Category Archives: Paranormal

April 26, 2011 · 5:55 am

Big Bad Beast (Pride, #6) by Shelly Laurenston

When it comes to following her instincts, former Marine Dee-Ann Smith never holds back. And this deadly member of a shifter protection group will do anything to prove one of her own kind is having hybrids captured for dogfights. Trouble is, her too-cute rich-boy boss Ric Van Holtz insists on helping out. And his crazy-like-a-fox smarts and charming persistence are making it real hard for Dee to keep her heart safe…Ric can’t believe his luck. He’s wanted this fiercely independent she-wolf from day one, but he never expected teamwork as explosive as this. And now is his last chance to show Dee what she needs isn’t some in-your-face Alpha male – but a wily, resourceful wolf who’ll always have her back in a fight…and between the sheets.

I have been waiting for this book for months. Okay, I have been waiting since the last book, Beast Behaving Badly, was released. Which, by the way, I have read and re-read and re-read again.

I knew I probably wouldn’t like this one as well simply because Dee isn’t the most likable character in the series. However, the author does an excellent job of developing her personality without changing any of her previous traits.

Almost all, if not all, of the previous main characters show up again along with a few who have only been mentioned in previous books. And yes, Blayne is there to torture Dee Ann.

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Filed under Contemporary, Humor, Paranormal, Romance

April 24, 2011 · 7:44 am

A Discovery of Witches (All Souls, #1) by Deborah Harkness

A richly inventive novel about a centuries-old vampire, a spellbound witch, and the mysterious manuscript that draws them together.

Deep in the stacks of Oxford’s Bodleian Library, young scholar Diana Bishop unwittingly calls up a bewitched alchemical manuscript in the course of her research. Descended from an old and distinguished line of witches, Diana wants nothing to do with sorcery; so after a furtive glance and a few notes, she banishes the book to the stacks. But her discovery sets a fantastical underworld stirring, and a horde of daemons, witches, and vampires soon descends upon the library. Diana has stumbled upon a coveted treasure lost for centuries-and she is the only creature who can break its spell.

Debut novelist Deborah Harkness has crafted a mesmerizing and addictive read, equal parts history and magic, romance and suspense. Diana is a bold heroine who meets her equal in vampire geneticist Matthew Clairmont, and gradually warms up to him as their alliance deepens into an intimacy that violates age-old taboos. This smart, sophisticated story harks back to the novels of Anne Rice, but it is as contemporary and sensual as the Twilight series-with an extra serving of historical realism.

This book has amazing depth and a story that pulls you in from the very first. Although there are numerous characters, they are so well developed that I never forgot who each one was.

There is definitely a sequel coming (date unknown), but the ending is solid. I am a little worried about Matthew though in the next book. Can’t say why without spoiling it, so you’ll have to read it yourself.

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Filed under Contemporary, Mystery, Paranormal, Romance

April 21, 2011 · 5:17 am

Quicksilver (Looking Glass, #2; Arcane Society, #11) by Amanda Quick

Virginia Dean wakes at midnight beside a dead body, with a bloody knife in her hand and no memory of the evening’s events. Dark energy, emanating from the mirrors lining the room, overpowers her senses. With no apparent way in or out, she is rescued by a man she has met only once before, but won’t soon forget….

Owen Sweetwater inherited his family’s talent for hunting the psychical monsters who prey on London’s women and children, and his investigation into the deaths of two glass-readers has led him here. The high-society types of the exclusive Arcane Society would consider her an illusionist, a charlatan, even a criminal, but Owen knows better. Virginia’s powers are real – and they just might be the key to solving this challenging case. (from Goodreads)

Let me just say, romance, paranormal, Regency (or close enough) . . . what’s not to like. Add to that, this book is written by Amanda Quick (AKA Jayne Ann Krentz and the book has to be a winner. It is.

Owen is one of my favorite heroes in a long time. He does not have a hidden agenda, except he knows from the beginning that Virginia is the woman for him. He just doesn’t understand how she doesn’t know it too.

