Sunday, June 26, 2011

Jennifer Lyon--Soul Magic (Night Watch series)

When an ancient pact is broken, powerful witches who once used their magic to help humanity become the twisted playthings of demons, and the mortal men who once protected the sorceresses become witch hunters, cursed with the longing to spill the witches' blood: an irresistible craving that will cost witches their lives and witch hunters their souls.

The Wing Slayer Hunters fight this curse, guarding innocent witches until the urge to harm them grows too strong -- then they must kill their own. Wing Slayer Sutton West has always honored that vow. His own father killed himself rather than go rogue. But now Sutton is tempted as never before by Carla Fisk, a brilliant psychologist and dynamic witch whose twin sister, Keri, was murdered by rogues.

Bound by blood and passion, Carla and Sutton dare not succumb to their deadly attraction. Yet when a mysterious rogue named Styx joins forces with the demon Asmodeus, witch and hunter have no choice but to work together. For Keri's immortal soul is at stake -- and with it, balanced on a knife-edge, is the fate of humanity itself.


{4 stars}
Well, I loved Sutton, he is a great character. He had a lot of baggage to overcome and prove to himself he deserved to have Carla. And truthfully, the interaction with the Eagle was just great and somehow funny how Sutton just excepts the actions of the Eagle on is back. Carla is a complicated character and not my favorite. But Carla and Sutton are a perfect match for each other, they have a lot of passion and it shows. The journey for the Wing Slayer Hunters (I still hate that name) continues, and they are one more step closer to battling Quinn Young. As for the witches, the Ancestors are reaching out to help restore their magic. I really like this series because it is very different from what I normally read. But this one was about 80 pages to long, and some of the resolution to save Keri was a little confusing. Maybe I was just tired, I think my attention was slipping. Looking forward to the next one....

Friday, June 24, 2011

Karin Slaughter--Fallen

There’s no police training stronger than a cop’s instinct. Faith Mitchell’s mother isn’t answering her phone. Her front door is open. There’s a bloodstain above the knob. Her infant daughter is hidden in a shed behind the house. All that the Georgia Bureau of Investigations taught Faith Mitchell goes out the window when she charges into her mother’s house, gun drawn. She sees a man dead in the laundry room. She sees a hostage situation in the bedroom. What she doesn’t see is her mother. . . .


“You know what we’re here for. Hand it over, and we’ll let her go.”

When the hostage situation turns deadly, Faith is left with too many questions, not enough answers. To find her mother, she’ll need the help of her partner, Will Trent, and they’ll both need the help of trauma doctor Sara Linton. But Faith isn’t just a cop anymore—she’s a witness. She’s also a suspect.

The thin blue line hides police corruption, bribery, even murder. Faith will have to go up against the people she respects the most in order to find her mother and bring the truth to light—or bury it forever.
 
{5 stars} **spoiler alert**
Outstanding!!!! I guess the old saying, "Something good comes to those who wait". Well, we waited a long time for this one......
I know everyone was crushed when Jeffrey was killed, and even though we all forgave Slaughter once her follow up book came out and we all wanted Sara to get together with Will, we still had to wait to see how Slaughter was going to play this one out. She always keeps us on the edge of our seats. I was thrilled with this book. This is another action packed thrill ride that only Slaughter can deliver. And as usual, I didn't piece it all together until the last chapter. What a ride! And I must say I was smiling like a kid when Sara and Will finally got together. Whew! Its about time. Lena does not make an appearance in this one, but Faith and Amanda are back, and Faith has gotten herself caught up in some serious family drama. And Will shows us his sense of humor (even though its his internal dialogue) that had me laughing out loud several times. There are so many players in this one, you will need to take notes to keep up. But in true Slaughter fashion, she ties all the ends together and I still got my happy ending this time. If you are just starting out with Slaughter, start at the beginning. You won't be disappointed with her books, I love every one of them, even when the ending didn't make me so happy.....

Monday, June 20, 2011

Jennifer Lyon--Blood Magic (Wing Slayer series)

THE HUNTER AND THE HUNTED — In the days when powerful witches used their magic to shield humanity from demons, their allies and guardians were a group of men gifted with preternatural abilities of their own -- the witch guardians. But when a band of witches traded their humanity for demonic power, the ancient bond was broken, and the guardians became the hunters.

Darcy MacAlister knows nothing of demons or magic. But this beautiful young woman is about to discover the truth about her past... and her future. For she is a witch -- not just any witch, but the key to breaking the curse that has plagued witches and the men who hunt them. For if a hunter kills an innocent witch by mistake, the price is no less than a piece of his soul.

Axel Locke, gorgeous leader of the Wing Slayer Hunters, has sworn never to shed the blood of the earth witches who have resisted the temptation of demonic power. But when his sister is cursed by a demon witch, he discovers that Darcy MacAlister may hold the cure -- if she can master her newfound powers in time. When the chase begins and Axel and Darcy come face-to-face, this hunter must weigh his soul against his honor -- and against his heart.


