ARC Review: Archangel's Lineage by Nalini Singh

New York Times bestselling author Nalini Singh’s dangerous and beautiful world of archangels, vampires, and mortals has never faced a threat this cataclysmic…

Raphael and Elena are experiencing their first ever year of true peace. No war. No horrors of archangelic power. No nightmares given flesh. Until…the earth beneath the Refuge begins to tremble, endangering not only angelkind’s precious and fragile young, but the very place that has held their most innocent safe for eons.

Amid the chaos, Elena’s father suffers a violent heart attack that threatens to extinguish their last chance to heal the bonds between them and make sense of the ruins of their agonizing shared history.

Even as Elena battles grief, Raphael is torn from her side by the sudden disappearance of an archangel. But worse yet is to come. An Ancestor, an angel unlike any other, stirs from his Sleep to warn the Cadre of a darkness so terrible that it causes empires to fall and civilizations to vanish.

This time, even the Cadre itself may not be able to stop a ticking clock that is counting down at frightening speed…

Buy Links

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Books-A-Million | Bookshop.org

Google Play

Disclaimer: I received an advanced reader's copy from Berkley, an imprint of Penguin Random House, via NetGalley. The following thoughts and opinions are entirely my own. Spoilers below. Read at your own risk.

I've been of fan of Nalini Singh for a long time. I've read everything this woman has ever written. Her paranormal romance and urban fantasy series are both so good! Continuing on with the Guild Hunter series, we have a time skip of 20 years or so. I thought this was a great move. After 20 years of waiting for the other shoe to drop, everybody is burnt out and in need of a party. Too bad! The Refuge experiences violent earthquakes for the first-time in twenty or so years. This obviously freaks out Angel kind and the urgency to find out what's going on is palatable. To throw in more issues, Jeffrey has a near-fatal heart attack. With Elena and her mortal heart, she perceives the mortality of her friends and family differently. She is both involved in their lives and somewhat looking at it as a bystander. In this book, she finally deals with her longstanding trauma with Jeffrey. Nothing like a near-death experience to get the ball rolling. 

Raphael has his own problems to deal with as the Archangel of New York. I loved Archangel's Lineage. There were new, interesting characters, some old and familiar faces, and peeks into the lives of the children (now, no longer children) of Elena's friends and family. By using a time skip plot device, Nalini Singh has material to work with, if she ever wants to write a spin-off Guild Hunter series, featuring Eve or Zoe Elena or any of the other Guild Hunter kiddos. One new character, in particular, gives me hints about the next book in the Guild Hunter series that does not feature the main couple. I am excited! There was a notable lack of Ransom, though it is understandable that he was left out. Nalini Singh had a lot of people to "update" us about, but a one sentence update would have been nice. Something like "Ransom and his family were taking a vacation" or "Ransom was away on a hunt" or "Ransom was taking paternity leave". The overarching plot was tied up nicely by the end with the addition of a new character and implications for the future.

4.5 stars

About the Author

Photo Credit: Author's Website

Nalini Singh is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of the Psy-Changeling, Guild Hunter, and Rock Kiss series. She lives and works in beautiful New Zealand, and is passionate about writing.

If you’d like to explore her other books, you can find lots of excerpts and free short stories on her website. Slave to Sensation is the first book in the Psy-Changeling series, while Angels’ Blood is the first book in the Guild Hunter series. The Rock Kiss books are all stand alone and can be read in any order.

Connect with Nalini!

Website  |  Facebook |  Twitter  |  Goodreads  |  Instagram

Blog Tour Book Review: Resonance Surge by Nalini Singh

Twins Pavel and Yakov Stepyrev of the StoneWater bear changeling clan have been an inseparable unit since birth, but now their lives are moving in different directions.

Pavel is in the mating dance with Arwen Mercant, the only man to ever bring him to his knees. A Psy empath, Arwen is free to feel emotion now that Silence has fallen. While he is free to love in the open now, it doesn’t come easy. Pavel walks a fine line in loving Arwen, careful not to push him too far, too fast.

