ARC Review: Through the Zombie Glass (White Rabbit Chronicles #2) by Gena Showalter

Inspired by the childhood classic Alice in Wonderland, this harrowing and romantic story features teen zombie slayer Alice Bell who has lost so much—family, friends, her home. After a strange new zombie attack, Alice fears she may be losing her mind as well. A terrible darkness blooms inside her, urging her to do wicked things. The whispers of the dead assault her ears and mirrors seem to come frighteningly to life. She’s never needed her team of zombie slayers more—including her boyfriend, Cole—than she does now. But as Cole strangely withdraws and the zombies gain new strength, Ali knows one false step may doom them all.

From Goodreads

Alice Bell has been through a nightmare in the last few months. Coming to grips with the fact that your dad wasn't nearly as crazy as you thought because the monsters he was constantly protecting his family from really are real, losing said family all the same, & discovering your true purpose as a slayer would shake anyone. Ali is resilient though. While still settling into her new surrounds with Grams & working around the clock between school and slaying, Ali is still managing to enjoy time with her friends and most importantly Cole.

But there's always a rabbit hole waiting just around the corner for the smart-mouthed heroine. The zombies are becoming bolder & so the slayers follow suite. Unfortunately that boldness leads to accidents. When Ali begins to have cravings for violence and attacking her friends, they all know something's wrong. The clock is ticking & right when she needs them the most, those most capable of helping her are pulling away, especially Cole. 

This was another wonderful installment in the White Rabbit Chronicles series. You've all read my rants & raves about Gena Showalter's other works, so it comes as no surprise that this book is just as riveting as the rest. Her ability to breathe such life into these complex & mysterious characters is something that has always mesmerized me.

We pick up not long after we left the gang in Alice in Zombieland. That being said, things quickly continue on as we hit the ground running with zombie fights & drama. School does not play nearly as large a roll in this book as the first one because it's no longer needed as the buffer between Ali & the slayers. As a full-fledged slayer, with some awesome abilities, Ali is a force to be reckoned with on the field and off. Her personality squares off regularly with Cole's in a sort of dance. Everyone else seems to play off of their vibe for the most part.

I have to say that the storyline got very interesting this go around. Since we already have the back story and are up to speed, we got to spend a lot more time learning about the characters and their histories in and outside of slaying. With a few new players on the board, things heat up romantically and plotwise quickly. 

The most incredible thing though is the multifaceted way that Gena can write her characters. Everyone has an alter ego in this book, a sort of different front they put up depending on who/what they're dealing with at the moment. It becomes crucial to the reading to pay attention to those clues because they'll lead you to the right answer. Otherwise you might find yourself really surprised by what's going on.

With witty dialogue that keeps you flipping from page to page and just enough steamy romance to qualify as PG-13, Through the Zombie Glass continues down the path of awesomeness! Be sure to check it out when it drops onto shelves September 24!

ARC graciously provided by Around the World ARC Tours

Review: The Darkest Lie (Lords of the Underwold #6) by Gena Showalter

In this riveting new installment of New York Times bestselling author Gena Showalter’s Lords of the Underworld series, Gideon, keeper of the Demon of Lies, fights to uncover the truth….

Forced to his knees in agony whenever he speaks the truth, Gideon can recognize any lie—until he captures Scarlet, a demon-possessed immortal who claims to be his long-lost wife. He doesn’t remember the beautiful female, much less wedding — or bedding — her. But he wants to ... almost as much as he wants her.

But Scarlet is keeper of Nightmares, too dangerous to roam free, and a future with her could mean ultimate ruin. Especially as Gideon’s enemies draw closer . . . and the truth threatens to destroy all he’s come to love ...

From Goodreads

In case you were wondering what one of my "guilty pleasures" in reading is, this would be it. Gena Showalter's Lords of the Underworld series is campy and fun with some serious sexiness mixed in. Even so, there is so much going on, and so many characters, that I sometimes have to really focus to keep up with the plotline. Although this is definitely one of those books where the plot is not the main point of reading the story.

Despite that, I enjoyed catching up with Gideon in this installment. Cursed with the demon of Lies, trying to keep up with what he really means is always a challenge. And the woman most likely to drive him batty with her staunch refusal to play by his rules is his supposed wife Scarlet. They aren't necessarily on the same side, but at least they aren't outright trying to kill one another...right now. What doesn't add up though is their backstory. There are so many holes & missed steps that something just smells wrong.

With all these red flags going off, it's amazing that they still find time to be attracted to one another. Even though it's been hundreds, if not thousands, of years since they've been in each other's presence, they are drawn together in a battle they won't soon forget.

Gena makes you want her characters as badly as they desire each other. From their behavior to their structuring, down to their vocabulary, if you enjoy macho, virile men for entertaining purposes, then these books are just for you. If you still like a bit of substance to accompany your bawdy tales, then this is even more perfect for you. The background that she uses, from settings to characters, is unique unto this series. While lots of other books use gods & goddesses, I don't think anyone has done it as singularly as Gena.

For fun, romance, and even so acceptable war-based violence, The Darkest Lie is a great addition to the Lords of the Underworld series. Enjoy!

Waiting on Wednesday: The Distance Between Us by Kasie West

Waiting on Wednesday recognizes that we as bookies pine for books. This post is about what I am impatiently waiting for right now. It was started by Jill at Breaking the Spine.

Sorry I skipped last week, but I figured with all the Armchair BEA fun that was going on, Waiting on Wednesday wouldn't be missed too terribly. This week's selection is a unique contemporary romance book. The Distance Between Us by Kasie West is slotted for a July 2 release and I can't wait for my library to order their copy. I haven't read anything by Kasie before, but I'm hoping this book will be a better version of She's All That. Check out the synopsis.

Seventeen-year-old Caymen Meyers studies the rich like her own personal science experiment, and after years of observation she’s pretty sure they’re only good for one thing—spending money on useless stuff, like the porcelain dolls in her mother’s shop.

