Reading the Paranormal

Review: Fairyvision by J.L. Bryan

2013-05-23T06:00:00.001-07:00

Fairyvision (Songs of Magic #5) by J.L. Bryan
Synopsis (Goodreads):

Jason, Erin, and the other Zebras go on a world tour with their enchanted instruments, only to encounter the mysterious supernatural Folk of India and the Far East. While they tangle with their record company, Erin tries to avoid dealing with the secrets she's learned about herself, while Jason pieces together a mystery surrounding a very special golden guitar called Caliburn.

In Faerie, Aoide the Lutist and her troupe finally return home from their long adventure. They're struggling to get new gigs, but Aoide senses opportunity in the form of special new magic mirrors that can broadcast concerts, plays, and other entertainment all over Faerie...

My Thoughts: Man, oh, man. Those poor Zebras are caught up in the whirlwind of their success but they don't get the chance to appreciate it. They're traveling around the world, seeing things that most kids their age will never see and they spend their days running from gig to gig until they're exhausted and cranky. Plus, Mitch is kinda a kiss-butt douche and I have no idea how the other members of the band manage to put up with him since he came into a little money.

I seriously love all the goings on in Faerie. Aoide and her friends journey back to Sidhe City (vampires!), Lia's terrible task (I don't actually like that part, but I like Lia), Icarus and his muscular arms (heh!)... Faerie is FUN! Well, not all of Faerie is fun. Mab's not fun. She's kind of nutty. But all the punny things that happen there. ALL THE PUNS!

Meanwhile, back with Jason and crew, on top of the Zebras' 9 billion city tour, they're forced to take part in a reality show. Which ends up being just as horrific as you'd think. Erin and Jason are getting closer, the director of the reality show is trying to drive a wedge between all the band mates (because what's a good reality show without the DRAMA!), and Erin is forced to be a spokesperson for some really horrific pants.

Also... Ninja fairies. *fist pump*

The crazy is still going strong, Malarkay Records need a swift kick in the pants (along with all the various people who work for them), and the THINGS THAT HAPPEN at the end gave me a case of crazy eyes. Oh, noes, Zebras! The future's not looking so bright at the moment. I expect that only the greatest of shenanigans will be able to get them out of this predicament. Get to it, kiddies!

Books in this series
1. Fairy Metal Thunder
2. Fairy Blues
3. Fairystruck
4. Fairyland
5. Fairyvision - Kindle

Author Links
| Website | Twitter | Facebook | Amazon |

Fairyvision was provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.

Review: How Beauty Loved the Beast by Jax Garren

2013-05-22T06:00:00.000-07:00

How Beauty Loved the Beast (Tales of the Underlight #3) by Jax Garren
Synopsis (Goodreads):

It’s all been leading to this.

Jolie Benoit has become a skilled agent of the Underlight, relying on her savvy to complete assignments while Sergeant Wesley Haukon was out of commission. But an unexpected clue to the Order of Ananke’s diabolical scheme rattles Jolie, and she turns to Hauk for comfort.

It’s been years since Hauk took comfort from the touch of another person, though his love for Jolie is deep and powerful. Uncomfortable in his skin, scarred by a terrible fire, he is unable to give in to the pleasures that Jolie so desperately wants to grant him.

Meanwhile, the Order is lurking in the shadows—and when they strike, the blow is swift and terrible. Hauk and Jolie scramble to fight for their community, but with the future of the Underlight threatened, no one is safe. And Hauk will never be the same…

My Thoughts: I honestly don't think I can adequately express how very, very much I adore this entire series. Everything about it works for me. From Hauk's first time with Jolie to the relationship that developed between them as the story progressed. I just love it to pieces. This installment allowed their relationship to move forward physically while showing Hauk's insecurities with his scars and imperfections. The reality of his scars doesn't scare Jolie but this isn't about Jolie. It's about Hauk being comfortable in his own skin and being able to meet her as an equal on that front.

And it takes him time to reach that point.

There were parts of this book that killed me. There were parts that made me smile in giddy delight. There were parts that were heartbreaking. AND I LOVED EVERY MINUTE OF IT.

Jolie and Hauk had a rough journey. The Order of Ananke didn't make things easy from the start and, in fact, they made things a whole lot worse before it started getting better. But it was worth it. THINGS HAPPEN here. Big things. Terrible things.

Without those things, Hauk and Jolie wouldn't end up where they ended up. And I approve of where they ended. In a big way.

Bottom line, this is a great ending to a fabulous series. I want to dive into it again from the beginning.

Books in this series
1. How Beauty Met the Beast
2. How Beauty Saved the Beast
3. How Beauty Loved the Beast - Kindle

Author Links
| Website | Twitter | Facebook | Amazon |

How Beauty Loved the Beast was provided for review by Carina Press through NetGalley.

Review: Settle by Brina Courtney

2013-05-22T00:00:00.000-07:00

The Complete Cryptid Tales series synopsis

You think seeing ghosts is weird? Tell me something I don't know.

My childhood best friend Jeremy happens to be a ghost.

My life is a puzzle, and the biggest piece missing has been my dad. Since his disappearance when I was six it's been tough, but Jeremy has been by my side through it all.

But now Jeremy has gone missing too and I feel like I'm never going to get all the answers I've been looking for.

Fate intervenes when Hugh, a real live college beefcake, starts taking an interest in me. He divulges that he also shares my little "gift" of seeing the dead and I know I'm finally getting closer to finding all the pieces.

However, the more the puzzle is completed, the more questions I have.

Senior year is hard enough as it is, but clearly I like a challenge.

Books in this series
0.5. Ignite
1. Reveal
2. Capture
3. Settle - Kindle
The Complete Cryptid Tales series - Kindle

For my stop on the tour today, I'll be reviewing Settle, book three in the series. Check out my reviews on the previous books above.

Settle (Cryptid Tales #3) by Brina Courtney
Synopsis (Goodreads):

Betrayal leaves nasty scars. A soul departs. Love must conquer all, or be lost forever.

Shay's life has once again fallen into mystery as she discovers her father's whereabouts. On a mission to locate him and bring him home she learns more about who to trust than she thought possible. Her group of cryptids will be forced to rise again and defeat their common enemy, but they will also discover another hidden threat. As their queen, Shay's discoveries in Settle, the final installment of the Cryptid Tales series, will shake the cryptid world forever.

My Thoughts: Shay's been through a lot since book one, hasn't she? She's found out things about her parents, about herself, about her place in a world that was formerly hidden from her. She's gone toe to toe with some really nasty bad guys and somehow she's managed to hold it all together.

While I enjoyed the book overall, I did question some of Shay's decisions. For a girl who has an entire set of beings looking to her for guidance, she does some things that don't necessarily put them first. I can understand her desire to hunt for her father but it felt like she rushed into it without much of a plan. Given her age, this driving want to do it now now now makes sense but, at the same time, I hoped that she would see how important she was to the other Cryptids.

And yet... if she hadn't gone after him, who knows what sort of diabolical machinations would have sprung from his experiments. NOBODY likes diabolical machinations. Except evil geniuses and megalomaniacs. At least that's been my experience.

Overall, this was a solid ending to Shay's story that left some nicely dangling threads for the future tales. The bad guys were bad, the backstabbing was fierce, but Shay and her crew kept battling on. That's all you can ask for in your genetically enhanced lady leaders!

About the author

Brina Courtney is a young adult author obsessed with chocolate, crime shows, and fantasy movies. She's spent the last few years as an elementary teacher and a high school cheering coach. She lives in a small town in Pennsylvania with her husband and two very loud, small dogs.

Find her at: | Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads |

Tour Schedule & Giveaway

5/1/2013 - Paranormal Reads
5/2/2013 - Only God Can Make a Tree
5/3/2013 - Ren's Rambles
5/6/2013 - Ramblings of a Diva Booknerd
5/7/2013 - Musings of a Blogder
5/8/2013 - The Unbecoming of Books
5/9/2013 - Paranormal Book Club
5/10/2013 - The YA Bookshelf
5/13/2013 - A Chick Reading
5/14/2013 - Book Briefs
5/15/2013 - Inside the Pages of a Book
5/16/2013 - My Two Cents
5/17/2013 - Steele Reviews
5/20/2013 - Two Chicks on Books
5/21/2013 - Caught Between the Pages
5/22/2013 - Reading The Paranormal
5/23/2013 - Bookish Things & More
5/24/2013 - TSK TSK What to Read
5/27/2013 - Fictitious Delicious
5/28/2013 - Teen Blurb
5/29/2013 - New Adult Addiction
5/30/2013 - Laurie's Thoughts and Reviews
5/31/2013 - Book Nerds Across America

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Top Off Tuesday - I'll take a side order of madness with that!

