Mini-Reviews part II

As I mentioned in the previous post, I’ve been reading a lot.  I thought I would split the post to be easier to read through.  So refresh that beverage of choice and settle down to read about some more books you might want to add to your to-read list.

Magic Slays by Ilona Andrews

The husband-wife writing team that is Ilona Andrews knocks one out of the ballpark again.   Magic Slays is a solid entry into the Kate Daniels Magic series.  I loved how Curran and Kate grew together even more.  There’s a new enemy in town and this group is baaaaaad.  Her best friend, Andrea, comes back to town and they join forces to solve the first case of her new magical detective agency.

Kate is just as brash, cranky and loyal as ever.  She really has grown more mature over the course of the series as she makes friends and adds more responsibilities to her life.   We learn a bit more about Kate’s family, her mother this time and it was a shocker.  This series is a must-read for any lover of urban fantasy, man or woman (not a lot of that mushy stuff and a lot of action).
Sensuality: I only remember one sex scene
Rating: 5 stars

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Lover Unleashed by J.R.Ward

The ninth book in the Black Dagger Brotherhood series picks up right where Lover Mine ends, with Payne brought to the compound and V in shock he has a sister.

Jane know she can’t handle the injury on her own but knows her former co-worker, Manny, can certainly handle it.  I enjoyed this installment, although it’s generous to call it Payne and Manny’s story when V seems to have more page time.  It does however feel like there’s some completion there.  If you read BDB, you will definitely want to pick this one up.  It felt like a transition book, getting ready for a new batch of Brothers as we meet several new males so JR Ward can continue this spicy series.
Sensuality: several sex scenes
Rating: 3 stars

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Vampire Mine by Kerrelyn Sparks

Vampire Mine is grumpy Connor’s story.  Of course we always knew his grumpiness his a soft heart.  In true Love at Stake fashion, Ms. Sparks weaves a funny, heartwarming story that leaves you with a goofy smile on your face.  This time around, the girl is an angel, fallen from grace.  When I read that, I thought “hmmm how will that work?”  It ended up being a decent story, definitely worth reading, but maybe not one I’ll re-read.  Gregori’s story is next, out in September.  Looking forward to that!

Sensuality: a few sex scenes
Rating: 3 stars

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Looking Glass Trilogy Books 1 and 2 by Jayne Ann Krentz and Amanda Quick

OK, I’ll admit it, Amanda Quick is one of my guilty pleasure reads.  I’ve read most of the books she’s written as Amanda Quick and many by her other pseudonyms.  Amanda Quick is Regency and Victorian England, set in the ton or on the fringes of ton society, usually involving a murder mystery and/or involving some type of magic (Arcane Society).  The heroines are usually vocal and smart, which I enjoy quite a lot. 

Jayne Ann Krentz is set in modern day and Jayne Castle is future, but often related in some way to the others.  The Looking Glass Trilogy follows an arcane item through all three time periods (and authors).  I read Quicksilver first (book 2) and then In Too Deep (book 1) and was able to follow easily, maybe because book 2 was set before book 1.  Anyway, each book easily stands alone.  I am looking forward to reading book 3, Canyons of Night due out August 30, 2011.

In Too Deep by Jayne Ann Krentz

This is the Story of Fallon Jones and Isabella Valdez.   There seems to be a lot of backstory for Fallon and the J&J detective agency but JAK does a neat job summarizing any necessary plot points as they come up.  Fallon and Isabella make a really good team as each of their psychic abilities complement the others as do their personalities.  Fallon and the small town he lives in provide a perfect hiding place for her as she is on the run from her former boss.  They investigate several mysteries which are separate but linked in some way, making for an interesting and satisfying read. 

Sensuality: a few sex scenes
Rating: 3 stars

Quicksilver by Amanda Quick

This is the story of Virginia Dean and Owen Sweetwater.  Virginia is a genuine talent, able to read glass, or rather the images that are psychically burned into the glass at the time of a person’s death.  Needless to say, many people think she’s a fraud.  Owen Sweetwater, a psychic investigator, has closely observed her and knows she’s telling the truth about her ability and he needs her help on a case he’s working.  Adventure, romance and laughs abound in the book.  I especially giggled at references to medical treatment for female hysteria, which Virginia Dean and her friend, Charlotte have been researching.  This book is definitely worth reading if you enjoy historical romantic fiction with a touch of the paranormal.