So when Xander Spence walks into the store to pick up a doll for his grandmother, it only takes one glance for Caymen to figure out he’s oozing rich. Despite his charming ways and that he’s one of the first people who actually gets her, she’s smart enough to know his interest won’t last. Because if there’s one thing she’s learned from her mother’s warnings, it’s that the rich have a short attention span. But Xander keeps coming around, despite her best efforts to scare him off. And much to her dismay, she's beginning to enjoy his company.

She knows her mom can’t find out—she wouldn’t approve. She’d much rather Caymen hang out with the local rocker who hasn’t been raised by money. But just when Xander’s attention and loyalty are about to convince Caymen that being rich isn’t a character flaw, she finds out that money is a much bigger part of their relationship than she’d ever realized. And that Xander’s not the only one she should’ve been worried about.

From Goodreads

I'm not really sure what to make of that last bit. There are so many possibilities that I could give myself a headache before getting anywhere near the truth. I really like the names of these characters and that there's a hint of romantic triangle. While that is not always a great way for these situations to play out, I find this one unique because Caymen's mother would rather have her daughter dating a local rocker over a rich guy. Now that's something you don't hear very often.

What do you think about this blurb? Does it remind you of any other books? What releases are you eagerly anticipating?

Waiting on Wednesday: The Moon and More by Sarah Dessen

Waiting on Wednesday recognizes that we as bookies pine for books. This post is about what I am impatiently waiting for right now. It was started by Jill at Breaking the Spine.

I have a confession. I am not a die-hard Sarah Dessen fan. There, I said it. She reminds me a lot of Nicholas Sparks in that her novels tend to have a formula that sometimes works for me & sometimes doesn't work for me. The Moon and More set for a June 4 debut seems to fall in the former category. It just looks so enticing. I adored Along for the Ride and I am hoping that this will continue that feeling. What do you think?

Luke is the perfect boyfriend: handsome, kind, fun. He and Emaline have been together all through high school in Colby, the beach town where they both grew up. But now, in the summer before college, Emaline wonders if perfect is good enough.

Enter Theo, a super-ambitious outsider, a New Yorker assisting on a documentary film about a reclusive local artist. Theo's sophisticated, exciting, and, best of all, he thinks Emaline is much too smart for Colby.

Emaline's mostly-absentee father, too, thinks Emaline should have a bigger life, and he's convinced that an Ivy League education is the only route to realizing her potential. Emaline is attracted to the bright future that Theo and her father promise. But she also clings to the deep roots of her loving mother, stepfather, and sisters. Can she ignore the pull of the happily familiar world of Colby?

Emaline wants the moon and more, but how can she balance where she comes from with where she's going?

From Goodreads

This book oozes potential & is definitely something I can relate to; although I have definitely moved beyond this stage in my life, I still remember what it was like to have two very different paths laid out in front of me with everyone expecting me to make a decision. Dessen's characters straddle a fine line between being just right & being too much/too little of something important and something just tells me that Emaline has got the right amount of it all. 

What are you waiting on this week?

February Genreflecting: Romance: The Details

Based on the Collins English Dictionary, a subgenre is "a category that is a subdivision of a larger genre." (Source) Romance is a complicated and yet fundamental part of the young adult experience. There are so many changes going on during that time in a young person's life, so naturally we have a whole genre dedicated to it! Primarily, romance books tend to fall into one of these subgenres: contemporary, chick lit, historical & serial. While the others are self-explanatory, that last one actually covers two types of serial romances: the first type follows one character's love life while the other one follows a different individual from a specific group during each book.

One of my absolute favorite contemporary romances is Nick & Norah's Infinite Playlist by David Leviathan & Rachel Cohn. These two created an incredible book that volleys between its two protagonists to tell the story. Here's a snippet about how this awesome book came to be:

One day David and I were having lunch together and I mentioned that I had a vague idea for a book: I wanted to write about two New Jersey, straight-edge characters named Nick and Norah (after the Thin Man movies) who would meet at a music club in Manhattan. I wanted to follow their adventures throughout the one night, and just see what would happen. ... We didn’t plan any of the book out in advance, we just picked up each chapter where the other left off, and I think the fun David and I found in writing to challenge one another translated into a true adventure for Nick and Norah – just like a real first date, where there can be great chemistry, but you really have no idea if it will turn out well or not. You can only dive in and hope. -Rachel Cohn's website

And while I'm not an outright fan of romances, almost anything set in a historical time wins my vote. That's why Anna Godbersen's The Luxe series was so perfect for me. In an interview on Galleysmith she explained why she liked writing historical books:

When I was a bookish teen, I loved novels set in other times, other realities, other universes. So that’s part of it—being able to create this world that looks and smells and sounds different than the one my readers and I walk around in every day. I want to transport them, and myself. And then, once you’re there, the historical setting means that the realities of life, the situations my characters are going to find themselves in, will often be ones you couldn't have in a contemporary setting, which is exciting stuff for a writer! Very plot-friendly.

So there you have it. A little insight into the world of romance books. What are your favorite types of romance? Do you enjoy a heart-wrenching roller coaster or a more subdued novel? Be sure to check back next week when I review Forever by Judy Blume. 

February Genreflecting: Romance: The Basics

I wanted to do a reading challenge for the subject of Genreflecting, but I didn't get much feedback (maybe because it asked you to read 2 books for each genre and discuss them or because it's not really a "reading challenge" per se, but more an educational experiment), so I've turned it into a monthly feature! For each month of 2013, there will be a specific genre that will be analyzed. I'm planning to have author input and at least 2 reviews of books in the genre as well.

February's genre is Romance! While many if not most YA books have some romance in them, the books in that fit in this genre revolve around the romantic elements. Rather than focusing on the experiences of life, these books focus on the emotions and what is more emotional than young love? A key difference between YA and adult romance though is that in YA books, it's not all about the happily ever after or the hot & heavy action. These books handle the emotional build-up to creating a romance more than the outcome of said romance. (paraphrased from Teen Genreflecting 3, 2010)

A few of my favorite authors you may recognize in this genre are:
Meg Cabot (The Princess Diaries)
Anna Godbersen (The Luxe)
Simone Elkeles (Perfect Chemistry)
Jandy Nelson (The Sky is Everywhere) (Interview)

I'm excited to say that I've chosen my two books, one older and one newer, to read for this challenge. The older book is Forever by Judy Blume (originally published in 1999) and I'll have a review and analysis up on Friday, February 15th. The newer book is Audrey, Wait! by Robin Benway (originally published in 2008) and I'll have a review and analysis up on Friday, February 22nd. I'll also be hosting a giveaway, so stay tuned!

