Otherworlders

Cover Design - UK vs US

noreply@blogger.com (Rachelle Gould-Harris) — Mon, 17 Oct 2011 18:26:00 +0000

As a graphic/print designer and a fan of the quality of design I've seen from UK designers, I found this very interesting...

The Qwillery: Cover Conundrum: Staffer's Musings and The Qwillery Talk Covers - October 10, 2011: Cover Conundrum: Staffer's Musings and The Qwillery Talk Covers - October 10, 2011

Dead Reckoning by Charlaine Harris (Sookie Stackhouse #11)

noreply@blogger.com (Rachelle Gould-Harris) — Sat, 30 Jul 2011 00:05:00 +0000

With her knack for being in trouble's way, Sookie witnesses the firebombing of Merlotte's, the bar where she works. Since Sam Merlotte is now known to be two-natured, suspicion falls immediately on the anti-shifters in the area. Sookie suspects otherwise, but her attention is divided when she realizes that her lover Eric Northman and his "child" Pam are plotting to kill the vampire who is now their master. Gradually, Sookie is drawn into the plot-which is much more complicated than she knows...

This is a series that is near and dear to my heart, however Dead Reckoning left me feeling like I could have missed it and not missed much. The plot was somewhat predictable and not as impressive as the previous 9 books (book 10 was also a bit blah as well). I hope the series continues, but I also would like more excitement and mystery.

My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Street Magic (Black London, #1) by Caitlin Kittredge

noreply@blogger.com (Rachelle Gould-Harris) — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 01:52:00 +0000

Her name is Pete Caldecott. She was just sixteen when she met Jack Winter, a gorgeous, larger-than-life mage who thrilled her with his witchcraft. Then a spirit Jack summoned killed him before Pete’s eyes—or so she thought. Now a detective[MSOffice2] , Pete is investigating the case of a young girl kidnapped from the streets of London. A tipster’s chilling prediction has led police directly to the child…but when Pete meets the informant, she’s shocked to learn he is none other than Jack. Strung out on heroin, Jack a shadow of his former self. But he’s able to tell Pete exactly where Bridget’s kidnappers are hiding: in the supernatural shadow-world of the fey. Even though she’s spent years disavowing the supernatural, Pete follows Jack into the invisible fey underworld, where she hopes to discover the truth about what happened to Bridget—and what happened to Jack on that dark day so long ago…

I really wanted to like this book. I gave it a chance and completed it although it took me considerably longer to read than is my norm. The story was strange and a little off to me. There was something about the writing style or maybe it was because I didn't care about the characters... I was not able to lose myself in the story or in the world the author created. I realize sometimes the first book in a series can leave something to be desired, so I will give this series another shot and read the next book in the series.

Street Magic (Black London, Book 1)

Bound to Shadows (Riley Jenson Guardian, #8) by Keri Arthur

noreply@blogger.com (Rachelle Gould-Harris) — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 02:03:00 +0000

In the darkness, demons come out to play . . .and someone must bring their sins to light.

Part vampire, part werewolf, Riley Jenson knows what can happen when vamps don’t play well with others. But she’s never seen anything like this: a series of brutal murders surrounding the latest hot spot for vampire-human hookups—and the victims aren’t just killed, they’re beheaded. Now Riley is launching into action, toying with a seductive—and highly suspicious—club owner, and finding herself in the middle of another mystery: women being killed one by one, without a trace of violence.

For Riley, solving multiple cases—in a world going mad with human and vampire passions—would have been tough enough. Instead she has two jealous lovers on her hands: Kye Murphy, the amber-eyed werewolf who makes Riley’s wolf blood howl—and Quinn, the cool, elegant vamp who has over a thousand years’ experience at fulfilling women’s desires. While she’s busy juggling these two sexy beasts, Riley’s detective work takes a stunningly violent turn. Finding a murderer is now a matter of life and death. Especially since the killer has long since found her . . .

I really love this series! This book did not disappoint, and as soon as I finished reading I was off to KeriArthur.com to find out when then next book in the series was due to be released.

The story comes to an abrupt end, and although it seems a bit rushed in the last chapter, I was thoroughly involved in the investigation. I would have liked more explanation about the resolution and a more complete resolution, but overall I think this read was just short of a perfect 5 stars.

