4 STARS | Magic Burns by Ilona Andrews

Title: Magic Burns
Series: Kate Daniels #2
Author: Ilona Andrews
Age Group: Adult
Genres: Fantasy, Urban Fantasy, Romance, Paranormal
Elements: Shapeshifters, Werewolves, Shamans, Witches, Druids, Vampires, Necromancers, Deities
Publisher: Ace
Format: Mass Market Paperback
ISBN-13: 978-0441015832
Published: April 1st, 2008
Source: Library
Rating: 4/5 STARS
Series Reviews: Magic Bites
Purchase: Kindle | Paperback

Down in Atlanta, tempers--and temperatures--are about to flare...

As a mercenary who cleans up after magic gone wrong, Kate Daniels has seen her share of occupational hazards. Normally, waves of paranormal energy ebb and flow across Atlanta like a tide. But once every seven years, a flare comes, a time when magic runs rampant. Now Kate’s going to have to deal with problems on a much bigger scale: a divine one.

When Kate sets out to retrieve a set of stolen maps for the Pack, Atlanta’s paramilitary clan of shapeshifters, she quickly realizes much more at stake. During a flare, Celtic god Morfran supersedes goddess Morrigan for witch coven worshippers of the Crow, and sea monsters from the Underworld enter via the Cauldron of Plenty. Kate starts looking for Pack maps and 13-year old Julia's witch mother, and ends up uniting shapeshifters and vampire zombie controllers to save the world.

A magic flare is coming to Atlanta, causing the shift between technology and magic to be more unreliable and haphazard. It's also the perfect time for those of divine origin to manifest in our world. And that would be disastrous.

When a magic imprint on a bolt fired during one of her Guild jobs registers as "human divine," Kate sets out to find the crossbowman. Then the Pack approaches Kate for help retrieving some survey maps that were stolen and just so happen to have been taken by the crossbowman she's looking for. These two events bring Kate to Julie, a young girl looking for her missing mother. But what Kate discovers along the way is even more disturbing.

Kate Daniels is moving up in the world in Magic Burns. After her role in the Red Stalker case, Kate has been given a new job as Liaison between the Order and the Guild. She's also been given Friend of the Pack status with the Atlanta shapeshifter Pack. On one hand, Kate has to deal with the knight-protector, Ted Moynohan and Curran, the Beast Lord, on the other. And she'd rather not have to deal with either. Ted is a human supremest who wants to eradicate anything with an ounce of magic. And Curran basically just gets Kate hot-and-bothered and that freaks her out.

"Not only will you sleep with me, but you will say 'please.' You will say 'please' before and 'thank you' after."

After that good luck kiss in Magic Bites, Curran has been slowly moving in on Kate. And, boy, is he subtle about it. Kate doesn't know what he's doing until others in the Pack tell her. For example: When Kate was severely injured in an attack by the reeves, she was brought to a Pack safehouse ans healed by Doolittle. Bowls of soup were brought in for her and Curran pick one up, looks at it with a look of contemplation, and hands it to Kate. Now for shapeshifters, food has a special significance. Food is how animals express love. The fact that Curran gave Kate food signifies his serious interest in her.

Curran's pursuit kind of freaks Kate out. Kate is someone who doesn't have close connections with anyone. The main reason for this is because of who she is. Her blood makes her a target and intimacy means sharing her magic. But another reason is because she's scared. Every person she's ever cared about has been killed or died because of her--first her mother, then her stepfather, and more recently her guardian, Greg. Kate avoids close relationships because she's being hunted and she's scared of losing anyone else she loves because of who she is the daughter of.

There is a perfect example of this in her relationship with Bran. Bran is one of Morrigan's warriors. Kate didn't know him for long, but she came to care about him and understand him. Her grief and sadness was so great that, as she cried over his body, small white star-shaped flowers with centers as black as his eyes bloomed all around them. But because of these flowers, Bran's heroics that day will always be remembered, just as he always wanted.

Kate grows emotionally in Magic Burns and the world of the series grows as well. New places are introduces to us in great detail and we learn more about what life is like for the people in those places. I'm excited to see how much more Kate ans the world of this series continue to grow in the next book.

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Ilona Andrews is the pseudonym for a husband-and-wife writing team. Ilona is a native-born Russian and Gordon is a former communications sergeant in the U.S. Army. Contrary to popular belief, Gordon was never an intelligence officer with a license to kill, and Ilona was never the mysterious Russian spy who seduced him. They met in college, in English Composition 101, where Ilona got a better grade. (Gordon is still sore about that.)

Gordon and Ilona currently reside in Oregon with their two children, three dogs and a cat. They have co-authored two series, the bestselling urban fantasy of Kate Daniels and romantic urban fantasy of The Edge.


Disclaimer: This review was originally posted in 2012 to my book blogs, Zodiac Book Reviews and A Bibliophiles Thoughts on Books.

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4 STARS | Madly by M. Leighton

Title: Madly
Series: Madly #1
Author: M. Leighton
Age Group: Young Adult
Genres: Fantasy, Paranormal, Romance, Urban Fantasy
Elements: Mermaids
Publisher: M. Leighton Books
Format: PDF
ASIN: B0064P9O34
Published: November 7th, 2011
Source: M. Leighton
Events: Book Tour
Rating: 4/5 STARS
Purchase: Amazon | B&N

Madly is your average nearly-eighteen year old girl—for a princess, that is.

Madly James is thoroughly enjoying her internship in the small town of Slumber when the unthinkable happens—there’s a prison break in Atlas, the magically-protected home of Madly’s race. A traitor has set free eight Lore, the spirits of what humans know as fairy tales, and they are making their way to Slumber to awaken their descendants.

