Book Review: Wild Cat by Christine Feehan

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Wild Cat
Leopard People #8
Author: Christine Feehan
Reading Level: New Adult
Genre: Romance
Released: November 24th 2015
Review Source: Jove

In the new Leopard novel by the #1 New York Times bestselling author of Cat’s Lair and Leopard’s Prey, passions explode like wildfire when a young woman’s feral instincts are ignited by a man who’s too dangerous not to desire…

A simple request for Siena Arnotto: deliver a gift to her grandfather’s friend. One look at Elijah Lospostos, hard-bodied and stripped to the waist, and Siena succumbs to a feline stirring she never felt before, and to Elijah’s reckless and pleasurable demands. But when that pulse-throbbing moment ends in the murder of an unexpected intruder, Elijah accuses the shaken and confused Siena of setting him up.

Then Siena discovers the truth of her Leopard heritage, of the secrets in her grandfather’s inner circle, and the sinister plot of revenge that has put her in jeopardy. When Siena’s grandfather is assassinated, she realizes the only man she can trust is Elijah. Now as her Leopard rises from within, Siena and Elijah share not only an animal instinct for survival—but a desire so raw and wild it may be the only thing that can save them.

My name is Izzie (my Dapper Animals pseudonym) and I run Dapper Animals, a site dedicated to living the cute life and reading awesome books.

I had the pleasure of meeting Leydy (Once Upon a Twilight) at a South Florida Bloggers event at Books & Books. It was book love at first site :) We were discussing one of our favorite genres, Young Adult Fiction, and I mentioned that one of my issues with this genre was the lack of sex. Lo and behold, Leydy whips out a blue paperback book out of her tote bag and gives it to me. The book was an ARC of Wild Cat by Christine Feehan. She said if I wanted to, I could guest post a review about Wild Cat on Once Upon a Twilight. I was honored and excited to read this new ARC. Specially since it seemed to be a shifter book and I love me some shifter romance action.

After a couple of pages into Wild Cat the saying, "Be careful what you wish for", quickly came to mind.

The book started off with a BANG! As in banging. The main characters were already getting it on in the first 20 pages. I happened to start reading this book during my lunch break and trust me, I did not want to go back to work. I just wanted to keep on reading! The storyline started strong and reeled me in.

Leopard shifter, Siena, does not know she is a shifter or part of a leopard crime boss family. Siene is used, unbeknownst to her, as a decoy to kill the family's enemies. Her latest target is Elijah, who happens to be her childhood crush. She has also been promised to her grandfather's sadistic second in command.

These premises could have made for a great book. Unfortunately, the book sizzled out after the main character's got together which is pretty much at the beginning of the book. There's no tension or chemistry between the characters. The characters are flat and one dimensional making them boring and not likable. Also, the heroine has no backbone and lets herself be bossed around all the time by her alpha mate.

Believe it or not, I also had an issue with the sex scenes. I know, I know! I'm of the camp that believes the more sexy time there is in a book, the better. This book went way overboard with the sex scenes. I think they were trying to hide the fact that the book has no good storyline/plot. It got to a point that I was bored with the sex scenes, mainly because I didn't care about the characters and was not emotionally invested. Also, there was A LOT of oral action going on. A LOT.

If you're looking for an erotica book where the main female character is submissive in every way and not just in bed, then this might be the book for you. If you are looking for a good shifter romance novel, then I would not recommend you pick this book. Specially if it's your first time reading this genre. I would recommend Patricia Briggs' Mercy Thompson series for a strong and kick ass heroine and Nalini Singh's Psy-changeling series for loads of steamy sex scenes.

Thank you Leydy for letting me guest post and for giving me this ARC! I really wanted to like this book and get hooked on another shifter romance series. This wasn't the book for me, but if you're still interested in reading Wild Cat it is available!

Book Review: Autumn Thorns by Yasmine Galenorn

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Autumn Thorns
Whisper Hollow #1
Author: Yasmine Galenorn
Reading Level: Adult
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Released: October 27th 2015 
Review Source: Jove

In an all-new series, New York Times bestselling author Yasmine Galenorn invites readers to Whisper Hollow, where spirits walk among the living and the lake never gives up her dead…

Fifteen years ago, I ran away from Whisper Hollow, Washington, a small town on Crescent Lake in the Olympic Peninsula. But truth is, if you were born here, you can never really leave. I’m Kerris Fellwater, and when I returned, I inherited my grandmother’s house—and her gift. As a spirit shaman, it’s my responsibility to drive the dead back to their graves, because around Whisper Hollow, people—and secrets—don’t always stay buried.

