BLOG TOUR REVIEW & GIVEAWAY: Blood Games (Chicagoland Vampires #10)

Can you believe that we've arrived at the 10th Chicagoland Vampires book? Once again, I'm honored and super excited to be a tour stop for Chloe Neill's BLOOD GAMES (Chicagoland Vampires #10), and once again, I have two great giveaways for you, in addition to my review. Read on for all the deets!

Blood Games (Chicagoland Vampires #10), by Chloe Neill
To Be Published August 5, 2014
Publisher: NAL
Format: e-ARC, provided by the publisher
Genre: adult paranormal romance/urban fantasy
To Buy: Amazon * Barnes & Noble
 
Rating: 5 STARS

(From Goodreads) While Merit didn’t choose to become a vampire or Sentinel of Cadogan House, she vowed to fight for her House and its Master, and she’s managed to forge strong alliances with powerful supernaturals across Chicago. But even though Merit has had wild adventures, this may be her deadliest yet...

A killer is stalking Chicago, preying on humans and leaving his victims with magical souvenirs. The CPD hasn’t been able to track the assailant, and as the body count rises, the city is running out of options. Vampires and humans aren’t on great terms, but murder makes for strange bedfellows. Can Merit find the killer before she becomes a target?

It's pretty incredible to think about the fact that 10 books in, the Chicagoland Vampires series is still going strong. Each new addition continues to be amazing - I'm always looking forward to the next one. It seemed like my wait for Blood Games was exceptionally long, given the ending of Wild Things. But, finally, the wait is over.

Ethan is moving forward with his challenge for the right to rule the GP, and Merit continues to do what she does best - protect the citizens of Chicago from all the bad things. In this case, there's a serial killer on the loose and the killings have a paranormal ring to them. About the time Ethan, Merit and Jonah are called in by the CPD to help, things in the race for the GP start getting weird. Darius is acting strangely and Ethan is being blackmailed and he refuses to talk to Merit about any of it. Just when Merit thought they had their relationship figured out, she realizes that centuries of stubbornness can't be fixed that quickly. 

Blood Games had everything I love about this series. There was not one but two fantastic mysteries to be solved - first is that of who is killing the citizens of Chicago and displaying them in curious positions. Second is that of who is manipulating Darius into acting out of character. Chloe Neill does everything right in regards to the secrets and subterfuge. It was hard for me to figure out who the real culprits were and what drove them to their actions, and I love it when I can't see the ending coming until it's smacking me in the face. Details and clues are slowly brought to light around the ops room table and in off-site meetings between the Ombuddies and the vampires. The pacing is perfect. 

One of my favorite parts about Blood Games is that we got to see into the inner workings of Cadogan House more than we have in quite awhile. A lot of time is spent in the house as Ethan prepares for the response to his challenge of Darius' rule. We see Margot, Helen, Malik, and all the other vampires that make up Cadogan as they all rally around their Master. We see a lot of Luc and Lindsey in Blood Games too. Their relationship has also come a very long way since the beginning, and I love seeing them together now. 

But, Ethan and Merit are really why we all keep coming back, right? It's their relationship that has catapulted us through ten books now and keeps us begging for more. The fact that Merit - this vampire of barely a year - has completely changed this 400-year-old master is the stuff of romantic legends. It's clear at this point how much they both love and respect and adore each other. And, thankfully, those things don't negate relationship troubles. Ethan can still act like an ass. Merit can still be overbearing. And that makes me love them even more.  And, just because they are both now comfortable with their place in each other's lives doesn't mean that Chloe Neill skirts around the sexy times. There's this one scene... well, let's just say that Merit and Ethan don't do sleepy morning sex. Everything about them is passion and intensity, and thankfully it doesn't seem to be fading in the least.

We also see a lot more of Jonah in Blood Games. Ethan reluctantly relinquishes some of his partnering duties to Merit's RG partner, so the spotlight shone on Merit's and Jonah's working relationship, as well as on more of the inner workings of the RG. They've fallen into a very comfortable place where they work in synch with each other and don't shy away from snarking and teasing. Jonah's become one of my favorite side characters, and I hope we see more of him moving forward. I anticipate we will, since the absolutely CLV WORLD-SHATTERING ending to Blood Games will have foundation-shaking repercussions to the RG and all the vampire houses.

No, Blood Games didn't end like I thought it would, but wow. It was so much better than I had imagined. It's clear that Chloe Neill is writing for the long haul, as the world these amazing characters live in continuously shifts and changes, all for the better. If you were worried about the stories becoming flat and stagnant, have no fear. Chloe Neill knows just how to rock you and keep you eager for the next book so you can see what happens next. Ten books in, and I assure you, there is absolutely no sign of me ever abandoning this series.

Giveaways

Chloe Neill has graciously provided me with some awesome prizes to award to one lucky US winner. Fill out the Rafflecopter for a chance to win

• A signed copy of WILD THINGS (Chicagoland Vampires #9)
• A limited edition Cadogan House keychain
• Chicagoland Vampires bookmarks, pens, and lanyard

a Rafflecopter giveaway

The fun doesn’t stop here. Want more chances to win? You can also enter the Blood Games Grand Prize Giveaway, which runs July 28  through August 8 on Chloe’s web site.

What is the Grand Prize Giveaway prize?

• An engraved Cadogan House medal necklace
• A Kindle Paperwhite
• A complete set of Chicagoland Vampires Audiobook CDs (graciously provided by Tantor Audio)
• A limited edition Cadogan House keychain
• Chicagoland Vampires bookmarks, pens, and lanyard

Tour Schedule

Check out all the stops on the tour for chances to win other prize packages!

Monday, July 28 – Booklovers For Life | Finding Sanity In Our Crazy Life
Tuesday, July 29 – Nocturne Reads | Fangs, Wands & Fairy Dust | Krista’s Dust Jacket
Wednesday, July 30 – Reading on the Rocks | A Book Obsession
Thursday, July 31 – Professional Fangirls | Reading & Writing Urban Fantasy, Paranormal & Romance | Cere’s Book World
Friday, August 1 – Meredith’s Rambles & Babbles | Fallen for Books

Monday, August 4 – Tru Bookie’s Review
Tuesday, August 5 (Release Day) - Saucy Wenches | Literary Escapism | Vampire Book Club 
Wednesday, August 6 – Book Suburbia
Thursday, August 7 – Nomi’s Paranormal Palace | Between Fantasy & Reality
Friday, August 8 – Team Nerd Reviews

REVIEW: Night Broken (Mercy Thompson #8)

Night Broken (Mercy Thompson #8), by Patricia Briggs
Published March 11, 2014
Publisher: Ace
Format: audiobook, purchased
Genre: adult urban fantasy/paranormal romance
To Buy: Amazon * Barnes & Noble

Rating:  4 STARS

(From Goodreads) An unexpected phone call heralds a new challenge for Mercy. Her mate Adam’s ex-wife is in trouble, on the run from her new boyfriend. Adam isn’t the kind of man to turn away a person in need—and Mercy knows it. But with Christy holed up in Adam’s house, Mercy can’t shake the feeling that something about the situation isn’t right.