In order to save her home, the lives of her family, and all of humanity, Madly must learn to wield her exceptional powers and recapture the Lore before it’s too late and all is lost. But Madly’s only help are her two best friends and the Sentinel, Jackson Hamilton, that threatens both her heart and her destiny. Madly has loved Jackson as long as she can remember, but he is the one thing even a princess can’t have. Can she resist love to become the queen she was fated to be? Or can she find a way to have both?

This novelette introduces you to Madly and prepares you for the quest of a lifetime.

Madly, the first book in the Madly series, introduces us to the key characters--Madly, Jersey, Aidan, and Jackson--and the challenges they will face.

Madly is just going about her day at Veritas Academy as usual. That is until the bracelet charm she wears sends a painful jolt throughout her body. When her handler in the town of Slumber is found dead, Madly fears the worst has happened. The only beings able to kill the Mer are the Lore, spiritual creations of Lucifer and Proserpine. Her natural home of Atlas is under lock down and her family held captive by eight escaped Lore. The fact that the only key not in the possession of a Mer was stolen to release the Lore implies that there is a traitor among the Mer and that that traitor may be royal. Now Madly is their only hope of capturing the released Lore and rescuing her family, before it's too late.

I thought Madly was a great introduction to this series. Madly's best friends are really likeable: Jersey has a mischievous side and Aidan is kind and sincere. Then there is the love interest: Jackson is absolutely swoon-worthy! There are some pretty steamy scenes just in this short novella. Madly is put into a pretty serious position out of the blue, and though she was overwhelmed at first, she quickly recovers and get to work. She's going to have some tough decisions ahead of her.

I was really intrigued by the combination of mermaids and fairytales. I haven't seen that done before and I can't wait to see how it will work out. This first book, though just a short introduction, draws readers in and leaves them wanting the next book to continue the adventure.

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I was born and raised in the United States, and I’ve lived in several of the fabulous fifty. Though I currently live in the deep South, I spent much of my childhood up North and hope to return there one day. A few other things about me: I believe that sometimes you have to look really, REALLY hard to find the good in people, but it's there. I believe that I'm shrinking (I swear five years ago I was two inches taller). I believe my husband is quite possibly one of the most amazing men in the entire world (I can't be sure because I haven't met all of them). I believe coffee and chocolate, when combined, could be the basis for world peace. I believe that Jesus rocks and communism doesn’t. I believe that white makes me look fat and black collects lint. I believe summer's too hot, winter's too cold and fall was made for football. I like dogs better than cats and the first movie in a trilogy is invariably the best. But most of all, I believe that love conquers all.


Disclaimer: This review was originally posted in 2012 to my book blogs, Zodiac Book Reviews and A Bibliophiles Thoughts on Books.

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4 STARS | Immortal Hearts by Ellen Schreiber

Title: Immortal Hearts
Series: Vampire Kisses #9
Author: Ellen Schreiber
Age Group: Young Adult
Genres: Paranormal, Romance, Fantasy
Elements: Vampires
Publisher: Katherine Tegen Books
Format: Hardcover
ISBN-13: 978-0062070081
Published: May 15th, 2012
Source: Library
Events: Bout of Books Read-A-Thon
Rating: 4/5 STARS
Purchase: Kindle | Hardcover

Athena "Stormy" Sterling is coming to Dullsville, and Raven is both excited and panicked in anticipation of Alexander's little sister's visit. Alexander tells Raven that she and his sister have a lot in common, but can the mini-Raven be everything she hopes for? Alexander calls her Stormy for a reason.

Stormy's visit stirs up the perfect immortal whirlwind. Raven is forced to take a good look at what it would really mean to be a vampire in the Sterling family, aside from some of the things she already loves, like shunning the sun and sleeping in a coffin with Alexander. When Raven compares her life with Stormy's, she can see that it's not all starry skies and black roses. But Raven knows she's always wanted to be a vampire.

Alexander is as romantic and dreamy as ever, and though he keeps showing Raven how much he loves her, will she ultimately be able to convince him that it's the right thing to turn her?

This final chapter of Vampire Kisses' nocturnal romance will keep all mortal and immortal hearts racing.

Immortal Hearts brings us the conclusion of Raven and Alexander's story. With the arrival of Alexander's little sister, Stormy, Raven gets a better look at the life of a Sterling vampire. For Stormy, life as a vampire has been lonely and secluded. So Raven knows that being a vampire isn't all good, but she also knows that she wants to be with Alexander for eternity. The only things she questions is whether Alexander wants to change her and if their futures are going in the same place.

I have loved this series since book one, but as the series went along, I just became more and more frustrated. Raven's nagging about being turned and Alexander's reluctance and indecision just started to irritate me. It's sad to see the series end, but it's also a relief to have a solution.

What saved this book for me was Stormy. I absolutely loved her! She was just so adorable, I don't know how anyone could not like her. She loves her brother very much and that trait gave her a sweetness that none of the other female vampires have in this series. She's just a young girl who wants to hangout with her friends and not be kept in seclusion by herself. I would love to be Stormy's friend!

The series wouldn't be complete without one final attempt by Jagger and Luna to split Raven and Alexander up--although it wasn't as grand as all the other attempts. I also thought that the happily ever after, with everyone in attendance, was too happy. I mean, Jagger and Luna just tried to break them up, but now they are all smiles? But for a series as unbelievable, outrageous, and totally hilarious, it was the perfect way to end the series. Almost like how a play ends with the cast gathered together to celebrate. And then the curtain falls and it's THE END.

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New York bestselling author, Ellen Schreiber wrote her first novel after reading a young adult novel on a plane ride to Los Angeles. First published in Europe, her books were then published by HarperCollins.

Schreiber has been busy writing ever since—the Vampire Kisses series, Blood Relatives manga, Teenage Mermaid, and Comedy Girl.


Disclaimer: This review was originally posted in 2012 to my book blogs, Zodiac Book Reviews and A Bibliophiles Thoughts on Books.

