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My Review:Title: Hara's Legacy
Author: Bianca D'Arc
Series: Resonance Mates #1
Published by: Samhain Publishing
Release Date: May 29, 2007
Format: Kindle Book
Pages: 249
Genres: Erotica, Post-Apocalyptic, Science Fiction
Potential Triggers: View Spoiler »
Reading Challenges: Lenoreo's 2020 Beat the Backlist Challenge, Lenoreo's COYER Quarantine Edition
Find it: Goodreads ✩ Amazon ✩ B&N ✩ Kobo ✩ iBooks ✩ IndieBound ✩ Book Depository
My rating:
Blurb:It's a serious game of cowboys and aliens when three psychically gifted brothers try to protect the one fragile, empathic woman who holds all their hearts against a menacing ailen threat.
Resonance Mates, Book 1
Montana rancher Caleb O'Hara's precognitive abilities saved his family from an alien attach that annihilated almost everyone on Earth. Now the aliens have come to study the remnants of humanity. Caleb knows the only way to ensure the safety of his young wife, Janie, and his beloved brothers, Justin and Mick, is to keep the family together on their isolated ranch.
All three O'Hara brothers love Jane. They grew up next door to the young, empathic beauty and she stole all their hearts at one time or another, though she married Caleb. Caleb foresees the shocking truth of what they have to do in order to survive, and Caleb's visions never lie.
They'll have to come to terms with a new world, and an evolving relationship, all while finding a way to protect two newborn babies who are innocent pawns in the aliens' deadly game. Somehow, this one talented family holds the key for humanity's survival on this new, conquered world called Earth.
Warning: This book is intended for mature audiences as it contains explicit sex and menage a quatre
3.5 stars — It’s been a LOOOOONNNNNGGGG time since I read this book. So long that it must have been before I joined Goodreads, because I didn’t even have these books on my TBR there.
Is it weird that I enjoyed the world-building/plot stuff more than the erotica? There were definitely some good steamy scenes, but I was more intrigued by everyone’s abilities, and the visions, and the aliens, and the children…
I definitely saw some things that kind of irk me nowadays in this one. Some of the conflict with the brothers and with Jane skirted around sex shaming, without actually going all the way there. There was also some disturbing rape culture in the background, as there often is in these post-apocalyptic books — not enough women, and apparently that means that men that have gone without will turn into rapists. *rolls eyes* I should fucking hope not, jesus. But alas.
So yeah. I’m definitely wanting to read more and remember where this is going, but I know the situations are probably going to be getting more and more on the line (ie not good for those with triggers). We’ll see if it’s still something that works for me or not.
My Review:Title: Davin's Quest
Author: Bianca D'Arc
Series: Resonance Mates #2
Published by: Samhain Publishing
Release Date: February 19, 2008
Format: Kindle Book
Pages: 242
Genres: Erotica, Science Fiction, Post-Apocalyptic
Reading Challenges: Lenoreo's 2020 Beat the Backlist Challenge
Find it: Goodreads ✩ Amazon ✩ B&N ✩ Kobo ✩ iBooks ✩ IndieBound ✩ Book Depository
My rating:
Blurb:Which man will Callie choose, the alien or the warrior? Or can she have both?
Resonance Mates, Book 2
For each Alvian, there is one perfect match a Resonance Mate whose soul blends in perfect harmony. Unlike the rest of his race, Davin has emotions and suffers for it. Without a mate, he is doomed to go mad. Searching for answers and understanding, he seeks out Callie O’Hara, a human woman with strong empathic gifts. Could this fragile human be his Resonance Mate?
Rick St. John is a tough-as-nails survivor of the Alvian occupation of Earth. He doesn’t believe in much, but when he sees Callie for the first time, he starts to believe in love at first sight.
The Governing Council is gunning for Davin, the upstart who dares to defy them. And they’ll kill anyone who gets in their way. Davin and Rick must come to terms with their feelings for Callie in order to keep her safe, while she has to find a way to save them both with her love.
Note: This book is intended for mature audiences. It is a menage romance, with explicit love scenes set in a possible future where aliens have taken over the Earth.
3.5 stars — Yup, pretty much felt the same way as rereading book 1. Had more interest in all the background plot stuff than in the steamy scenes. *snort* Apparently I’m broken. I think I enjoyed them a *teensy* bit more, but still there was a lot of conflict over what was “right”, and Rick’s pigheadedness in understanding that when the woman enjoys it and expressly wants it, it’s not wrong really drove me crazy (as it did with Mick).
But seriously, the crystals?? And the crystallography? I mean, not based in science whatsoever, but super interesting, and I loved the power it gave Davin even as he was looked down upon. I really enjoyed seeing how things were shaping up over the years — how humans were still being treated poorly, but how even a few non-throwback Alvians were being affected (Grady Prime in particular). I’m also intrigued about Sinclair Prime, and can’t remember if he comes back.
