BOOK REVIEW for "Prima (Vanguards, #6)" by Annie Nicholas

Prima

(Vanguards, #6)

by Annie Nicholas

Re-released: August 24th, 2020

Sugar’s choice. As a human, she’s survived falling in love with a powerful vampire, a wolf pack takeover of her city, and even a werewolf attack on her home. The last one left her broken though.

Paralyzed on the left side, Sugar fights for her independence in her day-to-day life. Her worst injury, the scars on her soul, has her pushing everyone away. Especially her vampire lover, Daedalus. How could he still love her when she is just a shadow of herself? She has always refused offers to become vampire or shifter, and to everyone’s dismay, 
her disabilities haven’t changed her mind.

It’s her choice.

Then the vampire council sends an emissary to Daedalus that changes everything. His clan brother, another Nosferatu, hands him an ultimatum. Return to his post as Prime or he’ll kill Sugar and her shifter friends. Daedalus has brought enough trouble into Sugar’s life. He won’t be responsible for more violence, so he agrees to leave Chicago.

This new threat smacks some sense into Sugar. She’s going to lose Daedalus if she doesn’t take control of her destiny. So, she insists on accompanying him to his vampire nest. A place filled with danger and where she is prey. Can Sugar protect Daedalus’ back, especially precariously balanced with a cane, from the intrigue surrounding him on his arrival home?

THIS IS A RE-RELEASED VERSION OF THE VANGUARDS SERIES FINALE!

~ BOOK REVIEW for Prima ~

****(4) out of 5 stars!

This volume focuses once again on Sugar and Daedalus, bringing us back to where everything began for the Vanguard clan.  But, while we do get to see a little of each of them, this volume focuses almost exclusively on the vampires.  Having been tasked with getting his wayward nest under control, Daedalus has no choice except to return to Pal Robi and set things right.  He fully intends to leave Sugar behind at home, seeing as he is not only just a human, but also a somewhat frail and broken one.  However, she has entirely different ideas, only realizing when she is afraid that she might lose him - one way or another - how much he truly means to her.  Sugar pulls on reserves of strength that no one guesses she had in order to confront her dangerous reality.  Of course, the fact that she's been so despondent since her injuries that she doesn't care whether she lives or dies, that may also have something to do with it.  Things do not go as planned, from little problems to big issues.  But eventually they do lead to a resolution that ends up being a happy one for the couple, once they get past their own personal issues as well.  And in the end, not only do they get their own happily ever after, but Sugar really comes into her own as Prima.  I will definitely miss this fun group of shifters, now that their stories have come to an end.

I received an eBook copy of this title from the author,

and have willingly provided an honest review.

About the Author:

Annie Nicholas hibernates in the rural, green mountains of Vermont where she dreams of different worlds, heroes, and heroines. When spring arrives the stories pour from her, in hopes to share them with the masses one day.

Mother, daughter, wife are some of the hats she happily wears while trudging after her cubs through the hills and dales. The four seasons an inspiration and muse.

BOOK REVIEW for "Sigma (Vanguards, #5)" by Annie Nicholas

Sigma

(Vanguards, #5)

by Annie Nicholas

SUMMARY:

To defend and protect.

Sam is Sigma of his pack, defender of the young, old, and frail. Too bad the one time it mattered most, he failed to protect his best friend. Just when his self-loathing can’t grow any larger, he becomes entangled in a vampire skirmish and is left with an injured female in his arms.

Clementine can’t believe her vampire master would ask her to commit corporate espionage. She’s comfortable behind a desk, crunching numbers. Not racing through city streets trying to stay alive. Then of all things, a wolf shifter comes to her rescue. He’s made of all her fantasies rolled into one. In the one night with him, she lives more than the century she’s spent among her clan.

Hiding with Sam on the streets of Chicago, in the midst of fighting together to stay alive, can a petite vampire break through her hero’s jaded heart?

REVIEW:

****(4) out of 5 stars!

For this volume, we return to the tried-and-true formula of the series, with one of the original pack members (in this case, Sam) meeting and having to win over their mate.  Actually, Clementine is rather quickly enamoured of Sam.  Not only does he save her life, but then he continues to protect and take care of her.  He nurses her back to health after an injury, and then he takes care of her other needs.  

