The 7 Books I Read in April

Ilona Andrews: Magic Bites: I’ll have to re-read this at some stage because I don’t remember a lot of the first half. While I was reading, I liked it fine, but my concentration was atrocious, and I was never in a hurry to get back to it. I had a lot of personal stuff going on, which probably affected my reading.

Kate Daniels might be what’s known as a “man with boobs” – basically a female with personality traits more commonly associated with men. She’s sharp-shootin’ and straight-talkin’, never without her trusty saber named Slayer (compensating for something?). Because this alternate reality Atlanta involves a lot of magic, it left me confused. What kind of magical abilities does Kate have? Without her weapon, would she survive? Am I supposed to want her to get together with Curran? (I don’t.) Because there’s a lot I don’t remember/don’t understand, I can’t give much of a review. Sorry, readers, maybe next time.

Ilona Andrews: Magic Burns

Anya Bast, Jodi Lynn Copeland, Lauren Dane & Kit Tunstall: What Happens in Vegas…: This anthology contains four novellas set in the infamous Las Vegas. I was expecting an erotica collection, so I was somewhat disappointed to read that they were more like erotic romances – but to each your own. Not a fan of romances, this obviously clouded my perception of these stories:

Jodi Lynn Copeland: Hot for You: Too much focus on the romance, and the author needs to find a synonym for cream. Otherwise fine.

Lauren Dane: Stripped: Characters pissed me off (so he’s rich and she’s not – get over it already!), and far too much romance – the most romancey story in the collection. Don’t think I’ll be reading more.

Kit Tunstall: Red-Handed: Ah, now this was a lot better, definitely in the top two.

Anya Bast: The Deal: Also in the top two. And it actually mentioned a Vegas wedding, complete with Elvis impersonator/Justice of the Peace.

I think what really pissed me off was that none of the characters were flawed; everyone was beautiful and kind-hearted… I need characters I can believe and relate to, and thus flaws are a must. Do I believe that romance novels give women unrealistic ideas of love? Unfortunately, I do. More erotica, less romance – it’ll make for better fiction in my opinion.

Patrice Michelle: Insurrection

Stephenie Meyer: The Host (no longer under embargo, so you can read my review now)

Taryn Blackthorne: Even for Me

Eve Kenin: Hidden

© 2008 by Tez Miller

[REVIEW] Scions #2: Insurrection – Patrice Michelle

Patrice Michelle
Scions #2: Insurrection
Harlequin Silhouette Nocturne (1st May 2008)
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The protag is a cop. In the first few chapters she talks on the phone whilst driving, calls for backup but doesn’t wait for it, gets spooked at a lame commercial ‘haunted’ house, faints, and is rescued by the hero.

From that, you can automatically tell if this story is for you or not.

Oh, and it has a prophecy, which was mentioned as a pet peeve at Writers Coffee Break Friday last week.

This is a paranormal romance, not an urban fantasy; which is a shame, because the author has some interesting ideas, so if the romance had been absent we’d be left with a much better book. I was fascinated with Kaitlyn’s father’s life. And if I followed correctly, vampires made werewolves in test tubes. I think. I didn’t quite get it because it wasn’t focused on as much as it should’ve been.

There was a lot I didn’t understand. What’s a zerker? Is Musk form just another way of saying wolf form? Why does silver have to be a problem for werewolves; why can’t they just be hurt/killed like normal animals in the wild; why this special rule?

The author has some interesting ideas, and a shift into urban fantasy would make a great career move. Until then, she’s still writing romance.