Category Archives: Paranormal

February 15, 2016 · 9:04 am

Marked in Flesh (The Others, #4) by Anne Bishop

Marked in Flesh (The Others, #4)Marked in Flesh by Anne Bishop
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Title: Marked in Flesh
Author: Anne Bishop
Series: The Others, #4
Pages: 416
Publisher: Penguin/Roc
Date: March 8, 2016

Summary:

For centuries, the Others and humans have lived side by side in uneasy peace. But when humankind oversteps its bounds, the Others will have to decide how much humanity they’re willing to tolerate—both within themselves and within their community…

Since the Others allied themselves with the cassandra sangue, the fragile yet powerful human blood prophets who were being exploited by their own kind, the delicate dynamic between humans and Others changed. Some, like Simon Wolfgard, wolf shifter and leader of the Lakeside Courtyard, and blood prophet Meg Corbyn, see the new, closer companionship as beneficial—both personally and practically.

But not everyone is convinced. A group of radical humans is seeking to usurp land through a series of violent attacks on the Others. What they don’t realize is that there are older and more dangerous forces than shifters and vampires protecting the land that belongs to the Others—and those forces are willing to do whatever is necessary to protect what is theirs…

Review:

I read the original book in this series, Written in Red, when it was first released. I just happened on it at our public library and decided to give it a try. It was and is wonderful. Somehow or other, I missed the release date of book two, Murder of Crows, and decided to wait for the third book, Vision in Silver, so I could read them straight through. Again, they are absolutely wonderful.

Finally, finally, I was able to get a copy of Marked in Flesh as an early reviewer copy. There is no doubt in my mind that they just get better and better. I love the entire concept of humans not being the top of the food chain. All you have to do is look around and you know we are not doing the best job of taking care of the earth. Maybe we need someone/something to slap us down.

Anne Bishop’s writing is magnificent. These are not just novels; they are works of literature, but so very readable. Each of her books are nearly impossible to put down, so I strongly suggest you wait for a weekend or take a sick day from work (grin) before starting one. You won’t be happy if you get interrupted.

My only criticism of Marked in Flesh is I wanted to see more of Sam. He’s in there. It just wasn’t enough to suit me.

Now, when will book five be released?

Arooooo!

This book was sent to me by NetGalley in return for an honest review.

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January 23, 2016 · 1:34 pm

White Tiger (Shifters Unbound, #8) by Jennifer Ashley

White Tiger (Shifters Unbound, #8)White Tiger by Jennifer Ashley

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Title: White Tiger
Author: Jennifer Ashley
Series: Shifters Unbound, #8
Pages: 336
Publisher: Berkley
Date: April 6, 2016

Summary:

A woman is lured into the shadows of a dangerous manhunt…
Wanted and on the run…

For twenty years, Kendrick, a white tiger Shifter, has been the Guardian of un-Collared Shifters who spend their lives living in secret—and in fear of being shunted into Shiftertowns. When Kendrick’s group is discovered and forced to flee, Kendrick is more desperate than ever to protect them

His only salvation was in a beautiful stranger.

In a diner in the middle of nowhere, lonely waitress Addison Price has seen a lot of unusual drifters come and go, but none has ever captivated—and intimidated—her like the imposing fugitive who wields a broadsword with incredible skill. But when he risks all to protect her, Addison’s fear turns to empathy—and empathy to desire as she learns more about her savior. Soon she’s more than willing to help the crushingly sensual white tiger and his cubs in a passionate bid for freedom. Whatever the cost.

Review:

I had waiting anxiously for this book ever since the first chapter was included at the end of Bad Wolf (#7.5) back in July. Talk about leaving a reader hanging and White Tiger is not due out until April. Therefore, I was thrilled to get an early reviewer’s copy a couple of weeks ago.

It was worth the wait.

The intense, exciting beginning just set the stage for the relationship that was already developing between Addison and Kendrick. But this book was not just about fighting the bad guys. It was more about protecting family, which may or may not have anything to do with blood. It was about trying to do what you think is the right thing, even if it means giving up what you really want.