Sensuality:  a few sex scenes
Rating: 4 stars

Book Review: Hunt the Moon: A Cassie Palmer Novel

Product Description

Cassandra Palmer recently defeated a god, which you'd think would buy a girl a little time off. But it doesn't work that way when your job description is Pythia-the world's chief clairvoyant. Cassie is busier than ever, trying to learn about her power, preparing for her upcoming coronation, and figuring out her relationship with the enigmatic sexy master vampire, Mircea.
But someone doesn't want Cassie to become Pythia, and is willing to go to any lengths to make sure the coronation ceremony never happens- including attacking her mother before Cassie is even born.

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Review:
Well, after two years of waiting, I had it in my hands.  Karen Chance, I have to say it :WOW.  What an amazing book.  It had everything I crave in a book and more: action (maybe some of the scenes were a tad long but they were excellent!), romance, a strong yet vulnerable heroine, humor, fantastic world and character building!
 
Cassie is every bit as much a spitfire in this book as in the previous ones, Mircea is every bit as protective and Pritkin is every bit well, Pritkin.  He’s protective but not smotheringly so, tough, gentle, cranky (can you tell which one I like the most?).  He seems to be the only one who cares about Cassie, not the power of the Pythian office and what favor she can do for him later, just her.   The sexual tension between them is so thick it’s hard to breathe during their scenes together.  They make such a fabulous team and I wish he had been featured a little bit more in this book.   Mircea, as sexy as he is, seems to always have in the back of his mind how he can use her in the future, always maneuvering.  He REALLY ticked me off in this book on several occasions.  Cassie dealt with that and maybe, just maybe, in the future he won’t try to protect her to death.
 
This book involves trying to keep her mother alive.  The leader of the mages, Jonas, has some ideas about what the bad guy guy is in this installment.  Cassie really grows into her power in this installment and it is a treat to read.  The climax was breathtaking and the ending leaves you wanting the next book in your hands yesterday already so you can finish it NOW!  Ms. Chance left the series wide open; it can go just about anywhere from here.  I can only hope it doesn’t take her two more years to complete book 6.
 
Sensuality:  several sex scenes
 
Rating: 5 stars

Books I’ve read recently (mini-reviews)

I’ve been doing a lot of reading lately and not much reviewing.  I know, I know, I’m slacking even more than usual.  My to-read list keeps getting longer and longer!  Some of the following books have been on my can’t-wait-to-read list for a year and some of them are starts to new series by authors I have not heard of or have heard of and simply have not read yet.  Some of them are young adult and some adult, some mystery, some urban fantasy, some light, some dark, but all worth reading.  So sit back and enjoy a beverage while I tell  you about some books you should add to your to-read list!

50 Ways to Hex Your Lover by Linda Wisdom
Entertaining read about a feisty witch with anger problems and her vampire lover.  Throw in a ghost who smokes, a client who smells so bad the  main character has to throw away her clothes and some fuzzy attack bunny slippers and you have a recipe for a a wild ride of a story.  You should probably consider having the next in the series ready to start when you finish this one.
Rating: 3 stars
Sensuality: some brief semi-graphic sex scenes



Rosemary and Rue by Seanan McGuire

This is a dark urban fantasy set in San Francisco, about a half-fae, half-human named October Daye, who tries to pass as human.  The world-building is rich, and well-done, but Toby didn’t really grab me as a heroine.  I get that the author was probably going for an everyday heroine and I whole-heartedly approve of that, it’s a nice change of pace from the super-warrior heroines usually found in urban fantasy but she just seemed too weak.  She also made some really dumb personal decisions that had me shaking my head at her.  I will probably read more in the series but they aren’t on my immediate read list.  It’s a clean book, lots of fairy politics, a good murder mystery and angst.  I loved the setting: it made me want to visit San Francisco even more than I already do!
Rating 3 stars
Sensuality: mentions a few kisses that happened in the past.  No sex.