She had risked her eternal existence for her master and he had abandoned her.  Left her shot, with a stronger in a car that wouldn't start, for a damaged human female...
Sam growled... "It'll be okay, Clementine.  I'll take care of you."
Good, it was about time someone did.

These two hit it off remarkably well from the very beginning, and only grow to care more for each other as a little time passes and they have more intense bonding experiences of one sort or another.  Of course, there are things that get in their way, or attempt to, anyway.  Some of the aforementioned events for one, Daedalus for another.  But Sam & Clementine manage to survive everything that life throws at them.  And eventually, they get a shot at their own happily ever after.  

"Stay here.  I'll go inside and check things out, then come back for you."
She set the butt of the rifle between them.  "And if the vampires who want me dead show up?  Do you mind if I shoot them out here on the street or should I ask them to wait for you to come back first?"
Raising an eyebrow, he stared hard at her.  "You're going to start being a smartass now?"  
"Sweetie, you've only scratched the surface when it comes to knowing me."

We do get minor glimpses of all the other original pack members, including Sugar who remains human.  And this installment starts to move things along toward an ultimate resolution for Daedalus with his vampire clan.  One way of another, things are going to have to be resolved there.  Too bad it doesn't seem like Sugar cares enough to help or even be around.  I sure hope her attitude changes in the next book!  And that we get to see more of everyone again!

I received a free eBook copy of this title from the author, 

and have willingly provided an honest review.

Goodreads / Amazon

Author Bio

Annie Nicholas writes paranormal romance with a twist. She has courted vampires, hunted with shifters, and slain a dragon's ego all with the might of her pen. Riding the wind of her imagination, she travels beyond the restraints of reality and shares them with anyone wanting to read her stories. Mother, daughter, and wife are some of the other hats she wears while hiking through the hills and dales of her adopted state of Vermont. 

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BOOK REVIEW for "Omegas in Love (Vanguards, #4)" by Annie Nicholas

Omegas in Love

(Vanguards, #4)

by Annie Nicholas

SUMMARY:

We return to Chicago where the Vanguard pack makes its home.
Where Tyler and Katrina, omegas of the pack, are in love.
And Tyler finally gains the courage to pop the question...

But Katrina's past has caught up to her.
Chen, her old alpha, has found her and steals her from Tyler's grip.
Then claims she is his mate.

What is an omega to do against an alpha?
Run and hide?
Not this omega, not when the love of his life is at stake. 

REVIEW:

***(3) out of 5 Stars!

This episode of the Vanguards' story starts out a bit different than the others.  For one thing, Tyler and Katrina already know their mate.  In fact, they're been together (in one capacity or another) for a couple of years now.  And Tyler is just about to ask Katrina to marry him even.  Unfortunately, her past chooses that precise moment to come barreling back into her life.  And it is not a pretty or welcome past either.  

This book is so far probably my least favorite of the series.  The main adversary here is so loathsome and depraved.  And there is so much trauma that occurs to the main characters that we have come to love.  It is just hard to watch.  Although I must say that when some butt-kicking happens near the end of the story, it is immensely satisfying.

Be smart.  They'd beat the snot out of him if he got caught.  He hadn't any delusions of grandeur.  He wasn't a warrior...  He didn't have much in the muscle department, but he did have brains.  Most of the time.
Katrina needed him.  As her mate, her safety was his responsibility and he'd failed.  Kicking down a door like his beast wanted wouldn't save her.  He needed to sneak her out...

Wimp versus warrior - he didn't need to be a genius to guess the end results...
Not wasting any time, Tyler did what any smart dude would do in his position.
Run.

Things move along incrementally in regards to the overarching plot involving Daedalus and the enemies he is facing.  But, understandably, the focus is much more on retreiving Katrina and tending to their injured; there isn't room for much else.  

At least Tyler and Katrina are eventually reunited and able to continue along the path of their happily-ever-after.  And their love bond is even brighter for what they've had to overcome in order to achieve it.  But it's truly sad and rather depressing to watch them struggle along the way, especially the times when they doubt themselves and each other.  

I sure hope the next volume of the series has a more upbeat mood and a more positive outlook for our off little family of paranormal friends here.     

