Very different kind of book by author Rachel Vincent. The story recounts 100 hours in the life of Genesis and her friends as they vacation in ColombiaVery different kind of book by author Rachel Vincent. The story recounts 100 hours in the life of Genesis and her friends as they vacation in Colombia. The narrative has multiple points of view and it takes a little time to get to know the characters well enough to understand who is talking and why they behave the way they do. At first I was skeptical that the book could be a the first of a trilogy, and as I neared the end of the book, I understood why, however I still feel that it probably could have been told in one book.
Full review to come closer to publication date.
Thank you to Edelweiss and the publisher for a review copy of this book. ...more
Be prepared to suspend belief...then enjoy this romp through a futuristic city as courier Kris Ballard is sent for her last delivery of the day and wiBe prepared to suspend belief...then enjoy this romp through a futuristic city as courier Kris Ballard is sent for her last delivery of the day and witnesses a terrifying murder. Delivery incomplete, she flees the scene through the multi-leveled city, chased by many different parties, all with an interest in the package.
The Courier was fun to read, especially all of the chase scenes. I loved the concept of the futuristic city divided into different levels. I found the main character Kris quite likable and remarkably bad ass (and very lucky) especially when evading the bad guys.
Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for a review copy of this book....more
I've enjoyed Adrian Phoenix's Hoodoo and Maker series so I was very excited to get my hands on a review copy of Thinning Between 3.5 and 4.0 stars....
I've enjoyed Adrian Phoenix's Hoodoo and Maker series so I was very excited to get my hands on a review copy of Thinning the Herd. I was not disappointed. In fact, Thinning the Herd was a pleasant surprise full of quirky characters in hilarious situations.
Hal Rupert is an Animal Control Officer, though sometimes the animals he wrangles aren't necessarily the usual lost kitty or rabid dog. Instead, he controls some of the shifter population in his town. When someone starts kidnapping hippies, Hal goes to work accompanied by his shifter pals Nick and Galahad.
Hal is hilarious. His unrequited love (and possibly stalking) for the lovely but Goth Desdemona made for some humorous exchanges.
Thinning the Herd was an fun read. I'm hoping to read more books by this author in the future.
Thank you to NetGalley and Gallery Threshold Pocket Books for a review copy of this book. ...more
Whoa....didn't expect to finish this book in one sitting.
Let me just start with - this book is intended for adult audiences 18+. There be sex in this Whoa....didn't expect to finish this book in one sitting.
Let me just start with - this book is intended for adult audiences 18+. There be sex in this book - all kinds and combinations - and toys.
Beyond Shame is set in the future where the wealthy live puritanical lives in Eden. Everything is readily available in Eden as long as rules are followed. Noelle is cast out of Eden to sector 4, where she meets Jasper, a member of the O'Kane gang. She is taken under the wing of Lexie, Dallas O'Kane's girlfriend.
Noelle sets out to experiment with her sexuality under the guidance of Lexie, who teaches Noelle to not feel shame. Noelle is both shocked and aroused by this new lifestyle and this group of people who are not ashamed of their sexuality.
I enjoyed the writing style and I loved the dystopian world. I'll be looking for the next book in the series.
I think that I would love to see this book and the rest of the Killer Instincts series as a TV series. The international settings, the handsome and brI think that I would love to see this book and the rest of the Killer Instincts series as a TV series. The international settings, the handsome and brawny men, the beautiful women... I can just imagine Jim Morgan's crew - D, Trevor, Ethan, Kane, Luke, swaggering around their safe house (think very large estate). These are ex-military off-the-grid lethal warriors - professionals. And Noelle's crew of female operatives - beautiful, efficient, and deadly. The teams work together when one of Noelle's operatives is held by a Colombian drug lord.
Midnight Rescue takes place in Colombia and Mexico and the teams must work together to break up a human trafficking ring. It's an action-packed, thrill a minute read. Not only will the action keep you on your toes, the romance is swoon-worthy. Kane and Abby are a wonderful couple and while the attraction is immediate, it takes time to develop into a romantic relationship. And whoa, these two have chemistry.