Bound to Shadows (Riley Jensen, Guardian, Book 8)

Dreamfever (Fever, #4) by Karen Marie Moning

noreply@blogger.com (Rachelle Gould-Harris) — Sat, 31 Oct 2009 17:54:00 +0000

MacKayla Lane lies naked on the cold stone floor of a church, at the mercy of the erotic Fae master she once swore to kill. Far from home, unable to control her sexual hungers, MacKayla is now fully under the Lord Master’s spell.…In New York Times bestselling author Karen Marie Moning’s stunning new novel, the walls between human and Fae worlds have come crashing down. And as Mac fights for survival on Dublin’s battle-scarred streets, she will embark on the darkest—and most erotically charged—adventure of her life.

He has stolen her past, but MacKayla will never allow her sister’s murderer to take her future. Yet even the uniquely gifted sidhe-seer is no match for the Lord Master, who has unleashed an insatiable sexual craving that consumes Mac’s every thought—and thrusts her into the seductive realm of two very dangerous men, both of whom she desires but dares not trust.

As the enigmatic Jericho Barrons and the sensual Fae prince V’lane vie for her body and soul, as cryptic entries from her sister’s diary mysteriously appear and the power of the Dark Book weaves its annihilating path through the city, Mac’s greatest enemy delivers a final challenge.…

It’s an invitation Mac cannot refuse, one that sends her racing home to Georgia, where an even darker threat awaits. With her parents missing and the lives of her loved ones under siege, Mac is about to come face-to-face with a soul-shattering truth—about herself and her sister, about Jericho Barrons…and about the world she thought she knew.

My rating: 4 of 5 stars
(Nooooo! - This is me screaming because I'm hanging off a cliff over here!) It has been several hours since I finished reading Dreamfever and I am still thinking about it. It's difficult to talk about the book without giving too much away, so I'll just say this was a great read and I am anxiously looking forward to the 5th and final book in this series!

Faefever (Fever, #3) by Karen Marie Moning

noreply@blogger.com (Rachelle Gould-Harris) — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 18:18:00 +0000

The New York Times bestselling author of Darkfever and Bloodfever returns to Dublin’s Fae-infested shores in a bold, sensual new novel. Hurtling us into a realm of seduction and shadows, Karen Marie Moning tells the enthralling tale of a woman who explores the limits of her mysterious powers as she enters a world of ancient sorcery—and confronts an enemy more insidious than she could ever have imagined.

He calls me his Queen of the Night. I’d die for him. I’d kill for him, too. When MacKayla Lane receives a torn page from her dead sister’s journal, she is stunned by Alina’s desperate words. And now MacKayla knows that her sister’s killer is close. But evil is closer. And suddenly the sidhe-seer is on the hunt: For answers. For revenge. And for an ancient book of dark magic so evil, it corrupts anyone who touches it.

Mac’s quest for the Sinsar Dubh takes her into the mean, shape-shifting streets of Dublin, with a suspicious cop on her tail. Forced into a dangerous triangle of alliance with V’lane, an insatiable Fae prince of lethally erotic tastes, and Jericho Barrons, a man of primal desires and untold secrets, Mac is soon locked in a battle for her body, mind, and soul.

As All Hallows’ Eve approaches and the city descends into chaos, as a shocking truth about the Dark Book is uncovered, not even Mac can prevent a deadly race of immortals from shattering the walls between worlds—with devastating consequences.…
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Bloodfever (Fever, #2) by Karen Marie Moning

noreply@blogger.com (Rachelle Gould-Harris) — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 15:19:00 +0000

I used to think my sister and I were just two nice southern girls who'd get married in a few years and settle down to a quiet life. Then I discovered that Alina and I descend, not from good wholesome southern stock, but from an ancient Celtic bloodline of powerful sidhe-seers, people who can see the Fae. Not only can I see the terrifying otherworldly race, but I can sense the sacred Fae relics that hold the deadliest of their magic.

When my sister was found dead in a trash-filled alley in Dublin, I came over to get answers. Now all I want is revenge. And after everything I've learned about myself, I know I have the power to get it.

MacKayla Lane's ordinary life underwent a complete makeover when she landed on Ireland's shores and was plunged into a world of deadly sorcery and ancient secrets.

