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.

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 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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• Her Wiccan, Wiccan Ways
• Something Wiccan This Way Comes
• Wiccan Cool

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)
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.

I had a great time reading Mark of the Demon. It’s a nice quick Urban Fantasy/Serial Killer story. The main characters are interesting and have a complex history. By the time that I finished this one, I was hoping for another in the series. The good thing is that I saw a blog post about the next in the series. Here is the cover that I saw for the  next in the series.

Publisher: Bantam
Publication Date: June 2009 
Format: Paper
Author Web Site: http://www.dianarowland.com
Rating: Recommend, Series Read Continue

Description (Author Web Site)

When Homicide Detective Kara Gillian finds traces of arcane power on a body, she quickly realizes that this is no ordinary murder. The serial killer known as the Symbol Man is a nightmare that Beaulac, Louisiana thought had ended three years ago, but now he’s back for an encore and leaving every indication on the flesh of his victims that he is well-versed in demonic lore.

However, Kara is a Summoner of Demons, and may be the only cop on the city’s small force who can stop the killer. Able to see and interact with a world most people can’t, Kara must draw on her skills as a police officer and master of the arcane to stop the Symbol Man from killing again and possibly summoning something even she can’t control.

But with a demonic lord of unearthly beauty and power haunting her dreams, and a handsome yet disapproving FBI agent dogging her waking footsteps, she may be in way over her head….

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I am impressed by Faith Hunter’s talent for world – building, she has created another winner in the Skinwalker book. The main character is very likable and action is tight. I really enjoyed the relationship between the main character and the Beast. It was interesting concept and held my attention through out the story.

I recommend this book and hope that it’s the start of a series.

Publisher: Roc
Publication Date: July 2009
Format: Kindle
Author Web Site:  http://www.faithhunter.net
Rating: Recommend, Comfort Read

Description (Amazon)
Jane Yellowrock is the last of her kind—a skinwalker of Cherokee descent who can turn into any creature she desires and hunts vampires for a living. But now she’s been hired by Katherine Fontaneau, one of the oldest vampires in New Orleans and the madam of Katie’s Ladies, to hunt a powerful rogue vampire who’s killing other vamps…

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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: Ace
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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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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Witches,Incorporated is a surprise for me. Usually I shy away from historicals and alternate histories (or things that just feel like them) . But I got pulled into the series by the first book The Accidental Sorcerer and I have not been able to pull away yet. I love the characters and setting. There is just something about it that keeps me hooked. I think I’ll be reading books in this series as long as the author publishes them.

Publisher: Orbit
Publication Date: June 2009

Format: Paper

Author Web Site:  http://www.karenmiller.net/

Series: Yes – Rogue Agent

Rating: Recommend, Series Read Continue

Description (Amazon)

It’s a case of espionage, skullduggery and serious unpleasantness
And it’s also Gerald’s first official government assignment. He’s hunting down a deadly saboteur, and time is quickly running out. Old enemies and new combine forces to thwart him. Once again, innocent lives are on the line. He needs his friends. He can’t do this alone.
But Princess Melissande and Reg have troubles of their own. With the help of Monk Markham’s brilliant, beautiful sister, they’ve opened a one-stop-shop witching locum agency, where magical problems are solved for a price. Problem is, the girls are struggling to keep the business afloat. Things are looking grim for Witches Incorporated – and that’s before they accidentally cross paths with Gerald’s saboteur.
Suddenly everybody’s lives are on the line and Gerald realizes, too late, that there’s a reason government agents aren’t supposed to have friends …

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This is the first book in the Madison Avery series from Kim Harrison for Young Adults. I am a fan of the author’s other work and I enjoyed this also. It’s a lighter story intended for the YA audience and I think that it works well. The tone is right and the storyline is good. I enjoyed that the typical scenarios are played with, generating a unique mythos for the world.

I just love the ending relationship between 2 of the characters, it seems like this relationship will be a lot of fun in future books.

Publisher: Harper Collins

Publication Date: May 09

Format: Paper (library)

Author Website: http://www.kimharrison.net

Rating: Recommend, Series Read Continue

Description (Harper Collins)

My name is Madison Avery, and I’m here to tell you that there’s more out there than you can see, hear, or touch. Because I’m there. Seeing it. Touching it. Living it.

Madison’s prom was killer—literally. For some reason she’s been targeted by a dark reaper—yeah, that kind of reaper—intent on getting rid of her, body and soul. But before the reaper could finish the job, Madison was able to snag his strange, glowing amulet and get away.

Now she’s stuck on Earth—dead but not gone. Somehow the amulet gives her the illusion of a body, allowing her to toe the line between life and death. She still doesn’t know why the dark reaper is after her, but she’s not about to just sit around and let fate take its course.

With a little ingenuity, some light-bending, and the help of a light reaper (one of the good guys! Maybe . . . ), her cute crush, and oh yeah, her guardian angel, Madison’s ready to take control of her own destiny once and for all, before it takes control of her.

Well, if she believed in that stuff.

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I downloaded this book from Amazon during one of the 0$ promotions. I enjoyed this book, it appealed to me not only for the price but the story. The characters were fun and engaging. If you enjoy reading YA books with a paranormal flavor, you will enjoy this book.

Publisher: Samhain Publishing

Publication Date: December 2008

Format: Kindle

Rating: Recommend

Description (Amazon )
Rhiannon Godfrey is a psychic prodigy, but her parents don’t see things her way. They think she needs a "normal" high school experienceshe wants to stay in trendy Vegas. In the small farming town of Crystal Lake, being Wiccan doesn’t exactly help the Godfreys blend in. Beyond angry, Rhiannon neglects to inform her parents the farmhouse they just bought is haunted. Instead, she decides to use the resident ghost to prove that she belongs back in Dr. Richards’s Institute of Parapsychology. Not that dispelling ghosts is her area of expertise, but really, how hard can it be? And then there’s Jared Roberts. Totally hot. For a cowboy, that is. Only problem? He comes with an evil twin sister, the shallow and popular Janet. Janet’s only goal is to make Rhee’s life miserable. So when she and her friends decide it’s time for a little payback, Rhee goes to her mother’s book of spells. Janet needs to be taught a lesson, and what harm can come from a few words? Just one little spell.

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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)

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