Waking Up Pregnant! by Mira Lyn Kelly

Synopsis:
The night that changed everything!
Waitress Darcy Penn is the smart, sensible type--flirting with the extremely cure guy in the bar just isn't her style. As for ending up in his hotel room? Definitely not! Sneaking out while he's in the bathroom to avoid post-sex awkwardness? Much more like it.
If Darcy has stuck around, Jeff Norton could have told her about their "epic latex fail." So he shouldn't be quite so shocked when months later, Darcy turns up at his classy L.A. office and throws up in his wastepaper basket. She's got a bad case of morning sickness, and she's here to find out what he's going to do about it.

Review:
I have been reading more and more romance books lately, I think all the paranormal romance I read is making me seek out romance on a level that doesn't involve the paranormal element and resembles real life a little bit more. I am not quite sure what made me pick this book out of the thousands of other romance books out there, but I think the title did it for me, "Waking Up Pregnant" was just calling out for me to read it.

So most romances involve meeting, getting to know each other, recovering from some kind of obstacle in the way of their love, and then having their happily ever after. This book kind of throws that formula to the wind, and goes at things completely opposite of their natural order. I think that it's something that I actually really enjoyed about the book, that it doesn't follow the so called traditional way a romance should take place.

A one night stand ending up with a baby as the result, I'm sure it happens frequently, so it made for a pretty believable story line. I actually really liked both characters. In a lot of romances I tend to favor one over the other, but this book had me liking both people pretty much on equal ground.

Darcy is a stubborn, strong-willed, independent woman who has survived a lot of things throughout her life that made her into the person she is today. But having a baby with a total stranger results in her having to not just reevaluate her life, but also change the way she reacts to things as well as learn to accept help from other people. It's really nice to watch her grow into a person who is ready for love and not so closed off.

As for Jeff, the author kind of writes him in the beginning as the perfect recipe for a playboy, he's rich, good looking, successful, travels a lot, and is confident with women. All the classic markers of playboy. But he never really comes off that way, there is something much deeper to him, seems like he was raised right. He likes a challenge, and Darcy was certainly a challenge, but even months afterward when she shows up to tell him they are going to have a baby, he is a stand up guy. He doesn't shove her aside, or make her feel like she did something wrong, he goes completely into how do we make this work for the baby mode. The thing I think I like the most about Jeff, is through the whole book he never pushes Darcy too hard, sure he convinces her to go along with some of his plans, but they all come from a good place. And in the end he respects her and her wishes and opinions, which to me counts for a lot in a man.

The love story itself between the two of them is actually pretty sweet, and it plays out quite nicely. If I had one complaint about the book it would be that there aren't a lot of other characters. Darcy and Jeff each seem to have one other person to talk to who make appearances in the book, but there really isn't cast of characters in the book, which I think results in their being a little less depth to the book. Also the book does jump around a bit, in terms of time, sometimes a little more than I would have liked, but not enough to detract from the reading experience. Overall, I enjoyed the read, read it in one sitting, and think it's a nice little escape when you are looking for a romance to read.

   

Unknown by Rachel Caine

Synopsis: 
Living among mortal, Cassiel has begun to develop a reluctant affection for them--especially the intriguing Warden Luis Rocha. As the mystery deepens around the kidnapping of innocent Warden children, Cassiel and Luis are the only ones who can investigate within both the human and the Djinn realms.
But the more Luis an Cassiel search, the more dangerous the trail becomes, reaching not only into a fanatical splinter group, but into the highest ranks of Cassiel's immortal kin. An outcast from her own kind, Cassiel must now rely on her own limited earthbound powers to save the young Wardens...if it's not already to late.

Review:
My vacation reading continues with the second book in the Outcast Season Series by Rachel Caine. I really enjoyed the first book, which was a nice set up for the big show downs that seem like they are going to continue throughout the short series.

Starting with Cassiel, she is becoming more and more human every day, although she is more than able to still act and think like a Djinn. There is a serious oh my God moment in this book where Cassiel just goes hard core Djinn, and it's really at this point that you understand that there are two Cassiels, the one who is learning to be human and love her fellow humans and the Djinn whose eons of existence can't be pushed aside by only a couple of months of humanity.

Luis and Cassiel together as characters are just awesome. They work so amazingly well together, they are both so single minded in their mission that they are able to have this short hand that you would think should take years to cultivate. I love how protective the two of them are of each other, even though they are each total powerhouses. I am really enjoying the evolution of their relationship, and the love that is really starting to grow between them. But I do also think that there is something looming on the horizon for them, some kind of hiccup in their road to happiness together, and it will be interesting to see if they are able to overcome whatever it ends up being.

I really thought the whole series was going to be able trying to get the one child back, Ibby, the one who they both have a personal connection to. Heads up, here comes a spoiler, Ibby is finally found in this book. And as I am sure everyone can totally understand, is not the child that was taken, gone is her innocence and blind trust. It is going to be really interesting to see how the adults cope with having this girl who has powers that she shouldn't have yet, and how Ibby copes with the new reality of her situation.

I also think that Caine should be given a lot of credit for coming up with this great villain. Pearl is really, in every sense of the word, a super villain. I also think that everyone except Cassiel totally underestimate her. I am not sure if that is because Cassiel is just not coming off as trustworthy to people, or if it's just simple denial that there really could be a problem of this magnitude on the horizon. It seems like everyone in any position of power think Cassiel is just crying wolf. Although the government agencies start getting into the mix in this book so it's going to be really interesting to see if the non-gifted humans can combat such a big bad when every other major player seems to have gone missing.

I would recommend this series to anyone who enjoys urban fantasy or Rachel Caine, I think this is one of her stronger series. Also I think that if you like a good paranormal romance this book is a definite step up from the previous book in terms of romance, so you may wanna check it out.

