ARC: The Water Witch by Juliet Dark

Description:

"You have only to call my name to bring me back", he whispered, his breath hot in my ear. "You have only to love me to make me human". Callie McFay is the guardian of the last gateway between the world of Faerie and mankind. Seduced by a powerful incubus demon, she has succeeded in banishing Liam to the Borderlands but he still haunts her dreams, tempting her with the knowledge of how to bring him back. But loving an incubus usually ends in death for a human. For her own sake Callie must learn to control her desires and ensure Liam remains trapped for all eternity in his watery prison. Only there is a more dangerous creature than Liam in the Borderlands. The Water Witch is also looking for a way back...

Review:

The Water Witch by Juliet Dark

3 out of 5

So first off, the first, 120-150 pages reminded me why I have a hard time reading Ms. Dark’s last book, Demon Lover.  There is a slow flow that is almost too slow, and it has way too many details! 

Callie is a whiney character who has guilt issues, as well as other issues that make her irritating.  Now, she does have some redeeming qualities:  Her loyalty, her willingness to learn, her stubbornness, all of that makes her a palatable character, but nothing more.  She is also a relatable character because of her constantly returning to her “unhealthy” relationship with Liam.  We’ve all had those kinds of relationships, so it does make her more relatable. 

Duncan Laird bothered me from the start.  He seemed too good to be true and too conveniently appeared when Callie needed a tutor.  And in these books, there is no such thing as a coincident.  Plus, look at his name (all you baby name books who know the meanings...), Ms. Dark literally sets it up for us to realize SOMETHING IS NOT RIGHT!

Bill the Handyman and Liam the Incubus.  Sort of saw this coming… But on Bill, I loved how he behaved.  Also I think that Liam had finally figured out things, and truly loves Callie with his whole being. 

Ralph the Mouse:  I want one!  I love Ralph and the way he seems to be smarter than Callie a lot of the time just reiterates how dense she is.  Plus, he loves to read!  What better kind of pet/familiar is there for a reader?

The chaos between the Grove and IMP, the Elves/Nephiliums, and the potential doors to Faeirie all being closed seems to help balance out Callie’s emotional chaos.  I will admit that I enjoyed learning more about Faeirie mythology according to Ms. Dark.

I HATE cliffhangers!  And this book has a huge one (like giant elephant huge), which just sets it all up for book 3.  Now, I will probably have to read book 3 because I need a resolution!  But I’m hoping, deep down inside that the next book will be better than the last 2 books.

So do I recommend this book?  Yes, it is an okay book.  But will I re-read it?  Nope. 

Happy Reading!

Cana

The Mage in Black by Jaye Wells

Description:

Sabina Kane doesn't have the best track record when it comes to family. After all, her own grandmother, the leader of the vampire race, just tried to kill her. When she arrives in New York to meet the mage side of her family, the reunion takes the fun out of dysfunctional. 

On top of that, the Hekate Council wants to use her as a pawn in the brewing war against the vampires. Her mission will take her into the bowels of New York's Black Light district, entangles her in mage politics, and challenges her beliefs about the race she was raised to distrust. And Sabina thought vampires were bloodthirsty.

Review:

The Mage in Black by Jaye Wells

5 out of 5

This fast pace book picks right back up where the 1^st one left off.  Literally, they are in the car on the way to New York…

Sabina:  May I just vent just an itty-bitty bit?  Can I just say that Sabina is the BIGGEST idiot in the whole wide world!  WTH!  Slade is ok, but why waste your time when you have a yummy Adam Lazarus there willing to break all the rules for YOU?  Ugh!  And she sure as hell should feel guilty!  Uber guilty.

Anyways, besides that, I do like Sabina.  She is a strong character that has been wounded and betrayed multiple times. And as such she is slow to trust.  This whole book is about Sabina getting to know herself, learning about her other side of her family and discovering what really matters in life. 

I love how Maisey is the polar opposite twin.  But she was reminded me slightly of Vinka… Sweet, gentle and a bit too Naïve.  I thought it was interesting on how different she was to Sabina.  It did give an interesting idea/twist to the “Nature vs. Nurture” debate. 

Rhea is a really cool older mage. She is strong willed, has a wicked sense of humor, and at times was a real bitch… Definitely loved her.  Laughed so hard when she asked Giguhl why his penis was forked… It was too much!