Siege (As the World Dies #3) by Rhiannon Frater review

MAJOR SPOILERS ahead for the first two books in this trilogy.

Siege is the conclusion to Rhiannon Frater’s As the World Dies trilogy, which should appeal to fans of The Walking Dead. Both The First Days and Fighting to Survive won the Dead Letter Award from Mail Order Zombie. The First Days was named one of the Best Zombie Books of the Decade by the Harrisburg Book Examiner.

The zombie illness has shattered civilization. The survivors who have found tenuous safety in Texas defend their fort against the walking dead and living bandits.

Katie has made peace with the death of her wife and is pregnant and married to Travis, who has been elected Mayor. Jenni, her stepson, Jason; and Juan—Travis’s righthand man—are a happy family, though Jenni suffers from PTSD. Both women are deadly zombie killers. In Siege, the people of Ashley Oaks are stunned to discover that the vice president of the United States is alive and commanding the remnants of the US military. What’s left of the US government has plans for this group of determined survivors.

From Goodreads

A wild ride would be a flippant description of this final novel in the As the World Dies trilogy, but I am drawn to that phrase. I was prepared for some of the changes that were going to take place, but I didn't see all the heartbreak coming at all. Rhiannon Frater has absolutely no problem butchering characters to make her point. A key theme in this book was the fragility of life coupled with the ability to lose anything. This book drove that point home.

As usual, we pick up where we left off. Travis is mayor of the fort & married to a pregnant Katie. Jenni, the ax-wielding Loca, is with Juan and her step son Jason. The fort is doing quite well & is thriving off its supply scavenges while continuing to keep the zombies at bay by intriguing means. That doesn't mean that things don't go screwy sometimes, but for the most part life is good.

With winter giving way to spring, the group resumes expanding their hold on downtown. What they don't expect is for one of their own to lose their head, killing fort members. In a race against time & better judgement, a team heads to a local hospital (knowing that hospitals meant death traps on the first day of the rising) to gather much needed supplies to tend to the wounded. On their way back, Jenni & a fellow supply runner are kidnapped by none-other than a power-hungry politician who will stop at nothing to see the fort under her control.

While nothing has been a guarantee since the rising began, safety is becoming a relative term.

Rhiannon Frater has done what few authors have been able to do for me. They gave me a zombie story I could believe. The humanity in these characters is so perfectly embodied & their actions actually make sense. Their reactions & interactions are so true to life, I wouldn't be surprised if she had done research on people's reactions in an emergency situation/crisis.

The writing style is one that usually bothers me, but for some reason I hardly noticed it in this instance. The majority of the story is told from Katie, Jenni, & Travis's points of view, but interspersed between them are other survivors tales. That doesn't mean they overpower the narrative, they just seem to give credence to what is taking place in the story. By far the most important aspect of the writing, and one that Frater does extremely well, is the flow. There has to be a certain pace & balance between action and narrative in order for the reader not to feel overwhelmed. Frater walks that line perfectly. If you view the series as a whole it becomes increasing clear that it has been a main element since the beginning.

There didn't need to be too much character development in this book as the first two because it was really just a continuation of an already established routine. What does change though are the dynamics between the characters. With a new baby on the way & certain people's flaws and strengths come into quick view. These character traits are what create the plot of the story.

With just enough gore & violence to keep things active, Siege is a smashing finale to this phenomenal series. I find it interesting to note that out of all the zombie books I've read (or tried to read) the ones I really like are the ones written by women (Rhiannon Frater, Gena Showalter, Ann Aguirre, & Mira Grant). Hmmm, I wonder why that is? 

How about you? Do you have any favorites or suggestions along those lines?

Fighting to Survive (As the World Dies #2) by Rhiannon Frater

Spoilers ahead if you haven't read the first book The First Days!

Picking up where The First Days ends, Fighting to Survive features the further zombie-killing, civilization-saving adventures of a pair of sexy, kick butt heroines and the men who love them. A hundred or so survivors of the zombie plague have found tenuous safety in the walled off center of a small Texas town. Now the hard work of survival begins—finding enough food; creating safe, weather-resistant shelter; establishing laws; and fighting off both the undead who want to eat them and the living bandits who want to rob and kill them.

From Goodreads

Katie & Jenni have made it to safety after a terrifying fight to survive the new zombie-infested world. They've rescued those that they could and are mourning those they have lost along the way. But there is no rest in this uncertain and ever-changing world.

We find our heroines still safely ensconced in the makeshift fort in Ashley Oaks, Texas. While tensions run high among the residents due to strained resources and the constant threat of attack, the women settle into their new roles. Since they have so much real-time experience hunting and fending off zombies, both women are working on the protection detail.

As more survivors are brought in, the leaders decide that they need to expand upon their little territory. By taking over a few neighboring stores and a largely remodeled hotel, they ensure that their community can continue to rebuild. What they can't control are the zombies and the vigilantes out to destroy anything and everything. With so much at stake, the women must push through their personal issues while trying to move toward a better, if uncertain, future.

Fighting to Survive isn't quite as heart-pounding in the same way as The First Days. It was however just as thrilling to struggle alongside the survivors. What could easily become routine & mundane continues to offer exciting and unique scenarios. The best part about this book was watching as the shock value of the zombies wore off and reality started to settle in. People began to move forward with their lives and started to make peace with all that had taken place.

While The First Days really focused on introducing us to the situation from Jenni & Katie's viewpoint, Frater  has given us an uncommon narrator. The majority of the story is told from the two main women's point of view, but other characters creep in little by little. We see more from Juan and Travis, the men in these women's lives, and are even given a glimpse into the point of view of one of the dogs. It all adds up to a richer story with fleshed out details that allow the reader to completely immerse him/herself in the book's events.

