Pam's Review: Where Demons Fear to Tread by Stephanie Chong

Where Demons Fear to Tread 

~Stephanie Chong 



Mass Market Paperback: 368 pages 

Publisher: Mira 

Publish Date: August 23, 2011 

ISBN-10: 077831247X 

ISBN-13: 978-0778312475 

ASIN: B005DB89UE 



From the author's website:

Fledgling guardian angel and yoga teacher Serena St. Clair dares enter Devil’s Paradise nightclub on a mission – to retrieve the wayward Hollywood “It Boy” she’s assigned to protect. But she’s ambushed by the club’s owner, Archdemon Julian Ascher. The most powerful demonic entity in Los Angeles, Julian is handsome as sin, a master of temptation who loves nothing more than corrupting pleasure-seeking humans. He won’t release the lost soul Serena is supposed to guard. Unless she accepts his dangerous wager… 



After the disastrous way his human life ended, Julian vowed that no woman would get the better of him again. Yet this sexy-sweet angel, smelling of fresh ocean air and happiness, triggers centuries-old feelings. Now, their high-stakes game of seduction, where angels fall from grace and where demons fear to tread, will lead them either to an eternity in hell…or a deliciously hot heaven.

Serena died almost a year ago, and now she is a guardian angel to an actor named Nick. Nick is a challenge; he likes to party, drink, do drugs, and spend ‘time’ with prostitutes. Serena does not mind the challenge and is determined to help him live a straight, honest life. He was doing well, but then she found out he was at a club so she went to get him to help him stay away from old habits.

While searching the club for Nick she meets Julian, the clubs owner and arch demon. He is not willing to let Nick’s soul get saved especially in his club. Julian also senses that Serena is an angel. He decides that he must have her and goes about pursuing her. During this pursue certain feelings arise that he hasn’t had for a very long time. Serena is starting to have feelings towards Julian as well, and he may be making her fall for him, and quite possibly fall as an angel as well.



My thoughts:

This was a good story, not what I was expecting. It was a fast read and I never found myself bored. I liked how although the book was about angels and demons there were no clear lines between good and evil; it helped make it more realistic in a way. Serena is pretty straight laced, she is an angel after all, but she is not annoyingly so. She is actually quite relatable and seemed more human to me, but perhaps that is also because in the story she has been dead for less than a year so she is still close to her human side.

Julian is not the most powerful demon, but he has the potential to be. In fact, there is only one more powerful than him before the devil. Julian is the typical alpha male; he sees something he wants therefore he will get it. Since he is a demon he hasn’t always gone about that the right way nor cared about the consequences of his actions. With Serena however, though his intentions at first are not pure, he definitely does not act like a typical demon would.  



All the characters that you were supposed to like, I liked. All the characters that you were supposed to hate, I hated. I was also really fond of the interpretation of what angels and demons are in this book. I would suggest starting this book when you have a few hours of spare time because it is very hard to put down.

 My Rating:

 Pam
Book received from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Pam's Review and A Giveaway: Chosen by Paula Bradley

Chosen

~Paula Bradley



 Paperback: 334 pages

Publisher: Fiction Studios (August 16, 2011)

Language: English

ISBN-10: 1936558106

ISBN-13: 978-1936558100

ASIN: B00551ASGK



From Goodreads:

Shy and introverted Mariah Carpenter has concealed a hidden talent from childhood that, according to her mother, would brand her a freak. Now a fateful encounter has caused her secret skill—an extraordinary psychic ability—to become greatly enhanced. Suddenly, she has a purpose for her gift, as her vision gives her the ability to find kidnapped children telepathically. But is this a blessing or a curse? When Mariah’s fourth finding is filmed by the FBI and the recording is stolen and sold to a broadcast journalist, Mariah’s worst nightmare becomes a reality. She is acclaimed worldwide as a saint and messenger from God—and vilified as the Antichrist whose powers must be quelled. Meanwhile, another government agency has its own covert agenda for Mariah…. In the midst of all of this, Mariah has a series of horrifying nightmares, culminating in the discovery of an ingenious serial killer, one who somehow prevents Mariah from finding out who and where he is. Locating this murderer before he kills again becomes Mariah’s obsession, one that threatens to consume her––and could even destroy her. Chosen introduces readers to a remarkably complex, achingly human, and absolutely unforgettable heroine. Bursting with tension, danger, and the thrill of the unexplained, Chosen is a singular reading experience.

Mariah swallows almost two dozen Restoril pills with the intention of killing herself. She is stunned when she wakes up the next morning, very much alive. However, something happened to her while she was sleeping, something she refers to as the ‘visitation.’ As she confides what happened to her friend, he thinks that this was something miraculous and prompts her to talk to the minister of his church. Michael, the minister, also thinks that this was God’s doing, a miracle. And soon Mariah finds a new home in the church along with singing in the choir. A short while after the ‘visitation’ another unusual occurrence happens that leads Mariah on a psychic sort of journey to find a kidnapped victim. When these psychic like episodes continue Mariah really does not believe that God is behind these events after all….



My Thoughts:

Well, I can definitely say that this book is unique and I have never read anything like it before. It was a good story that kept me interested most of the time, but there were some parts that didn’t fit, and some things that were missing. For instance, Mariah tries to kill herself, and what happens? People think it’s a miracle that she survived, but no one addresses the problem of her wanting to end her life! I just couldn’t fathom it. If my friend tried to kill herself, even if I thought it was a miracle she survived, you better believe I would call a close family member and make her get professional help. Also, sometimes there were too many people for me to keep track of, and the friend that she confided in about her suicide doesn’t get mentioned a second time until so much later in the book that I didn’t remember who he was.




On to the positive; I cannot figure out what is on the cover of this book, and it really creeps me out, which I believe is the intention. As Mariah’s psychic abilities increase, she begins to have different sort of dreams, and some of them even made me scared reading them by myself at night. It takes some pretty good writing to have that kind of frightening effect on me. Also, as mentioned before, this story is definitely one of a kind. You’re not going to read it and have it feel familiar to you.



If you’re looking for a different sort of story, one that may frighten you at times, while at the same time keeping you wanting more, then you should give Chosen a try.

 My Rating:

Pam

Thanks to the lovely ladies over at Media Muscle, 

we have a copy of Chosen to give away to one lucky reader!  Simply leave a comment stating you want to win this book.  

US addresses only.  Contest ends 9/22.

Book provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Pam's Review: Sweet Venom by Tera Lynn Childs

Sweet Venom 

~Tera Lynn Childs 


Reading level: Ages 13 and up 

Hardcover: 352 pages 

Publisher: Katherine Tegen Books  

Publish Date: September 6, 2011 

ISBN-10: 0062001817 

ISBN-13: 978-0062001818 

ASIN: B004W2YYVI



 From the author's website:

Grace just moved to San Francisco and is excited to start over at a new school. The change is full of fresh possibilities, but it’s also a tiny bit scary. It gets scarier when a minotaur walks in the door. And even more shocking when a girl who looks just like her shows up to fight the monster. 



