Heart of Stone (Gargoyles 1) by Christine Warren

Hello to all,

  Today i decided to share with you my opinion on a book i discovered with Brenda's event during the last halloween " Heart of Stone". This book was in fact a prize, a pre order of it to be more precise.... i wasn't lucky enough to win it but i couldn't forget the blurb  so as soon as i could i did get my copy of it and i can only be grateful to Brenda for this discovery... i'm becoming fond of gargoyles now ^^

Happy Reading

Publisher: St. Martin's Paperbacks

Publication: 2013

ISBN:  1250012651

Genre: paranormal romance
Violence: strong
Language: normal
sex: strong, steamy
Public: 18+

Source: bought

Short description from goodreads :

From bestselling author Christine Warren comes a thrilling new series about a young woman caught between a rock and a hard place—between gargoyles and demons…

Ella Harrow is trying to carve out a normal life for herself. Well, as normal as an art geek with psychic abilities can hope for. As museum docent and gift-shop manager, Ella is able to keep her distance from people—and her powers in check—while surrounding herself with the artifacts she loves. But how on earth is she supposed to act normal when a thousand-year-old statue on the museum's terrace suddenly comes to life?

Heart of Stone


Not your ordinary gargoyle, Kees has been asleep for eons, waiting for a portent of evil to wake him from his slumber. Kees isn't a vision; he's a bat-winged guardian created to protect the world from the seven demons of the Dark. Somehow, Ella triggered his reawakening. Maybe the demons have been unleashed? Maybe his heart is finally ready to be chiseled open? The fate of the world isn't carved in stone…yet.

My opinion:

          I love it! It’s my first book by this author but it won’t be the last for sure, really i couldn’t stop turning the pages I loved the story a lot!

But let’s start at the beginning, “ Heart of Stone” is a  paranormal romance with gargoyles…yes gargoyles but you must think of them as magical creatures, being able to take human form  ( a really sexy one by the way), working on the light side. They were summoned from another plane to protect our world and humans in general again the evil and his minions …so yes it’s gargoyles vs demons….so they are guardians … when they are not fighting, when the demons are contained they go in a kind of slumber and looks like statues yes but they are not sleeping they stay awake enough to learn about the changing world around them.

Of course when they are in such a state they are more vulnerable it’s the reason for the existence of the Wardens…. Those are humans with Magic  who are in fact at the one who regrouped to summons the guardians in the first place. Their role is simple: they keep vigilante, they keep watch for the dark force and act against them. They aren’t the primary fighters it’s more the recon team ..when they take note of a rising in the evil force they dispatch the proper answer…against simple humans ( because yes the dark forces have they own guild/order of followers) they can use their magic and interfere but they wouldn’t fight minor demons alone , they are minor guardians to help for that too. However when the danger is greater when the evil  is awakening so when one of more of the seven main demons is playing havoc their role is to wake up the guardians/gargoyles ( who are 7 like their counterparts) those nearly immortal are the main fighting force. Normally each Guardians has a warden assigned to his care meaning one that take care to wake him up and in “peaceful “ time take care of his form to know where each guardians is.

Kees has been in slumber since 1703 with a few interruptions for let say “administrative” stuff…. So he is more than surprised to find him awakened by a woman, not his warden, knowing nothing about magic and the guild and more strange…no demon in the vicinity.  Logically he shouldn’t have awaken in these conditions…while trying to understand what happened he will discover a situation direr than  any of the past and without the usual resources at his disposition he must rely on Ella, while protecting her, teaching her the basics and fighting his growing feeling for her.

Ella always thought she was strange… having some capacities she can’t put a name on frighten her and she is doing her best to keep everything inside her…working at the museum is a good solution for her, she loves the topics and  the socialising part is staying at a minimum. However when a man threaten her one night she takes refuge at the foot of a sculpture that always comforted her, asking for his protection without hoping the same statue would suddenly come to life and jump at her rescue from a new attacker. Ella is far from a hopeless woman even if at first she is naïve, frightened and doubting herself.  In a perfect world, the Guild would have found her and taught her about her powers and the Magic but left to herself she has come to fear the force inside her….

When  Kees appears she won’t hesitate to stand up for herself and she adjust quite quickly in the new universe she is introduced to despite the dangers. She even makes excellent suggestions… not a warden but with the abilities to become one and in a way  doing the job already she better has to learn quickly. She doesn’t know how to react when Kees make some 180° in their relationship and while it’s understandable perhaps it  become irritating  at times ( nothing to deter me from keeping reading)

I really loved it and the fact the guardians will need to bang together reassure me that we will keep seeing more the character we just met because right now I’m quite addicted and I so want more *_*. The villains were partly surprising and I really spent a excellent time the only thing that bothered me came at the end… while all the time Kees fight against the idea of having emotions and wonder why and how he was awaken…. He reveals that the answer is all written in one of their books… just like that.. it was a little too abrupt for me and made them look as fools for not having checked that to start…. The tension built… you are intrigued, yes you guessed their relationship had a lot to do with everything  but dropping that story/legend just at the end I don’t know it was like a bucket of water thrown on you and the reason why I can’t give a 5/5 .

