Malfunction ( Dark Desires origins 1) by Nina Croft [early review]

Hello to all,


                              I was debating what to share with you today  and i ended up choosing to do an early review for a book that really surprised me and which deserve some spotlight. Also i wanted to inform you that the series from which this one is a prequel has the first book "Break Out" free at the time being so even if it's to read later better jump on it in case you can't wait after reading this story when it release later.


Happy Reading!

Publisher: Entangled: Amara

Publication: 2020

ISBN:  1682815250

Genre: sci-fi paranormal romance
Violence: mild
Language: normal
sex: strong
Public: 18+

Source: earc

Description from goodreads :

  Investigator, Sergeant Logan Farrell, has never been convinced the human race deserves saving. But it looks like he’s got the job anyway.

It’s been five hundred years since we fled the remnants of a dying Earth in search of a new home. Twenty-four ships, each carrying ten thousand Chosen Ones. All sleeping peacefully...until people start dying in cryo.

Malfunction or murder? Hopefully, the former—a serial killer in the fleet would be drastic for morale. But Logan is determined to find the truth. Unfortunately, he’s got a new partner—and he works best alone.

Katia Mendoza, hot-shot homicide detective, has been woken from cryo to assist with the investigation. But is she really interested in solving the case, or does she have her own agenda?

Before he can answer that question, though, they become targets themselves.

Nothing like a few near misses with death to bring a couple together, and Logan finds himself falling for the alluring detective. But he doesn’t know that Katia is hiding a secret.

It’s not only humans who fled the dying Earth.

My opinion:

          I love it , i really love it!! to be honest i jumped on this without knowing what to expect because it was written by Nina Croft and i loved all i've read from her so far so i wanted more.  It's what i would call a sci-fi paranormal romance suspense.....strange mix but wonderfully written!

You get shifters, vampires, fae etc and of course human too but in the space and of course there is some murders or malfunctions so an investigation is set to get the bottom of this.....However, if Katia is sent from the second ship in hope to find what is happening while keeping the existence of the others a secret,  she must work with Logan, human empath and soldier wanting to fit in  .Both have just been awoken from a 500y sleep in a cryotube and they have a lot to adjust to  as well as deciding if they trust each other and what to do about an investigation some refuse to see be done.

I really got immersed in the story quickly and i loved it, the investigation is really well done with twists and lot of action as well as numerous humour touch so it was captivating and easily read. Rico the vampire captain is really funny and protective of his folk.  Katia is so funny especially when she is hungry  and Logan is really intelligent  as well as courageous. they are steamy scenes well written but i enjoyed all the rest a lot more. Secondary characters like Callum were especially funny and interesting to read about, Dylan  is a curious one etc so really you have at least one character you will want to survive.

I had my suspicions about the culprit identity  ( and i was right) what i was a little disappointed with is the ending....it's kind of HEA but culprit has it too easy  and i hope in the next book we will see some consequences fall upon that being.

i'm really curious about this series now so i definitively plan to keep reading it as i want more of these characters.

Score:  4,5/5

Disclaimer: All opinions are my own and i voluntary reviewed this book

The Prophecy ( Daughters of the Morrigan 1) by Nina Croft

Hi!

         this week i should give you my opinion on several book since i have been quite silent earlier this month. It's not that i didn't want to read but i had a craft project to finish before a penpal visist and while sick it took longer than i thought.

Now it's reading time ^^, today i'm started with a story by Nina Croft, it's a new edited version of a precedent release i haven't read so i will tell you my point of view on this new version only.

Happy Reading!

Publisher: Nina Croft

Publication: 2019

ISBN:  0373277210

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

Source: earc won

Short description from goodreads :

 Whoever sacrifices the virgin, Raven Cole, on her twenty-first birthday will achieve a great victory in the war between good and evil.

That’s bad news for Raven. Half-vampire, half witch, and cursed from the moment she was born, Raven has been a prisoner of the fire-demons for the last seven years. Now, as her twenty-first birthday approaches, time is running out.

Kael Hunter believed he would do anything to stop the fire-demons from winning. Until he saw her. Now, rather than kill the alluring vampire himself, Kael has another plan: to prevent the prophecy by taking Raven's virginity.

But Raven is prepared for death not seduction. Can Kael use their one night of passion to convince her she has a future - and that he should be a part of it?

