reading more of her work.
Grade: A
Casting Spells by Barbara Bretton
As the only non-magical resident of idyllic Sugar Maple, Vermont Chloe Hobbs has never entirely fit in with her neighbors. She has good friends and her knitting shop, Sticks and Strings, is thriving but her love life is a disaster. The loneliness is bad enough, but the situation is made worse by the fact that the town is unusually invested in finding Chloe a magical Mr. Right. Things get even more complicated when a visitor dies under odd circumstances and the outside world takes notice of the fact that Sugar Maple doesn't have a police force. Former Boston PD detective Luke MacKenzie agrees to step in and sort out the situation. Chloe knows that she has to hide the town's secrets and avoid getting involved with an outsider, but Luke proves hard to resist. Before long Choe's life changes in ways she didn't expect and isn't prepared for.
This book is an odd hybrid of romance and the supernatural, some of which is funny and some of which is rather dark. Even with the darker elements it was a fairly insubstantial read, but it was also fun. Chloe, Luke and the townspeople are all charming and some of the lines made me laugh out loud. It's the kind of book that's perfect for a few hours entertainment when you just want something light.
My only real gripe is that even though the story was complete it somehow had the feel of being the first in a series. That would be fine except I didn't find any indication that there will be another book, so I was left wondering how I'm supposed to feel about this one.
Grade: B-
This book is an odd hybrid of romance and the supernatural, some of which is funny and some of which is rather dark. Even with the darker elements it was a fairly insubstantial read, but it was also fun. Chloe, Luke and the townspeople are all charming and some of the lines made me laugh out loud. It's the kind of book that's perfect for a few hours entertainment when you just want something light.
My only real gripe is that even though the story was complete it somehow had the feel of being the first in a series. That would be fine except I didn't find any indication that there will be another book, so I was left wondering how I'm supposed to feel about this one.
Grade: B-
Untamed by Pamela Clare
This is the 2nd book in the MacKinnon's Rangers Trilogy.
Following the events in Surrender Morgan MacKinnon has taken over leadership of the Rangers. During a raid Morgan is captured by the French after being badly wounded while saving the life of one of his men. The French commander, Brigadier de Bourlamaque, knows that Morgan has information that the French need in order to turn the tide of the war, so he orders his doctor to save Morgan's life. Bourlamaque makes it very clear that if Morgan doesn't talk he'll first be tortured by the French, then turned over to the Abenki who will burn him to death as revenge for a Ranger raid on one of their villages.
Amalie Chauvenet was raised in a convent after the death of her mother. Her father, the former French commander, brought her to the fort in order to spend time getting to know her better. When he was killed in an attack on the fort he left Amalie in the care of Bourlamaque. Instructions were left that Amalie should be allowed to chose her own future, either returning to the convent or picking her own husband. More than a year after her father's death Amalie hasn't been able to decide which she wants, so she remains at the fort. She passes the time helping in the surgery and cultivating a garden.
Amalie initially fears Morgan, but as she helps with his care she comes to see him as an honorable man. After Morgan tells her the story of how he and his brothers came to be fighting for the English Amalie persuades Bourlamaque to spare Morgan's life and give him an opportunity to spy for France. Morgan can never betray his men, but he knows that pretending to go along with Bourlamaque is his only chance for escape. He also knows that he can't give in to his growing feelings for Amalie because he can't stay with her.
I enjoyed this book more than Surrender. That's mainly because I had far fewer reservations about Morgan's behavior than I had about Iain's. I also had real sympathy for the position in which Morgan finds himself. Ms. Clare does a good job of exploring the contradictions and divided loyalties that result from the Jacobite MacKinnon brothers being forced to fight for the British.
She also does a good job with the secondary characters. I continue to be impressed by the fact that she doesn't write the MacKinnon's nemesis, Wentworth, as a cartoon villian. He is given dimension, even though it would be easy to write him as a one note character. He's selfish and self-centered and has bad attitudes about women, but he's not pure evil.
Grade: A-. There's no indication of when the 3rd book will be published, but I look forward to reading it when it is.
Following the events in Surrender Morgan MacKinnon has taken over leadership of the Rangers. During a raid Morgan is captured by the French after being badly wounded while saving the life of one of his men. The French commander, Brigadier de Bourlamaque, knows that Morgan has information that the French need in order to turn the tide of the war, so he orders his doctor to save Morgan's life. Bourlamaque makes it very clear that if Morgan doesn't talk he'll first be tortured by the French, then turned over to the Abenki who will burn him to death as revenge for a Ranger raid on one of their villages.
Amalie Chauvenet was raised in a convent after the death of her mother. Her father, the former French commander, brought her to the fort in order to spend time getting to know her better. When he was killed in an attack on the fort he left Amalie in the care of Bourlamaque. Instructions were left that Amalie should be allowed to chose her own future, either returning to the convent or picking her own husband. More than a year after her father's death Amalie hasn't been able to decide which she wants, so she remains at the fort. She passes the time helping in the surgery and cultivating a garden.