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5 STARS | Fever Moon: The Fear Dorcha

Title: Fever Moon: The Fear Dorcha
Series: Fever #5.5
Author: Karen Marie Moning
Artist: Al Rio
Age Group: Adult
Genres: Graphic Novels, Fantasy, Urban Fantasy, Paranormal, Romance
Elements: Fae, Shapeshifters
Publisher: Del Rey
Format: Hardcover
ISBN-13: 978-0345525482
Published: July 10th, 2012
Source: Library
Events: Bout of Books Read-A-Thon | Sit Down and Write Write-A-Thon
Rating: 5/5 STARS
Purchase: Kindle | Hardcover

Dublin is a war zone. The walls between humans and Fae are down. A third of the world's population is dead and chaos reigns. Imprisoned more than half a million years ago, the Unseelie are free and each one Mac meets is worse than the last. Human weapons don't stand a chance against them.

With a blood moon hanging low over the city, something dark and sinister begins to hunt the streets of Temple Bar, choosing its victims by targeting those closest to Mac. Armed only with the Spear of Destiny and Jericho Barrons, she must face her most terrifying enemy yet.

In this all-new Mac & Barrons story by #1 New York Times bestseller Karen Marie Moning, we meet the most ancient and deadly Unseelie ever created, the Fear Dorcha. For eons, he's traveled across worlds with the Unseelie King, leaving behind him a path of mutilation and destruction. Now he's hunting Dublin, and no one Mac loves is safe.

I love when books from my favorite series are adapted into graphic novels, but I'm also wary because the story can end up too watered down. That is not a problem in Fever Moon. Fever Moon runs parallel to the main story in Shadowfever, as evidenced by some memorable scenes and quotes, but it's more of an off-shoot story depicting what happens after Mac meets the Fear Dorcha at Chester's and the Dreamy-Eyed Guy chases him away. So basically this is the story of the Fear Dorcha's revenge against Mac, the one who got away, by targeting those close to her.

So I was not disappointed in the story at all. I'm also glad that they included the scenes from Shadowfever, so we know exactly when these Fear Dorcha scenes happen in the Shadowfever storyline.

Now the artwork I thought was absolutely amazing. I don't think they could have chosen a better artist than Al Rio for Fever Moon. His artwork really brings out the feel of AWC Dublin. Mac looks just awesome (although I do think she's a bit too sexy-looking, if that's possible). I was a little disappointed with how Barrons was depicted. To be honest, I don't think he looks hot enough. He looks more like a thug to me. In regard to all the men in Fever Moon, they look too square and bulky--sure they are muscular, but not BOOM!! muscular. Maybe I'm just too picky when it comes to artwork depictions of my favorite characters, though.

There are some really graphic (no pun intended) scenes that should be watched out for. Especially the scene depicting Mac's rape by the Unseelie Princes that turned her pri-ya. So I definitely think reader discretion should be used when deciding whether to read Fever Moon or not.

With all that said, Fever Moon is probably one of the best adaptations for a novel series that I've read so far. I hope that Karen Marie Moning plans on more graphic novels in the Fever series in the future.

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Karen Marie Moning (rhymes with 'awning') is the # 1 New York Times bestselling author of 12 novels, including the Rita-award winning Highlander novels and the internationally bestselling urban fantasy Fever series. Her books have been published in 21 languages, and her events draw fans from all over the world.

She divides her time between the mountains of Georgia and the beaches of Florida.


Disclaimer: This review was originally posted in 2012 to my book blogs, Zodiac Book Reviews and A Bibliophiles Thoughts on Books.

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4.5 STARS | Bone Crossed by Patricia Briggs

Title: Bone Crossed
Series: Mercy Thompson #4
Author: Patricia Briggs
Age Group: Adult
Genres: Fantasy, Urban Fantasy, Paranormal, Romance
Elements: Werewolves, Fae, Shapeshifters, Ghosts, Vampires, Zombies
Publisher: Ace
Format: Hardcover
ISBN-13: 978-0441016761
Published: February 3rd, 2009
Source: Library
Events: 2012 Patricia Briggs Werewolf Challenge | Summer Wrap Up Read-A-Thon | Review Copy Cleanup Challenge | Bout of Books Read-A-Thon | Sit Down and Write Write-A-Thon
Rating: 4.5/5 STARS
Series Reviews: Moon Called | Blood Bound | Iron Kissed
Purchase: Kindle | Hardcover

By day, Mercy is a car mechanic in the sprawling Tri-Cities of Eastern Washington. By night, she explores her preternatural side. As a shapeshifter with some unique talents, Mercy has often found herself having to maintain a tenuous harmony between the human and the not so human. This time she may get more than she bargained for.

Marsilia, the local Vampire Queen, has learned that Mercy crossed her by slaying a member of her clan--and she's out for blood. But since Mercy is protected from direct reprisal by the werewolf pack (and her close relationship with its sexy Alpha), it won't be Mercy's blood Marsilia is after.

It'll be her friends'.

In Bone Crossed, Mercy struggles to cope with the terrible sexual assault she suffered at the hands of a power-hungry murderer. She is plagued by terrifying panic attacks and flashbacks that leave her gasping for air. But life continues to move on and past actions have repercussions.

Marsilia, Mistress of the local vampire seethe, knows that Mercy killed her left hand man, Andre. And she's out for blood. But with Mercy's protection guaranteed from the local werewolf alpha and his pack, it's Mercy's friends who are the targets.

To give Adam a chance to negotiate with Marsilia and to take some time away for herself, Mercy goes to Spokane to help an old college acquaintance with a ghost haunting her house. But in escaping one vampire, Mercy lands right in the path of another, aptly nicknamed The Monster.

Mercy will have to fight mentally, emotionally, and physically to make it home in one piece.

Is it just me or does it seem like lately Mercy is the target of victimization? In the previous book, she is attacked and sexually assaulted, and now in Bone Crossed she has her shop vandalized with derogatory words and images, and she's attacked again in her sleep by The Monster! She leaves the memory of one attack behind in the Tri-Cities and walks right into another in Spokane. It's one thing after another and I'm wondering how much Mercy will be able to take before she breaks. She's tough, but there is only so much one person can take.

