Tag Archives: Sherrilyn Kenyon

The Guardian by Sherrilyn Kenyon

Posted on April 23, 2012 by Sasha| Leave a comment

Title: The Guardian

Author: Sherrilyn Kenyon

Genre: Paranormal romance

Series: Dream-Hunter. (Connected to Dark-Hunter series)

Synopsis: As a Dream-Hunter, Lydia has been charged with the most sacred and dangerous of missions. She’s to descend into the Nether Realm and find the missing god of dreams before he betrays the secrets that could kill all of them. What she never expects is to be taken prisoner by the Realm’s most vicious guardian.

Seth’s time is running out. If he can’t hand over the key to Olympus and the heart of Zeus, then his own life and soul will be forfeit. No matter the torture, he hasn’t been able to break the god in his custody. But when a rescuer appears, he decides to try a new tactic.

When these two lock wills, one of them must give. But Lydia isn’t just guarding the gates of Olympus, she’s holding back the darkest of powers. If she fails, an ancient evil will roam the earth once more and no one.

Review:

The Guardian opens with the male lead, Egyptian demi-god Seth, experiencing the worst sort of torture. Despite this being the latest in centuries of pain, Seth remains strong of spirit, mocking the lord of this realm, Noir.

This insight explains why Seth later warns Dream-Hunter Solin that worse is to come if he fails to tell Seth where to find the key to Olympus.

Solin’s adopted daughter and fellow Dream-Hunter/half-breed Were-Hunter (Jackal), Lydia Tsakali, barges into the interrogation, ready to free Solin.

She’s already battled one awful, ‘icky’ low-level to reach Solin and is prepared to battle more and the intimidating Seth, to get Solin back home, all in silence – Lydia has no voice.

Lydia’s and Seth’s story starts out with them having differing goals which merge into one vision of freedom over their time together in Hell as captive strangers.

Sherrilyn Kenyon’s Dream-Hunters and Dark-Hunters have all experienced deep pain, often involving the loss of a loved one, but they have a sense of survival and somehow, find a way to open their hearts to love, even if they don’t expect to get it in return or are way of trusting it.

The Guardian is no exception to this, though I felt the story of Lydia and Seth falling in love amidst a battle could have done with some extended scenes/time periods within the story.

This being said, the characters were well-developed and their motives understandable. h has to battle a lifetime of abuse, neglect and torture, even in his sexual encounters, to find love with Lydia on an emotional and physical level.

Even kissing has been associated with pain for Seth until he meets Lydia and even then, their first kiss ends in a bite. (I’ll let you read the book to find out why ;) )

It was funny, cute and touching to see Seth learn about the internet and computers with Lydia’s help. Something you don’t see unless reading a time-trave l book.

I look forward to seeing more of Lydia, Seth, Solin, Jaden and Madoc in future Dream-Hunter books.

Grade: A-

Excerpt:

The Guardian’s armor lay in a heap on the floor outside of the shower. A shower she hadn’t realised earlier had a glass door.

Now she saw it. And she saw him. All of him.

The hot water slid over a magnificent body that rippled with chiseled muscles and sinewy grace. Oh Yeah, baby. He’d make a fortune with a Web cam.

Holy cow…not even the bruises and scars detracted from the absolute beauty of him.

Oh my word, I want a piece of that. Never in her life had she wanted to bite a heinie so badly. Her throat went dry as a wave of desire burned through her blood like lava. Unaware of her presence, he scrubbed at himself with such vigor that she was surprised that he didn’t remove skin with it.

He turned slightly to get more soap, then froze as he saw he caught sight of her.

Time hung still as they stared at each other through the glass and steam. Her eyes widened the instant his c**k began to swell.

“Sorry!” she shouted before she jumped back through the door and slammed it shut.

Oh good grief! She was mortified at being caught.

Seth still didn’t move. He couldn’t get the sight of Lydia standing there out of his mind. Why had she watched him?

How long had she watched him? Did it matter?

Sighing, he returned to bathing. It stunned him that he could get hard again, given what Azura had just put him through. But all he had to do was think of Lydia and his body reacted against his will.

Damn treacherous beast.

He turned the water off and summoned his loose black pants and a loose, long-sleeved black shirt. He’d never liked showing off his body. Not after what had been done to him.

