[Review] Hex and the City by Simon R. Green

 Hex and the City
Nightside #4
Simon R. Green
Feb 22nd, 2005
Ace
246 pages

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Lady Luck has hired John Taylor to investigate the origins of the Nightside--the dark heart of London where it's always 3 A.M. But when he starts to uncover facts about his long-vanished mother, the Nightside--and all of existence-- could be snuffed out.

 "John Taylor's the name. I work the Nightside. Only in that dark heart of London where it's always three a.m., where human and inhuman can feed their darkest desires, do I feel at home. Probably because I was born here. What I do is find things - people, objects - and in this case, the truth about the origins of the Nightside. That's what Lady Luck has hired me to investigate. But the more I dig, the more I discover, not about the Nightside but about the great question in my life: exactly who - and what - was my long-vanished mother.

"Paying jobs are one thing. Personal quests are another. And I've been warned that uncovering the facts about dear old mum could be a very bad thing, not just for the Nightside but for all of existence. Still I can't stop...I'm John Taylor. Finding things is who I am. It's what I do. Whatever the consequences...."

Howdy folks, Chris here again with the next book in the Nightside series. Hex and the City brings some new characters into the scheme of things. Colorful rouges like Madman, a man who sees things the way they really are, the man called Sinna, the only man who ever loved in hell, and the demon succubus he loved, Pretty Poison.

Together with John Taylor they set out on his toughest case, the discover the true origins of the Nightside and what its purpose is. And that strong opposition, Walker, is still there to keep him from upsetting the status quo.

Now why would he struggle so hard and bring these rogues with him, despite offending those in power? The prize at the end, the truth about who and what his mother is. Everyone has a guess, but that's all they have, guesses. Now, it's time he learns the truth.

This book continues the whimsical humor that Simon R. Green has shown in the other books in this series. The action is fast paced and kept me riveted to the pages. I give this one a solid 5 of 5 laser pistols. In the darkness of the Nightside series, it truly shines as a nova of light.

[Review] Monster Hunter International by Larry Correia

Monster Hunter International
Monster Hunter International #1
Larry Correia
December 20th, 2007
Infinity Publishing
457 pages

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 Five days after Owen Zastava Pitt pushed his insufferable boss out of a 14th story window, he woke up in the hospital with a scarred face, an unbelievable memory, and a job offer.

It turns out that monsters are real. All the things from myth, legend, and B-movies are out there, waiting in the shadows. Officially secret, some of them are evil, and some are just hungry. On the other side are the people who kill monsters for a living. Monster Hunter International is the premier eradication company in the business. And now Owen is their newest recruit.

It's actually a pretty sweet gig, except for one little problem. An ancient entity known as the Cursed One has returned to settle a centuries-old vendetta. Should the Cursed One succeed, it means the end of the world, and MHI is the only thing standing in his way.

With the clock ticking towards Armageddon, Owen finds himself trapped between legions of undead minions, belligerent federal agents, a cryptic ghost who has taken up residence inside his head, and the cursed family of the woman he loves. Business is good.... Welcome to Monster Hunter International.

 
Chris here again, and this time I've got something a little different. Monster Hunter International is a great combination of things for many different types of fans. It has lots of paranormal and fantasy mixed into one large adventure to save not only the world, but all of time from a dread evil, and stuck in the middle is a gun nut.

When the company's resident armorer hands Owen a customized Saiga 12 gauge complete with full auto, drum mags, a flip out silver lined bayonet (for those monsters only harmed by silver) and an under-slung grenade launcher I almost had a heart attack. As I told my wife, I want one!!!

But that's not all, it seems there's a touch of romance in this novel too. For it turns out the current heir to the family business is a hot gun nut herself, but sadly she's already seeing someone.

With my fondness for paranormal and guns sated I enjoyed this book rather well. The story carries along at a good pace, yet leaves plenty of details and background so the reader isn't left wondering "now who's this guy?" There were many times when I found myself laughing out loud at some of the witty comments like when a vampire asks Owen "How many guns do you have?!"

I won't spoil anymore of the book for you, but I give this a solid 5 of 5 stars, this novel is truly out of this world.

[Review] Rules of Attraction by Simone Elkeles

Rules of Attraction
Perfect Chemistry #2
Simone Elkeles
April 27th, 2010
Walker Childrens
326 pages

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When Carlos Fuentes returns to America after living in Mexico for a year, he doesn’t want any part of the life his older brother, Alex, has laid out for him at a high school in Colorado. Carlos likes living his life on the edge and wants to carve his own path—just like Alex did. Then he meets Kiara Westford. She doesn’t talk much and is completely intimidated by Carlos’ wild ways. As they get to know one another, Carlos assumes Kiara thinks she’s too good for him, and refuses to admit that she might be getting to him. But he soon realizes that being himself is exactly what Kiara needs right now.

