Seleste deLaneyReseñas

First things first, anyone familiar with Joss Whedon's "Dollhouse" will see shades of that running rampant with the way that Marissa goes under deep cover. At first I had a lot of trouble with that. It did make for some mighty awkward scenes for poor Trevor though. The guy couldn't catch a break. His hot crush is coming onto him in the smallest nightie set in existence and he can't lay a finger on her skin because its not REALLY her.

That's what happens when you have scruples folks. They get in the way of getting laid. I'm mostly joking--I did feel really bad for him because the guy was unnerved as heck. She thought he was her loving fiancee, and much like knocking boots with her would be taking advantage of her, Trevor could not bring himself to hurt this "false" Marissa.

What I found aggravating about him was that every time he would get close to the real Marissa he'd fling himself so far back that it was a wonder that he didn't wind up in a different state. His reasoning, that she was a crook and would likely jump at the chance to become one again given half a second to herself, grated on my nerves. Not quite as much as Marissa constant self-flagellation, but it was pretty far up there. They treated her former life with her parents less as youthful misguidedness and more like a disease that at any moment would flair to life and take over. Someone correct me if I'm wrong but can conning/stealing be as thoroughly addicting as a drug? So much so that you lose ALL sense of self?

The story got lucky though because I wanted to see when Trevor got his head on straight. Marissa wises up about how to deal with her crush on him and from there it seemed the best move she could have made. I liked watching him squirm. A lot.

While I definitely enjoyed this second TRAIT novel, this is a much spicier read then GAMING FOR KEEPS was and was less on the humorous side. A bit more scifi too. Still I'm hoping there's more in store for this spy network because I'd love to know what's up with Josh...

I think this might be my favorite installment of the series—the way it wrapped up all the prior books and had mini cameos from some of the other characters hit all the right notes. I loved the James-Bond-style spy parts as well as the character development, and the friends-to-lovers romance was perfectly sweet. (And a couple of times very spicy.) Additionally, though I didn't see it ever called out, Greta reads to me as an autistic woman and that representation was great to see in a main character. (Actually, it might be better rep for NOT being called out. She just is who she is, and if an underrepresented group can see themselves in her, all the better.)

The paranormal aspect is a little stronger in this installment than the others, as far as I recall, since this time both of our main characters have some kind of "thing" that sets them apart—Greta can see patterns in events in a way that average people can't, and Nico is incredibly persuasive when he wants to be, able to persuade (nearly) anyone of something that they don't actively object to doing. However, this is not the standard PRN with werewolves or vampires or really even zombies. (Yes, I know, they call some of the bad guy characters zombies. They aren't actually zombies.) You could read this without being a PNR fan and still very much enjoy the ride.

This is an enjoyable paranormal romance, in spite of the way the characters got on my nerves at the start of the book. Both of our MCs (dual POV narration) have baggage from their past, and it takes a while for them to move past that. They do start working through their issues at about the same time that the plot picks up, though, and I really enjoyed the read from that point forward.

The paranormal part of this book is minimal, but it's there. It felt like it made perfect sense to me in the context of this book, and I don't think that it would get in the way for people who don't normally read PNR. However, do be sure that you're ready for spicy scenes if you decide to read this one! There are multiple on-page sex scenes here. (Though, if you prefer to skim them, there's no plot development during the sex. Character development yes, but not plot.)½

I really liked this. It was short and just what I needed/wanted. The only thing that I could've done without was the agent stuff. I know it's the theme of the series, but I could've done with just a geek romance. In any case, will probably read other stuff from the same writer.

Any time I am asked (or when I do the asking) to review a book, I somehow feel that I need to spend more time on my write-up than I do when I review a book for fun. That is the case with my latest review. I finished reading Seleste deLaney’s GAMING FOR KEEPS a couple of days ago, and instead of jumping into the review with the enthusiasm fresh from reading the book, I decided to sleep on it.