Posted in Grade A-/B+, Paranormal, Review

Tagged , , , , , , , , , , ,

TBRG Top 5 2011 Paranormal Reads

Posted on December 29, 2011 by TBRG| 1 Comment

Vampires, shifters, changelings, fairies, time-travel these are just some of the things that make us love paranormal romance. The endless possibilities of what can happen in a paranormal make it a genre that can appeal to anyone in come way. I have to admit this is my favorite genre, and I know that Janon and Angela love it as well, and over the last year Melanie has become a convert as well.

Janon’s Top 5

  1. Pale demon by Kim Harrison
  2. Shadowfever by Karen Marie Moning
  3. One Grave at at Time by Jeaniene Frost
  4. The Passion by Donna Boyd
  5. Crave by J.R. Ward

Angela’s Top 5

  1. One Grave at a Time by Jeaniene Frost
  2. Kiss of Snow by Nalini Singh
  3. The Devil’s Playground by Jenna Black
  4. Retribution by Sherrilyn Kenyon
  5. Enchanted INC by Shanna Swindson

Heather’s Top 5

  1. Archangel’s Blade by Nalini Singh
  2. Kiss of Snow by Nalini Singh
  3. Savage Nature by Christine Feehan
  4. How to Flirt with a Naked Werewolf by Molly Harper
  5. Desire Unclaimed by Larissa Ione

Melanie’s Top 5

  1. Haunting Desire by Erin Quinn
  2. Cold Sight by Leslie Parish
  3. Shadowman by Erin Kellison
  4. Chosen by Blood by Virna DePaul
  5. Warriors Redemption by Melissa Mayhue

 

Once again we have a couple of books that made more than one list :)

Posted in fun

Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Retribution by Sherrilyn Kenyon

Posted on July 15, 2011 by TBRG| 2 Comments

Title: Retribution

Series: Dark-Hunter bk 23

Author: Sherrilyn Kenyon

Genre: Paranormal

Harm no human…

A hired gunslinger, William Jessup Brady lived his life with one foot in the grave. He believed that every life had a price. Until the day when he finally found a reason to live. In one single act of brutal betrayal, he lost everything, including his life. Brought back by a Greek goddess to be one of her Dark-Hunters, he gave his immortal soul for vengeance and swore he’d spend eternity protecting the humans he’d once considered prey.

Orphaned as a toddler, Abigail Yager was taken in by a family of vampires and raised on one belief—Dark-Hunters are the evil who prey on both their people and mankind, and they must all be destroyed. While protecting her adoptive race, she has spent her life eliminating the Dark-Hunters and training for the day when she meeting the man who killed her family: Jess Brady.

A gun in the hand is worth two in the holster…

Jess has been charged with finding and terminating the creature who’s assassinating Dark-Hunters. The last thing he expects to find is a human face behind the killings, but when that face bears a striking resemblance to the one who murdered him centuries ago, he knows something evil is going on. He also knows he’s not the one who killed her parents. But Abigail refuses to believe the truth and is determined to see him dead once and for all.

Brought together by an angry god and chased by ancient enemies out to kill them both, they must find a way to overcome their mutual hatred or watch as one of the darkest of powers rises and kills both the races they’ve sworn to protect.

I have to say that I did some serious stalking to get a review copy of this book and I am so glad that I did. I used to be the kind of fan that would rush to the bookstore the day that a book was released to get it, but for some reason I stopped. I don’t know why. Then I found out about this book and I new that I would jumping back on that bandwagon as it was about Sundown Brady. Now if you have read this every book in this series you know that the only person that Z (Dance with the Devil) considered a friend was Sundown, and he helped Z keep Astrid safe. There is also the running joke about some of the squires and hunters trying to figure out how he got the name Sundown, this was mentioned in a couple of books.

So I started my campaign to get this book and let me tell you I almost shouted out loud at work when I was informed that I had gotten the review copy. I then waited in anticipation of the day it would come. So when Mel called the other day and said that I might want to stop by the house and pick up something that came in the mail I didn’t even hesitate I went straight there after work.

For the last two days I have been consumed by this book and reading it. As soon as I started reading it I remembered why I loved this series so much. It is the characters. They have depth, are snarky, and love to banter while they are going to into battle about the dumbest things. The nice thing about this book is that if you haven’t read the last couple of books you are okay. The only books that you need to have read is Devil May Cry (Sin and Katya) and Acheron.