 Another stellar job by Simone Elkeles as the story of the Fuentes brothers continues with story of the middle brother Carlos.  Carlos is getting into trouble in Mexico and his family thinks it's a good idea for him to go live in Colorado with his older brother Alex.  Carlos is rebellious and has other ideas about living with Alex like he wants to party and get high and just pass the time until he can leave and start his own life.  Carlos also has a chip on his shoulder the size of Texas but he meets his match in Kiara who never backs down from a challenge.

Trouble seems to follow Carlos like a moth to a flame and soon he is framed and arrested for possession of drugs at school.  In order to stay out of Juvie, Alex's ex professor and friend agrees to take him in and let Carlos live with them, who just happens to Kiara's father. Kiara doesn't hate the boy with the cocky attitude and stellar looks that make her studder every time he is near because she sees something in him.  It's the same thing her father sees in Carlos that he may be more than meets the eye and there something worth fighting for. As they live together Kiara and Carlos become friends and then something more.

I really like this book and I love that characters feel real like they are everyday teenagers.  Maybe their problems are more exacerbated for drama reasons but every teen faces drug use and sex issues.  I like how Simone Elkeles doesn't sugar coat the issues because as Kiara parents show in the book is teens will be teens and all you can do is show them how to be responsible and hope they make good decisions.  I like how this book shows the teens making responsible decisions about sex and not drinking and driving but with out getting too preachy.

I really liked the romance between Carlos and Kiara but I always have a soft spot when the curvy insecure girl gets the man of her dreams.  I liked that in this book when Carlos was ready for something real he didn't want the superficial girl who was only after popularity.  To quote a line from the classic movie Gidget, " To be a real woman is to bring out the best in a man."  I think that is what most men are looking for a real girl who will challenge them and make them try to be a better man like Kiara does for Carlos.  I recommend this book for older teens because it does deal with heavy issues.  Overall, I really liked this book and give it four laser pistols.  I can't wait to read the third book Chain Reaction.

[ARC Review] Keeping Secrets in Seattle by Brooke Moss

Keeping Secrets in Seattle
Brooke Moss
February 18th, 2013
Entangled Publishing
261 pages

Arc provided courtesy of Entangled Publishing via Netgalley for an honest review.

 Amazon/B&N

Seattle hairstylist Violet Murphy always knew the day would come when her best friend Gabe Parker would want to settle down. She’d secretly wished it would be with her, but now that he’s chosen someone else—the prim, perfect Alicia—he wants Vi to be his best man.

Healing her broken heart isn’t easy, but when Violet meets Landon Harlow, a man who isn’t fazed by her funky style and less-than-delicate attitude, she takes a step in the right direction. Until Gabe’s fiancé’s gorgeous façade begins to crack, and Violet’s disturbing past comes back to haunt her, that is. Vi now finds herself armed with a series of lies that would break Gabe’s heart—and his engagement—if he knew their truth, and a secret from their childhood that could change everything.

With the wedding looming, her relationships unraveling, and the bachelor party of the century to plan, Violet must choose between a fresh start with Landon, or confronting her painful past and risking it all for a chance at a future with Gabe.

   Hi it's Amy back again with even more romancing with Keeping Secrets in Seattle.  In this book the story line is: girl loves best friend but said best friend has just proposed to his girlfriend and now girl thinks it might be too late to ever be with the one man she loves.  Does this plot sound familiar?  Probably because we have all seen it before in chick flicks and romance novels.  I will give this the author her due because even with the same old plot the the story line is executed well because this ended up being a fast paced and enjoyable read.



Underneath what sounds like a flighty story line there is depth.  The heroine, Violet, is hiding a nine year old secret that will shake  everyone she knows to the core.  Meanwhile, there is more than meets the eye to her best friend's fiance and she might be a gold digger just waiting to trade up and it is up to Violet to find out.  Also, Violet must decide if running away easier than fighting for the man she loves.



I liked this story more than I thought I would even though I thought the ending was a bit cheesy the epilogue was a nice touch.  I liked how when all the secrets were revealed and everything came out in the open it felt real how the characters dealt with the fallout.  Gabe and Violet didn't automatically fall right into each other's arms and live happily ever after.  No they needed to time and space to deal with the hurt and then find a way back into each other's arms because a secret like the one Violet is carrying around doesn't just go away and it doesn't heal overnight.  I give this story four laser pistols because it was a quick and easy read filled with depth and emotion and sometimes I just like a good chick lit kind of story.

[Review} Perfect Chemistry by Simone Elkeles

Perfect Chemistry
Perfect Chemistry #1
Simone Elkeles
December 23rd, 2008
Walker Books for Young Readers
359 pages

Amazon/Book Depository/B&N

A fresh, urban twist on the classic tale of star-crossed lovers.