And, it’s about finding out you can do the right thing and still get what you really, really want.
It’s about love and family and pack and, let’s not forget sex. After all, this is a Shifters Unbound book and the sex is always hot.

I think this may be my favorite Shifters Unbound book and I have enjoyed them all.

Now, how long until I can get my hands on the next one?

This book was sent to me by NetGalley in return for an honest review.

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January 3, 2016 · 6:29 am

Alejandro’s Sorceress by Alyssa Day

Alejandro's SorceressAlejandro’s Sorceress by Alyssa Day
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

He’s a warrior, hardened by years of protecting his town from vampire attack. She’s a garden witch who sees the world in shades of sunshine and delight. Opposites don’t only attract, they go supernova in this sizzling tale of magic and mayhem.

REVIEW:

Okay, this book was fun. I mean really, basilisks in the garden?

Rose and her family are wonderful and Alejandro is the classic Latin lover. He is so, so serious about his job and Rose is comfortable with who she is and happy with her life. Of course, they fall in love.

I would love to read more in this series, but the author seems to have stopped after just this one book. Alejandro does show up in her new book, Dead Eye, which I highly recommend. Maybe there is hope for another.

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January 1, 2016 · 4:44 pm

Dead Eye (Tiger’s Eye, #1) by Alyssa Day

Dead Eye (Tiger's Eye Mystery, #1)Dead Eye by Alyssa Day
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

For Jack Shepherd, tiger shape-shifter and former soldier, life is heading for a dead end. Dead End, Florida, to be exact. When he learns that he inherited a combination pawn shop/private investigation agency from his favorite uncle, Jack’s first job is to solve his uncle’s murder. Because sometimes it takes a tiger’s eye to see the truth.

 

REVIEW:

I loved it. Absolutely loved it. I had no idea it was a spinoff from her Warriors of Poseidon series, but that just made it even better.

We know (and love) Jack from the Poseidon series, but Tess was new to me. She is not a shifter, but she has her own paranormal ability, although in her case it is more of a curse. If she touches someone, she can see how they die. Obviously, that limits her human contact.

There are murders, both past and present. Black magic and human evil.

And Fluffy . . . a stuffed alligator.

The book has a solid ending, but there is plenty of room for additional books. I cannot wait.

I have not read Alyssa Day’s Cardinal Witches series, but I understand that one of the characters shows up in this book as well, giving us a link between three series. And on that note, I am going to download this new-to-me series and start reading.

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October 26, 2015 · 5:28 pm

Bearing It All (Highlander’s Beloved, #3) by Vonnie Davis

Bearing It All (Highlander's Beloved, #3)Bearing It All by Vonnie Davis
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

Title: Bearing It All
Author: Vonnie Davis
Series: Highlander’s Beloved, #3
Pages: 297
Publisher: Loveswept
Date: October 27, 2015

Summary:

In the pine-dense mountains of the Scottish Highlands, shape-shifter Ronan Matheson is running free when a desperate woman parachutes out of the sky, directly onto his furry, powerful chest. Instead of clawing her to death, Ronan’s inner bear longs to keep her safe. Once he’s back in human form, Ronan is amused by the mysterious beauty’s fearless attitude—and tempted by her expertly toned physique. But what could she possibly be doing in this isolated stretch of the Highlands?

French intelligence agent Anisa Brosseau never imagined she’d be on the CIA’s bad side—until she’s framed for treason and forced to flee in a stolen drone. Hiding out in a remote cabin, Anisa just needs some time to clear her name. What she doesn’t need is a brooding, muscle-bound Scot in a skimpy kilt to drive her crazy with lust. But when Anisa’s enemies come knocking on his door, Ronan calls on a secret weapon to protect his turf and the bonny lass he’s come to love.

Review:

I read this book almost two months ago and waited until almost the publication date to review it. Now I remember why? I couldn’t get past the “are you kidding me?” moments in the book.

Anisa parachutes into the mountains of the Scottish Highlands and just happens to land on a bear . . . a shape-shifting bear . . . who just happens to be her mate.

