Wednesday, December 30, 2009

2009 Review Re-Cap


WoW!! I can not believe it is the end of 2009. :) I have had such an amazing year in books and I appreciate all of you who stop by my blog and take the time to comment on my posts. Here is a list of all the books I've read and reviewed in 2009. :)

5 Star Reads:

Fish Out of Water - Mary Janice Davidson
Kiss of A Demon King - Kresley Cole
Undead & Uneasy - Mary Janice Davidson
Undead & Unpopular - Mary Janice Davidson
Undead & Unworthy - Mary Janice Davidson
Pride - Rachel Vincent
Dream Warrior - Sherrilyn Kenyon
Bone Crossed - Patricia Briggs
Promises in Death - JD Robb
Key to Conflict - Talia Gryphon
Stay the Night - Lynn Viehl
Way of the Wolf - E E Knight
Desire Unchained - Larissa Ione
Dante's Girl - Natasha Rhodes
Lover Avenged - J R Ward
Dead & Gone - Charlaine Harris
At Grave's End - Jeaniene Frost
Grimspace - Ann Aguirre
Small Favor - Jim Butcher
Strange Angels - Lili St. Crow
Passion Unleashed - Larissa Ione
Succubus Heat - Richelle Mead
Finger Lickin' Fifteen - Janet Evanovich
Prey - Rachel Vincent
Skinwalker - Faith Hunter
Intertwined - Gena Showalter
The Darkest Whisper - Gena Showalter
Bad Moon Rising - Sherrilyn Kenyon
Frostbite - Richelle Mead
Uglies - Scott Westerfeld
Blue Bloods - Melissa De La Cruz
The Hunger Games - Suzanne Collins
Catching Fire - Suzanne Collins
City of Bones - Cassandra Clare
Lord of Misrule - Rachel Caine
Carpe Corpus - Rachel Caine
An Echo in the Bone - Diana Gabaldon
Dream Fever - Karen Marie Moning
Deadly Desire - Keri Arthur
Bound to Shadows - Keri Arthur
Bitter Night - Diana P. Francis
Rosemary & Rue - Seanan McGuire
50 Ways to Hex Your Lover - Linda Wisdom
Grave Sight - Charlaine Harris
Kindred in Death - JD Robb
Fade Out - Rachel Caine
Soulless - Gail Carriger

4 Star Reads


Succubus Dreams - Richelle Mead
Midnight's Daughter - Karen Chance
Kiss of Fury - Deborah Cooke
Staked - J F Lewis
Ecstasy - Jacqueline Frank
Touch of Darkness - Christina Dodd
Night Huntress - Yasmine Galenorn
Dawn Keepers - Jessica Andersen
Rogue Angel: Destiny - Alex Archer
Don of the Dead - Casey Daniels
White Witch, Black Curse - Kim Harrison
In the Midnight Hour - Patti O'Shea
Red Headed Step Child - Jaye Wells
Master of the Night - Angela Knight
Parallel Attraction - Deidre Knight
Cast in Shadow - Michelle Sagara
Some Girls Bite - Chloe Neill
Eve of Darkness - S J Day
Curse the Dawn - Karen Chance
The Sword - Jean Johnson
Over My Dead Body - Michele Bardsley
Playing With Fire - Gena Showalter
Once Bitten, Twice Shy - Jennifer Rardin
Finders Keepers - Linnea Sinclair
Amazon Ink - Lori Devoti
Burning Alive - Shannon Butcher
Demon Mistress - Yasmine Galenorn
Demon Angel - Meljean Brook
Warbreaker - Brandon Sanderson
Bloodline - Maggie Shayne
Skin Trade - Laurell K Hamilton
Dark Time, Mortal Path 1 - Dakota Banks
Random Magic - Sasha Soren
Evermore - Alyson Noel
Tithe - Holly Black
The Summoning - Kelley Armstrong
Oracle's Legacy 1 - R B Holbrook
Oracle's Legacy 2 - R B Holbrook
Covet - J R Ward
The Untamed Bride - Stephanie Laurens
Shattered - Joan Johnston
Skinned - Robin Wasserman
Blood Blade - Marcus Pelegrimas
Tirissa & The Necklace of Nulidor - Willow
Divine Misdemeanors - Laurell K Hamilton
Personal Demons - Stacia Kane
Xombies - Walter Greatshell

