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    Kiss of Snow
    Kiss of Snow
    Kiss of Snow
    Audiobook13 hours

    Kiss of Snow

    Written by Nalini Singh

    Narrated by Angela Dawe

    4.5/5

    ()

    About this audiobook

    Since the moment of her defection from the PsyNet and into the SnowDancer wolf pack, Sienna Lauren has had one weakness: Hawke. Alpha and dangerous, he compels her to madness.

    Hawke is used to walking alone, having lost the woman who would've been his mate long ago. But Sienna fascinates the primal heart of him, even as he tells himself she is far too young to handle the wild fury of the wolf.

    Then Sienna changes the rules-and suddenly, there is no more distance, only the most intimate of battles between two people who were never meant to meet. Yet as they strip away each other's secrets in a storm of raw emotion, they must also ready themselves for a far more vicious fight.

    A deadly enemy is out to destroy SnowDancer, striking at everything they hold dear, but it is Sienna's darkest secret that may yet savage the pack that is her home-and the alpha who is its heartbeat.
    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherTantor Media, Inc
    Release dateJun 15, 2011
    ISBN9781452671932
    Kiss of Snow
    Author

    Nalini Singh

    Die internationale Bestsellerautorin verbrachte ihre Kindheit in Neuseeland. Drei Jahre lebte und arbeitete sie unter anderem in Japan und bereiste in dieser Zeit wiederholt den Fernen Osten. Bislang hat sie als Anwältin, Bibliothekarin, in einer Süßwarenfabrik und in einer Bank gearbeitet -- eine Quelle von Erfahrungen, aus der Nalini Singh reichlich schöpft.

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    Reviews for Kiss of Snow

    4.5/5

    368 ratings30 reviews

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    • 3/5
      I only read book 1 a year ago but it still feels like I have been waiting so long for this book. It was because since the moment Hawke stepped in on the scene I wanted more of him and now my wish came through. Luckily I had the rest of the series to keep my company until then.

      I always wondered about Hawke and Sienna's story. The sexual tension has been felt through many books but she is just so young, not to mention that he does not think they have a future since they can't mate. His mate died when they were just kids. The question through out this book then was would they, could they? Because the two obviously wanted each other and feelings ran high. You could cut the tension with a knife.

      For those who do not know Hawke or Sienna I will make it short. Hawke is the alpha wolf of The Snow Dancers. He is just so sexy and Sienna is one lucky woman. Sienna is a psy who defected with her family. But she is also an X psy and they do not last long. She will burn out and kill. She is also not yet 20 so there is a big age difference, but then she had to grow up fast since she was trained to be a killer since she was a kid. And they want each other, a lot!

      As usual there is the political aspect as some want to take over changeling territory and destroy San Francisco. There are some bad Psy out there and a big battle is coming. And another couple will also dance around each other, you will see when you read it. Some happy news from the Dark River changelings too.

      Honestly what more can I say than that Hawke and Sienna's story has to be read. It was great.

      Conclusion:
      By far the best book in the series so far. The tension, the passion, the will they, wont they, just sucked me right in and would not let go of me. I am quite the Hawke fangirl and I am very satisfied with his book.

