Sheep Book Review: MacRieve by Kresley Cole

MacRieve

By: Kresley Cole 

Immortals After Dark (Book 13)

Paranormal Romance 

Plot: 

A BEAST IN TORMENT

Uilleam MacRieve believed he’d laid to rest the ghosts of his boyhood. But when a brutal torture revives those ancient agonies and destroys his Lykae instinct, the proud Scot craves the oblivion of death. Until he finds her—a young human so full of spirit and courage that she pulls him back from the brink. 

A BEAUTY IN CHAINS

Seized for the auction block, Chloe Todd is forced to enter a terrifying new world of monsters and lore as a bound slave. When offered up to creatures of the dark, she fears she won’t last the night. Until she’s claimed by him—a wicked immortal with heartbreaking eyes, whose touch sets her blood on fire. 

A FULL MOON ON THE RISE

With enemies circling, MacRieve spirits Chloe away to the isolated Highland keep of his youth. But once he takes her to his bed, his sensual mate becomes something more than human, evoking his savage past and testing his sanity. On the cusp of the full moon, can he conquer his worst nightmare to save Chloe…from himself?

***I tried to keep this as spoiler free as possible, read with caution***

Unlike previous Cole books, MacRieve switches gears with the main focus on the lead male and female. You get a little taste of previous characters, but it's a dash here and there. The brunt of the story is, to sum it up, a deep look into the emotional scars that abuse and child molestation can leave behind. A topic that should be addressed, but left me wanting more "umph" in the overall plot. 

I've said it before and I'm saying it again here, Cole is a brilliant writer and one who has spoiled her readers. We are not beneath throwing a tantrum when we don't get our way. There was a major action-adventure dynamic that was missing this time around. No continental scavenger hunts or life or death treks across the globe to save someone. This installment is very stationary. The romance is there, but that's NEVER a problem with Cole's characters! Never. 

I've got a special place in my heart for the wolves in this saga, I may even love them more then the vamps. (Which is saying something for the diehard vamp lover) These guys and gals are written in the greatest possible way. So far, each wolf male has been paired with a female from a race they despise. And through this earth shattering bond with their "mate", it forces them to overcome prejudice and find love. This story was best displayed in A Hunger Like No Other, I LOVE Lachlain and Emma and can read their story over an over! But MacRieve feels like a sale priced version of the same story. 

Chloe is a strong character, as such I did not believe that she wouldn't walk out on Will and all his hoo-ha nonsense about her being the cause of all his pain. I get it, he was molested by someone of her race, but it was NOT her. She tells him this time and again, but sticks around anyway. The Lykae might have hunted her down sure, but damn you TRY and get out of there. He was her whipping post and it got old after the third time he yells at her for something out of her control. The care and nurture that has been shown in previous characters was missing this time around. Chloe was written in a fashion that may have reflected an interpretation of love, but love was not the message I received. 

Overall there's more build up to the lore Accession, which I hope happens before I am old and grey because I really need to know how that turns out. I can't wait to see all these guys and gals kicking some butt! Nix is absolutely the mastermind of the whole saga and rightly so. She alone keeps me sucked into this fantastical world. 

The best part of this series for me is the interchanging web of stories. Demons one book, sexy wolfs the next and then maybe some sassy witches. It's such a beautiful woven tapestry of tales that you never know which one you'll get next and where it takes place in the overall timeline. This saga can be picked up at any point, but the fun is in the journey! 

I trust with every fiber of my being in Cole, and will absolutely continue to follow all of her stories. No "but" on the end of that sentence. However, I recommend that you prepare yourself for this one and check out what other reviewers are saying. 

Looking forward to Cole's other series Endless Knight which hits shelves October 1st 2013! 

Getting 3 and 1/2 'Lykae countryside' Sheep 

KD 

Sheep Book Review: Shadow's Claim by Kresley Cole

Shadow's Claim, by New York Times bestseller Kresley Cole, introduces The Dacians: Realm of Blood and Mist, a new paranormal romance series following the royal bloodline of Dacia, a vampire kingdom hidden within the Lore of the Immortals After Dark. It's from the world we've come to love, and I can't wait to get my hands on the next installment! 

Plot: 

Shadow’s Claim features Prince Trehan, a ruthless master assassin who will do anything to possess Bettina, his beautiful sorceress mate, even compete for her hand in a blood-sport tournament— to the death.

HE WON’T BE DENIED

Trehan Daciano, known as the Prince of Shadows, has spent his life serving his people—striking in the night, quietly executing any threat to their realm. The coldly disciplined swordsman has never desired anything for himself—until he beholds Bettina, the sheltered ward of two of the Lore’s most fearsome villains.

SHE’S BOUND TO ANOTHER

Desperate to earn her guardians’ approval after a life-shattering mistake, young Bettina has no choice but to marry whichever suitor prevails—even though she’s lost her heart to another. Yet one lethal competitor, a mysterious cloaked swordsman, invades her dreams, tempting her with forbidden pleasure.

A BATTLE FOR HER BODY AND SOUL

Even if Trehan can survive the punishing contests to claim her as his wife, the true battle for Bettina’s heart is yet to come. And unleashing a millennium’s worth of savage need will either frighten his Bride away—or stoke Bettina’s own desires to a fever pitch. . . .