Another pair of twins, Pax and Theodora Marshall, have a bond with a far darker history. A low-Gradient Psy, Theo is considered worthless by everyone but her violently powerful and loyal brother, Pax. She is the only person he trusts to investigate a hidden and terrible part of their family history—an unregistered rehabilitation Center established by their grandfather.

The Centers, places of unimaginable pain designed to psychically wipe minds, are an ugly remnant of the Psy race’s Silent past. And now Theo must uncover the awful truth of this secret Center alongside Yakov, who certainly doesn’t trust her. Especially considering that Theo has been haunting his dreams since he was sixteen…

Yakov is the great-grandson of a foreseer and he’s already seen Theo’s death. The question is how can he stop it?

Buy Links

Amazon  |  Barnes & Noble  |  Books-A-Million  |  Bookshop.org

Google Play

Disclaimer: I received an advanced reader's copy from Berkley, an imprint of HarperCollins, via Penguin Random House. The following thoughts and opinions are entirely my own. Spoilers below. Read at your own risk.

I've been a fan of Nalini Singh and her Psy-Changling series for a long time. Writing is not easy, especially when writing a series. Keeping the story fresh while incorporating a full cast of characters is a juggling act that I think Nalini is very good at. 

This book is a little different from previous Psy-Changeling-Trinity books. We're back with the StoneWater Bears! Pavel and Yakov Stepyrev with their love interests Arwen Mercant and Theodora Marshall, respectively. Since the book features two couples, there is alternating POV. I like alternative POVs because we see the world from that character's perspective. We see other characters that add context to the current state of the world, especially since the creation of the island on the PsyNet created by Ivan Mercant (see Storm Echo). Due to having a F-Psy ancestor, Pavel and Yakov have heightened psychic senses. Since he was sixteen, Yakov has been dreaming of Theo, however, the dreams stopped. It was only until recently that he started to have dreams of an adult Theo and her subsequent death. It certainly doesn't help that there is a serial killer running around Moscow killing women with similar hair and coloring to Theo. 

The Marshall Group was something I wondered about. Lead by Pax Marshall, following the assassination of Councilor Marshall Hyde, the Marshall Group is a nest of vipers despite their adherence to Silence. Pax Marshall, is presented as a typical Psy with Silent guards, but he cares for his twin sister, Theo. I appreciated the bond between brother and sister, especially since they're twins. Pax is waging battles on all fronts, within the family and in the business world. If that wasn't hard enough, he also has Scarab Syndrome. He's a ticking time bomb. He's mentioned throughout the book and has interactions with several characters, but the scene at the end of the book makes me nervous for the future of the Psy-Changeling universe. 

Back to the main couples, the romance between Yakov and Theo was quickly established. The whiplash I got from how quickly this pair got together was something else. I thought their relationship progressed too fast, but at the same time, I understand that Yakov's "known" her for some time. The initial wariness between Yakov and Theo quickly turned into a tenuous partnership and genuine affection. Moving on to the other couple: in previous books, Arwen and Pavel have been dating, but in this book, it's established that same-sex mating bonds is possible (I cannot remember if same-sex mating bonds were previously established). Nalini has written many books and all of them have featured a male-female hetero main couple. It wasn't until recently that she wrote about the relations of same-sex couples (e.g. Aodhan and Illium) and even then, it focused more on the emotional aspect of their relationship. I assume Nalini Singh is cis-het so it makes sense for her to not delve too deeply into the sexual aspect of a same-sex couple's relationship. Her same-sex characters' interactions with each other portrays deep intimacy through other physical means, rather than just sex. Sex scenes that do occur on paper are generalized and focuses more on the emotional connection, rather than the physical. 