Giguhl and Volva (not to be confused with vulva!) were some of the funniest (and horniest) characters What a perfect couple to energize the book with a lot of laughter. 

So much happened in this book.  You meet werewolves, vampires, and mages.  You read about Demon Fight Club and learn more about the prophecy about Sabina.  Plus, you have to keep guessing on who is trying to kill Sabina.  I mean, really, how many people could really want her dead?  :P

Overall, this is a great book.  Absolutely loved it and I’m looking forward to reading the next book.  

Happy Reading!

Cana

Audio Book Review: Alice In Zombieland by Gena Showalter

Description:

She won’t rest until she’s sent every walking corpse back to its grave. Forever.

Had anyone told Alice Bell that her entire life would change course between one heartbeat and the next, she would have laughed. From blissful to tragic, innocent to ruined? Please. But that’s all it took. One heartbeat. A blink, a breath, a second, and everything she knew and loved was gone.

Her father was right. The monsters are real….

To avenge her family, Ali must learn to fight the undead. To survive, she must learn to trust the baddest of the bad boys, Cole Holland. But Cole has secrets of his own, and if Ali isn’t careful, those secrets might just prove to be more dangerous than the zombies….

Review

Alice In Zombieland by Gena Showalter

5 out of 5

I think I laughed more than anything with this book.  The tone, the sarcasm, the general ideas were all wonderfully light, and helped to make this book a great book.  It was honestly the lightest tone zombie book than I ever expected to read.  And I loved it!

Now, this is not an exact re-telling of Alice in Wonderland. Rather, this is a pleasant story that has some elements from Alice in Wonderland.  Characters like Ali (Alice), Cat (Cheshire Cat), McKinely Love (Queen of Hearts), Cole Holland (the Black Knight), and then we have the rabbit cloud… I think it was a great way to tell this story. 

I really loved Alice.  Her struggles to adjust, and then her struggles emotionally about losing her family, and then about Cole and then everything in between just made her loveable.  You can’t help but want her to win.  She is very curious and full of questions (a very Alice characteristic, if you ask me), stubborn, and intelligent. 

Cole… The good guy in the bad boys clothing.  Yummy.  I loved him, and I thought he was one of the best characters in the book.  I mean, how many bad boy look-alikes do you find that are actually perfectly wonderful good guys that kick zombie ass and is willing to do whatever you want because he secretly (and not so secretly) loves you.  He is strong, intelligent, stubborn, and brave.  All this makes him wonderful!

Emma & Cat were so similar, that at times (if I wasn’t paying attention), I would think they were the same person.  They are both great characters who added a lot of humor to the book. 

Now, I am not sure how I feel about Zombie-ghosts.  Better yet, I’m not sure how I feel about well-dressed zombie-ghosts.  I mean, suits, prom dress, wedding dresses… Really? 

I think for a book that is secular, I must admit that it has some great faith-based lessons, and no matter what faith you practice or have, we could all use those messages/lessons in our lives. 

There were a lot of surprises, a lot of shocking moments, and I honestly was caught off guard a couple of times.  I mean, kudos on trying to keep us on our toes while reading (or listening) to this book, Ms. Showalter. 

I think that out of all the Adult/YA Adult authors that are out there writing books for both ages, I think Ms. Showalter did an amazing job!  Nowhere did this book cross a line between Adult, Mature YA, or YA, and I think that is wonderful!  (And trust me, I’ve read a lot of Ms. Showalter’s Adult books...).

Overall, this is an amazing book.  Highly recommend.  

Happy Reading!

Cana

Audio Book Review: Alice In Zombieland by Gena Showalter

Description:

She won’t rest until she’s sent every walking corpse back to its grave. Forever.

Had anyone told Alice Bell that her entire life would change course between one heartbeat and the next, she would have laughed. From blissful to tragic, innocent to ruined? Please. But that’s all it took. One heartbeat. A blink, a breath, a second, and everything she knew and loved was gone.

Her father was right. The monsters are real….

To avenge her family, Ali must learn to fight the undead. To survive, she must learn to trust the baddest of the bad boys, Cole Holland. But Cole has secrets of his own, and if Ali isn’t careful, those secrets might just prove to be more dangerous than the zombies….

