Wild & Steamy Review

Wild & Steamy

Meljean Brook, Jill Moyles & Carolyn Crane

 Kindle Book

This is a free anthology on paranormal & steampunk romances I picked up a while ago, but have only recently got around to reading. As there are only three stories in this collection I thought I’d review each story separately.

The Blushing Bounder (Iron Seas #0.5) – Meljean Brooks

The search for a killer puts Detective Inspector Mina Wentworth's life in danger and her assistant, Constable Newberry, in the line of fire. But Newberry faces a danger of another kind: to his heart, by the woman forced to marry him. What will it take for this prudish bounder to convince his wife to stay?

This is a nice addition to the Iron Seas world filling in some background information on Mina’s bounder partner, Constable Newberry, his wife and why they came to London. It’s the shortest story but some nice relationship development between both Newberry and Mina and Newberry and his sick wife. The weird and wonderful world of the Iron Seas is touched on briefly with a murder and some unusual cab ride across London adding some colour to the rather sweet romance. A very pleasant story and expansion of a great world. 8 out of 10.

Vixen - Jill Myles

Miko's denied her were-fox nature for far too long and turned her back on her vixen heritage. But when she meets two very sexy cat-shifters, she has to decide if she truly wants to give up on her frisky side, or embrace it. Because the were-fox in her doesn't want to choose between both men...it wants them both.

Miko is a were-fox and as such shares some of her Vixen’s personality traits – such as the inability to settle for one man. So she lives alone in the countryside, but when two were-cats turn up on her door in order to protect her from a local hunt, her instinctive behaviour can’t let her decide between the two of them. For me this was very much in the paranormal romance filter with heavy on the romance. There is some very smexy action, but overall the plot lacked any focus. I usually prefer my PR with more action and story rather than descriptions of sitting around the house. 6 out of 10

Kitten-Tiger and the Monk (Disillusionments #2.5) – Carolyn Crane

Sophia Sidway, Midcity's most dangerous memory revisionist, seeks out the mysterious Monk in the wasteland beneath the Tangle turnpike, hoping for redemption...but it turns out.

A Memory Revisionist is searching for the Monk in order to start a new life, but runs into an old flame. I’ve not read any of the Disillusionment series before but I have to admit I’m intrigued by this short glimpse into the world of Midcity! The characters are different – both damaged and unique with a complicated history, while their world is so completely different to anything I’ve seen before. I definitely want to know more about this world – and luckily I have both Mind Games and Double Cross in my TBR pile. If I can find them, I will be diving into this world again soon! 9 out of 10

Overall, this was a good mix of Steampunk, Paranormal Romance and Urban Fantasy which should have some appeal for most people and might even get you interested in a couple of new series!

Recommended for fans of Pip Ballantine and Kelly Gay. 7.5 out of 10

Devil May Care Review

Devil May Care

Patricia Eimer

Publisher: Entangled Publishing

E-Arc courtesy of Netgalley and Entangled Publishing

After a month of planning not one, but two, demonic weddings, all Faith Bettincourt—the youngest Crown Princess of Hell—wants is to spend some quality time with her angelic boyfriend, Matt. But when a ghost from Matt’s past walks through Faith’s apartment door, her preoccupation with the weddings from Hell is all that’s keeping her from turning his ex, in all her devious angelic glory, into a down throw pillow.
Which is about when Matt’s zealous mother declares war on Faith’s family.Now Faith will stop at nothing to stop the craziness and make sure the impending nuptials go off without a hitch. All she’s got to do is rescue one of the grooms and go up against an army of so-called do-gooders, and everything will go back to normal. Or as normal as it can be where the Devil's spawn is concerned. With any luck, she might just be able to resuscitate her love life while she's at it.

A common theme running through many books is that families can be hell and in Faith’s case that is more literal than metaphorical. Her father is the Devil, she is demoness with wings, tail and horns and she is currently dating an angel who lives across the hall. Unfortunately his ex-girlfriend has shown up wanting him back, while her ex-boyfriend has also arrived on the scene, without any memories of their relationship and falls for her again. Add in two family weddings and Faith’s patience starts to run low...

This is one of those books were the banter between the characters is fun, frivolous and laugh out loud amusing. It could almost be a chick-lit frothy read with demons and angels thrown in for decoration. Faith has the same relationship and family issues as any young woman – although gratefully she is confident in herself and her abilities. Her family are familiar to most people with an over-protective Dad, a hippy Mum, an older half-brother who’s a pain and a bitchy sister – but despite their sniping and banter – but despite their sniping and mockery with each other there is a strong core. And when someone attacks one of them, they pull together.

Outside of the relationships, there is some investigation into drug thievery at the hospital Faith works which doesn’t really go anywhere but ties up some loose ends from the first book, Luck of the Devil. Overall, this is a fast, fun read – light hearted and amusing so a perfect anecdote for the wet, miserable winter days!