3 Star Reads

Magic to the Bone - Devon Monk
A Rush of Wings - Adrian Phoenix
Bound By Flame - Anna Windsor
Ravenous - Sharon Ashwood
Immortal Warrior - Lisa Hendrix
Low Red Moon - Caitlin R Kiernan
Daughter of Hounds - Caitlin R Kiernan
Veil of Midnight - Lara Adrian
Death's Daughter - Amber Benson
Dancing with Werewolves - Carole Nelson Douglas
Slave : The Cat Star Chronicles - Cheryl Brooks
Carpe Demon - Julie Kenner
Red - Jordan Summers
Night Life - Caitlin Kittredge
Chill Factor - Rachel Caine
Street Magic - Caitlin Kittredge
The Devil You Know - Jenna Black
Sex & The Psychic Witch - Annette Blair
Norse Code - Greg van Eekhout
Once Dead, Twice Shy - Kim Harrison
Unshapely Things - Mark Del Franco
Bloodsucking Fiends - Christopher Moore
Tantalize - Cynthia Leitich Smith
Lament - Maggie Stiefvater
Magic Bites - Ilona Andrews
Syren - Angie Sage
Matters of the Blood - Maria Lima
Keeping it Real - Justina Robson
Would Be Witch - Kimberly Frost
Shadowfae - Erica Hayes
Santa Olivia - Jacqueline Carey
Queene o
f Light - Jennifer Armintrout
Dying Bites - D D Barant
Tekgrrl - A J Menden
The Better Part of Darkness - Kelly Gay
Born of Night - Sherrilyn Kenyon
Explorer X-Alpha - L M Preston

2 Star Reads

Night Life - Rob Thurman
BloodRing - Faith Hunter
Kushiel's Legacy - Jacqueline Carey
Fat White Vampire Blues - Andrew Fox
Real Vampires Don't Diet - Gerry Bartlett

1 Star Reads

Servant: The Awakening - L L Foster
Night Rising - Chris Marie Green
Unclean Spirits - MLN Hanover

0 Star Reads

The Better to Hold You - Alisa Sheckley

Did Not Finish

Seduced By Shadows - Jessa Slade


So there they are - all 141 of them. :)

I have a few that stand out in my mind - for different reasons - and here they are:

Lover Avenged by J R Ward - cause ewww, creepy half sister sex.

The Hunger Games and Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins - cause WoW, that is just brutal.

An Echo in the Bone by Diana Gabaldon - cause WTH, such a letdown after that long wait.

Soulless by Gail Carriger - cause a mannerly werewolf is just too funny.

Shadowfae by Erica Hayes - cause it really didn't live up to all the hype.

The Better to Hold You by Alisa Sheckley - cause it is the worst book I've ever read.

How bout you? What books did you like best/worst in 2009?

M



Reviews X2 - Soulless and Xombies



This is the first book in the Parasol Protectorate series by Gail Carriger.

Book Blurb:

Alexia Tarabotti is laboring under a great many social tribulations.

First, she has no soul. Second, she's a spinster whose father is both Italian and dead. Third, she was rudely attacked by a vampire, breaking all standards of social etiquette.

Where to go from there? From bad to worse apparently, for Alexia accidentally kills the vampire - and then the appalling Lord Maccon (loud, messy gorgeous, and werewolf) is sent by Queen Victoria to investigate.

With unexpected vampires appearing and expected vampires disappearing, everyone seems to believe Alexia is responsible. Can she figure out what is actually happening to London's high society? Will her soulless ability to negate supernatural powers prove useful or just plain embarrassing? Finally, who is the real enemy, and do they have treacle tart?

Soulless is a fun and quirky read. :)

I absolutely love Alexia: the manners, the fashion, the steel rod that is her spine. LOL

I don't read many period pieces anymore - but grabbed Soulless because of the paranormal elements and Urban Fantasy setting. I am so glad I did.

The blending of the Renaissance era with vamps and weres makes for a hilarious read. Everyone is trying to maintain that air of mannerism that the Renaissance era is known for - even the supernaturals. It was quite enjoyable when Lord Maccon was trying to regain his composure - a mannerly werewolf? :)

I love the butler - Floote. And the Beta were - Professor Lyall. And the vampire - Lord Akeldama is a hoot. :)

I give Soulless 5 out of 5 stars and applaud its originality. :) I'm looking forward to the next install
ment - Changeless - due out in May of 2010.

M

AND

This is the first book in the Xombies series by Walter Greatshell.

