Review of Knight Awakened

This book by Coreene Callahan was initially found through a recommendation of Knight Avenged, which is Book Two in the series. I loved the trailer. An excellent mix of sound and song to stir the blood allowing you to commiserate with their distress. Plus, I was very impressed with their use of effects to make the pictures seem more dramatic and alive.

This led me to discover Book One. Me being a creature of habit, I must read them in order. So, I will be reviewing both books for the website. While this video wasn’t as inspiring, I couldn’t ignore the first book in the series.

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Synopsis:

In AD 1331, warlord Vladimir Barbu seizes control of Transylvania. But in spite of his bloody triumph, his claim to the throne remains out of reach. The king of Hungary opposes his rule, the Transylvanian people despise his brutal ways, and the high priestess needed to crown him has vanished without a trace. But Barbu hasn’t come this far only to be thwarted by a woman. He unleashes his best hunters to track her down and bring her to him—dead or alive.

For Xavian Ramir, killing is the only life he has ever known. Torn from his family when he was a child, he was trained from an early age to be an elite assassin. But now he longs for something more, vowing to start anew after one last job. The bounty on his target’s head is enough to set him up for good—if he can resist the long-dead conscience that stirs to life when he meets his beautiful mark.

Afina Lazar never wanted to become high priestess, but the brutal murders of her beloved mother and sister leave her no choice. Now she is running for her life, desperate to protect the magical amulet entrusted to her care. But when Barbu’s assassin comes for her, she realizes her only chance of stopping the warlord’s rise to power is to convince this enigmatic—and handsome—hunter that she is more valuable alive than dead.

Dramatic and fast-paced, Knight Awakened is a stirring love story between two people searching for a second chance in a magical world of assassins, warlords, unearthly beasts, and nonstop adventure.

My Thoughts:

You have phenomenal sexual tension between the two characters, and I love the action scenes. Throw in a prophecy, some dragons and a bit of mysticism and you’ve got this book in a nutshell.
The author’s vivid scenes draw you in with each twist and turn. An awe-inspiring feat that many authors find difficult. Her world building skills are enough to leave even the most skeptical going wow. Her fighting scenes are an originality I rarely see in romance novels.

The antagonists consist of two men that aren’t connected. One is greedy and tenacious while the other is just pure evil. One the heroine’s enemy, the other our hero’s. There’s a darkness that surrounds the story, but yet she allows a gentle light to seep in giving you hope for something better. That wonder of what will happen next is what pushes you forward, to find out what new adventure they face.

Some Hmm Moments: I found myself questioning a few events. Like where did the child go? After certain events, she just kind of disappears from the book. Or why did one of the two antagonists hire assassins if he wanted her captured? Just a few oddities I seen in the tale.

I read some of the other reviews and I noticed more than one complaint about the whole “traitor in his trews” line. I have to say I enjoyed that visualism. Though, I don’t mind a bit of nasty talk, from time to time it’s refreshing to see it phrased this way. I give her extra points for her play on words.

My Favorite Character: Though, I liked most of the secondary characters, my favorite was Henrik. You knew from the first meeting there was more to him than what he showed his comrades. I’m very much looking forward to reading his story.

Xavian: This assassin turned rescuer was known as Ram to his friends. I enjoyed the main hero. He had this whole wounded vibe going on that made you want to comfort him and yet at the same time admire his tenacity. He’s strong and confident with a take no shit attitude, but a creamy soft center. You know he’s got a soft gooey inside from the knowledge of all the orphan boys he’s rescued, then taken care of. He didn’t have to provide for them. He could’ve tried to pawn them off on others, but instead he provides a home for them. I admire that and it makes me enjoy him so much more. On a side note: I think I’ve been eating too many hohos…

I loved the connection between the two main characters. Though, Afina’s constant negativity is grating at times together they just worked. Her insecurities mixed with his tough, no–holds–barred attitude just worked. She was the softness that he needed, while he was the strength she yearned for. Together they made each other whole.

The one thing that really impressed me about Afina was her strength, when it mattered. She was hard on herself and woefully insecure, but when she needed to fight, she did what she must and refused to back down. It was an admirable quality, to my way of thinking, and I enjoyed the grittier side of her nature.

Overall this was a great fast paced story with lots of action and a fair amount of sexual tension. It’s definitely more fantasy than historical with the dragons and sorcery. Still it was a great read and I would not hesitate to recommend it. I give it 4 hearts.

(4 / 5)

Review of Fallen

This week’s Book Trailer Wednesday pick is Fallen by Lauren Kate. While my initial interest in this book wasn’t because of the trailer it did play a deciding factor in my choice. I found this book trailer while searching for a new book series for my teenage daughter to read. It was offered in a list of suggested reads, but the book cover was what first caught my eye. When I saw that it had a book trailer I immediately clicked the link. The video whet my appetite enough to want to read it myself.

I know this book sits at a higher price range than my average read, but in my daughter’s case, her books are always more expensive. She will not read an e-book, she claims to like the smell and feel of a real book in her hand. The thrill on her face when she reads a new story is priceless in my opinion.

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Synopsis:

There’s something achingly familiar about Daniel Grigori.

Mysterious and aloof, he captures Luce Price’s attention from the moment she sees him on her first day at the Sword & Cross boarding school in sultry Savannah, Georgia. He’s the one bright spot in a place where cell phones are forbidden, the other students are all screw-ups, and security cameras watch every move.

Even though Daniel wants nothing to do with Luce–and goes out of his way to make that very clear–she can’t let it go. Drawn to him like a moth to a flame, she has to find out what Daniel is so desperate to keep secret… even if it kills her.