Review

Alice In Zombieland by Gena Showalter

5 out of 5

Let me just say how amazing the cover is... I mean, just LOOK at it!  Gorgeous!

I think I laughed more than anything with this book.  The tone, the sarcasm, the general ideas were all wonderfully light, and helped to make this book a great book.  It was honestly the lightest tone zombie book than I ever expected to read.  And I loved it!

Now, this is not an exact re-telling of Alice in Wonderland. Rather, this is a pleasant story that has some elements from Alice in Wonderland.  Characters like Ali (Alice), Cat (Cheshire Cat), McKinely Love (Queen of Hearts), Cole Holland (the Black Knight), and then we have the rabbit cloud… I think it was a great way to tell this story. 

I really loved Alice.  Her struggles to adjust, and then her struggles emotionally about losing her family, and then about Cole and then everything in between just made her loveable.  You can’t help but want her to win.  She is very curious and full of questions (a very Alice characteristic, if you ask me), stubborn, and intelligent. 

Cole… The good guy in the bad boys clothing.  Yummy.  I loved him, and I thought he was one of the best characters in the book.  I mean, how many bad boy look-alikes do you find that are actually perfectly wonderful good guys that kick zombie ass and is willing to do whatever you want because he secretly (and not so secretly) loves you.  He is strong, intelligent, stubborn, and brave.  All this makes him wonderful!

Emma & Cat were so similar, that at times (if I wasn’t paying attention), I would think they were the same person.  They are both great characters who added a lot of humor to the book. 

Now, I am not sure how I feel about Zombie-ghosts.  Better yet, I’m not sure how I feel about well-dressed zombie-ghosts.  I mean, suits, prom dress, wedding dresses… Really? 

I think for a book that is secular, I must admit that it has some great faith-based lessons, and no matter what faith you practice or have, we could all use those messages/lessons in our lives. 

There were a lot of surprises, a lot of shocking moments, and I honestly was caught off guard a couple of times.  I mean, kudos on trying to keep us on our toes while reading (or listening) to this book, Ms. Showalter. 

I think that out of all the Adult/YA Adult authors that are out there writing books for both ages, I think Ms. Showalter did an amazing job!  Nowhere did this book cross a line between Adult, Mature YA, or YA, and I think that is wonderful!  (And trust me, I’ve read a lot of Ms. Showalter’s Adult books...).

Overall, this is an amazing book.  Highly recommend.  

Happy Reading!

Cana

Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor

Description:

Around the world, black hand prints are appearing on doorways, scorched there by winged strangers who have crept through a slit in the sky. 

In a dark and dusty shop, a devil's supply of human teeth grows dangerously low. 

And in the tangled lanes of Prague, a young art student is about to be caught up in a brutal otherwordly war. 

Meet Karou. She fills her sketchbooks with monsters that may or may not be real; she's prone to disappearing on mysterious "errands"; she speaks many languages—not all of them human; and her bright blue hair actually grows out of her head that color. Who is she? That is the question that haunts her, and she's about to find out.

When one of the strangers—beautiful, haunted Akiva—fixes his fire-colored eyes on her in an alley in Marrakesh, the result is blood and starlight, secrets unveiled, and a star-crossed love whose roots drink deep of a violent past. But will Karou live to regret learning the truth about herself?

My Review:

Daughter of Smoke & Bone by Laini Taylor

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

The Best Quote from this book:  “I don’t know many rules to live by, “ he said.  “But here’s one.  It’s simple.  Don’t put anything unnecessary into yourself.  No poisons or chemicals, no fumes or smoke or alcohol, no sharp objects, no inessential needles – drug or tattoo  and… no inessential penises either.”  

So this book is so good.  Actually, I think this book is so good that I am just waiting for payday to get a hold of the next book .  

This is not a fairytale with a happy ending.  This is a story of love, loss, hope found, hope lost, betrayal and redemption.  And I loved it so.

Karou is a mystery, to herself and to others.  She knows that there is something missing, but she doesn’t know what.  But even with the knowledge that something is missing, she still keeps going.  She is strong, smart, and incredibly stubborn.  Chances are that if you go up against her, you will lose.  