      Rating:
      Hawke and Sienna's book! 'nuff said

      1 person found this helpful

    • 2/5
      I read this book when it first came out years ago but I thought I’d reread it. I had no idea how repulsive Hawke’s and Sienna’s relationship was or I just viewed it from a younger perspective at that time. Sienna is too young for him, not only in age, but in life experience and sexual experience. It was like he had a part of raising her in the pack. If she had been even a year or two older with some sexual experience it might not have been as bad. To top it all off, Hawke kept calling her “Baby” and Brat” which made him sound like an old man with a child. Awful. The other plots in the book brought the rating up some. I’m she has not included this kind of paring in other books in the series.
    • 5/5
      In the long standing Psy/changeling series I have instantly been captured by Ms. Singh’s writing and dynamic characters. With Kiss of Snow, the 10th book in the series, my excitement was still there and I’m happy to say my expectations were met. In previous stories within the series Hawke and Sienna made appearances as their story was developing and it captured my attention every time. So I was very interested to see how Ms. Singh would solve all the problems standing in their way. And let me tell you there are a lot of problems.The biggest one I felt was the big age difference between Hawk and Sienna, mostly with Hawk being a supernatural being that aged slower than human or Psy. That was a sticky issue that could have easily turned south. But with Ms. Singh’s writing skills she turned it so that the actual age between Hawke and Sienna was addressed but wasn’t as big a factor (Though it was a big factor for Hawke, showing that he wasn’t some perv) as the mutual maturity between the two. In the end it wasn’t uncomfortable for me. Sienna had such maturity being a Psy and going through so much in her life that she totally held her own against the strong willed Hawke, not letting him take over her world which was a power struggle between them. (FYI though Sienna is younger than Hawke she is legally an adult so no laws were broken).I really enjoyed the clash of wills between these strong interesting characters and how their bond grew over so much time and finally came to a head in Kiss of Snow. Their passion was sizzling and their romance was heartwarming. The plot was intense and action packed. I was equally drawn into world as well as the situations as I was the romance. I enjoyed the side romance as well it didn’t detract from Hawke and Sienna’s story but enhanced the world building, showing that things were also happening around them.Since this is a book within a series, readers don’t have to read the past books to understand what is going on because it’s a companion novel set in the same world but I do recommend reading the past books so that one can get the full impact of the story.Once again Ms. Singh delivered an engrossing passionate paranormal romance that romance readers should defiantly pick up.
    • 5/5
      Everything about this story was phenomenal! Hawke and Sienna were perfect together. I loved watching the slow, romantic build-up of their relationship. I also loved the side story with Lara and Walker. The overall plot advanced quite nicely. This was a very emotional story and definitely one of the best in the series for me.

      "You’re in my every breath and every thought, intertwined so deep inside me that love’s not a strong enough word—you have my devotion, your name branded on my soul, my wolf yours to command. A hundred years? It’ll never be enough. I want eternity.”
      -Hawke to Sienna"
    • 3/5
      The romance in this one has been a long time in coming with the fans. Hawke is the leader of the wolves and Sienna is one of the Psy that came to SnowDancer seeking sanctuary. The biggest mystery in the series is just what is Sienna’s power and why does she need to keep it under wraps. She was Councilor Ming’s pet weapon he was developing and he would like her back if he knew she was alive. Most of the story in this book has Hawke finally agreeing to court Sienna even though he knows he will not have a mating bond with her since the wolf he was developing a bond with died when they were kids. The Psy part of the story has Henry leading the Pure Psy against the changelings in order to destabilize the area and then go after the two Councilors in the area. Once again true love triumphs and the evil Psy are defeated. So good movement in the overall story line and finally some closure for one of the main characters love life makes for an entertaining read.
    • 5/5
      I was sooo excited for this book to come out that I took the day off and called Barnes & Noble when they opened. I loved it. I loved the romance between Sienna and Hawke, which has had such great build-up in other books. I believe this might be my favorite book series, at least that is still running (the Fever series might have beat it out). I enjoyed getting to see Walker and Lara's story too, though I had expected that to be a short story or something on its own. Great book, with lots of great action, sexy and otherwise.
    • 4/5
      I have to admit that I wasn't really looking forward to Hawke and Sienna's book. I knew they were going to be a couple, but they didn't seem like the right fit to me. I am so glad that I was proven wrong! They were great for each other. Sienna was the perfect foil to Hawke's stubbornness. He had some hangups due to his parents' death and the death of his mate at a young age. Sienna had to work constantly to control the power of her specific ability. They've both been through a lot of pain in their past and I liked how both took the effort to make it work.

      I really enjoyed the storyline involving the X designation and how far some members of the Council will go to get what they want. The love story involving Walker and Lara was a sweet touch as well.
    • 5/5
      Kiss of Snow
      5 Stars

      More than lives up to the hype.

      The intensity of Hawke and Sienna's passion is smokin' and sizzling, and virtually sets the pages on fire.

      Sienna is feisty and spirited. She never submits to Hawke's sometimes overbearing dominance, and often gives as good as she gets. Her love for him is all encompassing despite her fear that he will never be able to give her his whole heart in return.

      Hawke is a magnificent Alpha almost overwhelming in his smoldering sensuality. The dominance with which he treats Sienna is tempered by a tenderness and sweetness that make his feelings for her all the more incredible. The build up and resolution to their romance is emotional and satisfying.