The plot of this story was decent enough. Theo is investigating an unregistered rehabilitation Center established by her grandfather, Marshall Hyde. Little tidbits from other Psy-Changeling books portrayed Marshall Hyde as an incredibly cruel and sadistic Psy, despite the facade of Silence. We learn in this book that he funded several rehabilitation Centers to have a supply of guinea pigs for mind-altering experiments. Following his death and Pax's bid for control of the Marshall Group, the discovery of the disclosed and undisclosed rehab centers got the ball rolling as more and more of Marshall Hyde's depravity and cruelty is revealed. Overall, this book was a solid continuation of the Psy-Changeling universe. 

4 stars 

About the Author

Photo Credit: Author's Website

Nalini Singh is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of the Psy-Changeling, Guild Hunter, and Rock Kiss series. She lives and works in beautiful New Zealand, and is passionate about writing.

If you’d like to explore her other books, you can find lots of excerpts and free short stories on her website. Slave to Sensation is the first book in the Psy-Changeling series, while Angels’ Blood is the first book in the Guild Hunter series. The Rock Kiss books are all stand alone and can be read in any order.

Connect with Nalini!

Website  |  Facebook |  Twitter  |  Goodreads  |  Instagram

Book Review: Archangel's Resurrection by Nalini Singh

New York Times Bestselling author Nalini Singh takes us into the dangerous, haunting world of archangels…and a love that is legend.

For thousands of years, the passion between Alexander, Archangel of Persia, and Zanaya, Queen of the Nile, burned furious and bright, seemingly without end. But to be an archangel is to be bound to power violent and demanding. Driven by its primal energy, Alexander and Zanaya fought as fiercely as they loved. Locked in an endless cycle of devotion and heartbreak, it is only Zanaya’s decision to Sleep that ends their love story.

Eons later, it is the Cascade of Death that wakens them both. The passion between them a flame that yet burns, Alexander and Zanaya stand together in one last battle against the ultimate darkness. But even a warrior archangel cannot win every war. Alexander’s scream shatters the world as Zanaya falls, broken and silent…only to rise again in a miracle that may be a devastating curse. For is it truly the Queen of the Nile who has been resurrected?

Only one thing is clear: this is the last beat of their passionate, angry dance. The final song for Alexander and his Zani…

Buy Links

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Book Depository | Google Play | IndieBound

Read an excerpt here!

Disclaimer: I received an advance reader's copy from Berkley Publishing Group, in exchange for an honest review. The following thoughts and opinions are my own. I am also a diehard Nalini Singh fan. Spoilers below!

Archangel's Resurrection follows the same format as previous books that deviated from the main couple, Elena and Raphael, to other characters in the Guild Hunter universe. I like the change in point-of-view, especially with Alexander and Zanaya's love story. The overall breadth of their story spans over several millennia. The first chunk of the book featured the backstory of both Alexander and Zanaya. Since the majority of the Guild Hunter books are focused on Elena and Raphael, so we don't know too much about Alexander and Zanaya. Both are archangels and Ancients, but we know very little about them. The first part of the book was necessary. Starting from birth may seem a bit much, but the character profile of A and Z needed to be fleshed out and the depth of their relationship needed to be established. 

The history between the two spans over several millennia and by all accounts, seemed to be stuck in a circular pattern of toxic highs and lows. The pair were on again, off again lovers. The biggest issues between the pair were power imbalances, emotional and physical maturity, and the past traumas that shaped their very being. For Alexander, as a young angel, he felt helpless when it came to protecting his parents (scholars, not warriors) from the machinations and abuse from another higher-ranked angel. From a very young age, Alexander knew that he was meant for the battlefield, rather than scholarly pursuits. His inclination for battle and strategy and his past feelings of helplessness, lead to his thirst and hoarding of power. For Zanaya, it was witnessing her mother's unhinged obsession with her biological father. Her mother's behavior and subsequent isolation of Zanaya from angelkind, put Zanaya at a disadvantage from the start. Wanting to be the complete opposite of her mother, Zanaya threw herself into warrior training and made a name for herself. Zanaya values her independence and having control over every aspect of her life. 

