ARC Review: Collision by Berinn Rae and Giveaway

Collision (goodreads.com)

By: Berinn Rae (author website)

ebook, 300 pages

Expected publication: July 30th 2012 by Crimson Romance

ISBN 13: 9781440552397

Source: Author, for the purpose of an honest review

Genre: Sci Fi Romance

Series: Colliding Worlds, book #1

Stars: 4

Flames: 3

Legian is secretly fighting an enemy on foreign soil for a race that does not even know he exists. He came to Earth with his people in hopes of aligning with humans to once and for all defeat the Draeken. The aligning has not gone as expected. Apolo, his leader has chosen to remain hidden and fight the enemy in secret.

Sienna moved far away from life and into a remote cabin in the woods to get away from the world. After the loss of her husband her view on life drastically changed. Her goal was isolation and she had it until a UFO crashed in her back yard. Sienna finds herself helping the man in the space craft. Alarms are blaring, fuel is leaking, and time is running out. She doesn’t even know she has just pulled her future from his death.

I found the romance to be a side story. Sienna and Legian are the main characters, they get a happily ever after, but the overall focus of the book seems to be Sienna assisting this alien race as a whole. The book reads and moves like an urban fantasy, but with aliens.

I liked Sienna. She is an easy heroine to connect with. She is trying to hold on to her human normalcy, her love of video games, romance novels, and a good glass of wine, while being the only human living among a base full of aliens. In fact I enjoyed all of the characters. The Sephian race as a whole is intriguing. Their view on women as equals was refreshing. The human friends (Division 51 Black Ops Team) that Sienna calls in for assistance added a nice tension Collision.

I found a new twist on sci fi with Collision. The aliens that have secretly landed on Earth are not here looking for a new home, they’re not looking for breeding vessels. Sephian’s have come to Earth to prevent their enemies from doing to Earth what they did to Sephia. The Sephian’s have brought advanced technology and knowledge to assist in the prevention of a war between humans and Draeken.

Colliding Worlds is a series that I will definitely continue reading. I want know more about many of the characters. I also want to know more about the Draeken. I am looking forward to the next book. I think anyone who enjoys sci fi or urban fantasy, with a touch of romance and aliens would find this an enjoyable read.

***A little FYI. RPG in this book means role playing game, not rocket propelled grenade. I’m not a gamer and I couldn’t figure out what an Xbox and RPG had in common. LOL! Gotta love Google.***

Berinn is giving away an eBook copy (any format) of Collision. Talk sci fi to us! What is your favorite sci fi anything, movie, book, TV show, technological advance, character feature.  

Stealing Fate by Berinn Rae: Excerpt & Giveaway

Stealing Fate is a 20,000-word e-novella (about 100 pages) in the Unspun anthology that sheds light on the Fates, ancient goddesses who played a role in many Greek myths. Each novella in the anthology is being released as a standalone e-novella first. Stealing Fate will be available as an ebook everywhere July 24.

STEALING FATE

She stole his fate…

Lachesis is a Fate, an ancient goddess in whose hands our destinies are unraveled. When she’s not weaving fortune, she does what she wants when she wants. That all changes when she runs into the man she craves but prayed to never see again. And she'll soon discover the god of terror can really hold a grudge.

Now it’s his turn…

The most frightening of gods, Phobos is a predator who takes pleasure in terrorizing the world. After millennia of relentless searching, he finds the Fate who caused him to be cast down from Olympus. Now he plans to use every bit of his talents on the goddess to regain his lost heritage without losing his heart in the process.

Excerpt:

With the slightest tug of a smile, Phobos closed his eyes and imagined the ground quaking and streamers of fires bellowing down from the ceiling. What he envisioned, the mortals’ minds made real. It took no more than a mental nudge to mislead the weak. Thunder shook the building, and plaster pelted them like hail. Screams erupted. The herd trampled one another in attempts to flee the horror of their own minds’ creation. He could feel their hearts leaping in fear. It exhilarated him.

None were more skilled than Phobos in driving fear into even the most courageous of warriors. He could drive cities mad with horror. The right mind fuck could end a war before a drop of blood was shed. Except the god of terror delighted in bloodshed. And one particular Fate’s blood begged to be spilled.

Phobos charged into the night, his speed increasing past each block, knowing he would quickly catch up to his prey. Lachesis.

