Amanda Shofner

Reading Beyond Denial made me realize that the second book of the series, Beyond Control, was not on my wishlist. You can bet I fixed that immediately upon finished Beyond Denial.Beyond Denial is for people who......need a little male on male action...have read the Beyond series and want MOAR...like it quick and dirty...enjoy non-discriminatory fucking...love the obvious back story between Jared, Ace, and Rachel...think doing it in public and being watched is hot...can appreciate a well done blow job scene...are just plain INTRIGUED and FASCINATED by this worldBeyond Denial was a free book I downloaded from kitrocha.com on March 25th, 2013 for the Why Buy the Cow? reading challenge.

3.5

Though The Scorpio Races was not my first introduction to Maggie Stiefvater, it is, perhaps, the first book of hers that I fully latched onto. Her stories are lyrical and deeply intriguing, forcing you slow down and savor rather than rushing through—even though you must know what happens.I am fascinated by this world where the Scorpio Races happen and capall uisce are feared monsters. Nothing is a given—not for Puck and not for Sean. The two of them are driven to enter into the Scorpio Races, each for their own reasons and each for desperately fighting for survival in a world set against them.Thisby is not a place one can survive in. If you’re not lost to the bloodthirsty horses, you’re escaping to the mainland. Staying isn’t for the faint of heart; you must love the challenge of a world set against you as much as you love the island. But against all odds (literally, in Puck’s case), both Puck and Sean attempt to make a go at it, drawn to each other by their similarities. The Scorpio Races leaves me oddly unsettled even now, after finishing. But it’s the kind of the unsettle that stays with you, bringing the story back in your memory again and again, enticing you with its lyrical quality and haunting world. I want more.

After finishing Seduction of a Highland Lass, I was really looking forward to the conclusion of this series and the HEA for the last McCabe brother, Caelen. Throughout the series, we've learned about Caelen and why he's so "cold" and hardened (and not in the good way) against women. Rionna is the perfect match for Caelen in that regard: strong in her spirit and fiercely loyal to those who hold her regard. (As an aside, I like how Maya Banks dealt with Rionna being left at the alter by Alaric, her original betrothed. Rionna's genuine happiness for Keely--and therefore Alaric--allowed the story to focus on Rionna and Caelen's story, without additional messiness.)Maya Banks puts her characters through hell, but I've said it before and I'll say it again: Maya Banks writes damn good escape books. I read Never Love a Highlander in an evening, easily swept up in Rionna and Caelen's story and ALL THE EMOTIONS. I like all the emotions. Romance novels seems to speak to an innate desire to be as loved and cherished as our two main characters are. Who doesn't want to be loved, cherished, and craved. Nothing makes me swoon quite like the alpha man brought to his knees by the love of a worthy woman. EVERY. TIME. Being the last book in the series, all the threads are tied together here, and we get to see the bad guy fall and the good guys succeed. Because who doesn't want that? The previous couples make appearances in this book, though it is really Caelen, Rionna, and the McDonald clan's story. And they do not disappoint. How Rionna proves her love to Caelen is fitting (perhaps predictably so, but it's a book you read to escape, so no one cares) and it was gratifying to see. I wanted HEAs for all the McCabe brothers. (Though I want Gannon to have a HEA, too. He was such a loyal, integral part of multiple stories in this series.)The McCabe trilogy was my first introduction to Maya Banks's Highlanders, and I was not disappointed. I've got the first book in her The Montgomerys and Armstrongs series, and you can bet that is high on my to be read list. Is there such a thing as too many Highlanders? I think not.

Though this is a prequel, it's one that I read after Through the Ever Night. This is a heart wrenching story, one that you learn a bit of by reading Under the Never Sky and one that unravels even more in Through the Ever Night. AND IT WAS EVERYTHING IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN.Like Through the Ever Night, Roar and Liv induced much flailing. Roar is such a fun character in Under the Never Sky--but he becomes even more integral to the story in Through the Ever Night, which only makes HIS story that much more fascinating.I like Roar. A lot. And despite this being Roar and Liv, this is all Roar. Liv is still a bit unreachable to us--we experience Roar's emotions toward her and we like her because Roar does, not necessarily because we've had time to become attached. But that doesn't really matter because, you guys, IT'S ROAR.If you've read any of the books in this series, you'll want to read Roar and Liv. It had me wanting to pick up Through the Ever Night AND READ IT ALL OVER AGAIN. Roar and Liv was heart breaking, yes. But it was good. So, so good. And it covers some of the events that are referred to in the series. What are you waiting for? Go read it!

