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Red Wolf by Linda Thomas-Sundstrom

My rating: 2 of 5 stars


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I had so little left in my work book to read that I brought it home to finish. The book was Red Wolf by Linda Thomas-Sundstrom, and it’s the first in the “Wolf Moons” verse of Silhouette’s Nocturne line. The main characters were Tory McKidd and Adam Scott.

After the brutal murder of her brother, Tory quit her lucrative job to exact vengeance. She’s a werewolf, like her brother, and so is the vicious felon who killed him. Chavez and his gang of werewolves have claimed a park in Miami as their base of operations, and when Officer Adam Scott chases a criminal into the park, he encounters a flame-haired beauty that he can’t get out of his mind. Tory is equally drawn to Adam, and she realizes that she and the human male have Imprinted. She is desperate to avoid the man, but his investigation into her brother’s death leads him straight to her door...and into her arms. Now Tory and Adam aren’t just fighting for justice, they’re fighting for one another.

Ugh. Imprinting (or whatever you want to call it) may seem all fierce and sexy, but when you really think about it, it’s extremely cringe inducing. Imagine having no choice in the matter. In these paranormal romances, of course, the characters are always attractive and noble, etc. Would this have been sexy had Tory Imprinted on Chavez? Blech. What if one of them was already married? With children? Aside from that, our main characters spent very little time together. Most of the narrative was taken up with Tory’s search for justice, Adam’s investigation, and their mutual pining and ‘I am drawn to this person even though I should avoid him/her’. They had two (maybe three?) very brief encounters before Adam arrived at Tory’s house, after which they fell on one another in a fit of lust. Cue more pining and avoiding until the inevitable showdown/climax. That’s another thing I disliked—there was precious little resolution to the story. At least Tory wasn’t assaulted, which seems to be a staple of Nocturne books. I appreciated that she could take care of herself. However, this was not an enjoyable read at all. The character I liked best was Adam’s new partner, Dana Delmonico. There was a short, bonus story at the end of this one featuring Dana, but I didn’t bother reading it. And “short” isn’t entirely accurate, as the bonus content was easily 20-25% of the entire book.

Favorite line: Yes, folks, I actually am out of my freaking mind.

This was not in the least bit romantic, and there was no humor in it, either. It was dramatic, but not my cup of tea. Two stars.

Moon Kissed by Michele Hauf

My rating: 1 of 5 stars



I finished my "work" book on my lunch break today. It was Moon Kissed by Michele Hauf, and it's part of Silhouette's "Nocturne" line. Main characters are aspiring dancer Belladonna Reynolds and werewolf Severo.

While out jogging alone at night (because that's what any intelligent woman would do), Bella flees from three thugs. She runs to a warehouse, where another man hides her until the others give up and leave. Bella learns her would-be attackers were vampires and that Severo is a werewolf. Worse, Severo insists that the vampires will attempt to harm her again, and worse still, he's convinced that Bella is his mate.

That's about as much of a synopsis as I can provide without gagging. This book was vile. Utterly vile. Halfway through the first chapter, I was tempted to call it quits. Severo claims to be hiding/protecting Bella in the warehouse, but he just could not resist the urge to grope her breasts and pinch her nipples, knowing she didn't dare make a sound. The woman was crying, she was so scared, but hey! Let's escalate her terror by molesting her. How's that for a meet-cute? Once Severo lets her leave, Bella skedaddles then spends the rest of the night filled with both self-recrimination and curiosity. The following night, Bella goes out clubbing (which is what all sane women do after being molested), and Severo finds her. He convinces her the vampires are after her again, so she leaves with him. Wait. What? Yes, you read that correctly. She leaves the club with him. I would label this woman a stupid slut, but that would be unnecessarily insulting. To stupid sluts! Most stupid sluts at least have an iota of self-preservation. Not Bella. Fast forward to Bella and Severo getting it on eventually, because she can't resist how dangerous and exciting he is. The author included bestiality, because at this point, why not? Adding to the overall misery and misogyny of this book is the fact that Severo cost Bella her coveted apprenticeship with a professional dancer because he got jealous of her dancing with the other man. At what point don't you realize what an enormous asshole he is, Bella? Furthermore, during a fight between Severo and some vampires, Bella creeps closer to watch because she finds it exciting. He was killing them, and she thought it was exciting. At that point, I really don't think I'd have cared if she got killed by the end of this book. Thanks to the blurb on the back cover, we know that (spoiler alert!) Bella gets turned into a vampire. Slightly off-topic, but when is a blurb just a blurb, and when is it a spoiler? Anyway, Severo hates vampires so he's all filled with angst and woe because his mate is now a filthy, blood sucking monster. Are you for real right now?! He won't touch her, can barely stand to look at her, and she's all butt-hurt about it. The most annoying part of the entire 'Bella got turned into a vampire' subplot is the fact that the vampire who ordered it done did it as revenge against Severo. He kills a bunch of her vampire companions but lets her live, which really chapped my ass. I wanted comeuppance! I wanted vengeance! But Evie had spared Severo's life once upon a time, so he elected to let her live. He's a stupid slut, too, methinks. By the end of this shit show, Severo had decided that he would try to accept Bella as she now is, but he never did allow her to bite him. Excuse me? You routinely bang her while in shifted form, but you won't let her bite you? Pardon me while I pour bleach on my brain.

