Must-read romances: 'Dead of Winter,' 'Fragmented'
Dead of Winter by Kresley Cole
What it's about (courtesy of Simon & Schuster):
Can Evie convince her rival loves to work together? Their survival depends on it in this third book of #1 New York Times bestselling author Kresley Cole's Arcana Chronicles, a nonstop action tale of rescue, redemption, and a revenge most wicked.
Heartbreaking decisions
Evie was almost seduced by the life of comfort that Death offered her—until Jack was threatened by two of the most horrific Arcana, The Lovers. She will do anything to save him, even escape Death's uncanny prison, full of beautiful objects, material comforts…and stolen glances from a former love.
Uncertain victory
Despite leaving a part of her heart behind with Death, Evie sets out into a frozen and perilous post-apocalyptic wasteland to meet up with her allies and launch an attack on The Lovers and the vast army they command. Such formidable enemies require a battle plan, and the only way to kill them once and for all may mean Evie, Jack, and Death allying. Evie doesn't know what will prove more impossible: surviving slavers, plague, Bagmen and other Arcana—or convincing Jack and Death to work together.
Two heroes returned
There's a thin line between love and hate, and Evie just doesn't know where she stands with either Jack or Death. Will this unlikely trio be able to defeat The Lovers without killing one another first?
Why you should read it: The Arcana Chronicles is one of my all-time-favorite series. (Favorite narrator Emma Galvin also does this one! Look for an interview with her on HEA on Monday, Jan. 12.) The heroine, Evie, evolves so much, she's so conflicted, and the love interests? Let me tell you, this love triangle is the real thing. Each hero is perfect for Evie in different ways, I didn't feel like the triangle was just a plot pusher, but it was perfect. I have always been Team Death, and my mother Team Jack (we have awesome arguments over their merits). In this book both Team Jack and Team Aric get their fill. Evie travels with them to save Selena from the Duke and Dutchess most Perverse, and we get to see them in so many new ways. What I love about Kresley is that every book is filled with romance, action, adventure and life. I'm never bored, I'm always rooting for the characters and these cliffhangers she's ended EVERY BOOK ON?!?! Beautiful! Now I'm champing at the bit for the next book because man, oh, man, the last page will tear you up!
Evie has grown every book. Actually, I would go so far as to say almost every chapter. She's not a static heroine, and she's not a perfect one. While I got a bit annoyed when she was constantly comparing Jack and Aric (I was, like, go with Aric, duh …), I still could feel her hurt, pain and knowledge that no matter who she chose, part of her heart would ache. A lot of my friends commented, "She's the freaking Empress, she should just have both!" And while I totally agree (Cajun and old-world romance? Yes!), both Jack and Aric are so dominant, so alpha, that neither one would ever be able to share Evie. I simply cannot wait for the next book, and I pre-ordered the audio version the moment it showed up on Audible. Be it by sight or sound, I definitely recommend picking up this series. It has everything, and it's captivating.
What Kresley Cole has to say …
Jack and Aric are amazing. How do you keep the tension (romantic and otherwise) so high and perfect throughout the book? :)
Kresley: Thank you! I was so excited by how the push and pull turned out between them. Both Jack and Death threatened to steal the show at times. To keep a balance, I sketched the pivotal scenes from the point of view of both men. Readers often ask me if I'm Team Jack or Team Death. It goes back and forth. For years, I've known the ending of the series, and when readers get there with me, they'll know how much I loved both characters and wanted them to have happiness.
What are you currently working on?
Kresley: The fourth book in the Arcana Chronicles Series.
Favorite snippet from Dead of Winter?
Kresley: They change every time I read it! I really liked the part where Jack describes an imaginary date with Evie, when there was no apocalypse. He tells her that he would take her to a beautiful cypress stand out into the bayou:
"We decided it was our place. No one else's. Because that was where we became Evie and Jack."
And I nearly cry whenever I read this one with Death (Aric):
Aric asked, "Do you remember when the Fool sent you a vision of me, one with nothing but blackness and ruins?"
