Merry Christmas!

Hope everyone has a wonderful Christmas! Merry Christmas!

Review--Dead and Kicking

Sadie Novak cleans up crime scenes for a living, and often finds herself face to face with the dead. Blessed--or cursed--with the gift of second sight, she can't seem to finish a job without being visited by an earthbound spirit.

Sadie's going through a rough time. When her dad passes away, she's left to juggle her widowed mother, her lying boyfriend, Zack, her struggling business--and the fact that her father's spirit is reluctant to move on. Now, on top of all that, Zack's former flame hires Sadie to dig out the home of her hoarder mother...and that's when things get messy.

Sadie finds some unexpected things in the cluttered house--including the seventeen-year-old mummified remains of an infant, along with a very angry ghost who seems determined to keep Sadie away. Then, aided by a team of her fellow psychics, she unearths something even more terrifying: a host of secrets that someone will kill to keep buried.

Another book down! Only 7 to go on my TBR list and 3 are supposed to be gifts that I hope I get on Friday and another I still have to wait for it to be released. I'm making good timing and it's only been 2 weeks of break with 2 more weeks to go. Although some of my other obligations for my break have been slacking.

On to the review. I just discovered the Ghost Duster Mystery series last year when I asked for the books for Christmas then and it has been a long wait to read this next installment which did not disappoint! The sneak peek that was in the back of Devil May Ride was pretty much the beginning with some minor add-ons. Sadly no sneak peek in Dead and Kicking. Oh well. Whenever I come across the info I'll post it in my 2010 reading list.

Anyway the plot was very engaging and well paced. There were a string of subplots and some of them tied into the main storyline and others did not, but they were still entertaining. Sadie has a very interesting job working as a trauma scene cleaner and being able to see the victims of those who had died, as long as it wasn't a suicide case.

As the BOC describes Sadie is having a rough time and I could really feel sympathetic for this character despite it being fictional, I tend to get wrapped up in these books, or any of my books that I enjoy reading. Right of the bat, Sadie is beginning to have relationship troubles with Zack and the problems run deep when she follows him on the sly to an ex-girlfriend's house, that is when the trouble really begins for Sadie and Zack take on a job at the ex-girlfriend's mother's house who is a hoarder. There are piles and boxes of junk and other items in the house, including, as the BOC says the remains of a mummified baby.

There are a string of deadly secrets in this book and everyone has one. Including the people Sadie loves most. Worst of all, while Sadie is trying to work the case she begins receiving death threats and she has not a clue as to who they are from or why.

I really didn't see the ending coming, like I said there are a string of secrets and Ms. Roberts does a wonderful job at writing the suspense and intrigue into her mystery series. I am personally not so great at the mystery writing, best to leave that to the professionals like Roberts and I'll stick to vampires and werewolves. ;)

Roberts' writing is very good--it sounds simple, but I find myself at a loss for better words. Roberts does not write in overly confusing ways like we see from traditional and older mysteries. Since I just took a Detective Fiction class this fall, I read a lot of mysteries and sometimes they were hard to follow because the language was different. Think older mysteries, like Sherlock Holmes and a string of others. So reading Roberts' mysteries was a nice refresh from the congested 19-20th century writing. Please note that I am not bashing this earlier writing style, I just do not prefer it all the time, I do occasionally find a story or novel that I like, but it's hard going, although I will admit I did read a few stories that were quite interesting and they were from the earlier time period.

The Ghost Dusters Mystery series is one that should not be passed over. There is always a nice central focused mystery, with some ghosts thrown into the mix and they are not all Casper-like. Plus there is intrigue and bits of romance thrown here and there from different people.

Sadie is a fully developed character and real, you can really feel her pain and emotions when it came to her wondering of Zack's faithfulness, because as it turns out he was hiding more than one secret from her....

Oh yeah, this was a really GREAT read!

I hope everyone has a safe and happy holiday. I am likely to return Christmas day just to say 'hi", but my next review won't likely be up until next week sometime. Hopefully early.

Review--Flesh Circus

THE CIRQUE DU CHARNU HAS COME TO TOWN...

When circus performers start dying grotesquely, Jill Kismet has to find out why, or the entire city will become a carnival of horror. She also has to play the resident hellbreed power against the Crique to keep them in line, and find out why ordinary people are needing exorcisms. And then there's the murdered voodoo practitioners, and the zombies.

Jill Kismet is about to find out that some games are played for keeps...

Just finished the latest Jill Kismet book, Flesh Circus, and was mildly entertained. I have to say when it comes to Saintcrow's adult writing I get a little confused with some of her vocabulary and after four books into the series you would think I could remember what these words are without the use of the glossary, but I'm not.

Other than being confused with her particular vocab, I still find myself enjoying the book. There is always so much going on that there is never a dull moment.