Undone by Rachel Caine

Synopsis: 
Once she was a powerful Djinn. Then Cassiel defied her ruler, Ashan, who tore her very essence away and reshaped her in human flesh as punishment. Forced to live among mortals, Cassiel has found refuge among the Weather Wardens--whose power she must tap into regularly, or she will die.
Cassiel earns her keep by assisting the Earth Warden Manny Rocha on his missions--which she finds much easier than coping with the emotions and frailties of her human condition, especially her growing affection for Manny's brother, Luis. But when Cassiel encounters a malevolent force that threatens the Rocha family, se discovers that her perceived human weaknesses must be her greatest strengths...

Review:
Rachel Caine has been one of my favorite authors for a long time now, and if you haven't read her Weather Warden series you should. This series is a spin off of the Weather Warden series, taking place in the same universe as that series, even with a couple of familiar characters popping into the beginning of this book. That being said I think this book stands completely on its own.

I really liked Cassiel, she is kind of a crazy person by human standards, as I think all Djinn are, they have a very interesting view of the world. You start following Cassiel right at the beginning of her fall from "grace" and while she is shocked about her new condition, she handles things shockingly well. In a lot of ways this novel is really just a starting point to the real action which I assume will start to pick up in the next book.

Cassiel works with Manny, and start to form human connections with him and his family. Manny is a great guy for Cassiel I think, he's just a good person at heart and can really teach her what it is to be human by allowing her to really become a part of his family. When Manny's family comes under fire, and his daughter, Ibby, goes missing, Cassiel really realizes how much she has come to care about these people.

Cassiel teams up with Luis, Manny's brother and Ibby's uncle to find and bring Ibby back home. Luis is much less trusting that Manny was with Cassiel. He's lived a harder life, having been in a gang before, and generally not sure if Cassiel is actually going to help things. The two of them together I think work really well together. It's like they are both such hardened people on their own, that they are able to come to an understanding about how to work with each other really quickly. I really hope their dynamic starts to evolve in the next book into something more, but I think I just have a thing for characters pairing up.

The action in this book really starts after Ibby goes missing, and then it never really stops. It's a constant ride from that point on, a race against time if you will to find her before something else happens to her. And throughout the race to find her they discover that what it is really going on is even more than anyone could have conceived. The book ends with pretty much a cliff hanger, but at a decent stopping point.

Overall, I liked the book a lot, as I like almost all of Caine's books. I think any urban fantasy reader would enjoy reading this book, although PNR people are going to be craving more romance since there is next to zero in this book. I really did enjoy this book and I look forward to reading book two and the rest of the series.

     

Shadow Kin by M.J. Scott

Synopsis:
I was born of a Fae mother, but I had no place among her kind. They called me soulless. An abomination. Perhaps they're right.... I am a wraith, a show who slips between worlds. I was given into the service of the Blood Lord Lucius, who raised me to be his most feared assassin. Still, I'm nothing more than a slave to my master and to the need that only h can fulfill....
Then Lucius orders me to kill Simon DuCaine, a powerful sunmage. In the blaze of Simon's magic, my own disappears. Instead of seeking revenge, he shows me mercy. He wants to free me. But that's one thing my master and his kind will never allow.
And even if I thought I could trust Simon, stepping from the shadows into the light isn't as simple as it sounds...

Review:
So I bought this book for two reasons, 1 I love the cover (I know, I know, never judge a book by its cover( and 2 it has a Patty Briggs endorsement, and I love me some Patty Briggs. So I bought the book, didn't read the back cover at all, and just dove in. In fact when I bought this book, I bought another 5 randomly chosen books from the same section in the book store, in hopes of finding some new others and going outside of my comfort zone of loved authors.

This book is one of the examples of why I should venture out more, because this book was such a good read. It took me about three days to work all the way through (and believe me if I didn't need to sleep, eat, or build a fence for my yard I would have finished it in one sitting). I love following along with a more "dark" character if you will, and Lily is definitely starting out on the darker side of things, although her existence is clearly a dark and tortured one. I love that Lily's darkness is balanced out by Simon's light, not just in the fact that he is a sunmage and she is a wraith, but rather that he is optimistic and works for good, and she is trapped in darkness in more than one way.

Lily is just such a tortured soul, she reminds me of one of those people who are told by their families that they are ugly and worthless, and then when they go out in the world and people tell them they are beautiful and worthy, they just can't accept it. Of course Lily's situation is much worse than this, but just as heartbreaking. Simon as a character is just great, I think I love him. He's strong, but kind. He has a heart like no other, but as the story goes on you realize he has some dark spots in his past, some demons of his own to contend with. It makes him all the better of a character. And the two of them together are just fantastic.

The plot itself was good, and enjoyable, and I liked seeing the world that Scott created. Sure it is vampire/mages/beast lore, but she uses interesting words to describe it, and paints this great old timey kind of picture. She really transports you into a completely different world, and it felt fresh, which I love.

The only thing I don't like about this series is that it appears (after reading this book and clamoring for more information about the authors upcoming books) that the series itself follows a different couple in each book, as a lot of PNR books do. I will read the authors others books because I love her writing, but I do wish I could follow Lily and Simon some more, because as characters they are just fantastic. I would recommend this book to just about anyone who like the UF and PNR genres.

Blood Law by Jeannie Holmes

Synopsis: 

A provocative and savvy vampire, Alexandra Sabian moves to the sleepy hamlet of Jefferson, Mississippi--population 6,000, nearly half vampires--to escape the demons lurking in her past. As an enforcer for the Federal Bureau of Preternatural Investigations (FBPI). Alex must maintain the uneasy peace between her kind and humans, including Jefferson's bigoted sheriff, who'd be happy to see all vampires banished from town. Then really dead vamps start turning up--beheaded, crucified, and defanged, the same gruesome manner in which Alex's father was murdered decades ago. For Alex, the professional has become way to personal. 

Things get even more complicated when the FBPI sends in some unnervingly sexy backup: Alex's onetime mentor, lover, and fiance, Varik Baudelaire. Still stinging from the betrayal that ended their short-lived engagement. Alex is determined not to give in to the temptation that soon threatens to short-circuit her investigation. But as the vamp body count grows and the public panic level rises, Varik may be Alex's only hope to stop a relentless killer who's got his own score to settle and his own bloody past to put right. 