When Brittany Ellis walks into chemistry class on the first day of senior year, she has no clue that her carefully created 'perfect' life is about to unravel before her eyes. She's forced to be lab partners with Alex Fuentes, a gang member from the other side of town, and he is about to threaten everything she's worked so hard for: her flawless reputation, her relationship with her boyfriend, and the secret that her home life is anything but perfect.

Alex is a bad boy and he knows it. So when he makes a bet with his friends to lure Brittany into his life, he thinks nothing of it. But soon Alex realizes Brittany is a real person with real problems, and suddenly the bet he made in arrogance turns into something much more.

In a passionate story about looking beneath the surface, Simone Elkeles breaks through the stereotypes and barriers that threaten to keep Brittany and Alex apart.

Hi it's Amy and I just finished Perfect Chemistry and it was out of this world.  I started this book in the audio version in the morning on my way to work and finished it when I got home in the paperback version because I was hooked and just had to know how it all turned out.  I don't think I have finished a book in one day in long time but I loved this retelling of Romeo and Juliet that kind of reminded me of a more real version of West Side Story, where gangsters act like gangsters and don't break into song and dance.

This story is about finding out who you are and breaking the molds.  It's a story about passion and love and fighting for the ones you love.  It is a story that made my heart break in parts and was somehow able to put it all back together.  This book is realistic, romantic and gritty because it does not sugar coat the lives of Brittany and Alex.  Alex is a gangbanger who lives on the poor side of town and Brittany is rich white girl.  They get partnered up in Chemistry class and well the rest is chalked up to chemistry.  I would recommend it older teens because well their chemistry sizzles right off the page and their were some scenes I had to fan myself.

In conclusion, I loved  this book and relationships were very real and had me from page one.  I listened to part of this book and I have to warn readers that the narration is not that great. The male voice was ok but the female was a little grating but it is a good enough story that the narration did not detract from it.  I give this book a solid four laser pistols and will be reading the next book in the series Rules of Attraction.

[Audiobook Review] Unravel Me by Tahereh Mafi

Unravel Me
Shatter Me #2
Tahereh Mafi
February 5th, 2013
HarperCollins

Amazon/Book Depository/B&N

tick

tick

tick

tick

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it's almost

time for war.

Juliette has escaped to Omega Point. It is a place for people like her—people with gifts—and it is also the headquarters of the rebel resistance.

She's finally free from The Reestablishment, free from their plan to use her as a weapon, and free to love Adam. But Juliette will never be free from her lethal touch.

Or from Warner, who wants Juliette more than she ever thought possible.

In this exhilarating sequel to Shatter Me, Juliette has to make life-changing decisions between what she wants and what she thinks is right. Decisions that might involve choosing between her heart—and Adam's life.

 Hi it's Amy again and this week I guess it was audiobook week because I listened more than I actually read.  I started listening to Unravel Me and got so caught up in the story that I could put it down and had to finish listening.   For me, Unravel Me is like that cheesy teen night time drama that is a guilty pleasure and I am totally addicted to it.  This book is cheesy, melodramatic, and of course has a love triangle.  It is also poetic, beautifully written, and incredibly sexy.  I have not read or listened to a book in long time that has made me feel like I was 17 again and on an emotional roller coaster like Unravel Me did.

This book is like the show Revolution meets Xmen because you have a military government that rules the land with a dictator iron fist and the rebel group fighting them with wits, weapons and supernatural abilities. Unravel Me picks up where Shatter Me left off with Juliette and Adam healed and training with the rebels.  Juliette  loves Adam and has chosen to stay and fight with him.  Then of course drama comes in and cause a rift between Juliette and Adam.  Then Warner's father comes to town and kidnaps some of the rebels and holds them hostage to meet Juliette.  Juliette fights Warner's father and they take Warner back to the rebel compound.

It becomes Juliette job to interrogate Warner the other boy in love with her.  The more she questions Warner and gets to know him the more she questions if he is really evil or if there is more to this boy than meets the eye.

Unravel Me is a heartbreaking and gut wrenching tale of what it really means to be yourself and question what would you do to save the ones you love.  When I read the first book, Shatter Me,  I thought it was just ok but after reading the second book I am hooked on this series and it has become a guilty pleasure because there is just something about having my emotions ran through the ringer.  My heart broke for Juliette and then my heart sored for Juliette and then again it was breaking.  I would recommend this book for older teens because there were also parts that were incredibly hot and I thought I would need to go splash cold water on my face, hehe.

In conclusion I love the poetic writing style that may not be for everyone because it is like reading a diary. The narration was wonderful Kate Simses really makes the listener feel like you are in Juliette's head and makes the story come to life.  In the book there are passages marked out with lines because Juliette dd not like the way sounded so I like the added sound of scratching out in the audiobook. I thought this book was out of this world and therefore I have giving it four laser pistols.