Book Blurb:

Warning: This is the Emergency Broadcast Network. The epidemic known as Agent X has contaminated all but the most isolated pockets of the country. A state of martial law has been declared. Stay inside. Barricade all windows. Lock all doors. The infected are considered to be psychotic and extremely dangerous. Trust no one. This is not a test.

Agent X is unlike anything modern science has seen before - a fast spreading virus that turns the infected into raving maniacs on the hunt for the planet's few remaining survivors.

One of those survivors is Lulu, a seventeen year old spared by a rare medical condition. Immune to Agent X and witness to her own mother's bestial degeneration, Lulu is on the run for the frozen North, the last place on Earth rumored to be safe. But what's awaiting her is as unexpected, and as frightening, as what's followed her there....

Xombies is listed as an ACE science fiction novel.

I really enjoyed this book.

Xombies moves from one terrible encounter to the next - with barely time to breath. I feel so bad for Lulu. She has lost her mother and been thrown into this unimaginable situation with no real adult supervision. It is every man for himself. And I do mean man - because as far as anyone knows...Lulu is the only female on the planet. That is a lot for one 17 year old girl to shoulder.


Greatshell's Xombies are different from the average zombie. For one thing, they are blue. For another, they are not flesh eaters. But they are very interested in increasing their numbers and to this end - they attack any and everyone in their path.

I give Xombies 4 out of 5 stars and look forward to the sequel - Xombies: Apocalypticon - due out in March of 2010.

M


Tuesday, December 29, 2009

Review: Born of Night


This is a League Novel by Sherrilyn Kenyon.

Book Blurb:

In the Ichidian Universe, the League rules all. Expertly trained and highly valued, the League Assassins are the backbone of the government. But not even the League is immune to corruption....

He was born and trained to kill...

Command Assassin Nykyrian Quiakides once turned his back on the League - and has been hunted by them ever since. Though many have tried, none can kill him or stop him from completing his current mission: to protect Kiara Zamir, a wman whose father's political alliance has made her a target.

She must accept his protection - or Die.....

As her world becomes even deadlier, Kiara must entrust her life to the same kind of beast who once killed her mother and left her for dead. Old enemies and new endanger them both and the only way they can survive is to overcome their suspicions and learn to trust in the very ones who threaten them the most: each other.

Born of Night is a pretty good read. :)

I love the character of Nykyrian - he is like Kenyons Dark Hunters and Were Hunters - beautiful and tortured - needing a woman to see through his tough exterior and find the goodness within.....I can deal with that. :)

But Kiara....gack! I do not like her character at all. People are trying to kill her. Nyk is trying to save her. He is an Assassin - what does she think he does for a living? How does she think he is going to stop the people from trying to kill her?

I just don't like the fact that she is surprised when Nyk kills or amazed at how he reacts with mistrust - especially when she gains insight into his past. I almost named her TSTL - but she has a few moments in there that redeem her....barely. :)

I give Born of Night 3 out of 5 stars. :)

I have the next two on the shelf and I'm looking forward to reading them.

M

Monday, December 28, 2009

Mailbox Monday - Christmas Books!! :)


Good Monday morning everyone. :) I can't believe Christmas has come and gone and the New Year is only a few days away. :)

I was a very good girl this year and Santa and his lovely Elves supplied me with numerous gift cards to the book store. :)

Here is a list of what I have in hand now.

Possess Me At Midnight - Shayla Black
Seduce Me In Shadow - Shayla Black
Born of Ice - Sherrilyn Kenyon
Born of Fire - Sherrilyn Kenyon
Rion - Susan Kearney
On the Edge - Ilona Andrews
Three Days to Dead - Kelly Meding
Betrayals - Lili St. Crow
Blaze of Memory - Nalini Singh
Demon Inside - Stacia Kane
Divine By Mistake - PC Cast
Divine By Choice - PC Cast
Doubleblind - Ann Aguirre
Blue Diablo - Ann Aguirre
Confessions of a Demon - S L Wright
Deadtown - Nancy Holzner
Tempest Rising - Nicole Peeler
Xombies - Walter Greatshell
Goth Girl Rising - Barry Lyga
Fallen - Lauren Kate
Thirst Vol 1 - Christopher Pike

Now these are the ones I had to order from B&N online and they are supposed to be shipped out today. :)

Friday Night Bites - Chloe Neill

They Call Me Death - Missy Jane
Hotter Than Hell - Jackie Kessler
Lucinda, Darkly - Sunny
Whispered Lies - Kenyon & Love
Phantom in the Night - Kenyon & Love
Tainted - Julie Kenner
Heart of Stone - C E Murphy
Ghostland - Jory Strong
Revamped - J F Lewis
Eternal - V K Forest
Eve of Chaos - S J Day

I am all atwittered. :) I just love books!! My precious.........LOL

M

Sunday, December 27, 2009

Review: Personal Demons


This is the first book in the Megan Chase series by Stacia Kane.