      The escalating conflict between the Psy Council and the Changeling packs comes to an explosive climax and the complex alliances between the various forces make for compelling reading.

      My only reservation about the book is that the secondary romance between Lara and Walker, while very sweet, has too much page time and sometimes interferes with the dynamic of Hawke and Sienna's relationship.

      All in all, an excellent paranormal romance and one I will definitely read again.
    • 3/5
      For some reason I found it hard to get into this book. I'm not a great lover of shapeshifter stories but the Psy aspect of this series I find fascinating. I think the prolonged foreplay between the two main characters was a bit irritating to me. But not enough to make me stop reading the series.
    • 2/5
      couldn't get into
    • 5/5
      I think this was the most awaited book in the whole series. Thank God it did not disappoint. Hawke and Sienna had this flamable, pun intended, chemistry between them since the very first time they laid eyes on each other. The thing just kept getting stronger and stronger, until the whole situation went kaboom. LOL. I loved all the secondary stories with Walter and Lara and all the other pack members. Can't wait to see Naya growing up and how the war with Pure Psy is going to develop. This was incredible.
    • 5/5
      So...I haven't read all of these books, but that's only because I didn't care for the characters of the others. I love these books, but this book seemed a little recycled. I mean really, the mating bond saves the females life, just like some of the other books. Can we get some originality? Ignoring that, I loved this book. Gotta love Hawke!
    • 5/5
      Kiss of Snow is the long awaited and much anticipated tenth book in the Psy-Changeling series and ties up a few major plot threads that have been woven throughout the previous books. So it is fitting that it focuses on Hawke, the alpha of the Snow Dancer wolf pack, and Sienna Lauren, the Cardinal X Psy who is the bane of his existence. These two have become firm fan faves, and we finally get to read their story. And I have to say that it was well worth the wait, because their story definitely met up to expectations and then some.
      Hawke is really reluctant to engage into a relationship with Sienna, due to his inner fears and doubts that he would be an unsuitable mate — even though his thoughts, instincts and feelings are at breaking point to relent and pursue her. Whilst Sienna, who shares the same attractions, feels that Hawke will never see her as someone who he could have a relationship with due to her age and differences. But over the course of the book they each challenge and break each other’s walls down which really helped with the buildup of tension between them. I really felt that Kiss of Snow was one of the best books that utilizes sexual tension in a fantastic way. The moment when Sienna finally challenges and pushes Hawke’s control, I could actually feel and sense the romantic tension between them which was very vivid, sensual and earthy.
      I also loved how their courtship evolved from the initial fiery confrontation from a hilarious scene where Hawke had to stop Sienna from inciting riot at a bar, to the playful chase and catch games that really brought out Hawke’s wolf. That ratcheted the tension up even further and really cements their relationship.
      I also loved how they resolved their issues and inner conflict especially about the fact that Sienna is younger and inexperienced compared to Hawke — I know there have been some comments about this pairing. But we learn that Sienna bearing a heavy burden due to her dangerous gift and her childhood has her matured much faster than a typical person. She also forces Hawke to face some truths about his past and engages with him to treat her as an equal and I loved how she turned the tables on him! Whilst Hawke shows Sienna that she can open up and share her fears with him.
      This leads up to them realising that they are equals and this is what makes it believable and makes this a top-notch romance. I know some people have had commented about the age gap but in this case, it wasn’t an issue and there was no power imbalances. I also loved how Sienna dealt with Hawke and his wolf, who is really intense and I loved how Nalini Singh conveys that aspect to the reader. I really felt she really captured this shifter side well because Hawke has lived with his wolf side more openly to help him being alpha unlike other shifters. This helped to define who they were and what it meant to be together. There is a key scene in the book which symbolises their relationship and it has become one of my favourites. They dance for the first time and both remark they are equals after talking about their Psy and Changeling aspects. The dancing scene reflected the way they had danced around together metaphorically and they have finally have stopped evading and confronting each other and realised that there is possibilities between them.
      Another aspect that I loved in the book was the secondary romance with Lara, the pack healer, and Walker, Sienna’s Uncle who we really get to know in this book. I loved how their relationship mirrored Sienna and Hawke’s romance which is fiery and full of inner and outer conflict. But with Walker and Lara their romance was much more subtle but no less intense and whew *fans self* sure can give Judd a run for his money with the icy brooding stakes.
      Kiss of Snow also focuses on plot threads about the upcoming war with the Psy Council which has fragmented with opposing factions. It is also the book that due to the buildup with all of the plots and schemes that Psy councillors have caused, their nefarious schemes come to a head which has major ramifications with the members and the changelings. There is also some interesting and plot threads that are introduced, which I think will start a new story arc, as well as new hints due to a new character that is introduced.
      Previous major characters appear. Sacha, Lucas, and Judd also have prominent roles, and there is some fantastic scenes involving them which I enjoyed immensely. In a lot of ways the minor subplot that involved Sacha and Lucas was a great way to sum up this previous story arc but also symbolises a new change and direction which mirrors the direction of the series.
      Kiss of Snow was a pure and utter joy to read. I inhaled this book and reread it again! This is how you tease and tantalize and reward readers for a long promise romance and it is done with real heartfelt emotions and passion. I was totally lost into this story and the characters, and I have to say this is the best book of the whole series. This is a wonderful steamy romance with the best build up of sexual tension I have read and jam packed with action and plot that the pace never stalls. I think this will be a firm fan fave and it definitely lives up to the promise, especially after that long wait. I will reread this again and again, and I hope we get more glimpses of Hawke and Sienna in future books because I wished this book never end.
    • 4/5
      I am now almost up to date with my Nalini Singh - have filled in all the gaps and have only "Tangle of Need" left to read. It was a strange feeling, reading "Kiss of Snow", because for the first time since I started, the future was unknown. Always, before, reading them out of order, I knew roughly where the plot was leading. Not this time. Although, since Singh tends to have a pattern to her writing, I could hazard a guess.

