Review: Playing Dirty by Susan Andersen

Title: Playing Dirty
Author: Susan Andersen
Series: Sisterhood Diaries #3
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Release Date: July 26, 2011
Publisher: Harlequin
Edition: Mass Market Paperback
Source: NetGalley
Blurb:

When high school golden boy Cade Gallari publicly revealed he’d slept with “fat girl” Ava Spencer to win a bet, he broke her heart. Now a decade older and a head-turner with her own concierge business, Ava isn’t the gullible dreamer she once was—and she plans to prove it when Cade, hotter than ever, breezes back into town with an offer she can’t refuse.

A documentary film producer, Cade is shooting a movie about the mysterious mansion Ava inherited. And he wants her as his personal concierge. She’s certainly professional enough to be at his beck and call without giving him everything he wants. Like another shot at having her in his bed. But Ava doesn’t count on Cade’s determination. Because he’s never gotten over her. And he’s not above playing dirty to score a second chance at a red-hot future…

Ada, the heroine, was humiliated and left with a broken heart because of Cade, the hero. When the meet again years later, they both have changed.
At first, all you can do is hate Cade, but as the story evolves you realize that there's more to him than what meets the eye and I really liked getting to know him.
Ada had some weight problems when she was younger, and her friends were the only ones that really accepted her. I couldn't stand her parents but I liked that Ada stood up for herself.

I wanted Cade to grovel more and Ada to fully accept her curves, but aside from that, it was a light and very enjoyable read.
You get to see the heroines of the previous two books of this trilogy and glimpse a little of their lives after their HEA.

There was some mystery surrounding the house the three friends inherited and I have to say that the outcome was very predictable.
This was a perfect beach read with a pair of interesting characters that have a sweet and steamy romance but was predictable at times.


Memorable Lines:
She’d cut him off at the knees the other times he’d sought her out over the years to apologize, but if acknowledging his regret would move him along to a place where they didn’t have to hash over the past, then, fine. She’d grant him his damn redemption.
“You forgive me then?”
No. Hell, no. That would be a snowboarding day in hell.

Previous Books:
1. Cutting Loose
2. Bending the Rules

Rating:

Review: The Neon Graveyard by Vicki Pettersson

Title: The Neon Graveyard
Author: Vicki Pettersson
Series: Sings of the Zodiac #6
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Release Date: May 31, 2011
Publisher: Eos
Edition: Mass Market Paperback
Source: NetGalley
Blurb:

Once she was a soldier for the Light, the prophesied savior who would decide the outcome of the eternal conflict raging unseen in the dark corners of her glittering hometown. Now Joanna Archer is just another mortal—still born of an impossible union of Shadow and Light . . . still hunted by both—and carrying the unborn child of a lover held captive by a depraved demon goddess. Joining forces with a band of rogue Shadow agents, Joanna's ready to storm the stronghold of her demonic foe, risking everything to enter this ghastly, godforsaken realm where the price of admission is her eternal soul. Because in a world that has stripped her of her power, identity, and fortune, Joanna has nothing left to lose—except her baby, her future, and the epic war poised to consume the city.

This is the final book in the Zodiac series. I recommend you read the first five books of the series or you will get lost reading this novel.
Jo, powerless and hunted by both light and shadow agents, has to rescue Hunter, her lover, from a mad goddess. She has been betrayed and emotionally broken quite a few times and I loved seeing her putting herself back together. She was total kick ass in this last book even though she was only human.

I was expecting much more action than what we got. I wanted to read about an epic final battle between shadow and light or at last a huge fight between Jo and Solange but it didn't happen.
We do get to see all the light warriors and how they have been doing. I would have liked to know more about the grey rogue agents, especially about their leader.

My favourite parts of the book were the ones with Warren (who finally gets what he deserves), the kids from the comic store (in my opinion they are very interesting) and the ones with Hunter.

All in all, this was a good ending to the series, where loose ends got tied and fights were battled. As I said before, I was expecting more but it does have a satisfying ending.


Memorable Lines:
“You don’t understand. I will not love you gently, Hunter.”
“No?” The honeyed softness in his gaze hardened. After a moment, I realized it was done in challenge. “Then how will you love me, Jo?”
Recklessly, I thought, holding that steady gaze. With a rampaging heart, I decided, narrowing my own eyes. “Like a bull loves red.”

