Sunday, March 18, 2012

I'm behind on my posts......here I go.....

Victoria Laurie---Ghoul Interrupted---Jan/2012---Obsidian/Paranormal Mystery

*****
This story is terrific.  M.J. + Heath tackle their most emotional and harrowing

entity.  A Demon centuries old has returned for revenge and is killing Heath's family.

I learned so much about Heath's family and ancestors the story was riveting.



Janet Evanovich+Dorien Kelly---Love in a Nutshell---Romance--The Gus Group LLC

****
A charming story of reinventing yourself and finding love along the way.  Kate is

spunky, witty and a clutz.  Matt is a self made man and workaholic, with

mysterious happenings at his microbrewery.

Thoroughly enjoyable.




Jayne Ann Krentz---Copper Beach---Jan 2012---Penguin

****

Another solid story, lots of suspense and mystery, and the animal magnetism

she crafts so verra well.  I read everything she writes.




Rachel Gibson---True Love and other Disasters---2009---Romance-Avon Books

****

Faith and Ty's story, with the background of a professional Hockey Team.

Another great story, I was on a beach in Maui for this one and it was the perfect

fodder for all the beach eye candy.  Moves quickly and interesting the whole

way thru.




Terry Spear---Heart of the Highland Wolf---2011---Romance---Source Books

*****

This was my first Terry Spear Book and I'll be looking for more.

Set in present day Scotland, Julia is on a mission from her Grandfather to

locate an ancient relic hidden in Argent Castle and steal it.  The relic holds a

family secret which he refuses to divulge.

Ian Mac Niell is the Laird and a Werewolf.   There's lots of adventure and intrigue,

and the action is constant.  I loved it!




Kasey Michaels---A Midsummer Nights Sin---2011---Romance---Harlequin

****

This book has it all!   Grreat characters, Puck and Regina--Her father is a self

made man with a cruel streak.  Her mother is a blue blood sold to pay her

fathers gambling debts.  It shows the white slavery trade going on in Regency

England.

It moved at a good pace, and I enjoyed the story.




Susan Sey---Money Shot---2011---Romance---Berkley Sensation

***>

Engaging characters with the kind of relatable flaws that are witty, humourous

and oft times uncomfortably real.  The story was fast moving,suspenseful and

a great read.  I'll read another of her books.




Kelley Armstrong---Hidden---2011---Fantasy---Subterranean Press

*****

Armstrong's stories are so layered and compelling that the characters

jump off the page and into my heart.  I am completely absorbed and my

surroundings vanish.

As ever, the interplay between Elena and Clay is scintillating.  The inclusion

of the eminently precocious 4 year old twins are such a lively addition they

all but steal the show.

The twin's interaction with their parents had me laughing out loud and I

found myself smiling broadly during their interplay.

A serious subject is tackled with real human emotions and reactions.

Hidden is by turns intimate, exciting, suspenseful, and filled with humour.

Another Platinum effort by Kelly Armstrong.




Darynda Jones---First Grave on the Right---2010---Fantasy---St. Martins Press

****** the 6 star rating goes for all three of her books.  (Keep on reading...

WoooHooo!  What a Ride!!!

This book proves Sarcasm is Sexy.   Hell, Satan's Son is Sexy.  Pun fully intended.

Charley Davidson is The Grim Reaper.

There are dead people everywhere and Charley's attitude is witty,fun and

sassy.  She also let's you in to the sad and dark sides of her life.

This book starts with a bang and it's a steeplechase right to the finish.

I read this in one night, it was riveting and un-put-downable.


Second Grave on the Left---2011---Fantasy---St Martin"s Press

******

Another Home Run!!!  Charley and her entourage give more heart stopping

action and mysteries that defy my every attempt to puzzle them thru.

Another stay up and read all nite book




Third Grave Dead Ahead---2012---Fantasy---St. Martins Press

******

Wow!  Another roller coaster ride of murders and mysteries and family drama.

Charley's signature witty, sarcastic and always heartfelt dialogue is

compelling.

The story continues in it's complexity and swept me along at mach 10 with

my hair on fire.

Nobody get's in more tight spots than Charley and I want to be there for

for all of them!

Hell to the Ya!!!




Anya Bast---Dark Enchantment---2011---Paranormal Romance---Berkley

*****

I have always liked Anya Bast's Stories.  This Book kicks it up to a whold

new level.

The conflicts and mysteries are multi-faceted and the characters have a

depth the made the story compelling.

I was hooked, and read as fast as I could.

Well done and looking forward to the next one!




Diana Rowland---Mark of the Demon--2009---Fantasy---Bantam

*****

Introduced to Kara Gillian an orphan Demon Summoner-Police Detective,

newly appointed to Homicide.

There's delightfully offbeat Aunt Tessa, Rhyzkahl(Reeze-call) and FBI agents

Ryan and Zack.

Demon's are not evil.  They are supernatural beings from another plane.

Rhyzkahl is powerful and sexy, and very cagey.

