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Penton Legacy #4
Allegiance
From award-winning author Susannah Sandlin comes the fourth book in the smart and steamy Penton Legacy series.
British vampire psychiatrist and former mercenary Cage Reynolds returns to Penton, Alabama, looking for a permanent home. The town has been ravaged by the ongoing vampire war and the shortage of untainted human blood, and now the vampires and humans that make up the Omega Force are trying to rebuild. Cage hopes to help the cause, put down roots in Penton, and resolve his relationship with Melissa Calvert. The last thing he expects is an attraction to Robin Ashton, a trash-talking eagle shape-shifter and new Omega recruit.
Meanwhile, as a dangerous saboteur wreaks havoc in Penton, the ruthless Vampire Tribunal leader Matthias Ludlam has been freed on the eve of his scheduled execution. But by whom? And to what end? As war and chaos rage on, love is the last thing Cage is looking for, but will his attraction to Robin distract him from the danger living among them?
British vampire psychiatrist and former mercenary Cage Reynolds returns to Penton, Alabama, looking for a permanent home. The town has been ravaged by the ongoing vampire war and the shortage of untainted human blood, and now the vampires and humans that make up the Omega Force are trying to rebuild. Cage hopes to help the cause, put down roots in Penton, and resolve his relationship with Melissa Calvert. The last thing he expects is an attraction to Robin Ashton, a trash-talking eagle shape-shifter and new Omega recruit.
Meanwhile, as a dangerous saboteur wreaks havoc in Penton, the ruthless Vampire Tribunal leader Matthias Ludlam has been freed on the eve of his scheduled execution. But by whom? And to what end? As war and chaos rage on, love is the last thing Cage is looking for, but will his attraction to Robin distract him from the danger living among them?
344 pages, Paperback
First published June 10, 2014
216 people are currently reading
643 people want to read
About the author
Susannah Sandlin
14 books669 followersPseudonym of Suzanne Johnson
Suzanne Johnson writing as Susannah Sandlin is the author of romantic suspense and paranormal romance, often set in the Deep South, where there are always things that go bump in the night! She is the author of the Penton Legacy series (REDEMPTION, ABSOLUTION, OMEGA, ALLEGIANCE and STORM FORCE (spinoff), The Collectors series (LOVELY, DARK, AND DEEP and DEADLY, CALM, AND COLD) and the upcoming romantic suspense series Wilds of the Bayou, which began with book one, WILD MAN'S CURSE (April 5, 2016) and continues with the release of BLACK DIAMOND on Oct. 18, 2016.
Awards include the 2015 Holt Medallion for Romantic Suspense (Lovely, Dark, and Deep), the 2015 Booksellers Best Award for Romantic Suspense (Lovely, Dark, and Deep), the 2013 Holt Medallion award for ABSOLUTION; a 2014 RT Book Reviews Reviewers Choice Award Nomination for ALLEGIANCE; a 2013 RT Book Reviews Reviewers Choice Award Nomination for OMEGA; and the 2014 Linda Howard Award of Excellence for ELYSIAN FIELDS (written as Suzanne Johnson).
Suzanne Johnson, writes the Sentinels of New Orleans urban fantasy series: ROYAL STREET; RIVER ROAD; ELYSIAN FIELDS; PIRATE'S ALLEY, and BELLE CHASSE (coming November 8, 2016). A novella and story collection from the Sentinels world, PIRATESHIP DOWN, was released in 2015.
Suzanne Johnson writing as Susannah Sandlin is the author of romantic suspense and paranormal romance, often set in the Deep South, where there are always things that go bump in the night! She is the author of the Penton Legacy series (REDEMPTION, ABSOLUTION, OMEGA, ALLEGIANCE and STORM FORCE (spinoff), The Collectors series (LOVELY, DARK, AND DEEP and DEADLY, CALM, AND COLD) and the upcoming romantic suspense series Wilds of the Bayou, which began with book one, WILD MAN'S CURSE (April 5, 2016) and continues with the release of BLACK DIAMOND on Oct. 18, 2016.
Awards include the 2015 Holt Medallion for Romantic Suspense (Lovely, Dark, and Deep), the 2015 Booksellers Best Award for Romantic Suspense (Lovely, Dark, and Deep), the 2013 Holt Medallion award for ABSOLUTION; a 2014 RT Book Reviews Reviewers Choice Award Nomination for ALLEGIANCE; a 2013 RT Book Reviews Reviewers Choice Award Nomination for OMEGA; and the 2014 Linda Howard Award of Excellence for ELYSIAN FIELDS (written as Suzanne Johnson).
Suzanne Johnson, writes the Sentinels of New Orleans urban fantasy series: ROYAL STREET; RIVER ROAD; ELYSIAN FIELDS; PIRATE'S ALLEY, and BELLE CHASSE (coming November 8, 2016). A novella and story collection from the Sentinels world, PIRATESHIP DOWN, was released in 2015.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 102 reviews
July 21, 2017
This book is almost the best of the series. It’s brought in so much more to the story: shapeshifters and that crazy Greisser making “abominations,” as Shawn called it, creatures that were half vampire and half shifter, and human allies that can bring on all kinds of new books.
This book is about the attempt to rebuild Penton while someone from the inside is doing all they can to sabotage everything being done while more and more humans and vampires are leaving Penton because of all the problems. And eight bombings went off all across the states blowing up all the places that kept the supply of non-toxic blood for the vamps. Jeez, they couldn’t catch a break. Then Aidan and Cage are in a car accident and are shot several times by ??? (Not telling you.) And Robin, Cage’s love, takes to the skies in her eagle form to try to find them. It was one exciting thing after another.
One reviewer didn’t like the introduction of shapeshifters, medical experiments and humans as allies but I thought it was fantastic. Just about any addition to any series makes it better, for me anyway.
This ended with Aidan and his man still threatening to go after Greisser, SO hopefully the next book, Illumination, will be worth the 3 year wait. That’s a long time for anyone to write a book in an on-going series.
There was explicit sex in this book and the F-bomb was used 114 times.
As to the narration: Amy McFadden’s narration has come sooo far in this series. He accents, her emotions, and both male and female voices were just wonderful.
This book is about the attempt to rebuild Penton while someone from the inside is doing all they can to sabotage everything being done while more and more humans and vampires are leaving Penton because of all the problems. And eight bombings went off all across the states blowing up all the places that kept the supply of non-toxic blood for the vamps. Jeez, they couldn’t catch a break. Then Aidan and Cage are in a car accident and are shot several times by ??? (Not telling you.) And Robin, Cage’s love, takes to the skies in her eagle form to try to find them. It was one exciting thing after another.
One reviewer didn’t like the introduction of shapeshifters, medical experiments and humans as allies but I thought it was fantastic. Just about any addition to any series makes it better, for me anyway.
This ended with Aidan and his man still threatening to go after Greisser, SO hopefully the next book, Illumination, will be worth the 3 year wait. That’s a long time for anyone to write a book in an on-going series.
There was explicit sex in this book and the F-bomb was used 114 times.
As to the narration: Amy McFadden’s narration has come sooo far in this series. He accents, her emotions, and both male and female voices were just wonderful.
February 18, 2020
I'm knocking off a couple stars because I really don't remember this one at all. The first 3 i do and occassionally revisit.
I want to read the next one, but am dithering if I should skim through this one again...
...
One of the MCs comes from an offshoot book (Storm Force), that takes place prior to this story. I have to say, I really didn't like Robin in the other book. She's an abrasive character that just does not come across as sexy. BUT, in this book she only starts out that way, and as I learned more about her, I actually started to find her endearing. Cage was sexy as ever. Melissa was... well, Melissa. A few main characters were not in this book and that was fine by me. Sometimes series books can get so 'crowded'.
In this book, the tension of life after 'the Vaccine Pandemic' escalates to new levels of violence. Which characters remain safe?... I'm not going to give anything away in this blurb. But war is war you know. This book was a bit darker even than the last. But hang in there to the 'nail-biting' end, because it's worth it! Cage's romance has a sweet conclusion too.
I want to read the next one, but am dithering if I should skim through this one again...
...
One of the MCs comes from an offshoot book (Storm Force), that takes place prior to this story. I have to say, I really didn't like Robin in the other book. She's an abrasive character that just does not come across as sexy. BUT, in this book she only starts out that way, and as I learned more about her, I actually started to find her endearing. Cage was sexy as ever. Melissa was... well, Melissa. A few main characters were not in this book and that was fine by me. Sometimes series books can get so 'crowded'.