Soon, her suspicions are confirmed when she learns that Christy has the farthest thing from good intentions. She wants Adam back and she’s willing to do whatever it takes to make it happen, including turning Adam’s pack against Mercy.

Mercy isn’t about to step down without a fight, but there’s a more dangerous threat circling. Christy’s ex is more than a bad man—in fact, he may not be human at all. As the bodies start piling up, Mercy must put her personal troubles aside to face a creature with the power to tear her whole world apart.

Frustrations abounded in Night Broken, the latest Mercy Thompson book, as Adam's evil ex-wife crashes Mercy's and Adam's new happy life with a crisis that she needs help with. Faeries, vampires and evil volcano gods are out for Mercy's head on a platter, and the ex tearing up Mercy's kitchen is like pouring salt on the wound. 

Mercy's busy trying to get Adam's wolves on her side when Christy, Adam's ex-wife, shows up beaten with a story about a lover getting killed by another man who is now after her. She asks for protection, and Adam being Adam, gives it to her. Meanwhile, one of the Gray Lords has come to Mercy requesting to take possession of the walking stick that has attached itself to her. If he doesn't get it back, he'll wreak havoc on the Pacific Northwest. Mercy enlists the help of her sort-of-brother to not only get the walking stick back, but to thwart the evil volcano god who is after Christy. Because, the sooner her threat is removed, the sooner she can get out of their house. 

One of my favorite parts of the Mercy Thompson series - the werewolf pack bond - was in full force in Night Broken. Mercy still is struggling to be accepted by Adam's pack because she's not an actual werewolf. Despite that, as Adam's wife, she has access to the pack bonds and wields a fair amount of power over the others. I loved seeing Mercy manipulate those bonds when she needed them. 

Once again, there was a really cool mystery to be solved. There was the question of the identity of Christy's attacker, and once they found out who he was, how to stop him. There was also the case of the murdered women and animals and what they mean. I love how Mercy taps into her friends and uses their strengths and connections to help her. And, lots of her friends make appearances. Samuel and his mate, Stefan, Kyle and Tad all play key roles in Night Broken. Tad had a particularly elevated presence - it was awesome getting to know him better, especially since I have a feeling the next book will be more about him. 

There were a few things I felt were a little lacking. First, Mercy didn't turn into a coyote even once in this book, although we did see all the werewolves in their altered form. Second, Christy's presence caused a lot of irritation. On one hand, I LOVED the introduction of her presence and the conflict it introduced. On the other hand, I kept waiting and waiting... and WAITING for someone (namely, Adam) to put that bitch in her place. There was one scene where Mercy had some words with her, but I so wanted someone to just go totally off on her. It never came, and it made me feel largely unfulfilled. I think a lot more could've been done with Christy in Night Broken. I'm also really ready for the wolves to get over their major attitude problems toward Mercy. It's getting a little old now.

The big bad guy was one seriously evil dude. I really liked that it seemed impossible to beat him. It made for a really poignant and explosive final battle. I liked how that all played out, although it was a bit disconcerting that, once again, Mercy ended up in critical condition. How does this girl continue to get herself into situations where her life comes this close to ending? 

Despite that, Night Broken is a fantastic book. Mercy and Adam are at a perfect place of love and trust in their relationship, and the best parts of the entire book were when they were alone and shared comfortable, sweet moments with each other. They've come a long way, and it's so satisfying to read about. I'm totally hooked on this series and can't wait for the next book to come out.
 

REVIEW: Unholy Magic (Downside Ghosts #2)

Unholy Magic (Downside Ghosts #2), by Stacia Kane
Published July 6, 2010
Publisher: Del Rey
Format: audiobook, purchased
Genre:  adult urban fantasy
To Buy: Amazon * Barnes & Noble
 
Rating:  5 STARS

(From Goodreads) For Chess Putnam, finding herself near-fatally poisoned by a con psychic and then stopping a murderous ghost is just another day on the job. As an agent of the Church of Real Truth, Chess must expose those looking to profit from the world’s unpleasant little poltergeist problem humans filing false claims of haunting's all while staving off any undead who really are looking for a kill. But Chess has been extra busy these days, coping with a new “celebrity” assignment while trying on her own time to help some desperate prostitutes.

Someone’s taking out the hookers of Downside in the most gruesome way, and Chess is sure the rumors that it’s the work of a ghost are way off base. But proving herself right means walking in the path of a maniac, not to mention standing between the two men in her life just as they along with their ruthless employers are moving closer to a catastrophic showdown. Someone is dealing in murder, sex, and the supernatural, and once again Chess finds herself right in the crossfire.

OMG. This series. I really enjoyed the first book, Unholy Ghosts. More than I thought I would. But, it was the second book, Unholy Magic, that solidified me as a certified fangirl of the Downside Ghosts series. The beyond complicated relationship between Chess and Terrible laced together with an incredibly weird and twisted mystery made for a book that was completely unresistable.

Prostitutes are being mutilated, and Bump has Chess and Terrible looking into it. Meanwhile, Chess is looking into a supposed haunting at a famous actor's house. Only, things start going wrong at every turn. The prostitutes keep dying, the house really might be haunted by the spirit of a murderous ghost, and Chess' time of burning candles at both ends when it comes to Lex and Terrible is about to blow up in her face.

Chess continues to be an enigmatic heroine. Her drug use doesn't appear to be tapering off. In fact, if anything, it seems to be getting worse. Her success at solving complicated and dangerous jobs has sent more high-profile - and high-stress - cases her way. She is falling more and more in love with Terrible, which scares the poo out of her. And Lex is giving her free pills. All of which serve as evidence that her pill-popping is not going to stop anytime soon. 

Chess is a study of the imperfect heroine. It seems that, in books, heroes and heroines are very "good." They're strong, confident, beautiful, intelligent and well-liked. They sometimes make bad choices, but things always have a way of working out in the end. Chess is like the anti-heroine. Although intelligent and pretty, Chess is not strong or confident or well-liked. She hates herself and where she comes from. She suffered horrible abuse as a child which seriously messed with her head. She doesn't think she's capable of love or being loved. She second guesses all her choices and she usually takes the easy way out in order to not face the truth, especially if she thinks the truth will be particularly hard to face. 

Chess has cornered the market on making mistakes. Particularly when it comes to the men in her life. Whenever she starts having real feelings for Terrible, she runs right into the arms of Lex because he is safe and she feels nothing for him. It's a temporary balm, but all of it comes crashing down around her and she eventually has to face up to all of her actions and feelings. 

The mysteries in Unholy Magic are seriously messed up. I've got two words for you - GHOST WHORES. Seriously - if those two words don't make you want to run right out and read this book right now, I don't know what will. It's an intricate plot with lots of twists and turns, many of which I didn't see coming from a mile away. It was awesome! Although dark and twisted, I thoroughly enjoyed trying to figure out who did what and how the two separate cases were tied together as they seem to be in this series. 

Terrible is just the most awesome guy ever. He's scary and formidable and uneducated. He's scarred and unattractive by most people's standards. Yet, it's so easy to see that he cares deeply and fiercely for the people he considers important. We learn more about him and his past and it just goes further toward proving this fact. 

