Review: HOSTAGE TO PLEASURE by Nalini Singh

 

Title: Hostage to Pleasure (Psy-Changeling #5)
Author: Nalini Singh
Release Date: September 2, 2008
Genre: Paranormal, Romance
Source: bought physical copy
Buy Links: Amazon | B & N | BookDepo | Indigo | IndieBound | Penguin | Powell’s

With her darkly seductive Psy/Changeling world, Nalini Singh has created “a sensual, dangerous adventure not to be missed” (New York Times bestselling author Lora Leigh). Now, as the deadly Psy Council tightens its grip, a rebel Psy scientist finds herself at the mercy of a changeling who has sworn vengeance against her kind…

Separated from her son and forced to create a neural implant that will mean the effective enslavement of her psychically gifted race, Ashaya Aleine is the perfect Psy–cool, calm, emotionless…at least on the surface. Inside, she’s fighting a desperate battle to save her son and escape the vicious cold of the PsyNet. Yet when escape comes, it leads not to safety, but to the lethal danger of a sniper’s embrace.

DarkRiver sniper Dorian Christensen lost his sister to a Psy killer. Though he lacks the changeling ability to shift into animal form, his leopard lives within. And that leopard’s rage at the brutal loss is a clawing darkness that hungers for vengeance. Falling for a Psy has never been on Dorian’s agenda. But charged with protecting Ashaya and her son, he discovers that passion has a way of changing the rules…
 

Read an EXCERPT on Nalini’s website.

Top Ten Tuesday (37): Top Ten Books I Want to Re-read

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by the gals at The Broke and the Bookish. 

 

Top Ten Books I Want to Re-read…

 

JELLICOE ROAD by Melina Marchetta. This is one of the greatest stories I have ever read and I can’t believe I haven’t re-read it at least once since the first time I’ve read it.

 

 

THE QUEEN OF ATTOLIA by Megan Whalen Turner. Gosh, thinking back on the first time I’ve read it… I have zero doubts that I’ll feel exactly the same about this book. In awe.

 

IGNITE ME by Tahereh Mafi. I want to re-read all those lines and all those scenes. I want to relive all. those. FEELS.

 

 

HOSTAGE TO PLEASURE by Nalini Singh. Even though I’ve already re-read this one twice this year, I’ll probably be able to squeeze in time for a third re-read before the year ends. That’s how much I love this book.

 

  

ROMANCING MISTER BRIDGERTON by Julia Quinn. This is another of my go-to re-reads. When I’m craving for a well-loved, familiar, and light romance with humor, this is the book I turn to over and over again. It never gets old.

 

Thirsty Thursday (3): Book Covers that make my pulse jump

Thirsty Thursday is a weekly feature, hosted by Nikki & Keira @ Lazy Book Lovers, where we discuss all things swoon-worthy: from quotes, book covers, book boyfriends, and even that worth-the-wait book kiss.

 

Book: Satisfaction by Sarah Mayberry

Swoon Quality: This cover perfectly embodies my idea and imagination of what Rafel (or at least Rafel’s body *hehe*), the hero in the book, looks like. He’s part-owner of a famous and well-respected tattoo shop where the heroine plans to get her ‘O’-fix but suffers a slightly (or majorly) embarrassing mistaken identity gaffe. But Rafel is totally swoon-worthy so I can’t help but love this cover of his book as well. If you guys are interested, you can check out my review of Satisfaction HERE.

I’m going to be a little bit greedy and do two more of these. LOL 🙂

 

Book: The King of Attolia by Megan Whalen Turner (The Queen’s Thief series book #3)

Swoon Quality: This is one book cover that I will never get tired of looking at. There is so much to swoon about it, not only because of the beautiful art, but especially because of the symbolism present in it. Everyone who’s read MWT’s The Queen’s Thief series knows who that man is, why he’s wearing royal clothes and holding that sword, and who that hand on his shoulders belong to. I am just internally squealing and fan-girling about how this cover just interpreted visually one of the stunning plot developments in this series. I can’t rave about this series enough. If you’re interested, check out the amazing reviews of Angie @ Angieville (starting with The Thief).