The next day, my enthusiasm hadn’t changed. I figured maybe I still needed more perspective, and gave it another day. Still no change. What that tells me is that this book really is that much fun.

So, the basic premise is that a couple of people who have played an MMORPG together but have never met in person go to a convention hoping to meet each other, and end up hitting it off in person as well as they do online. The conflict? He is a real-life spy, and there’s a psycho planning to kill a bunch of people at this convention. He has to figure out how to stop the bad guy, save the girl, and still keep his secret. Unfortunately, she has bad experiences with online dating, and is very leery of secrets.

I went into this hoping it would be as fun as it actually was. I was expecting a lot of geeky references, and I got them. (I’m sure there were several that I didn’t catch, too, since I haven’t played an MMORPG before. I do play RPGs on the computer, but I play solo instead of online.)

The one thing I was expecting that I didn’t get was more of a fantasy/paranormal element. Both the good guys and the bad guys are 100% human. No vampires, no demons, no elves – except of the role-playing kind. Normally, I prefer paranormal fiction. Straight fiction without that fantasy element doesn’t interest me as much. However, between the RPG and the spy stuff, this was pretty close to fantasy without actually adding anything paranormal.

The lack of fantasy creatures didn’t diminish my enjoyment of the book at all – if anything, it made me enjoy it more, because it was all fresh. There were no hidden magic powers waiting to save the day. No evil spells or curses the bad guy wielded which made you wonder how the normal-seeming good guy had any chance at all. It all made sense in the world we already know, so I wasn’t pulled out of the story to decipher the mechanics of a plot device.

This is already a pretty long review, so I’m going to add a few bullet points of things I particularly enjoyed:
• The sex-in-the-shower scene. Without going into details, I can just say that I’ve had experiences very similar to this one. It made me laugh, and it made me believe. Nicely done.
• I loved the description of the costumes. There weren’t many of them, as the costumes weren’t part of the story apart from when they were on the main characters, but they were fun to read.
• In-game descriptions. Awesome stuff. You can tell Seleste has played before. Even though I don’t play MMOs, there are enough offline RPG similarities that it resonated with my experiences.
• Geek references. I’m only just getting into Firefly (I know, bad geek girl) because I lacked TV service when it aired, but I loved the quotes they threw around. Same with LOTR.

(For full disclosure, I received a review copy of this ebook from the publisher. But I only begged to be sent a review copy because the book was not yet available for purchase.)

I really enjoyed the premise of this story, and the two main characters. I liked the world development, and the pacing. There are only two things that held it back from a five-star rating, and this is what:

1. (most important) I started listening to the audio book version of this one, but just couldn't get into it. The reader didn't do it for me. Her voice kept lilting up at the end of sentences, and for one reason or another that just bugged me. Also, when we got to the more romantic scenes, I didn't enjoy hearing her read them to me. Whether I just need to read (instead of listen to) all romance novels, or whether I need to find a different reader for romances I don't know.

2. (minor annoyance) I couldn't place the geography of a country I should have known well. It's set in the US, so I feel I should know where things are. However, I have no idea where the Badlands are situated within the continent. This may also be related to the fact that I was listening to the book instead of reading it.

My favorite part, hands down, has to be Spencer. He is an awesome character, and is exactly what I would want from an airship captain. I loved that he wasn't the stereotypical fighter pilot type, nor the usual mercenary type. He was perfect.

I did enjoy the rest of the crew, the plot, and the steampunk aspects of the novel as well, but if I had to pick one reason to re-read this book, it would be Spencer.

Fun fake-dating spy romance with fun characters who both have hearts of gold but just need to overcome their past. This isn't erotica, but it is steamy romance. It also has (entirely appropriate and in-character) swearing, and while that didn't bother me at all because it fit the characters, more sensitive readers should be aware.

I really enjoyed the first book in this series Gaming for Keeps) so I don't know why it took me this long to read book two.

*I read this book for my own enjoyment.

