June Review Re-Cap

Hello everyone. Can you believe another month has flown by? June was exciting for us - College Orientation for our daughter, Father's Day - and of course the new season of True Blood. :) And I read some really good books. Here they are:

5 Stars

Kiss of Death - Rachel Caine
Come Hell or High Water - Michele Bardsley
The Eternal Ones - Kirsten Miller
Unholy Magic - Stacia Kane

4 Stars

Succubus Shadows - Richelle Mead
Dangerous - Diana Palmer
The Sweet Scent of Blood - Suzanne McLeod
Dangerous Desires - Dee Davis

3 Stars

Scythe - MK Mancos
Damaged - Pamela Callow
Ashes of Midnight - Lara Adrian

DNF

Hunted by the Others - Jess Haines
Black Blade Blues - J A Pitts

How was your reading month?

M

Review: Dangerous Desires

Dangerous Desires is the 2nd book in the A-TAC series by Dee Davis and a Romantic Suspense from Forever, an imprint of Grand Central Publishing.

Book Blurb:

As the extractions expert for A-TAC, an elite CIA black ops unit masquerading as faculty at an Ivy League college, Drake Flynn knows how to survive behind enemy lines. But he's about to meet one adversary he can't subdue...or resist.

A Race For Survival

Stranded in the Colombian jungle after a mission goes bad, Drake has only one objective: evade the mercenaries hot on his trail and deliver 'the package' to U.S. officials. But 'the package' has a mind of her own, and she has no intention of trading one set of captors for another. Madeline Reynard is beautiful, headstrong, and hell-bent on escape after years as a crime lord's pawn. She'll risk everything for freedom, even if it means deceiving the dark, handsome operative who now holds her life in his hands.

Drake has been burned too many times to let a woman manipulate him, especially a secretive one like Madeline. Even so, they cannot deny the attraction between them. Now as enemy forces close in, Drake and Madeline must trust each other with their lives - or face certain death.

This book was submitted for review and I retain my copy.

Dangerous Desires is the 2nd book in the A-TAC series by Dee Davis, following Dark Deceptions - but it is completely readable as a stand alone novel.

This is the first book I have read by this author and I was completely drawn in - finishing the book in one sitting and left wanting more.

Drake Flynn is an operative for an elite branch of the CIA - he is intelligent and fearless and very good at his job.

Madeline Reynard has been caught up in some very bad business and she is ready to get out - but she can't do it alone and she has no one to turn to for help.

When the members of A-TAC arrive in Columbia - they realize that getting to Madeline was the easy job - getting out with her is going to be a little more difficult.

I love the whole concept of an elite branch of the CIA working undercover as faculty at an Ivy League college.

Dangerous Desires jumped in with both feet and took off running. This book is action packed from start to finish and it even manages some steamy sexy bits for those readers who like a little more than gun play in your romantic suspense novels. :)

I give Dangerous Desires 4 out of 5 stars and can't wait to read the next installment in the A-TAC series - Desperate Deeds, available in August.

M

Winner of Fortunate Harbor ARC

Good morning everyone. It is time to announce the winner of the Fortunate Harbor ARC giveaway. Here is a rundown of how the winner was chosen.

1. Using Random dot org I list all entrants and shuffle the list several times.
2. Using Random number generator the winning number is chosen.

Here we go:

There were 7 items in your list. Here they are in random order:

1. tetewa
2. luvdaylilies
3. LAMusing
4. debbie
5. pixie13
6. Katia
7. CarolNWong

And the winning number is #7 - CarolNWong. Congrats Carol. I will send Carol an email and let her know she has won.

Thank you to everyone who participated in this giveaway.

Happy Reading!

M

Mailbox Monday

Good morning everyone. I hope you had a wonderful weekend. :) What did you think about True Blood last night? That Alcide is easy on the eyes.

Here is a book I received from paperbackswap.

Book Blurb:

They are the Enforcers. An elite group of vampires who must serive and protect their secret community - and uphold the...Laws of the Blood. In Los Angeles, the Enforcer Selim has been called upon to approve a hunt. Much time has passed since the vampires of the city have last tasted fresh blood, and they are clamoring for the kill. It's Selim's job to keep them under control - and there are those who resent his authority. He must not waver or show weakness when he gives the Law - his life and the life of his mortal love, Siri, depend on his strength. But a whispered rumor is distracting him, a rumor of betrayal, of violation of the most sacred of the Laws: Never reveal the truth about your own kind...

