Valiant by Laurann Dohner

I cannot gush and praise this book enough. I started it last night and didn’t stop until I finished, which wasn’t until after midnight. Many already know I am a huge fan of Laurann Dohner and this new book in the New Species series is only fueling my addiction. I was so glad it was two hundred plus pages.

This is the story of Valiant a New Species member who takes more after his animal DNA, physically and personably. Valiant has a reputation as the most dangerous and most feared New Species. Tammy works for a catering service and was given bad directions and ends up in Valiant’s territory.

I feel like a broken record, but I’ll say it until it no longer applies. LD knows how to keep you invested in a book. Halfway through the book I noticed my back was hurting and I realized I had been hunched over my laptop for almost two hours. It was that good. When Valiant’s character was introduced in a previous book I wasn’t sure if I’d be interested in reading his story because his animal side was so much more prevalent than Fury’s or Slade’s, but I am glad I took the chance. I knew from previous experience to expect murder, sex, treachery and romance. I wasn’t disappointed. I was also happy to see cameos of previous characters. I also knew to expect at least two run-ins with the human terrorist organizations that are against the existence of the New Species.

I loved how intense LD made Valiant. He was uber protective, uber possessive, uber sexual. He was just uber in all ways. Be still my heart. If you want an Alpha, Valiant is that and more.  I knew that New Species were an intense breed, but Valiant brought new meaning to that term. He felt everything so much more intensely than the average man so when he finally fell for Tammy he fell completely. LD has a reputation for writing nail biters and this release didn’t deviate from the norm. The love scenes were explosive and enough to make anyone blush. These two had such intense passion and chemistry that it literally jumped off of the page. And just when you think the two are going to get a HEA something else happens and they’re back in the fray.

Definitely a must read.

Fury by Laurann Dohner

There is something that needs to be addressed before the review. This series is similar to a present series by another famous author. If I didn’t address this issue then I’d be showing my bias. Yes, there are similarities (the fact that their DNA is spliced with animals and a few other things), but overall both series stand alone. 

One thing that is a constant with Laurann Dohner (LD) is her ability to immerse and pull you into the story in the first chapter. I was so horrified and so disgusted by how the New Species were being treated that I was automatically a fan and rooting for their freedom. I knew she could write action, build suspense, and was an expert (wd?) with love scenes, but after reading this new book my level of appreciation for her has skyrocketed.

This book is full of tension, sexual and plot wise. Neither Fury nor Ellie bother to hide the attraction they have for each other. It’s a build up to see who will give in first and what will push them both over the edge. The outer tension is the world’s reaction to the creation and existence of this New Species group. Naturally, there are the pro-New Species and there are the factions that are pro-Human.   

Besides the constant back-stabbing and murder plots, it was fascinating to see how the New Species were learning to exist outside of the labs. For example, the women were learning how to do everyday tasks as simple as vacuuming and using a microwave. It’s amazing how much we take for granted the doing of simple tasks. I was also interested in the steps New Species was taking to establish their own sovereignty. What I always enjoy about LD’s writing is that she keeps me on my toes. At the point where I get complacent and feel like I relax into the story she throws in a scene or conversation that literally makes you sit up and go WTF. Case in point, the part of the book where pro-Human fanatics broke into the New Species compound and were headed straight for the women’s dormitory. I actually sat up in my seat and reread the scene twice to make sure I got every dangerous description and detail.

As per usual, Laurann Dohner inserts characters that will have their own stories in the series. I honestly couldn’t find one whose story I was not interested in. I am extremely interested in reading the stories of the smaller female New Species. I did notice that the DNA the New Species were mixed with didn’t seem to be that important. It was mentioned that Fury was mixed with canine, but that is as far as it went. There wasn’t too much exposition into the DNA mixing. Maybe more will be explained in a later book.  

The antagonists in this book aren’t relegated to one person, but a group of people. There are adversary’s coming at the New Species colony from within as well as from the outside world, which opens up the book to the realm of espionage. And because there are so many positions inside the colony i.e. doctors, security, PR, etc. it’s difficult to pinpoint who the ‘bad guy’ is. An excellent plot device. I know I’ll love this series as much as I do the others.