In this book, the tension of life after 'the Vaccine Pandemic' escalates to new levels of violence. Which characters remain safe?... I'm not going to give anything away in this blurb. But war is war you know. This book was a bit darker even than the last. But hang in there to the 'nail-biting' end, because it's worth it! Cage's romance has a sweet conclusion too.
December 15, 2014
This series is losing me. I don't know if it ever really HAD me, actually. But nearly every chapter has a different narrator, all from the previous stories, the characters are so one-dimensional it's just sad, and there are continuity issues. (Hannah's parents left in the 3rd book, they were killed in the 4th book; Mel had her neck broken in the 2nd book re-cap, she had her throat slit in the 4th book re-cap).
And the female leads - they've gotten more aggressive and laughable as the stories have progressed. I can't deal with small of stature females who pick fights anymore. Robin is a truly unlikable character, while Cage has been really great over two novels now. He deserves better than this, and real, genuine chemistry between the two is just non-existent.
The only redeeming quality of this story is the Mark and Mel plotline.
Otherwise, I am really tired of reading about bad shit happening to good vampires. The Darkyn series was *so* much better.
And the female leads - they've gotten more aggressive and laughable as the stories have progressed. I can't deal with small of stature females who pick fights anymore. Robin is a truly unlikable character, while Cage has been really great over two novels now. He deserves better than this, and real, genuine chemistry between the two is just non-existent.
The only redeeming quality of this story is the Mark and Mel plotline.
Otherwise, I am really tired of reading about bad shit happening to good vampires. The Darkyn series was *so* much better.
October 24, 2015
This is the 4th book in the Penton Legacy series and last one that has been published so far which means I have to wait for the next book. The author, Susannah Sandlin, told me that there is going to be more books written in the series and she has already released the first book of a spinoff series called Storm Force. I’ll have to read it.
In the last book, Matthias Ludlum was finally imprisoned after his reign of terror against the town of Penton. Matthias is a rich and evil vampire with a seat on the Vampire Tribunal, the council that makes and enforces laws for all vampires. He is obsessed with ruining the town of Penton and its leaders, Aidan Murphy and Mirren Kincaid because he can’t stand that his son William has pledged his allegiance to them instead of his own father. Matthias doesn’t take into account that the reason his son his son wants nothing to do with him is because he is evil and he treated Will horribly. Matthias used his position on the Vampire Tribunal to go after the town of Penton, saying that Aidan Murphy was a threat to the Tribunal because he was amassing so many vampires together who are loyal to him to take over the Tribunal but that was just a lie to cover up the fact that he wants his son back with him.
Aidan Murphy has such a following because he is a good leader and his idea to create a town full of humans and vampires who benefit from each other is a great idea. About five or six years ago, an epidemic hit the world but scientists were quick to invent a vaccine against it called the Pandemic Vaccine. Unfortunately, the vaccine made human blood poisonous to vampires and now vampires are starving. There are very few humans left in the world who have not been vaccinated, mostly drug addicts and homeless because they were too down and out to go get the vaccine but there are others who didn’t receive the vaccine because they were either allergic to one of the ingredients or because they had already had the virus and didn’t need the vaccine by the time it came out. Vampires are fighting over those humans. Aidan went around to homeless shelters and helped drug addicts to withdraw by keeping them in a trance through withdrawal and then he would ask them if they wanted to live in Penton for a chance to live a clean and sober life with a job in a good community for the exchange of letting a vampire feed from them. They would have to keep the vampire world secret and if they ever wanted to leave, he would just erase their minds of the time they spent in Penton. Aidan Murphy believes that humans should be treated as equals and not just as a food source. He bonded the humans and the vampires to him which protected the humans from others ever being able to feed off them.
Matthias used fear to gain the support of the Vampire Tribunal and back him while he went against the town. Aidan had the foresight to see something like this coming so he had a secret underground hideout made near the town which he called Omega. The remaining members of the town, the ones who Matthias hadn’t killed and the ones who hadn’t decided to leave, escaped and hid in Omega while Matthias took over the town. But Matthias made mistakes and turned a lot of the Tribunal representatives against him. He turned one of the town members into a vampire which is against Tribunal law. When the Pandemic Virus became such a problem and vampires started starving, the Tribunal outlawed turning any new vampires. He also did a bunch of other illegal things and ended up being imprisoned.
Also in the last book, Matthias’ son, William, became mated to Randa Thomas who was turned into a vampire just a few years ago. She was raised in a military household and she was also a soldier when she was turned. Hannah, a psychic vampire, has a vision which said someone named Richard would take a vital role in helping them defeat Matthias. The only Richard anyone knows is Randa’s father Rick Thomas, a retired colonel in the military who still does some kind of secret work for the military. The leaders of Penton decide to have Randa and Will go to him and ask him for help. Rick Thomas wasn’t as shocked to learn that vampires exist as he was to learn that his daughter was alive. He agrees to put together a special force called the Omega Force and he comes up with a plan to take in front of the Tribunal. It’s a new world and humans and vampires have to work together if vampires want to survive. He tells them that he will create clinics that specialize in collecting blood from unvaccinated humans and in exchange, vampires will work with him to prevent and fight terrorist attacks. The Tribunal agrees.
In this book, Frank Greisser, the leader of the Tribunal who has been a secret supporter of Matthias for centuries, sets Matthias free and hides him in the Alps. Everyone suspects it was Frank who set Matthias free but nobody would ever accuse him of it because he is so powerful. Frank Greisser is more evil than Matthias could ever be. He does not want the town of Penton to succeed nor does he want Omega Force to succeed. It takes too much power away from him and he will not allow it.
Cage Reynolds returns to Penton from Europe after three months of being gone. Cage originally came to the town of Penton to study it for his boss Edward Simmons, Tribunal representative for the UK. Edward wanted to see if the project was a good idea for European vampires. While Cage was in Penton, he became embroiled in the fight against Matthias but he also became friends with most of the residents. After Matthias was arrested, he returned to Europe but he missed the town and decided to move back to Penton.
Cage had saved one of the Penton residents from Matthias in the last book. Matthias had taken one of the beloved characters, Melissa Calvert, and killed her…or so everyone thought until Cage found her locked in and underground room. Matthias had turned her into a vampire and was starving and torturing her. Cage rescued her. Cage was attracted to her but she was already married and anyway, it would have been a passing fancy because he wasn’t in love with her. He was just attracted to her.
I thought this book was going to try to get Cage and Melissa together which really irked me because Melissa is married to Mark and they had a great relationship before she was turned into a vampire. Melissa claimed that she just didn’t feel the love for Mark like she did before she was turned and she seemed to be going after Cage. I just could not get into Cage and Melissa as a couple no matter what. Melissa kept doing trying to insert herself into Cage’s life. When Cage flight lands in Atlanta, she is the one who picks him up from the airport hoping to have a talk to him about their relationship. I kept asking, “What relationship? He kissed you one time and now you think you are an item? How pathetic!” Yes, I’m one of those who yell at books and the television.
On their way home from Atlanta, Cage kept seeing flashes of people in the woods. Melissa tells him that a lot of vampires are flocking to Penton in hopes of joining Aidan’s scathe with the hopes of getting to feed off one of the humans but since most of the humans had left the town, Aidan wasn’t accepting any more vampires into his scathe. A scathe is a group of vampires bonded and loyal to each other. Other vampires think that if they kill off Aidan, Mirren and William who are the master vampires who all of the humans and other scathe members are bonded to that they will be able to feed off of the humans. Vampires are starving and desperate. Unfortunately, most vampires haven’t got the message that if you kill off the unvaccinated humans or treat them poorly, there won’t be any left for anyone to feed off of. Melissa tells him that they have patrols to keep the “vagavamps” as she calls them at bay.
A vampire steps in front of their car on the way home so they stop. His name is Fenton Patrick and Cage knows him from a long time ago when Fenton was human and they fought in one of the world wars. Cage doesn’t trust him but he lets Fenton in the car and tells him that he will introduce him to Aidan. Melissa is irritated because she wanted to use the time alone in the car to talk to Cage about their relationship. She knows that once he gets into Penton, she will lose him to everyone else and he will ignore her. I really liked Melissa before but she just came off as pathetic to me for going after Cage who was obviously not into her like she was into him. I also felt bad for her husband Mark who really loves her.
