KindleObsessed

Fingers Are Overrated

January 6th, 2010

There aren’t many things that make my stomach turn… lets face it…I’m a zombie junkie, my favorite movie is “28 Days Later”, and I laugh at the gore that makes most grown men squirm like 5 year old girls, but there is (naturally) one thing that I just can’t handle.

What is this 1 thing you ask? What has toppled the Princess of Puke? Sure… I’ll tell you, it’s rough sex, and “Dangerous Games” was full of it.

Normally I can look past the misguided intentions of an author’s warped mind but this time I just couldn’t ignore my inner voice. (It was loud… very loud…as in take-no-prisoners-shut-the-stupid-book-you-dope loud.) I wanted nothing more than to clip large unnecessary sections from this book and feed them (forcefully) to the editor that green checked them through.

Riley, in all her Dhampir, Directorate Guardian glory is at it again. Her nemesis, whom escaped in the finale of the previous book is on the hunt, and she is his target. While trudging on with her everyday duties of “bad-man” hunting, she finds herself trapped in a weird torture circle. Quinn is of course there, being as pouty as ever (due to Riley’s inability to never follow directions) and as a result does the vampire hoodoo-voodoo on her and uses compulsion to force her skinny butt home. (Not such a good idea if you catch my drift) Lie after lie puts Riley in the most dangerous situation she has ever found herself…facing down a 3 headed dragon, the father of all evil, and ultimately making her question EVERYTHING about her current life path.

Fighting ensues and blood is spilled…but the most interesting development in the entire book came when everything was tied up, (little red ribbon style) This particular plot line WILL NOT be strung out into book 5 (not that I’m complaining) and in the end Riley has finally cut the cord to several of her misguided flirtations.

Could this be the end of the Riley we have all grown to (reluctantly) adore? Where will this new found need to settle down leave our smart ass, vampire killing heroine? I am baffled yet intrigued. Which I guess for the author…is the whole point.

There were cute new shifter detectives, a sorceress sister, body entrapment, a new PA who is lovingly referred to as the Caramel Cow, an underground fight scene that had my brain short circuiting, several beheadings, and 1 very pissed of twin brother.

All in all I guess it was ok… if you take out the stocks and whips the OVERALL plot was actually intriguing and the “girly” lines were well written. I guess “Keri Arthur” can’t win them all…or at least not for me.

Happy reading my fellow Dhampirs and remember: you didn’t really need that finger… it was just there for decoration.

For a complete book description click image

(2.5/5)

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Book 4, Dangerous Games, Keri Arthur, Quinn O Conner, Riley Jensen, Riley Jensen Guardian Series

Its A Double Take

October 26th, 2009

I wouldn’t normally feel the need to write a double review, but when it came to the 2nd and 3rd books in the “Riley Jensen, Guardian” series, I felt it was sort of a must.

“Kissing Sin” is no more than a filler book. Yes, it is necessary and there are definitely some interesting moments (don’t worry, I’ll elaborate) but for the most part, the novel was used to introduce new characters and prime you for the Big Show in “Tempting Evil”

The story picks up a few months after “New Moon Rising” ends…Riley, of course, is trying in vain to skirt around her inevitable future of becoming a “Guardian”, only its not quiet so easy when she wakes up after 8 days, having no idea where she is, covered in blood and stranded inside of some weird sort of cardboard cutout community. Her confusion and overwhelming need to find a safe place has her scrambling for an exit, only she can’t do it alone.

Introducing Kade.

I have never come across a paranormal fiction to included were-stallions, but that is exactly what Kade is, and to Riley’s delight, he is delicious.

Both are on the run and both are having to depend on the other way more than they would like. (Something is fishy about Kade…but what exactly is it?)

The clones from the 1st installment have reared their ugly and sometimes slimy heads again, and it is a race against time to not only find but destroy the leader of this demented little monster making bake shop.

Naturally there are several plots bouncing at once, it wouldn’t be a captivating series otherwise, so while the action is…action packed, there is also

the quintessential love triangle… or in Riley case love square.

Kellen returns, after a very VERY brief intro in book 1, Quinn also returns after realizing that he has walked away from something he just can’t live without, Kade decides that he would love a little action, and last but certainly not least Misha, the less than honest ex (or not ex) mate leave who leaves us with a less than attractive final proclamation. (Which I will warn you includes an overwhelming amount of spiders so if you have any sort of fear in the creepy crawler department, keep in mind that this is only a book and it’s kind of hard for paper to bite you.)

Moving On…

“Tempting Evil” dives in to the deep end, right where “Kissing Sun” frustratingly, and abruptly just died (at 93% I might add, so when I turned the page and there was no more I yelped louder than was probably necessary)

Riley at this point is in neck deep. There is no way around it…she is what she is.. and what that is is training for the ultimate take down.

The Directorate has gotten a slew of much needed clues to take down the “bad guy” and now they are on the hunt, what they didn’t expect was for Quinn to hitch a ride. (metaphorically and literally)

After rummaging through Riley’s brain he discovers a few useful details. 1. The Directorate is on the move and going undercover, and 2. Riley is lying about her telepathic abilities. How you may ask? Well… easy, she throws him against the wall… without using her hands.

This book IS the piece de resistance. The action sequences and plot solidification that have been building since book 1 finally come to a head, and quite dramatically if I may say so myself. We are introduced “intimately” to the man behind the mask. We are taken through a hall or horrors and a mad man’s demented idea of a sexual funhouse, (complete with gladiator type fighting arenas.) We get to learn what an all-consuming need for vengeance can do to a person, we realize big brothers sometimes DO need their little sisters help, and we learn that were-bear sounds way to much like care-bear and it doesn’t matter how many times you read it you will still laugh.

Riley… regardless of the danger she constantly seems to be in, is still trying to hash out her “relationship” issues, and more importantly, still trying to cope with her “baby” issues which seem to be an even more underlying problem than Quinn’s…well…lying.

I am… pleased to say… enjoying this series. After reading several books with heart stopping, life altering decisions it was nice to take a break and let the “action” do the talking. There doesn’t always have to be a deeper meaning, sometimes it’s better just to have clean sheets and a hot cup of coffee.

Enjoy my fellow Kindle-ites, and remember, if at first you don’t succeed, try try again…or in Quinn’s case, just annoy the hell out of someone until they give in.

For full book descriptions click images

Kissing Sin (3/5)
Tempting Evil (4/5)