Recommended for fans of Mary Janice Davidson and Kerrelyn Sparks, 7.5 out of 10

Mr Real Review

Mr Real (Code of Shadows #1)

-  Carolyn Crane

Kindle Book

E-copy Courtesy of Carolyn Crane and Netgalley

Alix Gordon is a woman who doesn’t take life too seriously. What’s the fun in that? So when she stumbles across occult software that can bring any computer image to life, she conjures up lots of awesome outfits and accessories. And then, on one drunken, horny night, she conjures up Sir Kendall, the sexy TV ad spy . . . who looks exactly like Paul Reinhardt, the super-sexy martial arts teacher who kicked her out of class three years ago. Fighter Paul Reinhardt has good reason to hate Sir Kendall, the character he brought to life to land a part in a TV ad; he’d do anything to forget him. A cross country road trip seems just the thing . . . until Paul finds himself inexplicably drawn to Minnesota and is shocked to discover Sir Kendall - in the flesh - with the girl he’d once loved from afar. He barges into Alix and Sir Kendall’s love nest, determined to stop the madness - somehow. But is superspy Sir Kendall transforming into something more dangerous anyone can imagine? And what will Sir Kendall do when Paul and Alix finally give into their mad lust for each other?

This is a fun, sexy read that manages to combine magic and technology to create a fantastic premise. Alix has always been considered a bit of a crazy girl – the wild child of her straight-laced family, but when she inherits a house – including a mysterious computer code - from a forgotten aunt, things get really wild, Suddenly Alix can have anything she wants – and she decides she wants sexy, super-spy Sir Kendall from a drinks advert...unfortunately the actor who plays Sir Kendall in real life has something to say about that!

Despite the complicated set up, the story really is about relationships and the three characters all pop off the page. I love Alix’s craziness and her attempts to take responsility and grow up. Fighter and former ad star, Paul is more than just a hot male (although he is that too!). He is struggling with a tough childhood, guilt and meeting Alix again throws up all sorts of emotions. Even Sir Kendall, the spy come to life, is a complete character, determined to save the world but not sure what to make off his ‘twin’ Paul and Alix. He’s more than just an obstacle between Alix and Paul. I love all three of them and the chapters alternate between each point of view so you can really get under their skin. The tension between Alix and Paul is palpable and I liked the way they reconnected after so long.

I read this quickly, keen to know what would happen next. It made me laugh and was such an entertaining read that I can’t wait for another visit to the Code of Shadows... I’m hoping the heroine will be Alix’s friend Karen as she was a great character that really deserves more exploration. Great characters, interesting set up, smouldering relationships and one of the most relaxing and pleasurable romance reads for some time!

Recommended for fans of Ann Aguirre and Rachel Vincent. 8 out of 10

Jinx (Bigtime Superheroes #3) Review

Jinx (Bigtime Superheroes #3)

-          Jennifer Estep

Kindle Book

Thanks to her unwanted superpower, fashion designer Bella Bulluci may be the luckiest woman in Bigtime, N.Y. But luck can be good or bad, and it seems like just as many embarrassing things happens to Bella as do positive ones. Like when a charity event that Bella plans get crashed by Hangman, a deadly ubervillain who's after a prize sapphire that's on display. Hangman almost succeeds in stealing the jewel for his evil ubervillain boss, Prism, but Bella's luck helps her escape with the sapphire – along with some help from the suave and charming Debonair. Debonair's not an ubervillain, but he's not really a superhero either. Still, Bella can't help but fall for him, despite her personal vow to have as little to do with heroes and villains as possible. But with Hangman and Prism still after the sapphire, Bella's going to need every bit of her luck power just to survive...

This is my third visit to Bigtime town and while I still had lots of fun, it didn’t sparkle as much as the first two visits. Partly is due to the nature of our heroine this time, Bella. Bella is prone to massive luck – both good and bad. This means massive amounts of physical disasters (from chandeliers breaking to spilling coffee and sandwiches everywhere) and some lucky escapes – these disasters never hurt her. She doesn’t control this luck – it just happens. And this means we have a heroine who for the most part is happier to just remove herself from tense situations, worries a lot and avoids making any pro-active choices. However, she does have a big learning curve and by the end I liked her a lot more.

Bigtime is still populated with numerous superheroes and uber-villians. However, it seems much easier to guess their secret identities now – maybe I just know what to look out for! It was great to catch up with Karma Girl aka Carmen this time around and to see how she is using her own superpowers now. There are some great visual set-pieces which scream comic book movie to me with some interesting twists and turns in the plot that keep you guessing. It was as exciting and joyful as the other adventures, but one element stuck in my throat a little. Bella is kidnapped at one point and ends up falling for her captor – despite the fact he won’t let her tell her family she is alright. Even if she is kidnapped for all the right reasons – she is still there against her will and the seduction stuck in my throat a little. However, this happens early on and is redeemed by some of his action later on. In fact by the end he comes across as quite sweet and insecurity – so much so that the kidnapping almost seems out of character!