Review:

First and foremost, I really enjoyed the book. I thought that it was kind of a great mix of bring procedural, cop type events, into a paranormal setting. I know a lot of UF books do the kind of PI thing, or the main character works for some kind of paranormal government agencies patrolling fellow paranormals, but this book just worked for me, and it didn't feel like it was copying anything else. 

First off, I loved the characters. I loved all of them. I liked the good guys, I liked the bad guys, and I liked the people who fell somewhere in between. I really liked the fact that the author uses more than one POV and did so convincingly. I have a lot of respect for an author who can put themselves into the POV of so many different people all while being convincing as all those people. When I read the bad guy POV I really felt like I was getting into the mind of real deal, it was so convincing. And when we switched back into a different point of view I was just as convinced. 

I think another element that enjoyed about the book was the bigoted aspect, there was a huge line between the vampires and what can only be described as humans in a hate group. It's hard to read about hateful people sometimes, it can be such an intense and sometimes uncomfortable things to experience, even through a book. But I think the author did a good job balancing the hate aspects of it with other character driven events, romance, suspense, etc. 

Speaking of romance, I loved Alex and Varik. They have a lot of history, a lot of history. And it's hard to really tell you guys anything about the two of them without giving anything away. As the book progresses you get more and more information about the two of them, and you get to see them interact with each other, and it's such a good reader experience watching the two of them evolve throughout. So I won't ruin anything for anyone, except to say that I really enjoyed reading them. 

Overall, I highly recommend this book. I am looking forward to reading the second book in the series, which is already out. I wish there was going to be a third book, but it seems like that isn't going to happen through the traditional publisher, so I can only encourage Jeannie to self-publish the third book on her own, because I would love to read it. I think anyone who enjoys UF should read this book as soon as possible. 

   

Rippler by Cidney Swanson

Synopsis:

Samantha Ruiz has a freak gene that makes her turn invisible, or ripple. She can't control it, and it's getting worse. Afraid of becoming a lab-rat, Sam keeps her ability secret, until fellow runner Will Baker sees her vanish into thin air. Will promises secrecy and help, and Sam begins to fall in love. 

Together, the two discover there are worse things than being a scientific curiosity. Someone's been killing people who possess Sam's gene. A mysterious man from France sends letters that offer hope for safety, but also reveal a sinister connection with Nazi experiments. 

The more time Sam spends with Will, the less she can imagine life without him. When Sam uncovers secrets from her past, she must choose between keeping Will in her life or keeping Will safe. 

Review:

I try not to review a lot of YA books, because I tend to have rather strong reactions to them, either I love them a lot or I hate them. I was really happy to find that I really did enjoy this book from beginning to end. 

To start with I would say the writing in this book is really good in terms of flow, so readers will really enjoy the experience. The book just had a really nice kind of pace to it, I never felt like I had to rush to finish it (and then of course miss out on things because I read to fast), but I also didn't feel like the book was dragging or getting boring. So it was a nice pace, especially for the YA crowd. 

Another thing I feel like i have to mention is that the dialogue is pretty good. A common problem I have found in YA books is that you have a bunch of adult writers trying to write to either appeal to a younger demographic or to actually write a younger character, and it doesn't always come off right. I have to say this was pretty good dialogue. It was enjoyable, easy to follow, and didn't feel like it was trying to hard. 

As for the characters, I enjoyed reading both Sam and Will. Sam is a smart girl, but more than that she is tough. She has been through a lot, and of course is dealing with a lot with her condition, so she is a strong girl. I also liked that Will was also a smart guy, he's definitely quick on his feet. And the two of them together are definitely cute. 

As for the down side of the book, I can say the only thing I felt was lacking from the book was that I wish there was a bit more action in it. I hope that as the series progresses there will be more action in the books, but in this one I did wish there was a bit more. That being said, if you like YA books then I think you will enjoy reading this one. 

Shadow Hunter by Kait Ballenger

Synopsis: 

Vampire hunter Damon Brock's first assignment with the Execution Underground is Rochester, New York, a city crawling with the undead. But he isn't the only hunter in town gunning for vamp blood. Tiffany Solow is fierce and ruthless when it comes to slaying the monsters that destroyed her family-and she world solo. But being alone is no longer so desirable when she meets the mysterious hunter who wants more than just her turf. As they work to massacre the local covers, the line between good and evil blurs when they are forced to decide between their lifelong beliefs…and their newfound hearts. 

Review:

First off this book is a part of an anthology so keep in mind this review is only for Shadow Hunter. Novellas are hard for me to review because they often leave me wanting to know more, but novellas are really suppose to set up the main story and then produce intrigue and this novella certainly did that. 

To start with the novella is really character driven, or rather driven by a couple. Tiffany and Damon seem to really work as a couple, in spite of all the obstacles in their path. They have pretty good chemistry together, and I did find myself pulling for the two of them to work and be together. You can't under estimate the power of a reader pulling for your leading lady and leading man. 

Of the two characters I have to say I liked Tiffany a bit more than Damon, although they are both pretty well written. I like that Tiffany had personality and stuck to what she wanted/believed. I was really relieved that I didn't feel like she was ever "lost" in Damon, to the point where she loses herself. I like that she isn't perfect, and that her past is a hard one. I think a lot of what happened in her past really makes her personality more likable to the readers, because you can't help but understand and pull for her when you are reading the novella. 

The novella ends in a cliff hanger, which normally I don't like in books, but in novellas I don't mind them. There is romance in her for the paranormal romance fans and the urban fantasy fans should be pretty happy with this as well. Overall it was a solid effort and a good read. 

  

Finding Esta by Shah Wharton

Synopsis: 

As an empath, Luna yearns for love and acceptance, for an end to her chronic isolation. Unable to touch, she settles for the lower's caress of a stranger who visits her dreams, and her only friends in the world are Shadows--spirits who reside within her fragile mind, seeking refuge from the Shadow Lands. 