There is romance, thrilling heroics, sacrifice, and a lot of bloodshed in this book. Nothing that you wouldn't expect from a zombie book, but in a way, the calm/collectedness of those doing the dispatching can be a might frightening at times. Still totally worth a read if you into this sort of thing or are looking for a strong character base.

Dark Lover (Black Dagger Brotherhood #1) by J.R. Ward review

In the shadows of the night in Caldwell, New York, there's a deadly turf war going on between vampires and their slayers. There exists a secret band of brothers like no other-six vampire warriors, defenders of their race. Yet none of them relishes killing more than Wrath, the leader of The Black Dagger Brotherhood.

The only purebred vampire left on earth, Wrath has a score to settle with the slayers who murdered his parents centuries ago. But, when one of his most trusted fighters is killed-leaving his half-breed daughter unaware of his existence or her fate-Wrath must usher her into the world of the undead-a world of sensuality beyond her wildest dreams.

From Goodreads

Wrath really doesn't like to mingle...among anyone. If he had his way he would withdraw from society, vampire & human alike. Unfortunately for him, as the leader of the Black Dagger Brotherhood (and reluctant king of vampires) he doesn't have much of a choice. What he does have a choice over are his actions. So when one of his brothers is killed, after asking Wrath to care for his soon-to-become-a-vampire daughter, he feels compelled to complete this final task as an homage to a brave warrior.

Beth has no idea why she is feeling so off lately, but chalks it up to the stress of a near-fatal assault & her gore-filled news reporting job. That is until he shows up & changes her world. He's larger than life, and with a name like Wrath, he's obviously got a violent streak. Yet something in her is drawn to him unlike anyone else in the world. He becomes her guide to the deadly new world she can't help but enter.

I had seen this book all over the place. Lots of people have it as a recommendation for a Gena Showalter read alike. While I get the comparison (believe me there is a lot of crossover) I just wasn't as big a fan of this one as I was hoping to be. That doesn't mean I loathed the book, but there was just something too off about it for me. Don't ask me to explain how Gena Showalter's mythology makes more sense to me than J.R. Ward's mythology, but Showalter's just flowed better for me.


Dark Lover introduces a wide cast of characters that revolve all the time. If I remember correctly the majority of the story is told from 5 points of view with a few glimpses into other character's heads along the way. I can handle up to 3 narrators quite well. Anything beyond that (when they are all trying to tell the same story) & my head starts to get a bit jumbled. The writing was quite well done, with adequate transitions between narrators & scenes.


I went into this book with my eyes wide open. I knew there would be sex scenes (a bit gratuitous & over the top for my tastes) & violence, but I was surprised to see so many elements of the story (like deep-seated plot) built in to these usually superfluous scenes. I must hand it to the woman, she knows how to keep you reading.


On the whole, this was worth the read, but for my personal tastes, I could take or leave the series. I think I'll give the next one a shot in a few weeks to see how the story progresses. Who knows, it may draw me in. :)

Such a Rush by Jennifer Echols review

A sexy and poignant romantic tale of a young daredevil pilot caught between two brothers.

High school senior Leah Jones loves nothing more than flying. While she’s in the air, it’s easy to forget life with her absentee mother at the low-rent end of a South Carolina beach town. When her flight instructor, Mr. Hall, hires her to fly for his banner advertising business, she sees it as her ticket out of the trailer park. And when he dies suddenly, she’s afraid her flying career is gone forever.    

But Mr. Hall’s teenage sons, golden boy Alec and adrenaline junkie Grayson, are determined to keep the banner planes flying. Though Leah has crushed on Grayson for years, she’s leery of getting involved in what now seems like a doomed business — until Grayson betrays her by digging up her most damning secret. Holding it over her head, he forces her to fly for secret reasons of his own, reasons involving Alec. Now Leah finds herself drawn into a battle between brothers — and the consequences could be deadly.

From Goodreads

I can't do any better a job of summarizing the book than the blurb itself. Usually I like to throw my own view in because I don't think the blurb does the storyline much justice, but this one pretty much takes the cake.

Jennifer Echols has managed to capture my heart the same way these banner-flying crazies catch their banners. This woman has an amazing ability to take a basic plot (girl from wrong side of tracks stuck between 2 brothers) and make it into some extraordinary! The background that she set this book in is what really gives the story its extra oomph. How many girls are engrossed in airplane knowledge? Not many, but Echols makes this semi-closed off world accessible with just the right amount of detail that the reader is comfortable without being overwhelmed. 


I adore Leah in this book. She's the best Cinderella story I've read in a long time. Despite all the shortcomings of her upbringing & how hard life has been made for her, she has persevered & found something special. That is a rare quality of character that this world is lacking & I am beyond thrilled that Echols has made her so accessible as a role model. Leah is far from perfect, but she's still struggling & doing her best to do what's right for her.


The Hall brothers make quite an impression as well. Neither of them really fit a stereotypical "bad boy" or "sensitive boy" role, but you can see qualities from several types in each of them.It was also a lot of fun getting to know them via other people. You don't necessary learn much about them from the boys themselves, more from their actions & the thoughts of others. Personally I find Grayson more attractive, but that's because I need someone who can deal with my acerbic wit.


In short, this is a great read that takes no time at all to get lost in. A wonderful story about perseverance, dreams & the ability to trust, Such a Rush is the perfect summer read!

ARC graciously provided by Around the World Tours.

Fair Game (Alpha & Omega #3) by Patricia Briggs review

SPOILERS FOR THE FIRST TWO BOOKS IN THE SERIES!

Anna has felt Charles drifting away from her recently. She knows what's causing it, but even confronting the wolf responsible, her own father-in-law & leader of the North American werewolves, hasn't eased his burden. Since revealing their existence to the human population, the werewolves have been extra diligent in their justice system. Charles, as his father's enforcer, is the one doling out the punishments. He has taken on an extra large burden & it is wearing on him.