Sometimes you just need a book to escape in, and Maya Banks does escape books that will curl your toes and hit the spot. Hit all your spots, if you know what I mean. I was having one of those days where I was sick and tired and sick and tired of being sick and tired. Guys, I love books on those kinds of days. I may not have been any less sick and tired, but I sure as hell felt better with a book to get lost in.I'm going to go ahead and admit that this is cheesy. Like, really. AND I AM OKAY WITH THAT. Listen. Escape books are all about the cheese. When you need something to dive into, you don't want serious. You want mushy love with a side of extra hot lovin'. Maya Banks does that will skill. I liked Alaric. I liked Keeley. Their situation flayed me because SO MANY EMOTIONS AND WOE, WOE, WOE.Highlanders are fun. I like this series for the historical setting, the sex, and the emotions. The brothers are tight and loyal and THEY LOVE THEIR WOMEN. I want to dive right into the next book so I can see what happens with Caelen and Rionna. Because, man. Alaric is awesome, but he left things pretty messy in his wake.And I need more books to escape into.

3.5Back at the end of 2011, I tore through this series, devouring books two through five within a month and culminating with a signing with Chloe Neill. I hardcore LOVED this series. It seems, though, that with time, my rabid passion for this series has lost its rabidness*.Don't get me wrong: this was a solid Chicagoland Vampires book. I liked it. Merit is still determined to save Chicago at all costs, Ethan is still as sexy as sin, and the supernatural shenanigans abound. I think the problem is me (and my reading slump) or the length of time between books (over a year for me).One aspect I really appreciated about Biting Cold was that even though it's been more than a year since I picked up Drink Deep, I had no trouble whatsoever sliding back into Merit's world and all that was happening without doing any rereading. I liked the way that Merit's world gets more complicated without being difficult to follow along. Things are happening, but it's never confusing. And it's always fascinating. Merit's world is often a very political one--politics steeped in magic.I think that Merit is becoming more likable with each book as she grows into her position. She's got some things going on that really work for her, but she's also quite involved in other...things that could blow up in her face eventually. (Which only makes me want to pick up House Rules, the next book in the series.)*When I originally read this series, I was listening to Adele's 21 album on repeat. For a while, Adele's songs became synonymous with the Chicagoland Vampires. Part of me wonders if I would have been able to recapture my feelings if I had remembered to listen to Adele while reading Biting Cold.

When I read Under the Never Sky, I was completely captivated by the world that Veronica Rossi built and the characters in it. Whenever that happens, I approach the second book with trepidation because I want it to be just as good--or better--than the first book. I want to be even more in love with the series after book two than I was after book one.

 

And you know what? Through the Ever Night nailed it. I officially love this series even more.

 

Told in the same alternative points of view we know from Under the Never Sky, Through the Ever Night continues the character development of Perry and Aria that began in Under the Never Sky. Aria seeks the location of the Still Blue--and a place to fit in. Caught between the Dwellers and the Outsiders, she struggles to find her place. She had a harrowing journey, both physically and emotionally. Perry, though, underwent some of the bigger changes--learning what it means to be a good Blood Lord and breaking past his quick temper to find what his heart already knows. Their love story just makes me happy.

 

But Aria and Perry are far from the only characters central to this book. Roar is back, his lightheartedness a welcome addition to the story, though his underlying strength comes through in his quest to find Liv. (Oh, Roar and Liv! Oh, Roar! Oh, Liv! OH. OH. OH, HOW MY HEART HURTS.) We were re-introduced to characters from Under the Never Sky, and they took on new--and sometimes surprising--roles in Through the Ever Night. We were also introduced to new characters. (Though, oh man. How I hated them. HATE. HATE. HATE.)

 

The ending leaves us with new revelations--secrets are spilled, and the world continues to change and shift, becoming more dangerous. The Aether and its storms are scary. I am anxiously awaiting Into the Still Blue, ready to dive back into the world, and hoping for a happy ending for all involved.

Shatter Me was one of my favorite books of 2011, with a coveted 10 rating. It should really come as no surprise, then, that I would pick up Unravel Me, the second book in the series. Desperate as I was for more of this series, I also read Destroy Me, the novella from Warner's point of view that bridges the two stories. It's this novella that really changed how I felt and yes, led me to changing teams. There is so much more to Warner than our view of him in Shatter Me, and all his anti-hero potential in Destroy Me is realized in Unravel Me.Though this is a worthy second book, it didn't quite hit me the way the first did. The poetic nature of Juliette's narration is dulled, but the stream of consciousness style remains. It was okay, but I ended up looking forward to Juliette's interactions with the other characters--Kenji and Warner in particular. Those two stole the book for me, in completely different ways. Juliette was vaguely annoying. Kenji is irrepressible, his humor ever present and his drive to succeed against the Reestablishment stronger than ever. Warner is...Warner. (OH, WARNER.) Adam loses his spark somewhat. He's just... well, he doesn't play as big a role in this book, and Juliette has some interesting revelations about herself and her relationship with Adam.Um. So, in this book, THINGS HAPPEN. LOTS OF THINGS. We learn secrets. The plot thickens. We meet Warner's dad. Castle and the resistance gear up to fight. Things are going DOWN in Juliette's world. (Yes, there's a love triangle. No, I'm not all that bothered by it. Well, I'm bothered by Juliette's reaction to it, but the fact it exists does not.) I don't know that I'm still satisfying with the amount of information we have about the Reestablishment and I want to know MORE. I think Tahereh Mafi has set up the ending of Unravel Me to give us more information in book 3.I hope.Until then, I shall twiddle my thumbs, look accusingly at my calendar ("What? The next novella isn't out yet?"), and reread Destroy Me.