She wasn’t far now. Excitement welled as he drew closer to the woman who deprived him of glory. For the centuries he’d been doomed to this realm, Fate tortured his thoughts.

It took him nearly an hour before he spied his prey. She’d wisely moved to the grittier side of town, where the population grew sparse when the sun set. More places to hide, older scents. She’d thought herself clever, but Phobos was no ordinary tracker.

The filth and noise made it easier for Phobos to close the distance between them. Every few seconds, Lacey glanced over her shoulder before continuing her doomed escape. Was that a look of anticipation? No more than a dozen feet away now, his heart thrummed.

Using his ability to blend into the bricks, he stepped into the alley. Lacey leapt onto a caged ladder, froze, and then dropped to the ground. Coming to her feet, her eyes darted around the alley, looking for something. He drew close enough now that, even without battle-honed senses, she could likely sense him.

He mentally projected a sea of bats raining down into the alley.

Lacey inhaled sharply. Then she did what he never expected. One corner of her mouth tugged her lips into a sensual smile. Her eyes narrowed. Did he sense exhilaration?

“Come out, come out, wherever you are,” she taunted in a sing-song voice, oblivious to the swarm around her.

Frowning, he melted the bats into the blackness. Taking his time, he drew closer, dropping the illusion only after he came to stand behind her.

“Caught you,” he whispered into her ear from behind.

She shivered, tensed, and turned around. Slowly. Seductively.

He raked his gaze over her body. So close. He fought back the urge to pull her to him, to inhale her, to taste her. Instead, he stood firm, prepared to take her down at the slightest hint of aggression. He couldn’t afford carelessness. “Your escape will not be so easy this time.”

She lifted her brows. “Who says anything about escape? Maybe I wanted you to find me.”

He narrowed his eyes. “Do you crave death, woman?”

“No. I like living very much. What I crave is you. Every inch. Every delicious scar.” She traced a line across a scar on his neck he’d acquired from an axe that nearly decapitated him.

He gripped her hand, angry that she pointed out his imperfections. “Liar.”

“Give up the self-loathing thing, Phobos. You’re scrumptiously sexy. Deal with it.” With that, she grabbed his neck and tugged him down closer. Stronger than her, he permitted the small movement. Until she stared at his lips.

She wouldn’t dare.

She dared.

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Review: Stealing Fate by Berinn Rae

Stealing Fate (goodreads.com)

By: Berinn Rae (author website)

eBook, 100 pages

Expected publication: July 24th 2012 by Berinn Rae

Source: Author for the purpose of an honest review

Genre: Fantasy Romance

Series: Unspun, book #2

Best read in order: no, works as a stand-alone

Stars: 4

Flames: 3

Stealing Fate (very appropriately titled) is the second book in the Unspun series. This series follows the three Fates to their happily ever after and is written by three different authors. I found that Stealing Fate works perfect as a stand-alone. One does not need to read the first book to jump right in this series.

Lachesis, the Great Measurer who weaves the length of life is now known as Lacey. She knows first-hand that her role as a Fate is not difficult. She has had to shorten a life, the life of her one true love. In a desperate act to save her father she had to kill Phobos. Phobos has still harbors what he thinks is anger towards Lacey. He has searched for her, determined to have his vengeance, regain his powers and be returned to his station in godhood. Without his full powers being the God of Terror on the human plane is not as amusing as he had hoped.

Lacey and Phobos were fun to read. They are the classic I love you but I thought I hated you couple, at least on Phobos’s part. He soon finds out the hard way that there is someone that wants Lacey’s death even more than he does. It takes this heinous evil doer to open his eyes.

This installment in the series definitely has more mythology. Both the hero and heroine are immortals. Bored Olympians are also more meddlesome and add to the drama that Phobos and Lacey have to go through to find their common ground so that they can get past the betrayal from their past. I have certainly enjoyed reading the Fates having to go through the trails that they weave as Fates.  

Review: Hellbound by Berinn Rae

Hellbound (goodreads.com)

By: Berinn Rae (author website)

eBook, 230 pages

Expected publication: March 27th 2012 by Crescent Moon Press

ISBN 13: 9781937254438

Source: Author, for the purpose of an honest review

Genre: Paranormal Romance, shifter

Series: Guardians of the Seven Seals, book #2

Best read in order: yes

Stars: 4

Flames: 3

Lana hates that she has fallen victim to a curse. That’s how she views the furry and vicious side of her life, a curse. She’s had no one around to explain to her what is going on. Lana has figured out that there is a plus side to her new furry self. She can kill the mindless creatures that are similar to her who are thoughtlessly killing innocents.

