This Week's New Releases

So is it cooling off where you live? Here, it's actually cool in the mornings, only in the 70's. lol  Still hot during the day but in another month we'll stop having to run the air conditioning, at least at night.

She writes historical romances beautifully. She writes romantic suspense amazingly. With her spin-off from her successful I-Team series, she started her Colorado High Country series. I just finished the first book, Barely Breathing, and can't wait to read Vic and Eric's story!

Slow Burn
Pamela Clare
Contemporary Romance
Colorado High Country series/Book 2

Victoria Woodley is done with men. Fresh off a dating nightmare, she flies from her home in Chicago to Scarlet Springs to take part in her best friend’s wedding. Who picks her up at the airport? Eric Hawke. Of course. She made a fool of herself over him last time she was here. He’s cocky, charming, and sexy as sin. But the fact that she’s attracted to him is all the proof she needs that he’s bad news. She would ignore him if she could. But he’s the best man, and she’s the maid of honor. She can’t just tell him to jump in a lake—especially not when her lips are locked with his.

Eric isn’t looking for a relationship. Between running the firehouse and volunteering for the county’s search and rescue team, he has enough on his plate. He doesn’t need to get tangled up with a woman from the big city, especially one whose idea of roughing it is going without designer coffee. Yet from the moment he looks into Victoria’s big brown eyes, the attraction he feels is too strong to deny. Faster than he can imagine, the spark of desire that has smoldered between them since the first day they met will flare into full-blown passion.

But can Eric convince Victoria to set aside her doubts and trust him with her heart before their time together runs out?

Oh, this sounds chillingly different! Something out of my usual comfort zone. Yes, this will no doubt find it's way to the TBR pile.

The Female of the Species
Mindy McGinnis
Young Adult/Suspense

Alex Craft knows how to kill someone. And she doesn’t feel bad about it. When her older sister, Anna, was murdered three years ago and the killer walked free, Alex uncaged the language she knows best. The language of violence.

While her crime goes unpunished, Alex knows she can’t be trusted among other people, even in her small hometown. She relegates herself to the shadows, a girl who goes unseen in plain sight, unremarkable in the high school hallways.

But Jack Fisher sees her. He’s the guy all other guys want to be: the star athlete gunning for valedictorian with the prom queen on his arm. Guilt over the role he played the night Anna’s body was discovered hasn’t let him forget Alex over the years, and now her green eyes amid a constellation of freckles have his attention. He doesn’t want to only see Alex Craft; he wants to know her.

So does Peekay, the preacher’s kid, a girl whose identity is entangled with her dad’s job, though that does not stop her from knowing the taste of beer or missing the touch of her ex-boyfriend. When Peekay and Alex start working together at the animal shelter, a friendship forms and Alex’s protective nature extends to more than just the dogs and cats they care for.

Circumstances bring Alex, Jack, and Peekay together as their senior year unfolds. While partying one night, Alex’s darker nature breaks out, setting the teens on a collision course that will change their lives forever.

A favorite series, Kate and Curran are also a favorite couple of many a reader. Hard to believe this is the ninth full length book in the series.

Magic Binds
Ilona Andrews
Urban Fantasy
Kate Daniels Series/Book 9

Mercenary Kate Daniels knows all too well that magic in post-Shift Atlanta is a dangerous business. But nothing she’s faced could have prepared her for this…Kate and the former Beast Lord Curran Lennart are finally making their relationship official. But there are some steep obstacles standing in the way of their walk to the altar…

Kate’s father, Roland, has kidnapped the demigod Saiman and is slowly bleeding him dry in his never-ending bid for power. A Witch Oracle has predicted that if Kate marries the man she loves, Atlanta will burn and she will lose him forever. And the only person Kate can ask for help is long dead.

The odds are impossible. The future is grim. But Kate Daniels has never been one to play by the rules…

I have not read anything by this author, but have heard good things about her novels. The blurb intrigues and it's the first book in a new series so I won't be starting behind!

The Queen of Blood
Sarah Beth Durst
Fantasy
The Queens of Renthia Series/Book 1

An idealistic young student and a banished warrior become allies in a battle to save their realm in this first book of a mesmerizing epic fantasy series, filled with political intrigue, violent magic, malevolent spirits, and thrilling adventure.

Everything has a spirit: the willow tree with leaves that kiss the pond, the stream that feeds the river, the wind that exhales fresh snow . . .

But the spirits that reside within this land want to rid it of all humans. One woman stands between these malevolent spirits and the end of humankind: the queen. She alone has the magical power to prevent the spirits from destroying every man, woman, and child. But queens are still just human, and no matter how strong or good, the threat of danger always looms.

With the position so precarious, young women are chosen to train as heirs. Daleina, a seemingly quiet academy student, is under no illusions as to her claim to the throne, but simply wants to right the wrongs that have befallen the land. Ven, a disgraced champion, has spent his exile secretly fighting against the growing number of spirit attacks. Joining forces, these daring partners embark on a treacherous quest to find the source of the spirits’ restlessness—a journey that will test their courage and trust, and force them to stand against both enemies and friends to save their land . . . before it’s bathed in blood.

When I was little, maybe 6 or 7 years old, I was fascinated by the bookmobile. I wanted to be the bookmobile lady when I grew up. To drive around all day, surrounded by books, pure joy! This next release is the adult version of that dream.

The Bookshop on the Corner
Jenny Colgan
Contemporary

Nina Redmond is a literary matchmaker. Pairing a reader with that perfect book is her passion… and also her job. Or at least it was. Until yesterday, she was a librarian in the hectic city. But now the job she loved is no more.