However, this is still a light hearted romp through the superhero world with a nice romance and great world building. It’s always a fun visit – especially on a dull, wet November. For bring some sunshine and fun into your life, it’s difficult to go wrong with this series!

Recommended for fans of Carrie Vaughn and Lynsey Sands. 7 out of 10

Hot Mama Review

Hot Mama (Bigtime Superheroes #2) 

-          Jennifer Estep

Kindle Books

She can melt steel – and men's hearts ... 
By day, Fiona Fine is a successful couture designer, catering to the high society players of Bigtime, New York. By night, she's Fiera, a superstrong superhero who can create and manipulate fire with her bare hands. Fiera, along with the other members of the heroic Fearless Five, make life miserable for the ubervillains who want to take over the city. 
But Fiona's personal life isn't so fine. She still misses her fiancé, who was killed by ubervillains a year ago. But men admire Fiona's smoking assets, and she decides to get back in the dating game – especially after she meets Johnny Bulluci. But this notorious playboy has plenty of secrets to go along with his sexy smile. And, with two new ubervillains in town who are intent on raising hell, Fiona's love life might just crash and burn...

Fiona Fine is the leading fashion designer in Bigtime with a hugely successful business, beautiful apartment and a short temper. She also moonlights as Fiera one of the Fearless Five, a team of superheroes helping to keep the city safe from Uber-villains with schemes of conquest and destruction. Still recovering from the death of her fiancée the year previously she decides it’s time to move on with a fling with the newly returned to the city and devilishly handsome Johnny Bulluci. However, Johnny has secrets of his own…

Hot Mama is one of those rare books which is plain fun without taking itself too seriously. The world of Bigtime has superheroes with superpowers and secret identities, massive battles that destroy buildings across the city and uber-villains who fail to kill the good guys quickly despite the heroes perchance for escaping regularly. This means you recognise the world pretty quickly and even make some simple deductions regarding heroes and villains alter-ego a long time ahead of Fiona...something which can be a little annoying but is in keeping with the world. I liked Fiona – she’s not an easy person to get to know and is pretty opinionated, but she doesn’t have any shades of grey – she works for the good guys, she misses her fiancée and she can eat whatever she wants as she literally does burn calories off with her superpower over fire. A lot of the book is description of the amount and frequency with which Fiona has to eat so this is not a book to read if you are on a diet! J

The romance between Fiona and Johnny is steamy and fun. They are physical attracted to each other from the start, and manage to build upon that foundation as they get to know each other and work together. I felt there was some slight repetition with Fiona or one of her friends saying that her fiancée Travis would have wanted her to move on and be happy. Ok, we get it – she’s been in love before! But I liked the differences between their characters and the idea that Johnny’s secret although easy for us to guess, does create some friction in their relationship they have to resolve. While the relationship was nice, I have to confess I most enjoyed the action and superhero high-jinks. Jennifer Estep has a real flair for excitement and the fight scenes are never less than entertaining – especially with the heroes and villains falling into typical roles and catchphrases. This adds an extra layer of fun for the reader although it can mean that there are no surprises or twists to the plots  either. Overall, this is exactly what you think it is from the blurb and it delivers an entertaining few hours that will leave a smile on your face.

Recommended for fans of Darynda Jones and Jaye Wells. 8 out of 10.

Early Review: The Uninvited

The Uninvited (Krewe of Hunters #8)

-       Heather Graham

Publisher: Harlequin MIRA  (Published 28^th August 2012)

Ecopy courtesy of netgalley and Harlequin

1777: In the throes of the Revolutionary War, Landon Mansion is commandeered by British Lord 'Butcher' Bedford. He stabs Lucy Tarelton, who spurned his king and his love leaving her to die in her father's arms. Now: After the day's final tour, docent Allison Leigh makes her rounds while locking up and finds a colleague slumped over Bedford's desk, impaled on his own replica bayonet. Resident ghosts may be the stock-in-trade of stately Philadelphia homes, but Allison, a noted historian, is indignant at the prospect of 'ghost hunters' investigating this apparent murder. Agent Tyler Montague knows his haunting and his history. But while Allison is skeptical of the newcomer, a second mysterious murder occurs. Has 'Butcher' Bedford resurfaced? Or is there another malevolent force at work in Landon Mansion? Wary, yet deeply attracted, Allison has to trust in Tyler and work with him to discover just what uninvited guest, dead or alive, has taken over the house. Or their lives could become history...