Once again, I listened to the audio version, and once again I'm so glad I did. Narrator Bahni Turpi does an amazing job with the Downside lingo. I enjoy her interpretation of the books so much, I intend to continue with the books in the series in their audio format. I enjoy them so much - I can't wait to get in my car every day to go to work. 

REVIEW: Unholy Ghosts (Downside Ghosts #1)

Unholy Ghosts (Downside Ghosts #1), by Stacia Kane
Published May 25, 2010
Publisher: Del Rey
Format: audiobook, purchased
Genre:  adult urban fantasty
To Buy: Amazon * Barnes & Noble

Rating:  4 STARS

(From Goodreads) THE DEPARTED HAVE ARRIVED.

The world is not the way it was. The dead have risen, and the living are under attack. The powerful Church of Real Truth, in charge since the government fell, has sworn to reimburse citizens being harassed by the deceased. Enter Chess Putnam, a fully tattooed witch and freewheeling ghost hunter. She’s got a real talent for banishing the wicked dead. But Chess is keeping a dark secret: She owes a lot of money to a murderous drug lord named Bump, who wants immediate payback in the form of a dangerous job that involves black magic, human sacrifice, a nefarious demonic creature, and enough wicked energy to wipe out a city of souls. Toss in lust for a rival gang leader and a dangerous attraction to Bump’s ruthless enforcer, and Chess begins to wonder if the rush is really worth it. Hell, yeah.

Unholy Ghosts is most definitely a book outside of my comfort zone. Like, WAY outside. Urban fantasy, although definitely growing on my list of must-read genres, has always been hit or miss for me. In addition, the world includes a "church" that rules everyone's lives. And, our main character? She's a drug addict. 

Chess Putnam had an awful life before The Church of Real Truth rescued and educated her. She now works for the church as a debunker - a witch who has a penchant for banishing murderous ghosts. The damage her early life inflicted on her is dampened only by drugs, so Chess also has to answer to drug lord Bump and his enforcer Terrible. Soon, her loyalties are tested as she does a job for the Church as well as a job for Bump, and it seems that they might be related. 

No, Unholy Ghosts is definitely not something I would normally make time to read. My book bestie Jen suggested we start to listen to it on a drive to a book signing, though, and I had heard some stories about how awesome Terrible was, so I was a tiny bit curious. Although it took me a few chapters to get into it - world building always seems to take so much longer with urban fantasy - once I did, I was shocked to find myself hooked. 

Chess is the most damaged heroine I've ever encountered. She had such an awful childhood, the likes of which only scratched the surface in Unholy Ghosts. I'm honestly surprised she's as functional as she is. But, honestly, she's more than functional. Chess is incredibly smart and intuitive. Despite her need for her pills and the fact that she owes a drug lord a crap ton of money she doesn't have, she is really good at her job. She doesn't always make smart decisions - hell, she makes really, really bad choices quite often in fact. But, I think she's inherently a good person who is trying to deal with a lot of baggage and self-loathing.

Terrible is an awesome hero because he's completely unexpected. He's not gorgeous. Or rich. Or well-spoken. He's a drug lord's muscle. He has poor fashion sense (but, a really cool car). And I fell completely in love with him. Terrible is a little bit damaged as well, and it's obvious he cares a lot for Chess. He's kind of adorable, really. Chess is oblivious to his attraction for most of the book even if the reader isn't. This was the cause of a ton of frustration on my part. 

The world in which these characters live is incredible. Ghosts stormed the world in 1997 and killed half the population before people with magic beat them back and imprisoned them in The City. The people with magic became The Church of Real Truth, and the set about effectively eliminating all of the world's organized religions and set themselves up as the law. Now, The Church runs everything everywhere. They employ the most powerful people to round up any straggling ghosts and return them to The City. Chess is one of those people, and she lives in Downside, which is like the slums of Triumph City. Drugs, prostitution, and crime of the worst kinds happens daily. Stacia Kane did an amazing job setting up this world and introducing it to the reader a bit at a time so as not to be too confusing. 

The mysteries that Chess was asked to solve were complex and interesting. I couldn't wait to find out who the mastermind was and how Chess would thwart him or her. The crimes and the methods of detection were really graphic and gruesome at times, but in the context of the story, they fit in perfectly. Chess' and Terrible's relationship is sweet and fun to read about. Well, listen to, in my case. I'm very glad I listened to the audio version of this book. The Downside lingo would be rather hard to understand if I had to read it, and I thought the narrator did a fantastic job with it. I was so taken with this series, I immediately moved on to the second book. I can't wait to see what's in store for Chess and Terrible next.    

BLOG TOUR REVIEW & GIVEAWAY: Wild Things (Chicagoland Vampires #9)

Once again, I have the amazing opportunity to help the incredible Chloe Neill tell the world about her latest addition to one of my favorite series, the Chicagoland Vampires. WILD THINGS was utterly fantastic, and I can't wait for you all to read it too! Read on for my review, then enter to win some really cool Chicagoland Vampires swag, plus a signed book (U.S. only). Be sure to head over to Chloe's website to enter the international tour-wide giveway. Trust me - it's pretty awesome. 

Wild Things (Chicagoland Vampires #9), by Chloe Neill
To Be Published February 4, 2014
Publisher: NAL Trade
Format: e-book, provided by publisher
Genre:  adult paranormal romance/urban fantasy
To Buy: Amazon * Barnes & Noble
 
Rating:  5 STARS

(From Goodreads) Since Merit was turned into a vampire, and the protector of Chicago’s Cadogan House, it’s been a wild ride. She and Master vampire Ethan Sullivan have helped make Cadogan’s vampires the strongest in North America, and forged ties with paranormal folk of all breeds and creeds, living or dead…or both.

But now those alliances are about to be tested. A strange and twisted magic has ripped through the North American Central Pack, and Merit’s closest friends are caught in the crosshairs. Gabriel Keene, the Pack Apex, looks to Merit and Ethan for help. But who—or what—could possibly be powerful enough to out-magic a shifter?

Merit is about to go toe to toe, and cold steel to cold heart, to find out.

One would think that by the ninth installment of the Chicagoland Vampires Series that the stories would be getting stale or ridiculous and our obsession with “Methan” would have run its course.

Wild Things was, in my opinion, the best book yet in this incredible series.

(There will be teeny spoilers from previous installments in the Chicagoland Vampires Series. Sorry, but, by the ninth book, it’s unavoidable – please don’t be mad!)

When we last saw our favorite Cadogan House vampires, Ethan was being encouraged to make himself scarce before the Chicago PD came to arrest him for killing a fellow vampire in self-defense. As much as he hates to do it, Ethan and Merit decide to hide out at the Breckenridge estate. Their self-imposed exile soon becomes a huge inconvenience as supernatural groups all over the city are attacked, and members of each group kidnapped – including Gabriel Keene’s shifters. To try and make things copacetic between vampires and shifters, Gabe asks Ethan and Merit to investigate the attacks and find the kidnapped victims. And, of course, in the middle of all this, a favor Merit promised in exchange for some help is called in, and the ramifications could spell the end of her and Ethan.

