Review: Howling For You by Chloe Neill

Title: Howling For You
Series: Chicagoland Vampires, Book 8.5
Author: Chloe Neill
Publisher: New American Library (NAL)
Length: Approx. 88 Pages
Publication Date: January 7, 2014
Available Format: Kindle Edition, eBook
Source: Bought
My Rating: ★★★½☆☆
Get it @: Amazon | Goodreads

Book Description:

Jeff Christopher is a shapeshifter and ally of Chicago’s Cadogan House of vampires—he’s also a tech whiz and mostly-legal hacker. And the only protective shields he’s never been able to find a way around are those of the powerful Keene Family.

For a long time, Jeff has only had eyes for the beautiful Fallon Keene. Unfortunately, she is the only sister of the lethal North American Central Pack Apex Gabriel Keene. The intricate balances of power and politics make it all but impossible for Fallon to trust her feelings.

But fate takes a hand when the Pack’s totem is stolen—threatening the Keene family’s rule—and Fallon enlists Jeff’s help to retrieve it before the Pack is thrown into chaos. Can she and Jeff find the totem, and restore order, before it’s too late? And will Jeff finally be able to prove himself to the only person he truly loves?

First off, the short story comes with a two-chapter preview of the next Chicagoland Vampires, Wild Things, which comes out on February 4, 2014. Honestly, I love that sneak peak, I can't wait to read another Merrit and Ethan story.

Now the review...

I have mix feelings about this short story. On one side I love the chance to learn more about the shifters in the Chicagoland Vampire series, on the other I had a small problem with part of the resolution.

In the end I liked the story, I wish it was longer. Is very sweet and straight to the point. I'm curious to see how this particular plot line develops in the next books on the series.

MAJOR SPOILER COMING, READ AT YOUR OWN DISCRETION. 

You've been officially warned. 

Review: How to Marry a Millionaire Vampire by Kerrelyn Sparks

Title: How to Marry a Millionaire Vampire
Series: Love at Stake, Book 1
Author: Kerrelyn Sparks
Publisher: Avon
Length: 371 Pages Approx.
Publication Date: July 26, 2005
Available Format: Paperback, Mass Paperback, Kindle Edition, eBook, Audiobook
Source: Bought
My Rating: ★★★☆☆
Get it @: Amazon | Book Depository | Goodreads

Book Description:

Roman Draganesti is charming, handsome, rich...he's also a vampire. But this vampire just lost one of his fangs sinking his teeth into something he shouldn't have. Now he has one night to find a dentist before his natural healing abilities close the wound, leaving him a lop-sided eater for all eternity.

Things aren't going well for Shanna Whelan, either. After witnessing a gruesome murder, she's next on the mob's hit list. And her career as a dentist appears to be on a downward spiral, because she's afraid of blood. When Roman rescues her from an assassination attempt, she wonders if she's found the one man who can keep her alive. Though the attraction between them is immediate and hot, can Shanna conquer her fear of blood to fix Roman's fang? And if she does, what will prevent Roman from using his fangs on her?

This book was extremely funny and the romance was rather cute. Picture this, extremely old vampire, highly feared among his peers, bites into the neck of a rubber doll (I will leave the way he does this for you to find out when you read the book) and ends up dislodging one of his fangs from the root. He needs to reattach the fang before the sun forces him into slumber and his gums seal clean. But when he makes it to the only clinic available, a 24 hour dentist office, the doctor present not only refuses to attach a "dog tooth" in a "human" but she's attacked by a group of mobsters from whom she was hiding.

Review: A Quick Bite by Lynsay Sands

Title: A Quick Bite
Series: Argeneau, Book 1
Author: Lynsay Sands
Publisher: HarperCollins
Length: 315 Pages
Publication Date: October 25, 2005
Available Format: Hardcover, Paperback, Mass Market Paperback, Kindle Edition, eBook, Audiobook,
Source: Bought
My Rating: ★★★☆☆
Get it @: Amazon | Book Depository | Goodreads

Book Description:

That hot guy tied to Lissianna Argeneau's bed? He's not dessert -- he's the main course!

