EXCERPT REVEAL: Blood Guard (Mission #1)

If you haven't heard by now, let me be the first to fangirl all over you when I tell you that Megan Erickson has a new vampire book releasing in just a few short weeks. She only recently crossed into the paranormal world with her Silver Tip Pack series, and I have to tell you - if she does vampires half as well as she does shifters, we're all in for a real treat.

Today I have an excerpt for you from the first book in her Mission series, BLOOD GUARD.

Blood Guard (Mission #1), by Megan Erickson
Publish Date: September 12, 2017
Publisher: Loveswept
Genre: adult paranormal romance
To Buy: Amazon | Barnes & Noble

(Synopsis) Tendra: One minute, I’m a bartender in gritty Mission City; the next, I’m whisked away by a vampire named Athan who tells me that I’m the lifeblood of his clan. It sounds unbelievable, but he’s got evidence I can’t deny. Turns out, Athan belongs to an underground society of vampires who feed only on humans with their consent. Their enemies have no such qualms, and they want me dead. The only thing standing in their way is strong, sexy Athan. And the closer we get, the more tempted I am to let Athan feed. . . .

Athan: How could I have known when I snatched this snarky, beautiful human off the streets that she would change mydestiny? As a loyal soldier, I must deliver Tendra to our future king—my brother. Empowered with the blood of ten generations of the Gregorie breed, she is fated to rule as our queen. But there’s something between us that’s so intoxicating, so carnal, I can’t help wanting Tendra for myself . . . even if it’s treason.

The panic welled in my chest. I was trapped in a strange apartment with a strange man who probably outweighed me trifold. I opened up my mouth to scream but he held up his hand and said in a deep voice. “You scream, and I’ll just put you to sleep again.”

My jaw snapped shut. I focused on breathing. In and out. In and out. I wanted to thrash and yell, and holler, but he’d somehow knocked me out before and I would be useless if he did it again.

I glanced around. The only light was from a small, dim bare bulb above us. The rest of the room was in shadow. There was nothing I could use for a weapon, not even my shoes. I focused back on the man in front of me. “How’d we get here?”

“I carried you,” he answered, his voice a rumble that I felt down to my bones.

Something moved in the corner of my vision and I peered into the dark. A form materialized, and I must have been dreaming still because Brex was there. He stalked toward me, rubbed against my leg, then sat down by my feet like a feline guard. I tried to be calm, but I was close to losing it. I didn’t date. Was this how people dated now? Maybe it was a thing. “Why is my cat here?”

My captor didn’t move, and half of his face was in shadow. “I brought him.”

“I don’t keep my ID on me, so how’d you know where I live?”

“I didn’t need your ID.” His eyes narrowed slightly. “I’ve been watching you.”

Oh, just fucking great. A stalker. I’d be lucky if I made it out of here without him wearing my skin like clothes and my head in a freezer. “Okay, cool. Well, uh, hi. I’m Tendra. I applaud you for your unconventional, um, greeting. Want to untie me? We can go for a drink. I make a mean screwdriver.”

Confusion flickered over his face, then his scowl deepened, like uncertainty angered him. “No.”

I didn’t want to make him mad, but I’d never been great at keeping my mouth shut. Sometimes me opening my mouth was the reason we had to move. “Do you want money? Because I’m sorry to say, you kidnapped the wrong girl. Especially because I just paid rent. I’m eating peanut butter out of the tub for the next week.”

Again with the angry confusion. He rubbed his forehead. “I don’t want your money.”

I gritted my teeth. “Well, now you have me here. What do you plan to do to me?” The panic was slowly switching over to anger, the fight instinct my mother instilled in me strong as ever. If he was going to kill me, maybe I could piss him off enough that it would be quick. “Because I’ll tell you right now, I will fight you to my dying breath and then come back from the dead and haunt you until I convince you to cut your own dick off.”

His expression didn’t change. “Charming.”

I was signing my death warrant, but I couldn’t resist getting a shot in. “Fuck you, you creeper.”

His chest rose as he inhaled sharply. “Right, so let’s have it out. I’m your guard, because you’re destined to be delivered to my older brother in order to make our clan stronger.”

I didn’t move. Not an inch. Because holy shit, not only was he a creepy stalker, but he was out of his gourd, too. I couldn’t just have an evil stalker. Oh, no, I had to have a lunatic one, too. Zero of what he said made sense, so I focused on one thing at a time. “Excuse me? Clan? What are you, cavemen?”