Akiva is a seraph burdened with loss and the choices he has made.  And because of his past, you want him to have a happily-ever-after, but you aren’t sure if it will happen.  He has no idea who Karou is, but that doesn’t stop his attraction to her.  And when he figures out who she is, he can’t help but follow her.

Oh, how I love Brimstone and his group of Chimera.  They make such an interesting family for Karou.  They are like the aunts and uncles that dote on her, teach her, and hope to lead her to be a great person.  You can’t help but love them, and you wish that you got more time with them.  

Overall, I loved the use of mythology throughout this book.  Both creative and unique, the mythology in this story gives a believable and well-rounded feeling.  I really liked how a lot of the mythology used was familiar but different at the same time.  As Brimstone said, all mythology is based on some form of truth (my paraphrase).  

For me, there is no resolution for this book.  There is a “To Be Continued…” which is slightly better than a giant cliffhanger, but not by much.  

Overall, this is a great book, and I’m looking forward to reading the next book.  Highly recommend this book!



Happy Reading!

Cana

Commencement by Paige Cucaro

Description:

Hell hath no fury like a woman’s scorn for frat guys…

Emma Jane Hellsbane knows something evil is worming its way through her college campus—she can feel it. Literally. Her freakish ability to feel other people’s emotions as though they were her own has always been monumentally awkward, and it’s easier for her to just pretend it doesn’t exist. But this time her paranormal ability just might help her save lives. 

Emma Jane’s fairly certain that whatever the hateful, egomaniacal, Godlike thing is, it’s set up shop inside her boyfriend, the frat boy/soccer star Justin. And if she doesn’t figure a way to get it out of him soon, Justin’s soul will be the appetizer to the main course—the whole student body. Problem is, the big baddy is granting sinister wishes, and with each one the risks grow higher and the phrase Be careful what you wish for becomes a real-life dire warning. Of course for Emma, what feels like it could be the end is in fact just the beginning

My Review:

Commencement by Paige Cuccaro

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

From the very first chapter, I was hooked!  I hadn’t realized how much I’d missed Emma Jane!

So as prequels go, this one is a quick and cute novella.  In less than 50 pages, you get a good intro and the perfect set up for Hellsbane.

Mihir:

Great little guy.  Extremely smart, highly superstious thanks to his grandmother, and just a well-rounded, normal, horny teenage guy. 

I think he gave great advice about the jinn and the other supernatural things.  This really made me want to see more of Mihir.

Emma Jane:

She still kicks ass, even not knowing about her heritage.  She trusts her instincts and because of that she is able to save her campus from the jinn. 

I love seeing her skeptisiscm about religion and the supernatural, even though she herself is telepathic. 

Justin:

Such a huge ass, and I honestly have no issue with what happened to him.  I really think he had it coming.  Actually, if there was a worse punishment he probably could have used it.  Stupid, greedy, horny man. 

Overall, this is a great novella, and I’m counting down the days to the next book:  Heaven and Hellsbane.  Highly recommend this book!

Happy Reading!

Cana

How Beauty Met the Beast by Jax Garren

Description:

The Beast

Scarred. Damaged. Living with a terrible secret. Agent of the Underlight Wesley "Hauk" Haukon has nothing left but the fight for liberty against the oppressive Order of Ananke. He's starting to lose hope…and then he sees her.

The Beauty

Despite her night job as a burlesque dancer, grad student Jolie Benoit has always played the mostly good girl. That all changes following a scorching sexual encounter with a stranger whose face she doesn't see. After she's kidnapped by thugs and rescued by a man with a very familiar voice, Jolie becomes a pawn in a struggle she never knew existed.

Hauk knows he cannot have her, and resolves to protect his heart and his secrets. But as they work together and grow closer, he finds new reason to keep fighting. Dare he risk hope in a new life, one where Jolie can see past his ravaged face and where their friendship can grow into something more?

My Review:

How Beauty Met the Beast by Jax Garren

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

So I love the story of Beauty and the Beast.  So any version or any spin is something that I’ll read.  And this one only disappointed me because it ended!  This is just one great story!

This story is set in Texas, which is something that I like.  And in the town of Austin, there is an underground society that has been around since the 1800’s, a secret society that is trying to run the world, and a burlesque that is run by a drag Queen.  Throw in some steampunk elements, an “unexpected” romance, a bit of mystery and a good hearted &  wounded vet, and you have the recipe for a great story. 