I received a free eBook copy of this title from the author, 

and have willingly provided an honest review.  

Author Bio

Annie Nicholas writes paranormal romance with a twist. She has courted vampires, hunted with shifters, and slain a dragon's ego all with the might of her pen. Riding the wind of her imagination, she travels beyond the restraints of reality and shares them with anyone wanting to read her stories. Mother, daughter, and wife are some of the other hats she wears while hiking through the hills and dales of her adopted state of Vermont. 

Website / Newsletter

BOOK REVIEW for "Beta (Vanguards, #3)" by Annie Nicholas

Beta

(Vanguards, #3)

by Annie Nicholas

SUMMARY:

Three days of hell, in charge, and running out of antacids.

As the pack’s Beta, Robert needs to watch over the Vasi werewolf pack for a few days. He hates the responsibility, but his job is to dissolve any problems while his alpha honeymoons. Nevertheless, trouble comes to town and her name is Esther. She's beguiling, beautiful and picks his pocket. Although Robert doesn’t trust her, he still wants to possess her.

Esther arrived in Chicago with the intention of slaying a vampire named Daedalus. While trailing her quarry, she encounters Robert who unhinges her world. He doesn’t know her trade, and she doesn’t know his connection to the vampire. Disturbed by her attraction to this unusual werewolf, she can’t decide which prey to hunt. The one who’s stolen her heart or the one who’ll fill her bank account.

Hot graphic werewolf sex, growing body parts, and one pissed off Nosferatu.

REVIEW:

****(4) out of 5 stars!

I loved this episode of the Vasi story!  Robert is now acting as Beta to Eric, and currently serving as the pack leader in his Alpha's absence, even though he feels much more comfortable operating as an Omega.  Unbelievably, despite his success in the role and everyone's support of him, he still feels out of place and unsure of himself.  Especially when it comes to women, and especially with Esther.  He's sure that she'd lying to and using him, and the fact that she actually is doing so doesn't help their budding relationship any.  

"A vampire slayer tried to kill Daedalus tonight."
The remains of sleep vanished from Tyler's eyes.  "Wow.  What did you do with the body?"
Shaking his dead, Daedalus gestured to Robert.  "He has a crush on her, so he won't let me finish her."  ...
"She seemed pretty distraught when she accidently shot him.  Daedalus galnced at Robert.  "Instead of running for her life, she stayed to help you."

But Esther is both more and less than what she seems.  When they first meet, she tells Robert truthfully that she's a vampire slayer, but of course he thinks she's just kidding.  As things progress between them Esther actually becomes more and more honest, both about herself and also her feelings toward Robert.  Unfortunately, it takes him almost dying (at her hand, no less), for each to start realizing how much they care for one another.  And it takes her own brush with mortality for both to fully accept their bond.  

Rob stomped toward his sedan when he did a double take.  "Did you take Daedalus's car?"
"Yes."
"Better not take you home after the hospital.  He's going to skin you alive."

While their love story is the main focus of this story, and it seems like a pretty quick and straightforward one, there's actually quite a lot going on in the background.  We learn a bit more about some of the developing relationships of the housemates.  And that the Vasi or Vanguard pack is maybe not quite as united and reformed as the original Omegas had thought.  Also, that someone has put a hit on Daedalus, and it's someone that Robert has a hard time accepting.  Hopefully, in the next installment we'll learn even more about what is going on here.  

I received a free eBook copy of this title from the author, 

and have willingly provided an honest review.

Author Bio

Annie Nicholas writes paranormal romance with a twist. She has courted vampires, hunted with shifters, and slain a dragon's ego all with the might of her pen. Riding the wind of her imagination, she travels beyond the restraints of reality and shares them with anyone wanting to read her stories. Mother, daughter, and wife are some of the other hats she wears while hiking through the hills and dales of her adopted state of Vermont. 

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BOOK REVIEW for "Alpha (Vanguards, #2)" by Annie Nicholas

Alpha (Vanguards, #2)

by Annie Nicholas

SUMMARY:

Someone is about to get some Spice in his life.

Spice returns to Chicago searching for her estranged identical twin, Sugar. Instead, she discovers Eric living in her younger (by six minutes) sister’s house. The once nerd-next-door has grown into the kind man that makes a woman’s knees grow weak… and he’s offering to sleep on the couch so she can stay at the house.