Previous Books:
1. The Scent of Shadows
2. The Taste of Night
3. The Touch of Twilight
4. City of Souls
5. Cheat the Grave

Rating:

Review: Seduce the Darkness by Gena Showalter

Title: Seduce the Darkness
Author: Gena Showalter
Series: Alien Huntress #4
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Release Date: July 28, 2009
Publisher: Pocket Star
Edition: Mass Market Paperback
Source: Bought
Blurb:

The war between otherworlders and humans changed Earth beyond recognition. It also saved Bride McKells's life. Before, the gorgeous vampire was a target for every fanatic with a stake and a crucifix. Now, she's free to roam the streets -- and desperate to find others of her kind. One man claims to have the answers she seeks. Devyn, King of the Targons, is a warrior and a womanizer, and he makes no secret of how much he wants Bride -- and how dangerous he could be to her in every way.

An avid collector of women, Devyn easily seduces human and otherworlder alike. Until now. Not only does Bride resist him, but she leaves Devyn feeling something entirely new...a bone-deep need bordering on obsession. Her blood is the key to curing a vicious alien disease, but helping Bride uncover her origins will compel her to choose between electrifying passion and a destiny that could tear her from Devyn's side forever.

This is the fourth Alien Huntress book and it's the one I liked the least. We have Devyn, the king of his planet, a ruthless killer and a man slut. He sleeps with different women at least once a day and he never "repeats" with the same alien race (which tells me that there has to be at least thousands of alien races on earth). I like reading about how this type of men find their perfect match. The problem is, while at the beginning I really liked Bride, the heroine, as the story advanced she changed so much that at some points I couldn't neither stand nor understand her.

At first Bride comes across as shy, with an air of innocence but very determined to find the only person in the world she loves. That's what made me like Bride so much. I guess I just didn't like how Devyn manipulated Bride even when he got what he wanted and then how she didn't even fight much at all. To tell the truth, those parts pissed me off. After that Bride changed and she became a seducer; confident and ultimately very powerful. I just couldn't understand how she changed so much. I will say that I liked that she wasn't as tough as previous heroines of this series.

As for the plot, the alien virus is still around and I would have liked variety on that front. The book also explores the vampire race, which was very interesting, especially since we're introduced to McKell. This was a good adition to the series but I liked the other ones better. I guess I just didn't like much the main couple and how their romance evolved.

Memorable Lines:
“I only answer questions when the one doing the asking is naked, and as we won’t be getting naked anytime soon . . .” Another of those disappointed sighs. “If I wasn’t in a hurry, you might have been able to make me forget I prefer variety. As it is, I’m late and have to go. But do dream of me, darling.”
That dirty, rotten bastard! How dare he! “Leave, and I’ll come after you. I swear I will.”
“Won’t do you any good, I’m afraid.” And with that, he disappeared amidst the churning crowd.
Bride was unable to follow and all the madder for it. He’s going down, she thought darkly. In every possible way.

Previous Books:
1. Awaken Me Darkly
2. Enslave Me Sweetly
3. Savor Me Slowly - Review

Next Books:
5. Ecstasy in Darkness
6. Dark Taste of Rapture (August 2011)

Rating:

Review: Beautiful Disaster by Laura Spinella

Title: Beautiful Disaster
Author: Laura Spinella
Series: -
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Release Date: January 4, 2011
Publisher: Berkley
Edition: Trade Paperback
Source: Publisher
Blurb:

Mia Wells's eco-friendly career goals are about to become a reality-but her life-altering moment is interrupted when an unexpected call ushers in her tremulous past. A man who's never left Mia's memory: Flynn, the enigmatic, passionate man whose disappearance broke her heart, has mysteriously resurfaced.

Now back in her life and in the hospital, Flynn is gravely injured. Mia keeps a bedside vigil-terrified that he will die, awestruck at the prospect of his survival. In a story filled with sweetness and suspense, Mia's what-ifs are endless. And Flynn's return ignites an achingly powerful tale about the most enduring love, one that is greater than honor, or friendship, or the passing of time.

This novel is set half in the present and half in the past. I don't usually like it when they're told that way, but it worked really well for this book. In the present we have Flynn, who has been in an accident and is in the ICU and Mia, an interior designer who rushes to the hospital even though it has been more than 12 years seen they have seen each other. The part of the story that's told in the past is about how Mia and Flynn met, how their relationship changed each other and then how Flynn left Mia so suddenly.

Mia and Flynn have a lot of chemistry and you can see the sparks fly through the book. Theirs is a story of redemption and long lost love. What I didn't like was how Mia was so heavily influenced by those around her and how it seemed that at times everyone else was making the choices for her, and she didn't complain much about it. In especific I'm talking about Roxanne, Mia's best friend, who was intruding in things that weren't any of her business all the time. I really couldn't stand her and most of the time I just wanted Mia to tell her to leave her alone, which sadly doesn't happen.

