Mine to Possess by Nalini Singh Narrator: Angela Dawe
Series: Psy-Changeling #4
Published by Tantor Audio on July 11, 2011
Genres: Paranormal Romance
Length: 11 hours, 59 minutes
Format: Audiobook
Source: Library
Goodreads
Amazon, Audible, Libro.fm, Barnes & Noble, Apple
Clay Bennett is a powerful DarkRiver sentinel, but he grew up in the slums with his human mother, never knowing his changeling father. As a young boy without the bonds of Pack, he tried to stifle his animal nature. He failed... and committed the most extreme act of violence, killing a man and losing his best friend, Talin, in the bloody aftermath. Everything good in him died the day he was told that she, too, was dead.
Talin McKade barely survived a childhood drenched in bloodshed and terror. Now a new nightmare is stalking her life - the street children she works to protect are disappearing and turning up dead. Determined to keep them safe, she unlocks the darkest secret in her heart and returns to ask the help of the strongest man she knows....
Clay lost Talin once. He will not let her go again, his hunger to possess her, a clawing need born of the leopard within. As they race to save the innocent, Clay and Talin must face the violent truths of their past... or lose everything that ever mattered.
Mine to Possess is the fourth installment of Nalini Singh’s Psy-Changeling series. I feel like Mine to Protect would have been a better title. Not only is that phrase used at least three times in the text, it just seems to embody the essence of Clay and Talin. They are both protectors at their core and it is this underlying trait at the root of their actions and intentions.
This is the first book in the series featuring a human. Being human myself, I was glad to see that there are some of us worthy of the awesome Psys and Changelings. I was a little worried the humans would just seem a bit inferior, but Talin is about as fierce as any Changeling and makes a great heroine.
Nalini Singh is gifted at capturing the essence of a character and making them come alive on the page. She portrays emotion, reactions, and chemistry in a believable way, so that we can see how two very different people are actually perfect for each other. It was painful at times to read about the abuse suffered by Talin, and one can’t help but admire how she turned her own tragedy into something positive. I enjoyed watching Clay’s struggle with his dominance. The shock he must have felt to learn that Talin was alive again warred with his overwhelming desire to make her his mate. His surly, slightly grumpy manner is just a smoke-screen to the turmoil inside.
Up to this point, I have not connected with this series, although I have faith in the author and am not about to quit. I prefer Urban Fantasy as a whole and find I miss the depth of world-building and overriding story arcs that seem to be less common in Paranormal Romance. I would have said the same thing for the first three books, however, I noticed a distinct shift in my understanding and appreciation for the Psy-Changeling world about midway through Mine to Possess. The world seems to be filling out and revealing complexities in ways that seem more organic than in the first three books. I’m interested to learn more about the Implant Protocol and The Forgotten. I look forward to continuing on in the series.
“It was you. Always. Only ever you.”
“How can I be angry with the other half of my soul?”
“Some wounds should be healed, no matter how much time has passed or how much time is left.”
Narration:
While Angela Dawes does and excellent job with pacing and diction, I am not sure if she is the right voice for non-Psy characters. She has a steady style which fell a little flat for the passionate, frustrated Talin and the volatile, simmering Clay.
Listen to a clip: HERE
Games:
Who said (enter the answer in the Rafflecopter, don’t put in the comments)
“It means that whatever you are, you’re not yet the woman who’ll stop him from crossing the final line… from losing his humanity. ”
There are other options in the rafflecopter for you to enter discussion questions and quotes to share.
The quote for Who said “Oh, for crissakes, don’t give me any shit. I’ve had it up to here with men and their attitudes.” in Caressed by Ice was Indigo.
The villain was The Council / the Scotts / Dieter.
Share your review/ thoughts on Mine to Possess:
I thought it might be fun to link up reviews so we can find them all easily. It can be a link to Goodreads or a blog, or wherever you have a review (short or long).
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Observations and questions you shared from Caressed by Ice:
(Thank you so much for sharing!)
