Review: Deadlocked by Charlaine Harris

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Genre:   Paranormal

Release Date:  May 2012    

Series:  Southern Vampire Mysteries/Sookie Stackhouse Novels, Book #12

Publisher: Ace/Penguin

Author Website: http://www.charlaineharris.com/

Pages:  336

Source:  Purchased

Rating:  Four Flowers Of Love

Book Blurb

It’s vampire politics as usual around the town of Bon Temps, but never before have they hit so close to Sookie’s heart…

Review: Dead Reckoning by Charlaine Harris

Genre:   Paranormal

Release Date:  May 2011

Series:  Sookie Stackhouse, Southern Vampire, Book #11

Publisher:  Ace Books/Penguin Group

Author Website:  Charlaine Harris

Format Read:  Ebook

Pages:  336

Source:  Borrowed

Rating:  Three Flowers Of Love

ARC Review: Mystify by Artist Arthur

Series:  Mystyx, Book #2

Genre:   YA, Paranormal

Release Date:  January 18, 2011

Publisher:  Kimani Tru

Author Website:  http://www.artistarthurbooks.com

Format I Read:  ARC ebook

Pages:  248 (Nook pgs)

Source:  Net Galley

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Book Blurb

Sometimes being an outsider is the best way to fit in… 

Sasha Carrington has grown up feeling like an outsider, and her parents are too concerned with scaling the Lincoln, Connecticut, social ladder to even notice her. They’d be really horrified to know about the supernatural abilities Sasha and her friends Krystal and Jake possess. But as part of the Mystyx, Sasha has found her place.

Now her parents have suddenly taken an interest in everything she does, and their timing couldn’t be worse. Sasha’s father wants her to become BFFs with snooty Alyssa Turner, who hates Krystal for stealing her boyfriend. Then there’s Antoine Watson, the boy Sasha has liked forever, the boy her parents would never approve of. But with the dark side getting more dangerous by the day, and the Mystyx’s own powers growing in unexpected ways, Sasha is facing choices that could affect her friends, her love life—and even her destiny…"

Awesomeness:

“Life is not about what we want, Sasha.  It’s about what’s best for us, for our family, our legacy.  Want rarely comes into play.”

What he really means is that want rarely comes into play where I’m concerned.  My parents seem to have everything their chilly little hearts desire.  Me, on the other hand, well, let’s just say I’m not like my parents.  Some days I wake up and even consider requesting a DNA test.

My Thoughts 

This is another YA series that I continue to enjoy. Artist Author has created a paranormal adventure featuring a teenage clique of supernaturals that keep me tagging along as they deal with their personal dramas and use their powers to deal with the Darkness that is stalking them.

In the latest book, the story turns to Sasha.   Her friends continue to judge her and think she’s a stuck up “Richie” simply because her parents are.  I thought she was a likable character, a little bratty and spoiled at times, but overall she was more mature than her friends, Krystal and Jake. 

Jake and Krystal got on my nerves in this book.  I always thought that Krystal was self centered, but she really out does herself in this book.  And Jake has serious anger issues.  His story is the next book, so hopefully I’ll be able to have a better understanding of who he is and what he’s dealing with personally before I start to hate him.

A new member was introduced to the supernatural clique and she seems to balance out the trio which is a good thing because their friendship was seriously headed for an ugly break up.

I am anxious to figure out the mystery of the “M” birthmarks and how all the kids ended up in the same town or exactly why they have their powers.  The mysteries are slowly unfolding, giving me just enough bits of information to keep me following the story.  

Overall I really liked Mystify and will continue reading the series.  I am very interested to know what in the world is going on with the Darkness and what it’s really after. 

Rating

4 flowers of love.  Very good and a recommended read.