Lissianna has been spending her centuries pining for Mr. Right, not just a quick snack, and this sexy guy she finds in her bed looks like he might be a candidate. But there's another, more pressing issue: her tendency to faint at the sight of blood ... an especially annoying quirk for a vampire. Of course it doesn't hurt that this man has a delicious-looking neck. What kind of cold-blooded vampire woman could resist a bite of that?

Dr. Gregory Hewitt recovers from the shock of waking up in a stranger's bedroom pretty quickly -- once he sees a gorgeous woman about to treat him to a wild night of passion. But is it possible for the good doctor to find true love with a vampire vixen, or will he be just a good meal? That's a question Dr. Greg might be willing to sink his teeth into ... if he can just get Lissianna to bite.

This is the story of Lissianna, who for centuries has had a little complication: she faints at the sight of blood; a little inconvenience for a vampire don’t you think? In comes Gregory, a doctor who claims he can cure anyone’s phobias. Thanks to Lissianna’s mother’s machinations, Greg wakes up tied to Lissianna’s bed and she cannot resist the urge to bite the nice looking doctor.

Review: UnEnchanted by Chanda Hahn

Title: UnEnchanted
Series: An Unfortunate Fairy Tale, Book 1
Author: Chanda Hahn
Publisher: Self Published
Length: 216 Pages approx.
Publication Date: December 30, 2011
Available Format: Paperback, Kindle Edition, eBook
Source: Free Download
My Rating: ★★★★☆
Get it @: Amazon | Goodreads

Book Description:

Mina Grime is unlucky, unpopular and uncoordinated, that is until she saves her crush's life on a field trip, changing her High School status from loser to hero overnight. But with her newfound fame brings misfortune as an old family curse come to light. For Mina is descended from the Brothers Grimm and has inherited all of their unfinished fairy tale business. Which includes trying to outwit a powerful Story from making her its next fairytale victim.

To break the fairy tale curse on her family and stop these deadly events, Mina must finish the tales until the very Grimm end.

Picture yourself in high school, those awkward years. Now, not only are you a high school student, you are also a very clumsy one. One, so epically clumsy, that you are the school's outcast. You are such an epic klutz that some pretty weird, explainable things happen to you all the time. And that every single time one of these things happens, your Mom packs up and forces you change zip-codes. Now, imagine what it feels like to one day discover that the reason behind all of your misfortune is because you (and your kid brother) are the last descendants of the Brothers Grimm and as such you have inherited the family curse.

I was surprised as to how much I enjoyed this book. First heard about it when my sister asked me to buy her the second book in the series, then explained to me that she had stumbled into the first one (for free) at Amazon. I was intrigued by the premise so I went and downloaded myself a copy. This book turned out to be a great twist on the fairy tale realm. And much like my sister, now I want to get my hands on the next story.

ARC Review: Club Monstrosity by Jesse Petersen

Title: Club Monstrosity
Series: Monstrosity, Book 1
Author: Jesse Petersen
Publisher: Pocket Star
Length: 233 Pages
Publication Date: April 29, 2013
Available Format: Kindle Edition, eBook
Source: NetGalley
My Rating: ★★★★☆ 
Get it @: Amazon | Goodreads

Book Description:

Natalie’s one of Frankenstein’s creations and works in a New York City morgue. So of course she needs therapy. She and her friends—er, fellow monsters—have formed the world’s most exclusive, most dysfunctional support group. What could go wrong?

Undetected in the modern world and under pressure to stay that way, Natalie Grey, Dracula, Bob the Blob, and others (including the fetching wolfman Alec) meet regularly to talk about the pressures of being infamous in the Big Apple. Topics include how long it’s been since their last sighting, how their “story” creates stereotypes they can’t fulfill, and—gasp—sometimes even their feelings. But when their pervy Invisible Man, Ellis, is killed in a manner reminiscent of the H.G. Wells novel, it’s clear someone’s discovered their existence and is down for some monster busting.