Jill's interactions with the other characters are very interesting, especially Saul. Saul returns this time after visiting with his family from the last book and comes back somewhat different. Even Jill notices that change in the way he holds himself. It seems there is a distance growing between them. Which Saintcrow writes very well. Of course, I thought some of the things a little obvious when it came to their arguments. Which may sound confusing, but I don't want to spoil things, so I once again turn to be being vague.

The mystery elements were also good, if sometimes a bit confusing, again there are a string of names that I cannot recall and when she hates talking to character A, I cannot remember why, because it might have come up in the previous books which I have not read since their releases. Perhaps if I had read all these books in a row back to back, I would not be so confused at times. Of course I have been feel rather tired lately and sometimes found myself drifting off while reading.

Please note that the book did NOT put me to sleep, I really was tired. I have not been sleeping to good lately and it's supposed to be my winter break, go figure.

Overall the book was still very interesting and I am looking forward to the next one, Heaven's Spite. Overall I would give the book about a 4/5 just so it is clear that I did not hate the book, the vocabulary always throws me through a loop when I read Saintcrow's adult books, but I still enjoy them. :)

Contest Alert--with Rachel VIncent

OMG just checked my email this morning and saw Rachel Vincent's newsletter had arrived and she's holding a contest to win the first two books in her Soul Screamers series! I loved the first one, as you can see by my review here. Can't wait to read the second one. Rachel is going to give away a signed set and you have a chance to win them here.

Good luck and hurry, contest ends tomorrow at 11:59pm (Central).

Review--Betrayals (Strange Angel Spoilers)

No more little miss nice girl.

The Real World is a frightening place. Just ask sixteen-year-old orphan Dru Anderson, a tough girl who has taken on her fair share of bad guys. She's armed, dangerous, and not going down without a fight. So it's gonna take her a while to figure out who she can trust...

Poor Dru. Her parents are long gone. Her best (okay, only) friend Graves has been bitten by a werewulf. And she just learned that the blood flowing through her veins isn't entirely human. Now Dru's strange and handsome savior, Christophe, has her hidden away at a secret Schola for djamphir and wulfen teens. Trouble is, she's the only girl in the place. The really bad news? Dru's killer instinct says that one of her schoolmates wants her dead.

With all eyes on her, discovering a traitor within the Order could mean lot more that social suicide...

Just finished Lili St. Crow's latest in her debut YA series that released just earlier this year. I adored this book just as much as the first. There is just so much action going on, so many secrets about Dru's family that she never knew, that it really keeps my interest. I forget at times that Dru is sixteen because she is dealing with so many difficulties that even an adult would feel like giving up, but Dru never gives up.

Plus there is a lot of tension between her and these two guys, her only friend Graves, whom she met in Strange Angels is her constant companion through her travels since the death of her father. She has come to lean heavily against him, needing to know that she is not alone. But of course then there is Christophe, a guy with a whole string of secrets, many that she learns in this book. One that possibly connects him to her mother.

I find myself at an impasse as to who I would like to see Dru be with, Graves is great because he is always there, but Christophe has the whole mysterious thing going on, and you can tell that he cares for Dru even though he just met her in Strange Angels. Unless that itself might have been a lie.....that is in no way a spoiler! I am merely speculating!

Anyway the title, Betrayals definitely fits the bill for this book because there is a traitor in the midst. There are so many suspects that I couldn't even come to a conclusion. I had one guess, but the events made me retract it. There is still one other person I thought might be it, but even now I wonder.

Much like in Strange Angels the ending leaves you desperately craving for more and there is even more left unsaid, just as we saw in the first book. So many secrets get built up and not all of them are settled. We have some characters returning from Strange Angels and a string of new ones. All of which are well rounded and colorful.

As was said on the BOC Dru is put into a school of all boys and something doesn't feel right about that, because since she learned of her mother's heritage and of her own, she should be training, not taking remedial classes. There is definitely something inkling going on at the school and Graves is so happy being surrounded by more of his kind. Dru just doesn't know what to do or who to trust.

Betrayals was very exciting since there is a traitor among Dru and her cohorts. The fact that the book ends with another massive cliffhanger is going to make the wait for Jealousy in July next year that much longer. I guess I should be somewhat happy that I read this book a month later, because now my wait is just one month shorter.

St. Crow writes in a very different way as a YA author compared to her adult books. Her adult books have the futuristic quality to them in some ways, and yet her YA books have more of the current setting and time to them. Neither is a bad thing, I like the change and I like her first form of writing--I just want to acknowledge their differences.

Very much looking forward to Jealousy on July 29!

Next up is Lili's adult book Flesh Circus!

