TITLE: Slave to Sensation
AUTHOR: Nalini Singh
COPYRIGHT: 2006
TYPE: paranormal romance
PAGES; 334
SERIES: yes
1. . Slave to Sensation (this is my re-read for the month)
2. Vision of Heat
3. Caressed by Ice

REASON FOR READING: I am getting ready to move and wanted to see if I still wanted to keep this on the shelf.

SUMMARY: {From goodreads}
In a world that denies emotions, where the ruling Psy punish any sign of desire, Sascha Duncan must conceal the feelings that brand her as flawed. To reveal them would be to sentence herself to the horror of "rehabil' ' n"—the complete psychic erasure of everything she ever was...

Both human and animal, Lucas Hunter is a changeling hungry for the very sensations the Psy disdain. After centuries of uneasy coexistence, these two races are now on the verge of war over the brutal murders of several changeling women. Lucas is determined to find the Psy killer who butchered his packmate, and Sascha is his ticket into their closely guarded society. But he soon discovers that this ice- cold Psy is very capable of passion—and that the animal in him is fascinated by her. Caught between their conflicting worlds, Lucas and Sascha must remain bound to their identities—or sacrifice everything for a taste of darkest temptation...

THOUGHTS/OPINION:
Wow what a way to kick off a fantastic series. This has 2 storylines going on first the storyline of Sascha Duncan and her abilities (I won’t give it away b/c it is an important part of the story) the second storyline being the killer that is kidnapping young changeling women and torturing them as well as raping them. The fact that both stories are weaved together so well is amazing in it but to add in the fact of suspense and love and you get a powerful storyline.

Things I enjoyed:
I enjoyed re-discovering this world and how it all began. I loved learning about the leopards and their worlds and when you throw in the wolves I was hooked. The psy have a very interesting world, it is very complex and difficult to follow but Ms. Singh has a fantastic writing ability that enables you to live in their world and understand what is happening.
I also enjoyed Sascha and her constant struggle to be a normal psy who is fighting against her inner nature b/c she has been told her whole life she is broken. Not wanting to be rehabilitated she works at and struggles at being more psy, more cold, more unattached.
Lucas is just the opposite he is full of love, touch and emotions. And he happens to just be the right man to help Sascha with her problems. Very nice…

Things I didn’t care for:
It was hard to find one thing about this story that I didn’t like and I have to admit I liked that we didn’t have to see what the council was doing without it directly relating to Sascha (in other words her ease dropping) This time the Council doesn’t talk on their own.

Are you keeping it or passing it on? Yeah after my re-read I’m still keeping it *drops head on desk*

SCORE: 9 out of 10 (Huh same score I gave it last time)

Anything Else: This is definitely a book you should read before starting the series. This book sets up the rest of the series and dips your toes in just enough to hook you into the series.

TITLE: Mine to Possess
AUTHOR: Nalini Singh
COPYRIGHT: 2008
TYPE: paranormal romance
PAGES; 328
SERIES: yes
1. Slave to Sensation which I plan to re-read this month to kick off my re-read challenge also the book club choice at Reading Romance
2. Vision of Heat
3. Caressed by Ice


REASON FOR READING: I read the first three and this one was calling my name.

SUMMARY: {From goodreads}
Clay Bennett is a powerful DarkRiver sentinel, but he grew up in the slums with his human mother, never knowing his changeling father. As a young boy without the bonds of Pack, he tried to stifle his animal nature. He failed...and committed the most extreme act of violence, killing a man, and lost his best friend, Talin, in the bloody aftermath. Everything good in him died the day he was told that she, too, was dead.

Talin McKade barely survived a childhood drenched in bloodshed and terror. Now a new nightmare stalks her—-the street children she works to protect are disappearing and turning up dead. Determined to keep them safe, she unlocks the darkest secret in her heart and returns to ask the help of the strongest man she knows...

Clay lost Talin once. He will not let her go again and hungers to possess her with a clawing need born of the leopard within. As they race to save the innocent Clay and Talin must face the violent truths of their past... or lose everything that ever mattered.

THOUGHTS/OPINION:
This was yet another fantastic read from Ms. Singh she has created a fascinating world that sucks you in and doesn’t let you go until your body is on overload. I thought the last one was good because of the psy being a guy. But for some reason this friends to lovers story (which I should have saved for my TBR reading challenge but I’m glad I didn’t) was even better.

Things I enjoyed:
This is yet another example of me actually liking the heroine which is weird for me and difficult for me to understand. Yes Tally had moments where I wanted to strangle her but not in the A typical way. She wasn’t tough as nails but yet she was strong, she wasn’t a fighter and yet she fought for those she cared about. The reasons I wanted to strangle her were her internal struggles of her feelings with worthlessness. And yet at the same time my heart broke for her because I understood why she had those thoughts. She was a fully fleshed out character that didn’t suddenly change her whole way to be with Clay. Tally actually grew into a woman I could respect and be friends with. And the love she had for Clay oh god the love it was perfect.

Clay was one of those cats I had forgotten about. Hard to image after reading this story but I had. I couldn’t remember him at all and then all of the sudden it came back in waves. He was the angry one the one that was the loner in the group more than V was. But yet nothing stood out about him. Until this book, Clay had a hard life he grew up as a leopard without a pack confined in a city. He fell in love with his mate as a child but was unable to recognize her as such until he felt it was too late. Clay loved Tally so deeply it was almost his undoing before he even got started. This was the perfect man for Tally to help her heal and grow as a woman and yet Tally was the perfect woman for Clay for the same reasons.