There was also a significant age gap between the two, early on in life. The age milestones for angelkind are different, in that angels are still considered babes until they turn 100 years old. With such a long lifespan, the rules for dating and courtship are a little different with angelkind. Alexander was already a few millennia older than Zanaya when she started making a name for herself. Their initial meeting was an instant attraction and obsession, but due to Zanaya's young age and the sudden obsession he felt, Alexander did not pursue her; by this time, Alexander had become an Archangel. On the flipside, Zanaya did not pursue Alexander due to the feelings of possession and obsession she felt for him. Not wanting to become her mother, Zanaya purposefully turned away from the attraction she felt for him. There was also court politics and loyalties in the mix as further roadblocks. 

When their positions in life were stable enough (Zanaya had risen up the ranks to be a General for another court), they both admitted their feelings and became a couple. Of course, this was the start of their very toxic relationship. Feelings of jealousy, obsession, possession, and stubbornness caused frequent arguments and "breaks" in their relationship. During one of their breaks, Zanaya ascended to the position of Archangel, but rather than feeling dissonance in the presence of another Archangel, the pair were unaffected. This is most likely due to their constant appearance in each other's lives. While angelkind have long lifespans, their mind and temperament are worn down by age and time. Most older Archangels and angels choose to go to Sleep for several millennia at a time to recharge and rest their minds and bodies. 

Recognizing that they both needed to Sleep, Zanaya went to Alexander and rather than understanding, Alexander saw this as a betrayal. To Alexander, she was "leaving him" and not telling him where she would be located. This last "break-up" was a last one for several millennia. During her absence, Alexander continued to rule his territory and eventually fathered a child (Rohan) with another angel. Though they were not passionate lovers, Alexander and the mother of his child, were great co-parents. Once Rohan reached adulthood and was established in Alexander's court, Alexander chose to finally Sleep until he was woken up by Andie and Naasir. 

The middle chunk was barely a chunk. It was from the POV of Zanaya as she awoke from Sleep during the Cascade and before the final fight against Lijuan. Zanaya and Alexander reacquaint themselves and catch-up on all that has happened in the meantime. This chunk ends with Zanaya falling into unconsciousness after getting her lifeforce sucked out by Lijuan during the final battle. Cassandra takes her body to heal and recover.

The last chunk starts with Zanaya recovering in Cassandra's fiery cocoon. Ten years have passed since the final battle against Lijuan. The world has mostly recovered, but the emotional trauma and scarring from the Cascade-fueled battle still marks both mankind and angelkind. During her ten-year absence, Alexander has reflected on his relationship with Zanaya. It was uncertain if Cassandra could heal Zanaya and the other afflicted Archangels, but Alexander held out hope for her recovery. Alexander's main focus was rebuilding and stabilizing his territory after the Cascade, and raising his grandson, Xander. Upon her "resurrection," Zanaya takes her place among the Cadre and establishes her territory in Africa. Zanaya for the most part is healed except for the changes in her eyes that Lijuan induced. 

While stabilizing her territory, Zanaya feels drawn to the resting place of Antonicus, the Archangel who met his death in the black fog of Lijuan's territory. Over the last ten years, any Reborn that scattered from the final battle was hunted down, but it seems that there were some who evolved into more and it's up to Alexander and Zanaya to find out what's causing the change. 

Overall, I enjoyed this book. We see the deep history between the main couple, but also with other Archangels, and in different moments in time. The third chunk was a jump in time, but it meshed well into the current timeline. The pacing was steady and ramped up a bit in the third part. I liked reading little tidbits in part three, e.g. who designed Alexander's insignia and which angels were waking from Sleep. I can't wait to see which character's book is coming up next or if we are returning to the OG couple. 