This is the eighth book in the Krewe of Hunters series and the fourth one to focus on Texas Krewe. I always find myself returning to these books when I want an enjoyable light read with a touch of romance. This time around it’s Tyler, the Texas Ranger and gentleman cowboy who takes the lead into a murder investigation in Philidelphia at a historical old home that legend has it, was were a patriot was killed during the Revolution. Immediately he meets tour guide and historian, Allison who does not believe in ghosts and refuses to accept that the truth of the murder might lie in the distant past.

It was refreshing after so many novels to run into a character who doesn’t immediately accept that ghosts are real. I liked how normal Allison’s reactions are and the way she slowly comes to accept what is happening. Tyler is a true gentleman and doesn’t push at all and the slow unfurling of romance between the two of them is one of the strongest realistic portrayals of a relationship I’ve seen. The events within the house are intriguing as well. I don’t know much about the Revolution so the historical elements with the legend of the house are interesting and add a lot of colour to the story.

It’s a shame that what lets the story down in the end is the resolution of the murder. I was enjoying the whole book right up until the final chapter when the murderer and motive was revealed. I don’t want to give too much away but neither really rang true – the reason for the murder is weak and seems a little ridiculous. Still apart from a little niggle at the ending, I did enjoy the books as a perfect summer read – light, fun and absorbing.

Recommended for fans of Amanda Quick and Nora Roberts. 7 out of 10

Early Review: The Unholy

The Unholy (Krewe of Hunters 6)

-       Heather Graham

Publisher: Harlequin MIRA - Released on 19th June 2012

E-Arc received courtesy of Netgalley and MIRA Publishing

A Hollywood shrine hides unholy deeds... The 1940s: hard-boiled detectives and femmes fatale are box-office gold. In one iconic scene, set in a deserted museum, the private eye arrives too late, and the buxom beauty is throttled by an ominous Egyptian priest. Now: the Black Box Cinema immortalizes Hollywood's Golden Age in its gallery of film noir tributes. But the mannequin of that Egyptian priest is hardly lifeless. He walks-and a young starlet dies a terrifying death. Movie mogul Eddie Archer's son is charged with the grisly murder. Eddie calls agent Sean Cameron, who specializes in...irregular investigations. As part of an FBI paranormal forensics team, Cameron knows that nightmares aren't limited to the silver screen. Working with special-effects artist Madison Darvil-who has her own otherworldly gifts-Cameron delves into the malevolent force animating more than one movie monster

This is the second book with the second krewe of hunters and once again I feel like I don’t know these characters at all. In The Unseen I assumed it was because the team hadn’t been ‘officially’ formed yet but this time hardly any time was spent on any characters who weren’t the main couple – Sean and Madison. It doesn’t really feel like a team – and I can barely remember the names of the rest of the ‘krewe’. The good news is that Madison is an interesting character – someone who has always been able to see ghosts but hiding her ability. She’s not the most kick-ass, but is a vulnerable but stead-fast woman and I liked her. Sean is a typical alpha male and his over-protective nature kicks in almost straight away. Together they are a sweet couple, even if not that memorable.

The locked room mystery of the murder is interesting and I confess I spent a lot of time trying to figure out who the murderer was. It’s not immediately obviously – neither is the motive. Hollywood is always an interesting place to set stories with so many people trying to make it – fake is real a lot of the time. However, even with that in mind so many people in the game were ‘good’ people – there are very few shades of grey at all which in a town as fake as Hollywood I found a little bizarre! The ghostly element is downplayed for much of the story – only Madison’s ghostly roommate really adds much as he adds a lot of colour to the story.

The writing is easy to relax into and speed through. This is a light murder mystery with some romance added in but little depth that will allow you to remember the details in six months time. That said I enjoyed the break from heavy reading and will pick another Krewe of Hunters book – but let me see this team as a team sometime!

Recommended for fans of Nora Roberts and Linda Howard. 6 out of 10

Early Review: The Unseen

The Unseen (Krewe of Hunters 5)

-          Heather Graham

Publisher: Harlequin - Published on 27th March 2012

E-Arc Read courtesy of netgalley and Harlequin publishing.

1800s. San Antonio, Texas: In room 207 at the Longhorn Saloon, in the long shadow of the Alamo itself, a woman renowned for her beauty was brutally murdered. Her killer was never found. One year ago: In that same historic room, another woman vanished without a trace. Her blood was everywhere…but her body was never recovered. Now: In the last month, San Antonio has become a dumping ground for battered bodies. All young women, all long missing, almost all forgotten. Until now. Texas Ranger Logan Raintree cannot sit by and let his city’s most vulnerable citizens be slain. So when he is approached to lead a brand-new group of elite paranormal investigators working the case, he has no choice but to accept the challenge. And with it, his powerful ability to commune with the dead. Among Logan’s new team is Kelsey O’Brien, a U.S. marshal known for her razor-sharp intuition and a toughness that belies her delicate exterior. Kelsey has been waiting all her life to work with someone who can understand her ability to “see” the past unfolding in the present. Now she has her chance. Together, Kelsey and Logan follow their instincts to the Alamo and to the newly reopened Longhorn, which once tempted heroes with drink, cards and women. If the spirits of those long-dead Texans are really appearing to the victims before their deaths, only Kelsey and Logan have the skills to find out why. And if something more earthly is menacing the city’s oldest, darkest corners, only they can stop it – before more innocent women join the company of San Antonio’s restless ghosts...