I thought he’d take offense, but instead he just looked bored. “No, not cavemen. Vampires.”

I blinked.

And blinked again.

But nope, he was still there. This was still happening. Only me. If I made it out of here alive, what a story I’d have to sell about my stalker who thought he was a vampire. I had visions of the guy trying to bite my neck with his blunt teeth. Which made a giggle bubble up in my throat, which turned into a laugh, which turned into me throwing my head back in hysterical laughter until tears streamed down my cheeks.

When I dropped my head and focused on him through my tears, he was watching me carefully, that impassive expression still on his face.

He reached down and picked up Brex by the scruff of his neck, which immediately ceased any and all amusement on my part. “If you hurt my cat, swear to God—“

Brex yowled and swiped a paw across the man’s face. A thin line of scarlet bloomed on his cheekbone before the man dropped Brex, who scurried off to hide under a small table near an old couch. “Good job, Brex!” I shouted after him. “Now come back and finish the job!”

I turned to my stalker, and whatever I was about to say died in my throat. I watched as the cut sealed up and vanished before my eyes.

Gone.

No mark, no blood. No nothing.

And those dark eyes were still trained on me.

Megan Erickson is a USA Today bestselling author of romance that sizzles. Her books have a touch of nerd, a dash of humor, and always have a happily ever after. A former journalist, she switched to fiction when she decided she likes writing her own endings better.

She lives in Pennsylvania with her very own nerdy husband and two kids. Although rather fun-sized, she's been told she has a full-sized personality. When Megan isn't writing, she's either lounging with her two cats named after John Hughes characters or... thinking about writing.

Connect with Megan:

Website: meganerickson.org
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/authormeganerickson/
Twitter: www.twitter.com/MeganErickson_
Bookbub: http://bit.ly/2wlessh
Newsletter: http://bit.ly/2voYMHc

REVIEW: Marriage Claws

Marriage Claws, by Paige Cuccaro
Publish Date: June 27, 2017
Publisher: Swerve
Format: e-ARC, provided by the publisher
Genre: adult paranormal romance
To Buy: Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Rating: 3 STARS

(Synopsis) There are two things Kate Affetto will do anything to protect: the younger brother she's raised ever since their father walked out, and the small diner she's managed to start from nothing in New York City. Things might not always be easy, but at least she gets to call all the shots and follow her own heart. That is until Jack Pensione, irritatingly gorgeous billionaire playboy and CEO/heir to the family empire shows up at her diner with an ultimatum: find $3 million to purchase the space, or vacate so it can be turned into condos.

But Kate isn't going down without a fight. So when Jack offers a third option—marry him, and he'll gift her the space—she agrees, knowing it'll save the life she's built for herself and her brother, and that the marriage will be over practically before it's begun. After all, it's not as if she actually likes Jack, or as if he's actually attracted her at all... Little does she know he's also a werewolf, that he's vying to be the alpha of his pack, and that her problems are just getting started.

I love a good shifter romance. The men are always super alpha (of course), which means they need a strong woman to stand up to them. In the beginning of Marriage Claws, I got the feeling that this type of power couple was exactly what I was getting. Kate is ballsy and determined and passionate about the people and things she loves. Jack is domineering and rich and persuasive when he's after something he wants. And Kate is a means to an end for him, so he's after her and won't give up until she's his.

I loved the idea of this story. And, it even started out strong. Kate was a great heroine. I loved her diner and its group of quirky staff. I liked how Kate cared about them and how they backed her up. I really liked Jack as well - he was the perfect blend of aloof and interested. And the constant wolf-isms that he kept dropping was kinda funny, since Kate didn't know what he was for awhile.

But, I dunno - at some point in the story, it just started to fizzle. Jack went from being this interesting, charismatic guy to kind of an asshole and treating Kate like crap. And Kate went from being this strong, independent woman to putting up with Jack's attitude for far too long. In addition, the pace of the story just seemed off, starting around halfway through. It started to feel rushed and I wanted a lot more details and backstory and world building than what I got. As other side characters were introduced and Kate started interacting with them, I felt like we needed more reasons for why they were doing and saying certain things, and without all that, all of them fell very flat.

While Kate's and Jack's connection started off strong, it too disappeared about halfway through the book. So, when Jack started acting like a jerk, I really wanted Kate to just kick him to the curb and find someone else. Of course, that doesn't happen, but it made their eventual togetherness seem fake and a little disappointing.

So, I'm kinda bummed. I feel like this author has a lot of potential, but this book just isn't quite there yet.