Fun, sexy stories with characters I have enjoyed. We learn a history of Jocelyn, Max, Chad, and a touch more of Remy and his personality. The stories all made me smile, for different reasons - love, magic, humor, personal touches of the characters, and more.

There is a suggested order of reading the novellas in this book and the novels so you can get a feel for the characters as you go through the novellas, but you don't have to read in that order.

These are smexy stories. So going in expect to read hot scenes. I have enjoyed the intimate scenes Seleste writes. They fit well with the characters, even in such short segments. There are a few small typos, but the fun I had with the characters covers those few.

Part One: The Story You Know...
Of Course I Try:
Oh I forgot how much I loooove Max. Chad is cute, but Max is my favorite.

This story is in flashes, as Jocelyn remembers things with Max. And leaves him. And returns to Max. In this short story we see how Jocelyn met Max and how she met Chad. If you've read the novels, you know both men are important to Jocelyn and in her life.

Max seems like a drug Jocelyn tries and tries to give up, but finds her way back to his loving, warm embrace. Yet there is always something missing... He's always gone when she wakes and she's weak from love making and always a vague memory loss. Deja vu, we've done it again. Jocelyn feels the need to leave as this is not her home even though told she is always welcome

Jocelyn never seems to get to say goodbye, but does get to do something else instead. Good girl.

The Cost of Love:
This short is from Max's view as Jocelyn arrives that one last day, needing to talk to him. Oh I do love him. But aside from the love I have for him, there is a hint of something else going on. We heard Max tell Jocelyn he was keeping her safe in the first story, now we see him think it. What is out there that Jocelyn needs to be kept safe from? And Why?

We know from reading Jocelyn's side of the story that Max has some sort of Magic. We learn of that here from Max's thoughts as well. Magic through words and touch, a push. He's afraid to push to far, for her to forget their time together yet a hint of some other worry with it as well. He wants her to remember, that he loves her.

We hear his thoughts at this very important moment with Jocelyn.

What Have I Done:
This one is extremely short, but we see Jocelyn work to get over what she's done.

The Ghost of Vampire Present:
This is a longer novella. One where we meet Jocelyn's grandmother. Oh, she's a special case of her own. lol.

The feel of the three ghosts in the way of the three vampires. The last vampire that could be considered the future vampire, could be one we'll see in the novels. ;) Oh this novella is a very interesting and sexy Vampire twist on A Christmas Carol.

Oh the hints in this novella! There is something special about Jocelyn. What? It has something to do with what these three vampires want from Jocelyn. Max is remembered, and I'm curious how he manages to do this (as I really do think it's real). The current boyfriend, that cute guy named Chad from the dance in Of Course I Try...yeah it's him. Yum.

Jocelyn has been trying to be stronger since Max. She's started self-defense classes and fighting better along with becoming more physically fit than she ever has.

I have to say I love the description of the ghost. Yes, it's someone she knew.
"She's the antithesis of the fairy godmother I'd always wished for. All she needs now is a lit cigar between her fingers to totally bastardize that particular childhood fantasy."

In the morning Jocelyn gets ready for Christmas at her mothers and waits for her boyfriend. We see clues that last night might not have been a dream... but then things change and answers aren't connecting with what happened, so maybe it all was in her mind after being out with the girls drinking and all.

I'm left curious as to what was real and what was a dream. I think it's all real, but there is more than real and not here, there's secrets. This story can lead you in to read the first novel, Kiss of Death to learn more about the secrets you start to see here.

This is definitely a romance, with intimate moments.

Part Two: In The Very Beginning...
Birth of the Vampires
Remus, Remy, shares a story with us. Well, with children. It's not really a story for children, but it's not so terrible for them. It's a twisted tale of Romulus and Remus. And we are left with the impression that Remus is our Remy.

Of course we see Remy hitting on a lady. What a feel we get for Remy here.