Other Books In This Series:

Manifest, Book #1

Mayhem, Book #3 (August 2011)

Other Reviews Of This Book:

Goodreads

Shelfari

Review: Ecstasy In Darkness by Gena Showalter

Series:  Alien Huntress, Book #5

Genre:   Romance, Paranormal, Sci-Fi

Release Date:  October 2010

Publisher:  Pocket Star Books

Author Website: http://members.genashowalter.com/

Format I Read:  Paperback

Pages:  502

Source:  Purchased

Read an excerpt

Book Blurb

Growing up poor on New Chicago’s meanest streets, Ava Sans had two options: be the predator or be the prey. No contest. Now, working for Alien Investigation and Removal, she’s been ordered to capture the biggest, baddest warrior of all—a vampire too beautiful to be real, with the ability to manipulate time. Once the leader of the entire vampire army, McKell has been deemed savage and unstable, spurned even by his own kind.

To McKell, humans should be nothing more than sustenance. Yet the petite, golden-skinned Ava is a fascinating contradiction—vicious yet witty, strong yet vulnerable, lethal but fiercely loyal. Against his better judgment, McKell craves that loyalty, and much more. When the chase leads to seduction, McKell and Ava will race to discover the truth about his past. But the answers will come at a price, even for a woman who thought she had nothing left to lose. . . .

Awesomeness:

One of Ava’s requirements for a man had been “rich”.  “I want enough money to last an eternity making this woman happy.”

“So I’m your sugar daddy now?”  

My Thoughts

I officially have new love for all things Gena Showalter.  Ecstasy in Darkness is a must read.  The story is full of the same humor and action that I’ve come to love with each Alien Huntress book that I have read.

All the characters are over the top funny.  I especially loved the characters of Ava and Noelle.  They bicker and call each names but really are the best friends.  They love and support each other like sisters and get a tad violent with anyone that crosses them.

I also loved the sexy and dysfunctional relationship between Ava and McKell.  Although they were hot for each other, Ava just couldn’t seem to stop beating up on him.  Besides being Ava’s enemy, McKell was suppose to be the scariest of all vampires but he turned out to be a simple man in awe of his mate.  He was so eager to take any beating she dished out just as long as she kissed it and made it better. 

The story was easy to follow and I just couldn’t stop cracking up at the dialogue.  Although the book was long as hell, it never got boring.  There was always action, crazy moments, and enough romance to keep me turning pages.

Overall, I would recommend this book.  Gena Showalter’s Alien Huntress series gets better with each installment.  Ecstasy In Darkness  was funny as hell and McKell can bite me anytime -just as long as Ava doesn’t kick my ass.

Flowers Of Love Rating

1/2

Very good read and highly recommended

Other Books In This Series:

Awaken Me Darkly

Enslave Me Sweetly

Savor Me Slowly

Seduce The Darkness

Tempt Me Eternally 
Dark Taste Of Rapture (coming August 2011)

Other Reviews Of This Book:

Goodreads

Shelfari

ARC Review and Giveaway: Human Blend by Lori Pescatore

Series:  The Blend, Book #1

Genre:  YA, Fantasy, Romance, Sci-Fi

Released:  June 2010

Publisher:  Self Published

Author Website:  http://www.facebook.com/pages/Lori-Pescatore-Author/141156271014

Format I Read:  ARC Paperback

Pages:  231

Source:  Author

Book Blurb

Marion, Virginia seemed like a nice place to live a normal life, but she is not a normal girl. Laney has special abilities that keep her looking over her shoulder as she makes her escape from the men who had kidnapped her. 

A young doctor's interest is piqued when he witnesses her mysteriously curing a young child's illness. He befriends her due to his growing fascination with uncovering the true nature of her abilities, but not without harboring secrets of his own.

Laney's budding relationship with a local boy puts both of them in danger when the men she was hiding from find her. All of their lives will change forever as ancient secrets become unearthed. 

