Book Review 27: The Shadow (The Florentine 2) by Sylvain Reynard

Title: The Shadow

Author: Sylvain Reynard
Release Date: 02 February 2016

Raven Wood’s vampyre prince has returned, pledging his love and promising justice for every wrong done to her. In the wake of their reunion, Raven is faced with a terrible decision—allow the Prince to wreak vengeance against the demons of her past, or persuade him to stay his hand. But there is far more at stake than Raven’s heart…

A shadow has fallen over the city of Florence. Ispettor Batelli will not rest until he uncovers Raven’s connection to the theft of the priceless art from the Uffizi Gallery. And while the Prince hunts a traitor who sabotages him at every turn, he finds himself the target of the vampyres’ mortal enemy.

As he wages a war on two fronts, he will need to keep his love for Raven secret, or risk exposing his greatest weakness…

Rating: 5/5
Review:

The Shadow delves into William and Raven’s relationship after they’ve kissed and made up (see The Raven) and vampire politics. The romance was swoon-worthy (how else would it be?) but it was William as the prince of Florence that really blew me away. I loved how SR portrayed William as the cool prince under attack by an unknown enemy. William handled the problems intelligently and with style. SR wrote each scene in such a way that had me going, “Oh, no!” and anxious for William. The hostile takeover and confrontation was the best part – complicated, dangerous, and enlightening. It clearly showcased William as the true prince of his domain. It was like watching two master chess players with both having the opportunity to checkmate the other, and everyone knows there can only be one winner.

With once crucial part of William’s history revealed, I’m curious as to how the next book will go especially with the Curia still hanging about.

I loved reading The Shadow. SR really outdid himself with this one.

Disclaimer: I received an eGalley of this book from the author/publisher for an honest review.

Book Review 23: Look Both Ways (Witch City Mystery #3) by Carol J. Perry

Title: Look Both Ways (Witch City Mystery #3)
Author: Carol J. Perry
Release Date: 27 October 2015
Publisher: Kensington Books

In Salem, Massachusetts, there are secret everywhere–even in the furniture. . .

When Lee Barrett spots the same style oak bureau she once had as a child on the WICH-TV show, Shopping Salem, she rushes to the antiques shop and buys the piece. Just like the beloved bureau she lost in a fire, this one has secret compartments. It also comes with an intriguing history–it was purchased in an estate sale from a home where a famous local murder took place.

The day after the bureau is delivered, Lee returns to the antiques shop and finds the owner dead. The police suspect the shop owner’s unscrupulous business partner, but Lee wonders if the murder is connected to her new furniture. At least part of the answer may be revealed through a mirror in the bureau, tarnished and blackened, allowing Lee to tap into her psychic visions. Using this bureau of investigation, Lee may be able to furnish her policeman beau with the evidence needed to catch the killer–before the next one to be shut up is her. . .

Book Review 21: Haunt Couture and Ghosts Galore by Rose Pressey

Title: Haunt Couture and Ghosts Galore
Author: Rose Pressey
Release Date: 27 October 2015
Publisher: Kensington Publishing Corp.

This looks like a job for the fashion police!

A hot-ticket charity fashion show is the perfect chance for Cookie Chanel, proud owner of It’s Vintage Y’All, to show off her stylistic savvy for a good cause. But when a famous fashionista is fatally flattened, and the ghost of a former private investigator asks for Cookie’s help, she has to scurry to sew up a solution. With clever clues from Wind Song, her psychic cat, and sassy suggestions from Charlotte, her ghost-in-residence, Cookie must unravel the sinister stitches of a deadly design–before she becomes the next fashion victim…

Don’t miss Cookie Chanel’s Fashion Tips

Rating: 4/5
Review:

I requested for an ARC of this book because of the nice cover photo and the intriguing description of the story. This is the first book of Rose Pressey that I have read and I enjoyed reading it. Cookie Chanel and her team composed of some humans, two ghosts, and a psychic cat, were all fun to read about as they worked on solving a murder. True to her fashion calling, Cookie does not go on any errand without dressing the part, though readers who are not so much into fashion may not be able to envision every piece of clothing described (sadly, like me). I liked the light atmosphere in the book and the overall sense of humor but sometimes the language used by the characters sounded too formal because of the lack of contractions. Nevertheless, every page had me wondering who the murderer was (and wishing that Wind Song the psychic cat would have more scenes). The story wrapped up neatly with the murderer being caught just in time. However, little bits like what’s going to happen to Cookie and her boys (she has not one but two) and what the heck Wind Song is has been left up in the air so the next book is definitely something to look forward to.

Disclaimer: I received an eARC of this book from the author/publisher/NetGalley for an honest review.

Excerpt: The Shadow (The Florentine Series #2) by Sylvain Reynard

The Shadow

Sylvain Reynard

Website / Twitter / Facebook

B&N / Amazon / iTunes

Excerpt

✨✨✨

Raven watched as William efficiently disrobed, neatly folding every article of black clothing (with the exception of underwear, which he never wore), and placing it on the vanity.

She brushed imaginary lint from her dress as he stood in front of her, naked.

He was under six feet in height, his body lean and strong. Raven took a moment to appreciate the definition of his muscled chest and abdomen, and the strong cast to his thighs.  Not even a statue carved by the most talented sculptor could create a being with so much perfection.

His face put her in mind of an angel with intense, gray eyes that now looked at her expectantly.

She hid her face.  “You said you loved me.”