My opinion:

          Good beginning, excellent even but i want more of this series to answer some of my questions? That being said this story is perfectly balanced between action, romance and intrigue so we are not getting the feeling it's too short ; of course we wouldn't mind more but it's really well done we don't get an unfinished feeling and i loved that.

The universe sound riche we have shifter, vampires, witches, demons and faes and probably more so i do want to know more like how a vampire can get a witch pregnant; it doesn't bother me it can be part of the universe but i would have loved a small explanation as it's not usual.

With so many group of paranormal we can imagine that they are a lot of tensions and intrigue and we do get a small glimpse of that with what is happening inside the council but not much yet.

We are focusing on  Raven half vampire, half witch  since a prophecy is saying that who will sacrifice her , with some conditions, will be the big victor  she was doomed.  Each camp wants her dead...and she partly accepted that. So when someone comes to save her she can't really believe it or more exactly she isn't sure that is why should be done after all what she was confronted to while in captivity.

Kael is a shifter, the last one and head of the council. He has a lot of responsibilities but he is utterly loyal and a good person. His powers are really interesting and he is quite powerful  but not arrogant which i really appreciated. He is determined to save Raven for deeper reasons than even himself thought at first.

This is a great story and i will be curious to see  how it will evolve with the numerous twists we already got. To recommend

Score:  4/5

Disclaimer: All opinions are my own and i voluntary reviewed this book

Unwrap Me ( Storm Lords 4) by Nina Croft

Hello to all,

                 this month i want to do better even if i will soon be deep buried in Christmas gifts creation but first i deserve some reading time and i want to share with you the new Nina Croft releasing today and i still love this series a lot as each one can be read as stand alone but in order it's even better....

So today is book 4: Unwrap me and it's set at Christmas time so perfect book for this season.


Happy Reading!

Publisher: Nina Croft

Publication: 2018

Genre: paranormal romance

Violence: mild
Language: normal
sex: steamy
Public: 18+

Description from goodreads :

 Only five days to Christmas.

The Reverend Imogen Lockley’s busiest time of year. She thinks she’s prepared for anything, but nothing can prepare her for Devlin Royce.

A long time ago, Devlin was an angel. Then he broke the laws of Heaven and stole the Elixir of Life to save the woman he loved. Caught, he was torn from her arms and cast into the Abyss. There, he became a Storm Lord, a creature of chaos and destruction.

Two thousand years ago, Imogen drank the Elixir of Life. Since then, her soul has been tied to the earth in a perpetual cycle of death and rebirth. And throughout each life she is haunted by memories of a love she cannot remember and a betrayal she can’t forgive.

Now, Devlin has been given one chance to get her back. Or lose her forever. And he has five days to do it. Can he somehow make her see beyond the dark being he has become, to the angel she once loved?

My opinion:

          Great paranormal story with a Christmas feeling to it as well. This is the 4th book in the series and it's done so it could be read as standalone but i definitively recommend to read the series in order as it help us to  more of what are in stake beside their love life.

Devlin like his " brothers" lost his wife 2000y ago in atrocious conditions, now he is looking for knowing that if she can't remember their love she will be lost forever....Devlin is protective and used to act first, think after....he never knew what happed in Zaria in her first life since he was thrown in the abyss by Gabriel after having been striped of his wings. By the way Gabriel is still a jerk.....for an archangel is sure isn't very helpful and i wonder if his actions 2000y ago were not led by pure jealousy.....because he sure wasn't forgiving and very judgemental.

Devlin is focused on protection Zaria, even thinking about preventing her to remember but when she suddenly appears remembering it all and being a vicar he isn't sure how to react while his feelings haven't changed at all.

Imogen is terrified of heights and has nightmarre of dying so after reading an ad she decide to try it but not where it was said in the ad because she is a vicar and fear the consequences it could have his people knows she could accept idea of past life. Result: she remember everything...all her precedent lives and of course the first one when she was Zaria a prostitute who fell in love with an angel...and of course its tragic ending for a sin that wasn't hers.

Imogen is furious against Devlin but still in love with him however the betrayal feels too fresh for her to trust him.

She knows he has changed and she wants time to think about it since it's all new and she is busy at Christmas time of the year....;however time is the issue and it take an invasion of demons to make her realize that faith is all what she need.