Adam and Mercy really start coming together in this book. After Adam comes to understand what Mercy was feeling after her attack, he tried to help Mercy work through it. Now that Mercy has accepted Adam's mate claim, he's been able to relax some and is more patient than before. Adam doesn't walk on eggshells around her, but he exudes a gentleness that let's Mercy know that he's there if she needs him, but he also knows she can take care of herself. I'd say that this is the real beginning for Adam and Mercy, and I can't wait to see how their relationship continues to grow.

There was a great quote said by Adam about who Mercy belongs to that further shows how much he understand her that I really liked:

"Like a coyote, Mercy is adaptable. She belongs to whom she decides. She belongs everywhere she wants to, for just as long as she wants to." (Page 212)

I love Bran! I mean, who doesn't? You can really tell how much he cares about Mercy when he visits her in this book. He may not voice it, but his actions speak louder than his words ever could. Mercy may not be Bran's biological daughter, but her definitely sees her as if she were. Bran is one of my favorite fictional fathers. I can't help but love him!

We get a look at the power struggle within the vampire seethe when both Estelle and Bernard approach Stefan to join them in their rebellion. Estelle basically just wants power, where Bernard really seems to have the seethe's well-being in mind. But Stefan shows unwavering loyalty to Marsilia when he refuses them both, even though she hurt him. He truly is a Soldier at heart, and like a good soldier, the good of the whole outweighs the good of one.

Though Mercy's trouble with the vampires is resolved, there is no hatred lost between her and Marsilia. The next book, Silver Borne, brings us back to the fae and someone really wants the book Mercy borrowed when trying to free Zee in Iron Kissed. The adventures continues and they are bound to be even more exciting that the last.

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Patricia Briggs was born in Butte, Montana to a children’s librarian who passed on to her kids a love of reading and books. Patricia grew up reading fairy tales and books about horses, and later developed an interest in folklore and history. When she decided to write a book of her own, a fantasy book seemed a natural choice. Patricia graduated from Montana State University with degrees in history and German and she worked for a while as a substitute teacher. Currently, she lives in Montana with her husband, children and six horses and writes full-time, much to the delight of her fans.


Disclaimer: This review was originally posted in 2012 to my book blogs, Zodiac Book Reviews and A Bibliophiles Thoughts on Books.

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4 STARS | Promises by Amber Garr

Title: Promises
Series: Syrenka #1
Author: Amber Garr
Age Group: Young Adult
Genres: Fantasy, Paranormal, Romance
Elements: Mermaids, Shapeshifters
Publisher: Amber Garr
Format: PDF
ASIN: B006JS1TN4
Published: December 7th, 2011
Source: Bookshelf Confessions
Events: Book Tour | Summer Wrap Up Read-A-Thon | Review Copy Cleanup Challenge | Bout of Books Read-A-Thon | Sit Down and Write Write-A-Thon
Rating: 4/5 STARS
Purchase: Amazon | B&N | Smashwords

Sometimes following your heart can end up destroying the ones you love.

When seventeen-year-old Eviana Dumahl is faced with the responsibility of an arranged marriage and clan leadership, she is forced to choose between the life required of a mermaid and one of a teenage girl simply infatuated with the wrong guy. Kain, her devoted fiancé would make a wonderful husband except that she’s been in love with Brendan, a shape-shifting selkie, ever since they were kids. Choosing to abandon her family, her clan, and her life with Kain will have dire consequences far beyond anything she could have imagined.

A war is brewing amongst the clans and Eviana unwittingly becomes a pawn in the intricate schemes of a twisted mastermind. With Brendan’s life on the line, she has no choice but to involve those who she once considered friends. Amidst encountering senseless tragedies and immense loss, Eviana discovers that she is more valuable as a clan leader than anyone ever suspected. Her survival is not only dependent upon the loyalty of her friends, but also on her acceptance of a life that she had so adamantly tried to escape.

Promises is the first book of The Syrenka Series trilogy following Eviana and her friends through the perils of growing up in a discrete world that inherently threatens human society.

For anyone in a young love relationship, nothing else matters and responsibility and duty fly out the window. It's no different for Eviana Dumahl, next in line as leader of the Dumahl Clan, one of the strongest merfolk clans in the world. Forced into an arranged marriage to Kain Matthew, next in line as leader of the Matthew Clan, another of the strongest merfolk clans, by her parents, Eviana plans to run away with Brendan, who is a shapeshifting selkie and her boyfriend.

Eviana knows that it's selfish to run away from her family, her clan, her fiance, and her duties. She knows that her choice will hurt some and anger a lot. But what she doesn't know is that her choice has more dire consequences than she ever thought possible. An all-out war is brewing between the merfolk clans--and Eviana is unwittingly caught in the middle. Eviana will need to find the strength to rise to her place as leader of her clan and fight back--for all their sakes.

Something I wanted to point out was how Eviana, once she was informed of the war and internal clan struggles, said that if she had known of everything from the beginning, she would have made a different choice. I personally don't think she would have. This statement was made by an Eviana who grew and matured from who she was when she chose to run away. Eviana knew how important her role and duties within the clan were, even without the finer details, and she still ignored it all and only thought of herself. That is not a good trait in a leader--a leader thinks of her people first and herself last. Though Eviana grew from her experiences, it was too little, too late to prevent the consequences of her choice.