{5 stars}
I don't usually go for witch series, but the reviews were so intriguing that I just had to give it a try. First impressions, I was a little confused about the core story and the initial "curse" that set this all in motion. The timeline threw me, because it only happened 30 years ago. And truthfully, the name "Wing Slayer" sounded like a heavy metal band, not a band of hunters created to protect the earth witches. BUT, I fell in love with it!! Axel and Darcy are a great couple, they have a passionate journey, filled with doubts, joys, and great sex.  And the action keeps going and going. This book has great character development with all the characters. I couldn't put it down, stayed up just to finish it last nite. I don't think a book has triggered this much emotion from me in a long time, you want to cry a couple of times and then feel like clapping when everything goes right. I have already ordered book 2.

Saturday, June 18, 2011

Cynthia Eden--Eternal Hunter (Night Watch series)

Animal attraction doesn't get wilder than this... — Assistant DA Erin Jerome has a secret. Make that two. One: She’s not entirely human -- she's Other, desperately trying to keep her supernatural strength under wraps. Two: she's got a killer stalking her -- an Other rogue set on “gifting” her bloody corpses, not to mention nights lying awake in terror. Small wonder she's been having bad luck with men.

But the bounty hunter on her new case isn't worried about any of that. Jude Donovan is a shapeshifter himself, and the new DA’s midnight hair and addictive scent tell him all he thinks he needs to know: She's gorgeous, she's definitely not human, and she's bringing out the animal in him in a really good way. He might have to track a psychotic Other stalker through half of Louisiana. But he might also get the chance to watch Erin's wild side come out and play.


{3.5 stars}
I know, I'm probably in the minority on this one. But this book didn't hook me from the beginning like everyone else. But because of the great reviews, I kept picking it back up. The story line just didn't grab me at first, and I found Erin a little annoying. But Jude, whew, HOT! I am really glad I did keep reading because half way through the story I was hooked. I couldn't wait to find out who the stalker was, and how everything would turn out for Erin and Jude. This was not the typical kind of story that I usually read, but I enjoyed the action and I will keep reading the series.

Tuesday, June 14, 2011

Shayla Black (Shelley Bradley)--Strip Search

THE BEST WAY TO GO UNDERCOVER IS TAKE IT ALL OFF... — A sexy CPA goes undercover as a male stripper in the mobster’s Vegas club to nail a Mafia kingpin. The perk? The club’s owner. Sure she’s got some unsavory connections, but how can anyone with those legs be all bad? — She’s got a head for business, but is out of practice in the pleasure department. If anyone can strip her of her inhibitions it’s the new guy who’s stirring her wildest g-string fantasies. But besides the sizzling sexual chemistry they have in common, they both have secrets. They learn quickly that, with the mob closing in, what gets exposed is as irresistible as it is dangerous

{no stars, didn't finish it}
The first book in this series was a lot better than this one. This was awful, full of cheesy lines and cliches. Nikki and Mark were not great characters, and the back drop of the strip club did not help with the story at all. Even though we met Mark in the first book, with only a small part, his story seemed at least a little interesting. But this fell completely flat. I skimmed through most of the book and barely even read the end. It just wasn't worth it. Shayla Black writes another erotic series Wicked Lovers, now that series is HOT!!

Sunday, June 12, 2011

Alexis Morgan--The Darkness Beyond (A Paladin novel)

D.J. Clayborne has finally met his match. After weeks of playing cyber tag, a mysterious hacker bests D.J. at his own game. His nemesis downloads a top-secret history of the Paladins, forcing him to go on the hunt. The trail leads D.J. straight to Regina Morrison, a woman who is as sexy as she is talented in the cyber world.

Reggie has been working around the clock to stop a legendary computer hacker from accessing her clients’ files, but the last thing she expects is to have D.J. show up at her door. Or that he’s even hotter than his evasive avatar. Soon they’re flirting with a dangerous line between duty and desire.

Now, Reggie’s investigation gets her kidnapped by the Others and forced across the hostile energy barrier into an alien world. And it’s up to D.J. to track down the captivating woman whose ability to break through his firewalls is also breaking through to his warrior’s heart.

{4.5 stars}
I have always liked DJ, he is a great character who really deserved his happy ending.  DJ has been "living" in cyber space far too long and needed a little human (or woman) contact in his life. After finding out that his elusive cyber stalker is a woman, he falls instantly. She is just stubborn and talented enough to run circles around DJ. But her nosy mind gets her kidnapped by more of the leftovers from Kincaid's treachery. I don't particularly like it when the story goes over to Kalithia for most of the book, its a bleak world and has no romance to it at all. But it was crucial to this story and so I stuck with it. I think Reggie and Cody are going to make nice additions to this growing family of Paladins. Even though it's 372 pages, it's an easy read and all our favorite characters make a appearance.