While I loved the lead couple Abby and Kane, Abby struck me as a little too impulsive for a trained assassin.
This is an addictive series. I'm off to read the next book in the series Midnight Alias.
Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin for a review copy of this book....more
4.0 - 4.5 stars. This is my first Nicole Peeler book and it certainly won't be the last. I now can't wait to try her other series.
Jinn & Juice is the 4.0 - 4.5 stars. This is my first Nicole Peeler book and it certainly won't be the last. I now can't wait to try her other series.
Jinn & Juice is the story of Lyla, a half-human, half jinn who is almost at the finish line of a thousand year curse. That is, if she is not bound to a magi at the end of the curse. She gets bound to the Magi Oz, who is definitely not your regular Master. Oz needs Lyla's help in order to find a girl who was taken from the refugee camps. Lyla has no choice but to agree to help but she does so on her terms.
There is so much to like about this book. First of all, I loved the cast of characters. What a diverse bunch. We had a jinni, an oracle, a psychic, a troll, a will o' wisp, a siren, and so many other interesting characters not usually seen in urban fantasy books. Lyla was so easy to like - she has a nice sense of empathy considering that she was jinn. And Oz...definitely book boyfriend material. It was like he was very uncomfortable in his role as a Master. The supporting cast was a lot of fun and the villain was just deliciously evil.
The setting was very different. How many books take place in Pittsburgh? Like, would you even think of Pittsburgh as a hub of supernatural activity? I enjoyed how the author explained how Pittsburgh with all of its steel mills kept most of the pure magic supernaturals away. Only the Immunda were able to live there in relative safety.
I enjoyed learning about Lyla's background way back when she was made into a jinn. Fascinating.
Jinn & Juice - magical, captivating, enthralling. Can't wait for the next book in the series.
Thank you to NetGalley and Orbit for a review copy of this book....more
Pre-reading thoughts: Yay! A new series by Rachel Caine! Sounds like a great read for book nerds.
My thoughts: What an interesting book. Ink and Bone iPre-reading thoughts: Yay! A new series by Rachel Caine! Sounds like a great read for book nerds.
My thoughts: What an interesting book. Ink and Bone is perfect for book geeks like us. The story is an alternate history of the world where the Great Library rules all and books are kept away from people. It's a little steampunky, and is full of action and adventure. The beginning was a little slow for me - I think it had something to do with adjusting to the strange world that the author created. All in all, a most satisfying read and I can't wait to read the next one.
Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin for a review copy of this book....more
A solid start to author Chloe Neill's new series Devil's Isle. The book is set in New Orleans seven years after a war with the BeyonAbout 3.5 stars...
A solid start to author Chloe Neill's new series Devil's Isle. The book is set in New Orleans seven years after a war with the Beyond. New Orleans is in the Zone and the city is suffering from a lack of resources. Food is scarce, electricity is spotty, and anyone exhibiting any magical tendencies is isolated at Devil's Isle. I loved the choice of New Orleans for this series. The city has a colorful past full of magic and voodoo making it a perfect setting.
The main character Claire Connolly is a Sensitive and must hide her magical abilities from the authorities. Her biggest fear is that her magic will consume her and cause her to turn into a Wraith. Claire meets bounty hunter Liam Quinn after a brush with a pair of wraiths. Liam is not only good looking, he has fantastic contacts all over the place, even at Devil's Isle. Liam helps Claire get a handle on her magic and they work together to find out what is causing the wraiths to attack.
I enjoyed this story and I feel that this will become a wonderful series. There were a few inconsistencies such as availability of electricity, but they could be overlooked. I loved the secondary characters, especially Gunnar. I can't wait to read more books in this series.
Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Group Berkeley for a review copy of this book.
Update 8/3/15 Angie and I discuss The Veil on Badass Book Reviews. Check it out!