2013-05-21T00:00:00.000-07:00

I've decided to join Felicia, Christi and Amanda for their gratuitous shirtless covers on Tuesdays. Because nothing says Tuesday like flashing some skin! Hop over to Felicia's blog to see who else is participating!

Besides the very pretty cover (hellllo, Dex!), this series is ah-mazing. I am crazy in love with it. CRAZY IN LOVE!

And With Madness Comes the Light (Experiment in Terror #6.5) by Karina Halle

The Man. The Mystery. The Madness.

Dex Foray has never been anyone’s fool – until he missed his chance for happiness with Perry Palomino. Broken and alone, Dex has no choice but to rise from the ashes Perry left behind and find his own path to redemption. But nothing in Dex’s life has ever come easily, especially when there’s a dark madness waiting in the wings.

Review: Steel's Edge by Ilona Andrews

2013-05-20T06:00:00.000-07:00

Steel's Edge (The Edge #4) by Ilona Andrews
Synopsis (Goodreads):

The Edge lies between worlds, on the border between the Broken, where people shop at Wal-Mart and magic is a fairy tale—and the Weird, where blueblood aristocrats rule, changelings roam, and the strength of your magic can change your destiny…

Charlotte de Ney is as noble as they come, a blueblood straight out of the Weird. But even though she possesses rare magical healing abilities, her life has brought her nothing but pain. After her marriage crumbles, she flees to the Edge to build a new home for herself. Until Richard Mar is brought to her for treatment, and Charlotte’s life is turned upside down once again.

Richard is a swordsman without peer, future head of his large and rambunctious Edger clan—and he’s on a clandestine quest to wipe out slavers trafficking humans in the Weird. So when his presence leads his very dangerous enemies to Charlotte, she vows to help Richard destroy them. The slavers’ operation, however, goes deeper than Richard knows, and even working together, Charlotte and Richard may not survive...

My Thoughts: I honestly love this series. There's so much depth and so many tangents and so many wonderful characters that haven't yet been explored that I have this sad little ache inside knowing that this is the final book. I even tried to read slowly so I could savor it but, alas, I'm plowed through it like there was a feral Changeling hot on my heels. *sniffle* That's okay, though. I can immerse myself in a reread in the future and experience it all over again.

But let's talk about this book. Charlotte's battle against the darkness inside was... well, not fun, but it was fascinating to read about. I could understand why she was willing to see the quest through to the end once she had used her power because she literally thought she had nothing else to lose. Richard's desire to see things through because he didn't want anyone else in his family consumed by revenge until they lose all sight of the here and now was no less poignant than Charlotte's. He's seen first hand how the desire for vengeance can twist a person up.

We get to spend some quality time with George and Jack (Jack's Changeling nature FASCINATES me), get resolution to several plot threads that have been laid out in previous books, and get to revisit (no matter how briefly) a multitude of characters we've met before. I'm sad to see this series end but I'm pleased with how it all played out. On the other hand, I wouldn't pooh-pooh another dozen books in this series if the planets aligned and the Gods of all Things Bookish decided to give it a second chance.

I'm just sayin'.

Books in this series
1. On the Edge
2. Bayou Moon
3. Fate's Edge
4. Steel's Edge - Paperback | Kindle

Author Links
| Website | Twitter | Facebook | Amazon |

Bout of Books 7.0 Wrap-Up

2013-05-19T21:30:00.000-07:00

Bout of Books 7.0 is over. :( Did I meet and/or exceed my goals. For the most part... YES!

Let's recap, shall we:
Time Devoted to Reading
I dedicated the entire week to the read-a-thon and I don't regret a minute of it!

My Goals
I was aiming for 10 books overall this week. Well, umm... I hit 10. In fact, I tripled that goal. Which boggles me. As awesome as that is I didn't find a #NakedWerewolf to love or save a kitten from a tree. DAMMIT!

I did read a few books, though.

Books Read

Seriously Series reads:

Gone by Lisa McMann - read 05/14
Hex Hall by Rachel Hawkins - read 05/19
'Til the World Ends by Julie Kagawa, Ann Aguirre, Karen Duvall - read 05/18
Into the Dreaming by Karen Marie Moning - read 05/14
Rhyn's Redemption by Lizzy Ford - read 05/16

Review requests:

Surrender Your Love by J.C. Reed - read 05/13
Kiss Across Time by Tracy Cooper-Posey - read 05/15
Vampire in Design by Dale Mayer - read 05/19
Lover Enraptured by Jodi Redford - read 05/17

Random Reads:

Any reread book on my Seriously Series list.

Devil's Gate by Thea Harrison - read 05/16
Hunter's Season by Thea Harrison - read 05/16
Fade Out by Rachel Caine - read 05/18

Novella bridges for Seriously Series

Ember by Kristin Callihan - read 05/13
Two Ravens and One Crow by Kevin Hearne - read 05/13
Grimoire of the Lamb by Kevin Hearne - read 05/14
Life Before Legend by Marie Lu - read 05/15
Endurance by Ann Aguirre - read 05/13
The Darkest Prison by Gena Showalter - read 05/13
Old Habits by Melissa Marr - read 05/14

Books I'd love to dive into if times allows...

Mercenary Abduction by Eve Langlais - read 05/15
B785 by Eve Langlais - read 05/14
Lion and the Falcon by Eve Langlais - read 05/16
Lover Enslaved by Jodi Redford - read 05/13
An unnamed GLA book (review to go up 05/21) - read 05/14
Foundlings by Diana Peterfreund - read 05/15
Alex and the Werewolf by K. Matthew - read 05/17
Wild Instincts by Claudia King - read 05/17
Kiss of Flame by Madelene Martin - read 05/17
Sian's Solution by Dale Mayer - read 05/17
Pack Justice by Michelle Fox - read 05/18

Books I didn't get to

Review requests

Return by Charity Santiago
Burn Baby Burn by Shannon Donnelly
Diavolino by Steve Emmett

Reread books from Seriously Series

Kiss of Death by Rachel Caine
Next Dark-Hunter novel by Sherrilyn Kenyon

Updates
5/13
Number of books I’ve read today: 6
Total number of books I’ve read: 6
Books read: Lover Enslaved, The Darkest Prison, Ember, Two Ravens and One Crow, Surrender Your Love, Endurance
Today #insixwords: *stares at the books I read*
Things I learned on Twitter: I don't like bugs. Today's chat was INSANE (in a good way). I was heartily disappointed when Amanda didn't jail herself, btw. I have driven people to drink (totally not my fault). Bout of Books peeps are pretty awesome!
Final Tally: One sexy fae, two gods, a magical mystery tour, a #NakedDruid, two people who can't quite get on the same wavelength, and two people who keep battling on.

5/14
Number of books I’ve read today: 6
Total number of books I’ve read: 12
Books read: B785, Old Habits, Into the Dreaming, GLA, Grimoire of the Lamb, Gone
Today #insixwords: That's a whole lot of books!
Things I learned on Twitter: Who has time for Twitter? It's all about the books! Okay, that's not quite true. I chatted from the Bout of Books handle about writing reviews immediately vs. waiting and letting the thoughts percolate. I found a books called Ectojism and had to share it with the world. Because... ECTOJISM. And... umm, maybe that's it.
Final Tally: One sassy cyborg, two dead sexy fae, a Highlander, some scary sex shit, a #NakedDruid with a lot of enemies, and a girl who falls into dreams.

5/15
Number of books I’ve read today: 4
Total number of books I’ve read: 16
Books read: Mercenary Abduction, Life Before Legend, Kiss Across Time, Foundlings
Today #insixwords: Today was a reading slow down.
Things I learned on Twitter: Twitter chats are crazy (I already knew this!). I've still managed to stay caught up on reviews (16 in 3 days!). Books, books, books! Oh, and I took some time out of my reading to do some actual work today. GO FIGURE!
Final Tally: One purple merc, two brilliant opposites, a time traveling vampire menage, and twins in hiding.

5/16
Number of books I’ve read today: 4
Total number of books I’ve read: 20
Books read: Lion and the Falcon, Devil's Gate, Hunter's Season, Rhyn's Redemption
Today #insixwords: Boom! Successfully doubled my #boutofbooks goal!
Things I learned on Twitter: I didn't *learn* this on Twitter but I did announce that since my sister won't tell me my soon-to-be born niece's name, I'm going to call her Watermelon. Poor kid. Also, I <3 @Rehvenge_BDB.
Final Tally: A playboy lion and a sassy falcon, a medusa and a vampire, one sweetly quiet love story, and one fiercely defiant demon.