BLOG TOUR REVIEW: Oversight (The Community #2)

Oversight (The Community #2), by Santino Hassell
Publish Date: June 26, 2017
Publisher: Riptide Publishing
Format: e-ARC, provided by the author and A Novel Take PR
Genre: adult m/m paranormal romance
To Buy: Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Rating: 5 STARS

(Synopsis) Holden Payne has it all . . . or so he thinks. As heir to the founder of the Community—an organization that finds, protects, and manages psychics—he’s rich, powerful, and treated like royalty. But after a series of disappearances and murders rock the Community, he’s branded the fall guy for the scandal and saddled with a babysitter.

Sixtus Rossi is a broad-shouldered, tattooed lumbersexual with a man-bun and a steely gaze. He’s also an Invulnerable—supposedly impervious to both psychic abilities and Holden’s charms. It’s a claim Holden takes as a challenge. Especially if sleeping with Six may help him learn whether the Community had more to do with the disappearances than they claimed.

As Holden uncovers the truth, he also finds himself getting in deep with the man sent to watch him. His plan to seduce Six for information leads to a connection so intense that some of Six’s shields come crashing down. And with that comes a frightening realization: Holden has to either stand by the Community that has given him everything, or abandon his old life to protect the people he loves.

I really loved book two in Santino Hassell's The Community series, not only because of Holden and Six (I'll get to them in a minute), but because Santino chose this book to crack this paranormal world he's created wide open. Now, we all know that Santino Hassell can write contemporary romance like a boss. But, let me tell how how brilliant he also is at writing paranormal. 

In Oversight, we meet a lot more people with psychic abilities than we did in Insight. Better yet - we get to see them use their powers in pretty awesome ways. We also get a greater scope and understanding of The Community. We take a trip to the infamous Farm. And we learn of the widespread revolutionaries that are just waiting for the catalyst to start fighting back against those who have been using, mistreating and killing them. 

Who knew that in the middle of all this, the son of the big bad guy could find truth and love?

 Six is a man that Holden saw only briefly as a boy, but that one instance made a big impression. Years later, Six is sent to be the new bouncer/babysitter at Holden's nightclub. He's socially inept, scary, broody, and frustrating. And he has this really cool ability - he is immune to all other psychics. Their powers don't work on him because his shield is that impenetrable - a fact that Holden finds incredibly annoying at first, but soon realizes what a wonderful blessing it is. 

Holden's empathic abilities have always made relationships hard. He doesn't have to worry about that with Six. He feels calm and peaceful around Six. That is, until Six shatters everything Holden has ever known about his life, his parents and The Community as a whole. 

In Oversight, I felt this overwhelming sense of camaraderie and togetherness, as we see old friends (yes - Nate and Trent are back) join with new ones to finally start to take back their lives and claim them for their own. It's an upward battle though - a handful of determined and talented men and women are fighting against an establishment with hundreds of brainwashed minions. Not every move they make carries a positive result. Good thing there's another book coming. 

The buildup to the last book in this series is crazy. It started in Insight, and built in Oversight. I'm about jumping out of my skin to get my grabby hands on Sightlines to see what happens to the final couple in the series and how all of them will manage to accomplish what seems to be the impossible.

The man who walked into the office did not remotely resemble the teen boy who'd just strolled through his memories. Adult Sixtus was Holden’s height but corded with about thirty more pounds of muscle. His biceps were nearly bursting from the sleeves and his pecs were clearly visible beneath the tight black polo he wore, making the typically conservative style— look like the prequel to a stripping routine in Magic Mike. He also wore khaki pants so tight his thighs looked like they were being strangled. He'd paired the two articles of clothing with scuffed motorcycle boots with steel toes.

Holden didn't make an attempt to hide his slow ogle, and dragged his eyes from boot to crotch to clavicle before taking in Six's face. His fathomless black eyes were the only familiar feature in that olive complexed face. He had a full beard and mustache, thick black hair tied up in a bun, and wide lips that Holden wanted to suck on. Why did his sociopathic handler have to be a disgustingly sexy lumberjack hipster?

"Huh," Holden said. "He's filled out."

Richard went back to pursing his lips but Sixtus didn't even blink. He didn't scan Holden or react to the intense eyefuck he'd just received. There seemed to be nothing behind those dark eyes. The effect was more disturbing when Holden, by default, reached out with his gift to get an impression. He'd expected a hint of impatience or irritation even if it was muted by the mental shield that was apparently always in place.