In her fight to stay alive, Mac must find the Sinsar Dubh--a million-year-old book of the blackest magic imaginable, which holds the key to power over both the worlds of the Fae and of Man. Pursued by Fae assassins, surrounded by mysterious figures she knows she cannot trust, Mac finds herself torn between two deadly and irresistible men: V'lane, the insatiable Fae who can turn sensual arousal into an obsession for any woman, and the ever-inscrutable Jericho Barrons, a man as alluring as he is mysterious.

For centuries the shadowy realm of the Fae has coexisted with that of humans. Now the walls between the two are coming down, and Mac is the only thing that stands between them...

I breezed through this book! Ms. Moning (she has a really nice website, check it out) has redeemed herself with me in Bloodfever the second book in the Fever series. After reading the first book, I dropped the series from my list, but after reading more reviews, I decided to give it another shot. I'm very glad that I did. This book was exciting and engaging. My only complaint is that there's not enough of Barrons! I'm off to ready book 3.

Beneath a Rising Moon (Ripple Creek Werewolf, #1) by Keri Arthur

noreply@blogger.com (Rachelle Gould-Harris) — Sat, 17 Oct 2009 21:52:00 +0000

On the werewolf reservation of Ripple Creek, a killer is on the loose. Three women are dead, their bodies mutilated and faces slashed. A fourth, Neva Grant's twin, lies in the hospital, fighting for her life.Psychically linked, Neva shared the horror of her twin attack and makes a silent vow by her sister's hospital bed. She'll hunt down the killer, if Savannah finds the strength to live.The Rangers believe the killer is a member of the Sinclair pack, but Neva knows the Sinclairs will never talk to an outsider. To begin the hunt, she first has to seduce a Sinclair---and then she has to keep him interested long enough to find the killer. The only Sinclair not under suspicion is a wolf with a hard drinking, hard loving reputation. But has she got what it takes to attract a man with such experience? Neva doesn't know, but for her sister's sake, she has to try.Duncan Sinclair has been called back home to find a killer, and he wants nothing more than to complete his task and get out of the town for which he has no love. Then he's approached by a wolf who obviously has more than seduction on her mind, and he finds himself ensnared in a growing web of desire and deceit.As the murders continue and the killer's shadow draws ever closer, Duncan and Neva find themselves having to trust each other in order to survive. But can they trust the emotions flaring between them? Or will the lies of the present, the deeds of the past, and a killer's bloody intentions tear them apart?

rating: 2 of 5 stars

A quick, somewhat satisfying, read. Beneath all the romance and "dancing" was a really good storyline/plot. I really liked Duncan and his wicked ways. Neva was so uptight most of the time, and her personality caused the story to drag. When Neva and Duncan finally worked together the story moved and became quite interesting.

Magic to the Bone (Allie Beckstrom, Book 1) by Devon Monk

noreply@blogger.com (Rachelle Gould-Harris) — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 23:54:00 +0000

Using magic means it uses you back - and every spell exacts a price from the user. Some people, however, get out of it by Offloading the cost of magic onto an innocent, then Allison Beckstrom's job is to identify the spell-caster. Allie would rather live a hand-to-mouth existence than accept the family fortune and the strings that come with it, but when she finds a boy dying from a magical Offload that has her father's signature all over it she is thrown back into the world of his black magic.

rating: 5 of 5 stars

A Rush of Wings (The Maker's Song, #1) by Adrian Phoenix

noreply@blogger.com (Rachelle Gould-Harris) — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 13:18:00 +0000

HIS NAME IS DANTE.

Dark. Talented. Beautiful. Star of the rock band Inferno. Rumored owner of the hot New Orleans nightspot Club Hell. Born of the Blood, then broken by an evil beyond imagination.

HIS PAST IS A MYSTERY.

F.B.I. Special Agent Heather Wallace has been tracking a sadistic serial murderer known as the Cross Country Killer, and the trail has led her to New Orleans, Club Hell, and Dante. But the dangerously attractive musician not only resists her investigation, he claims to be "nightkind": in other words, a vampire. Digging into his past for answers reveals little. A juvenile record a mile long. No social security number. No known birth date. In and out of foster homes for most of his life before being taken in by a man named Lucien DeNoir, who appears to guard mysteries of his own.

HIS FUTURE IS CHAOS.