In Penton, everyone is trying to rebuild the town after Matthias destroyed most of it. They have thrown up community housing for everyone. There are a few Omega Force members helping with the rebuilding since they are human and can work during the day…or kind of human. They have discovered that shape shifters exist and Omega Force has quite a few on their team. Mark Calvert, Max Jeffries and Rob Thomas are putting up a brick wall in the new training center when the wall collapses. I thought to myself, “Yep, this is where the author is going to kill off Mark so that Cage and Melissa can be together.” I was wrong. Mark didn’t die. Rob Thomas did.
Two new Omega Force members who they had been expecting, showed up just after the wall collapsed. Nikolas Dimitrou bent down and started feeling the bricks while Robin Ashton gave him a clipboard with paper to draw the images that he got from feeling the bricks. Nik can see images from items he touches. Robin is a golden eagle shifter who has worked with Nik for years. They also are friends with benefits. Nik draws a few images of Mark and Rob working on the building and an image of a panther or cougar. They think that one of the town members is a shapeshifter that they don’t know about.
I don’t think I ever really connected to Robin because I found her abrasive and kind of slutty. She comes into town and immediately starts arguing with Mirren and with everyone she talks to. She thinks about how she wants to sleep with Cage just to sleep with him which I was okay with but I think it was just the way she went about demanding things and being so rude to everyone that got to me. I did laugh at how she immediately assessed Cage and Melissa’s relationship and didn’t let Melissa intimidate her when Melissa tried to be possessive of Cage. Melissa came out of the shower and saw that Cage and Robin were flirting and she became jealous so she sat next to Cage and rubbed her hand up and down his leg. She told him that if she knew he was going to be there, she would have had him join her in the shower. Robin could see that Cage was uncomfortable with how Melissa was acting and said a few sarcastic comments including reminding Melissa that she was married to Mark.
Meanwhile, Frank Greisser is busy with his own plans to ruin Penton. He is doing something weird to Matthias. He has Matthias in a hotel in the Alps and at first, Matthias is a guest but then the hotel manager brings him a human and says he is a gift from Frank. Matthias, who must be bisexual, lays on top of the man and starts feeding off of him and making out with him but the man injects him with a yellow liquid which makes Matthias feel strange. The hotel manager gets the man out of there and locks Matthias into the room. Matthias tries to get out but realizes that the room had been modified to keep vampires in while he was in his day sleep. He is now a prisoner. His captors continue to inject him with the liquid and he starts to feel the effects. He starts wanting to eat real food but when he eats it, he throws it up violently. Blood starts to disgust him but he has to drink it to stay alive. He feels hungry and thirsty but can’t seem to satisfy either. He knows Frank is doing some kind of experiment on him but he doesn’t know what it is.
Someone starts the community house where Cage and Hannah live on fire and Hannah gets stuck inside. Fen and Nik save her. Hannah saw a coyote in the house before it caught on fire. She has a vision of it and says it is angry and hungry but it can’t eat so it just gets angrier.
All ten blood donation clinics were bombed and then all five of Aidan’s supporters on the Vampire Tribunal were killed. Everyone knows it is Frank Greisser who did all of this but now there is nobody to go against him. He calls Aidan and tells him to meet him under the pretense that he needs to talk to him about taking over the US representative seat on the Tribunal. Aidan knows it is a trap but goes anyway.
I can’t go into any more detail without spoiling the rest of the book but I keep thinking how the vampires should be pissed at Frank Greisser for setting them back so far. The clinics were providing them with much needed blood. Of course, Frank probably has a stockpile of humans somewhere to feed himself but most vampires do not and they will die without unvaccinated blood. I just can’t see how Frank will be able to keep in power if he alienates all of his brethren.
I’m excited to find out what happens in the next book. I have gone to the author’s website and discovered that she also goes by the name Susannah Johnson and has written other books. I may have to read some of them
www.paranormalromanceslut.com
In the last book, Matthias Ludlum was finally imprisoned after his reign of terror against the town of Penton. Matthias is a rich and evil vampire with a seat on the Vampire Tribunal, the council that makes and enforces laws for all vampires. He is obsessed with ruining the town of Penton and its leaders, Aidan Murphy and Mirren Kincaid because he can’t stand that his son William has pledged his allegiance to them instead of his own father. Matthias doesn’t take into account that the reason his son his son wants nothing to do with him is because he is evil and he treated Will horribly. Matthias used his position on the Vampire Tribunal to go after the town of Penton, saying that Aidan Murphy was a threat to the Tribunal because he was amassing so many vampires together who are loyal to him to take over the Tribunal but that was just a lie to cover up the fact that he wants his son back with him.
Aidan Murphy has such a following because he is a good leader and his idea to create a town full of humans and vampires who benefit from each other is a great idea. About five or six years ago, an epidemic hit the world but scientists were quick to invent a vaccine against it called the Pandemic Vaccine. Unfortunately, the vaccine made human blood poisonous to vampires and now vampires are starving. There are very few humans left in the world who have not been vaccinated, mostly drug addicts and homeless because they were too down and out to go get the vaccine but there are others who didn’t receive the vaccine because they were either allergic to one of the ingredients or because they had already had the virus and didn’t need the vaccine by the time it came out. Vampires are fighting over those humans. Aidan went around to homeless shelters and helped drug addicts to withdraw by keeping them in a trance through withdrawal and then he would ask them if they wanted to live in Penton for a chance to live a clean and sober life with a job in a good community for the exchange of letting a vampire feed from them. They would have to keep the vampire world secret and if they ever wanted to leave, he would just erase their minds of the time they spent in Penton. Aidan Murphy believes that humans should be treated as equals and not just as a food source. He bonded the humans and the vampires to him which protected the humans from others ever being able to feed off them.
Matthias used fear to gain the support of the Vampire Tribunal and back him while he went against the town. Aidan had the foresight to see something like this coming so he had a secret underground hideout made near the town which he called Omega. The remaining members of the town, the ones who Matthias hadn’t killed and the ones who hadn’t decided to leave, escaped and hid in Omega while Matthias took over the town. But Matthias made mistakes and turned a lot of the Tribunal representatives against him. He turned one of the town members into a vampire which is against Tribunal law. When the Pandemic Virus became such a problem and vampires started starving, the Tribunal outlawed turning any new vampires. He also did a bunch of other illegal things and ended up being imprisoned.
Also in the last book, Matthias’ son, William, became mated to Randa Thomas who was turned into a vampire just a few years ago. She was raised in a military household and she was also a soldier when she was turned. Hannah, a psychic vampire, has a vision which said someone named Richard would take a vital role in helping them defeat Matthias. The only Richard anyone knows is Randa’s father Rick Thomas, a retired colonel in the military who still does some kind of secret work for the military. The leaders of Penton decide to have Randa and Will go to him and ask him for help. Rick Thomas wasn’t as shocked to learn that vampires exist as he was to learn that his daughter was alive. He agrees to put together a special force called the Omega Force and he comes up with a plan to take in front of the Tribunal. It’s a new world and humans and vampires have to work together if vampires want to survive. He tells them that he will create clinics that specialize in collecting blood from unvaccinated humans and in exchange, vampires will work with him to prevent and fight terrorist attacks. The Tribunal agrees.
In this book, Frank Greisser, the leader of the Tribunal who has been a secret supporter of Matthias for centuries, sets Matthias free and hides him in the Alps. Everyone suspects it was Frank who set Matthias free but nobody would ever accuse him of it because he is so powerful. Frank Greisser is more evil than Matthias could ever be. He does not want the town of Penton to succeed nor does he want Omega Force to succeed. It takes too much power away from him and he will not allow it.
Cage Reynolds returns to Penton from Europe after three months of being gone. Cage originally came to the town of Penton to study it for his boss Edward Simmons, Tribunal representative for the UK. Edward wanted to see if the project was a good idea for European vampires. While Cage was in Penton, he became embroiled in the fight against Matthias but he also became friends with most of the residents. After Matthias was arrested, he returned to Europe but he missed the town and decided to move back to Penton.