The Hunt is the first book in the Laws of the Blood series by Susan Sizemore and an ACE Dark Fantasy. Copyright 1999.

M

ARC Giveaway: Fortunate Harbor

Good morning and Happy Friday. I have one ARC of Fortunate Harbor by Emilie Richards for one fortunate commenter. :)

Book Blurb:

Join five women connected only by their growing friendship and the road that runs like a lifeline between their cottages in a run-down Florida development called Happiness Key.

Tracy Deloche finally gets a chance to swap business for a romantic evening with Marsh Egan, but dinner goes cold when she spots her ex-husband prowling outside her cottage. CJ is supposed to be in prison and out of her life for good. Exactly what is this modern-day pirate seeking and what will it mean for Tracy's future?

Janya Kapur envies every pregnant woman she sees, but Rishi, her husband, is suddenly reluctant to talk about children. Is he disappointed in her inability to conceive? Their marriage was a contract between strangers. Can they ever hope for anything more?

Waitress Wanda Gray loses her job after new owners turn the Dancing Shrimp into a tapas bar. Wise neighbor Alice Brooks's suggestion that Wanda start her own business seems like a brilliant solution, until Wanda starts Pie War I with the owners of the local bakery.

When the empty cottage at Happiness Key is rented by single mother Dana Turner, everything seems perfect. With Alice volunteering to watch Dana's daughter while she works and Wanda's offer of a job, this spit of Florida Gulf Coast land should be a fortunate harbor for a mother and daughter who have moved far too often. Except for Dana's shocking secret.

As the women of Happiness Key struggle to discover the truth in time to help their new neighbor, their only weapon is friendship. But will friendship be enough?

Fortunate Harbor is the second book in the Happiness Key series by Emilie Richards.

Giveaway is open to all followers of this blog with a US mailing address and will run through Monday June 28th with the winner announced on Tuesday June 29th. Just leave a comment with an email addy so I can notify you of your win. :)

Good luck and Happy Reading!

M

Book Blogger Hop & Friday Follow

Over at Crazy-for-Books they're having a Book Blogger Hop. Here is a description from the website:

It's Friday! Time for another Book Blogger Love Fest HOP!!

ABOUT THE HOP:

In the spirit of the Friday Follow, I thought it would be cool to do a Book Blogger Hop to give us all bookies a chance to connect and find new blogs that we may be missing out on! So, I created this weekly BOOK PARTY where book bloggers and readers can connect to find new blogs to read, make new friends, support each other, and generally just share our love of books! It will also give blog readers a chance to find other book blogs that they may not know existed! So, grab the logo, post about the Hop on your blog, and start PARTYING!!

Sounds like a blast. Go and check it out - leave your link so others can stop by your blog - and don't forget to check out some of the blogs listed - you may find several you like. I did. :)

http://www.crazy-for-books.com/

And Friday Follow

To join the fun and make new book blogger friends, just follow these simple rules:

1. Follow the Follow My Book Blog Friday Host { Parajunkee.com } and any one else you want to follow on the list
2. Follow our Featured Bloggers -
3. Put your Blog name & URL in the Linky thing.
4. Grab the button up there and place it in a post, this post is for people to find a place to say hi in your comments
5. Follow Follow Follow as many as you can
6. If someone comments and says they are following you, be a dear and follow back. Spread the Love...and the followers
7. If you want to show the link list, just follow the link below the entries and copy and paste it within your post!

Happy Follow Friday!

Review: Ashes of Midnight

Ashes of Midnight is the 6th book in the Midnight Breed series by Lara Adrian and a Dell Paranormal Romance. This is the story of Claire and Andreas.

Book Blurb:

A woman driven by blood. A man thirsting for vengeance.
A place where darkness and desire meet...

As night falls, Claire Roth flees, driven from her home by a fiery threat that seems to come from hell itself. Then, from out of the flames and ash, a vampire warrior emerges. He is Andreas Reichen, her onetime lover, now a stranger consumed by vengeance. Caught in the cross fire, Claire cannot escape his savage fury - or the hunger that plunges her into his world of eternal darkness and unending pleasure.

