Review: Santa Olivia

This is a novel by Jacqueline Carey.

Book Blurb:

Lushly written with rich and vivid characters, SANTA OLIVIA is Jacqueline Carey's take on comic book superheroes and the classic werewolf myth.

Loup Garron was born and raised in Santa Olivia, an isolated, disenfranchised town next to a ..US.. military base inside a DMZ buffer zone between ..Texas.. and ....Mexico..... A fugitive "Wolf-Man" who had a love affair with a local woman, Loup's father was one of a group of men genetically-manipulated and used by the ....US.... government as a weapon. The "Wolf-Men" were engineered to have superhuman strength, speed, sensory capability, stamina, and a total lack of fear, and Loup, named for and sharing her father's wolf-like qualities, is marked as an outsider.

After her mother dies, Loup goes to live among the misfit orphans at the parish church, where they seethe from the injustices visited upon the locals by the soldiers. Eventually, the orphans find an outlet for their frustrations: They form a vigilante group to support Loup Garron who, costumed as their patron saint, Santa Olivia, uses her special abilities to avenge the town.

Aware that she could lose her freedom, and possibly her life, Loup is determined to fight to redress the wrongs her community has suffered. And like the reincarnation of their patron saint, she will bring hope to all of Santa Olivia.

This was an interesting read. :)

Santa Olivia is set in a town that once belonged to the state of Texas. Due to epidemic illness and war with Mexico, Santa Olivia was closed off completely from the rest of the world and is now occupied by the military. Everyone who was born in Santa Olivia after it was closed off - has never left - and probably never will. Unless they win a boxing match against the Army's champion boxer.

Loup (Lou) Garron and her older brother Tommy were born in Santa Olivia after the epidemic illness that killed almost all of Santa Olivia's residents. It is Tommy's goal in life to win a boxing match and a ticket out of Santa Olivia for himself and Loup.

Things don't go as Tommy plans and Loup winds up in the ring - fighting for herself and Tommy - hoping against hope to make it out of Santa Olivia alive.

I enjoyed Santa Olivia - it was a definite change from the usual 'were' read. But the main characters in this book are children - Loup being barely 18 by the end of the book. I wonder if Ms. Carey plans another book in the life of Loup Garron - I am interested to know what happens to her in the next phase of her life.

I give Santa Olivia 3 out of 5 stars.

M

New series promo: Babes on Brooms

Book Blurb:

From the Wild & Hexy imagination of a New York Times bestselling author

Sexy witch Anica Revere has one rule: never under any circumstances get involved with a man before telling him she's a witch.

Still, what's one silly rule? Especially when the guy in question is as cute as Jasper Danes.

But when Anica and Jasper have a spat, she breaks an ever bigger rule of witchcraft and turns him into a cat.

Bad news for him. Worse for her...


And

Book Blurb:

From the New York Times bestselling author of Blonde with a Wand--another charming tale of love and witchcraft

Lily Revere is free-spirited and fun-loving-two dangerous qualities in a witch.

Lily needs a date for her sister Anica's engagement party, and she's determined to bring hot Griffin Taylor. But the jaded divorce lawyer claims his job has warned him off romance.

Slipping a love elixir into Griffin's drink may not be the noble thing to do-but it sure works! There's just one problem:

Are Griffin's feelings the result of some truly good witchcraft-or could he really be in love?

These books sound like fun. The first one is due out February of 2010 and the second one in March. :)

M

ARC Review: Shattered

This is the 8th book in the Bitter Creek series by Joan Johnston.

Book Blurb:

Nine years ago Kate Grayhawk Pendleton walked into Wyatt Shaw's life - and out of it the next morning. Now Wyatt's back - and has the power to shatter Kate's future with the man she loves.

By reputation, Wyatt Shaw is a brutal killer who always gets what the wants. And he wants Kate and her twin eight-year-old sons.

Texas Ranger Jack McKinley is hot on Wyatt Shaw's trail. The presumed heir to the D'Amato crime syndicate is threatening to steal the woman he loves.

Holly McKinley is fighting to keep Jack from leaving her for another woman. Now the secret she's kept for over twenty years may save their son's life, and cost her the only man she's ever loved.

This book was submitted for review and I retain this book. :)

Shattered is a great read.

This is the first book I have read by Ms. Johnston and I have to say, I love her writing style. Shattered has a wonderful flow and is not overly descriptive - I like it when a writer does not feel the need to explain every single detail - trusting that the reader will understand what is happening in the story. :)

Shattered being the 8th book in the Bitter Creek series made me think that I would be lost as far as the characters went - but I was wrong. This can be read as a stand alone book - but with several characters being referenced from previous books, I am eager to start with book one and work my through the previous seven novels.

I am very interested in finding out more about the Grayhawk, Creed and Blackthorne families. :)

I give Shattered 4 out of 5 stars.

M

Shattered will be available from Mira books in January 2010.
ISBN-13: 978-0-7783-2829-2
432 pages

Bitter Creek
1. The Cowboy (2000)
2. The Texan (2001)
3. The Loner (2002)
4. The Price (2003)
5. The Rivals (2004)
6. The Next Mrs. Blackthorne (2005)
7. A Stranger's Game (2007)
8. Shattered (2009)

Mailbox Monday

Good Monday morning. :) I hope everyone has a wonderful week. My children are on 'count down' - this is the last week of school before Thanksgiving break. LOL

Here are a couple of books I received from paperbackswap.


Book Blurb:

The Blood Sword Legacy

Bound by a brotherhood forged in the hell of a Saracen prison,
eight Blood Swords -- mercenary knights for William the
Conqueror -- set out to claim their legacies the only way they can:
by right of arms, by right of victory, by right of conquest.

