Sharon Ashwood

So apart from my large plot stumbling point this wasn't bad.

My large plot stumble is the entire rightwise king of Britain and that if he returned at this time he would go to the USA? If ever Britain needed a leader to sort things out I'm sure a lot of British people would say it's now with Brexit and all the messes going on (brain wanders off on a plotbunny maze, takes a break from writing review to scribble notes) you would expect at least a passing reference to Britain and British Issues. show more Still I'm going to park that quibble somewhat and move onto the story.

This is the second story in the series and I haven't read volume one. Apparently Merlin did a spell that saved the fae and the mortal realms and in doing so turned the fae into soul-sucking emotionless monsters and drained the world of magic. Now magic has returned to the world and the Knights of the Round Table are resurrected (and doing medieval reinactment, and wow did that tickle my funny bone) and they're finding the modern world interesting.

This is the story of Lancelot du Lac - calling himself Dulac at the moment and Nimueh who has always loved him, somehow she retained some of her soul and this means she can love but they had huge issues last time around.

Yeay for heros who respect boundries, (mostly and better than the last two I read from Nocturne) but the story seemed unsure of it's direction and purpose, characters seemed to just drift from one scene to another and honestly Arthur didn't come across as a great leader.

It's not a bad read but it didn't make me want to read the next in the series, I didn't really care for or about the characters and wasn't unhappy when I finished it. Some of it was very good but it wasn't a good whole book. show less

We first met Mac in Holly and Alessandro's adventure, Ravenous, when he was just a simple detective who picked up the wrong (the very wrong) dame at the bar. He wasn't a bad guy, and until he decided to do some pretty bad things, I liked him a lot. At the end of the book however he ended up in the Castle, a sort of...purgatory I suppose for supernaturals.

And this shouldn't be necessary, but spoilers for the first book.

A year has passed since the events of Ravenous and Mac is back out in the show more bright world looking for a purpose and redemption. The spell that had been the death of his demon-mistress Geneva (long may she rot) had drained most of his demonic needs for souls. Sadly it didn't make him completely human so he's struggling much like a former alcoholic or junkie does. Except former alcoholics and junkies don't have to worry about a vampire law enforcer hunting them down in case they fall off the wagon. Thrown back into the Castle, Mac runs into Constance and from there his whole world shifts.

Much like the first book this isn't strictly about Mac and Constance's relationship, but interweaves their budding relationship with the trials of Alessandro and Holly's continued relationship, Holly's elder sister Ashe's return and crazy crazy shenanigans in the Castle. Someone is creating havoc in the Castle, more then usual that is, and that in turn is creating havoc for everyone else involved.

Mac of this book is the Mac I loved in Ravenous--he's witty, he's charming and he's got that Detective Noir vibe radiating off him. Constance was very intriguing. Technically a vampire, she was tossed into the supernatural infested Castle before she drew blood so she's got the fangs, but not the powers. Her first meeting with Mac had to be one of the funniest things ever. Basically it went from a heavy make out session to Constance: 'Just let me bite you' Mac: 'No!' Constance: 'Come on!' Mac: 'No means no!'

Despite his hating to perpetuate the vampire stereotype of the brooding undead in the night, Alessandro does a lot of that this book. Mostly because Holly's sister Ashe--the vampire slayer--does her level best to make him doubt that he's making Holly happy. She'd rather be cutting off his head or staking him, but she settles for extreme emotional abuse.

Ashe was so...something. If Jane Lynch was a little younger I could see her playing Ashe in a movie/tv version of Scorched. Tough, conflicted and this side of mentally unhinged Ashe can't fathom why Holly has forgiven her for what happened if she can't forgive herself. Really her and Alessandro should have had plenty in common--they both really like to dwell in brooding self-pityland filled with regrets for past injuries and mistakes.

The plot is a little more complex this time, involving a larger variety of players and consequences. I will say that Mac gets to redeem himself, Alessandro stops brooding long enough to take a good hard look at things, Ashe...stops trying to kill Alessandro every time his back is turned and Holly manages to surprise Alessandro. I mean completely surprise him.

Book 3, due out in July 2010 at the moment, is titled Unchained and the excerpt reveals it to be centering around Ashe and Reynard (a Guardsmen Captain from the Castle). I sincerely hope that a future book revolves around Constance's 'son' Sylvius since I grew rather fond of him. show less

���I liked this book right from the beginning. The writing style is exactly what I enjoy the most: lyrical and poetic, with a distinctive voice. The story hooked me with a strong heroine and a unique paranormal situation, and then once the hero was introduced -- sexy, strong and tormented, just the way I like 'em -- I was hooked for good. This is a quick, fun, sexy read. The ending dragged on a little in places, and it was rather anti-climactic since I figured out the one key twist, show more but other than that, I really enjoyed reading RAVENOUS. I'm off to see if there are other books in the series and grab 'em. show less

Review courtesy of All Things Urban Fantasy

I don’t read a ton of paranormal romance preferring urban fantasy because of the greater emphasis it gives to complex worldbuilding. But if more paranormal romances were like FROSTBOUND, I’d read them by the box load.

Both Lore and Talia are fully defined characters with their own backstories and distinct story arcs in FROSTBOUND. Talia is a newly turned vampire in hiding from an abusive life and scarred upbringing that taught her to hate what show more she has unwillingly become. But rather than a broken scared women, she is brave and cautiously optimistic about her future.

Lore is a hellhound Alpha and acting sheriff dealing with pack pressure to choose a hellhound mate and defend against a faceless magical threat. His hellhound thoughts are simplistic and primitive, but it’s how he controls those impulses (most of the time) as a man that made me fall for him.

Overall, FROSTBOUND is the perfect blend of urban fantasy and paranormal romance. Rich and complex magical worldbuilding, characters with equal strength and depth, and a romance that creates as much heat as it does emotional intensity. No word yet on the next book in The Dark Forgotten series, but it’s already on my wishlist.

Sexual Content:
A couple semi graphic sex scenes show less