I nodded up at him. "You told me that's what it's like in your head. You asked me if I thought Death should dream in color."
"Sievā, when we were together, I began to."
Fragmented by Stephanie Tyler
What's it about (courtesy of Signet):
When the risks are this great…
When Dr. Drea Timmons was kidnapped during Section 8's last mission, Jem did everything in his power to rescue the woman he'd fallen for—a woman unwillingly recruited for one of S8's most personal and dangerous covert operations. Drea survived, but at a price. The trauma of her capture has rendered her without a single memory of her ordeal—or any recollection of how violently unpredictable her ex-boyfriend, Danny, an Outlaw Angel, had become, or why she had left him.
Is trust even an option?
When Danny threatens to turn Drea over to the feds, she is forced to go on the run and confront a past that is as deadly as her future. As trouble closes in on both ends, Drea has no choice but to trust Jem, the only man who can help her, the only man whose electrifying touch brings back memories—piece by piece—too stirring to forget.
Why you should read it: Whenever I'm in the mood for hot alphas and a very steamy romance, I always got to Stephanie Tyler. She had me hooked from her Defiance series. This is the third book in her Section 8 series, and we are treated to bigger-than-life heroes and the heroines who love them. I do recommend reading the series in order, since this book picks up right after Unbreakable.
I love Jem. He wants Drea so bad and wants to protect her. Stephanie's heroes are so raw, so tormented and strong that they feel like living, flesh-and-blood characters. Like, if I go to the nearest bar, Jem will be chilling there. I was rooting for him the entire book, and it just broke my heart along with Jem's when Drea couldn't even remember why she wasn't supposed to be with Danny. And Drea … what a great heroine. She's had it rough. She's been through so much, and still I don't feel sorry for her. There's no pity, only admiration for the strong person she's become. The two together are electric, and this has been one of my favorite installments so far! All I can say is I can't wait for Jem's little brother. If you want heat, lots of heat, steam and plenty of action-packed plot, pick up Section 8.
What Stephanie Tyler has to say …
Why do you love writing hot motorcycle heroes? ;)
Stephanie: The easy answer is that it's the bad-boy thing. :) There's a sense of danger and excitement associated with motorcycles, plus I love it when the bad boys end up being the good ones (because that always seems to surprise the heroine!). But bad boys (aka alphas to some) are really complex. The best ones have just the right mix of rough and tumble (add tattoos and maybe some piercings too) with a gentle side and a protective as hell instinct that can make anyone fall in love with them. In my books, their gruffness is part of their survival instinct — these men don't let their guard down easily, and I think that's what makes helping them fall in love so satisfying.
I also think that when people think "motorcycle club," they automatically think of the clubs called one percenter clubs, which represent (wait for it) 1% of the MCs out there. My favorite MC club story is the one I read years ago, about the members who will guard children who are victims of abuse and who have to testify against their abuser, or who are simply too afraid to even sleep. The club members take shifts, parked outside the child's house all night, taking them to school, waiting for them, taking them to court, etc. All I know is that I'd like men like that in my corner. Yes, writing MC club guys showcases that these men can be violent when the need arises, but I liken it to any man — think Vikings or Scottish warriors or insert your own heroes from the past built for survival — protecting what he loves and believes in. And finally, MCs were started by military men, returning from battle, so for me, it's the perfect match.
What are you currently working on?
Stephanie: I've started Section 8's fourth book. Also, Temperance, which is Defiance No. 4. And the fourth book in the SE Jakes Hell or High Water series. I'm seeing a pattern here ... I used to be a trilogy kind of girl, but I guess four's now my lucky number.
Favorite snippet from Fragmented?
Stephanie:
"Are you?" Dr. Siegel asked.
"Am I what?"
"Running."
That she could answer truthfully and without reservation. "Every single day of my life."
—
Jessie Potts, also known as Book Taster, adores books in all forms. She also does reviews for RT Book Reviews magazine and works in the submissions department at Dreamspinner Press. You can follow her on Twitter (@BookTaster).