If I had to choose between Kain and Brendan, I would choose Kain, hands down. I felt so bad for him in the beginning, I wanted to give him a giant hug. It must be painful to love the girl you're engaged to marry and know that she'll never love you back. You know how in fairytales the princes has to be pure of heart to wake the sleeping princess? I like to think of Kain as being pure of heart, only his princess refuses to wake up. He tries to show Eviana the benefits of marrying him and the good it would do both their clans, but Eviana refuses to see. Kain is sweet, loving, and has so much strength. He really cares about his people--a great leader in the making! Toward the end, I felt Kain was right in his anger against Eviana--she ditched him on their wedding day! And what really irritated me was that she felt she had the right to feel hurt by his behavior toward her. I wanted to slap some sense into her. Though we don't see much of Brendan in Promises, I still feel I would choose Kain in the end.

The war brewing is between a group of merfolk who feel it is their right to use the Legacy they were gifted with, and those who feel it is wrong to use it. What is the Legacy, you ask? It is a gift the merfolk have to basically control other sea creatures (selkies, water sprites, nixies, kelpies) and humans. Those who think it is right to use the Legacy view themselves above everyone and see themselves as gods. Now what does Eviana have to do with all this? Eviana discovers she has a very strong, if not the strongest, ability to use the Legacy. Now both sides want her on their side of the war. As Sutherland said, Eviana is the key to, not only the two strongest clans, but also to winning the war.

The first chapter preview to book two, Betrayal, left me wanting to read more right away. I can't wait to see what happens next for Eviana and her friends, and the fate of all merfolk and sea creatures alike.

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Amber Garr spends her days conducting scientific experiments and wondering if her next door neighbor is secretly a vampire. Born in Pennsylvania, she lives in Florida with her husband and their furry kids. Her childhood imaginary friend was a witch, Halloween is sacred, and she is certain that she has a supernatural sense of smell. She writes both adult and young adult urban fantasies and when not obsessing over the unknown, she can be found dancing, reading, or enjoying a good movie.




Disclaimer: This review was originally posted in 2012 to my book blogs, Zodiac Book Reviews and A Bibliophiles Thoughts on Books.

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5 STARS | Broken by Kelley Armstrong

Title: Broken
Series: Women of the Otherworld #6
Author: Kelley Armstrong
Age Group: Adult
Genres: Fantasy, Urban Fantasy, Paranormal, Romance
Elements: Werewolves, Demons, Necromancers, Zombies, Sorcerers, Witches, Vampires
Publisher: Bantam
Format: Mass Market Paperback
ISBN-13: 978-0553588187
Published: April 25th, 2006
Source: Library
Events: Women of the Otherworld Series Challenge | Summer Wrap Up Read-A-Thon | Review Copy Cleanup Challenge | Sit Down and Write Write-A-Thon
Rating: 5/5 STARS
Series Reviews: Bitten | Stolen | Dime Store Magic | Industrial Magic | Haunted
Purchase: Kindle | Paperback

Ever since she discovered she's pregnant, Elena Michaels has been on edge. After all, she's never heard of another living female werewolf, let alone one who's given birth. But, thankfully, her expertise is needed to retrieve a stolen letter allegedly written by Jack the Rippper. As a distraction, the job seems simple enough--only the letter contains a portal to Victorian London's underworld, which Elena inadvertently triggers--unleashing a vicious killer and a pair of zombie thugs.

Now Elena must find a way to seal the portal before the unwelcome visitors get what they're looking for--which, for some unknown reason, is Elena....

Who would have thought a mosquito could cause so much trouble?

Broken brings us back to my favorite narrator in the Women of the Otherworld series, werewolf Elena Michaels. She's pregnant and bored...never a good combination for a woman used to action. So when Xavier calls about the favor Elena owes him for getting her out of a sticky situation is Stolen, she couldn't be more excited.

But what seems like a simple B&E with a little theft quickly turns not-so-simple when a squished mosquito falls on the From Hell letter they stole and opens a portal to Victorian London. Now the famous killer, Jack the Ripper, is loose in Toronto with two zombie goons in tow. And for some reason they are targeting Elena.

What's a werewolf mama-to-be to do when she has to protect, not only her own life, but that of her unborn child? One thing is for sure: The portal needs to be closed, before it's too late.

Elena's fear of Changing while pregnant was very visceral. Any mother-to-be would fear doing anything that could cause their child harm, but it's more so for Elena. Changing is a very painful process, not to mention that her body is contorting to a new shape, so she fears and questions what that could do to the baby. And the fact that there has never been a pregnant werewolf before leaves the entire Pack cautious. But if you think about is in human terms, all new mothers and fathers stress over the new arrival, so for Elena and Clay I'd say their behavior is normal for new werewolf parents.

One of my favorite moments in Broken may not seem very significant, but for Elena and Clay's relationship it is. Nick notices Elena wearing both her engagement ring and her wedding band. The engagement ring isn't much of a surprise since she's been wearing it on and off for years and kept it on for the past five years as a sign to Clay that she's staying for good. But where Clay's wedding band has been on his finger for the past fifteen years, Elena's remained in it's original case, at least until she became pregnant. Nick can't believe that Elena is actually going to keep it on after the baby is born. I loved Elena's reply:

"What? You think I'm willing to have Clay's baby, but not wear his ring? We're even thinking of making it legal."

This small, seemingly insignificant moment really shows how much Elena has grown since Bitten. She's accepted herself as a werewolf, forgiven Clay for biting her, and finally committing herself to Clay completely.

And I say it's about time. Clay made one mistake (though it was a big, life-altering mistake) and suffered for it for fifteen years. It's about time he finally finds happiness, and I don't think anything could make him happier than his mate accepting him and bearing his child.

We reunite with previous characters and meet new additions in Broken. One new addition that really stood out for me was Zoe Takano. Zoe is a vampire and the original thief of the From Hell letter. She has a little crush on Elena that left Elena feeling awkward and me laughing. What is it with Elena and vampires anyway? One wants to be her BFF and the other wants to make out (or possibly more) with her.