Led by Natalie—and definitely not helped by Hyde’s bloodthirsty tendencies—the members of Monstofelldosis Anonymous band together for security and a little sleuthing. And maybe—maybe—if they don’t end up dead, they’ll end up friends somewhere along the way.

When I requested this book at NetGalley, I did it solely because of its blurb. Who could turn down the chance to see our favorite classical monsters adjust to modern day times? That they feel that they need to have a support group in order to be able to deal with all the changes that come with centuries of human evolution was just the icing on the cake. Based on that premise I was expecting to have a grand time while reading the story; and I’m so glad to say that the novel delivers.

Although the story is mostly mystery and horror, none of the deaths that occur throughout the narration are described as they are happening. No, these occur behind the scenes and we later find out about their gruesomeness alongside the characters. In a story about monsters that is quite a refreshing approach, so my hat tips to Ms. Petersen.

Review: Slave to Sensation by Nalini Singh

Title: Slave to Sensation
Series: Psy-Changeling, Book 1
Author: Nalini Singh
Publisher: Berkley Sensation
Length: 293 Pages
Publication Date: September 5, 2006
Available Format: Kindle Edition, eBook, Paperback, Mass Paperback, Audiobook.
Source: Bought
My Rating: ★★★★☆
Get it @: Amazon | Book Depository | Goodreads

Description:

In a world that denies emotions, where the ruling Psy punish any sign of desire, Sascha Duncan must conceal the feelings that brand her as flawed. To reveal them would be to sentence herself to the horror of “rehabilitation”— the complete psychic erasure of everything she ever was….

Both human and animal, Lucas Hunter is a Changeling hungry for the very sensations the Psy disdain. After centuries of uneasy co-existence, these two races are now on the verge of war over the brutal murders of several Changeling women. Lucas is determined to find the Psy killer who butchered his packmate, and Sascha is his ticket into their closely guarded society. But he soon discovers that this ice-cold Psy is very capable of passion—and that the animal in him is fascinated by her. Caught between their conflicting worlds, Lucas and Sascha must remain bound to their identities—or sacrifice everything for a taste of darkest temptation…

Sometimes I put off books based on the most idiotic of arguments. In this case it was the cover and the length of the series. Although the cover has an incredibly hot guy, something about it (can’t quite say what) wasn’t calling me. But thanks to Kick’n Ladies I gave this series a go and boy I wish I had done so a while ago.

Review: A Hidden Fire by Elizabeth Hunter

Title: A Hidden Fire
Series: Elemental Mysteries, Book 1
Author: Elizabeth Hunter
Publisher: E. Hunter
Length: 423 Pages
Publication Date: October 13, 2011
Available Formats: Paperback, Kindle Edition, eBook
Source: Bought for Free
My Rating: ★★★¾☆☆
Get it @: Amazon | Book Depository | Barnes & Noble | Smashwords | Goodreads
Worth Noted: As off January 5, 2013 the book remains free in both Amazon and Smashwords.

Book Description:

"No secret stays hidden forever."

A phone call from an old friend sets Dr. Giovanni Vecchio back on the path of a mystery he'd abandoned years before. He never expected a young librarian could hold the key to the search, nor could he have expected the danger she would attract. Now he and Beatrice De Novo will follow a twisted maze that leads from the archives of a university library, through the fires of Renaissance Florence, and toward a confrontation they never could have predicted.

A Hidden Fire is a paranormal mystery/romance for adult readers. It is the first book in the Elemental Mysteries Series.

I read this novel as part of Katie's Kick'n It Free-Style at Gotta Have Paranormal with a Kick. The challenge consisted of four groups of readers, each one with a randomly assigned book (that had been previously suggested). The books had to be free eBook downloads from the major book selling sites (mostly Amazon and B&N). My team, Feisty Femme Fatales, was assigned A Hidden Fire. NOTE: The tallies are up and our book won the challenge, it was the book with the overall best rating!!