Cage had saved one of the Penton residents from Matthias in the last book. Matthias had taken one of the beloved characters, Melissa Calvert, and killed her…or so everyone thought until Cage found her locked in and underground room. Matthias had turned her into a vampire and was starving and torturing her. Cage rescued her. Cage was attracted to her but she was already married and anyway, it would have been a passing fancy because he wasn’t in love with her. He was just attracted to her.
I thought this book was going to try to get Cage and Melissa together which really irked me because Melissa is married to Mark and they had a great relationship before she was turned into a vampire. Melissa claimed that she just didn’t feel the love for Mark like she did before she was turned and she seemed to be going after Cage. I just could not get into Cage and Melissa as a couple no matter what. Melissa kept doing trying to insert herself into Cage’s life. When Cage flight lands in Atlanta, she is the one who picks him up from the airport hoping to have a talk to him about their relationship. I kept asking, “What relationship? He kissed you one time and now you think you are an item? How pathetic!” Yes, I’m one of those who yell at books and the television.
On their way home from Atlanta, Cage kept seeing flashes of people in the woods. Melissa tells him that a lot of vampires are flocking to Penton in hopes of joining Aidan’s scathe with the hopes of getting to feed off one of the humans but since most of the humans had left the town, Aidan wasn’t accepting any more vampires into his scathe. A scathe is a group of vampires bonded and loyal to each other. Other vampires think that if they kill off Aidan, Mirren and William who are the master vampires who all of the humans and other scathe members are bonded to that they will be able to feed off of the humans. Vampires are starving and desperate. Unfortunately, most vampires haven’t got the message that if you kill off the unvaccinated humans or treat them poorly, there won’t be any left for anyone to feed off of. Melissa tells him that they have patrols to keep the “vagavamps” as she calls them at bay.
A vampire steps in front of their car on the way home so they stop. His name is Fenton Patrick and Cage knows him from a long time ago when Fenton was human and they fought in one of the world wars. Cage doesn’t trust him but he lets Fenton in the car and tells him that he will introduce him to Aidan. Melissa is irritated because she wanted to use the time alone in the car to talk to Cage about their relationship. She knows that once he gets into Penton, she will lose him to everyone else and he will ignore her. I really liked Melissa before but she just came off as pathetic to me for going after Cage who was obviously not into her like she was into him. I also felt bad for her husband Mark who really loves her.
In Penton, everyone is trying to rebuild the town after Matthias destroyed most of it. They have thrown up community housing for everyone. There are a few Omega Force members helping with the rebuilding since they are human and can work during the day…or kind of human. They have discovered that shape shifters exist and Omega Force has quite a few on their team. Mark Calvert, Max Jeffries and Rob Thomas are putting up a brick wall in the new training center when the wall collapses. I thought to myself, “Yep, this is where the author is going to kill off Mark so that Cage and Melissa can be together.” I was wrong. Mark didn’t die. Rob Thomas did.
Two new Omega Force members who they had been expecting, showed up just after the wall collapsed. Nikolas Dimitrou bent down and started feeling the bricks while Robin Ashton gave him a clipboard with paper to draw the images that he got from feeling the bricks. Nik can see images from items he touches. Robin is a golden eagle shifter who has worked with Nik for years. They also are friends with benefits. Nik draws a few images of Mark and Rob working on the building and an image of a panther or cougar. They think that one of the town members is a shapeshifter that they don’t know about.
I don’t think I ever really connected to Robin because I found her abrasive and kind of slutty. She comes into town and immediately starts arguing with Mirren and with everyone she talks to. She thinks about how she wants to sleep with Cage just to sleep with him which I was okay with but I think it was just the way she went about demanding things and being so rude to everyone that got to me. I did laugh at how she immediately assessed Cage and Melissa’s relationship and didn’t let Melissa intimidate her when Melissa tried to be possessive of Cage. Melissa came out of the shower and saw that Cage and Robin were flirting and she became jealous so she sat next to Cage and rubbed her hand up and down his leg. She told him that if she knew he was going to be there, she would have had him join her in the shower. Robin could see that Cage was uncomfortable with how Melissa was acting and said a few sarcastic comments including reminding Melissa that she was married to Mark.
Meanwhile, Frank Greisser is busy with his own plans to ruin Penton. He is doing something weird to Matthias. He has Matthias in a hotel in the Alps and at first, Matthias is a guest but then the hotel manager brings him a human and says he is a gift from Frank. Matthias, who must be bisexual, lays on top of the man and starts feeding off of him and making out with him but the man injects him with a yellow liquid which makes Matthias feel strange. The hotel manager gets the man out of there and locks Matthias into the room. Matthias tries to get out but realizes that the room had been modified to keep vampires in while he was in his day sleep. He is now a prisoner. His captors continue to inject him with the liquid and he starts to feel the effects. He starts wanting to eat real food but when he eats it, he throws it up violently. Blood starts to disgust him but he has to drink it to stay alive. He feels hungry and thirsty but can’t seem to satisfy either. He knows Frank is doing some kind of experiment on him but he doesn’t know what it is.
Someone starts the community house where Cage and Hannah live on fire and Hannah gets stuck inside. Fen and Nik save her. Hannah saw a coyote in the house before it caught on fire. She has a vision of it and says it is angry and hungry but it can’t eat so it just gets angrier.
All ten blood donation clinics were bombed and then all five of Aidan’s supporters on the Vampire Tribunal were killed. Everyone knows it is Frank Greisser who did all of this but now there is nobody to go against him. He calls Aidan and tells him to meet him under the pretense that he needs to talk to him about taking over the US representative seat on the Tribunal. Aidan knows it is a trap but goes anyway.
I can’t go into any more detail without spoiling the rest of the book but I keep thinking how the vampires should be pissed at Frank Greisser for setting them back so far. The clinics were providing them with much needed blood. Of course, Frank probably has a stockpile of humans somewhere to feed himself but most vampires do not and they will die without unvaccinated blood. I just can’t see how Frank will be able to keep in power if he alienates all of his brethren.
I’m excited to find out what happens in the next book. I have gone to the author’s website and discovered that she also goes by the name Susannah Johnson and has written other books. I may have to read some of them
www.paranormalromanceslut.com
June 24, 2014
Wow, what a let down! I loved the other books in this series. Where did that goodness go? Bleh. And I thought this was supposed to be about Cage and Mel. Sigh.
This book suffers from two major problems (or branches of problems.)
The easiest is the relationships. Both are done half assed. It truly felt like the author wanted to make this a Cage and Mel book but someone put the X on that. So the relationships are that of Robin and Cage, and Mark and Mel. Both are incredibly loose.
Hell, Mel just disappears halfway through the book. Everyone is like 'glad you got your spirit back' after she and Mark tentatively "made up" and that was all we see of her. Before this, Mel is mooning over Cage and Mark is being an ass (rightfully so.) It's like she just falls off a cliff.
Robin and Cage, while I loved Robin and thought they'd probably make a good couple, really the only time they spent together was spent screwing each other. Most of the other time they weren't alone or they were apart. Hell, half this book isn't in either persons POV.
The bigger problem is the plot. Frankly, it sucked. The enemy plots were creative but it was like the Penton bunch drank the stupid juice and so all the plot points were reactions and stupidness. Mostly stupidness. Like double face palm stupidness. I feel like I should find a gif for that but I don't feel like this book warrants that much of my time.
So, Bad Guy in book 3 breaks out -- and does nothing but complain for the entire book. Things are happening in Penton. Acts of vandalism and psychological warfare.
Funny that in the start of the book, we're told of several suspect people who arrive and you know what these Penton do about it? NOTHING. ABSOLUTELY NOTHING. Like, unbelievable.
Two of the bad people were bonded to someone who isn't even in the town. The author says so much about how with the bound that no one can lie and this is basically the reason why they don't wish to interrogate two of them earlier on, right? And people are like 'but they're bonded to so-n-so' and everyone almost literally smacks their foreheads with a Homer Simpson D'oh! Oh yeah! That guy isn't here!
It's so fucking stupid.
And, of course, the ending is so much worse. This bad guy literally assassinates like five people and he calls the Penton people and says 'show up at this time and place to talk about this' and they literally go.
I. SHIT. YOU. NOT.
So much stupid, so very little time.
This book suffers from two major problems (or branches of problems.)
