Abandoned and Unseen by Alexandra Ivy and Carrie Ann Ryan- BrandedPacks #2

I received an ARC copy from the authors in exchange for an honest review.

The stories in this new series of Alexandra Ivy and Carrie Ann Ryan, Branded Packs are amazing and I can't wait for the next one.

ABANDONED

When bear shifter, Anya Tucker fell in love with the wrong man, the only thing she left with was a broken heart—and her two bear cubs. Now she’s mended her wounds and learned that in order to raise her babies she can only trust herself. When her sons meet the lazy cat next door and fall heads over tails for him, she’ll do whatever she takes to protect them—even from a past she’d thought she’d left behind.

Cole McDermott is a jaguar on a mission. Long naps, a willing woman, and a full stomach is usually all he needs when it comes to relaxing after a long day of protecting his Pack. Then he meets Anya and the burn of temptation is silky and tantalizing indeed. When a horror from Anya’s past threatens everything she loves, Cole will put everything aside and fight for her family—as well as his own.

I loved Cole, especially when he was in his natural form as jaguar, he's quintessence of the feline race, sly and lazy but beneath this façade he's dangerous and lethal. 

The scenes with him and bear cubs are wonderful, full of sweetness, but they also show  the love and protective instincts that every shifters nourish for every kind of puppy.

From the start the relationship between Cole and Anya is sparkling, Anya is a tough mumma bear and she is not so fond about Cole, but everything changes when her youngs are in danger and comes into play the real Cole, the protector, the tracker of the pack, which goes against all the rules to help Anya, entirely disinterested, willing to risk his life for her and her babies. Their relationship changes, suddenly overwhelmed by the events. A beautiful story, very hot, always set place in a dark reality, because of the cruelty of humans, who deprived of their freedom the shapeshifters, keeping them understo strict control in their camps. A hard world, which puts a strain on the various races of shapeshifters, but teaching them to live among other races in order to adapt and survive.

RATING 4.5 stars

UNSEEN

Nicole Bradley had no reason to live after the humans murdered her son. Not until she learns to hunt down those responsible for his death. Shifting into her wolf form at night, she slips out of the compound, determined to do as much damage as possible. The last thing she expected was to discover secrets that could destroy the SAU.

Polar shifter, Tucker Stone, lives off the grid. It’s the only way the Unseen can avoid being rounded up by the humans and tossed into a compound. Besides, he’s a loner by nature. But he can’t walk away when he sees the pretty female wolf in danger. Risking exposure, he takes her to his hidden den and tries to heal her wounds. 

Can a reclusive polar bear and a wolf with a death wish find happiness together?

This is the story of the whole series that I liked the most.

For its two protagonists, their story, Nicole's past, how she's strong and her desire and need for revenge, but especially for Tucker ... Who would ever think that a polar bear could be so hot?! I'm not kidding, he is one of the most beautiful and intense alpha I've ever read, a pity that this is just a short story, he deserves a full-lenght book, because he's amazing. I love he back-and-forth with Nicole and his attitude as caveman.

Dominant, ruthless but very protective of Nicole, willing to do anything to support her and keep her safe, but he didn't prevent her from achieving her revenge, against whom brutally killed her son.

Tucker is one of the Unseen, a group of shapeshifters who managed to evade capture and identification by humans, a group that is trying to destroy from within the human organization that has imprisoned the shifters. Their role is crucial, but keeping their identities secret is equally important.

The story has a great plot and is written beautifully.

RATING: 5 STARS

Cursed by Fire by Jacquelyn Frank- The Immortal Brothers #1

From New York Times bestselling author Jacquelyn Frank comes the scorching hot first book in a thrilling new series featuring four warrior brothers who have the power—and the curse—of immortality.

For centuries, Dethan has been trapped in a fiery inferno for defying the gods and snatching the power of immortality. Condemned to have his battle-hardened body licked by flames only to regenerate and be consumed all over again, Dethan has lost all hope—until the Goddess of Conflict appears. She will release him from torment—if he’ll use his power and strength as a warrior to raise an army and defeat a fierce enemy faction of gods.

Free to live as a man once again, Dethan meets Selinda—heir to the throne of Hexis—and his thoughts quickly turn from the conquest of cities to the conquest of this headstrong beauty. Betrothed to a cruel, calculating powermonger, Selinda needs a champion, and so Dethan enters into another bargain: If she will share her bed—and her body—with him, Dethan will save her city from destructive forces within and without. As the lovers ignite a searing passion, Dethan will risk all—even the wrath of the Goddess of Conflict—for a chance to make Selinda his forever.