So if you love paranormal romance, want something different (gargoyles stories are not that common) this is more than a promising series debut and I can only hope book 2 will be as good when it released later this year. There are more than a lot of action, the rhythm is fast and  yes a lot of steamy scenes if you love that^^

Score:  4,5/5

Disclaimer: All opinions are my own and no compensation was received in exchange for this review

Challenges:

Soul Resurrected ( Sons of Wrath 2) by Keri Lake + free book " The Fallen"

Hello to all!


 I've been waiting to share today post with you and believe me it was getting harder and harder to wait.  So  today i will share with you my opinion on " Soul Ressurected" by Keri Lake....and FREE EBOOK yes! Let me explain or trty to... in Soul Ressurected a new Character appears " Xander" one so interesting than the readers asked to know more about him.

Keri Lake kindly answered she was going to see what she could do, kind of a novella, as a gift to her fan and thus free since all gift should be free..... She went above our expectation! reallly forget novella think book and today is THE DAY: The Fallen is released and you get your free digital copy all info: here
The Fallen isn't part of the Sons of Wrath series but more a spin off so if it's your first try with this author and love dark horror  grab this new book and enjoy it.

 For those still hesitating here is want i thought of Soul Ressurected where Xander's made his first appearance and that make me want to discover The Fallen even with all the warning about how dark it is (because this time it will be^^)

 Happy Reading

Publisher: Keri Lake

Publication: 2013

ISBN:  0984851747

Genre: urban fantasy, paranormal romance
Violence:  really strong
Language: strong
sex: really strong

Public: 18+

Source: won

Short description from goodreads :

 As Wrath’s fiercest son, Logan carries the scars of fifty years spent in the most dreaded prison of the underworld, for a sin he’d kill to keep secret. Enduring decades of gruesome torture has left Logan feared by and detached from others, until a female Alexi’s blood resurrects his soul from death and, with it, the pleasures he’s been denied for so long.

Plagued by shame of her own, Calla is drawn to the ruthless demon, Logan, whose insatiable craving for her touch rouses buried passions and, for once, leaves her feeling desired.

A dark and dangerous evil has been reawakened, however, and when Calla is drawn too close to its breeding grounds, Logan vows to summon the violence of Wrath in order to keep her safe. First, though, Calla must save him from a past riddled with deceit and corruption … but only if she can accept the chilling consequences of unearthing his vilest skeleton.

Sons of Wrath
Never gamble with vengeance …


Warning: This book contains explicit language, sex, and violence. Not suitable for readers under 18 years of age

My opinion:

          What a ride! I went through all kinds of emotions reading this book and I guess I’m not left unscathed  which is not something negative at all I do hope though readers will hear the warning because yes this book has a high level of violence, sex and it’s a lot, a LOT darker than book 1 so better be prepared for that . But rest assured  Keri Lake was kind enough to give us an happy ending…. A form of at least^^ so even if the journey to reach it is difficult it’s well worth it.

Logan had a difficult childhood…saying that doesn’t even cover half of it and I was a little perturbed because those memories and thus a large part of the “horror “part of the book started just at the beginning of the story. “Soul Resurrected” takes place just after “Soul Avenged” left you, with Logan on his bed recovering thanks to Calla’s blood….

i don’t know why I expected the book to gradually become darker in the series and the violence to come later in the book but I did so when the violence, nightmare, horror start right in the first chapters  and that it jumped several levels between this book and the first one I was a little taken aback. To be honest I even though fort a moment to stop there because it was really that hard but I’m glad I trusted Keri and kept reading because in a sense it lightened.  No, it doesn’t become all flowers and sweets far from it but gradually the humour showed and the attraction and romance appeared to put a little hope in all the darkness.

Logan and his brother are demons yes but I love how they have honor. They are not all violence for nothing it’s even the complete opposite and it’s probably for that reason others fears them ( now I won’t say i love all demons in this series far from it as you will understand when you read this ).  In this book we learn how deeply they loyalty and the love they have for each other run deeply. Gavin didn’t hesitate to suffer imprisonment and torture to lighten what Logan had to go through, we discover how Zayne has been suffering and at the same time forgiven his brother for what he had done ( though we will learn more about that part in the future I think). The thing they have between them is stronger that what most human family have which make us admire them a little more.