Review--Magic in the Shadows

"Using magic wasn't as easy as the actors made it look in the movies. Every time you use magic, it uses you back. Sure, you could magic yourself a photographic memory for the big test, for that big interview, for that big stock market job. And all it cost you was a nice case of liver failure. Or the memory of your lover's name."

Magic is Allison Beckstrom's blessing and curse. As a Hound, she uses her gifts to track down practitioners who abuse their power, and then stops them from inflicting harm on unsuspecting innocents. Unfortunately her spells have taken a toll on her, physically marking her and erasing her memories--including those of the man she supposedly loves.

But lost memories aren't the only things preying on Allie's thoughts. Her late father, the prominent businessman--and sorcerer--Daniel Beckstrom, has somehow channeled himself into her mind. With the help of the Authority, a secret organization of magic users, she hopes to gain control over her own abilities--and find a way to deal with her father...

I actually surprised myself by finishing Devon Monk's latest Magic in the Shadows, in the Magic series, at least that's what I think the series' title is. Of course my reading will be slow going from here on out, for I have to work tomorrow and I have a busy weekend ahead of me and then I'm back to working more hours at my pt job. But I will still be reading when I can and veging out for the next 3 weeks of my break, watching movies, hanging with family and friends...

Okay onto the review. This was a stunning novel! I read Magic in the Blood awhile back this year, so my memory is a little fuzzy on the details, but some of the events were recapped in this book. Much like Allie's problems. As we found out in Magic in the Blood Allie was suffering some memory loss which is still a bit of a problem in Magic in the Shadows, but she is getting better at it. She may never regain some of the memories she lost, but she can definitely make new ones with Zayvion Jones, the man she supposedly loves. Even with her memory fuzziness she cannot deny that their is definite heat between them. But Zay is taking things slow with her, much to her disappointment.

Allie's love problems are not the only thing that trouble her. Her dead father has taken some sort of residence inside her head and it seems when moments are really tense and Allie's fear begins to override her, her father can take over and even speak through her. That definitely presents problems when she speaks to his late wife, Violet.

There is still the problem of having monster-like creatures somehow getting into her city and it's up to Allie and the rest of the magic users to try to put an end to them before humans begin to notice things they should not.

Throw in several surprises, such as an ex, a young man who dresses like a Goth, something else and Allie is beginning to wish she could take a vacation--at least that is my guess, she never says anything of the kind. But if I were here, I would definitely need a vacation, one with Zayvion too!

Monk writes extremely well. You don't get lost at all when reading about this world that is in fact our own, just a hidden part where magic occurs and exists. There is no complication in the language even when it comes to the magic bit, which can be difficult to write so the reader can understand.

I love this series, it's very enjoyable. Allie is sassy and says whatever she is thinking, like most characters I tend to like, even if what she is thinking isn't meant to be said in public.

With a stream of well-rounded characters and an incredible setting and a fan-tab-u-lous action filled, gripping plot, this book has everything! This is a must read for the urban fantasy fan, for it fits the bill wonderfully. An urban setting in the city in the northwest and deals with magic users, what more could you want??

Look for Magic on the Storm coming May 4 2010!

Review--Bite Marks

Jaz Parks here. But I'm not alone. I'm hearing voices in my head--and they're not mine. The problem, or maybe the solution, is work. And the job's a stinker this time--killing gnomes that are threatening to topple NASA'a Australian-based space complex. Yeah, I know. Vayl and I should still be able to kick this one in our sleep. Except that Hell has thrown up a demon named Kyphas to knock us offtrack. And damn is she indestructible!

Another book done! Yup this birthday girl spent her morning reading a book! I mean what else would a bibliophile do? ;)

The latest in the Jaz Park series was thrilling as are all Jennifer Rardin's books. They are so adventurous, you get to travel to so many different places and never have to leave home! Yeah, yeah, it sounds cliche, but it is true.

This time Jaz and her crew went to Australia to stop gnomes, and not the garden variety kind, from causing massive destruction. But as always, that is only the tip of the iceberg. There are many surprises in this book that will leave you gasping and not all of them are friendly. Jaz is hearing voices in her head, and not the usual kind, one in particular is an unwanted voice that has somehow gotten inside of her mind. No matter how hard she tries she cannot seem to get rid of it while it rides passenger inside of her, but it is fighting for total control of her as well. This makes things difficult for her and her team because they cannot be sure when to trust her. Although, that is not as major as a problem as I am making it seem, but it does come across Jaz's thoughts.

Plus Cassandra has a major problem that could cost her her very life and Jaz must do what she can to protect the woman who is like a sister to her. Cassandra has revealing news that she has been keeping secret, two secrets in fact. Both which are shocking...not necessarily in a good way for both.