Part Three: Becoming Heroes
Devil's Bargain:
This story is how and why Max is made into a vampire. Did Max really know what he was getting into? Not really. But it starts the relationship Max has with Remus.

Christmas in Chains:
Max has spent years as a slave and being tortured on Christmas as his makers hands. On Christmas his special gifts were of a cruel nature that were meant to teach a lesson. This Christmas, Max will get a Christmas miracle.

This story has a twist to Remus's cruel actions toward Max. They are meant to teach. One example we get is how people feel when they are feed from without glamour used.

This story brings someone into Max's life. Someone who could return at any point demanding a favor or any proportion. Something I'd be curious to see. And then there's the question of who sent this person.

Never Underestimate a Bored Vampire:
Remy is watching the riots in Detroit, bored. He's been waiting here watching the Cooper line for the Blood Kissed prophesied one, which he'd made sure Max had meet Analise without Max knowing.

Oh Remy. He knows more than we could have suspected! He knows of the Blood Kissed and Cooper blood line. Remy even has a way of influencing Max's actions, who thought he got away from Remy and who Remy had formed into a warrior.

We see Remy work a little magic as well. And how Remy has a hand in maneuvering things for what he wants, even if it is to keep him from being bored.

This story shows how Chad got dragged into the vampire world. Seeing Remy involved in Chad's turning...now I'm curious what Remy is up to. What's his ending game plan?

Part Four: Remy Says
Remy Says: Top Ten Ways to Annoy the Council of Elders
Remy does a blog post! This quick section highlights Remy and his fun games with the Council of Elders. Well, a quick list of ten ways he enjoys annoying the council. You get a feel for Remy's personality in each item.

Oh you would be so in trouble if you did these things, but Remy doing them... yea, they would be irritated and Remy would be smiling. lol.

Remy Says: Guide to Demons
Remy talks about Demons, whether they exist or not. We also get a small mention to werewolves and fae along with incubi. These are a few beings we'll see in the stories. But demons...

Remy Says: Killing Vampires for Fun and Profit
Remy tells of the vampires to go after and with what equipment would work best. But... it sounds like it's a rough battle no matter what. I better rally my friends and ready for the war.

Boy does Remy have a strong personality. He shines through in each post.

Remy Says: Must Love Pets
Remy on pets. This article strays from the pets we know to the pets he knows, and enjoys. Maybe his pet can take care of an animal pet...

Remy Says: Sex with Vampires
Just reading this title, I know Remy will love this post. And I'm curious what will be said by Remy...

And we get Remy's natural grace as he lets us know what to expect when having sex with a vampire (or more than one).

I can just hear Remy so calm and sexy talking to us about all these items.

Fun, short, intriguing and left me hungry for more. Ironically for Carina Press title, the romance is not what keeps you hanging in this book. The romance is just there like an afterthought.

What fascinates you is Henrietta's formidable character as a doctor and an inventor, and one pretty wicked villain made of clockwork and pure evil, - Gambini.

The rest, although interesting, - the kingdom of Badlands; the mafia headed by Don Lupo; larger than life, fierce Ever; the array of inventions by Henrietta and her father... fades a bit into the background.

I'd like to know more about Henri's father for example. How did he become this evil inventor and yet helped Carson's fiance's medical condition? What's Gambini's background? Why so much interest in St.Clair?

I'm pretty sure it's my own fault in missing out on the first book of this series, Badlands, which would have probably answered my questions. So make sure you read book one before you start Clockwork Mafia for a more satisfying experience. Otherwise it's a very engaging and easy read!

Again, the synopsis does very well by the book so I'm not going to reiterate what's there.

Greta is special. She might have issues socializing and a few OCD's but she's got a knack for finding cases TRAIT needs to follow through on. Greta's ability to see patterns tells her something is off in the cases lately. But she has no evidence of a mission to go on to stop it, and prove it's really something going on. Greta's determined to find that something and solve what's going on. Greta references all three cases we've read in the series and that they shouldn't have fallen to TRAIT to solve. I like the quick touch of memory for the previous books, especially since this is the last of the series.