Logan is only discovering that part since he didn’t grow up with the others, he still feels a little outcast while they are behind him no matter what and they would be even ore if he trusted them enough to explain his past. Until now he is keeping it to himself, because he doesn’t trust himself first and foremost. I think he fears their judgement like he fears Calla’s rejection.

I really loved to see him open himself slowly.. he is as loyal as the others if no more so I really could feel his pain, his fear and his love ( some of his quotes just make your toes curl)… he is perfect for calla.

Calla’s past is special and Logan get to discover it before her even if he doesn’t understand it at first. She was especially targeted by Wade and we learn that sadly he wasn’t the big villain and there are people above him. She has suffered a lot too and she has some difficulty to adjust in the mansion. For a long part of the book she keep believing what she was taught (demons are crazy, they jump on any woman etc) even if she saw it wasn’t the case. For that reason she doesn’t trust Logan and the rest of them and she plan to have her revenge alone….sometime I really wanted to tell her how stupid she was but I guess she had to learn. She did speak a little with Ayden but not as much as I would have loved, Ayden is more than secondary in this book, I would have though she would take her fellow alexi under her wing but no it’s Anna who become Calla’s support ( a really good one)

If you remember from my review of book 1, I really loved Gavin… I still do even if he did something that disappointed me….i fear thought that he will have to suffer hell before having is own happiness so I’m glad next book is his, I couldn’t wait longer. As the elder he bears all the responsibilities and he does feel alone. We learn more about Ferno and his past with Zayne (while my heart goes for him I can’t agree with his attitude and the drug addiction) Mad Dog appears too but we still know nothing about him…. In a sense Calix seems to be the more balanced of the brother (with Gavin before). It’s getting hard to have only one favourite^^ but I still hope Gavin will get his soulmate. Oh and Zeke, poor Zeke, I need more of him ( and well).

While this book focus on Logan and calla’s relationship we learn at the same time a lot about the demons’s culture and world since for the first time we see a little of it. I really enjoyed that part. We also  get to see the scheme between the alexi existence and it’s go a lot deeper and larger that what one could have imagined at first. The enemies are getting more and more numerous and the risks I can’t even imagine all of them. On the positive side, we learn that not all lycans are mindless far from it and some protect others a bit like Gavin is doing. Marrick is an alpha who sounds like he is really responsible and knows what he is doing. He would love an alliance with the brothers but after years of being enemies with lycans, trust is slow to come ( even though he should fear more from other demons-_-;;) I hope we will see more of them because that’s the kind of werewolves I prefer not the simply mindless savage beast.

 So while the beginning of the book can be harder to get through this story is really worth it, if you liked “ Soul Avenged” you definitively want to read this one if you love horror and are not overly sensitive. It(‘s really a series I come to enjoy more and more, an excellent urban fantasy universe with romance to make you swoon.

Score:  4/5

Disclaimer: All opinions are my own and no compensation was received in exchange for this review

Challenge:

**********

Free Ebook

And like i said at first if you want to discover Xander go hurry and grab the free book " The Fallen", Keri Lake wrote just for us book info and links here , amazon,  if you are international you can request you free copy by email ( need to do it just now!!) or if you are on facebook.... you could be even more lucky like precised in the info if you do on the release page on facebook today! there are print copy to win ( print copy you won't find anywhere else!) Good Luck!

Treasures and Finds (2): March or Birthday edition

Hello to all and welcome to this second edition of Treasures and Finds which coincides whith my birthday month.

To be honest, i don't think i ever had such a big monthly haul so i'm really happy of course but i'm even more grateful to each person who helped to make my birthfday really special for once. I never had a real birthday before ( with more than parents and brother), the "friends" living near me forgot again but my bloggers friends didn't and did more than i could have hoped so really thank you to each of you . Really each little word or comment meant a lot to me THANK YOU! It has been the best birthday i could have dreamed of.




So let see what are the results ( if i forget something sorry in advance):

Won

For St Valentine at Cafebiblioart i won the Kat Bastion 's prize and it's one i tried to get during a long time so receiving it was simply perfect. ( Thanks again Sinziana)

In February i also won the birthday giveaway of Nikki at Life's Simple Pleasures and i picked

Then i won at brenda's Blog "Crazy Four Books" and i had to pick one the featured book that month and i couldn't resist some shifters

Gifted

 For my birthday i wasn't only gifted books so i did get a great pillow i already showed you last month^^ (by the way i love amazon.de or anyone in europe since it doesn't require more taxes), i got candies ( love candies) some stationary ( if you know me well you know i'm fan of writing real letter and thus  fan of letter paper), some jewellery  ( yes that will  make me start taking care of me^^;;) and of course i got cards, some handmade gifts and the virtual letters/messages ( yes those counts also a lot to me so don't worry even if you just dropped me a line or two you made the day fabulous no gift necessary ( though  i was estatic to receive some *___*)

Thank you for every item, every words really. however to keep this message at a "normal size" ^^ i will only put the books here

Nikki granted me some book from my wishlist for my birthday and she picked one book already released from a series she is really fan of and one that I  was more than impatient about that released a little later.