Favorite line: "It's called dancing. People do it all the time without falling down and having sex."

"Breath" line: And Bella let out a breath she must have been holding since the vampires charged through the patio door.

This book was horrid. On a scale of 1 to 10, the ick factor was 18. Vile. I can't stress that enough. Do yourself a favor and don't bother reading this celebration of misogyny. One star, grudgingly given because I can't give a negative score.

This Wicked Magic by Michele Hauf

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



At work yesterday I finished reading This Wicked Magic by Michele Hauf. It's book 2 in the "This Witchery" series, and it's part of Silhouette's 'Nocturne' line. The main characters are Certainly (CJ) Jones and Viktorie (Vika) St Charles.

After visiting the realm of demons, CJ has returned with several of them having hitched a ride on his soul. So long as he stays in the light he can maintain control. When he is out too late one evening and it grows dark, CJ's only chance is the illumination from the headlights of a nearby car. Vika and her sister Libby, both witches, make their living cleaning up supernatural crime scenes. When a dark witch approaches seeking assistance, Vika can't help but be drawn to him. Together, they begin a quest to exorcise the various demons from CJ's soul. Vika's kind heart, however, may put her own soul in peril.

I found another Nocturne book with a heroine who was strong and capable without having to be beaten and assaulted to make her tough. Thank heavens. While the main plot consisted of CJ and Vika trying to rid his soul of his demonic hitchhikers, there was more than that going on. CJ was in a battle with another dark witch, while Vika's sister Libby was making cow eyes at a soul bringer. The plot was unique and engrossing. Of course, the inevitable love fest happened unrealistically quick, but then these are shorter books. Some things weren't explained well, such as how Sal the man ended up as Salamander the cat, or why everyone was so blasé about the fact that witches routinely need to eat a vampire's heart if they wanted to remain immortal. Um, wouldn't that be murder? Hm.

Favorite lines:
♦ "Don't fall so far you can't see the light for the darkness."
♦ He had a good idea which witch was up to what witchery, and why.

Intriguing, exciting, and sexy. Four stars.

Wild Wolf by Karen Whiddon

My rating: 3 of 5 stars



Yes, I've been going to work all week. I just happened to have several books winding down at the same time! Today, at lunch, I finishd reading Wild Wolf by Karen Whiddon. It's part of Silhouette's 'Nocturne' line, and it's book 9 in "The Pack" series. Can't say as that I've read any others, but they're stand-alones. Main characters are feral wolf shifter Raven and Protector Simon.

After escaping a life of captivity and abuse, wolf shifter Raven has retreated to the Colorado mountains to live among a pack of wild wolves. Her life is difficult, but she is content with it. Raven thought she was the only wolf shifter in existence until she sees an unfamiliar camper in her area change into a wolf.

Simon has been chosen and trained to be a Protector, and it's the only life he knows. His job is to evaluate feral shifters to see if they can be rehabilitated. If not, he's tasked with exterminating them. Dispatched to make contact with a feral in the Colorado mountains, Simon isn't prepared for the stunning beauty he encounters. Spending time with Raven soon has him questioning everything he's been taught about ferals, but questioning his superior puts Simon's career and life on the line as well. Going on the run with Raven, Simon begins to suspect she's his mate, and he'll stop at nothing to protect her.