5/17
Number of books I’ve read today: 5
Total number of books I’ve read: 25
Books read: Alex and the Werewolf, Wild Instincts, Kiss of Flame, Sian's Solution, Lover Enraptured
Today #insixwords: Getting closer to my ultimate goal!
Things I learned on Twitter: The mere words "dragon erotica" intrigue people. The nipple penis is a picture I'm never going to scrub from my brain. My sister STILL hasn't had baby Watermelon.
Final Tally: One pack of rapey werewolves (no like!), a submissive who needs more than she's given, a dragon who takes what he wants, a vampire who risks it all, and a stubborn sex fae who has to be beaten over the head with the stick of love. That's not a euphemism.

5/18
Number of books I’ve read today: 3
Total number of books I’ve read: 28
Books read: Pack Justice, Fade Out, 'Til the World Ends
Today #insixwords: Three books, two naps, almost done!
Things I learned on Twitter: Awesome final chat. As an aside, I really love the chats but they SAP the energy out of me. Meaning that I had to take two naps today. Which leads to the fact that I'll probably be up all night. Wheeee!
Final Tally: A trio of naughty werewolves, one determined girl, and a world on the edge of dying.

5/19
Number of books I’ve read today: 2
Total number of books I’ve read: 30
Books read: Hex Hall, Vampire in Design
Today #insixwords: *incomprehensible mumble* #boutofbooks *flail* *fall down*
Things I learned on Twitter: I wasn't on Twitter much today. Well, there was that one point where I as psyching myself up to read book #30. Oh, and I got to see @FuckinTorin talk about his manly bits. That's ALWAYS fun. But mostly, I was away from the computer.
Final Tally: One powerful witchling and one throwback vampire.

Final Thoughts: I think I set a new record for myself with books read. I DON'T KNOW HOW I DID IT! Seriously. I'm thrilled with my numbers, but I have no clue how it happened. In other news, this is also officially the most successful Bout of Books that Amanda I have run to date. Without all you fabulous people, it wouldn't be a fraction of the awesome that it was!

Thank you to everyone who commented and cheered, read and chatted! I had a great time!
Make sure you're following the Bout of Books blog so you know when the next Bout of Books rolls around (and also so you know when the mid-break chat is being held).

Clock Rewinders (05/19/13)

2013-05-19T00:00:00.000-07:00

Clock Rewinders on a Book Binge is the brain child of Amanda @ On a Book Bender and Tara @ 25 Hour Books. I'm inviting myself to their party (as I sometimes do) because I have so damn much fun reading Amanda's posts that I couldn't help myself.

Reading the Paranormal Week in Review

Review: Game by Barry Lyga - Holy unrepentant serial killers, Batman!
Quickie Review: Career Day by Barry Lyga - I seriously love this series.
Top Off Tuesday - *gulp*
Review: The Governess Affair by Courtney Milan - This one *might* have managed to make me a little teary-eyed.
Review: Reversion by J. Thorn - Big, dark, bloody things happen.
Quickie Review: The Awakening & Other Stories by Emma Meade - Intriguing collection of paranormal themed short stories.
Series review: Bound by Cynthia Eden - All these naughty antics make me happy.
Things I learned from... reading monster erotica - Beware the HORNY MINOTAURS!

Bookish Delights
Goodreads Stats - Loosely borrowed from Tara @ 25 Hour Books

Currently unread - 487
Books added - 8

Unbound (Bound and Determined #1) by Dale Mayer - For review!
Vampire in Design (Family Blood Ties #3) by Dale Mayer - For review!
Freebies - Check the prices before you buy!

Alex and the Werewolf by K.C. Matthews (Paranormal erotica)
Pack Justice by Michelle Fox (Paranormal erotica)
Wild Instincts by Claudia King (Paranormal erotica)
Untamed Hunger (Alpha Colony #1) by Aubrey Ross (Paranormal erotica)
Rule of Three by Kelly Jamison (Contemporary erotica)
Sian's Solution (Family Blood Ties #0.5) by Dale Mayer (Paranormal YA)

Books read - 28
Currently reading - 1

Hex Hall by Rachel Hawkins

Globetrotting...

Free Books Need Love, Too! weekly reviews:

Monday - The Binding - Bred by a Demon by Madelene Martin
Wednesday - The Hermit by Shayne McClendon

Check it out!

Seriously Series weekly update: Oh, wow! Bout of Books helped me KILL a bunch of series. I LOVE IT WHEN THAT HAPPENS! I'm kind tired now, though. Imagine that.

Series started in 2013: 17/18 (+3 since last week)
Series started before 2013: 16/18 (+8 since last week)
Series rereads: 4/12 (static)

News from around the blogosphere:

I don't have any clue what's going on this week. Seriously, a spaceship could have landed next to my house and... wait, I probably would have noticed that. Especially if it came equipped with a cadre of hunky alien men who demand that I join them on their spaceship to... I'm sorry. What were we talking about again?

Until next week, my lovelies!

Things I've learned from... reading monster erotica!

2013-05-18T03:00:00.000-07:00

I feel like I need to preface this a bit...

It shouldn't be a secret that I love monster erotica. From the silly ones to the SERIOUS juggernauts that give their all to the monster erotica genre, I just find them FUN. I'd like to share with you the things I've learned in my monster erotica readings.

Tread carefully, my lovelies...

Monsters are notoriously well-hung. Sometimes to the point that the female being serviced by it/them are in danger of injury.
A lone woman on an expedition to an exotic locale pretty much guarantees that she will garner the attentions of a monster of some kind. Often, it's a group of monsters who want to impregnate and/or sex her up until she can't walk straight.
Said lone woman might initially fight the feelings of arousal or lust the monsters kindle in her, but she eventually succumbs to their monster-y demands.
Space tentacles are unparalleled explorers who will leave no hole unplundered.
Monsters are excessively horny.
All monsters like to be in charge during the sexin'.
Werewolves are territorial. Once they've found "the one", no other monster can touch her (or him)...
...except when it's a werewolf orgy. Then, all bets are off.
The best tentacles come in every size and shape imaginable. The rare ones can change their size and shape according to need.
If you come across a labyrinth/maze in the middle of nowhere, chances are high that you'll find an oversexed, VERY horny minotaur at its center.

There you go, my brave ones! Nothing says lovin' like monster-y goodness!

Series review: Bound by Cynthia Eden

2013-05-17T06:00:00.000-07:00

Cynthia Eden's werewolves and vampires are full of steam and sparks. And maybe a touch of blood. Maybe. All their naughty antics make me happy. Very happy.

Books in the Bound series
1. Bound by Blood - Kindle
2. Bound in Darkness - Kindle
3. Bound in Sin - Kindle
4. Bound by the Night - Kindle
5. Bound in Death - Kindle
Forever Bound (books 1-4) -- series bundle - Kindle

Bound by Blood
Synopsis (Goodreads):

It’s an Immortal War…

Vampires and werewolves have been blood enemies for centuries, but now a new threat is rising...demons are escaping from hell and those demons are intent on wiping out both the vamps and the werewolves.

When you have no one to trust…

In order to stop the demons, pureblood vampire princess Morgan LaBeaux agrees to the treaty offered by werewolf alpha Jace Vaughn. She'll mate with him, share her blood with him...and in return, the wolves will aid the vampires in this battle.

The enemy of my enemy is my husband…

But Morgan doesn’t realize just how dangerous the wolves can truly be. Jace has been waiting years to claim her. He’s set a trap for his princess, and now that he has her, Jace doesn’t plan to let her go. He’ll send the demons back to hell, and he’ll keep his vampiress—forever.

Because the blood binds all.

My Thoughts: Oh, yeah. The forbidden love between a werewolf and a vampire. Gotta love that! All that pent up desire for something they're not supposed to have leads to some hot, hot sexin'. Thumbs up to that! Okay, so technically, this isn't so much forbidden love as a "we fight each other and don't have time for sweet, sweet lovin'" sort of thing. Which is all sorts of wrong because when Jace and Morgan give in to their passion, they blow the roof off. Almost literally. I mean, there is an explosion but it had nothing to do with them hooking up. Well, no, that's not right either. It had to do with them hooking up but it wasn't because they were doing dirty, filthy things to one another in the privacy of their own bedroom. Well, actually, it was kind of because of that, wasn't it? Okay. So, this entire paragraph is riddled with lies and half-truths. JUST GO WITH IT!

Seriously, there is so much goodness here. A hot Alpha and the wolves who follow him. A strong, sexy princess who is willing to risk it all to save her people. Betrayal. Danger. Demons who thrive off of bloodshed and chaos. The sharing of bodily fluids. Lather, rinse, repeat. Especially that "sharing of bodily fluids" part.