Characters:

Jolie is an unexpected character to be “Beauty”.  A burlesque dancer, an heiress, and a potential spy… She is not your grandmother’s beauty, that is for sure.  But I still like her.  She seems open and honest, looking to better people’s lives and looking beyond circumstances.  I like that she isn’t your typical heiress, she almost seems “normal”.

Hauk is our “beast”.  He is horribly scarred on the outside, a sweet and sexy man on the inside with gifted fingers and a wicked tongue.  He is a vet who has blackouts that seem to be created by something supernatural.  I couldn’t help but love this wounded man.  He is afraid of getting rejected, but still puts himself out there.  (I also liked how the author used something uncontrollable like a fire in a war zone to “create” the beast… definitely better than being a selfish ass!).

Other Characters of note:

Catrina is a hoot!  Nothing like a drag queen to spice things up.  PLUS, I loved Jolie’s dilemma on the “he” or “she”, especially when Catrina was dressed as Carl. 

Whitney was a great character.  Nothing like a teenager (and a smart and sarcastic one at that) to put everything into perspective. 

Other great things in this book:

I thought there was some great uses of mythology.  There was Greek & Norse, with some mentions of Celtic in passing.  Since I haven’t read a lot of books with Norse mythology, it was a refreshing change.

I enjoyed what little bits of Underlight that I got to see/read about.  Would love to see more than primarily Hauk’s bedroom ;)

Overall, this is a great little book, and I’m looking forward to the next one.  I highly recommend this book!

Happy Reading!

Cana

10 More Days Till It's The End Of The World: A Review From Kim

Description:

Though the Serbian pack has been brought to heel thanks to the downfall of their Alpha, the war is far from over.
Desdemona, a witch of unfathomable power, has escaped the wolves’ wrath, but she will not go quietly into the night. She takes refuge in a place where even the smallest sliver of light does not dare to enter. Though she had to flee, she has not given up on the treasure she wishes to acquire. Her depravity knows no bounds; she's even willing to search for the one who can assist her in opening a Veil that has not been opened in millennia – with good reason: the danger is incalculable.

Meanwhile, there are major changes rippling through the Romanian Grey wolves. Decebel has become Alpha to the Serbian pack in an effort to begin to unite the Canis lupis species. Their numbers are dwindling in the wake of the shortage of true mates and lack of offspring. The wolves are beginning to lose faith and darkness seems to be crashing in on them from all sides. But the winds of change are blowing, changes that will alter the future of not only the Canis lupis, but of another ancient race as well.
Amidst all of this, Sally is continuing to come to terms with her relationship with the playful, charming, flirty, unbelievably handsome bartender – who happens to be a member of the Romanian pack.
If all that weren’t enough, the Fates have decided to pay a little visit to Jen. It’s time to collect. She cheated the Fates of a life, her life. Now they want what they are due. The problem? It’s more than Jen is willing to pay.
Yes, the war is indeed far from over. Bargains will be struck, declarations will be made, sacrifices will be given, love will be tested, and trust will be questioned as evil makes its stand against them all.

My Review:

Beyond the Veil by Quinn Loftis

Rating: 5 out of 5

Though the Serbian pack has been brought to heel thanks to the downfall of their Alpha, the war is far from over.

Desdemona, a witch of unfathomable power, has escaped the wolves’ wrath, but she will not go quietly into the night. She takes refuge in a place where even the smallest sliver of light does not dare to enter. Though she had to flee, she has not given up on the treasure she wishes to acquire. Her depravity knows no bounds; she's even willing to search for the one who can assist her in opening a Veil that has not been opened in millennia – with good reason: the danger is incalculable.

Meanwhile, there are major changes rippling through the Romanian Grey wolves. Decebel has become Alpha to the Serbian pack in an effort to begin to unite the Canis lupis species. Their numbers are dwindling in the wake of the shortage of true mates and lack of offspring. The wolves are beginning to lose faith and darkness seems to be crashing in on them from all sides. But the winds of change are blowing, changes that will alter the future of not only the Canis lupis, but of another ancient race as well.

Amidst all of this, Sally is continuing to come to terms with her relationship with the playful, charming, flirty, unbelievably handsome bartender – who happens to be a member of the Romanian pack.