Nothing will stop Andreas from destroying the vampire responsible for slaughtering his Breed brethren . . . even if he must use his former lover as a pawn in his deadly mission. Blood-bonded to his treacherous adversary, Claire can lead Andreas to the enemy he seeks, but it is a journey fraught with danger - and deep, unbidden desires. For Claire is the one woman Andreas should not crave, and the only one he's ever loved. A dangerous seduction begins - one that blurs the lines between predator and prey, and stokes the flames of a white-hot passion that may consume all in its path. . . .

Ashes of Midnight was an okay read. :)

Andreas Reichen is dead - as far as everyone is concerned. He died when his DarkHaven and everyone who lived there - perished in an unexplained explosion.

But Andreas did not die - and he is out for vengeance. Slowly and methodically he is determined to hunt down and exterminate everyone who had a hand in the deaths of the innocent Breed living in his DarkHaven. Andreas knows the name of the person who orchestrated the attack - and he is saving him for last. But first he must find him.

Claire Roth is a BreedMate. She has lived for thirty years with the knowledge that her BondMate does not really care for her. She only sees him a handful of times a year - when the need to exchange blood is upon them. But she can't believe what Andreas is telling her...her mate can not possibly be responsible for so many deaths.

Claire has not seen Andreas for years - not since he walked away from their relationship without a word of explanation - or goodbye. But the feelings she had for him then have not lessened - no matter how hard she tried to put them aside.

I struggled with this book a little. I think one of the reasons why it took me so long to read this installment is because I've lost interest in the series. The first 3 books were exciting because they were about the Breed males finding their mates.

Now we have the whole Dragos and the Ancient story line and it doesn't do it for me. :)

But I am not giving up. I have the next installment - Shades of Midnight - on the tbr shelf and the new installment - Taken by Midnight - is due out in September. :)

I give Ashes of Midnight 3 out of 5 stars. :)

M

Midnight Breed
1. A Kiss of Midnight (2007)
2. Kiss of Crimson (2007)
3. Midnight Awakening (2007)
4. Midnight Rising (2008)
5. Veil of Midnight (2008)
6. Ashes of Midnight (2009)
7. Shades of Midnight (2009)
8. Taken by Midnight (2010)
9. Deeper Than Midnight (2011)

Review: Unholy Magic

Unholy Magic is the second book in the Downside series by Stacia Kane and a Ballantine Books.

Book Blurb:

Enemies don't need to be alive to be deadly.

For Chess Putnam, finding herself near-fatally poisoned by a con psychic and then stopping a murderous ghost is just another day on the job. As an agent of the Church of Real Truth, Chess must expose those looking to profit from the world's unpleasant little poltergeist problem - humans filing false claims of hauntings - all while staving off any undead who really are looking for a kill. But Chess has been extra busy these days, coping with a new 'celebrity' assignment while trying on her own time to help some desperate prostitutes.

Someone's taking out the hookers of Downside in the most gruesome way, and Chess is sure the rumors that it's the work of a ghost are way off base. But proving herself right means walking in the path of a maniac, not to mention standing between the two mean in her life just as they - along with their ruthless employers - are moving closer to a catastrophic showdown. Someone is dealing in murder, sex and the supernatural, and once again Chess finds herself right in the crossfire.

This book was submitted for review and I retain my copy.

Unholy Magic picks up a few months after Unholy Ghosts. Chess is still working for the Church, still under Bumps thumb, still sleeping with Lex and still using drugs.

In my opinion Chess has increased her drug use - it is to the point now where she is buying from Bump - but getting all the drugs she wants free of charge from Lex. All she seems to think about is her drugs - I don't see how she can keep this from the Church much longer.

Her feelings for Terrible - Bumps Enforcer - are mixed - she enjoys his company, sees him as one of the only friends she has - but she scared to try anything more serious - and that has a lot to do with her background. Growing up as an orphan and moved from foster home to foster home - at the mercy of any and all of the people around her - makes her hesitant to allow herself to 'feel'. I also think that has a lot to do with the drug use.

Now prostitutes are being murdered - not just on Bumps side of town - but also on Slobags. Something is killing them and Bump wants Chess to find out who or what it is...and stop it.

In the mean time the Church wants her to do her job and Debunk a haunting - but that could prove harder than Chess thought - could this be a real haunting?

I enjoy this series. Chess is a likable person - flawed and confused about right and wrong at times- but likable.

The world Ms. Kane has created is unique to say the least - populated with larger than life characters and strange beliefs. But those characters come alive and I find myself invested in what is going on and eager to find out how the story will unfold.