I'd like to say that, for once, misogyny didn't rear its ugly head in a Nocturne book, but we learn that Raven was sexually assaulted, repeatedly, while in captivity. Sigh. Can any Nocturne author write one damned book where the female lead is tough, competent, and not subjected to sexual assault? Please? At least the male lead wasn't too much of a condescending jackass.

Favorite line: "I've intentionally let my savage side have free rein."

"Breath" line: Zach's tongue-in-cheek comment made Simon take a deep breath. He hadn't even realized he'd been holding it.

So-so story. Not as gawd-awful as others in the line, but nothing much to redeem it, either. Three stars.

Holiday With A Vampire: Christmas Cravings / Fate Calls by Maureen Child

My rating: 2 of 5 stars



At work today I finished reading Holiday with a Vampire. It was a two-fer anthology, containing stories by Maureen Child and Caridad Pineiro.

The first story, by Child, was "Christmas Cravings". Vampire Grayson Stone has returned to what was his home when he was mortal, as he has done each Christmas since he was turned. He is surprised to find the home occupied. Tessa Franklin has been on the run for years from a stalker, but she's done running. She's putting down roots by buying a home and opening a Bed and Breakfast. When she finds an injured man in the snow, Tessa brings him in. She soon learns he's a vampire, and that he's brought danger to her doorstep.

This story was confusing, in that Grayson was refusing to align himself with either the vampire king or the 'other side' in a vamp war. As a result, the 'other side' wanted to kill him. Wha? Why not attempt to woo him to your side? It made no sense. Also, Grayson can't tell when another vampire is near, nor when Tessa's mortal stalker was around? Plus, the stalker ended up getting killed (of course). Um, what did they do next? Bury the body? Call the police? I don't know.

The second story was "Fate Calls" by Pineiro. This one was worse. It skipped around in time, back to when Hadrian was turned. He was an utter ass, hating on Connie Morales just because she was dressed as Santa and doing the bell ringing for the Salvation Army. He kidnapped her, tied her to the bed, fed from her without her consent, and enthralled her to moon over him. Who the hell considers this to be romance?! There was also explicit sex between Hadrian and other characters, which is a big no-no in a short romance. Even bigger in a novella. Connie, of course, is too vapid to stay away when she finally escapes captivity.

What an awful story to market as a holiday romance.

Favorite line: In her experience, promises weren't worth the breath used to make them.

The first story was average, but the second story disgusted me, frankly. It drags the rating as a whole down to a two. Blah.

Last Wolf Watching by Rhyannon Byrd

My rating: 1 of 5 stars



I finished reading Last Wolf Watching on my lunch break yesterday. It's a Silhouette Nocturne by Rhyannon Byrd, and this is the third installment in her "Bloodrunners" trilogy. Main characters are Lycan Brody Carter and human woman Michaela Doucet.

When Michaela's brother, Max, is attacked by a Rogue wolf, he is drawn into the world of Lycans and so is Michaela. Brody volunteers to protect Michaela while the Bloodrunners try to uncover the enemy in their midst. The enemy is growing bolder, and humans are being murdered. Brody can't help but be attracted to the beautiful Michaela, but what would she want with a scarred and damaged wolf like him? For her part, Michaela finds Brody compelling, but he continues to keep her at arm's length. What will it take to break through his walls and get him to see they were meant for one another?