Chloe Neill has done a brilliant job planting seeds and letting them slowly grow over time until, before you even realize it, they’ve turned into something amazing. Remember that intriguing prophecy that Gabriel mentioned to Merit in Twice Bitten (Chicagoland Vampires #3) about a baby with Ethan’s eyes that wasn’t Ethan? CLV superfans have been waiting with bated breath for some movement on this. It’s been mentioned once or twice since then, but in Wild Things, we finally, FINALLY hear more about it, including the revealing of it to Ethan. The best part is Ethan’s reaction. I think I read that part three times. And, what’s even better, is there’s still more to come on this subject.

The corruption of the GP was introduced early in the series, with a much finer point put upon it in Drink Deep (Chicagoland Vampires #5). Even though Cadogan House is no longer a member, the GP is still trying to flex on them. Based on actions taken in Wild Things, there’s hope that the GP’s mafia mentality may soon come to an end, although most assuredly, not without a fight.

After all this time, we still get a few delightful surprises in Wild Things. A never-before-seen brand of sup is revealed (and they’re pretty creepy, too), and believe it or not, we finally get the Librarian’s name.

Very nearly all our favorites from CLV books past are featured at least a little. The original Scoobies – Merit, Catcher, Mallory and Jeff – team up again, many times with assistance from Ethan. Luc and Lindsey are there with their usual snark (Luc always has the best one-liners), Malik offers stability and support, and Jonah once again backs Merit up in an RG capacity. We even catch up with Seth Tate, who we’ve not seen since Biting Cold (Chicagoland Vampires #6).

And, there’s no way I can talk about favorites without mentioning the shifters. As you might be able to tell from the name of the book, The North American Pack plays a very prominent role. Gabe, his wife Tanya and his baby boy are front and center nearly the entire way through the book. We are also blessed with appearances from Nick Breckenridge, his brothers, his father, den mother Berna (pun very much intended), Fallon and new hottie shifter Damien, who serves as Gabe’s muscle.

Without a doubt, though, the best part of Wild Things is Merit and Ethan. With all the stopping and starting of their relationship through the first six books in this series, it sometimes felt like we’d never get to this place of stability and comfort. Ethan is finally not afraid to show ANYONE that he’s desperately in love with Merit, even though his PDAs embarrass her to no end. The sureness of their relationship is a wonderful addition. And, thankfully, that doesn’t in any way mean a tempering of the passion. Holy hotness – When Ethan and Merit set their mind to doing something, they do it well and good. It’s fan-freaking-tastic.

If you’re someone who may have started the series early on, but hasn’t finished yet, let this be your call to action. Because, for as much as I LOVED Wild Things, I get the impression that we haven’t seen anything yet.

Giveaway

Enter below for a super cool giveaway for U.S. only residents. It will include the following:

• Limited Edition Cadogan House Novitiate Luggage Tag
• Chicagoland Vampires Tote Bag
• An autographed Chicagoland Vampires or Dark Elite novel
• Plenty o’ swag, including “I Survived Hard Bitten” buttons and Chicagoland Vampires bookmark

a Rafflecopter giveaway  

The fun doesn’t stop here! Want more chances to win? You can also enter Chloe’s Wild Things Grand Prize Giveaway, which runs January 27  through February 7 on Chloe’s web site.
 

Limited Edition Luggage Tags

What is the Grand Prize Giveaway prize?

• A Kindle Paperwhite
• A $50 Amazon gift card!
• A complete set of Chicagoland Vampires Audiobook CDs (graciously provided by Tantor Audio)
• An autographed Chicagoland Vampires or Dark Elite novel
• Two Cadogan House Novitiate Luggage Tags
• A Cadogan House lanyard and BITING BAD All Access Pass
• Chicagoland Vampires bookmarks, pens, buttons, and swag!

BLOG TOUR REVIEW & GIVEAWAY: Forever Young (The Foreverland Chronicles #1)

Sawyer Bennett is one of my favorite one-click authors, so I was so excited to be included on the tour for her YA urban fantasy novel, Forever Young, organized by AToMR Tours. Read on for my review, and don't forget to enter the giveaway to win a $50 Amazon GC! Don't forget to check out the other tour stops, too.

Forever Young (The Foreverland Chronicles #1), by Sawyer Bennett
Published January 31, 2013
Publisher: Big Dog Books
Format: e-copy, provided by the author and AToMR Tours in exchange for an honest review
Genre:  YA urban fantasy
To Buy: Amazon * Barnes & Noble

Rating:  4 STARS

(From Goodreads) She’s a loner, she likes to fight and, oh yeah...she has the ability to see the demons that lay beneath the faces of ordinary humans. It’s a gift Charlie Wright inherited the night her parents were brutally murdered when she was fourteen years old.

Now in her last year of high school, Charlie just can’t seem to keep herself out of trouble. Rather than taking a one-way trip to juvenile detention, Charlie chooses to join a mysterious group called The ForeverLand Alliance.

And then her life really gets weird.

Charlie finds herself magically transported to an alternate universe. In Semper Terra, no one ages, people fly, and one stunningly gorgeous, immortal man manages to capture Charlie’s heart and awaken the adult woman she is becoming.

But it’s not all fun and games. For Charlie is training to become an Annihilator, a select group of Semper Terrans who protect mankind from all of those things that go “bump in the night”.

It’s only when Charlie finds herself stuck in the middle of a prophecy that could bring about the end of the world that she truly begins to understand the deep sacrifices she will have to make.

So, apparently Sawyer Bennett is even more crazy talented than I knew. Not only can she write hot, sweet and sexy new adult books, but, go figure, she can also write some amazing YA urban fantasy too. Who knew?

In Forever Young, Charlie is a loner with no family and no friends, struggling to make it through high school without getting expelled when she's discovered by those from Semper Terra, an alternate universe. Charlie's unique ability to see daimons underneath their human facade makes her a perfect candidate to enter training in Semper Terra to become an Annihilator, badass fighters charged with ridding both our world and others of these dark daimons. Semper Terra is an amazing opportunity for Charlie. She can have a real home, friends, a boyfriend and an exciting career. If she can stay alive long enough, that is.

I love urban fantasy. The melding together of the real and the unreal, especially when done well, makes for the best of stories. It makes the crazy stuff so much more believable when there's some truth involved. In this case, there are many other alternate universes, but the main one is Semper Terra, a place that exists parallel to our own world. In Semper Terra, the sky is always blue, there is no drinking age, the mermaids spout prophecies and you can fly once you get your tattoo imbibed with magic.

However perfect Semper Terra is, even it is not immune to mean girls and gangsters. The school that Charlie attends to learn to become an Annihilator is very Harry Potterish. The students study subjects like magic theory and demonology. In between theory classes, they have flying lessons and weapon practicums. Sounds like a pretty awesome place to me. I've always loved boarding school stories. I think it's such a cool and noble thing to train young brave kids to go out and fight the evils of the world.

And, Charlie has certainly put in her time in the real world. She saw her parents killed. The state didn't want her. She's smart and gets good grades, but the brawler in her prevented her from keeping a clean record. Semper Terra and the prospect of fighting evil daimons is the answer to Charlie's prayers. She didn't have friends or people she loved in the real world (a.k.a. First Dimension). Within days of landing in Semper Terra, Charlie makes two BFFEs - Justus and Emerson. Both these side characters were amazing. Shy and sweet Emerson and goofy and charismatic Justus were perfect complements to Charlie.