There is action ( no stopping), romance, some banter and we get to see characters from precedents books as well as insights of what is about to happen so this is really a excellent story read in one sitting that i would recommend with pleasure.

Score:  5/5

Disclaimer: All opinions are my own and i voluntary reviewed this book

Uncontrollable (Beyond Human 3) by Nina Croft

Hello to all,


                     I'm sorry i have been so quiet and even more for being late to share this ( and the next one soon) with you but a washing machine breaking while in use sure take lot of time you were saving for other things like reading especially while sick.
I will do my best to get back on track as soon as possible but for today let share the third book in the series Beyond Human by Nina Croft. I have read and reviewed the first two but this one is probably the most gripping one so i'm glad i could read it in one sitting.


Happy reading!!!

Publisher: Entangled Publishing, LLC

Publication: 2018

ISBN:  1640636773

Genre: romantic suspense,paranormal, scfi
Violence: mild
Language: normal
sex: steamy
Public: 18+

Description from goodreads :

 Quinn Sutherland, second in command of the Tribe, a group of powerful telepaths, has always been certain of who and what he is — one of the good guys. All he wants is to keep his friends safe — no easy feat when everyone in the world is after them. While on a rescue mission, he meets a mysterious FBI agent, who appears to know a lot about them, and seems to want the same thing he does. But her assignment could literally mean the death of him…


When Melody Lyons is inducted into the Federation’s elite Time Control Unit, it’s the pinnacle of her ambitions. Only when she’s sent back to the twenty-first century to eliminate a group of rogue time travelers, she never guesses she’ll fall for a man who died two thousand years ago… Quinn awakens emotions she hadn’t known existed, and for the first time, her loyalties are tested.

My opinion:

          Facinating!!! i really loved this book it follow the series completely so it's really better read in order but could catch the interest even if you are new to the series thanks to the  info given to secondary characters that creates the whole background story we need to understand the story. It was captivating!

Quinn is a character i love; he is honest and really a good soul so all the treachery really hit him hard. He is dedicated to keep his friends safe but with enemies turning allies and the opposite it's getting harder and harder.

When he meets Mel, he does think she is from the good side and while he want to trust her the fact he can't  get into her mind make him doubt he can while the attraction is more than present....

Melody is a hard working woman, she did all she could to achieve her dreams and she succeeded so following the rules are capital for her but while meeting Quinn she discovers feelings, forgotten in the future, and the rules.....to save him she is willing to go against them if necessary.

I really loved to continue the series and we go deeper in the story each time....this time we learn more about the past and about the future and if it get confusing for the characters i admit it can also be the case for the reader so many possibilities or consequences...hard to know what should be done or not but we do enjoy the ride a lot^^

The rhythm is perfect, we meet or learn about precedent characters so the links isn't broken, it's a rollercoaster of emotions and really  it was perfect only the cliffhanger at the end was a bit too hard for me^^ so i can't wait for next book that won't be released soon enough i fear^^

Score:  4/5

Disclaimer: All opinions are my own and i voluntary reviewed this book

Release Me (Storm Lords 3) by Nina Croft

Hello to all,


                     Winter certainly came late but now it's here full force with more than one week under zero...which give me plently of time to read. I've always loved what i 've read from Nina Croft and there is one series i somewhat missed " Storm Lords"...this week the third instalment release in a anthology so i had to discover it even if it was totally out of order ( thankfully i got the book i missed now as i need them^^)

So until i give you my opinion on the first two books let's see this 3rd one.

Happy reading

Publisher: nina croft

Publication: 2018

Genre: paranormal romance

Violence: strong
Language: normal
sex: strong
Public: 18+

Description from nina croft website :

 A thousand years ago, Finn Stanton was given a chance to get back the woman he loved enough to break the laws of Heaven. All he has to do is find her, and all she has to do is say I love you.

Never going to happen.

Having drunk of the Elixir of Life, Rachel Miller’s soul is tied to the earth in a perpetual cycle of death and rebirth. A widow, she lives with her six-year-old son in a strict religious community. She has no memory of the lives she has lived, though she is haunted by a love she can’t remember and a loss she can’t overcome.

Finn has no plans to even look for his wife. He betrayed her once, and the best thing he can do for her now is stay away. But fate has a way of hijacking the best of plans and Finn comes face to face with Rachel. Now he has five days before he loses her forever.