WARNING: THERE MAY BE SOME SPOILERS IN THIS REVIEW BUT I WILL TRY MY BEST NOT WRITE THEM

I have always been intrigued with Sundown first of all he was a gunslinger and I absolutely love wild west romances where the hero is a former gunslinger, he is also a Native American, (this isn’t revealed until this book however), I also love romances where the hero is Native American. When he thinks back on his mortal (something he prefers not to do) it was  a really crappy mortal life. The only good thing about it was Mahtilda.

When he and Ren (other on of those mysterious Dark-hunters) are transfered to Vegas he can feel something coming and he isn’t exactly sure what. Then Z, any book that has that bad-ass in it is just plan good, shows up to give him a rather cryptic message about what is coming and why Ash can’t come help, and why he can’t stay to help, and with what is coming..a)Tory is in labor, yes you read that right Ash and Tory are having a baby and b) Z can’t go into another Pantheon’s territory during a battle for that pantheon.

This leaves him rather unsettled but off he goes to do battle with the Damions, and he meets the new breed of them. Oh and to find the person that is killing Dark-Hunters

Angela has hated Sundown ever since he killed her parents in a very brutal murder. Ever since then she has trained and worked towards the time when she will be ale to kill him. So when the trap is laid and her and her friends ambush Sundown she is all set to kill him. That is until he knocks her out and escapes with her.

When she wakes up in Sundown’s house the world that she knew and the truths that she believed came crashing down around and she is faced with the consequences of her actions and the fact that because of them she may well have brought on the next Apocolypse. Of course being a woman she needs to find out the truth for herself and at the first opportunity she escapes and heads home.

Where she discovers that she had been lied to her entire life and now has to face a new reality. One where Sundown isn’t her enemy but the other half of her soul, and that her sacrifice is the only thing that will stop what she started.

One of the things that I liked about this book was the legends and pantheon in this book. They are all about balance in the universe. As the story unfolds you find out that there is more to the story of Sundown and Angela and their past. Then there is the bad guy Coyote and his relationship to Ren. Oh and don’t let me forget about Sasha. In a fit of anger at Angela he reveals somethings about his past that we never knew before.

Okay so I decided no spoilers because I think it will take away some of the magic of this book. Because this book is magic in the way that it completely swept me away into the story. I was completely invested in their race to stop what Angela had been tricked into doing, and how she and Sundown would finally be allowed to be together.

There is a bonus scene at the end of the book that has absolutely nothing to do with Sundown and Angela. It is the scene where Tory deliver’s her baby. It is a very gut wrenching and emotional scene with a surprise heroine. It was a very fitting way to end the book I thought.

If you are a fan of this series you won’t want to skip this book. I know I am glad that I didn’t.

Grade A

Other books in this series…

Please visit www.sherrilynkenyon.com for the complete list

Posted in Review

Tagged , , ,

Born of Shadows

Posted on April 28, 2011 by TBRG| Leave a comment

Born of Shadows

League bk 4

Sherilynn Kenyon

 

Okay I admit I read this book only because it is a Sherilynn book and she is one of my favorite authors. I am not a huge fan of this genre of books but I really enjoyed this book and all the twists and turns that there are in it.

In a world where the League and its assassins rule, where betrayal and treachery are everywhere . . . the only survivors are those ones who are . . .

BORN OF SHADOWS

For Caillen Dagan, a defiant soldier of fortune, survival isn’t a right, it’s a brutal daily battle. Moving through the Ichidaian universe like a wraith, his brushes with the law and death are legendary. But when an act of rare heroism reveals his hidden birthright, he’s forced into a world much more dangerous and cold-hearted than the bloody streets where he was raised-one of obscene wealth and lethal politics.

Ferocious and determined, Desideria serves as an official bodyguard for her queen. Born of questionable genetics, she will do anything to prove herself worthy of the weapons she carries and the position she’s won by combat. But when she uncovers a ruthless plot to assassinate the queen and overthrow her country’s government, Desideria is caught in the crosshairs.

With assassination contracts out on both of them, Caillen and Desideria must learn to fight together or die alone. And if they fail, their governments will fall into the hands of an unimaginable evil.

