Erotic romances are just not my cup of tea

When I first discovered Lora Leigh back in the mid 2000s, I had no idea that erotic romance was going to become the booming market it is now.  I didn't read her Breed series for the sex, but for the intriguing story line that centered on a global rogue governments project to create brutal, super strong soldiers by using animal DNA and splicing it into human genetics to make the perfect warrior.  Cruel, soulless, intelligent, and completely loyal to whomever held his/her leash. 

The people born into those facilities suffered cruelties beyond comprehension, but have since escaped and are now being hunted by the government labs to recapture them and begin the breeding program once again.  Breeds 2.0.

Now this was an amazing premise, and I have enjoyed the books.  But when I decided on the first of January to use my library's Overdrive catalogue, so that I could read a few short books and get my Goodreads goal off to a good start, I thought I'd give the erotic romances another go - and it didn't go well.  Instead of finding another Breeds series I instead found books that only used a vague plot to take you from sex scene to sex scene.

Am I too old?  Are my reading tastes those of an aging generation who just don't get it?  Oh God, am I turning into my mother?!!

No.  I've just come to the conclusion that erotic romance as a genre just isn't for me.  So far this year I've read about 15 books and none of them have rated highly.  Perhaps my enjoyment of the Breed series stems from the fact that it made the jump from an indie publisher (Ellora's Cave) to a huge publishing juggernaut like Berkley?  Well, I think that that certainly didn't hurt it.

Anyway, my point is that it is okay to not love (or even like) a genre of books.  Don't let anyone tell you that you're not a real reader if you don't like a genre, or subject, or on the flip side, if you do like books that everyone else seems to hate don't let their criticisms put you off.  Don't feel guilty for having a personal preference.

Do I like erotic romance?  No, not really.  But I do like this series and some of the author's other works and in the end that's all that matters.

Thank you for hanging around to read my musings.  I'd be interested to know if you have read any of the books that fall under erotic romances (such as Ellora's Cave), and if so what did you think of them.

And until next time,

 

Review: Stygian's Honor

Stygian's Honor
Breeds Bk 27
Lora Leigh

Released: 07 August 2012
Mass Market Paperback, 374p.
Berkley Books
ISBN: 978-0-425-24607-8

The Breeds return - in Lora Leigh's breathtaking new novel of animals instincts and human desires...

Window Rock, Arizona, is the last known location of Honor Roberts, who vanished when she was just thirteen.  It was her only sanctuary from the Breed research that would surely have ended in her death - one such insidious experiment should, indeed, have killed her.  That she lived is both a miracle - and a great mystery.

Stygian's mission is to find Honor Roberts, no matter the cost.  Now, with the help of Liza Johnson, assistant to the chief of the Navajo Nation, he is closer than ever to his goal.  But will the discovery of Honor Roberts mean the destruction of the mating heat that has developed between Stygian and Liza?

This latest installment of the Breeds series sees us following Stygian in his struggle to secure his mate's love.  I have been following the Breeds for more than 10 years, and even though the formula is still the same - Breed finds girl, girl resists, first kiss then BAM, mating heat, trouble follows, fights erupt, kiss and makeup - I still can't get enough of these guys.

The Good:

So, what did I like about Stygian's Honor?  I have been curious about the mysterious Breed that has played a part in so many of the previous books.  Stygian is another loner who has found himself wanting a woman who is being hunted by the Genetics Council.  He is a strong, loving, protective male who only wants Liza.  I do love a dominant Breed :-D

The story arc is still following the hunt for anyone who can help Amber (Jonas and Rachel's daughter) survive. It's a good storyline and always tugs on the heartstrings, but I hope that it gets resolved soon {I want to read Cassie's story *nudge nudge*}.  Having said that, you can see that Jonas and Co. are making real progress in that respect - and that helps move things along.

Many of the characters we know and love pop up in Stygian's Honor which is great because you can find out what they're up to (in a limited fashion of course).  It's always nice to see old favourites.

The Bad:

Okay, so it's basically the same as every other book.  Just change the names, physical descriptions, and voila! a new book.  As for characters, as much as I love him, Jonas is getting on my nerves.  Seemingly a God among Breeds, apparently there is little he can't do.  I would like someone to be able to hand him his a$$ just for once.  Perhaps Gideon will be that Breed?

Liza is quite a confusing character, so she gets a special mention. Not to say that she isn't a strong, fiesty woman, but she was all over the place emotionally throughout the book.  I did find the premise of a hidden identity enticing, however the discovery and revealing of the much hunted Honor was a little disappointing.  I thought that more could have been done in that respect.

Then there are the fathers of Liza and Claire.  One minute Audi, Liza's father, is protective and loving then a few chapters later he's giving her his 'military face' and causing no end of grief for her. Consistency please!  Liza's mother appeared to be set up to have a more substantial role in the book than she ended up with.  During one of the final confrontations between the families and the Breeds, she was nowhere in sight.  I would have liked to have her reaction to the 'secret' shown. 

Also, thanks to Dog and his conversation with Thane it appears that there is another twist in the storyline ... now what new subplot is being set up?