Amalie initially fears Morgan, but as she helps with his care she comes to see him as an honorable man. After Morgan tells her the story of how he and his brothers came to be fighting for the English Amalie persuades Bourlamaque to spare Morgan's life and give him an opportunity to spy for France. Morgan can never betray his men, but he knows that pretending to go along with Bourlamaque is his only chance for escape. He also knows that he can't give in to his growing feelings for Amalie because he can't stay with her.
I enjoyed this book more than Surrender. That's mainly because I had far fewer reservations about Morgan's behavior than I had about Iain's. I also had real sympathy for the position in which Morgan finds himself. Ms. Clare does a good job of exploring the contradictions and divided loyalties that result from the Jacobite MacKinnon brothers being forced to fight for the British.
She also does a good job with the secondary characters. I continue to be impressed by the fact that she doesn't write the MacKinnon's nemesis, Wentworth, as a cartoon villian. He is given dimension, even though it would be easy to write him as a one note character. He's selfish and self-centered and has bad attitudes about women, but he's not pure evil.
Grade: A-. There's no indication of when the 3rd book will be published, but I look forward to reading it when it is.
Monday, March 2, 2009
Dangerous Grounds by Shelli Stevens
Madison is thrilled to have her beloved brother home from Iraq and looking forward to the grand opening of her espresso bar Ooo La Latte. Things would be great if it weren't for the fact that her boyfriend just dumped her. The dumping wasn't a total surprise since they hadn't had sex in months, but Madison's pride is hurt. In order to get past the break up she decides to have a fling, and sexy cop Gabe seems like the perfect man for the job. Gabe is attracted to Maddie, but has an issue with the fact that she's his best friend's little sister. More importantly, he doesn't think he's a good candidate for a relationship with anyone, so he turns her down. The two are thrown back together when the Epsresso Bandit robs Maddie's cafe. She can identify him, so she needs Gabe's protection until the Bandit is caught. Being trapped with him gives Maddie another chance to get him into her bed.
Maddie is an odd mix of smart and clueless. On one hand she has a reasonable business plan for her cafe, knows how much coffee she needs to sell each day to break even and has savings to carry her until the cafe becomes established. On the other hand, she doesn't know how to make decent espresso and she has only hired 1 employee. An owner can and will work 14 hours a day, every day, but an employee does not. Maddie doesn't seem to have any plan for how she'll handle things when her lone employee has the day off.
That's dumb, but it's incidental to the plot so I could have dealt with it if that was the only problem. Unfortunately, it wasn't. Maddie is spoiled. Worse, she doesn't seem to have any idea how spoiled she is. She simply takes it for granted that the world will give her what she wants. When she decides that what she wants is Gabe she does things that I found really unacceptable to get him. Initially I sympathized with her because Gabe behaves like an ass and sends her some extremely mixed signals. However, he then clarifies his position about not sleeping with her and she refuses to drop it. Her attitude is basically that she chose him to be her stud and how dare he not accommodate her wishes. She makes another move on him and when he turns her down she says this:
This is not the only book where I've had an issue with this. I've run across quite a few romance novels that seem to implicitly buy into a couple of ideas with which I strongly disagree.
It also bothers me that the same basic behavior is viewed totally differently when it's done by "the other woman". When you think about it, the idea that the heroine is strong and determined, but the other woman is a slutty hussy is really misogynist.
Grade: DNF
Maddie is an odd mix of smart and clueless. On one hand she has a reasonable business plan for her cafe, knows how much coffee she needs to sell each day to break even and has savings to carry her until the cafe becomes established. On the other hand, she doesn't know how to make decent espresso and she has only hired 1 employee. An owner can and will work 14 hours a day, every day, but an employee does not. Maddie doesn't seem to have any plan for how she'll handle things when her lone employee has the day off.
That's dumb, but it's incidental to the plot so I could have dealt with it if that was the only problem. Unfortunately, it wasn't. Maddie is spoiled. Worse, she doesn't seem to have any idea how spoiled she is. She simply takes it for granted that the world will give her what she wants. When she decides that what she wants is Gabe she does things that I found really unacceptable to get him. Initially I sympathized with her because Gabe behaves like an ass and sends her some extremely mixed signals. However, he then clarifies his position about not sleeping with her and she refuses to drop it. Her attitude is basically that she chose him to be her stud and how dare he not accommodate her wishes. She makes another move on him and when he turns her down she says this:
"Are you kidding me?" She threw her hands in the air. "And they call women teases? You're sending me to bed fully aroused, do you realize that?"She actually gave him the blue balls guilt trip. That's Teen Dating 101---a guy who gives you the guilt trip about his hard on is a jerk. Run, do not walk, away and let him deal with it by his own damn self. I don't think that type of manipulative behavior is any more acceptable coming from a woman than from a man. This is one of those hot button things for me, so at that point I just put the book down.