I read the first book in this series and liked it, and even got the next two books in the series. But I never read them. I leant them to my sister Kim and her best friend Mary and they both raved about this series and told me that I needed to finish reading it. When I saw that there was a new book in this series I went what the heck and got it. I have to say that I am really glad that I did and that I think when I get a spare chance I will go back and read the whole series.

Caillen and Desideria are great characters that bring so much to the table. Both of them have to deal with fall out when their lives and what they thought they knew about themselves is changed. While they race to figure who wants them dead and why, and figure out how to deal with the truth about themselves (mostly Caillen) they do the unthinkable and fall for each other.

This book is definitely a page turner. I know that every time I was interrupted while reading it I wanted to growl at the person who interrupted me. I had to know what was going to happen.

If you are a fan of Sherilynn’s then this book will definitely not disappoint.

Grade B

Posted in FF&P, Review

Tagged , , ,

Random Things

Posted on October 3, 2009 by TBRG| 2 Comments

Last night I went and got a pedicure and went to dinner with my sister in law, on the way home Beyonce’s song all the Single ladies came on, she asked if I had seen the episode of Glee with this song, I said no so she told me about it. I came home and immediately youtubed it, very funny, then this afternoon I see that a friend of mine has posted a video of this song also, but with a baby, I watched it and thought oh my gosh that is so funny. So here they are for your viewing attention.

Can I just say that I love being a teacher, even if I am an unemployed teacher right now. We had a bunch of errands to run to day so I checked my email to see if I had and coupons, I opened the email from Borders and saw that it was Teacher Appreciation and that I got 30% off my ENTIRE purchase, so I pulled out my teaching license to prove that I am a teacher. Both my husband and I got three books, one of the books he got is one that I have wanted to read because it has a ton of italian and shows an accurate picture of life in Italy. I go the following books, the one that Mike got that I have on my list is The Monster of Florence. Plus the Lisa Kleypas books that I borrowed from my sister in law I should be well entertained on our trip this week.

siggy

Tagged , ,

Dream Warrior by Sherrilyn Kenyon

Posted on February 2, 2009 by TBRG| Leave a comment

Dark Hunter bk 25/Dream Hunter bk 4

We are the Dolophoni. Diligent. Vigilant. Fierce and inescapable. Servants of the Furies, we are the right hand of justice and no one stands before us.

The son of Warcraft and Hate, Cratus spent eternity battling for the ancient gods who birthed him. He was death to any who crossed him. Until the day he laid down his arms and was banished into exile.

Now an ancient enemy has been unleashed and our dreams are his chosen battlefield. The only hope we have is the one god who swears he will never fight again.

As a Dream-Hunter, Delphine has spent eternity protecting mankind from the predators who prey on our unconscious state. But now that her allies have been turned, she knows in order to survive, the Dream-Hunters need a new leader. Someone who can train them to fight their new enemies. Cratus is her only hope. But she is a bitter reminder of why he chose to lay down his arms.

Time is running out and if she can’t win him to her cause, mankind will be slaughtered and the world we know will soon cease to exist….

Exerpt…..

“Jericho,” Phobos tried again. “Please give me one minute of your time.”

If looks could kill Phobos would be a distant memory. Jericho flipped the wrench in his hand before he walked over to another car.

Phobos glanced at Delphine who shrugged in response. She had no idea how to persuade him.

Sighing, Phobos followed him. “C’mon, I–“

Jericho spun on him so fast that she hadn’t even realized he’d moved until he had Phobos slung over the hood of the car and pinned in place by a tight hold on this throat. “Fuck off and die, you putrid bastard,” he snarled in the ancient Greek language of the gods as he banged Phobos’s head furiously against the hood.

His features shaken, Phobos pushed himself to his feet. When he spoke, he continued to use their language so that the humans wouldn’t understand them. “We need your help, Cratus.”

As he moved past Phobos, he drove his shoulder into Phobos’s, making Phobos grimace in pain and rub his arm. He went back to the Intrepid. “Cratus is long dead. I won’t answer to that name ever again.”

“You’re the only one–“

Cratus growled at him. ”Don’t you dare say that to me. You’re dead to me. All of you. Now, I have to work. Get the hell out before you get me fired… again.”