First book in the new series "The Immortal Brothers" by Jacquelyn Frank.

I've always had a soft spot for the mythology, and this made me appreciate even more "Cursed by Fire". The author has created her mythical reality, where her Gods as usual are in constant struggle with each other, dividing into two factions, involving mortals and not in their machinations.

Dethan, the male protagonist, is no longer a mortal, He and his brothers went against the will of the Gods, deciding to "stealing" immortality by drinking from a sacred spring. And wrath it was by them, given that all the brothers were punished for eternity through various tortures.

Dethan was victim for hundreds of years of fire, burned alive, then heal due to his immortality, then return to suffer through the flames of fire.

Fortunately in this war the Gods need him, and free him to lead a mission to conquer the city in their name, so their cult  is spread among humans.

I loved a lot Dethan as a character, he was always a warrior, a fighter and thanks to his intelligence and resoluteness a formidable leader. But even with Selinda is no different.

He wants to conquer her, seduce her, make her his accomplice and set her free from the burden of having to be forced to suffer ill-treatment from her future bridegroom.  He offers an outrageous deal while leaving her the right to choose, to stand back. He sees beyond her disfigured appearance and what the woman lets see to everyone..

Selinda is much more courageous than she believes, desperate but still willing to risk for the sake of herself and her people.

The story told in the book intrigued me and I can't wait to read the second book in the series.

Thanks to Netgalley and the Random House Publishing Group-Ballantine for the book.

RATING: 3.5 stars

TITLE: Cursed by Fire

AUTHOR: Jacquelyn Frank

SERIES: The Immortal Brothers #1

PUBLISHER: Random House Publishing Group Ballantine

Primo libro della nuova serie "The Immortal Brothers" di Jacquelyn Frank.

Ho sempre avuto un debole per la mitologia, e questo mi ha fatto apprezzare ancora di più "Cursed by Fire". L'autrice ha creato una sua realtà mitologica, dove i suoi dei come al solito sono in lotta continua tra di loro, dividendosi in due fazioni, coinvolgendo mortali e non nelle loro macchinazioni.

Dethan, il protagonista maschile, non è più un mortale, lui e i suoi fratelli hanno sfidato l'ira degli dei, decidendo di "rubando" l'immortalità bevendo da una fonte sacra. E ira è stata, visto che tutti i fratelli sono stati puniti per l'eternità attraverso torture diverse.

Dethan è stato vittima per centinaia di anni del fuoco, arso vivo, per poi guarire grazie alla sua immortalità, per poi tornare a soffrire attraverso le fiamme del fuoco.

Per fortuna in questa guerra gli dei hanno bisogno di lui, e lo liberano per affidargli una missione: conquistare città nel loro nome, diffondere il loro culto tra gli umani.

Dethan mi è piaciuto tantissimo come personaggio, è stato da sempre un guerriero, un combattente e grazie alla sua intelligenza e risolutezza un comandante formidabile. Ma anche con Selinda non è da meno.

Vuole conquistarla, sedurre, rendere sua complice e renderla libera dal peso di dover essere obbligata a subire maltrattamenti dal suo futuro sposo. Le propone un accordo scandaloso, pur lasciandolo il diritto di scegliere, di tirarsi indietro. Vede al di là del suo aspetto deturpato e delle apparenze che la donna lascia vedere a tutti.

Selinda da parte sua è molto più coraggiosa di quanto possa credere, disperata ma comunque disposta a rischiare per il bene suo e della sua gente.

La storia raccontata nel libro mi ha intrigata e non vedo l'ora di leggere il secondo libro della serie.

Ringrazio Netgalley e la Random House Publishing Group- Ballantine per il libro.