And then there's Caiden. Now, Forever Young is a YA novel. Unlike the other books by Sawyer Bennett that I've read (like, her Off series - amazing, BTW), this book doesn't have any f-bombs or super sexy times. The one thing it DOES have is a super sexy guy. Caiden is the immortal, slightly tortured soul who falls in love with Charlie, and vice versa. I have to say, although I loved Caiden and Charlie as individual characters, I had a hard time believing them as a couple. The chemistry just wasn't there for me, and you don't know how much it pains me to say that.

The final battle was super exciting, and the prophecy that's thrown in toward the end keeps me engaged for future installments in the story line. I can't wait to see how it all plays out. I can't wait to see Charlie come into her own. Look for the next book in The Foreverland Chronicles to come out in early 2014.

About the Author

USA Today Best-Selling author, Sawyer Bennett, is a snarky southern woman and reformed trial lawyer who decided to finally start putting on paper all of the stories that were floating in her head. She is married to a mobster (well, a market researcher) and they have two big, furry dogs who hog the bed. Sawyer would like to report she doesn't have many weaknesses but can be bribed with a nominal amount of milk chocolate.

Learn more about Sawyer Bennett --> Website / Facebook / Twitter   


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REVIEW: The Demon Trapper's Daughter (Demon Trappers #1)

The Demon Trapper's Daughter (Demon Trappers #1), by Jana Oliver
Published February 1, 2011
Publisher: St. Martin's Press
Format: paperback, borrowed from the library
Genre:  young adult urban fantasy
To Buy: Amazon * Barnes & Noble

Rating:  4 STARS

(From Goodreads) It’s the year 2018, and with human society seriously disrupted by the economic upheavals of the previous decade, Lucifer has increased the number of demons in all major cities. Atlanta is no exception. Fortunately, humans are protected by Demon Trappers, who work to keep homes and streets safe from the things that go bump in the night. Seventeen-year-old Riley, only daughter of legendary Demon Trapper Paul Blackthorne, has always dreamed of following in her father’s footsteps. When she’s not keeping up with her homework or trying to manage her growing attraction to fellow Trapper apprentice, Simon, Riley’s out saving citizens from Grade One Hellspawn. Business as usual, really, for a demon-trapping teen. When a Grade Five Geo-Fiend crashes Riley’s routine assignment at a library, jeopardizing her life and her chosen livelihood, she realizes that she’s caught in the middle of a battle between Heaven and Hell.

I recently helped organize an event for my local library where eight amazingly awesome YA authors participated in book signings and panel discussions. During one particular panel discussion, the authors were talking about their favorite books. Jennifer L. Armentrout mentioned that one of her favorites was The Demon Trapper's Daughter. In her words, "BECK! Ugh, Beck... he is so amazing!" And then she looks at me and says, "You've read it right? You can't call yourself a blogger and not have read this book!"

So, Jennifer - I've made it right. And you're correct. Beck IS amazing.

Riley is a girl trying to make her way in a man's world. She wants to follow in her father's footsteps and trap the demons that now run loose. But, it's not really something that girls do. Only eventually, she needs to step up and do it anyway, learning the ropes from her father's partner Beck. There's something going on, though. The demons know her by name and someone appears to be sabotaging the trappers' efforts. Riley needs to figure out what's happening before she becomes a casualty too.

This is my first exposure to Jana Oliver, and I am absolutely taken with her. Holy world building, Batman. I loved her concept of 2018 demon-ridden Atlanta. It appears that sometime in the next five years, inflation skyrockets, which forces much of the population into poverty. Gas is 10 bucks a gallon, businesses have been shuttered and, oh yeah - demons ranked 1 through 5 (with 1s being relatively harmless and 5s being bringers of brimstone and death) run rampant through the city.

This look into the not too distant future was pretty awesome. I loved how Oliver weaved the picture of down-trodden Atlanta with the supernatural aspect of demons. And, she did it so seamlessly too. Much more seamlessly than most passes at urban fantasy. The different levels of demons were super creative and totally awesome. And the set-up of the trappers and their rivals, the demon hunters - who kill rather than capture their targets, was captivating and riveting.

Riley is a great female character. She's plucky and brave and super smart. I think she's way too hard on Beck. Talk about a woman scorned. Sheesh. She had a crush on him when she was 15 and he turned her away. Ever since then, she treats him like crap with a capital C. She does have her moments of weakness when it comes to him, but they are few and far between.

And, Beck. My boy Beck is a whole lot of awesomesauce wrapped up in utter stubbornness. He's actually a really good match for Riley. He too is brave and wild and a little nuts. He's had a tough life and has learned to push pretty much everyone away. Despite what he displays on the outside, he seems to genuinely care about Riley. However, being the chivalrous guy he is, Beck thinks that keeping Riley at arm's length is what would be best for her, so he consistently pushes her away with abrasiveness and tons of grrr. Riley and Beck are equal parts frustrating. The good kind, of course.

The side characters are pretty cool too. There's Simon, Riley's fellow apprentice trapper who appears to be her boyfriend. Something's off with that dude though. Riley's dad made my heart hurt. He works super hard and is really good at what he does, but he doesn't have any time for Riley, and that sucks for both of them. The only side character I didn't really get was Riley's BFF, Peter. He seems to like her like her, yet he never declares it. His mom never wants him to see her. And truthfully, most of their interactions are via the phone. He was pretty non-essential to the story. I could've done without him.

I'm excited to continue on with the series and find out what's in store next for Riley and Beck. And, I owe Jennifer L. Armentrout a huge thank you for turning me on to this awesome series.

REVIEW: Fifth Grave Past the Light (Charley Davidson #5)

Fifth Grave Past the Light (Charley Davidson #5), by Darynda Jones
Published July 9, 2013
Publisher:  St. Martin's Press
Format: hardback, borrowed from the library
Genre:  urban fantasy
To Buy: Amazon * Barnes & Noble

Rating:  4.5 STARS

(From Goodreads) Charley Davidson may not look like your everyday, run-of-the-mill grim reaper, but she has vowed to reap grimness wherever she goes despite this unfortunate fact. Sadly, she gets sidetracked when the sexy, sultry son of Satan, Reyes Farrow, moves in next door. As he is the main suspect in her arson case, she is determined to stay away from him until she can find out the truth. According to her therapist, however, she lacks conviction.

When dead women start appearing in her apartment - lost, confused and terrified beyond reason - Charley has no choice but to ask for Reyes's help, especially when it becomes apparent that her own sister Gemma is the serial killer's next target. With his ability to observe incorporeally, surely he can find out who's responsible. And even if he can't, he is the one man alive who could protect Gemma no matter who or what came at her. But he wants something in return: Charley. All of her - body and soul. And to keep her sister safe, it is a price she is willing to pay…

I knew when Fifth Grave Past the Light opened with Cookie nearly blowing Charley's head off in the middle of her father's bar (which is always crawling with cops) that this book was going to be explosive with a capital E. Without a doubt, this was the best book in the Charley Davidson series yet. 