4.5 stars

About the Author

Photo Credit: Author's Webpage

On Me

I was born in Fiji and raised in New Zealand. I spent three years living and working in Japan, where I took the chance to travel around Asia. I’m back in New Zealand now, but I’m always plotting new trips. If you’d like to see some of my travel snapshots, have a look at the Travel Diary page.

I’ve worked as a lawyer, a librarian, a candy factory general hand, a bank temp and an English teacher, but not necessarily in that order. Some might call that inconsistency, but I call it grist for the writer’s mill.

On writing

I’ve been writing for as long as I can remember. All of my stories held a thread of romance, even when I was writing about a prince who could shoot lasers out of his eyes. Creating unique characters and giving them happy endings is my favorite thing. I even love the voices in my head, so there’s no other job I’d rather be doing. When I got the call in September 2002 that Silhouette Desire wanted to buy my first book, Desert Warrior, it was a dream come true. I hope to continue living the dream until I keel over of old age on my keyboard.

Social Links

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Goodreads

ARC Book Review: Storm Echo by Nalini Singh

NYT bestselling author Nalini Singh takes us into the hearts of two fractured people in a world on the brink of a psychic Armageddon . . .

Silence has fallen. The Psy are free to feel emotion. Free to love. But Silence was never a prison for Ivan Mercant. The biggest threat to his future lies dormant in his brain—a psychic monster that wants only to feed. And now, the brutal leash he’s kept on that monster is slipping. He prepared for this day, for the end of Ivan Mercant . . . but that was before he met Lei.

As primal as she is human, this wild changeling brings color into his life, laughter to his soul. Then the dream shatters in a rain of blood, in silent bodies in the snow. Lei is gone. Vanished without a trace . . . until he meets strangely familiar eyes across a busy San Francisco street.

Soleil Bijoux Garcia is a healer who has lost everything. She exists in a world of desolate aloneness . . . till the day she finds herself face-to-face with a lethal stranger. The animal who is her other half knows this man, but her memories are tattered fragments. Sorrow and a need for vengeance are all that drive her. Her mission? To kill the alpha of the DarkRiver leopard pack.

But fate has other plans. Soon, a deadly soldier who believes himself a monster and a broken healer might be all that stand between life and death for the entire Psy race.

Buy Links

Amazon  |  Barnes & Noble  |  Book Depository  |  Google Play 

  IndieBound

CLICK THE EXCERPT BANNER ABOVE TO READ AN EXCERPT!

Well, dang. Where do I start? This is the 21st book in the Psy-Changeling series, and book 6 in the Psy-Changeling Trinity...story arc...? I'm not sure if that is the correct term since each book in the PCT series coincides with the main timeline. Just to be clear, there is no timeline/alternate universe jumping here. There are a few flashbacks with some much-needed context. Ivan and Soleil's story was full of surprising twists, sweet moments, heartache, and spicy scenes (1-2 chili peppers spicy). The Mercants are a Psy family full of mystery and they are loyal to the core. While training in the wilderness, Ivan is injured and comes across Soleil, a Changling and Healer. Their relationship slowly develops with the possibility of something more. They are separated by a catastrophic event until they are fated to meet once again...and this time Ivan is not letting go. I liked how Soleil complements Ivan's personality. She is sunshine and love personified. She herself has suffered great heartache. She has some lost memories due to trauma and was under the impression that DarkRiver was the reason her pack is gone. Soleil's pack was a mystery in the first half of the book. I had a vague idea of which pack it was, but I couldn't quite remember who it was. The identity of the pack will be a nice Easter egg for fans who have read the PCT series/arc from the beginning. On the flip side, we also slowly unravel who Ivan Mercant is and we also learn more details about how the Mercant family operates. Lots of cameo appearances from other popular Mercants to add some zest into the mix. I enjoyed the pacing and over-arching story. The dynamic between Ivan and Soleil is that of partners and lovers. They have a deep trust in each other's abilities and faith in their relationship. Overall, Storm Echo is a solid addition to the series. 