The easiest is the relationships. Both are done half assed. It truly felt like the author wanted to make this a Cage and Mel book but someone put the X on that. So the relationships are that of Robin and Cage, and Mark and Mel. Both are incredibly loose.
Hell, Mel just disappears halfway through the book. Everyone is like 'glad you got your spirit back' after she and Mark tentatively "made up" and that was all we see of her. Before this, Mel is mooning over Cage and Mark is being an ass (rightfully so.) It's like she just falls off a cliff.
Robin and Cage, while I loved Robin and thought they'd probably make a good couple, really the only time they spent together was spent screwing each other. Most of the other time they weren't alone or they were apart. Hell, half this book isn't in either persons POV.
The bigger problem is the plot. Frankly, it sucked. The enemy plots were creative but it was like the Penton bunch drank the stupid juice and so all the plot points were reactions and stupidness. Mostly stupidness. Like double face palm stupidness. I feel like I should find a gif for that but I don't feel like this book warrants that much of my time.
So, Bad Guy in book 3 breaks out -- and does nothing but complain for the entire book. Things are happening in Penton. Acts of vandalism and psychological warfare.
Funny that in the start of the book, we're told of several suspect people who arrive and you know what these Penton do about it? NOTHING. ABSOLUTELY NOTHING. Like, unbelievable.
Two of the bad people were bonded to someone who isn't even in the town. The author says so much about how with the bound that no one can lie and this is basically the reason why they don't wish to interrogate two of them earlier on, right? And people are like 'but they're bonded to so-n-so' and everyone almost literally smacks their foreheads with a Homer Simpson D'oh! Oh yeah! That guy isn't here!
It's so fucking stupid.
And, of course, the ending is so much worse. This bad guy literally assassinates like five people and he calls the Penton people and says 'show up at this time and place to talk about this' and they literally go.
I. SHIT. YOU. NOT.
So much stupid, so very little time.
May 12, 2014
I love this series. I love Sandlin's writing, her lovable characters and most of all I love that she never ceases to deliver an outstanding novel.
Can I even begin to tell you how excited I was to learn that this book would be Cage's? And not only would it be his but really, the whole darn towns and come on now, we even get Storm Force characters in this one (love you Robin!), what more could a girl ask for?
Now before you start scratching your head wondering how a whole town's point of view could possibly be in one book, let me explain myself. There are multiple POVs in this story but not really the whole towns, in fact, very few, but this story is about the whole town. The fate of Penton is hanging by a thread and everything that was destroyed after the last battle and the leaders, Aiden, Mirren, Will and now Cage, are barely holding on to what is theirs. But if there is one thing I have learned about these sexy men is that they don't wait for things to happen, they go out and they get results. They take what is rightfully theirs and they don't think twice about it. They bow down to no one.
How can I express how much this series is a must for any paranormal lover?
Sandlin continues to amaze me with a fast paced plot that is filled with danger, deception and swoon worthy men as well as the strong headed stubborn lovable women and because of them, I just can't seem to get enough of this series.
The ending was fantastic and I want more. No, I need more of this series. I need to see the city rebuilt and I need to see everyone settled and have that happily ever after they all deserve.
I sure how Sandlin writes fast because I am on the edge of my seat waiting for more.
Can I even begin to tell you how excited I was to learn that this book would be Cage's? And not only would it be his but really, the whole darn towns and come on now, we even get Storm Force characters in this one (love you Robin!), what more could a girl ask for?
Now before you start scratching your head wondering how a whole town's point of view could possibly be in one book, let me explain myself. There are multiple POVs in this story but not really the whole towns, in fact, very few, but this story is about the whole town. The fate of Penton is hanging by a thread and everything that was destroyed after the last battle and the leaders, Aiden, Mirren, Will and now Cage, are barely holding on to what is theirs. But if there is one thing I have learned about these sexy men is that they don't wait for things to happen, they go out and they get results. They take what is rightfully theirs and they don't think twice about it. They bow down to no one.
How can I express how much this series is a must for any paranormal lover?
Sandlin continues to amaze me with a fast paced plot that is filled with danger, deception and swoon worthy men as well as the strong headed stubborn lovable women and because of them, I just can't seem to get enough of this series.
The ending was fantastic and I want more. No, I need more of this series. I need to see the city rebuilt and I need to see everyone settled and have that happily ever after they all deserve.
I sure how Sandlin writes fast because I am on the edge of my seat waiting for more.
August 28, 2017
4.5 stars.
March 18, 2018
Rating: 3/5
Heat Rating: 3/5
Narrator Performance: 4.5/5
Heat Rating: 3/5
Narrator Performance: 4.5/5
June 10, 2014
This Review was first published on my blog Lecture toute une Aventure
My opinion:
You know you are really hooked into a series when the style change (even subtly) and still you can’t stop reading. Susannah Sandlin ( aka Suzanne Johnson) did surprise me a lot with this fourth instalment and that’s really a good point. She is still a master at descriptions and her knack to create realistic, tortured heroes hasn’t changed but this book is a lot darker than the precedent. Don’t worry though the romance part is still there and thankfully we have a lot of humour to balance the darkest part.
First, I must say that I was really happy to see Robin and Nik again, after “ Storm Force” I just wanted more of those characters and honestly these two are the ones that fit the most in Penton. I loved to see the banters between Robin, petit woman but fiery temper, with Mirren, the big bad brooding vampire so massive. The humour there was exceptional and since she can’t keep her mouth shut Robin did made a lot of funny remark and created some interesting relationship.
We learn also a lot more about her past and Nik’s, I was quite surprised to learn so much about both of them. We still don’t know everything but we can understand them better now. It’s so well done that even without having read “Storm Force” you wouldn’t feel lost at all. I wouldn’t recommend you to start the Penton Legacy series with “Allegiance” , not it wouldn’t be possible, Susannah made is so that you get a lot more if you read it in order. It’s even more important in my opinion if you look at the psychological part of the characters; however you get enough reminders about the story as a whole that you shouldn’t feel too lost if you were to get this one first.
Now I must also admit that from the Penton books, this one isn’t my favourite and I even felt a little disappointed or more exactly I felt disturbed by the changes. The author didn’t do anything wrong, not at all, but I wasn’t expecting so many dark twists. At the end of “Omega”, book 3, we were left with a complete ending oh everything wasn’t happy per say but the couple had his happy ending, the villain was caught and we could have been happy if the series had come to a end then. I’m not saying it should have ended no but it was the feeling I got you know, main questions are answered, lovers are together and we can imagine things will improve and everyone will be happy at the end. You see? Of course I wanted the big villains to suffer and yes I wanted to learn more about Cage but at the same time it was a want, a wish not a necessity. It felt complete enough.
In “Allegiance” we can feel the desperation, the tension and it not only the state of the city but more the psychological evolution of its inhabitants that got to me. It was heavy and so sad (a character dies within the first 5 chapters!). Yes Cage was a psychiatrist and for that reason he is better equipped to fight that but still I guess I had hoped like those living in Penton for a reprieve, to see the city come back to its glory while it’s a more insidious war that is brewing.
I didn’t like how Cage reacted in the precedent book but he redeemed himself in Allegiance in more than one way. I loved how we discovered him, while he did the same and to see him speechless in front of a bold semi naked Robin was really to fun! Even Melissa went back to my good grace per say as she finally comes back to her sense.. however I was distressed to see how the war had impacted everyone in Penton…. It’s logical and a realistic answer to all the events it makes perfect senses but I wished for their happiness and it was a shock to see it was still so far away^^;; we discover a new side of Aidan that I’m not comfortable with.
The new twist on shifters is an interesting one and I can’t wait to see what Susannah has under her sleeve about them, I do want to learn more. What disappointed me the most was the ending because it’s too much of a cliffhanger ( not real one but the feeling is there) it wouldn’t be possible to stop the series now…. Too much has to be done, answered and I do hope we will have a real HEA later too… until now the books felt complete , we wanted more yes ( I still do) but it wasn’t such a need like it is this time so I can only hope we will learn about a 5th book soon^^
I can only recommend you to start this series if you haven’t already since it’s a lot better read in order and before Allegiance “ Storm Force” would be a good read too to see more of Robin and Nik. I really can’t wait for more
My opinion:
You know you are really hooked into a series when the style change (even subtly) and still you can’t stop reading. Susannah Sandlin ( aka Suzanne Johnson) did surprise me a lot with this fourth instalment and that’s really a good point. She is still a master at descriptions and her knack to create realistic, tortured heroes hasn’t changed but this book is a lot darker than the precedent. Don’t worry though the romance part is still there and thankfully we have a lot of humour to balance the darkest part.
