First Grave on the Right by Darynda Jones

Originally reviewed 2/3/11

Synopsis: Charley sees dead people. That’s right, she sees dead people. And it’s her job to convince them to “go into the light.” But when these very dead people have died under less than ideal circumstances (i.e. murder), sometimes they want Charley to bring the bad guys to justice. Complicating matters are the intensely hot dreams she’s been having about an Entity who has been following her all her life...and it turns out he might not be dead after all. In fact, he might be something else
                                    entirely.

My Thoughts: The first book in what I hope is a long running series. Darynda Jones has put a new twist on the paranormal genre by having her main character, Charley Davidson, as the Grim Reaper. She's sassy and funny with a touch of ADD. At times I did feel that there were too many little sub-plots going on (a LOT happened in this first book!), but I didn't have trouble following along. I'm really excited about this "series" and can't wait to see what kind of trouble Charley can get into next book!

Gideon - Jacquelyn Frank

Synopsis:

For a thousand years, Gideon has healed his people. And as the oldest surviving male of his race, his wisdom has always been respected without question. But Gideon knows that even he is vulnerable to the powerful, primitive desires that befall his kind during Hallowed moons--and nine years ago that truth was hammered home when he found himself claiming Magdalegna, the Demon King's sister, in a wild embrace. Horrified by his lack of control, he left her wanting and furious--and then exiled himself for the better part of a decade. Now, with necromancers threatening his people--and Magdalegna nearly their victim--Gideon must face another truth. He and the beautiful, stubborn Magdalegna are destined to be together, to share a love as deep and old as time itself. But first he needs to regain her trust. Then he'll have to save her life...



My Thoughts:

I thought the story itself was a little slower than Jacob, but it was just as good. I really enjoyed the fact that this book really introduced the rest of the Nightwalkers races - vampires and the lycanthropes...and it seemed to open things up for future books. This series is quickly becoming one of my favorites and I hope Frank writes more books in this series!!


Rating: A

Lover Eternal - J.R. Ward

Synopsis:
Within the brotherhood, Rhage is the vampire with the strongest appetite. He's the best fighter, the quickest to act on his impulses, and the most voracious lover-for inside him burns a ferocious curse cast by the Scribe Virgin. Possessed by this dark side, Rhage fears the times when his inner dragon is unleashed, making him a danger to everyone around him. When Mary Luce is unwittingly thrown into the vampire world, she must rely on Rhage's protection. Knowing that Mary feels the same intense animal attraction, Rhage must make her his alone...

My Thoughts:
I love this series! This second installment picks up right where the first one left off. This time, however, we learn more about Rhage and all of his inner demons (figuratively and mostly literally). I love this series because of the characters, and how with each book the plot becomes more complex and more of the pieces fit together.
It's a series I believe you don't have to absolutely read in order, but to get the most out of the books, I would recommend it :)

Rating: A

Club Dead - Charlaine Harris

Synopsis:
Sookie Stackhouse is having man trouble. Her vampire boyfriend, Bill, has been distant and inattentive lately. Then he announces that he is going on a business trip, which clearly is more than it seems. After a werewolf tries to abduct Sookie at work, Bill's boss, Eric, tells her that Bill fell under the sway of his--Bill's, that is--ex, a sexy vamp named Lorena, and has been kidnapped. Eric wants Sookie's help in getting Bill back, and despite her hurt over Bill's betrayal, Sookie agrees to go to Jackson, Mississippi, to find her wayward lover. Eric has persuaded Alcide, a dashing werewolf, to get Sookie access to Josephine's, aka Club Dead, the local hangout of Jackson's supernatural element. In between dodging kidnappers, the advances of amorous Eric, and her growing feelings for Alcide, Sookie has to find out who kidnapped Bill and figure out a way to rescue him.

My Thoughts:
Yet another great addition to the Sookie Stackhouse story. She's back at it again, this time Bill has been kidnapped, and she must go search for him and his kidnappers in Alabama. Some great new characters, as well as the characters we've met before. In my opinion, this series keeps getting better with each book.

Rating: B+

Changeling - Yasmine Galenorn

Synopsis:

Delilah, a were tabby cat by a twist of genetic fate, and her half-Fae, half-human sisters are on the front lines of a brewing war. Just recovering from a battle, and adjusting to a relationship with human cop Chase, Delilah is drawn into investigating the mysterious, gruesome deaths of the Rainier Were Puma Clan and becomes attracted to their leader, Zachary. As she fears, a new threat emerges, manipulated by an old enemy, and it will take all of their efforts, and acceptance of her fate, to bring them down.

My Thoughts:

This is the second book in the series, and even more bad things are happening to the D'Artigo sisters! I like how Galenorn mixes in a bunch of genres in this series: a little bit of humor, some mystery, some romance, a lot of paranormal and fantasy! I did find myself being a little frazzled at how much stuff was going on in this story, but it didn't make me enjoy it any less. I'm really enjoying the series so far, but they definitely need to be read in order to understand everything that is going on.