I loathed the first book I read in this series, somehow missed reading the second, and despised this one. These two are so utterly insipid they should have been chained together and punted into an active volcano. Followed by the author. So much of the book's narrative was consumed with each of them angsting about how much they lust after the other but won't just admit to it. It grew tedious, frankly. Brody wants her but he doesn't want to want her, yet the only way he can protect her is if she moves into his cabin with him? You know, the one with only a single bedroom? Oh my gawd. Brody has had several one-offs in his life, yet he's consumed with jealous rage when Michaela's ex-boyfriend shows up to give her grief. Like she was supposed to take a vow of chastity until they met or something. How about writing some female characters who can take care of themselves, Ms Byrd? Must all of her female characters be subjected to sexual abuse so the he-man can save the day? That's not romantic, it's sickening. Apparently the male leads must all be brooding assholes who can't accept love, for fear of it making them weak. As in the first book, the initial sexual encounter between characters consisted of him giving her a mind-blowing climax but backing off before he got off. Um, I think most of us know that if only one person in a male/female hook-up gets cookies, 99.9% of the time, it's the guy. The story was also frustrating because we all knew who the bad guy was, but none of the Elders or whatever would believe the Runners without proof, even as he stood there in public and taunted them. Reading this was beyond aggravating.

Favorite lines:
♦ Let's pass on the pity party.
♦ "You're still about as easy to read as a gator's expression in the middle of the bayou at midnight."

This book was awful and misogynistic, and I'm relieved I got through it without throwing up in my mouth. One star and one lip curled in disgust.

Last Wolf Standing by Rhyannon Byrd

My rating: 2 of 5 stars



Yesterday, I finished reading the book I'd taken to the office. It was a Silhouette Nocturne, called Last Wolf Standing, by Rhyannon Byrd. It's the first in the "Bloodrunners" series within the line. The main characters are Mason Dillinger, a half-werewolf, and Torrance Watson, a human woman.

As a member of the Bloodrunners, it's Mason's job to hunt down and eliminate rogue werewolves. He has no time for love, but when a chance encounter with Torrance rocks his world, Mason finds himself unable to just let her leave. Unfortunately, the rogue he's tracking notices his regard for the human woman, making Torrance a target. Now Mason feels compelled to take Torrance under his wing to protect her, all while maintaining the focus he needs for the hunt.

Torrance has always had an irrational fear of monsters, and when she learns they're real, her entire world view shifts. She is both frightened by and drawn to Mason even as he attempts to keep her at arm's length. Will Torrance be able to break through the icy walls around her wolf's heart?

Incidentally, my "blurb" above is nothing like the blurb on the back of the book. Did the creator of the book blurb actually read the book? Le sigh.

Okay. If I were to sum up this story in one line, it would be A horrifying homage to misogyny, Stockholm Syndrome, and blithering idiocy.

To begin with, when Mason first saw Torrance, it was in a coffee shop. He hadn't ordered yet, and she was about to leave with her order. Heaven forbid she just walk out of his life (never mind the fact that she'd only been in it for a moment); therefore, he tripped her. He tripped her. Silly me, I didn't realize that our male lead was an 8 year-old boy. I guess this is what passed for a 'meet-cute' in 2008. Honestly, I would have thought this book was written in the 1980's, considering how domineering he was and how quailing she was. I wish I could go back in time and kick my own ass for reading (worse, enjoying) such books when I was a teen. Moving on. After this physical abuse (don't you dare call it anything else), Mason is coming across as too intense, and Torrance smartly dips out.

Skip ahead to where the rogue breaks into Torrance's apartment, physically abuses her, sexually abuses her, and threatens to rape and murder her. Cue Mason and his partner arriving on the scene to chase off the interloper, whereupon our blithering idiot of a female lead wilts into Mason's arms. She now knows he's a monster (you know, the thing she has a pathological fear of?), she's just been assaulted by another monster, yet she feels safe and protected in his arms? Really? I think most people would have been in the midst of a screaming panic attack by then. Torrance dips out once more, but of course Mason tracks her down again (stalkerish much?), which is when he convinces not only her but her BFF that he and only he can protect Torrance, but she has to go with him. Wow. With friends like Michaela, Torrance didn't need any enemies, did she? "Yeah, sure, go off with that hunka-hunka gorgeous man who's brought shocking violence into your life. What's the worst that could happen?"

They finally reach Mason's cabin (after more drama and violence), which is when Mason insists that he can't protect Torrance unless she shares his bed. And...she fell for that. I just cannot with how spineless and stupid this woman was. Sexual activity ensued, although no actual intercourse, after which our blithering idiot realized that she was falling for Mason. After two days. Because she was drawn to him. Since he was so attractive. What if he'd been homely? Moving on.

