Book 1 of an exciting new SOT series
588412
I read The Omen Machine when it was first released, having read all of the other Goodkind books. I was surprised to be disappointed.
Then last summer, The First Confessor was released, and it was every bit the page turner that the first SOT books had been for me. Wonderful characters! Magda & Merritt are different from Kahlan & Richard, but very likable & memorable. I loved finding out how the Sword & the first Confessor were created while the end of the world was circumvented. I thought it was a stand-alone prequel, but I was about to be surprised; although set thousands of years earlier, it is essential to this series.
Two weeks ago, The Third Kingdom was released. Not only was this a return to the kind of adventure I loved in the SOT series, it was now obvious to me that The Omen Machine was the essential first in this story series.
So I just re-read The Omen Machine. It was completely changed for me, for the better. It reminds me of Chainfire, the first book of the Chainfire Trilogy -- I wasn't crazy about that book either, but it was necessary to put the storyline into play. The dialogue is the weakest part of TOM, as in too little of it. The characters are too often just described rather than letting them speak or do. Often they seem to be less talented than we know they have been. New concepts are very vaguely described, to heighten the mystery, I suppose, but much of it seems too disconnected. Only when I read the First Confessor & then The Third Kingdom did The Omen Machine become more real for me.
I can't wait for the next book.
17147
A great new series from an author that has given me a lot of reading joy.
1206056
Enjoyed a great start to a new series. The characters wer fun. There was action and adventure; so definitely more going on than just the couple getting together, and it was a complete book. It did set itself up for the series without ending on a cliffhanger (no one likes the cliffhanger ending; let's be honest). I like Dannika Dark and also the Bewitched and Bewildered series, and this one had elements I liked as well. Oh, and the sex scenes were steamy!
920360
this is a new series by marie harte, the new series has characters that we met in the dawn endevor series, the PWP.
this story is about keegan and james and their journey to recover a locket stolen long ago, they arrive at the destination where the locket is known to be, where they meet Rory, the current owner of the locket.

A brilliant start to a new series, i cant wait to read more
4931031
I would recommend reading book one first as several characters carry over, but it isn't necessary to have read it to follow the main romance in book two.  Total side note - I love how the two covers look next to each other.

Book two of the Immortal Heart series is just as exciting and fun as the first.  Kenzie is a fiesty little blood tiger that lives with her family separate from any gens (a group/pack of blood tigers).  She's an amazing character - full of spice and not afraid to go head to head with the boys.  She was so much fun.  On the other hand, Joshua is far far too serious - but he's also really old and lonely.  They were a very interesting match and it led to a lot of great word play between the two.

Joshua meets Kenzie when he is sent out to investigate an entire gens that has disappeared.  It looks to be done by some of the same baddies we meet in book one.  The first part of the book really focuses primarily on Kenzie and Joshua's relationship, but the second have really pulls in the action that vampire vs tiger-shifter can have.  There are a few surprises in this one as not everyone's loyalty is where it seems at first, but that just keeps things more interesting.

The ending was just a tad drawn out for me.  I would have liked to see them get out of the mountains and into the action again a little sooner, although the addition of a new type of character was very interesting to read about.  Book three is supposed to be out any day now, and I hope I can get my hands on it soon.
1117381
After his brothers explore beyond the Wall of Weld with no sign of their return, Rye decides to go in search of them.  But since no one has explored outside Weld and ever returned to talk about it, Rye has no idea what's in store.  Unlike his brothers who are looking for adventure, glory, and knowledge, Rye has no desire to be a hero. He simply wants to find them and bring them home safely.

While Rye's adventures really start when he leaves Weld, there is plenty of danger and suspense within Weld with its man-eating creatures that come at night. There is a lot of mystery that builds throughout the story. And as this is just the first in the series, there are still questions left unanswered.  Fast-paced and action-packed, this fantasy is full of vibrant characters, a mysterious land, and an engaging plot. Readers of all ages will enjoy this promising new series.
1139376
Wrong Side of Hell by Juliana Stone is a teaser novella for her new League of Guardians series. If you are one of the readers who is duly teased by this link between Stone's Jaguar Warrior series and this one, don't worry, you won't have a long wait. The first League book, Wicked Road to Hell, will be released on April 24.

I was definitely teased. This was a terrific introduction to a new series!