My opinion:

          For my first step into this universe i was happily surprised as i didn't feel as i was missing any important elements, we get a few background info and learn more about the universe along the story, so even if it's book 3 you can start with this one and, like me,  jump on what you missed after.

Finn is an alpha but one very protective...and i guess the wolf part is part of the reason that while alpha he doesn't try to dominate Rachel. On the contrary, he still feel guilty for what happened thousand years ago and he is willing to pay for that.

I loved to see him  try to do the right thing.

Rachel has a kind of secluded life but for someone with her power it was probably best as she is really a good person, she is very innocent and following her instinct. She grew on me very quickly.

I loved the universe with angel, fallen ( or so called) angel but more importantly i loved to se how each character lived the situation and still kept hope.

i would say that i only regretted 2 things, one part  2 (or max3) paragraphs seemed to me as repetition and in such a short book, i don't need to have explanation repeated to me ( then in an arc it can happen and final version could differ slightly so it didn't affect my opinion). Then...the ending i would have loved to know more about what Gabriel thought of Cassia intervention because it should definitively count as a breach of the contract and i would have loved to see the reaction of the wolves after but it's only me

so i do recommend this book if you love paranormal romance with fallen angel and shifters

Score:  3,5/5

Disclaimer: All opinions are my own and i voluntary reviewed this book

Unspeakable ( Beyond Human 2) by Nina Croft

Hello to all,


                         I'm really sorry for being so quiet lately but i got sick and it was more serious than i first thought so during 3weeks i couldn't read or do anything i was down with the fever and pain, it's not finished yet but at least my mind is clearer. However because of that i'm late to review some books so thank  for the authors' understanding and i will do my best to read and review as quickly as possible to get back on track... that's my priority.

So i'm starting with Unspeakable the second book in the Beyond Human series.... if you remember i loved book 1 so when i was offered the opportunity to read and review book 2 i was jumping with joy.... i'm not disappointed at all! Nina Croft sure did wonders but let see that in detail.

Happy Reading!!

Publisher: Entangled Publishing (Select Otherworld)

Publication: 2017

ISBN13:  9781640633377

Genre: paranormal romance, sciences fiction
Violence: strong
Language: normal
sex: mild
Public: 18+

Source: eARC
 

Description from goodreads :

 Sadie Brooks grew up knowing she was different…special. And she thought the undercover work she did for the government was making a difference...making a better world. Then she discovered she was simply an asset—to be used or destroyed at whim.
Escaping her government controllers, Sadie is determined to get her revenge on the organization responsible for the death of her twin sister—the Conclave.

Ethan Weiland has doubts about the Conclave but he’s never known anything else.
Brought up from birth as the next hereditary leader, Ethan has never questioned his
destiny. Until he comes face to face with a beautiful enemy who can read his mind and
bring him to his knees with a thought. For the first time, Ethan sees a chance for redemption. When he’s in charge, he’ll be able to change things.

Too bad it won’t be that simple...

My opinion:

         Let's start with some advice. If the little recap at the beginning of this second book  is quite useful and could help someone new to the series to feel less lost i do recommend to start with book 1 Unthinkable as this universe is really rich and every element can be important later so better not to miss anything.

Now that this precaution is done  i must say that i was more than happily surprised... book 1 was fantastic and i loved it, this one is as good or even better it's captivating and intriguing... it's the kind of book you must read in one sitting simply because you can't put it done.  the idea is original and it's a strange but excellent mix between paranormal romance and sciences fiction  with that second genre a bit more present in this instalment. Really it's a series that once started you want to finish but that will require some patience as it's not written yet.

Keeping the quality in a series when  book 1 was great is not easy but Nina Croft sure manages it at the perfection. We do get enough recaps to  fall back into the new instalment without trouble and at the same time we just have enough to keep us on the edge of our seat ready to jump on any new info to try to learn more about all the mysteries involved.

I really loved Ethan, despite being conclave he is deep down a good guy and his loyalty to his friend makes him even more adorable... he is perfect for Sadie, they have so much in common that it can be funny because despite this deep connection  they still tiptoe around each other for a long moment....i loved that because both character with their past  need time to accept what is happening and fully trust the other it's perfectly natural.

The link between Sadie and the dog Max is absolutely cute too and seen we see the others member of the tribe i hope that we will see him again in the rest of the series as well.