Now, pair Greta with Nico who is special in his own way. He vocally can influence people to do what they already want to do, but stop from doing it. He has a grand ability to communicate!

These two don't seem as they should be a perfect pair at first, but as I read I felt they were the heads and tails of the same coin. They completed the others ability were the other was a bit lacking. Their personalities compliment each other well too.

In this story we get the tie in of all the previous stories along with seeing each character for a few. This is definitely Greta and Nico's story but it's a bonus to see the others one last time with them.

I smiled the whole way through this story. I enjoy the chemistry between the characters as they stand their own as an individual, love each other for it, and compromise with the one they come so close to. And the geek references are always awesome!

The series are HEA books for the characters, which makes me happy too. It's sad to see the series end as I've enjoyed the fun of it each time.

This is the last book in the Agents of TRAIT series. I would recommend reading the other books before this one but it is not necessary. I thought this story got off to a slow start but I understand it was must to set up the chemistry and background of Greta and Nico. However, once the story got rolling and the action began, I couldn't put it down. The action is fast paced and suspenseful. The secondary characters add a spark of humor. And, Ms. deLaney does an excellent job of bringing it all together.

ARC received from Entangled Publishing in exchange for an honest review.

Marissa is teamed with Trevor, one she's partnered with for years now, on this mission to get a famous painting away from the deadly gangster like father. The kicker in the irony, she has deep feelings and desire for Trevor and this mission...to pose as engaged and a group wedding at the end of the week. Maybe their pasts will get in the way of the mission, or their desire for each other.

This is the second story in the Agents of TRAIT series. We pick up with Marissa and Trevor, which we meet in Gaming for Keeps with Cal. Marissa and Trevor are partners that worked with Cal at the convention. Cal is mentioned as he's off at a convention with his girlfriend. Marissa and Trevor are the couple we focus on here.

Marissa and Trevor have been flirting for years, but when she decided (after clues from him) to make the move he scowled at her and keeps their "relationship" that way - scowling. We learn of both Marissa's and Trevor's histories. Both are a little jaded and affect them now. Something they both hold on to hoping to escape it. Marissa, a thief with her family. Trevor, gangs and the murder of his best friend. Trevor, and Marissa quietly, worry that Marissa will slip back to the life of thievery as she's wanted this particular painting since before her and her parents were caught.

Seleste is talented in creating unique circumstances in her stories. In this book she's created a group wedding with a mobster like father coming his son's wedding and handing down a priceless piece of art. This was a neat setting, but what caught my eye was the hypnotizing. Marissa is hypnotized and transformed into a character to play. She's not aware of it, but there are fall safes for things getting out of control in order to bring her out. This little twist reminded me a tad of Dollhouse. I liked that, but then I worried as Trevor does have feelings for Marissa and he doesn't want to take advantage of her when she's not herself.

This is definitely an adult read. Smexy all the way. A great little escape for you with a mission and love.

Penelope started playing this game with her ex-boyfriend, who'd team (guild) she is still part of. But Aaron doesn't help her in-game. A man with the screen name Lohonas does. He's always got her back, even if he is from another guild. Lohonas has get in-game morals and team support. If Pen could meet one person from online, Lohonas would be him. But people aren't as they seem online. Aaron had proved that. ConDamned, a gamer, book, and comic convention, is coming up and Lohonas asks Pen if she's going to maybe meet? Nervous, Pen says yes. Cal is looking to relax at ConDamned, but his boss at TRAIT needs him on the job at the Con. Cal also is ready to work in the field again, or he thinks. All he has to do is find the code and break it, letting the others on his team know so they can stop the bad guy. And not lead on he's a secret agent. When Cal meets Pen, all he wants is to spend time with her and keep her safe.

