Showing posts with label paranormal. Show all posts
Showing posts with label paranormal. Show all posts

Haven Review

Haven
Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)
I almost didn't read this book because of the cover. The cover gods did not smile on Kristi Cook's debut novel. But, thankfully, she didn't need it. Bit's and pieces of this novel reminded me of different parts of other books, but it was unique in it's own way. I could see where people could see where it reminded them of Twilight, but only slightly. Or maybe Fallen. Sort of. It reminded me most of the Eternal Ones. But even so, there was a spin on that, something I've never heard of and it would seem an obstacle that would be very hard to overcome.Violet (a popular name this year) is feeling like a freak because of her visions of things that will happen in the future. Usually bad things. No one believes her. But at Winterhaven, she finds she isn't a rarity. And she begins to have friends for the first time. And a boyfriend. Who blows hot and cold. And who she starts to have visions about. And her visions are never wrong. And he tells her something terrible and she avoids him. Then one terrible night, while wandering the streets of Manhattan when she's supposed to be visiting her step mother, she finds herself in the middle of the one vision that has been haunting her since she's met Aidan. And after that, she has to believe what he's told her, what she's seen. There is no denying it.
Hope that's enough to whet your appetite. I can't tell anymore of the story without giving anything away. I will say that Violet has some friends with interesting abilities and I was glad the author explained them more fully because I didn't know what they were. Anyone well versed on astral projection? No, me either. But the author is good about explaining everything we don't understand. With some interesting new folklore on a being we know a lot about. And we get some science lessons. Yeah, I just kind of let some of the harder stuff float by. But some of it was really interesting. And where this story is leading, well, there are a couple of threads, are all incredibly interesting and like nothing I've ever read before. So, while it might tickle your mind with some memories of other books, it really is fresh and unique and the writing is easy and flows from one chapter to the next. The book is written from Violet's point of view and there is something called "The Aidan Effect" that is really funny to read in action. It's almost four hundred pages long, but it goes by fast. There is a little lag time in certain points, but it picks right back up again. You really won't notice too much.
I can't recall bad words. There was some lusting, but no actual descriptions of sex. A memory of some kind, but I don't know if it could be called sex. Lots of kissing. I'd say 13 and up would be fine to read this.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Haven



Buy Now

Click here for more information about Haven

Read More...

Demon's Kiss (Wings in the Night, Book 1) Review

Demon's Kiss (Wings in the Night, Book 1)
Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)
While Demon's Kiss has paranormal romance overtones it is very much a relationship driven ensemble piece that develops a very interesting group of characters and relationships.
Seth has been waiting all his life for something and has had visions of a woman, a woman who is somehow wrapped up in his destiny. When Sean is mugged, beaten and left for dead Sean readily accepts vampire Reaper's offer of immortality and even on the brink of death Sean realizes that at last he is on the road to fulfilling his purpose. Reaper former CIA assassin during life and now vampire rogue hunter has compelling reasons for shunning any relationship, but since Seth is the one Chosen with whom Reaper has an undeniable bond, Reaper cannot ignore his compulsion to protect Seth. In Shayne's vampire world this bond is not necessarily a romantic bond and Reaper's bond with Sean allows Sean to begin to crack the isolation that loner Reaper has maintained in life and death.
Sean is also the catalyst for cementing the ragtag group that begins to form around Reaper, much to Reaper's frustration. Initially the group is Sean, Reaper, Roxy and Topaz. Roxy, the only non-vampire, is a seer and powerful in her own right. Roxy is the voice of reason for the group and was previously Reaper's only friend and privy to his dark secret. Topaz is a socialite pampered princess on the surface but tough and smart underneath. Topaz hooks up with the group to seek vengeance on the vampire that stole her heart and her money. The remaining important characters are associated with the rogue group that Reaper hunts:Vixen - held captive by the group - is Sean's mystery woman. Vixen is both vampire and fox-shifter but alien in her thinking, almost more fox than woman even when in human form. Briar - beautiful, dark and cruel, is no longer able to feel her own pain and revels in inflicting it on others. And Jack - perpetual con-man, is the vampire who broke Topaz's heart. Jack is always running a scam, loyal only to himself, he never lets any one close to his heart.
It is very difficult to write a decent synopsis for Demon's Kiss because all seven main characters have distinct personalities and roles to play in the action. Shayne intertwines her characters and sets up their relationships, so that while you can see six of them starting to pair off, there are other friendships and other bonds developing between the group that are just as important. Shayne does a good job weaving her story with threads following various members of the ensemble, coming together, splitting off and reforming.
Demon's Kiss is not one of those series romances that focuses solely on a single couple as they take their romantic turn in the spotlight. While Sean & Vixen's is the only romance that runs full course here, there is a strong foundation laid for the past and future relationship between Topaz and Jack. Reaper is also such a strong character that there is no way to keep Reaper staying meekly in the background. The beginning of the complex relationship between Reaper and the evil Briar, whose soul is just as dark and damaged as Reaper's own, steals the spotlight at times. I look forward to seeing where both of those relationships go in the follow on books: Lover's Bite (May 2008 Jack & Topaz) and Angel's Pain (Oct 2008 Reaper & Briar).
Demon's Kiss is set in the same world as Shayne's popular Wings in the Night/Twilight Series (Rhiannon makes a brief appearance here) so check these out if you are looking for something to tide you over until May. Some of the older stories are being released as ebooks, Shayne's website has summaries and a `family tree' that shows the connections between books, she also has a movie trailer for Demon's Kiss by the same production company that does Christine Feehan's, the short one is fun and the longer one a bit hokey.
The Twilight Series Vampire Romance:
Wings in the Night Reissue contains:
Book 1 Twilight Phantasies - Eric & Tamara,
Book 2 Twilight Memories - Roland & Rhiannon,
Book 3 Twilight Illusions - Damian & Shannon
At TwilightReissue contains:
Book 5 Born in Twilight - Jameson and Angelic
Book 4 Beyond Twilight - Cuyler and Ramsey
Book 7 Twilight Hunger - Dante & Morgan,
Book 8 Embrace The Twilight - William & Sarafina,
Two By TwilightReissue contains:
Book 9 Run From Twilight Micheal & Mary
book 6 Twilight Vows - Donovan & Rachel
Book 10Edge Of Twilight Edge & Amber Lily
Book 11Blue Twilight - Lou & Maxie
Book 12 Prince Of Twilight - Vlad & Stormy