Kara's first case is a serial killer that has returned The Symbol Man.

I loved the characters, compelling dialogue, and the story rocketed along.

I read her first 3 books 3 days in a row.  Oh Ya!




Diana Rowland---Blood of the Demon---2010

More in depth info of othersight and demons.  Murders where essence has  been

wrenched from humans, some while still alive.  Their souls have been eaten.

Kara, Ryan and Zack are on a Task Force. Aunt Tessa and Ryan fall into peril and

Kara makes a deal with Rhyzkahl to save Ryan.  She must summon him

monthly for 3 years.  Oh Oh....




Diana Rowland---Secrets of the Demon---2011---Fantasy

A new enemy--and arcane construct similar to Golem's-- inanimate

matter powered by arcane energy.  Insider trading scandal, Rock and Roll and

Murder.  New allies, Sarge Crawford-Knight and NOPD officer joins the

task force.???New Talents...Another grrreat ride.  looking forward to the next

one.  Sins of the Demon,  soooooon.


That's all for now folks.

Cheers














Saturday, January 28, 2012

Sharing my take on books, it's a good thing

Hey Y'all--Book Blog #3--Here we go..

RACHEL CAINE---WORKING STIFF--I rate ****=4stars

New Series--Book #1--A Revivalist Novel

Published--August 2011--Penguin Group
Genre--Fantasy

First let me say this book is Dynamite.  It starts with Bryn Davis our protagonist

starting a new job as a Funeral Director.  Ex-Army, sooo dealing with death

was a daily duty, and it wasn't pretty.  This is the kinder gentler side of death.

Very quickly things go downhill, her third appointment's daughter slashes her

wrists in the bathroom.  Annnnd we're offf and running, I read as fast as I could.

There's experimental drugs that can revive the dead, and the boss is running

an extortion racket.  

A big pharmaceutical company "Pharmadene" is trying to shutdown the 

extortion racket, but has bigger troubles on the homefront..

She's in the wrong place at the wrong time and ends up literally being the

working stiff.

She works with corporate security chief Patrick Mcallister to take down the

baddies.

The story is intricate and well written.  

It has a darkness and a sense of dread filled me as I read and hoped

 for my HEA.....  No Spoiler here.

For Me, this is a read it as soon as you can get your hands on it book.

I don't know where it goes from here, but I'll be going too!



HEATHER BLAKE--IT TAKES A WITCH--I rate ***^=3.5stars

New Series--The first Wishcraft Mystery

Published--January 2012--Signet
Genre--Mystery

I throughly enjoyed this lighthearted mystery.  The characters are enchanting

and interesting as they maneuver the obstacles of finding out, after their father 

has died, that they are Wishcrafters.

They move in with their Aunt Velma, and set about learning to wield their 

new skills.

Theirs some romance, murder, magic hijinks, and lots of genuinely warm

and funny story.

I'll read the next one!



JENNIE BENTLEY--FLIPPED OUT--****=4stars

Book 5 A Do-it-Yourself Mystery

Published--October 2011--Penguin Group
Genre--Mystery

I love these books.  More of Avery and her beau Derek renovating a house.

This time for a cable T.V. Show 'Flipped Out' that has been plagued with

personnel and production problems cum sabotage.

Derek's ex is her usual annoying and troublemaking self.

There's dead bodies, the story is solid and these characters are real and

there foibles and tribulations are relatable.

Can't wait to see what happens next.


JAYE WELLS--SILVER TONGUED DEVIL--*****=5stars

Book 4 Sabina Kane Series

Published --January 2012--Orbit
Genre--Fantasy

This series just keeps getting better with each book.  I don't know what

comes after 5 stars, but I'm sure gonna stick around and find out.

In this book Sabina Kane is living with her beau Adam Lazarus and they

are exploring a relationship and a life where war is no longer imminent.

Her sister Maisie,is still in emotional withdrawl after her capture and torture

at the hands of her estranged grandmother who she was forced to kill.

Maisie has secluded herself and Sabina is torn apart that she is unable 

to reach her.

Giguhl, fifth level mishief demon and Sabina's minion, with a Shopping

Channel addiction to rival Simi's in Sherrilyn Kenyon's Dark Hunter Series.

Giguhl is the best sidekick since Rachel/Jenks in Kim Harrisons Series,

The Hollows.

Okay, enough name dropping, back to the story.

There's murder, double crossing, lovers misunderstandings, women's Roller 

Derby in a Vampire Club and the list goes onnnn.

There's a Summit planned to sign the first ever Peace Accords between the 

Dark Races.  But bodies are turning up, and Sabina's ex-lover is the suspect.

Sabina is charged with solving the murders.  Her tryst with her ex is exposed

and her beau Adam withdraws.

Sabina tries to convince the powers that be that Cain, the first Vampire

is somehow involved, but no one believes her.

This story is rock and roll on paper.  

Love--Love--Loved it.  

Want More--more--more.