I give Unholy Magic 5 out of 5 stars and look forward to the final installment - City of Ghosts - due out in July.

M

*This is my favorite cover of the 3. :)

Downside
1. Unholy Ghosts (2010)
2. Unholy Magic (2010)
3. City of Ghosts (2010)

Winner of Renee Wildes Giveaway!!

Good morning everyone - it is time to announce the winner of the pdf giveaway with author Renee Wildes.

There were 8 items in your list. Here they are in random order:

1. Stella
2. cpullum
3. Katelyn
4. Tiger
5. tetewa
6. practimom
7. ALM
8. Melissa

And the winning number is #3 - Katelyn. I will notify Katelyn of her win.

Thank you to everyone who participated and thank you to Renee Wildes for her time and generosity. :)

Happy Reading!

M

Review: Damaged

Damaged is the first book in the Kate Lange series by Pamela Callow and a Mira novel.

Book Blurb:

Haunted by the death of her sister and wounded by her ex-fiancé's accusations, Kate Lange throws herself into her new career at a high-powered law firm.

When the grandmother of a lonely private school student seeks her counsel, Kate thinks it's just another custody case. But then the teen is brutally murdered. And it isn't only Kate who wonders if her legal advice led to the girl's death.

Put on notice by Randall Barrett, the firm's charismatic managing partner, Kate must fight for her career, for her reputation - and for redemption.

Unwilling to live with the damage she may have caused, Kate pursues the case on her own and unearths some chilling facts.

Facts that lead straight to the heart of a legal conspiracy.

Facts that lead Kate directly into the surgically skilled hands of the Body Butcher.


Damaged was submitted for review and I retain my copy.

For a debut novel - Damaged kicks off the Kate Lange series with a bang.

Kate is trying to overcome her past. Working hard and becoming a success as a lawyer is what Kate thinks will finally do just that.

Tired of endless family law cases, Kate takes a job with a new firm - with the hopes of moving on to more serious litigation cases. But it has been four months and she has yet to see a litigation case. When one of the firms partners brings yet another custody case to her and tells her to handle it - Kate is annoyed, to say the least.

When a young girl is found dead three days later - Kate is consumed with guilt. She feels that maybe she didn't do enough to ensure the young girls safety..but then a second body turns up just a few days later - and Kate is caught up in a serial killers fantasy.

I like the character of Kate Lange. She is smart, independent and not afraid to stand up for herself.

I did not like the character of Ethan Drake - Kate's ex. I understand that he is suffering from a broken heart because Kate broke up with him - but he is rude and disrespectful and if he does not play a big role in the upcoming books that will be alright with me.

I enjoyed Damaged and give it 3 out of 5 stars. I am looking forward to the next installment in the series - Indefensible, due out January 1, 2011.

M

Interview and Giveaway: Author Renee Wildes

Today it is my pleasure to introduce you to Renee Wildes. Ms. Wildes is the author of the Guardians of Light series.

Guardians of the Light
1. Duality (2008)
2. Hedda's Sword (2009)
3. Lycan Tides (2009)

Good morning Ms. Wildes and welcome to Michelle's Book Blog.

Hi Michelle!

1. Can you tell us a little about yourself?

I'm married w/2 kids, 2 half-Arabian horses, a Chow puppy and a calico cat - live in central WI. I'm a total history buff, from medieval times back to ancient Greece and Sparta. As a Navy brat and a cop’s kid, I gravitated to protector/guardian heroes and heroines. I've had horses my whole life, so became the only vet tech in a family of nurses. It all comes together in my Guardians of Light series for Samhain – fantasy, action, romance, heroics and lots of critters!

2. You write in the Fantasy genre - what does Fantasy mean to you?

I grew up reading fantasy authors Terry Brooks and Mercedes Lackey and am a huge Joseph Campbell fan, so the minute I discovered romance novels it became inevitable that I'd combine it all and write fantasy romance. I think fantasy is a combination of an escape from the real world mixed with good can always triumph over evil. I love worldbuilding and magical possibilities mixed with nonhuman creatures that come to life. I want to be able to step into a story and experience that world as if it were as real as our own.