While it may sound like there is plenty of suspense, the truth is that the only thing you wonder is why Flynn left Mia without saying anything to her; the rest is a very complicated, sad and hopeful love story. This was an enjoyable read but I wish the ending could have been expanded and that Mia and Flynn could have spent more time together in the present.


Memorable Lines:
But then there was a gift, unlike any she had ever received. It floated into her ears on a path straight to her heart. The sound was raspy and weak, but familiar as her own skin, a deep voice breaking over that silent prayer.
"I was wrong. I thought this was hell, but I guess - this would be heaven."

Rating:

Review: Hexbound by Chloe Neill

Title: Hexbound
Author: Chloe Neill
Series: Dark Elite #2
Genre: YA
Release Date: January 4, 2011
Publisher: Signet
Edition: Mass Market Paperback
Source: Publisher
Blurb:

They say absolute power corrupts absolutely. Turns out, even a little magic can turn you to the dark side. That’s why Lily has to learn how to control her newly discovered paranormal abilities, on top of avoiding the snobs who think they run her school, nursing a crush on a cute sophomore with a big, werewolf-y secret, and fighting the good fight with her best friend Scout as they take on Chicago’s nastiest nightlife—including the tainted magic users known as Reapers.

Then Lily’s invited to a private meeting with Sebastian. He’s hot, powerful, and offering to help her harness the magic flowing in her veins in a way no one else can. He’s also a Reaper. Lily can’t hide her suspicions. But she’ll soon find out that the line between good and evil isn’t always clear…

Those people that enjoyed Firespell will love this entry. The friendship between Lily and Scout is as strong as ever, they are partners in crime and best friends. Lily has to learn how to use her newly found ability and it was interesting seeing her "play" with her powers and watching her accept help from a very intriguing enemy. One of the most important things that happen in this book is that Lily realizes that things aren't as black and white as she has always thought.

Sebastian has become one of my favourite characters, he's a Reaper but at the end of the book I wasn't really sure if he was evil or not. I wish the author could have explored more the connection between Lily and Sebastian and I really hope she writes more about him in the next book.

As for Jason, we finally discover what his secret was. The truth is that I expected more: more information about the werewolves, more reaction on Lily's part and more explanations from Jason. On the positive side, I love the sweet relationship the have.

The thing I had more problems was the plot. The beginning of the book isn't very fast, and we keep getting information little by little only to solve all the issues in the last 20 pages, and even then there wasn't much of a resolution.

Anyway, this is a short and fast read, perfect for those who enjoyed the previous book. I really hope we get some solid answers in the next book.


Memorable Lines:
Scout snorted and crossed one ankle over the other, her shoes glinting in the sunlight.
“And now I know why I keep finding glitter on my bedroom floor.”
“Whatever. My shoes do not shed.”
I gave her a dubious look.
“Seriously. That’s just . . . um . . . horn dust from the unicorns that braid your hair while you sleep.”

Previous Book:
1. Firespell - Review

Next Book:
3. TBD (2012)

Rating:

Review: Frostfire by Lynn Viehl

Title: Frostfire
Author: Lynn Viehl
Series: Kyndred #3
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Release Date: January 4, 2011
Publisher: Signet Select
Edition: Mass Market Paperback
Source: Publisher
Blurb:

As one of the genetically enhanced Kyndred, Lilah's mind-reading powers make her vulnerable to a mysterious biotech company willing to murder to acquire her superhuman DNA. But her true fear may come from her own Kyndred brethren...

I'll start by saying that this cover is much better than the ones from previous books. As I said in my reviews of the other books of this series, I still think there are too many unnecesary narrators, and while they did give insights into other characters, I would have prefered if the novel focused exclusively on the main characters. Also, the fact that I haven't read any of her Darkyn books yet and that she includes so many characters of that series in the novel made me feel lost in some parts, plus I didn't feel connected to the Darkyn and there was a lot of information that was assumed the reader knew and wasn't explained, even though I had no idea what they were talking about.

Lilah is a interesting character, she's very strong and has had to be on her own since she was very young. I liked that she didn't panic when she was in a very bad situation, that she had a clear head and knew what she wanted. As for Walker, he's a bit of a mystery. He's damaged and tries from the start to protect Lilah from himself. I loved how he treated Lilah, he always had a reasuring word or touch for her and while sometimes he lost control, the love he and Lilah had for each other always brought him back to sanity. Walker and Lilah had a very strong conection from the start, that only strengthened as time went by.