Crazy fun. Let's have more!

Bound in Darkness
Synopsis (Goodreads):

Hunter...

When it comes to killing vampires, werewolf Cade Thain is the best slayer in the Northwest. So when a witch hires him to take out a pureblood vamp, the assassin thinks it will be just business as usual. One less vicious vamp on the streets... one more undead parasite gone from the earth. Then he meets her.

Protector...

Allison Gray isn't the prey that Cade expects. Beautiful, innocent, she stirs a dark desire within him. Allison hasn't transformed fully into a vampire, not yet, and it's Cade's job to make sure that she never does. Allison thinks that he's at her side to keep her safe, but Cade is supposed to pick the right moment --and kill her.

Lover...

Killing Allison is soon the last thing that Cade plans. As she begins the transformation that will turn her into a vampire, her bloodlust and their desire merge in an explosion of need that neither can control. But Allison's enemies are closing in, and the coming battle will take Cade and Allison beyond life, beyond love... and into a deadly darkness that waits to claim them both.

My Thoughts: Another set of star-crossed lovers. This time we get a powerful werewolf who has a serious bone to pick with every vampire he comes across (with good reason, mind you) and a soon-to-be vampire who has no idea what's happening to her. There's backstabbing and betrayal, angry werewolf growls and dirty sexin'. Not literal dirty, though. They're both pretty clean when they get down to business. Especially that time in the shower. *nods*

Okay. Cade. The guy has a lot of baggage. After what he was put through as a boy, I can understand his driving need to put the hurt on the vamps. As his run-in with Allison shows him, not all vampires are cut from the same cloth as those that tortured him, though. His change in thinking (about Allison as a vampire, at least) was fun to watch and it worked for me. Plus, I like it when Alphas go all growly around their ladies.

Overall, very fun with a nice tie-in to book 1. *thumbs up*

Bound in Sin
Synopsis (Goodreads):

What's the price of sin?

Human Paige Sloan once loved werewolf Drake Wyler more than life, but then that life was taken away from her. Attacked by vampires, Paige was bitten, and, on a cold, dark night, the life she'd known ended. She was reborn as a vampire--a werewolf's deadliest enemy.

Paige ran from the vampires who attacked her, and she ran away from her lover. She didn't want Drake to know what she'd become, and she didn't want to face the fury of his pack. But a girl can only run for so long until the past catches up with her.

Some sins mark your soul.

When Paige learns that Drake is being targeted for death, she knows that she can't hide in the shadows any longer. She has to return to him, and she will do anything--anything--in order to make sure that he keeps living. The vampires might have destroyed her chance to live and love Drake, but they won't take him. Not over her undead body. She'll slay them all...and maybe, just maybe...she'll even have the chance to sin--one more time--with the werewolf who'd marked her as his mate.

Some sins are worth dying for...

My Thoughts: This one hurt a little. In a good way. The things that Paige was forced to endure because of the sadistic tendencies of those in power... THAT POOR GIRL! And Drake! Thinking she'd left him all those years ago. Oh, Drake

I seriously adore these vampire/werewolf pairings. He's got enough extra body heat to keep her toes warm at night, she likes to bite. Heck, he likes to bite, too, doesn't he? There's all that biting and primal sexin' going on that the two of them hardly know which way is up. Which is just the way I like my vampires and werewolves, as it turns out.

I completely dig the "bad guys are bad bad bad" vibe we have going here. Seriously, the twisted vamps (and wolves, if I'm going to be fair) who revel in causing a little extra pain and misery with their torture are creepy in the extreme. Which makes me love to hate them. Couple that with a hero and heroine who are nicely bloodthirsty and don't mind bringing the pain to those that deserve it and I'm a very happy reader!

Bound by the Night
Synopsis (Goodreads):

For the last fifteen years, vampire queen Iona has been dead to the world. Trapped under the power of a brutal curse, she has been helpless. A prisoner, locked within her own still body. Then alpha werewolf Jamie O'Connell fights his way to her side. After defeating the guards that surround her, Jamie gives Iona his blood...and she rises.

The world has changed a great deal in the last fifteen years, and Iona has changed, too. Once known as the Blood Queen because of her dark reputation, she now finds herself longing for the blood of only one man...only he isn't just a man. She wants the blood of her werewolf--Jamie's blood. But Iona doesn't realize that Jamie has been keeping secrets from her. Very dark, dangerous secrets. And Iona may have traded one curse for another.

Now that he has Iona, Jamie vows to never let her go. He needs his Blood Queen in order to defeat his enemy, he needs her to make his own beast stronger, and...he just needs her. Jamie has risked his life to claim Iona, and he won't let anything break their bond. Not time. Not spells. Not even a wild and reckless vampire queen...

My Thoughts: Holy wow! I liked this one. Iona is one badass chick who is a little on edge after 15 years of being trapped inside her own body. And if that's not creepy enough... no, never mind. That right there is creepy enough. I mean, she was trapped, awake but unable to move inside her body. That's shudder inducing before the backstabbing and betrayal are thrown in.

Meanwhile, Jamie has his own brand of vengeance going and he's willing to do whatever it takes to bring down the werewolf who slaughtered his pack. Well, he *was* willing to do whatever it took. And then he met Iona and that "Want. Mine." urge rears up and starts complicating things.

This was probably the most complex in the series so far. Iona has a lot of history and she's seen the worst in so many people. Jamie has an issue or two that he needs to resolve, himself. His history might not be as long and varied as Iona's but he has his own demons to deal with.

Very, very fun story with more of the naughty werewolf/vampire sexin' that I've grown to love. *thumbs up* all around to these crazy couples.

Bound in Death
Synopsis (Goodreads)

She can’t remember him…
He can never forget her.

For over two hundred years, alpha werewolf Alerac O’Neill has been searching for his mate, Keira McDonough, a woman who was taken from him and imprisoned by a dark vampire master. He’s hunted for her, endlessly, using vampire blood to extend his life. He has become a vicious predator, feared by all the supernaturals. His hold on reality seems to slip more each day because he is consumed by her.

Only…the woman he discovers in a small Miami bar isn’t the Keira that he remembers. In fact, this woman doesn’t remember anything. She calls herself Jane Smith, and she has no memory at all of Alerac—or of her own past.

Now that she’s been found, Alerac knows that his enemies are going to start closing in on her. Jane may try to act human, but she’s not. She’s a pureblood vampire princess, incredibly powerful and incredibly valuable. His enemies want to use her, her enemies want to destroy her, and Alerac—he just wants her.

If he can’t make her remember him, then Alerac has to seduce Jane into loving him once again. Because now that he’s found her, he’ll fight hell—and every sadistic vampire that stalks the night—in order to keep her safe at his side.

Some bonds go deeper than the flesh. Some go beyond life. Beyond death.

Jane will soon learn that a werewolf’s claiming…is forever

My Thoughts: My love affair with this series continues! Feral Alpha male with a serious drive to find his hidden mate? YES, PLEASE! Throw in a sadistic douche-canoe whose idea of a party is to remove someone's memories in a twisted bid for power and you have a winner.

There's also backstabbing, a fair amount of blood, and the beginning of a potential love story with some secondary characters. <3 Yes, I am in flaily, fangirl bliss. Thank you for noticing.

Alerec... he's a hunk of burning love. Literally. He's a werewolf. They run hot. *nods* Anyway. He's all tangled up after 200 years without his lady love and his wolf is close to the surface. I think he grows on Jane. Or she grows into him. Or... something like that. She starts off scared of the world and ends up kicking ass and taking names. It's pretty awesome.

I love the secondary characters and the interactions between them. The bad guys aren't too shabby either. I mean, they're not the sort you want to meet in a dark alley or anything. Mostly because they'd rip your head off without giving it a second thought. That's never a selling point on meeting people, in my opinion.

As always, I adore these werewolf/vampire pairings and I'm completely willing to read MOAR of them.

Author Links
| Website | Twitter | Facebook | Amazon |

Quickie Review: The Awakening & Other Stories by Emma Meade

2013-05-16T09:00:00.000-07:00

The Awakening & Other Stories by Emma Meade
Synopsis (Goodreads):

Put on the kettle, close the curtains and curl up by the fire.
Dive into 8 short tales, each with a slice of the paranormal.