      Although Hawke and Sienna's relationship was pretty hot, I did feel that all the sexual tension did get in the way of the rather more interesting plot.
    • 4/5
      sienna is a great main character, and I've been looking forward to her story. and to the building conflict between the pure psy and everyone else. the two conflicts match each other in the perfect way.
      sienna is an x psy, one of the psys who are the ultimate weapon. the only thing is she's destined to flame out at a very young age, taking everyone and anything nearby with her. as her powers exponentially grow towards the critical level the pure psy continue to harry the changlings, focusing on the snow dancer tribe.
    • 4/5
      Fantastic addition to the series. The Hawke and Sienna relationship has run throughout the entire series so I was a little concerned that when their book finally happened, it would not live up to the build up. I am happy to say I was completely wrong! Singh makes their relationship both sweet and complex while remaining true to the history between the two characters. I am absolutely addicted to this series!
    • 4/5
      This started pretty predictable but the twist at the end caught me and had me wanting more. Hawke and Sienna conduct their courting dance and have to work out their issues and problems and how to deal with each other and the power that Sienna holds. There are also a few cascade issues that this story both deals with and sets up for further stories.This series sucks me in and I do enjoy it, but I'm not sure if the possesiveness wouldn't make me quite annoyed.
    • 4/5
      Originally posted at Romance Around the Corner

      Consider this review a spoilerfest, so if you haven’t read the book then please skip the review. You have been warned.

      Kiss of Snow is the 10th book in the Psy/Changeling series by Nalini Singh, and I was anxiously waiting for it because I’m a bit of a fan-girl when it comes to Nalini.

      I’m assuming that you are a fan of the series because if you are not then there is no point in starting with this book. Not only will you be lost and won’t know any of the characters, but most important you won’t be emotionally invested in them and that is the key element for a series to work, you need to care for the characters, but that is impossible if you don’t know them. So please go and read this series in order because you are missing out on something amazing.


      Having said that let’s get on with the review. After the developments of the past two books, the war against the California changelings is on. The main objective is the Snowdancer pack because they are the biggest and most powerful of them all. Hawke is the pack’s alpha and he has his hands full. Not only there is the pending threat to the pack, but he is also sexually frustrated. Some years ago the Snowdancers gave asylum to a family of defecting psys, the Lauren, one of them was Sienna to whom Hawke has felt drawn to since the first time he saw her. Sienna is also very much attracted to Hawke, but her power is very unstable which causes her a lot of problems.

      In this book all of Sienna’s control issues have apparently been resolved. She is now pretty much in command of them and her focus is on getting Hawke. I know that through the books she has been working on that but I was expecting it to be part of the book’s main plot since the last time we saw her she was considering returning to Silence.