About a 2.5-3 star read for me. As I started reading Cold Burn of Magic, it kind of felt like the author's Elemental Assassins series lite for me. FirAbout a 2.5-3 star read for me. As I started reading Cold Burn of Magic, it kind of felt like the author's Elemental Assassins series lite for me. First, there is the constant mention of eye color (which is a trademark for this author) and second, each meal or food item is detailed almost like a recipe. By the way, the main character Lila loves her bacon.
The heroine reminded me a lot of a younger Gin Blanco with Mo as a Fletcher character. Lila is a likable character: she is street smart, resourceful, and a pretty scrappy fighter. Lila has lived on her own since the death of her mother. She is a successful thief and is able to scale buildings very much like Gin.
The world is also similar. In Elemental Assassins, the town of Ashland is led by corrupt mafia-like groups. The same for this series, except that the mafia-like groups are families.
This series should appeal to young adult readers.
Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington Teen for a review copy of this book....more
This is truly an example of a New Adult book done right.
This book did not make me roll my eyes, or make me cringe at insta-luv, or have a ridiculous lThis is truly an example of a New Adult book done right.
This book did not make me roll my eyes, or make me cringe at insta-luv, or have a ridiculous love triangle. Instead, we are treated to a remarkably normal couple who are working hard to put themselves through school. Both have strong goals, and both work so much it's hard to believe that they even have the time and energy to have a romantic relationship. There's Nadia, who lives with three roommates, works in a daycare and goes to school full time studying to become a special ed teacher. Nadia lives upstairs from Ty, nicknamed Hot Ginger by her roommates. Ty is also working full time, attending night school, and is a father to the cutest 4 year old ever. The two are attracted to each other, but there are complications. The buildup is delicious, the couple are perfect for each other, and Nadia does have a life and friends outside of Ty. And did I mention that Sam is the cutest 4 year old ever?
Initial Thoughts: This was so much fun to read. If you are a fan of steampunk and alternate histories, The Bullet Catcher's Daughter should appeal to Initial Thoughts: This was so much fun to read. If you are a fan of steampunk and alternate histories, The Bullet Catcher's Daughter should appeal to you. Nicely written, fantastic story, resourceful and brainy heroine, and such an interesting world.
The Review: Steampunk and alternate history fans will adore The Bullet-Catcher’s Daughter. Set in England, but not really the England that we know from our history lessons, The Bullet-Catcher’s Daughter is the story of Elizabeth Barnabas, a private investigator reminiscent of Sherlock Holmes. Elizabeth grew up in a traveling carnival and was trained to be a master of illusion by her father. Elizabeth spends most of her time as her alter-ego and twin brother Edwin, as it is easier to travel around as a man. There is also a price on Elizabeth’s head as she was to become an indentured servant as a payment for her father’s debts.
I loved the atmosphere of this book. It’s dark. It’s sombre. Even the clothing lacks bright colors. The England of this world is very Victorian. Women wear long dresses and are accompanied by chaperones. No wonder Elizabeth dresses as a man. England is split into two countries – The Anglo-Scottish Republic and the Kingdom of England and Southern Wales.
The world is nicely fleshed out. The author spent a lot of time and research developing the world of The Gas-Lit Empire and the attention to detail is wonderfully done. If after reading the book you still have questions about this world, there is a handy glossary at the end which adds even more details. In fact, I spent a long time perusing the glossary just because it was very interesting.
Each chapter begins with a quote from The Bullet-Catcher’s Handbook. I think that I enjoyed these the most because they gave a glimpse of the world that Elizabeth grew up in. Here’s an example of the wisdom from the pages of this book:
“To perform the impossible is to show that you have mastered trickery. But to perform the improbable is to leave a suspicion of genius.”
Elizabeth was a perfect heroine. She is resourceful, street-savvy, and she always had her wits about her. Think of how hard it must be to live a double life – Elizabeth did it extremely well.
Oh, and did I mention that there are airships in this book? Yup, airships!