Click Here to see more reviews about: Demon's Kiss (Wings in the Night, Book 1)

Even by vampire standards, Reaper is a loner, and his current mission to destroy a gang of rogue bloodsuckers is definitely a one-vamp job. Then fate takes a hand, and before he knows it, he's surrounded by a ragtag crew of misfit helpers: the newbie, the princess, the shape-shifter and the human healer. Seth is new to immortality, but he's sharp and strong-and he'll risk anything for the rogues' strange female captive, a secretive creature he doesn't understand but feels compelled to save.Vixen is confused by the emotions that swirl through her at the sight of her impulsive hero. She only hopes the brutal Gregor and his bloodthirsty renegades will leave her alive long enough to explore them.Or will Reaper himself be the one to destroy them all?

Buy Now

Click here for more information about Demon's Kiss (Wings in the Night, Book 1)

Read More...

Night Stalks the Mansion: A True Story of One Family's Ghostly Adventure Review

Night Stalks the Mansion: A True Story of One Family's Ghostly Adventure
Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)
At Halloween, I like to venture from my normal reading and choose something a little more in season. I am no aficionado of the "horror" genre, but allegedly-true tales of the paranormal are more my style. I chose "Night Stalks the Mansion" by Constance Westbie and Harold Cameron for this year's Halloween Book because it was a well-known classic and because the story took place in the western suburbs of Philadelphia -- the neighborhood that I call home. I bought it yesterday morning, started reading it after lunch, and I didn't put it down until it was finished. Of course, it is not a particularly hefty volume, but y'all will just have to take my word for it that my focusing on a single endeavor for a whole afternoon is a rare event.
What was particularly compelling to me about the house on Plum Lane was how completely believable the story was. These ghosts (or whatever) turn out to be annoying to the Cameron family more than malevolent, although their very presence freaks out uninitiated visitors. Cameron tells the story -- with Westbie -- of trying to understand their cohabitants rather than trying to necessarily get rid of them. It was not a particularly scary story, except early on when one doesn't quite know where it all is going to lead, but as the details become clearer, one begins to have some pity on the disembodied walkers of the grounds.
An interesting note accompanies the 2005 reprinting of "Night Stalks the Mansion." Apparently the project has been picked up by a grandnephew of Cameron's, and he is trying to get a movie financed. There is a web page (...) with some details, and from what is available, it does not look promising. The Harold Cameron of of the nephew's endnote and movie synopsis seems to be different than in the book. I am not sure which treatment is more accurate, the latter seems far more interesting to me.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Night Stalks the Mansion: A True Story of One Family's Ghostly Adventure


Back by popular demand
A supernatural detective story
Winner of the 1977 National Writers Club Award for Nonfiction
Now in paperback, this true story recounts a Philadelphia family's encounter with a supernatural presence in their eighteenth-century mansion. After experiencing footsteps at night, opening doors, strange sounds and activity that centered around the library, they investigate, unearthing the mansion's tragic past and changing their beliefs about the supernatural world.

Buy Now

Click here for more information about Night Stalks the Mansion: A True Story of One Family's Ghostly Adventure

Read More...