Determined to make a new life for herself, Nina moves to a sleepy village many miles away. There she buys a van and transforms it into a bookmobile—a mobile bookshop that she drives from neighborhood to neighborhood, changing one life after another with the power of storytelling.

From helping her grumpy landlord deliver a lamb, to sharing picnics with a charming train conductor who serenades her with poetry, Nina discovers there’s plenty of adventure, magic, and soul in a place that’s beginning to feel like home… a place where she just might be able to write her own happy ending.

Review: Magic Slays

Magic Slays
Ilona Andrews
Urban Fantasy
Kate Daniels/Book 5
ACE/June 1, 2011

*Spoilers for Previous Books*

From the back cover ~

Plagued by a war between magic and technology, Atlanta has never been so deadly. Good thing Kate Daniels is on the job.

Kate Daniels may have quit the Order of Knights of Merciful Aid, but she's still knee-deep in paranormal problems. Or she would be if she could get someone to hire her. Starting her own business has been more challenging than she thought it would be - now that the Order is disparaging her good name. Plus, many potential clients are afraid of getting on the bad side of the Beast Lord, who just happens to be Kate's mate.

So when Atlanta's premier Master of the Dead asks for help with a vampire on the loose, Kate leaps at the chance of some paying work. But it turns out that this is not an isolated incident. Kate needs to get to the bottom of it - and fast, or the city and everyone dear to her may pay the ultimate price...

This is a series that not only continues to grow and develop but stays fresh and keeps the reader engaged in the characters lives. In Magic Slays, Kate and Curran are both still fairly new at this "mate" thing. They are adjusting to living together at the Keep. The adjustments Kate makes are more obvious but Curran has some adjusting to do too.

It's been a month since Kate opened her business, Cutting Edge Investigations and to say things have been slow is an understatement. That's about to change when Kate finds herself in the thick of blood, guts and what may be a whole shitload of trouble. Thankfully she's not alone. Her BFF Andrea shows up looking for work and Kate, being no one's fool, hires her. Yes! Love the friendship and camaraderie that Kate and Andrea share. The banter between Kate and Andrea is that of good friends with a long history. I enjoy seeing this side of Kate, she's more relaxed.

Circumstances heat up fast when Kate comes under attack. There were a number of players this time around, some new, but Andrews keeps everything following in a nice orderly fashion so I had no problem keeping track of who's who. One new secondary character had the name Leslie. My name. Now, I rarely see my name in books so I was thrilled when I saw it here. Then as the story progressed, not so thrilled. As you can guess, Leslie isn't very nice. Oh well. We do get to see a favorite character of mine, Saiman. There are some shady dealings going on and wouldn't you know it, Saiman just happens to be involved. Kate and Saiman have a tenuous relationship, given that Curran has some violent tendencies when it comes to Saiman. But it's fun to see Kate and Saiman interact with Saiman having a healthy fear of Curran and Kate thinking Saiman is a bit nuts.

There are small, quiet moments in amongst the fighting, bleeding and dying. One such moment is when Kate is having a hell of a week and Curran isn't there with her but he's left her a message. ~

I took my scraps of paper, headed upstairs and dialed 1000. Curran's voice filled the room. "Hey. It's me."

I landed in the chair. Hearing him was like coming home in a downpour and finding the lights on and the house warm. I was in so deep, I couldn't even see the surface anymore.

Kate's totally gone over Curran but she's at the point where she's finally okay with it. Lord knows she fought it long enough but now she's actually getting comfortable being the mate of the Beast Lord. That's not to say she still doesn't have some issues but ultimately, she loves him. Period.

We see not only Kate and Curran's relationship progressing but also Kate's relationship with her adopted daughter Julie. Julie can be a handful but she's a teen and has more than her share of teen issues. Kate only wants the best for Julie and to keep her safe. I love how Julie brings out those maternal instincts in Kate. She's certainly come a long way since the beginning of the series when she was more of a loner badass. Now she's a badass with a mate and a kid!

Kate also discovers more of her family history which leaves her stunned. It's a revelation that came at the right time for Kate. She now has a lot of support around her and doesn't have to deal with the family drama alone. I really like how the progression of Kate's world of family and friends has developed. Relationships are not easy for her but she's smart enough to realize how important these people are to her.

There are plenty of big bads in Kate's world and Andrews continues to pull myths from various cultures and blend them into one fascinating and believable creation. I'm always excited to see who might show up next in the fight. And those fight scenes are some of my favorites. In Magic Slays there are plenty of well choreographed fights but there are also heartbreaking scenes of pain and loss. It is, at times, a very emotional read.

Magic Slays is everything you'd want in a story. There is love, friendship, family, action and humor. I can't wait to see where Kate, Curran and the gang lead us next.

Rating: A

Books in this series ~

Magic Bites
Magic Burns
Magic Strikes
Magic Mourns (Must Love Hellhounds anthology)
Magic Bleeds
Magic Dreams (Hexed anthology)
Magic Slays

Review: Magic Bleeds

Magic Bleeds
Ilona Andrews
Urban Fantasy
Kate Daniels/Book 4
Ace/June 2010

*Spoilers for previous books*
*Strongly recommend reading series in order*

From the back cover ~

Atlanta would be a nice place to live, if it weren’t for the magic. When the magic is up, rogue mages cast their spells and monsters appear, while guns refuse to fire and cars fail to start. But then technology returns, and the magic recedes as unpredictably as it rose.