3. You've said that you're a hard-core plotter - What's your writing process like and do you have a dedicated writing space?
I'm what Bob Mayer (my favorite writing instructor) calls a "front-loader." I start with a character, figure out who romantically would be perfect for them, and then work to figure out what gets them together vs. what keeps them apart, what's going on in the world around them and what problems they have to tackle. I write it all down in an outline, figure out points of view, and how to break up the action so each chapter has a beginning & ending hook. I do a bare-bones rough draft, then I do the layering - multisensory descriptions, deep POV, cultural references (foreign words, religion, govt.) I have a map I always have to check and make sure everything stays in the right place geographically speaking. It takes me forever - a book a year.

We bought a house last November (rent-to-own) with 4 bedrooms - one of which (at the top of the stairs) I turned into a home office. All my bookshelves are there, my writing awards and framed book covers. I have a scrapbook page for each book, and the framed page goes on the wall beneath its final cover. Funny to see how close (or not!) the artist came to my vision.

4. Where did you find your inspiration for the 'Guardians of Light' series?

I started out writing contemporary romances, but then my muse - a big red dragon - moved it and told me to knock it off. I read fantasy, I should write fantasy. The biggest draw for me with fantasy is the good-triumphs-over-evil theme. Duality began with a snapshot vision - a mental image of a red-haired woman kneeling in a burning room. When I found out Dara STARTED the fire, I got interested. I remember asking my critique partners if there was anything to this, and they said to run with it and see what happened. After Duality was done, I started Hedda's Sword, featuring Loren's best friend Cianan and an assassin nun. I was looking for a common theme as a tie-in and "Guardians of Light" came to mind. Keeps me focused on each book, no matter how different the stories are, they all rest on that one similar spine. Good vs. evil.

5. When you have the time, what authors do you enjoy reading?

Fantasy - Tolkien & Campbell. Terry Brooks & Mercedes Lackey. I love Joy Nash, and Elizabeth Vaughan's "Warprize." Paranormal - Sherrilyn Kenyon, Christine Feehan, J.R. Ward, Angela Knight & Pamela Palmer (Duality is competing w/Palmer's "Obsession Untamed" in the WisRWA Write Touch Reader's Award contest )

Contemporary - Suzanne Brockmann & Lori Foster

6. What are you working on now?
I just finished all final edits and approved the cover for "Dust of Dreams" which is Bk 4 in the "Guardians of Light" series. Benilo, the elven spirit healer from "Hedda's Sword," gets his own story. Paired him up with a dream faerie named Pryseis. Comes out as ebook 7/13/10. I am currently working on Bk 5, "Riever's Heart" which is Verdeen's story. She's Dara's lady's maid from "Duality." She's assigned to be a bodyguard for Prince Aryk, who's trying to unite the northern "riever" tribes into a single nation. She's the ultimate tomboy who learns to be a woman as well as warrior.

7. Where can we find out more about you & your books?

I have a website - http://www.reneewildes.net and a blog http://reneewildes1.wordpress.com

I have a Yahoo! group http://groups.yahoo.com/group/reneewildesromancefantastique/

My books are at Samhain Publishing at http://www.samhainpublishing.com/authors/renee-wildes

Renee Wildes

http://reneewildes1/wordpress.com

http://www.samhainpublishing.com/authors/renee-wildes

I would like to thank Ms. Wildes for her time and generosity.

Ms. Wildes has graciously offered a pdf copy of the first book in her Guardians of Light series - 'Duality' - to one lucky commenter. That means that this giveaway is open to all followers of this blog with an email address.

Just leave a comment or question for Ms. Wildes and your email address to enter the giveaway. Giveaway will run through Monday June 21 and the winner will be announced Tuesday June 22.

Good luck and happy reading!!

M

Book Blogger Hop

Over at Crazy-for-Books they're having a Book Blogger Hop. Here is a description from the website:

It's Friday! Time for another Book Blogger Love Fest HOP!!

ABOUT THE HOP:

In the spirit of the Friday Follow, I thought it would be cool to do a Book Blogger Hop to give us all bookies a chance to connect and find new blogs that we may be missing out on! So, I created this weekly BOOK PARTY where book bloggers and readers can connect to find new blogs to read, make new friends, support each other, and generally just share our love of books! It will also give blog readers a chance to find other book blogs that they may not know existed! So, grab the logo, post about the Hop on your blog, and start PARTYING!!