Boys that Bite (A Blood Coven Vampire Novel) Review

Boys that Bite (A Blood Coven Vampire Novel)
Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)
Sunshine "Sunny" McDonald was doing pretty well; the hottest guy at Oakridge High School, Jake Wilder, has asked her to go to the prom with him, and life is now complete. At five foot four, with dirty blond hair and unimpressive muddy brown eyes, Sunny would have sworn that Jake didn't even know she existed. Freckles notwithstanding, she's not as easily recognizable as her twin sister, Rayne, who's so into the Goth scene, vampires, and wearing all black that it's not even funny. Yes, life is looking up--until Sunny lets herself get guilt tripped into attending Club Fang, a cheesy Goth club filled with wannabe vampires, and suddenly her life isn't so sunny anymore.
The night starts out okay--yes, the club is the epitome of cheesy and the smoke machine is making her cough--but improves vastly when an Orlando Bloom (Pirates of the Caribbean Orlando, not Lord of the Rings Orlando)introduces himself with a "Good evening..I'm Magnus..I believe you were expecting me" line. Sunny sure wasn't expecting him, and she definitely was not expecting the bite on the neck she gets from the totally hot Magnus.
Suddenly life is taking a dark turn, when Sunny finds out that Magnus is not only a vampire--for real!--but that he mistook her for her twin sister, Rayne. Now Sunny's going to turn into one of the undead--this close to prom!--unless she find the Holy Grail. Which is the one and only thing that can reverse the process of turning into a vampire. But even with thoughts
of Jake Wilder on the brain, Sunny's not so sure that being a vampire would be so horrible, or that being in league with Magnus would be the end of her life.
BOYS THAT BITE is a funny, action-packed read that will keep you turning pages long into the night. The characters--from Sunny, Rayne, Magnus, and everyone in between--are all well-rounded people, and the dialogue is smart and funny. As the three race to save Sunny from an eternal life as a member of the undead, she'll have to find out what's most important in life. And the ending, including a stunner regarding Rayne, definitely sets up the scene for a sequel. A great read!


Click Here to see more reviews about: Boys that Bite (A Blood Coven Vampire Novel)

Two sisters--as different as the sun and the rain. For one, getting into the Blood Coven is to die for. But for the other, getting out could be lethal...When Sunny McDonald gets dragged to Club Fang by her twin sister Rayne, she doesn't expect to find anything besides a bunch of Goth kids playing at being vampires. But when some guy mistakes Sunny for her dark-side-loving sister and bites her on the neck, she finds out that his fangs are real--and deadly. Now, Sunny has less than a week to figure out how to reverse the bite, or else she's going to end up as the perpetually undead. And not only will she be a vampire, she'll also be bonded to Magnus--the bloodsucker who bit her--forever. And forever is a really long time...

Buy Now

Click here for more information about Boys that Bite (A Blood Coven Vampire Novel)

Read More...

Touched by an Alien Review

Touched by an Alien
Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)
While I enjoy urban fantasy/paranormals, I am so very tired of tormented vampires, werewolves, etc. and the tough yet sexy women who love them. I picked this up because, hey, aliens! I really enjoyed it - it was totally entertaining. The heroine is smart, funny, Jewish (how often to do you run across that in UF?), and has a great relationship with her parents. She doesn't wear leather pants and her weapon of choice is hairspray. The hero is too good to be true (he's an empath with amazing, umm, stamina who looks great in Armani) but he's brood-free! It's a fun "girl kills evil alien, meets a bunch of really cute good aliens and falls in love while saving the world" read. Pick this up if you're looking for something a little different.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Touched by an Alien



Buy Now

Click here for more information about Touched by an Alien

Read More...

Dead Is So Last Year Review

Dead Is So Last Year
Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)
Daisy Giordano and her older sisters Rose and Poppy have just returned home from vacation in Italy the summer after Daisy's junior year. Their psychic mother has stayed behind to work on an important case and is unavailable to help solve a big mystery here in Nightshade, the quirky little town where the Giordanos live in Northern California. Doppelgängers of local residents are appearing all over the place, a fact the girls hesitate to mention to their mother because one of the mysterious doubles appears to be their long-lost father. Their mother has never stopped trying to find him for the past six years, and Daisy and her sisters don't want to get their mother's hopes up about him until they are 100% sure that the man who looks and acts like their dad--at least some of the time--is really him. But figuring out the truth is made doubly hard because they are prejudiced in favor of the man due to their desperate longing that he might truly be their beloved father. Fortunately, they have working in their favor Rose's ESP, Poppy's telekinesis, and Daisy's ability to do both those things, as well.
On top of this pressing family problem, Daisy is confounded by the fact that a big portion of the players on the high school football team--including her hunky boyfriend Ryan--have bulked up massively in just the three short weeks Daisy has been in Europe. This seems physically impossible, and Daisy is determined to get to the bottom of this mystery, too, while simultaneously attempting, along with her two sisters, to make a little money at a summer job. Rose is working for an eccentric scientist at a secret lab at the local university, Poppy is running a concession stand at the beach, and Daisy is cooking and waiting tables at the local diner. The fact that her boss is permanently invisible and his juke box is enchanted doesn't phase Daisy a bit compared to the many other problems facing her during the weirdest summer on record.
This book is another big hit for Marlene Perez, in her wonderful "Dead Is" series. Daisy is as unstoppable as ever, and the kooky characters in her town alternate between being spooky, scary and downright hilarious, including, besides her boss, the juke box, and the sugar-snarfing doppelgängers, a powerful witch and assorted werewolves and vampires.
This book is the third of five books, which are best enjoyed in order. Book 1 is Dead Is the New Black. Book 2 is Dead Is a State of Mind. Book 4 is Dead Is Just a Rumor. Book 5, the final book in the series, is Dead Is Not an Option. It is scheduled for release in 2011.
I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys light, humorous YA fantasy stories with an intriguing mystery plot.
Note for parents, teachers and librarians: This book is G-rated. There are no incidents of drinking, drugs or adolescent sex either on or offstage, and Daisy's family relationships are warm and loving.
I grade the book as follows:
Heroine - 5 stars
Subcharacters - 5 stars
Fantasy world-building - 4.5 stars
Writing - 5 stars
Mystery Plot - 4 stars
Romantic Subplot - 4 stars
Overall - 5 stars