Logan Winters is one of the baddest of all "bad boys". He's a hellhound. His job on Earth is to pick up souls marked for damnation, and escort them to their proper place in Hell. If Logan is sent to get you, you've earned yourself a spot in District 3. This means you were a very, very wicked person during your life.

Nothing about contract signing or selling yourself to the Devil. That's not Logan's end of the business. He handles pickup and delivery. If there is someone handling "sales", we don't see that part of the process. And this doesn't seem like that kind of worldbuilding.

The person we do see is Askelon, except he'd rather be called "Bill". He cloaks himself in glamour to appear as a short, round middle-aged man, but "Bill" is really one of the most powerful beings in any of the dimensions. And "Bill" bats for the opposite team from Logan's. I don't mean sexually, I mean metaphysically.

Logan is a hellhound. Askelon is a being of the heavenly dimension. And one pretty high in the hierarchy at that. Seraphim generally are.

Askelon blackmails Logan into doing him a very, very big favor. Which doesn't sound all that angelic. He demands that Logan go into purgatory and rescue the soul of a young woman that Logan already returned once from death.

The first time Logan rescued Kira Dove, he spent millenia in The Pit for his crime. (Time passes differently in the infernal dimensions). And he did it because Askelon blackmailed him then, too. Also because the Seraphim convinced him it was the right thing to do.

The same thing is happening again. Neither heaven nor hell should be interfering in one human's life this much. The Seraphim is convinced that too many fates depend on this one young woman's survival, and not just human fates either.

Logan tries to convince himself that none of that matters to him. He owes the Seraphim, so he'll take care of what he has to. But he still remembers that girl, after all those centuries in The Pit.

The difference is, Kira Dove is a woman now. When Logan Winters saved her the first time, she believed in him. She continued to believe in him, and everything she saw when she died that first time and Logan brought her back.

Even though everyone said she was crazy. And committed her for it. Experimented on her. Abused her. She still believed in what she saw, who she saw.

Kira Dove was dead again, but all she knew for certain was that everything she remembered was true. And Logan came to rescue her. Again. But this time, she could fight beside him.

But would he let her?

Escape Rating B+: As an introduction to a new series, this story really whetted my appetite for the first full-length novel. This particular story, although it seems like it resolved to an HEA, also feels like it sets up the series as a whole. I think there are a lot of trials and tribulations ahead for Kira and Logan, even as the focus of the series moves to other members of the League.

Kira reminds me a little of Sarah Connor from Terminator 2, at the beginning when Sarah is in the State Hospital. She has that vibe of "I know I'm not crazy and I have to keep myself strong for the day I'll need to fight my way out", but with a hint of vulnerability that Sarah didn't have or need.

This is intended as a bridge story between Stone's Jaguar Shifters series and this new series, as Logan appeared as a side-character in the earlier series. But if there are details that I missed, they didn't hamper my overall enjoyment of the story.
3848959
This is an excellent start to this new series. The book introduces to the characters and has a great plot. It's told in two different POV, Aiden and Lucy, they grew up together and became very close friends. Lucy discovers a secret about Aidens girlfriend, and Aiden suspects that his girlfriend is keeping secrets. This books pulls you in with the first few pages, and you will find it difficult to put down until you are finished with it. Can't wait for book 2.
1536386
Under Pressure is the exciting start of a new Lori Foster series, with some familiar faces for fans of Foster's Ultimate Fighters series.  Leese Phelps has transitioned from being an MMA fighter to bodyguard at the elite Body Armor security agency.  He's calm, cool, and collected but his newest assignment throws him for a loop: protecting Catalina Nicholson from unknown threats.  Cat has been on the run for over a month and is wearing down.  So when an unknown man steps up to defend her against a group of street toughs, she lets him.  Turns out, he's her new bodyguard and has been hired by one of the very men she's trying to run from.  But Cat trusts her instincts, and her instincts say that Leese is one of the good guys.  Soon they are working with Body Armor's boss Sahara Silver and new hire (and former MMA fighter) Justice to not only protect Cat from those out to get her, but to bring down some very powerful men whose secrets are worth killing to protect.