Sounds like a blast. Go and check it out - leave your link so others can stop by your blog - and don't forget to check out some of the blogs listed - you may find several you like. I did. :)

http://www.crazy-for-books.com/

M

Review: The Eternal Ones

The Eternal Ones is a YA novel by Kirsten Miller and a Razorbill book.

Book Blurb:

Haven Moore can't control her visions of a past with a boy called Ethan, and a life in New York that ended in fiery tragedy. In our present, she designs beautiful dresses for her classmates with her best friend Beau. Dressmaking keeps her sane, since she lives with her widowed and heartbroken mother in her tyrannical grandmother's house in Snope City, a tiny town in Tennessee. Then an impossible group of coincidences conspire to force her to flee to New York, to discover who she is, and who she was.

In New York, Haven meets Iain Morrow and is swept into an epic love affair that feels both deeply fated and terribly dangerous. Iain is suspected of murdering a rock star and Haven wonders, could he have murdered her in a past life? She visits the Ouroboros Society and discovers a murky world of reincarnation that stretches across millennia. Haven must discover the secrets hidden in her past lives, and loves before all is lost and the cycle begins again. But what is the Ouroboros Society? And how can Haven know who to trust?

The Eternal Ones was submitted for review and I retain my copy. :)

As long as Haven Moore can remember she has had flashes - visions, of people and places that seem so real it is if they are memories. These visions are of a young woman named Constance and a young man named Ethan.

Now at the age of seventeen Haven is convinced that these flashes are indeed memories - memories of her past life as Constance - and these memories are somehow going to help her find Ethan.

With the help of her best friend Beau - Haven finds a likely candidate for the reincarnated Ethan in millionaire play boy Iain Morrow and sets out for New York - hoping to finally gain the answers she has so long searched for....

I have to admit that I was surprised at just how much I enjoyed this book. :)

Haven is very interesting - no shy wallflower. She has had to deal with these visions since she was very little. And on top of that - she has had to deal with her grandmother - who thinks Haven is possessed - and the entire town of Snope City that thinks she's crazy. So saying that Haven has developed a thick skin is an understatement.

Once in New York Haven is pulled in more than one direction. Should she stay the course and try to meet Iain on her own - or should she visit the Ouroboros Society and see if they have any information that can help her in her quest? And who are the men in gray that are following her?

I enjoyed The Eternal Ones very much and give it 5 out of 5 stars. :) I'm also wondering if we are going to have a sequel...the ending left room for one. :)

M

Product Details

Reading level: Young Adult

Hardcover: 416 pages
Publisher: Razorbill (August 10, 2010)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1595143084
ISBN-13: 978-1595143082
Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 6.4 x 1.4 inches

Review: Come Hell or High Water

Come Hell or High Water is the 6th book in the Broken Heart, Oklahoma series by Michele Bardsley and a Signet Eclipse Paranormal Romance.

Book Blurb:

A Demon Who Can't Be Kilt!

Everybody makes mistakes, and my first one was named Connor, a heart-stealing Scottish hottie. I thought out night together was the beautiful beginning to a love story, which turned out to be my second mistake. I, Phoebe Allen, lifelong Broken Heart resident and vampire, am now mated to a half demon.

Connor needs me to retrieve the rest of an ancient talisman to stave off his vicious stepmother, an uberdemon named Lilith. Thank goodness my four-year-old son, Danny, is off at Disney Word with his human father. At least he is safe and far away from all this paranormal drama. Me? Not so much. I'll help Connor and his ragtag group of friends because it's the right thing to do - and not because I'm falling for any of his demon charm. Still, Connor's willing to do anything to protect me and prevent demons from storming into Broken Heart. My undead heart can't resist a bad boy with identity issues.

The Broken Heart, Oklahoma series is the ongoing story of eleven people in one small town who - accidentally, were killed - and then turned into vampires - to sorta make up for it. Come Hell or High Water is Phoebe's story.

Phoebe Allen is a direct descendant of one of the five families that founded Broken Heart. She has lived here all her life and is now the manager of the Old Sass Cafe. Phoebe is also a vampire from the Family Durga - this means she can call forth and banish demons, a skill that is very useful to the Consortium.

Connor is new to town and has been working at the Old Sass Cafe for about a month. He and Phoebe have flirted with one another off and on - but being a vampire, if Phoebe has sex with anyone - she is mated to them - bound for 100 years. That can put a pretty big crimp in anyone's social life. But Connor is a Scottish fairy - a Ghillie Dhu to be exact - and Connor says that the binding curse has no effect on the Ghillie Dhu.