Kate Daniels works for the Order of the Knights of Merciful Aid, officially as a liaison with the mercenary guild. Unofficially, she cleans up the paranormal problems no one else wants to handle—especially if they involve Atlanta’s shapeshifting community.

When she’s called in to investigate a fight at the Steel Horse, a bar midway between the territories of the shapeshifters and the necromancers, Kate quickly discovers there’s a new player in town. One who’s been around for thousands of years—and rode to war at the side of Kate’s father.

This foe may be too much even for Kate and Curran, the Lord of the Beasts, to handle. Because this time, Kate will be taking on family…

Ah, one of my favorite Urban Fantasy series and one of my favorite kick ass heroines. I bought Magic Bleeds when it came out back in June (wow, time flies) and I kept reading great/glowing/awesome reviews. So what did I do? I set it aside. I just couldn't make myself pick it up. Funny how that can happen. You would think I would be dying to read it but no, those glowing reviews made me a little leery. I finally read it simply because I got tired of it sitting there, taunting me. And because I was in the mood for some Kate and Curran. Did it blow me away? Not exactly. It did enjoy it but also had a few problems. Nothing major and certainly nothing that would make me stop reading the series. But... Magic Strikes still holds my favorite spot.

Kate is waiting and waiting. She isn't exactly known for her patience so for her to wait on someone for nearly three hours says a lot about that person. In this case it was Curran she was waiting on. Magic Bleeds picks up weeks after Magic Strikes and Kate is making good on her bet with the Beast Lord. Or at least she's trying to. Right off we see Kate's softer side, her vulnerable side where Curran is concerned. It was important to get that out there because Kate isn't one to show that side very often. We might see it when Andrea, Kate's best friend, is involved. Or Julie, Kate's adopted niece. But otherwise Kate tends to keep her emotions to herself, unless she's pissed, then she'll let you know. This sets the tone for Kate and Curran through the first part of the book. She's decided to treat him as the Beast Lord, not as her boyfriend/mate/lover. It's business, not personal, not any more.

The shit has hit the fan as Kate finds out when a group of bad boys stir up trouble in Atlanta. This part of the story is complex and at times seems to go from one crisis to the next with Kate running from here to there, trying to figure out what the heck is going on. There were a lot of antagonists to keep track of. Honestly, I can't remember them all. There were times when I felt like I needed to slow down my reading so I could take in everything that was happening. The sheer number of enemies coming out of the woodwork made me think Kate really deserved a bonus and maybe an employee of the month award.

There seemed to be more talk of mythology, deities and magic this time around. I'm not sure if that's the case but that's how it came across to me. Those were parts I could have done with less of. The mythology is interesting but only in sparse amounts. I'm more interested in the characters and the action than a history lesson on the deities attacking Kate. The action scenes were fierce and intense. Lots of blood, guts and body fluids being stepped in and mucked about. You knew some of those stains just weren't coming out. There were also scenes of detective and diplomacy type work for Kate. She got very little down time and very little sleep. When she wasn't fighting she was playing office or pack politics. Kate did have help but often times it seemed like it was Kate against the world.

Kate and Curran - readers have been asking for some major Kate and Curran action for some time now. Magic Bleeds had it but... I'll admit, I was expecting more. Maybe it was all the build up - yes, Kate and Curran finally get together but it felt too brief, too much of a side story as opposed to a integral part of the main plot. But I'll take what I can get.

We do learn more about Kate's family history and about what Kate will face in the future. This is not a series that should be read out of order. The overall story arc is far more effective when reading the series in order. Kate is certainly a character that has grown since book 1. Her relationships are evolving and we are getting to see more and more of what's under that hard, outer shell of hers.

While I wasn't blown away by Magic Bleeds, I still found it an enjoyable read and will certainly be reading Magic Slays when it come out next May.

Rating: B+

Review: Bayou Moon

Bayou Moon
Ilona Andrews
Fantasy Romance
The Edge/Book 2
ACE/October 2010
Received from Publisher

From the back cover ~

The Edge lies between worlds, on the border between the Broken, where people shop at Wal-Mart and magic is a fairy tale - and the Weird, where blueblood aristocrats rule, changelings roam, and the strength of your magic can change your destiny. . .

Cerise Mar and her unruly clan are cash poor but land rich, claiming a large swath of the Mire, the Edge swamplands between the state of Louisiana and the Weird. When her parents vanish, her clan's long-time rivals are suspect number one.

But all is not as it seems. Two nations of the Weird are waging a cold war fought by feint and espionage, and their conflict is about to spill over in to the Edge - and Cerise's life. William, a changeling soldier who'd left behind the politics of the Weird, has been forced back into service to track down a rival nation's spymaster.

When William's and Cerise's missions lead them to cross paths, sparks fly - but they'll have to work together if they want to succeed. . . and survive.

William is back! After reading about William in On the Edge, I was thrilled to find out the next book in the series would be his. As Bayou Moon begins, it's been two years since the ending of On the Edge. Rose, Declan and the boys have moved to the Weird. William stayed behind in the Edge and works in the Broken. If you didn't read On the Edge, then that might not make sense to you but that's okay because Andrews does a good job filling in any blanks. There's no info dump, instead the history and back story are woven in as needed. I do recommend reading On the Edge, it's very good, but not necessary to read before Bayou Moon.