Click Here to see more reviews about: Dead Is So Last Year

Something very strange starts happening in Nightshade the summer that the eldest Giordano sister, Rose, gets a job working at Dr. Franken's research laboratory. People are starting to see double. Doppelgängers of Nightshade residents are popping up all over town. Daisy, Rose and Poppy think it's a coincidence, until the rumors start that their father, who disappeared several years ago, has been spotted in town. Meanwhile, Daisy's beau, Ryan is spending all of his time training for football, and like the other guys on the team, he's grown enormous almost overnight. Samantha Devereux's boyfriend's neck has doubled in size since school ended. Could the football players be resorting to extreme measures to win? Between summer jobs, sugar rushes, and beach parties, the Giordano girls get to the bottom of these mysteries and more.

Buy Now

Click here for more information about Dead Is So Last Year

Read More...

Real Vampires Don't Diet (Glory St. Claire, Book 4) Review

Real Vampires Don't Diet (Glory St. Claire, Book 4)
Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)
If you are new to the REAL VAMPIRE books, witty dialogue, fascinating snippets of history and a captivating cast of characters are just a few of the reasons all four books are a must read! Each stands alone, but read one and you'll be hooked.
If you are already a Glory fan, REAL VAMPIRES DON'T DIET is populated with familiar friends and foes while adding a sinister new villain with the ability to freeze victims into living statues.
When a family emergency forces Glory's boyfriend, Blade, to fly off to Europe on New Year's Eve, she expects to spend a quiet evening watching chick flicks. A phone call from pop star Ray Caine, a newly turned vampire who Glory has taken under her wing, causes her to rush to his lake house, where a party is in full swing. Alcohol is like poison to vampires. Ray is feeling depressed and well on the way to being drunk when Glory arrives.
Needing a safe distraction, Glory agrees to go for a midnight boat ride with Ray. Unfortunately, their trip puts them in the path of a Siren who has been cursed by the Goddess of Night. To break the curse, the Siren must deliver three vampires to the Goddess. Fortunately, even Sirens swoon under the spell of Ray's love songs, which enables him to make a deal - Ray and Glory have until the next full moon to deliver three replacement vampires to the Siren or they will be sacrificed to the Goddess. WORSE, they are now forcibly compelled to answer the Siren's call. Regardless of what they are doing, how far away they go, day or night, when the Siren calls it is impossible for Glory and Ray not to respond.
With the clock ticking, Glory and Ray must pose as an engaged couple to fool an old enemy, the head of the Energy Vampires, with hopes of luring him and couple of his cohorts into the Siren's web. Energy Vampires are the "human" equivalent to drug pushers. Having three fewer on the streets of Austin would be a good thing and solve their problem. Only the fickle Goddess decides that one of the sacrificial vampires must be Casanova - the brother of Flo, Glory's friend and roommate. If the situation weren't bad enough, Glory never found the opportunity to tell Blade about the `pretend' engagement to Ray, and he returns from Europe to find Glory and Ray in a very compromising situation.
Will Glory find a way to satisfy the Siren's demands, save Flo's brother and win Blade's forgiveness? Don't miss this exciting and fun adventure with Glory St. Claire!


Click Here to see more reviews about: Real Vampires Don't Diet (Glory St. Claire, Book 4)

Real readers love this series and its "vampire to die for"(Kimberly Raye, USA Today bestselling author of Dead End Dating)-from the author of Real Vampires Get Lucky. Gloriana St. Claire-curvy, stylish, and undead-is spending New Year's Eve alone. And it's all because her boyfriend, Jeremy Blade, is traipsing off to parts unknown to rescue his supposed daughter from the clutches of "dangerous radicals." But just as Glory settles in for the evening, a phone call from the bodyguard of a drunk, newly-undead rock star could end her year on a crazy note.

Buy Now

Click here for more information about Real Vampires Don't Diet (Glory St. Claire, Book 4)

Read More...

Be Mine Tonight (The Brotherhood of Blood, Book 1) Review

Be Mine Tonight (The Brotherhood of Blood, Book 1)
Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)
just got done reading Be Mine Tonight, and.. I really, truly loved it. A wonderful job all the way around - the characterizations were very three dimensional, not to mention that Pru Ryland is one of the best heroines I've ever read. Kathryn Smith's new take on vampire legend was very smart, unique and believable. I loved that Chapel didn't end up as that all-too-familiar vampiric hero stereotype. He was very vital, warm and alive, instead of being darkly brooding and menacing in the way I've come to expect from vampire fiction. As for the story itself, I don't want to give too much away I was asborbed every step of the way as the two main characters, Pru and Chapel, fell in love very convincingly without falling into cliches. I cried so hard through parts of this book that I've blocked my right ear, but it was a fabulous read. I'm usually a picky b*tch and not too many authors make it into my auto-buy list, but this one just did. I'm really looking forward to reading the rest of the books in this series, and hope they'll all be as wonderful as this one.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Be Mine Tonight (The Brotherhood of Blood, Book 1)