Always desperate to earn parental respect, and to solve a twenty-year-old child abduction case, she travels to Cornwall to Esta's family home, situated on an abandoned cul-de-sac. Searching for clues to her tragic fate, she finds much more than she bargained for. A whole new reality is revealed, one where her accursed abnormalities are clarified, but her only friends vanish. 

More alone than ever and desperate for answers, Luna struggles to retain a sense of identity, and the light grip on reality she's been used to. Will she find Esta, and if so, will she live to tell her story? More terrifyingly, who will care enough to listen, and who will ever enough about Luna?

Review:

Finding Esta was an interesting read. I thought there were some elements that made the book unique and enjoyable and some elements that I personally thought needed a bit of work. 

Luna as a character has a rather disturbing history, and you can't help but to feel sorry for her and what she has gone through. But it is her history that makes her who she is and provides some sense to why she is the way she is and why she does the things she does. However, I do have to say Luna, while complex, is sometimes a little bit unbelievable for me, but never so much so that it detracts from the plot.

The writing in the book is pretty solid. The author is really good with descriptions and is good at setting a scene for the reader. There is a lot to be said for painting a picture with words. On the other hand there is a lot going on in the book at all times. There is not a lot of downtime for either the readers or the characters. While this is good, in that it is never boring, I could easily see how some readers might find everything hard to follow, or that the is just to much going on for it to be a truly enjoyable read from start to finish. 

The book ends in a cliff hanger, and I know that a lot of people don't like reading books with cliff hangers, so I put that out there for those of you who hate it. But for those of you who like series, the cliff-hanger will probably leave you wanting the next book in the series, and this is going to be a series, so you are in luck. Overall I think for the first book in a series it was a decent effort, and I think a lot of urban fantasy readers will enjoy the book. I hope to see the authors writing progress as the series continues. 

  

Affairs of the Dead by A.J. Locke

Synopsis: Necromancer Selene Vanream helps ghosts settle their affairs so they can move on. But when breaking the rules gets her in trouble, she’s bumped down to tracking ghosts trying to avoid the afterlife. Ghosts like Ethan Lance, who claims he was kicked out of his body when someone else jumped in. Which might be plausible—if such a thing were possible. And if Micah, Selene’s partner, didn’t pull her into an investigation of brutal murders that lead directly back to Ethan.

But when the whole mess puts Selene’s life in danger, she suddenly has very personal reasons to get Ethan’s body back. Between her uncomfortable relationship with Micah, and problems with her boss, Selene learns just how much trouble it can be when you don’t follow the rules…

Review: I was first drawn to this book because of the cover, it's a really gorgeous cover, and I thought to myself if this book is as vibrant as the cover than I want to read it. The whole ghostly affairs concept, especially as a job, is really interesting, and I think could provide a huge range of ideas within the universe for a lot of fun stories. 

My first requirement for an urban fantasy book is that the heroine is not wimpy and dependent on a male. I love that Selene is super headstrong and doesn't back down from her opinion. The writing of Selene is really great, and I really appreciate good writing, especially the dry humor in this book, it really made the main character pop. 

I really want to touch on the aspect of the world building in this book. Part of what I really liked about the book was that this was a universe where the paranormal is known and accepted, so there isn't a lot of sneaky, hide and seek type stuff between people who are paranormal and the others who don't. I think what is awesome about this is the concept of ghosts becoming a part of the economy, in urban fantasy books you see a lot of witches offering their services or vampires owning clubs, but you rarely see ghosts as a business. This fresh element really helps with keeping the novel feeling like something you haven't read before. 

The book itself is really well paced, which I love. Of course like all books there is a few moments here and there where the story does slow down, however the book keeps a good pace. The best thing about a well paced book is that feeling that you can't put the book down, and I definitely got that feeling from reading this book. 

On the downside, the issues I have with the book come from a minor displeasure with the ending (you'll have to read the book to find out what the ending is, no spoilers here!). And secondly, while I really like Selene's character, I don't always appreciate or like her choices. And while every character needs a starting point to grow from, to evolve from, I felt like she could have used a few more good points to help make her stay likable. 

Anyone looking for something new in the urban fantasy genre should definitely check this book out, it's a fun read. I would like to mention that if you are a lover of paranormal romance and are looking for something with a lot of romance in it, then this might not be your book. Either way if the synopsis sounds good to you, you should totally pick up the book and read it! 

   

CONTACT LINKS:

•                Blog: http://iqurae.blogspot.com

•                Twitter:  @maqueripe

•                Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17226279-affairs-of-the-dead

Black Wings by Christina Henry

Synopsis:
Maddy's position may come with magical abilities and an impressive wingspan, but it doesn't pay the bills. And then there are her infuriating boss, tenant woes, and a cranky, popcorn-loving gargoyle to contend with.
Things start looking up, though, when tall, dark, and handsome Gabriel Angeloscuro agrees to rent the empty apartment in Maddy's building. It's probably just a coincidence that as soon as he moves in, demons appear on the front lawn. But when an unholy monster is unleashed upon the streets of Chicago, Maddy discovers powers she never knew she possessed. Powers linked to a family legacy of tarnished halos.
Powers that place her directly between the light of Heaven and the fires of Hell...

Review:
I picked up this book for a number of reasons, one I do like books about angels, and two, the whole agent of death concept brings me back to one of my favorite shows, Dead Like Me, so I figured I would give it a try. I'm not exactly sure what I was expecting, but by the end of the book I was pleasantly surprised with how much I enjoyed the book.

I like the character of Maddy, she has a pretty good head on her shoulders, and to her credit she doesn't back down. I think part of the reason I really liked Maddy in this book is that while she is powerful, she is just coming in to her power and so she doesn't really know how use it, which leads to the action in this book being unpredictable  I also like that Maddy is the type of girl who runs into the fire to help people.