Jaz is finally getting use to being in a fully committed relationship with Vayl, but the voice in her head is trying to mess it up which presents minor problems in their budding relationship. She also still has the problem of getting Cole to fall out of love with her, even though he says he's working on it, she doesn't know if he is trying really hard.

There are quite a few surprises as I said in this book, but I don't want to divulge into too many. One involves Cole and I cannot figure out if it is really real! Ah! So annoying. But not all surprises are good as a nasty one hits Jaz towards the end of the novel that sends her world off course.

Rardin does excellent research! In every book the crew goes somewhere foreign and Rardin writes about these places wonderfully through the use of her research. I met her once a few years ago, and I don't think she always gets to travel to these places, but I think that she has done some traveling. Although do not quote me on that for I really cannot remember. Either way she does a terrific job in making me think I was in Australia for this book. I just got back to the US today! Oh my, how corny I sound! Hey it's my birthday, give me break! ;)

I may not start another book until tomorrow, so you can except a review possibly Friday sometime before I have to go to work. Next up is Monk's Magic in the Shadows.

Bitten in Two is up next for the series, but I don't know the release date yet.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME!!

Review--Bound to Shadows

In the darkness, demons come out to play...and someone must bring their sins to light.

Part vampire, part werewolf, Riley Jenson knows what can happen when vamps don't play well with others. But she's never seen anything like this: a series of brutal murders surrounding the latest hot spot for the vampire-human hookups--and the victims aren't just killed, they're beheaded. Now Riley is launching into action, toying with a seductive--and highly suspicious--club owner, and finding herself in the middle of another mystery: women being killed one by one, without a trace of violence.

For RIley, solving multiple cases--in a world going mad with human and vampire passions--would have been tough enough. Instead she has two jealous lovers on her hands: Kye Murphy, the amber-eyed werewolf who makes Riley's wolf howl--and Quinn, the coll, elegant vamp who has over a thousand years' experience at fulfilling women's desires. While she's busy juggling these two sexy beasts, Riley's detective work takes a stunningly violent turn. Finding a murderer is now a matter of life and death. Especially since the killer has long since found her...

Yup, I finished another book. I may not get to the next one as soon since I have to work today and tomorrow is my birthday so my next post may not be until Thursday, but I might have one up tomorrow.

This is the second to last book in the Riley Jenson series and it was really shocking! In Deadly Desire, Riley had just found her wolf soul-mate and he has returned as the BOC said. Riley tries her best to fight the attraction between them, as does Kye, but it proves useless. Neither of them can fight the heat between them. Kye wants to possess Riley, and not in a real loving way, so Riley isn't too pleased with him on that front. Her soul-mate suddenly appearing just as she was getting things to work with Quinn present a dire problem for her, but that is only the beginning of Riley's problems.

There are murders afoot. Both vampire and human women and they are somehow connected as Riley discovers. Aren't they always? To top it off Kye, the hired hitman is somehow involved as well. Again, how is that really surprising? While I may sound a little sarcastic, I am being completely honest and have absolutely zero sarcasm in my voice as I type. Keri Arthur ties these things together beautifully. The cases were entirely different in the beginning and around the middle they get tied together. Which is something that can be seen ahead of time, if you think to look for it and think of how writers work their subplots into the main plot, hence my reason for asking is this really surprising? ;)

Riley not only has 2 lovers to deal with but a club owner who is very seductive and has his sights set on Riley. You would think all this attention from so many men, including Kade, who still likes to flirt with her on the job, would be a werewolf's dream, but it really is not for Riley. She wants to be committed to Quinn, but Kye presents a major problem in this want.

Arthur's characters are all well-developed. Seeing them is amazing and how their interactions with one another and Riley are amazingly real. Sal and Riley's constant snaps at each other are quite amusing and we even get to see a different side to Sal in this book, if only for a slight moment.

Risa, Dia's daughter is definitely her mother's daughter as she is slowly beginning to obtain her powers. Which ties into the plot towards the end of the book, some facts that may or may not be spoiler worthy so I shall end on that note here.

There are at least 2 MAJOR events that occur in this book that I cannot divulge in for they are spoilers. One is big and surprising and the other is more shocking and I cannot wait to see how Riley is in the last book after the events of this one. The first one is just as shocking and major and it will be good to see this in the last book as well, but the second and most major one in my opinion occurs at the very end, so no skipping ahead if you want to be surprised. Then again the other event gets summed up in the last sentence of the book as well, but it is mentioned on a few occasions throughout the book as well.

I cannot believe Riley's books are almost over. I remember finding the first one just a few years ago when it was in hardback. I loved the idea of a hybrid creature, I'm a big fan of Underworld too. I can only hope that things end happily for Riley since she has had a rough time these eight books. Until next time readers.

Contest Alert

There is a contest over at Dark Faerie Tales to win an awesome Firespell package that includes an ARC of the book! Head on over today to enter!

