Review: Gathering Darkness: A Paranormal Romance Collection

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Gathering Darkness: A Paranormal Romance Collection Book Cover Gathering Darkness: A Paranormal Romance Collection
Anna Zaires, Dima Zales, C.E. Black, Charlie Daye, Izzy Szyn, Jenika Snow, Lili Saint Germain, Mina Carter, R.E. Butler, Sharon Kay
Paranormal Romance
November 10th 2015
City Owl Press
eBook
Review Copy

 

There is a gathering on the horizon... It's a place where Vampires feed off your desires, Weres dominate you, Demons seduce you and Aliens whisk you away to fulfill fantasies you never knew you had. Where your darkest appetites are sated, leaving you weak and breathless... Come and join us as we lead you into the Gathering Darkness.

 

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This was just an ok box set. We go from Young Adult, to Romance, to Erotic. It was an interesting weird mix of stories. I will note that a few of the books in this box set can be picked up for free at your eBook realtor.

The only two books that I liked and feel are worth reading are Captive’s Kiss by Sharon Kay & Dragon’s Chase by Mina Carter. Dragon’s Chase is published on it’s own for purchase, but Captive’s Kiss is currently only available in Gathering Darkness Box Set

Individual Reviews Below

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Close Liasions by Anna Zaires & Dima Zakes ~ 1 Star ~

Close Liasions is book one in the The Krinar Chronicles by Anna Zaires & Dima Zakes. This book can be picked up for free at your eBook realtor. I read this one back in 2013, so I did not re-read it. 

Unfortunately, Close Liasions did not work for me. Too many things did not make sense or work and I was left with questions at the end. I couldn’t connect with any of the characters. The heroine lacked intelligence, backbone, and common sense. Our hero is petty, whining diva, and a stalker. As for the plot I did not enjoy. The K’s (alien race) are here to prevent further destruction of plant earth, so you would think they would implement a plan right away, but they don’t. Also the K’s despise humans, yet our hero is not in control of his emotional state and peruses our heroine. Last the sex was borderline rape and forced seduction, which is not ok. 

Close Liasions was not the book for me. If the blurb intrigues you, I urge you to give it a shot. Just because it did not work for me does not mean it won’t for you.


The Time Stopper by Anna Zaires & Dima Zales ~ DNF ~

The Time Stopper is #0.5 in the Mind Dimensions series and can be picked up for free.

I ended up DNFing after chapter one. I could not get into the story or writing style. The ability that Mira has is odd and it’s weird how it’s used and described. Mira the heroine was not interesting enough. Just did not work for me.

If you enjoy ScFi Time Travel Paranormal Romance then you might enjoy trying this short introduction to the Mind Dimensions series. The Time Stopper was not the book for me. If the blurb intrigues you, I urge you to give it a shot. Just because it did not work for me does not mean it won’t for you.


Shifted Undercover by C.E. Black ~ 3 Stars ~

Shifted Undercover is a short story which starts of hot. It gives a small taste of the Alpha Division series since this story takes place in that world. I was a little unsure going into this story, but kept at it and ended up enjoying the story even though a few things felt too quick.

As for our couple I would have liked more background on them and their courtship. I never fully invested into their relationship. It is believable, but felt too quick.

Shifters Undercover was a good short read.


Capturing Her Bear by Charlie Daye ~ 3 Stars ~

Capturing Her Bear starts off in a lab and had me thinking “oh my”, but once it got going you understand some of what is happening to our heroine, but it moves onto the main couple where their romance is a quick bloom.

Aspen and Torben had a sweet romance, but it was quick. Not much time to really develop the romance, but when a bear finds it’s  mate the mating instinct kicks in. Torben gave Aspen time to come to terms with things, which I liked especially with everything that happened to her, but it still was quick.

I didn’t like that they did not try to go back for Berend sooner. That was in my mind most of the book until they went back. Then they where not stealthy like shifters should be, so that was a disappointment. We have these expectations when it comes to shifters and I felt let down. Last, as for Berend we don’t get his complete story until the next book “Seducing His Bear”, so we are left wondering and waiting to find out what happens to him.

Capturing Her Bear was a good short read.


Bitten By Choice by Izzy Szyn ~ DNF ~

Bitten By Choice I ended up DNFing after chapter one. I gave it a try, but just couldn’t get into the story.

First, I am not into escort concept, so when I read the blurb it kinda turned me off. From what I got, it sounds like this story may have m/f/f and/or m/m and other things. I don’t have a problem with that kind of sex, but the couples for me need to have a relationship. Next, I was upset with her brother for ambushing her. He works for Dark Cravings, but does not tell his step-sister what he does or who they are until he gets her to the party, which is not a party, but much more. Last, when she meets the Vampires who run Dark Cravings she is attracted to them right off the bat. I’m think it’s to make the sex/romance or what-ever happens more believable. I just couldn’t connect to the characters or this story.