Ghost Story - Who is the shadow in the window of the abandoned house, and what or who is he waiting for?
The Awakening - It's time for Sabrina to wake up and face the light.
End of the Line - Cassie wants to die. When midnight rolls around, she stands on the tracks waiting for the train to come.
Milsa Loris - The once magnificent kingdom of Milsa Loris comes alive one night each winter. The King's witch is brewing up a little magic, sure to make the soup all the tastier.
The Old Vampire - Hailey spent her life dreaming of a dark prince falling in love with her. He never showed up, until now.
The Knocking - Alison's grandfather has one eye on the next life. After all, he's heard a lot of rapping at his door lately.
The Boy on the Beach - Kate's grandmother warns her about the boy with the green eyes. Will she pay heed?
Snowglobes- It's busy at Calvin's Cabins this Christmas. Eddie and Maggie are a young couple in trouble. Not to fear, Calvin is always ready to lend a hand.

My Thoughts: Intriguing collection of paranormal themed short stories. The stand out would have to be End of the Line for me. I wanted more with that one. Maybe it was the hint of romance because I'm nothing if not a hardcore shipper at heart and I'm always looking for ways to hook people up, even after they're dead. Come to think of it, I had a bit of a flutter for Ghost Story, too. Likely for the same reason.

All the stories are short but they move along nicely. Death and/or the ending of a way of life plays a central theme in all of them. They're a quick bite on a lazy day.

Author Links
| Website | Twitter | Facebook | Amazon | Kindle |

The Awakening & Other Stories was provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.

Review: Reversion by J. Thorn

2013-05-16T06:00:00.001-07:00

Reversion: The Inevitable Horror (Portal Arcane #1) by J. Thorn
Synopsis (Goodreads):

The end is coming and one man must outrace the destruction and find his redemption.

With a noose around his neck, Samuel arrives in a forest littered with caution tape and artifacts of the deceased. He struggles to regain his memory while fending off a pack of wolves and the mysterious visitors who seem to know more about this dying world than he does. Major, Kole, and Mara, his new companions also trapped in the strange locality, accompany Samuel and attempt to outrace its destruction, to outrun the Reversion.

My Thoughts: Huh. This is a tough book to review without giving away all the pertinent points. But I shall try!

Sooo.... This book is twisty and dark and very compelling. It takes a look at choices and the actions that result from those choices. The mystery of what's happening around -- and to -- Samuel and the people he comes across in his journey is revealed a piece at a time and the disjointedness of it all is both jarring and captivating.

There's a lot going on here, guys. A LOT. Bad things happen, good things happen, truth comes to light. Samuel's journey through this broken, dying land is just one part of it all. And... you know, that's pretty much all I can say without completely spoiling this book. THINGS HAPPEN. BIG THINGS. DARK THINGS. BLOODY THINGS!

Big, dark, bloody things. Bring it!

Books in this series
1. Reversion - Paperback | Kindle
2. The Law of Three

Author Links
| Website | Twitter | Facebook | Amazon |

Reversion was provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.

Review: The Governess Affair by Courtney Milan

2013-05-15T06:00:00.000-07:00

The Governess Affair (Brothers Sinister #0.5) by Courtney Milan
Synopsis (Goodreads):

She will not give up…

Three months ago, governess Serena Barton was let go from her position. Unable to find new work, she’s demanding compensation from the man who got her sacked: a petty, selfish, swinish duke. But it’s not the duke she fears. It’s his merciless man of business—the man known as the Wolf of Clermont. The formidable former pugilist has a black reputation for handling all the duke’s dirty business, and when the duke turns her case over to him, she doesn’t stand a chance. But she can’t stop trying—not with her entire future at stake.

He cannot give in…

Hugo Marshall is a man of ruthless ambition—a characteristic that has served him well, elevating the coal miner’s son to the right hand man of a duke. When his employer orders him to get rid of the pestering governess by fair means or foul, it’s just another day at the office. Unfortunately, fair means don’t work on Serena, and as he comes to know her, he discovers that he can’t bear to use foul ones. But everything he has worked for depends upon seeing her gone. He’ll have to choose between the life that he needs, and the woman he is coming to love…

My Thoughts: Oh, guys. This one *might* have managed to make me a little teary-eyed. Serena's quiet acceptance of what had happened to her GOT to me. Her refusal to stay silent any longer was understandable. I mean, with all that had happened and the fact that she was punished for it, I wanted her to rail at the world and tell them what a despicable man the Duke was. Her decision to not bend in the face of enormous odds was fantastic.

Randomly, one of the things that I admired is that Serena is speaking out by not speaking. She sits quietly in front of the Duke's house day in and day out to get the gossips started. She doesn't say WHY she's there, she lets her presence speak for itself. It worked for me!

I like Hugo. I liked how he had a code he lived by and a wall around his heart. Serena's quiet strength began chipping at that wall from the first time he saw her. When he finds out all the specifics of her situation, he offers her a unique and highly unusual way of solving her problem. I liked that he came to terms with his past and why he was so driven to succeed. You know, there was just a lot of things I liked about him.

A fun (although slightly damp) read with characters that aren't the type you find in your usual historicals. Courtney Milan's writing shines and now I want more sassy ladies and the men who fall for them!

Books in this series
0.5. The Governess Affair - Paperback | Kindle
1. The Duchess War
1.5. A Kiss for Midwinter
2. The Heiress Effect
3. The Countess Conspiracy
4. The Mistress Rebellion

Author Links
| Website | Twitter | Facebook | Amazon |

The Governess Affair was a free Kindle download I picked up on 03/12/13 for the Why Buy the Cow? Reading Challenge.

Top Off Tuesday - gulp

2013-05-14T00:00:00.000-07:00

I've decided to join Felicia, Christi and Amanda for their gratuitous shirtless covers on Tuesdays. Because nothing says Tuesday like flashing some skin! Hop over to Felicia's blog to see who else is participating!

His stomach is... what's the word that means that when I see something I get very, very naughty, inappropriate ideas? Because... that. THAT!

Naughty Sleepover Anthology

Who wouldn't love a Naughty Sleepover with a very sexy guy? Seven women in seven hot stories meet the men who rock their boat in San Antonio's historic Menger Hotel. The hotel is famous for its ghosts but after reading these stories you'll agree it's famous for a lot more - erotic adventures in luxurious settings and sex hot enough to burn up the Egyptian cotton sheets.

You'll fall in love with these bright, funny, tempting women and fall in lust with the men they meet.

Quickie Review: Career Day by Barry Lyga

2013-05-13T09:00:00.000-07:00

Career Day (Jasper Dent #0.5) by Barry Lyga
Synopsis (Goodreads):
(Kelly's note: There isn't an actual synopsis anywhere that I could find, so I shall sum things up for you instead. *steeples fingers and laughs maniacally* *pauses* Or, I'll just give you the beginning of the I Hunt Killers synopsis. Dammit.)

Jasper "Jazz" Dent is a likable teenager. A charmer, one might say.

But he's also the son of the world's most infamous serial killer, and for Dear Old Dad, Take Your Son to Work Day was year-round. Jazz has witnessed crime scenes the way cops wish they could—from the criminal's point of view.

My Thoughts: Holy whoa, people! This short story packs a considerable wallop. The ending. THE ENDING. It nearly made me tear up. For all his bravado and the game face he puts on for the world, Jazz is just a sad, sweet, messed up kid underneath. It absolutely kills me how badly he wants to be normal and how much his dad screwed him up.

This is a fantastic look at Jazz and his friends before the events in book 1. Between gangly, irrepressible Howie (his flirting is AWESOME, btw) and cool as a cucumber Connie (I like this girl. I really like her), Jazz is building up defenses against what his dad taught him. Because "People matter" and Howie and Connie are there to remind him of that.

I seriously love this series. Jazz is messed up and his thought process can be downright scary at times but he gets in your head and under your skin. In a good way. Although I have no doubt he could do that in a bad way, too. Thanks, dad, for that.

Books in this series
0.5. Career Day - free download/online read
1. I Hunt Killers
2. Game

Author Links
| Website | Twitter | Facebook | Amazon |

Career Day was a free download I picked up on 03/27/13 for the Why Buy the Cow? Reading Challenge.

Review: Game by Barry Lyga

2013-05-13T06:00:00.000-07:00

Game (Jasper Dent #2) by Barry Lyga
Synopsis (Goodreads):

I Hunt Killers introduced the world to Jasper (Jazz) Dent, the son of the world's most infamous serial killer.

When a desperate New York City detective comes knocking on Jazz's door asking for help with a new case, Jazz can't say no. The Hat-Dog Killer has the Big Apple--and its police force running scared with no leads. So Jazz and his girlfriend Connie hop on a plane to the big city and get swept up in a killer's murderous game.

Meanwhile, Jazz's dad Billy is watching...and waiting.