[Audiobook Review]Scarlet by Marissa Meyer

Scarlet
Lunar Chronicals #2
Marissa Meyer
February 5th, 2013
Feiwel and Friends
452 pages

Amazon/Book Depository/B&N

The fates of Cinder and Scarlet collide as a Lunar threat spreads across the Earth...

Cinder, the cyborg mechanic, returns in the second thrilling installment of the bestselling Lunar Chronicles. She's trying to break out of prison—even though if she succeeds, she'll be the Commonwealth's most wanted fugitive.

Halfway around the world, Scarlet Benoit's grandmother is missing. It turns out there are many things Scarlet doesn't know about her grandmother or the grave danger she has lived in her whole life. When Scarlet encounters Wolf, a street fighter who may have information as to her grandmother's whereabouts, she is loath to trust this stranger, but is inexplicably drawn to him, and he to her. As Scarlet and Wolf unravel one mystery, they encounter another when they meet Cinder. Now, all of them must stay one step ahead of the vicious Lunar Queen Levana, who will do anything for the handsome Prince Kai to become her husband, her king, her prisoner.

 Hi it's Amy back again and this week I finished listening to Scarlet by Marissa Meyer.  I am going to open this review with one phrase: Shut the front door because this book was amazing.  I have listened to Cinder and thought it was so good and the follow up Scarlet did not disappoint.  The scifi fairy tales continued in Scarlet with a twist on Little Red Hooding Hood.

    Scarlet is hunting for her missing grandmother and with the help a shady street fighter named Wolf she sets out across France in her red hoodie.  Again with all of Marrissa Meyer's Lunar Chronicles books there is more to the story than just a retelling of classic fairy tales.  All the cast from Cinder is back and the evil Lunar queen has more tricks her up sleeve to make sure her will is met.  Cinder has escaped from prison and with help of a new character Captain Thorn and his stolen space ship, she is has decided to find the one person who can help her find out more about who she really is because Cinder needs answers.

I will just stop right here because I don't want to give too much of the plot twists away and just talk about what I loved about the book.  In the words of Marissa Meyer herself, these books are a fairy tale meets Firefly meets Star Wars.  This book was filled with action, adventure, mystery, and of course a little romance.  While the mystery is a little predictable and I had already figured out how everything was connected before the characters had figured it out.  I never felt liked the story dragged because there is never a dull moment in Scarlet as Scarlet and Cinder get in out of one scrape after another.  I am sure I am not the first girl to admit this but my favorite new character is the literally swoon worthy Captain Thorn.  I love his brazen attitude and even before I heard Marissa Meyer speak about her inspiration for this character I already knew who he reminded me of: Mal Reynolds from Firefly and Captain Jack Harkness from Doctor Who.  Captain Thorn's character lightens things up and keeps Cinder from taking herself too seriously.  Isn't that what every flirty, flighty, brazen space captain is supposed to do.

In conclusion, if you are a scifi or fairy tale geek like me then I highly recommend Scarlet and if you decide to listen to it you won't be disappointed because Rebecca Soler did an amazing job again with the voices.  For me in the end I liked Scarlet even better than Cinder and I give Scarlet five laser pistols because it is most definitely a supernova.

 

[Audiobook Review] Black Magic Sanction by Kim Harrison

Black Magic Sanction
The Hallows #8
Kim Harrison
February 23rd, 2010
Eos
487 pages

Amazon/Book Depository/B&N

In New York Times bestselling author Kim Harrison's most complex and nuanced adventure yet, bounty hunter and witch Rachel Morgan fights a deadly battle - mind, body, and soul.

Black Magic Sanction

Rachel Morgan has fought and hunted vampires, werewolves, banshees, demons, and other supernatural dangers as both witch and bounty hunter - and lived to tell the tale. But she's never faced off against her own kind...until now. Denounced and shunned for dealing with demons and black magic, her best hope is life imprisonment - at worst, a forced lobotomy and genetic slavery. Only her enemies are strong enough to help her win her freedom, but trust comes hard when it hinges on the unscrupulous tycoon Trent Kalamack, the demon Algaliarept, and an ex-boyfriend turned thief.

It takes a witch to catch a witch, but survival bears a heavy price.

This week I finished the eighth book in the Hollows series and I think Black Magic Sanction might tie with Fistful of Charms as my favorite book in the series. My only only after the audiobook finished playing was WOW.

Black Magic Sanction has it all: drama, action, tragedy, comedy, romance, and a high stakes caper. In Black Magic Sanction Rachel has been shunned and the Council of Witches is after her to put her in jail and will take all the strength and cunning Rachel has to keep herself out of prison and remove the shunning.