And he wouldn't lie about anything like that, right?

I absolutely love this series. :) Come Hell or High Water is full of humor, intrigue, romance, a sexy alpha male and even a demon eating chihuahua hell hound. You can't get much better than that. :)

I give Come Hell or High Water 5 out of 5 stars and can't wait for the next installment - Cross Your Heart, due out in September.

M

Broken Heart, Oklahoma
1. I'm the Vampire, That's Why (2006)
2. Don't Talk Back to Your Vampire (2007)
3. Because Your Vampire Said So (2008)
4. Wait Till Your Vampire Gets Home (2008)
5. Over My Dead Body (2009)
6. Come Hell or High Water (2010)
7. Cross Your Heart (2010)

Review: The Sweet Scent of Blood

The Sweet Scent of Blood is the first book in the Spellcrackers series by Suzanne McLeod and an ACE Fantasy.

Book Blurb:

Genevieve Taylor is a sidhe - one of the noble fae - and she's unusual even in a London where celebrity vampires, eccentric goblins and scheming lesser fae mix freely with humanity...

Genny is a rising star at Spellcrackers dot com where she finds the "M" in magic - which can mean anything from mischief to malice to murder. The Spellcrackers are run by the Witch Council, whose ancient tenets prohibit any contact with vampires. And that's just fine with Genny, who wants as little to do with the bloodsuckers as possible.

But when a sinfully sexy vamp is accused of killing his lover, an old debt forces Genny to help prove his innocence, risking her job, her safety - and the exposure of her own dark secrets. Genny soon realizes that she and her client are both unwitting pawns in a centuries-old power struggle. And it's not just her own neck at stake but the lives of all of London's supernatural beings.

The Sweet Scent of Blood was a pretty good read. :)

Genevieve Taylor is one of the noble fae. In her line of work she 'cracks' spells as well as any witch - but unlike a witch - Genny can't cast spells. And she thinks that has to do with her fae blood.

Due to a very bad experience as a child - Genny has a strong aversion to vampires. She is well aware of the powers they hold - and chooses to stay as far away from them as possible. But Genny has a dark secret - one that only the most trusted of friends know.

When a vampire asks Genny for help - she is understandably reluctant to comply - but when a fae gives his/her word it is binding. And Genny does not like being indebted to anyone.

The Sweet Scent of Blood started off with a bang. I really like the character of Genny and all of the supporting characters as well. The story bogged just a little in the middle and I was worried - but then it picked up and sped right along to a satisfying ending.

I give The Sweet Scent of Blood 4 out of 5 stars and can't wait to read the rest of the series. :)

M

Spellcrackers
1. The Sweet Scent of Blood (2008)
2. The Cold Kiss of Death (2009)
3. The Bitter Seed of Magic (2010)
4. The Shifting Price of Prey (2012)

Mailbox Monday

Good morning everyone. :) I hope you all had a wonderful weekend. What did you think about True Blood last night? Rocked, huh? :)

Here is a book I received from paperbackswap.

Book Blurb:

Belle Jamison is finally starting to feel like a normal girl again. Her job as a paranormal investigator is going well, she's learned to control her supernatural abilities (mostly) and she's just gotten engaged to Rome Masters, the ultra-sexy operative who once tried to neutralize her!

But planning a wedding is never easy, especially when the bride keeps accidentally torching her dress, the groom returns from a dangerous mission with selective memory loss and the man responsible now wants Belle for himself. With Rome's ex determined to win him back and a new band of supervillains on the horizon, it will take all Belle's powers - plus a little help from her trusty empath sidekick - to save the day, salvage the wedding and prove that true love really does conquer all.

Sounds fun. :)

M

Review: Dangerous

Dangerous is the 48th book in the Long Tall Texans series by Diana Palmer and an HQN novel.

Book Blurb:

Tall, lean and headstrong, FBI agent Kilraven lives by his own rules. And one of those rules includes keeping his hands off Jacobsville's resident sweetheart, Winnie Sinclair, no matter the temptation. Shy and innocent, Winnie couldn't handle a man like him - a merciless man with a haunted past. And this small town may hold not only the woman he fights to resist, but the answers to a cold case that is very personal to Kilraven..