My Thoughts: Holy unrepentant serial killers, Batman! If you thought book 1 was creeptastic, this book is going to knock your socks off. And maybe remove your intestines. And your eyeballs. *shivers*

Book 1 ended with Jazz feeling like he was starting to fit in - that he'd found his calling with the skills Billy had given him as he was growing up. Book 2 finds Jazz not quite there yet. He doesn't trust himself enough to believe that he's not going to go bad and end up snapping and killing those around him. His mantra of People Matter is still running through his head. He feels guilt over Billy's escape and now he's having dreams that rattle him to his core.

Guys, as dark as book 1 was, this book ups the ante. The murders that Jazz steps in to help on are brutal. The things that he sees, the way he processes information, his understanding of a killer's mind ... it's chilling. Jazz is this wonderfully complex character who just draws you in with his fears and his analytical mind. His ability to manipulate is creepy. His fear that there's a trigger buried somewhere in his psyche... with the way that Billy planned ahead, it could SO EASILY be true.

Things are revealed this time around that look HUGE. Connie and Howie are more than just supporting players, they're finding things out. They understand Jazz better than he thinks they do. They know that there are times when the only thing holding him together is the fact that they're there to support him. (And also, Howie's pickup lines are made of PURE AWESOME!)

AND THE ENDING! I'm going to be DYING (not literally, although I'm sure Billy could arrange that) until book 3 comes out! SO MANY THINGS! I've got my fangirl flail on for this series and I want to wallow in all the Jazz and crew that I can possibly wallow in.

Yes, it's THAT good.

Books in this series
1. I Hunt Killers
2. Game - Hardcover | Kindle

Author Links
| Website | Twitter | Facebook | Amazon |

Clock Rewinders (05/12/13)

2013-05-12T00:00:00.000-07:00

Review: Eternal Rider by Larissa Ione - This series is kind of addictive.
Top Off Tuesday - You know it!
Review: Lord of Misrule by Rachel Caine - The reread continues!
Review: Carpe Corpus by Rachel Caine - Oh, Myrnin!
Review: Captivated by S.A. Archer & S. Ravynheart - Good guys gone bad through no fault of their own are something of a weakness of mine.
Review: Keeper of Secrets by S.A. Archer & S. Ravynheart - Dark, dark, dark with a side of dark - I LIKE IT!
Review: Uprising by S.A. Archer & S. Ravynheart - Man, I love these Unseelie.
Review: Working Stiff by Rachel Caine - Zombies who are a little different.
Blog Housekeeping [10] - Every two weeks, people. EVERY TWO WEEKS!

Bookish Delights
Goodreads Stats - Loosely borrowed from Tara @ 25 Hour Books

Currently unread - 503
Books added - 16

Mercenary Abduction (Alien Abduction #4) by Eve Langlais - For Bout of Books!
B785 (Cyborgs: More Than Machines #3) by Eve Langlais - For Bout of Books!
The Lion and the Falcon (Furry United Coalition #4) by Eve Langlais - For Bout of Books!
Endurance (Razorland #1.5) by Ann Aguirre - For Bout of Books!
Old Habits (Wicked Lovely #2.6) by Melissa Marr - For Bout of Books!
The Darkest Prison (Lords of Underworld #3.5) by Gena Showalter - For Bout of Books!
Lover Enslaved (Thieves of Aurion #1) by Jodi Redford - For Bout of Books!
Two Ravens and One Crow (The Iron Druid Chronicles #4.5) by Kevin Hearne - For Bout of Books!
Grimoire of the Lamb (The Iron Druid Chronicles #0.4) by Kevin Hearne - For Bout of Books!
Ember (Darkest London #0.5) by Kristen Callihan - For Bout of Books!
Life Before Legend (Legend #0.5) by Marie Lu - For Bout of Books!
Freebies - Check the prices before you buy!

Rebound (Tryst Island #1) by Sabrina York (Contemporary Erotica)
Wicked in Your Arms (Forgotten Princesses #1) by Sophie Jordan (Historical Romance)
Rescuing Reya (The Beast Masters #3) by Reagan Hawk (Sexy Sci-Fi)
Corbin's Captive (Galactic Breeders #1) by Emma Paul (Sexy Sci-Fi)
Binding Krista (Fallon Mates #1) by Jory Strong (Sexy Sci-Fi)

Books read - 10
Currently reading - 0

I'm holding off on starting anything until midnight when I can hit my Bout of Books list like a FREIGHT TRAIN!

Don't forget...

...Bout of Books starts TOMORROW... well, tonight at midnight. I'm going to be reading! Will you?

Globetrotting...

On Wednesday, I was over at Amanda's blog with a review for Remnants of Magic by S.A. Archer & S. Ravynheart. Collecting the second half of season 1 in order, this gave me a chance to go back and read straight through... which I LOVED!
Free Books Need Love, Too! weekly reviews:

Monday - The Pharaoh and the Curator by Sophia Jones
Tuesday - GLA: Bigfoot Fucks Sisters by Jess Green
Wednesday - Turned and Bound by Yoli Kim

Check it out!

Seriously Series weekly update: Bout of Books prep ended up eating a few days out of my week. BUT... I still managed to make some progress on my series books!

Series started in 2013: 14/18 (+2 since last week)
Series started before 2013: 8/18 (+1 since last week)
Series rereads: 4/12 (static)

News from around the blogosphere:

Amanda and Gaby give us the second part of their ongoing series on (re)Discovering the Basics. This time they're looking at the things that can be added to make a blog easy to navigate
Kevin Hearne dispenses his wisdom in his trademark witty way - Writing encouragement No. 2.
Which reminds me... Kevin Hearne took a look at the economics of touring - this time from the bookstore's perspective. I'm immensely grateful that one of the indie stores in my area is able to invest the time and money into bringing authors in. I have met several of my favorites through them and there are several more in the works (Kevin Hearne being one of them!).
Veronica Rossi has an OUTSTANDING post on how she wrote her books. Beside the fact that she's a doll, I love what she has to say about writing in a vacuum, learning to write with distractions, and that the writing process is ever changing for her.
The Oatmeal reports the good news that enough money was raised to purchase the land that Nikolai Tesla once had a laboratory on. There might just be a Goddamn Tesla Museum in our future.
On a more series note, Allie @ Hyperbole and a Half is back with a candid look at depression and how it's not easy pulling yourself out of it. I seriously applaud her willingness to be honest about what she's gone through and I wish her the best of luck in her battle.

Here's to a crazy week coming up!

Blog Housekeeping [10]

2013-05-11T03:00:00.000-07:00

It's that time again! Time to polish up your blog until it shines!

**Since Bout of Books begins on Monday, I wanted to make sure I was ready to review all the books I was planning on reading without having to cut into my reading time. My solution: I spent a few hours one day readying templates for the books on my goal list. I might have given myself tendonitis doing it but, by gum, I'll be able to review them as soon as they're read! I also want to get all my pending reviews written so that I can go into the week with a clean slate. That's what I'll be working on today.

Update:

review archive - are you responsible for sites other than your own? Don't forget about those
sidebar - check for buttons or links for events that have ended. Have any new events coming up? Now's the time to add them.
reading challenges - update your progress, add links to challenges where you can link up. If you're a challenge host, do you try to comment on linked reviews? Now's your chance!
blogrolls - clean 'em up!
crosspost - do you crosspost to Amazon, B&N, Goodreads, Library Thing? Don't forget to add your reviews to Netgalley or Edelwiess for those ARCs.
check your subscription and social media links - if this isn't something that you normally check, now's an excellent time to make sure it's doing what it should be doing. (check out Felicia's Tech Tips for ideas on what to do if you're getting errors on your subscription link)
check your static pages (About, Review Policy, etc) for outdated information, broken links, etc.
review your profiles - when was the last time you updated your Goodreads or Facebook profiles? Is everything up to date?

Get ahead:

May is nearly half over! Now's the time to draft up any month-end or beginning of the month posts. Think creatively. What can you do to get ahead and make the end of the month easier on you?

Misc:

respond to review requests and other bloggy emails
check your spam folder - legitimate emails can sometimes slip through, catch them now.
check the spam filter on the blog - get rid of the spam! save the legits!
make the rounds - check back on blogs where you left comments, maybe spread a few new comments around like candy.

Did you do everything that applies to you? Well done! Now...

BACK UP YOUR BLOG!

| Blogger tutorial | Wordpress tutorial |

The next post is scheduled for 5/25 and I expect to see YOU here!

Review: Working Stiff by Rachel Caine

2013-05-10T06:00:00.000-07:00

Working Stiff (Revivalist #1) by Rachel Caine
Synopsis (Goodreads):

Bryn Davis knows working at Fairview Mortuary isn't the most glamorous career choice, but at least it offers stable employment--until she discovers her bosses using a drug that resurrects the clientele as part of an extortion racket. Now, Bryn faces being terminated--literally, and with extreme prejudice.