Check back later today and I should I have my review of Bound to Shadows up! I'm a on a role and it's only been 1 day!

Review--Grave Secret

"While Tolliver slept, I wondered if it was possible that Cameron might still be alive...At first, I'd thought she'd been abducted by a gang, sold into slavery, something lurid and horrible. Then I'd wondered if maybe she's simply been fed up with her life: the tawdry parents and the tacky trailer, the sister who limped and looked abstracted, the baby sisters who never seem to stay clean. Most days, though I was sure she was dead."

Lightning-struck sleuth Harper Connelly and her stepbrother Tolliver take a break from looking for the dead to visit the two little girls they both think of as sisters. But, as always happens when travel to Texas, memories of their horrible childhood surface...

To make matters worse, Tolliver learns from his older brother that their father is out of jail and trying to reestablish contact with other family members. Tolliver wants nothing to do with the man--but he may not have a choice in the matter.

Soon, family secrets ensnare them both, as Harper finally discovers what happened to her missing sister, Cameron, so many years before.

And what she finds out will change her world forever...

I'm back! Winter break has started so for the next four weeks I will be catching up on my reading! Yea! Very excited.

I just finished what may be the last Harper Connelly book this morning and it was awesome! I was so blown away by all the events that happened. Not only does Harper get involved in another mystery that leaves many questions, but she finally discovers what happened to Cameron and I was blown away!

After all the years she was searching for her sister while traveling the country she never could find her and in the last 2 chapters all is revealed about what happened. There was a reason to why Cameron disappeared and it gets tied in to the current mystery wonderfully! I love how Charlaine Harris did this, it was the perfect tie-in!

I don't want to divulge too much as always because by saying one thing I lead to a spoiler on another. Needless to say a woman hires Harper because she is curious to the death of her grandfather who died awhile ago. But Harper ends up revealing more than just the death of the grandfather in the little cemetery that she was taken to and this is where the mysteries begin in some aspect. More is revealed about the family than they all realized.

Grave Secret is the perfect title for this book because there are lots of secrets to unravel and be revealed by the end. And it all was done very nicely. Harris writes her Harper Connelly series just as wonderfully as her Southern Vampire Novels aka the Sookie series to some, the inspiration behind True Blood. Still need to get that second season...

Harris really develops the relationship between Harper and Tolliver well. Every time they present themselves to others, they are always shocked to hear that they are stepbrother and sister being together as a couple. The shock and somewhat revulsion of these people is real. But really they are not blood related at all, so their relationship is not as horrid as others think.

I am sad to see this series end so shortly, but I knew it was coming from having met Charlaine a few years ago when she came close to my home. The series ends rather nicely, it has an air of finality about it, so you know that the story is done. Harper can finally rest easy now that she knows what happened to her sister.

Overall a terrific ending to a terrific series. It was all very engaging and entertaining with a few chuckles here and there and lots of tension with the characters interacting with one another. Especially the interactions with Matthew, the druggie dad who comes back to make amends, but even he has another agenda that ties back to the mystery that I cannot speak of that relates to the family that hired Harper.

Needless to say that there are a lot of things that I cannot talk about. But when Harper goes to grave of the grandfather to see how he died, she does the same for a nearby tombstone which is when the chaos explodes open and the past is revealed. Deception and secrets long kept are revealed and they lead Harper on a race across the city with several close calls to her life and the lives of those around her.

Contest Alert--at Fantastic Book Reviews

I borrowed the image from Fantastic Book Review to tell you about the contest that is over at Fantastic Book Review. It's a really easy and simple contest telling which books that were released in 2009 you would like to have. I believe it is referring to YA, because the prize will be to win those 3 YA books that you asked for.

Head on over to Fantastic Book Review for all the details. Contest ends on December 17 2009.

Two Weeks

I am sad to say that I won't have any reviews up any time soon. I am still reading Grave Sight, got 4 Chapters in, but now has come the time where I must put my books aside and start to study for finals. I only have 2 tests, but one requires a lot of studying--identifying art slides and all and the other is just a pain because the tests are really hard.

So suffice to say I won't be able to read my books for awhile. I am very sadden by this. Because I am a reader and I love my books. So I won't be able to read again until December 10. I will begin my reading then and hopefully the reviews will be flowing. Some books that are on my TBR list are going to be gifts so those will have to wait. I think I only asked for 3, so that can be done easily after Xmas.

So this is my goodbye for now. I will be reading by next week and should have a review up sometime at the beginning of the following week; December 14-ish.

Review--Friday Night Bites

Friday Night Bites
by Chloe Neill

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 humans like cattle and drink themselves silly. Most civilized vampires frown on this behavior--but that doesn't make good copy for a 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 liaison between humans and vampires...and to keep the more 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.