I listen to audiobooks mostly at work and I think I freaked my coworkers out because this book had me on an emotional rollercoaster. One minute I was smiling because something was funny and the next I had to excuse myself to the restroom to dry my eyes because I was crying. I love a good book that can make me cry one moment and have me laughing the next.

I love how in this book there was some more back story on Al and Pirece. I find their chararters intriging but as I have said before I am still holding out for a Trey and Rachel match. I do like how their releationship is maturing into mutal respect and maybe friendship. Being a sucker for a good western I loved the ending of this book.

That is all I am going to say about Black Magic Sanciton except that is a supernova and out of this world installment in an excelent series and I give it five laser pistols. As far as the narration it was stellar as always. I can not stress this enough but read Kim Harrison's Hollows series because you won't be disappointed.

[ARC Review] Dance of Shadows by Yelena Black

Dance of Shadows
Dance of Shadows #1
Yelena Black
February 12th, 2013
Bloomsbury USA Children's Books
447 pages

ARC courtesy of Bloomsbury Children's Publishing via NetGalley for honest review. Review may contain spoilers.

Amazon/Book Depository/B&N

Dancing with someone is an act of trust. Elegant and intimate; you're close enough to kiss, close enough to feel your partner's heartbeat. But for Vanessa, dance is deadly – and she must be very careful who she trusts . . .

Vanessa Adler attends an elite ballet school – the same one her older sister, Margaret, attended before she disappeared. Vanessa feels she can never live up to her sister's shining reputation. But Vanessa, with her glorious red hair and fair skin, has a kind of power when she dances – she loses herself in the music, breathes different air, and the world around her turns to flames . . .

Soon she attracts the attention of three men: gorgeous Zep, mysterious Justin, and the great, enigmatic choreographer Josef Zhalkovsky. When Josef asks Vanessa to dance the lead in the Firebird, she has little idea of the danger that lies ahead – and the burning forces about to be unleashed . . .

Hi it's Amy and I just finished Dance of Shadows by Yelena Black. I don't know where to start on how I felt about this book. I think my first initial thought is, and I say this not to be mean, I am proud of my self that I finished the book and didn't put it down and walk away from it forever.

Let me explain this book is about Vanessa who goes to NYBA, ballet school, not because she wants to dance but because a part of her wants to follow the footsteps of her missing sister. She gets there and starts making friends and falls into a rhythm of dance and school. Her dancing is beautiful and she catches the eye of not one but two cute older boys. She goes on to be cast in the lead of The Firebird the school's big show.

Life is going good for Vanessa but in the back of her mind are thoughts of her  missing sister and the strange dance the instructor Josef has added to the dance. She starts to research the dance and finds out that all the girls who have ever been cast in the role have all disappeared including her sister. She discovers something sinister is going on.  The added dance is actually a ritualistic dance to raise demons from an alternate reality.

 For me this book moved at a snail's pace and it was really hard to care about Vanessa and what was happening to her because I just couldn't connect with her.  The two older boys that like her are Zep the popular boy and Justin who is kind of a loner.  There is one part after she has gone on a few dates with Zep, he disappears for a few days will not answer her texts or phone calls.  After a talk and few kisses she takes him back.  Meanwhile, Justin keeps telling her Zep is no good and to leave the school but she just blows him off as jealous wanna be boyfriend.  I wanted to yell at Vanessa for naivete because it was clear Zep was just using her.

  I don't want to give too much of the ending away but it did have action and was creepy and left it open for the next book.  Dance of Shadows reminded me of a cross between Center Stage and The Craft but it didn't mesh the two perfectly.  In conclusion I give Dance of Shadows three laser pistols because the pacing was slow and at times I had to force myself to keep reading.  For me what moved it up from a two to a three was that the ending was intriguing and I am curious to find out what happens next. I just don't think the next book will be a must read.

[Review] Take it Like a Vamp by Candace Havens

Take it Like a Vamp

Candace Havens
July 21st, 2012
Entangled Publishing
282 pages

Amazon/B&N

Vampire Nick Christos might have been born in the Middle Ages, but those days seem tame compared to the last eight years spent ruling the Supernatural Council. The only respite in his long days of governing is with his sweet neighbor Casey Meyers. Sure, he's forced to take a cold shower after every encounter, but no way will he risk anything more with a human. Not with his blood thirsty ex on the prowl and out to ruin Nick's life. But when said crazy ex shows up at the ball and flies her freak flag high, Nick has more to worry about than keeping his hands off his neighbor. He'll have to stay closer than ever if he hopes to keep her alive, but will she want to leave him forever when she learns the truth?

Hi it's Amy back with more romance.  So I was up late one night this week combing through the online catalog at Entangled Publishing.com.  I came across a book called Take it Like it Vamp.  It is by author Candace Havens who is local, to my neck of the woods, Dallas, Texas.  I like to support local authors so I decided to read the synopsis. I thought this book has everything I am looking for: quick and fun read, takes place where I live, full of romance, and of course had vampires.  After reading Take it Like a Vamp it started out really good but fell out in the end.