I enjoyed the story, the author managed to refresh a concept that has, lately, become a bit overdone; I tip my hat to her for achieving this. It has many memorable characters in its roaster. Beatrice (or B, as she prefers to be called) is a strong female character and a great lead to the story. Gio is, well, he is complicated... Gio begins as a strong character, but there is one particular moment after which my perspective on him changes 180°. Among the rest of the characters we have Carwyn, one of Gio's best vampire friend, -and in my honest opinion- one of the best characters of the series. Did I mention he is a priest? Yup, he is both a priest and a vampire with a particular taste for Hawaiian shirts. Other great characters include Isadora (Beatrice's grandmother) and Caspar (Gio's butler/son/human best friend/ehh... you get the picture).

Cover Reveal: Crimson Darkness

Hello my amazing followers and lurkers. Lately things have been moving a bit slow here at Journey with Words; but today I have a cover reveal for you. The great due of writers Amos Cassidy has written their sequel to Crimson Midnight, so without further ado, here it is!!!

Review: Quidditch through the Ages

Title: Quidditch through the Ages
Series: Harry Potter Companions Book, 2
Author: Kennilworthy Whisp (J.K. Rowling)
Publisher: Scholastic Press
Length: 56 pages
Publication Date: September, 2001
Available Formats: Hardcover, Paperback
Source: Borrowed
My Rating: ★★★★★
Get it @: Amazon | Book Depository

Book Description:

If you have ever asked yourself where the Golden Snitch came from, how the Bludgers came into existence, or why the Wigtown Wanderers have pictures of meat cleavers on their robes, you need Quidditch Through The Ages. This limited edition is a copy of the volume in Hogwarts School Library, where it is consulted by young Quidditch fans on an almost daily basis.

Proceeds from the sale of the book will go to improving and saving the lives of children around the world – work that is even more important and astonishing than the three-and-a-half-second capture of the Golden Snitch by Roderick Plumpton in 1921. – Albus Dumbledore

I confiscated this book along with many others from my sister’s collection out of boredom. xD

Quidditch Through The Ages is a must have for all fans of the sport. Whether new to this sport or a lifelong fanatic this is a valuable addition to anybody’s personal collection.

Review: Friday Night Bites by Chloe Neill

Title: Friday Night Bites
Series: Chicagoland Vampires, Book 2
Author: Chloe Neill
Publisher: New American Library (NAL)
Length: 357 Pages
Publication Date: October 6, 2009
Available Formats: Paperback, Mass Market Paperback, Kindle Edition, ePub, Audiobook
Source: Bought
My Rating: ★★★★☆
Get it @: Amazon | Book Depository | Goodreads

Book Description:

VAMPIRES IN CHICAGO!

You’d think headlines like that would have provoked the fine citizens of the Windy City to take up arms against us blood-sucking fiends. Instead, ten months later, we’re enjoying a celebrity status reserved for the Hollywood elite —fending off paparazzi, who are only slightly less dangerous than cross-and-stake-wielding slayers. Don’t get me wrong. Joe Public isn’t exactly thrilled to be living side by side with the undead, but at least they haven’t stormed the castle… yet.

All that will change once they learn about the Raves, mass feeding parties where vampires round up humans like cattle and drink themselves silly. Most civilized vampires frown on this behavior –but that doesn’t make good copy for first-time reporter looking to impress his high-society family.

So now my “master” —centuries-old yet gorgeously well-preserved Ethan Sullivan— wants me to reconnect with my own upper-class family and act as a liaison between humans and vampires… and to keep the unsavory aspects of our existence out of the media. But someone doesn’t want people and vamps to play nicey-nice —someone with an ancient grudge.

They say that when life gives you lemons, you make lemonade. But what happens when life unexpectedly decided to give you fangs? Well, you pack your sarcasms as close to heart as possible, you make sure your secret chocolate stash is safe, you strap on your katana and ready yourself to go straight into the lion’s den.