I was all over the place while reading Broken. I was rooting one moment, then totally grossed out the next. And let's not forget completely terrified for different reasons, one of which included Clay's injury. And I thought that the birth was such a magical moment! It's one of my favorite moments in the entire series so far. I don't know much about Jack the Ripper, but Kelley Armstrong's use of the killer's story and knowledge of the time made for an interesting and compelling addition to this series.

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Kelley Armstrong has been telling stories since before she could write. Her earliest written efforts were disastrous. If asked for a story about girls and dolls, hers would invariably feature undead girls and evil dolls, much to her teachers' dismay. All efforts to make her produce "normal" stories failed.

Today, she continues to spin tales of ghosts and demons and werewolves, while safely locked away in her basement writing dungeon. She's the author of the NYT-bestselling "Women of the Otherworld" paranormal suspense series and "Darkest Powers" young adult urban fantasy trilogy, as well as the Nadia Stafford crime series. Armstrong lives in southwestern Ontario with her husband, kids and far too many pets.


Disclaimer: This review was originally posted in 2012 to my book blogs, Zodiac Book Reviews and A Bibliophiles Thoughts on Books.

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3 STARS | The Rising Moon by Nilsa Rodriguez + Excerpt

Title: The Rising Moon
Author: Nilsa Rodriguez
Age Group: Young Adult
Genres: Paranormal, Fantasy, Romance
Elements: Werewolves, Vampires, Witches, Shapeshifters
Publisher: Black Dove Publishing
Format: PDF
ISBN-13: 978-0983910206
Published: September 12th, 2011
Source: FMB Book Tours
Events: Book Tour | Summer Wrap Up Read-A-Thon | Review Copy Cleanup Challenge
Rating: 3/5 STARS
Purchase: Amazon | B&N | Smashwords

How many lives do you have to live to realize that love is stronger that time and death?

Orphaned at the age of five, Angelia (Lia) Lafosse was left with questions about whom and what she truly was. One thing was clear. Lia was different. Some might even say cursed.

With the help of her best friend, Ryan Woodruff, she begins to unlock the secrets of her families past and discover answers that prove more startling than she ever imagined. Not only was she a werewolf, but a reincarnation of the immortal werewolf, a werewolf with immense powers beyond any of her kind. A werewolf that if discovered by the Lobison’s to have returned, can jeopardize both Lia and those she love.

As destiny finds her love does too…and they couldn’t be more different. Torn between Lyle Ulric, the charming werewolf whose bloodline is as ancient and powerful as her own. And Adam Ambrose, the mysterious and alluring vampire who’s determined not to allow fate or anyone tear their love apart again.

Lia has to make a choice…
Destiny or Love…
Run or Fight…
Live or Die...

In The Rising Moon, Lia is the reincarnation of Zaria, the Immortal Wolf. Torn between the love of Lyle, a werewolf and Adam, a vampire, Lia will have to make a choice. A choice that could potentially be deadly to not just herself but those she loves as well.

I loved the concept of The Rising Moon. We have a reincarnated Immortal Wolf stuck between the love of a werewolf and a vampire. And it just so happens that that werewolf and vampire are eternal enemies. This isn't one of those bright stories. The Rising Moon is actually really quite dark. There's loneliness, betrayal, jealousy, vengeance, hate, longing, heartache, death--but underneath all of these dark emotions is an undying love. That is what makes this story beautiful. That that undying love endures while surrounded by all that darkness.

The very core of the story is perfect, but the outer layers could have used some work. The grammar was really bad--there were way too many commas and in places that made no sense, a number of misspellings, and the sentence structure made it difficult to read. This seemed more like a rough draft with no revisions. I thought there needed to be more background to the events and occurrences. It's like they just happened--there wasn't much history or depth. And there are no questions asked, it's just accepted. These grammatical and developmental issues are what caused me to rate The Rising Moon with a 3 out of 5.

I'm not sure if this is a first book in a series or not--I couldn't find any information about that--but if the issues I stated are fixed, this story could be golden. Like I said before, the story concept is amazing, and with some fine tuning, this could be an equally amazing series if the story continues.

∞ Chapter 1 ∞

THE AIR FELT THICK as a sauna. Clouds clustered overhead, like black mountains violently unleashing a torrent of lightning bolts that lit up the sky, making the night bright as day. I felt in the pit of my stomach that something terrible was brewing outside. The storm was unlike any other I have ever seen before…it seemed supernatural.

“Lia!” hollered John. His voice sounded impatient and thunderous as the storm outside. “Li-a!”

I rushed out of bed and met him in the kitchen.

He was drunk again. The smell of whisky reeked through his pores and clothes and met me at the doorway. He wasn't always an alcoholic. He once was happy and full of life, but it all changed the night his wife Veena died. Her sudden and horrific death were too much for him to bear.

The night she died, John was returning late from a hunting trip and accidentally struck an animal as he drove up the dark and narrow road that led to our house. The animal was quick and John couldn’t make out what it was. All he knew was he struck it hard because the whole front bender on his truck was damaged. He got out and reached for his shot gun and followed the animal into the woods, but although the animal was injured, it was still fast enough to outrun him so he decided to leave the animal alone.

When he got home, Veena wasn’t there. I was asleep and John awoke me, asking me if I knew where she was. It wasn’t like her to be out so late or to not answer her cell phone---especially after he’s called her four times, one phone call after the other. Worried, John set out to look for her while I asked the other ranch workers if they’ve seen her.

After searching for nearly two and a half hours, John found her lifeless body a hundred yards from the house in a pool of blood. She was badly injured. She had deep wounds across her face, her ribs were crushed and her legs were broken.

The medical examiner declared the cause of the death as being mauled by an animal. John felt that if he‘d killed the animal he injured with his truck earlier that night; Veena would still be alive today. He blamed himself for her death and ever since that night, he hasn’t been the same.

“Listen girl,” he said. “It seems Star has gotten out again and the storm is picking up pretty bad out there. See if you can get that stupid horse to return back to the stables. God only knows why she listens to you and not me.”