VOTO: 3.5 stelle

Beauty's Beasts by Tracy Cooper-Posey

Dubbio "amletico" dopo la lettura di questo libro: che voto dare?
Beauty's Beasts è un libro paranormal con una grossa componente erotica, basti vedere l'elenco di raccomandazioni al suo inizio, ci manca sono un: nuoce gravemente alla salute,  per il resto c'è tutto, ma in America così è, il lettore viene avvisato prima, sui contenuti che potrebbero essere ritenuti offensivi al comune senso del pudore.
Dove nasce il mio dubbio? Mi sono piaciuti i due vampirozzi alpha Damian e Nick e anche la protagonista Riley; la trama poteva essere interessante, ma è proprio la parte romance/ erotica tra Nick, Damian e Riley che mi ha lasciato un po' perplessa. Forse è dovuto al breve lasso di tempo nel quale si svolge il racconto, ma dubito sia questo; ho trovato la storia tra di loro scritta in modo un po' superficiale e poco coinvolgente e a tratti un po' confusa. Invece avrebbe dovuto essere il pezzo forte del libro.
È il secondo libro nella serie, il primo nonostante la presenza di Damian e Nick, riguarda più l'incontro e la storia d'amore tra i genitori di Riley.
Avrei preferito scoprire qualcosa di più sul legame tra Damian e Nick che in precedenza erano stati una coppia, approfondire la loro conoscenza, proverò a leggere la storia raccontata nel primo libro, per vedere se recupero qualche tassello.
Quindi giudizio in sospeso tra le 2/3 stelle.
Si ringrazia Netgalley e Tracy Coooer-Posey per il libro.

Riley Carson Connors viene trascinata via da Pittsburgh e convinta ad andare a New York da due sconosciuti molto alti e sexy. Nicholas Sherwood e Damian sono le uniche persone al mondo che sappiano qualcosa dei suoi genitori e quello che sanno è terrificante. Riley deve affrontare un potente nemico che ha ucciso entrambi i suoi genitori, i quali erano i cacciatori di demoni migliori del loro periodo.
Nonostante la verità sulla reale storia della sua famiglia la attiri come una calamita, la ragazza trova Nicholas e Damian ancora più irresistibili. Nel passato sono stati amanti e adesso sono tornati insieme solo per tener fede alla promessa fatta alla madre di Riley, di proteggerla, ed entrambi i due potenti vampiri la provocano con giochi mentali erotici. I due tengono nascosto i motivi  che li spingono a coinvolgerla in questo gioco e Riley non riesce a comprendere i loro scopi, sa solo che rischia di perdere la testa a causa del piacere carnale che solo un vampiro con l'esperienza di centinaia di anni è in grado di farle provare.

VOTO: 2.5 stelle

TITOLO: Beauty's Beasts
AUTRICE: Tracy Cooper-Posey
SERIE: The Stonebrook Saga #2
EDITORE: Tracy Cooper-Posey
LINGUA: Inglese


After reading this book I found myself with a big dilemma: what kind of rating I must give?
Beauty's Beasts is a paranormal romance book with a strong erotic component, as someone can see by the list of recommendations at its inception, the only missing is: a seriously detrimental to health: for the rest there is everything, but it's the way in use in America, the reader is warned before, if content might be considered offensive to the common sense of decency.
Why my doubt? I liked the two alpha vampires Damian and Nick and even the protagonist Riley; the plot could be interesting, but it is precisely the romance/erotica between Nick, Damian and Riley that left me a little puzzled. Maybe it's due to the short time in which the story takes place, but I doubt this; I found the story between them in a little shallow and not so engaging and at times a bit confused. Instead it should have been the most important part of the book.
It's the second book in the series, despite the presence of Damian and Nick, the first is about the lovestory  between Riley's parents.
I would rather find out more about the bond between Damian and Nick, previously they had been lovers, I'd love to deepen their knowledge, I want to read the story told in the first book, to see if I'll change my mind about this one.
Then pending judgement is between the 2/3 stars.
Thanks to Netgalley and Tracy Cooper-Posey for the book.

Riley Carson Connors is yanked out of Pittsburgh and coaxed to New York by two tall, sexy strangers. Nicholas Sherwood and Damian are the only people in the world who know anything about her parents, and what they know is terrifying. She must face a powerful enemy who killed both her parents, who were the best demon hunters of their era.
But while the truth about Riley’s family history is a powerful magnet, Damian and Nicholas prove to be even more compelling. Former lovers and brought together only because they gave their word to her mother to protect Riley, the two powerful vampires play erotic mind games with her. Each has a hidden sexual agenda that Riley can’t begin to guess, but seems to involve driving her out of her mind with the sort of pleasure only a centuries-old lover would know how to give.


RATING: 2.5 stars

TITLE: Beauty's Beasts
AUTHOR: Tracy Cooper-Posey
SERIES: The Stonebrook Saga # 2
PUBLISHER: Tracy Cooper-Posey
LANGUAGE: English