William Wolf is all alone - drinking. Something he does often. That's never a good sign. Throw in talking to comic book action figures and you've got yourself one sad, lonely hero. What William needs is a quest, a crusade, a mission. Anything to get him off his ass and stop feeling sorry for himself. Well, he's about to get one. William is a former elite soldier and his unique services are needed by The Mirror, a spec ops/CIA type group from the Weird. A horror from the past is about to revisit William and pull him into the Edge and into the middle of a long standing feud.

Cerise Mar is having a crappy day. She had to trek through the mud, hunting down an escaped rolpie - cute beasties, part seal, part otter, who pull the boats throughout the swamp of the Mire. The Mire is the place in the Edge where Cerise and her family live. Once Cerise gets the rolpie back to the Rathole, her family home, she's met with some disturbing news. Her parents are late getting home and it's up to Cerise to find them.

Cerise comes from a very eclectic family with a lot of relatives who wield a variety of magic. She's very aware of her role in the family and with her parents missing, it's up to her to take the lead. Cerise is a reluctant heroine. She knows what she needs to do and does it but she really longs for a little less responsibility and a more stable life. She's smart and can kick some serious ass as well as extremely loyal to her family. She would do anything for them. I can definitely say she's right up there with Kate Daniels and Mercy Thompson as one of my favorite heroines. After Cerise learns what has happened to her parents she must travel to the Broken. It's there where she runs into William, "Lord Leather Pants" or "Lord Bill" as she dubs him. Cerise is not impressed, yet.

William doesn't like the swamp or the Mire. He doesn't understand the odd people he meets there. And oh, boy are they odd. I loved how William, with his smart ass humor dealt with the oddities that came from the Mire. One of the first oddities he encounters is Cerise. They clash from the start but must work together to get away from the enemies hunting them. William and Cerise go from irritation to respect as they get to know each other. Cerise is one kick-ass heroine, she didn't let William take over when they found themselves fighting their mutual enemies. She did appreciate his knowledge of the enemy, she's not a fool and will take help when she needs it. William can't help but find Cerise interesting and so finds himself pulled deeper and deeper into her family and their problems.

The relationships throughout the story are well developed and give plenty of character insight. William didn't grow up in a family environment and isn't always sure how to take the teasing and banter of the large Mars family. Instead of making him feel like an outsider, they pull him in, treating him like one of them. It was such a novel experience for William. I loved how we got to see him come to care about this special family and become part of it.

The common enemy that William and Cerise are fighting is a nasty bastard with a bunch of equally nasty minions. Spider is an altered human from the Weird. He and his little army of alters are after something that could change how wars in the Weird are fought. It's up to Cerise and William to make sure Spider doesn't get what he wants. They come up against some seriously freaky opponents with truly repulsive alterations. Andrews can write some amazing fight scenes. You feel like you're in the battle, on the edge of your seat, not always sure who might survive this round. There is quite a bit of action, blood and gore in the story. And sometimes things were just plain gross. I loved it!

Talking about action, there is a romance between William and Cerise. It's not an in your face romance, they have a lot going on with fighting, plotting and planning their next move. It's more a romance of quick looks and lingering touches. Of stolen moments and time together. Neither one is quite sure what to make of the other or of their attraction. I found the dialogue between the two to be amusing and clever. They start off with smart ass insults, progressing to grudging respect and finally falling in love. In the end, it's a very sweet, genuine romance that leaves you believing these two were meant to be.

I mentioned that Cerise has a large, extended family and Spider, aka nasty bastard, has a number of minions, leaving a lot of characters to keep track of. Some of the names are unique and I did find myself having to do a little re-reading to help with the who's who. Also, at one point there is mention of the real possibility of a traitor, then it's not mentioned for a very long time. I kept wondering when it would be brought up again, since it seemed very important.

Bayou Moon is a wonderful addition to The Edge series. It has fascinating characters, interesting story line and some seriously wicked action. A book that will keep you reading long into the night. I highly recommend both The Edge and the Kate Daniels series by the talented writing duo that make up Ilona Andrews.

Rating: A

Books in the series:

On the Edge (review)
Bayou Moon ~ Official release date ~ September 28

Numbers and Favorites of 2009...

2009 marks the first year that I actually kept track of what I read. I used a simple Excel spreadsheet, keeping track of basic information. I plan to do the same thing for 2010 with maybe a few more columns of information - like date reviewed and grade. I'm still playing around with it but it's getting there.

Total books read- (includes ebooks and audio books): 156

Out of those 156 there were 5 ebooks (I think I missed a few and this is higher) and 33 audio books. Which leaves 118 print books. What surprised me are the number of audio books. I did get a new mp3 player for a birthday present last month and it is wonderful! I download the books from the library website and then upload to the mp3 player all in under 5 minutes. It's so much better than lugging the CD's around. And I can do it all from home!

My favorites of 2009:

Since I didn't review every book I read I decided to use the spreadsheet. As it turns out, I reviewed all but one on the list. I went through and selected my 10 favorite reads of the year. Why 10? I had to stop somewhere and 10 is a nice round number. Most do a top 10 list so I figured why not me? I decided not to include re-reads since many of those are keepers and would have probably taken up half the list. :)

When choosing, I picked the books that stood out and left the most vivid memories. Not all are A+ books but they all left an impact on me.

Stranger/ Megan Hart

Moon Called/Patricia Briggs

Magic Strikes/Ilona Andrews

Gabriel's Ghost/Linnea Sinclair*

Deathwish/Rob Thurman

Dream a Little Dream/Susan Elizabeth Phillips

A Reason to Live/Maureen McKade

The Hunger Games/Suzanne Collins

How I Live Now/Meg Rosoff

Joe’s Wife/Cheryl St. John

Special Mention ~ Promises in Death/J. D. Robb (audio) - this book was such an emotional read(listen) for me. It's definitely one of my favorites in the series.