This was an interesting entry to the series, with plenty of action, a good mystery and a very sweet romance. I got lost in some parts, but if you've read the Darkyn series I don't think you'll get lost at all.

Memorable Lines:

"Tell me," he said before he could stop himself. "Tell me again what you feel for me."
"You know it," she looked down at his face and smiled, her eyes clear, her expression pure joy. "You're all over me, inside me, in my bones and my blood and my heart. You're part of my skin and my breath and my secrets. You're my love, my lover, my beloved, the sun in my dreams, and the stars in my soul."

Previous Books:
1. Shadowlight - Review
2. Dreamveil

Next Book:
4. Nightshine (TBD)

Rating:

Review: A Werewolf in Manhattan by Vicki Lewis Thompson

Title: A Werewolf in Manhattan
Author: Vicki Lewis Thompson
Series: Wild About You #1
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Release Date: January 4, 2011
Publisher: Signet Eclipse
Edition: Mass Market Paperback
Source: Publisher
Blurb:

Emma Gavin writes about werewolves, but that doesn't mean she believes in them-not until a pack of real-life New York weres decide to investigate the striking accuracy of her "fiction".

When Aiden Wallace, son and heir of the pack leader, tries to sniff out Emma's potential informant, he discovers something even more dangerous- an undeniable attraction to her.

This was one of my most wanted books of January 2011 and while it was entertaining, it didn't live up to my expectations.

Emma, one of the main characters, is an introvert who realizes she wants more of her life when she meets Aiden, the other main character. These two have an instant atraction, they fight it for a big part of the book but then they give in. Emma is a funny character and I liked that she put herself out there, risking humiliation but trying to get what she wants anyway. On the negative side, I found Emma to be a little unbelievable, especially the part where she truly believes that writing is more important than losing her life.

As for Aiden, for a security expert, he made quite a lot of stupid mistakes. I also didn't like that he didn't stand up for what he believed was right and that he kept playing the martyr for a big chunk of the book. On the other side, he was very sweet and attentive and he always tried his best to keep his promises. I also loved his interactions with his brother, who I found to be a very interesting character.

The big problem I had with this book is that since the beggining we're told that the bad guy is dangerous and could cause a big problem for all the werewolves, but at the end there wasn't much of a confrontation. I really hope the author closes that storyline in her next book.

There wasn't much of a worldbuilding but you do get a very sweet romance. All in all, this was a quick and funny book, perfect if you're looking for a very light read.

Memorable Lines:

“And you want her.”
Aidan tried to stare his brother down, but it was no use. Roarke’s senses were as finely tuned as his, and they were brothers, only nineteen months apart. The minute Roarke had walked into the club, he’d known.
So Aidan said the only thing he could. “I’ll control it.”
“What, your johnson?”
That brought a snort from Sylvester.
Usually Aidan rolled with his brother’s cracks, but tonight he wasn’t amused. “The situation, Roarke. I’ll control the situation.”

Next Book:
2. A Werewolf in the North Woods (October 2011)

Rating:

Review: Cross Your Heart by Michele Bardsley

Title: Cross Your Heart
Author: Michele Bardsley
Series: Broken Heart Vampires #7
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Release Date: September 7, 2010
Publisher: Berkley Sensation
Edition: Mass Market Paperback
Source: Publisher
Blurb:

After the death of
her husband-and her dreams of motherhood-Elizabeth Bretton returned to the
family estate in Broken Heart, Oklahoma. Little did she know she would also give
up her life as the Silverstone heiress.

But escaping the past isn't that easy-especially with a vengeful ghost trying
to kill her, a 150-year-old mystery to solve, and an outrageously hot
were-jaguar named "Tez" trying to get into her boudoir...

I've enjoyed the last six books of the Broken Heart series and Cross Your Heart it's not an exception. The main character, Elizabeth, is a very solitary vampire, but all of it changes when Tez, a really handsome shifter, saves her from an attack from a ghost. From there, things start getting complicated for her, and she has to discover why she is the target.

The thing that I liked from the ghost story line the most is that it resolves a mystery that started in book one, but if this is the first book of the series you read, you'll probably won't find as interesting. There are some surprises in the book, but most of the time I saw them coming.

The relationship between Elizabeth and Tez felt rushed. I would have prefered they developed their relationship more slowly, or that they at least talk more to each other, instead of always being up to something. We don't learn much about Tez, and that's one of the reasons I didn't like the book as much as the others.

We also get some updates on the others citizes of Broken Heart although they don't meddle as much in this novel because the heroine is a bit of a loner.

This was a funny and light read, just as the rest of the books in this series. Personally I didn't find it as good as previous ones, but it was entertaining nonetheless.