4.5 stars

About the Author

Nalini Singh is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of the Psy-Changeling, Guild Hunter, and Rock Kiss series. She lives and works in beautiful New Zealand, and is passionate about writing.

If you’d like to explore her other books, you can find lots of excerpts and free short stories on her website. Slave to Sensation is the first book in the Psy-Changeling series, while Angels’ Blood is the first book in the Guild Hunter series. The Rock Kiss books are all stand alone and can be read in any order.

Connect with Nalini!

Website  |  Facebook |  Twitter  |  Goodreads  |  Instagram

Cover Reveal: Cherish Hard by Nalini Singh

Presents

New York Times bestselling author Nalini Singh kicks off her new Hard Play contemporary romance series with a sizzling story that’ll leave you smiling…

 Meet Sailor & Isa on November 14th!

New York Times bestselling author Nalini Singh kicks off her new Hard Play contemporary romance series with a sizzling story that’ll leave you smiling…

Sailor Bishop has only one goal for his future – to create a successful landscaping business. No distractions allowed. Then he comes face-to-face and lips-to-lips with a woman who blushes like an innocent… and kisses like pure sin.

Ísa Rain craves a man who will cherish her, aches to create a loving family of her own. Trading steamy kisses with a hot gardener in a parking lot? Not the way to true love. Then a deal with the devil (aka her CEO-mother) makes Ísa a corporate VP for the summer. Her main task? Working closely with a certain hot gardener.

And Sailor Bishop has wickedness on his mind.

As Ísa starts to fall for a man who makes her want to throttle and pounce on him at the same time, she knows she has to choose – play it safe and steady, or risk all her dreams and hope Sailor doesn’t destroy her heart.

Pre-order your copy today!

Amazon  |  Amazon UK  |  Amazon CA  |  iBooks  |  nook  |  kobo

  

☆☆☆☆☆☆

EXCERPT

Fuming, Ísa made sure to set the alarm system and lock up. Everyone else was already well into their summer vacation—the sole reason Ísa was here was because she hadn’t been able to work on her lesson plans at home.

Her upstairs neighbor was having repairs done to her bathroom that required banging and hammering.

Not all of it involved nails and wood.

Hopefully the repairs would be finished by now. There was only so much ecstatic orgasmic screaming that a single woman in online-dating purgatory could stand without being driven to violence.

She spotted the tan-colored gardening truck the instant she came down the front steps of the school’s imposing redbrick main building and turned left to head toward her car. The hot gardener had parked it right next to her zippy blue compact. The front of the truck had four doors with tinted windows while the large bed was piled with shovels and other manly tools as well as a huge sack of clippings.

His light brown T-shirt was hanging over the top of the tailgate.

Which meant he was still walking around topless somewhere around here.

“Get in your car, Ísa,” she muttered to herself, well aware what would happen if she came face-to-face with that delicious hunk of manhood. Because while she might’ve conquered her shyness, she knew her limits.

Confronted by a bare-chested man who made her ovaries explode, she’d turn bright pink, lose her ability to form speech, and end of story. “Oh—”

She would’ve bounced off that sculpted chest if he hadn’t grabbed her by the hips.

“Hey, sorry,” he said with a startled smile that lit up the dazzling blue of his eyes. “I didn’t see you.”

“No, um, my fault.” It looked as if he’d crouched down to check one of his tires or something else but had risen to his feet right when she swung around to get into her car. And God, his skin was so hot and smooth and he was so tall and his shoulders were so broad and her mouth was drying up. The stuttering would begin at any moment.

The same stuttering Suzanne had mocked relentlessly when they were fourteen. Until Ísa had gone silent around everyone except the few friends she trusted. And now that horrible, ugly-hearted girl was getting married, having a baby, getting a happily-ever-after. Added to which, Ísa’s mother was jerking her on a string like she was a marionette, and her last “date” had asked her to call him Woofy and reward him with doggy biscuits.