*I don't know why I didn't review Gabriel's Ghost. I do remember reading it and getting sucked into the amazing world that Sinclair created. If you haven't read it, you're missing a wonderful story.

And that's it for 2009. Here's to some great reads for 2010!

Ilona Andrews' On The Edge Contest...

The writing team that makes up Ilona Andrews is having a chat and contest at Bitten By Books to promote their upcoming release On The Edge.

To get the word out about the contest at Bitten by Books they are holding what you could call a pre-release contest for On The Edge. This is the first book in their new series, The Edge. You can read my review of On The Edge here. It's a great combination of Paranormal Romance and Urban Fantasy. It's one of those books that as soon as you're finished you want to read again, just in case you missed something. A wonderful start to a new series. I loved it!

They are giving away some amazing prizes ~

2nd Runner Up - A signed copy of ON THE EDGE or $15 Gift Certificate from Amazon

1st Runner Up – A set of signed Kate Daniels books, Volume 1-3 or $20 Gift Certificate from Amazon

Winner – A spot on a beta reader team for six months.

All three prizes are great but to be a beta reader for six months would be awesome!

So that's two contests and chances to win some great prizes. For all the rules and instructions for the pre-release contest go here or click on the graphic for information on the contest and chat at Bitten By Books . Good Luck!

Review: On the Edge

Title: On the Edge

Author: Ilona Andrews

Genre: Paranormal Romance/Urban Fantasy

Series: The Edge/Book 1

Published: September 2009

From the back cover ~

Rose Drayton lives on the Edge, between the world of the Broken (where people drive cars, shop at Wal-Mart, and magic is a fairy tale) and the Weird (where blueblood aristocrats rule, changelings roam, and the strength of your magic can change your destiny). Only Edgers like Rose can easily travel from one world to the next, but they never truly belong in either.

Rose thought if she practiced her magic, she could build a better life for herself. But things didn’t turn out how she planned, and now she works a minimum wage, off the books job in the Broken just to survive. Then Declan Camarine, a blueblood noble straight out of the deepest part of the Weird, comes into her life, determined to have her (and her power).

But when a terrible danger invades the Edge from the Weird, a flood of creatures hungry for magic, Declan and Rose must work together to destroy them—or they’ll devour the Edge and everyone in it . . .

One of my favorite authors and a new series to enjoy - I'm in heaven. Imagine my surprise when this little beauty landed on my doorstep last week. It was perfect timing since I'd been having a crappy day. This totally brightened my day and kept me reading late into the night. On the Edge isn't what I would strictly call a Paranormal Romance nor is it an Urban Fantasy novel but a beautiful blending of the two.

When we first meet Rose Drayton she is dealing with her drunken grandpa, again. And deal with him she does by nailing him between the eyes with a bolt from a crossbow. No, not everything is as it seems in the Edge. Rose is an orphan and the eldest of three, taking care of her younger brothers Georgie and Jack, who are 10 and 8 years old respectively. Rose is mother, father, sister and drill sargent to the boys. They're chock-full of the adventurous natures that are common in young boys. The big difference with these two boys is that they have special powers that can cause some major consequences. Rose is a heroine to admire and love. With her dry wit and determination I couldn't help but cheer her on whether she was taking on the neighborhood bully or fighting the big bad that was trying to kill her and her family. She is definitely one of my favorite heroines.

The boys ~ Georgie and Jack are absolutely wonderful. Andrews gets you into their heads and hearts and makes these two characters an integral part of the story. Georgie with his big heart and caring nature and Jack, oh Jack. I couldn't help but be reminded of Curran, from Andrews' Kate Daniels series. What would Curran have been like as a boy? Maybe a bit like Jack. :) The boys keep Rose on her toes but they also try to help her and understand more of what's going on than Rose thinks they know. Most importantly these brothers look out for each other. Georgie tries his hardest to take care or those that he loves and Jack is fierce in protectiveness for his family. They don't sit on the sidelines while the adults "do their thing". Not these two. Their special talents are utilized well and not once did I wonder why they were in the story.

Our hero is, well, a bit full of himself. Yeah, a lot full of himself. :) Declan is arrogant, overbearing, gorgeous, proud, intelligent, haughty at times and wicked deadly with a blade. He's also the best thing to happen to Rose in a long time. She, of course, doesn't think so but time will tell. Declan has his own agenda but he also has a code of honor and integrity that puts him in the path of the evil that has come to the Edge. He's determined to keep Rose and her family safe and destroy the monster that tries to kill Rose and the boys. Declan is a source of frustration, irritation and attraction to Rose, which just irritates her more. LOL

I enjoyed getting to know Declan and watching him and Rose dancing around each other, always wondering what the other was really up to. Declan and his sometimes peculiar Weird manner driving Rose crazy. They were such a treat to read and oddly perfect for each other. They way the authors reveal Declan in bits and pieces made me at times question what his real agenda was. Both Rose and Delan have difficulty trusting but are left with no choice and agree on a tentative alliance. And lets not forget the romance between these two. It's not the main focus, I'd say that would be their getting to know each other and fighting off the dangers that stalks Rose and her family. The romance is there and does come to a natural conclusion with Rose and Declan finally admitting not only their physical attraction but their deep affection for each other.

