Author: GA Aiken

Guest Review: Feel the Burn by G.A. Aiken

Posted December 4, 2015 by Tracy in Reviews | 0 Comments

Guest Review: Feel the Burn by G.A. AikenReviewer: Tracy
Feel the Burn by GA Aiken
Series: Dragonkin #8
Publisher: Zebra
Publication Date: November 24, 2015
Format: eARC
Genres: Fantasy, Paranormal Romance
Add It: Goodreads
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four-stars
Series Rating: four-stars

I, Gaius Domitus, one-eyed rebel dragon king of the Provinces, know that better than most, since I have to fight off half my ungrateful family on a regular basis to keep law and order here in my lands. But I never expected to have to consort with a barbarian human woman.

Kachka is beautiful, if you like them fierce—and of course I do. But she keeps complaining about how spoiled and decadent I am, and how a feared Daughter of the Steppes has no time for foolish dragons. I think she likes my eye patch, though. It is quite dashing. With death always at our tails, we take our passion like we take our allies. As they say, love the barbarian you’re with…

Gaius Domitus is the one-eyed rebel king of the provinces.  He is on a mission to find his aunt and kill all of his relatives who are evil and must be destroyed.  While on this mission he comes across Kachka Shestakova who is a Daughter of the Steppes (and sister to Elina from Light My Fire) and is on her own mission to take down the fanatics who are killing Queen Annwyl’s temple attendants.

Kachka isn’t impressed with Gaius and his “spoiled” lifestyle as she puts it, but there is some kind of attraction between them.  Kachka is very down to earth and makes no bones about her want of Gaius physically but as she never goes back for seconds with a man she thinks they’ll get together and then go their separate ways.  They end up working together and also end up falling in love…in a way that only Gaius and Kachka can – with not a lot of romance.

The eighth book in the Dragonkin series was another good one.  I loved seeing the characters from previous books as well as getting to know Gaius and Kachka and their interesting personalities.

Kachka cracked me up.  Her and her Daughter of the Steppes compatriots were a force to be reckoned with and they never hesitated to show their incredible arrogance.  They had no lack of confidence, that’s for sure.  They felt themselves above all the others – mostly in the whole world but especially to dragons who they considered animals.  Kachka herself didn’t understand her sisters love of Celyn as he was an animal (dragon) but the more she got to know Gaius the more she could see her sisters reasons.  I loved how she ever so slowly got more comfortable with him and then gave in to him completely.  He was pretty excited about that as well. 🙂 Their relationship was one of sex and fighting with not a lot of romance but it worked for them (and me) and was perfect for the world that Aiken has created.

The overall story arc with the religious fanatics intersecting with Gaius’s mission to decimate his family (for good reason) was a good one.  I liked how the story didn’t fully focus on Gaius and Kachka but blended well with everything else that was going on with the on-going story.

We also got to read more about the children of the dragon couples that we have read about so far – lovingly called the Abominations – and got to see them a little bit more clearly.  Their powers are incredible and I truly can’t wait to see what will happen next in their lives.

If you love a good dragon story with lots of action, witty banter, sarcasm and sometimes laugh out loud humor this is a great book for you.  If you haven’t started the series yet I would highly recommend it.

Rating: 4 out of 5

four-stars

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Guest Review: Dragon on Top by G.A. Aiken

Posted October 26, 2015 by Tracy in Reviews | 0 Comments

Guest Review: Dragon on Top by G.A. AikenReviewer: Tracy
Dragon on Top by GA Aiken
Series: Dragon Kin #0.4
Also in this series: Light My Fire, Bring the Heat, Bring the Heat, Dragon Actually (Dragon Kin, #1)
Publisher: Zebra
Publication Date: October 27, 2015
Format: eARC
Genres: Paranormal Romance
Add It: Goodreads
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four-stars
Series Rating: four-stars

Try a little dragon tenderness.

I am Glheanna the Decimator. I am a warrior. A soldier. I know no fear. No pain. No mercy. I do, however, know acute embarrassment! How could I not after getting dumped by a bastard dragon in front of my own troops? So I tuck tail and return to my cave, drowning my sorrows in ale—as is my family’s way. But instead of leaving me to my misery, I’ve been summoned to the Dragon Queen’s court.