Review: Some Girls Bite by Chloe Neill

Title: Some Girl Bites
Series: Chicagoland Vampires, Book 1
Author: Chloe Neill
Publisher: New American Library
Length: 341 Pages
Publication Date: April 7, 2009
Available Format: Paperback, Kindle Edition, Audiobook.
Source: Won as giveaway prize
My Rating: ★★★★☆
Get it @: Amazon | Book Depository

Book Description:

Sure, the life of a graduate student wasn't exactly glamorous, but it was mine. I was doing fine until Chicago's vampires announced their existance to the world —and then a rogue vampire attacked me. But he got only a sip before he was scared away by another bloodsucker ...and this one decided the best way to save my life was to make me the walking undead.

Turns out my savior was the master vampire of Cadogan House. Now I've traded sweating over my dissertation for learning to fit in at a Kenwood mansion full of vamps loyal to Ethan "Lord o' the Manor" Sullivan. Of course, as a tall, green-eyed, four-hundred-year-old vampire, he has centuries' worth of charm, but unfortunately he expects my gratitude -and servitude. Right...

But my burgeoning powers (all of a sudden, I'm surprisingly handy with some serious weaponry), an inconvenient sunlight allergy, and Ethan's attitude are the least of my concerns. Someone's still out to get me. Is it the rogue vampire who bit me? A vamp from a rival House? An angry mob bearing torches?

My initiation into Chicago's nightlife may be the first skirmish in a war ...and there will be blood.

There are certain series or books that become so popular that in most book conversations of the genre they belong to, they get mentioned. One (mostly me) wonders if said book or series is really as good as people say, or if it's just hype. Then the cards fall on the table and you end up with a copy in your hands. Then it happens, after reading the book you become obsessed (hook, line and sinker) to the point that you wonder why on earth I didn't started this earlier. That was the process I went through with Some Girls Bite.

Review: Once Burned by Jeaniene Frost

Title: Once Burned
Series: Night Prince Series, Book 2
Author: Jeaniene Frost
Publisher: Avon Books
Length: 352 Pages | 1209 KB (Kindle Edition)
Publication Date: June 26, 2012
Available Formats: Paperback, Mass Market Paperback, Kindle Edition, eBook, Audiobook.
Source: Bought
My Rating: ★★★★★
Get it @: Amazon | Book Depository

Book Description:

She's a mortal with dark powers...

After a tragic accident scarred her body and destroyed her dreams, Leila never imagined that the worst was still to come: terrifying powers that let her channel electricity and learn a person's darkest secrets through a single touch. Leila is doomed to a life of solitude...until creatures of the night kidnap her, forcing her to reach out with a telepathic distress call to the world's most infamous vampire...

He's the Prince of Night...

Vlad Tepesh inspired the greatest vampire legend of all—but whatever you do, don't call him Dracula. Vlad's ability to control fire makes him one of the most feared vampires in existence, but his enemies have found a new weapon against him—a beautiful mortal with powers to match his own. When Vlad and Leila meet, however, passion ignites between them, threatening to consume them both. It will take everything that they are to stop an enemy intent on bringing them down in flames.

Once Burned finally came out today! Kindle rules! I pre-ordered my copy months ago (when the original release date was still March ^.^) I waited until midnight EST, which for me is actually 1:00am, to finally begin the story. I told my boyfriend and my sister not to bother me, I wasn’t putting the book down until I was finished; and I didn’t. It was past 7am when I was finally done with the book. Was it worth it? Oh hell yeah!

We first met Vlad at At Grave’s End, the third book on the Night Huntress Series, and he quickly became my second favorite character. Bones has the number one spot, but oh, Vlad gives him quite a fight and after this book, it’s an all-out war. Can you imagine a duel between these two?

Vlad is still his arrogant pompous self, but don’t we love him like that? Although the story is seen from Leila’s point of view the entire time, we get thrown head first into Vlad’s domain, gaining an incredibly insightful look at the best known vampire in history; but don’t you dare call him Dracula. A man that had garnered a reputation of ruthlessness so great that he acquired the moniker of “the Impaler” before he was turned into a vampire.