Charley needs to figure out why 27 blond female departed have set up camp in her apartment. It's made things kind of cramped. And Reyes has that nice spacious apartment down the hall. Whatever is a grim reaper to do? Meanwhile, Charley's been hired by a woman who thinks her husband is cheating on her. Oh - and there's still an arsonist at large, and the suspect looks largely like the love of her life. Just another day in the life of Charley Davidson. 

You know, one of my earlier gripes about this series was that Charley didn't know when to dial down the snark. She still is snarky - no doubt about it. Her one-liners absolutely crack me up. 

“I'm sorry to have to tell you this way, but your mother and I are separating." When I pressed my mouth together, he corrected, "Stepmother. We're just - We're going in different directions."

"I don't know what to say, Dad. 'Hurray' just seems wrong.” 

But, I realized in Fifth Grave Past the Light that in each book, despite the silliness that almost constantly erupts from Charley's mouth, she always shows a dedication to the departed. Usually, it's one or two or three at a time. It was fun watching her try and deal with 27. But, despite everything else going on in her life, she doesn't give up trying to find out what happened to those poor women. I love seeing that dedication in her.

Reyes. Oh my sweet goodness gracious. THIS was his book. Reyes is awesome in his current state. He is human - he has a job an apartment, a car (a really HOT car). Yet, he still can work his Son of Satan mojo when Charley needs him to. We see him get all dark and stormy right off the bat in the first chapter - gosh I love to see him when he's like that.

But, the difference between the Reyes of books 1 - 4 and the Reyes of book 5 are his words. Namely, that he speaks more than a dozen of them. Of course, I'm exaggerating just a bit. But, Reyes has never been the kind of guy to stick around and talk it out before. It appears he's ready to fight for the woman he loves now, because he's changed.

“What do you want?"

"You," he said, his voice lowering an octave. "I want you, Dutch, body and soul. I want you in my bed every night. I want you there when I wake up in the morning. I want your clothes strung across my apartment and your scent on my skin.”

I've been waiting for this Reyes for a long time, and Darynda Jones definitely made it worth the wait. Reyes and Charley are actually becoming endearing and adorable together. And those are not two words I thought I'd ever use to describe their relationship. And, can we please talk about that ending? I mean, I won't, because I don't want to give anything away. But, seriously - those last two words took my breath away. 

This entire series is entertaining. But, this book was just off the charts amazing. 

REVIEW & GIVEAWAY: Biting Bad (Chicagoland Vampires #8)

Biting Bad (Chicagoland Vampires #8), by Chloe Neill
Published August 6, 2013
Publisher:  NAL Penguin
Format: paperback, obtained from publisher
Genre:  urban fantasy
To Buy:  Amazon * Barnes & Noble

Rating:  5 STARS

(From Goodreads) Merit has been a vampire for only a short while, but she’s already seen a lifetime’s worth of trouble. She and her Master, centuries-old Ethan Sullivan, have risked their lives time and again to save the city they love. But not all of Chicago is loving them back.

Anti-vampire riots are erupting all over town, striking vampires where it hurts the most. A splinter group armed with Molotov cocktails and deep-seated hate is intent on clearing the fanged from the Windy City come hell or high water.

Merit and her allies rush to figure out who’s behind the attacks, who will be targeted next, and whether there’s any way to stop the wanton destruction. The battle for Chicago is just beginning, and Merit is running out of time.

Reading Biting Bad was kind of like coming home after being away for awhile. All my favorite things were there - Merit, Ethan, Gabriel, Luc, Cadogan House, Mallocakes. Burrowing myself in another book in which Merit and Ethan find themselves in peril yet again was the highlight of my week. Goodness, I love this series. 

Merit and Ethan are just trying to have a normal Valentine's Day for cripes sake. But, McKetrick and his band of merry goons seem hell bent on making sure that doesn't happen. Riots and attacks on important vampire-related buildings are happening seemingly randomly over Chicago. Humans are vilifying vampires to the point of extreme violence. And Merit needs to get to the bottom of it before anyone else dies. And before hers and Ethan's Valentine's Day is completely ruined. 

Ethan and Merit are finally in a comfortable place regarding their relationship. With all they've been through together, it's about time. Although it's not as hot and filled with sexual tension as it once was, the familiarity they have with each other is still nice. What's going on around them takes more of a center stage when we aren't constantly fretting over whether they'll still be together at the end. We know they will be and there's a measure of comfort that comes in that knowledge. And, as an added bonus, we get to see Ethan get romantic, which truly is something special.

"I have eternal life," he said. "But you are my undying passion." He put his hands on my cheek and kissed me deeply. There was passion in his kiss, in the nip of his tongue, but this kiss was about promise. About tenderness. About love. "I love you, Caroline Evelyn Merit."

I really enjoyed getting to know Scott Grey better in Biting Bad. We see much more of him in this book than in any other. We also see a lot of Jonah, which is awesome. I've loved him ever since Drink Deep. 

Getting to see some previously peripheral characters more means we don't see some of our usual favorites much. The Ombuddies are seen only sporadically, as are the shifters.  I also missed hanging out with Luc, Lindsey and Malik. 

But, we did see some more of Mallory, which I appreciated. As much as I hated her there for a few books, she's worming her way back into my affections. 

Holy foreshadowing, Batman. There's tons of it in Biting Bad. If you're a fan of the series, you'll recognize it. I think some big things are going to go down in the next book or two. And that excites the hell out of me.

How does Chloe Neill continue to create book after book in this series and make each one as good as the last? I don't find this series slowing down at all. It's certainly different than it was back in the first or second book, but it's a good different. And an expected different. I would never expect these characters to remain unchanging after all that's happened.

 Biting Bad rocked my socks. It'll rock yours too. 

Giveaway (US Only)

As part of the Biting Bad Blog Tour, the awesome Chloe Neill has supplied me with some kick ass prizes! Fill out the Rafflecopter below to enter for a chance to win a signed copy of Biting Cold (Chicagoland Vampires #6), a Chicagoland Vampires tote and some cool swag. Due to crazy shipping costs, I've got to keep the entries to the US only. :( But, don't forget to enter the Biting Bad Blog Tour grand prize on Chloe Neill's website! 


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REVIEW: Scorched

Scorched, by Mari Mancusi
To Be Published September 3, 2013
Publisher:  Sourcebooks Fire
Format: ARC, obtained at BEA
Genre:  YA paranormal, YA urban fantasy
To Pre-Order:  Amazon  * Barnes & Noble

Rating:  5 STARS

(From Goodreads) Trinity
Don't leave me here... It starts with a whisper. At first Trinity thinks she's going crazy. It wouldn't be a big surprise--her grandpa firmly believes there's a genuine dragon egg in their dusty little West Texas town. But this voice is real, and it's begging for her protection. Even if no one else can hear it...Connor
He's come from a future scorched by dragonfire. His mission: Find the girl. Destroy the egg. Save the world.
Caleb
He's everything his twin brother Connor hates: cocky, undisciplined, and obsessed with saving dragons.

Trinity has no idea which brother to believe. All she has to go by is the voice in her head--a dragon that won't be tamed.

