Chrysalis: Tribulations by M. L. LACY Review

Chrysalis: Tribulations 

By M. L. LACY

Synopsis

As the exciting Chrysalis saga continues, Bree's eyes are opening to unimagined possibilities. Reunited with her soul mate, Steven, and her protectors Bradley, Bill and Rick, she journey's through a world she is only now beginning to comprehend. Challenges abound as she contends with the jealousies of her new status from Madelyn and the two newest members of her clan.

As tensions escalate, the dynamics within her new family are enough to rock her world. And if that wasn't enough to contend with, Esmeralda, her arch nemesis who desires nothing more than to wipe Bree from the face of the earth, holds nothing back as she strikes out at Bree's family and friends. As the prophecy told at her birth continues to unfold, Bree and those around her are only beginning to truly understand the danger's she will face and the strength required to endure. But her transformation as a Magical has only just begun and her abilities grow much too rapidly, draining her to the point of complete exhaustion.

Her clan fears that too much has been demanded of her and they continue to tighten their circle of protection around her, preventing her from following her true path. Bree must find a way to convince them that she is capable of prevailing while she searches for a way to save both human and Magical worlds - before it's too late. 

Chrysalis: Tribulations by M. L. LACY Review

Review by Doni

Rating 5 out of 5 firecrackers  5 OF 5 STARS.. 5 of 5 heartbeats

M. L. Lacy Has outdone herself with the second book  in her Chrysalis series.  Chrysalis Tribulations has far surpassed my expectations for this book, and my expectations were pretty darn high since I loved the first book as well. Unlike some books this one took me a bit longer to read, not because it was overly wordy or wrought with editorial mistakes, but because I DID NOT WANT THIS BOOK TO END!

Her characters have truly come to life in this story.  Bree has become a compassionate, gentle yet strong leader in the clan.  I have watched her progression from a timid, frightened "child" to a strong woman who is dealing with the fact she has one foot in both the magical and human worlds.  It is amazing how she deals with all the information and situations that are thrown at her.

Bree's men love her and have faith in her, but tend to be overly protective.  However, some of the women in her clan see her as a threat.  Bree wants changes that scare some who do not like change.  Madelyn thinks she should be the leader of the clan.  But with leadership comes responsibility that she is in no way prepared for. 

Steven is Bree's one true love.  The passion these two share is explosive.  Steven always wants to protect her, but he also needs to trust Bree's knowledge as a Chosen One.  This is sometimes difficult for him as Bree is still mortal. 

Now on to the writing.  What makes an author worth reading?  I ask myself several questions.  1) Can I hear the individual character's voices?  2)  Do I care about the main characters?  3) Are the supporting players' voices also audible?  4) Can I put myself into the story?  The answers to all of these questions are an emphatic "Yes!".   The lengthy descriptive passages that were at times overly detailed in the first book, are now floridly descriptive and flow seamlessly.  From the very outset, the reader is swept up and completely engaged and captivated by each of the characters.  In short, if this story was an artist's canvass, it would be a masterpiece.

Find out more about M.L. Lacy on her website - http://web.me.com/m.l.lacy/ML_Lacy_Official_Web_Site/Welcome.html

Book Provided by Author

Portrait of a Vampire by Crymsyn Hart Review

Portrait of a Vampire
By Crymsyn Hart
Purple Sword Publishing 

She captured his image only once, and it’s haunted her ever since. 

Kaylynn has photographed thousands of people all over the world. However, the one man she desires wants nothing to do with her. Elijah took Kaylynn in when she was a teenager, rescuing her from an insane preacher who wanted her for his own evil purposes. 

Over the years, Kaylynn wants nothing more than to feel Elijah’s dark kiss. He wishes to keep her safe. In order to do that, he sends her away until an old evil resurfaces. Together, they have to confront the crazed reverend…and something else. Synopsis from http://purplesword.com 

 Portrait of a Vampire
Reviewed by Jasmine 
4.85/5 Screams from the Backseat 


I feel in love.  I am a sucker for "they have loved each other forever" type stories.  He loves her and she loves him, but they are held  apart for years.  It always pulls on my heart strings.  Which is the effect this story by Crymsyn Hart had on me, though even better since there is the added tension of this being a story told in the first person.  We can not be sure Elijah returns her feelings, big bad immortal vampire that he is.  


When you are the human in on Top Secret immortal info there always tends to be danger.  In this case a fanatical preacher out to control our heroine's nifty telekinetic powers.  I think if I could make things come to me I might become an even bigger slacker.  Hence why I was granted other super powers.  

So vampires fun, a pining for love, and some hot romantic tension make this book a great read.  As has often been my complaint, there needed to be more.  The ending rushed together a bit too fast compared with the pacing of the rest of the book.  I definitely want to read more of this authors work.  I actually really hope Kaylynn and Elijah pop up in a sequel.  There was a side character in there who calls out for her own story.