      I will be the first one to admit that I was never really happy with the Sienna/Hawke pairing mostly because I always found her a little bit immature and I was hoping that dealing with all of these issues would make her more likeable. In the end I did like her, I understood her character, and in a way I was rooting for her, but I don’t think I really connected with her. I couldn’t see past through her being too young, and I don’t mean age wise, I just found her behavior immature. The way she pursues Hawke was that of an obsessed teenager, sometimes I felt like I was reading one of those books where the high school student has a huge crush on her teacher and does embarrassing things to get him, although I guess that every now and then we do embarrassing thing when we are desperate right? The reason she works as a heroine is because first she was goodhearted and sweet and second she had layers, her tragic past is what redeem her and gave her some mature moments, but I think she needed more years to grow and the book would have benefited from that.

      Hawke was a great hero. Nalini is the queen of the alpha male, she has turned it into and art form. If you think about it Hawke is aggressive, possessive, jealous, dominant, and always on the edge of violence, but all of those things that should make you turn around and run for your life are some of the things that make you want and love him. I don’t know how she does it but she makes it work. I guess in part is because these guys are fiercely loyal, loving, caring, they would never hurt you, and they treat you like their equal and relay on your judgment and opinion. My problem with Hawke in this book was that his relationship with Sienna felt patronizing and slightly paternalistic at times, not to mention that he was always sending her mixed signals. I’m not normally bothered by age differences in books, but in this one it was too obvious. I don’t know if it was the fact that she kept throwing herself at him even though he kept telling her that he could never be what she wanted, or the fact that after resisting her he just decided to go for it and damn the consequences, but the romance never really grabbed me. In the end there was a huge cop out but to me Sienna would always be second best in Hawke’s heart. I think Sienna deserved better.

      This book was more focused on the romance aspect than the worldbuilding. Maybe I’m too invested in everything that’s going on with the Ghost, the Council, and the war, but I would have loved to see more about it. I’m pretty sure that I know who the Ghost is, and I’m pretty sure that his book will be the last one. I can’t wait for Nalini to give us a Psy/Psy pairing, and I’m just plain excited about what’s to come next because there were a lot of things hinted at in this book.

      The romance I enjoyed the most was the secondary one between Walker and Lara. It was sweet and engaging, and there were some surprises in Walker’s backstory. This was my favorite part of the book, and I think they would have made a great main couple but I don’t think this will be the last time Walker takes on a more important role.

      I find that the Snowdancer pack is much more interesting and complex than the DarkRiver, but I really miss those cats, so I hope that in the books to come they would take on a more prominent role.