The Bullet-Catcher’s Daughter is a fantastic story, complete with a richly detailed world, colorful characters, and interesting contraptions. The writing is wonderfully done and I can’t wait to read the next book in the series Unseemly Science, scheduled for release next August. More, please!
Thank you to NetGalley and Angry Robot for a review copy of this book.
Memory Zero is a rerelease of Keri Arthur's Spook Squad series.
Set in Melbourne, Australia the book follows Detective Samantha Ryan after she shoots Memory Zero is a rerelease of Keri Arthur's Spook Squad series.
Set in Melbourne, Australia the book follows Detective Samantha Ryan after she shoots and kills her partner of 5 years Jack Kazdan. Only he's not really dead. And Sam has been suspended. And...Sam seems to have some special abilities she was not aware of.
Enter Gabriel Stern of the Special Investigations Unit, a part of a covert group called the Federation and also known as Spook Squad. Gabriel is investigating the case and sees that Sam is unique, something that has not been seen in over 50 years. Sam is interested in proving her innocence - and she likes to work alone - just like Gabriel.
I don't know. It was really hard to stick with this book. I had difficulty connecting to either Sam or Gabriel. Sam played the TSTL card often and took some unnecessary risks with her life. Gabriel was just too secretive for me to fully enjoy the book.
I've got to hand it to Jack. Jack was probably one of the most annoying villains I've encountered in a while.
I felt that the plot could have been better developed, perhaps giving the reader a little more information about the paranormals from the start, rather than making us wonder why the characters were so important.
Thank you to Edelweiss and Dell for a review copy of this book....more
Update 12/25/14 Rock Addiction was chosen as one of Badass Book Reviews favorite contemporary romances of 2014. Read all about it here.
I devoured thUpdate 12/25/14 Rock Addiction was chosen as one of Badass Book Reviews favorite contemporary romances of 2014. Read all about it here.
I devoured this book in one day. I could not put it down. In fact, I really can't think of much more to say other than Ms. Singh has done it again. It seems to me that this author can't go wrong. I loved the chemistry between Molly and Fox. These two have such an intense passion for each other - it made for a hot and steamy read. The supporting characters were entertaining as well.
Favorite quote:
Here's to rock stars with voices like sex and bodies like heaven.
Yup. Cheers!
Thank you to NetGalley and TKA Distribution for a review copy of this book. ...more
Initial Thoughts: Do not read this book late at night when you are all by yourself. You will find yourself reaching for a box of salt, and lots of blaInitial Thoughts: Do not read this book late at night when you are all by yourself. You will find yourself reaching for a box of salt, and lots of blankets and sheets to cover all the mirrors. This book would make a perfect summer horror flick - you know, the kind with the silly teens summoning a ghost for fun - then all hell breaks loose. This is a wild, fun, and very entertaining horror book - and this is coming from someone who doesn't usually read horror. Read at your own risk, :)
The Review: Thankfully, I never got to play Bloody Mary when I was a kid. I don't think that I could have stayed in a dark room, holding hands with my young friends chanting "Bloody Mary." I'd be too freaked out. You see, I generally avoid horror stories. I'm too much of a chicken.
So why did I choose to read Mary: The Summoning? Well, it is marketed as a children's/young adult book, so how scary could it be? The answer: FREAKY SCARY. The author sets the atmosphere well - there's lots of creaky old buildings and the town of Solomon's Folly sounds oh so perfect for a ghost story. And yes, the town is very old, very dark, with a creepy old church full of bats. And Mary - stay away from her - she's quite the vindicative ghost.
Here's a sample of what's in this book:
"In the past, when I watched horror movies because I thought being scared was fun, I always got angry at the characters whose hands shook so badly they dropped the car keys when the monster was chasing them. If someone wanted to survive, she would keep it together long enough to get away. Now, standing in the locker room like a frightened lamb, I understood. Fear shut my body down..."
Mary: The Summoning has excellent entertainment value. It's freaky scary and I actually wanted more.