Sadie is a bit of a wild element in the tribe, she is so full of anger that she has difficulties to follow orders ( not as much as Kaithlin but still) and that leads her  into danger a bit too often fortunately Jake knows her well and thus is ready to protect her when it's needed while giving her as much as freedom as it's possible - yes really Jake is the perfect Alpha- When Sadie sees a man in her dreams at first she doesn't over think it and simply enjoy those dreams but when she sees him in real, she has to investigate...while keeping the real reason secret.

I really loved the story it was perfectly balanced between the investigation, action, romance, new elements...secondary characters are so funny and interesting. i really loved the poor Fergus so loyal and so protective of Ethan but also liking Sadie without showing it. We do learn a lot in this book but Kane mission is still a mystery and we end up with more question than answers but fortunately the good guys are winning some battle.... now will Kane manage to get his soul mate^^ we will see in the future  but i already imagine his pain as his hands will be full .. that with his mind a little narrow when it comes to his mission it could be funny to watch.

So this really a series to discover ( but in order) and i recommend it  without hesitation while i can't wait for book 3.

Score:  5+/5

Disclaimer: All opinions are my own and i voluntary reviewed this book

Unthinkable ( Beyond Human 1) by Nina Croft

Hello to all!!!


I know it has been a moment since my last post and i'm really sorry for that but those taking care of an sick parents knows how it can be time consuming and with a lot of unplanned events.

I was supposed to post this on monday and i really wanted to because i LOVED this story but my mother fell so between ER, doctor check up etc time flew and i'm really sorry for that so with delay but a lot of pleasure i'm giving you my opinion on Unthinkable by Nina Croft, first in a new promising series


Happy reading!

Publisher: Entangled Publising

Publication: 2016

ISBN:  168281291X

Genre: urban fantasy, paranormal, romance, suspense
Violence: very strong
Language: mild
sex: strong
Public: 18+

Source: eARC in exchange for an honest opinion
 

 Description from goodreads :

 Jake Callahan, leader of the Tribe, has always believed he’s one of the good guys. Now, hunted by the government he used to work for, he’s taking a crash course in being bad. What he desperately needs is a bargaining tool, and that’s unfortunate for Christa Winters, daughter of Jake’s former boss.

Christa is a scientist, a total geek, and a good girl with a secret hankering for bad boys. Which turns out to be embarrassingly inconvenient when she’s kidnapped by a stunningly gorgeous—but obviously bad-to-the-bone—man intent on using her against the father she loves. A man with a seemingly uncanny ability to know exactly when she’s thinking about kissing him—which is most of the time.

But people are dying, and it becomes clear that the stakes are much higher than Jake ever imagined. Someone is out to obliterate the Tribe and everyone associated with it, including Christa. Only by working together to uncover the secrets behind the past, can they ever hope to have a future.

My opinion:

          Fabulous surprise! I was more than tempted by the book description but the story is , so, so much better than that. There is a lot of violence and deaths but the suspense and tension is wonderfully instilled with a good touch of romance and some humour as well.

Nina Croft managed to surprise me several time and left me wanting for more despite the cliffhanger ( and you know how i hate those)

Really for me this seemed at first more of an paranormal romance suspense than urban fantasy with the investigation going one and it was a good one with still a lot to undercover, the characters are very interesting and it's hard not to feel for them. Jake feels so betrayed and guilty because those in who he believed lied to me and it resulted in the deaths of some dear to him. he wants to protects the other members and for that he thinks he is ready to do anything but deep down he is a good person and still has dreams.....even if he can be deadly

Christa isn't naïve  she is trusting, trying to see the positive all the time, she is a bit different from others but it never bothered her, she loves her job and focuses on it until a very handsome male appears and change her world.

One thing i loved is that among the tribe, even females have powers and go for what they want. it's not only a bunch of alpha male, it's a great change. I also loved that they were discovering powers slowly and often very different ones and i can't wait to see what will the powers of those we still don't know.

It's very well written and captivating with a lot of twists to keep you immersed and biting your nails in a light anguish for the characters life.

I really hope and want to continue this series and i recommend it without hesitation!

Score:  5/5

Disclaimer: Source: a copy in exchange for an honest review, no other compensation was received All opinions are my own and no compensation was received in exchange for this review