One of these days I am going to read the Arcane books straight through. Of course, I also need to include the Eclipse books because they are woven into the storyline as well.

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Filed under Historical, Mystery, Paranormal, Romance

April 13, 2011 · 8:45 am

Jessica’s Guide to Dating on the Darkside (Jessica, #1) by Beth Fantasky

Library

The undead can really screw up your senior year …

Marrying a vampire definitely doesn’t fit into Jessica Packwood’s senior year “get-a-life” plan. But then a bizarre (and incredibly hot) new exchange student named Lucius Vladescu shows up, claiming that Jessica is a Romanian vampire princess by birth—and he’s her long-lost fiancé. Armed with newfound confidence and a copy of Growing Up Undead: A Teen Vampire’s Guide to Dating, Health, and Emotions, Jessica makes a dramatic transition from average American teenager to glam European vampire princess. But when a devious cheerleader sets her sights on Lucius, Jess finds herself fighting to win back her wayward prince, stop a global vampire war—and save Lucius’s soul from eternal destruction.

I originally thought this book was written for adults. It was only recently that I found out it was for Young Adults. The clue should have been that Jessica is in her senior year of high school. -sigh-

Anyway, I really enjoyed this book. It pulled in different aspects of the vampire legend and totally ignored others. There were a couple of scenes that I found disturbing, but they were important to the storyline.

There were two major “bad guys.” One of them was human and the other a vampire and I cannot tell you who was the worse. This was not one of those books where one group is completely evil and the other completely good. Like real life, there is some of each in everyone.

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Filed under Contemporary, Paranormal, Romance, Young Adult

February 24, 2011 · 9:03 am

Awakened (House of Night, #8) by P. C. Cast

Library

At the start of Awakened, the pulse-pounding eighth installment of the bestselling House of Night series, Zoey has returned, mostly whole, from the Otherworld to her rightful place as High Priestess at the House of Night. Her friends are just glad to have her back, but after losing her human consort, Heath, will Zoey—or her relationship with her super- hot Warrior, Stark—ever be the same? Stevie Rae is drawn even closer to Rephaim, the Raven Mocker with whom she shares a mysterious and powerful Imprint, but he is a dangerous secret that isolates her from her school, her red fledglings, and even her best friends. When the dark threat of Neferet—who is coming closer and closer to achieving her twisted goal of immortality—and Kalona returns, what will it take to keep the House of Night from being lost forever, and what will one desperate girl do to keep her heart from being irreparably broken? (from Goodreads)

I really loved the beginning of this series, but have lost interest with the later books. I think this would probably be a good series to read straight through because there is so much going on, I lose track between one book and the next.

I do have problems with the fact that none of the adult vampires seem to be capable of seeing dangers that Zoey and her friends easily perceive. In all of their years, sometimes centuries, of life, the adult vampires have not learned to recognize when someone is lying to them.

I will continue to read the series because I am invested in the characters. However, I do not have to be the first person to read the latest book. I just don’t care enough to fight for it!

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Filed under Contemporary, Paranormal, Romance, Young Adult

February 19, 2011 · 5:59 am

Here Kitty, Kitty! (Magnus Pack, #3) by Shelly Laurenston

Angelina Santiago didn’t think her life could get any stranger. Her best friend is a shapeshifter. Her other best friend is in love with one. And people are actively trying to kill her. But she never thought helpful hillbillies would kidnap her, drag her cross country, and dump her at the home of their eldest brother and gorgeous shapeshifter, Nikolai Vorislav, for safe keeping. Nik the Hillbilly Tiger never wanted a woman in his life for more than a night, but he never met anyone like the psychotic hellcat his brothers drop on his doorstep. Now he has every intention of showing his little house pet exactly how strange and sexy life can get. (from Goodreads)

I am absolutely in love with these books. Magnus Pack is the first series I read by Shelly Laurenston and I thought they were good if not wonderful when I originally read them. I felt her later books were much better. Now I think they are all wonderful.