Things I didn’t care for:
Again this wasn’t a problem for me. I even enjoyed the subplots of the Forgotten I found them interesting and I wonder where else she will take it. I even enjoyed the M psy her name is escaping me. I guess to make an even longer point there was nothing I didn’t like about this story.

Are you keeping it or passing it on? Keeping

SCORE: 10 out of 10

Anything Else: I really think you have to read the first one in this series in order to understand what is going on in this book. This is simply due to the storylines tying into each other and the evolving storyline of the psy vs. changeling going on. Same as before but this might be able to be a stand alone. I still think you can get more out of it if you read the whole series though.

TITLE: Caressed by Ice
AUTHOR: Nalini Singh
COPYRIGHT: 2007
TYPE: paranormal romance
PAGES; 361
SERIES: yes
1. Slave to Sensation which I plan to re-read this month to kick off my re-read challenge also the book club choice at Reading Romance
2. Vision of Heat

REASON FOR READING: I read the first two and just had to read about the Ice Man.

SUMMARY: {From goodreads}
As an Arrow, an elite soldier in the Psy Council ranks, Judd Lauren was forced to do terrible things in the name of his people. Now he is a defector, and his dark abilities have made him the most deadly of assassins - cold, pitiless, unfeeling. Until he meets Brenna...

Brenna Shane Kincaid was an innocent before she was abducted - and had her mind violated - by a serial killer. Her sense of evil runs so deep, she fears she could become a killer herself. Then the first dead body is found, victim of a familiar madness. Judd is her only hope, yet her sensual changeling side rebels against the inhuman chill of his personality, even as desire explodes between them. Shocking and raw, their passion is a danger that threatens not only their hearts, but their very lives

THOUGHTS/OPINION:
Okay it was exactly one year ago this month that I discovered this series. Why it has taken me so long to finish it up is beyond me and I regret every moment I wasted on other books that didn’t hit the spot. This is an excellent book revolving around some great characters and a fascinating world. I heart Nalini!

Things I enjoyed:
Judd. That’s it in a heart beat I really enjoyed learning about Judd, watching him evolve into a great person, watching him struggle with his internal battle and external. And I loved watching him come into his own and take hold of his destiny and what he wanted.
Breena was a fantastic character I LOVED HER and that is rare. I loved that she survived one of the worse things a person could go through. She came out of it and made her life work. It was hard on her but she did it. It was hard on me the reading seeing what she had gone through and watching her try her hardest to survive and live with the terror.
Okay I’ll admit it I’m a skimmer especially when it comes to the sex scenes. Why? B/c usually I don’t care enough about he characters, or the scenes are pointless or worse just so off and out of character I roll my eyes and drop the book. However, the scenes here where Judd and Brenna finally get together are worth it. It stays in character they behave the way they should. And it fits perfectly and seamlessly into the book. In other words I read it LOL!

Things I didn’t care for:
Again it is hard to really put my finger on anything I didn’t like. If there was something it would be… well crap I know there has to be something… Oh I’m one of those weird people who doesn’t like the ghost story line. I understand its importance and I am dying to know who he or she is but I don’t need it in the story. However, it did fit really well in this story line due to Judd’s occupation. Did I mention it is really hard to find something I don’t like about this story. Maybe the council but then again they fit as well. IDK I quit.

Are you keeping it or passing it on? Keeping

SCORE: 9 out of 10

Anything Else: I really think you have to read the first one in this series in order to understand what is going on in this book. This is simply due to the storylines tying into each other and the evolving storyline of the psy vs. changeling going on.

why do I do this to myself?

I'm about 3/4's of the way through Caressed by Ice and I keep thinking why did I wait so long? I know it will be good. Hell I've been wanting to read it forever but yet I kept pushing it back? Why?

Anyway let me see on how to catch you up. Judd is an arrow which is an elite killing machine through the psy network. He realized that by following orders he was just a killer for some one who controlled the shots. He didn't like it and when his family wanted out of psynet he helped them. However, he truly believes he is evil and the only thing he is good for is killing.

Breanne (did I spell that right?) Was a victim of a horrible crime. The man in book 1 kidnapped her and violated her in everyway. Mind, body and soul but she survived. The only one in fact to survive his twisted game with sanity. And she wants to be healed. She has it in her head that Judd is the one that can do that. That she loves the man of ice.

But what will happen when he breaks silence? After all he has the same powers as the man who tortured and raped her. Will she be able to look past the differences and move on?
So far so good!!!! OMG I love the part where he is showing her his TK ability and she is laughing. She told him the difference between him and the evil man was he was playing with her.
And he asked "this is playing?"
OMG broke my heart favorite part so far. I am dying to see what will happen with the story and if Judd will ever be able to give her what she needs. I hope to finish it tonight and post my review on Wednesday

Yes that's right folks you heard correctly I finally finished a book (and the crowd goes wild) Does this mean your out of your slump Sarai? Well I'm glad you asked b/c the answer is no. I finished a short story by Nalini Singh. The title: Beat of Temptation was it good you ask? Why yes, yes it was.

I have to say one way for me to get out of this funk might be to finish Nalini Singh's books b/c that woman can right. I have loved her series from the beginning and Beat of Temptation was no exception. LOL!!

You may wonder if you have to read them in order and honestly with her series you probably should read in order to understand the complex world she has created. Now that being said you do not need to read this one in order b/c 1) it is a short story focusing on how 2 of the pack members became bonded and 2) they are already bonded in the first book so this is more of a pre-book then anything.

Okay where to start on the review. It was short and sweet. I cried yes I did and no I am not ashamed of it. This book was a quick, sweet, hard romance. I really enjoyed both characters and I understood where they both came from. If you are looking for something sweet to read check this one out.