Tag: Bianca D’Arc

Half Past Dead Review

Posted December 22, 2009 by Tracy in Reviews | 4 Comments

My guest review for Half Past Dead by Zoe Archer and Bianca D’Arc is now up at The Book Binge. It’s the latest in Zombie books…are they dead? Are they not? What exactly are they? Check it out and see.

The Undying Heart by Zoe Archer

Samuel Reed had no idea magic existed, until it almost destroyed him. Thirsting for vengeance against the enemy who made him something less than human, Sam returns to England and crosses paths with Cassandra Fielding. His best friend’s little sister has become a fearless woman on a dangerous mission of her own. And against all odds, she sees past what he’s become, and stirs a desire he thought he’d lost forever…

Simon Says by Bianca D’Arc

Special Forces soldier Simon Blackwell ended his affair with Mariana Daniels three years ago, but he hasn’t stopped protecting her. Mariana has no knowledge of the dark, deadly creatures that lurk in the forest surrounding her clinic, or of the mysterious powers that make Simon the only one who can defeat them. But soon he’ll have no choice but to reveal the truth, and urge her to trust in an explosive passion that never faded.

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Guest Review: Half Past Dead by Zoe Archer and Bianca D’Arc

Posted December 22, 2009 by Book Binge Guest Blogger in Reviews | 7 Comments

Tracy‘s review of Half Past Dead by Zoe Archer and Bianca D’Arc

The Undying Heart by Zoe Archer

Samuel Reed had no idea magic existed, until it almost destroyed him. Thirsting for vengeance against the enemy who made him something less than human, Sam returns to England and crosses paths with Cassandra Fielding. His best friend’s little sister has become a fearless woman on a dangerous mission of her own. And against all odds, she sees past what he’s become, and stirs a desire he thought he’d lost forever…

When Cassandra and Samuel run into each other again they have no idea that it happens because they are both after the same villain. They soon discover that their missions are somewhat intertwined.

What they also discover is that the attraction that they felt years ago before Samuel went off to war is still simmering under their skin. But Samuel is not willing to get involved with Cassandra. He was killed and then reanimated with a voodoo curse and knows that he can’t be with the one he loves, but he can’t seem to stay away from her.

I have to admit, this was a hard story for me to get through. I liked the story in general but the whole reanimation thing just was constantly at the forefront of my mind. I felt I was always thinking, “just think of him as a vampire, Trac and it will be fine” cuz basically there wasn’t a whole lot of difference. Technically dead, but up and walking around. But the story itself was what kept reminding me of his deadness (ha). He was called a zombie and also was feared by townspeople, who came after him, but the people had no idea exactly what he was – just that he was evil. But he wasn’t. It was just an odd concept for my brain to grasp. The story also had some damn hot sex scenes but they ended up falling a little flat because of the thought of zombie sex. A bit of a squick factor.

From reading Ms. Archer’s website this is the first in s a series of the Blades of the Rose, of which Cassandra is a member. I wouldn’t mind reading more about the Blades…as long as there are no more Zombie’s involved.

Rating: 3 out of 5

Simon Says by Bianca D’Arc

Special Forces soldier Simon Blackwell ended his affair with Mariana Daniels three years ago, but he hasn’t stopped protecting her. Mariana has no knowledge of the dark, deadly creatures that lurk in the forest surrounding her clinic, or of the mysterious powers that make Simon the only one who can defeat them. But soon he’ll have no choice but to reveal the truth, and urge her to trust in an explosive passion that never faded.

Simon Blackwell is sent in with his Special Ops team to take care of a horrible threat to society – zombies. They end up taking out his entire team – and this is after they take out a whole Marine team as well. Simon is bitten but for some reason has immunity to the zombie bite so he doesn’t die. Because of his physiological issues he feels that he needs to stay away from the women he left 3 years earlier.

When Simon is hurt beyond what he can take care of himself he knows where he needs to go – to Dr. Mariana Daniels’ clinic. Mariana hasn’t seen Simon in 3 long years. When he’d left for his mission all those years ago she had hoped he would come back but she had never laid eyes on him again. She’s still wants the man she fell in love with, but is scared to put her heart on the line again. When Simon starts using Mariana’s house as a daytime base for his zombie hunts things start to heat up. But what will happen with their relationship when Simon is finished with his mission?

I very much enjoyed this story. I felt that it conveyed the emotions of the characters quite well and I could very much relate to the anxiety that Simon and Mariana felt at the time of their somewhat painful reunion.

For the zombie part of it – well, it was kind of graphic but not so bad that I wanted to stop reading. Simon was unsure of what exactly he was after being bitten but I never got the idea that he was anything less than human. Ms. D’Arc really pulled me into the story and I definitely needed to find out how things ended.