With Jackson Crow’s original Krewe of Hunters all paired up and proving a huge success investigating haunted crimes, a second team is being set and is introduced here. I can’t tell much about most of the characters in the second team which the exception of Logan and Kelsey as they don’t really take a major part in the story. This is squarely Logan and Kelsey’s story with a cameo from Jackson to bring them together. Kelsey is a US Marshall who can see ghosts, is good at her job but retains her emotional connection to people. Logan is part native American and 100% Texas ranger who can hear and see the dead.  However, while they made a nice couple I never really connected to either in any meaningful way. They were both too nice and neither had any characteristics that made them particularly memorable.

Where this story succeeded more for me was in the mystery. With piles of female bones turning up across San Antonio and only a tenuous link to the Almo to connect them, I was more than curious to see how it was solved. The Almo is one of the most famous historical sites for the US, but I’m afraid my knowledge before this book didn’t really cover more than Davy Crockett hats and general slaughter. However, this story focuses more on the modern day than on the past, with the historical giving an interesting piquant flavour to the mystery. The ghost element is barely needed in the story but was nonetheless enjoyable and added a different layer to the story. There are plenty of suspects and I enjoyed trying to figure out who it was – although I got there long before our heroes. Overall an enjoyable mystery with a rather bland romance.    

Recommended for fans of Nora Roberts and Amanda Stevens.  7 out of 10

Early Review: Enchanted Again

Enchanted Again (Mystic Circle 2)

-          Robin D Owens

Publisher: Luna – Published on 27^th December 2011

E-Arc courtesy of netgalley and Luna

Magic has a price—and for Amber Sarga it's days and years off her life. Each curse she breaks ages her—and the bigger the curse the bigger the cost, and not only to her. That's why she hides away and has vowed not to get involved again… That's why she hates looking in a mirror… And then an ill-fated stranger arrives. Rafe Davail doesn't believe in curses—not even knowing that in his family every first son dies young. Amber offers guidance but she won't break the curse. Still, as she grows closer to Rafe and discovers the secrets of their pasts, she wonders if for this time, this man, she should risk it all...

Amber is a curse-breaker, but for every curse she breaks she and those she loves the most, age: Sometimes a few months – sometimes years.  This was nice quirk of using magic meaning there was consequence for Amber – even if she was doing good by breaking curses.  The male lead, Rafe wasn’t one I could warm too – he seemed too rich, too arrogant and when he accepted magic was real, he just moved into Amber’s house without much discussion or thought! If a character has enough charm then these faults can be overlooked but as far as I could see Rafe was fairly charmless and condescending towards Amber, calling her squishy all the time!

I didn’t realise until I was over half way through that this is actually the second of a series! (Unlike some I try to read series in order... J)  However, as the characters are just getting to grips with magic and their own abilities there wasn’t really a need to have read the first book so I was able to start reading and pick up what was happening at the same time as the characters. However, as the story progressed I got continually frustrated to the frequent references to a character, Jenni – who was off-stage that I never met. Presumably she was having the adventure the first book detailed, but as I didn’t know her and never met her in the book I was just annoyed but how often she was ‘missed’ by the characters I did know!

I liked the idea of magic in this world though – the major and minor light races and the melding of magic with technology was intriguing. I loved Amber and how she held onto her humanity and grew as she learnt more about her past. The magical characters introduced were great – I loved the Brownies and the fire spirits who were all addicted to chocolate! I have to admit that I would often be craving some myself while reading. These characters had some great warmth and banter to the story and I always wanted to see more of the Brownies. However, I struggled to truly relax into the story. Perhaps it was me, but I was always aware I was reading rather than being swept up by the story. However, I am interested enough to want to know more about the world and would consider reading more in this world. And I love the cover – it’s so pretty and different from most of the paranormal romance out there at the moment!

Recommended for fans of Majorie Liu and Yasmine Galenorn. 6 out of 10.

Early Review: Bride of the Night

Bride of the Night

-       Heather Graham

Publisher: Harlequin – Published on 29^th November 2011

E-Arc with thanks to netgalley and Harlequin

She's the vampire that could destroy a nation. At least, that's what Pinkerton detective Finn Dunne thinks of Tara Fox. Capturing her aboard a ship sneaking its way northward, he's convinced she's been sent to take out President Lincoln. While she's certainly the most attractive assassin he's ever faced, that won't keep him from his duty. Tara has always been caught between worlds. As a vampire born and raised in Key West, she has many friends among the humans. Many friends that are now fighting and dying in the raging Civil War. When her strange dreams began, she thought of them as abstract visions. But she now knows that she must travel to Washington, D.C., and protect the president at all costs. Finn still won't trust her, despite what he's seen. And if Tara has to go through him—or bring reinforcements—to save Lincoln, she will do whatever it takes, even if it costs her her heart.