 Awesome Line:

“Sure you can take care of yourself.  That’s why we all spent the last two days chasing after you and that crazy-ass thug with a death wish.  Face it, Julie, your life screams ‘damsel in distress’”

My Thoughts

I did not know what to think going into this book.  The book has an interesting cover and a unique plot that keep me interested.

Human Blend is about Laney (Julie) who has a combination of unusual abilities.  She was kidnapped as a child so she’s never been taught how to use her abilities, where they came from, or exactly what they are.  All she knows is to do whatever she is told to stay alive.  She has tried several times to escape, but each time they find her, anyone that has come in contact with her or tried to help her in anyway end up dead.

Human Blend is another good book that kept me wondering what would happen next.  It has romance, action, a little bit of paranormal mixed with science fiction and fantasy. 

I immediately liked Laney and felt her pain of wanting to fit in and just be normal.  She was young and naïve so she naturally she sucked at fitting in. Her first mistake was choosing a small town where everyone knew each other and someone new would easily stand out.  She also had that vibe where anyone that came in contact with her never forgot meeting her.  Besides being beautiful and super sweet, her vibe drew people to her and made them take notice.  At times, that vibe drew unwanted attention, but in the end, it provided her with the protection that she desperately needed.

The love triangle kept me frustrated because I couldn’t decide who I wanted Laney to end up with. Austin was the sweet, romantic guy next door that she easily fell for.  But knowing her past might catch up with her at any moment, she could never be completely honest with him and tell him about her life because there was no way he’d ever understand.   She also didn’t want him to get hurt.

Then there was Eli, the handsome doctor with secrets of his own.  He had a way of seeing right through Laney’s lies and making her trust him enough to share. I have to admit, when Eli was introduced, all I could think about was Dr. Cullen from Twilight.  Weird, but the mysterious doctor had vampire written all over him, or so I thought.  I had him pegged all wrong, but I enjoyed finding out about him and the other not so human characters in this book.

Another character that I liked was Marcus.  He was also a mysterious and a little too blunt with his words.  All of his scenes were memorable and funny as hell.   

Rating.

I give Human Blend four flowers of love because the story doesn’t have the usual paranormal creatures in it, but something new to wonder about.  I can’t wait for the next book so I can learn more about the characters and their origins.

Other Reviews Of This Book:

Goodreads

Shelfari

Giveaway

Lori has been sweet enough to offer a copy of Human Blend for giveaway.  This contest is open internationally and the winner will have the choice of receiving an ebook or print copy.  The contest will end Jan 3^rd. Here’s how to enter

• Must be a follower of this blog
• Must comment on this post
• Must read Contest and Giveaway Rules
• Must follow Lori Pescatore on Facebook or Twitter
• Must fill out the entry form

Good luck!!!

Review: Born To Bite by Lynsay Sands

Series:  Argeneau Series, Book # 13

Genre:  Paranormal Romance

Published:  August 2010

Publisher:  Avon Books

Author Website: www.lynsaysands.net 

Format I Read:  Paperback Copy

Pages: 358

Souce:  Purchased

Read an excerpt

Book Summary:

Eshe d’Aureus is sent to Armand Argeneau under the auspice that she needs a safe place to hide from a rogue out for revenge, but Eshe is really on the job. She's been saddled with the task of finding out why Armand's wives keep dying, and what it has to do with his son Nicholas and the murder Nicholas is accused of committing 50 years ago. She's Nicholas's only hope of avoiding being executed for a murder he may or may not have committed. Eshe's agreed to take on the task, but that was before she realized she couldn't read Armand and he is the life mate she's been waiting for.

Armand Argeneau’s first sight of Eshe was her roaring up on a motorcycle that appeared to be aflame. That was inconspicuous?! She had the grace of a panther, the attitude of a pit bull and openly enjoyed thwarting Lucian’s orders whenever possible . . . all of which delighted him immensely . . . until he realized he couldn't read the woman and she might be a life mate. Having already lost a life mate and two wives to suspicious circumstances, Armand isn't willing to risk losing another. Unfortunately, sending her away was pretty difficult when he couldn't keep his thoughts, not to mention his hands, off her. It seems it's time to once again try to get to the bottom of the deaths of his first three wives. While Armand's tried before, he's also failed, but this time he could lose his son as well as his life mate.