I like the fact that the full human females are just as dangerous as the shape shifting males. I particularly like the fact that everyone is scared of them. It completely confuses the shapeshifters because they think it should be the other way around.

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Filed under Contemporary, Erotica, Humor, Paranormal, Romance

February 19, 2011 · 4:09 am

Go Fetch! (Magnus Pack, #2) by Shelly Laurenston

How much trouble can one small female be to a modern-day shapeshifting Viking? Well, it really depends on local gun laws. Conall Vga-Feilan, direct descendent of Viking shifters, never thought he’d meet a female strong enough to be his mate. He especially didn’t think a short, viper-tongued human would ever fit the bill. But Miki Kendrick isn’t some average human. With an IQ off the charts and a special skill with weapons of all kinds, Miki brings the big blond pooch to his knees-and keeps him there. Miki’s way too smart to ever believe in love and she knows a guy like Conall could only want one thing from her. But with the Pack’s enemies on her tail and a few days stuck alone with the one man who makes her absolutely wild, Miki is about to discover how persistent one Viking wolf can be. (from Goodreads)

I have read these books so many times, I think the words have faded on the page. When I first read this series, I thought it was pretty good, but not wonderful. Now, Shelly Laurenston is one of my all time favorite authors. I just read them over and over again.

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Filed under Contemporary, Erotica, Humor, Paranormal, Romance

February 18, 2011 · 4:13 am

Pack Challenge (Magnus Pack, #1) by Shelly Laurenston

What’s an Alpha Male to do when he meets the Alpha Female of his dreams? Step one, hide all sharp objects. All Zach Sheridan ever wanted was to become Alpha Male of his Pack and be left alone. What he definitely didn’t need in his life was some needy female demanding his attention. What he never saw coming was the vicious, scarred female who not only demanded his attention but knew exactly how to get it. Sara Morrighan knew this was the best she could expect from her life. Good friends. A nice place to live. And a safe job. But when Zach rode into her small Texas town with his motorcycle club, Sara knew she wanted more. She knew she wanted him. But after one sexy encounter with her dream biker, everything is starting to change. Her body. Her strength. That new thing she’s doing with the snarling. Even her best friends are starting to wonder what’s going on with her. But this is only the beginning. Sara’s about to find out her life was meant for so much more. And Zach’s about to find true love with the one woman who makes him absolutely insane. (from Goodreads)

I had not re-read this book in awhile and did not realize Sara shows up in another series. She is even more out of control then. When even the other shape shifters are scared of you, it really says something.

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Filed under Contemporary, Erotica, Humor, Paranormal, Romance

February 10, 2011 · 4:35 am

Reaper’s Justice (Shadow Reapers, #1) by Sarah McCarty

When the War Between the States came to its end, the battle inside Isaiah Jones raged on. Neither fully human nor fully wolf, he found his peace-and the passion his inner wolf craved-with Adelaide Cameron. Though their union was forbidden by the werewolf soldiers, Isaiah satisfied his urges by guarding her from afar. But when Adelaide is abducted, Isaiah must not only expose his dark nature, but invite her into the shadows with him. (from Goodreads)

Sarah McCarty’s books are on my “have to read them as soon as they are published” list. I always love them and have re-read many of them over and over again. This one is no exception.

My only problem is I want the sequel NOW! There was not a cliff hanger ending. They are just so good I cannot wait.

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Filed under Erotica, Historical, Paranormal, Romance

February 7, 2011 · 5:28 am

Primal Kiss (Breeds, #23) by Lora Leigh in Primal anthology

The only story I have read out of this anthology is LL’s Primal Kiss. The story is about Kita and Creed with a lot of Cassie thrown in. I did not particularly like this story, although I love the Breed series. Creed’s whole “I don’t know if I really want a mate” ticked me off with him. I also thought there was too much of other storylines thrown in for what was actually only a short story.