3.5

I've been on an urban fantasy kick lately, and Nightshade satisfied my craving for more UF. (MOAR UF!) This was another UF that wasn't OHMAHGAWD AMAZING, but it was good, and I read it in a day. That doesn't happen with many books anymore.Nightshade has a particularly interesting twist on the normal supernatural UF. SCIENCE. (And I can see why Tara liked it.) It was definitely a seamless addition to the world building, and it was fabulously done.The only thing that really knocked this from an 8 (4) to a 7 (3.5) for me was the pace of the plot. It seemed like it went on too long, and that gave me the opportunity to start questioning things. (And questioning always leads to getting critical for me.) Don't get me wrong; I liked what happened. It just seemed like it should have ended earlier, if that makes sense.But I LIKED what happened. And guys, THINGS HAPPEN. It was fun and deceiving and intriguing and awesome. Jillian really draws the short end of the stick with this, but she deals, and deals pretty well, at that. Nothing is ever quite what you think it is. And the romance... that has me intrigued for what happens in the next book. There are enough questions left remaining that THINGS could really HAPPEN.

My interest in this book stems from the fact that Jess started following me on Twitter. (Tentacle sex brings out all the fun people.) I love chatting with her, so it was only natural that I check out her books, too. I was not disappointed.You know how sometimes you need a book that's easy, uncomplicated, and fun? That was Hunted by the Others for me. Urban fantasy seems to be my go-to genre whenever I'm waffling on book choice. Occasionally, you just need a book that feels good. And Hunted by the Others made me feel good.One thing I like about this world--other than getting many supernatural creatures (vampires, and werewolves, and mages--oh my)--is that the supernatural is built seamlessly into current history. It gives us a bit of an alternative history of sorts. And it is FUN.I also liked that Shia is NOT the "only one who can save the world". In fact, she's remarkable only in her unremarkableness, and that's what makes her so much fun. She's REAL. And HUMAN. And it's very easy to imagine yourself in her place. (Even though you probably don't want to.)Though the mystery wasn't necessarily riveting, it was FUN, and I didn't figure it out until everything was revealed. The love interests were a bit take 'em or leave 'em (i.e., there wasn't a big drive to get attached), though the ending of Hunted by the Others had me EAGERLY anticipating book 2. Because, guys, things happen.THINGS HAPPEN. And I liked that.Overall, this was a solid book. If you're craving UF, but not needing anything overly complicated (read: FUN and easy), Hunted by the Others is a good go to.

#insixwords: Perfect kick in the business pants.Loved this book. For anyone needing the encouragement to just go for it, whether they're established as a business yet or not. I read two chapters and had to put the book down because I felt that motivated to work on my business. (It's that good.)

Sabina is back! Back in black! Okay. That was lame of me for going there. I'm sorry. I was a little hesitant going into this book because...it's the second book. Second books freak me out a little: they're the realization (or failure) of the potential in the first book. Given that I loved Red-Headed Stepchild, I wanted The Mage in Black to be just as good. And is was. My only complaint about The Mage in Black is that Sabina's old flame was a bit too opportunistic for me. Make of that what you will.Sabina's world changes considerably with book 2 as she's thrust into the mage world. She finds herself overwhelmed with new experiences: meeting her sister, learning magic, having to abide by rules. And she struggles. She struggles a lot. And I liked that who Sabina is continues to change throughout this book. She has FEELINGS. She keeps trying to run away from them, but...she can't. I liked how uncomfortable she was. Her world got all shaken up and now she's trying to figure out where she belongs. Good stuff.And it wouldn't be a review without mention of Giguhl. No lie, Giguhl ranks up on my list of sidekicks right under Oberon from the Iron Druid Chronicles. His snark and well-timed observations are classic. Plus, he's a demon who often gets stuck in a hairless cat form. And we get to know him a little better. And he's fun. "Why is it forked?" may have been my favorite line in this book. Of course, Giguhl is not the only character in this book worthy of mention. I had a certain fondness for Adam, his aunt--Rhea--and Maisie.The Mage in Black was a worthy follow-up to Red-Headed Stepchild. The next book in the series is going on my wishlist ASAP, because Jaye Wells didn't exactly leave Sabina in a good place. Shit's going down. THINGS are HAPPENING, people. And I want to know what happens next.