Santino Hassell was raised by a conservative family, but he was anything but traditional. He grew up to be a smart-mouthed, school cutting grunge kid, then a transient twenty-something, and eventually transformed into an unlikely romance author.

Santino writes queer romance that is heavily influenced by the gritty, urban landscape of New York City, his belief that human relationships are complex and flawed, and his own life experiences.

Connect with Santino: Website | Twitter | Instagram | FB Group | FB | GR | Tumblr

EARLY REVIEW: Daring Fate (Silver Tip Pack #1)

Daring Fate (Silver Tip Pack #1), by Megan Erickson
Publish Date: November 14, 2016
Publisher: self-published
Format: ARC, provided by the author
Genre: adult m/m paranormal romance
To Buy: Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Rating: 4 STARS

(Synopsis) I wake up chained to the wall of a dark cell aware of two things: I failed my sister, and I smell my enemy.

When I’m taken to meet Dare, the alpha of the Silver Tip pack, I’m sure I’m about to lose my throat. The last thing I expect is for the Alpha to recognize me as his fated mate. No way is he going to let me go now, and I still have to find a way to rescue my sister.

As I plot my escape to save her, I find that if I leave, Dare could be killed by power-hungry members of his pack. And now he’s more to me than my fated mate—my heart is involved. With time ticking by on my sister’s life, I have to make a choice I never thought I’d face—my sister’s life or my mate’s? That’s if I can survive the undead shifters intent on killing me first...

In honor of Halloween, I wanted to post a review of a paranormal book. Only fitting, right? When I think of the paranormal books that I've read lately, one sticks out in my mind more than others. 

Daring Fate is Megan Erickson's first trip into the world of the paranormal, and what's awesome is that you can tell she fully embraced this new series and made these shifters her own. I promise this is nothing like any other shifter book you've read before. The mythology is unique and it's set in a dystopian world, so it's like the best of both genres. 

Set in a version of future Earth where all humans were wiped out by a deadly virus, and shifters are all that are left, Daring Fate asks us to consider that there are actually two types of shifters - werewolves and Weres. Werewolves wander the Earth in either human or wolf form. Weres, however, have three forms - human, wolf and a huge, scary half-wolf/half-human. Think Lupin from Harry Potter. 

The two species have a common enemy - nasty, undead Weres called Noweres (such an awesome name for the bad guys, right?). The Weres and werewolves usually keep to themselves in walled cities, safe from the Noweres, never interacting since they kind of hate each other. So, imagine Reese's surprise and horror when he discovers his True Mate is the alpha of the Silver Tip Were pack. 

I'd never expected to find my True Mate. The odds of finding one were incredibly slim in this day and age where we locked ourselves away behind fortified walls. True Mates were mostly an urban myth nowadays, but the deep recesses of my shifter brain knew the scent on instinct. And now that I smelled him - a minty, sweet smell - I understood why the True Mate bond was so coveted. I craved him, and my blood rushed through my veins like fucking fire.

Dare is powerful and commanding and confident. He bears the weight of his entire pack on his shoulders and he does it willingly and proudly. He didn't earn his position easily, but he is the best suited for the position. It's a big burden, and he's never been able to share that with anyone. Until Reese comes along. 

Reese and Dare are forced to navigate the choppy waters of a new relationship amid distrust from some members of Dare's pack, as well as some secrets that both men are keeping from the other.  Reese's secrets, especially, have the power to cause real problems for Dare, and the closer they get to each other, the harder it is for Reese to come clean. 

I love shifters. I love how protective they are of the people they care for. I love the sense of community you always get with the pack. And, I love what fierce warriors they are. Despite the uniqueness of Megan Erickson's shifter world, these hallmarks - the things that draw me to this genre the most - are still there in spades. 

There's plenty of action and danger in Daring Fate. The Noweres are no joke. And a nearby werewolf pack, as well as some members of Dare's own pack give Dare and his closest allies reasons to fight. There's lots of action in Dare's bedroom too (and the garden, and the cave, and...). The hotness starts very quickly and doesn't let up. 

Reese and Dare have a special kind of chemistry. At first, you know that part of it is biology - the things about them that make them mates and draw them to each other. But, as time goes on, I loved watching them learn about each other, make sacrifices for each other, and fall in love with each other. 

Even if you've never given shifter books a go before, you should really try this one. This is not a cookie-cutter book - the world is unique, the romance is hot, and the action is plentiful. The guys just happen to turn into wolves from time to time. Which, really, is pretty freaking cool.