Find out more about Crymsyn Hart and her books at http://www.ravynhart.com
Buy Portrait of a Vampire from Purple Sword

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Devine Misdemeanors - Reveiwers Duel

TERRY KATE:  Hello Readers, I would like to welcome two of Romance in the Backseat's reviewers to a Reviewers Duel.  The subject Divine Misdemeanors by Laurell K Hamilton.  Reviewers Doni and Jasmine take your marks.  Divine Misdemeanors, a crime to print or a crime to miss. 

JASMINE:  A crime to print!  This book needs work - an editor who is willing to edit - and some direction.  Where did this book take us in the Merry Gentry series? NOWHERE!  I look to the series for palace espionage, not rushed contrived murder mysteries.

DONI:  There are some redeeming qualities Jasmine.  We saw a lot more of the players in the story.  There of course is Barinthus Merry's father's right hand man.

 JAS:  I found nothing intriguing in this novel and I am a fan, or perhaps I should say former fan of the Merry series.

DONI:  Well there was intrigue,  Barinthus's temper, they thought one of their inside court was a threat, it turned out that they were wrong, but the entirety of the demi fey were at risk  having a psychotic demi fey that want to kill you and rip the unborn children from your belly is pretty intriguing  For a while they thought that Barinthus had turned on them.

 JAS:  Do I care?

DONI:  I did, and the Sex was mostly awesome.

 JAS:  All the previous books talked about Adonis and the Court as the big bad.  One crazy demi fey does not compare.  No villain, no threat, no care.  Bored.

 DONI:  Crazy demi fey, crazy human who wanted to have sex with the demi fey, a 7 ft fairy with a bad temper who thinks Merry made a mistake not taking the crown and whom some of her men think might have turned on her, plus the really hot sex, I say print. I was not bored, I was entertained.  All the murdered fey when you are one is very bad juju.

Jas:  Fine then why make it so jumpy within the larger narrative?  I want Merry in court.  The books where she is not tend to be a bunch of sex and little else.

 DONI:  perhaps it is the authors intentions was to get away from the "Court" and the psycho aunt for a while.  Come on Jasmine there has to be something that you liked?

JAS:  Nothing comes to mind. You could loose almost all of the first 120 pages.  Chapters 22, 23, 34,35, there might even be a few more in there that can go forever.  Chop chop, don't need those.

DONI:  Perhaps the author is setting it up so that there is a new Court and new Palace in LA with a different set of villains and assassins, and whats wrong with Rhys and sex sanctioned by the goddess for a specific purpose. Now there was some intrigue, they almost drowned in the ocean.

 JAS:  Fine, but if we are setting up a new "World" for Merry and the men it was poorly done.  I was at no point engaged with the elements surrounding Merry's new life.  Though I think Fairy Godmother could be a fun new opponent, but she too was poorly used in this story.  There was no impact as she insults Merry and Merry takes it, never addressing how it undermines her power in LA.

 DONI:  Perhaps this was just the start as you said yourself, the time line did not progress very far in the world of Merry Gentry in this book. Rhys has new "digs" so to speak perhaps this is just the beginning.  I Love Merry's men, to me they are engaging.  Perhaps this is just the set up for the big bad fairy godmother of LA to attack. The passion in the story is palpable I think that they are just being cautious due to the pregnancy, take away the men take away the demi fey, take away all the elements that make Merry and what do you have? Merry staring into a blank page.

 JAS:  You don't think Merry is interesting enough to fill the blank pages?

DONI:  By herself no.  With her court of men that have always been a part of the story, yes. Don't get me wrong, there are things that I would change as well.  Merry as a Private Faerie Detective I would buy without the men, but then the faerie realm and a lot of other things from the first book on would have to change. Merry as Queen of the faerie world would not unless she was as ruthless as Andais. I don't buy it.  It is the combination of the men in her life as well as her circumstances that make up the Merry Gentry series that we know of.

 JAS:  Fine, I get it.  Flesh, blood, love, and sex.  They are all there in the story.  Just thought they could all have been worked in better.

 DONI:  Right, but like I said it is not perfect.  There are things that I would like to have seen done a bit differently, but... I am not the author, or the editor, or the publisher.  I am just the reader, who read the book from the library, and probably will not buy this book like I have the others because of the things that I would have done differently.  I think that so often these days that the quality of many books has declined in favor of speed and volume. All right I am off my soap box now LOL.

 TERRY KATE:  So in conclusion Ladies, what do you say?

JAS:  This book is not worth the cash.  About 40 pages of it works towards the Merry plot line I have spent books following.

 DONI:  Read it, get it from the library, buy it used, or borrow it.  Even I am not sure whether I would buy it and I am a collector of Laurell K Hamilton. Enjoy it and the hot sexy men.  So what do you think Terry?

 TERRY KATE:  Oh me, well I just want to hear what other readers have to say.  Anybody love the book?