The world building is intricate and pulls the reader into this place of the ordinary and the magical. The worlds of the Broken, the Edge and the Weird are at once familiar and still so very different from our own. The beings of the Weird are aware of the Edge and the Broken. The people who live in the Edge know of the other two worlds while the inhabitants of the Broken remain ignorant of the worlds of the Edge and the Weird. The Broken is without magic, once a being with magic enters the Broken they loose their magic. It can also be very painful for a magical being from the Weird to enter the Broken. It's one reason they tend to stay out. The Weird is full of magic, of mystical beings and humans for who magic is the norm. With creatures of great power and horrific guise and people who are not always as they appear. The Edge is the in between, the great divide. It is not for the inhabitants of the Broken or the Weird but for those who don't quite fit into either place. The Edge is for the forgotten, the misfits. It's where Rose and her family make their home and where they feel the safest until the evil that hounds them comes to their door.

I know many of us have numerous series that we keep up with so why start a new one? Because the writing talent that is evident in the Kate Daniels series shines through in this new series as well. The pacing kept me immersed in the story - balancing the fighting and violence with the character development and the progression of the plot. This is probably one of the strongest first books of a series that I have read. It left me satisfied but still wanting more of this fascinating new world that Andrews has created. On the Edge is set for release on September 29th.

The husband and wife writing team that makes up Ilona Andrews can be found hanging out at their LiveJournal blog and information on all their novels can be found on their website.

Rating: A

Curran POV...

Ilona Andrews (actually Gordon) has posted an excerpt of Curran's POV. It's when he first meets Kate. Go here to read.

Review: Silent Blade

Title: Silent Blade
Author: Ilona Andrews
Genre: Futuristic Fantasy
Published: June 2009
Ebook/Novella/Samhain Publishing

From Samhain’s website:

Old hatreds die hard. Old love dies harder.

On Meli Galdes’ home planet, the struggle for power is a bloody, full-contact sport—in business and on the battlefield. For years her lethal skills have been a valuable asset in advancing her family’s interests. She’s more than earned her right to retire, but her kinsmen have one last favor to ask.

Kill the man who ruined her life.

Celino Carvanna’s razor-sharp business acumen—and skills with a blade—won him the freedom to do as he pleases. There’s only one thing he can’t seem to control—his reaction to the mysterious woman who tantalizes his senses. Her eyes alone set his blood simmering, stirring ridiculous adolescent fantasies about breasts and honey. With a few words she dissects his soul. Who is she? And how does she slide so easily under his well-guarded skin?

It’s almost too easy to draw Celino within the kill zone. Meli plans to revel in him. Drink him in. Wring every drop of pleasure out of every moment.

And when she’s sure he belongs to her, she will finally repay a decade’s worth of pain—in a single, brutal dose of reality.

Warning: Contains a heroine who excels in moving targets, a hero who can’t get into her pants fast enough, and implant-enhanced sex (no, not that kind of implant…).

If that doesn't get your attention I don't know what will. I don't usually read ebooks, no ereader. Reading on the computer isn't exactly comfortable for me and with the kids on summer break there is usually someone wanting a turn on the pc. But for Ilona Andrews there's no question - I'd buy the ebook and read it on the pc. Fortunately it's short (41 pages) so I was able to print it and read it on my comfy couch.

Since the read was short the review will be too...

Let's start with the world building ~ It's surprisingly intricate considering the short format. There's no info dump but Andrews manages to add the details as the story progresses. It's a world more advanced than our earth but the inhabitants were once from earth so there are some similarities. The implants are one of the biggest differences. They seem to have an implant for improving everything from speed, strength and even scanning for poisons in food. The world is controlled by the families.

The families are like the mafia and Meli is the assassin of her family. Meli and Celino have a history and it's that history that brings them together after many years apart. What I liked about Meli is her intelligence and her single mindedness. She goes after what she wants and she doesn't apologize for doing what it takes to get it.

Celino is cold, calculated and ruthless. He's also very aware of how important he is to his family because of his amazing ability to make money for the family. Money equals power. The families needed money not only to run their businesses but to pay their soldiers. Celino's family is one of the most powerful, Meli's family is further down on the scale.

When Meli and Celino meet up it's a game of cat and mouse but it's not always clear who is the cat and who is the mouse. Both Celino and Meli think that they are the cat. The interplay between the two came quickly and very naturally. They were comfortable with each other. This was surprising given that Meli was sent to kill Celino. I think it surprised her too. He's not what she was expecting. Celino fell fast for Meli. Part of that I think was due to the fact that she didn't fall all over him. She made him work for it which made her worth more to him. She's very smart. :)

Was it good? Heck yeah. Would I like to read more in this world? Definitely. The only problem I had was that it was too short. It certainly could have worked as a full length novel. I would have loved to have these characters expanded and had more interaction between them. Show more of Meli and Celino involved in the workings of the families and the politics of the families. Maybe have them work together - he's the brains and she's the smart muscle. :) Also more of the secondary characters interacting with Meli and Celino could lengthen the story. Meli's brother and Celino's bodyguard were the type of characters who could certainly grab a reader's interest and play a larger role in the story.

If you're interested in purchasing an ebook of Silent Blade it's very easy and painless. :) Here's the link. Silent Blade is published by Samhain but the purchase is done through mybookstoreandmore. Not sure why but it's where the Samhain website sent me when I purchased it. It's listed for $2.50 on Samhain but mybookstoreandmore has it for $2.25, so it's even on sale!