REVIEW: I love getting surprises, so imagine my surprise when I went to the book section of Wal-Mart this morning looking for a new book that is suppose to come out this week and hoping for once that Wal-Mart actually had it when it was suppose to come out, and instead I find the new Dark-Hunter book, that I wasn’t expecting till next week. So of course I grabbed it. I didn’t even wait to get home to start reading it. As Mike was driving I picked it up and proceeded to ignore him for the rest of the day. I was so involved reading this that I completely forgot to pick the kids up from school and was almost 20 minutes late getting there, thank goodness for friends that live by the school.

Okay so here are my thoughts on this book. Those of us that have faithfully read each book in this AMAZING series and that wait anxiously for the next book, have been seeing this coming. Like Styker’s book this one continues to set us up for who knows what, but I have a feeling it will be big.

There was so much more than just the story between Delhine and Jerico, however their story is the catalast for a lot of what goes down. One act of kindness had destroyed Jerico’s life, but that same act of kindness saved her life, and unbeknownest to them that is what draws them together.

We find out a bit more about Jaden and Jared and I swear that there is so much more to this story than we know, however I do have my suspicions. I think that they are either brothers, possibly twins, or best friends. There is a point in the book where Jaden almost reveals who they are to each other.

There is more Ash and Tory, plus some Nick. I have a feeling that by the time all is said and done Nick and Ash will be best friends again. Zarek in all his bad-ass self is in this one big time. Along with a slew of new characters. As I was serching her website to find out more about these new characters I stumbled across this and thought of okay I get it now…so I will post it here along with the link to her whole explanation…

In the world of the Dark-Hunters nothing is ever as it seems. Life and death both take on a whole knew meaning as this immortal cadre of warriors fight to protect mankind from those creatures and demons who would prey on us.

As far as the series goes, we are currently in stage 1 of it and Acheron will launch us into part 2. I see the entire series as one large, ongoing story that has 4 major parts.

The first part is Acheron.

Part 2 will be Jaden

Parts 3 will be Savitar

and 4 involves a character the readers aren’t yet familiar with.

There are questions in every book that will be answered in the future. The one thing I ask readers to keep in mind is that every story has at least two sides. The side of the person who witnessed or experienced it and the truth. Events are always clouded by perception, conclusions and emotions. If two or more people experience the same exact event, they will come away with two entirely different tales about it. Sometimes VASTLY different. My series is no exception. Each character will have their own unique take on every event.

So after reading this I was a bit more okay with Stryker’s story, plus if it hadn’t been for that book we wouldn’t have met Jared and he is the key to Jaden.

I do have to say that I really and I mean really hate cliffhangers, and this one leaves us with a dosey.
This book is a must read in this series however if you haven’t read the other Dream-Hunter books, Zarek’s book, Acheron, oh heck if you haven’t read this series you just need to…

So I am going to give this book a 5 out of 5.

Tagged

2008 Wrap Up

Posted on December 31, 2008 by TBRG| 1 Comment

It has been one of those years, lots of ups and lots of downs. Can’t say that I am unhappy to see 2008 go, but I am looking forward to 2009.

One of the things that I have enjoyed the most and has brought me a great deal of pleasure is this blog. I have made some great friends through it, been introduced to some great new authors because of it, and have been able to share my love of books.

Some of the books that I have read this year have been real let downs and others have completely lived up to their hype (at least in my opinion). So here is my wrap-up from 2008.

Most Anticipated book: ACHERON by Sherrilyn Kenyon

Favorite New Author Paranormal: This one is a tie between J.R. Ward, Lara Adrian and Nalini Singh

Best Contemporary: Loose and Easy by Tara Janzen

Best Romantic Suspense: Drop Dead Gorgeous by Linda Howard

Best Historical Regency: A Fine Passion by Stephanie Laurens

Best Historical Medieval: The Secret by Julie Garwood

All around favorite book this year; ACHERON by Sherrilyn Kenyon

I have to say that it was harder than I thought to make this list, because I read so many good books this year..

Tagged , , , , , , ,

I’m so excited and I just can’t hide it…

Posted on November 4, 2008 by TBRG| 2 Comments

So I went to Sherrilyn Kenyons website today to see when One Silent Night is coming out exactly (yesterday) and what do I see not 1 but 2 new books for the Dark-Hunter Series in the next couple of months and a 3rd book in the summer.