Now I love cheesy, cutesy romances of all subgenres but Take it Like a Vamp is too cheesy even for me and I will explain.  So it starts with my favorite kind of heroine: the shy and over weight wallflower looking for that right man to see the strong confident woman she has been hiding away and help bring her to the surface.  Maybe it's because I am a shy plus size girl but I have always had a soft spot for wallflower especially overweight wallflowers.  The beginning of the book does not disappoint.  Nick has the hots for his best friend and needs a date to a party.  So he invites Casey to be his date and since it's a black tie event he pays for her dress and to get dolled up.  Casey feels like Cinderella and they really start to notice they have feelings for each other while dancing at the party.  Just one problem Nick is a vampire and his life is dangerous due to his evil witch ex wife, literally, she is a witch.

As the story continues Nick decides he doesn't want to live with out Casey and has to convince her he is in love with her.  Here is the part that gets on nerves, Casey is insecure about her weight and just can not believe a rich handsome man like Nick would want to be with her.  She can't accept the compliments even though it seems like every man in the book including Nick tells her how beautiful she is.  I mean come on girl gain a little self confidence.  Nick is insecure too though because he feels like once Casey learns the truth about what he is and how dangerous his life is she will not want to be with him anymore.

One night he whisks Casey off to a romantic getaway to tell her the truth because he decides he should if he wants to propose marriage to Casey.  She runs out of the room and goes to take a walk to clear her head.  Nick starts in on the mopey vampire thing.   As I was reading, I was like come on give the girl a break before you start in on the how will I ever live with out her talk.  I mean unless your girlfriend is Bella most women need a minute to come around to the fact that their boyfriend is a vampire and his ex wife is out to kill her.

They decide to get married in the end and his ex makes an appearance on the honeymoon by trying to possess the bride.  Nick holds her hand and cries while Casey tries to fight the possession.  I mean I understand by this point most of the book is already cheesy but it takes the cake on this scene.  Nick whispers how strong she is how she needs to fight the witch.  With a few "Bitch get out of my head" lines and a strong will Casey defeats the witch and pushes her out of her body.  I mean I would have liked a little more there maybe a potion or two.  I get that is where Casey is supposed to start gaining confidence there because she fights the witch all by herself while Nick tells her to fight but I don't it just felt rushed like it could have been better explained in my opinion.

In conclusion I thought this book was like an untied balloon, full of potential but deflates in the end.  I give Take it Like a Vamp three laser pistols because it was a quick and fast read.  The love scenes between Casey and Nick were HOT.  I think I just would have liked it a little more if the fight scenes weren't glossed over and maybe had more action and the hero and heroine would have let go of the insecurities earlier in the book to fight the witch together.  In my honest opinion I felt like I didn't waste my time and it was a decent not great read.



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[Review] Nightingale's Lament by Simon R. Green

Nightingale's Lament
Nightside #3
Simon R. Green
April 27th, 2004
Ace
244 pages

Amazon/Book Depository/B&N

In the Nightside, the hidden heart of London where it's always 3 AM, Detective John Taylor must find an elusive singer known as The Nightingale. Her silken voice has inexplicably lured many a fan to suicide--and Taylor is determined to stop her, before the whole neighborhood falls under her trance. But to catch the swift-winged Nightingale, he'll have to hear the deadly music--and survive.

 "Taylor is the name. John Taylor....My card says I'm a detective, but what I really am is an expert on finding things. It's part of the Gift I was born with as a child of the Nightside - the hidden heart of London where it's always three a.m., where inhuman creatures and otherworldly gods walk side-by-side in the endless darkness of the soul.

"Assignment: Find out why the local diva called the Nightingale has cut herself off from her family and friends. I'm also wondering why her suicide-prone fans think she has a voice to die for. Literally...."

 Chris here again, I know, ya'll are sick of seeing me post, but I'm going to anyway. Nightingale's Lament is book three of Simon R. Green's Nightside series.

The book starts off with John Taylor trying to do good, and in so doing he makes one big booboo. He spends a good deal of  the rest dealing with consequences of that little slip while trying to solve the mystery that is focused on the singer called the Nightingale. Along the way you are introduced to some new secondary characters like Dead Boy. I won't even try to explain that little oddball, let's just say be sure you read the fine print when you sign a contract.  You also get to meet Julian Advent, the gentleman adventurer from the Victorian age. Seems he now runs the Night Times, the Nightside's very own newspaper.

You also get a glimpse into John's origins, as his mother comes up a few times, and the fact that somethings that would scare you or me are frightened by our roguish detective.

By the end he finds there is far bigger players behind the scenes than he could have ever expected in this case. And he's going to be needing a hand.