My Thoughts

First of all I’m glad that Lyndsay Sands has kept this series going for so long.  I haven’t read all the books in the series so some of the characters are foreign to me, but I’ve enjoyed each story that I have read.

I also like that the vamps are referred to as immortals and that their origins are based on the fall of Atlantis.  They don’t bite humans, but they do consume human blood.  I’ve always thought that it was clever and funny each time they feed by “popping” the blood bags to their fangs.  It’s weird and different and I guess that’s why I like the series.

Eshe is an immortal enforcer sent to find out if Armand has become a rogue immortal.  Everyone has always suspected him of being a cold hearted bastard, but Eshe must find out if the women in his life are dying from accidents or if he is murdering them. 

I liked the story and the characters, but Eshe and Armand didn’t do for me as a couple.  Sure they were entertaining, but their story is just not one of my favorites.

I did enjoy Bricker’s presence.  He was always good for blunt observations and witty comments.

The mystery of who the killer was kept me reading.  I am a sucker for a good mystery and while I saw the killer’s identity coming a mile away, the outcome of the revelation totally surprised me.

My  Rating

I give Born To Bite three and a half flowers of love.  It’s not my favorite of the series, but I enjoyed reading it.

 

1/2

Review: Watch Me, Desire Me by Carolina Barbour

Genre:  Erotica, Paranormal, Vampires

Published:  September 2010

Publisher:  Siren-Bookstrand

Format Read: ebook

Pages:  314 (Nook pages)

How I Got It:  Reviewed for Black Raven Reviews

Read an excerpt

Book Summary:

Striking beauty Saxby Darling weds Lord Milo DeCapri and has all the world to do with as she pleases until one foolish action leaves her life in shambles. When she tries to kill her husband, he dispatches word to his brother, Juden Van Zandt-DeCapri, to come to his aid, and Juden arrives like the eye of a storm. Saxby has reason to fear Juden. She knows he didn’t come for revenge. He came for blood.

Juden is a variant, human and vampire, with an unforgiving and dangerous countenance. He immediately turns on Saxby. Unsettled by his appearance and actions, Saxby distrusts Juden right away and tries to keep him at arm’s length. The idea is impossible, however, as she is thrust into a world of twisted plots where she fears for her life and unwillingly is forced to side with Juden to save herself. What terrifies her most? Saxby can’t decide if she is fighting with or against Juden.

My Thoughts:

Saxby has been trapped in a sexless marriage since the accident that caused her husband Milo’s paralysis. She continues to be the dutiful wife by caring for him and seeing to his every comfort. Overcome with guilt, she feels she has no right to refuse when Milo hires random men to share her bed while he watches.

Milo is disgusted with his wife and blames her for taking away his manhood. Since he can no longer enjoy sex, he makes sure that Saxby will never be able to. He rejoices each time he sends a new man to her bed with strict instructions of using his wife as the whore he believes her to be.

Watch Me, Desire Me is a very hot read. It has so much family drama; I could swear I was watching my favorite soap opera. It’s full of lies and deceit, and enough sex to make you want to smoke a cigar after reading.

I felt sorry for Saxby in the beginning because she was stuck in a loveless marriage and didn’t have control over her own household. After Juden arrived, I started to dislike her. Of all the people she should defy or stand up to, she chose the one that had her best interest at heart.

I loved Juden. Although he was brought into the story for scandalous reasons, his character demanded attention. Despite the reputation that he carried, he turned out to be an awesome guy.

The one problem I had with the book was the abundance of sex. I did feel that some of the sex scenes could have been left out because at one time, it really overshadowed the storyline and caused me to skip ahead.