“I did. What’s more, I meant it.”

“Love is a peculiar thing. I’ve seen it. I’ve even cheered for it. But I never believed it was for me.”

“Why shouldn’t a beautiful, fierce young woman hope for love?”

“Because, as you put it, human beings are shallow.”

“Love is deep.” His rich voice echoed in the bathroom.

“Love is having the power to destroy another person.”

William stepped closer.  “Are you afraid of being destroyed?”

Cover Reveal: The Shadow (The Florentine Series #2) by Sylvain Reynard

THE SHADOW

(The Florentine Series #2)

By Sylvain Reynard

02 February 2016

Good Reads | B&N | IndieBound | Amazon | Book Depository

New York Times bestselling author Sylvain Reynard presents the hotly anticipated, intoxicating follow-up to The Raven… Raven Wood’s vampyre prince has returned, pledging his love and promising justice for every wrong done to her. In the wake of their reunion, Raven is faced with a terrible decision—allow the Prince to wreak vengeance against the demons of her past, or persuade him to stay his hand. But there is far more at stake than Raven’s heart… A shadow has fallen over the city of Florence. Ispettor Batelli will not rest until he uncovers Raven’s connection to the theft of the priceless art from the Uffizi Gallery. And while the Prince hunts a traitor who sabotages him at every turn, he finds himself the target of the vampyres’ mortal enemy. As he wages a war on two fronts, he will need to keep his love for Raven secret, or risk exposing his greatest weakness…

The Prince by Sylvain Reynard (Excerpt)

Title:  The Prince (novella)
Author: Sylvain Reynard
Release Date: January 20, 2015
Author Links: Website The Florentine Series FB Page Twitter
Buy Links: B&N Amazon Amazon UK Amazon Canada iTunes

EXCERPT

In the distance, the Prince could hear voices and muffled sounds.

He approached silently, almost floating across the floor.

Desperate groans and the rustling of fabric filled his ears, along with the twin sounds of rapidly beating hearts. He could smell their scents, the aromas heightened due to their sexual arousal.

He growled in reaction.

The corridor was shrouded in darkness but the Prince could see that the professor had his wife up against a window between two statues, her legs wrapped around his waist.

Her voice was breathy as she spoke, but the Prince tuned out her words, moving closer so he could catch a glimpse of her lovely face.

At the sight of it, flushed with passion, his old heart quickened and he felt the stirrings of arousal.

It was not his custom to observe rather than participate. But on this occasion, he decided to make an exception. Careful to remain in the darkness, he moved to the wall opposite the couple.

The woman squirmed in her lover’s arms, her high heels catching on his tuxedo jacket. Her fingers flew to his neck, undoing his bow tie and tossing it carelessly to the floor.

She unbuttoned his shirt, and her mouth moved to his chest, as murmurs of pleasure escaped his lips.

The Prince felt more than desire as he watched the woman’s eager movements. He caught a glimpse of her exquisite mouth and the toss of her long hair that would no doubt feel like silk between his fingers.

She lifted her head to smile at the man who held her close and he could see love in her eyes.

✨✨✨

Deborah Harkness said WHAT about Sylvain Reynard and THE RAVEN?

Cover Reveal: The Prince by Sylvain Reynard (Novella)

Title: The Prince
Author: Sylvain Reynard
Release Date: January 20, 2015
Available at: BN / Amazon / Amazon UK / Amazon Canada / iTunes
Description:

The unveiling of a set of priceless illustrations of Dante’s Divine Comedy at the Uffizi Gallery exposes the unsuspecting Professor Gabriel Emerson and his beloved wife, Julianne, to a mysterious and dangerous enemy.Unbeknownst to the Professor, the illustrations he secretly acquired years ago were stolen a century earlier from the ruler of Florence’s underworld. Now one of the most dangerous beings in Italy is determined to reclaim his prized artwork and exact revenge on the Emersons, but not before he uncovers something disturbing about Julianne …

Set in the city of Florence, “The Prince” is a prequel novella to “The Raven,” which is the first book in the new Florentine Series Trilogy by Sylvain Reynard.

“The Prince” can be read as a standalone but readers of The Gabriel Series may be curious about the connection between The Professor’s world and the dark, secret underworld of “The Prince.”

To find out more about Sylvain Reynard’s books, check out the following sites:
The Florentine Series FB Page / Website / Twitter / Goodreads

Book Review 4: Vampire’s Bite by Eve Grant

Title: Vampire’s Bite
Author: Eve Grant
Release Date: September 7, 2014

She’s responsible and takes life too seriously

Susan Ethans is a model student: perfect grades, a dream scholarship, and a promising career ahead of her. But her grades alone aren’t enough to flirt with the hot guys on campus. She doesn’t want to end up being a wallflower, but there isn’t much she can do about it.

A vampire bites her

A madman bites her neck and drinks her blood. She tries to get away, but he drains her life away until she collapses.

She thinks she’s going to die, but she wakes up at an eccentric millionaire’s home. She feels healthy, renewed, and even smarter. Something is changing within her.

He has everything… except love

Nicholas Hill has power, money, and an English accent to die for, but he speaks like a man from the 19th Century. His notions of propriety and manners make him different to every other man in the world. Susan is instantly attracted to him and knows that he likes her, but something tortures his soul and doesn’t let him follow his heart.

Will a mere student change a powerful businessman’s life, or will their personalities clash until they can no longer stand each other?