Mason, of course, knows that Torrance is his mate, but he has no intention of falling in love with her, because, ew. More like, 'I cannot love someone, for it will make me weak.' Good ol' Mason channels his inner Meatloaf and tells her, "I want you, I need you, but there ain't no way I'm ever gonna love you." At least he was honest with her. Torrance finally starts to develop a tiny spine and declares that she can't settle for a man who won't love her, which angers Mason, because why must she make things so complicated? No joke, "complicated" is the word he used. Often.

Let's not forget the 'spring a meeting with my parents on my mate surprise' that Mason subjected Torrance to. Why she had not yet run screaming into the wilderness is beyond me. Finally, there was the finale. I called it about one-third of the way through the book. 'Bad guy will kidnap the female lead, and the hero will have to come save her in some overwrought fight to the death, after which he will FINALLY declare his undying love for her.' While writing this, the author must have channeled her inner Kathleeen E Woodiwiss. I loved her books! When I was young and dumb. I should have read this one when I was young and dumb; I might have enjoyed it then. I was so relieved when this was over. I stuck with it, because I ain't no quitter. That, and it was the only thing I had at work to read on my lunch breaks.

Favorite lines:
♦ "What happened? You look like you just came from an orgy with one of the undead."
Doesn't orgy imply there must have been more than one?
♦ Then she looked their way, and a sharp cry fell from her lips as she started running toward them. Mason opened his arms, ready to catch her, when she sailed right past him, falling to her knees beside a grinning Jeremy. "Ohmygod," she gasped, her small hands fluttering in front of her as if she didn't know where to touch him without hurting him. "Are you okay?"
Hah! BEST damned line of the book, if you ask me.
♦ "Fear is sometimes healthy, and sometimes it's just an excuse to keep us back from the things we want most in life."

You know what the worst part about this book was? Torrance apologized to Mason for the fact that she hurt his feelers when she said she wanted a life partner who could love her. It was like, 'Oh, ha ha, what was I thinking? It was naive of me to have this ideal in mind. I should just love you the way you are, even if you can never return my feelings, thus leaving me to spend my entire fucking life heartbroken and unfulfilled so you can cling to your own ideal of being a tough he-man who don't need no love.' I need some brain bleach after reading this.

I'm giving the book two stars. It gets more than one because the writing itself was good, even though the content was beyond awful. If you like your male leads to be domineering, cold-hearted bullies and your female leads to be simpering little airheads, give it a read!

Raintree: Haunted by Linda Winstead Jones

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



At work today, I finished the book I'd taken in to read on my lunch breaks. It was Raintree: Haunted by Linda Winstead Jones, and it's the second book in the "Raintree" trilogy, written by three different authors for Silhouette's 'Nocturne' line. Main characters were Gideon Raintree, from the gifted Raintree family, and his new partner, homicide detective Hope Malory.

Gideon has an amazing success rate for solving homicides. Unknown to the others on the force, it's because he can communicate with ghosts. He also has the power to harness and unleash lightning. The last thing Gideon wants is a new partner. Hope is used to having to work harder to prove herself in a male-dominated career. She is pleased to be partnered with Gideon, and she would like to learn from him. Hope hadn't counted on being thrust into the middle of an investigation into a serial killer. Gideon prefers to work alone, that way he doesn't have to try to cover for the fact that he's seemingly talking to himself when communicating with the ghosts of the victims. He does everything in his power to push Hope away, but Hope is nothing if not determined. Complicating matters for Gideon is the fact that he keeps seeing the spirit of a little girl in his dreams--a girl who calls him 'Daddy' and says she will be coming to him soon.

I detested the first book in this trilogy (Raintree: Inferno), but I'm glad I gave this one a chance. It was written by a different author, and I found it enjoyable. While Gideon is more domineering than I like, at least he wasn't a complete asshat like his brother. Hope was made of sterner stuff than the insipid twit in the first book, too. I really liked Emma, the spirit of their unborn daughter. In fact, I was quite enthralled with the concept of her appearing to Gideon before she was even conceived. Narrative shifted from Gideon's perspective to Hope's, and it occasionally was written from the perspective of Tabby, the killer. It was refreshing to read about a female villain. What did annoy me...