Another thing that makes Maddy all the more enjoyable to read is her cast of sidekicks. Well, technically she only has the one sidekick, her gargoyle, who is pretty hilarious with his antics and eating habits. Gabriel is kind of a big question mark throughout the book, he knows a lot more than he is telling, and the rules regarding Maddy and Gabriel's interactions are rigid to say the least.

And speaking of rules, the world Maddy was born into is more than complex. The rules are rigid and disobeying the rules almost always seem to end in beheading, so talk about incentive to "behave". Unfortunately for Maddy, she has no idea what the rules are, and she ends up putting her foot in her mouth on more than one occasion  To say Maddy has a complex and some crazed family situation would be an understatement.

I would recommend this book. The descriptions are pretty good, the characters a pretty good, and once the action takes of it doesn't really ever stop. I read this book pretty quickly and enjoyed it from beginning to end. I look forward to reading the sequel. This book isn't heavy on the romance, so if you are looking for that I have a feeling you will find it in book two. But if you are an urban fantasy lover who wants serious action then you will probably enjoy this book.

  

Right Hand Magic by Nancy A. Collins

Synopsis:
Like most Manhattanites, aspiring artist Tate can't resist a good rental deal-even if it's in the city's strangest neighborhood, Golgotham, where for centuries werewolves, centaurs, and countless other creatures have roamed the streets.
Her new landlord is a sorcerer named Hexe, who is determined to build his reputation without using dark, left-hand magic. As Tate is drawn into Hexe's fascinating world, they both find that the right hand does not always know what the left hand is doing-and avoiding darkness is no easy trick...

Review: 
I was intrigued by this book because I love New York City, I would move their in a heartbeat. And as a long time lover of all things urban fantasy the idea that a neighborhood devoted to all things that go bump in the night existing in Manhattan was just too good to pass up. First a foremost I have to say that I was impressed by Collins' ability to create a really nice picture in terms of describing Golgotham. In many ways Golgotham was a full on character within the book. In a lot of books I read the city a character lives in takes a back seat to the action and people within the story, so it was refreshing to see such a vivid telling of Manhattan.

As characters go, I really did enjoy Tate. I liked her artist nature, and one again Collins does a great job at bringing her sculpture to life with words alone. Tate comes from a rather high and mighty family, and she really is breaking all the so called rules by moving into Golgotham when she is nothing but a regular old human. Following along with her first couple of days in the new neighborhood is funny, scary, and sometimes totally out there.

Hexe is the sorcerer version of Tate, he comes from a high and mighty magical family, but like Tate he goes against the grain by only practicing right hand magic. I'm sure in future books Collins will showcase Hexe and his magical abilities more than she did in this book, but there were some funny moments when Hexe was being hired to "un-do" some pretty hilarious hexes.

The wide scope of creatures that live in Golgotham is fun to experience. And like all cultures there is most definitely an underground culture here. And that underground comes into play in a big way in this book. And I expect to see it continue with future books.

I do have one bone to pick with this book though. The writing was good, the characters were good, but it took a little too long for my taste for the plot to really get into full swing. In some ways I feel like this first book in the series is just one big giant set up to whatever comes next, but I do wish there was more action earlier in the book.

Other than that I would say the book was very enjoyable. I read it rather quickly, which I think is a testament to Collins' good writing skills. I will definitely be buying the second book in her series, because like I said earlier I felt like this book was just a big set up for the series, and what happens next is going to be a fun ride that I want to know about.

   

Frost Burned by Patricia Briggs

Synopsis:

Mercy Thompson's life has undergone a seismic change. Becoming the mate of Adam Hauptman--the charismatic Alpha of the local werewolf pack--has made her a stepmother to his daughter Jesse, a relationship that brings moments of blissful normalcy to Mercy's life. But on the edges of humanity, what passes for a minor mishap on an ordinary day can turn into so much more. 

After an accident in bumper-to-bumper traffic, Mercy and Jesse can't reach Adam--or anyone else in the pack for that matter. They've all been abducted. 

Through their mating bond, all Mercy knows is that Adam is angry and in pain. With the werewolves fighting a political battle to gain acceptance from the public, Mercy fears Adam's disappearance may be related--and that he and the pack are in serious danger. Outclasses and on her own, Mercy may be forced to seek assistance from any ally she can get, no matter how unlikely. 

Review:

I am a huge fan of Patricia Briggs, I love her writing style and I love the way the characters have evolved over the years. To say I am a big fan of Mercy would be an understatement. I have to admit I was a little worried about how this next book was going to go, the last one wasn't my favorite, and less face it the longer a series goes on the harder it is to keep the characters interesting and exciting while still keeping the things we love about the characters in tact. I have to say that I did enjoy Frost Burned a lot more than I was expecting. 

The action in this book starts from page one and then just when you think it's all over and you have everything figured out, it turns out there was so much more going on behind the scenes and the action continues on. Briggs has always done a great job with fight scenes and building up suspense that keep the reader wanting to turn the page. She brought those skills to his book definitely. 

As for the characters, she brought back a lot of my favorites. You have Stefan finally acting a little like himself. Wulfe makes an appearance, and let's face it, he's just as creepy as he has ever been. Jesse and Mercy definitely are starting to have a stepmother/daughter relationship, which is fun to watch. I loved that Ben was back on the scene, he's such a great departure from the standard werewolf. And even better Briggs brought The Moor over from Bran's pack, and I really love him in this. Oh and Tad and Zee make an appearance, which always makes me smile, what's a Mercy Thompson book without a little fae in your life? 

On the down side, the book has a couple of things I wish were a little different. But primarily I thought that there was not enough time between Mercy and Adam, or Mercy and the pack. It was action all the time, and for most of it Mercy was separated from the pack, so you don't really get to see the relationships between the characters evolve. Also if you don't have a great memory of the books you have read in the past, you may have a hard time recollecting all the character dynamics because Briggs doesn't waste a lot of time rehashing the past, nor does she introduce new characters. 