The novella is from both Penelope's and Calvin's POV. It's neat how in the story the gamer persona did show through and match with their actions and real personality. Seeing their chat, I like Lohonas's personality. And he's not forcing her to meet him. If they happen across each other, they do. If not, it wasn't meant to happen. Hahaha! Pen is great. She's got spunk. I loved her strength and at the bar with the drink she chugs. She's quick with her retorts, and pending who her bather is with she's a hoot.

The story is quick. But conventions are only a weekend, so there isn't much time to waste. I liked that they had a semi-relationship prior to meeting, makes the relationship feel a bit stronger for me. The relationship grows with seeing the thoughts of both Pen and Cal. The danger of a threat to all at the Con comes to life toward the end of the story. And sparks an even deeper connection with Pen and Cal.

So enjoyed this sexy read. This is one that is a one sitting read. You want to keep reading Cal and Pen. Not to leave them be until the story ends. Even then, I wanted the weekend to keep going.

Cal is every girls, geek or not, dream come to life. But if you are a geek girl, yea you'll appreciate and love him deeply. Oh, I enjoyed this one. I think even if it was a full length novel, I'd want more of this couple. I was left happy, pleased, and not wanting the weekend to end. I'm always wishing for more from this author, Seleste.

The synopsis of the book is spot on. So I'm not going to describe anymore as it'd be the same thing repeated. This is also going to be a short review as I don't want to give to much away or mush about how much I enjoyed this story and couple.

I had fun with this story. I pretty much finished it in one day. The "fighting" connection of Jodi and Finn have here is frustrating and challenging for them, but fun for me to read. They make quick jokes when working at each other's nerves.

Jodi and Finn strike me as two sides of the same coin. They both have different reactions and outcomes in their lives to a very powerful moment they lived through.

Jodi has spunk. But she hates having to assert her "rank" over Finn from the first meeting. But Finn reminds her of a past partner that didn't fair well in the field due to his lack of respect for her ability to do her job. She thinks in order to help Finn, and keep him from the same path of her last partner, she needs to do just this to make him better.

Finn is a bit different. He is like, from Jodi's view, her past partner yet he's not. From the moment he helped the little girl, I knew it (and I think Jodi too). He has a soft side and can be worked with, no matter how lone wolf he comes across. He does, however, have a past that affects his thinking on working and trusting others, one that also had the outcome of death. And he doesn't want it to happen again.

Their mission! I have to mention the senator's daughter. That's such a surprise! I liked this little twist.

I always have fun with the books in this series. They are shorter stories but fun with the banter and connecting the couple does through out. It is a sexy romance that has intimate moments. I will be looking forward to the next couple in TRAIT's agency. I think I know who it may be.

This was my first time reading a book from this series. I was a little concerned about not reading the other two but this one works well as a stand alone. There are many twists and turns in this one and the chemistry is amazing. The characters are intriguing. This is a wonderfully written romantic suspense that gives an equal balance of both. Fast paced and provocative, this is one story that keeps you interested.

ARC provided by Entangled Publishing in exchange for an honest review.

This review is also published at http://thebookaholiccat.com/

Ever, Commander of the Queen’s Border Guards of the Badlands finds herself in the middle of battle after a surprise attack in their lands. Soon after, she learns that Queen Lavinia has been assassinated. As her duty she needs to bring back as soon as possible the heir to the throne, Princess Laurette who is in Philadelphia. Before the Badlands get affected with more chaos after the dead of their leader the new ruler must be instated.
Ever is gravely injured in battle, but this doesn’t stop her. From the top of a hill she is able to signal an airship, the Dark Hawk, and is brought on board.
Captain Spencer Pierce is in route to the Badlands to make delivery of goods. He needs the money of this delivery to pay off the debt he has with Congressman Mason for the Dark Hawk to be his. After picking up Ever, he learns that the Badlands are under attack and it will be impossible for him to land and finish this run.
Ever asked for his assistance in exchange for the money he needs to pay off the Dark Hawk’s debt. He is intrigue by Ever and maybe a little bit attracted to her too. So he decides to help her and set course toward Philadelphia.
During their trip they will fight more than their attraction; they will fight forces that want them to fail in their mission.