The First book is Fury’s story, man I love that wolf. It is part of an anthology with one of my other favorite authors J.R. Ward and comes out December 2, just in time for Christmas ( I know what I am getting) and is titled Dead after Dark, I read the excerpt and can hardly wait.

The Second book is Dream-Warrior and as you can guess it is a Dream-Hunter book. I have to say that I really like this series. This book is out in February of 2009.

The Third book is Fang and Aimee’s book (YEAH!!!!) and is called Bad Moon Rising. Unfortunately there is nothing on this book other than it is their story and is due out in August.

So while I was there I thought I’d check and see if Kinley MacGregor had any new books coming out, and sure enough there is. She has a new Lord’s of Avalon book called Darkness Within coming out in September of 2009. I love love love this series and can hardly wait for the book to come out.

It is a darn good thing Christmas is next month or I don’t think I could contain myself waiting for some of these books.

Tagged ,

Posted on August 16, 2008 by TBRG| Leave a comment

Playing Easy to Get
by
Sherrilyn Kenyon, Jaid Black, Kresley Cole

Rating 3


Sherrilyn Kenyon‘s “Turn Up the Heat,” the story of an average woman who wins the vacation of a lifetime – a trip to Sex Camp. But what Allison George gets is a race for her life with none other than an ex-Mafia hit man who is now being sought by his prior employer. Vince Cappelleti knew the island was a risky proposition, but he’d run out of options. Now the only thing he wants in his sights is Allison, but in order to have a future with her, he must first deal with his past.

Jaid Black’s“Hunter’s Oath” sends grief-stricken Sofia Rowley to the Arctic Circle, where her brother, a U.S. Army officer, was lost in a deadly helicopter crash. She’s about to take a shocking journey into a secret underground world where Viking bride-hunters auction off their bounty… and where a strapping warrior vows to make this beautiful Outsider his.

Kresley Cole’s, “The Warlord Wants Forever.” Nikolai Wroth, a ruthless vampire warlord, searches for his Bride – the one woman who can render him truly alive. When his fevered chase leads to Myst the Coveted, a Valkyrie seductress who craves only freedom, a battle of domination and desire begins. Will the power of her seductive wiles overcome his strength? Or will she surrender and experience the deliciously agonizing lust that Nikolai has endured waiting for his one and only Bride?

REVIEW: I normally enjoy all of Sherrilyns books however I didn’t like this one so much, except the part where we find out more about Joe and where he comes from and also his ties to Sex Camp. I hadn’t ever read anything by Jaid Black so I gave her a try, I didn’t enjoy most of this book, but I kept at it. I may try one of her books that isn’t in an anthology and see if I like it better. I was very anxious to start Kresley Cole’s book as I have a couple of hers already in my tbr pile and on my fall reading challenge. I really liked this story and felt that it really saved the book from being a 2. After finishing hers I can’t wait to read her other books. My sister Kim loves Kresley so I was happy to like her also.

Tagged , ,

Acheron

Posted on August 5, 2008 by TBRG| Leave a comment

Rating 5 +++++
The most anticipated story in the blockbuster Dark-Hunter series. The never-before-revealed story of the Dark-Hunter leader, Acheron. He was made human in order to escape death, but in death he was reborn a god. . .

Eleven thousand years ago a god was born. Cursed into the body of a human, Acheron spent a lifetime of shame. However, his human death unleashed an unspeakable horror that almost destroyed the earth. Then, brought back against his will, Acheron became the sole defender of mankind.

Only it was never that simple. For centuries, he has fought for our survival and hidden a past he’ll do anything to keep concealed. Until a lone woman who refuses to be intimidated by him threatens his very existence.

Now his survival, and ours, hinges on hers and old enemies reawaken and unite to kill them both.

War has never been more deadly… or more fun.

REVIEW: This has to be my favorite book out of all of them. It was great to get insight into what made Ash Ash. Also you understand why he hates Apollo and Artemis so much. I have to say that I was completely surprised by his heroine, but it made so much sense. Because I was in a hurry to read I skimmed some parts, but I am going to go back and read it again. If you have ever read a Dark-Hunter book you absolutely have to rad this one.

Tagged