Rating: B+

Dark Desire - Christine Feehan

 

Synopsis:
The stranger silently summoned her from across the continents, across the seas. He whispered of eternal torment, of endless hunger . . . of dark, dangerous desires. And somehow American surgeon Shea O'Halloran could feel his anguish. Drawn to the far Carpathian mountains, Shea found a ravaged, raging man, and recognized the beloved stranger who'd already become part of her. But was she to be his healer . . . or his prey?

My Thoughts:
I found this book more enjoyable than the first, and it seemed to move at a faster pace. The story takes place 25 years after Dark Prince, and we are met again with human vampire hunters, hunting the Carpathians. These vampire hunters are hunting and torturing any vampires they can find, including Jacques, a Carpathian male, who is the center of this story. Jacques is buried alive, obviously left for dead, for seven years, until he is able to reach out and call someone near through his mind. Our leading lady of the story, Shea, is called to Jacques and rescues him.
Like I said, I did enjoy this story much more than Dark Prince, I think because it kind of jumps right into the story and there's not much explaining and world building as there was in the first book. I'm currently reading the third in the series and am still loving where Feehan is going with this :)

Rating: A-

Dime Store Magic - Kelley Armstrong

Synopsis:

Unlike the Wizard of Oz, the witches in this sexy supernatural romance, including the murdered mother of 23-year-old heroine Paige Winterbourne, are not evil entities inhabiting a fairy tale land. They're an ages-old race of women so frightened by the possibility of exposure and endangerment that they've allowed their magical powers to atrophy. When Paige inherits her mom's mantle as Coven leader, however, she also inherits caretaking responsibility of Savannah Levine, an extremely gifted but rebellious 13-year-old who possesses her dead mother's penchant for dark magic-and for attracting the unwanted attention of darker magical beings (including Savannah's long-lost sorcerer father). The only person Paige can depend on is the one person she doesn't want to associate with: Lucas Cortez, an endearingly nerdy lawyer/sorcerer ("It was a sad world when a witch had to rely on a work-starved sorcerer for help"). As in Armstrong's debut novel Bitten, this story's special strength lies in its seamless incorporation of the supernatural into the real world. A convincing small-town setting, clever contemporary dialogue, compelling characterizations and a touch of cool humor make the tale's occasional vivid violence palatable and its fantasy elements both gripping and believable.

My Thoughts:

A great follow up to Armstrong's last book 'Stolen'. This story felt a little different from the last two books, and that could possibly just be because it's told from a different point of view, but I was still completely drawn into the characters and the story, just like the previous books. Really the synopsis says it all :) Another great one by Kelley Armstrong!

Rating: A

Jacob - Jacquelyn Frank

 

Synopsis:
Since time began, there have been Nightwalkers - the races of the night who live in the shadows of the moonlight. Love with humans is absolutely forbidden, and one man makes certain to uphold this ancient law: Jacob, the Enforcer...
FOR 700 YEARS, HE HAS RESISTED TEMPTATION.BUT NOT TONIGHT...Jacob knows the excuses his people give when the madness overtakes them and they fall prey to their lust for humans. He's heard every one and still brought the trespassers to justice. Immune to forbidden desires, uncontrollable hungers, or the curse of the moon, his control is total...until the moment he sees Isabella on a shadowy New York City street. Saving her life wasn't in his plans. Nor were the overwhelming feelings she arouses in him. But the moment he holds her in his arms and feels the soft explosion of her body against his, everything changes. Their attraction is undeniable, volatile, and completely against the law. Suddenly everything Jacob has ever believed is inflamed by the heat of desire...

My Thoughts:
Yes, this is a paranormal romance, but it's so much more than what the synopsis says! Jacob is the Enforcer of the Demon race, making sure that demon kind do nothing to harm humans. Not only does Jacob have to do this job, along with trying to deny the fact that he himself is falling in love with a human, but there are also demons who have been 'summoned' and turned into horrible creatures, of which he must hunt down and kill. He also must find the human necromancers who are summoning these gentle, kind demons and turning them into the most horrible monsters ever.
This is such a fast paced book with a lot of action and a lot of romance. I love the world Jacquelyn Frank has built with this story. I've been recommending this to anyone who likes the Black Dagger Brotherhood by J.R. Ward.

Rating: A+

Witchling - Yasmine Galenorn

Synopsis:

The first in an engrossing new series about conflict in the magic modern world—as told by the half-human, half-Faerie D'Artigo sisters—is a whimsical reminder of fantasy's importance in everyday life. Narrator Camille is a good witch with unpredictable powers who runs a Seattle bookstore while working as an Otherworld Intelligence operative, sent Earthside to keep an eye on things. When an operative from the Wayfaerer, a human/Faerie hangout, is killed, Camille springs into action with her sisters Delilah, a werecat, and Menolly, a freshly minted vampire. Tracing the murder back to evil demon leader Shadow Wing, the sisters find evidence of a far-reaching plot, but the Otherworld Intelligence Agency offers no help, stifled by bureaucratic red tape and a nasty Otherworld battle.