It takes a special type of woman to match Vlad without falling into the submissive role; and that person is found in Leila. She is a survivor, a young woman who suffered an accident as a teenager that scarred her for life and also left her with some pretty nifty abilities. After a particular situation at the beginning of the book (sorry, not telling you) these abilities have gone public and have placed her in right in the middle of some ruthless vampires crosshairs. Vampires that will stop at nothing to use her as a pawn in their devious plans.

Author Interview: Amos Cassidy!

Welcome Back my amazing followers and lurkers! Today I'm being visited by a duo of writers. Two weeks ago I reviewed their first novel Crimson Midnight, and today they are dropping by to chat a bit about their book, their experience as writers and more.

So, who's Amos Cassidy?

Amos Cassidy is a team of two writers from the UK; Amos is a 28 year old Diva and Cassidy a 35 year old mum of two. They have been writing together since 2009 and 'Tales from the Ether' is their first publication. Their debut novel 'Crimson Midnight' is also now available in ebook format. For more information on the 'Crimson Series' please visit: http://crimsonseries.wordpress.com/

Mel: First of all, welcome to Journey with Words and thank you for dropping by to chat.

Amos: Hello! Thanks for having us J

Cassidy: It’s great to be here. Got any coffee?

Mel: Sure do! My Dad's drink of choice is coffee so there is always around. How about you tell us a bit about yourselves while I get you some.

Review: Crimson Midnight by Amos Cassidy

Title: Crimson Midnight
Series: The Crimson Series, Book 1
Author: Amos Cassidy
Publisher: Self Published through Kindle Direct Publishing
Length: 341 Pages
Publication Date: March 15, 2012
Available Format: Kindle Edition
Source: Supplied by the Author
My Rating: ★★★★★
Get it @: Amazon

Description:

Rose wants excitement, bright lights and late nights, but she gets more than she bargained for when she swaps her wholesome country life for the hustle and bustle of London.

The city night is home to hungry shadows, eager to consume her. Rose discovers there is more to this world than what the mundane eye sees, and that she herself is a part of it. Unexpected friendships are forged and unwanted, sometimes dangerous, attractions flare.

London becomes a playground for magic, danger and supernatural threat. While her life, and those of who she loves, hangs in the balance, she must endeavour to embrace her new nature and assist in identifying the hidden threat before it succeeds in its dark purpose.

An Urban Fantasy filled with moon-praising, flat-dwelling vampires, chic corporate werewolves, bar-tending warlocks, ravenous demons and much, much more.

Step inside…

This book is right up my alley, it has all the Urban Fantasy elements that I love:

• Crafty and powerful Witches and Warlocks ü 
• Strong and pretty friendly vampires ü
• Hot and steamy werewolves ü
• Deadly and somewhat unhinged fairies ü
• Unknown superpower as the main character ü
• Some nasty demons  ü
• Action and adventure ü
• A good fast paced storyline ü
• And a great city to host all the paranormal activity ü

Crimson Midnight is one of those books that once you pick up its hard to put down unless absolutely necessary. You know which ones I’m talking about, the ones that you eat while reading because you can’t stop; yup, one of those.

Review: Straight to Hell by Michelle Scott

Title: Straight to Hell
Series: Lilith Straight, Book 1
Author: Michelle Scott (Click to read Interview)
Publisher: Self Published
Length: 179 Pages (approximately)
Publication Date: September 8, 2011
Available Formats: Kindle Edition, eBook
Source: MOBI Format provided by the author
My Rating: ★★★★☆

Description:

Lilly Straight had it all, the husband, the daughter, the house, the money, the perfect life we all dream about every now and then. But after a series of events force her to give up her haute couture life style, Lilly most find a way to make ends meet if she wants to be able to support her family. It is at that moment that you belief you have begun to figure things out that life chooses to play one of its crazy cards and literary turn your world topsy-turvi. That is exactly what happens to Lilly, thanks to an accident she was sent straight to hell and now must honor a bargain with a demon done by one of her ancestors some generations back in order to be able to continue to care for her family. As succubi, Lilly must tempt people so that they fall to their doom, but is she capable of sacrificing other’s souls in order to save her own?