First, I must say that I was really happy to see Robin and Nik again, after “ Storm Force” I just wanted more of those characters and honestly these two are the ones that fit the most in Penton. I loved to see the banters between Robin, petit woman but fiery temper, with Mirren, the big bad brooding vampire so massive. The humour there was exceptional and since she can’t keep her mouth shut Robin did made a lot of funny remark and created some interesting relationship.
We learn also a lot more about her past and Nik’s, I was quite surprised to learn so much about both of them. We still don’t know everything but we can understand them better now. It’s so well done that even without having read “Storm Force” you wouldn’t feel lost at all. I wouldn’t recommend you to start the Penton Legacy series with “Allegiance” , not it wouldn’t be possible, Susannah made is so that you get a lot more if you read it in order. It’s even more important in my opinion if you look at the psychological part of the characters; however you get enough reminders about the story as a whole that you shouldn’t feel too lost if you were to get this one first.
Now I must also admit that from the Penton books, this one isn’t my favourite and I even felt a little disappointed or more exactly I felt disturbed by the changes. The author didn’t do anything wrong, not at all, but I wasn’t expecting so many dark twists. At the end of “Omega”, book 3, we were left with a complete ending oh everything wasn’t happy per say but the couple had his happy ending, the villain was caught and we could have been happy if the series had come to a end then. I’m not saying it should have ended no but it was the feeling I got you know, main questions are answered, lovers are together and we can imagine things will improve and everyone will be happy at the end. You see? Of course I wanted the big villains to suffer and yes I wanted to learn more about Cage but at the same time it was a want, a wish not a necessity. It felt complete enough.
In “Allegiance” we can feel the desperation, the tension and it not only the state of the city but more the psychological evolution of its inhabitants that got to me. It was heavy and so sad (a character dies within the first 5 chapters!). Yes Cage was a psychiatrist and for that reason he is better equipped to fight that but still I guess I had hoped like those living in Penton for a reprieve, to see the city come back to its glory while it’s a more insidious war that is brewing.
I didn’t like how Cage reacted in the precedent book but he redeemed himself in Allegiance in more than one way. I loved how we discovered him, while he did the same and to see him speechless in front of a bold semi naked Robin was really to fun! Even Melissa went back to my good grace per say as she finally comes back to her sense.. however I was distressed to see how the war had impacted everyone in Penton…. It’s logical and a realistic answer to all the events it makes perfect senses but I wished for their happiness and it was a shock to see it was still so far away^^;; we discover a new side of Aidan that I’m not comfortable with.
The new twist on shifters is an interesting one and I can’t wait to see what Susannah has under her sleeve about them, I do want to learn more. What disappointed me the most was the ending because it’s too much of a cliffhanger ( not real one but the feeling is there) it wouldn’t be possible to stop the series now…. Too much has to be done, answered and I do hope we will have a real HEA later too… until now the books felt complete , we wanted more yes ( I still do) but it wasn’t such a need like it is this time so I can only hope we will learn about a 5th book soon^^
I can only recommend you to start this series if you haven’t already since it’s a lot better read in order and before Allegiance “ Storm Force” would be a good read too to see more of Robin and Nik. I really can’t wait for more
June 17, 2014
See this review and others like it at Badass Book Reviews!
Allegiance is the fourth book in the Penton Legacy series and Susannah Sandlin continues to give us the close-knit, brave, and yeah - sexy, Penton characters we've come to love. Cage Reynolds takes center stage in this book and doesn't disappoint. Allegiance also has a tie in with Sandlin's Omega Force, bringing shifters into the Penton world.
Cage was one of my favorite characters in the third book, Omega, but I was always a little unsure of his relationship with newly turned vampire Melissa. Mel's human husband was still alive and I loved them together, though I enjoyed her dynamic with Cage as well. I just wasn't sure what I thought would work out better. Well, I was very satisfied with the way everything was handled in this book and I loved seeing how maturely Cage and Melissa dealt with their feelings. I was so happy to see Melissa and Mark beginning to work on their relationship; it just felt right.
Cage meets his match in Allegiance in the form of eagle shifter, Robin. Yes, an eagle shifter named Robin -- what can I say? Her parents were hippies. Robin and Cage were pretty hot together though I didn't quite get the same "mate" level from them as I did Aidan and Kris and Mirran and Glory; they were more around the Will and Randa level. I did enjoy the addition of the shifters to the story though and I am interested to see how the collaboration between Penton and the Omega Force will play out.
My favorite new character this time around was the human telepath, Nik. He's was cheeky and quick, but was also obviously devoted to those he holds dear. He was also very brave as one of the few purely human soldiers standing with the vampires and shifters. He begins to form a bond with Hannah in Allegiance and I am interested to see them begin to explore their powers together. I think he could be a source of strength for the little vampire since the loss of her foster family.
The only thing that I felt could have been tightened up a little in Allegiance was the pacing. A lot of "building" events happen in the beginning to middle of the book, but at some points it did drag a bit. As we got closer to the end, the book picked up a lot of speed but I felt like we missed out on some of the action. I could have done with a little less at the start and a little more at the end... especially at the very end. I get why Susannah used the time jump as she did, but I would have liked just a little more info about everything that had gone on during that time, the state of all the Penton residents (i.e. Kris), and a little more suffering for Matthais. Overall though, I felt like this was a strong offering in the series and am looking forward to more books leading to the rebuilding of Penton.
Thank you to the author, Susannah Sandlin, for providing an ARC copy of this book!
Allegiance is the fourth book in the Penton Legacy series and Susannah Sandlin continues to give us the close-knit, brave, and yeah - sexy, Penton characters we've come to love. Cage Reynolds takes center stage in this book and doesn't disappoint. Allegiance also has a tie in with Sandlin's Omega Force, bringing shifters into the Penton world.
Cage was one of my favorite characters in the third book, Omega, but I was always a little unsure of his relationship with newly turned vampire Melissa. Mel's human husband was still alive and I loved them together, though I enjoyed her dynamic with Cage as well. I just wasn't sure what I thought would work out better. Well, I was very satisfied with the way everything was handled in this book and I loved seeing how maturely Cage and Melissa dealt with their feelings. I was so happy to see Melissa and Mark beginning to work on their relationship; it just felt right.
Cage meets his match in Allegiance in the form of eagle shifter, Robin. Yes, an eagle shifter named Robin -- what can I say? Her parents were hippies. Robin and Cage were pretty hot together though I didn't quite get the same "mate" level from them as I did Aidan and Kris and Mirran and Glory; they were more around the Will and Randa level. I did enjoy the addition of the shifters to the story though and I am interested to see how the collaboration between Penton and the Omega Force will play out.
My favorite new character this time around was the human telepath, Nik. He's was cheeky and quick, but was also obviously devoted to those he holds dear. He was also very brave as one of the few purely human soldiers standing with the vampires and shifters. He begins to form a bond with Hannah in Allegiance and I am interested to see them begin to explore their powers together. I think he could be a source of strength for the little vampire since the loss of her foster family.
The only thing that I felt could have been tightened up a little in Allegiance was the pacing. A lot of "building" events happen in the beginning to middle of the book, but at some points it did drag a bit. As we got closer to the end, the book picked up a lot of speed but I felt like we missed out on some of the action. I could have done with a little less at the start and a little more at the end... especially at the very end. I get why Susannah used the time jump as she did, but I would have liked just a little more info about everything that had gone on during that time, the state of all the Penton residents (i.e. Kris), and a little more suffering for Matthais. Overall though, I felt like this was a strong offering in the series and am looking forward to more books leading to the rebuilding of Penton.
Thank you to the author, Susannah Sandlin, for providing an ARC copy of this book!
September 1, 2016
I like this one. While it was Cage Reynolds book, this was really a transition book. The author introduced new supernatural creatures and abilities as well as crossed over with her Omega Forces series, see Storm Force.
In this book, someone rescues Matthias Ludlum before his execution. the same person began sending flyers, troublemakers to disrupt the Pentonville's utopia. The General from the book Storm Force sent a couple of Omega Force agents to help 1)find Matthias 2) find the source of the sabotage. The agents had special abilities. for instance, Nick could read someone's past by touching an item they touched. Robin, was a bird shifter. So with this new elite counter-terrorism team, the author introduced Shifters to this series.