Memorable Lines:

"I refuse to discuss my lingerie with you. And I do not appreciate your assumption that you're going to see me in my undergarments. Ever." I paused and tried to gather my wits. And tone down my ... well, lust.

He grinned at me, and my stomach took a peculiar dive.

"I love that mouth of yours, princess. Go on," he dared me. "Talk pretty to me."

Previous Books:

1. I'm The Vampire, That's Why
2. Don't Talk Back To Your Vampire
3. Because Your Vampire Said So
4. Wait Until Your Vampire Gets Home
5. Over my Dead Body
6. Come Hell or High Water

Next Book:
8. Must Love Lycans (September 2011)

Rating:

Review: Blood Song by Cat Adams

Title: Blood Song
Author: Cat Adams
Series: Bloodsinger #1
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Release Date: June 2, 2010
Publisher: Tor
Edition: Trade Paperback
Blurb:

Bodyguard Celia Graves has definitely accepted her share of weird assignments, both human and supernatural. But her newest job takes the cake. Guarding a Prince from terrorists and religious fundamentalists is hard enough, but it seems like the entire supernatural world is after this guy too. When she is betrayed by those she is employed to help, and everything goes horribly wrong, Celia wakes to find herself transformed. Neither human nor vampire, Celia has become an Abomination—something that should not exist—and now both human and supernatural alike want her dead. With the help of a few loyal friends—a sexy mage, a powerful werewolf, and a psychic cop—Celia does her best to stay alive. On the run from her enemies, Celia must try to discover who is behind her transformation…before it’s too late.

I read this book from start to finish in one sitting. In the world this book is set in vampires are completely evil, a nice change from other urban fantasies. There are all kinds of paranormal creatures and the world knows it. The main character, Celia, is the only normal human in her group of friends and she doesn't think she really fits in with them. That is until she is attacked and becomes an abomination.

There were a lot of secondary characters, too many, if you ask me. It seemed like in every new scene a new "important" character popped up, and that made me forget who was who to the point of not caring anymore. The funny thing is that with each of them you saw a new side of Celia. I wish the authors could have used another way to give depth to the main character. Anyway, of all the side characters my favourite was Kevin, the mysterious werewolf friend of Celia. We don't see much of him, but I found him to be the most interesting character of the book.

Celia is a strong, capable person and that is showed through the novel. She deals with a lot of issues and confronts her past to a degree. The problem I had was that even though a lot of people are after her, the final battles never happen. Most of her problems are solved for her without even know it, and I really didn't like that.
Usually there is a clear love interest in urban fantasy books, but not so much with this one. That gives an element of "suspense" but I hope it's solved in the next book.

This was an enjoyable read with a very interesting worldbuilding. I just hope that the cliffhanger is explained and solved in future books and that we get to know some secondary characters better.


Memorable Lines:

"What are you doing up?" The words were directed at me. The look, however, was for Jones first, then Emma.
"I did it," Jones said. he gave Kevin a broad smile that didn't reach his eyes. "It's necessary. We have to find her sire. Doing so in daylight, when he's helpless, would be preferable, don't you think?"
"Not if it kills Celia in the process." Kevin snarled.
The smile grew, and Jones' eyes started to twinkle. "Well, you're in luck. She's not dead."

Next Books:
2. Siren Song
3. Demon Song (Mar 2011)

Rating:

Review: Darkness Calls by Marjorie M. Liu

Title: Darkness Calls
Author: Marjorie M. Liu
Series: Hunter Kiss #2
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Release Date: June 3, 2010
Publisher: Orbit
Edition: Paperback
Blurb:

Nomad born and bred, demon hunter Maxine Kiss has always relied upon herself to fight the darkness that surrounds her, the predators-human, zombie, and otherwise-who threaten the earth. But one man has penetrated her lonely life: Grant, the last of his kind. With music he is able to control any living creature…including demons. And now his life is in danger.

Haunted by the past, determined to change the future, Maxine soon understands that to save Grant, she has only one choice-to lose control, and release her own powers of darkness.

This is the follow up book to The Iron Hunt in which the author introduced us to Maxine Kiss and the rest of the group. In this one we get to know more about some characters, especially Jack and Grant. There were plenty of questions about what exactly Grant was and why everyone was so afraid of him and we finally get some answers about it, even though I wished more was revealed about him, especially since we only find out more at the end of the book.
We also get some new insighs into Jack as well as things he did in the past.