The age of Callie bothered me a bit in this one, though it never crossed into ick territory. She was just very young and naive. *shrugs* Onto the next one!
My Review:Title: Jaci's Experiment
Author: Bianca D'Arc
Series: Resonance Mates #3
Published by: Samhain Publishing
Release Date: August 5, 2008
Format: Kindle Book
Pages: 296
Genres: Erotica, Science Fiction, Post-Apocalyptic
Reading Challenges: Lenoreo's 2020 Beat the Backlist Challenge
Find it: Goodreads ✩ Amazon ✩ B&N ✩ Kobo ✩ iBooks ✩ IndieBound ✩ Book Depository
My rating:
Blurb:Love.the grandest experiment of all.
Resonance Mates, Book 3.
As a young Alvian lab tech, Jaci knows her place in the orderly, emotionless society her race has established on the planet Earth. While preparing a batch of experimental skin patches, she is accidentally exposed to a gene-altering agent. In a matter of days, she's assaulted with raw, primitive, forbidden emotions she has no clue how to handle. If her superiors find out, she's a dead woman. Her only hope is to seek help from the human test subjects held captive in pens below the city.
Before the aliens came, cousins Mike and Dave used their psychic abilities to their advantage in business dealings. Now they use them to stay alive, keeping a sharp telepathic eye out for ways to help themselves and others improve their lot.or escape. Their friendship with Jaci has always been more than simply captives and caretaker. Now that her DNA has changed, their shared resonance is the stuff of legend.
Inevitably, Jaci's emotions expose her to deadly Alvian justice. Suddenly she's in the race of her life, seeking the only safety she's ever known ... in the arms of her human Resonance Mates.
Warning: This book contains graphic language, ménage a trois, naughty dream-walking and scorching hot alien loving, set in a post-apocalyptic world.
4 stars — I think I remember this series ramping up even more as it went on, and that seems to be the case in my rereads as well! I mean, I’m still only meh on the erotica part (though this one was better than the first two), but the world and the overarching plot and the start of the revolution and Grady and Bill and Sam and ahhh!! I’m just really enjoying all the little pieces that are coming into play, and how they’re weaving together.
It’s funny, normally I’m not a huge fan of secondary characters getting “screen time” in my books, but I’ve really enjoyed the glimpses we’ve gotten into the heads of Grady and Bill in particular. They have such interesting stories to tell, and while I know Grady gets the next book, I’m glad we get something from Bill since he remains a secondary character (if not an important one) for the rest of this series (AFAIK). I can see where it’s going with Sam, and I’m excited about it, even if it’s in the background.
And even though Caleb’s visions feel a bit convenient in setting things in motion, I find I don’t even care. It’s fun to see how all these different parts work together to set things in motion.
I mean, sure, Jaci, Mike and Dave were actually pretty great together. But if it had just been their story, it probably would have been another 3.5 star rounded down again. It’s the rest that has me excited to read more.
My Review:Title: Grady's Awakening
Author: Bianca D'Arc
Series: Resonance Mates #4
Published by: Samhain Publishing
Release Date: August 12, 2009
Format: Kindle Book
Pages: 272
Genres: Erotica, Science Fiction, Post-Apocalyptic
Potential Triggers: View Spoiler »
Reading Challenges: Lenoreo's 2020 Beat the Backlist Challenge
Find it: Goodreads ✩ Amazon ✩ B&N ✩ Kobo ✩ iBooks ✩ IndieBound ✩ Book Depository
My rating:
Blurb:An alien warrior discovers what it is to love ... and to share.
Resonance Mates, Book 4
Alien super-soldier Grady Prime’s missions routinely lead him in unexpected directions, but his latest assignment ... to kill a rogue warrior ... is far beyond routine. This time he meets a woman who embroils him in an adventure of the highest order. Love.
Gina has lived among aliens so long, she’s lost her fear of them. She is undeniably attracted to Grady, even though their respective duties force them apart. Then, on a mission to a far-flung outpost, an encounter with a man from her past leaves her torn between her flaming desire for Grady, and her still-simmering love for an old flame.
Jim and his group of human dissidents live in secret, away from alien patrols. He has responsibilities, and covert operations to manage. But when Gina re-enters his life, only one thing matters ... being with her.
Brought together by chance, the three form an alliance that pushes the boundaries of desire and make unexpected connections that could save the human race from alien conquerors …
Note: This book contains red hot alien loving, ménage a trois, super sexy alien soldiers, wicked fast martial arts masters, explicit language, explicit sex and explicit love. Always love.
3.5 stars — I totally thought I’d read this one already! But I hadn’t! I can’t believe I resisted Grady’s story for so long. I really enjoyed certain parts of this one, but there were a few questionable moments that I was not impressed with.