Gretchen is tired of monsters pulling her out into the wee hours, especially on a school night, but what can she do? Sending the minotaur back to his bleak home is just another notch on her combat belt. She never expected to run into this girl who could be her double, though. 



Greer has her life pretty well put together, thank you very much. But that all tilts sideways when two girls who look eerily like her appear on her doorstep and claim they're triplets, supernatural descendants of some hideous creature from Greek myth, destined to spend their lives hunting monsters. 



These three teenage descendants of Medusa, the once-beautiful gorgon maligned by myth, must reunite and embrace their fates in this unique paranormal world where monsters lurk in plain sight.

Grace just moved to San Francisco with her family. She is shy and insecure, and she hopes that this move will be a fresh start for her. She is hopeful that she can be a new, confident person in this new school where nobody knows her. Grace soon learns that changing her personality is much harder than she thinks when a bully gives her a hard first day. Things begin looking up though; she starts spending time with her brother and his friend Milo who she has a crush on. They are all at a restaurant when it happens the first time; Grace sees a Minotaur. She is not sure if she is crazy or what exactly is going on, but soon she runs into someone who looks exactly like her, someone who will explain everything to her, someone that is quite possibly and probably her twin.



Grace turns out to be a triplet (you can find this out just by reading the back of the book, so don’t worry, I’m not giving anything away). The girls, Grace, Gretchen, and Greer, are very different from one another, and only one, Gretchen, is aware of why they are seeing monsters in the first place. They are decedents of Medusa and it is up to them to protect man kind. Will Grace and Greer walk away, going back to their once normal lives, or will they fight together and send the monsters back to where they belong?



My thoughts:

This book is written with three different points of view, but I felt that it was mostly focused on Grace. While I was about halfway through this book I was excited, telling people I think this is going to be the next big young adult book, like Twilight or The Hunger Games. Then about halfway through I’m not sure what happened; it was still a good story, but it lost some of its pull on me.



Overall though, it was definitely a good read. I wouldn’t be surprised if this gets turned into a tv show or even a movie. It looks like this is going to be a series, and I have a feeling it’s only going to get better. I’m curious to see what the girls will be up to in the next book.

 My Rating:

 Pam


Book provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Review: The Vampire Next Door by Ashlyn Chase

The Vampire Next Door 

~Ashlyn Chase 




Mass Market Paperback: 384 pages 

Publisher: Sourcebooks Casablanca

Publish Dates: August 1, 2011

ISBN-10: 1402236638

ISBN-13: 978-1402236631 

ASIN: B0057H74ZA



From Goodreads:

In this third installment of Chase's lively, sexy, paranormal trilogy, we meet witch Morgaine, who is deathly afraid of the dark, and her vigilante vampire neighbor Sly, who has his reasons for hating sunlight. Sly needs Morgaine's magic to help heal a broken fang, but with further help, and sometimes hindrance, from the wacky apartment dwellers around them, they may become each other's last hope for a normal life...

There is a brownstone in Boston that seems to attract supernatural residents.  Case in point, Sly Flores - a young vampire who,as the story opens, has just attempted to stop a man from attacking a woman.  When Sly tries to bite the man's neck, however, his fang gets caught on the man's gold chain - problem is, it's not really gold, it's silver, and Sly loses his fang.  He heads straight to the brownstone and asks Morgaine, a witch, to heal his fang.  She does, which leads to spending time together and a hint of attraction between them.



Sly has only been a vampire for 26 years, and suddenly his maker comes looking for him.  He's bound and determined to make Sly his lover.  Sly is horrified - his maker is responsible for the death of his wife during childbirth.  Morgaine and her witchy cousin, Gwyneth, decide to help Sly get rid of his maker and perhaps help Sly with another problem he's having as well.



My thoughts:

I have enjoyed the other books in this light, fun series, but I had a hard time with The Vampire Next Door.  Morgaine and Sly's relationship went from cold to hot in a matter of moments; they were both getting advice about how to not be so shy around each other and then were suddenly in bed together, and not shy at all about it!  I didn't see any progression into their romantic relationship and  pretty much skimmed the sexy bits.   I liked them when they were doing "plot" things like trying to outmaneuver Sly's maker or attempting to find a "cure" for Sly's vampirism.



The other residents of the house were their usual quirky characters.  We do get a LOT of Morgaine's cousin Gwyneth in this book, and I have to be honest - she was very annoying.  I hate it when Southerners are portrayed as stupid, and Gwyneth is stereotypically written as a dumb Southern girl who makes/drinks moonshine and says "y'all" every three words.  If you've read the other books in the series, you'll be happy to see Merry and Jason in this book, they have some good things going on, and Roz and Konrad make an appearance too.  We also meet two new tenants who have secrets they're hiding.



There were a few surprising "matches" in The Vampire Next Door, so I'm curious about who's going to move into the "Love Shack" (formerly Sly's apartment) in the next book.



The Vampire Next Door is a humorous and sexy paranormal read; unfortunately I was too distracted by my annoyance with Gwyneth's character.  It can be read as a stand-alone, although the characters are more interesting if you know their background stories.

 My Rating:

Book received by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Review: Succubus Revealed by Richelle Mead

Succubus Revealed
~Richelle Mead
Paperback: 304 pages
Publisher: Kensington
Publish Date: August 30, 2011
ISBN-10: 0758232012
ISBN-13: 978-0758232014
ASIN: B005CRY8CW

From the author's website:
Georgina Kincaid has had an eternity to figure out the opposite sex, but sometimes they still surprise her. Take Seth Mortensen. The man has risked his soul to become Georgina's boyfriend. Still, with Lucifer for a boss, Georgina can't just hang up her killer heels and settle down to domestic bliss. In fact, she's being forced to transfer operations...to Las Vegas.
The City of Sin is a dream gig for a succubus, but Georgina's allies are suspicious. Why are the powers-that-be so eager to get her away from Seattle—-and from Seth? Georgina is one of Hell's most valuable assets, but if there's any way out of the succubus business she plans to take it--no matter how much roadkill she leaves behind. She just hopes the casualties won’t include the one man she’s risking everything for...

Georgina Kincaid has had a rough few months, but things are finally settling down.  She's working as an elf at the Mall since she quit her dream job at the bookstore.  Maybe it's not ideal, but it pays the bills.  She's back together with her boyfriend Seth, and although there are a few things in their relationship that aren't perfect - namely every time they have sex a piece of his soul turns dark - she's happy they're together.  They've had their ups and downs and everything seems to have worked itself out.

Then, out of nowhere, she gets a message from hell - she's being transferred in a month from Seattle to Las Vegas.  She's devastated, until she realizes she can bring Seth.  But his sister-in-law is sick with cancer, and it's suddenly gotten worse; Seth must stay to help his brother and sister-in-law with their five young daughters.  Georgina takes a weekend trip to Las Vegas to check in and make preparations for her arrival, and it's too good to be true:  her boss is and old favorite, her new roommate is a very good friend, and he introduces her to another succubus who is a lot of fun and helps her land her dream job as a showgirl.