As if my life wasn’t pathetic enough, Her Majesty now has me escorting the highborn Bram the Merciful through dangerous territories—not exactly the best use of my military training. And just so he can negotiate with enemy dragons instead of battling them? Honestly, what has my world come to? Then again…Bram is quite easy on the eyes. And the perfect distraction for what ails me. Perhaps I’m looking at all this the wrong way. Maybe there is a place for a little “mercy” in my life…

Tracy’s review of Dragon on Top (Dragon Kin #0.4) by G.A. Aiken

Bram the Merciful is a peacemaker and has been in love with Ghleanna for years – maybe even a half a century. She apparently doesn’t know he’s alive but she’s been assigned to protect him on his journey to secure a true with the Sand Dragons. She takes along her brothers Cai, Hew, Adain and Addolgar. While on the way they are set upon and Ghleanna is hurt. When Bram tries to save her he finds he has no choice to be to seek refuge from the Sea Dragons – the ocean being a place he swore he’d never go again.

Bram and Ghleanna are required to stay under the water for a time and they each have their own tasks to occupy their time – Bram with creating a truce between Rhiannon and the Sea Dragon empress, Helena – and Ghleanna training warriors and creating a revolution. 🙂 But the best thing that they have to do is each other. Bram finally gets Ghleanna to see him for the man he is and once that happens there’s not stopping them for being all over each other.

This novella was just fun! I love this series to death because it’s such a wonderful blend of fun, funny, sarcastic, sexy, brutal and the dragon’s own form of romance. Aiken’s books never fail to leave me with a smile, that’s for sure.

In this story we had two very opposite people. A tough female warrior who would almost rather strike first and talk later and a peacemaker. You wouldn’t think that these two would work out but they have own way of dealing with each other and it works! I loved seeing the two come together and work things out.

This book, as the others in series do, had a great sense of family. It’s not like any family that I’ve ever met in real life but it works for these crazy dragons and they may be tough on each other but that’s the way they show love. I can’t help but love the way they show their affection for each other – even though there’s a lot of head-butting involved. 🙂

A great addition to the series and it was nice to go back and get Bram and Ghleanna’s story after reading about them so often.

Rating: 4 out of 5

This title is available from Zebra Books. You can buy it here or here in e-format. This book was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

four-stars

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Guest Review: Light My Fire by G.A. Aiken

Posted January 26, 2015 by Tracy in Reviews | 0 Comments

Guest Review: Light My Fire by G.A. AikenReviewer: Tracy
Light My Fire by GA Aiken
Series: Dragon Kin #7
Also in this series: Dragon on Top, Bring the Heat, Bring the Heat, Dragon Actually (Dragon Kin, #1)
Publisher: Zebra
Publication Date: November 25, 2014
Format: eARC
Genres: Fantasy, Paranormal Romance
Add It: Goodreads
Amazon | Barnes & Noble | The Ripped Bodice | Google Play Books
four-stars
Series Rating: four-stars

 

The trouble with humans is that they’re far too sensitive. Forget you put a woman in the local jail for a few months – and she takes it so personally! And yet she is the one trying to assassinate the queen. And now I’m trapped with Elina Shestakova of the Black Bear Riders of the Midnight… gods! That endless name!

But what am I to do? I am Celyn the Charming with direct orders from my queen to protect this unforgiving female.

Even more shocking, this unforgiving female is completely unimpressed by me. How is that even possible? But I know what I want and, for the moment, I want her. And I’m sure that she, like all females, will learn to adore me. How could she not when I am just so damn charming?

Elina Shestakova of the Black Bear Tribe of the Midnight Mountains of Despair in the Far Reaches of the Steppes of the Outerplains, or Elina if you are one of those lazy Southlanders that can’t remember her full name, as always felt like she didn’t belong in her tribe.  She has been beaten and ridiculed for being small and incapable of being the warrior that she should be.  Her tribe leader, Glebovicha, has sent her to kill the Dragon Queen.  She doesn’t get very far before Celyn the Charming finds her and takes her before the queen.  The queen is very lenient and just asks Celyn to take care of her.  He does that by putting her in the village jail and then promptly forgetting about her.

About 9 months later the queen asks Celyn to bring Elina to her which he does.  Elina is pissed at Celyn for forgetting her.  Despite that the rest of his family ends up liking Elina.  She is asked to go back to her territory and try to get an alliance with the head of the tribes and Annwyl the Bloody.  Unfortunately Elina needs to go through the head of HER tribe to get to the head of ALL tribes and since Glebovicha is the one who sent her off to kill the dragon queen, knowing she was sending Elina to her death, she’s pretty sure she’s not gonna get very far.  But Elina is one tough woman and is determined to try.  Celyn is elected to go with Elina and soon the disdain that Elina felt for Celyn is turning into lust and then more.

Celyn never expected to actually like Elina much less want her for a mate, but that’s exactly what ends up happening.  He’s determined to protect her – even though she does a damned good job at protecting herself – when they head to meet Glebovicha as well as when everyone is attacked under the name of “the one true God.”