A recipe for the dragontastic awesomeness that is Scorched:

A cup of Eragon

+

A dash of T2

+

A pound of Reign of Fire

Trinity and her grandfather are down to their last dime and right before Christmas, too. When he spends their tax money on a purported dragon egg, Trinity is furious. Until she discovers it really IS a dragon egg. HER dragon egg, apparently, And it's imminent hatching will start a chain of events that will destroy the world. So, twin brothers Caleb and Connor have separately come back in time nearly 200 years on two very different missions to try and stop that from happening. 

Scorched is a breath of fresh air (pun intended). In a world of YA paranormal where the creatures are usually angels, faeries, vampires or werewolves, dragons that can communicate telepathically with their human matches is an absolutely refreshing change. Scorched is uniqueness among sameness. 

Trinity is a great heroine. She's put in a tough spot right off the bat. Imagine someone telling you that you will end up causing the destruction of the known world. I think I'd go into a corner and rock in the fetal position for awhile. But, Trinity really tries to wrap her brain around what's being told to her, and she wants to make the best outcome possible. It's a really mature attitude, despite the complete craziness of the situation. 

Caleb and Connor - the hot, time-traveling twins. One thinks killing Trinity and the dragon would be the best way to prevent the tragedy. The other thinks that saving them and protecting them would be the way to go. Both boys experience a sort of epiphany along the course of the story, realizing that not everything can be as black and white as they have painted it. 

I really wanted to hate both of them at different points in the story, but I found that I just couldn't. They both care for Trinity, and they both want what they think is best for the world. How can you hate them for that? 

And, although Trinity macks on both the boys during the course of the story, I couldn't be mad her either. I couldn't really blame her for wanting both of them. I see the beginnings of a wicked love triangle (aren't they always worse when they involve siblings?) to come, but by the end of Scorched, it hasn't quite fully developed. 
The pacing and writing are absolute perfection. At no time during the story was I bored, lost or skipping ahead a few pages to "get to the good part." (C'mon - we've all done that, right?) Whenever time travel is introduced, there is great potential for the story to get lost in convoluted space/time continuum theory stuff.  And, that never happens in Scorched. The characters are multi-faceted and interesting. The world-building is done very well. And, the story is paced just right so that I didn't see the twists and surprises coming.

Scorched is to be the first in a trilogy. There is no cliff hanger, but events set in motion are by no means resolved when you get to the last page. I'm really excited to see where things go in the next book. But, for now  I'm content to have read this sweeping, epic dragon tale.

REVIEW: Midnight Frost (Mythos Academy #5)

Midnight Frost (Mythos Academy #5), by Jennifer Estep
To Be Published July 30, 2013
Publisher:  K-Teen
Format: ARC - received from publisher
Genre:  YA, mythology, urban fantasy
To Buy:  Amazon * Barnes & Noble

Rating:  4.5 STARS

(From Goodreads) Here we go again …

Just when it seems life at Mythos Academy can’t get any more dangerous, the Reapers of Chaos manage to prove me wrong. It was just a typical night at the Library of Antiquities — until a Reaper tried to poison me. The good news is I’m still alive and kicking. The bad news is the Reaper poisoned someone else instead.

As Nike’s Champion, everyone expects me to lead the charge against the Reapers, even though I’m still hurting over what happened with Spartan warrior Logan Quinn. I’ve got to get my hands on the antidote fast — otherwise, an innocent person will die. But the only known cure is hidden in some creepy ruins — and the Reapers are sure to be waiting for me there.

The Mythos Academy series is a perfect study in character evolution. There are so many series where the main character is very static, and the only things that change from book to book are his or her interactions with the supporting characters and the situations in which they find themselves. That's all well and good for awhile, but not very fulfilling. As a reader, I get so much more enjoyment and satisfaction when I see the characters I love grow up literally before my eyes.

In Midnight Frost, Gwen is trying to get by after the horrible events in Crimson Frost (Mythos Academy #4). Nothing has changed with the Reapers; they are still actively trying to kill her. And, after an attempt on her life ends up critically endangering someone Gwen cares about, she and her friends (sans Logan, of course, who is still off trying to get his head together) set off on a dangerous quest to try and set things right again. 

This is the most action-packed book in the series with plenty of sword fights in lots of cool settings like the library (of course!), a train and an ancient goddess' ruins. There's also plenty of opportunities for Gwen to use her powers, and not just her touch magic. We see her use her ability to communicate with animals, which is my personal favorite part of her magic. And, Gwen uses it in a big way in Midnight Frost.

But, above all, I absolutely love seeing how much Gwen has grown over the course of the Mythos series. I almost felt like a proud parent reading about her kicking ass in Midnight Frost. I remember back in Touch of Frost (Mythos Academy #1), Gwen was shy, reserved, and a little angry. She didn't know a broadsword from a fencing foil. She was enemies with Daphne, wary of Logan and afraid of her own shadow.

But now? The best part of Midnight Frost is hearing Gwen's ruminations as she thinks on all her life has become over the past year. Her thoughts and actions have matured beyond measure, and that is all born out of hardship and experience and love.

Never fear all you Logan Freaking Quinn fans (of which I am one), he does make an appearance in Midnight Frost. The Spartan's conscience is still not wiped clean, but he is a man of honor, so he feels the need to help his friends in their near suicide mission. You gotta love that about him.

And, although the individual quest in this book is wrapped up, the over-arching goals that Nike has put on Gwen's shoulders remain. The set-up is good for Killer Frost (Mythos Academy #6). I can't wait to see what happens next.

REVIEW: Fourth Grave Beneath My Feet (Charley Davidson #4)

Fourth Grave Beneath My Feet (Charley Davidson #4), by Darynda Jones
Published October 30, 2012
Publisher:  St. Martin's Press
Format: hardback, borrowed from the library
Genre:  adult paranormal, urban fantasy
To Buy:  Amazon * Barnes & Noble

Rating:  4 STARS

(From Goodreads) Welcome to the world of grim reaper extraordinaire, Charley Davidson. Try as she might, there’s no avoiding her destiny.

Sometimes being the grim reaper really is, well, grim. And since Charley’s last case went so awry, she has taken a couple of months off to wallow in the wonders of self-pity. But when a woman shows up on her doorstep convinced someone is trying to kill her, Charley has to force herself to rise above . . . or at least get dressed. It becomes clear something is amiss when everyone the woman knows swears she’s insane. But the more they refute the woman’s story, the more Charley believes it.

In the meantime, the sexy, sultry son of Satan, Reyes Farrow, is out of prison and out of Charley’s life, as per her wishes and several perfectly timed death threats. But his absence has put a serious crimp in her sex life. While there are other things to consider, like the fact that the city of Albuquerque has been taken hostage by an arsonist, Charley is having a difficult time staying away. Especially when it looks like Reyes may be involved.

Man, oh man. Just when I thought Charley couldn't get any better, she did. She's become such a well-rounded character, and I love, love, LOVE to see her struggling with something and showing some serious vulnerability. It just endears her to me even more.

After the events of Third Grave Dead Ahead, Charley is really struggling, although she tries to laugh and joke her way out of having to admit it. She's been tortured, literally, within an inch of her life. She's been royally screwed over by two people who supposedly love her. And it's all become finally too much for her. 

Despite all that, the amazing crime mystery that we all have come to expect in the Charley Davidson books is present. While Charley works her way through a case (well, actually, several cases at once, as per usual), she slowly starts to work her stuff out. Her way of using her grim reaper abilities to catch the bad guys helps her to start to get a grip on what her new reality is, and it's therapeutic for her. 