Later, as she's telling her roommate, Roman, about all these things, he's deeply suspicious.  Roman wants to know why hell wants her out of Seattle so quickly.  As more and more secrets are uncovered, Georgina's future looks uncertain - for good or bad, no one knows.

My thoughts:
A fabulous ending to a fantastic series. I couldn't have asked for more.  I had so many questions at the end of Succubus Shadows, and they were all answered in Succubus Revealed.

Georgina's crew is like hell's version of Friends:

"No trouble at all.  I get a discount at the mall."
Jerome sighed and set down his fork.  "Are you still doing that Georgie?  Don't I suffer enough without having to endure the humiliation ofa succubus who moonlights as a Christmas elf?"
"You always said I should quit the bookstore and find something else to do," I reminded him.
"Yes, but that was because I thought you'd go on to do something respectable.  Like become a stripper or the mayor's mistress."
~page 9, Succubus Revealed

Ms. Mead writes the quirkiest demons I've ever read.  I mean, really, where else are you going to read about a bowling competition to prove demonic superiority?

Seth was on my shit list for part of the series, but I'm firmly back in the Team Seth category.  He's good for Georgina; he loves her more than anyone knew.  Well, almost anyone...

Roman was another character I had doubts about earlier in the series, but I must say that Roman was amazing.  Everyone needs a friend like Roman; someone who's there for you despite the situation or the risks, someone who will fight for you and do everything in his power to ensure your happiness.

And Carter, oh Carter.  I think this is the only series where I like a secondary character more than the actual hero.  Carter is an amazingly wonderful and complex character - his non-answers frustrated me throughout the series but really, why should that change in the last book, lol.  (The last thing Carer says to Georgina on the very last page of the book brought tears to my eyes.)

Throughout the entire series I've wanted a HEA for Georgina but I could not figure out for the life of me how she was going to get it.  In her Succubus series, Ms. Mead has done a wonderful job weaving clues through multiple books, ending with a scene that left me holding my breath and closing one eye because I was afraid to look but had to keep reading.  The epilogue left me extremely satisfied, although I may have needed a tissue or two.

I can't really say whether or not you would enjoy this book if you haven't read the rest of the series - but I wouldn't advise it.  This is book 6, and as such there is so much history between Georgina, Seth, and her demonic counterparts that you really should read the whole series.

Oh, just one more thing: Hey Ms. Mead - how about a spinoff series or short story featuring Seth's little niece, Kayla, when she gets a bit older?


My Rating:
 

Book received by publisher at ALA.

Review: Dark Awakening by Kendra Leigh Castle

Dark Awakening
~Kendra Leigh Castle

Mass Market Paperback: 368 pages
Publisher: Forever
Publish Date: July 1, 2011
ISBN-10: 1609418379
ISBN-13: 978-1609418373
ASIN: B004T4M5TC

From the author's website:
Tynan MacGillivray has spent the better part of his three hundred years serving at the pleasure of the queen of the Ptolemy dynasty, her prized hunter in a world where blood is destiny. But the lowblood cat-shifter gets far more than he bargained for when his new target, a human woman whose rare abilities make her the only hope for saving the greatest of the vampire dynasties, turns out to be far more than she seems. Lily Quinn is an innocent whose beauty hides secrets that could change the world of night forever…and Ty will have to choose between the loyalty that has kept him alive, or a love that promises more than he ever imagined…if it doesn’t destroy them both.

The story:
Tynan MacGillivray is a vampire.  In the vampire world, there are several sects; Ty is a "lowblood", a cat shifter who works for the Queen of the Ptolemy. Someone has sent a Mulo, a crazy dead thing, to attack the Ptolemy when they are in groups - effectively killing off the sect.  As their numbers dwindle, the Queen has sent Ty on a quest to find a Seer; someone who will be able to tell them who sent the Mulo and where to find  it so they can destroy it.

Lily Quinn lives a boring life that she's happy with.  Ever since "the incident" when she was a child, she's known she's different, so she tries hard to fit in and be normal.  She meets a handsome stranger at a friend's ghost hunt party, but after a searing kiss he quickly disappears.  She meets him again a few days later in the parking lot where she teaches, and their meeting leaves her unsettled. When she gets home, she is attacked by a vampire, and she loses control of her carefully compressed emotions, causing damage to everything in the room.

Lily reluctantly goes with Ty once they figure out there is more than one vampire sect looking for her. They travel through the underbelly of vampire society, trying to find answers about why the Queen really sent Ty on his quest.  Things are not what they seem and he finds he's reluctant to deliver Lily to the Queen, but if he doesn't, the Ptolemy may die out forever.

My thoughts:
I am a fan of Ms. Castle's MacInnes Werewolves trilogy, so when I saw that she had a new series coming out, I was thrilled!  I knew that this book would be nothing like her previous books, so I had no illusions going in.

That being said, I really didn't enjoy this story as much as I would have liked to.  I really liked the idea of different dynasties of vampires, and their potential for conflict and interaction, but I felt like the author didn't pursue this part of the storyline as much as she could have.  We learn there are different  dynasties and they don't get along, but that was about it. Tynan is a vampire who can shapeshift into a cat, placing him at the bottom of the vampire "caste" system. 

I was also disappointed in Tynan's character - he seemed to be more a shapeshifter who was called a vampire, but I never really saw any vampiness.  This could have been due to the fact that he was constantly referred to as a cat, but it seemed to me like all his vampire action took place "offstage".

I did like was the Lilith storyline, although again I felt like it could have been fleshed out a bit more.  I'm wondering if possibly due to the worldbuildling some aspects of the story had to be sacrificed?  I'm hoping the next book in the series, Midnight Reckoning, will be more character oriented since the world has already been established.  Midnight Reckoning will feature Ty's friend Jaden, who's story is hinted at briefly in Dark Awakening.

My Rating:

This book was received from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Review: Eternal Rider by Larissa Ione

Eternal Rider (Lords of Deliverance, Book 1)
~Larissa Ione

Mass Market Paperback: 432 pages
Publisher: Grand Central Publishing
Review Date: April 1, 2011
ISBN-10: 044657449X
ISBN-13: 978-0446574495
ASIN: B0047Y0F6Y

From the author's website:
They are here. They ride. The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse.

His name is Ares, and the fate of mankind rests on his powerful shoulders. If he falls to the forces of evil, the world falls too. As one of the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse, he is far stronger than any mortal, but even he cannot fight his destiny forever. Not when his own brother plots against him.

Yet there is one last hope. Gifted in a way other humans can't-or won't-understand, Cara Thornhart is the key to both this Horseman's safety and his doom. But involving Cara will prove treacherous, even beyond the maddening, dangerous desire that seizes them the moment they meet. For staving off eternal darkness could have a staggering cost: Cara's life.

Eternal Rider is book one of the Lords of Deliverance series and is set in the Demonica world. While you don't have to have read the series, I would recommend it (trust me, it's not a hardship - the Demonica series if fabulous!) Lol, we met Ares in Sin Undone, and I thought he was some weird guy riding around on horseback- shows what I know :)

The Lords of Deliverance series is about each of the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse: Ares is War, Reseph is Pestilence, Thanatos is Death, and Limos is Famine. Each horseman has a seal... it's something different for each one. Due to a series of events started by Sin (the heroine in Sin Undone), Reseph's seal has been broken, transforming him into Pestilence. If any other Horseman's seal breaks, it will start the Apocalypse. A fallen angel holds Ares' seal, but Pestilence is going after it as it will be the easiest to break.