Straight to Hell was a surprising reading with a story that once it has grabs you it refuses to let go. The story mixes the typical aspects and struggles of everyday life while adding as extra pressure the paranormal realm to create a compelling story with the age old battle of good vs evil. The book follows the life of a struggling mother trying to find her footing after practically losing all she was used to and finding herself barely able to scrape by for survival. To top things off she has to look after her nice and her irresponsible younger sister. And as if that wasn't enough there is a very sexy incubus who’s giving the rounds around our heroine.

Review: Faefever by Karen Marie Moning

Title: Faefever
Series: The Fever Series, Book 2
Author: Karen Marie Moning
Publisher: Delacorte Press
Publication Date: September 16, 2008
Source: Bought
Reviewed Format: Kindle Edition
My Rating: ★★★★☆
Get it @: Amazon | Book Depository

NOTE: I read this book a little over a month ago in a back-to-back fashion and I didn’t had time to review it at that moment, but I did promised to reviewed it here on my blog. The review is short and more of an overall feel of the book because, at the moment, I don’t remember all the specifics of the story; sorry, the elements of all five books have sort of blend in together.

Mac has finally learn how the Sinsar Dubh is moving, and with an ever increasing crime rate and the ever approaching possibility of the Lord Master releasing the Fae into our world the stakes are even higher. The only option remaining is to stop the LM’s plans, but will Mac be able to do so? Would she be able to outsmart this terrible foe all by herself or should she trust in the help of others? And of all the players in this twisted chess board, who can she trust?

Review: Bloodfever by Karen Marie Moning

Title: Bloodfever
Series: The Fever Series, Book 2
Author: Karen Marie Moning
Publisher: Delacorte Press
Publication Date: October 16, 2007
Reviewed Format: Kindle Edition
Source: Bought
My Rating: ★★★★☆
Get it @: Amazon | Book Depository

The Sinsar Dubh is out there and Mac is the only one that can sense it; a war is quickly approaching and with it the introduction of new players into the ever changing table that holds the world of the Fever series.

At the end of Darkfever we left Mac shivering on the rooftop of Barrons Books and Baubles alongside the man himself. The Sinsar Dubh is now in Dublin and havoc is sure to follow. The world keeps growing and expanding with the introduction of key players and some more disposable ones (won’t tell you which one is which, that’ll be cheating you out of some good twists).

Mac –and by extension Alina– are not the only sidhe-seers anymore. We get to discover a bit more of their world through the eyes of Dani, a young, strong, cocky, reckless, very observant and foul-mouth-to-no-end curly redhead with some serious authority issues that will make you want to hold and cuddle her as well as teach her some manners; in summary just your typical teenager. Dani is a great offset to Mac’s innocent (and sometimes naïve) views of the world that Mac knows almost nothing about and an welcome ball of pure energy to Mac’s obscure future.

Review: Hounded by Kevin Hearne

Title: Hounded
Series: Iron Druid Chronicles, Book 1
Author: Kevin Hearne
Publisher: Del Rey
Publication Date: May 3, 2011
Reviewed Format: ePub
My Rating: ★★★★★

To be honest, I picked this book because of its cover. I thought I had found a book that I had seen in Goodreads some months ago but I couldn’t be more wrong.

Let’s start by clarifying, this book is not the one I originally thought, this is an Urban Fantasy novel (I was expecting a Paranormal Romance) about the last druid on earth and his battle to protect our planet from the destructive forces of evil.

When I started reading it and realized that it wasn’t the right book and I had no idea what to expect off of it, I hadn’t research it before hand and it sure wasn’t following the plot I had pictured. However, I cannot be more pleased that I made this mistake. For it allowed me to discover a fantastic action/adventure story, and an UF nonetheless; I had missed those recently.