Uh-uh.

Oddly enough, I can accept that. Shape-shifting bears – check. After all, I read about (and love) shape-shifter books all the time. He’s her mate – check. Of course, why else would we have the book?

What I could not get past is the fact they already knew each other from just a few years before . . . and neither one recognized the other! They met in Paris, as adults, and although they didn’t date, they did have several conversations . . . and neither one RECOGNIZED the other!

This is the third book in the series and if you’ve read the others, go ahead and read this one. It had its fun moments. I just couldn’t get past the “really?” parts enough to enjoy it.

This book was sent to me by NetGalley in return for an honest review.

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September 28, 2015 · 6:09 pm

Down the Rabbit Hole anthology

Down the Rabbit Hole (includes In Death, #41.5)Down the Rabbit Hole by J.D. Robb
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Title: Down the Rabbit Hole anthology
Author: J. D. Robb, Mary Blayney, Elaine Fox, Mary Kay McComas, R. C. Ryan
Series: contains In Death, #41.5
Pages: 432
Publisher: Jove
Date: September 29, 2015

Summary:

You’re late for a very important date…

Enter a wonderland of mesmerizing tales. It’s a place that’s neither here nor there, where things are never quite as they seem. Inspired by Lewis Carroll’s whimsical masterpiece, ranging from the impossible to the mad to the curiouser, these stories will have you absolutely off your head.

Don’t be afraid to follow them…

DOWN THE RABBIT HOLE

Contains

Wonderment in Death by J. D. Robb
Alice and the Earl in Wonderland by Mary Blayney
iLove by Elaine Fox
A True Heart by Mary Kay McComas
Fallen by R. C. Ryan

Review:

I grabbed this book for one reason: Eve and Roarke. Wonderment in Death is a short story/novella that relies heavily on the Lewis Carroll Alice books as do all the stories in this anthology. Eve, of course, is not familiar with the books and has to rely on Roarke and Peabody to make the connection.

The story is typical Eve and Roarke. There is a horrific murder or series of murders. Nothing is quite what it seems and it’s hard to tell if the murderer is insane or evil. I don’t know why it makes a difference to me, but it does. For some reason, insane is not as frightening as evil.

Anyway, Robb is able to concentrate on the story without having to worry about any backstory because the series is so well established. There are over forty books after all. The plot progressed quickly, old friends showed up, and the bad guy was caught.

What more can you ask for?

The only story I felt dropped in the middle of was Alice and the Earl in Wonderland. There were many references to a previous story, but enough detail was given to make this one enjoyable. And yes, I’m tempted to find the original story and read it.

The other three stories worked perfectly as standalones. I enjoyed all of them and I am sure other readers who follow those authors will enjoy them as well.

If any of these authors are autobuys for you, this book is worth the price. However, I think you need to already follow Robb’s In Death series to really enjoy her contribution.

This book was sent to me by NetGalley in return for an honest review.

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July 24, 2015 · 8:18 am

Nightwalker (World of Nightwalkers, #5) by Jacquelyn Frank

Nightwalker (The World of Nightwalkers, #5)Nightwalker by Jacquelyn Frank

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Title: Nightwalker
Author: Jacquelyn Frank
Series: World of Nightwalkers, #5
Pages: 327
Publisher: Loveswept
Date: August 25, 2015

Summary:

From New York Times bestselling author Jacquelyn Frank comes the final chapter in the Nightwalkers saga! As the momentous showdown with a powerful demon unfolds, a passionate encounter breaks the ultimate taboo.

Kamen is a Bodywalker, an ancient soul reborn in one human host after another. He’s also a prisoner of his own kind: for it was Kamen who released Apep, the deadly god who threatens the existence of their world. To atone for this grievous error, Kamen accepts an urgent mission: to convince the other nations of the Nightwalkers to set aside their centuries-old conflicts and band together. If he fails, all will be lost. And no tribe presents a greater challenge than the Wraiths, the spectral beings who are feared and despised for their lethal deathtouch.