Cara Thornhart is human but she's got an extra talent - she can heal animals. She hasn't used her talent in years though, since she accidentally killed someone who was attacking her. She freaked out, her relationship with her boyfriend tanked, and she pulled into herself after that. Then, she gets a knock on the door - a drunk neighbor brings her a dog he hit in the road. She takes the dog, pulls out bullets, and he starts to miraculously begins healing. She's rewarded with a big, doggy kiss. And then all hell breaks loose...

The fallen angel is attacked and transfers the seal to Cara, who's been having weird dreams about the dog she rescued. Now Pestilence is after Cara, and Ares has vowed to protect her. At first it's to protect his seal, but as he gets to know Cara, she brings out feelings he hasn't had in centuries - since his human wife and children were murdered and he swore never to feel again.

I really enjoyed Sin Undone - Larissa Ione is a wonderful storyteller who gives her readers engaging characters and complex plots, and Eternal Rider was no exception. I mean, come on, these are the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse, and I genuinely liked them! (Well, except Pestilence, who was deliciously evil)

Ares and Cara had great chemistry, and they fought it hard. Once they gave in though - ohhhh! Loved it! And Cara's progression from a timid character to a more take-charge personality was good for me, I didn't think I was going to like her but I did.

I'm really interested in Ares' brothers and sister - I liked their characters and am looking forward to their books. I'm curious to see how their seals will be threatened, and Pestilence is one evil, evil guy - I can't wait to see if/how he is redeemed.

Cara's hellhound plotline was great - I thought Hal was awesome wanted to know more; thankfully Ms. Ione gave us much, much more.

I thought after she finished her Demonica series I'd be done with this fabulous world but I enjoyed Eternal Rider and can't wait to find out what happens to the rest of the Horsemen... Limos' book, Immortal Rider, is next - Limos' book - December can't get here fast enough!

My Rating:

This book was provided to me by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Review: It Happened One Bite by Lydia Dare

It Happened One Bite
~Lydia Dare

Mass Market Paperback: 416 pages
Publisher: Sourcebooks Casablanca
Publish Date: March 1, 2011
ISBN-10: 1402245076
ISBN-13: 978-1402245077

From Goodreads:
Blaire Lindsay's been warned that her ancestral home is haunted. But it will take more than tales of a ghost to frighten Blaire, a battle-born witch with supernatural strength and the ability to make sparks fly from her fingertips. Hearing spectral wails, she decides to search for their source, and is surprised to find a handsome young man chained to the dungeon wall. But when Blair frees James from his bonds, she quickly discovers she's unloosed far more than she could ever have imagined...Soon the castle is overrun with vampires whose perfect manners and compelling blood lust make for some very awkward moments, and Blair and James are joined in the fight of their lives to save everything they hold dear from the forces of evil...

Blaire Lindsay is a witch - one of a coven of five powerful Scottish witches. Her brother has inherited Briarcraig Castle, so she must go with him to inspect it and see if it is hospitable.

James Maitland, Lord Kettering, has been in a magically-induced sleep for 20 years, in the bowels of the castle. The last thing he remembers is being surrounded by a group of five witches... When Blaire gets to the castle, Kettering stirs. He doesn't know how long he's been asleep, where he is, or why he woke up.

When Blaire finds him in the cellar, she is as confused as he is, but offers hospitality. She is curious about him and wants to find out why her coven's mothers would have trapped him. Kettering is intrigued by Blaire, she doesn't respond to his vampyre suggestions. As they spend more time together, attraction between them grows.

Kettering must find his ring - one of three given to his master by an ancient clan of witches, it allows him to roam in the sunlight. As soon as Kettering is awakened, his master can senses him and rushes to the castle, thankful that he is "alive" and anxious to find out what happened to him. The only problem with that is that the other vampyre tied to their group, Sarah, also senses Kettering. They know Sarah is seeking revenge and coming for Kettering.

My thoughts: I am a huge fan of Lydia Dare's werewolves, so when I heard they were doing vampires, I was thrilled! The story was cute, but did drag a bit in spots, such as hunting for the ring and pondering the reasons for trapping Kettering. I really liked the vamps though - Kettering and his maker, the Earl of Blodswell were both delightful. Of all the witches in the coven, I think Blaire has been my least favorite, and that was apparent in this book; she's very arguementative and I found myself a bit put-off by it. We do get to see some of our old friends again and catch up on what's been happening with the other witches; Alex MacQuarie has a big storyline in this book that I'm looking forward to following in future books. I'm not sure how I feel about Kettering's final situation; it's a happy ending, but seemed a bit too "easy" for this reader. All in all though, It Happened One Bite is a wonderful installment to this fabulous series!

This book was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Blog Tour and Giveaway: Pleasures Untold by Lisa Sanchez

Today, the Hanaford Park Series Blog Tour stops here!

Pleasures Untold
~Lisa Sanchez

Format: Kindle Edition
File Size: 1878 KB
Publisher: Omnific Publishing
Release Date: February 7 2011
ASIN: B004MPRBRE

Paperback: 191 pages
ISBN-10: 1936305593
ISBN-13: 978-1936305599

From Goodreads:
Hell hath no fury like a witch done wrong. Pissed off and packing an arsenal of witchy mojo, Martha is on the warpath. Determined to avenge the murder of her mother and grandmother, her mission is simple: kill every vampire, demon and underworld bastard she comes across, because one of those hell beasts might be the monster that stole her childhood from her. But when a sexy Latin vamp literally falls from the sky, saving her from becoming an undead Happy Meal, she has no choice but to reassess everything she thinks she knows.

Xan is an anomaly --a vampire born, not turned. A powerful warlock who walks in daylight, Xan spends his days, and nights, watching over Martha, protecting her from Lucian, the blood-sucking monstrosity whose sole mission in death is to drain her dry. Undeniable attraction and the promise of pleasures untold draw the two lovers into a frustrating dance of one step forward, two steps back. When Lucian throws down a deadly ultimatum, Martha is forced to choose between relying on her own mystical woo woo to save the lives of her stolen friends or succumbing to the lure of dark, voodoo magic. Xan and Martha must work together to save those closest to her and put an end to Lucian's reign of terror before it's too late.

Martha has a secret, she's not who people think she is. She's a witch on the run from a powerful and deadly vampire sorcerer. He killed her mother and grandmother, and he wants her next. She doesn't allow herself to get close to people to protect them from getting hurt. Case in point: she heads out for a night of fun with her roommates, and one of them gets attacked. Xan, the sexy bartender, comes to her rescue. Martha is instantly attracted to Xan - he makes her feel safe. When Martha learns not only what Xan is, but who he is, she must reassess everything she's been fighting against, and trust him to help her save her roommates and destroy Lucian for good.