All in all this was a good book and has earned it's 4 out of 5 laser pistol rating. It's well on it's way "out of this world".

[Review] Agents of Light and Darkness by Simon R. Green

Agents of Light and Darkness
Nightside #2
Simon R. Green
October 28th 2003
Ace

Amazon/Book Depository/B&N

The New York Times bestselling author takes readers back to the Nightside.

A quest for the Unholy Grail-the goblet from which Judas drank at the Last Supper-takes private eye John Taylor deep into the secret, magical heart of London...called the Nightside.

  

"Taylor is the name. John Taylor....My card says I'm a detective, but what I really am is an expert on finding things. It's part of the Gift I was born with as a child of the Nightside - the hidden heart of London where it's always three a.m., where inhuman creatures and otherworldly gods walk side-by-side in the endless darkness of the soul.

"Assignment: Locate the Unholy Grail, the cup Judas drank from at the Last Supper. It corrupts all who touch it, but it also grants enormous power. So I've got some competition - from angels, devils, sinners and saints - in the search for the dark goblet."

Chris here again with the next book in the Nightside Series, Agents of Light and Darkness. Simon R. Green takes us back to the shadowed and hidden world of the Nightside, where the sun never shines and it's always 3am.

John Taylor is searching for something far more serious than the Holy Grail, he's looking for the Unholy Grail and so is everyone else in the Nightside. Worst of all, the angels from both above and below have come to the Nightside and they both want to force him to use his special "gift" to find it for them. He's now in a race against time to find it, because he's been warned that if the angels find it first, it can spell the end of the world.

Many of the supporting characters from the first book make a reappearance, such as Suzie Shooter and Razor Eddie. And this time Simon R. Green gives you a deeper look into these characters than in the first book, including how the most feared bounty hunter in the Nightside lives when she's not hunting her human prey.

The humor from the first book returns in this one, and it once again left me laughing more often than not. The witty comments when John Taylor confronts two armies of angels and the snappy interruptions of Suzie Shooter as the interrupts anyone she wants without fear of the consequences, whether its demons from the pit or the feared Merlin himself, risen fresh from the grave to lend a fear inspiring hand.

I won't spoil the whole book, but I will tell you I give this tale of myths, legends and mystery a rating of 5 out of 5 laser pistols. This really is a "supernova" of a novel I will recommend to anyone.

[Review] Something from the Nightside by Simon R. Green

Something from the Nightside
Nightside #1
Simon R. Green
May 27th, 2003
Ace
230 pages

Amazon/Book Depository/B&N

John Taylor is not a private detective per se, but he has a knack for finding lost things. That's why he's been hired to descend into the Nightside, an otherworldly realm in the center of London where fantasy and reality share renting space and the sun never shines.

"Taylor is the name. John Taylor...My card says I'm a detective, but what I really am is an expert on finding things. It's part of the Gift I was born with as a child of the Nightside - the hidden heart of London where it's always three a.m., where inhuman creatures and otherworldly gods walk side-by-side in the endless darkness of the soul.

"Assignment: Joanna Barrett hires me to track down her teenage daughter, who decided to forgo the circus and run away to the Nightside. The kid has no idea what she's getting herself into...You can find anything in the Nightside-if it doesn't find you first."

Chris here for a change of pace from my usual hard core sci-fi books, this month I'm going to review some books with a more paranormal twist. Something from the Nightside is the first book in the Nightside series. What is the Nightside, it is the place where monsters, heroes, demons, and gods come to play. Where the supernatural is natural, and every day things are not what they seem.

That goes for the main character too, John Taylor is more than a normal man, and his "gift" lets him find the missing. He is that kind of old fashioned private eye who won't take crap from anyone and is good at improvising in almost any situation. And when he needs that little bit of extra help, he knows people.

I love the mix of myths, legends and an old fashioned private eye novel. The main character John Taylor walks the mean streets of the Nightside in his iconic white trench coat. He is accompanied by such colorful characters as Susie Shooter, also known as "Shotgun Susie", and "oh Christ it's her, run", a female bounty hunter with a double barreled pump shotgun. Then you have Razor Eddy, Punk God of the Straight Razor who looks like a bum and smells like a herd of them.

Simon R. Green kept me reading with whimsical humor and plot twists galore. This book feels like it would make a good BBC series if they wanted to take a shot at it. Now I might be making this book sound too complex to follow, but honestly, it isn't hard to keep track of the secondary characters and follow along as they either help or hinder John Taylor as he searches the wild and weird world of the Nightside for a missing girl.

Now, I don't want to give away and secrets, so I'll leave you with this, I find this book to be "out of this world" and give it a solid 4 out of 5 laser pistols.
 

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[Review] Moonglow by Kristen Callihan

Moonglow
Darkest London #2
Kristen Callihan
July 31st, 2012
Forever
384 pages

Amazon/Book Depository/B&N

Once the seeds of desire are sown . . .