His Purrfect Mate by Laurann Dohner

His Purrfect Mate is the story of Anton and Shannon. This book is the second in the Mating Heat series and is centered around Shannon, a ¼ feline ¾ human mix, whom was abducted by members of Anton’s pack just because she was a feline shifter. Anton, a wolf shifter, feels obligated to protect her until he deals with the offenders, but this abduction happens in the middle of mating week.
If you haven’t read Mate Set its okay, HPM does not piggyback off of it. There’s a mention of those characters, but not having any familiarity with them will not upset your understanding of this book. 

I was torn between liking Shannon and not liking her because of how afraid she seemed to always be. When I found myself getting impatient with Shannon’s “unreasonable” fear I had to remind myself that she was raised by a human mother with old stories her father used to tell her about the savageness of wolf shifters. The story behind her character was original in that she hadn’t lived her entire life feeling different with unique abilities that she couldn’t explain. She knew exactly who her parents were and why she was the way she was.

The tension between Anton and Shannon, based on their different species, brings new meaning to the phrase fighting like cats and dogs. There was such disdain and genuine hatred between feline shifters and wolf shifters. There was an actual trespass and die rule.

I loved the chemistry between Anton and Shannon. Even their being enemies did not stop their budding attraction. It puts you in mind of Romeo and Juliet, but without the suicide. At the point where they acknowledge their feelings for each other I am instantly dying to know how they can overcome the hate their species has for each other. Throw in the fact that Shannon’s shifter pride doesn’t even know she exists and you have a recipe for disaster. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again Laurann Dohner is an awesome author. She does action, romance and humor so well. Another reason I love her writing so much is she is constantly creating and developing. The vocabulary and turn of a phrase that the characters use is completely fresh. For example, when the shifters are in their human form they call it ‘in skin.’ In all the shifter books I've read, quite a few, I've never heard this phrase.

 My favorite part of this book, besides the steamy love scenes, was the fact that Anton took the time out to explain and express his feelings. Shannon didn’t have to pry it out of him. He was ready to share himself without any prompting from her.

It’s always a possibility, even with a favorite author, that they could write something you won’t enjoy, but at this point I have yet to reach that point with Laurann Dohner.

Laurann Dohner "Redeeming Zorus"

Redeeming Zorus is the sixth book in Laurann Dohner’s Cyborg Seduction series. The two main characters, Zorus and Charlie, are thrown together when Charlie breaks Zorus out of a government facility in order to keep her own brother from being killed by loan sharks. In the process of returning Zorus, whom happens to be a Cyborg council member, to his people Charlie finds their positions switched. She is now the one being rescued and Zorus is her liberator.

I am no new-comer when it comes to Laurann Dohner’s Cyborg series. I was first introduced to LD through her Zorn Warriors series (another fav series of mine). LD’s writing is so vivid and her character interaction leaves nothing to be desired. I can always count on being sucked in and immediately transported to the sci-fi world she has created. In my experience I’ve found that most futuristic, sci-fi [romance] novels seem to have the same plot layout – Earth is in jeopardy and we need to colonize a different planet, Earth has visitors and they want to trade resources for women, etc etc. LD has gone a completely different way and created a fresh approach.

Sidenote : these cyborgs are not Terminators with a sex drive. They are bio-engineering at its finest.

If you’re familiar with the Cyborg Seduction series then you’ll recognize Zorus, but if it’s your first time reading the series then you’ll go into without any preconceived notions. I expected Zorus to be a ‘proper @$$hole’, but found myself rooting for him 2 chapters into reading. This book is chocked full of fighting, sex, family squabbles, sex, possible treason, sex and two of the most unlikely people getting together. I went into reading this book praying Zorus got his comeuppance and boy did he ever. There’s no need to slap this review with a SPOILER ALERT just know its all good by the time you hit the end.

When I read Laurann Dohner I can always expect some kind of plot addition that I never expected. Just when I think I have a good grasp on which direction the book and its characters are going a shiny marquee with the words “THOUGHT YOU KNEW, BUT YOU REALLY DON’T” appear before my eyes. I nod to myself and say “Yes, Laurann you got me again.” It does my cynical heart good to know that there are authors out there that can still wow and surprise me. Don’t get me wrong -- I can still appreciate certain books where I can psychically predict the outcome, but I add the ones who make me say wow to my auto-buy list and Laurann Dohner was added 6+ books ago.