Ever is a very likable character, she is strong and focus, completely loyal to the Queen and the Badlands. She is an Amazon style warrior in all the sense of the word.
Spencer is not your typical hero; he’s a mild mannered man, with a nondescript body but at the same time he has “something” that makes him a very attractive man. The development of their attraction is well pace and realistic.
The supporting characters are a nice complement to the story; they provide us with more than one “what” moment.

My final thought: This short novel was a very entertaining read. I like the steampunk factor. Setting the story in the dirigible Dark Hawk make it different and interesting.
I love the idea of the Badlands’ matriarchy, with its “Amazon” style warriors; I think this was a fresh difference from other books.
I would love for Mrs. DeLaney to have a next installment (full novel length) based more in the Badlands and its female power government.

I thought this was a really fun read. It has really enjoyable characters and a story line that had me laughing out loud at several spots. Would recommend reading. I received an ARC from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

As I'm not that much of a gamer myself I felt a bit lost at times with all the inside jokes and gamer speak. But definitely a very cute and enjoyable book.

Only after inviting a girl that he met in an online MMORPG to meet him at a gaming convention does Cal Burrows learn there is danger afoot at the convention. As a spy, he has been enlisted to get hold of a code that a terrorist is sending through at the convention so they can find out what he’s up to. He can only hope that her hesitation in accepting his invitation will convince her to stay home.
Penelope Holloway is drawn to the online persona of the man who invited her to the game convention. Her first relationship begun online and ended badly, and while she is hesitant, Pen not only is curious about her online friend but she has enjoyed going to the convention in the past. After a case of mistaken identity, she decides her friend is a jerk as well before accidentally meeting up with him in the bar and finding out later who he is. Except she never suspected he was a spy or that her life was going to be in danger at the convention.
Gaming For Keeps was a pure delight to read. The characters were likable (I always find the geek characters are people I would enjoy hanging out with). The pace was face, the sex was hot and the action kept me on the edge of my seat. If you’re worried that the novella length won’t give you a full story, leave that worry at the door. This is the perfect length.

ARC provided by publisher for honest review.
Posted by Cindy at 2:06 PM No comments:

Well, I’ll start by saying this was a little too geeky for me. That’s not to say it wasn’t a good story but all the references to Firefly and other TV programs I’ve never watched put me off a little.

I read a book for the romance, which I’m sure I’ve mentioned before somewhere, and I enjoyed the spark the characters had. The way they don’t realise they know each other (even if it is through a game) but are drawn to each other right from the first contact. They clicked right away and there’s a scene involving a shower which made me smile.

I did enjoy it; Pen was hands on when it came to defending herself and Cal being slightly geeky made a change to the usual books I read where they’re attractive, tattooed and arrogant.

It’s definitely for those who enjoy comics, online-gaming, cosplay and conventions.