My Thoughts:
I love the spin that Galenorn puts on these girls: They each have their own talent (Menolly's a Vampire, Delilah's a Were, and Camille is a Witch), and all three are half human and half faerie. Because of their mixed blood their magic tends to short circut ocassionaly, which really add an element of humor to a darker story line.

There is a lot going on in this story, from the demons coming earthside, to a battle that's brewing in the Other World. With all the different plot lines that are going on, it does make the book a bit confusing at times, but it also makes for a very fast read. I think this was a great start to the series, you get to know a lot of background information, as well as getting to know the sisters better. It was a really nice blend of paranormal, action, mystery and romance!

Rating: B+

Tempting Danger - Eileen Wilks

 

Synopsis:

Lily Yu is a San Diego police detective investigating a series of grisly murders that appear to be the work of a werewolf. To hunt down the killer, she must infiltrate the clans. Only one man can help her - a werewolf named Rule Turner, a prince of the lupi, whose charismatic presence disturbs Lily. Rule has his own reasons for helping the investigation - reasons he doesn't want to share with Lily. Logic and honor demand she keep her distance, but the attraction between them is immediate and devastating - and beyond human reason. Now in a race to fend off evil, Lily finds herself in uncharted territory, tested as never before, and, at her back, a man she's not sure she can trust.

My Thoughts:

An excellent start to a series!! This was such a fast paced and intense story that it definitely held my attention. There is a lot of paranormal and magic in this story along with some great characters - my personal favorite is Grandmother Yu; I really hope they do more with her character in future books. Even though this is categorized as a "paranormal romance" I consider it to be more of a paranormal murder/mystery.

My one complaint about the book was that the big battle at the end was very anticlimactic. The battle starts and then cuts away to a time period later where everyone is recovering, and Lily explains what happened at the battle. I was disappointed, but I thought it was done well, and didn't upset me too much.

Rating: B+

Dead to the World by Charlaine Harris

 

Originally Reviewed 6/18/09

Description:
Dead to the World continues the story of telepathic waitress Sookie Stackhouse, who has fallen out with her undead lover, Bill. Bill has no sooner departed for Peru, than Sookie finds the head vampire, Eric, running naked and terrified through the rural night. She helps Eric, and discovers his memory has been destroyed by a coven of unscrupulous, astonishingly powerful witches, newly arrived in her small Louisiana town, and offering a huge reward for Eric. Sookie tries to hide Eric, but her brother sees him--and immediately disappears. And Sookie finds herself caught in a war among witches, vampires, and werewolves.

My Thoughts:
This is probably my favorite Sookie Stackhouse novel so far in the series. With each book in the series, I feel that Harris is getting more elaborate in her mysteries and her characters, which I love. As far as characters go, I think this book really does have them all, vampires, werewolves, shap shifters, witches, were-witches, and even a fairy. I'm really looking foward to her next book, and to see what these characters are up to, and what sort of trouble Sookie gets into next time.

Rating: A-

Blue Moon by Lori Handeland

 

Originally Reviewed 6/14/09

Description:
No-nonsense Jessie has never believed in magic or other supernatural "woo woo," but when she sees schoolteacher Karen Larson turn rabid in the classroom and attempt to bite one of her students shortly after being bitten by a wolf herself, she begins to realize that the world is not just black and white but "a host of annoying shades of gray." Before long, she's tramping through the forest with a self-professed werewolf hunter by her side and lusty thoughts of gorgeous professor Will Cadote, an expert in Native American mythology, racing through her mind. The enigmatic professor may be able to help Jessie figure out why the onyx wolf totem she found on the road near where Karen was bitten is so important, but it's possible he may be a werewolf himself.

My Thoughts:

I thought the story started off a bit slow, but it did certainly pick up about a third of the way into it. Handeland does a really good job of mixing mystery with paranormal romance in this story, which I think is what made it so intriguing. I'm really looking foward to reading the next in the series.

Rating: B+

Bitten by Kelley Armstrong

 

Originally reviewed 5/14/09

Description: Elena is a werewolf the only female werewolf in the world. Betrayed by Clay, her former lover, who bit her while in his werewolf form, she is now resigned to a life of secret changes while attempting to remain in human society. Meanwhile, the power of the Pack and her deep-seated ties to Clay continually press on her, preventing a true commitment to her human lover. When the Pack Alpha calls her to help rout a band of murderous "mutts" (werewolves not affiliated with the Pack), Elena reluctantly becomes the animal she has fought so long to suppress. First novelist Armstrong presents true werewolves as those who follow Pack law and don't kill for pleasure. Changing into a werewolf becomes an act of nature, as does ripping mutts to shreds for threatening the Pack. Elena's struggle with her wolf nature and her love for two men is caught up in the werewolves' fight for dominance and territory.

My Thoughts:
I really got into this book! It's full of action and some love scenes. I love Armstrong's take on werewolves, and how they take care of each other in the pack. The mutts are causing problems in this book, and Elena Michaels must come back to her old home to help her pack and stop the mutts from killing more people. Awesome book, and I can't wait to read more in this series.

Rating: A