Saturday, June 11, 2011

Kristina Douglas--Demon (The Fallen #2)

Once the Fallen’s fearless ruler, a grieving Azazel must find the legendary siren meant to take his lost lover’s place . . . and kill her. 

He’s a devil of an angel. — Azazel should have extinguished the deadly Lilith when he had the chance. Now, faced with a prophecy that will force him to betray the memory of his one true love and wed the Demon Queen, he cannot end her life until she leads him to Lucifer. Finding the First is the Fallen’s only hope for protecting mankind from Uriel’s destruction, but Azazel knows that ignoring his simmering desire for the Lilith will be almost as impossible.

She’s an angel of a demon.

Rachel Fitzpatrick wonders how Azazel could confuse her with an evil seductress. She’s never even been interested in sex! At least not before she set eyes on her breathtaking captor. And now she can’t think about anything else -- besides escape.

Angels and demons don’t mix.

Rachel stirs a carnal need in Azazel that he never thought he’d feel again. Falling for a demon -- even if she has no idea she’s the Lilith -- means surrendering his very soul. But if he lets her go, he risks abandoning his heart, his dangerous lover, and possibly all of humanity, to Uriel’s deadly wrath.


{4.5 stars}
Nothing is simple in this one, a lot plays out that moves the series along. Azazel and Rachel are not a cute love story, but a raw passion. I came away from this book still having questions about Rachel and how much of the true "Lilith" she really is. The Dark City was confusing, and I struggled with the timeline in the beginning, but it was pulled together at the end and it made more sense. I really like this series, there is just something so different about it that it hooks me. Don't go into it with any pre-existing notions about religion and fallen angels. Douglas turns it all upside down to fit into the world she is writing and I for one, like her interpretation. I love her characters and the path the series is following, there is nothing cute and sweet about these Fallen. They are strong characters who have weaknesses as well as strength's, who have learned to cope in a world few can imagine. Can't wait to read the next one!

Friday, June 3, 2011

L.A. Banks--Left for Undead (Crimson Moon series)

Secret government operative Sasha Trudeau earned a long vacation with her lover and fellow Shadow Wolf, Hunter, after the brutal wolf-like attacks that left New Orleans in an uproar. But when her team calls with news of vampire slayings, Sasha knows it's only a matter of time before another war breaks out among the supernatural denizens of the world...

The vampires are nobody's ally, but the cold-hearted deaths of their own kind make them even more bloodthirsty than usual. But who is the culprit? With the Seelie and Unseelie courts claiming innocence and aligning together, Sasha's team is at a loss. Until they discover that they're facing ancient creatures from the depths of hell itself, bent on unleashing pure fury...


{4 stars}
**spoiler alert**
Is this the end of the Crimson Moon series? Its hard to tell since it seems everyone has gotten their "happily ever after". I still think there is more to come with Sasha being pregnant, but it looks as though all the warring factions of the paranormal world have come to a truce. This was a battle more complicated than previous ones, with double dealing demons and crazy vampires, along with the demon spirit of Lady Jun Suk. But fear not, all is well in New Orleans for now. The team and all of Sasha's wolf family are well and together with new spouses and children on the way. I hope we get to see more of Sasha's family. There is nothing more passionate than a wolf couple, whew, the heat they generate!! This series is a great read, start at the beginning, you won't be disappointed.

Thursday, June 2, 2011

L.A. Banks--Never Cry Werewolf (Crimson Moon series)

The last fight between the werewolf clans spilled onto the streets of New Orleans - and now the whole city's on red alert. Martial law has gone into effect. Mediums, ghost hunters, and other supernatural pundits have taken over the media, swarming the Big Easy to expose the hard truth about lycanthropes. And to make matters worse, a beastly killer is clawing up humans. Secret government operative Sasha Trudeau doesn't like what she's seeing - a series of brutal and bloody slayings that appear to be wolf-like attacks. It might be the work of a copy cat killer - vampire or Unseelie or some other enemy of the Seelie clan. But while Sasha races to find suspects and motives, the panic level is rising - and the city's human population is clamoring for an all-out wolf hunt.

{3.5 stars}
Not really sure what to make of this one. It really seemed like it should have been part of the last book instead of a new installment. It probably would have made the last book to long though. Anyway, it starts right where the last one leaves off, giving Sasha and her team no break at all. The action never stops, and at times I was scratching my head like I was missing something and the whole demon/Russell Conway story line seemed like overkill. Overall its a good story, Shogun and Crow's paths seem to develop more and I can't wait to find out what happens with them. Sasha and Hunter finally become true mates and the team is on a whole new career path. This series really makes you wish to be a Shadow Wolf!