Anyway, Robin takes an immediate liking to Cage Reynolds. Cage was still trying to resolve issues with Melissa from the last book, but this bold shifter had him intrigued. And at first it seemed like Melissa and Robin might arm-wrestle for the rights to be Cage's bedmate...but the author kept the focus on the sneak attacks on Pentonville by the unknown enemy.
Who was targeting the peaceful Penton residents and why? Also, what's the deal with the new shifters popping up in Pentonville? A member of the Vampire council and someone who opposes Aidan and his ideals, has some new plans in motion that will change the balance of power between humans and supernatural creatures. Matthias Ludlum was just a pawn, and Pentonville is just a small town he plans on crushing as he continues to his ultimate goal.
I really liked this one. the author upped the ante by adding shifters, bird, cat and canine. We have a psychic who can read the past coupled with Hannah who can read the future. There is about to be an all out brawl in Alabama. I am excited for the future of this series. I didn't quite like Robin's intrigue with being bit by a vampire, but i liked her boldness and her loyalty to best friend Nick. I wish I had read Storm Force before but I will remedy that shortly. I also didn't buy her romance with Cage as more than exciting supernatural sex. All the other couples are Vamp-Human, so This is the first all out Creature Couple. They are my least favorite couple. Their story wasn't built up quite like the prior couples.
It's the same narrator, and the same style. All the prior couples except Will and Randa featured heavily this one and we have some new people to add to Aiden's Lietenants. I like the new shift in series promises to show a more aggressive Penton as they take the offensive in the war.
In this book, someone rescues Matthias Ludlum before his execution. the same person began sending flyers, troublemakers to disrupt the Pentonville's utopia. The General from the book Storm Force sent a couple of Omega Force agents to help 1)find Matthias 2) find the source of the sabotage. The agents had special abilities. for instance, Nick could read someone's past by touching an item they touched. Robin, was a bird shifter. So with this new elite counter-terrorism team, the author introduced Shifters to this series.
Anyway, Robin takes an immediate liking to Cage Reynolds. Cage was still trying to resolve issues with Melissa from the last book, but this bold shifter had him intrigued. And at first it seemed like Melissa and Robin might arm-wrestle for the rights to be Cage's bedmate...but the author kept the focus on the sneak attacks on Pentonville by the unknown enemy.
Who was targeting the peaceful Penton residents and why? Also, what's the deal with the new shifters popping up in Pentonville? A member of the Vampire council and someone who opposes Aidan and his ideals, has some new plans in motion that will change the balance of power between humans and supernatural creatures. Matthias Ludlum was just a pawn, and Pentonville is just a small town he plans on crushing as he continues to his ultimate goal.
I really liked this one. the author upped the ante by adding shifters, bird, cat and canine. We have a psychic who can read the past coupled with Hannah who can read the future. There is about to be an all out brawl in Alabama. I am excited for the future of this series. I didn't quite like Robin's intrigue with being bit by a vampire, but i liked her boldness and her loyalty to best friend Nick. I wish I had read Storm Force before but I will remedy that shortly. I also didn't buy her romance with Cage as more than exciting supernatural sex. All the other couples are Vamp-Human, so This is the first all out Creature Couple. They are my least favorite couple. Their story wasn't built up quite like the prior couples.
It's the same narrator, and the same style. All the prior couples except Will and Randa featured heavily this one and we have some new people to add to Aiden's Lietenants. I like the new shift in series promises to show a more aggressive Penton as they take the offensive in the war.
July 8, 2014
... and, I'm out. Of this series, I mean. Because - convenient shifters? So not my cup of vodka.
And convenient shifters are convenient in this one. Avian shifters? Sure, why not. And a tiny girl, who shifts into an eagle, is so tough and strong, she's able to punch big (and dumb) vamp down? Where she puts her mass, when she shifts? And she's a freakin bird, with hollow bones and all. OK then.
And the cherry on a top - quite easy manufacturing of shifter/vamp hybrids, because why the fuck not. The only side effect - anger and constant craving of fast food. Me, essentially.
I haz a sad. I liked those dumb vamps and their eternal matings. Oh well.
And convenient shifters are convenient in this one. Avian shifters? Sure, why not. And a tiny girl, who shifts into an eagle, is so tough and strong, she's able to punch big (and dumb) vamp down? Where she puts her mass, when she shifts? And she's a freakin bird, with hollow bones and all. OK then.
And the cherry on a top - quite easy manufacturing of shifter/vamp hybrids, because why the fuck not. The only side effect - anger and constant craving of fast food. Me, essentially.
I haz a sad. I liked those dumb vamps and their eternal matings. Oh well.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 16, 2016
This book brought the series, as a whole, down for me. I didn't like Robin and didn't expect Cage to be such a downer/asshole at times. I felt it was unnecessary for the overall storyline except to open it up to more books. While I want to see what happens after the end of this one, I need a break.
For me it was a little far fetched that all of a sudden shifts came into play when we had only heard of vampires previously. Then at the start of the story some characters where offed that felt very unnecessary. Will was absent almost the whole book, that was left completely open ended with so many loose strings I don't know where to start.
For me it was a little far fetched that all of a sudden shifts came into play when we had only heard of vampires previously. Then at the start of the story some characters where offed that felt very unnecessary. Will was absent almost the whole book, that was left completely open ended with so many loose strings I don't know where to start.
October 5, 2015
loved it!
October 10, 2015
Still liking this series and looking forward to reading the next book when it comes out!
September 11, 2021
Back to the bad old days of Book 1, only worse because I expected better. 🤦♀️ Some things were good (broadening of supernatural world, variety of narration, and a story not centering solely on the two romantic leads) but not good enough to make up for my dislikes.
-Continuity issues. Melissa’s neck was broken in Book 2 (which never made sense to me how she could still be “drained to the point of death” to be turned into a vampire after her neck is broken and no more blood is pumping), but this book says her throat was slit. Hannah’s fams/parents left in Book 1, this book says they were killed.
-I want more from Hannah. She was set up to be important in Books 1 & 2, and then she basically dropped from the stories.
-I say I like that the supernatural world was broadened with the addition of shape shifters, but we didn’t get much information at all about how they fit into the bigger picture. Just more like, “here’s some disjointed stuff to entertain you, even if it’s like cutting and pasting from a different storyline rather than adding to the plot.”
-Melissa is a whiny, indecisive, navel-gazing idiot. She says front he beginning she wants to let Cage go (break up isn’t the word, they were never together) but she gets jealous of Robin’s attention and acts all possessive of him and can’t really make up her mind about it. For example, p 117: “But tonight . . . well, tonight everyone was tired, but at dusk tomorrow, maybe she and Cage could figure things out and lingerie might help.” Then there’s this bit of idiocy, p 118: “The memory was enough to give her an empty, aching feeling that only a man could fill. Or love.” Excuse me while I find a cliff to throw myself from.
-Robin is abrasive and rude and mean sometimes. Never got to like her.
-After the awesome setup for Omega Force in the last book, they killed off Randa’s brother right in the beginning, and her father never made an appearance in this book. It feels like a missed opportunity.
-There was some action, some people attacking Penton, etc, but it was back to the same-old, same-old from the beginning of the series. This book was a waste of space in the longer story arc with the Tribunal.
-Continuity issues. Melissa’s neck was broken in Book 2 (which never made sense to me how she could still be “drained to the point of death” to be turned into a vampire after her neck is broken and no more blood is pumping), but this book says her throat was slit. Hannah’s fams/parents left in Book 1, this book says they were killed.
-I want more from Hannah. She was set up to be important in Books 1 & 2, and then she basically dropped from the stories.
-I say I like that the supernatural world was broadened with the addition of shape shifters, but we didn’t get much information at all about how they fit into the bigger picture. Just more like, “here’s some disjointed stuff to entertain you, even if it’s like cutting and pasting from a different storyline rather than adding to the plot.”