Book Blurb:

Megan promises listeners to her new radio call - in show that she'll 'slay their personal demons', and they believe her. So do the personal demons.

Although she doesn't know it, Megan is the only human without a personal demon on her shoulder. This, coupled with her psychic abilities, makes her a valuable weapon for any demon 'family' that can gain her allegiance. It also makes her a serious threat - not just to the personal demons, but to a soul - sucker known as The Accuser who has an old score to settle.

Megan and her allies - a demon lover who both protects and seduces her with devilish intensity, a witch with poor social skills, and three cockney guards - have to deal not only with The Accuser, the personal demons and the ghosts of Megan's past, but with a reporter who threatens to destroy Megan's career.

I enjoyed this book very much. :)

Megan is really not as bad ass as she is made out to be - but that is only because she does not know how to use her power. With the right training she can become a force to be reckoned with. :)

Greyson Dante (you can call me Grey) is a sexy demon who takes Megan under his wing (no, he is not really winged) and promises to protect her from the bad guys - even though, technically - he is a bad guy. LOL

This protection comes in the form of the three brothers Brown. I have to say that they are - by far - my favorite characters in this book. :) I really hope to learn more about them in future installments.

I give Personal Demons 4 out of 5 stars. :)

M

Personal DemonsDemon Inside

Thursday, December 24, 2009

Merry Christmas Everyone!!


It is Christmas Eve and we are getting ready for our annual 'carpet picnic' and movie followed by the opening of the stockings. LOL

I wish all of you a Merry Christmas and I'll be back in a few days. :)

M

Review: The Better Part of Darkness


This is the first Charlie Madigan novel by Kelly Gay.

Book Blurb:

Atlanta: it's the promised city for the off-worlders, foreigners from the alternate dimensions of heaven-like Elysia and hell-like Charbydon. Some bring good works and miracles. And some bring unimaginable evil...

Charlie Madigan is a divorced mother of one, and a kick-ass cop trained to take down the toughest human and off-world criminals. She's recently returned from the dead after a brutal attack, an unexplained revival that has left her plagued by ruthless nightmares and random outbursts of strength that make doing her job for Atlanta P.D.'s Integration Task Force even harder.

Since the Revelation, the criminal element in Underground Atlanta has grown, leaving Charlie and her partner Hank to keep the chaos to a dull roar. But now an insidious new danger is descending on her city with terrifying speed, threatening innocent lives: a deadly, off-world narcotic known as ash.

Charlie is determined to uncover the source of ash before it targets another victim -- but can she protect those she loves from a force more powerful than heaven and hell combined?

I enjoyed this book. :)

The Better Part of Darkness is a paranormal whodunnit and Charlie Madigan is a tough as nails APD ITF officer. Being from Georgia - I really enjoyed the Atlanta setting. :)

The story is well written and interesting enough - but it did get draggy in a few spots. The total number of pages is 391 - and usually, for me - the more the better - but I lost interest about three fourths of the way through and actually skimmed a few pages before making myself go back and re-read and then behave. LOL I think the whole story could have been wrapped up a little quicker than it was - and we were left with somewhat of a cliff hanger so I'm thinking - gee, why stretch it out like that?

But I do want to know how things are going to turn out - especially for Charlie's partner Hank and her ex- husband Will.

So to that end - I am looking forward to the next installment The Darkest Edge of Dawn - due out August of 2010.

I give The Better Part of Darkness 3 out of 5 stars.

M

Wednesday, December 23, 2009

Review: Divine Misdemeanors


This is the 8th book in the Merry Gentry series by Laurell K Hamilton.

Book Blurb:

You may know me best as Meredith Nic Essus, princess of faerie. Or perhaps as Merry Gentry, Los Angeles private eye. In the fey and mortal realms alike, my life is the stuff of royal intrigue and celebrity drama. Among my own, I have confronted horrendous enemies, endured my noble kin's treachery and malevolence, and honored my duty to conceive a royal heir - all for the right to claim the throne. But I turned my back on court and crown, choosing exile in the human world - and in the arms of my beloved Frost and Darkness.