If all that weren’t enough, the Fates have decided to pay a little visit to Jen. It’s time to collect. She cheated the Fates of a life, her life. Now they want what they are due. The problem? It’s more than Jen is willing to pay.
Yes, the war is indeed far from over. Bargains will be struck, declarations will be made, sacrifices will be given, love will be tested, and trust will be questioned as evil makes its stand against them all.

This is the fifth book in the Grey Wolf Series, and it continues the tale of Jen, Jacque, and Sally.  There are a lot of twists and turns in this book as the witch Desdamona continues her quest to kill all of the Canis Lupis.  Each couple in this book must endure challenges beyond their comprehension.  You will definitely be on the edge of your seat as you read this one.

Jacque and Fane are still the lovesick puppies.  They are quiet and reserved about their relationship.  We don’t get a lot of information on how their relationship in this book.  They just continue on like they have in the last two books.

Jen and Decebel are on fire as always.  They really steal the show in this book.  Jen is full of her outlandish comments and actions.  She enrages Decebel at every turn.  The most touching part is when Jen must tell Decebel that she is pregnant and the Fates will kill their child as payment for Jen living.  This really shows the depth of their love and devotion for each other.  Jen opens up and lets out all of her fear.  It is a rare moment to see the loving and caring person that Jen can be.

Sally and Costin are just beginning their romance.  At the end of the last book we saw a glimpse of their attraction.  Here we see their bond grow stronger.  Sally is shy and timid but does not turn away from her mate even when she is scared.  There story is not as in depth as the other two.  I feel that Sally gets the short end of the straw because her romance is cut short due to the impending war with Desdamona. 

The Great Luna makes an appearance in this book and shakes things up for her Canis Lupis.  She also does everything in her power to help the supernaturals to defeat Desdamona.  Unfortunately, the witch is prepared this time and our favorite pack members are put through the worst trial.

This is an awesome book to continue the series.  I can’t wait to read the next one to see what happens to our wolves, healers, and Fae.  There is a lot going on in this one so make sure to take your time reading it. 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Happy Reading!

Kim

Harbinger by Peta Crake

Description:

As an Olympic messenger, suburban Aussie girl Ophelia Lind is used to being at the beck and call of the gods. But when gorgeous demigod Aden moves into her neighbourhood and starts taking advantage of her services, Ophelia believes life could not get any worse. She's about to be proven very wrong.

Ophelia tries to enjoy a normal, everyday life while running messages for the Greek gods – but without warning an odious creature - evil incarnate - begins to stalk her. As a messenger dealing with the all-powerful and sometimes frightening gods, Ophelia is accustomed to adventures and scrapes. But this is different. Even Aden, who is madly and deeply in love with Ophelia, finds it difficult to protect her. Suddenly Ophelia is in a battle for survival and begins to question everything – her upbringing, her identity, and her true feelings for the alluring and entirely frustrating Aden.

My Review:

Harbinger by Peta Crake

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Ophelia is the messenger of the gods.  But not just the Olympians like you think.  No, we are talking about every form of mythos:  Greek, Celtic, Norse, etc.  Also, it shows what a great amount of traveling she does.  With that in mind, it is amazing that they haven’t killed her through exhaustion. 

I loved how she had rules against dating the gods, or pretty much having any form of relationship with them.  Except for Zeus and Hera.  Actually, those would seem to be the last gods that I’d want to have a relationship with.  Let’s be honest, and think about it.  Why in the world would you want to be friends with horny-cheat-on-his-wife King of the Olympians and his jealous-turn-you-into-some-animal wife.  Uhm, no thank you!  But it does make her really cool that she knows how to work the gods as well as have relationships with some of them.

Aden was such a yummy character.  As god of the lustful hunt, I died laughing at his multiple attempts to seduce Ophelia… Plus I did laugh a lot about his changes, because they seemed so out of character for him.  One of the only things that didn’t’ really change was the fact that he still stayed an arrogant ass, but everyone needs those moments. 

Pravus… Let me just say “eeeewwwwww!”  He was such a creepy, sadistic character, I’ll admit that I had a hard time entering my pitch-black bedroom… and when I did, I turned on the lights quickly.  So glad with what happened to him!