Eric can’t believe Spice has returned. He’d given up hope of ever seeing her again, let alone having her stare at him like a tall glass of water on a hot Sahara day. But he has a secret, he’s the Alpha of Chicago’s werewolf pack. How does he explain that he’s been searching for his mate and he thinks he’s found her?

REVIEW: 

****(4) out of 5 Stars!

I enjoyed this volume even more than the first in the series!  It was a fun, frolicky story about the sweet romance between Eric and Spice.  Of course, everything is complicated by the fact that Spice has been completely out of their lives for a few years.  And also that Eric has since become not only a werewolf, but also the Alpha leader of his pack.  It takes Spice awhile to adjust to the new living situation: not only returning to live with Sugar, but also several members of the pack, and her sister's vampire lover.  Eric has loved Spice for a long time though, and she is recently grown appreciative not only of his new look and demeanor, but also come to appreciate what a nice guy he truly is.  Of course, there are the usual obstacles thrown in their way (their own doubts and misgivings, concerns about Sugar's reaction to them as a couple, the opinions of other housemates, etc); and the not so ordinary obstacles (including a very aggressive female werewolf hell-bent on having Eric as her mate).  Luckily, with some committment and hard work from both Eric and Spice, and some amazingly helpful advice and support from family and friends, they are eventually able to overcome all obstacles, and acheive their much deserved happily ever after.  

I received a free eBook copy of this title from the author, 

and have willingly provided an honest review.  

THIS IS A RE-RELEASE.

A Note from the Author:

If you have already read the previous version, I want to let you know that I rewrote most of the book. This is the first series I had published and I was young and fresh and full of mistakes. Thank goodness for the delete button. The story is still the same, I haven't changed or added any new characters. I fleshed out the old characters, added a few scenes, and just made it more me. Hope you enjoy the read! 

Alpha is currently just 99-cents on

Amazon Kindle!

Click here to read my 3-Star REVIEW of "Omegas (Vanguards, #1)"!

Author Bio

Annie Nicholas writes paranormal romance with a twist. She has courted vampires, hunted with shifters, and slain a dragon's ego all with the might of her pen. Riding the wind of her imagination, she travels beyond the restraints of reality and shares them with anyone wanting to read her stories. Mother, daughter, and wife are some of the other hats she wears while hiking through the hills and dales of her adopted state of Vermont. 

Website / Newsletter

BOOK REVIEW for "Omegas (Vanguards, #1)" by Annie Nicholas

Omegas
(Vanguards, #1)
by Annie Nicholas

SUMMARY:

Only a vampire is strong enough to teach werewolves how to fight.

After a turbulent childhood, Sugar strives for a peaceful life. That goal is difficult when her neighbors turn furry and howl at the moon. They are not the regular chest pounding, make your blood curl kind of werewolves though. She’d have moved. More like the geeks of the underworld, and Chicago’s premier wolf pack has issued them a life or death challenge. Their only option for survival? Hire a vampire warrior for combat training.

Life is bound to grow more complicated now that a hot vampire lives next door.

(THIS IS A RE-RELEASE.)

REVIEW:

***(3) out of 5 stars!

I enjoyed this book, but I felt like it could have been a whole lot more. I liked the concept of paranormals living among real humans, the omegas banding together to form their own little support group, the idea of the underdog coming into his own and besting the jerk alpha. However, the characters felt a bit hollow to me, like they could have been fleshed out quite a bit more. The relationship between Sugar adn Daedalus in particular could have used a lot more attention. Overall, it was a fun read, but I just didn't feel that it lived up to its potential. I am hopeful that perhaps future volumes in the series will flesh things out a bit more. I received a free eBook copy of this title from the author,  and have willingly provided an honest review.

Author Bio

Annie Nicholas writes paranormal romance with a twist. She has courted vampires, hunted with shifters, and slain a dragon's ego all with the might of her pen. Riding the wind of her imagination, she travels beyond the restraints of reality and shares them with anyone wanting to read her stories. Mother, daughter, and wife are some of the other hats she wears while hiking through the hills and dales of her adopted state of Vermont. 

Website / Newsletter