      Overall I enjoyed the book, it may not seem like it but I did. Maybe I was a victim of my own expectations but I do think it could have been better. It wasn’t my favorite of the series, but it was a great addition to it. I would definitely recommend it but you should read the series in order. I’m just in awe of the incredible world that Nalini has created. And now that I’m done with Hawke, I’m waiting for Dmitri!
    • 5/5
      Review Courtesy of Dark Faerie TalesQuick & Dirty: Truly animalistic. A wild and sexy read.Opening Sentence: 1979. The year the Psy race became Silent.The Review:Kiss of Snow is the 10th installment in Nalini Singh's Psy-Changeling paranormal romance series featuring changelings, a race of shape shifters and the Psy, a race of humanoids with the powers of the mind, telekinesis, telepathy, etc.I sometimes find it hard to write a review for a book so far along in a series such as this. You see, it's kind of like soap operas. These books feature a whole cast of characters that you have been reading about for months, all their stories are intertwined with each other. It's difficult at times to review when so much of today's stories depend on the knowledge of yesterday's news. So for this review, I will just concentrate on the romance between Hawke and Sienna, and a bit of the general world building.Sienna is a Psy with a power only rumored to exist, at a level that is completely off the charts. For a woman so young, 19, she has been through a tremendous amount of tragedy in her life. Because of her extraordinary gift, she was subject to intense experimentation from a young age, often being forced to do inexplicable, soul altering things. When the lives of her newly found pack family are on the line, she is willing to pay the ultimate sacrifice to keep them safe.Personally, I had to ignore the references to her age. It is hard when the heroine is the age of your niece and you really do not want to think of your niece doing things of that nature...lol. Otherwise, Sienna is a well written character, as are they all. You really connect with her throughout the story. I admit to wanting to rail a couple of characters upside the head for her, I wanted to cry for her, pray for her.As for Hawke, well he can be my alpha any day. As a virile changeling male and leader of the SnowDancer pack, he is the stuff of legends, some nightmares and even the occasional daydream. Hawke has always been portrayed as tough as nails, and take no prisoners with the capacity to be sensitive and caring. It's nice that we get to see his light and playful side as well as the side that makes you fan yourself and whisper "oh my."Aside from Hawke's being such a man (please insert the requisite sarcasm and head shaking), he has always been my favorite wolf. The way he cares for the others, and even those not born wolf just gives you hope for the human race. Though, I guess he really isn't one of us, but the idea is the same. His love for Sienna also makes him willing to make the ultimate sacrifice towards the end of the book, and that dear readers, is positively unimaginable.Oh and on a side note, I'm so sad to find that Walker's past was such as it was, and love has given him a new lease on life.These stories take place in the California wilderness and the nearby city of San Francisco, with an occasional trip to South America and elsewhere. With the Psy and the changelings "out of the closet" in this case unlike in other paranormals, there is no need to hide and be secret, so we can imagine the events as if they are happening today, right in our own back yard. It's incredibly realistic.Overall, this latest piece of the future Ms. Singh sees for the world she has created is as riveting as those that came before it. She is a master at crafting scenes that get you hot and bothered. She is also great at scenes that make you tear up and the ones that have you pumping your fist in the air saying "take that, bad guy!" I read this book through twice, and could not put it down either time. Seriously, I cannot wait to see what happens next.Notable Scene:It was time.Abandoning any attempt at secrecy, she walked out into the night-cloaked battlefield bathed in the crimson and gold shimmer of cold fire. The enemy might have been Silent, but they went pale at the sight of her. An instant later they began to shoot. She would’ve taken evasive action … except the flames around her repelled everything, melting the bullets down to nothing, reflecting the lasers back at the shooters.It was then that she realized Judd couldn’t have acted as a failsafe. No bullet would’ve gotten through. That wasn’t the scariest part—her link to the LaurenNet was shielded by cold fire even Sienna wouldn’t be able to breach, the ultimate defensive measure from a martial mind. But that was no longer an issue. She knew what to do now, and she would do it after the battle was done and her pack was safe.Angry and sickened at the sight of the broken and hurt SnowDancers around her, Sienna spread out her arms, palms facing the sky. And the fire with the cold, cold heart touched the enemy, and they weren’t there anymore. She aimed the most powerful wave at Henry Scott, knowing he’d try to get his men to teleport him out.The bastard screamed high and shrill before he disappeared. She didn’t know if he was dead, but she did know the attacking force should’ve retreated at the sight of her. Yet bullets continued to fly, now aimed at the fallen changelings.No.Something arctic and dark and deadly rose up inside of her as the X-fire emerged in a straight line on either side of her body, cutting the enemy in the way in half and cauterizing the massive wounds with such flawlessness, it appeared the men had fallen into two neat pieces. The rest of them were trapped beyond the wall of voracious flame, but they continued to shoot. And then her mind, a huge, vast endless thing that saw and heard every sigh, every heartbeat, caught the whisper of more of them coming down through the mountains. They’d slipped in past the defenses when the sonic weapon took out the changelings as well as the feral wolves, and now they thought to flank them from behind.