I loved the mix of the mythology that blended so well with the created mythology of Ms. Crake.  There was generally a good & believable flow to the myths, gods/goddesses, and the combination of both. 

Now, I did have an issue with the actual flow of the novel.  It could be just how it was formatted for the e-reader, but I swear that when there was a dividing point in the chapter I didn’t realize it until I was thoroughly confused and had to go back and re-read it to figure out what happened. 

I do want to remind readers that this book is set primarily in Australia, and since the author is from there as well, the spelling might not be the common “American” spelling of words.  Also, the wording and the slag are not going to be necessarily familiar to us Americans.  But don’t let that hold you back from reading this book!

Overall, this is a really good book, and I definitely recommend this book!

Happy Reading!

Cana

Descent of Blood by Elizabeth Marx

Description:

When times are darkest, some vampires desire more than blood …

England, 1465. Mortal men clash in the War of the Roses for the English crown, while vampire warriors’ move undetected among their ranks, savoring the flow of blood that battlefields provide.

Vampire prince, Severian Pearce, fears the revelation of the immortal clans to humankind should King Henry fall from power. While in pursuit of Henry’s enemies, Severian comes to the aid of Meridian Neville, a human woman he craves—and not for the scent of her blood … Meridian is torn between honoring her father’s dying wish and her unexplainable yearning for Lord Severian. But as Severian and Meridian work together to protect a relic hunted by mortals and immortals alike, the red veil descends over them. This all-consuming attraction can drive immortals to the brink of madness. Will the existence of this powerful bond between a human and a vampire be enough to unite the immortal clans or is the red veil a scourge set on destroying any chance they might have of happiness?

When all hope is lost, one vampire will fight unto death for his forbidden love.

My Review:

Descent of Blood by Elizabeth Marx

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Holy Sweet Mother of the Great Cow Daisy…. This book was great!  It had romance, it had intrigue, it had a mystical mystery about the red veil and Cain, it had adventure, and a bit of murder.  Add in the old English, and the War of the Roses in the background, and you have the makings of an amazing book!

Meridian is one of those strong, innocent, and absolutely amazing women that you hope that you would be like in those situations that she finds herself in. I liked her first thing after she was handling the crossbow that was pointed at Serverain.  Nothing like a strong willed woman who is willing to defend herself.

Serverian is that sexy knight in shining armour that would strip you naked, have his way with you and then marry you… In that order :P.  And then he would protect you and your honor by killing, maiming, and many other manly things that would just make you want to keep him around… Yep, definitely loved him as a character.

Arrian… I don’t know what to say about him, but he is definitely something else.  As a forerunner to the story, he already knows the secret of the red veil.

Philabe was a great minor character who seems to be everywhere, even when he wasn’t.  Think of this book as kind of like his diary of the events.  I kind of like that. 

I do love the type of vampires that were in this book.  There were enough to where I kind of lost track. But learning who was what, and what skills the vampires have was pretty cool. 

I will admit that there was some slow going at the beginning of the book.  It took me getting through to the 2^nd chapter before I was learned that I loved this book.

The only thing I had a hard time with that disappointed me in this book was what I call the Twilight Cliché.  I knew as soon as they got together what was going to happen.  But since that was the only disappointment I had, I think we are ahead of the game.

Overall, this is a great book!  Highly recommend and I am looking forward to the next book.

Happy Reading!

Cana

Mark of the Witch by Maggie Shayne

Description:

A lapsed Wiccan, Indira Simon doesn't believe in magic anymore. But when strange dreams of being sacrificed to an ancient Babylonian god have her waking up with real rope burns on her wrists, she's forced to acknowledge that she may have been too hasty in her rejection of the unknown. Then she meets mysterious and handsome Father Tomas. Emerging from the secrecy of an obscure Gnostic sect, he arrives with stories of a demon, a trio of warrior witches-and Indira's sacred calling. Yet there's something even Tomas doesn't know, an inescapable truth that will force him to choose between saving the life of the woman he's come to love-and saving the world.

My Review:

Mark of the Witch by Maggie Shayne

My rating: 2 of 5 stars

So, I had read a couple of Maggie Shayne’s books, and had really enjoyed them.  Unfortunately, after getting ½ way through this book, I can’t say the same thing.  I had quite a few issues with this book, so let me explain why I didn’t finish this book.