What Heather does know about Dante is that something links him to the killer — and she's pretty sure that link makes him the CCK's next target. Heather must unravel the truth about this sensual, complicated, vulnerable young man — who, she begins to believe, may indeed be a vampire — in order to finally bring a killer to justice. But Dante's past holds a shocking, dangerous secret, and once it is revealed not even Heather will be able to protect him from his destiny....

rating: 2 of 5 stars

I don't think I got to know enough about Dante or Heather to become involved in their world. I still feel like I'm on the fringe of something that's just out of reach. I also don't care for the writing style. I grew tired of the italicized flash backs of previous conversations and the endless mental question asking. The overall story was good, but there was something about the presentation that I can not put my finger on.

Speaking of presentation, don't judge this book by the cover. I don't know what the designer was thinking, but the cover design does not represent the content of this book in any way... well, with the exception of the gun. Who is that woman on the cover?

This was very hard for me to get into... It was a struggle to finish. I decided to postpone my review a little to give myself a chance to sleep on it. Before choosing this book/series to read, I browsed through reviews on several different sites, and found that most reviewers loved the book, but the ones who didn't were not really clear on why they were less than thrilled. I think I fall in the later category and although I'm not crazy about Rush of Wings, I am willing to give then next book in the series, In The Blood, a chance because I am intrigued by the world created by Adrian Phoenix.

Upcoming Release: Destined For An Early Grave by Jeaniene Frost

noreply@blogger.com (Rachelle Gould-Harris) — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 18:29:00 +0000

Since half-vampire Cat Crawfield and her undead lover Bones met six years ago, they've fought against the rogue undead, battled a vengeful Master vampire, and pledged their devotion with a blood bond. Now it's time for a vacation. But their hopes for a perfect Paris holiday are dashed when Cat awakes one night in terror. She's having visions of a vampire named Gregor who's more powerful than Bones and has ties to her past that even Cat herself didn't know about.

Gregor believes Cat is his and he won't stop until he has her. As the battle begins between the vamp who haunts her nightmares and the one who holds her heart, only Cat can break Gregor's hold over her. She'll need all the power she can summon in order to bring down the baddest bloodsucker she's ever faced . . . even if getting that power will result in an early grave.

Book Four in the Night Huntress Series

SCHEDULED RELEASE DATE: July 28, 2009

Upcoming Release: The Renegade Hunter: A Rogue Hunter Novel by Lynsay Sands

noreply@blogger.com (Rachelle Gould-Harris) — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 18:13:00 +0000

Having agreed to be fixed up by her sister, Josephine Willan unfortunately finds herself very bored. The gorgeous men she'd been introduced to are all looking at her strangely and they're barely speaking to her. So Jo steps out for a breath of fresh air. Before she knows it, she's attacked, then rescued...and being kissed senseless by her rescuer! Nicholas Argeneau went rogue after the death of his life mate fifty years ago, but he's never stopped hunting for the evil vampires that torment mortals. He's tracked one of them to the enforcer house, and when he finds a woman in danger, all of Nicholas' protective instincts kicked in. Before he knows it, he's kissing her senseless. But life on the run is all he has to offer...or is it?

Argeneau and Rogue Hunter Series Book 12

SCHEDULED RELEASE DATE: March 31, 2009

Upcoming Release: Strange Brew (Anthology)

noreply@blogger.com (Rachelle Gould-Harris) — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 17:35:00 +0000

Today’s hottest urban fantasy authors come together in this delicious brew that crackles and boils over with tales of powerful witches and dark magic!

In Charlaine Harris’ “Bacon,” a beautiful vampire joins forces with a witch from an ancient line to find out who killed her beloved husband. In “Seeing Eye” by Patricia Briggs, a blind witch helps sexy werewolf Tom Franklin find his missing brother—and helps him in more ways than either of them ever suspected. And in Jim Butcher’s “Last Call,” wizard Harry Dresden takes on the darkest of dark powers—the ones who dare to mess with this favorite beer.

For anyone who’s ever wondered what lies beyond the limits of reality, who’s imagined the secret spaces where witches wield fearsome magic, come and drink deep. Let yourself fall under the spell of this bewitching collection!