Thank you to NetGalley and Disney Book Group for a review copy of this book....more
Initial Thoughts: About 3 -3.5 stars. Interesting concept but somehow I feel like I've seen it before. Our main characters use a special device to jumpInitial Thoughts: About 3 -3.5 stars. Interesting concept but somehow I feel like I've seen it before. Our main characters use a special device to jump from one parallel universe to another. On one hand, it was an enjoyable read. On the other hand, it raised way too many questions that I did not feel were well answered. The book is narrated by Marguerite the main character and her perspective was most interesting.
Update 11/20/14 Christal and I talk about this book on Badass Book Reviews as part of the Jumble Your Genres Challenge sponsored by Lovin' los libros. See what we thought and if we will be reading the next book in the series.
Thank you to Edelweiss and Harper Teen for a review copy of this book....more
Initial Thoughts: This was a really fun book to read and I was not aware that this is a spinoff from the author's Spooks series. (By the way, there isInitial Thoughts: This was a really fun book to read and I was not aware that this is a spinoff from the author's Spooks series. (By the way, there is a movie coming out in January 2015, so read them now, the movie looks like an action packed adventure!) Anyhow, back to the book - I had no idea what to expect and I was pleasantly surprised. Tom is the seventh son of a seventh son and because of this, he has some abilities. He is now the Chippenden spook and he is on his own. He guards his country against ghosts, ghasts, boggarts, witches, and other things that go bump in the night. The story is told from two points of view - Tom and his apprentice Jenny. The story is captivating and I almost read it in one sitting. It's a lot of fun and should appeal to young adult readers and up.
The Review: I'm always on the lookout for books that would appeal to that male reluctant reader. I find that when I get excited about a book, there is a very big chance that my youngest who is now 15 may actually pick up that book and read it. A New Darkness by Joseph Delaney should appeal to those kinds of readers, especially those that enjoy spooky ghost stories.
A New Darkness focuses on Tom Ward, the Chippenden Spook and a seventh son of a seventh son. Tom deals with all sorts of things that go bump in the night. He even has a servant that would just as easily eat you if you disturb its routine. Tom is awfully busy and he takes on Jenny as his apprentice - a first since no other girl has ever been a Spook prior to this. Together they fight some very scary (and deadly) creatures.
The story is told from both Tom and Jenny's point of view so we really get to be inside their heads and learn each character's motivations. I enjoyed the story telling style and I had a lot of fun reading this book.
Tom is confident in his abilities but he is quite modest. I found that he seemed much more mature than his 17 years. Tom takes the time to research and learn about his opponents - a good life preservation skill. Jenny is quite indepedent. She has some useful gifts - influence, empathy, among others and she wants to make a good impression. The two are well suited for each other.
Warning! This book does have a bit of a cliffhanger ending. I really can't wait for the next installment in the series. A New Darkness is a solid start to The Starblade Chronicles.
Thank you to Edelweiss and Harper Collins for a review copy of this book....more
Initial Thoughts:5 Golden Stars for this wonderful and most captivating story. Thanks to all my GR friends who recommended this book. One of my favoriInitial Thoughts:5 Golden Stars for this wonderful and most captivating story. Thanks to all my GR friends who recommended this book. One of my favorite reads of 2014!
The Review: It is really difficult to review this book without giving away spoilers, so below you will find my general thoughts about this book.
WOW!
OK, all kidding aside, this is what I thought:
This has got to be one of my top 10 reads of 2014. I know that I’ve said this before, but 2014 has been a great year for books.
Half A King was such a wonderful read for me. I loved being immersed in the world created by Joe Abercrombie. The writing was well done and I found myself marking so many passages. Take this quote for example:
“He had always been weak, but he never felt truly powerless until they made him king.”
Half A King is the story of Yarvi, a character groomed to be anything but king. Yarvi was born missing parts of one hand and his disability made him less than desirable to be king. I liked that his character was flawed and that he had to use his brains.