Christine also chose to offer me a book that had a lot of importance for her even if it wasn't on my list so it will be complete discovery for me

Sullivan from Pearls Cast in front of a MCPig sent me books one to complete a series, one to start a new one.

Melissa picked me and a few others to discover the Hard Ink series by Laura Kaye . Thank you a lot!

I also got some books from Sullivan and from Birgit at The Book Garden when they cleaned their shelves ( yes for one being european was an advantages ;) ) however since these were not exclusively birthday related and since the post is already quite long  i won't say more  at the moment except THANK YOU!!!!


 March has been quite exceptionnal for me so really  thanks to everyone who helped to make it that fantastic if i haven't cited you don't think i think less or appreciated your gesture less than another. Each word/ message was a wonderful gift in itself so thank you, thank you!

So as a result while i participated in the 2014 March Take control of your TBR pile and if i did read more than usual for once i added more books to it than i read which is a feast in itself. ^^

THANK YOU

Have you read one of these already?

Storm Front (The Dresden Files 1) by Jim Butcher

Hello to all,


            Sorry to have been silent all week but it was Carnaval here and thus i'm suffering from a severe sleep deprivation ( no i didn't party, not at all i just had music blasting several streets away during several days long....) i hoped to spend that time reading but apart the few hours when i still could manage after i simply couldn't the incessant pounding vibration really put my blood pressure in havoc.

So end of the week was spent trying to recuperate without success and i'm behind answering emails, comment and writing blog posts, sorry i will try  to get back on track as soon as i can. My health will come first though so if you are waiting for an answer  just a little patience please.

At least i do have something to share with you. As you know i'm attempting to read from my TBR pile the books that have been recommended to me....Last month was Nalini Singh and her Guild hunter series, this time it's a classic for some of you and a completle novelty for me...The dresden Files by Jim Butcher. I lost count of many time it was recommended and by so many people... i was really interested but it took me time to obtain the books as often so finally this is the time for book one.

Happy reading.

Publisher: Penguin ROC

Publication: 2000

ISBN:  045145781

Genre: urban fantasy, wizard,vampires
Violence: strong
Language: mild
sex: mild ( allusion)
Public: 18+

Source: bought

Short description from goodreads :

 Harry Dresden -- Wizard

Lost items found. Paranormal Investigations.
Consulting. Advice. Reasonable Rates.
No Love Potions, Endless Purses, or
Other Entertainment.

Harry Dresden is the best at what he does. Well, technically, he’s the only at what he does. So when the Chicago P.D. has a case that transcends mortal creativity or capability, they come to him for answers. For the “everyday” world is actually full of strange and magical things — and most of them don’t play well with humans. That’s where Harry comes in. Takes a wizard to catch a — well, whatever.

There’s just one problem. Business, to put it mildly, stinks. So when the police bring him in to consult on a grisly double murder committed with black magic, Harry’s seeing dollar signs. But where there’s black magic, there’s a black mage behind it. And now that mage knows Harry’s name. And that’s when things start to get… interesting.


Magic. It can get a guy killed.

My opinion:

          Nothing exceptional but the story is still really enjoyable. I spent a good time reading this first book and Dresden is a character really promising, sarcastic^^ but honest and loyal. There is a lot of humour and the universe while complex is accessible.

The author, Jim Butcher, manage to make the reader feel at home in this world where magic is there but not wholly accepted either.

He built his characters with enough subtleties that you know there is more to discover and learn but you don’t feel like you are missing something either. Murphy for example seems to be a really determined and strongly independent woman but her relation with Dresden is strange. They like to keep bickering with each other… but she ignore a lot about him and thus I don’t think she completely trust him. He is more a colleague, acquaintance than a friend for her….for him it’s different, he cares a lot about her but seems afraid to tell her. It makes me wonder how they came to meet for the first time and why Murphy is more accepting of Magic than the others.. what did she live to come to that?

The investigation is well constructed too the plot thickens before coming to a complete conclusion. We see a large gallery of characters who tends to be more enemies and suspect than allies. Mister, the cat, as well as Bob the skull made me laugh and smile so I do hope there will be more of them. I mean Dresden doesn’t seem to be a really knowledgeable wizard…at least not by memory so without Bob, not sure what he could do. He is has power and knowledge yes but enough? Not sure.

It ‘s a series I will continue, not a favourite one yes but it could become one I follow with pleasure anyway.  So if you love Magic, Wizard, action, investigation and a touch of dark humour this is a series that could interest you.

Challenges: