Something Wiccan This Way Comes & Wiccan Cool: Traci Hall

Recently, I revived copies of Something Wiccan This Way Comes and Wiccan Cool to review. I had a good time reading more in the Rhiannon Godfrey story that began with Her Wiccan, Wiccan Ways.  I read books 2 and 3 back to back. The stories reminded me of how much chaos is involved in a teenagers life. There were times when I read a passage that all I could do was wince. Because, I can remember when I was that impulsive and irrational (otherwise known as being a teen in the Midwest).  Reading more about the secondary characters was great, and some of the new characters are welcome additions to the lineup. Overall, I enjoyed this series.

If you enjoy Young Adult Paranormals, give Traci Hall’s stories a try.

SomethingWiccanThisWayComes

Description (Amazon)
What’s a girl to do when trouble finds her at every turn? Being different is nothing new for Rhiannon Godfrey. Neither is hiding who she really is to all but a select few. So far she’s managed to walk that line, but now someone is spreading rumors that the Godfrey’s New Age store is really a front for witchcraft, complete with cauldrons and eyes of newt. The whole town is turning against them even Rhee’s boyfriend is suspicious. Then there’s her ex-crush Matthew, who just showed up uninvited on her doorstep carrying a single suitcase and a heavy secret. Rhiannon tries to be good, she really does. But its hard when trouble pounces at every turn, and her unsuccessful spells seem to prove that science is the only path to enlightenment. Hiding her gifts and running from confrontation is easier than standing up for what she believes in. But this time, there’s more at stake. And the possibility she may have to find the inner strength to banish one friend in order to save WiccanCool another.

Description (Amazon)

-Normal- is highly overrated. And as easy to lose as your balance-

A Rhiannon Godfrey story.

At long last, Rhiannon is starting to fit into the ninth grade. She and Jared are starting to flirt again, and school is fine except for the mandatory student community service hours. She’s even learned to bank her psychic powers.

For the most part.

Then there’s Dane, the intriguing, infuriating guy who’s her community service student supervisor. He’s got -angry teen- down to a science. Without even trying, he slips past her emotional shields, challenging her to be the one thing she’s most afraid of-herself.

For Rhee, that’s as scary as the ghost haunting the silo behind Doyle’s ice cream parlor. A ghost that’s somehow connected to the shadows in Dane’s eyes. All she really wants is, for once in her life, to be normal. But for a girl like her, -normal- isn’t just an impossible dream, it can be downright dangerous.

Especially if it means embracing her gifts-and opening her heart.

 

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Some Girls Bite: Chloe Neill

I had a lot of fun reading this one and I hope to read more in the series. The main character is likable, hip, and strong. Along with the action there is quite a bit if humor throughout the book. It’s a great read.

Publisher: NAL Trade
Publication Date: April 2009
Format: Paper (Library)
Author Web Site: http://www.chloeneill.com/
Rating: Recommend, Series Read Continue

Description (Amazon)SomeGirlsBite
Sure, the life of a graduate student wasn’t exactly glamorous, but it was Merit’s. She was doing fine until a rogue vampire attacked her. But he only got a sip before he was scared away by another bloodsucker—and this one decided the best way to save her life was to make her the walking undead.

Turns out her savior was the master vampire of Cadogan House. Now she’s traded sweating over her thesis for learning to fit in at a Hyde Park mansion full of vamps loyal to Ethan “Lord o’ the Manor” Sullivan. Of course, as a tall, green-eyed, four-hundred- year-old vampire, he has centuries’ worth of charm, but unfortunately he expects her gratitude— and servitude. But an inconvenient sunlight allergy and Ethan’s attitude are the least of her concerns. Someone’s still out to get her. Her initiation into Chicago’s nightlife may be the first skirmish in a war—and there will be blood.

Darkness Calls: Marjorie M. Liu

I have a fondness for Marjorie M. Liu’s work and Darkness Calls does not disappoint. I like the idea of living tattoos, it is an interesting concept.

Publisher: AceDarknessCalls
Publication Date: June 2009
Format: Kindle
Author Web Site: http://marjoriemliu.com/
Rating: Recommend, Series Read Continue

Description (Amazon)
Demon hunter Maxine Kiss, inked with living tattoos, is on a mission to rescue the man she loves from a bloodthirsty army. To save him, Maxine has only one choice: to lose control—and release her own powers of darkness.

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Skin Trade: Laurell K. Hamilton

Skin Trade

I have been reading the Anita Blake series since it came out and I haven’t been enjoying the series as much with the later books as I did in the beginning. The departure from the animator activities into the sex feeding has been a little over the top for me. I could take it if there was a balance “Work/Life Balance" so to speak. But that balance has been lacking in the last several books. I do enjoy erotica and the Meredith series is truly a guilty pleasure for me, but I also enjoyed the original up-tight Anita. If the series had started out sexual, I wouldn’t have an issue…. but I miss the tone of the first few books.

Skin Trade is less sexy than the latest few in the series (I think the first encounter is around past the halfway point). But it still has a way to go before it captures the magic that she created at the beginning. I do enjoy it when Anita and Edward interact, that was a great part of the book. But I could really take or leave the rest of it. Definitely a library book.