City of Fallen Angels by Cassandra Clare

Book 4 in the Mortal Instruments Series for young adults, this continues the adventures of Clary, Jace, Simon, Isabelle and Maia with brief scenes with Magnus and Alec.  I enjoyed this book, no spoilers, but I will say I was screaming in my head at the author for how she ended this book.  This was pretty heavy on teen angst and internal drama but was an enjoyable read.  If you liked the first 3 books in the series, you won’t want to miss the fourth.  Also, if you like the author’s style, you might consider reading a related series, the first of which is out now (the second will be out in December I believe), The Infernal Devices.  I can’t wait until Book 5 comes out!
Rating: 4 stars
Sensuality: a few make-out sessions

The Gathering by Kelley Armstrong

This book is the first in a trilogy for young adults.  The main character goes to a very exclusive (and small!) private school.  The author introduces us to Maya, her family and friends and introduces some mysterious occurrences.  The book doesn’t go much further than that and sets up the second one, which comes out who-knows-when, to be full of action and mystery with a splash of romance thrown in.  I would probably wait to read this one until  the next one comes out, but it was an enjoyable read.

Rating 4 stars
Sensuality: main character is drugged at a party and makes out with a boy but no sex

Dead Reckoning by Charlaine Harris

Sookie, where do I start?  Life certainly has gotten complicated for our favorite telepath from Bon Temps!  Her cousin and uncle live with her, she has a telepath cousin that she tries to mentor a bit, work responsibilities, someone who repeatedly tries to kill her, the blood bond with Eric (mmmm Eric) and friendship with Pam and various other supernatural beings.  It will certainly keep a girl busy!

Book 11 in the series begins with a Molotov cocktail thrown into Merlotte’s and the action continues with very little downtime.  We have some surprises in store for us, some are nice some not so nice.  Ms. Harris wraps up some story lines, answers some long-standing questions and appears to be gearing up for a fantastic end to the Sookie series.  Rumor has it there are two more books to come (2 more years to know how it ends waaaaaaah).  I am eagerly awaiting book 12 which will probably be out in May 2012.

Rating: 4 stars
Sensuality: I remember one sex scene, not very long.

Book Review: This Side of the Grave

Product Description

The highly anticipated continuation of Jeaniene Frost's New York Times and USA Today bestselling Night Huntress series, in which Cat and Bones face an enemy unlike any they've met before.
Danger waits on both sides of the grave.
Half-vampire Cat Crawfield and her vampire husband Bones have fought for their lives, as well as for their relationship. But just when they've triumphed over the latest battle, Cat's new and unexpected abilities threaten to upset a long-standing balance...
With the mysterious disappearance of vampires, rumors abound that a species war is brewing.  A zealot is inciting tensions between the vampires and ghouls, and if these two powerful groups clash, innocent mortals could become collateral damage. Now Cat and Bones are forced to seek help from a dangerous "ally"--the ghoul queen of New Orleans herself. But the price of her assistance may prove more treacherous than even the threat of a supernatural war. ...to say nothing of the repercussions Cat never imagined.

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Review:
Jeaniene Frost begins book 5 in her Night Huntress series with Cat and Bones investigating the deaths of some masterless vampires. 
 
The bad guy this time around is Apollyon, a ghoul who strives to start a war between ghouls and vampires.   He tried to start the same war several hundred years ago when another half-vampire is born.
 
The most interesting twist comes when Cat requests aid from Marie Laveau.  No spoilers, but it’s fantastic!
 
Most of the characters we have been introduced to reappear to help the Red Reaper fight evil and prejudice and prevent a devastating war.  This is not a series you can easily pick up in the middle.  It’s best to read starting with book 1: Halfway to the Grave (Night Huntress, Book 1)
 
Cat and Bones continue to grow together as a formidable team and an excellent couple.  In this installment, there is plenty of action and a bit of steamy sex.  There’s one explicit scene, although it’s not QUITE as steamy as Chapter 32 in book 2 (you know what I’m talking about if you have read this series!).
 
Sensuality: an explicit scene,  although that chapter is easily skipped if you prefer to not read sex scenes.  I plan on waiting a few more years before I let my teenage daughters read this series.
 
Rating:   4 stars