REVIEW & GIVEAWAY: In His Keeping (Slow Burn #2)

In His Keeping (Slow Burn #2), by Maya Banks
To Be Published January 27, 2015
Publisher: Harper Collins
Format: ARC, provided by the author
Genre: adult paranormal romance
To Buy: Amazon * Barnes & Noble
 
Rating: 4 STARS

(From Goodreads) #1 bestselling author Maya Banks continues her suspenseful and steamy Slow Burn trilogy with this second book-a twisting tale featuring a strong yet vulnerable heroine in danger and the sexy alpha hero who must save her.

Abandoned as a baby to a young wealthy couple and raised in a world of privilege, Arial has no hint of her past or who she belonged to. Her only link lies in the one thing that sets her apart from everyone else—telekinetic powers. Protected by her adoptive parents and hidden from the public to keep her gift secret, Ari is raised in the lap of luxury, and isolation. That is, until someone begins threatening her life.

Beau Devereaux is no stranger to the strange. As the head of Deveraux Security, he’s more than familiar with the realities of physic powers. So when a family friend approaches him about protecting his daughter, he’s more than ready to jump on board. What Beau isn’t prepared for is the extent of his attraction to his beautiful and powerful client. What began as a simple assignment, just another job, quickly turns personal as Beau discovers he’ll do anything at all to protect Ari. Even if it costs him his life.

I love it when book #2 in a series exceed the bar set by book #1. It doesn't happen that often. Does the phrase "sophomore slump" mean anything to you? Well, I actually liked IN HIS KEEPING more than its predecessor, Keep Me Safe. In thinking back, that assessment was created by a few key things.

In In His Keeping, Arial's exposure of her telekinetic powers and the subsequent kidnapping of her parents, brings her to Devereaux Security, and specifically, to Beau Devereaux. It immediately becomes clear that her life is in danger in more ways than one, and Beau makes it his personal mission to see to her safety. As he learns more about her, he learns how special and brave she is, which succeeds in what he thought was impossible - he falls in love with her. But, Arial's tormenters won't give up looking for her, and their resources are seemingly endless. 

So, those things I mentioned as to what made In His Keeping a fantastic second book? Well, number one is, nearly no sex. 

Okay, let's back up a sec. Yes, I know Maya Banks can bring on the sexy. (Trust me - I'm reading Rush right now, and *fans self*.) It's one thing I've counted on when I read her books. Alpha male - check. Gripping story - check. Tons of hot sex - CHECK. In His Keeping features an intense emotional connection between Ari and Beau. It's clear that they fall for each other pretty quickly. And, Beau's drive to protect her at all costs was completely swoon-worthy (there's that alpha male). 

But, the fun times beneath the sheets were nearly completely absent. Now, before you write this book off, hear me out. It didn't even register with me that Arial and Beau had only had one sexual encounter and a teeny bit of dirty talk until I had finished the book. See, if there isn't a ton of sex, it becomes clear that the story has to stand on it's own feet. The sexual tension and connection between the characters has to be there. And, the fact that the distinct lack of sex didn't register with me until I was formulating my thoughts for this review is telling. 

And, this brings me to the second reason as to why In His Keeping was a fantastic second book. The paranormal aspect in his one was ratcheted way up. 

If I'm going to be honest, the paranormal part of Keep Me Safe was a little dark, depressing and creepy. Arial's ability in In His Keeping is just freaking COOL. And, it's pretty old-school too. No modern twist on an old idea. Arial is a girl who can do things with her mind. She can move stuff (with "stuff" being things like guns, people and cars), cut off people's air, blow things up, all with her thoughts. She's like a naive, pretty Darth Vader. The reader gets lots of opportunities to read about Ari in action. She uses her powers to save herself, to save Beau, and to exact revenge on some really nasty bad guys. This chick is my hero. 

And, she really is a hero. She may have been sheltered her whole life by her parents, and she may not have a ton of worldly experience, but she is fiercely loyal and dedicated to the people she loves. She tries to sacrifice herself again and again to save her parents and Beau. And, Beau, being the alpha male protector that he is, is staunchly against any and all of her efforts to do so. I loved reading their exchanges in those moments. Both were so singularly focused on saving loved ones. They really were perfect for one another. 

In His Keeping is told in dual POV, and I loved getting inside Beau's head, particularly at the pivotal moments in the story. We see Caleb and Ramie in this story, but almost nothing from Caleb's and Beau's other siblings, Quinn and Tori. There was a lot of focus on a new member of Devereaux Security - Zack. I REALLY liked him. I hope we see more from him in future Slow Burn books. 

