News from Sheena:  I’ve got books coming out of my ears. My TBR pile has grown so much that I’m convinced that it’s become a sentient being and has started taunting me and hurling accusations of neglect, so I grabbed a few and fed the beast!

Speaking of beasts, first up was…

High Voltage by Karen Marie Moning. Why yes, I recall my many rants that emphasized just how scorched earth I considered this series. But Ryodan. Ok. I had to know if he and Dani were on track and after some early reviews, I gave in and read it. And was promptly reminded of the earth I considered scorched when the one, the ONE reason I read the book was both a gift and the curse. Spoiler Alert…..Ryo and Dani happen- oh yes they happen my friends, but the HEA was a hollow victory because I didn’t freaking recognize a hair on Ryodan’s head! WHO was this faux, emo knock off Ryodan? Even his beast was lame!  Now,  the gawt damn HEA doesn’t count because of this, this android-Ryodan is NOT who I’ve been waiting for all these years!   And another thing, I love Barrons, but let’s just put it out there that in comparison Ryodan got the raw end of the deal! No matter what Barrons and Mac went through (Mac, Pink Mac, Black Mac, Mac 2.0 etc) he was always BARRONS! (swoony shivers). Ryodan has a couple of hiccups with Dani/Jada and he comes out the other side lobotomized. Unfair dude!

Earth remains scorched….Unless someone confirms that the *real* Ryodan reappears in subsequent books. Then, I’m back. But until then.

Scorched.

Up In Smoke (King, #8) by T.M Frazier.  These books are heavy, dark, and push your boundaries. Frazier’s style is trigger warning city, but if you don’t mind the tough stuff and are a sucker for hard fought, hard won and HEA’s with a hurting little twist, definitely check her out.  Start with her novel King and see if it’s for you!

Barbarian’s Beloved (Ice Planet Barbarians # 18) by Ruby Dixon.  The heroine has intense anxiety,  I knew she was a crier and aggravated the other characters in the series from reading about her in the peripheral. But I could not stand it, she was waaay too on edge for me. I have a high empathetic quotient but she burned through it in the first 1/3 of the book. I’ll say little else, but maybe don’t read this one if you aren’t really into heroines with anxiety that is through the roof.  The authors know it was a bit much and won’t be offended if you skip this one. She says so herself.

This weekend I’m reading Master Cole by Marie Tuhart and if the stars align I’ll also have time to read The Couple Next Door by  Shari Lapena. It isn’t a romance, more a domestic suspense novel, and a little something something. I also have Nalini Singh’s Ocean’s Light beckoning me from the damned TBR pile…and I can’t possibly NOT read that!

News from Tori: I started a new job this week so my reading time has been almost null. J.R. Ward’s Dearest Ivie was a sweet novella set in her BDB world. While I always enjoy interacting with the brotherhood, I like meeting more characters in the series and seeing how Ward ties them all together. I’m currently reading Wolf Lord by Ann Aguirre and thoroughly enjoying. The whole series is a paranormal adventure filled with plenty of romance, adventure, and laughter.