SCHEDULED RELEASE DATE: JULY 7, 2009

Upcoming Release: Anthology by Ilona Andrews, Charlaine Harris, Nalini Singh, Meljean Brook

noreply@blogger.com (Rachelle Gould-Harris) — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 17:11:00 +0000

MUST LOVE HELLHOUNDS, containing MAGIC MOURNS, a novella in Kate Daniels series

SCHEDULED RELEASE DATE: SEPTEMBER 1, 2009

My Reviews

noreply@blogger.com (Rachelle Gould-Harris) — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 16:55:00 +0000

I've been procrastinating about adding review of the books I've read lately. It's hard to take a break and write a review because many times I'm reading a new series. I get so caught up in what will happen next, I move from book to book in a series intending to take a break and write the review. Inevitably, I postpone it, and postpone it some more until I've completed the books available in the series and can't recall where one book ended and the next began. It all becomes one big story.

Another reason for my procrastination is that I want to write better reviews, and that takes a lot of thought and time. Time I would rather spend searching for my next good read or series. I have got to do better... I know it. I want my reviews to be helpful and insightful, but not mushy in a Paul Abdul kinda way. I don't want to be mean either. I've found that people write reviews and comments online saying things that I doubt they would ever say face to face, and that's not who I want to be.

I also don't want to give away the story. I find that many of the reviews I read tell too much of the story. I think the book description should be enough. I'm more interested in what the reviewers thought about the story rather than them rehashing the story. I'm still trying to find my groove with this review thing, so if you're out there waiting to see what I've read, please forgive me for not posting. I have been reading. I will post reviews soon.

Keeping Up With New & Upcoming Releases

noreply@blogger.com (Rachelle Gould-Harris) — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 20:07:00 +0000

I have notes here and there, books added to my "to read shelf" on good reads, and posts on my calendar. I have no real way to keep track of new and upcoming releases for my favorite authors and my favorite series'. I need one. Does anyone have any suggestions?

Red-Headed Stepchild (Sabina Kane, Book 1)

noreply@blogger.com (Rachelle Gould-Harris) — Sat, 23 May 2009 00:30:00 +0000

In a world where being of mixed-blood is a major liability, Sabina Kane has the only profession fit for an outcast: assassin. But, her latest mission threatens the fragile peace between the vampire and mage races and Sabina must scramble to figure out which side she's on. She's never brought her work home with her---until now.

This time, it's personal.

rating: 3 of 5 stars

I was reluctant to read Red-Headed Stepchild by Jaye Wells. I don't know why... I held off for six days before I actually started reading. Because I have the ebook for Adobe Digital Editions, and the format was set for letter size (142 pages) instead of half page the text was small and tight. I was just being picky, and it was not the way I was use to reading ebooks.

I got over my little hang-up and started reading. The first half of the book was hard for me to get through. It was a bit flat, but I trudged through because I wanted to give the story a chance.

It was hard to like Sabina Kane, the half vampire half mage assassin. She seemed mindless and blind to everything going on right under her nose. Sabina put off several important bits of information to think about later, but she never really did. The other characters, Giguhl "Mr. Wiggles" (the demon/cat), Adam (the mage), Vinca (the nymph) were amusing and and fun in contrast to Sabina's personality.

The plot thickened (around page 111) when Sabina snapped out of her mental daze and was more appealing. I hope she continues to evolve and reason for herself in The Mage In Black, the second book in the Sabina Kane series.

NOTE: I think this book has a beautifully designed cover!

Blood Bound by Patricia Briggs (Mercedes Thompson, #2)

noreply@blogger.com (Rachelle Gould-Harris) — Sat, 16 May 2009 00:40:00 +0000

Mechanic Mercy Thompson has friends in low places - and in dark ones. And now she owes one of them a favor. Since she can shapeshift at will, she agrees to act as some extra muscle when her vampire friend Stefan goes to deliver a message to another of his kind.

But this new vampire is hardly ordinary - and neither is the demon inside of him...

rating: 5 of 5 stars

The second in Patricia Briggs' Mercedes Thompson series, Blood Bound is not quite as good as the first book, Moon Called, but it runs a close second. I am now a complete 'sucker' for this series. Where ever Mercy, Samuel, Adam, Stefan and the others lead... I will follow.

Patricia Briggs has a talent for making each chapter ending a mini cliffhanger that leaves you wanting more and entices you to read further. I also appreciate the way she ended both books by not abruptly bringing the story to a halt just because the good vs. evil or the main plot issues were somewhat resolved. She takes the time to give you more, and it's nice to know what happens after the dust settles a little.