This is not the only book where I've had an issue with this. I've run across quite a few romance novels that seem to implicitly buy into a couple of ideas with which I strongly disagree.
- Men always want to have sex. If they say "no" they're just being stubborn or controlling or silly. Such behavior can and should be ignored. There are several things wrong with this, not the least of which is that if you flip the genders you get the Old Skool "forced seduction" stories, which I never really liked. I could sort of work around it in a historical, but I certainly wouldn't accept it in a contemporary.
- Since a woman can't physically force herself on a man anything she does, short of drugging him, is fine. In fact, it's not just fine it's part of being a modern woman who knows what she wants and goes after it. I find that incredibly disrespectful and I can't root for a couple to have their HEA when their relationship isn't built on respect.
It also bothers me that the same basic behavior is viewed totally differently when it's done by "the other woman". When you think about it, the idea that the heroine is strong and determined, but the other woman is a slutty hussy is really misogynist.
Grade: DNF
Into the Mist by Maya Banks
Eli is shifter who has spent most of his life hiding the fact that he's different. While on a hostage recovery mission he and his team are exposed to a chemical agent that alters the group members' DNA and allows them to shift also. Eli is still different from the rest of the group, but those differences are now much less obvious.
Tyana is a mercenary whose only family is the her brother Damiano and the rest of the Falcon Mercenary Group. Damiano was the guide on Eli's mission and now he too is a shifter. The problem is that he can't control his new abilities and with each passing day Tyana is more worried that she'll lose her brother forever. In order to help him she goes after the people who exposed him to the chemical agent and then left him for dead---Eli and his men. Her plan to use Eli to get information and then extract revenge goes badly wrong when she's unable to control her attraction to him.
I've read many books about shape shifters of various sorts so I know that the key is to just play along. Still, I had a hard time with Eil's ability to shift into mist or smoke. I just couldn't stop thinking about conservation of mass and the fact that a full grown man would make a huge cloud. How could people not see a cloud that big? That was a minor quibble, but I did have two problems with the book that were more of an issue.
The first problem with the way Eli and Tyana were portrayed. At the beginning of the book Eli came off like a jerk and a bit of a man ho. The shift from that to devoted lover seemed too abrupt and didn't work for me. For her part Tyana spends a large part of the book behaving in ways that are pretty irrational. I understood why, but that didn't make it any less frustrating to watch someone who is supposed to be a tough professional make mistakes that a total amateur would avoid.
The other problem was with the writing, which was rather repetitive. I lost track of the number of times that we were told that Damiano couldn't control his shifts or that Tyana would do anything for him or that the other members of the Falcon group would do anything to protect Tyana or that Eli's men couldn't control their shifts either. The rule in good fiction is "show, don't tell" and I felt that Ms Banks did too much telling in order to explain or excuse actions that would otherwise have seemed foolish.
In the end the book wasn't terrible, but it wasn't all that enjoyable for me either.
Grade: C+
Tyana is a mercenary whose only family is the her brother Damiano and the rest of the Falcon Mercenary Group. Damiano was the guide on Eli's mission and now he too is a shifter. The problem is that he can't control his new abilities and with each passing day Tyana is more worried that she'll lose her brother forever. In order to help him she goes after the people who exposed him to the chemical agent and then left him for dead---Eli and his men. Her plan to use Eli to get information and then extract revenge goes badly wrong when she's unable to control her attraction to him.
I've read many books about shape shifters of various sorts so I know that the key is to just play along. Still, I had a hard time with Eil's ability to shift into mist or smoke. I just couldn't stop thinking about conservation of mass and the fact that a full grown man would make a huge cloud. How could people not see a cloud that big? That was a minor quibble, but I did have two problems with the book that were more of an issue.
The first problem with the way Eli and Tyana were portrayed. At the beginning of the book Eli came off like a jerk and a bit of a man ho. The shift from that to devoted lover seemed too abrupt and didn't work for me. For her part Tyana spends a large part of the book behaving in ways that are pretty irrational. I understood why, but that didn't make it any less frustrating to watch someone who is supposed to be a tough professional make mistakes that a total amateur would avoid.
The other problem was with the writing, which was rather repetitive. I lost track of the number of times that we were told that Damiano couldn't control his shifts or that Tyana would do anything for him or that the other members of the Falcon group would do anything to protect Tyana or that Eli's men couldn't control their shifts either. The rule in good fiction is "show, don't tell" and I felt that Ms Banks did too much telling in order to explain or excuse actions that would otherwise have seemed foolish.
In the end the book wasn't terrible, but it wasn't all that enjoyable for me either.
Grade: C+
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