My Thoughts:

I found the whole premise of this book fascinating. While I’ve not read many books about angels in general, the originality of this storyline left me intrigued throughout. There were certain aspects that were obvious from the start, while others you were left to figure out as time went by.

The main character was likable. I didn’t notice any blatantly annoying traits in Luce that might make a person roll their eyes. She was a typical confused teen with a lot of craziness going on around her. I felt the descriptions of the shadows were well thought out.

Favorite Character: My favorite character was Arriane. She has just the right mixture of crazy and humor.

Quote: “You’re my love, Lucinda. For me, you’re all there is.”

Quote: “Not so long that I’ve forgotten that you’re worth everything. Every sacrifice. Every pain.”

The story wasn’t perfect, but I enjoyed it and believe my daughter will as well. My biggest complaint would have to be the parents. It just didn’t seem plausible for such supposedly loving parents to abandon her at the hospital. The state of neglect explained by the author made the possibility of the camera sabotage sustainable.

It had a good ending for this type of ongoing series. While not all our questions were answered, the author wrapped it up nicely so we would be ready for the next release. I still hold enough questions about the history that I’m not waiting for my daughter to ask for the next book.

Overall, this story was a great teen romance. While there are a few fighting scenes, there’s no real violence and the romance is clean. Both characteristics make this an excellent choice for my teen. It also holds enough intrigue to entertain even an adult, if you like this kind of book. I give it 4 hearts.

(4 / 5)

Review of His Judas Bride

I wanted to find something in the historical romance genre once more. In my search, I came across this book trailer and thought it showed potential. Plus, I’m a sucker for a man in a kilt. The price tag is a bit higher than I generally pay, but once in a while the premise of a story will intrigue me enough to bypass my stubborn nature. This was one of those cases.

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Synopsis:

To love, honor, and betray…

To get back her son, she will stop at nothing…

For five years Kara McGurkie has preferred to forget she’s a woman. So it’s no problem for her to swear to love and honor, to help destroy a clan, when it means getting back the son she lost. But when dire circumstances force her to seduce her fiancé’s brother on the eve of the wedding, will the dark secrets she holds and her greatest desire be enough to save her from his powerful allure?

To save his people, neither will he…

Callm McDunnagh, the Black Wolf of Lochalpin, ruthlessly guards heart and glen from dangerous intruders. But from the moment he first sees Kara he knows he must possess her, even though surrendering to his passion may prove the most dangerous risk of all.

She has nothing left to fear except love itself…

Now only Kara can decide what passion can save or destroy, and who will finally learn the truth of the words… Till death do us part.

My Thoughts:

I liked this historical romance. If I had to pick one word to describe the book in its entirety that would have to be deep. There was a lot of deeply felt emotions dealt with in this novel, not just a romantic love either. The author took the character’s life tragedies and used it to build a foundation. Something solid that would last through time, not a fleeting ember that needs constant attention because of its delicate state.

I have to admit, while I enjoyed the story there were times that the character’s thoughts were confusing and I had to reread parts to grasp what was being said. In my opinion, this isn’t a book you can just sit down and flit through without any real concentration. There is a lot of depth to the thoughts inside both the hero and heroine’s minds that takes more than a cursory glance. I found it difficult to read with distractions from the outside world.

This book isn’t fast paced, it’s a slow build, that teases the senses. There is a great deal of loss, mistrust and intrigue to keep the reader occupied. Eventually, the romance ignites into a bright flame. It leaves you feeling breathless. Theirs is a love that will last through the times. A story to be carried on through the generations.

This was a difficult book to rate for me. I enjoyed the story. The romance was all consuming and the author did a great job with the characters. There was such a serious dark edge to it, that I found myself tense constantly. It’s not really a book to spend the afternoon relaxing, but then I wonder if that’s what the author intended. Her words were powerful and moving in a way I haven’t witnessed in historical romance in ages. I give it a 4 hearts.

(4 / 5)

Fate’s Monolith

While the book’s prequel influenced my choice for this week, I did watch the trailer before I made my final decision. The trailer piqued my interest enough to garner my promise to read the next installment for this week’s review.

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Synopsis:

Arianna Broun, a Scottish born colonial American has been haunted by the reoccurring dream of a phantom Scottish warrior. Her infatuation with the dream intensifies until All Hallows’ Eve, when the veil between the worlds is at its thinnest. After several bizarre encounters she runs to her safe haven deep in the woods. When dawn comes too early, Arianna is eager to go home. But fate has other plans.

Laird Iain MacLomain has long awaited the arrival of his promised bride. She claims to not be the woman intended for him but she fits the description given him of her, all fire and defiance. That defiance will end up costing them everything and rips them apart. However, a Scottish Chieftain with magic at his disposal is capable of most anything. Will he hold Arianna in his arms again or is she lost to him forever? Only time will tell.

My Thoughts:

I knew from the first short story that the author had a lot of potential. I have to say Book One of this series was in no way disappointing. The author’s talents shone through with glowing intensity. This book featured in–depth descriptions, the rich development of characters and slow glimpses of a past that was intriguing to witness.

Enthralled I read the story from start to finish, waiting anxiously for each event to unfold. I loved the true historical nature of the book. The way the author throws in a bit of fantasy mixed with true history is mesmerizing.

Though I will not be reviewing any more books from this series, I definitely plan on reading them all. I’m presently working on Destiny’s Denial, Book Two in The MacLomain Series. Fate’s Monolith is a great book and enjoyable read. I give this 4.5 hearts.

(4.5 / 5)