Kamen makes first contact with a stunning, ghostly pale beauty named Geneviève. Part Wraith and part human, scorned as a half-breed, Viève shares the hunger for redemption—and for connection. Her scintillating touch holds the kiss of death, and yet it makes Kamen feel more alive than ever. Soon his lips are pressed against hers, sending Viève into fits of desire and forging a bond that breaches the divide between them. Now they must unite all the Nightwalkers, from Vampire and Shadowdweller to Djynns, and fast—for Apep is ready for war.

Review:

Do NOT read this book as a standalone. As a matter of fact, you need to read ALL of the Nightwalkers, Shadowdwellers, and previous World of the Nightwalkers before reading this book. You will have no clue what is going on otherwise.

Whew! Now that I have that out of my system. This is a great book, but it is not a standalone. It is the culmination of a fourteen book saga that was broken into three series. Do not be overwhelmed. These are wonderful, engrossing, sometimes funny books and I love them. They are well worth the time invested.

Kamen was one of the primary bad guys throughout the World of the Nightwalkers series. There was some foreshadowing that he was more misled than evil, but he still did horrible things. I never expected to feel sorry for him and come to like him as much as I did. The fact that I was rooting for him by the end of this book and wanting everyone to forgive him is an example of how good a writer Jacquelyn Frank can be.

Of course, if the male lead is the most hated man in the series, then the female lead must come from the most hated and feared species. Vieve is half Wraith and half human. Fortunately, her human half is dominant, so she is not as vicious and untrustworthy as the rest of the Wraith species. And that brings up a small problem I had with the book. Every other species is acknowledged as having good and bad individuals. The Wraith are feared universally. Yes, I understand they have the death touch, but there aren’t any good Wraith?

As I said before, this is the culminating book in a series of fourteen. It has a good solid ending and ties all the threads together. I did see one chance for another spinoff, which would be wonderful because I love the world of the Nightwalkers. We will just have to see.

One other thing, and this has nothing to do with the author or the story. For some reason, the publisher has decided to only release this book in ebook and audio format. The rest of the serie(s) have also been available as paperback. This ruins my set. I have all of the books in paperback, but cannot get this one in that form. Obviously, I am ticked. Will I buy it in ebook form? Of course I will, but I am not happy about it.

This book was sent to me by NetGalley in return for an honest review.

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June 16, 2015 · 9:37 pm

Flight from Death (Fly by Night, #1) by Yasmine Galenorn

Flight from Death (Fly by Night, #1)Flight from Death by Yasmine Galenorn

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Title: Flight from Death
Author: Yasmine Galenorn
Series: Fly by Night, #1
Pages: 336
Publisher: Berkley
Date: July 7, 2015

Summary:

I’m Shimmer, a blue dragon shifter. Thanks to a mistake, I was exiled from the Dragon Reaches and sentenced to work for Alex Radcliffe, a vampire who owns the Fly by Night Magical Investigations Agency. Now, not only do I have to adapt to Earthside culture, but every time I turn around, somebody’s trying to kill us. And worse, Alex is as gorgeous as he is exasperating. But you know what they say: All’s fair in love and bounty hunting…

When an old friend of Alex contacts him about a haunting at the High Tide Bed & Breakfast in Port Townsend, Washington, we think we’re on a simple ghost hunt. But our investigation quickly transforms into a deadly fight as we uncover an eighty-year-old murder, a cursed house, and a dark force trapping the spirits within. To stop impending disaster we must break the curse and lay the angry spirits to rest.

Review:

First off, be sure and read the prequel to this book – Flight from Hell. It is a crossover book bridging the Otherworld/Sisters of the Moon series to the Fly by Night series. The primary characters are the sisters, but the cast for the new book are introduced and their relationships are explained. You don’t “have” to have read the Sisters series first, but it would help in understanding the prequel. It is not necessary at all to have read the Sisters to enjoy the Fly by Night series.

Okay, Flight from Death. This is a great first book in the series. There is not a tremendous amount of worldbuilding to bog down the story and the cast of characters is relatively small. There is Shimmer, a disgraced blue dragon, Alex, a private eye who happens to be a vampire, Ralph, a computer geek werewolf who faints at the sight of blood, and Bette, a snakeshifter with the appeal of a succubus.