This is another book in Heather Graham’s American Civil War with Vampires series (I’m sure it’s got a better name for the series but quite frankly I couldn’t be bothered to look it up!). Usually I’m a fan of Heather Graham, enjoying a few hours of escapism with some light romance. However, this book really annoyed me.

First, I’m a Brit so some of the nuances of the American Civil War pass me by. However, we live in the twenty-first century and no-one believes in slavery any more.  Yet I felt like I was whacked around the head with the ‘Slavery is bad’ message continually – from both the Yankee and Confederate sides. Both sides seemed to agree that slavery was wrong so why was it mentioned every five pages by a different character who all agreed on the same point...? It’s not relevant to today’s world and it didn’t feel relevant to that period either with no-one arguing against it. Second, the story didn’t really make sense. Tracking down a potential vampire assassin on the high seas is a fantastic idea with so much potential. But if I was the assassin, all I had to do was stay quiet until the ship reached Washington instead of making everyone aware that there was a vampire onboard! These meant that during a lot of the set pieces – like the attack on the island seemed pretty pointless.

That all said, there were elements I enjoyed. I really liked our heroine, Tara – she’s strong, feisty and fiercely loyal. I adored her determination and care for her friends and other humans. It was my need to see what happened to her that kept me reading. Finn, was a typical hero – all alpha male and unsure if he can trust Tara or not. He was masculine and strong but not outstanding. Tara was the shining light in this story for me though. Some of the action sequences were great – the creepiness of exploring a ship which may be full of vampires was very well done and the attack at the church was very atmospheric. In the end I liked the heroine, I liked the action scenes and I liked the initial idea. It just didn’t feel thought through enough. Shame, as otherwise I would have loved it. Oh, and I hate the cover.

Recommended for fans of Nora Roberts and Christine Feehan. 5 out of 10

Early Review: Luck of the Devil

Luck of the Devil

-       Patricia Eimer

Kindle Book

E-Copy courtesy of netgalley and Entangled Publishing

Being the youngest daughter of the Devil isn’t all it’s cracked up to be. The days of teenage rebellion and vows of chastity made just to tick off her father are over, and now all Faith Bettincourt wants is a nice, quiet life. Unfortunately, thanks to the unexpected arrival of her demonically-downsized sister, a ditzy succubus roommate, and dear old Dad himself, Faith’s plans for a relaxing vacation spent watching reruns go up in flames. Now it’s all Faith can do to keep the family reunion from Hell (literally) under wraps, and the angelically-inclined hottie across the hall from realizing there’s something weird about his neighbour. And, thankfully, it’s working. Until an angelic stalker shows up in a bid to steal her powers and take over the world.

Forget watching reruns. With the way things are going, Faith will need the luck of the Devil just to survive until Monday.

This was such a fun read! I was entertained from the minute I started reading with this cosy supernatural story. There is a great family dynamic between Faith and the rest of her family – including her sister and half brother. Not to mention her whacky mother and her father, Satan the devil. Plus there is her uncle and cousin... I loved the dysfunctional family element which made them all relatable and feel like a normal family. Some of the one-liners are hilarious and had me laughing out loud.

In addition to the family reunion from hell, there is an intriguing little mystery regarding Faith’s stalker as well as her burgeoning relationship with her mysterious neighbour which adds a lovely fission of romance. While the big finale seemed a little underwhelming, I did like that Faith was able to handle herself. One little niggling point was the sub-plot regarding the stolen meds from the hospital seemed to fizzle out and didn’t go anywhere, but I can’t really complain as I had such an enjoyable ride.

This is amusing from the start and a fast paced fun adventure. I’m hoping for a lot more adventures with the family from hell! More please! J

Recommended for fans of Nina Harper and MaryJanice Davidson. 8 out of 10

Early Review: Sacred Evil

Sacred Evil (Krewe of Hunters 3)

-       Heather Graham

Publisher: MIRA – released 26^th July 2011 in US

E-Copy courtesy of netgalley and MIRA

The details of the crime scene are no coincidence. The body – a promising starlet – has been battered, bloodied and then discarded between two of Manhattan’s oldest graveyards. One look and Detective Jude Crosby recognizes the tableau: a re-creation of Jack the Ripper’s gruesome work. But he also sees something beyond the actions of a mere copycat. Something more dangerous…and unexplainable. As the city seethes with suspicion, Jude calls on Whitney Tremont, a member of the country’s preeminent paranormal investigating team, to put the speculation to rest. Yet when Whitney and Jude delve deeper, what they discover is more shocking than either could have predicted, and twice as sinister…

This is the third in the Krewe of Hunters series and perhaps the strongest story so far. The focus this time is on Whitney, the film expert from New Orleans and her partnership with New York Detective Jude. Someone is recreating Jack the Ripper’s victims in New York over 120 year after the original murders...or is Jack himself back?