The blue of the gardener’s eyes flickered with a hot flame.

And she thought… I know him. But before she could follow that faint thread, all the fury and hurt and frustration and sheer aggravation in Ísa ignited into an incandescent inferno.

She went mad.

Grabbing the hot gardener’s beautiful face in her hands, she said, “I want to kiss you.”

A wicked grin. “Go on ahead.”

And Ísa pressed her lips to his.

Copyright © 2017 by Nalini Singh

Meet the Author

Nalini Singh is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of the Psy-Changeling, Guild Hunter, and Rock Kiss series. She lives and works in beautiful New Zealand, and is passionate about writing.

If you’d like to explore her other books, you can find lots of excerpts and free short stories on her website. Slave to Sensation is the first book in the Psy-Changeling series, while Angels’ Blood is the first book in the Guild Hunter series. The Rock Kiss books are all stand alone and can be read in any order.

STALK HER:  Website | Facebook |  Instagram  |  Twitter | Goodreads

  

Blog Tour Book Review: Silver Silence by Nalini Singh

(Psy-Changeling Trinity, #1; Psy-Changeling, #16) 

New York Times bestselling author Nalini Singh returns to her extraordinary Psy-Changeling world with a story of wild passion and darkest betrayal... 

Control. Precision. Family. These are the principles that drive Silver Merchant. At a time when the fledgling Trinity Accord seeks to unite a divided world, with Silver playing a crucial role as director of a worldwide emergency response network, wildness and chaos are the last things she needs in her life. But that's exactly what Valentin Nikolaev, alpha of the StoneWater bears, brings with him. 

Valentin has never met a more fascinating woman. Though Silver is ruled by Silence--her mind clear of all emotion--Valentin senses a whisper of fire around her. That's what keeps him climbing apartment buildings to be near her. But when a shadow assassin almost succeeds in poisoning Silver, the stakes become deadly serious...and Silver finds herself in the heart of a powerful bear clan. 

Her would-be assassin has no idea what their poison has unleashed... 

Excerpt

Laughing at the cubs’ antics, Valentin jogged down the slight incline and waded into what had to be ice-cold water after kicking off his boots and socks. He splashed the cubs, laughed when they splashed him back. Running so they could chase him, he turned abruptly and chased them back, to their unhidden joy.

Silver took a seat on the grass. When the female bear looked her way, she inclined her head in a silent greeting. The bear did the same, then they both watched an alpha bear play with two energetic cubs, his hands holding rough care for their small bodies.

By the time Valentin made his way back to her, he was drenched and his eyes weren’t human in any way. When he spoke, his already deep voice was so low it felt like thunder against her skin. “Couldn’t resist,” he said, pushing back his wet hair with one big hand. “If you weren’t in recovery and if I wasn’t in terror of Nova’s wrath, I’d have invited you. The small monsters wanted to play with you.”

Silver didn’t get to her feet. “Can we stay here a little longer?” It was patent that Valentin had an extremely high tolerance for the cold, but he might want to dry off.

“Sure,” he said, and, moving away several feet, shook off the wet.

Fine droplets settled on the skin of her cheek, but she didn’t flinch at the unintentional tactile contact. She also controlled her urge to reach up and touch the water where it lay against her skin. There was no reason to do that, and Silver was alive because she only did things that were rational.

Settling beside her, Valentin waved at the cubs as their guardian led their tired forms toward a path in the trees that was at the same level as the stream. “Gentler climb,” Valentin told her.

“They seem too exhausted to make it to Denhome.”

“It’s all an act—they’re hoping for a ride on their aunt’s back.” His tone held the same fond affection she’d heard when he spoke of Dima. “It’d take more than a few minutes’ play in the water to wipe out those two.”