Rating: 3.75 out of 5

FYI – The Undying Heart takes place in 1858 while Simon Says is a contemporary read.

This book is available from Brava. You can buy it here or here in e-format.

You can read more from Tracy at Tracy’s Place.

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What I’ve Been Reading This Week

Posted December 21, 2009 by Tracy in Features | 12 Comments

Hi there!

How is everyone? Are you all ready for Christmas…well, the ones celebrating it, that is? 🙂 I think I am. Well, I need to wrap a lot of stuff but I can’t do that when the kids are around so I’m excused, right? lol

I’m out of whatever kind of reading thing I was in a couple of weeks ago. Thank heavens! I’ve had no problem picking up books this week. I think what did it was A) Your suggestions and B) reading a bunch of m/m. I love reading it…but sometimes it makes me long for a good m/f HEA I guess.

Anyway, on to what I read this week:


First up was Star Crossed: Demon Tailz by Reno McLeod and Jaye Valentine. This is an m/m novella that I was totally into up until the twincest started and I just couldn’t do it. I had to stop reading. I can read a lot of stuff…apparently that’s not included. Ew. DNF


I liked the writing by McLeod and Valentine so my abrupt halt in my previous read didn’t stop me from picking up Star Crossed 2: Opposite Ends of the Spectrum. This story involved a demon and an angel who meet while being held captive and were shown off at what appeared to be a carnival freak show. The two men escape and start a relationship. 10 years later and they’re still in love, but trouble is a brewing – how will the two work things out? I liked this book but was slightly confused by the end and the whole angel thing. If you’ve read this – we need to talk. lol 3.5 out of 5

Next up was Hell Cop by Astrid Amara, Nicole Kimberling and Ginn Hale. I really liked these story about 3 different cops who work in the city with demons and sorcerers and all kinds of various beings. They’re called hell cop’s because it’s pretty much hell working there. 3 really good m/m stories. 4.25 out of 5

Accidentally Were? by Anne Douglas was next on the list. Another impulse buy at ARe. It was the story of a straight laced woman who has a one night stand and now all the dogs in the area are following her around. lol She goes to talk to her best friend’s neighbor cuz he’s a vet. Well he just wants to do her on the floor of his house…so he does. See – she had had sex with a were-being of some sort and one of them had nipped her enough to change her and she happened to be ovulating so she was in heat and all the beasts in the neighborhood were following her scent. Sounds weird but it was pretty funny. The book has some hot sex, humor and of course twu wuv. 🙂 3.75 out of 5


Half Past Dead by Zoe Archer and Bianca D’Arc was a book I read for The Book Binge. If you like zombies you’ll want to read these two stories, maybe. lol I’ll let you know when my review posts.

My Tracy’s TBR Challenge read for the week was Seduce Me At Sunrise by Lisa Kleypas. This was Win and Kev’s story and I really liked it. I had read mixed reviews of the story and though the book made me want to crawl through it and smack Kev at times I really liked it. 4.25 out of 5

Bad Boys, Bad Boys by Mia Watts was my next read. Another impulse purchase (yes, I do that a lot) but it was pretty darned good. Two cops, best friends and partners, and one’s been having erotic dreams about the other. One night when Geo is drunk he puts the moves on his friend, Mack, and Mack’s freaked out, but can’t stop thinking how good it was. I loved how the two worked it all out. There’s one scene when they’re on a stake out and they’re in the car kissing, yet practically beating each other up as well. Great scene. Do I think it would happen when they were on a stake out? Probably not but that’s where suspension of belief comes in to play. 🙂 4 out of 5


Next was Jock Dorm: Dar and Gregg by Bobby Michaels. Dar and Gregg meet because Dar, a non-jock, gets put into the Jock Dorm. He falls hard for his roommate and they become great friends. But Dar can’t handle being in love with Gregg when Gregg’s not gay. Guess again. This part of the story was just cute. Gregg and Dar falling in love was pretty cool and I liked that part of the book. Their sex was hot too, the first couple of times, but then it was just too much for me. I think if the book had been shorter with about 1/3 of the sex I would have loved it. I’m sure there are others out there that loved the length of the book and the amount of sex, I’m just not one of them. 🙂 2.5 out of 5


And last but not least was yet another book that I read for The Book Binge, Smolder by Melina Morel. This one didn’t work for me – which was sad since I was looking forward to reading it. I’ll let you know when my review posts.

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Throwback Thursday Guest Review: Border Lair and The Ice Dragon by Bianca D’Arc

Posted May 6, 2008 by Book Binge Guest Blogger in Reviews | 0 Comments

Genres: Paranormal Romance

Kris‘ guest review of Border Lair and The Ice Dragon, books 2 and 3 in Bianca D’Arc‘s Dragon Knights series.