As a kind of relief from the strain, Charles & Anna are sent to Boston to help the FBI in a local serial killer case. Since Anna's Omega tendencies are to calm & protect those of her kind, this seems like a perfect opportunity to work on Charles. Little did they expect that they would be of irreplaceable value to the FBI because the killer is methodical & exacting. Soon enough Anna & Charles start to piece things together, all the while fighting his personal demons. Too bad they didn't see the real demon aiming right for them.


Fair Game picks up not long after Hunting Ground leaves off. We come back to a world where werewolves are now known to exist by the general population and as a result, Bran (the Marrok) has had to be less lenient in the enforcement of their laws. In doing so, he has put undue strain on his son Charles. As his father's enforcer, Charles has had to be the one to dole out his father's punishments. These sentencings are wearing him down & eating away at him. He's starting to lose himself to his wolf because it's the only way they will survive. Not even his lovely Omega wife Anna can really bring him around. He's distanced himself from her as much as possible so that he does not burden her with his pain.

Briggs has continued her amazing storytelling with the third installment in this series. Every book has allowed us to get to know the werewolf couple better & better while they are still discovering themselves and this one is no different. A lot of times characters will grow & develop in books, but to continue to allow your characters to change throughout a series is what makes it worth reading. Anna & Charles has a complicated, multiple layer situation that requires a delicate but deft hand at crafting.


On top of having to make the characters believable, the author also makes sure you feel the places you are in her books. I sometimes swear I can smell the forests or water where they go & there is not better feeling than to be so totally engrossed in a book. While I did find the book to rehash things a bit frequently (as if the reader might have forgotten something) you still weren't beaten over the head with it.


The best part of the whole book was the ending. I absolutely cannot tell you anything about it, but suffice it to say that I did not see that coming at all. You'll just have to read it to find out what will forever change the Mercy Thompson world as we know it. :)





 

Cry Wolf (Alpha & Omega #1) by Patricia Briggs review

Anna never knew werewolves existed, until the night she survived a violent attack... and became one herself. After three years at the bottom of the pack, she'd learned to keep her head down and never, ever trust dominant males. Then Charles Cornick, the enforcer- and son- of the leader of the North American werewolves, came into her life.

Charles insists that not only is Anna his mate, but she is also a rare and valued Omega wolf. And it is Anna's inner strength and calming presence that will prove invaluable as she and Charles go on the hunt in search of a rogue werewolf- a creature bound in magic so dark that it could threaten all of the pack.

From Goodreads

First & foremost, while you can completely understand what is going on in the story without preamble, I think it is in your best interest to read the short story Alpha & Omega in On the Prowl. It's a compilation book including Patricia Briggs, Eileen Wilks, & a few other authors. This is Anna's true introduction & beginning in the werewolf community. It details her life, her infection, & her subsequent new life among shapeshifters. It leaves off where this one picks up.

While both Anna & Charles may be a little confused as to what exactly Anna is, their wolves have no doubt. She is an Omega, often mistaken for a lowly, weak wolf, an Omega actually has the power to calm other wolves without being seen as a huge threat. Charles' Alpha wolf may have spotted her out right, but he's not so sure what to do with the fragile semi-shell of a woman he sees in front of him. We begin to learn more about their world (partially introduced by the Mercy Thompson series) as we watch their relationship grow. They can't fight the mating match their wolves have introduced, but that doesn't mean the human halves are 100% certain about the other party.

Naturally there is some dangerous villain trying to hurt the wolves & that's when we get to see what the Alpha & Omega relationship is really all about. By the time the book is through you'll have a better comprehension of werewolf nature, the fluctuating status of the wolves in society & a respect for this couple's determination to find out what's best for them & their pack.

I really loved this book. After being introduced to this world via the Mercy Thompson novels I was ecstatic to read another character's perception of this dynamic group. While the diversity of fictional creatures is diminished in this novel compared to the sometimes over-populated storylines of Mercy Thompson, I found the focus on the wolves necessary. This whole book is about discovering who the main characters are at their essence. It is only fitting that the character list be centered around a major part of their essences.


The humorous nature & witty banter that I have often enjoyed in these types of books is just as prevalent here, lending a light-hearted hand to some otherwise heavy situations. I personally enjoy the time spent further developing the book's world. It may be set in the present day, but the structure & interactions of the wolf world are beyond our everyday experiences. By spending the extra pages working on that development, the reader gains a better base for the future of the series.


One of my new favorite urban fantasy series, Alpha & Omega is off to a great start with Cry Wolf.

Bloodrose (Nightshade #3) by Andrea Cremer review

As this is the 3rd & final installment in the Nightshade trilogy, there are spoilers for the first two books in this summary & review

Calla has always welcomed war.

But now that the final battle is upon her, there's more at stake than fighting. There's saving Ren, even if it incurs Shay's wrath. There's keeping Ansel safe, even if he's been branded a traitor. There's proving herself as the pack's alpha, facing unnameable horrors, and ridding the world of the Keepers' magic once and for all. And then there's deciding what to do when the war ends. If Calla makes it out alive, that is.

From Goodreads


We find Calla in what would have been her marital bedroom with Ren, who was supposed to be her mate/husband. After convincing him to join the resistance against the Keepers (by working with their longtime "enemies" the Searchers) the two former love-birds much face the fallout from his treachery. Naturally the person who has the hardest time dealing with Ren's involvement is Calla's other lover Shay. The Scion (as Shay is known) is the only one who can stop the Keepers & destroy their ability to control the Earth.

You would think with these two guys working on the same side they'd be able to put away their differences & back-burner their fight for Calla's heart. Not so much. The two alphas square off more than once & continue their altercations while they (and the rest of the pack) traipse all over the world collecting the pieces of the Elemental Cross.

Torn between her two lovers & her loyalty to defend her own alpha role, Calla must win this war at any cost. Unfortunately no one told her just how steep a price she was paying.

Well then. That was an interesting way to end the series. I had really high hopes for this book. With Nightshade and Wolfsbane having been such incredible books with a lush plot & heart-wrenching romance, I have to admit that I expected more from Bloodrose. Basically this book can be boiled down into a few sentences. Girl chases boy(s). Boy(s) chase girl. Appropriate humor inserted. Major conflict with no clear climax. Easy decision made for main characters.