Publisher: Berkley
Publication Date: June 2009
Format: Paper (Library)
Series: Anta Blake series book 17
Author Web Site: http://www.laurellkhamilton.org/
Reason for reading:
Rating: Ho Humm

Description (Amazon)
A proven series with a hot new look. The #1 bestselling author returns with her most anticipated novel yet.
When a vampire serial killer sends Anita Blake a grisly souvenir from Las Vegas, she has to warn Sin City’s local authorities what they’re dealing with. Only it’s worse than she thought. Ten officers and one executioner have been slain—paranormal style. Anita heads to Vegas, where’s she’s joined by three other federal marshals, including the ruthless Edward. It’s a good thing he always has her back, because when she gets close to the bodies, Anita senses “tiger” too strongly to ignore it. The weretigers are very powerful in Las Vegas, which means the odds of her rubbing someone important the wrong way just got a lot higher.

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Doomsday Can Wait: Lori Handeland

This is a good series for fans of UF, Fantasy, and Romance. It’s a fast paced ride with several creep crawlies. The heroine is likable and has some vulnerabilities that the reader can appreciate.

Publisher: St. Martin’s Paperbacks

Publication Date: April 28 2009

Format: Paper (Library)

Description (Amazon)DoomsdayCanWait

It took the near annihilation of humanity for Liz Phoenix to understand the true meaning of her premonitions. Liz is one of the sacred few on earth who has the psychic powers to fight the malevolent forces that have tried to wipe out the human race since the beginning of time. She battled these beings once, thwarting Doomsday but losing most of her soldiers in the massacre. Now she must replenish her troops quickly—because the supernatural war isn’t over yet.

As the new leader of the federation, Liz is marked for death by a Navajo witch with a link to her past. To survive, she must rely on her few remaining allies—her mentor, a shaman with too many secrets, as well as ex-lover, Jimmy Sanducci. Bringing Jimmy into the mix is a dangerous move, for Liz’s darkest desires are razor-sharp—and her longing for Jimmy is at a fever pitch. But can Liz afford to give into the cravings that burn inside her, with the next shot at Doomsday just around the corner? This time, if evil wins, chaos will reign—and the world as we know it will be lost forever…

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Rating: Recommend, Series Read Continue

Cry Mercy: Toni Andrews

CryMercy

This is the third book in the Mercy series and I think it’s as good as the first. With each book the reader is given another layer of insight to the main character, Mercy. The story telling is first rate. I can’t wait for the next in the series.

Publisher: Mira
Publication Date: June 2009
Format: Print

Author Web Site: http://www.toniandrews.com/

Rating: Recommend, Series read continue

Description (Amazon)
I just want a normal life…even if I’m not entirely sure I’m human.

My name is Mercy Hollings and I’m a successful hypnotherapist in Balboa, California. The problem is, my good fortune is dependent on a dark secret. I can make people do whatever I want using telepathy, a power I call "the press." And that ability has hurt some people I never wanted to hurt, so I try to keep it under wraps.

I also try to keep people at a distance…at least, I used to. Recently a group of fearless characters broke through my self-imposed walls and became my friends: Sukey, my receptionist-turned-P.I.; Tino, a Chicano gang leader; Hilda, a wealthy society widow; Grant, a retired millionaire—and Sam, my sexy-as-hell ex-boyfriend.

But with friends comes drama. Tino has inadvertently led me into the dark world of gang violence, and Sukey has pushed me into searching for my biological parents, the only people who can finally tell me who—or what—I really am.

Bitten to Death & One More Bite : Jennifer Rardin

Jaz Parks is a fun character. I really enjoy reading about her antics and adventures. I think the thing that I love the most about this series is that main couple isn’t on the fast track to the bedroom. It’s not all about the sex with a Jaz Parks story, and that is great. Because the other elements to these books are terrific… humor, adventure, sarcasm, etc…

bitten_to_deathDescription
Jaz Parks here. My latest mission has taken me to the ancient Greek city of Patras; but instead of soaking up its splendor, I’m here to infiltrate a Vampere Trust. Only two vamps have ever escaped the tightly bound communities and lived to tell the tale: Edward "The Raptor"Samos, the most reviled criminal mastermind in recent memory, and Vayl, the CIA’s number one assassin who also happens to be my boss.
The Raptor is trying to take over Vayl’s former Trust. Unfortunately the Trust’s new leader has her own plans.
This job is going to be the death of me.

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DescriptionOneMoreBite (Amazon)
It’s Jaz Parks. I’ve already smoked the guy who was the pain in the CIA’s you-know-what for the past few years. But now, in the power vacuum left by the death of Edward "The Raptor"Samos, a struggle for supremacy has begun between his former allies.
The CIA feels the balance must be maintained. So when an agent planted among the Weres discovers a plot to assassinate the Coven’s leader, my vampire boss and I are brought in to take out the woman hired to do the deed, a killer who might be as wily and Gifted as ourselves.
So it’s off to the Scottish Highlands for some twisted fun among murderers, demons and half-crazed relatives. Sometimes being a top-secret CIA assassin isn’t all it’s cracked up to be.