“Traitor!” The word came from the throats of those in front of her and she knew them then. Pure Psy. Zealots. They would not back down.Very well.The cold, dark thing inside of her shoved aside all else…and the flames began to feed. Screams filled the air, filled her consciousness, filled the sky. The monster inside of her, she thought with a small part of the endless vastness that was her mind, had seized control.The problem was…the Psy weren’t the only targets in the vicinity.The Psy-Changeling Series:1. Slave To Sensation2. Visions of Heat3. Caressed By Ice4. Mine to Possess5. Hostage to Pleasure6. Branded By Fire7. Blaze of Memory8. Bonds of Justice9. Play of Passion10. Kiss of SnowFTC Advisory: Berkley provided me with a copy of Kiss of Snow. No goody bags, sponsorships, "material connections," or bribes were exchanged for my review.
    • 5/5
      The biggest thing I have to say about this book is that I wasn't ready for it to end. There was so much going on and at the end I had so many questions about the ongoing plot that I thought my head would explode. I was very happy with Hawke and Sienna's story although I am beginning to believe that I am going to have to keep Kleenex handy whenever I read any of these books. They have all made me cry and to be fair they have also made me laugh and cheer and send nasty thoughts to the villians in the stroy. Although there maybe hope for Sashca's mother. I am not sure what is going on with that part of the story and it will be interesting to see how things play out. I am also very curious about the real identiy of the Ghost. There are some definite unseen and unexpected twist to Sienna's power. It will be interesting to see if she can find a postive way to help the packs with the weapon that she has. Also this is a double love story. There is a second couple that becomes mated in this book. A pair that I hadn't thought about until they came together. June of 2012 is looking like a long ways out for the next book.
    • 4/5
      Although I just discovered this series about eighteen months ago, I feel like I have been waiting for this book for years! You know how it is when you are being set up for a particular book when reading a series? Well, this is it. This is Sienna's and Hawke's book and it's about time.Hawke is all alpha which does not mean just dominant, but caring and protective . . . especially of his pack. Sienna, unbeknown to Hawke, may be the most dangerous thing the pack has ever had to deal with.In the meantime, there is a subplot involving two other pack members, Lara, the healer, and Walker, a Psy, and Sienna's uncle. Lara's and Walker's story was a nice addition, but I almost wished it had been saved for a separate book.Speaking of which, I wonder when the next book will be released and who if will focus on.
    • 5/5
      Wow! What a stunning book! Nalini Singh is just amazing! I loved Hawke and Sienna's story. I did not imagine I could learn to care for this couple more than I did but Nalini proved me wrong. As usual, not only did she do a fantastic job with her primary and secondary characters, she also crafted an amazing plot. Too many times in the past I have been disappointed at how lackluster some of the stories have become after the first in the series but Nalini did not disappoint. Anyone who calls themselves fans of paranormal romance must pick up this series.
    • 5/5
      Finally, Hawke and Sienna's story. I really enjoyed this book. Hawke is the perfect alpha male and I love how Sienna brings him to his knees. We also get a closer look at the fasinating psy-changling world. I thought the side story of Walker and Lara was fun too. Great book!
    • 5/5
      I've been waiting for their story and wasn't disappointed. Sienna and Hawke, two strong and stubborn characters, fight and love ferociously. I loved the beginning when they were fighting their attraction, the sexual tension burned up the pages. I loved it, almost called in sick to work just so I could read more. Then I just melted when he stared to court her. A lot of characters from past books appear here just to give them relationship advice. It took a whole villliage to get Sienna and Hawke on the right path to love. There was less Council strategy-ising, just the pack preparing for war. This story is well worth the extra expense of a hardcover, because it is epic and very satisfying.
    • 5/5
      This latest in the Psy-Changeling series concentrates on Sienna and Hawke's romance. But romance isn't all that is in the air. The war between the Psy is heating up and the changelings particularly SnowDancer wolves and DarkRiver leopards are right in the way. The romance was hot as Sienna and Hawke battle to overcome their differences and fears. We learn more about Sienna's psy power and why she fears it.
    • 3/5
      I was really excited for this books as the tension/attraction between Hawke and Sienna has been building for quite some time. It really lived up to my expectations with regards to their relationship and I loved the addition of Walker and Lara, but the crisis at the end with Sienna's powers was rather weak. Up until now the Psy powers were all confined to mental abilities, so Sienna's physical manifestations came out of nowhere. Overall, I liked it but the battle scenes and explanation of the Psy's special abilities were rather weak.Snack lit rating: potato chips
    • 4/5