Star’s an Appaloosa mare and the latest addition to the ranch. Her temperament was supposed to be gentle, but since her arrival four months ago, John hasn’t been able to tame her. I’m the only person on the ranch she allowed near her. I didn’t mind it at all. There was something about her human-like brown eyes that comforted me as much as I comforted her.

“Well, are you going?” he asked reaching for a chair, but nearly missing it. I really had no other choice but to go out in the storm. We didn’t own the ranch we lived in, the Ulric’s did. And if they saw John, or smelled him for that matter, in the condition he was in tonight they’d surely run us out in a heartbeat.

“Go on now,” he said as he swooshed me with his hand.

“Yes sir,” I grumbled.

Not caring to change out of my blue cotton night gown, I quickly put on my boots and at the sound of a roaring thunder, I reached for my raincoat and headed out the door. The howling wind and blinding rain was harsh and poured down unsteady. It came at me from all directions, slapping me as I attempted to make my way through. I pulled the strings on the neck of my hood to keep it from falling, but it was no use, my hair was already drenched and now stuck to my stinging face.

“Star!” I shouted over the smacking rain. “Where are you girl?”

Unable to see where I was going, I stepped on a thorny bush beside the stable wall. Blood ran warm and quick down the side of my leg. With a slight limp, I hopped into the stables and examined the wound. I was relieved that it was just a mere scratch, but boy did it sting! I limped over to where the horses were and to my surprise Star was there staring at me with those large brown eyes.

It was obvious by the look of her chestnut coat that she was dry. What John saw outside the stable wasn’t Star or any of the horses because all six of them were dry and cozy in their stall.

Bordering with the Shoshone National Forest it wasn’t rare to come across a wild animal every now and then. We’ve been visited by grizzly bears, coyotes, elks, and wolves on the property many times before. John was drunk and the storm was blinding. There was no way he could’ve known what he saw out there wasn’t Star. I’m sure he must’ve saw something, but whatever it was the bullying storm chased it away. I locked the stable doors and rushed back home.

I limped back to my room closing the door behind me. I wrapped my dripping hair in a towel and wiped the blood off my leg. The wind was becoming fainter, more like a whisper as I lay in bed staring at the ceiling. I turned on my side and faced the window as a cool breeze crept in through a crack in the window frame. The sheer ivory curtains swayed gently, twinkling against the dark wood panel walls and floor.

Hugging my pillow tight, I began to think of Veena. On how her brown eyes always sparkled when she smiled and how her short dark hair always smelled like lavender. She was the only person who truly understood me. Her and John treated me like family and I was grateful for that, and just like John, I missed her too. Especially on nights like tonight.

The following morning the sky was blue and promising. I pulled myself out of bed and headed to the bathroom. I stood there brushing my teeth glancing hard and deep at the person staring back. I wondered if I looked like my father. Was he pale like me? Or maybe I looked like my mother?

I looked closely into my large blue eyes. At the white pigment in the iris of my left eye that resembled a half moon. I was five years old when it first appeared.

Dr. Parker, a medical doctor from River View Hospital, diagnosed it as heterchromia. He told me it was mostly common in animals, but it can also be past down genetically in humans. I always wondered which of my parents had it.

No matter how many times I tried to remember them, I couldn’t. All I knew was what was told to me: that they were killed in a car accident when I was four years old. When I thought back to my early childhood, all I could remember were the countless nurses and doctors from River View Hospital. I was sent to live there after my first foster parents, claimed I would howl at the moon and constantly suffer from night terrors.

Although they tried their best to comfort me, their attempts had reached its limit on the day they found me asleep outside, naked and covered in dirt and leaves. They felt I was too much for them to handle so they decided to return me to the state, which then sent me to River View where I was diagnosed with Lycanthropy, a rare psychotic disorder that causes the person to believe they can transform into an animal.

During my time at the hospital, Dr. Parker helped me overcome the night terrors that he believed triggered the disorder through medication and psychotherapy. I haven’t had any night terrors in a very long time. But ever since the night Veena died, my nightmares have returned and several times, I’ve found myself waking up in the woods.

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Nilsa Rodriguez ‘s love for writing began at an early age. Being an author is quite literally a dream come true for a girl who spent most of her childhood moments escaping to far-away lands and wondering into enchanted forests through the many books she's read growing up and still enjoys to this very day. Having had studied Fashion Design at Parsons School of Design and Early Childhood Education at Penn Foster College her love for writing has always remained close to heart. Nilsa received her literary diploma from The Institute for Children Literature in 2009. Born and raised in New Jersey, she now lives in sunny Florida with her husband and son where you can find her writing well into the night on her next novel.


Disclaimer: This review was originally posted in 2012 to my book blogs, Zodiac Book Reviews and A Bibliophiles Thoughts on Books.

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4 STARS | Magic Bites by Ilona Andrews

Title: Magic Bites
Series: Kate Daniels #1
Author: Ilona Andrews
Age Group: Adult
Genres: Fantasy, Urban Fantasy, Romance, Paranormal
Elements: Vampires, Necromancers, Shapeshifters, Mages, Psychic Abilities, Werewolves
Publisher: Ace
Format: Mass Market Paperback
ISBN-13: 978-0441014897
Published: March 27th, 2007
Source: Library
Events: Sit Down and Write Write-A-Thon | Summer Wrap Up Read-A-Thon | Review Copy Cleanup Challenge
Rating: 4/5 STARS
Purchase: Kindle | Paperback

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 arose, leaving all kinds of paranormal problems in its wake.

Kate Daniels is a down-on-her-luck mercenary who makes her living cleaning up these magical problems. But when Kate's guardian is murdered, her quest for justice draws her into a power struggle between two strong factions within Atlanta's magic circles.