While I may have rejected the monarchy, I cannot abandon my people. Someone is killing the fey, which has left the LAPD baffled and my guardsmen and me deeply disturbed. My kind are not easily captured or killed. At least not by mortals. I must get to the bottom of these horrendous murders, even if that means going up against Gilda, the Fairy Godmother, my rival for fey loyalties in Los Angeles.

But even stranger things are happening. Mortals I once healed with magic are suddenly performing miracles, a shocking phenomenon wreaking havoc on human/faerie relations. Though I am innocent, dark suspicions of banned magical activities swirl around me.

I thought I'd left the blood and politics behind in my own turbulent realm. I had dreamed of an idyllic life in sunny L.A. with my beloved ones beside me. But it becomes time to wake up and realize that evil knows no borders, and that nobody lives forever - even if they're magical.

I enjoyed this book. :)

Divine Misdemeanors finds Merry and Company back in LA and once again working cases for Grey Detective Agency. I like this much better. No court politics, no assassins - just Merry and crew trying to live a normal life while waiting for the birth of their babies. :)

If having 6 fathers for 2 babies can be considered normal. Oh and the fact that they now have almost 100 'exiles' living on the property with them. Property that does not belong to them - but has been graciously loaned by Ms. Reed, another fey born in debt to Merry for returning her powers.

Now with the Merry books - sex is expected. Merry is a fertility deity and it appears that her goddess has in mind to use Merry as the means to return the fey to their original powers. By having sex with them. :)

Every time Merry has sex with one of the fey she brings out the powers that are dormant in that individual fey or half fey. She has, in the past, used this as a means of securing an alliance with other fey factions.

As I said, with the Merry books - sex is expected and Divine Misdemeanors is no exception. We have 130 or so pages before the first encounter - and 3 - 5 encounters after that...but there always seems to be a reason. LOL

I give Divine Misdemeanors 4 out of 5 stars. :)

M

A Kiss of ShadowsA Caress of TwilightSeduced By MoonlightA Stroke of Midnight
Mistral's KissA Lick of FrostSwallowing DarknessDivine Misdemeanors

Tuesday, December 22, 2009

Review: Fade Out


This is the 7th book in the Morganville Vampire series by Rachel Caine.

Book Blurb:

Without the evil vampire Bishop ruling over the town of Morganville, the resident vampires have made major concessions to the human population. With their newfound freedoms, Claire Danvers and her friends are almost starting to feel comfortable again.

Now Claire can actually concentrate on her studies, and her friend Eve joins the local theatre company. But when one of Eve's castmates goes missing after starting work on a short documentary, Eve suspects the worst. Claire and Eve soon realize that this film project, whose subject is the vampires themselves, is a whole lot bigger - and way more dangerous - than anyone suspected.

This is one of my favorite YA series. :)

I love the concept of a whole town built specifically for vampires to live amongst humans - as a sort of trial by fire. Can the vampires behave? Can the humans learn to coexist with the vampires and not run scared - or worse - stake first and then run?

The human/vampire dynamic is skewed, of course - with the vampires getting the better deal in my opinion. Every resident of Morganville must pay their taxes - and in Morganville taxes are paid in blood - literally.

Of course the vampires offer protection to those humans who contract with them - but really - if the vampires weren't there in the first place, no protection would be needed.

This is an awesome series and I have not been disappointed with any of the books. :) I really like Rachel Caine's writing style and have to say that I have had several surprises throughout this series - things that I didn't see coming - and that is exciting for me as a reader. :)

I give Fade Out 5 out of 5 stars. :)

M

Morganville Vampires
1. Glass Houses (2006)
2. Dead Girl's Dance (2007)
3. Midnight Alley (2007)
4. Feast of Fools (2008)
5. Lord of Misrule (2008)
6. Carpe Corpus (2009)
7. Fade Out (2009)
8. Kiss of Death (2010)
The Morganville Vampires (omnibus) (2009)

Monday, December 21, 2009

Mailbox Monday

Good morning. :) We are on the countdown to Christmas and I am so excited. :) We had our get together at my Mother's house yesterday and I have already racked up on some gift cards from the book store. Woo-hoo!! Looking forward to that after Christmas run to B and N!!