Interested yet?

Alex is contacted by a former friend of his. Patrick is also a vampire, but no, Alex did not change him. That’s why he is a former friend. Patrick wanted to be changed and Alex refused. Patrick had to find another vampire to bring him over.

Anyway, Patrick is opening a B&B (of course, don’t all vampires run Bed & Breakfast inns?) which turns out to be haunted. And that is where things get creepy. Not scary, but creepy. I don’t know why the “big bad” in this book creeped me out, but it did. And that’s a clue, it’s an it, not a he.

Alex and gang, with the help of some of the locals, have to figure out what is haunting the inn and “kill” it. All the while, a relationship is developing between Alex and Shimmer. To be clear, this is not a romance novel. The relationship is a minor plotline, but I can see where it might become more.

The ending is solid with nothing left hanging. I am so tired of cliffhanger endings. I don’t expect books in a series to stand alone, but I do expect them to have a satisfying ending. This one does. Having said that, I cannot wait for the next in the series. It has not been announced yet, but I hope it is out soon.

This book was sent to me by NetGalley in return for an honest review.

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June 12, 2015 · 7:55 am

Dead Ice (Anita Blake, #24) by Laurell K. Hamilton

Dead Ice (Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter, #24)Dead Ice by Laurell K. Hamilton

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

You know how it can take forever to read a book you’re really not into? Well, the opposite is also true.

I started Dead Ice late Wednesday night and finished it early Friday morning. Now, it is almost 600 pages long, so definitely not a short read. That didn’t matter. I didn’t want to put it down.

All my favorite characters were there. Anita, of course. Jean Claude, Nathaniel, Micah, even Richard. The only person missing was Jason and he was mentioned briefly.

I have to say this plot was creepier than most. “Living” zombies. Even Anita is creeped out.

Are there sex scenes? Of course there are. If that bothers you, you shouldn’t be reading this series. Are they explicit? Not particularly, but again why would someone read these books if they are going to complain about a important part of the overarching plotline?

Read it. If you like Anita and gang, you don’t want to miss this one.

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June 8, 2015 · 3:20 pm

Flight from Hell (Fly by Night, #0.5) by Yasmine Galenorn

Flight from Hell (Otherworld #15.5; Fly by Night, #0.5)Flight from Hell by Yasmine Galenorn

My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Title: Flight from Hell
Author: Yasmine Galenorn
Series: Fly by Night, #0.5
Pages: 126
Publisher: InterMix
Date: August 19, 2014

Summary:

Crossover from the Otherworld Series to Fly By Night Series.

New York Times bestselling author Yasmine Galenorn returns with another thrilling foray into Otherworld—introducing a new cast of heroes alongside the D’Artigo sisters…

When the half-demon Carter approaches Menolly and her sisters desperately asking for their help, they think he’s just had a tiff with Shimmer, his blue dragon girlfriend.

But after talking to Alex Radcliffe, the owner of the Fly By Night Magical Investigations Agency where Shimmer works, they suspect that she has been kidnapped by an old enemy of Alex’s.

Now, Alex must join forces with the D’Artigo sisters in a desperate race to find Shimmer before Julian, a powerful vampire from Alex’s past with a grudge to settle, can use the dragon to wreak havoc on Seattle as revenge.

Review:

This book seemed a little light, but I think that was because it is a novella designed to introduce a new series in the same world as the D’Artigo sisters. I have missed out on reading the last couple of books in the sisters series, but this crossover did an excellent job of bringing me up to date. The backstory was handled well in that it gave enough information to remind me of the previous books and relationships without boring me because I already knew everything.

Four new protagonists are introduced: Alex, Shimmer, Bette, and Ralph and one new bad guy: Julian. I can already tell I am going to love Alex. Shimmer had such a minor role in this book, I am still not sure about her. Either way, I look forward to the next book, Flight from Death, to be released July 7th, 2015.

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