The Masters of the Dead, necromancers who can control vampires, and the Pack, a paramilitary clan of shapechangers, blame each other for a series of bizarre killings—and the death of Kate's guardian may be part of the same mystery. Pressured by both sides to find the killer, Kate realizes she's way out of her league—but she wouldn't have it any other way…

A magical apocalypse has destroyed the technological world we all know so well in Magic Bites. Our once proud technological advancements have been laid waste by the resurgence of Old World magic that now runs wild once again. Skyscrapers are ruinous heaps that are home to magical outlaws, while guns fail to fire and vehicles fail to start. When magic hits, technology doesn't stand a chance.

After learning of her guardian's death, Kate Daniels travels to Atlanta in search of answers. But the questions lead to a building feud between the Pack and the People, and Kate is caught in the middle. Both factions have members mysteriously murdered and they are blaming each other. Pressured by both sides, Kate must figure out who (or what) is behind the killings and what they have to do with her guardian's murder, before war breaks out.

The world of Magic Bites is really intriguing and complex. I mean, there are so many factions and groups that it's hard to keep them straight sometimes. There is the Pack, the People, the Order, the Division, and the Guild just in this first book. I'm not even sure what all of their purposes are, especially the law enforcement factions. But the intricacies of the Pack and the People are really interesting. There is still so much to learn about this world and its people.

I loved the dynamic between Kate and Curran. They both push each others buttons, in good and bad ways. I loved the incident where Kate sent Curran a saucer of milk at a restaurant when she finds him basically spying in her. It was such a hilarious moment, I couldn't stop laughing. And you can definitely feel something simmering between them. We don't see much in Magic Bites, but you just know something is going to happen between them.

Magic Bites was a great introduction to the world and people in the Kate Daniels series. We meet key characters that will show up throughout the series, and I'm sure there's going to be even more about post-magical-apocalyptic Atlanta to learn in future books. This is an exciting start and I can't wait to read the next installment!

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Ilona Andrews is the pseudonym for a husband-and-wife writing team. Ilona is a native-born Russian and Gordon is a former communications sergeant in the U.S. Army. Contrary to popular belief, Gordon was never an intelligence officer with a license to kill, and Ilona was never the mysterious Russian spy who seduced him. They met in college, in English Composition 101, where Ilona got a better grade. (Gordon is still sore about that.)

Gordon and Ilona currently reside in Oregon with their two children, three dogs and a cat. They have co-authored two series, the bestselling urban fantasy of Kate Daniels and romantic urban fantasy of The Edge.


Disclaimer: This review was originally posted in 2012 to my book blogs, Zodiac Book Reviews and A Bibliophiles Thoughts on Books.

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4 STARS | The Jelly Bean Crisis by Jolene Stockman

Title: The Jelly Bean Crisis
Author: Jolene Stockman
Age Group: Young Adult
Genres: Contemporary
Publisher: Jolene Stockman
Format: Electronic ARC
ASIN: B008PODAAK
Published: August 1st, 2012
Source: Jolene Stockman
Events: Book Tour | Summer Wrap Up Read-A-Thon | Review Copy Cleanup Challenge
Rating: 4/5 STARS
Purchase: Kindle | Paperback

A total meltdown. The whole school watching. Now Poppy’s an ex-straight-A with no Plan B.

When Poppy Johnson throws away a full scholarship to Columbia, she can only blame the jelly beans. The yucky green ones? Midnight cram sessions and Saturday’s spent studying. The delicious red? The family legacy: Columbia, and a future in finance. Except now it’s starting to look like Poppy’s jelly bean theory is wrong. School has been her life until, but maybe it’s time to start living now.

Poppy has thirty days to try a new life. No school, no studying. Just jumping into every possible world. Thirty days to find her passion, her path, and maybe even love. The Jelly Bean Crisis is officially on.

Poppy Johnson was on the fast track to a successful career in finance, but then the "splinters" began puncturing her perfectly laid out plan. Now she's not sure what she wants, and as she's at the podium accepting the Denton Scholarship, Poppy realizes that everything she has worked so hard to achieve hasn't really been for her. So Poppy is taking a one month period to experience a number of different career paths to find something that would make her happy in the long run.

"Jelly beans have reputations. The pink ones are better than the green ones, the purple ones are better than the yellow ones, and the red ones taste the best. So save the red ones for last. If you eat the best ones first, there's nothing but green ans yellow in your future."

Now, personally, the green jelly beans are my favorite, followed by read and orange. But I found Poppy's Jelly Bean Theory to be an interesting way to prioritize and make decisions, but maybe not the tough life decisions. But I definitely liked the basic premise of saving some of the best for last, instead of having it all now and nothing but yuck later.

The Jelly Bean Crisis is a great book for students coming to the end of their high school careers. It addresses the questions we all ask at some point. What do I wan to do with the rest of my life? What's going to make me happy? I struggled with those questions as a senior, and almost 7 years later, I'm just starting to figure it out. So I guess I'm still waiting for my red jelly beans (or in my case, my green jelly beans, since I think those are the best). But Poppy has a chance that I never had to try a number of different things to figure out what she really wants.

I did find her rejection of the full-ride Denton Scholarship a little unreasonable. She could still accept the scholarship and go to Columbia. Poppy's major is not set in stone. I would have killed (well, not really, but you get the point) to have a chance like that.

The romance was a little lacking for my taste. If your going to add any romance in a book, it needs to have some substance, not little wisps. But the overall message of the story was strong. The Jelly Bean Crisis is well written with a relateable heroine and real life issues. This is definitely a must read for anyone struggling to choose a career path that will make them happy, now and in the future.

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I'm a writer of books, an eater of wedges, and a lover of exclamation marks.

My first book, Total Blueprint for World Domination shows you how to design your dream world and make it happen!

I also love gravy, fizzy drinks and shiny things. My reviews will focus on what I love. Because every book has it’s own special something, right?


Disclaimer: This review was originally posted in 2012 to my book blogs, Zodiac Book Reviews and A Bibliophiles Thoughts on Books.

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