Bitten By Choice was not the book for me. If the blurb intrigues you, I urge you to give it a shot. Just because it did not work for me does not mean it won’t for you.


Let the Fur Fly by Jennika Snow ~ 2 Stars ~

Let the Fur Fly is book one in It’s a Shifter Thing series by Jenka Snow. It’s a very quick, short and erotic sex story.

The plot is nonexistent. We have Hannah who has known and wanted Beau her whole life. They where friends when younger, but he pulls away. Hannah comes into her wolf mating heat for the first time and needs a male to easy the ace. She thinks it’s one night of hot hot sex and no more. No relationship development and I could not get into Beau claiming her especially during a time of need when she can’t think straight. Ehh!!

Let the Fur Fly is erotic sex and no more. If the blurb intrigues you, I urge you to give it a shot. Just because it did not work for me does not mean it won’t for you.


Red’s Wolf by Jennika Snow ~ 2 Stars ~

Red’s Wolf is book one in Twisted Fairytales by Jennika Snow. It’s a very quick, short and erotic sex story.

Red’s Wolf is quick and dirty sex. No plot, no relationship building, and no story. The characters don’t know each other, but they get down and dirty at their first meeting. The only thing we know is that the Wolf knows that this women is his mate. Ehh!!

Red’s Wolf is erotic sex and no more. If the blurb intrigues you, I urge you to give it a shot. Just because it did not work for me does not mean it won’t for you.


Walking Dead Girl by Lili Saint Germain aka Jessica Roscoe ~ DNF ~

Walking Dead Girl is book one in the Vampireland series by Jessica Roscoe. This is a young adult paranormal romance story.

I DNFed this at chapter 20. Something kept me going, but by this point I had had enough of Mia and her whining and feeling bad for her self and situation. Instead of learning, she just feels bad that she can’t go home. Also everyone including the adults and hundreds of year old vampires sounded like teenagers to me. As for Ryan, the one who kidnaps her and then turns her into a vampire, I could not understand why he cares or acts like her cares for Mia. The vampires in this story are dark. Their are a few good ones, but for the most part they seam like the bad guys.

This story was not my thing. I gave it a big try, but just to many other books to read to stick with one that does not work. If the blurb intrigues you, I urge you to give it a shot. Just because it did not work for me does not mean it won’t for you.


Dragon’s Chase by Mina Carter ~ 4 Stars ~

Dragon’s Chase is book seven in the Paranormal Protection Agency by Mina Carter. This story can stand on it’s own and gives a nice taste of the series to readers.

Dragon’s Chase starts right where Dragon’s Honor left off. The author does a wonderful job filling you in and getting you caught up on what is happening that you don’t feel like you missed a thing. We get a great plot, loads of action, face-paced, and some hot hot sex scenes. I enjoyed all the characters included the secondary ones. The romance of our leads builds up nicely and you feel their connection even when one is fighting it.

Dragon’s Chase has peeked my interest and I will be checking out others in the Paranormal Protection Agency series. If you enjoy dragons, action, and paranormal romance then you should give this one a try.


Zane by R. E. Butler ~ 2.5 Stars ~

Zane is book one in the Were Zoo series by R. E. Butler.

I started off enjoying this, but then things went down hill. It has an interesting concept with the shifters running a zoo/adventure park with them living and being the animals for this zoo park. I did laugh a few times; because we get every cliche and cheesy line for romance stories used.

It’s an insta-love/mating and Adriana, human, accepts everything way to easily. We don’t get any really relationship building or depth to our characters. It’s quick with them having sex less then a few hours after knowing each other. It also felt like she was being caged even though they say she can go places, they don’t want her to take the chance, since shifters are not out in the world.

Zane had an interesting shifter concept, but no meat to the story. If the blurb intrigues you, I urge you to give it a shot. Just because it did not work for me does not mean it won’t for you.


Captive’s Kiss by Sharon Kay  ~ 4 Stars ~

Captive’s Kiss is a Watcher’s Kiss novella by Sharon Kay. It takes place in the Solsti Prophecy and Watcher’s Kiss world. This novella can stand-a-lone.

Captive’s Kiss starts us off hot and heavy. Oh boy where is my fan? Ms. Kay gives us a great run down of the world, how it works, and that it is the season of lust for most demons, so sex is on the brain. We get action, adventure, and a sweet romance. An interesting plot and new Watchers introduced to us.

If you have not tried Sharon Kay, I highly recommend you do. The world and characters are interesting and intriguing. If you are a fan, don’t miss reading this novella. You will enjoy returning to the Watchers world.

*Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy free of charge from the author Sharon Kay with the sole purpose of an honest review. All thoughts, comments and ratings are my own.

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