Seriously. That's how it felt. We follow the pack all over the world collecting the pieces to the Elemental Cross so that Shay can defeat the Keepers. During their downtime Calla is sneaking around watching love bloom in several couples around her (all of them seem to be the same type of "I kind of always knew he was right for me & just didn't want to admit it" love) & getting her own nookie in. The cast of characters doesn't disappoint though. You still have the plethora of personalities that have to intermingle & manage to draw you in even when you feel like you're falling out of love. What was more surprising though was the depth that some of these characters contained. I was pleasantly surprised to see several drastic changes in certain characters' persona. I think I might have preferred just to read about them to avoid the triangle of annoyance that became Shay, Ren & Calla.


Instead of forcing these characters to work together & come to a painful, but ultimately necessary epiphany, the author decides to kill any chance of that happening. She lets her main trio take the easy way out of a very emotionally turbulent choice. Even worse though was the timing & manner of that choice. I just didn't see the flow. It was so jarring & discombobulated that I was thrown for several minutes expecting some magic to make things better again.


While I devoured the book hoping that the final battle would make up for a rather predictable build-up, I was ultimately disappointed. I still enjoyed the world the author built & the supporting characters she created, but the main love triangle & what should have been the climax of the story just fell flat for me. I'm still very glad I read it & still enjoy the first two books, this is not even remotely how I felt it should have ended.

The Darkest Passion (Lords of the Underworld #5) by Gena Showalter review

 May contain spoilerish information for previous books!

For weeks, the immortal warrior Aeron has sensed an invisible female presence. An angel-demon-assassin has been sent to kill him. Or has she? Olivia claims she fell from the heavens, giving up immortality because she couldn't bear to harm him. But trusting - and falling for - Olivia will endanger them all. So how has this mortal with the huge blue eyes already unleashed Aeron's darkest passion?

With an enemy hot on his trail and his faithful demon companion determined to remove Olivia from his life, Aeron is trapped between duty and consuming desire. Worse still, a new executioner has been sent to do the job Olivia wouldn't...

From Goodreads

  Seriously, there has been someone's eyes glued to Aeron for a good majority of the time for several weeks. It's something so scary that it frightens his daughter-like demon Legion back into hell. She can't be around this invisible presence so naturally Aeron can't stand it. When his invisible stalker finally appears he's unprepared for what he sees.


Olivia is broken, bleeding, & crying out Aeron's name at the top of her lungs. Determined not to be enticed by her & truly believing her to be some sort of Bait (from the Hunters or from the gods) Aeron just wants her patched up & moved on. Unfortunately he doesn't take her seriously when she tries to explain that she is a fallen angel. Eventually the truth comes to light that she has chosen him & his company over her immortally blissful life as an angel. 


This doesn't mean that his assassination has been cancelled, the gods still want him dead for bringing Legion into a realm in which she did not belong. As the days pass many immortal beings interfere with Olivia's speedy exit from Aeron's life, providing them all the time they need to become rather desperate for one another. But who will pay the ultimate price? The piper must be paid & he's coming to collect sooner than they'd like.


This was one of the best Lords of the Underworld book I've read since the first one. Aeron has long since been one of the more intriguing Lords because of just how much he cares. All the Lords, being the Immortal warrior brothers they are, care deeply for their friends, but Aeron takes it much more personally. Possessed by the demon of Wrath, he feels compelled to punish others for their sins & crimes. With Olivia being an angel, she is free from any tainting that might have occurred in a mortal existence. 


The over-arching war storyline continues with some very distinct twists & turns. While we don't learn nearly as much about the warriors' female companions, we spend a lot more time in the field learning about the enemy. Even better, Gena brings some older characters back to the surface & allows their continued growth.


All in all, I'd have to give this one a big thumbs up! A reminder though, this is an adult series. There is cursing, questionable moral decisions (involving torture & murder) & quite a bit of sex. This is a romance book, so it's to be expected & honestly this is at least more tame than many other romance books I've perused. So if you're a fan of the paranormal romance genre, or even just looking for something steamer than your current reads, give this a shot!

The Darkest Whisper (Lords of the Underworld #4) by Gena Showalter review

 May contain spoilerish information for previous books!

 
He is the keeper of Doubt and his entire world’s about to be rocked.

Bound by the demon of doubt, Sabin unintentionally destroys even the most confident of lovers. So the immortal warrior spends his time on the battlefield instead of the bedroom, victory his only concern…until he meets Gwendolyn the Timid. One taste of the beautiful redhead, and he craves more.

Gwen, an immortal herself, always thought she’d fall for a kind human who wouldn’t rouse her darker side. But when Sabin frees her from prison, battling their enemies for the claim to Pandora’s box turns out to be nothing compared to the battle Sabin and Gwen will wage against love…

From Goodreads

Sabin hasn't had a woman in years. The last woman he destroyed because his demon couldn't be kept in check has ruined him for all other women. Completely distraught over that incident, Sabin has kept to himself & thrown himself into his work looking for the gods' artifacts. On one such quest he & his fellow Lords stumble upon a nest of nasty Hunters. What's worse is what the Hunters are protecting.

Immortal women, many of them pregnant, are caged like animals inside the temple the Lords raid. They subdue the Hunters intent on torturing them for information. While freeing the women, Sabin's eyes land on one in particular & he is mesmerized. 

Gwen helps Sabin to release the others & finally herself. What he couldn't have known & most certainly didn't expect was that Gwen is a harpy. As soon as her prison is lifted she vanishes, only to reappear covered in a Hunter's blood. Soon enough Sabin realizes what he's found & decides to help her. She refuses to return home like the other immortals so Sabin charges himself with her care & training. 

Despite knowing they should leave one another alone, their animal instincts are drawn to one another. He is the only one able to calm her down & she is the only one who can stroke his fury in a productive manner. With the two combined, there's only one thing left standing in their way... her 3 harpy sisters.

A fabulous continuation of the Lords of the Underworld series, The Darkest Whisper is a very quick read. Sabin is a very quiet character for the most part. His demon does enough for the both of them. Surprisingly he is a caring man with intense emotions that he struggles to control. Granted a lot of that is from pent up frustration & guilt. 