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Lord of Misrule: Rachel Caine

LordOfMisruleI requested Lord of Misrule from the library shortly after it’s release. It finally came in about a week ago.

The latest in the Morganville saga delivers another action packed volume. Readers will enjoy the latest installation in the series. Although it’s clear that there will be several more in this series. This volume does not offer resolution to the main conflict, but gives the next step in the sequence of events.

If you liked the previous Morganville books, you will enjoy this one. On a side note, there is a short Morganville story in Immortal: Love Stories With Bite (available from Borders) that was very good.

Things enjoyed: Myrnin, he is just buggy crazy. It’s delightful.

Things I didn’t enjoy: I wish that there was a bit more relationship development between the characters.

Reason for reading:

Rating: Series Read Continue, Recommend

Publisher: Signet
Publication Date: January 09 
Format: Print
Genre: Young Adult, Vampire 
Series: Yes – Morganville Vampires Book 5  
Author Web Site: http://www.rachelcaine.com/Home.html

Description (Amazon
In the college town of Morganville, vampires and humans coexist in (relatively) bloodless harmony. Then comes Bishop, the master vampire who threatens to abolish all order, revive the forces of the evil dead, and let chaos rule. But Bishop isn’t the only threat.
Violent black cyclone clouds hover, promising a storm of devastating proportions as student Claire Danvers and her friends prepare to defend Morganville against elements both natural and unnatural.

Dayhunter: Jocelynn Drake

The Dark Days series is a real treat for the UF/Vampire reader. It’s got intrigue and danger with some tension mixed in for fun. I really enjoyed reading the second in the series and am looking forward to more.

If you enjoy vampire books and urban fantasy, give this series a try. I am sure that you will enjoy it.

Things enjoyed: I enjoyed the tension between Mira and Danaus. I think that there is a lot more story in there and I am excited about seeing it unfold.

Things I didn’t enjoy:  Nothing…

Reason for reading: I received this as an ARC from the Author. (Thanks!!)

Rating: Recommend, Series Read Continue,

Publisher: Eos
Publication Date:  April 09
Format: Print
Genre: Urban Fantasy, Vampire
Series:  Yes
Author Web Site: http://www.jocelynndrake.com/

 

Description (Amazon)Dayhunter

A new day dawns blood red

A master of fire, Mira is the last hope for the world. For centuries she has secretly enforced the history-altering edicts of the Triad. Now she and her unlikely ally—the human vampire hunter, Danaus—have come to Venice, home of the nightwalker rulers. But there is no safety in the ancient city, for the threat of conflict is in the wind . . . with unholy alliances and earth-shattering betrayals taking hideous form in the shadows.

Banished for eons beyond the world’s boundaries, the malevolent naturi prepare to feed once again upon a vulnerable earth—and treachery is opening wide the portal that will enable their dread re-emergence. The great battle that has always been Mira’s destiny is looming, and she must remain powerful in the face of a shocking revelation: that Danaus, the only creature she dares to trust, is something more than the man he claims to be . . .

The Devil’s Due: Jenna Black

I requested The Devil’s Due from my inter library loan system right after it came out in November. It seems that the book was quite popular, since I just got the call to pick it up last week.

The series is a great series, but this book seems to have hit the third book slump. The biggest takeaways that I had from this book are: Lugh and Morgan have worked some things out, Morgan has trust issues, and there is something on the horizon for Andy (probably bad).

The book wasn’t poor, I just preferred the first two in the series. I hope that the fourth book comes back in line with the first two.

Things enjoyed: DevilsDue I like the relationship between Dom and Adam, I think that it has developed into a solid force in the book.

Things I didn’t enjoy:  There are times when everyone is out to get Morgan, whether they want to her hurt her or embarrass the crap out of her. I think that I would have like to see her get the better of Adam or Lugh at least once.

Reason for reading: I requested it from the library.

Rating: Recommend, Series Read: Continue

Publisher: Dell
Publication Date: November 08 
Format: Print
Genre: Paranormal, Urban Fantasy 
Series: Yes (Morgan Kingsley, Book 3)
Author Web Site: http://www.jennablack.com/

Description (Amazon

Possession was never this much fun

Trust me or die…That’s the choice Morgan Kingsley, exorcist, is given by the gorgeous rogue demon who’s gotten inside her. The truth is, Morgan has dozens of reasons not to trust anyone, from the violence that torched her house and killed her father to a love life that’s left her questioning her relationship with her erstwhile boyfriend, Brian. But Lugh, a king among demons, won’t take no for an answer. He’s prying into her body, her mind, even her sex life. And he’s just pulled Morgan into a power struggle that could have devastating consequences for both the human and demon worlds.

But Morgan still has a job to do: investigating the highly bizarre possession of the son of a wealthy Philadelphia couple. That hunt leads Morgan into a realm of sexual depravity, then a terrifying kidnapping.… Now a woman who makes her living prying demons from their hosts finds her day job colliding with the night: a darkness that is attracting demons of the damnedest sort, including the one who’s about to demand his ultimate due.…

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