I've not, to date, read one book from Cole that was average. Ever. This woman knows how to bring the heat, passion, and adventure like no other! These stories contain some of the most vivid worlds I've ever had the privilege of reading. I'm not just a fan, I am a willing and loyal slave to the words she lays down on the pages! 

Shadow's Claim gets going from the first page and continues to build as they story glides along. Bettina is the reluctant Princess of a brutal realm. Wanting nothing more then to be an artist and lead a normal life, Bettina's faced with some seriously tough decisions. Her past has shaped who she's become and the scars that have left her with some personal demons to face. I liked Bettina's character a lot, but I will nit pick though and say that I wish the gal would have shown a little more cojones from the start. Fortunately she gets much better as the story progresses. 

Enter the man, the myth, and the legend himself: Prince Trehan! Oh mama jama did this tall, dark, and brooding male vampire grab at my heart strings and keep on pulling! He's the total alpha, but with so much love and heart. Stuck in a rut for decades, the vamp is finally coming to see the world around him and find out what love and happiness is all about. His skills on the battlefield left me breathless and wanting to snatch him away from the ungrateful little Princess! I'd take those leftovers any day of the week! 

Shadow's Claim is most definitely a fantastic start to a spin off series, with some of the characters we love from IAD (Immortals After Dark), but one both old and new fans can sink their fangs into. Introducing more colorful characters and keeping things lively and fresh. With action and adventure boiling over and all set to the pace of a medieval blood bath you can't help but fall for this one. 

If you love a well written, character driven story with blood guts and romance then look no further! 

Getting 4 and 1/2 Sheep 

KD

Sheep Book Review: Lothaire by Kersley Cole

Lothaire, by author Kersley Cole, is the 12th novel in her Immortals After Dark series. Lothaire has been our main bad guy you love to hate since the beginning of the series and I was eagerly awaiting this release date. This book is a magnificent story told with classic Lothaire flare that flaunts his cunning and skill which cements him as the number one bad guy of the series. Turn me to the dark side and let's call it a day!

Plot:

Driven by his insatiable need for revenge, Lothaire, the Lore’s most ruthless vampire, plots to seize the Horde’s crown. But bloodlust and torture have left him on the brink of madness—until he finds Elizabeth Peirce, the key to his victory. He captures the unique young mortal, intending to offer up her very soul in exchange for power, yet Elizabeth soothes his tormented mind and awakens within him emotions Lothaire believed he could no longer experience.

Who doesn't love a guy that's surrounded by cops, under heavy gunfire, with his back to them no less, while holding a tense convo with his fated Bride. And here's the kicker: as bullets rain into his back he hisses over his shoulder... "One-moment!" LOL! This badass immortal beast is faaaar beyond an alpha, so much so that I don't think there's an ego level that could really ever convey the depths of his high-handed all-mighty attitude. BUT, somehow his personality works. When you're this far into the series fans have grown to love/hate this guy. He's just so utterly bad it's sexy as all get out! Plus he's got a body that the gods would kill for and incredibly lethal strength. *sigh* Now of course he's a fictional character so it's all "haha's" and "let's see what Loathire will do now", but in real life if a man EVER treated me as he treats others (like possessions) I'd burn has vampire butt to a crisp.

A deep concern for me was who in the world would ever be the right match for this vampire? As the 'Enemy of Old' this guy's got major emotional and mental issues, not to mention enemies galore coming out of the wood-work. So who in there right mind could ever fall for him? Hillbilly Elizabeth sets up to the plate and knocks it out of the park for a grand slam. She's all sass and mountain fun but don't think she ain't tough; the gal can hold her own against one of the strongest creatures in the Lore. Elizabeth takes knock down after knock down just to get back up and fight again. Despite being, thrown in jail, cruelly treated and mortal with no mystical powers she uses her cunning mind to best those around her time and time again, but how she ever put up with Lothaire's koo-koo crazy is beyond me.

Parts of the latest story get pretty fierce but anything less would have taken the bad out of Lotharie's ass. (And man, is that a sweet ass.) He's meant to be a gritty, take no prisoners, selfish kind of bastard and he meets those expectations time and time again in the book. With some of the best one liners Lothaire is belly-busting funny! An excellent read from start to finish with some smutty romance that's got be illegal in at least 3 States. Over all Lothaire is extremely well written and vividly depicted yet again showing why Cole is one of the best PNR authors on the shelf. Previous characters come back into play and new characters begin to stand out...sounds like more books to me!

My one and only downside to this review was the price tag for the Hard Cover book. It's not out in paperback atm so for those who have yet to get a Kindle or anything to the like this ended up costing me about $27. Pretty hefty for a roughly 400 page story. (Without sexy illustration pictures inside!) I paid it this time but I won't in the future, next time around I'll suck it up and wait for the paperback or borrow someone else's.

If you haven't guessed by now what the ending of this new chapter could possibly be then you'll be VERY surprised.

Getting 4 and 1/2 'make me your personal pet' Sheep

KD