When I was little, I was told my mother ran off. But now it looks like she was murdered. With the help of my mysterious neighbor Bryan, we begin to unravel the mystery of her disappearance, and in doing so, unearth a dark force seeking to bury Whisper Hollow. Now I must work with the dead, rather than against them, because our enemy will do whatever she can to destroy the town, and she means to start with me

This is an Adult romance novel recommended for ages 18+ due to sexual content and mature subject matter.

Kerris' life is different from others. She is special and has a special thing about herself, she can help ghosts, haunts, etc. Its in her blood. When she was 18 she moved away from Whisper Hollow she lived with her grandparents because when she was 3 years old, her mother disappeared and her father gone before she was born. And she never knew why. But her grandfather wasn't nice to her and that was why she needed to move away. After 15 years she would go back to her home when her grandparents are taken away by the lady in the lake. Where she would learn the truth about some things and also meet her guardian and the love of her life.

What I enjoyed most about Autumn Thorns is Kerris never felt she fit in. As soon as she is back home she no longer felt like the weird one, and she now has friends... and family. People she can trust within her group! But she also has so much to learn to take over where her grandmother left off. She meets her guardian who is to watch out for her, and the sparks fly. They have this instant connection that I loved reading about. I loved how he took care of her, opened up to her on their second time meeting as to where before he wouldn't open up to anyone. He is a very private person, but with Kerris, Bryan opened up and talked about stuff, even things he didn't feel comfortable at sharing.

This book is great and a fast read! I kept my attention throughout the story because I had to know what was going to happen next! I would recommend this book to anyone who loves stories about ghosts, shapeshifters, love and family. With some dangerous people along the way.  Autumn Thorns is very unique with a city that is magical all on its own with a Spirit Shamans to help with the dead. This will keep you entertained. So if you like stories like this, then Autumn Thorns is a must!

Book Review: The Lost Night by Jayne Castle

The Lost Night
Harmony #9 / Rainshadow #2
Author: Jayne Castle
Reading Level: Adult
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Released: September 4th 2012
Review Source: Jove
Available: Amazon

Summary: (from goodreads) The New York Times bestselling author delivers an all-new novel set on the mysterious Rainshadow Island.

With the ability to detect the auras of dangerous psychic criminals, Rachel Bonner has found peace and quiet on Rainshadow Island with her dust bunny companion. Then Harry Sebastian, the descendant of a notorious pirate, arrives to investigate strange developments in the privately owned woods known as the Preserve. Rachel can sense the heart of darkness within him— and the stirrings of desire within her own soul...

(4.5 Trees)

FYI – This review is written by a huge Jayne Castle (aka Jayne Ann Krentz) fan. I have been reading her books for over 15 years now and I will as long as she continues to write!

Rachel Blake has an unusual psychic talent as an aura healer, and an unusual childhood living in a commune. After trying to fit in with the mainstream community and finding that it isn’t working for her, she moves to Rainshadow Island. There she reopens her Aunt’s bookstore where she sells not only books but also her very own specially blended just for you teas. Soon she meets Harry Sebastian who has come to Rainshadow Island to check on the unusual paranormal activity happening in the Preserve, his family’s private woods.

Harry is drawn to Rachel and thinks she might be the key in helping find out what is going on at the Preserve. After all, she is the only person who has ever gone missing in the Preserve and lived even though she doesn’t remember it.

Big surprise – I loved The Lost Night. I always feel like Jayne Castle’s characters are people I wish I knew in real life. They have such personalities and interesting psychic abilities. Then we have the dust bunnies. I want one so bad!! Darwina always seem to steal the show in whatever scene she was in. The plot didn’t have any big surprises in it but it was a nice mystery/romance. All in all it is a book I can see myself rereading and enjoying again.

The Lost Night is the second book the Rainshadow series, a spin off of the Harmony series. It can be read as a standalone. This is an adult paranormal romance with a suspenseful mystery set in a futuristic world.