In particular, there is a body cavity search in this one that turns somewhat sexual, and it just felt very wrong (not to mention super questionable consent). I mean, of course Gina enjoyed it…but it’s just…it bothered me. *shrugs*
The other thing I was a bit bummed about was the competition between Jim and Grady…something about the way their threesome evolved just wasn’t as fun for me. There was almost self-slut-shaming in parts (which seems to be a theme), and after just having read about Mike and Dave who have a good report, I was bummed to go back to people not thinking threesomes are “right” or whatever. *sigh*
Now, on the other hand — the overarching plot still has me super intrigued. I’m not saying it doesn’t have these convenient explanations here and there, but I guess I just don’t care. I love these little enclaves of humanity that have popped up, and I love the way the emotionfull Alvians have found a place with them. And the whole Zxerah (forgot spelling) thing was super interesting. I can’t wait to see how this series ends. Hopefully I won’t be super disappointed.
My Review:Title: Harry's Sacrifice
Author: Bianca D'Arc
Series: Resonance Mates #5
Published by: Indie
Release Date: March 11, 2014
Format: Kindle Book
Pages: 254
Genres: Erotica, Science Fiction, Post-Apocalyptic
Reading Challenges: Lenoreo's 2020 Finishing the Series Challenge, Lenoreo's 2020 Reading Assignment Challenge
Find it: Goodreads ✩ Amazon ✩ B&N ✩ Kobo ✩ iBooks ✩ IndieBound ✩ Book Depository
My rating:
Blurb:Embracing the unexpected can lead to all sorts of adventures.
Resonance Mates, Book 5
The prophesied time has arrived and Harry—born of an alien mother and a human father—must journey to the top of the world to unlock a mysterious ship found trapped in an icy crevasse. A ship only someone of Harry’s bloodline can open.
Roshin, a young Alvian scribe, is sent to record events as they unfold. Beneath her remote, icy beauty, Harry feels an unwanted hum of attraction. He has always dreamed of a warm, giving relationship with a human. Not a cold, emotionless Alvian.
Then there’s Cormac, an Alvian officer sent to head the expedition. When all three are trapped inside the vessel, Harry is confronted with an unexpected dilemma—cling to his dream of a human bond, or answer the call of fate and form a lifelong alliance with not just one, but two aliens.
Note: This book is intended for mature audiences. It is a ménage romance, with explicit love scenes set in a possible future where aliens have taken over the Earth.
2.5 stars — Well, that was seriously underwhelming. Bummer. I knew there had been a LONGGGGG break between publishing the 4th book and this final book, and apparently the author went through some personal challenges in between time. But this book felt like an author writing just because it was requested, and putting in the minimal effort to give the readers a conclusion. It was like she looked at her notes and just sort of wrote that stuff, but without any elaboration or tension or, you know, the stuff that makes a book compelling. It was like a summary.
I mean, okay, it wasn’t that bad. But everything happened SUPER easily for the characters, without any strife or concern or again, tension. Tension is so important! It was like, okay, so wake the ancients, they have a plan, they’re worried about things going wrong, they execute the plan, nothing goes wrong…in fact, everything goes super right and it’s all easy and done. *sigh* Boring.
I still enjoy the world this author built, I still enjoyed the concepts, but after reading the build up, I was bummed that I didn’t get everything I was hoping from it. There were hints about General Yeager in the previous book, and he had a minimal mention, so the author dropped whatever plot line that was going to be. For all the time we spent in everyone else’s heads instead of Harry/Roshin/Cormac, I still didn’t get my happy ending for Bill (because he totally should resonate with Ruth). I didn’t get to find out about Callie’s baby, it’s like that stopped existing. We never got to see glowing crystals and the final resonance tests really after Jaci’s book.
It just wouldn’t have taken much for the author to have done a LOT better. Then we come to Harry. Harry was prophesied in BOOK ONE that he would have this hard life and was going to go through something horrible…which I guess was living amongst the emotionless Alvians?? And the book is CALLED Harry’s Sacrifice…and you know what his sacrifice was? Not getting human mates. Ugh. He held on to that wayyyyyy too long. The three together were okay. I liked Roshin and Cormac.
Hara and Percival were pretty funny, but they were the epitome of Deus Ex Machina.
And even aside from all my complaints from above? It also needed to be re-edited, because there was a ton of repetition — like the same exact conclusions would be made 2 chapters later…like the author forgot she’d already made those discoveries/conclusions.
OK, I’m going to have to lower the rating. Apparently I was crankier than I thought. I’ll still give it a round up boost, but I don’t even know why. I’m just going to go with the gut.
Binging on aliens again. LOL. I was reading through and it looked like each book was getting better and that last one. Ugh. Sorry it took such a down turn for you.