- Brenna’s strong. , Brenna’s eyes are interesting. Brenna got hair extensions. Brenna’s good with computers.
- Brenna was abused in many ways
- Judd and Dorian like to work out.
- Dorian can’t shift.
- Judd breaks furniture.
- What species will the children of Sacha and Lucas be? Will they have characteristics of one or both parents?
- How will the new Psy – Changeling net work out? How much mental connection will there be with Changelings?
- Do you think Tk Cel’s were really killing their families or ? I think they could have been a type of healer?
Quotes you readers shared from Caressed by Ice:
(Thank you for sharing!)
“I’ll need a sparring partner. “
“No. Let‘s have more sex.”
“Hot damn. Let’s do it.”
“The Psy has lost their ability to produce such tones after Silence, their voices too flat, too dead. But as his race didn’t listen to music, that was considered no loss.”
He understood why Brenna had needed to talk to Dorian.
If the alpha tried to separate him from Brenna, he’d have a fight on his hands.
“Aren’t you going to get up?”
“Can I bite you here, too?”
Here’s your to-do list:
- Find your copies of these books, borrow them from a friend, get them at the library or buy them.
- Read the novella 4.1 A Conversation which is on the author’s website.
- Read Book 5, Hostage to Pleasure, by April 16.
- Make a list of a favorite quote or two as you read the book.
- If you haven’t read the books before, make a list of questions you have for the discussion. If you have read them, please don’t spoil new readers.
- Link up your review on Goodreads or your site to the post.
- Join the COYER book chat on the Sunday following the post.
- Enter the giveaways!
COYER Challenge is adopting our Read-along. You can read about COYER and join that challenge or just the Facebook community chat HERE.
Mine to Possess chat in a FB room (like we do for COYER book club) is:
March 21 at 12 PT, 2 CT, 3 ET and 9pn Europe, for a one hour chat.
You do not have to join the COYER challenge to participate, only the Facebook group.
Schedule:
We are doing one book every 3-4 weeks, posting on Fridays. We should have a review for most of the books with the team here at Books of My Heart plus some of our friends.
Mar 19: Mine to Possess – KC
Apr 16: Hostage to Pleasure – Berls @ Because Reading
May 7: Branded by Fire – Kai @ Fiction State of Mind
May 28: Blaze of Memory – Sophia
Jun 18: Bonds of Justice – Angela @ Angel’s Guilty Pleasures
Jul 16: Play of Passion – Robin
Aug 6: Kiss of Snow – Melanie?
Aug 27: Tangle of Need – Victoria @ First of All
Sep 17: Heart of Obsidian – Linda @ Unconventional Bookworms
Oct 15: Shield of Winter – Samantha @ The Book Disciple
Nov 5: Shards of Hope – Jen @ That’s What I’m Talking About
Dec 3: Allegiance of Honor – Anne
Miss a post?
Jan 1: Slave to Sensation – Stephanie @ Once Upon a Chapter
Jan 29: Visions of Heat – Rachel @ Waves of Fiction
Feb 19: Caressed by Ice – Kim @ Caffeinated Reviewer
Be sure to enter the giveaways!!!
Giveaway:
A copy of Branded by Fire, book 6.
Grand-Prize Giveaway:
Tantor Audio is generously donating a set of 15 codes for the entire set on audio. Codes will work US or Intl.
About Angela Dawe
Angela Dawe is an audiobook narrator and actress living and working in Chicago, Illinois. Winner of several Earphones Awards from Audiofile Magazine and narrator of two Audie-nominated audiobooks, Angela is also an accomplished improviser/sketch comedian, and has worked with such theaters as Second City, iO (formerly improvOlympic), and The Annoyance. Among Angela’s recordings are Psy-Changeling Series by Nalini Singh, Wild Roses by Deb Caletti, and Savor the Moment by Nora Roberts.