I am called Chapel . . . For nearly six centuries I have roamed the night, a mortal man no longer. Would that I could undo the past -- when I entered the sanctuary of the Knights Templar to wrest from them the Holy Grail, only to discover the chalice I raised to my lips was not the sacred relic but a hellish cup of damnation. Now I shun the day and all things human, driven by an ungodly thirst. And yet... Never have I known a maiden the like of Prudence Ryland, whose beauty and spirit awaken a heart I feared long cold and dead. But her young life is slipping away, and she also seeks the deliverance of the Grail -- unaware that the cost of her search could be her soul. I must help Prudence, for in six hundred years, no other woman has stirred my passions so. But dare I tender to my beloved that which she most desires -- the sensuous "gift" of forever that is both rapture and a curse: my immortal kiss?

Buy Now

Click here for more information about Be Mine Tonight (The Brotherhood of Blood, Book 1)

Read More...

The Lost Saint: A Dark Divine Novel Review

The Lost Saint: A Dark Divine Novel
Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)
Seriously, this book rocked! I love this series! End of review. Okay, just kidding. I did have to think about my review for this book because I was not sure how to put into words how much I loved it. Bree has done a wonderful job of telling a dark story filled with suspense and love. The relationship between Grace and Daniel drew me into the first book, The Dark Divine, and in this book I remember why I love the two of them together so much. They have a unique relationship because they have been friends since childhood and have grown up together. They are also bonded by their secret. The only trouble is, they are teenagers. They are new to the whole idea of love and events in this book put their relationship to the test. They both want what is best for the other and try to protect them, but in doing so they are inadvertently unraveling all the groundwork they have laid in this relationship. It was heartbreaking to watch the events unfold and the relationship strain, but at the same time I felt it was necessary. No relationship is perfect and if Grace and Daniel never had any bumps in the road it would not be believable. So while I felt it was tough to read it, I admire Bree for writing a realistic relationship.
I will also admit that I started and finished the book in one night. I could not put it down. There was so much going on and so many questions I needed answered, I could not go to sleep without knowing how it ended. And it was quiet and ending! I am of course, not going to spoil it for you, but I think once you get there you will understand.
The Lost Saint had a dark edge that kept me fully engrossed with plot twists that kept me on the edge of my seat. I didn't dare put it down!

Click Here to see more reviews about: The Lost Saint: A Dark Divine Novel



Buy Now

Click here for more information about The Lost Saint: A Dark Divine Novel

Read More...

The Vampire Queen's Servant (Vampire Queen, Book 1) Review

The Vampire Queen's Servant (Vampire Queen, Book 1)
Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)
Jacob Green has spent his life searching for purpose, but the day he saw Lady Elyssa Yamato Amaterasu Wentworth he knew he had found his destiny. He disregarded the fact that he was a vampire hunter and that he had no way of entering her world. Jacob would find a way to fulfill his destiny and spend his life serving Lady Lyssa. However, when his dream becomes reality, he finds that his life is now a constant struggle within himself: Jacob must renounce all he considers as "himself" and exist only as an extension to Lady Lyssa or he must walk away.
Lady Elyssa Yamato Amaterasu Wentworth is the last remaining vampire of royal blood. Her life is spent protecting herself from attacks from other vampires and keeping the façade of indifference to all the posturing of lesser vampires. The day she lets her guard down --even for a moment-- it could mean her death. However, these last years she has been fighting a foe that can't be defeated and must be faced alone, or so she thinks. When Jacob enters her world, Lady Lyssa has no idea how to take what he is clearly offering her; not without condemning Jacob to death. However, if Lady Lyssa does accept Jacob as her human servant, she must mold him to survive within the vampire world, something which might drive Jacob away form her.
When I was first offered this book for review I was delighted, as I had enjoyed books by Joey Hill in the past. The Vampire Queen's Servant is a book that is very well written and it evolves in the complex world of vampire society which is interesting in a horrifying way. However, I have to say that this book was difficult to for me to read for several reasons. The relationship that develops between Lady Lyssa and Jacob goes beyond your typical BDSM explored in mainstream erotica. In The Vampire Queen's Servant, we see Jacob struggle against becoming not much more than an obedient dog capable of performing complex tricks and providing sexual pleasure when Lady Lyssa demands. It also bothered me that rape was considered a spectator sport serving to arouse the watchers and physical torture (read broken bones and the like) was something utilized as easily as a hanky for no other purpose than proving who held the power. Jacob's thoughts at times seemed, to me, to reflect what we typically hear from abused spouses: it hurt, I don't like it, but I deserved it. I was completely unable to live the story from the character's perspective in order to understand their motivations. It was these things that made it very hard for me to care one way or another if Jacob and Lady Lyssa got a Happily Ever After. Also, the plot of the book moved so slowly that I found myself looking for reasons to put it down and at the same time I was desperate to finish it and therefore put myself out of my misery. I don't suggest that you pick up this book unless you are not squeamish and you enjoy extremely hardcore BDSM and senseless violence. The Vampire Queen's Servant is not a book for the faint of heart or those who enjoy fast paced books.