My thoughts: When I read the first book in the series, Eve of Samhain, I didn't really connect with the Hero/Heroine, but I thought Martha, the witchy roommate, would have an interesting story, and she did. In Pleasures Untold, I like Martha - she's loyal to her friends and family and determined to keep them safe. I also like Xan, although his attraction to Martha kind of weirded me out at first, once we learned who he was and what he'd been doing for the last several years. Although Xan wants to protect Martha, he teaches her the skills necessary to defend herself, which was a nice twist on the "Alpha male protects his female"; I like that Martha and Xan were able to work as a team to fight the bad guys.

I also found Xan's friend Gabriel sexy and intriguing, and I'm hoping he's the hero in the next book in this series. There is a bit of a cliffhanger ending with regards to Martha's roommate, so I think/hope that's where Ms. Sanchez is taking us...

My Rating:

The giveaway: I have two e-book copies of this series to give away, Eve of Samhain and Pleasures Untold, courtesy of Omnific Publishing! Leave a comment and a way to contact you - that's it!! Open internationally and ends March 12 at midnight.

This book was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Review: Eve of Samhain by Lisa Sanchez

Eve of Samhain
~Lisa Sanchez

Format: Kindle Edition
File Size: 378 KB
Publisher: Omnific Publishing
Publish Date: May 25, 2010
ASIN: B003O2SDBE

Paperback: 216 pages
ISBN-10: 1936305208
ISBN-13: 978-1936305209

From the author's website:
As a college senior and server at Hanaford Park's hottest nightclub, twenty one year old Ryann Pierce's plan was simple: work hard, make lots of money, and avoid the ass-grabbers at all costs. What she never planned for was Quinn Donegan-- the living, breathing advertisement for sinful behavior that waltzed into her life.

With an angelic face, a hard body and a butt-load of charm, Quinn had a way with the ladies––a lot of ladies. Cursed with a deadly, addictive touch, his trail of indiscretion blazed across five hundred years. Tired and jaded, Ryann is a shocking revelation Quinn didn't see coming.

Filled with desire, yet unable to touch one another, Ryann and Quinn embark on a daunting journey, battling frustration physical limitations while exploring their new love. In a race against the clock, Ryann learns she must plead for Quinn's life before...the Eve of Samhain. Determined to end her lover's suffering, not even the danger dogging her every move can keep her from her mission.

The Hanaford Park series is an interesting world of magic and mythological creatures. In the first book, Eve of Samhain, we meet Ryann Pierce, a young college student who's going to school and working in a bar to pay the billz. In walks sex-on-a-stick Quinn Donegan, and she drools...until he opens his mouth. He's rude and crude, and she's not impressed with him or his Barbie-clone companion. He comes into the bar again the next night with another leggy female, and Ryann notices that both nights he disappears, leaving his dates unfocused and confused about how they got to the bar. Later Ryann is attacked by a weird dog-like demon, and Quinn rescues her. He decides he's going to protect her and they become close. She learns what he really is, and why she's attracted to him. What she's not prepared for is his attraction to her. While all this is going on, Ryann is being stalked by a monster, and her angry-goth roomate might have the answers she's looking for, if she can work up the nerve to ask.

My thoughts: I didn't care for Quinn from the get-go; he was an obnoxious ass. And although he was devoted and kind to Ryann after they got to know each other, we really don't know why he was attracted to her over every other female on the planet (and trust me, he's had a few). Rhyann was spunky, but spent a lot of time either angry, crying, or obsessing over her butt. And while I found the dialogue a bit forced, there were several spots that made me laugh:

Wait. What? Please, no. My heart leaped into my throat and my stomach dropped to the floor. Why? Why did the professor have to call on Quinn?

"Could you please explain what occurs when a woman climaxes?"

"Oh, aye. I surely can." A smug grin crawled across his face and he sat back in his seat, stretching his long legs out before him.

Pompous, egotistical bastard.

The pencil I'd been gripping snapped, eliciting a snort from Quinn Before he spoke.

"Well, then. The muscles in the woman's vagina contract, along with the rest of the muscles in her body. Her heart rate and blood pressure peak. And of course, she usually screams my name several times."
Eve of Samhain, Page 123

I did like the Celtic lore. I also liked the goth roommate, Martha, who is the heroine in book 2, Pleasures Untold. I'm looking forward to reading her story.

My rating:

Come back this afternoon for my review of the next book in the series, Pleasures Untold (Witchy Martha's book)
and a Giveaway of both e-books!!!

This book was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Review: The Taming of the Wolf by Lydia Dare

From the author's website:
Regency England has gone to the wolves!

He could never lose control… Dashiel Thorpe, Earl of Brimsworth, has spent his life fighting the wolf within him. But when the full moon rises, Dash is helpless. A chance encounter with Caitrin Macleod on a moonlit night inadvertently binds the two together irrevocably, and Dash’s impulsiveness plunges them both into a nightmare…

She never saw him coming… Caitrin Macleod is no quiet country lass, but a witch with remarkable abilities. But when it comes to Dashiel, she’s as helpless to fight his true nature as he is. Her senses overwhelmed, she runs back to the safety and security of her native Scotland… But Dashiel is determined to follow her—she’s the only woman who can free him from a fate worse than death. And Caitrin will ultimately have to decide whether she’s running from danger, or true love…

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After finishing the last book in this series, The Wolf Next Door, I didn't think I'd like the hero or heroine in The Taming of the Wolf. I'll admit it - I was wrong - Lydia Dare does it again! I think you know I'm a huge fan of this series, and this book did not disappoint; this is my 2nd favorite book in the series (A Certain Wolfish Charm is still my fave).

The story: While wandering the Westfield's castle, unable to sleep, Caitlin Macleod wanders into the study to find her book. She knows she must stay in the house because it is a full moon, and the Lycan family she is staying with has impressed upon her that it is safer that way.

Unbeknownst to her, someone is in the study - Dashiel Thorpe, Earl of Brimsworth. Dash is also a Lycan, although he has an unpleasant history with the Westfield family, and they are holding him in the study until they can decide what to do with him. Dash is immediately attracted to Cait, and kisses her...then bites her! She runs off and he's confused about why he just did that. Long story short, he claimed her! He's got to convince her to marry him or he will be alone the rest of his life until one of them dies.

Cait is a witch who sees the future of the people around her. She didn't want her best friend and fellow witch to marry a Lycan, and she certainly is not interested in this Lycan for herself. But he calms her, and when she touches him she gets a reprieve from all the future images that constantly bombard her when she's around people. And she did enjoy that kiss....

My thoughts: Loved it! Dash had such a sad history, he didn't know he was a Lycan until just a few days before this book takes place, he thought he was a monster. I felt sympathy for him and he was so sweet and vulnerable underneath that Alpha demeanor. (And he growls alot - yum!) Cait was stubborn and witchy - I laughed when she tricked him into drinking a sleep draught :)

There's a not-quite love triangle going on. Alec McQuarrie is still pursuing Cait, even though she's told him he's not in her future he refuses to give up. Dash and Alec butt heads a few times, and Cait just rolls her eyes. And when Dash and Cait get to Scotland and another suitor comes out - poor Dash! I loved it! Also loved the book Cait picked up at the beginning of the story - poor Dash just can't catch a break, haha!