Lori Foster has done it again, creating an exciting plot, a believable romance, and a world we hate to leave.  While it was fun to get to see some of the characters from the Ultimate Fighters series (Leese was always a favorite of mine!) a reader new to Foster's books won't feel like they need to read that series in order to follow this one.  Though they will probably want to read them while waiting for Justice's book to come out in March!  Leese is a great contrast to a stereotypical movie bodyguard- he thinks first, uses a gun only as a last resort.  His sense of humor, calm demeanor, and overall caring (and hotness) make it no surprise that Catalina is instantly drawn to him.  Catalina is the woman we all wish we could be if we ever found ourselves in her position: resourceful, strong, and a survivor.  While running from powerful men she's overheard admitting to murder she sees herself as a coward while everyone else sees her as being both strong and brave enough to even try and get away.  She sees her fear as a weakness while we see it as not only perfectly normal, but are impressed that she has powered through it.  She wants to protect Leese and her new friends at Body Armor, which Leese may see as a lack of confidence in his abilities but is a sign of her strength and love.

Under Pressure is a fast read, well written, and with all of what I've come to expect in a Lori Foster book: humor, witty dialogue, off the charts chemistry, believable relationships, and creepy bad guys.  The twists and turns come as we try to figure out exactly how many bad guys we're up against, who is working with whom, who is not?  Secondary characters like Sahara, Justice, and Enoch are as carefully written as the main characters and readers can be sure that we will continue to see them grow throughout the series.  Tender, quiet moments and sizzlingly sexiness combined with heart-pounding danger led to a story I couldn't wait to get through and was sorry to have to put down when it ended.

Warning: Don't start this book in the evening- you'll stay up all night to find out what happens next!

I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review
398299
In an amazing first installment, Catrina Taylor pulls you into the world of the Knights of the Immortals and leaves you pining for book two by the end. I all but devoured this book and wished I could reach through my Kindle screen to shake down the author for the next installment. The characters Ms. Taylor writes are authentic, relatable, and you really feel for them and want to know what happens to them. All in all, this is a fantastic start and I cannot wait to see where this story goes next. It's only going to get better and better!
121755
Great start to a new series!

Fast-paced, intriguing storyline with tons of action, aliens and battles. Solid characters and a believable universe for them to explore.

The author does a good job developing the main character while still leaving him room to be fleshed out in future installments. Looking forward to more!
2857678
Mission: Improper is a fantastic start to a new spin off series by Bec McMaster, London Steampunk: The Blue Blood Conspiracy. Steam/industrial Victorian London, three years after the revolution.  Blue bloods, verwulfens, mechs, and humans are adjusting to a new way of life. And now the work of the revolution is at stake. People are missing, secret societies, and reformation to return to the old ways, things are getting messy. And only one discreet team has the authority to figure out who or what is behind these calculated attacks.

With the characters returning from the London Steampunk series, Caleb Byrnesstoic Nighthawk and Ingrid Millerfeisty verwulfen take center stage.  Struggling to find a health balance in their otherwise unstable relationship are put to the test and challenged until the very end.  But some things are worth fighting for

Both Byrnes and Miller are paired up together, along with Charlie, Ava, Gemma, and Kincade, under the ever watchful eye of the Duke of Malloryn.  It seems not all of society is happy in the post-revolution era ruled by the Queen, especially specific members of the Echelon.  With a mystery to solve and feelings to define, Mission: Improper dives into the undergrounds of London.

Readers be warned, I suggest the best way to approach this series is to start off with the London Steampunk series, as it will provide the background to fully understand what is happening.  I recommend this book for all those who enjoy a good mystery paranormal romance with a splash of steampunk. Mission: Improper was provided by the author for an honest review. 4.5/5
1651326
I won this book in a giveaway - I was glad I did then and having read it I am doubly so.

Paternus is the first of a series that weaves the tales of several characters together.  Fi, a teenage girl who works at a nursing home and lives with her uncle Edgar, has no idea of the turn her life is about to take, thanks to one of her patients. Peter is an old man with dementia, but little does she and her crush Zeke know the secrets this "old man" is hiding.

The story is action packed, well told, and exciting, with enough clues to keep the reader guessing, and enough twists to keep them surprised. The descriptions are rich, the characters are fun - and the villains are vile. The Firstborn are truly imaginative, with well rounded personalities, backstories, and origins. Though the main star, in my opinion, is the way Ashton has woven together so many mythologies to create a solid fabric. I've done a little of this myself for a project - though I only attempted three cultures - and it was very complicated. I can't imagine sorting mythologies the world over and tying them together into a neat package the way he has. Beautifully done!  The book does end on a bit of a cliff hanger, as most series books do, though the major questions have been answered.