Originally posted at WickedLilPixie ReviewsSteampunk for me is one of those genres, very much like Science Fiction, that I can take or leave. I usually end up reading the genre only if a specific book or series has been recommended to me a billion times that I make an exception. And only if there is some Romance up in there. I have little to no experience with the genre, so I didn’t know what to really expect when I picked up Badlands. Sooo, I might have had to look up a few words in the dictionary like dirigible and tintype /coughcough/ but the setting wasn’t intimidating for me at all. I felt immediately scooped up and placed in to the Badlands along with our heroine Ever.Badlands starts out action-packed right from the get-go and flowed really fast and smoothly with no data dumping. Longer than a novella, but shorter than a novel, the length was perfect for the story told. And the heroine is sheer solid kickass. Ever is a gritty, bold, (kinda scary) firecracker not afraid to throw down in a bar fight completely outnumbered by men, or take down an enemy dirigible with limited ammo. She has devoted her life to the Queen of Badlands and, in turn, her country. She is not a big talker, she prefers action. Her life gets totally tossed upside down when she meets Captain Spencer Pierce as he pulls her aboard the Dark Hawk… and then laughs in his face! My kinda girl.Spencer Pierce is our noble hero, honorable, strong, calm, intelligent, but not at all alpha. I’m not sure he would necessarily appeal to me in another story, but he was perfect for Ever. Ever was so overtly dominating that she needed someone to balance and compliment her force. They are immediately drawn to one another, like magnets. Respectfully, he stood back and watched her do her own thing, only supporting her when she absolutely needed it. He admired her, and cherished her from the start, letting her come to him so as not to spook her like a wild animal. The tension between the two built very nicely and felt authentic.Ms deLaney took some risks with Ever and Badlands, and it paid off. Badlands is a very different kind of love story I thoroughly enjoyed it. I cannot wait to read more stories from in or around the land called Badlands.

BADLANDS by Seleste Delaney is an interesting fantasy/science fiction set after a Civil War in America that divides the land. It is a fast paced,page turning story of passion,
betrayal,trust,sweet sensuality,allies,enemies,action,adventure,romance, and love.
Ever is the commander of her nations border guards and a fierce warrior. She is the queen's protector,but when her nation is attracked by aircraft and her Queen killed,she must find the next Queen,the Queen's daughter. This takes her into the domain of Captain Spencer Pierce, the captain of the Dark Hawk.While Spencer only wants to pay off his debt and retain ownership of his beloved Dark Hawk,he must help Ever to find the Queen's daughter and get her safety back to the Badlands to regain order. Together as reluctant allys, Ever and Spencer must fight unknown enemies,face danger,fight their growing attraction and their passion for each other. Ever only wants to get back to the Badlands with her new Queen and Spencer only wants to deliver her safely back to the Badlands. While they are both fighting their growing attraction,one is fighting to protect her Badlands the other his protection his ship and crew.But they must work together after being betrayed in order to survive and bring order back to the Badlands. This is a quick,fun read.
This book was recieved for the purpose of review from Net Galley and the publisher and details can be found at Carina Press and My Book Addiction Reviews.½

Badlands is short but packed with awesome. Set in an alternative future in which the Civil War resulted in a very different North America, Seleste deLaney drops the reader right into the action. The novel has elements from many different genres -- romance, steampunk, western, fantasy -- and they're all incorporated in a seamless blend that makes Badlands a compelling read. Seleste deLaney has done a great job of world building, particularly when constructing the culture of Ever's country, which is matriarchal and almost tribal in some ways. (The United States is very Western in its sensibilities, which I really enjoyed.)

Ever and Spencer are well-developed protagonists who come together in a very believable way. Ever, in particular, is well defined and real and I loved her focus and determination to complete her mission. Her attitude about sex is also refreshing since she views it as just a part of life, not something to agonize over. In contrast, Spencer didn't resonate immediately for me but I enjoyed watching Ever overcome her preconceived notions about it. I also loved the way Seleste deLaney writes the action sequences in the story. They're so clear and compelling and I loved the pacing.

I can't wait to see what this author comes up with next! Her website says that she has some other stuff already published but it's erotica so I don't think I'll be reading it any time soon. (No judgment here -- just personal preference.) Hopefully Seleste deLaney will have another awesome story coming out in the near future.

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When I first read this book, I didn't like it. I was confused by the story time line. I felt that I was dropped in the middle of a story. The writing was well done and the characters were interesting, but I felt lost. At first I was reluctant to write a review. How ever a few weeks later I re-read the book and enjoyed it. It is not the best book I have ever read, but it was an enjoyable read. I would have liked more information on Max, more than that he had amazing blue eyes. I wanted to know his motivation for not telling Jocelyn about himself. But like I said, over all it was an enjoyable read.