Jack the Ripper is always a fascinating subject – an infamous murderous spree that stopped suddenly with no culprit ever caught. The move from the traditional Ripper stomping ground of Whitechapel to downtown Manhattan was smooth and fit with the history of New York. New York is always a city that adds character to stories and enjoyed the hints of the past and present of the city that never sleeps.

Once again I enjoyed the relationships here most. The focus is obviously on Whitney and Jude, but I liked the camaraderie of the Krewe – more prevalent here than in the second story, Heart of Evil. In addition we are introduce to some of New York’s finest also working on the taskforce, which made the story feel grounded and closer to a real crime investigation, than we’ve seen for a while. It also enabled Jude and Whitney’s relationship to develop and liked that they didn’t jump straight into bed together. The relationships are definitely the meat of the story with the fascinating crimes the perfectly balanced wine complement and the ghost elements...a yummy desert!

An enjoyable and easy read that doesn’t waste time and drives the story forward – great for a summer read with a blend of crime, romance and ghostly happenings.

Recommended for fans of Nora Roberts and Jayne Ann Krentz. 7.5 out of 10

Early Review: Heart of Evil

Heart of Evil (Krewe of Hunters 2)

-       Heather Graham

Publisher: MIRA Books

Ecopy courtesy of netgalley and Mira Books

Released 28^th June 2011

SOME SECRETS REFUSE TO STAY BURIED... Emerging from the bayou like an apparition, Donegal Plantation is known for its unsurpassed dining, captivating atmosphere, haunting legends…and now a corpse swinging from the marble angel that marks its cemetery’s most majestic vault. A corpse discovered in nearly the same situation as that of Marshall Donegal, the patriarch killed in a skirmish just before the Civil War. Desperate for help traditional criminologists could never provide, plantation heiress Ashley Donegal turns to an elite team of paranormal investigators who blend hard forensics with rare—often inexplicable—intuition. Among the “Krewe of Hunters” is an old fl ame, Jake Mallory, a gifted musician with talent stretching far beyond the realm of the physical, and a few dark ghosts of his own. The evil the team unveils has the power to shake the plantation to its very core. Jake and Ashley are forced to risk everything to unravel secrets that will not stay buried—even in death.…

This is the second book following the special task force investigating crimes through the use of logic and feelings or the ‘Krewe of Hunters’ as they call themselves. This time the book concentrates heavily on Jake Mallory and his old flame Ashley Donegal and I was disappointed that the other members of the Krewe are not big players in this book – in fact it’s pretty much a two hander between Jake and Ashley with cameos by Angela and Jackson. The others are barely mentioned! This meant it lacked the camaraderie of Phantom Evil of a team investigating a crime and while I did like Jake and Ashley as characters I didn’t feel as invested in them as I did in Angela and Jackson previously.

The crime features heavily on the American civil war which I have to confess I know very little about – it’s exactly taught in British schools! So I was a little confused in the first few chapters with the historical detail, vast number of characters that were introduced during the re-enactment, but soon it settled down and focused on the relationship between Jake and Ashley. It was quite sweet the way they re-connected after years apart and liked that Ashley wasn’t afraid to make a move on Jake. Jake was a real southern gentleman – and I have to admit to a little crush on him!

As for the crime the suspects weren’t particularly developed and I found it difficult to tell the difference between them. This meant I didn’t spend much time trying to figure out who was behind it. However, the ghost element in the story worked well with Marshall Donegal making a real impact. Overall, this was sweet love story, with some ghosts but a disappointing crime and I missed the supporting characters!

Recommended for fans of Nora Roberts and Suza Kates. 6 out of 10

Early Review: Phantom Evil

Phantom Evil

-       Heather Graham

eArc Courtesy of netgalley and MIRA Books

Released on 29^th March 2011

A secret government unit is formed under the oversight of Adam Harrison, famed paranormal investigator. The six members he’s gathered know a little of the otherworldly—each has honed a psychic talent of their own.
The case: In a historic mansion in New Orleans’s French Quarter, a senator’s wife falls to her death from a balcony. Most think she jumped, distraught over the loss of her young son. Some say she was pushed. And yet others believe she was beckoned by the ghostly spirits that inhabit the house—once the site of a serial killer’s grisly work. Whether supernatural or all too human, crimes of passion, greed and desire will cast the investigators into danger of losing their lives...and their immortal souls.

