Double Review: The Kraken King Part I to VI by Meljean Brook and Darkest Flame: Part 3 by Donna Grant

The Kraken King Part I to VI by Meljean Brook 

Expected publication: May 20th 2014 by InterMix

Ebook

Series: Iron Seas

Genre: Adult Science Fiction - Steampunk
Heat Rating: Steamy to slight Sizzling

Source: From the publisher through Netgalley in exchange of an honest review!
Amazon |   Goodreads

Mature Content Advisory, must be 18+ for some sexual content

Summary from Goodreads

A former smuggler and thief, Ariq—better known as the Kraken King—doesn’t know what to make of the clever, mysterious woman he rescues from an airship besieged by marauders. Unsure if she’s a spy or a pawn in someone else’s game, Ariq isn’t about to let her out of his sight until he finds out…

After escaping her fourth kidnapping attempt in a year, Zenobia Fox has learned to vigilantly guard her identity. While her brother Archimedes is notorious for his exploits, Zenobia has had no adventures to call her own—besides the stories she writes.

But when she jumps at the chance to escape to the wilds of Australia and acquire research for her next story, Zenobia quickly discovers that the voyage will be far more adventurous than any fiction she could put to paper…

There are three things I felt I needed to get off my chest before I started this review.

One. I recently found out I am not at all a fan of serials. I love the finished full book because when I get into something, I strongly dislike having to stop in a middle of a story because it's not finished yet and wait a couple of weeks to months for the rest to come out. This did not deter me away from The Kraken King and finishing it. Just something I quickly learned along the way.

Two. I have never read anything by Meljean Brook before, so I have not read any of the earlier books of this series. That's okay, it does follow what looks like a different set of characters and although Zenobia has been in other parts of the series before, I could read this as a stand alone just fine.

Three. Ariq. Oh swooness alert, this man has made this entire book a really hot worthwhile. I can take waiting a few weeks to a few months to finish this series, as long as I can have more of Ariq.

Zenobia Fox is a writer. So while her brother Archimedes is known quiet well for his exploits, the only real adventures Zenobia finds herself is in writing her stories. After finding herself in yet another predicament, being attacked by marauders on a ship in another attempt at kidnapping – she is saved by no other than Ariq the Kraken King.

Ariq doesn't know who Zenobia is, or why her ship was a target in an attack. Thinking she might be a spy, Ariq is set to find out everything he can about the mysterious woman. What he didn't expect was to be unexpectedly drawn to the woman, making it his priority not only to crack through the woman's goals and show her identity but he would want nothing more but to lure her into his bed. As a war brews on the inside for both Zenobia and Ariq, there is even a bigger one on the outside that can cost thousands of lives.

What a wonderful read. I thoroughly have enjoyed Zenobia's and Ariq's adventure so far. Brook's writing is simply stunning. The world and the character's that she has created make it so easy to find yourself immersed and lost in her novels. I found it hard to put this book down and originally did want to review them maybe in two's, but before I knew it I had finished what was available and just knew I had to do it in one shot.

The attraction between Zenobia and Ariq is clear from the very first meets, from the very first touch. I enjoyed watching the sparks of both attraction and frustrations as they continued to clash heads throughout the book. Ariq was everything I wanted. He is a protective alpha male who would do anything to keep his word. So when Zenobia get's kidnapped once again, he would literally cross the ocean to get her. Seriously, this could really make a woman swoon.

Zenobia was just as interesting. I loved her passion for writing, that it was almost a kind of obsession. Her need to write made her character quiet original and unique. After being kidnapped so many times, she had built a lot of walls around herself. Walls that Ariq has a hard time knocking down at first. But with a little manipulation, stole kisses, and heroic heart stopping moments, maybe just maybe she would slowly start bringing them down.

I cannot wait to read the rest of this series. There is a war brewing with a lot of lives in danger and Ariq and Zenobia find themselves in the thick of it. And it is possible that only Ariq has the power to put a stop to it. Action, adventure, romance and a very original world! Brook has created something truly amazing for the steampunk lovers.

A Christmas for Carrie by Alison Packard

Published April 22nd 2014 by St. Martin's Paperbacks

Ebook, 90 pages

Series: Dark Kings

Genre: Adult Paranormal Romance
Heat Rating: Steamy to Sizzling

Source: From the publisher through Netgalley in exchange of an honest review!
Amazon |   Goodreads

Mature Content Advisory, must be 18+ for some sexual content

Summary from Goodreads

Danger and passion explode in the third serial of Darkest Flame by New York Times bestselling author Donna Grant. Bound a connection deeper than desire, Kellan and Denae will stand together as they fight for their lives. Cornered by an army of Dark Fae, they both know that they must battle to the end to save each other…for each other…in Darkest Flame: Part 3."Time travel, ancient legends, and seductive romance are seamlessly interwoven into one captivating package."—Publishers Weekly on the Dark Warrior series"Once again, Donna Grant has given the readers a great story."

Did I mention I am not longer a fan of serials?

/sigh.

No it is a shame. I absolutely enjoyed this book, but the breaks in it really puts a damper on the storyline and I find myself slightly confused because I don't remember what happened in earlier due to reading other stuff in between. Plus when the next book comes around I feel like I will forget what happened up to this point...

but anyway

/end rent

This is part three in Darkest Flame if you couldn't guess. I don't know how to review this without spoilers or giving away what was going on. It takes off right after the last sentence in the last part. Kellan and Denae had been kidnapped by the Dark Fae and the Dark Fae now have Kellan under this enchanting cuffs that don't allow him to use his powers. So while the other kings are trying to find who is behind the kidnapping, Rhi is trying to find Kellan and Denae. On top of it, Denae is being attacked by the Dark Fae because she is somehow resisting their power and isn't attracted to them.

There is a part in this book that takes kind of a dark turn about what happens to Denae which made me uncomfortable but I won't get into it.

Of course, Kellan and Denae still find time to jump each other's bones while being locked up in a dark and cold dungeon while the baddies are on the loose. So that kind of threw me off as well.

Tristan is a new addition to the kings and I am very curious about him and what's his story.

I am enjoying this book, despite some moments in this part that made me kind of pause and er. But then again, I do love my dragons and cannot get enough of them.