If you’ve read any of the dragonkin series you know that while Aiken writes love stories into it you know that they are by no means ordinary romances.  You’re not gonna get softness and sweet sighs from these characters.  You’re gonna get battle-ready characters that happen to fall in love.  It’s rough and gritty and not like any other love story I’ve read – and I love it.  Aiken’s characters have a realness to them that I love.  You get no pretense with them and it makes for great reading.

This is a series and book that I definitely recommend.  If you haven’t read the series you should start at book 1 because if you start here you will be greatly confused.

Rating: 4 out of 5

Reading Order:

 

four-stars

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What I’ve Been Reading This Week

Posted August 24, 2009 by Tracy in Features | 12 Comments

by Emma Holly, GA Aiken, Jaci Burton, Jet Mykles, Olivia Parker, Sarah Mayberry

I can’t believe that the “summer” is over for my kids! Back in school and they seemed to like their teachers ok so that’s good. No complaints so far. 🙂

I took the kids out to shop and had to buy a pair of shoes for my youngest – her foot has grown so she needed new tennis shoes. While there my oldest decided to get her foot measured too – just for fun. Turns out her foot has grown 3 sizes in 2 months! She’s a ladies size 7 for crying out loud (yes, she’s only 11.5). Don’t ask me how she wore her size 4 shoes to school for 3 days – she said they didn’t hurt but still! Crazy. She’s like a big footed rabbit or a kangaroo! lol

I’ve been horrible with my blog lately. I know the only reviews I’ve been posting are for another site and that sucks. I will try to be better in the future.

My diet’s going ok – I’ve lost 2 pounds so far. Slow and steady wins the race, right? Right?? lol (Patience is a virtue, Tracy!)

I also bought a new bookcase to put in my office! My books were starting to take over and I finally decided on one. It’s stinking adorable! Not huge but just big enough for what I need. After I get it (I had to order it online) I’ll take a picture and show you.

Ok – what I read this week – some pretty good books!

First up was the second book in the Fitz Clare Chronicles trilogy by Emma Holly, Breaking Midnight. After finishing Kissing Midnight last week I wanted to jump right in and read more. I’ll let you know when my review posts on The Book Binge.

Next up was At The Bride Hunt Ball by Olivia Parker. This was a very sweet historical about a Duke who has decided not to marry, ever, so he decides to hold a week long party at his estate to find a bride for his brother who will be his heir. Seven women are chosen to attend and at the end of the week the “winner” who will then be engaged will be announced at The Bride Hunt Ball. One of the women who gets chosen does NOT want to be there and makes it loudly known to the Duke that she is against what he’s doing. Of course they start to have feelings for each other and the romance is on. I very much enjoyed the book. I think some people would say it was too sweet but I didn’t think so at all. I have to say I was left with some questions at the end of the book but luckily Parker’s second (and follow up book) is releasing on Tuesday so hopefully some of my questions will be answered. 4 out of 5

Riding on Instinct by Jaci Burton was my next read. This is book 3 in the Wild Riders series. I thought it was a good installment. We got to know the characters and their backgrounds well which was nice. 3.75 out of 5

Next up was Heaven Sent 3: Hell by Jet Mykles. What a great story. After reading the first two books I got the impression that Brent was a hidden gem but needed a strong personality in his life. Hell definitely provided that strength. I just loved Hell in all his lavender goodness. Good book. 4.25 out of 5

I continued with the Heaven Sent series by Jet Mykles by reading the 4th book Faith. Another good addition to the rockers stories. At times Darien seemed like a great big puppy to me and I thought he fell a little quickly for Chris but it was still good. 4 out of 5

My Tracy’s TBR Challenge Read for the week was About A Dragon by G.A. Aiken. This is book 2 in the Dragon Kin series and I really liked it! This was about Briec the Mighty aka to the heroine of the book Briec the Arrogant. He was certainly arrogant! Briec saves Talaith from being hanged by her village and decides that he’s going to keep her. Talaith wants nothing to do with Briec and needs to be moving on. Briec knows that Talaith is hiding something but he has no idea what. This book has love, romance, friendship, humor, sibling interaction, battles and lots of arguments – something for everyone! lol I’m almost happy that I waited to read this since the next book, What A Dragon Should Know, comes out on Sept. 1. This way I don’t have to wait too long to read the next book! 🙂 4.25 out of 5


Last but not least was Amorous Liaisons by Sarah Mayberry. Renee was nice enough to send it to me and I decided to read it for the Year of the Category Challenge this month. I’ll post my review later this week.

Happy Reading!

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