Sabella
Reviewed for Joyfully Reviewed

Click Here to see more reviews about: The Vampire Queen's Servant (Vampire Queen, Book 1)

Paranormal erotica from an award-winning author who stands out in a genre known for its out-of-the-ordinary love play." (Romance Studio) Lady Elyssa Yamato Amaterasu Wentworth is a centuries-old vampire who's been given a new servant-Jacob, a total alpha male unaccustomed to submitting to any woman's wishes. What really binds Jacob to her are not her sensual midnight hungers, but something far more provocative. It stirs her blood, renews her life, and awakens her soul like only true love can. The passion between Elyssa and Jacob yields something else unexpected-a shared history that reaches back through the centuries and is fated to challenge their destiny like nothing ever will again.

Buy Now

Click here for more information about The Vampire Queen's Servant (Vampire Queen, Book 1)

Read More...

Dead Is the New Black Review

Dead Is the New Black
Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)
This is the first in a series of Paranmormal adventure's aimed for young adults 12 years and up. I am not in the market range but I enjoyed this story very much before passing it along to my stepdaughter. I intend to read the other books in this series as well. This book tells the story of Daisy, a non-psychic child who lives with her mother (a psychic) and her sisters Rose and Poppy, who both have psychic abilites. Daisy feels like she doesn't quite fit in. With her family or at school. But suddenly Nighshade's cheerleaders are becoming very deathly ill..its almost like something is literally sucking the life from them. As a favor to her ex-best friend Samantha, Daisy joins the squad. From that vantage point, Daisy and her new boyfriend start to investigate the murder of a teenage girl who shows up walking and talking to the pep rally...It soon apparent that Nightshade has more than its fair share of odd beings. This story was quick and quirky and fun. It definetly caught and kept my attention and my step-daughter loved it. The writing is well done and the characters are well crafted. The paranormal jukebox is just one of many great touches. I think this book will captivate any teen or pre-teen and maybe their parents. I recomend this book as lighthearted, clean, paranormal fun.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Dead Is the New Black



Buy Now

Click here for more information about Dead Is the New Black

Read More...

Dead Girl Walking Review

Dead Girl Walking
Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)
Amber has never been known for her sense of direction, but her capacity for error jumps to new heights when, after a near death experience, her soul takes a wrong turn and she ends up in the body of popular girl Leah. Desperate to get back to her own body, Amber sets in motion a series of hilarious, horrifying, and touching events as she attempts to navigate life in Leah's body while trying to reclaim her own.
Dead Girl Walking is the first in a series, though it can easily be read as a stand-alone story. The body switching routine has been done before, and while it is done well this time, what really sets this book apart is Amber. Amber is the stereotypical quirky, klutzy, not-popular-but-not-unpopular girl. Despite filling these stereotypes (which really are starting to get a little worn), Amber is impossible not to love. Her wry commentary runs throughout the book, adding levity and thoughtfulness in all the right places. She's a person I can totally see myself befriending and laughing hysterically with every time we get together.
The secondary characters were equally endearing, though not as fleshed out as Amber. While we don't really get to meet Leah, we do take an intimate tour through her dark secrets, and they are frightening. Leah's situation is awful and I found myself feeling really sorry for her. After spending so much time in Leah's life, I wish the author had given the reader some closure or idea of how Leah's life is after the main events of the story have ended. This loose end and the abrupt ending are my only complaints about the story. Despite these two minor complaints, I fully enjoyed the book and recommend it. I will be checking out the sequels.


Click Here to see more reviews about: Dead Girl Walking

An American Library Association2009 Popular Paperback for Young Adults title
"DEAD GIRL WALKING is a great teen read: suspenseful, fast-paced, and loads of fun!"--K.A. Applegate, author of the ANIMORPHS series

I am so dead... Now, was I supposed to go left or right at the Light?

Seventeen-year-old Amber Borden has a lousy sense of direction—so lousy that she takes a wrong turn when returning from her near-death experience. She ends up in the body of the most popular girl in school, who has just tried to commit suicide.Can a girl who can't even navigate the halls of Halsey High discover the secrets of her new identity and find her way back to her own life?From the author of THE SEER Series.


Buy Now

Click here for more information about Dead Girl Walking

Read More...

