D. B. Reynolds

Our Review, by LITERAL ADDICTION's Pack Alpha - Michelle L. Olson:

Oh D.B, why must you continue to write books that make me want to call in sick to work and let my house fall down around me from dirt and disaster? :)

In keeping with my other reviews of the books in this series, Rajmund, the 3rd installment, was incredible and deserving of major kudos, and Rajmund ((sigh)), how I love thee! LOL.

Raphael is continuing on with his 'secret vampire business' and making the rounds to his fellow show more Lords in the other territories which takes him into Rajmund's territory of NY. Now that Cyn and Raphael are together, she tags along to meet up with her best friend Sarah. When Sarah and Raj meet, sparks fly and it's quite evident that things will never be the same again for anyone involved.

While everyone ends up trying to right the wrongs that Krystof has made of the area, and help the police in an ongoing missing persons investigation, Sarah and Raj succumb to their passions.

As I mentioned earlier I love Raj! He's just so sexy and is considerably more easy going than Raphael. Sarah isn't one of my favorite heroines, she's a bit too whiny for me at times (or maybe it's just because I've gotten so used to Cyn and her absolute fabulousness!?), but Sarah is a perfect match for Raj and I absolutely loved them together.

As usual, I cannot wait to get started on the next book of this series, give Rajmund a well deserved 5 Skulls, and recommend it to everyone! show less

4.5/5
"You did a lot of walking today, " she said softly, moving in close. "And you'll need your strength." His eyes opened wide as her hand grazed up his thigh. He grinned and started to reach for her, then howled in outrage when she pressed her fingers directly into the still tender knife wound in his groin.

"Damn it, woman! What kind of healer are you?"
"Not kind at all," she said smugly. "Now go inside and rest while I find us a snake."


Women power! *shakes fists* I love D.B. Reynolds for show more her exceptionally stubborn, clever and wilful heroines. Throughout the whole book I was grinning and cheering for Amanda, while she was acing her trials and thumbing shifters' noses.


But I'm getting ahead of myself. As far as I know D.B. Reynolds hasn't written anything else in sci-fi genre, so Shifter Planet must have been a first for her, and it was done exceptionally well.



Amanda was born on a space ship and all her life has been dreaming about living on a planet. She is a specialist in first contact, so when a new planet is discovered (or shall I say, planet which dropped out of circulation for 500 years) she is beyond excited to relocate and start researching it.



There is a bit of Avatar theme going on, as the flora and fauna of the planet is extremely hostile to humans, and first Earthlings had to create a new species by splicing the gene and combining it with human genome to become more attuned to the planet itself. Not everyone has the right genes, but those who have can shift into animals and become members of the Guild - an organisation which provides protection to people travelling through the forests and which listens to the needs of the environment itself.


Amanda, all fresh eyed and excited learns that she has a special connection to that same environment and tries to enroll into The Guild. Of course, everyone is in uproar because she is (shockingly) a girl and is not a shifter.


"What if you're not the only non-shifter who can do that? What if you're the first of many? You don't only have to fail, Amanda, you have to fail spectacularly so that no norm will ever try again."

"That's the stupidest thing I've ever heard," she said in disgust. "If norms were going to line up to join the Guild, don't you think they'd have done it before now? And if that's the kind of thinking going on in the Guild, then I'm worried for the planet because it's being run by a bunch of furry idiots with dicks."


So the whole book is about Amanda getting ready for the trials to qualify as The Guild member and going through them. And that woman, ladies and gents, kicked some ass. She was amazing, so get ready not only for some spectacular action, but for some sexy times in between.


I loved this book and solidly recommend it to all the fans of UF, sci-fi and strong heroines in any genre. show less

[b:Sophia|11036713|Sophia (Vampires in America, #4)|D.B. Reynolds|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1302658373s/11036713.jpg|15956816] by [a:D.B. Reynolds|2898479|D.B. Reynolds|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1467151715p2/2898479.jpg]
Genres: Adult, Crime, Mystery, Paranormal, Romance, Suspense.
4.75 Stars

I had to really think on this before rating it. Quite a few editing/typo errors in my copy. At least 10, maybe more. I quit highlighting them, so I don't have a correct count.
My other show more problem, that really isn't a problem, but kind of was, is how much of the story did not have Sophia & Colin in it.
Raphael & Cyn constituted a larger part in this story than Sophia and Colin. At times it felt like they were secondary characters instead of the main characters.

The story itself was fantastic. Huge amounts of action, suspense and mystery.
Twist and turns that keep you on your toes.
There is adult romance throughout between both couples. These scenes are very well written.

Even though Sophia and Colin seem to take a back seat to Raphael & Cyn, it ended up working for the plot and making the story more intense. Sooo, I decided on 4.75 stars.

I don't know when I will get to read book 5, but I do know........

I LOVE THIS SERIES
&
I LOVE THIS AUTHOR.

I wholeheartedly recommend this to those who love a Great Paranormal Suspense written for Adults.

It's not erotica. It is Adult. show less

4.5/5
The tragic thing about this wonderful series is that the atrocious covers are killing it. How many of you will look at this book and no matter how much I'll plead with you to try the series you'll not touch it with a ten foot pole?

Yeah, that's what I thought.

You know I rarely read paranormal romance, but this is creme de la creme of it. There is no woe is me and she is my mate and let's be Neanderthal. Instead there are clever, cunning and strong men and women caught in a power play show more akin to mafia wars and making the best of it.

The only difference is? Some of them have fangs.

In this book Raphael (my favourite vampire!) makes another move by sending his Second, Duncan, to grab hold of a weak Washington, D.C. territory. The move is successful, but now Duncan has to sort out the horrendous mess his predecessor left behind, including Emma's missing friend and roommate.

Duncan, as a proper Southern gentleman takes Emma under his wing without coddling her, and allows her to help any way she can, because he knows that it will make her feel better to be in control of something.

Their chemistry is undeniable, and without pompous declarations of undying love they slip into an easy friendship and some fun in bed, which turns into something more and more serious the more dangerous their investigation becomes.

The thing that I like most about D.B.'s books is that all relationships are about partnership, there is equality and respect. Strong sides of character, intellect and experience are not only admired but UTILISED not to prove something, but because it's a natural and logical thing to do.


For me, these books are level-headed and refreshing, passionate and humorous without excessive testosterone and drama. Duncan is no exception and for that I'm extremely grateful. show less