Wit the help of corporate double-agent Patrick McCallister, Bryn has a chance to take down the bigger problem--pharmaceutical company Pharmadene, which treats death as the ultimate corporate loyalty program. She'd better do it fast, before she becomes a zombie slave--a real working stiff. She'd be better off dead...

My Thoughts: You know how sometimes you go into a book with some preconceived notions about it and it ends up surprising you in a good way? Yeah, that was me with this book. I don't even know what my issues were going into it, to be honest. I knew I wanted to read it because I love Rachel Caine's style of writing but I kept putting off starting this one. And then I put it off a little longer. Then I read it. Now I'm kicking myself because I like this take on zombies and I like the world that's been built. So, yeah. Rachel Caine's writing = 1, Kelly's issues that she can't pinpoint = 0

Bryn is... huh, how to describe her? She's cool under fire (her time in the military helps her in that regard) and she's not afraid to branch out and try new things (a new career as a funeral director, anyone?) but she's also nicely flawed. She makes some assumptions about people that end up being very wrong. Some of those assumptions end up getting her killed. She has a complicated relationship with her family. Above all, she's stuck in a situation that is really, really horrible. It's not so much that she died, as that she's now tied to whoever holds the drug that keeps her functioning. This is non-negotiable. She's seen the side effects of not having the drug. Short of getting someone to take care of her in a very permanent and saw-to-the-throat sort of way, her options are limited.

I liked Patrick. I liked Joe. I liked the peripheral characters. The whole idea of forcing people to work for the thing that keeps them functionally alive is very creepy with so much potential for badness. Bryn's in an unenviable situation and the things she has to deal with aren't pretty.

So. Zombies who are a little different. Bad guys who are REALLY bad. Family dynamics that are just twisty enough to have you raising your eyebrows. I ended up liking this one.

Books in this series
1. Working Stiff - Paperback | Kindle
2. Two Weeks' Notice

Author links
| Website | Twitter | Facebook | Amazon |

Review: Uprising by S.A. Archer & S. Ravynheart

2013-05-09T12:00:00.000-07:00

Uprising (Rise of the Unseelie #5) by S.A. Archer & S. Ravynheart
Synopsis (Goodreads):

Awakening to his bloodhound abilities, Malcolm’s following dangerous instincts he doesn’t understand and can’t control. As Donovan discovers the truth about who murdered Danu, war is brewing on more than one front, threatening everything the Unseelie have fought for.

My Thoughts: Man, I love these Unseelie. Even when Donovan's being a little obtuse (C'mon, sweet pea, don't you think that there might have been another side to the story than just the one that the traumatized girl told you), they're my favorite. And Malcolm! MALCOLM! He's so wonderfully damaged and just this side of cracked. His ability to follow magic is both a blessing (finding the little lost lambs) and a curse (hello, new obsession!) and I just ADORE him. Which is a funny thing to say about a half feral kid who would cheerfully rend his enemies with his bare hands. But that's the way it is. I like the kid and I want him to find a measure of peace after everything he's been through.

BIG things happen in this book. BIG things. Donovan's care of the Sidhe girl delights me to no end. Malcolm is beginning to piece together something that could have huge ramifications for the survival of the Fey. We were given answers to some of the questions about the events leading up to the collapse of the Mounds. See? BIG THINGS!

Love this series. Love these Unseelie guys. *thumbs up* all around!

Books in this series
(suggested series reading order)
End of the World (Champion of the Sidhe #1)
Aftershock (Rise of the Unseelie #1)
Cursed (Touched #1)
Champion of the Fey (Champion of the Sidhe #2)
Addicted (Touched #2)
Scars of Silver (Rise of the Unseelie #2)
Defender of Magic (Champion of the Sidhe #3)
Eyes of Magic (Rise of the Unseelie #3)
Enchanted (Touched #3)
Bloodhound (Rise of the Unseelie #4)
Protector of the Light (Champion of the Sidhe #4)
Compelled (Touched #4)
Captivated (Touched #5)
Keeper of Secrets (Champion of the Sidhe #5)
Uprising (Rise of the Unseelie #5) - Kindle

The entire series compilation, in order
Scattered Magic (season 1 part 1) - Kindle
Remnants of Magic (season 1 part 2) - Kindle

The individual series compilations
Champion of the Sidhe - Kindle
Rise of the Unseelie - Kindle
Touched - Kindle

Author Links
S.A. Archer - | Website | Twitter | Facebook | Amazon |
S. Ravynheart - | Website | Twitter | Amazon |

Uprising was provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.

Review: Keeper of Secrets by S.A. Archer & S. Ravynheart

2013-05-09T09:00:00.000-07:00

Keeper of Secrets (Champion of the Sidhe #5) by S.A. Archer & S. Ravynheart
Synopsis (Goodreads):

Poisoned with dark magic and suffering the Fade, Lugh’s fighting a battle within himself. One that endangers everyone around him. And if he can’t complete his quest for the new fey realm before the dark corruption possesses him, all hope for the fey may be lost.

My Thoughts: Annnnd Dark Lugh just keeps getting darker, doesn't he? Deliciously, decadently dark. I'm pretty sure he's veering into the realm of scary at this point and I like it. Well, I like it in the sense that it's going to cause a major upheaval and all sorts of crazy shenanigans.

While Lugh's off doing battle with his inner crazy... ahh, wait, that's pretty much the bulk of what happens here. We get to see slightly-in-control Lugh facing off with the darkness he's been poisoned with. We get to see the corruption rearing up and taking control at some rather inopportune moments. Lugh's strength of will is formidable but he can only hold out so long when the darkness is coiling through him from the inside.

Dark, dark, dark with a side of dark, Lugh isn't going to be able to push this aside and keep soldiering onward. Good thing he has London there to help remind him that he's the Champion.

Books in this series
(suggested series reading order)
End of the World (Champion of the Sidhe #1)
Aftershock (Rise of the Unseelie #1)
Cursed (Touched #1)
Champion of the Fey (Champion of the Sidhe #2)
Addicted (Touched #2)
Scars of Silver (Rise of the Unseelie #2)
Defender of Magic (Champion of the Sidhe #3)
Eyes of Magic (Rise of the Unseelie #3)
Enchanted (Touched #3)
Bloodhound (Rise of the Unseelie #4)
Protector of the Light (Champion of the Sidhe #4)
Compelled (Touched #4)
Captivated (Touched #5)
Keeper of Secrets (Champion of the Sidhe #5) - Kindle
Uprising (Rise of the Unseelie #5)

The entire series compilation, in order
Scattered Magic (season 1 part 1) - Kindle
Remnants of Magic (season 1 part 2) - Kindle

The individual series compilations
Champion of the Sidhe - Kindle
Rise of the Unseelie - Kindle
Touched - Kindle

Author Links
S.A. Archer - | Website | Twitter | Facebook | Amazon |
S. Ravynheart - | Website | Twitter | Amazon |

Keeper of Secrets was provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.

Review: Captivated by S.A. Archer & S. Ravynheart

2013-05-09T06:00:00.000-07:00

Captivated (Touched #5) by S.A. Archer & S. Ravynheart
Synopsis (Goodreads):

London’s had a rough journey and made some bad choices. She’s on the Unseelie hit list and hoping that hooking up with a Seelie is the answer to all her problems. Only now that she’s beginning to get a glimpse of the bigger picture, she finds herself at ground zero of more magical trouble than she ever expected.

My Thoughts: I'm not going to lie, Dark Lugh works for me. I like the slightly feral edge that's starting to show around the edges. He might be a bit much once the darkness overwhelms him a bit more but I like this version of him. Good guys gone bad through no fault of their own are something of a weakness of mine, I must admit.

Let's talk about London now, shall we? I like London. She's made some really bad choices along the way and she's also stuck with something dark inside her through no fault of her own but she has this moment in this book where she looks past her own wants and desires and sees that she's part of something BIG. Her actions could help the Fey survive. Heck, her actions could help Lugh survive what's coming. I just... like her. She feels guilt for some of the things she's done. She's paying for her naivete in spades. She and Lugh as a team feel right. Also, her offering herself to Lugh to help satiate his beast was weirdly hot. Self-sacrifice for the good of the many appears to be my other weakness. <3

London seems like she's finally willing to embrace the circumstances she's been thrust into, while Lugh's darkness throws another obstacle up in their quest to restore the Fey. Yes, I am having tons of fun playing in this world. How could you tell?