Even though there's always something happening since page 1, I felt like the book didn't go anywhere. There was plenty of running around/action, but I felt like most of it was unnecessary. Also, I would have prefered to know more about the bad guys before they were dead, not after. I wish Maxine could have gotten some down time instead of always jumping into situations blind. The introduction of Killy, a new character, was a bit rushed and I would have liked to know more about her than what kind of psychic ability she had.

In this book the possiblity of new supernatural creatures is also raised, and while I don't think they are really needed in this world, they do create a new problem for Maxine and co. One of the things I loved was seeing Rose tranform from a crazy homeless person to a kick-ass very dangerous one. The boys are still really cute and deadly, and Zee keeps being my favourite one. Also, the bad guy was really creepy and that was one of the things that made me love to hate him.

I liked this book more than the previous one. There was plenty of action, and while I sometimes though of it as excessive, it did make the book an enjoyable read.


Memorable Lines:

“Please,” Archie whispered hoarsely. “I want to convert.”
“Liar,” rasped Zee, before I had a chance to tell the zombie to go fuck himself. The little demon leaned close to lick the air above Archie’s brow. “Cutter lies, Maxine. He still hungers.”
“He murders,” I said, gripping the remains of the switchblade in my fist as a young face flashed through my mind, bloody and sliced, long brown limbs naked, splayed. Torn doll. Torn in places I did not want to remember. “She was just a kid.”
“She was a prostitute,” Archie said. “She was already prey.”
Dek and Mal, coiled heavy on my shoulders, peered from beneath my hair and hissed at the zombie. Unlike the others, they were built like snakes, with two vestigial limbs good only for clutching my ears. Heads shaped like hyenas. Sharp smiles. Fire in their breath. Archie stared at them, and trembled.

Previous Book:
1. The Iron Hunt - Review

Next Book:
3. A Wild Light

Rating:

* I received this book from the publisher for review.

Review: Red-Headed Stepchild by Jaye Wells

Title: Red-Headed Stepchild
Author: Jaye Wells
Series: Sabina Kane #1
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Release Date: April 1, 2009
Publisher: Orbit
Edition: Paperback
Blurb:

In a world where being of mixed-blood is a major liability, Sabina doesn’t really fit in. And being an assassin – the only profession fit for an outcast – doesn’t help matters. But she’s never brought her work home. Until now.

Her latest mission is uncomfortably complex, and threatens the fragile peace between the vampire and mage races. As Sabina scrambles to figure out which side she’s on, she uncovers a tangled political web, some nasty facts about her family and some unexpected new talents. Any of these things could be worryingly life-changing, but together, they could be fatal …

Sabina is a mixed race assassin who works for her grandmother. Even though she has both mage and vampire blood, she only acknowledges her vampire side. For her everything was black and white, either you were on one side or in another but as she starts to step out of her shell she realizes that not everything was as she believed.

The world in which the book is set has nothing new. We have vampires, mages, demons, fae and probably some other creatures we haven't seen yet. What I did like was the twist about the weakness the vampires have of apples (apple wood, apple juice, if it's made of apple, it hurts vamps) and the demons. Well, I guess I'm speaking of one demon in particular, and that's Giguhl. He provides a source of humour that it's much needed in the novel.

The problem I had with the book was that I didn't really like the protagonist. I was reading some parts of the book and I was thinking "Wake up! Everyone is lying to you!" but of course she didn't, and she kept being loyal to a group that harmed her countless times (and by the way, she had proof of it). She was naive, too trusting and hard headed (so much so that sometimes it bordered on stupid).

Now, there were some characters that were very interesting, like Adam the mage or Briallen the faery and I really hope we get more information on them in future books.
This was a nice debut book and while I had some problems with it, I enjoyed it.

Memorable Lines:

"Is that all you bought?"
His eyes shot to the left. "Um."
I clenched my teeth. "What else?"
"A Super Mega Juicer, he said quickly. "But, Sabina, seriously that juicer is a miracle machine."
"I'm a vampire, Giguhl. The only liquids I drink are blood or alcohol. I don't do juice."
"You might want to consider a little roughage in your diet. According to the commercial, an increase in fiber will help you be more regular."


Next Books:
2. The Mage in Black
3. Green Eyed Demon (Mar 2011)


Rating: 1/2

Review: Waking the Witch by Kelley Armstrong

Title: Waking the Witch
Author: Kelley Armstrong
Series: Women of the Otherworld #11
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Release Date: July 27, 2010
Publisher: Dutton
Edition: Hardback
Blurb:
The orphaned daughter of a sorcerer and a half-demon, Savannah is a terrifyingly powerful young witch who has never been able to resist the chance to throw her magical weight around. But at 21 she knows she needs to grow up and prove to her guardians, Paige and Lucas, that she can be a responsible member of their supernatural detective agency. So she jumps at the chance to fly solo, investigating the mysterious deaths of three young women in a nearby factory town as a favor to one of the agency's associates. At first glance, the murders look garden-variety human, but on closer inspection signs point to otherworldly stakes.