Darker Angels (Book Two of the The Black Sun's Daughter) Review

Darker Angels (Book Two of the The Black Sun's Daughter)
Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)
***SPOILER WARNING***
***SPOILER WARNING***
***SPOILER WARNING***
***SPOILER WARNING***
My inner curmudgeon nearly set _Darker Angels_ aside at about the halfway point. "I don't get this book!" said the curmudgeon. "The voodoo's all wrong. Legba isn't an evil serial killer! The good guys' plan doesn't quite add up, and is pretty unethical besides. And the interpersonal drama just ate the plot for lunch!"
"Sit down and shut up," said M.L.N. Hanover. "I'm telling a story here."
OK, so I've never met M.L.N. Hanover, and he didn't literally say that, but he might as well have. Because just as I was about to give up on _Darker Angels_, he threw in some twists that made me realize I was looking at it all wrong.
I must have been led astray by the extremely linear plot of _Unclean Spirits_. I was expecting this plot to be similar in structure, and so I wasn't asking the right questions. I shouldn't have been asking, "What did Hanover do wrong?" I should have been asking, "What might be going on within the plot to cause all these things to happen?" I think I also forgot that Jayné, despite being a narrator whose voice I really enjoy, is not a perfectly reliable narrator. She has biases and blind spots, and she doesn't understand everything she experiences. Jayné's preconceived notions got in the way of solving the mystery -- and so did mine.
_Darker Angels_ is much less linear than _Unclean Spirits_, and it's much better for it. The plot revolves around a voodoo spirit who manipulates its hosts into committing horrific murders. Jayné is hired by former FBI agent Karen Black, an acquaintance of her late uncle's, to help stop this spirit from killing a young girl. We visit New Orleans and see both the destruction left over from Katrina and the tenacity of its residents. The plot is full of great twists. Hanover yanked the rug out from under my feet at one point, and maybe I should have seen it coming, but I didn't. It's when the pieces start to fall into place that you realize just how carefully Hanover set them up.
I really enjoyed _Darker Angels_s and I think it's safe to say I'm hooked on The Black Sun's Daughter. Jayné continues to be a delight; she's no master strategist, but she has a lot of compassion, and she has more courage than she thinks she does. And to heck with the inner curmudgeon. By the end, this had become a "set the alarm early so you can read before work" kind of book, and I finished it with a smile on my face and maybe a few tears in my eyes.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Darker Angels (Book Two of the The Black Sun's Daughter)

In the battle between good and evil, there's no such thing as a fair fight. When Jayné Heller's uncle Eric died, she inherited a fortune beyond all her expectations -- and a dangerous mission in a world she never knew existed. Reining in demons and supernatural foes is a formidable task, but thankfully Jayné has vast resources and loyal allies to rely on. She'll need both to tackle a bodyswitching serial killer who's taken up residence in New Orleans, a city rich in voodoo lore and dark magic. Working alongside Karen Black, a highly confident and enigmatic ex-FBI agent, Jayné races to track down the demon's next intended host. But the closer she gets, the more convinced she becomes that nothing in this beautiful, wounded city is exactly as it seems. When shocking secrets come to light, and jealousy and betrayal turn trusted friends into adversaries, Jayné will soon come face-to-face with an enemy that knows her all too well, and won't rest until it has destroyed everything she loves most....

Buy Now

Click here for more information about Darker Angels (Book Two of the The Black Sun's Daughter)

Read More...

Red-Headed Stepchild (Sabina Kane) Review

Red-Headed Stepchild (Sabina Kane)
Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)
Sabina Kane is half-vampire and half-mage. She has no true hold in either world, so she serves as an assassin for her grandmother and the Dominae; however, this role has never gained her anything but the deception of those she trusts and now she must decide what side she will take...
I learned a few things from Sabina Kane. Mostly I learned that even though an author says someone is a great assassin, said assassin may actually be completely inept and without a spine. Random example? Let's say the Great Assassin allows someone to sneak into their apartment, their own territory, and then shoot them through the heart. Even if the shooter is a demon--you've failed as an assassin and should be dead.
Okay, but miraculous survival saves the Great Assassin, one would think that Great Assassin would rip her attacker limb from limb ... Instead of offering them a place to stay.
And if the same demon/would-be-assassin starts using the Great Assassin's credit card and memorizes the number on it, then cancel the card or cancel the demon's life or kick his ass out of the apartment ... not just give a long-suffering sigh.
(Oh by the way, these aren't really spoilers, all this happens before page 50. And it's only the beginning of the very long trudge through silly writing and circumstances masked with angst towards the ending.)
Something just didn't quite work for me in RED-HEADED STEPCHILD. Maybe it was the frivolous writing, maybe it was the annoying Sabina Kane... Either way, not a book I'm recommending despite the gorgeous cover.
If you want a kick-ass mercenary heroine check out Ilona Andrews. At least Kate Daniels makes sense when she sets out to do something--and isn't utterly invincible, whiny, and "the chosen one" (heed this warning, by the next book of Wells I predict you'll be hearing that phrase more than once). Perhaps Wells will be improving with the next volume, but I won't be spending money on the sequel to find out.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Red-Headed Stepchild (Sabina Kane)

In a world where being of mixed-blood is a major liability, Sabina Kane has the only profession fit for an outcast: assassin. But, her latest mission threatens the fragile peace between the vampire and mage races and Sabina must scramble to figure out which side she's on. She's never brought her work home with her---until now. This time, it's personal.

Buy Now

Click here for more information about Red-Headed Stepchild (Sabina Kane)

Read More...