 

Book: Hostage to Pleasure by Nalini Singh (Psy-Changeling series Book #5)

Swoon Quality: Here’s another example of the cover capturing my idea of the hero of the book or was it the other way around… hmm, the other way around it is. I’m bad with picturing characters so when I saw this version of the cover, my mind just completely latched on to this and I’ve imagined Dorian Christensen, the hero of the book, as this guy. 🙂 Because those eyes and that expression! He looks so intense, exactly how intense I imagine Dorian would be!

 

That’s it for me for this week’s edition. What are some of the book covers that make your pulse jump?

Don’t forget to check out Nikki’s and Keira’s picks this week here. My good friend Lorn @ Pakwanstripes is also doing this feature.

 

Quote-tastic (1): HOSTAGE TO PLEASURE by Nalini Singh

 

QUOTE-TASTIC is hosted by Herding Cats & Burning Soup.

Join us every Monday and share a favorite quote that’s grabbed ya for one reason or another.

Everyone’s welcome to join in. Authors, bloggers, readers. The more the merrier!

Just grab the button and toss up your post 🙂 

Don’t have a blog? No worries, just leave your favorites in the comment section.

 

HOSTAGE TO PLEASURE by Nalini Singh

He haunts me. The sniper. In my dreams, he is a black shadow with his eye focused on the scope of a rifle. Sometimes, he puts down the weapon and walks toward me. Sometimes, he even touches me. But most times, he presses the trigger. And kills me.

— From the encrypted personal files of Ashaya Aleine

It’s becoming an obsession–my fascination with the sniper. Today, in the lab, I felt his breath on my nape. I am a scientist, a being of logic and reason, but part of me is convinced that he was real, that I could have raised a hand and brushed my fingertips across his lips.

— From the encrypted personal files of Ashaya Aleine

I heard the sniper’s voice against my ear when I woke today. He whispered sensual promises so savage, I can hardly believe these thoughts come from some corner of my own psyche. And yet they must. Because, at the end, he called me prey. 

And told me to run.

— From the encrypted personal files of Ashaya Aleine

 

Top Ten Tuesday: Character Names I Love

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted at The Broke and the Bookish. This week’s list is about character names you love or unusual character names that you’ve encountered. Here’s mine.

 

#10

Eugenides “Gen”

The Thief series by Megan Whalen Turner

 

 

 

 
#9

Heath Champion

Match Me If You Can by Susan Elizabeth Phillips

 

 

 

 
#8

Cather (and Wren)

Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell

 

 

 

 
#7

Ashaya Aleine

Hostage to Pleasure by Nalini Singh

 

 

 

 
#6

Magnus Bane

The Mortal Instruments series by Cassandra Clare

 

 

 

 
#5

Kaleb Krychek

Psy-Changeling series by Nalini Singh

 

 

 

 
#4

Draco Malfoy

The Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling

 

 

 

 
#3

Four

Divergent series by Veronica Roth

 

 

 

 
#2

Peeta Mellark

The Hunger Games series by Suzanne Collins

 

 

 

 
#1

Cricket Bell

Lola and the Boy Next Door by Stephanie Perkins

 

 

 

 

Honorable Mentions:

Dominique Richard
The Chocolate Touch by Laura Florand

Penelope
Romancing Mr. Bridgerton by Julia Quinn

Pippa
One Good Earl Deserves a Lover by Sarah MacLean

Dimitri
Archangel’s Blade by Nalini Singh

 

 

What about you? Which character names do you love or you find unusual?

 

 

Super Six Sunday: Favorite Book Couples

Super Six Sunday is a weekly meme hosted by Bewitched Bookworms. Even though, it’s already Monday, I just couldn’t pass up this Super Six Sunday week. This Sunday’s theme: Favorite Couples.