Soon Savannah is in over her head. She's run off the road and nearly killed, haunted by a mystery stalker, and freaked out when the brother of one of the dead women is murdered when he tries to investigate the crime. To complicate things, something weird is happening to her powers. Pitted against shamans, demons, a voodoo-inflected cult and garden-variety goons, Savannah has to fight to ensure her first case isn't her last. And she also has to ask for help, perhaps the hardest lesson she's ever had to learn.


We met Savannah in the 2nd book of the series when she was a kid. Through the books we've seen her grow up and finally, in this novel, we get her as the main character.
Not much has changed since the first time we saw her; she's still trying to prove herself and she's also impulsive, independent and hard-headed. After all the time she's being working as Paige and Lucas' assistant, she finally has a case to work on her own after both of them are on vacation.
She thinks it's going to be an easy case, but she couldn't have been more wrong.

Savannah spends most of the book on her own: a little town where people are not really helpful and where she doesn't get much cooperation. It was really interesting seeing her trying to gather information and also her rivalries with the others that were investigating at the same time.

Some parts of the book, especially at the beginning, were a little slow and there were sometimes when I wanted more action. I felt like Savannah investigated a lot of things, but they got her nowhere. I was expecting more of her but she didn't deliver most of the time.
There were some parts a really liked, such as the ones that included the detective Michael Kennedy or Kayla, the young daughter of one of the victims. In those parts you could see a softer side of Savannah, and how she relates and tries to comfort a kid that reminds her of herself.

If you've read the previous books of this series, you'll know that Savannah has always had a crush on Adam, Paige's best friend. I loved seeing these two interact with each other, especially when she blames herself for things that are not her fault and Adam is the only one that's there to comfort her and guide her the best he can. Their relationship is unique, and after reading the ending of the book I think they're going to get closer to each other than ever.

The book, while not the best of the series, is entertaining and it works well enough as the first book of the Savannah trilogy. After the ending the book had, I can't wait to get my hands into Spellbound, the next book.


Memorable Lines:

Jesse followed me up the stairs. “I guess the daughter of Eve Levine and Kristof Nast doesn't need to worry about strangers attacking her in an empty office.”
“If they do, I can always use them for my next ritual sacrifice. Volunteers are so hard to come by.”
It‟s not the sort of crack you should make when you have a notorious dark witch for a mother and an equally notorious cutthroat sorcerer for a father. It was a test of sorts, and Jesse passed, just laughing and saying, “I‟ll watch my step then.”


Previous Books:
1. Bitten
2. Stolen
3. Dime Store Magic
4. Industrial Magic
5. Haunted
6. Broken
7. No Humans Involved
8. Personal Demon
9. Living with the Dead
10. Frost Bitten


Next Book:
12. Spellbound (Summer 2011)


Rating: 1/2


* I received this book from the publisher for review.

Review: Close Encounters by Katherine Allred

Title: Close Encounters
Author: Katherine Allred
Series: Alien Affairs #1
Genre: Sci Fi
Release Date: April 1, 2009
Edition: Paperback
Blurb:

Kiera Smith is not like ordinary Genetically Engineered Persons…

The Bureau of Alien Affairs needed a special GEP agent with empathic abilities to handle their most extraordinary assignments--and a rogue geneticist saw to it that Kiera fit their specifications. But she turned out stronger, faster, smarter, and more impervious to harm than anyone anticipated. A reluctant “superhero,” Kiera wishes she were normal, but it is not to be.

On Orpheus 2, the indigenous Buri race faces extinction, a prospect the powerful Dynatec corporation welcomes and, in fact, may be actively hastening. As a special agent for the Bureau of Alien Affairs, it is Kiera’s job to protect these beautiful, exotic aliens…and to discover what there is on Orpheus 2 that Dynatec feels is worth killing for.

But the magnetic allure of the breathtaking Buri leader is proving a dangerous distraction. And now, to save Thor’s people, Kiera will need a power she’s never before possessed--something hidden in the unexplored recesses of her heart.

This is only the second Sci Fi book I've read, but it's quickly becoming one of my favourite genres. The story started with a nice pace, although at some points I wished more things happened and that some scenes were cut shorter.

