Finished Visions of Heat by Nalini Singh. I am on a reading tear! 😈 Also, this post has some spoilers, so beware.

Yes, this another book I got at RWA. I met Nalini at the Berkley signing. She was lovely, and since she’s from New Zealand (I think I’m telling you right), she has a gorgeous accent too.

Visions is the second book in Nalini’s Psy-Changeling series. It focuses on Faith, a Psy, or woman with psychic powers (foretelling the future), and Vaughn, a changeling, or shapeshifting jaguar. Faith uses her powers to predict business trends, but lately, she’s had visions of a serial killer — and sees the murder of her own sister. So, she seeks out Sasha, another Psy who’s gone rogue and lives with a group of changelings, which includes Vaughn. But the killer senses Faith and begins to pull her deeper and deeper into his visions …

And the fur really starts to fly. (Sorry, I couldn’t resist). 😀

I’m not even scratching the surface with my synopsis. There’s a lot of stuff in this book — about emotions, about family, about being human. It’s an interesting read on a lot of levels, even if you’re not really into romance books.

Visions is basically a fantasy-science fiction hybrid. I’m usually not a big fan of science fiction, but Nalini’s concept is really cool – all the Psy folks have cut off their emotions to curb violence and are telepathically linked by a Net — and really well executed. (Although I did get a little tired of the Net and light descriptions toward the end).

There was a lot going on in Visions I didn’t understand right away (like all the Psy distinctions), mainly because I haven’t read the first book in the series. A problem I intend to rectify, especially since the third book, Caressed by Ice, comes out next week. A glossary in the front still would have been handy, though.

My only real quibble was the ending. There’s all this buildup to finding and catching the serial killer. And then, he’s just taken out. Poof! A former assassin (Judd, the hero of Book 3) does some sort of mind mojo on him, and the killer is dead. I wanted a face-to-face confrontation with Faith and the killer or more danger or … something. We never even learn the killer’s name, and Nalini hints that he was possessed, but we never learn that for sure one way or the other. (And honestly, I thought the killer would turn out to be Kaleb, another Psy battling Faith for a position on the Council, or governing body).

Despite that, the book is very well done. I can see why folks are buzzing about Nalini. So, thumbs up.

Up next: American Gods by Neil Gaiman.

Finished Bled Dry by Erin McCarthy.

This is another book I picked up at RWA in Dallas. I got to meet Erin at the Berkley signing and thank her in person for giving me a cover blurb for Karma Girl. And I got a signed book. Life is good. 😀

Anyway, this book is about Brittany Baldizzi, a suburban dentist, who gets knocked up after a one-night stand with vampire and gentic researcher Corbin Altelier. After Brittany breaks the news to Corbin, the two of them deal with their impending parenthood, deepening relationship, and a couple of bad guys who want to use their baby for research purposes.

It sounds dark and serious, but trust me, it’s pretty funny stuff, especially when Brittany and Corbin takes some parenting classes. I also enjoyed the Vegas setting, which was used well without taking over the story, as it sometimes does on CSI.

One thing that was really interesting was that McCarthy didn’t dwell on the whole blood issue, which turns me off a lot of vampire books. In other words, the characters didn’t think about drinking each other’s blood the whole time. They had other problems and concerns and worries. A refreshing change of pace.

This book is the third one in the Vegas Vampires series. I think I would have enjoyed it more if I’d started with the first book. There were a lot of terms I didn’t quite understand, as well as the relationships between some of the characters. And I really didn’t get the presidential election subplot. But that’s my fault for not reading the books in order.

So, thumbs up.

Up next: Probably Visions of Heat by Nalini Singh.

Finished Surviving Demon Island by Jaci Burton.

This is the first book in a new series by Burton about humans who defend the world from demons. In this book, movie star Gina Bliss signs up for a Survivor-like reality show where the object is to kill “demons.” She’s whisked away to a tropical island, along with several other “contestants.” Gina quickly bumps heads with Derek Marks, one of the shows “drill sergeants,” for lack of a better word.

But as it turns out, the show is just a ruse to find and train more people to hunt down and kill the demons, which are very, very real. The good guys and bad guys are locked in an eternal struggle for the fate of the world, etc., etc., etc. Gina soon finds herself battling horrific monsters — and her intense attraction to Derek (Well, she doesn’t battle the attraction too long before giving in.) 😉

An interesting read. I really liked the twist on the reality show, and Burton sets up the next book very nicely. And if you’re looking for some steamy sex scenes, this one won’t disappoint. Things get very heated in the jungle, if you know what I mean.

My only quibble was when everyone learned that the demons were real, they all immediately signed up to do battle with them. Essentially giving up their old lives for a new one full of danger and probably an early, painful death. Just like that.

I know these people all lost their mothers and had a need for revenge. That they were damaged, scarred, and looking for a family. Maybe it’s just me, but I still would have taken a couple of days to think it over, at the very least. And being told I’m going to be on a reality show when I’m really being recruited to be a demon hunter would make me angry. Really, really angry. :hulk:

Still, thumbs up.

Up next: Bled Dry by Erin McCarthy

Finished The Leopard Prince by Elizabeth Hoyt.

One thing a proper English lady should never, ever do is fall in love with her servant. But that’s exactly what happens to Lady Georgina Maitland, who becomes rather attached to her land steward (i.e. servant) Harry Pye.

Georgina is a wonderful character — warm, bubbly, and just a tad scatterbrained. Harry comes off as a bit gruff in comparision. My one real quibble with the book is the fact I didn’t like Harry that much. I thought he ran roughshod over Georgina too many times and didn’t treat her well in certain places.

Most historical romances focus on the upper crust of society and give little thought to servants. Sometimes, I get tired of reading abouts dukes and lords and ladies. (Surely, there was a servant somewhere who had a grand love story. The human race would not have survived otherwise.) So, I really liked the change of pace in this book. 

I also liked the bit of whimsy Hoyt added by having Georgina tell Harry a fairy tale about an enchanted leopard prince who wins the hand of a beautiful princess.

So, thumbs up.

Up next: Surviving Demon Island by Jaci Burton.

What about you? What have you read recently? Inquiring minds want to know …