It was nice seeing Reyes in a different role for a change too. He's still broody and mysterious and grumpy, but in Fourth Grave Beneath My Feet, he also shows compassion, hurt, and maybe a teensy bit of love. He seems truly dedicated to helping Charley get over her trauma, too, even though he was partly responsible for it. Perhaps that's part of the reason why. 

One of my absolute favorite parts of these books is Darynda Jones' ability to create amazingly jaw dropping M. Night Shyamalan-esque Holy-Crap-I-Didn't-See-That-One-Coming endings. And, Fourth Grave Beneath My Feet is the craziest one yet. I didn't see it coming, which is the best. I LOVE being surprised. 

Although Charley's and Reyes' relationship is still not where I would prefer it to be, it does seem to be progressing... somewhere. Where, I don't know yet. But, it does seem to be going forward-ish. They're just such an untraditional couple. I don't know if we'll ever see "I love you"s and snuggles and cuddles from those two. But, they do start to make steps to get past the roadblocks that have plagued their relationship thus far, and I'll take that much for now. 

The Charley Davidson series really does have it all - humor, intrigue, drama, twists. And tons of awesome t-shirt slogans.

REVIEW: Third Grave Dead Ahead (Charley Davidson #3)

Third Grave Dead Ahead (Charley Davidson #3), by Darynda Jones
Published January 31, 2012
Publisher:  St. Martin's Press
Format: audiobook, borrowed from the library
Genre:  urban fantasy
To Buy:  Amazon  * Barnes & Noble

Rating:  4.5 STARS

(From Goodreads) Paranormal private eye. Grim reaper extraordinaire. Whatever. Charley Davidson is back! And she's drinking copious amounts of caffeine to stay awake because, every time she closes her eyes, she sees him: Reyes Farrow, the part-human, part-supermodel son of Satan. Yes, she did imprison him for all eternity, but come on. How is she supposed to solve a missing persons case, deal with an ego-driven doctor, calm her curmudgeonly dad, and take on a motorcycle gang hell-bent on murder when the devil's son just won't give up?

You know how some series start out totally awesome, and each book progressively seems to lose its edge a little more? They become a little less compelling, a little less interesting, a little less awesome with each installment.

Yeah. This is NOT that series.

I have to admit. At the close of the second Charley Davidson book, I was waffling. Although I absolutely LOVE the crime mystery aspect and the grim reaper thing is pretty cool, to be honest, the excessive use of snark was starting to cross the line from cute and endearing into silly and ridiculous. And the thing with Reyes was moving sooooooo slooooooooow.

But... BUT... Third Grave Dead Ahead came at me and whacked me up along side the head. Charley still had a mega mystery to solve and Reyes to deal with and body parts to name, yet it also seems like Charley's maturing a little, dare I say? I still found myself laughing, yet, amazingly, in parts I found myself crying too. Crazy, right?

Third Grave Dead Ahead was exactly what this series needed. It introduced a few new characters in the form of Artemis, Donovan, Eric and Michael. It injected some life into Charley's and Reyes' relationship (or, anti-relationship? I haven't decided. It's definitely non-traditional.). And it gave Charley some seriously HUGE reasons to get serious.

The mysteries were really good ones, as usual. Charley's looking for a missing woman and a potentially missing man. In typical Charley fashion, she takes tons of unnecessary risks and goes to extraordinary extremes to get what she wants. She loves her BFF Cookie and her family fiercely and continues her love affair with her coffee machine. This book wasn't so different that it wasn't unrecognizable. 

This was the best book of the series so far. And it makes me so excited to keep reading and see what happens next. 

REVIEW: First Grave on the Right (Charley Davidson #1)

First Grave on the Right (Charley Davidson #1), by Darynda Jones
Published February 1, 2011
Publisher:  St. Martin's Press
Format: audiobook - borrowed from the library
Genre:  Urban Fantasy, Adult Paranormal Romance
To Buy:  Amazon  * Barnes & Noble * Book Depository

Rating:  4 STARS

(From Goodreads) Charley sees dead people. That’s right, she sees dead people. And it’s her job to convince them to “go into the light.” But when these very dead people have died under less than ideal circumstances (i.e. murder), sometimes they want Charley to bring the bad guys to justice. Complicating matters are the intensely hot dreams she’s been having about an Entity who has been following her all her life...and it turns out he might not be dead after all. In fact, he might be something else entirely.

Even though First Grave on the Right has been out for more than two years, it seems that just recently, I've been hearing more and more people talk about it and post reviews about it. And, all the reviews that I've heard have been glowing. Not wanting to be the last kid picked for the kickball team, I had to get to this book to see what all the hubbub was about. 

And, now I know. First Grave on the Right. was fun with a capital F. And Darynda Jones is a literary maven with a capital M. Okay, and L. How is it possible that I spent at least half the span of this book laughing my ass off? I mean, it's about serious topics like human trafficking, domestic violence and child abuse. Don't get me wrong - Jones doesn't treat these as laughing matters. Not at all. But, let's face it - these are pretty heavy subjects. The hilarity just lightens the load. 

“Maybe I needed sensitivity training. I once signed up for an anger management class, but the instructor pissed me off.” 

Charley Davidson is the grim reaper. Unlike in most books, she is totally alive, doesn't wear a cloak, doesn't wield a wicked scythe, and doesn't come to collect souls when a person's number is up. She's actually a private investigator who is extra good at what she does because she can see and talk to and touch dead people. After the wrong has been righted, they pass on to Heaven, and they do it through her. What a fresh and inventive take on the whole grim reaper bit!

“You called me at four thirty-four....I hate four thirty-four. I think four thirty-four should be banned and replaced with something more reasonable, like, say, nine twelve.”

Charley's only weakness appears to be an enigma named Reyes Farrow, a man who she met ten years ago and now chooses to ravish her only in her dreams. Although in front of every other person - alive or dead - on the planet, Charley has a smart ass comeback always ready to fire of at a moment's notice. In Reyes' presence, though, she's a blathering idiot. It's kind of hot, actually. And, that's the perfect way to describe Farrow. That dude is sex on a stick. And completely and utterly mysterious. You don't find out exactly what his deal is until the end, and I was totally in the dark until the big reveal. I loved that.

“Just in case, though, I stormed into my apartment, tossed a quick hello to Mr. Wong, then rummaged through my entertainment center to lay out all my exorcism equipment. I kept it in my entertainment center because exorcisms were nothing if not entertaining.” 

Charley's relationships with her quirky neighbor Cookie, her crusty uncle Uncle Bob (UBie for short) and her dubious cop friend Garrett Swopes are the icing on the cake. Although, at times I found Charley to be leaning toward unnecessarily bitchy than snarky, especially toward Swopes, her interactions with these characters were endearing and funny.

The mystery was good (albeit a bit convoluted), and I liked how it switched back and forth between the main mystery and the Reyes mystery. It wasn't too much of any one thing. And, although the main mystery was solved, the Reyes mystery is just beginning, and that alone keeps me wanting more. I certainly hope he and Charley get things straightened out. Because they are definitely made for each other.