I was most fascinated by his relationship with Gwen. Since we're in a mythological/paranormal world I knew we'd meet other types of immortals, but I never expected to see a harpy! Her alter-ego is just as demanding & deadly as Sabin's demon, so watching these two interact was certainly entertaining. Personally, I was extremely surprised to see how volatile their ... exchanges... were. There was no real tenderness or romance to their tristes, just pure, raw need. Definitely a different take from what we've seen with some of the other Lords & their ladies.


Even better though was when her sisters came to reclaim her. Having not one, but four harpies really allows us to comprehend the severity of Gwen's situation. They also give us a fuller picture of just what we can expect from Gwen & her powers.


Again, this is an adult book, so there is cursing, questionable moral behavior (torture, murder, etc) & definitely some rather explicit sex scenes, but nothing we haven't seen before in Gena Showalter's stuff. A nice continuation of a very long story, The Darkest Whisper was a delectable treat.

Anxious Hearts by Tucker Shaw review

“Evangeline,” he repeated, calling at a whisper. “Evangeline.” He was not calling that she may hear, he was calling that somehow her soul might know that he was devoted entirely to her, only to her. “Evangeline, I will find you.”

Eva and Gabe explore the golden forest of their seaside Maine town, unknowingly tracing the footsteps of two teens, Evangeline and Gabriel, who once lived in the idyllic wooded village of Acadia more than one hundred years ago. On the day that Evangeline and Gabriel were be wed, their village was attacked and the two were separated. And now in the present, Gabe has mysteriously disappeared from Eva.

A dreamlike, loose retelling of Henry Wadsworth Longfellow’s famous love poem “Evangeline,” Anxious Hearts tells an epic tale of unrequited love and the hope that true love can be reunited.

From Goodreads

This book is so much more than that description can convey. I must admit that I blindly stumbled into this one & I kind of wish I had done my homework. In a way I wish I had read Longfellow's poem before reading this book & in a way I'm glad I didn't. By not reading the poem I was able to appreciate the book for what it was & how it was created. Tucker Shaw has done a masterful job weaving the two tales of his lovers (both past & present) in a way that is both believable & visceral. Mesmerized by the poetry of this book (which isn't written in poetic format) I flew through it in a few short hours & was ready to devour it again once I had completed the first reading.

While I think reading the original work may have helped me better understand the overall experience of the book, I found experiencing the author's interpretation just as satisfying. Eva & Gabe (our present day lovers) aren't your average teens. They've seen heartache & misery that has touched them deeply. Only they can truly understand the others' pain to the point that they run together away from those who would pity them. Evangeline & Gabriel are the epitome of love. Their joy was ready to reach heights that no one around them had witnessed when they were dealt the blow of being torn apart. Their separation & struggle to return to one another is what overlaps their story with that of the present day. Both couples are fighting a losing battle with no care for the outcome, only the solace they seek to bring to themselves & their lover.

Such a deep, moving book Anxious Hearts is not one to be missed. You won't regret living this love story with characters you will hate to see go.

Deadline by Mira Grant review

MAJOR SPOILER WARNING. You will ruin Feed for yourself if you read below this line without having read that book first. Fair warning has been provided.
Shaun Mason is a man without a mission. Not even running the news organization he built with his sister has the same urgency as it used to. Playing with dead things just doesn't seem as fun when you've lost as much as he has.

But when a CDC researcher fakes her own death and appears on his doorstep with a ravenous pack of zombies in tow, Shaun has a newfound interest in life. Because she brings news-he may have put down the monster who attacked them, but the conspiracy is far from dead.

Now, Shaun hits the road to find what truth can be found at the end of a shotgun.

From Goodreads

Shaun Mason can't get his sister Georgia out of his head. Literally. She maybe dead to the rest of the world but if he closes her out of the little space she has reserved in his brain then he really will lose his tenuous grip on reality. While he did all the things he was supposed to do, had a funeral, dealt with greedy parents, moved out on his own & continued their work, Shaun just doesn't have the same drive anymore. Life is no fun when the one person worth living it with isn't there.

At least that's how he feels until a CDC scientist who helped the Masons before shows up & all hell literally breaks loose. This woman has dangerous information that no one wants getting out. Even worse, it has to do with Georgia & Shaun's definitely not liking where this road is leading.

In the same quick-draw style of Feed, Deadline picks up running where we left off. Characters who played fairly minor roles in the first book are now on the frontlines with Shaun, fighting for the truth. He may be an Irwin, but he's got a Newsie streak in him. Even more scintillating in this book are the close quarters that the characters share. With tensions running high we can all imagine the scenarios that play out. Fortunately for those of you who prefer tame romantic scenes, you're in luck. The gore of zombie killing is just as high as the first book, but there seems to be more method to the madness.

I must admit that Mira Grant really knows her stuff. She blends current pop culture references so well with the society of the not-too-distant future that one really feels at home in the books. I truly enjoyed meeting the new characters & watching the interactions shift in respect to Georgia's missing spot.

So if you're looking for zombie fun & a fantastic dialogue to boot, then this here is your series. Luckily we don't have to wait too long for the 3rd installment. Blackout is due June 1st & that's one I plan to buy.

Blood Bound by Rachel Vincent review

By blood, by word, by magic…

Most can't touch the power. But Liv Warren is special— a paranormal tracker who follows the scent of blood.

Liv makes her own rules, and the most important one is trust no one.

But when her friend's daughter goes missing, Liv has no choice but to find the girl. Thanks to a childhood oath, Liv can't rest until the child is home safe. But that means trusting Cam Caballero, the former lover forbidden to her.

Bound by oath and lost in desire for a man she cannot have, Liv is racing to save the child from a dark criminal underworld where secrets, lies, trauma and danger lurk around every corner…every touch…every kiss.

And more blood will be spilled before it's over…
From Goodreads

Liv Warren likes living by her own rules. Unfortunately the rest of the world doesn't like to play by her rules. That's how this blood tracker ended up using her powers for monetary gain. In a world where those with "special abilities" (like walking into shadows, name tracking & even blood tracking) aren't formally recognized by any government, but used by all, Liv finds herself in a pretty tight spot.