Visit the Author: http://www.patriciabriggs.com

Moon Called by Patricia Briggs

noreply@blogger.com (Rachelle Gould-Harris) — Thu, 14 May 2009 07:41:00 +0000

Werewolves can be dangerous if you get in their way, but they'll leave you alone if you are careful. They are very good at hiding their natures from the human population, but I'm not human. I know them when I meet them, and they know me, too.

Mercy Thompson's sexy next-door neighbor is a werewolf.

She's tinkering with a VW bus at her mechanic shop that happens to belong to a vampire.

But then, Mercy Thompson is not exactly normal herself... and her connection to the world of things that go bump in the night is about to get her into a whole lot of trouble.

rating: 5 of 5 stars

I'm looking forward to learning more about the characters especially Adam and Stefan. I'm sure Mercedes (Mercy) also has some secrets about her nature that will be revealed to her and us later in the series.

Originally, I wasn't a fan of books written in first person, but in this case it works and works well. The writing style of Patricia Biggs in this series includes a lot of dialogue compared to some of what I've read lately, and it makes for great reading. There are several twists and turns that keep the story going and leave no room for lulls in the plot.

Visit the Author: http://www.patriciabriggs.com

Love Without Blood by Raz Steel

noreply@blogger.com (Rachelle Gould-Harris) — Wed, 13 May 2009 22:37:00 +0000

"I CAN'T STOP THE BLEEDING," said her nighttime caller.

The intruder then compelled Dr. Lara West to remove the bullet from his shoulder. She treated his wound, but that quelled neither his desire for the sweet life pulsing through the flesh of her thigh, nor the rampant animal lust that defines his existence.

The darkness has just begun. Dr. West's identity, what she wants--all stands in danger of being devoured. Nothing is ever the same for those inducted into the sinister world of vampires, be they newly turned monsters or the government agents sworn to destroy them. Lara West has tasted both power and passion, and a price must be paid. Yet she's glimpsed salvation in the night. Hope still remains for... LOVE WITHOUT BLOOD

rating: 3 of 5 stars

This book was an impulse buy that paid off. After a little checking, I found that it didn't have the greatest reviews for varying reasons. This debut effort by Raz Steel was difficult to get into at first (which is why I gave it three stars), but I think that was more to do with the style of writing along with the past present aspect rather than the story being told. Once the story came together, the pace and my interest grew.

It takes a while for the plot to evolve, but I think the author's intent was for the reader to get to know the main characters. My only problem with that was too much thinking and not enough action. It's better when actual dialogue between characters provides the character building and backgrounds. Thoughts alone become boring after a while especially when the same thoughts and ideas are repeated over and over again.

The romance was not in your face, but it was there even if it was subdued. Love Without Blood could be dark fantasy, paranormal, romance, mystery... all in one. Overall the book was enjoyable, and I think the heroine and hero make this story a great starting point for a series especially given the unanswered questions and teaser at the end (HINT, HINT). I would like to read more.

Dead and Gone (Sookie Stackhouse Southern Vampire Mystery, Book 9)

noreply@blogger.com (Rachelle Gould-Harris) — Mon, 11 May 2009 04:44:00 +0000

Except for Sookie Stackhouse, folks in Bon Temps, Louisiana, know little about vamps—and nothing about weres.

Until now. The weres and shifters have finally decided to reveal their existence to the ordinary world. At first all goes well. Then the mutilated body of a were-panther is found near the bar where Sookie works—and she feels compelled to discover who, human or otherwise, did it.

But there’s a far greater danger threatening Bon Temps. A race of unhuman beings—older, more powerful, and more secretive than vampires or werewolves—is preparing for war. And Sookie finds herself an all-too human pawn in their battle.

rating: 3 of 5 stars

I was disappointed that with this book. I read it in one sitting because I was hoping it would get better, but it didn't. The who-done-it was dull. The battle was blah, and even the romance was boring.

After book 8 in the series, I thought things would move on and the series would be as addictive and thrilling as it was in books 1 through 7. After reading the Dead and Gone, I'm wondering if maybe Charlaine Harris is tired of writing this series. Sookie seemed subdued... actually everyone did.

I'll keep reading the series, and I'm looking forward to the next release in October 2009...