One thing I have to mention, because I really enjoyed it, was Adam got a couple of chapters to himself. Briggs through in a couple of Adam's POV, and it's in those chapters that you really get to see how much Mercy and Adam really love each other. I really appreciated those pages. 

Long story short, I always recommend picking up a book by Briggs, she is awesome. And this is a pretty good book, not my favorite of the seven, but definitely worthy of Mercy Thompson. I look forward to what comes next for Mercy. 

Identity Theft by John Abramowitz

Synopsis: 

A man walks into the Texas Capitol. Shots ring out. A young aide lies dead. The killer's excuse? He was under a spell. 

Sounds like a job for Hunter Gamble, right?

Wrong. After his disastrous "victory" in the trial of Samuel Pollard, Hunter has turned his back on defending oppressed vampires, mages, and zombies. Having accepted a position at his father's giant litigation firm, he's trying the glamorous cases, working in a corner office, and making a six-figure salary--and hating every minute of it. 

As Hunter plots his exit strategy, he finds himself inexorably drawn to the case of the Capitol shooter, who is an old friend from law school. As he works to clear his friend, Hunter discovers that there is much more at stake in this case than whether one man was under a spell. Before long, he finds himself pulled into a magical conspiracy dating back to before the Unveiling--and with a singularly cold-blooded wizard at its heart. 

The clock is ticking. The search for answers is on.

Review:

First off I want to say I read and reviewed John Abramowitz's first book, which was a really fun and exciting read for me. There is something about Abramowitz's style that makes reading a book an adventure, he really pulls you into the world he creates, so I was really looking forward to reading his second book. 

Identity Theft did not disappoint me in the least. I think part of the reason I found this book so enjoyable was that Hunter is really a complex character. He didn't just take a character exactly like the one from the first book and throw him into a new situation. He really gave Hunter some depth, Hunter had some really hard things to deal with, and ended up taking a different course and going to work with his father. I think this actually ended up adding a lot of dimension into Hunter as a character. 

Hunter finding his way back to the himself, and the defense of Arcane's is really an evolution of a character and enjoyable to read. I always appreciated Abramowitz's ability to bring really realistic legal elements into the story, he does it seamlessly. 

As a second book, I feel like this book definitely is a good follow up, although it was lacking some of the punch that the first book had. But it was a great read, really fun for me to read, and really enjoyed getting to know Hunter all over again. It's really hard for me to review books like this because I want to tell you guys so much about what happens in the book, but I would totally run the excitement of finding it out on your own. What I can say is that you won't regret reading this book, it really is a good read. I would recommend that you read Abramowitz's first book first though, I think you get a lot more information on Hunter that makes the second book all the more enjoyable. 

  

All That Bleeds by Kimberly Frost

Synopsis: 
As the last heiress of the House of North, Alissa knows that striking up a secret friendship with a half-vampire enforcer is dangerous, but Merrick is a temptation she can't resist. But when Alissa is kidnapped, Merrick proves that he will do anything to protect the woman who tempts him with her very existence.

Review: 
I have never read a Kimberly Frost book, although I must admit I am pretty sure I have heard her name float around in genre circles, so when I got a copy of her book, I was pretty excited to read it. I had no idea what the book was about, and the cover really didn't tell me much, but when I read the back, I was excited to see Muses were a part of the story.

I think the part about this book that I enjoyed the most was that it felt really fresh. I, like many other urban fantasy readers, have read a lot of books that have to do with vampires, and sometimes it can feel like vampires are getting a little tired. But this book never made me feel like that. The whole book felt fresh and unique, and made me want to keep reading the book. I seriously read most of the book in one sitting, that's right I pull another read until 3a.m. night.

The dynamic between Alissa and Merrick is really great. They have this great pull towards each other but at the same time they both live these vastly different lives. Alissa is being pulled into doing her duty and knows she could never realistically have a relationship with Merrick. While Merrick has to deal with the threat of death everyday, but a relationship with Alissa could certainly up the percentages of bodily harm coming to him. Even with all of that though, they still maintain their secret correspondence to each other, which is really cute to read about, it makes you pull for them.

Alissa is the one I feel the most for, she does not have it easy by any means. As a child she lost one of her parents in a horrible way, and the result of that was her one remaining parent lost his mind. Now Alissa is the parent, as well as being the main bread winner for her community. On top of all that it doesn't seem like she has anyone to really be her friend, and some people out right hate her and want to bring her downfall. With recent events she really can't even trust the people she thought she could. As a reader I was pulling for her the whole time to get the happy ended she deserved, she really is a good person and great character.

Merrick I love just as much as Alissa but for totally different reasons. He lives by his own code, and he does some seriously bad things, but you can't help but love him. It's weird. One minute he's torturing someone for information and then minute you realize, hey I still like this guy. He is a killer in every sense of the word, but yet, I felt like I understood him and thought he was great. Also another thing I loved about him was he was not stiffling of Alissa. I hate when you have a girl who is "protected" by a boy and he goes all "me man, you woman," caveman on them, and this was so not the case with Merrick. Merrick protects Alissa, a lot of the time from a distance without her even knowing it, and when she knows he's protecting her, he totally lets her do whatever she wants, he works around her wants and needs. It's really sweet actually.

Long story short, I love this book. I will be picking up more books by Frost, because if her other books are half as good as this one is then I want to read them. Great romance, great action, and fantastic read. I recommend it to all.

    

Soul Avenged Review

Synopsis: 
Passion is blind in vengeance an love... Ayden's surburban home was invaded by a pack of Lycans. The brutal attack is the only memory she carries of her former life. Now, one motive burns in her soul: KILL THEM ALL.

The Sons of Wrath--a brood of vengeance-dealing warrior demons--band with Ayden to hunt the Lycans on Detroit's most deadly feeding grounds. Kane Walker should've been her easiest kill. Unfortunately, the newly bitten Lycan has something she wants--clues that many finally lay her past to rest. To reach them, she must be willing to submit to the sensual pleasures awakened by his touch.