It was so hard to narrow it down to six when I have a long list of couples that I really enjoyed rooting for. But finally, I did get them narrowed down. Somewhat.

 

Tied at #6

Lola and Cricket

Lola and the Boy Next Door by Stephanie Perkins

I love reading about these two quirky characters, with their past and their present feelings. The chemistry is so there that even before Cricket enters the story and Lola just mentions him in passing, you just know that there’s something special about their connection, whatever that may be.

Cath and Levi

Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell

Theirs is a romance that hit me blindsided. I didn’t even know Rainbow Rowell was going to go there but when she did, wow, was it amazing. I love the gradual connection that emerged between these two. And when they got together, I thought, ‘Were they ever going to be with anybody else? Of course not.”

 

 

Tied at #5 (again… ^_^)

Pippa and Cross

One Good Earl Deserves a Lover by Sarah MacLean

It was just so good watching or specifically reading these two fall in love with each other. I don’t know if they were described as such in the book itself but when I think of them, they remind me of jagged puzzle pieces with their oddities and eccentricities particularly Pippa but nevertheless, their jagged edges fit perfectly together. And Sarah MacLean did such a great job with their story.

Evie and Sebastian

Devil in Winter (The Wallflowers # 3) by Lisa Kleypas

These two have found salvation and redemption in each other. I loved watching Sebastian change for the better or to describe it better, be the man we know he truly is.

 

 

#4

Eleanor and Park

Eleanor and Park by Rainbow Rowell

The beauty with the nitty-gritty of first love. These two just break my heart. With their intense emotions coupled with that you-and-me-against-the-world kind of environment. The development of their relationship just leaves you amazed and flabbergasted. It wasn’t the type of relationship with distinct episodes ending in exclamation points but the type that is just connected by these series of commas, with one episode flowing into the next seamlessly and irrevocably that there was no way of getting to that period without every single thing that had happened before it.

I grabbed this wonderful art from Rainbow Rowell’s website and which she, in turn, got from a digital painting by Simini Blocker.

 

#3

Eugenides and *SPOILER* Attolia (highlight to read)

The Thief Series by Megan Whalen Turner

Oh, these two. If ever there was a more complicated but profound romance, it will be the story of these two compelling characters. How a romance could’ve developed from their circumstances and blossom into the kind of partnership that these two have, is a complete and utter mystery to me and one that I am more than happy to just enjoy and revel in, thanks to the literary genius of Megan Whalen Turner.

 

#2

Penelope and Colin

Romancing Mr. Bridgerton by Julia Quinn

I’ve re-read their story half a dozen times already and I still haven’t gotten tired of it. Or ever will, I daresay. There’s just something magical with these two and how their relationship has evolved from a mere acquaintance into true friendship and later into a beautiful love.

 

 

 

#1

Ashaya and Dorian

Hostage to Pleasure by Nalini Singh 

The connection of these two just burns through the pages. Their passion, their strong characters, and their devotion and loyalty just light a fire and touch you as a reader. A short interlude between the two from the previous book in the series and you just know that Nalini Singh would not pass up an opportunity to write a book about them. Their story is fraught with all kinds of obstacles that Nalini just lays down perfectly and although I looked forward to their happily ever after, I was just invested and excited to go along the journey with them. And I was never disappointed. Not even once.

 

Special mentions:

Lydia and Jonas – A Kiss for Midwinter by Courtney Milan (novella) 

 

Annabelle and Heath – Match Me If You Can by Susan Elizabeth Phillips 

 

Tris and Four – Divergent Series by Veronica Roth 

 

Katniss and Peeta – Hunger Games series by Suzanne Collins 

 

 

 

Who are your favorite book couples?

Top Ten Tuesday: Best Sequels Ever

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted at The Broke and the Bookish. This week’s list: Best Sequels Ever. So without further ado, may I present my top ten. Not all the books are strictly the second offerings. I’ve included a couple books down the series line.