-Melissa is a whiny, indecisive, navel-gazing idiot. She says front he beginning she wants to let Cage go (break up isn’t the word, they were never together) but she gets jealous of Robin’s attention and acts all possessive of him and can’t really make up her mind about it. For example, p 117: “But tonight . . . well, tonight everyone was tired, but at dusk tomorrow, maybe she and Cage could figure things out and lingerie might help.” Then there’s this bit of idiocy, p 118: “The memory was enough to give her an empty, aching feeling that only a man could fill. Or love.” Excuse me while I find a cliff to throw myself from.
-Robin is abrasive and rude and mean sometimes. Never got to like her.
-After the awesome setup for Omega Force in the last book, they killed off Randa’s brother right in the beginning, and her father never made an appearance in this book. It feels like a missed opportunity.
-There was some action, some people attacking Penton, etc, but it was back to the same-old, same-old from the beginning of the series. This book was a waste of space in the longer story arc with the Tribunal.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 22, 2019
WTH? This book is the worst one in the series for a number of reasons: first, Melissa died from having her neck snapped, not from having it SLICED which is now what Susannah is writing happened in this one. I hate when authors can’t even remember what they’ve written. Secondly, I HATE love quadrangles. Yes, quadrangle, not triangle! I don’t know whether this book is supposed to be about Cage or about Melissa, Mark, Cage and Robin. This book made me REALLY dislike Melissa and I don’t have any sympathy for her character anymore. She’s basically flip flopping between lusting after Cage and “loving” her husband Mark while he tries to get over her. She honestly seemed like a horrible person in this book and I couldn’t stand her trying to get between Cage and Robin. The book starts out with her deciding to “end things” with Cage even though, to my knowledge, they never actually did anything other than kiss which wasn’t even written in the previous book or this one, we’re just told that it happened. There’s nothing to end since they never started a relationship in the first place! She just comes across as a weak, selfish and silly ninny.
Cage was kind of disappointing too as he basically admits that he doesn’t love Melissa or want her as a mate, he just really wanted to fuck her and run. Not very appealing things to read about the main male character.
Cage was kind of disappointing too as he basically admits that he doesn’t love Melissa or want her as a mate, he just really wanted to fuck her and run. Not very appealing things to read about the main male character.
June 28, 2017
I have two issues with this series.
#1- Do these vampires just have a thing for red hair? Because legit, every one of these damned female main's have some form of red hair--minus Glory. Just saying.
#2- I live in Alabama in this area. We don't have basements. There's a reason. The red clay soil SUCKS for basements. If you have a basement, you're screwed into having to do a TON of up keep. And that's if you manage to get the basement in the first place. Either way, you're going to have issues. These people have basements under their basements, and freaking tunnel systems. The closest thing to a basement we get around here is one dug into the side of a hill. And it's bugged me since I started reading these until I had to say something.
That is all.
#1- Do these vampires just have a thing for red hair? Because legit, every one of these damned female main's have some form of red hair--minus Glory. Just saying.
#2- I live in Alabama in this area. We don't have basements. There's a reason. The red clay soil SUCKS for basements. If you have a basement, you're screwed into having to do a TON of up keep. And that's if you manage to get the basement in the first place. Either way, you're going to have issues. These people have basements under their basements, and freaking tunnel systems. The closest thing to a basement we get around here is one dug into the side of a hill. And it's bugged me since I started reading these until I had to say something.
That is all.
March 2, 2018
I have really enjoyed this series. The world created and the people that live in it that makes it hard not to like the books. Having said that there was a few little things that need addressing.
Cage has been such a defined character that his relationship with Robin just did not seem to fit correctly, maybe it just needed to develop the attraction a bit more especially since she is hard-core and then in the blink of an eye it all seems to change, I don't like the idea that you lose who you are just because you fall for someone. Secondly the ending just seemed to be rushed, which was not like the other books. All that being said I still enjoyed watching the story and struggles continue. I'm holding out hope for book 5 hoping that it will be as good as 1-3.
Cage has been such a defined character that his relationship with Robin just did not seem to fit correctly, maybe it just needed to develop the attraction a bit more especially since she is hard-core and then in the blink of an eye it all seems to change, I don't like the idea that you lose who you are just because you fall for someone. Secondly the ending just seemed to be rushed, which was not like the other books. All that being said I still enjoyed watching the story and struggles continue. I'm holding out hope for book 5 hoping that it will be as good as 1-3.
October 23, 2018
Still loving it
I borrowed this book as part of my Kindle Unlimited subscription as an audio book.
4 books down and I’m still loving this series. Only one small niggle, I think I missed something. At the end of book 3 no shifters and then all of a sudden, book 4 with shifters! They just arrived from no where and mixed in with humans no less. I really must have blacked out because I’m sure there was no mention of them before. Did vampires know about them? Did humans know about them? Is this another series that I don’t know about?
Confused 🤷♀️
Still loving it though.
I borrowed this book as part of my Kindle Unlimited subscription as an audio book.
4 books down and I’m still loving this series. Only one small niggle, I think I missed something. At the end of book 3 no shifters and then all of a sudden, book 4 with shifters! They just arrived from no where and mixed in with humans no less. I really must have blacked out because I’m sure there was no mention of them before. Did vampires know about them? Did humans know about them? Is this another series that I don’t know about?
Confused 🤷♀️
Still loving it though.
June 2, 2023
Cage and robin
Mathes is still trying to kill everyone but now Frank is out to get them to.the poor town has more fires as fast as they build more gets pulled down.I was hoping they would turn Rob (still hoping his sister did it in secret) the sort of person she is it would be out of character for her not to but the secret would be to protect penton.now they are at war it's ok to tell.would be nice if Hannah finds someone they would have to be going to.
This book is mostly focused on cage
Mathes is still trying to kill everyone but now Frank is out to get them to.the poor town has more fires as fast as they build more gets pulled down.I was hoping they would turn Rob (still hoping his sister did it in secret) the sort of person she is it would be out of character for her not to but the secret would be to protect penton.now they are at war it's ok to tell.would be nice if Hannah finds someone they would have to be going to.
This book is mostly focused on cage
January 20, 2019
3.5
I think i find Cage and Robin my least fave couple, they come across a little fickle. I would have understood Cage and Mel a little better, i know she has mark but it would have been an interesting twist.
The plot in this was brilliant though... Loved how shifters are in it too without overtaking the whole vampy vibe.
And the ending!!!!!
I think i find Cage and Robin my least fave couple, they come across a little fickle. I would have understood Cage and Mel a little better, i know she has mark but it would have been an interesting twist.
The plot in this was brilliant though... Loved how shifters are in it too without overtaking the whole vampy vibe.
And the ending!!!!!
May 7, 2017
I love all four books in the series. The first two were my favs. This book only got a 3, well, 3.5. The middle didn't hold my attention as well but then it got better towards the end. Still enjoyable to read.
September 6, 2024
there are no words
This has gotten crazy in The best way. I love this world it is so crazy and in depth. The way the love stories are so seamlessly integrated with the bigger overarching story of what is going on In this world is perfectly thought out.
This has gotten crazy in The best way. I love this world it is so crazy and in depth. The way the love stories are so seamlessly integrated with the bigger overarching story of what is going on In this world is perfectly thought out.
September 14, 2024
Bloody
Ding dong the monster is dead. Mathias finally meets his maker?? The tribunal is a sick organization. Time for them to fall too. Fen is a rat/cat. Interesting. How many more monsters has Frank created? When will Penton get the peace they deserve ?
Ding dong the monster is dead. Mathias finally meets his maker?? The tribunal is a sick organization. Time for them to fall too. Fen is a rat/cat. Interesting. How many more monsters has Frank created? When will Penton get the peace they deserve ?
April 25, 2025
Cage
Cages voice was a little different in this audio book and so it took a little while to get into it. I didn't like that Will was missing most of the book. I loved the epilogue and I can't wait for the final book.
Cages voice was a little different in this audio book and so it took a little while to get into it. I didn't like that Will was missing most of the book. I loved the epilogue and I can't wait for the final book.
September 25, 2017
This series gets better and better. Melissa is sorta annoying but I like all the other characters. There is action and this book introduces shifters. It's worth the read!
December 9, 2017
Cage's story
This series just keeps on. This book of the series isn't the best, but it's still defiantly worth the read. Can't wait to find out how it all ends!
This series just keeps on. This book of the series isn't the best, but it's still defiantly worth the read. Can't wait to find out how it all ends!
January 16, 2018
DNF - too much all over the place, too many POVs and just not liking the new dynamics
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