Darkness Becomes Her Review

Darkness Becomes Her
Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)
I enjoyed the read overall. There was a plot (sad that I have to say that, but so many YA paranormal books seem to lack them lately) and it moved right along. The paranormal world was well-drawn if based on all the same-old characters. I really liked the idea of a rebirth (post-hurricane destruction) New Orleans. The heroine was likeable and the secondary characters were interesting. I read the entire thing even though it definitely wasn't the best written book out there.
However, I did have a couple of real dislikes.
The profanity: The heroine is supposed to be a hard-edged, foster-child type teenage girl. She fights like Buffy the Vampire and solves her own problems rather than waiting for a hero. She also swears as part of her `edge.' Only it didn't work for me because she is also wishy-washy about making decisions (she changes her mind a lot), emotionally overwrought (passes out from over emotion kind of stuff), and falls in love so fast it makes her look stupid. And all this made her seem not hard-edged at all. So the profanity ended up being forced (like the author trying to prove how hard she was) rather than real.
The detached body parts: There really are real detached body parts in this book- it's got a Buffesque grotesquery to it. However, even better was the grammar. The best (worst?) was so funny that all my kids came running to see why I was laughing so hard. On page 178 the author intended to say that the heroine rolled her eyes after someone made a snarky comment. Then the heroine glanced over at some couples on a dance floor. However what the author put into print was, "My eyes rolled, falling onto the dancers..." (writing this made me laugh all over again).
The Big give away: The giant story has to do with the heroine's identity. Her deceased mother left her a message to `run' because someone is trying to catch/kill her. So she runs, gets chased, and tries to figure out what it going on. And the answer to why this is all happening is pretty unique (or at least I hadn't run into this exact scenario before). I would have liked this book a lot more if I'd been able to slowly unravel the mystery as the clues were dropped, etc. But the author RUINED it by putting a clue on page three that was so obvious that it explained everything and gave the entire mystery away. I don't know if she did it on purpose or not, but it totally spoiled the surprise.
The romance: By far the weakest part of the story. Within hours of meeting Mr. Perfect-but-Attractively-Grumpy, the heroine falls in love. It happened so fast it was boring. The romance scenes could have been cut/pasted from other books they were so unoriginal.
But even with all that, this wasn't the worst book I'd ever read. I probably won't read more in the series (is this a series? Probably), but for a quick read, it did its job.


Click Here to see more reviews about: Darkness Becomes Her



Buy Now

Click here for more information about Darkness Becomes Her

Read More...

Ghouls, Ghouls, Ghouls (Ghost Hunter Mysteries, No. 5) Review

Ghouls, Ghouls, Ghouls (Ghost Hunter Mysteries, No. 5)
Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)
...to downgrade this book. I really love Laurie's books, and this one was still enjoyable. But in working overtime to convey the menace of the phantom, all her characters seem to have completely taken leave of their usually acute intelligences. It's hard to describe this without major plot spoilers -- what I CAN say is that in a "paranormal mystery," you still have to use standard investigative techniques, and you have to use them thoroughly and consistently. There are such big holes in this aspect of the plot that I'm surprised the book doesn't fall into a vortex and devour itself.
The other problem is Gilley. Some reviewers are complaining about gay stereotyping. To me, the problem is more that he is being portrayed as completely unhinged. Any ONE of his neuroses could be used for character development. OK, maybe not screaming in panic because of TALKING ANIMALS ON TV???!! Best ditch that one altogether. As it now stands, though, he has no character EXCEPT for neuroses AND he no longer shows any charming or redeeming characteristics. Even worse, M.J. is starting to sound like a 5-year-old herself whenever she deals with him. Earlier in the series, I thought Laurie might have been inspired by Dill (in To Kill A Mockingbird -- that character having been inspired by Truman Capote). Gilley, however, has become not a person at all, but a collection of diagnostic indicators.
In terms of writing skill, these are actually fairly minor fixes that I think Laurie has more than enough talent to make -- and I hope she will. When she's plotting tightly and writing well, she's an absolute joy to read.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Ghouls, Ghouls, Ghouls (Ghost Hunter Mysteries, No. 5)

When M.J. Holliday and the crew of her cable TV show, Ghoul Getters, venture to the haunted ruins of Dunlow Castle in Ireland, drawn by the legend of hidden treasure, they hope the road will rise up to meet them, that the wind will always be at their backs-and that the resident phantom won't push them off a cliff. If they treasure their lives, M.J. and her ghost busters need to get the drop on the menacing phantom...

Buy Now

Click here for more information about Ghouls, Ghouls, Ghouls (Ghost Hunter Mysteries, No. 5)

Read More...

Eternal Hunger: Mark of the Vampire Review

Eternal Hunger: Mark of the Vampire
Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)
Here is the thing, I am an average, read for pleasure type of girl. Paranormal romance is my favorite genre. I am always looking for new authors to fill my fantasies. So, when I was introduced to Eternal Hunger, I curled up on the couch and gave it a go. I was intrigued with the new world, and new take on vampires that Laura has introduced with EH. I liked the whole plot in full, the villains even have a certain appeal. ( Yes, sometimes I root for the bad guy) I really liked the alpha-male hero Alexander and his strong on the outside, needy on the inside heroine Sara. I know it is a new series, and being that, I always take that into consideration. There are plenty of series that I follow, that the first book is the hardest to get through. The author most always follows up with a better story the next go and so on.. As for this book I read it in one day, and came away ready for the next! So, if you are reader interested in seeing how far this new series will go, pick it up, enjoy the steamy romance and the wise-cracks of a particular brother I am in love with now ( can't wait for his book! ) and get lost in what is sure to become an awesome new world for the paranormal fans!

Click Here to see more reviews about: Eternal Hunger: Mark of the Vampire



Buy Now

Click here for more information about Eternal Hunger: Mark of the Vampire

Read More...