Review: No Mercy by Sherrilyn Kenyon

Title: No Mercy
Author: Sherrilyn Kenyon
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Release Date: 09/07/10
Summary:

Live fast, fight hard and if you have to die then take as many of your enemies with you as you can. That is the Amazon credo and it was one Samia lived and died by. Now in contemporary New Orleans, the immortal Amazon warrior is about to learn that there’s a worse evil coming to slaughter mankind than she’s ever faced before.

Shapeshifter Dev Peltier has stood guard at the front of Sanctuary for almost two hundred years and in that time, he’s seen it all. Or so he thought. Now their enemies have discovered a new source of power -- one that makes a mockery of anything faced to date.

The war is on and Dev and Sam are guarding ground zero. But in order to win, they will have to break the most cardinal of all rules and pray it doesn’t unravel the universe as we know it.

Plot: 4 Stars
First off, I have to say that this is my first Kenyon novel and I was a bit tentative to jump in headfirst this far into a series. But having done it with other authors and not been completely lost, I figured I'd give it a shot. And I definitely wasn't disappointed. While there were minor details or in reference to minor characters or references to certain events in the past that could've been expanded on, I never once felt lost or confused. The author did a great job of giving bits and pieces of the past. It was enough to fill anyone in that hadn't read every book, but not so much as to bog the story down with too much background information. The idea of the different supernatural races was a very interesting take on vampires and shapeshifters. I'll definitely be picking up more Kenyon novels in the future, both future and past releases.

Pace: 3.5 Stars
The first half of this novel felt like one of those run-of-the-mill urban fantasy/paranormal romances where everything, and I mean everything that can go wrong will go wrong. It seemed like every time Sam or Dev turned around, someone was attacking them or capturing them or threatening them. Luckily, this didn't last. The second half involved more action on Sam and Dev's part than standing around and waiting for the baddies to come to them. They really took things into their own hands and didn't let the circumstances overwhelm them. All in all, this was a quick read that kept me interested.

Characters: 4.5 Stars
I really enjoyed both Sam and Dev. Sam was a very strong female character, but what I enjoyed most about her was the vulnerability underneath the hardened exterior. She was a great blend of hard and soft. Dev was a very likeable male character. He stood out from many Paranormal Romance heroes I've read in that he wasn't rude or overly macho. My only complaint would be that I wish we could've seen more of Dev's siblings, especially considering how much of the book happened at Sanctuary, where they all live and work.

Cover: 3.5 Stars
As simple as the cover is, I often like covers that don't fill my mind with any preconceived notions of what a character might look like. Too often, the cover model's don't fit with the description of the character and I like to make my own version in my head without anything to disrupt that. The colors of this cover work very well. I can't pinpoint why, but I couldn't imagine this story with a cover that wasn't done in hues of red. The color just really fit. My only objection is the large shape on the cover. I don't remember anything in the book refencing a shape like the one on the cover, so it leaves me wondering if it was completely random, or if I'm missing something from a past book.

Overall: 4 Stars

Disclosure: I received a copy of this book from the publicist.

Review: When Blood Calls by J.K. Beck

Title: When Blood Calls (ARC)
Author: J.K. Beck
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Release Date: 08/31/10
Summary:

Attorney Sara Constantine is thrilled with her promotion -- until she finds out that she must now prosecute vampires and werewolves. The first defendant she’ll be trying to put away? Lucius Dragos, the sexy stranger with whom she recently shared an explosive night of ecstasy.

When Lucius kisses a beautiful woman sitting next to him at the bar, he’s hoping only to avoid the perceptive gaze of the man he’s planning to kill. But what starts as a simple kiss ignites into an all-consuming passion. Charged with murder, Luke knows that Sara is determined to see him locked away -- unless he can convince her that he’s not a monster. And that might mean making the ultimate sacrifice.

Plot: 5 Stars
This novel really showed off the author's knowledge of the court system. In a way it was reminiscent of Diana Rowland's Mark of the Demon, and her knowledge of police procedure. I really enjoyed the detail the author brought to the novel, both within the paranormal court system, and in the characters' lives. I also enjoyed the paranormal lore in this story, particularly the vampires and how they must stay in control of their demon in order to keep from becoming homicidal maniacs.

Pace: 5 Stars
I really liked that this novel was from multiple points of view, including a few that were not the main heroine and hero. It was a pleasant change from so many paranormal romances I've read lately. It gave a fuller picture to the story being told. And I think it also helped move the novel along because you got to witness more scenes, as compared to just being told about them. The twists and turns in this novel were intense, and the ending blew my mind.

Characters: 5 Stars
I felt a real connection to Sara, and not just because we share the same name (and it was spelled right). She was very passionate for her career and her beliefs, and just came across as very personable. Lucius wasn't your typical hero in some ways. Although he was completely badass, he wasn't cocky about it. He showed compassion, both towards Sara and towards his ward, an girl who was a bit addled when he changed her and never quite in control as a vampire. The detectives involved in the case had interesting powers, and I loved to hate them.

Cover: 5 Stars
I'm not normally a fan of the bare-chested male on a cover, but for some reason this cover really attracted my eye. I enjoyed not seeing the cover model's face so that I could imagine my own image of Lucius from only the descriptions given within the novel. I like the color combination of black, gray, and red. The choice of using two fonts for the title is very interesting and unique, and definitely makes this title stand out next to other titles in the genre. My favorite part of the cover is the attention brought to the ring, because it does play a part in the story.

Overall: 5 Stars

Disclosure: I received an ARC of this book from the author.