( Spoilers )

The plot in this one was thrilling, creepy at times, and even gory at others. Characters were three-dimensional, including secondary ones.

Favorite line: It was going on four forty-five in the morning, and no woman was meant to wear a bra for twenty-two hours.

Giving this one four stars.

Raintree: Inferno by Linda Howard

My rating: 1 of 5 stars



At work today, I finished the book I'd taken in to read on breaks. It was Raintree: Inferno by Linda Howard. The book is part of Silhouette's "Nocturne" line, and I believe it's the first installment in the "Raintree" trilogy, written by 3 separate authors. Beyond this, I have nothing good to say about it.

We have Dante Raintree, young scion of a family of gifted individuals. He owns and operates a casino, and he's become angry that lovely Lorna Clay keeps winning at his casino. He's convinced she's cheating, but he has no proof. In an effort to find out what's going on, Dante has his head of security bring Lorna to his office.

Lorna has always been good with numbers, and she uses the talent sparingly. She wins just enough to keep herself solvent, then moves on to another casino. Once in Dante Raintree's office, she is terrified at the currents of dangerous energy she can feel. The terror becomes all too real when the casino catches on fire, and Lorna must descend from the 19th floor with an angry man who won't let her out of his sight.

Things utterly fell to hell at this point.

Dante refuses to allow Lorna to escape with the others. As he directs everyone else to safety, he muscles her into the heart of the casino, and the fire, with him. Since fire is an element that Dante can control, he intends to quell the flames, then resume his interrogation of Lorna. The fire, however, refuses to bend to his will, and Dante ends up tapping Lorna's own, innate pool of power for the energy he needs. It's an act that leaves her in blinding pain and confusion.

Once they escape the building, Dante uses mind control (I shit you not) to command Lorna not to leave. She slowly regains her wits, and when she discovers what he's done, she is furious. Dante speaks to the police and firefighters, then hauls Lorna into his car and takes her to his home, where he continues to control her like a marionette. Convinced she may be one of the Ansara (another group of talented people, who are at war with the Raintree group), Dante orders Lorna to strip. When she refuses, he literally tears her clothing off, in search of a birthmark that will indicate she's Ansara. Of course, he doesn't find one. Lorna is left terrified, furious, and sobbing.

Dante leaves her alone for the rest of the night, but he won't let her leave.

The following day, he leaves the house, but orders her (still using mind control, here) to stay at his house. Once alone in the house, it apparently never occurred to Lorna to GET ON A GODDAMNED PHONE AND CALL THE POLICE. The author alluded to her having no love for the police, but to that extent? Now, I don't know about the rest of you, but if I was essentially being held hostage in someone's house, but still had free rein of said house, I would trash the shit out of it! There wouldn't be one piece of glass left unbroken. What did Lorna do? She switched his sugar and salt, and poured salt on his bed.

That night, when Lorna has gone to bed, Dante comes in and gets in bed with her, since his bed had salt in it. Um, are there not several other guest rooms? Yes, but sleeping with her was a power play. Did she attempt to leave? No, because she trusted him not to try anything. OMG, CAN YOU SAY STOCKHOLM SYNDROME?!

48 hours into this hot mess, she is wanting to have sex with him, and he wants her to have his babies. I am surprised I refrained from throwing this book against a wall. When they are on the verge of bumping uglies, then and only then does Lorna insist that Dante stop with the mind control. He wants the nookie enough to agree, but he's all surly about it. Like, wtf? Do you want a partner, or a puppet?

Going back to the beginning, because I can't let it go, Dante was pissed that this woman was winning about 5k here and there from him. He makes millions, and he begrudges her a few thousand?! Yet, this was his sole reason for dragging her INTO the fire; because he had yet to figure out how she was cheating him. Was it worth almost getting her killed?

Finally, to add insult to injury, the stupid effing book ended on a cliffhanger!

Favorite line (and I had to work to find one): Warning! McMuffin ahead!

I don't think I have the words to describe my loathing for this book. Classic abusive relationship, coupled with an insipid female lead with a clear-cut case of Stockholm Syndrome, twu wuv in two days, and I am wanting to gag all over again just thinking about it. There was nothing redeeming about this shit-show of a book.

One star, given with the utmost reluctance.