For Sir Rohan du Luc, known as the Black Sword, enemies fall easily beneath his assault...until he comes face-to-face with a foe more worthy than any battle-hardened knight. Bold and courageous though she is, Saxon maiden Isabel of Alethorpe cannot stop Rohan de Luc from seizing Alethorpe and its people in the name of William the Conqueror. Then Rohan demands not just the manor, but Isabel herself. She vows that her heart will remain her own, even if she is forced to allow him to lay claim to her body. But while the lady's lips say no, Isabel's traitorous body is awakened to desire by the seductive attentions of this potent invader. Can she remain true to her Saxon heritage and her hopes that her brother may have survived the battlefield, or will Sir Rohan's skilled touch capture her unwilling heart as surely as his prowess with his sword captured her father's lands?

And

Book Blurb:

THE HUNTER AND THE HUNTED

In the days when powerful witches used their magic to shield humanity from demons, their allies and guardians were a group of men gifted with preternatural abilities of their own-the witch guardians. But when a band of witches traded their humanity for demonic power, the ancient bond was broken, and the guardians became the hunters.

Darcy MacAlister knows nothing of demons or magic. But this beautiful young woman is about to discover the truth about her past . . . and her future. For she is a witch-not just any witch, but the key to breaking the curse that has plagued witches and the men who hunt them. For if a hunter kills an innocent witch by mistake, the price is no less than a piece of his soul.

Axel Locke, gorgeous leader of the Wing Slayer Hunters, has sworn never to shed the blood of the earth witches who have resisted the temptation of demonic power. But when his sister is cursed by a demon witch, he discovers that Darcy MacAlister may hold the cure-if she can master her newfound powers in time. When the chase begins and Axel and Darcy come face-to-face, this hunter must weigh his soul against his honor-and against his heart.

I have read good reviews for both of these and I'm looking forward to reading them.

M

Book Cover: Flirt by L K Hamilton

This is the cover for the 18th Anita Blake book due out Feb 2, 2010.

I'm not sure about these last few covers. This one is a razor blade....not very flirty in my opinion. :)

Blurb forthcoming.

M

Review: Real Vampires Don't Diet

This is the 4th book in the Glory St.Claire series by Gerry Bartlett.

Book Blurb:

First Glory's stood up on New Year's Eve by her long time main squeeze Jeremy Blade. Then a moonlight boat ride on Austin's Lake Travis with newly turned vampire, rock star Israel Caine (Ray) goes horribly wrong. Who knew there was a Siren lurking in the lake just waiting for her chance to lure unsuspecting vampires into a trap? Now Glory and Ray are racing against time to find vampire sacrifices or they're doomed.

With the storm of the century threatening to wash out her new home and an old enemy taking aim at her, things don't look good for Glory.

As for her relationship with Blade? Well, Glory wonders if maybe it's time to cut her longtime lover loose.

Valdez is at her side as usual, along with her friends who won't let Glory go down without a fight. Surely all this action is bound to help our curvy vamp lose a pound or two.

This installment let me down.

Usually I love the adventures Glory has and the trouble she gets herself mixed up in....but Real Vampires Don't Diet was boring.

In previous installments I have enjoyed the back and forth banter between Glory and Valdez - not so much this go round because it seemed like Valdez was more paternal - more responsible (and really, who wants to be reprimanded by a talking dog?) instead of being the sarcastic side kick I have grown to love.

I don't like Ray. Maybe it's because I really like Blade and think that Glory and Blade need to get together and decide they belong together forever. I'm not sure - but this story had too much of Ray and that could be why it didn't do it for me.

I give Real Vampires Don't Diet 2 out of 5 stars.

M

Glory St. Claire
1. Real Vampires Have Curves (2007)
2. Real Vampires Live Large (2007)
3. Real Vampires Get Lucky (2008)
4. Real Vampires Don't Diet (2009)
5. Real Vampires Hate Their Thighs (2010)

Review: Bitter Night

This is the first of the Horngate Witches books by Diana Pharaoh Francis.

Book Blurb:

SOMETIMES YOU CHOOSE YOUR BATTLES. AND SOMETIMES, THEY CHOOSE YOU...

Once, Max dreamed of a career, a home, a loving family. Now all she wants is freedom...and revenge. A witch named Giselle transformed Max into a warrior with extraordinary strength, speed, and endurance. Bound by spellcraft, Max has no choice but to fight as Giselle's personal magic weapon -- a Shadowblade -- and she's lethally good at it. But her skills are about to be put to the test as they never have before....

The ancient Guardians of the earth are preparing to unleash widespread destruction on the mortal world, and they want the witches to help them. If the witches refuse, their covens will be destroyed, including Horngate, the place Max has grudgingly come to think of as home. Max thinks she can find a way to help Horngate stand against the Guardians, but doing so will mean forging dangerous alliances -- including one with a rival witch's Shadowblade, who is as drawn to Max as she is to him -- and standing with the witch she despises. Max will have to choose between the old life she still dreams of and the warrior she has become, and take her place on the side of right -- if she survives long enough to figure out which side that is....

Bitter Night is an awesome read!! I can't wait for the next installment.

This witches in this book are like none I've read about before - they are powerful and power hungry. Each witch worth her salt has Shadowblades and Sunspears to protect her and her covenstead. Shadowblades and Sunspears are humans who have been magically manipulated by the witch to gain the strength and abilities needed to defend the witch.

Max is a Shadowblade Prime and she was made so without her consent - this has caused a rift between herself and her Witch - Giselle. Max has one goal in life - to live long enough to kill Giselle for forcing her into a life she did not choose.

Bitter Night is fast paced and action filled. Simply a great read. :)

I give Bitter Night 5 out of 5 stars and look forward to the next installment.

M