Time is running out. In seven days, Kane will become what Ayden despises most. She can halt his transformation but the antidote requires the ultimate sacrifice. As the beast takes hold, Kane becomes more of a threat. Ayden must choose between her lust for revenge, or surrender to her enemy and discover a horrible truth.

Review:
First off I want to say I really enjoyed the world that Keri developed for this book. It was really fun to go along for the ride with her cast of characters. One of things I think I appreciate the most though, was that a book about Lycans was not just a book with only Lycans. I love paranormal/urban fantasy books that don't limit themselves to just one type of supernatural. It's always so much more fun for me as a reader to see more than just one kind of supernatural, and I think it makes the world they all live in all the more complex and exciting.

Another thing I really like about this book is that there are multiple POVs in the book. I think multiple POVs can either be great or go horribly wrong. Keri did a great job with it though, it let me build great connections to the characters in her book, all the while it didn't leave me confused about who was talking or too overloaded with random information. It was really nice and refreshing to see it done so well.

Okay so now for the main characters, Ayden is a pretty strong chick. I love a strong butt kicking chick who doesn't spend her entire life moaning and whining over a guy, and Ayden totally fits that bill. I think another thing that makes her a great character is that she has a mission that is understandable to the reader. You can really understand from the beginning why she is the way she is, and it makes her story so much better, and as a reader it is so easy to form a connection with her. As for Kane, well you can't really help but like him. He has found himself in well not the best of situations, so that alone makes it easy to feel for him. And I think it also helps that Ayden and Kane together make this great combination that really makes the two of them pop off the page when they are together.

Keri also has a great cast of secondary characters, and I could tell you all about each and every one of them, but for me I think the secondary characters add this great dimension to the book and I don't want to ruin them for you. Overall I have to say it was a really enjoyable read, and a pretty solid foundation for the series. You can tell with this first book that this series is going to just get better as it goes along, so check it out!

For more information on the author Keri Lake, check out Keri's website www.kerilake.com

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To read an excerpt click below!

CHAPTER ONE

Ice water.

The frigid sensation sliced through Ayden’s veins, leaving a numb trail in its wake as she stepped through the remains of the abandoned factory—one of many havens for the crack addicts and prostitutes. The old Packard Plant had become no more than a ghostly haunt for tormented souls.

Shitholes were cropping up everywhere, much more rapidly than ever before. Detroit, once a thriving city, brought to ruins. Gray and lifeless like the suffocating overcast that loomed during daylight.

A vile stench assaulted her nose, a potent blend of piss, sex and rotted meat, as garbage crunched beneath her boots. Foundation had collapsed all around where she stood, crumbled as if the building would fold into the depths of hell.

The graffiti spattering the walls gave the impression that gangs were the real threat—‘We don’t die, we multiply.’

Right. Like gangs own any part of this city, anymore.

A Beretta, loaded with silver bullets and a silver parrying dagger rested at one of Ayden’s hips, a silver bullwhip at another, as she moved past comatose bodies and decaying corpses.

Feeding grounds, like a bait pile.

Deadened eyes slowly tracked her movement in the darkness, squinting, as though craving the light that hers didn’t need to see. Humans so strung out on drugs, they failed to recognize the half-eaten carrion were once their own kind.

Not that knowing would stop them. They’d apparently chosen to face danger rather than kick their addiction, roaming the streets every night in search of their next high.

Lambs.

They were already dead. Death just hadn’t come to collect yet.

The blissful sigh of a hopped-up junkie reached her ears. She snarled her lip. “Enjoy it while it lasts, asshole.”

It’d be one thing if they were homeless. Hell, she might’ve fired a warning shot to evacuate.

The homeless didn’t come here, though.

Neither did the police—making it the perfect spot to get wasted and hustle some money.

Shots fired would’ve been nothing more than a momentary distraction before their minds slipped back into their ignorant state of euphoria.

Screw ‘em.

For any other girl, the place promised very bad things—an opportunity for a sadist to live out wild fantasies without ever getting caught.

For Ayden? Humans posed no threat. Their fragile bodies would shred like paper dolls against the work of her hands. Luckily for them, she sought something else to sate her thirst for bloodshed, something far more threatening than their most psychopathic criminal—and she’d tracked it right to the surrounding cornucopia of human flesh.

A thin, black mesh hoodie beneath her jacket concealed her face while the shiny black leather covering her body acted as a beacon in the moon’s light.

Full moon.

It didn’t matter.

Contrary to the fairytales and movies, they didn’t need a full moon to change.

Werewolves, some called them—like a supernatural Bigfoot on the loose. Nothing more than fodder for the tabloids, not to be taken seriously.

Lycans is how those ‘in the know’ referred to them.

The bastards could transform at will. In the middle of the day, if they wanted. Though, like a true predator, they’d evolved throughout the centuries, eluding humans by hunting them at night, catching their prey in their most vulnerable state.

Ayden reached a door in a darkened corner. The stubborn panel held stiff against the push of her palm, giving way only beneath one heave backed by exceptional strength. Beyond, a spiral of stairs wound above and below. Visuals flashed through her mind as she imagined the stairwell bustling with men in suits who passed each other with carefree visages—every one of them ghosts that roamed the destruction.

A quick scan showed no movement.

She tipped her head back and inhaled the repugnant scent the beasts had left behind.

They’re close.

Her feet took light steps, hardly making a sound against the concrete as she descended further into the pit of hell otherwise known as the lycan’s lair.

With each step, she wished her heart would pound wildly in her chest, or that her pulse rate would surge—both human reactions to fear. Neither of them did.

What fragments of her human soul remained had been stripped bare the night the Alexi made her one of their own. Even that, as tortuous as the unrelenting pain that seared through her body while it underwent its transformation, was a memory she could hardly summon anymore. Only a silent blackness dwelled in the place where snapshots of her life would have roamed free, a void that she couldn’t see beyond, separating her present from past.

She’d become one of them: an Alexi soldier. A cold and remorseless killer designed to eradicate in one sweep.