Kiera is a GEP (Genetic Engineered Person) who is unique among her own. Her extra abilities permit her to at least communicate with other species, even though she doesn't speak the same language. That's why she immediately connects with "Thor", the leader of the Buri race, while she tries to help them from becoming an extinct species.
Kiera has a giant cat, who is very clever and accompanies her to almost everywhere and Max, a ship with artificial intelligence.

Thor is the leader of his race. He's responsible, arrogant and always tries his best when it concerns his people or the ones he loves.
At the beginning, the relationship between Kiera and Thor seemed a little forced, but as the story moved along, things clicked into place.

The threat of Dynatec didn't work as well as it should've. I expected much more of them and at the end, that plot became secondary to the story line of the Buri race and the love between Kiera and Thor.

The world the author created was very similar to ours, except the place Kiera came from was more technologicaly advanced. There were supposed to be very different species, but almost all of them seemed to be the same, except they were more evolved. The only thing that I really liked was the little dragons: they were fun and they're description sounded beautiful.

All in all, it was a very interesting start of a series that focuses on the GEP, and I definitely want to read more about them and maybe get glipses of Kiera's life with the Buri.


Memorable Lines:

Instantly, the big guy roared a command tha forze Brownie in his tracks. He glowered in his leader's direction while they exchange a series of grunts and growls, then three sets of eyes lowered to my chest.

"I think they just realized that you are female," Max commented in my ear.

With a smile, a propped my hands on my hip and thrust my boobs aout so there would be no doubts on their minds. Hey, they might not be my best feature, but I was proud of what I had.

Brownie groaned and shut his eyes, humiliation on every line of his body. Not only had he got his butt whipped, it had been a female who'd done the job.


Next Book:
Close Contact - Alien Affairs #2


Rating: 1/2

Review: Strange Angels by Lili St. Crow

Title: Strange Angels
Author: Lili St. Crow
Series: Strange Angels #1
Genre: YA
Release Date: May 14th 2009
Blurb:
The Real World is a frightening place. Just ask sixteen-year-old orphan Dru Anderson, a tough girl who has taken down her fair share of bad guys. She's armed, dangerous, and ready to kill first and ask questions later. So it's gonna take her a while to figure out who she can trust . . .

Dru Anderson has been 'strange' for as long as she can remember, travelling from town to town with her father to hunt the things that go bump in the night. It's a weird life, but a good one – until it all explodes in an icy, broken-down Dakota town, when a hungry zombie busts through her kitchen door. Alone, terrified, and trapped, Dru's going to need every inch of her wit and training to stay alive. The monsters have decided to hunt back – and this time, Dru's on their menu. Chances of survival? Slim to none.

If she can't last until sunup, it's game over . . .


Dru and her father have been hunting things from town to town. In their last stop, Dru's father starts acting weird, but she never gets to find out what's wrong: the next day her father comes back as a zombie, and Dru has to kill it.
She feels lost and doesn't know what's going on or what to do, so when a guy from her school, Graves, gets her a hamburguer and aks her if she has a place to stay, she feels scared enough to accept the offer to stay with him. The first days are good, until a werwulf tracks her down and attacks Graves, possibly infecting him with the werwulf disease.

She brings them back to her house, where her father's corpse lies, and waits until she knows for sure if Graves is going to transform. Time is running out and someone is going to start looking for her sooner than later.

I found the beginning of the book a little slow. A big part of the book is about Dru trying to figure out what to do, and sometimes it felt repetitive. The action didn't start until the middle of the story. Some of Dru's behaviour is weird and not very logical.

The best part of the book was the friendship/relationship between Dru and Graves, especially how they start to trust each other and how close they end up being in the end. I liked Graves a lot because even though he gets mixed up into a lot of bad and weird stuff, he keeps being himself, and tries to help Dru the best he can, even if it means getting out of her way.
This was a good start of a series, although it mostly raised questions rather than answer them. At the end, this book felt like a big beginning of a huge storyline.


Memorable Lines:

It was snowing outside and there was a zombie dead in my living room, and here this girl was, dressed like a hooker and laughing.
My hand curled into a fist. I took a deep breath.
"I know a place." Graves said it quietly, leaning forward across the table. He braced his thin elbows and rested his chin on his fist. "If you want, you know."
Oh, Jesus. Not now. "Why is it there's always a guy who thinks he can get something out of the new girl?" My fingertips dug into my palm. "Every goddam town, is the same thing. Some guy thinks he's God's gift to the displaced."
"I just asked if you wanted a place to sleep." Graves hunched his shoulders defensively. "Jesus."


Next Book:
Betrayals - November 17th 2009.


Rating: 1/2