Winnie has had her own share of sorrow and senses Kilraven's pain. Even though she tries to deny it, the gentle 911 operator feels a connection with the darkly handsome agent. When he makes the disturbing discovery that her family's unsavory past might have a bearing on his case, Winnie is determined to help him crack it...and the ice around his heart.

As they combine forces in a dangerous investigation, the stakes rise ever higher. Winnie's life is on the line, and she'll need Kilraven more than ever. But if they are to have a future together, her ruthless Texan will need to confront his past and risk it all for their love.

Dangerous was submitted for review and I retain my copy. :)

McKuen Kilraven was devastated 7 years ago when he brutally lost his daughter. Adding to that pain is the fact that the crime was never solved.

Now a string of unsolved murders has Kilraven wondering if they have been committed by the same person - and he wants the investigation re-opened.

Winnie Sinclair is a 911 operator and she loves her job. Every now and again she gets these 'feelings' - like maybe she needs to send backup when backup has not been requested. On more than one occasion these 'feelings' have saved lives - Kilraven's being one of them.

So when Kilraven's investigation leads him to a member of Winnie's family - she is more than willing to help him solve this crime - even if it means putting herself in danger.

I enjoyed Dangerous very much. Though this can be read as a stand alone novel - Dangerous is part of a series - and so it mentions characters from previous stories. I did not have any trouble keeping the characters straight - and I feel that established fans of Ms. Palmer - and those like me who are new to the series - will not be disappointed with this latest installment .

I really want to know more about Kilraven's brother Jon - and his secretary. I'm hoping they will get their story soon - and I would like to read it. :)

I give Dangerous 4 out of 5 stars. :)

M

Book Blogger Hop

Over at Crazy-for-Books they're having a Book Blogger Hop. Here is a description from the website:

It's Friday! Time for another Book Blogger Love Fest HOP!!

ABOUT THE HOP:

In the spirit of the Friday Follow, I thought it would be cool to do a Book Blogger Hop to give us all bookies a chance to connect and find new blogs that we may be missing out on! So, I created this weekly BOOK PARTY where book bloggers and readers can connect to find new blogs to read, make new friends, support each other, and generally just share our love of books! It will also give blog readers a chance to find other book blogs that they may not know existed! So, grab the logo, post about the Hop on your blog, and start PARTYING!!

Sounds like a blast. Go and check it out - leave your link so others can stop by your blog - and don't forget to check out some of the blogs listed - you may find several you like. I did. :)

http://www.crazy-for-books.com/

M

Review: Succubus Shadows

Succubus Shadows is the 5th book in the Georgina Kincaid series by Richelle Mead and a Kensington Fiction.

Book Blurb:

Georgina Kincaid has formidable powers. Immortality, seduction, shape-shifting into any human form she desires, walking in heels that would cripple mere mortals--all child's play to a succubus like her.

Helping to plan her ex-boyfriend's wedding is a different story. Georgina isn't sure which is worse--that Seth is marrying another woman, or that Georgina has to run all over Seattle trying on bridesmaid dresses. Still, there are distractions. Georgina's roommate, Roman, is cluttering her apartment with sexual tension. Then there's Simone, the new succubus in town, who's intent on corrupting Seth.

But the real danger lies in the mysterious force that's visiting her thoughts, trying to draw her into a dark, otherworldly realm. Sooner or later, Georgina knows she'll be too weak to resist. And when that happens, she'll discover who she can trust, who she can't--and that Hell is far from the worst place to spend eternity. .

I enjoyed Succubus Shadows. :)

Georgina Kincaid has been a succubus for thousands of years and it is her job as an employee of Hell to sleep with men (or women) of virtue and take a part of their life force from them - shortening their lives and darkening their soul.

Over the years Georgina's job has lost some of its original appeal and she would rather sleep with people who are already destined for Hell. But as a succubus, Georgina relies on the energy she takes from her victims - she needs it to stay 'healthy' - and victims who are already tainted by Hell don't offer the same energy boost as the virtuous.

What is a girl to do? Surrounded by a group of friends that include vampires, demons, half-demons and even an angel - Georgina does the best she can with what she has been given.

I love this series.

I give Succubus Shadows 4 out of 5 stars and can't wait for the next installment.

M

Georgina Kincaid
1. Succubus Blues (2007)
2. Succubus On Top (2008)
aka Succubus Nights
3. Succubus Dreams (2008)
4. Succubus Heat (2009)
5. Succubus Shadows (2010)