Overall opinion:

Lora Leigh has stumbled onto something magical with her Breeds and their struggle for freedom, but there are only so many storylines one can use before it all gets repetitive.  There is a real chance that the series could deteriorate, story-wise, like the Kenyon's Dark-Hunters, or Feehan's Dark series.  For now, I think there is still life in the series - I can't wait for Gideon/Fawn and Cassie's stories - so I'll be on the look out for future books.

New this week

Mmmm, I'm sooo happy.  I just got some new books yesterday and I've already devoured them all, staying up until nearly 4am reading.  I just couldn't seem to put them down!  I'm paying for it now thought.  My eyes feel like they're full of sand, but it was worth it :-D

• Always the Vampire - Nancy Haddock
• Deadly Descendant - Jenna Black
• Touch of Frost - Jennifer Estep
• Stygian's Honor - Lora Leigh
• Nightshifted - Cassie Alexander
• A Taste of the Nightlife - Sarah Zettel

Of all the books the only one that didn't really hit the spot was Nightshifted.  I'll give it a few days and try again - perhaps I was too tired? - and I'll post reviews as soon as I get a good nights sleep.  But in the meantime, I'm off to Book Depository to order some more books.  Wish me luck.

Christmas reading

Merry Christmas to you all!  I hope your day was as fabulous as mine.

This year was the first time I have never received a book for Christmas.  Strange, but true.  Luckily, a pre-ordered title showed up - just in time for some Yuletide cheer. 

"What book was it?" I hear you ask... well, it was the latest story in the seemingly neverending Breeds saga by Lora Leigh.  Lawe's Justice picks up soon after Styx's Storm and we find Rachel's sister, Diane, hunting for the location and names of Breeds or former Council scientists who can help her niece, Amber.  A Huntress, she is wary of her mate, Lawe Justice, as he wants to corral this high-spirited warrior, and keep his mate safe behind Sanctuary's formidable walls.

Adding to the tension between the two is a feral breed, Gideon, who has endured torture that was beyond compare.  He is using Diane to locate 3 former captive Breeds whom he considers betrayed him by keeping him alive (they did it out of love I think?), and is killing every person he considers guilty.

There are appearances by the other alpha's, and this is a continuation of the Bradenmore storyline. 

Braden and Megan are present for a brief moment, this is their first appearance in a looong time, so I savoured it.

Although this is Dianne and Lawe's story, the introduction of Gideon made me want to read his story instead.  He is such a forceful, tortured character that he simply overrides the others.  He's just like Jonas - only, you know, psychotic.

This book was only about 2 1/2 stars, but Gideon pushed it up to 3.

You can read this as a stand alone book, but it is much more potent when you have read all the others.

O Happy Day. I've got books, books.... more books

They're all here... my precious books.  Okay, enough channelling of Gollum :D, but yes, my new order of books from oversea's arrived yesterday.  I'd been told about a great UK site Book Depository and decided to give it a go.  And I'll do it again as soon as I finish reading these.

• Styx's Storm
• The Darkest Hour
• Twice Bitten
• Cast in Chaos
• Midnight Crystal

I've already ploughed through Midnight Crystal (only so-so... read from library first), and Twice Bitten - Go Merit!.  Today I'll tackle Styx's Storm, you've gotta love those Breeds, and Cast in Chaos is already a work in progress.

So, as I've finished reading Midnight Crystal, I've gotta say that I was disappointed with it.  It's the final of an Arcane Society trilogy, and is listed under the Arcane Society series.  What I really wanted was a good olde fashioned dust bunny of a good time.  It was all set within the futuristic J&J (Jones & Jones for the uninitiated) and Arcane society.  The council was mentioned, and a little bit of the previous Ghost Hunter story has been included, you meet Lyra and Cruz, and find out what happened to Gloria Ray and her Guild Hunter squease and his co-baddies.  But all in all, it wasn't up to the same standard as the usual 'Harmony' titles.   My advice to you... if you choose to accept it, is to read it from your local library.

Okay, now onto something a bit more fun... Twice Bitten.

Now, I've been following the Chicagoland Vampires since the beginning.  I love the character of Merit, and how she's not just some kick-ass woman who doesn't care what's going on around her and manages to sleep with her guy before the first 4 chapters are up.  Merit was a scholar until she got attacked in the park at night while heading home from the Uni library... I know, it gives libraries a bad rep doesn't it ;) Now she's one of the most powerful vamps in her house, and she's half in lust with her Master.  Add some shapeshifter politics and you've got a good read that will keep you thoroughly entertained.

I've found some more upcoming titles that I want... you know, to ask Santa for :P

• Archangel's Consort - Nalini Singh
• Blood Challenge - Eileen Wilks
• Cast in Ruins - Michelle Sagara
• Magic Bleeds - Ilona Andrews
• Navarro's Promise - Lora Leigh
• Twilight's Dawn - Anne Bishop
• Silver Zombie - Carole Nelson Douglas

Well I think if Santa can arrange for these in the future I'll be a happy camper indeed.