I'm looking forward to book two!
3785888
Darkness Haunts is a great start to the new `Sensor Series' by Susan Illene.
Our protagonist is Melina Sanders, studying at university following a stint in the U.S. Army. Melina likes to fly under the radar because her powers are rare, so rare there aren't many of her kind left and if any supernatural were to find out what she is, it would mean certain death just like her carer was murdered for who she was. When her best friend Aniya disappears after travelling to Fairbanks, Alaska to meet a male `friend', Melina takes it upon herself to find answers and follows her. Melina didn't realise just how populated Fairbanks would be with super-naturals and when it becomes clear that's who has her friend, she has no alternative but to start asking questions and in doing so, puts herself in a whole heap of danger. It doesn't take long for the enemy to find out what she is and they aren't above using her friend as leverage in an attempt to get what they want, but they don't count on the others who have approached Melina, the only thing is - when you've been brought up believing that all super-naturals are evil killers, how can you trust a word they say let alone put your life in their hands? But when your friends life is on the line and with no other options - you gotta do what you gotta do.
As I said this was a great start to a new series, I love a good story that encompasses a wide range of supernatural species and this certainly does that. With Melina's power being rare it gives her a special feel and also an understandable reason for her not trusting anyone with her secret, especially when it means death. She's a pretty cool character, I like how her talent comes into play and how she uses it, I like her outlook on life, her loyalty to her friends and her willingness to take a risk. I look forward to seeing more progression in all of these things, there are some promising ways it could go and I'm curious to see how the revelations found during this will affect her in following books. There were some possible love connections for her in this but nothing concrete - I have a couple of prospects that I would like to see play out so I'm looking forward to that playing out too but it wasn't the main focus of the book which I liked too... for now.
The storyline was really good, I couldn't fault it really. I was drawn in straight away and my attention was kept throughout the book, I know it's a good thing when I think I've read 5% but I've actually read 20%. The supernatural thing isn't new to me but the plot was where it was at. I liked the idea of it all, I liked the thought of Melina being used for what she can do, I liked what she ended up searching for, I liked the alliances/enemies that were made, I liked the way the magic & spells were described especially what they could hide - as I said, everything - even the pacing was great. I'm very curious to see what's next for everyone, a lot of things in this book could have repercussions for any number of characters so I couldn't guess as to where the story will go next but I know I will definitely be reading it. For a first book, it was brilliant & with a gritty, UF feel, it's so brimming with potential and definitely worth a read. 4.5*s
463550
THL Book #1 was an excellent start to the series.  Being former military, a lot of the trials and tribulations of the central character ring true, at least in theory and style, if not in fact.  Looking forward to reading the rest of the series when it is available.
4447306
Don't let the title fool you, this is the first installment of a new story series. The Clockhaven Chronicle numbering system confuses the heck out of me. I loved this story! Fresh steampunk ideas in a fresh setting. The sea serpents and their pharmaceutical venom where intriguing hooks, I can't wait to read the end of this series.
4565742
LAST DAY ON MARS was an entertaining read with young heroes, interesting twists, and adventure with humor and friendship weaved in. A great start to this new series with a lot more to come.

I liked these characters from the start. They felt like regular kids and families trying to live as they can and survive their world ending. Literally. The teasing, friendship, and humor between Liam and Phoebe was spot on, as was the worry and stress they and those around them were under. The story starts off by steadily getting the reader acquainted with the characters and with the backstory while also going on a brief adventure with the main group of friends.

As a reader, you can feel the level of intensity gradually grow as the story progresses until the action-packed end. Some characters were introduced, but I expect them to become more developed in following books where the villain's plot becomes more apparent. In the end, you're left wondering who can be trusted and what will happen next.

In the end, was this what I wished for? This was an enjoyable story. I expect more character and plot development in future books as we learn more about what is going on. Perfect for Middle Grade readers and lovers of SciFi (and my 12-year-old son).

Content: Some violence, but clean.
Source: Received a complimentary ARC from the publisher through the tour host, which did not require a review nor affect it in any way.