Kit Rocha is a pen name for Moira Rogers (who I love), so when Kelly read and loved Beyond Shame, I knew I had to check it out, too. (Where Kelly goes, I shall follow.) Beyond Shame is the kind of book that you either read all at once or you have to stop and breathe before diving back in. It is overwhelming, but in a good, "I shall think all the thoughts and have all the feelings" way. In fact, this is what I told Kelly:I feel all...FEELY inside. I am deeply intrigued and I know that I've never read anything like it. I'm just like, "I have FEELINGS AND THOUGHTS about this book," but I can't actually communicate what they are.But I am going to try.If you follow my shenanigans on Free Books Need Love Too or Twitter, you know that I'm a frequent reader of erotica. I'm not new to the genre, and I know that all erotica is not created equal--in more ways than one. I've read some really shitty erotica and I've some really well-written (and steamy) erotica. There are also plenty of kinks. Unless you count the tentacle sex erotica (which I find more amusing than anything), this is not an area that I've explored much...until Beyond Shame.Here's the thing. Beyond Shame has to be read with an open mind. It has BDSM themes, but the world the authors built is challenging as well. The BDSM themes fascinated me, because there is a quite a bit of underlying psychology that makes a BDSM relationship far, far different than a "normal" one. At the same time that I struggled to understand it, it was never over the top or so overwhelming that I had to stop. (Pun not intended. I think.) Noelle and Jasper were both characters worth exploring and learning and loving. Their romance is as compelling as it is non-traditional.As much as I enjoyed the romance, the world building in Beyond Shame is what stole the show for me. Noelle comes from Eden--repressed, puritanical Eden. Though no where near comparable to society right now, Eden capitalizes on many of our underlying values that have stuck in American culture--even as sex continues to sell, sell, sell. Women are either good little virgins waiting for marriage or sluts; an in between, where women can enjoy sex just as much as men do without fear of receiving a negative label, does not exist. This is the juxtaposition of Eden and Sector Four.But to call the women in Sector Four sluts would be to do them (and ourselves, as women) a disservice. Whether done intentionally or not (and I'm just reading into it), Sector Four attempts to find that middle ground. And if, like me, you have been trained by society to think in terms of virgins or sluts, Beyond Shame is overwhelming. And a little uncomfortable. But it is overwhelming and uncomfortable in a positive way so that, like Noelle, you are forced to confront your beliefs. And I liked that. I liked it a lot.Beyond Shame is not going to be for everyone. Like I said, it requires an open mind. But if you want to push yourself--your beliefs, your exposure to what exists beyond the "vanilla"--Beyond Shame would be the place to start. Like all Moira Rogers's books I've read, their Kit Rocha books are well-written and completely engrossing. If it hadn't started Beyond Shame so late in the day, I would have easily devoured it in a single setting. As it was, I finally had to rip myself away from the book at 2am.

This series fucking rocks. Yes, the swearing is necessary. Kevin Hearne manages to shove Atticus's personality off the pages and straight into your brain, making these stories so deliciously addicting. Delicious like the Atticus cover model or chocolate or whatever food slides you into a state of bliss. (See? I'm avoiding the pajama comparison. I'm sticking to food instead.)Most of what happens in Trapped is a direct result of all the shenanigans that went down in Hammered. All these forces are beginning to swirl around Atticus and well, shit is gettin' serious. (The ending is cruel, by the way. CRUEL. It's why I want it to be June. I also want it to be June so it's not cold anymore, but that's off topic.) But Atticus continues to come up with plans that are simply delightful. (Delightful in the way you might clap your hands in excitement over diabolical plans, all the while laughing a little maniacally.) These stories are worth reading for the shenanigans alone.Granuaile takes more of a prominent role in Trapped, and I have to say that I'm really liking how bad ass she is. She may not have Atticus's years of wisdom, but she is smart and crafty and is definitely a Druid to be reckoned with. There are also certain...developments in this story. And, as I so often say: THINGS HAPPEN. I was also pretty sure that it was impossible for Oberon to become more charming and entertaining, but I was so very wrong. Oberon remains one of my favorite sidekicks.Though it's a bit jarring at first to realize that Trapped starts off TWELVE YEARS after Tricked, it's quickly forgotten, because Kevin Hearne really does make it that easy to jump back into this world. And I can't wait until we found out what trouble Atticus gets himself out off next.