A noise piqued her sensitive ears.

Two flights below.

It could’ve been the skittering feet of a mouse beating against her skull like a base drum.

The thirst for blood moved like a dark storm cloud through her veins, a mix of raw adrenaline and something else—the something that came with her transformation.

Destroy.

Her feet moved on impulse, carrying her closer to whatever it was, rendering it nothing more than a thread-width away from its death.  

In the corner of a landing, he sat hunched over on himself, body convulsing.

A grin skated across her face as she approached her first kill of the night.

Bruthas by J.L. Whitehead

Synopsis:

What would you do if you were indirectly responsible for the deaths of several women in your neighborhood? What is a psychopath used your neighborhood as his stalking ground? This is the story of three brothers: Jair, the successful attorney in one of Philadelphia's top law firms, Ryan, the IT professional that is struggling with his sexual identity, and Nate, the dealer that has risen to one of the highest ranks in drug distribution ring based in a North Philadelphia neighborhood known as The Block. A series of murders takes place in The Block, and nothing is being done about it because the women that are being killed are addicted to the product that Nate sells. 

Review:

This is a book that really revolves around family and the choices that people make. This review was requested by the author, and to be completely honest this is not a book that I would normally read. It's not that book isn't interesting or doesn't have decent plot lines, because it does, it just wasn't my cup of tea. 

One of the biggest problems I had with this book was the amount of people in the book to keep track of. While I appreciate a wide variety of characters, let's face it every book needs a variety of characters, this one just had to many to not only keep track of but to bond with. I felt like i didn't have enough time or in-depth insight into the characters in order for me to really have a strong investment in them. 

One thing that was pretty good about this book though was the pacing. One of my biggest problems with books is when they feel like they are dragging on and and I just can't get into the storyline. Thankfully this book did not suffer from that affliction. The pacing was pretty fast paced, even from the beginning, and it's possible that it felt fast pace because there were so many characters and things going on with those characters, but I think it works for the reader in that it keeps them interested in the book. 

I wanted to mention that the author did a pretty good job with keeping the book as close to reality as possible. There is no sensationalized drug culture or making it out to be this amazing experience, it is shown for what it really is, a dog eat dog world. There were a couple of issue with some formatting things, but they aren't big or annoying, and I don't think it detracts from the story at all. 

Like I said earlier this book is not really my cup of tea, so I am going to give it a good rating because all the right components are there and I think the book can easily find an audience that will enjoy the book. The one thing that did bother me is that the book really didn't have an ending. It is a two part book, but even with books in a series or a trilogy or what have you, they need a good ending point where the reader can be satisfied until the next book comes out. I felt like this book just kind of ended. If you are looking for a book about family and all the elements that go along with that, in an urban setting, I think this would be a book you would enjoy. 

   

Seven Point Eight: The Second Chronicle by Marie Harbon

Synopsis:
In the second installment of the five part Seven Point Eight series, the legacy of the OOBE project weighs heavily on the conscience of Dr. Paul Eldridge. Tahra Mamoun needs to muster all her courage and venture back into the alternative dimensions of reality. Through a series of challenging, surreal, and frightening experiences, she comes to comprehend the destructive power she can yield and must face her own demons in the process.

Paul continues his quest to understand the ancient knowledge of the cosmos, while dark forces seek to hijack his research to further a secret agenda. With their lives in jeopardy, Paul and Tahra confront their enemies against an international backdrop featuring the pyramids of Giza and the peaks of Switzerland.

Meanwhile, Sam and Ava endeavor to uncover their past, even though it make irrevocably change their lives.

In a tale of courage and tragedy, love and betrayal, their lives are interwoven around the demons of one man, Max Richardson, who'll stop at nothing to achieve his objectives.

Review:
I'm going to start by saying that while I am a huge fan of sci-fi television shows, I am not a huge fan of sci-fi books. I often times feel like sci-fi books writing does not translate into transporting the reader into another world like tv shows transport the viewer, and oftentimes the books are a little to dry for my taste. I have to say that Marie Harbon's writing style is great for sci-fi books. If more sci-fi writers wrote like she does, I think I would like the genre a lot more.

Harbon does a fantastic job with her cast of characters. There is a huge cast in this book, and she has a remarkable ability to bring them all to life. She weaves each person's story into a great ensemble tale that is both easy to follow, and even easier to find yourself enthralled by. I could probably go on and on about each one of the characters in the book, because they all elicit very strong emotional responses. I had a very strong emotional attachment to both Paul and Tahra, and when Tahra goes through some seriously hard things later in the book, my heart broke for her. Max, is so very much the "bad guy" in the book, he so clearly has an agenda, and you oftentimes find yourself wondering is he even human, he seems to have no feelings or is so narcissistic that he can't see the truth right in front of his face. Even with all his bad deeds, there were a few moments here and there where I came close to feeling bad for him, Harbon managed to make me feel for the guy who I hated through much of the novel. And Sam and Ava, let's just say that if you don't feel for them at the end of the novel then you are missing your emotion chip.

In addition to bringing the characters to life, Harbon is great at bringing the dimensions to life as well. She writes settings so well, which is even more of an accomplishment in this book because the settings vary so much from one to another. Not only does she take us around the world, but she takes us out of this world. And no matter what setting she is describing I was able to paint a picture in my head of what exactly it looked like. There is one dimension I wish she hadn't been so good at painting, because it was so terrible a place, but it really does make the difference in bringing the book to life.

This book is anything but dry and boring, in fact it's a roller coaster you which you could ride over and over and over again, by the end of the book, when you get to the last page, you will be wishing the next chronicle would hurry up and be published. Anyone who likes sci-fi is going to love this book, but I think Harbon's writing brings sci-fi to a fantastic new level, where any reader could pick up this book and find something in it for them, the characters and their relationships are so vivid that they would draw anyone in. And if you are looking for something with a love story in it, then you will find that in this book as well. If you haven't read Harbon's books yet, I recommend that you do, they are great reads!