Orion’s hunt for Dominion leader Cellach has brought him to the human plane. Cellach has been an enemy to Orion for numerous years, he’s been looking forward to the day that he can put him in a grave. Cellah has been creating an army of Hellhounds, with a twist. He has been using wraiths to create his army. Orion and his team consisting of Guardians and pack discover that this is a far tougher opponent than your typical Hellhound.

Lana soon feels drawn to one like her. This one is like her in appearance and he also slays the evil Hellhounds, just in a far more efficient manner than her. Orion is shocked the first time he sees the female Hellhound. As with all Hellhounds, he has thought females simply didn’t exist any longer. Lana is curious about what the curse has done to her, why and how it happened. The answer to all of her questions lies with this sexy man who seems to want her near him.

I liked Lana and Orion. Orion has been in the position as a leader for so long that he’s not used to anyone not going along with all of his plans. Lana makes him see that she isn’t under his command. She is not one of his pack mates that will just follow his orders. She wants her vengeance for what has happened to her. There is more behind her turning than just a turning. She is angry and seeks revenge. Orion is equally angry. He has considered Lana as his from the moment he first saw her. To find out someone maliciously harmed her is just unacceptable.

I have to mention one of the villains. I thoroughly enjoyed his page time. Danny was so narcissistic and full of himself that he was completely delusional. I loved the pages from his point of view. He constantly shocked me with what convoluted idea would sprout from his mind next. Ideas of grandeur are a mild understatement when it comes to this man. His opinions of how the little lady should behave will have every reader personally plotting his painful demise. As a reader I could not help but think that when this fool went down he was going down hard.

I’m not sure where the series will go from here. None of the other Seven had roles in Hellbound. The characters consisted of Orion, the Guardians and his pack. There are still members of the Dominion remaining alive so of course the series will continue. I’m just always super curious at the end of a book and want to know who is next in the series.

Review: Knightfall by Berinn Rae

Knightfall (goodreads.com)

Berinn Rae (website)

 

eBook, 238 pages

Published May 2nd 2011 by Crescent Moon Press

ISBN 13: 9780982820018

Source: Won from author giveaway

Genre: Fantasy Romance

Series: The Seven Seals, book #1

Stars: 3

Flames: 3

 

Kerra Cain grew up in various foster homes never knowing much about her parents or where her special abilities came from. Those special abilities eventually drove her into the wilderness of Alaska where there were not so many people. Being an empath who can read aura’s can be a pain when living in a crowed city. Kerra is a walking lie detector. She figures that the smaller population of the Alaskan wilderness will keep her away from too many people. Little did she know that humans were not going to be her problem.
She never imagined that she was a member of the Hidden World. The Hidden World is a world of non humans consisting of Angels, hellhounds, Aztecan Goddesses, magical witches and a drop dead sexy knight in well worn jeans. They stay hidden from the human population of the world. Most of these beings have extra or special abilities. Kerra’s life is turned upside down when the angel that rules the evil Dominion sets his goal to acquiring her for his possession. Kerra’s empath ability lets her know from get go that this man is pure evil.

Enter sexy knight in well worn jeans, Gareth. Gareth is a Guardian, a protector of the Seven Seals. His current assignment is to watch Kerra. The Seven want to know why the Dominion is interested in her and is she a threat. The only threat that Gareth is able to see is the one she poses to his heart. He can’t get her out of his head and he sees her as a distraction to his assignment. Gareth having been majorly burned in his past is weary of Kerra. He knows the attraction is there, but he does his damnedest to deny it.
As with the first in any series there is an immense amount of world building. I found the world to be very interesting, especially the Guardians of the Seven Seals. This is a very fresh concept. They are such a diverse group of paranormal/fantasy beings. They are hellhounds, angels, goddesses, an all knowing oracle type who has visions, and an Arthurian knight! I am looking forward to the next book, I have full intentions of reading it. The hero is one of the hellhounds! YUM. I think what brought the rating down for me was the book was too short for the amount of world building that the readers are given. It seemed to take something away from the story for me. At times I felt like the book skipped over something that should have been there.

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