Free Copy of Kiss of Midnight by Lara Adrian

noreply@blogger.com (Rachelle Gould-Harris) — Sat, 09 May 2009 19:41:00 +0000

For a limited time, download a free copy of Lara Adrian's first book in the Midnight Breed series KISS OF MIDNIGHT

He watches her from across the crowded dance club, a sensual black-haired stranger who stirs Gabrielle Maxwell’s deepest fantasies. But nothing about this night—or this man—is what it seems. For when Gabrielle witnesses a murder outside the club, reality shifts into something dark and deadly. In that shattering instant she is thrust into a realm she never knew existed—a realm where vampires stalk the shadows and a blood war is set to ignite.

Lucan Thorne despises the violence carried out by his lawless brethren. A vampire himself, Lucan is a Breed warrior, sworn to protect his kind—and the unwitting humans existing alongside them—from the mounting threat of the Rogues. Lucan cannot risk binding himself to a mortal woman, but when Gabrielle is targeted by his enemies, he has no choice but to bring her into the dark underworld he commands.

Here, in the arms of the Breed’s formidable leader, Gabrielle will confront an extraordinary destiny of danger, seduction, and the darkest pleasures of all.

rating: 5 of 5 stars

Open publication - Free publishing - More romance

Read the Midnight Breed series...

Coming soon! ASHES OF MIDNIGHT--the latest in the Midnight Breed series from Lara Adrian, on sale May 26, 2009.

Lover Avenged (Black Dagger Brotherhood, #7) by J.R. Ward

noreply@blogger.com (Rachelle Gould-Harris) — Thu, 07 May 2009 00:54:00 +0000

Now, as the vampire warriors defend their race against their slayers, one male's loyalty to the Brotherhood will be tested--and his dangerous mixed blood revealed...

Rehvenge has always kept his distance from the Brotherhood-even though his sister is married to a member, for he harbors a deadly secret that could make him a huge liability in their war against the lessers. As plots within and outside of the Brotherhood threaten to reveal the truth about Rehvenge, he turns to the only source of light in his darkening world, Ehlena, a vampire untouched by the corruption that has its hold on him-and the only thing standing between him and eternal destruction.

rating: 5 of 5 stars

FANTASTIC!!! I can't say enough good things about this series. It feels like the BDB have become members of my family, and I can't wait to learn more. It was strange getting to know Rehv because he's a bit shady. You never know which side of the fence he's on which made this story so compelling.

I read mostly vampire/paranormal romance, but this series is so much more than what is typical of the genre. J.R. Ward is on a completely different level.

Other Books in the Black Dagger Brotherhood Series by J.R. Ward

Dead Witch Walking (Rachel Morgan/The Hollows, Book 1) by Kim Harrison

noreply@blogger.com (Rachelle Gould-Harris) — Fri, 17 Apr 2009 19:30:00 +0000

Rachel Morgan is a runner with the Inderland Runner Services, apprehending law-breakers throughout Cincinnati. She’s also a witch, one of the many Inderlanders who revealed themselves after a genetically engineered virus wiped out 50% of humanity. Witches, warlocks, vampires, werewolves-the creatures of dreams and nightmares have lived beside humans for centuries, hiding their powers. But now they’ve stopped hiding, and nothing will be the same.

On the run with a contract on her head, Rachel reluctantly teams up with Ivy, Inderland’s best runner… and a living vampire. But this witch is way out of her league, and to clear her name, Rachel must evade shapechanging assassins, outwit a powerful businessman/crimelord, and survive a vicious underground fight-to-the-death… not to mention her own roommate!

rating: 4 of 5 stars

I read the ebook edition of Dead Witch Walking, and unfortunately the layout caused the text to be small and difficult to read, but I adjusted to that eventually.

The story started out pretty slow, but it did improve. I wasn't expecting much because I'm more partial to urban fantasy/paranormal romance (vampires), but the escapades of Rachael quickly captured my attention. There are quite a few unanswered question in book 1, but I'm sure Kim Harrison provides answers in the other books in The Hollows series.

I Burn for You (Prime Series, Book 1) I Burn for You by Susan Sizemore

noreply@blogger.com (Rachelle Gould-Harris) — Tue, 14 Apr 2009 22:54:00 +0000

An interesting take on vampires, but too many loose ends..not sure if they are tied up later in the series. There was so much good build up that the story felt like it ended too abruptly. I was expecting much more as I read and then the book just ended... leaving me hanging. I felt a little cheated.

I'm left wondering if I should continue with this series.