What I liked about this story was how Yarvi’s circumstances changed throughout the book. At the beginning, he is a student of the ministry because he was not suitable to become king. Then due to some unexpected deaths, Yarvi was crowned king. After a betrayal, Yarvi finds himself a slave forced to take on work as an oarsman on a ship. The story then takes on another aspect and becomes a survival story with an amazing revelation at the end. Throughout the entire story, Yarvi grows and matures.
If you are a fan of Game of Thrones, there’s a good chance you’ll enjoy Half A King. Like the Iron Throne on the show, there’s a lot of jockeying for the Black Chair in the book.
Initial Thoughts:This book is being re-released by Sourcebooks Casablanca this May. If you've never read a historical romance or were afraid to do so,Initial Thoughts:This book is being re-released by Sourcebooks Casablanca this May. If you've never read a historical romance or were afraid to do so, this zany comedy might be a good place to start. Noble Intentions has an eccentric cast of characters including two farting dogs, the Tremayne triplets, a butler who looks and sounds like a pirate, four mistresses, and the list goes on. Gillian brings all the characters together and manages to control the temper (sometimes) of her newlywed husband Noble as forces work to destroy his reputation. A hilarious read with some really madcap situations.
The Review: If you’ve always been leery of reading historical romances (I know I was), Noble Intentions is a good introduction to the genre with the added bonus of some incredibly zany, slapstick comedy to lighten the read.
Noble Intentions is the story of Gillian Leigh, a 25 year old spinster who is living with her aunt and uncle in London. Gillian is tall, beautiful, and a social pariah due to her rather “Unfortunate Habit” of speaking her thoughts. “Unfortunate Accidents” also plague Gillian. Every social situation Gillian finds herself in seems to end up in flames. Literally. Think Lucille Ball in the I Love Lucy show and you have an idea of what you are in for.
Gillian’s love interest is Noble Britton, the Black Earl, Lord Wessex. To Gillian, he is simply her “Lord of Lusciousness”, “Lord of Magnificence”, or her “Lord of Miracles” to name a few. Noble is attracted to Gillian immediately and after a short and hilarious courtship (funniest proposal ever), they marry.
Gillian manages to endear herself to all around her – her new husband, his eccentric employees, his ex-mistresses, even his rivals. All rally around Gillian to protect her and to protect Noble from himself. Gillian also takes Noble’s mute son under her wing and takes on the role of mother immediately.
This book had me laughing out loud throughout. Only Gillian could get into such funny situations or make such astute observations (I am still chuckling about a “broken” body part. Even Gillian’s dogs provide comic relief with their ongoing digestive problems. I’d recommend this book to anyone looking for a light, humorous read.
Thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Casablanca for a review copy of this book.
Initial Thoughts: A bit of a slow start to this amusing story about a young boy who plays with magic and finds out that he got more than he bargained Initial Thoughts: A bit of a slow start to this amusing story about a young boy who plays with magic and finds out that he got more than he bargained for. Sean Wyndham finds an old book and inside the book an old newspaper clipping advertising for a magician's apprentice - only the ad has an email address. Curiosity gets the better of Sean and he applies for the position. This is a fun story and the magic is quite intriguing. I especially liked Geldman's pharmacy - so cool. This is a perfect story for kids in middle school and up, though younger readers may find parts a little scary.
The Review: Summoned by Anne M. Pillsworth is the first book in her new series Redemption's Heir. In Summoned, Sean Wyndham answers an ad to become an apprentice in magic. He's given a fairly easy task - he is to summon an Aether Newt as a familiar. Sean loves the idea and decides to do the summoning as his summer project for school. Only - you guessed it - things don't go according to plan.
Summoned was an enjoyable read for me. The magic was interesting, especially Geldman's pharmacy which was a pharmacy like no other, and so unique that only Sean could see it. There were some amazing dream sequences as well.
Summoned should appeal to young adult readers looking for books about magic and witchcraft. I'm very excited to hear that there are other books planned for this series.
Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Tor/Forge for a review copy of this book. ...more
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