Finally free of her suffocating marriage, widow Daisy Ellis Craigmore is ready to embrace the pleasures of life that have long been denied her. Yet her new-found freedom is short lived. A string of unexplained murders has brought danger to Daisy's door, forcing her to turn to the most unlikely of saviors . . .

Their growing passion knows no bounds . . .

Ian Ranulf, the Marquis of Northrup, has spent lifetimes hiding his primal nature from London society. But now a vicious killer threatens to expose his secrets. Ian must step out of the shadows and protect the beautiful, fearless Daisy, who awakens in him desires he thought long dead. As their quest to unmask the villain draws them closer together, Daisy has no choice but to reveal her own startling secret, and Ian must face the undeniable truth: Losing his heart to Daisy may be the only way to save his soul.

 Hi it's Amy and I didn't think I would finish this book for a review so soon but it was so good that I could not put it down.  So I am back with more romancing and to spread the word of a tell of werewolves, monsters and the power of healing trough love.

When I finished Kristen Callihan's first book in the Darkest London Series Firelight I thought wow what a good book.  Now that I have finished Moonglow  I am thinking wow what an awesome author and I am adding her to my must reads list because I am loving this series.  It is full of heart stopping action, on the edge of your seat suspense, and HOT, HOT, HOT love scenes.

In Moonglow a werewolf is terrorizing London and Daisy is the only witness to the crime and it is up Ian a lycan to protect her.  Ian and Daisy were both introduced in Firelight because Daisy is Miranda's sister and Ian was Archer's best friend.  In Firelight they both come off as flippant and flighty, but in Moonglow it is revealed that the sarcastic comments and air headed ways are a shield because they are both hiding a pain that goes soul deep.

Ian decides that the only way to protect Daisy is for her to come stay with him to protect her and Daisy is reluctant..  Daisy sets out to find out who the Were is and stop him.  Dang, Kristen Callihan sure knows how to build the suspense and keep me wanting more.  I had now idea who the were was or who was behind it all until the explosive scene at the end when it all it all comes together.  My favorite scene in the book is in the middle when Daisy is running from the werewolf in the woods and finds a cemetery she can hide in.  The werewolf is running toward her and the howls are in the distance and she doesn't know how she is going to escape.  I was biting my nails because for me I kept picturing that scene in Wolfman where Emily blunt is running through the woods it was intense.  After the scene in the woods Daisy knows she is up against something she can't handle on her own and goes to stay with Ian in the end.  Together they set out to solve the mystery.  I like how Kristen Callihan writes strong modern heroines but she makes it work in a Victorian gaslight setting.

The love story between Ian and Daisy was beautiful to watch as these two tragic souls found healing through love.  I almost cried at parts because I was so moved.  I think this line about sums up their love for each other "We are all imperfect creatures,love.  I don't want perfect. I just want you."  Ian sees past Daisy's scars inside and out inflicted upon her by a late abusive husband.  Daisy sees past Ian's defenses of nonchalance to the caring man inside and makes him feel again.

The world of Darkest London just keeps getting better and better as more monsters are introduced and I am curious to find out the back stories on them all.  In conclusion I give Moonglow a five laser pistols because it's definitely a supernova.  I recommend checking out all the books in the series.  The third book Winterblaze comes out later this month.

[Book Events] Hanging Out in Texas

I was pretty busy this week and went to book events plus life in general  got in the way.  I only had time to finish one book this week so I decided to post pics of the events.

On Thursday my friend and I went to a dinner at the Blue Moon Cafe hosted by Fresh Fiction and DFW Tea Reader meet up group where Kim Harrison was the guest of honor.  It was a prequel to her signing at the near by Barnes and Noble.

Kim Harrison's Q&A at Blue Moon Cafe

Kim Harrison being introduced at signing

Me getting my book signed

We got to be fourth and fifth in line

Today decided to take a road trip to Conroe (about 3 1/2 hr drive) and go the Montgomery County Book Festival where my husband and I went to panels and got our books signed by a whole bevy of authors. It has been a fun couple of days getting to fangirl out of my favorite authors and getting introduced to new authors.  Had a lot of fun.  While I was standing in the long line for Sherilyn Kenyon, I had found a new book I wanted to check out.  Ashfall by Mike Mullin and he was at the festival signing so I stayed in line and Chris went over to his table to get the book signed.  My favorite inscription goes to Mike Mullin it said "To Amy a husband who brings you signed books is a keeper!"  Very true Mike Mullin, my husband Chris is the best because he puts up with me, :).  P.S. I would like to say how awesome Jonathan Maberry is and such a nice man.

Sherrilyn Kenyon Q&A, she is very funny

Me getting book signed

My book haul all signed by the authors