      I really enjoyed the Sienna and Hawke story. The buildup was great and it was definitely worth the wait. I also enjoyed the subromance between Lara and Walker. It was great to see Walker's character developed. Before this book, he was probably the least developed of the original characters. While I loved the romances, I'm not sure where the overarching story is going. It seems like its taken 10 books to get past the boiling point where the tensions between the psy and everyone else (and among the psy) have fully erupted. That being said, is it possible to resolve this in anything less than 10 more books? I'm most interested in the stories of the original characters or the Dark River or SnowDancer packs. They've almost all paired off...The only original character remaining I think is Kit. It seems like the plan might be to have stories about Kaleb, Vasic and maybe the Rats and Falcons? They've been getting more page time recently. For me, I don't know if I'll be interested in all their stories. I can't see a Rat as a romantic character...My favorite books by far have been the ones with the original group, the other books just haven't been as strong for me (Max, Dev Santos...). Great book but has left a lot of questions on where the series is going next..
    • 4/5
      I'm kind of conflicted by this one. On the one hand, it's classic Singh, which is very enjoyable in and of itself. On the other hand, I'm kind of at the point where I'm waiting for this series to wrap up, and that's not happening. It's getting to the point where I can't keep the characters straight anymore because, other than gender divisions, all the characters have the same voices. I feel like at the beginning of the series, Lucas and Hawke were very distinct characters, but at one point in this book I had to re-read a scene because I thought Lucas was speaking but it turned out to be Hawke. I did like the secondary romance between Walker and Lara and in some ways found it more satisfying that Sienna and Hawke's, just because it was different from previous storylines. I also still like the world, I just wish the series could be re-booted a bit -- maybe set in a new location or something to freshen it up. And the scene at the end, where we find out what Hawke's last name is... *eye-roll*Anyway, my complaining musings aside, it was an enjoyable book. I'm not sure that it's worth hard cover prices, but it is worth reading.
    • 5/5
      A very lovely story and well worth the wait. Hawke and Sienna have been circling each other for most of the series and us fans have been very much looking forward to this book. It definitely met my expectations. Even the story beyond the romances of Hawke and Sienna and Walker and Lara (their romance was so sweet!) was very good and moved the plot into outright war. It will be interesting to see how this develops in the next few books.But really the best part of this book was the sizzlin' relationship between Hawke and Sienna. Both have such strong personalities, it was fun to see some tender and playful moments between the two, also. Again, well worth the wait.
    • 5/5
      I have been in love with Hawke since we met him in book one. I do love Lucas, but Hawke has always been the one I have wanted to learn more about. Finally, ten books later we get to see his story. I knew of course, that he was somehow going to end up with Sienna, but I had no idea how it was going to work out. I have also heard quite a bit of talk about her age being awkward since she is only 19, but that never seem to be an issue in this book. Sienna has experienced more than the average Psy in her 19 short years and her maturity level and actions often reflect this. The relationship between her and Hawke also has a slow, almost aggravatingly so, build therefore everything feels natural and not forced. I find it extremely interesting that now SnowDancer and DarkRiver both have Psy women keeping the attention of the alphas. Speaking of DarkRiver, we do get little glimpses into their lives in this book, which I appreciated. Especially since Sascha is pregnant and has been for a couple of books now. I wanted to see if she actually has her baby and just check in on her and Lucas. The first book has always been one of my favorites and I loved getting updates on the characters from it. Sascha functions as the heart of her pack and this often bleeds over into SnowDancer and their members. They are all interconnected and Nalini has done a great job of weaving their lives together.Another bonus was the other story being told throughout this one. We got an additional couple finding their way to each other: Lara, the SnowDancer pack healer and Walker Lauren, one of the Psy that lives with the pack. They have a completely different courtship from any other couple we have seen before, but I am glad it was just interwoven into this story and not it’s own book. I like watching them bond, but I am not sure an entire book with the two of them would have held my attention.Alright, back to Hawke and Sienna. If you have read these books before, you know that Hawke lost his mate when he was young and as a result he has never opened his heart to anyone else. Sienna refuses to let that excuse fly. She practically forces Hawke to open his eyes to the possibility of being happy again and uses some very interesting methods to get her point across. The best was the scene in the bar where she lures Hawke to her. I was dying laughing at his reaction to her behavior and watching Kit get in on the action by helping Sienna out was just as amusing. You will have to read to see what I am talking about because any other detail and I will ruin the fun for you.My favorite scene with Hawke and Sienna though is in the woods when Hawke gives her a 20 minute head start and tells her to run. The chase was on and it was awesome! The playful aspect of their relationship was just as thrilling to watch as their tender moments. This book has become my favorite of the series for so many reasons, but it has also affrirmed my love for Nalini’s writing. I am not sure who is up next in the Psy/Changling world but I know I will always be picking these books up to see what Nailini has in store for us next!