Border Lair (Dragon Knights Book 2) by Bianca D’Arc

Belora is happily married and now it’s her mother’s turn. Widowed at a young age, Adora has spent most of her life raising her daughter and hiding from those who kidnapped her firstborn twin daughters, Arikia and Alania. Though war is upon them all, she still finds time to heal her broken heart.

War has come to the Border Lair, but as enemies become allies… and lovers, hope springs anew for the dragons and their knights.

A young widow, Adora raised her daughter by herself, but her girl is married now. Can Adora find a love of her own in the crowded Border Lair? Dare she even try?
Lord Darian Vordekrais is about to turn traitor, giving up his title, his lands, and his home in order to warn the dragons and knights of his treacherous king’s evil plan. Will his life be forfeit, or is there some way he can make a new life in a foreign land?
Sir Jared lost his wife and child to treachery, but he knows Lord Darian and trusts him. Both men admire the lovely Adora, but Jared’s broken heart is frozen in solid ice. Or is it?
As war comes to the border, the knights and dragons of the Border Lair rise to the occasion. New allies rally to their side. Love blossoms and grows even as evil invades the land. The knights and dragons must stand fast against the onslaught, the beautiful woman of royal blood bringing them hope, healing and love.

This is Book 2 in the series. You can find/buy the first two stories as one print book called Ladies of the Lair. You can read my review of Maiden Flight (Book 1) here.

I am really enjoying this series. The books must be read in order because the story builds on each book. This book, as is the first one, is a menage. There are not enough ladies in the lair to go around and the knights must have a mate before their dragon can mate because of the effect of the dragons’ mating on their knights. So it usually ends up working out that a knight with a female dragon and a knight with a male dragon that are going to mate end up sharing a girl. But it is a serious marriage kind of mating, they do not change partners each time. So the dragons hold off until their knights find the right girl. Okay, that explained, on to the story.

I was excited to continue this series and continue Adora’s story from the first book. The story is easy to get into once you have the characters. The Jared has had a stink lot dealt to him dealing with the murder of his wife and daughter. He is scared to love again. Darian is all about getting together with Adora but does not want to intrude. It all works out in the end and the three are a nice couple and Jared learns lots about himself and about his family. Good story.

4 out of 5

This book is available from Samhain Publishing. You can buy it here in eBook format.


Ice Dragon (Dragon Knights Book 3) by Bianca D’Arc

One of Adora’s lost twin daughters has been found in the far North. But Alania – or Lana, as she is called – is no ordinary girl. She has befriended a baby wild northern Ice Dragon and saved the life of a king. But that’s just the beginning of her story…

A wild Northern Ice Dragon and the girl who raised him save the life of a fierce, shapeshifting royal black dragon, only to have him save them in return… with his love.

When a royal black dragon falls to enemy fire, only the wild Northern Ice Dragon and his unlikely female rider can save him. Half-wild like the baby Ice Dragon she calls friend, Lana is a rare and powerful dragon healer. She saves the life of the royal black, only to learn that this most sacred of dragons is half-man, able to shift from one form to the other at will.
Roland is king of all dragons and humans in his land, but he’s far from home, mortally wounded, and his only refuge is the incredible woman who has saved his life and her young wild dragon friend. Lana is the purest form of magic to him, heaven to his senses in both dragon and human form, and he knows almost from the first moment, that he wants her for his very own.
But a warlord plots in the north, seeking to kill the dragons that protect the northern border and overrun Roland’s peaceful kingdom. Lana and her incredibly skilled Ice Dragon friend are the only ray of hope for the knights and fighting dragons of the Northern Lair. Just as Lana is the only love Roland will ever know. He can reunite her with her lost family, but can he win her heart and make her his queen?

Before I read this I was wondering if this was going to be the same story next verse in a string of menage relationships, but this one was not a menage. They did not need a third because he is the dragon. This was a good addition to the story. It was fun to watch the relationship grow between Lana and Roland. I am really interested in his brothers, they seem like some fun and HOT men. Tor (the Ice Dragon) is so cute, he reminds me of my kids, always wanting to help but sometimes not ready for it. He was a sweet character. One thing that maybe bugged me was the fact that this girl had been basically raised in slavery from the time she was 10, but had a very sweet disposition. It is not something I thought about as I was reading but afterwards. I will have to think about it when I read it again. Great story, I cannot wait for the next one.

4.5 out of 5

This book is available from Samhain Publishing. You can buy it here or here in eBook format.

Read more from Kris at The Reading Spot.

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