Another book down this week! Hotdog! Chloe Neill's Friday Night Bites was the sequel to her first debut of Some Girls Bite and it was not a letdown. It kept with the stream of things and no stone was left unturned that was touched from Some Girls Bite.

Merit is a newly made vampire and is still adjusting to the undead life and the perks--not all good. She is Sentinel for her vampire house, a protector of sorts. But being a vampire has not made Merit's life any easier, in fact it has become downright complicated. Not only does she have to fight a massive attractive to her Master and creator Ethan, but she is also a companion--you could say--of Morgan, the Master of the another house.

There is definite connections with Merit and each of these guys, I was personally Team Morgan on this one. Morgan is funny and laid back where Ethan is more of a by-the-rules kind of guy, but we get to see different sides of each man in this book as Merit's feelings are in massive conflict.

Not to mention that there are other more dire occurrences happening in Chicago. As the BOC described, vampires have gone public, but a set of Raves are happening under the radar and it's up to Merit and team to quietly solve the case so they don't become the monsters everyone thought they once were. But that's not all....

Merit's past comes back to haunt her, her life when she was still her father's daughter living in high society. Totally not Merit! A lot happens...I don't want to get too far into it since the BOC doesn't highlight it much, but leave it at that. There are troubles with Merit's love life as mentioned already. And a lot more is revealed about the night side of Chicago!

Loved it! This was a fabulous book, it was well paced and kept me entertained a lot. We get to see the same characters, Catcher, Mallory, Jeff and more....It was a terrific follow up to Some Girls Bite and I cannot wait for Twice Bitten next year.

Neill is a new author, who recently came into the urban fantasy world earlier this year. Her vampires are definite faves, plus they live in Chicago--where I visited once. Totally awesome, I know of the major locations that get dropped into the story. Neill has done her research well for Chicago highlights.

Merit is a relate-able character, she is quirky and sassy and has a "nice" attitude. She would be like someone I would be friends with. Or even close to myself, saying things you probably shouldn't at the wrong moments. Stuff like that. She is not without flaws, as humans are...or even vampires. Because she is the not the optimum suave vampire she is lovable! She doesn't follow the rules, she tries to, she may mock them a bit even.

Anyway for those of you vampire fans who have not started the Chicagoland Vampire Series, it is a must. For these are vampires that don't follow the traditional rules, some of them maybe. Then again, vampires are changing everywhere.

A highly recommend read! The series is just starting and it's not to late to catch up. Neill also has a new YA series that starts next year as well. Look for Firespell coming in January.

Here's the link to the interview I did with Chloe back in September. Enjoy!
http://jessica-agreatread.blogspot.com/2009/09/interview-with-chloe-neill.html

TURKEY DAY!

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

Wishing everyone a safe and happy holiday! Don't eat too much! ;)
(I should try to take my own advice!)

Review--Dawnbreaker

THE DAWN BRINGS NEW TERROR FOR THE CREATURES OF THE NIGHT...

Those of her race fear Mira for the lethal fire she bends to her will--a power unique among nightwalkers, both a gift...and a curse.

The naturi despise Mira for what she is--as they prepare the final sacrifice that will destroy the barriers between the worlds. And once the naturi are unchained, blood, chaos and horror will reign supreme on Earth.

Mira can trust only Danaus, the more-than-mortal vampire slayer, though he is sworn to destroy her kind. And now, as the day approaches when titanic forces will duel under cover of darkness, destiny draws them toward an apocalyptic confrontation at Machu Picchu. But all is not lost, for a wild card has been dealt to them: a rogue enemy princess who can change the balance of power and turn the dread tide.

YEA! Another book read! With the Thanksgiving Holiday started I was able to breeze through this book, but as my work schedule is not pretty and there is a holiday this week I might not get another post up too soon. I hope to at least read 1 more book this week. We'll see.

Anywho, here goes. Dawnbreaker was very entertaining! I was held in awe and excitement as I was nearing the end when the action was really becoming intense. Throughout the action was drawing you in to the events and making connections, but it wasn't until the near end when things were finally coming together and the major action took place.

There are battles and casualties in this novel as the back of the cover (BOC) can provide. Mira has two new allies with her and Danaus, one she is reluctant to trust and one she feels she cannot trust, the rogue princess as mentioned on the BOC. Mira plans to use this princess as bait to stop Rowe from releasing Aurora, but when do things ever go the way the protagonist plans? That's why we have series!

Mira is still the same vampire character that I like. She has all the qualities of a female urban fantasy protagonist. She and Danaus have a great connection that has yet to take a romantic edge. There is definite tension between them and because he is the lead male, I still believe their relationship will turn a little more romantic one of these days, but that has yet to be seen.