#10 Faking It by Cora Carmack (Losing It #2)
Liked the premise plot than the first book. And the words that Cora Carmack kept producing page after page just took my breath and my heart away. Loved the parallelisms throughout the book.

 

 

 

 

#9 The Chocolate Touch & The Chocolate Kiss by Laura Florand (Amour et Chocolat #4 & #2 respectively)
Much, much better than the first book. Laura Florand’s writing kept getting better and better after each book in this series. More depth for the characters. More emotional tugs to the heart. And the connection between the main couples was more strongly established.

 

#8 Devil in Winter & It Happened in One Autumn by Lisa Kleypas (Wallflowers #3 & #2)
Loved the flow of these two books. The premises were intriguing in themselves but the progression of the romance and the character development were the highs for me.

 

 

#7 Lola and the Boy Next Door by Stephanie Perkins (Anna and the French Kiss #2)
Liked this one so much better than the first book. And as much as I hate to compare Etienne with Cricket, sometimes it’s hard not to. But I think the plus for me for this sequel was that even though we get everything from Lola’s POV, by the end of the book, I know Cricket. Not the ‘I know of him’ feeling that I sort of got from Etienne but that ‘I truly know this guy and what makes him tick’ sort familiarity with Cricket.

 

 

#6 Before Now by Cheryl McIntyre (Sometimes Never #2)
It was such an interesting read from Park’s POV. You get why he’s such a bast*** but you can’t help but root for him to get his own HEA just the same. You go through his ups and downs with him and this guy just about melts your bones, melts your heart.

 

 

 

#5 Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins (Hunger Games #2)
A lot of people said that this sequel was just a recycling of the first book. But I beg to differ. SPOILER ALERT. Sure, Katniss and Peeta find themselves inside the Hunger Games arena yet again after just becoming champions for the previous Hunger Games but that’s about only thing that’s similar between the first and the sequel. This sequel has set up entirely new dynamics among the characters. And of course, Peeta Mellark. Need I say more?

 

 

#4 The Viscount who Loved Me & Romancing Mr. Bridgerton by Julia Quinn (The Bridgertons #2 & #4)
The Bridgertons. One of the most beloved families in all of Historical Romance world. Daphne and Simon’s story in the first book started the series well. And the succeeding books just built on that great foundation that Julia Quinn had set up. Anthony’s and Colin’s stories will continue to be on my re-read book list.

 

#3 One Good Earl Deserves a Lover by Sarah MacLean (Rules of Scoundrels #2)
Oh, Sarah MacLean. This book has found its place in the list of my favorite books of all time. The premise and the trajectory of the story were unique, fresh, and entirely lovable. The main characters, and Penelope were so different and yet so alike and they fit so well together. Their idiosyncrasies made the book work.

 

 

#2 Hostage to Pleasure by Nalini Singh (Psy/Changeling #5)
It has been said many times and I will say it again as well. Nalini Singh has created one of, if not the most amazing paranormal series ever. Her world-building is just in a whole other level. Her characters are well fleshed-out, relatable (amid their psy or changeling capabilities), totally intriguing. Her story-telling is superb. And you can guess which of her books in the series is my favorite. Each sequel just builds on the previous book, plot-wise, character-wise, until after 12 books, you’ve got yourself a superb world with no lack for a minefield of mysteries and plot development.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

#1 The Queen of Attolia, The King of Attolia, & A Conspiracy of Kings by Megan Whalen Turner (Queen’s Thief #2, #3, & #4)

As far as sequels go, these bunch are by far the best and my most favorite. Talk about building a world. Imagine concentric circles, the innermost being Gen, the main character in the first book. And as you go through the first, second, third, and four installment of the series, you get the succeeding circles, expanding the characters that you know, the goings-on that you are witnessing directly or indirectly, and the mysteries and questions that you want answered. And the circles just keep growing and growing bigger: as big as the love for this series that you would most likely develop in due time.