An accidental binding from childhood is coming calling in the form of one of her best friends trying to protect her daughter from the child's father's assassin. Sound complicated? It gets worse. This friend also happens to pull in the only other person on the planet that Liv can't stand to be around. Her former lover Cam Caballero is still just as smoldering as he was when Liv left him six years prior, to save both their lives. No time like the present to jump headlong into the fray with danger lurking around every corner from the local criminal families. Is there enough time to save the girl or will Liv just ending failing to keep every promise she's ever made?

Rachel Vincent is seriously my freaking hero! This woman is so diverse I can barely contain my excitement. Between the bean sidhe lore of the Soul Screamers series & the werecat drama of the Shifters series, I honestly wasn't sure how well she'd be able to pull off a whole new series. Let me assure you, Rachel is a remarkable craftswoman never to be doubted.

Blood Bound takes the meanings of "signed in blood" & "my word is my bond" to a whole new level & explores the murky waters of contractual bindings. It truly was fascinating reading about all the different types of bindings, means of tracking a person & situations that arise from such predicaments. Things can really start to get tricky when you're contractually obligated to more than one person & they're on opposing sides of a war in which you're an unwilling recruit.

Liz is a headstrong, complex character (Rachel seems to prefer these and I've got no complaints!) who is trying to do what she thinks is best in a bad situation. After running away from longtime boyfriend Cam (in order to save their lives) she finds herself the unwilling recipient of his assistance in her newest endeavor. Tension & sparks fly because while nothing about these two together has changed, more than enough has changed about them.

A promising start to a new series, Blood Bound is sure to delight. Keep a weather eye on the horizon for book 2 Shadow Bound, due May 22.

The Darkest Pleasure (Lords of the Underworld #3) by Gena Showalter review

This is the 3rd book in the Lords of the Underworld series. Fair warning, SPOILERS may follow.

Now that we've met Violence & Death, how about Pain? Reyes has been feeding Pain steadily over the years. He was fortunate enough to find a way to sate his demon without hurting others, but not fortunate enough to refrain from hurting himself. The easiest way to manage Pain is to give it exactly what it wants; whether that's jumping from the top of a building while his body slowly repairs itself or simply slicing away at the flesh is all dependent about the amount of stress.

Reyes has been at his threshold of tolerance ever since Danika came into his life. A torturous temptation that he could never taste without ruining, she was condemned to die by the hand of Reyes's fellow Lord Aeron. Despite this edict, handed down from the gods, Reyes chose to pursue & protect her. The best way to do that though is to keep her close by his side. But Danika's not as weak as Reyes feared & she's putting up one hell of fight, especially since only she knows who she's really working for.

This series just keeps getting more involved & more exciting with each book I read! Each time I read a book I think, "I'm not sure I really like this guy" & by the time I'm half way through the book I'm as madly in love with his as the other women. Gena Showalter does a phenomenal job of character portrayal & story building. You think you know a character based on how he or she is seen by others (and occasionally by him/herself) but then you read a chapter or book dedicated solely to them & you find that there are facets you haven't seen before.

The characters continue to play off each other very well, bantering like friends & foes. The best part of building this series is watching the new relationships form when new characters are introduced. There is a history between all the gods, titans, Lords & Hunters whether we know it or not. I find that the women are the pivotal characters because they move the story along without tying it up. They are the catalyst for change in an otherwise static world. I'm not saying without the ladies there would be no interactions or exchanges, I just think they would be flat.

A fun, steamy romance with enough sexual tension to take you right to the edge & drop you, The Darkest Pleasure continues the feast that is the Lords of the Underworld. I can't wait to get my hands on the rest of the books!

The Darkest Kiss (Lords of the Underworld #2) by Gena Showalter review

This is the 2nd book in the Lords of the Underworld series. Fair warning, SPOILERS may follow.

Lucien houses the demon of Death. He is like Charon is that Lucien is the ferryman for the newly dead into their afterlife. He differs from Charon in that Lucien gets to go to heaven & hell. After centuries of ferrying souls to their final resting places, he was content to be alone so that he would never have to ferry another lover to either location. To prevent women from ever desiring him, Lucien intentionally marred his face so that no one would ever want to get close again. Unfortunately Anya isn't just anyone.

Anya, the goddess of Anarchy, is on the run. Since the Titans took over the Mount (and imprisoned the gods & goddesses) she is avoiding drawing too much attention to herself. With Lucien though, she's doing just the opposite. She's doing everything in her power to attract him & despite his constant cold shoulder routine, she is relentless in her pursuit. She's aware of his curse & doesn't mind at all, considering she has a pretty big curse of her own that she's not willing to share.

All of their bantering back and forth may be all for naught if they can't work together against the Hunters that are constantly plaguing the Lords. With little regard for themselves, these two are destined to find some measure of happiness. In this life or the next.

Gena Showalter continues the non-stop action that I'm enjoying so much. We pick up where we left off after The Darkest Night and start to move deeper into the plot of the story. I don't really mention what Lucien & Anya are working on together because there is just way too much detail to go into in order for you to understand. It would be way easier to read the books. Seriously. Basically the Hunters are the "bad guys" that want to exterminate the Lords by returning their demons to the box they came from. Unfortunately that has the nasty side effect of killing the Lords. Therefore, the Lords (and those feisty women helping them) are trying to stop the Hunters from gaining the upper hand.

These main characters were a little more extreme than the last ones. While Anarchy can sometimes facilitate the necessity for Death, the two are not mutually exclusive. Lucien is a brooding, dark, pensive kind of personality while Anya is bubbly, conniving, & jovial. She does have her Debbie-downer moments, but she tends to bounce right back from them. They are both highly developed characters that never cease to intrigue & bewitch me.

The writing continues to be strong. Again, there are sexual situations, but not as much (or as graphic) as in the first book. I find myself being more & more drawn into the story & the Lords' lives. I'll be very happy to see what's up next in their battle for survival!