Maya Banks does a great job with the paranormal, the romance, and the suspense in In His Keeping. It's a triple threat that together makes an exciting book. 

Giveaway

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REVIEW: Nice Girls Don't Live Forever (Jane Jameson #3)

Nice Girls Don't Live Forever (Jane Jameson #3), by Molly Harper
Published December 29, 2009
Publisher: Pocket Star
Format: audiobook, purchased
Genre: adult paranormal romance
To Buy: Amazon * Barnes & Noble
 
Rating: 4 STARS

(From Goodreads) Nothing sucks the romance out of world travel like a boyfriend who may or may not have broken up with you in a hotel room in Brussels. Jane Jameson’s sexy sire, Gabriel, has always been unpredictable. But the seductive, anonymous notes that await him at each stop of their international vacation, coupled with his evasive behavior over the past few months, finally push Jane onto the next flight home to Half Moon Hollow — alone, upset, and unsure whether Gabriel just ended their relationship without actually telling her. 

Now the children’s-librarian-turned-vampire is reviving with plenty of Faux Type O, some TLC from her colorful friends and family, and her plans for a Brave New Jane. Step One: Get her newly-renovated occult bookstore off the ground. Step Two: Support her best friend, Zeb, and his werewolf bride as they prepare for the impending birth of their baby . . . or litter. Step Three: Figure out who’s been sending her threatening letters, and how her hostile pen pal is tied to Gabriel. Because for this nice girl, surviving a broken heart is becoming a matter of life and undeath...

There was so much to love in Nice Girls Don't Live Forever. Jane finally grew a backbone in regards to Gabriel and his big secret. Zeb and Jolene start a family. Jane gives Ruthie a piece of her mind. And Dick... is Dick. 

Gabriel has been keeping a secret from Jane for awhile, and when he invites her on a vacation to Europe, she thinks he's finally ready to come clean and focus soley on her. Instead, they kinda sorta break up, and Jane returns to Half Moon Hollow sad and really pissed off. To distract her wayward thoughts, she throws herself into the opening of her new bookstore and the preparations for Zeb and Jolene's impending family. But, then Gabriel returns, and Jane starts receiving death threats. Jane's undead life is waaaaay more exciting than what she had bargained for.

One of my bigger issues with earlier books in this series is that they sometimes have a tendency to be too goofy. Don't get me wrong - I love the humor in this series. In every single one, I have laughed out loud - frequently. But, sometimes, I just want Jane to stop joking about everything and be a woman of action. People walk all over her, and I suppose part of the charm of the series is that she's a vampire and could wipe the floor with most everyone if she wanted to. Yet, she continues to let her family and her community treat her like crap while she laughs it off.

And, lately this secrecy with Gabriel has been driving me freaking crazy. A guy claims he loves you, he vows to protect you, and then he skips town for two weeks and doesn't call. You try to call him, and he's not where he says he'll be. I don't know about you, but most girls I know wouldn't stand for that for very long. They would demand answers, and when they were fed a pat answer of, "There's nothing going on. Just trust me. I'll tell you everything soon," they would kick him to the curb. Yet, Jane says nothing. For MONTHS.

It was a fresh new Jane in Nice Girls Don't Live Forever. The jokes finally fall away (for the most part), and Jane gets mad, cries her tears, and decides to move on with everything else until Gabriel comes to his senses and starts some serious groveling. But, Gabriel's not the only one Jane finally has a come to Jesus meeting with. She has it out with Jenny, Grandma Ruthie, and for good measure, Zeb and Jolene's contractor. Jane has finally located her backbone.

It really was my favorite part of this book. The laughs are definitely still there. Many of them come during exchanges between Dick and Jane. Dick is, without a doubt, my favorite side character in this series. The brother-sister relationship he has with Jane is absolutely adorable. And, his new relationship with Andrea shows a softer side of Dick that was wonderful.

Jane grows up a lot in this book. She makes tough decisions in regards to all the relationships in her life. She, once again, fights for her life with a nemesis that not only is deadly, but one that makes things personal. VERY personal. There are some real shockers in this one that kept me on the edge of my seat.

Once again, Amanda Ronconi delivers an incredible narration in the audio version of Nice Girls Don't Live Forever. Her portrayal of all the characters in Half Moon Hollow blows me away every time I hear it. I've already purchased the next book in the Jane Jameson series - 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.