The next release from Andrews is the novella Magic Mourns in the anthology Must Love Hellhounds, release date September 1. The next full length novel is the first book in a new series, The Edge. On the Edge will be released September 29. For excerpts and more check out the author's website.

Rating: B+

Kate Daniels Book 4 Prologue...

There is a contest at Bitten By Books for favorite shapeshifter and Ilona Andrews said if Curran won (as if there was any doubt) she would post the prologue for the next Kate Daniels book! It's up and you can read it here. This is a spoiler if you haven't read the last book.

*Today is the last day to enter the giveaway for The Madness of Lord Ian Mackenzie. Click on the bookcover on the left to go to the blog post to enter. I'll post the winner sometime tomorrow. Good Luck!

Kate Daniels 4 Excerpt...

Go, read, enjoy...

Excerpt from the 4th Kate Daniels book by Ilona Andrews.

Review: Magic Strikes

Title: Magic Strikes
Author: Ilona Andrews
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Series: Kate Daniels/Book 3
Published: April 2009

*Spoilers if you haven't read the first two books*

Kate Daniels, former mercenary, is now working for the Order of Knights of Merciful Aid. It's been two months since she lost a good friend and gained a daughter. Since then she's been working for the Order and trying to keep her distance from the pack, specifically Curran, the Beast Lord of Atlanta. But all roads eventually lead home or in Kate's case they lead to Curran.

The Kate Daniels series is one that I almost missed. I had heard good things about the first book, Magic Bites, but was hesitant to start a new series. Thankfully, I spotted Magic Bites at the library and gave it a go. I was hooked! While Magic Bites was good, Magic Burns was even better and Magic Strikes blew me away! This is not a series you want to start anywhere but at the beginning. Andrews does a good job of filling in back story but the characters have gone through so much growth and change, especially Kate, that you really don't want to miss out on that.

Kate must help out her friend Derek, a werewolf and a member of Curran's pack. While trying to help Derek she must also make a deal to assist Saiman, a shape shifter with the ability to shift into just about anything he wants. He also has a thing for Kate, one that she has absolutely no intention of reciprocating. Saiman convinces Kate to accompany him to the Midnight Games where she finds out just how brutal the world of underground fighting is. She also finds out that her old partner Jim is somehow involved in the same mess Derek was in. After Derek is severely beaten and left for dead Kate and Jim devise a plan to find the ones who beat Derek. They get way more than they planned and end up fighting in the Midnight Games tournament.

The creatures that Kate and her teammates have to fight in the tournament are a variety of scary and bizarre. The Reapers are their main opponents and they are after the Wolf Diamond, the prize in the tournament. The Reapers have no intention of losing and are determined to defeat Kate and Curran's team at any cost.

The Masters of the Dead and the vampires they control were not featured prominently in Magic Strikes but they are some of the scariest vampires I have ever read. They totally creep me out.

A lean shadow skittered from the alley, followed by another. Emaciated, hairless, loping on all fours in a jerky, uncoordinated gait, they crossed the street before me and paused. They had been human at some point but both had been dead for more than a decade. No fat or softness remained on their bodies. No flesh-only steel-wire muscle beneath thick hide. Two vampires on the prowl. And they were out of their territory. page 7

The fight scenes leave you breathless and make you feel like you are there, in the Pit with Kate and crew. While reading those scene I was on the edge, worried about these characters that I have come to know and love. I was worried for their safety and wondered if they would all make it out of the Pit alive or if one of them would fall. I really wasn't sure that one of them wouldn't end up dead. That's what Andrews does, makes the reader feel for these characters until they become more than just characters in a book. They become as close to real as they can possibly be. When Kate is in the Pit you can literally feeling the magic swirling around as she describes what she is experiencing ~ the ebb and flow of the powers. Feel the sand, smell the blood, the fear. The need to kick ass and kill something. The reader experiences it all through Kate.

Of course I have to mention my favorite shape shifter Curran. He can be a man of few words but when he does speak everyone listens. He's had his eye on Kate for some time but she's trying her best to stay out of his path. The romance continues to develop between them but is muted at first. The sexual tension and Curran's pursuit of Kate is on going with Kate determined to deny of her feelings for Curran, to a point. Curran is persistent and slowly works at breaking down Kate's resistance.

Kate, royally pissed off at Curran~

"What the fuck is wrong with you?" I looked for something heavy to hit him with, but the room was mostly empty. There were surgical instruments but no heavy, blunt objects capable of causing the kind of pain I wanted.

He straightened.

"He was silver!" I snarled in his face. "I had it under control. What was going through your head? Here's a toxic silver golem; I think I'll jump on his back! That's a damn good idea!"

He scooped me up and suddenly I was pressed against his chest. "Were you worried about me?"

"No, I'm ranting for fun, because I'm a disagreeable bitch!"

He smiled.

"You're a moron!" I told him.

He just looked at me. Happy golden lights danced in his eyes. I'd learned exactly what those sparks meant. Fury fled, replaced by alarm.

"Kiss me and I'll kill you," I warned.

"It might be worth it," he said softly. page 276

There is a secondary romance in the works with Andrea and Raphael. Andrea is also a member of the Order and Raphael is a werehyena that is mad for Andrea. She, on the other hand, wants nothing to do with him. Raphael is stubborn and is intent on winning Andrea. Their encounters were humorous and it didn't hurt that Raphael is completely adorable in his quest to win Andrea.