So, in summary, great story, fun characters, sweet romance. What's not to love?

Mass Market Paperback: 384 pages
Publisher: Sourcebooks Casablanca
Release Date: November 1, 2010
ISBN-10: 1402244371
ISBN-13: 978-1402244377

My Rating:

Come back on November 23 for an interview with the writing team of Lydia Dare - I'll also be giving away 1 set of the 4 Lydia Dare Books (A Certain Wolfish Charm, Tall Dark and Wolfish, The Wolf Next Door and The Taming of the Wolf)!

This book was received from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

(Spoiler Free) Review: Bayou Moon by Ilona Andrews

From the Author's website:
Cerise Mar and her unruly clan are cash poor but land rich, claiming a large swathe of the Mire, the Edge swamplands between the state of Louisiana and the Weird. When her parents vanish, her clan’s long-time rivals are suspect number one.

But all is not as it seems. Two nations of the Weird are waging a cold war fought by feint and espionage, and their conflict is about to spill over into the Edge—and Cerise’s life . William, a changeling soldier who left behind the politics of the Weird, has been forced back into service to track down a rival nation’s spymaster.

When William’s and Cerise’s missions lead them to cross paths, sparks fly—but they’ll have to work together if they want to succeed…and survive.

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It's official: Bayou Moon is one of my favorite reads this year!

I have a confession to make. Sometimes when I read UF, I'm not always able to follow along with all the plot specifics. I get characters or their motivation confused, especially if there are similar names or the plot is too complicated. This book was beautifully penned - I feel like Bayou Moon was written specifically for me. The characters and settings were wonderfully and descriptively composed, I could see each character in my mind's eye as I read the book. The plot moved along at a quick pace, but I was able to follow and understand what they were doing and why. I liked the way one thing led to another but it made sense and didn't jump all over the place.

Cerise is a fabulous heroine - she's strong and compassionate. Family oriented. Smart. All the things I look for in a heroine. While I liked her from the get-go, it was near the end that I just sat back and thought, "Thank you, Ms. Andrews, for writing such an amazing heroine." Let's just say she's a woman of her word and doesn't run from anything.

William, *sighs* oh William, I heart you so much! I really liked William in The Edge (my review here), and was glad he was getting his own book. He's definitely a broken hero: he's feeling sorry for himself since Rose left with Declan, combine that with his horrible childhood and he has a very low perception of himself, except where his fighting skills are concerned. He's attracted to Cerise, not exactly at first sight, but when it happens - BAM!

The wild in him lost its head, clawing at his insides.
Want. Want the woman.
"Lord Bill? She asked.
His thoughts tumbled in a feverish cascade. Want. So beautiful...Standing so close and so beautiful. Want the woman.
"Earth to William?"
She was looking at him with those beautiful dark eyes. All he had to do was reach for her and he could touch her.
No. Wrong.
She hadn't given him permission. If he touched, he would take her. Taking women without permission was wrong.
William pulled himself back, regaining control. The wild buckled and snarled and screamed, but he reeled it in, forcing it deeper and deeper. Remember the whip? Right, everybody remembered the whip. Everybody remembered being punished for kissing a girl without permission. The scars on his back itched, reminding him. Humans had rules. He had to follow the rules.

Page 82, Bayou Moon


Strangely enough, the thing that did it for me regarding William was not related to Cerise at all. I'm not giving away spoilers, but it was his actions on pages 247-249 that did me in. Of course, when you add that to the overall hotness of his character and the way he understands and interacts with Cerise....book boyfriend status was inevitable. The back and forth between Cerise and William was riveting (and humerous) - especially when Cerise's family stepped in to "help".

I know I'm gushing about the awesomeness of the hero/heroine, which is important, but the secondary characters were great too - I liked Cerise's family. They were a very eclectic group and had their own weird ways of showing their love and support for Cerise.

Now, on to the bad guys - they're bad ass. They're pretty gross, actually. They've got all this extra "stuff" that makes them almost impossible to defeat. Luckily William has a history that involves knowledge of their "extras" and how to deal with them.

Bayou Moon is the second book in the series, but can be read as a stand-alone. I think Ms. Andrews gives enough background at the beginning of the story that you would have no trouble jumping right in. Bayou Moon should go straight from your bookstore to "Now Reading", let it skip the TBR pile, you won't be sorry!

Mass Market Paperback: 480 pages
Publisher: Ace; Original edition (September 28, 2010)
ISBN-10: 0441019455
ISBN-13: 978-0441019458

My rating:

This book was provided to me by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Super Short Shot: Unholy Ghosts by Stacia Kane

From the author's website:
The world is not the way it was. The dead have risen and constantly attack the living. The powerful Church of Real Truth, in charge since the government fell, has sworn to reimburse citizens being harassed by the deceased. Consequently, there are many false claims of hauntings from those hoping to profit. Enter Chess Putnam, a fully-tattooed witch and freewheeling Debunker and ghost hunter. She’s got a real talent for nailing the human liars or banishing the wicked dead. But she’s keeping a dark secret from the Church: a little drug problem that’s landed her in hot and dangerous water.

Chess owes a murderous drug lord named Bump a lot of money. And Bump wants immediate payback. All Chess has to do is dispatch a very nasty species of undead from an old airport. But the job involves black magic, human sacrifice, a nefarious demonic creature, and crossing swords with enough wicked energy to wipe out a city of souls. Toss in lust with a rival gang leader and a dangerous attraction to Bump’s ruthless enforcer, and Chess begins to wonder if the rush is really worth it. Hell, yeah.

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This isn't an actual review, more of a one-sided discussion, if you will...

I saw all the bloggy and twitter buzz about this series. Terrible, Terrible, Terrible...everyone's talking about Terrible.

So, I decided to give it a go. I had some other obligations, so it literally took me over a month to read this book. Once I actually got into it, I enjoyed it. Chess is an interesting heroine and for whatever reason her drug addiction didn't bother me at all; I liked her. The plotline was pretty involved towards the middle/end, but once Chess figured it out I got it too.

It also took me awhile to get the Terrible love. I can tell you exactly where it hit me (Two spots actually: When they were talking after she'd been chased through the tunnels alone, and she thinks to herself that he's 6'4" (the height does it for me every time), and then when he (spoiler: beat up Doyle) for her. But, I like Lex too. I'm not sure how that's going to play out, but he (spoiler: beat up Doyle) too and I guess that strikes me as chivalrous in some f'd up way.

I'm getting ready to start Unholy Magic and am looking forward to it; I like this Downside world and I'm curious to see where Ms. Kane is going to take Chess next.

My rating:

Review: Bring on the Night by Jeri Smith-Ready

From the author's website:
What's Blood Got to Do With It?
Recovering con artist Ciara Griffin seems to finally have it all. A steady job at WVMP, the Lifeblood of Rock 'n' Roll. A loving relationship with the idiosyncratic but eternally hot DJ Shane McAllister. A vampire dog who never needs shots or a pooper-scooper. And after nine years, it looks as if she might actually finish her bachelor's degree!