Books in this series
(suggested series reading order)
End of the World (Champion of the Sidhe #1)
Aftershock (Rise of the Unseelie #1)
Cursed (Touched #1)
Champion of the Fey (Champion of the Sidhe #2)
Addicted (Touched #2)
Scars of Silver (Rise of the Unseelie #2)
Defender of Magic (Champion of the Sidhe #3)
Eyes of Magic (Rise of the Unseelie #3)
Enchanted (Touched #3)
Bloodhound (Rise of the Unseelie #4)
Protector of the Light (Champion of the Sidhe #4)
Compelled (Touched #4)
Captivated (Touched #5) - Kindle
Keeper of Secrets (Champion of the Sidhe #5)
Uprising (Rise of the Unseelie #5)

The entire series compilation, in order
Scattered Magic (season 1 part 1) - Kindle
Remnants of Magic (season 1 part 2) - Kindle

The individual series compilations
Champion of the Sidhe - Kindle
Rise of the Unseelie - Kindle
Touched - Kindle

Author Links
S.A. Archer - | Website | Twitter | Facebook | Amazon |
S. Ravynheart - | Website | Twitter | Amazon |

Captivated was provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.

Review: Carpe Corpus by Rachel Caine

2013-05-08T09:00:00.000-07:00

Carpe Corpus (Morganville Vampires #6) by Rachel Caine

Synopsis (Goodreads):

In the small college town of Morganville, vampires and humans lived in (relative) peace-until all the rules got rewritten when the evil vampire Bishop arrived, looking for the lost book of vampire secrets. He's kept a death grip on the town ever since.

Now an underground resistance is brewing, and in order to contain it, Bishop must go to even greater lengths. He vows to obliterate the town and all its inhabitants-the living and the undead. Claire Danvers and her friends are the only ones who stand in his way. But even if they defeat Bishop, will the vampires ever be content to go back to the old rules, after having such a taste of power?

My Thoughts: Y'all want to know what I love about this book? SO MUCH STUFF HAPPENS! Seriously. So much. There's the usual dash of danger, bloodshed, heartache, threat of bodily injury, vampires, double-crossing, mayhem, and one brave girl who can't stand down when the people she loves are in danger. Also, there are some kisses that are downright swoon-worthy.

First and foremost, do I freaking love Myrnin or do I freaking love Myrnin? Honestly, he's cracked and sometimes creepy and then he has these moments of genuine caring. You never know what you're going to get and it's part of what makes him so irresistible to me. Also, I admire a man who can accessorize with Mardi Gras beads and flip flops. *thumbs up* to that, amirite?!?!

Claire's role is a little different in this book. While she's in the thick of things (as always), the binding that Bishop placed on her puts her in an awkward position. She can't be trusted. As much as she would never betray her friends on her own, Bishop's ability to compel her and bend her to his will makes her a liability to Amelie's faction. Poor Claire. She's caught between wanting to help and not being able to trust herself.

Several threads for the future are laid out. The answer to what powers the town is brought forward. Shane's father ends up in a place he doesn't want to be in.

Yep, just another day in Morganville.

Books in this series
1. Glass Houses
2. The Dead Girls' Dance
3. Midnight Alley
4. Feast of Fools
5. Lord of Misrule
6. Carpe Corpus - Paperback | Kindle
7. Fade Out
8. Kiss of Death
9. Ghost Town
10. Bite Club
11. Last Breath [Serial Killers review]
12. Black Dawn
13. Bitter Blood
14. Fall of Night
15. Daylighters

Author Links
| Website | Twitter | Facebook | Amazon |

Review: Lord of Misrule by Rachel Caine

2013-05-08T06:00:00.001-07:00

Lord of Misrule (Morganville Vampires #5) by Rachel Caine
Synopsis (Goodreads):

Morganville. Texas. Just south of normal.

In the college town of Morganville, vampires and humans coexist in (relatively) bloodless harmony. Then comes Bishop, a master vampire who threatens to abolish all order, revive the forces of the evil dead, and let chaos rule. But Bishop isn’t the only threat.

Violent black clouds promise a storm of devastating proportions. As student Claire Danvers and her friends prepare to defend Morganville against the elements—both natural and unnatural—the unexpected happens: Morganville’s vampires begin to vanish one by one. Discovering why leads Claire to one last choice: swear allegiance to Bishop... or die.

My Thoughts: Holy smokes! THINGS JUST KEEP GETTING MORE INTENSE FOR CLAIRE AND CREW! In some ways this is a hard book to read because the reality of what Amelie is willing to sacrifice to win this war becomes shockingly clear. She's a general and she understands that not all of her people will survive what's to come but it's haaaard when she puts vampires like Michael and Sam in danger.

Meanwhile, Claire is still fighting the good fight. She and Shane are making strides in their relationship (awwww!) and the fragility of her position as Amelie's chosen human in a town divided keeps her on her toes. Myrnin is his typical self -- which is to say that he's delightfully crazy. Until he isn't. Which is scary unto itself. One thing I like about Myrnin is that you never know which side of him is going to pop up. The scientific side that can cut out a piece of his own brain for study or the more predatory side that relishes the mayhem and blood that's coming.

Several of the happenings in this book change things in a BIG way. Bishop doesn't pull his punches and Amelie is scrambling to counter his every move. The ending leaves Claire in a precarious position and things are looking rough for the Glass House residents.

Onto book 6!

Books in this series
1. Glass Houses
2. The Dead Girls' Dance
3. Midnight Alley
4. Feast of Fools
5. Lord of Misrule - Paperback | Kindle
6. Carpe Corpus
7. Fade Out
8. Kiss of Death
9. Ghost Town
10. Bite Club
11. Last Breath [Serial Killers review]
12. Black Dawn
13. Bitter Blood
14. Fall of Night
15. Daylighters

Author Links
| Website | Twitter | Facebook | Amazon |

Top Off Tuesday - You know it!

2013-05-07T00:00:00.000-07:00

I've decided to join Felicia, Christi and Amanda for their gratuitous shirtless covers on Tuesdays. Because nothing says Tuesday like flashing some skin! Hop over to Felicia's blog to see who else is participating!

You guys want to know the first thought that springs to mind? I wonder what she's kissing. Naughty vixen! I love the peek of underthings that our hero is sporting. *thumbs up*

Kiss and Tell (Bloodmates #1) by Sandy Lynn

Boxers or briefs?

Willow is having a bad day. To get her sister to stop harassing her, she agrees to play a silly game—but only once. When a muscular hunk walks past her, Willow’s mouth waters and she knows she’s found the perfect man to ask her embarrassing question.

Seth is shocked when a beautiful woman sits on his lap. He’s amused when she begins asking him questions. But he’s aroused when she kisses him. Taking her back to his home, he sinks his teeth into her—and is addicted. Imagine his surprise when he finds out she holds his life in the palm of her hands.

What’s a vampire to do when the woman he needs for his survival runs screaming from him?

Review: Eternal Rider by Larissa Ione

2013-05-06T06:00:00.000-07:00

Eternal Rider (Lords of Deliverance #1) by Larissa Ione
Synopsis (Goodreads):

They are here. They ride. The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse.

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

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

My Thoughts: Wow. Ares knows how to rock a girl's world. Right off its axis, as it turns out. Although, I guess if I'm being fair, it was really Hal the Hellhound that catapulted poor Cara into the world of demons and other supernatural critters. No, you know, I take that back, Cara has her own brand of supernatural funk going on long before she fell into this situation. She was in that world without ever knowing it. So, basically, I now need to apologize to Ares for making it sound like he purposefully screwed up poor Cara's existence. I mean, no one wants to be on WAR'S bad side, do they?

Sorry, Ares! Won't happen again. All your world rockin' was between the sheets. I totally apologize for implying otherwise.

Right. So. The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse. Reseph as Pestilence kinda broke my heart. Seeing how the breaking of the seal simply shattered the person he was and twisted him into this creature who delights in all the pain and destruction he causes made me all mopey inside. That Ares and his other siblings could fall into their dark personas just as easily made for a tense story. Those seals are such fragile things to hold back all that evil. CRAZY STUFF, man!

I really did like Ares. He has the attitude. He has the appeal. He has the freaking horse that rests under his skin. The guy works for me. Cara worked for me, too. She's damaged when we first meet her, fragile in a way that makes it hard to imagine that she'll be able to hold on long with the "gift" that Sestial gives her. Yet... she does. She not only holds on but she begins to come alive again. I love it when characters find their strength and come roaring back from the brink like that.

Between the demons, the darkness, and the humans who are fighting against the people they should be working with, this series is kind of addictive. I have the next few lined up to see how these bad boys (and girl) will rally and fight against the darkness trying to claim them.

Books in this series
1. Eternal Rider - Paperback | Kindle
2. Immortal Rider
3. Lethal Rider
4. Rogue Rider

Author Links
| Website | Twitter | Facebook | Amazon |