Here are a couple of books I've received from paperbackswap.


Book Blurb:

To spend her life with him, she'll have to face her greatest fear...

Erica Peck thought she'd never have to go into the water again. After all, there's plenty to do running her family's marina from shore without having to dive in herself. But then her unstable ex-fiance shows up with a gun and demands her help in finding a bag of rare jewels she accidentally tossed into the ocean.

Unable to find them, bleeding from a grazing gunshot wound and running out of oxygen fast, she has no choice but to give herself up to the mercy of the sea. Rescued from the water and the sharks by a gorgeous merman named Reel, Erica quickly finds herself falling head over fins in love with him. And when Reel risks his life to save hers, she discovers that she doesn't want to live without him, no matter the consequences. But can they ever find a way to be together when she still can't stand the water and he can't survive on land?

And

Book Blurb:

In the early days of the Civil War, rumors of gold in the frozen Klondike brought hordes of newcomers to the Pacific Northwest. Anxious to compete, Russian prospectors commissioned inventor Leviticus Blue to create a great machine that could mine through Alaska's ice. Thus was Dr. Blue's Incredible Bone-Shaking Drill Engine born.

But on its first test run the Boneshaker went terribly awry, destroying several blocks of downtown Seattle and unearthing a subterranean vein of blight gas that turned anyone who breathed it into the living dead.

Now it is sixteen years later, and a wall has been built to enclose the devastated and toxic city. Just beyond it lives Blue's widow, Briar Wilkes. Life is hard with a ruined reputation and a teenaged boy to support, but she and Ezekiel are managing. Until Ezekiel undertakes a secret crusade to rewrite history.

His quest will take him under the wall and into a city teeming with ravenous undead, air pirates, criminal overlords, and heavily armed refugees. And only Briar can bring him out alive.

Happy Reading Everyone.

M

Saturday, December 19, 2009

New Cover & Promo: Indigo Court Novel


The moon sheds light on a playground for monsters and magic...

Eons ago, vampires tried to turn the Dark Fae in order to harness their power. Instead, they created a demonic enemy more powerful than they dared to dream. Bent on enslaving the world, the Vampiric Fae have been quietly massing their strength for centuries. Now, Myst, queen of the Indigo Court, is rising again...and a long-prophesied war is brewing.

Born witches Cicely Waters and her cousin Rhiannon--who are jet and amber, the moon and the sun--and their friends are the caught between ancient enemies, trying to protect all that they love.

Cicely Waters returns home to find herself stuck in a war between two evils, trying to protect her family.

I saw this over at SciFi Guys blog and snagged it. :)

I enjoy the Otherworld series and look forward to this new series due out June 29, 2010.

M

Friday, December 18, 2009

Review: Tirissa and The Necklace of Nulidor


This is a novel by Willow.

Book Blurb:

One day twelve-year-old Tirissa discovers that everyone in her village is under a spell. Everyone but her! Then she sees a mysterious stranger change into a huge bird, a bird with a beak like a sword. Did he cast the spell?

Desperate to find someone who can break it, she flees, leaving her village behind. An old herbwoman tells her to seek help from a wizard who lives far away, and her journey takes her across the Three Kingdoms.

Along the way she's joined by a kindly troll and a short, fat palace guard. They are pursued by the twin princes of Kellayne, the best hunters in the Blue River Kingdom, as well as by the huge, dangerous bird.

Meanwhile, an evil wizard watches Tirissa and her friends in his magic mirror and plans a second spell that will kill everyone in the Three Kingdoms.

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

Tirissa and The Necklace of Nulidor is a wonderful book for children - but I must admit that I liked it as well. :)

The story is very fast paced. Tirissa and her friends move from one sticky situation to the next - it is a wild roller coaster ride of adventure that kept me interested from start to finish.

Younger readers (under the age of 9) may be scared of a couple of death scenes - but they are tastefully done and not graphic.

Tirissa and The Necklace of Nulidor ended with hints of future adventures - I look forward to reading more of Tirissa's stories.

The only thing that gave me pause was some of the names used - I found myself stumbling over pronunciations, and that slows me down as a reader. So I had to give a few characters nick names for the sake of time. :)

I give Tirissa and The Necklace of Nulidor 4 out of 5 stars. :)

M

    Reading level: Ages 9-12
    Paperback: 338 pages
    Publisher: Outskirts Press (August 27, 2009)
    Language: English
    ISBN-10: 143274013X
    ISBN-13: 978-1432740139

Thursday, December 17, 2009

Review: Tekgrrl


This is an EHJ (Elite Hands of Justice) novel by A J Menden.