But fate has other plans for Ciara. First she must fulfill her Faustian bargain with the Control, the paranormal paramilitary agency that does its best to keep vampires in line. Turns out the Control wants her for something other than her (nonexistent) ability to kick undead ass. Her anti-holy blood, perhaps?

Ciara's suspicions are confirmed when she's assigned to a special-ops division known as the Immanence Corps, run by the Control's oldest vampire and filled with humans who claim to have special powers. To a confirmed skeptic like Ciara, it sounds like a freak fest. But when a mysterious, fatal virus spreads through Sherwood—and corpses begin to rise from their graves—Ciara will not only get a crash course in zombie-killing, but will be forced to put her faith, and her life itself, in the hands of magic.

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I've been waiting for Bring on the Night since I read the last page of Bad to the Bone. This is a great series and Bring on the Night did not disappoint. As a matter of fact, I think it' my favorite of the three books in the series so far. If you haven't read this series before, the (very) basic premise is that the radio DJs at this station are all vampires. Each is from a different era, and in this world vampires are "stuck" in the era they died in, they have a lot of trouble with change (and OCD). Ciara is an employee of the radio station, and dates one of the DJs, sexy Shane (he's stuck in the 80s). Needless to say, each book has a great soundtrack!

There is a lot going on in this book but Ms. Smith-Ready makes it flow smoothly:

• Ciara's started her service with the Control, and she's been assigned to the super-secret division, which she's not happy about.
  
• There is a mysterious illness spreading around the town that is killing residents, including some who are very close to Ciara.
  
• There are zombies - I'm not gonna lie, there is one particular scene were the zombies cracked me up, I could just imagine the looks on the faces of the characters in the book while they watched what was going on!
  
• One of the vampire DJs goes missing.
  
• Shane and Ciara's relationship takes some pretty major turns, and they are both forced into serious soul searching.

You know how sometimes you read a book and you really like it but there are parts you kinda skim *cough~lessers~cough*? I didn't do that here at all. Ms. Smith-Ready weaves such a good story I had no need nor want to skim. Now, honestly, I kind of guessed some of the plot, but I didn't know how Ms. Smith-Ready was going to take me there; the journey was completely enjoyable. (I can't go into specifics without giving away spoilers, but her attention to the nuances of the vampire OCD habits is always fascinating.) I read this book everywhere: at work, at home, the grocery store, waiting at the shuttle stop near my job... I had four pages until the end of the book when I got off the shuttle and had to wait about three hours until I could pick the book backup again and finish. It was totally worth the wait; I loved the ending!!!

My rating:






This book was provided to me by the author free of charge in exchange for an honest review.

Review: Dane by Elizabeth Amber

From the author's website:
DANE begins a new trilogy within The Lords of Satyr series.
It's now 50 years later, in Rome during the forum excavations of 1880. . .

Dane and Eva have secrets.

Because of a mysterious boyhood trauma, he harbors an alternate personality that seeks to protect him from the knowledge of his missing brother's whereabouts. Eva is a matchmaker, whose job it is to find human wives for Dane and his brothers. She's the only female satyr in existence. A fact she must hide, even from Dane.

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I first saw an excerpt of Dane over at Cecile's place and though it was an interesting premise. I was a bit leery of a guy with two penises, but it wasn't weird (really!).

The storyline was good and it kept me interested. (The dual penises were a part of the Satyr genetics - they only came out at full moon and were very erotic but not the focus of the story.) We learn that Dane and his younger brother were kidnapped many years ago. Dane mysteriously reappeared one year later but they still have not found his brother. Because of his experience, Dane has multiple personalities that come out when it's time for the full moon.

The story starts with Dane walking around on his land, when he finds Eva in his forest. He senses she's not human, but can't figure out what she is. It's full moon, and he starts to seduce her, but she gets away before she gets the whole "Satyr"treatment (*wink, nudge*). What Dane doesn't know, and we don't learn until Eva gets home, is that she is the only female Satyr, and as such is very valuable and succeptible to kidnapping; which is why she disguises her scent. We learn she has needs at full moon that only a Satyr can fulfill, so she creates a "shimmer skin" (fake man) to assist her in fulfilling her needs.

Eva is a marriage broker for the "Elseworld" (the non-humans living on earth). Due to a disease years ago, most of the Elseworld females cannot procreate, and therefore the men marry human women. Dane hires Eva to find him a wife. While she is working on this, they attend many functions together and are attracted to each other.

The storyline of Eva and Dane getting to know each other was twined nicely with Dane and his brothers searching for their missing youngest brother. The bad guys in this story were unrepentantly bad and I loved it! (I was a bit surprised at the culprit.)

I liked Eva but was a bit frustrated that she didn't ask some of the questions of Dane that she should have up front. She is able to see auras and Dane's auras changed with his personalities. I don't think, based on her personality, she would have ignored that.

I haven't read any of the previous books in this series, so I don't know if I would find out more about the Elseworld there, but I am definitely interested. I'd also love to see Eva's friend Alexa get a story - maybe with the long lost brother *winks*?

If you can let yourself get immersed into the fantasy world Ms. Amber has created, you'll enjoy this erotic and entertaining read; I read it in a day!

My rating:

I received this book from the author in exchange for a honest review.

Review: Sanctuary Unbound by Moira Rogers

From the author's website:
New England is ideal for vampire Adam Dubois. His cozy home in the Great North Woods reminds him of a happier time when werewolves and witches were stuff of legends, and he was a simple lumberjack.

Hiding from past failures has worked for over eighty years, but a life debt owed to the Red Rock alpha has forced him to leave his retreat--and come face to face with a woman who challenges and tempts him on every level.

Hiding secrets is a lonely business, and Cindy Shepherd is lonely with a capital L. Red Rock isn't exactly crawling with available men, but her interest in the mystery-shrouded new vampire in town seems mutual. After all, it's only sex--there's no danger he'll dig deep enough to unleash the demons of her past.

Casual flirtation turns deadly serious when Adam discovers that the vampire plaguing Red Rock is using his mistakes as a road map. When it comes to his life, he knows Cindy has his back. But in order to secure the future, they both must trust each other with more--even if it means sacrificing themselves to save everything they hold dear.




I just finished reading this book, and wow, just, wow! I've read the previous three books in this series and enjoyed them very much; Sanctuary Unbound, Book 4 in the Red Rock Pass series is my new favorite.

As the book opens, Cindy Shepherd is taking care of the pack Alpha, Gavin, who's just had his 3rd heart attack. Gavin knows he's sick, and he's waiting for Keith to come back from Bedagi Creek, where he's wrapped up events from book three and is on his way home to Red Rock - and he's bringing a vampire. Cindy is the Pack doctor. We met her in the previous books but don't know much about her except that she was Dylan's ex-girlfriend in Sanctuary's Price.

Adam Dubois is the infamous flannel-wearing lumberjack vampire I've been hearing so much about. We met him in Sanctuary's Price, where he helped Dylan and Joe overcome a sadistic vampire who almost killed that local pack. He's come to Red Rock to help his old friend Gavin protect his pack from another threat.