The cubs had played with Valentin for almost a half hour. “They’re hyperactive?”

“They’re baby bears.”

Silver watched as those baby bears turned toward her and rose up on their back paws, as if in challenge. A stern sound from their caretaker, and they dropped down and scrambled to catch up with her. Their bodies disappeared into the trees as dusk began to turn from orange to shadowy gray.

Beside her, Valentin sprawled out, bracing himself on his elbows. His drenched T-shirt clung to the ridged muscles of his abdomen, pulled tight across his pectoral muscles, shaped itself over his shoulders. His jeans weren’t much better, outlining the raw muscle of his thighs.

Valentin Nikolaev was a man of violent physical strength even in human form. Yet he clearly had iron control over it; when he’d played with the children, they’d displayed zero fear of their alpha.

“You thought about where you’re going to live when you escape the bears who’ve kidnapped you?”

When she raised an eyebrow at him, he grinned. “Fringe netter with his own Internet channel sent out a breaking report last night. Pasha—who obviously needs more work duties—made up a fake account and posted a comment swearing to have seen you being pulled into a black van by six burly bears in bear form.”

“You don’t seem too concerned.” Amber eyes and deep voice, he remained very much a bear in human form.

“Well, according to this ‘eyewitness,’ the getaway driver was in bear form, too. Must’ve been tough for him to steer with one paw since he was drinking a beer at the same time.”

“Bears,” Silver said, making Valentin throw his head back and laugh that huge laugh that wrapped around her.

Posted by arrangement with Berkley, a member of Penguin Group (USA) LLC, A Penguin Random House Company. Copyright © Nalini Singh, 2017.

Oh my goodness. I love all of the characters of the Psy-Changeling world, but I think Valentin and Silver are my new favorites. Silver is the epitome of a Psy in full Silence. I was a little worried at first because she kept repeating over and over that she was one of the few who needed Silence in order to survive. How was Valentin supposed to woo her to the bear changeling side? LOL, I had nothing to worry about. Right off the bat, Valentin, big bear alpha that he is, slipped past Silver’s security to personally deliver a message to the icy, emotionally detached Psy. Silver is observant and accurate in her assessment of Valentin’s abilities. The banter between them is charming and never fails to put a smile on my face. Oh, the pet names he has for her. ~le sigh~ Valentin happens to be at the right place at the right time to get the plot going. After a failed assassination attempt, Valentin and Silver’s grandmother (and matriarch of the Mercant family) cleverly maneuver and secret Silver away from prying eyes and propped up within the StoneWater Bears’ stronghold. Valentin is one charming Bear. In a Bear pack, much like every other Changeling pack, skin privileges are a definite must. With Silver being in such close proximity, it’s no wonder how Valentin courted Silver. Of course, Silver being the type of person she is, their courtship would not go as Valentin had planned. The small portion of the rocky park made me a little sad, but all is well. We get more background plots about the Human Alliance, the mysterious Consortium and of course, we get small peaks into the lives of past characters/couples. Overall, I am satisfied by the general direction of the plot, the pace was not too rushed or too slow, and the courtship took up a good majority of the book (which is not a bad thing). 

5 Stars

**Full disclosure: I received an Advanced Readers Copy in exchange for an honest review. Thank you

About the Author

Biography from Goodreads

I've been writing as long as I can remember and all of my stories always held a thread of romance (even when I was writing about a prince who could shoot lasers out of his eyes). I love creating unique characters, love giving them happy endings and I even love the voices in my head. There's no other job I would rather be doing. In September 2002, when I got the call that Silhouette Desire wanted to buy my first book, Desert Warrior, it was a dream come true. I hope to continue living the dream until I keel over of old age on my keyboard.

Facebook  |  Twitter  |  Website  |  Goodreads

Photo Credit: Lisa Hoang

(Me with Nalini at the Kiss of Snow book signing; her dresses are like artwork)