Book Blurb:

A Dark Seed...

When she was 12, Mindy asked to go to the School like other gifted girls. Her parents sent her to another planet.

......Has Grown To Fruition

Today, Mindy's back on Earth. She's a mechanical genius with the Elite Hands of Justice, America's premier superhero squad. She's been having headaches, though and not just because her longtime crush is flirting with a teammate. It's not because she's pushing thirty. It's also not because of the contrary actions of the new Presidential Secretary of Heroes, ex-ally Simon Leasure.

No, what's burning her brain is a past she can't remember, a past that has been erased. It's a memory surging closer - in flying saucers. Her worst nightmare is returning, big-time, and only she and her friends can stop it.

This was a quirky read - along the same lines as Smallville, with the superheroes and aliens.

I enjoyed Tekgrrl - it had a lot of action and fun dialogue. I was particularly fond of all the superhero names - White Heat, Aphrodite (yep, the goddess) Sensei, Tekgrrl, Phenomenal Girl Five, the Reincarnist and Granite. That is just too much fun - I could come up with some nifty superhero names as well. LOL

I give Tekgrrl 3 out of 5 stars. :)

M

Oh and just for fun - come up with a name for your own superhero and tell us what his/her super powers are. :)

Wednesday, December 16, 2009

New Series Promo: Sons of the Zodiac


I came across this one while looking for new releases. :) Due out March 2, 2010.

Book Blurb:


First in the dark and sexy paranormal romance series.

Starring the immortal warriors of the zodiac.


Charming, proud, and impulsive, Leo Warrior Brody Talbot is fighting what may be his final battle. Enyo, the Goddess of War, plans to fulfill an ancient prophecy to destroy humanity by harnessing the dark power of the Summoning Stones of Egypt. There's only one person who knows enough about the stones to help Brody stop her-beautiful museum curator Ava Harrison.

Never in all his centuries has Brody met a woman who enthralls him like Ava. But, bound to protect her, he struggles to deny his passion as they are drawn into a dark and dangerous final reckoning between good and evil.

Sounds interesting. :)

M

Tuesday, December 15, 2009

Review: Kindred in Death


This is the 35th book in the In Death series by JD Robb.

Book Blurb:

When the newly promoted captain of the NYPSD and his wife return a day early from their vacation, they were looking forward to spending time with their bright and vivacious sixteen-year-old daughter who had stayed behind.

Not even their worst nightmares could have prepared them for the crime scene that awaited them instead. Brutally murdered in her bedroom, Deena's body showed signs of trauma that horrified even the toughest of cops; including our own Lieutenant Eve Dallas, who was specifically requested by the captain to investigate.

When the evidence starts to pile up, Dallas and her team think they are about to arrest their perpetrator; little do they know yet that someone has gone to great lengths to tease and taunt them by using a variety of identities. Overconfidence can lead to careless mistakes. But for Dallas, one mistake might be all she needs to bring justice.

I love this series. :)

Eve Dallas is one of my all time favorites - severely abused as a child, thrown into the foster system and then bounced out on her own - Eve found her calling in the NYPSD.

Eve is a tough, no-nonsense kick ass Lieutenant who solves the toughest crimes New York has to offer - oftentimes with her tough, sexy as hell, kick ass husband Roarke and her dependable sidekick Peabody and their crack EDD team.

I love the future world that Ms. Robb has created - and the 'futuristic' language that peppers the stories. I also love her writing style and the way she makes Eve seem tough - but vulnerable at the time.

I give Kindred in Death 5 out of 5 stars. :)

M

Naked in DeathGlory in DeathImmortal in DeathRapture in Death
Ceremony In DeathVengeance in DeathHoliday in DeathSilent Night
Conspiracy in DeathLoyalty in DeathWitness in DeathJudgment in Death
Betrayal in DeathOut of This WorldSeduction in DeathReunion In Death
Purity in DeathPortrait in DeathImitation in DeathRemember When
Divided in DeathVisions in DeathSurvivor in DeathOrigin in Death
Memory in DeathBump in the NightBorn in DeathInnocent in Death
Dead of NightCreation in DeathStrangers in DeathSuite 606
Salvation In DeathPromises in DeathKindred in DeathThe Lost
Fantasy in Death