Events from book 3 have led to an eventual showdown with another vampire who's stealing werewolf magic to try to take over Red Rock. With the help of Sasha, their resident witch (and heroine from book 3), Adam is going to try to save Red Rock.

I loved this book! From the opening scene, things were all action: There are some shifts in the pack heiarchy, and changes are coming in future books that I think will break my heart. Our heroes/heroines from the previous books are all present and very busy - Gavin and Sam are dealing with their own issues as well as trying to keep the pack safe. Keith has recovered, and he and Abby, along with Dylan and Sasha, are busy helping prepare for the attack. Joe and Brynn are still dealing with Brynn's wolfy issues.

Cindy and Adam have a chemistry that is undeniable. As soon as Adam pulls into town and sees Cindy, he knows he's in trouble. There's instant attraction on both sides, but they both fight it; they each have difficult histories but become closer as they decide to trust each other and talk out their issues. At first they agreed to get together because they were both lonely and attracted to each other but gradually realized they had so much more than just lust in common. They talked and shared and grew into so much more than bedmates. There was a scene at the end of the fight scene that had me holding my breath - Adam's love for Cindy is almost overwhelming.

The fight scene - oh, the fight scene! Moira Rogers wrote the hell out of the fight scene - I could visualize the whole thing in my mind's eye from start to finish. Cindy is definitely not a shrinking violet, and this flannel-wearing vampire was both glorious and terrifying in action. The two of them together are going to be a force to be reckoned with.

I give Sanctuary Unbound 4 1/2 stars!

Sanctuary Unbound is avialable for purchase June 1, 2010.

This book was provided to me by the author free of charge in exchange for an honest review.

Review: Mind Games by Carolyn Crane

I read several other reviews before I read this book, and they all said something like "Wow, I loved this book. It's such a unique twist!" and I thought, Hmmm...what could be so unique? Well, I hate to sound like a broken record, but it really is different. It's an incredible read with an unusual premise. And I don't quite know how to review it without giving it all away, but I'm going to do my bestest.

Justine Jones is at a good place in her life, if you don't count the fact that she's dying. Or at least, she thinks she is. You see, she's a hypochondriac. She imagines she can feel the symptoms, becomes convinced she's dying, seeks medical care until she's reassured she's not dying, and then she imagines she's having the symptoms again. She knows it's a cycle, and yet she can't break it. While having dinner at Mongolian Delights, she meets the mysterious Packard, who sees what she is and offers a way to escape the cycle...by ''zinging" her fears into criminals, rendering them unable to function normally due to the debilitating worries of hypochondria.

I loved this book! Justine and her fellow disillusionists were all imperfect people trying to make the world a better place. Using their various neruoses to fight crime was a brilliant and unexpected take on traditional vigilante crime-fighting. I enjoyed the camaraderie between Justine and her new friends, Justine and the criminals (surprisingly), and the many layered relationship between Justine and Packard. Packard's situation was...interesting. The bigger story behind it kept me on the edge of my seat waiting to see what Justine would do.

Several times I wanted to shake the book and yell "No, Justine, No!!!" ,"Be careful!!" and "OMG!!!" The end of the book, while not a cliffhanger per se, definitely left me wanting more. I can't wait for the next book in the trilogy, Double Cross, which comes out September 28.

I give Mind Games 5 out of 5 stars; this one's going onto the keeper shelf!

Review: Shift by Rachel Vincent

You know how sometimes you wait for something you really want and when you finally get it you've built it up so much you're disappointed? Well, that did NOT happen here. I'd previously read the first four books in this series and LOVED them (my review here) and Shift did not disappoint either.

Shift takes up immediately where Pride ended: The South Central werecat pack is divided and a battle is coming. There's also retribution to be made for a death, and although she's trying to put it off, Faythe is going to have to come clean about some of her actions in book 4.

The action in this book starts right at the beginning; in the first chapter, as the pack is discussing plans for battle, Faythe takes Kaci out for a walk and in moments Kaci is snatched up by a huge bird - a Thunderbird. They soon realize their pack is under attack by the Thunderbirds in response to the death of one of their flock members. Faythe and her father know they've been framed but don't have any proof; the Thunderbirds are not giving up and two more werecats are dead. Faythe ends up in the Thunderbird's aviary and must find a way to prove who the real killer is or Kaci will die and the rest of the pack will be killed by the Thunderbirds.

I could not put this book down. At every turn I wondered what would happen next. The timeline for this book was only a few days, but so much happened - I was on the edge of my seat the whole time I was reading. The book doesn't leave you with a cliffhanger, but there are a lot of unresolved issues still dancing around the werecat world - plenty of stuff to resolve in Book 5, Alpha, which comes out in October 2010. As I understand it, Alpha is the last book in this series.

I will say this - although this could be read as a stand-alone, you really won't get the full impact of everything that goes on without reading the whole series. Trust me, this won't be a hardship - this is one of my favorite series out there right now and IMO doesn't get the props it deserves.

I give Shift 5 out of 5 stars.

Shift goes on sale March 1, 2010.

Disclaimer: This book was provided to me by NetGalley free of charge for an honest review.

Tempting Danger by Eileen Wilks

Danielle from Alpha Reader did a review on this series a few months back. I noticed we had several series we liked in common, so I picked up the first three books in the series. I am so glad I did!


Tempting Danger is the first book in Ms. Wilks' World of the Lupi series, and it was great! I'm not going to get into all the world-building, but it is contemporary and the existance of werewolves is common knowledge. There are also hints of other supernatural beings, but I was unclear if they were common knowledge or "don't ask, don't tell".


The heroine, Lily Yu, is a homocide detective in San Diego, and she's assigned a murder investigation that they think is a werewolf kill. Lily is a Sensitive, meaning she can feel magic when she touches it. Her initial suspect is Rule Turner, a werewolf prince, who has a reputation as a playboy. When she goes to interview him, she gets a funny feeling but ignores it.


As soon as they meet, Rule thinks there's a possibility that Lily is his Chosen. He's not thrilled about it, because she's a cop and cop/werewolf relations are not friendly. As the investigation moves forward, Lily knows Rule is not the killer and she is attracted to him although she tries to fight it. After Rule is framed for another attack, when Lily tries to defend him she is put on suspension, leading her to believe the killer has an in with the police. She contacts the Feds, who have an interst in the case, and they get Rule out of jail. He goes back to her apartment and tells her she is his Chosen, that's why she's been feeling like she does. She doesn't believe it at first but comes to accept it's a possibility but wants to think about it more. They have sex and strengthen the bond - they can't be physically more than a few feet from each other.


Meanwhile they're still investigating the deaths, and Rule's best friend is missing. They're working with the Feds and Rule brings the Lupi into it too. Lily's grandmother is a bigger player in the game than we are led to believe at first.


My review can not do this book justice. It had a kick-ass heroine, a sexy werewolf hero, crooked cops, family betrayals, evil magic, the list goes on and on. The world was believable and I rushed through it in an evening, not wanting to put it down. I loved the ending and can't wait to get more of Lily and Rule!