Phantom Evil is set in a haunted house in New Orleans as a newly gathered team of psychics and investigators start digging into the supposed suicide of the wife of a senator. The team is made up of a mixture of technical experts, sceptics and true psychics. I loved the characters in the team and the mixture of personalities. The two most developed characters are Jackson and Angela, the two ‘elder’ members of the team (and by elder I mean thirty-something rather than twenty-something). They both have difficult pasts but are determined to work for the future. As their relationship develops, it doesn’t get in the way of the investigation. Throughout the story the mystery surrounding the death is always the focus with the team unsure whether it was a ghostly hand behind the death or someone decidedly more human.

There are plenty of twists and turns as the story swings between the supernatural and natural. As any book set in New Orleans, there is a fun exploration of the city as well – New Orleans is one place I’d love to visit! While I found the ending a little too abrupt with all the loose endings tied up quickly, it was a diverting and distracting read with plenty of opportunity to explore with Jackson and the team. Personally I’m looking forward to Jack’s story!

Recommended for fans of Nora Roberts and Christine Feehan. 7.5 out of 10  

American Vampire Review

American Vampire

-       Jennifer Armintrout

eArc Courtesy of netgalley and MIRA 

HE'S THE GOOD KIND OF VAMPIRE. SORT OF.
Buried in the Heartland is a town that no one enters or leaves. Graf McDonald somehow becomes its first visitor in more than five years…and he was only looking for a good party. Unfortunately, Penance, Ohio, is not that place. And after having been isolated for so long, they do not like strangers at all. Jessa's the only one to even remotely trust him, and she's desperate for the kind of protection that only a vampire like Graf can provide. Supplies are low, the locals are ornery for a sacrifice and there's a monster more powerful than Graf lurking in the woods. New men are hard to come by in this lonesome town, and this handsome stranger might be Jessa's only hope for salvation. Even if she has to die first…

This novel had two leading characters that are difficult to like at first. Graf has been a vampire for a while and rather than the angst-y post-Twilight vampires, he is perfectly happy drinking blood and views humans more as food rather than equals. Jessa has struggled with isolation as both the world and the town have been looking down on her. She doesn’t trust anyone and has learned to be hard. This makes for some great snarky conversations between the two, but little sympathy for either.

However, the idea that a town can be cut off from the world is one I like (although I have read it elsewhere such as in Hell Fire by Ann Aguirre) and I enjoyed the siege mentality the town lived under. The way the town reacts to being isolated and turning in on itself feels scarily accurate – especially once they focus on Graf and Jessa. The fight scenes with the monster are great and the story rarely slows down with numerous twists and turns. The story and the pace win over the characters, but it’s a very enjoyable read and I had a lot of fun.

Recommended for fans of Ilona Andrew’s Edge series and Tales of the Sazi. 7 out of 10.

Whisper of the Witch Review

Whisper of the Witch (Savannah Coven 1)

-       Suza Kates

Kindle Book

A Choice
Shauni Miller has no idea why her life is changing, but she must answer when an unknown force summons her to a mystical island. She also harbors a secret, one that has the potential to alter her life forever. If she chooses to share it.
A Deception
Dr. Michael Black helps Shauni in her time of need, but sees more in the raven-haired temptress than she ever meant to reveal. He knows she’s hiding something, but then, so is he.
A Prediction
Both Shauni and Michael have a role to play and decisions to make as a centuries-old prophecy unfolds. Only the fates know if they are meant to be together. Or if one of them has to die.

I picked this up fancying a little romance and some supernatural adventures and this book delivers exactly that! Nine women with various gifts are suddenly drawn to Savannah only to discover they are witches and the nine of them are the only ones standing between a demon and his followers destroying the world. At first with so many characters introduced at once – not just the nine witches but also some of the help around the house, bad guys and not forgetting the love interest – I was a little overwhelmed with names and figuring out who was who. However, this soon settled down as the story progressed. The women are all different and as they get to know each other, so do we. A couple stand out for particularly Kylie, Anna and Paige and one or two others probably get short changed slightly but I assume they’ll all end up with their own book and we’ll get to know them then.

Shauni is the heroine of this book and comes across well despite all the world building and background information that also has to be told. She’s strong, cares about others and animals but doesn’t believe in violence as the answer. Michael as her love interest is a strong, yummy vet who just wants her to be honest with him. My major drawback was I felt the book could have been a little longer as I wanted Shauni and Michael to spend more time together getting to know each other, but hopefully they’ll appear in future books in the series. The big finale involving Shauni’s test was a little underwhelming but I liked the way the hero and heroine’s roles were turned on their head.  

This a fun paranormal romance with some fantastic scenery and interesting characters – this could be a series to watch – as long as it doesn’t get too repetitive!

Recommended for fans of Heather Graham and CT Adams and Cathy Clamp. 7 out of 10