Don’t get me wrong, Juden is a true sex god. His scenes with Saxby were scorching hot, but after so many back to back romps, I lost interest and wanted more of the real story.

My Rating:

I give Watch Me, Desire Me four and a half flowers of love. The story is hot and will leave you wanting more. If you love romance with a touch of drama and suspense, you’re definitely in for a treat.

 1/2

Review: Love Bites by Margie Church

Author:  Margie Church

Series:   Love Bites

Genre:  Parnormal, Erotica, Romance

Published:  August 2010

Publisher:  Noble Romance Publisher

How I Got It:  Reviewed for author

Book Summary:

An accidental encounter turns into high stakes love when Jui Fabrice meets Wade Kairos in Germany. She has no idea he’s a vampire and Wade has every intention of keeping his secret.

A vineyard cottage is the perfect place for Jui and Wade to make love until he discovers her unique link to his living years. He vows to stay away from her forever, but he can’t let her go completely. Wade’s repressed human feelings continue rising. He invades Jui’s dreams and communicates telepathically with her at will. Evil jealousy consumes him when Jui becomes involved with Rob Hawthorne and she rebukes Wade for his controlling behaviors.

Then Wade’s lifelong companion dies in a vamp war and his desolation is too much to
handle alone. He turns to the only person who cares about him—Jui—and for one hot night, he becomes the man she’s wanted all along.

The Ancient One, Ladislav Husek, learns of Wade’s risky human behavior and gives Wade a taste of how viciously he’ll die if he doesn’t bury his tracks with Jui. Husek promises to turn Jui into his personal playmate and Wade has to choose. Can love prevail over evil in a relationship that never was supposed to happen?

My Thoughts

I love a good vampire story and Love Bites did not disappoint.

Wade is a typical vamp.   He’s handsome and doesn’t mind using his vamp charm to secure as much blood and sex as he desires.  He’s also arrogant as hell which makes for plenty of temper tantrums when he doesn’t get his way. 

Jui is the object of his affections and while she pretty much offers herself up on a platter, he chooses to torment the both of them by not giving in to what they both obviously want.  For one, her mysterious tie to his past haunts him, and two, he would rather her remember him as what she thinks he is:  a stranger that she almost had random sex with and not a creature from her worst nightmare.

I loved the fact that Jui and Wade had an unspoken romance.  They were worlds apart, but always in each other’s thoughts and hearts.  Despite the fact that I thought they were causing themselves unnecessary drama, their idiot drama is what kept me flipping pages.

In most vampire stories you read about the possessive vamp that acknowledges his mate, takes her like a brute, and pretends to be totally confused when she doesn’t return his love.  Most of the time its destiny and the female must learn to love her beast or suffer.   In Love Bites, Wade forces Jui to live her human life, without him.  It hurts them both in the long run, but he is determined not to let her catch a glimpse of his private hell. 

And while Jui is living her human life, Wade is always lurking in her shadow slowly losing his grip on his last human emotions.

My  Rating  

This is my first book by Margie Church and I loved it.  I give Love Bites five flowers of love and a place on my fav bookshelf.   Margie served up the perfect HEA, with an unexpected twist. 

Read an excerpt  

BTW, interview with Margie will post later today.

Review: Cria by Suzanne Rock

Title:  Cria
Author:  Suzanne Rock
Series:  None
Released:  May 2010
Genre:  Paranormal, Erotic Romance
How I Got It:  Ebook from Dark Diva Reviews 

*Original review posted at Dark Diva Reviews

Book Summary

Deep in the heart of the Amazon Jungle, an ancient breeding race begins… Ever since she was jilted by her lover, Aleta had been subjected to humiliation by her Jaguarundi tribe. Not anymore. She is determined to emerge from her final Cria unmated, and finally be free of tribal traditions and her overbearing father. Aleta has plans -- bigger plans than her father’s desire to see her marked by some oafish warrior in an outdated breeding competition. After the Cria she’ll move to the city and start fresh, leaving her clan -- and her broken heart -- behind. Unfortunately, the past is unwilling to let her go. Forced to abandon Aleta when he went into exile, Luiz knows that this Cria will be his last chance to reclaim what is rightfully his. When a surprise encounter doesn’t go exactly as planned, he realizes it will take more than a little seduction for Aleta to forgive the sins of the past. The race is on, and the battle of wills has begun. Everyone knows that in the Cria anything can happen, and with the stakes this high, all bets are off.