Issue #1:  After 30 pages of knowing each other, Indira acts and feels like she “knows” Tomas and vice versa.  Uhm… that doesn’t happen.  I mean, I know this is paranormal, but event that is a bit beyond even the unbelievable.  Plus, when you are getting to know someone, the repeated phrase “I didn’t know that” is OBVIOUS! 

Issue #2:  I had no background for this book.  It kick starts with the regressive dreams, and I pretty much floundered through the book.  I did discover after putting the book down for the final count, that there was a prequel short story that I could have read to get a better understanding.  Unfortunately, it was too late by the time I discovered this, as I had no desire to read this book anymore. 

Issue #3:  Tomas’ lack of faith was not inspiring to trust him.  Why in the heck would you choose to believe anything a doubting priest says, I don’t know… And, honestly, it was just irritating. 

Issue #4:  (this is more of a personal issue, but it is still an issue for me).  I don’t like past life novels.  Keeping the stories straight between the previous life and the current life is difficult, and most authors do not write it in a way that is understandable and just not confusing.  This is just one more case here. And for those of you who are then asking yourself why I even read a book that had past life issues to it, I will tell you that the synopsis was misleading.  I didn’t think it was about a past life/destiny thing. 

Now, to the good things about this book:

•  Easy read, with good flow and pacing.  I think that is why I got so frustrated that I wasn't enjoying the book, just because it was written well. 
• Great use of flashbacks when there were some… Though, at first they were a bit confusing between current/modern life and past/ancient life.
• I found Indira’s questioning of the situation and skeptic perspective towards the whole ordeal to be extremely understandable and relatable. 

As I said before, I didn't finish this book.  It became more irritating than enjoyable.  I won’t be picking this book up again to try and read it anytime soon… I don’t recommend it, but if you enjoyed it, let me know why. 

Happy Reading!

Cana

Blood on Silk by Marie Treanor

Description:

While in Romania researching historical superstitions, Scottish academic Elizabeth Silk comes upon the folk tale of Saloman, a seductive prince staked centuries ago, legend's most powerful vampire. Now, in the ruins of a castle crypt, Elizabeth discovers supernatural legends that have come alive. Her blood has awakened him. Her innocence has aroused him. But Elizabeth unleashes more than Saloman's hunger, and it's going to unite them in ways neither could have imagined.

My Review:

Blood on Silk by Marie Treanor

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Yummy!  That is what this delicious, sexy, confection of a book is.  The fact that the only reason I had to put the book down was because I had to work at both jobs (blah) and sleep (yea! And blah at the same time) should tell you how absolutely AMAZING this book is. 

Elizabeth is an amazing and relatable character.  Some of us have always seemed to be so lacking in some area that we desire to be more but we don’t know what to do.  Elizabeth is that way.  I think also how she is skeptic about the whole vampire thing is relatable.  I mean, I know a lot of us say that we believe, but if we actually met a vampire, would we even believe it?  Probably not. 

I also love how Elizabeth is actually slightly supernatural because of her ancestor’s vampire killing deeds.  Now, half is believable, with her training to fight, but the fact that she kept it together while she actually battled was a bit farfetched, but I loved how she did learn quickly to use her latent talents. 

Saloman is a delicious vampire, and honestly, I wouldn’t mind a little world domination with him.  He is centuries old, wise, but lonely.  I think that was the worst part of being contained in the crypt for him:  The loneliness.  I think after those 300 years, he might be willing to consider giving up the idea of world domination for Elizabeth.  Though I don’t know if he realizes it. 

I love how Ms. Treanor takes history and gives it a new twist, mixing it with yummy vampires, strong vampire hunters, magic, and other supernatural creatures.  I can’t help but love it all!

I think my favorite part of the whole book, though, was how Ms. Treanor gives a new version of vampires.  Salomon is an Ancient, which is a race of vampires that were the forerunner to the modern vampire.  They are so similar, but so different at the same time.  Plus, you add the added power to be received for each vampire killed, which makes the hunters or vampires stronger. What a great way to set up a whole new vampire myth. 

Overall, a great book!  I’m so looking forward to finishing this series, and reading more by Ms. Treanor.  Highly Recommended!

Happy Reading!

Cana