REVIEW: Consumed

Title: Consumed
Author: Rebecca Zanetti
Series: Dark Protectors
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Publisher: Kensington
Format: e-book
# of pages: n/a
Source: Netgalley
Challenge: Review Copy Cleanup
Links: Goodreads

Summary:
(from Goodreads)

Katie Smith is the best of her class, part of an elite hunting force trained to eliminate werewolves from the hills of Western Virginia. She's good at it because she has the kind of focus and drive that won't back down no matter how steep the odds. Call it southern sass. Whatever it is, there's no denying her willingness to risk everything for the only man she's ever cared about--a man on the verge of losing his very humanity. . .

Sometimes You Mate To Stay Alive

For the past ten years Jordan Pride has dedicated his life to protecting his people from a deadly shifter virus. But in a rare moment of distraction, Jordan's guard drops just long enough for his fate to take an irreversible twist. Unless the woman he loves surrenders everything to him, again and again, under a full moon rising. . .

Review:
Consumed is the fourth book in Rebecca Zanetti's Dark Protectors series, but the first one I've read.  You don't need to read the previous books to understand what's going on in this one, but I would still recommend it, to learn the background of some of the side characters in this one.  I also think it'll help give some context, such as the ongoing war and the virus the Kurjans have created.  But this book is still enjoyable without reading the previous ones.

This book is about Katie and Jordan, both mountain lion shifters.  Jordan had saved Katie when she was 4 years old and Katie has loved him ever since.  He's been her protector her whole life, but she left home after being infected with the virus and has been away for 10 years.  She's grown up now and Jordan is seeing the woman she is.  He's been fighting his attraction to her, and is trying even harder now that he's been infected too.  But Katie isn't having any of that.

I really like that Katie is a strong female character.  She's not just sitting on her butt pining after Jordan.  Instead, she's doing something by hunting werewolves.  Also, after learning Jordan has been infected, she fights harder to be with him and save him, as he tries to push her away.  I also like how Jordan is an Alpha, but not one of those no-means-yes type of Alpha.  He's sexy and strong, but still sweet.  Though there weren't many overly romantic scenes, I did feel a bond between them and their mating was hot!

The pacing of the story was a bit slow, especially at the beginning.  But it interested me enough to keep me reading, and it eventually did pick up.  There are several twists, one especially that I didn't see coming at all.  By the end, I was left with several questions still...but I guess that's the point!  It's ensured that I'll read the rest of the series, haha.  I definitely want to know what's going on between Kalin, Janie, and Zane.  I also hope there's a book for Maggie and Terrent!

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ROMANCE: Wait till Your Vampire Gets Home

Title: Wait till Your Vampire Gets Home
Subtitle: Undead fathers really know best.
Author: Michele Bardsley
Genre: Paranormal Romance
# of Pages: 283

Summary: Libby Monroe works as a paranormal investigator for Paranormal Research and Investigation Services (PRIS), which her parents founded. She winds up in Broken Heart, Oklahoma because rumor has it that Broken Heart is a breeding ground for the paranormal, so she's there to investigate. While there, she meets and falls in lust with a sexy vampire named Ralph Genessa, who also happens to be the father of two adorable boys. Unfortunately, she also runs into trouble, as the queen of the vamps won't let her leave Broken Heart. But soon, that's the least of her problems, as a dragon and an Ancient are out to get her, and they don't care who or what they destroy along the way...

Review: This is the fourth book in the series, but the first of the series that I've read. It can pretty much stand alone, though you won't know much background for the other characters if you don't read the other books first, I guess. Didn't really matter for me, though I do want to eventually get around to reading the others. The idea for the storyline was interesting, but it could be worked out better. Also, the romance was pretty lacking. I know I shouldn't expect romance novels to be realistic...but I can't help it. This was more than just unrealistic. There's an attraction between Libby and Ralph, sure. But there's no proof that the attraction is something real between them, and not just from the fact that they share a dragon's soul. Plus, they both fight the attraction until near the end. They don't really get to know each other at all. I mean, the characters are likable enough, except for "Uncle Archie." But the relationship between the two main ones leaves something to be desired. Oh yeah, Ash is pretty cool; probably my favorite character. Haha. I hope she has an upcoming story...

I've been putting off writing this review, because I just didn't know how I felt about this book. I probably could read it again, because it has a happy ending (and I love those), but I'm still unsure about if I'd consider it a good read. If I'm willing to read it again, that should mean it is...right? lol

Rating: ★★★

ROMANCE: The Scot, the Witch and the Wardrobe

Title: The Scot, the Witch and the Wardrobe
Author: Annette Blair
Genre: Paranormal Romance
# of Pages: 269

Summary: After her Nana passes away, Victoria Cartwright inherits a key that will lead to her destiny. Or so it claims. But Victoria is just not ready to accept that she may just be a witch, even when all the signs are telling her so. Such as the key actually opening the mysterious wardrobe that no one else could open, or the fact that she makes rhyming wishes that come true. One such wish bringing her Rory MacKenzie, though he does have ulterior motives other than being her "knight on a white charger." He's looking to reclaim the unicorn, which he believes is rightfully his as one of his ancestors carved it. He believes it's the key to ending his family's curse and bring honor back to his family name, and he'll do anything he can to get it back. Now she's got a unicorn (thanks to that mysterious wardrobe) and a new employee/boarder whose bones she wants to jump. And oh yeah, her and Rory have been dreaming about each other, even before they met. Plus she has 3 psychic half-sisters who she's never met, but suddenly show up. All these, and she's still trying to convince herself she doesn't have magic...see how far that gets her... ;)

Review: The story dives right in, with Victoria opening to wardrobe to find the unicorn. Rory sees the unicorn on the "telly," when Victoria gets it appraised. He believes the unicorn is the key to ending his family's curse and bringing back respectability to his family's name. He travels across the Atlantic, and voila, they meet. Backstory is told along the way, to help fill in the blanks. There's misunderstanding and laughs along the way. Plenty of sexual innuendo. This is the first book I've read by Annette Blair. I would've loved to start with the first book of the trilogy, but oh well. I liked the plotline, but the main characters...not so much. Especially Victoria. I can't really stand her. She just seems so hostile towards Rory. Well, at least half of the time she is, and the other half she wants to jump him. Plus, she seems really insecure and way too wishy-washy with her belief in magic. One minute she'll be like "I don't have magic! Horrible thing to say!" and the next she'll be like, "Oh cool!" or "Retro," as she likes to say, and then back to the first. All in all, she seems like quite the flaky character. It's really tiring, and just made me want to scream, "MAKE UP YOUR MIND ALREADY!" The sex scenes were all right, though maybe a little too graphic as this seemed more like a cute read than one of those steamy ones. Also, I feel the author made it a bit unrealistic, emphasizing that Victoria could have many multiple orgasms way too many times. I think she even wrote that Victoria was the queen of mulitple orgasms. She also mentioned that Rory was the king of staying power. Yeah, it was quite unrealistic in my opinion. One thing I did like were her half-sisters, and hope to read their stories. It was a cute read, but probably not something I'd reread.

Rating: ★★