Drake writes about a somewhat dark world, hence the Dark Days series, where vampires, lycans, and the naturi all battle against one another. Tensions run high with Mira and who were once her lycan allies. For the naturi have the ability to call upon the lycans and control them if they choose to.

Drake's writing takes the reader to many different places, as Mira and Danaus never really stay in Savannah. They travel far and wide to stop Aurora from entering our world, and she does it wonderfully. It feels like you are really entering into the given countries and seeing these ancient places that the characters are taken to. I feel enriched with this cultural knowledge...now if only I could go to these places!

Dawnbreaker picked up where Dayhunter left off and I see Pray for Dawn doing the same. Pray for Dawn is the fourth novel in the Dark Day series and releases June 22 2010.

If you've read Jocelynn's first two books or even her short story in Unbound, then you don't want to miss this! If you haven't yet read her books, then I highly recommend them, especially if you are a fan of Kim Harrison's Hallow Series or even Rachel Vincent's Shifter series, as Rachel was the one to recommend Jocelynn's books to me at RT 08 in Pittsburgh. This is a highly recommended series.

Contest Alert--at Fantastic Book Reviews

Over at Fantastic Book Review you can have a chance to win a copy of Lili St. Crow's new Betrayals! This is on my TBR pile and and I so can't wait to read it. Above is the new cover and on the right is the old cover. I think the new cover is pretty cool, different than the first. The old one, on the right, kind of follows the first book's scheme or whatever, but I liked the red of the new one, the top one.

Anyway, the book was released Tuesday and if you haven't bought it yet, you can try winning a copy! Again go to Fantastic Book Review and follow the simple easy instructions!

Review--Mammoth Book of Vampire Romance 2

FROM THE BIGGEST NAMES IN VAMPIRE ROMANCE, 25 TALES OF A HUNGER LIKE NO OTHER

This bloodthirsty collection of vampire romance includes thrilling new stories from bestselling and award-winning authors such as Jordan Summers, Jaye Wells, Larissa Ione, Jeanne C. Stein, and Deborah Cooke. You'll encounter gothic romance and gritty contemporary tales of urban vampire love, from stand alone short stories to well-loved (and feared) characters from established series.

These vampires are ruthless but tortured, paranormally sensitive and sexually mesmerizing.

FORGET THE EVERYDAY WORLD. FORGET THE RULES. SUCCUMB TO A DIFFERENT KIND OF LOVE.

As usual school kept me from reading at a faster pace. And this book was no exception, plus it was over 500 pages so yeah it took a little longer than I would have liked.

I have enjoyed the first The Mammoth Book of Vampire Romance as well as the Paranormal Romance one too. There are many great short stories by a lot of great authors!

There were 25 stories and they all were great. Some may not have been my cup of tea, but I still found them enjoyable. Some are set in the past and some are modern day. Some are from the author's leading series--that I know of, some authors in here I have not read before so I would not know--and some of them have stand alone series just as the back of the book says.

Most of the vampires were very thrilling, all dark and seductive--cliche I know. But they sound a lot better than the sparkly ones! Hey I still plan on seeing New Moon tomorrow, so I don't totally hate Twilight. That's really a conversation on its own. ;)

I enjoy reading these anthologies because there are always so many authors in them and you can find someone new to read when you are between books or looking for something to read. I enjoyed a lot of the stories, they were all very gripping and I really felt for the couples involved.

I don't know what more to say about the book since there were many authors and stories. Overall it was very pleasing to read and I look forward to another anthology like this soon. Here's hoping there might be a Paranormal Romance 2 this spring!

This is too FUNNY!

OMG! I saw this today on Book Reviews By Jess and I was DYING!! It was so funny! I am one of those conflicted fans of Twilight. I like it, but all the hype about it drives me insane! But this was just TOO FUNNY!

Review--Witch Craft

Werewolf homicide detective Luna Wilder guards the fine line that separates Nocturne City's humans from the weres and witches that roam its streets. Now, Luna must thwart a new evil more dangerous that anything she's ever encountered.

Someone, or something, is stetting fire to the homes of the city's most infamous non-humans, racking up a body count that's growing by the day. And strange, otherworldly creatures no one has seen before--selkies, trolls, and harpies--are causing chaos throughout the city. Racing to stop the carnage, Luna turns to sexy federal agent Will Fagin for help. As they work to uncover the source of the bloodshed, Luna's attraction for Will deepens. But just as she learns Will's darkest secret, Nocturne City is thrust into total chaos--leaving Luna and Will in a path of destruction they may not be able to stop...or survive.

YES! I finished a book in 2 days!! My Friday class was canceled and I had no pressing assignments or studying that needed doing so I read Witch Craft!

