Book Review ~ DawnKeepers

DawnKeepers (Nightkeepers #2)
by Jessica Andersen
published by Signet
genre: Adult, UF, PNR, Fantasy, Mythology

Summary (Goodreads): Though a Nightkeeper, Nate Blackhawk refuses to allow others to control his fate. The gods have even tried to influence his love life, sending him visions of Alexis Gray, a sleek blonde who is everything he’s ever wanted in a woman.

The two warriors can’t deny their attraction. But a frightening vision leads Nate to distance himself in spite of the intense passion he feels. Thrown together once more, they must reassemble seven Mayan artifacts that hold the key to preventing the end of the world…

My Thoughts: Mixed on this one. Even more than I was on the first book. I really enjoyed the UF feel of the good vs evil storyline. I also liked the Xibalan as the bad guys. They seemed more credible than the 2012 group from the first book. They also seemed to have more of a lasting presence going forward.
What made me rate this lower than book 1 was the romance.
I liked Nate he was one of my favorites of the group. He  fits the whole damaged Alpha male part of this couple. Alexis on the other hand was a big NO. She has been a snobby, stuck up sort since the beginning but that didn't bother me. What bothered me was her willingness to sleep with anyone for more power, while saying how in love with Nate she was and she believed completely in the whole destiny mates. Luckily the remaining available guys at the compound weren't interested in playing her game. It did lead to a great "letting steam off" fight between Nate and another. After all this happened, it made it impossible for me to believe them as a complete HEA.
Overall, I'm looking forward to reading the next book. I'm wanting to read more about Rabbit. He is my favorite Hot Mess. I like this better when I go into it as a UF book rather than PNR.

Rating: 3

Waiting on Wednesday

Spellfire (NightKeepers #8)

by Jessica Andersen
published by Signet
expected release date: November 6, 2012
genre: Adult, Fantasy, PNR, UF

Summary (Goodreads): Imprisoned and tortured by the demoness who tricked him into betraying the Nightkeepers and the woman he loves, Rabbit must endure excruciating pain to protect the diminished Skywatch army as the end-time approaches. Although an ancient prophecy says his unique powers are key to winning the final battle in the doomsday war, he hasn’t just lost his credibility—he’s lost his magic.

Myrinne is far from the woman Rabbit once knew—she’s got magic now, and despite emotional scars, she’s strong enough to help the Nightkeepers. And yet she’s not prepared to handle the fiercely driven man he’s become or the new, dangerous feelings that spark between them.

With the barrier ready to fall and a xombi outbreak in the human world, Rabbit and Myrinne must forge a new partnership amid dangerous instability and the threat of an undead army. In the end, it will be up to Rabbit to master his ferocious magic—or all will be lost. For him, for the woman he doesn’t have the right to love anymore, and for the fate of the world…

**I'm only on the second book but already Rabbit is one of my favorites and I cannot wait to get to his book.


Waiting on Wednesday is hosted by Jill over at Breaking The Spine. It's a weekly event that spotlights upcoming releases we are eagerly anticipating.

Book Review ~ Nightkeepers

NightKeepers (NightKeepers #1)
by Jessica Andersen
published by Signet
genre: Adult, Urban Fantasy, PNR

Summary (full @Goodreads):
As a Miami narcotics detective, Leah Daniels never knows how her day will turn out. But she certainly never expected to be strapped to a stone altar, the human sacrifice in an ancient Mayan ritual meant to coax up a demon from the underworld. Or that she'd be saved by a handsome warrior-priest king who claims to recognize her from his visions...

My Thoughts: I was in need of a new UF/PNR series and so far this one looks like a keeper (no pun intended).
Most of the fantasy series I read seem to focus around Greek mythology, I liked learning/reading about the Mayan culture and beliefs.
While there is an HEA between Strike and Leah this first book read more like UF than PNR. The romance seemed almost secondary to the battle between good and evil. Even with Leah it was about getting revenge against the ones that killed her brother and partner. While some may not like that there wasn't more focus on the romance I liked the mix and balance. It was well paced and the action kept going almost from beginning to end.
I do have mixed feelings about all the other POVs. It was nice to get to know some of the other characters. since it's a big cast, but at times I didn't feel it was needed (like with Anna and her students).
Overall this was one of the better first in a series books I've read in a while. I don't know how it'll work if the focus is more on the HEAs but I'm willing to try a few more books at least (there are already 8 out).

Rating: 3.5

Book Review ~ Lord of the Wolfyn

Lord of the Wolfyn (Royal House of Shadows #3)
by Jessica Andersen
published by Harlequin
*recevied via netGalley/Harlequin for review

Summary: Once upon a time…the Blood Sorcerer vanquished the kingdom of Elden.
To save their children, the queen scattered them to safety and the king filled them with vengeance.

Only a magical timepiece connects the four royal heirs…and time is running out.…

For practical Reda Weston, nothing could explain how reading a sexy version of "Little Red Riding Hood" catapulted her into another realm—face-to-fang with the legendary wolf-creature who seduced women. A wolf who transformed into a dark, virile man….

Dayn cursed the Sorcerer that turned him wolfyn and damned him to a lonely fate. As a beast, he mated with women to gain strength.

Strength he needed to rescue his royal parents. But as a man, he craved Reda's heated, sizzling touch. With little time left, Dayn had to either embrace his wolf to save his kingdom…or fight it to save his woman.

My Thoughts: I'm torn with this book. As with the first book in the series I did not enjoy the mix of the "human world" and the realms. This did get better as the book went along and everything took place in the realms.
While I found Dayn more tolerable, I could not stand Reda through most of this book. She was very weak almost all the way through. For someone who grew up being told these fairytales from her mother, until she passed, she seemed quite ignorant and quick to believe anything someone said even if it was the people trying to kill her. I kind of lost any hope when we first see Dayn change into his Wolfyn, her paranoia and inability to believe she's human and capable of having her own feelings was too much.
Despite this I still am enjoying this series. We have three of the four siblings (possibly all four) at or around the castle with a battle ensuing. I'm looking forward to reading Lord of the Abyss to find out how it all comes together.

Rating: 3.5