About Nalini Singh
I’ve been writing as long as I can remember and all of my stories always held a thread of romance (even when I was writing about a prince who could shoot lasers out of his eyes). I love creating unique characters, love giving them happy endings and I even love the voices in my head. There’s no other job I would rather be doing. In September 2002, when I got the call that Silhouette Desire wanted to buy my first book, Desert Warrior, it was a dream come true. I hope to continue living the dream until I keel over of old age on my keyboard.
I was born in Fiji and raised in New Zealand. I also spent three years living and working in Japan, during which time I took the chance to travel around Asia. I’m back in New Zealand now, but I’m always plotting new trips. If you’d like to see some of my travel snapshots, have a look at the Travel Diary page (updated every month).
So far, I’ve worked as a lawyer, a librarian, a candy factory general hand, a bank temp and an English teacher and not necessarily in that order. Some might call that inconsistency but I call it grist for the writer’s mill.
I've developed a preference for audiobooks over the last few years, which allow me to complete chores, run carpool, or work on my many building and craft projects while 'reading.
My all time favorite selections include Diana Gabaldon's Outlander series, Karen Marie Moning's Fever series, and all of Robin Hobb's books set in the Farseer world. Honorable mentions to Elle Kennedy, Penny Reid, Meljean Brook, Ann Aguirre, Krista and Becca Ritchie, Jeaniene Frost, and Kristen Callihan.
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Reading this book contributed to these challenges:
- C21-Spring
This is my second read and I will say I’m liking it even better the second time through. I’m not sure if that is because I know more about the world this time around or if I’m just at a different place in my life. Possibly both.
Great review. It is nice that the Humans get some lovin as well.
Well, it is all new to me but this one is my favorite so far. I was glad to see a human -Changeling pairing. The biggest thing to me was all the world-building and how much more we learned about the Psy in the overall story arc.
Very nice review. I love this series. I first read it, but then when I found my love for audios I went back and listened to them from my library. The audios are so much fun. I picked up on things I missed and everything felt like the first time all over again.
It’s my first read but I often read first and reread with audio. I definitely pick up things on the reread especially if it is all together like the Read-along. Thanks so much for participating and sharing your reviews!
I did better with this one my second time through and I was pretty excited that a strong human heroine was a main figure though in a couple of her side novellas in the series there were some good human leads, too.
Glad the world building really grabbed you in this one. I’m seeing so much more than I did the first time through.
I think we always get more in the reread but also because we are reading them along close together. Thanks so much for joining us and sharing your thoughts.
I really liked where things are going as this book ended! Looking forward to talking about it on Sunday!
Yes, this was my favorite one so far! Thanks so much for joining us and sharing your review.
I’m a little behind! I’ll be getting to this soon. I just downloaded an audio copy. Hope to catch up soon. Thanks for hosting, Anne! 🙂
Thank you for joining us. You can still link up when you get to it. I don’t know how I missed these comments last weekend.
I’s been a while since I read paranormal romance. I have heard of Nalini Singh. Glad you’re enjoying the series.
yes it had been awhile since I had read PNR rather than UF but this one has enough of an overall story ARC I’m enjoying it. Somehow I missed this comment last weekend.
Nice review, KC. I think you will start to enjoy the stories more, soon. The overall story arcs become more developed and defined, while remaining individual romances.
Yes I am enjoying the overall story ARC which gives it a bit of UF rather than PNR. I don’t know how I missed this comment last week.
Just noticed the link for the free read “A Conversation” above. I had no idea the author, who I follow, had a bunch of series related short stories available. Thanks!
Yes Anne, if you look at each post I say what short stories or novellas come after this one and before the next one, and also where you can find it. You’ll notice there are several on the author’s site besides A Conversation. Sorry I missed this comment somehow last weekend.
Mine to Possess is a sweet and sorrowful love story. Talin’s backstory just broke my dang heart. I love that Clay and Tally have a history and the book was very exciting. I really enjoyed it!
It’s my favorite story so far. Sorry I missed this comment last week.
Finally entered my read-link! Now I need to start the next one!