Atticus O’Sullivan is the last druid alive, he is a 21-year-old Irish man (a 21-centuries-year-old that is) living in hiding from the rest of the magical community, calling a small town of Arizona home. His life is rather simple, he owns an occult shop near the University campus selling everything from tarot cards to medicinal teas to the town’s people, he trims the garden of an old lady near his house and has the occasional spat with a neighbor. He also had man’s best friend by his side; a beautiful Irish wolfhound named Oberon that, hands down, is my favorite character in the entire book. You see, Oberon can talk to Atticus through a mind connection; by far the funniest lines in the book are always spoken by Oberon. I enjoyed this book a lot, is one of those reads that you can sit back and finish it in a day or two while just loosing yourself in the story and forget your problems; after all Atticus has enough to go around. The book is action packed, and beautifully written. My favorite part of the book is its intrinsic connection with nature and the role it plays in the healing of both the body and the mind.

Review: Darkfever by Karen Marie Moning

Title: Darkfever 

Series: The Fever Series, Book 1
Author: Karen Marie Moning
Publisher: Delacorte Press
Publication Date: October 31, 2006
Reviewed Format: Kindle Edition
Source: Bought
My Rating: ★★★★☆
Get it @: Amazon | Book Depository

Book Description:

MacKayla (Mac) Lane’s life is pretty ordinary; she bartenders to a local bar in her home town in Georgia while living with her parents, takes a few courses in the community college and sunbathes by the pool at any opportunity she has. But sometimes destiny has other plans for us in wait. After receiving a call that shattered her life she packs a bag and travels to Dublin, Ireland in the hopes of discovering her sister’s murderer. Without friends and family, in a completely unknown country, and with a cryptic voicemail as her only clue to what might had happened to her sister Mac will come face to face with a world she never dream would exist. Without knowing who to trust or turn to, with more enemies that she can account for, and playing a set of rule that she doesn’t quite comprehend Mac must decide whether her thirst for revenge is worth temping destiny.

Some friends recommended this book, and I am kicking myself for had started it sooner. I love the characters and the setting of the story. Love the description of the life in Dublin, that vibe that gives the book drops of realism.

As the heroine of the story, Mac was pleasantly unexpected. Her whining through the story is completely justifiable, yet it didn’t felt annoying like it could have easily turned into. She has many strengths but is not an almighty type of character. Let’s face it, when she screws up she does it royally; but for a character that gets thrown – head first – into a new world with a new set of rules she learns from her mistakes quickly and does her best never to repeat them.

Opposite Mac we have Jericho Barrons, a smoking hot mysterious guy who I can't truly say that he is either a good guy or a bad guy; if Moning wanted to keep her readers confused with where Barrons stands, let me tell you, mission accomplished. Telling you anything about Barron will, unfortunately, give away to many plot points so I’ll leave him like the mysterious guy he is.

Review: Blood Rights by Kristen Painter

Title: Blood Rights
Series: House of Comarré, Book 1
Author: Kristen Painter
Publisher: Orbit
Publication Date: October 1, 2011
Reviewed Format: Kindle Edition
Source: Bought

My Rating:  ★★★★☆

Get it @: Amazon | Book Depository

Wow, now this is the kind of story I enjoy; fast paced, with a really good story.

Chrysabelle is the best of the comarré, certainly the most expensive one, one of the many women raised to become a vampire’s life source. She has lived her life as decreed by tradition but when her patron is found dead and all signs point her as the culprit she must run away in order to find a way to clear her name. But when her journey takes an unexpected turn for the worst an unlikely ally might be her only hope. Malkolm, an outcast vampire have the power to help her but also a weakness that might kill her. With katana in hand and blades flying, she will be tested like never before.

Blood Rights is the first of in a series called House of Comarré by Kristen Painter. I saw this book through a blog and was kind of intrigued by its cover. The last thing i was expecting was such a wonderful, well-constructed world. Blood Rights grabbed me the same way the Night Huntress books have done. I found myself wanting to strangle some of the characters and knock some senses into others. I have always believe that a book should be able to tap into one's emotions so that you can truly feel like the characters do; in that this book is extremely well accomplished. I’ll recommend this book to anybody who enjoys vampire stories especially if they like their vamps allergic to sun, silver, wood (of sorts), and holy paraphernalia.

Write down below if you plan to read it, are already done with it, or any other comment that you might have.