My Thoughts
Suzanne Rock is one author that does a great job of steaming up pages without a forced feeling. Cria is my second novella that I have read by this author and at this point, I love everything that I have read.  The only complaint that I have is that the story was too short!  I would love to sink my claws into one of her full length reads and fan myself as her characters take their time getting to know one another. 

While Cria was a quick read, it did not disappoint me in any way.   Cria’s plot was well written and the story was easy to follow.  The writing was so vivid that you could not help but get wrapped up in the main character’s emotions. The chemistry between Aleta and Luiz oozed off the page.  They were both strong alpha like characters that needed each other to feel complete.  Their romance was chaotic because of past betrayals and misunderstandings and their attraction was passionate and unavoidable because they were true soul mates.

My Rating    I give Cria four flowers of love.  While, it didn't earn a place on my fav bookshelf,  Suzanne Rock is now one of my fav authors.  This book is definitely a super hot read.
Read an excerpt here

Manifest by Artist Arthur

Title:  Manifest
Author:  Artist Arthur
Released:  August 1, 2010
Series: Mystyx, Book 1
How I Got It:  received ebook from Net Galley for review

Book Summary:

When fifteen-year-old Krystal Bentley moves to Lincoln, Connecticut, her mom's hometown, she assumes her biggest drama will be adjusting to the burbs after living in New York City.

But Lincoln is nothing like Krystal imagined. The weirdness begins when Ricky Watson starts confiding in her. He's cute, funny, a good listener-and everything she'd ever want-except that he was killed a year ago. Krystal's ghost-whispering talents soon lead other "freaks" to her door-Sasha, a rich girl who can literally disappear, and Jake, who moves objects with his mind. All three share a distinctive birthmark in the shape of an M and, fittingly call themselves the Misfits. They set out to learn what really happened to Ricky, only to realize that they aren't the only ones with mysterious powers. But if Krystal succeeds in finding out the truth about Ricky's death, will she lose him for good?

My Thoughts:
Normally, I don't read a lot of teen books but every now and then I hear good things about certain ones and have to find out what all the hype is about.

After reading Manifest, I was glad that I did.  Most teen stories don't hold my interest, but this one had me interested from the very first page.

Krystal is a troubled teen that can't seem to figure out where her life got turned upside down.  She's so angry at the decisions that have been made for her, that she lashes out at anyone that comes near her.  Her father won't return her calls, her mother is living in la la land, her new stepfather can't stand her,  and the cute ghost boy won't leave her alone. 

Ricky is recently deceased  but hasn't quite made it over to the other side. Krystal is his only connection to finding out what happened to him, but she's so caught up in her own nightmare to be concerned.

At several points in the story, I wanted to snatch Krystal and beat the brakes off her.  She wasn't a typical teen, she was actually a poster child for kids that need discipline.  But despite my feelings for the little brat, I came to love her and her story.

It's been awhile since I've read a good mystery and this book hit the spot.  It had so many twists and turns, you never knew what was going to come up next.  As far as suspects, no one was safe, because I found myself suspecting everybody.

When this book comes out, it will be going on my shelf, right next to all my other favorites.

My Rating
I give Manifest five stars because it was a wonderful read.  I do recommend this book to anyone that enjoys young adult and a good mystery.  I can't wait for the other books in this new series to come out. 

Read and excerpt from Manifest

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