Magic Strikes is funny, emotional, mesmerizing to the point that I didn't want to put it down. The brilliance of the writing kept me on edge and at times left me there, teetering on the brink. Just when I thought I knew where the authors were going I ended up like Kate, wanting someone to pinch me.

I blinked a couple of times and held my arm out to Jim. "Pinch me."

Claws sliced my flesh. Ow.

I stared at a couple of red dots on my forearm, licked them, tasting the sharp bite of magic on my tongue. Yep. Real. I did just see a golden palace fly off. page 162

The world building is once again an indulgence for the readers' senses with the descriptions of Atlanta, it's citizens and structures all playing a part in the story. I could go on about the amazing world that Kate and her friends inhabit but I'll stop here. Just know that when you read Ilona Andrews be prepared for an incredible journey filled with a kick ass heroine, action scenes that leave you breathless and sexual tension that torments and teases, leaving you wanting more.

I can not recommend this series enough. All kinds of good stuff can be found at the author's website. Ilona Andrews (who is actually a husband and wife writing team) also has a new series coming out this fall starting with On the Edge. I blogged about the cover here and you can read an excerpt here.

Go out and get Magic Bites, Magic Burns and Magic Strikes. You won't be sorry.

Rating: A+

Tomorrow Is Release Day...

Tomorrow is a big day for three of my favorite authors. Three special releases tomorrow and all three are the third book in the series.

Passion Unleashed by Larissa Ione

Forbidden Temptations…
Serena Kelley is an archaeologist and treasure hunter—and a woman with a secret. Since she was seven, she’s been the keeper of a powerful charm that grants her health and immortality . . . as long as she stays a virgin. But Serena isn’t all that innocent. And when a dangerously handsome stranger brings her to the brink of ecstasy, she wonders if she’s finally met the one man she cannot resist.

Fatal Desires…
Wraith is a Seminus demon with a death wish. But when an old enemy poisons him, he must find Serena and persuade her to give him the only known antidote in the universe—her charm. Yet, as she begins to surrender to his seductions, and Wraith senses the cure is within his grasp, he realizes a horrible truth: he’s falling for the woman whose life he must take in order to save his own.

You can read my review of Passion Unleashed here.

Magic Strikes by Ilona Andrews

Drafted into working for the Order of Merciful Aid, mercenary Kate Daniels has more paranormal problems than she knows what to do with these days. And in Atlanta, where magic comes and goes like the tide, that’s saying a lot.

But when Kate’s werewolf friend Derek is discovered nearly dead, she must confront her greatest challenge yet. As her investigation leads her to the Midnight Games - an invitation only, no holds barred, ultimate preternatural fighting tournament - she and Curran, the Lord of the Beasts, uncover a dark plot that may forever alter the face of Atlanta’s shapeshifting community...

I'll have my review of Magic Strikes posted tomorrow. Loved it!

Smooth Talking Stranger by Lisa Kleypas

Ella Varner has it all--a successful career as an advice columnist, a handsome boyfriend, and a circle of friends in Austin. When anyone has a problem, Ella knows the answers.

But one night she receives a call that changes everything. And as Ella's world is turned upside-down, she meets a man who is the opposite of everything she ever wanted . . . a man who will offer her the most irresistible challenge she has ever known . . .

I haven't read Smooth Talking Stranger yet but it's Kleypas so I will definitely be reading it. There's an excerpt here to give you a taste of Jack Travis and Ella Varner. Jack is the brother of Gage Travis from Sugar Daddy and Haven Travis from Blue Eyed Devil. Both wonderful books.

All of the above books have a release date of March 31st but I did see all three in the bookstores Friday. I was suprised to see the Kleypas in Borders, I thought they would have a strick lay down date on it.

Cover Love ~ On The Edge

Next Tuesday Ilona Andrews' book Magic Strikes (loved it!) hits the shelves, then no Kate and Curran *sigh* until next year. But readers do have a new series from Andrews to look forward to. The Edge series begins with On The Edge, releasing September 29. The new series features Rose who is an Edger and can travel between the two different worlds. The burb explains it better than I can...

Rose Drayton lives on the Edge, between the world of the Broken (where people drive cars, shop at Wal-Mart, and magic is a fairy tale) and the Weird (where blueblood aristocrats rule, changelings roam, and the strength of your magic can change your destiny). Only Edgers like Rose can easily travel from one world to the next, but they never truly belong in either.

Rose thought if she practiced her magic, she could build a better life for herself. But things didn’t turn out how she planned, and now she works a minimum wage, off the books job in the Broken just to survive. Then Declan Camarine, a blueblood noble straight out of the deepest part of the Weird, comes into her life, determined to have her (and her power).

But when a terrible danger invades the Edge from the Weird, a flood of creatures hungry for magic, Declan and Rose must work together to destroy them—or they’ll devour the Edge and everyone in it . . .

Part of the first chapter of On The Edge is available to read online here. I like it and since I love the writing in the Kate Daniels series I have very high hopes for the new series.

And the cover ~ overall I like it, my only minor problem is the guy. A little on the big side. But love the colors and a gun toting heroine works for me. For some reason, makes me think of Supernatural. *shrugs* Don't know why.

Magic Strikes ~ Excerpt

Ilona Andrews has posted the first full chapter and part of the second chapter of Magic Strikes on her livejournal.

Thank you Ilona!

Part of the first chapter was previously posted on the website but we lucky readers have been give even more. I love Kate Daniels and can't wait for this next book in the series. It's due out *sigh* not until March 31, 2009. Oh, how I miss Curran ~ my very favorite shapeshifter.