I haven't read Second Skin since it came out and thought it would have been better to re-read that to remember its events. A lot has happened! Luna is Lieutenant of a new special police force dealing with the supernatural events that plagued the city. But her squad is considered "special" for supernatural events are not highly common. With the threat of being shut down, Luna and her team must really work on their current case and close it to ensure that they all have jobs.

The case is a doozy as there are many players involved. Luna is going to have to exert a lot of her resources to solve this case.

The case itself was a big part of the plot and it was written very well. Parts got a little confusing when there was a n overflow of information about different crimes that tied together to become apart of the main case. There were a lot of suspects to look at and when Luna discovers that a member of her own team is passing on info to the enemy, it really complicates things! I sooo had the "mole" guessed dead on!

The characters were all very interesting in the squad room. There was a variety that you either loved or hated or somewhere in between. How Luna felt about them, is how I felt about them. One guy was a major a-hole who has a secret of his own. (Cue dramatic music!)

The romance in the book was sparse. An old flame of Luna returns on the sly and of course there is the mysterious Will Fagin, whom Luna can't seem to figure out. He has a hole slew of secrets and we only get the summary of them. I felt like there is still more to him than we learned, but I could be wrong. Wouldn't be the first time!

The action was well paced at the end as well. Just when I think we're drawing to a conclusion, there's still more to learn and go through!! Lots of action scenes and the introduction of the new species that are mentioned in the BOC (back of the cover) are fascinating as well. I knew of them prior to the book--origins and whatnot, but they're parts were well played, even if it was for a short time.

I am really looking forward to the next Nocturne City book, because Luna is an interesting character. She is a strong, kick-butt heroine who doesn't always play by the rules--cliched I know! But it is so true! She has her flaws, but she is very real...except for the whole werewolf bit! ;)

Next review may be awhile. School is still in session and I have assignments coming up. Will get to them eventually. Count down to December 10, my last day of the semester still in play!

Review--Doom with a View

SEEING IS BELIEVING

Business has been frustratingly slow for Abby. She needs any new commission she can get, even if it means agreeing to a job with the FBI that puts her at the center of a political struggle between two powerful agents, one of whom is flinty lead investigator and confined skeptic Brice Harrison. Abby's skills--and patience--are continually tested as she works to convince Harrison that she's the real deal and can help him locate three teens who have mysteriously disappeared.

Abby's intuition tells her these are not random abductions--and she foresees another victim being kidnapped. To get to the bottom of the case, she Harrison will have to put aside their differences and work together to find the connection between the missing kids. And to do that, Abby will have to win over Harrison while keeping her psychic eye wide-open.

YEA! I finally finished Doom with a View and once again Laurie has written a well paced mystery novel! Her Psychic Eye and Ghost Hunter Mystery series are both deliciously awesome. The mystery is done superbly well that it really grabs the reader in.

Laurie's books always seem to reflect society at its current time too, for Abby and her friend and business partner Candice--who works as a PI--are both suffering financially. No one can afford such luxuries that they provide anymore. So Abby agrees to take this case from the FBI when it is offered to her by Dutch and Candice agrees to help her when she is told she must go to D.C.

Abby is given a makeover, as it can be noted on the cover to make a good first impression to Harrison, who is a major a**. Laurie writes it so that you hate this man and want to knock him upside the head! I know I did! But his character develops throughout the story. He comes off as an a-hole who tries to make Abby look bad at every turn, but Candice is her rescuer and stands up to Harrison many times over and those two definitely have some weird connection going on with their constant spats!

The mystery angle is very intense when Abby and Candice start to piece together information about the missing kids and how they are all connected. And there was a definite surprise there. I sort of suspected the "kidnapper" but I was really looking at another person, and was I wrong! The whole reasons of why get explained at the end and it makes sense!

There were also a few more surprises at the end of the book, which again, I won't divulge too much in. But there were a few and one that I could see coming. Really if you pay attention you can see it too! I am really looking forward to reading the next Psychic Eye Mystery, but sadly that does not come out until September 2010! A Glimpse of Evil will come out in another year and there is a sneak peek at it in the back of the book, but I have learned to not read those because it just makes the wait that more agonizing! Strange theory, I know, but it works. Ignorance is bliss, as they say.

Oh well, her next Ghost Hunter Mystery novel is due out in March and I still have a nice stack of books to read that is taking forever to get through, d*mn college. Being an English major may not have been the best idea. ;)

Overall, a GREAT mystery and there is a slight, tiny, small hint of the supernatural towards the end, but I won't say much more than that. It was really thrilling to read the last bit today, as I was gripping the book totally immeresed in the story! It was fascinating! I really get lost in Laurie's book and if there wasn't any school or work to attend, I would likely finish her books in 1 day. I have with her Ghost Hunter Mysteries which tend to come out right in time for spring break.

Up next Witch Craft by Caitlin Kittredge.