Review: Ghost Story by Jim Butcher

There is one line in this, the newest Dresden Files, that made me do a happy dance. "Crombie," I said, "eat your heart out." If you are a fan of Piers Anthony, you will know what I mean. If you have never read his Zanth novels, get your tail over to Amazon and get started! It is always awesome when you read a favorite author pay homage to another favorite in their works. That being said, on to the review. I had never heard of Jim Butcher until early this year. I picked up the first one and was hooked. Ghost Story picks up where Changes leaves off, with Harry dead and about to be run over by a train. (I know, crazy huh?) How can there possibly be anything left to the series? By being sent back as a ghost to find your killer. I was really unsure how I would like this book. The first chapter or two were okay, but I mostly kept reading to see if the story would get any better. I never even realized when I became enthralled. It slipped up on me on little cat paws. I don't want to give anything away, I will just say that I am eager for the next book already!

From jimbutcher.com:

When we last left the mighty wizard detective Harry Dresden, he wasn’t doing well. In fact, he had been murdered by an unknown assassin.
But being dead doesn’t stop him when his friends are in danger. Except now he has no body, and no magic to help him. And there are also several dark spirits roaming the Chicago shadows who owe Harry some payback of their own.
To save his friends — and his own soul — Harry will have to pull off the ultimate trick without any magic…

Four stars!

Review: The Evil Inside a Krewe of Hunters book by Heather Graham

I love Heather Graham. Not only can she crank out the books, but she does it so well! I enjoy everything I have read by her and The Evil Inside is no exception. Well written, fabulous romance with that twist of the paranormal we have come to enjoy so much. The only thing I really missed from this book was a more present ghost. It may be, of course, because the main character does not have the ability as much as others from the older books, but I miss it none the less. With a publication date of September 30th, it comes just in time to snuggle with on a cool fall evening.

From the eheathergraham.com website:

For as long as it has stood overlooking New England’s jagged coastline, Lexington House has been the witness to madness…and murder. But in recent years the inexplicable malice that once tormented so many has lain as silent as its victims. Until now…

A member of the nation’s foremost paranormal forensic team, Jenna Duffy has made a career out of investigating the inexplicable. Yet nothing could prepare her for the string of slayings once again plaguing Lexington House—or for the chief suspect, a boy barely old enough to drive, much less kill.

With the young man’s life on the line, Jenna must team up with attorney Samuel Hill to pinpoint who—or what—is taking the lives of those who get too close to the past. But everything they learn brings them closer to the forces of evil stalking this tortured ground.

 

Review: The Maker's Song Series (so far) by Adrian Phoenix

Holy moly are these books good. First off, I would like to say gobuythesenow!!! Second, give yourself some nice quiet alone time to devote to these books. Adrian has taken paranormal and urban fantasy to a whole new level of cool. Goth vampires, fallen angels, government conspiracy theories, mental illness, a hot younger man and the sexy older woman he falls for. This has a little bit of something for everyone...including some really sexy sex! Go buy the books, read them, and then get mad as hell when you reach the end of the fourth book, just like I did. (Yes, horribly suspenseful cliffhanger. Made me very antsy!)  I will attempt to console myself in the Hoodoo series, but I am watching you Ms. Phoenix!

Review: Hard Spell by Justin Gustainis

It is fairly rare to find a male protagonist in an urban fantasy book. Hard Spell is a breath of manly air. Markowski brings to mind Harry Dresden, a hard boiled, no nonsense kind of guy. The kind of man you expect eats a lot of pizza and kicks back with a beer when he finally goes home. Gutsainis has given us a world where the good guys are real, and the bad guys are really bad. The good doesn't always win, and the evil...well it is everywhere.

From the Angry Robots site:
“Like the rest of America, Scranton’s got an uneasy ‘live and let unlive’ relationship with the supernatural. But when a vamp puts the bite on an unwilling victim, or some witch casts the wrong kind of spell, that’s when they call me.
“My name’s Markowski. I carry a badge.
“Also, a crucifix, some wooden stakes, a big vial of holy water, and a 9mm Beretta loaded with silver bullets.”

Five stars!!!

Is summer almost over?

The past week has been so hectic. If you have been inside your local Walmart, Target, or office supply store you know why. Back to school time! Really? It is still July. Why should we be worried about back to school? Ah yes, because the school boards have decided school should start at the beginning of August. This means that, for parents, life becomes a whirl of back to school shopping and last minute vacations. I am no exception. I am homeschooling a 6th and 9th grader this year, and though we have a little more leeway, school starts in less than 3 weeks. I will continue to read, and do reviews, but they will be closer to one a week than the 3 a week I had hoped to get up to by now. Enjoy the rest of your summer while it lasts!

Review: Deeper Than Midnight by Lara Adrian

No upcoming releases to review so I have chosen the latest in the Midnight Breed series for your reading pleasure. I really like this series. It brings to mind the Dark Hunter series and the Black Dagger Brotherhood series. This particular book was one of the best in my opinion. It goes beyond the paranormal to bring in conflicts many women could face. Of course, we wouldn't have a handsome vampire to save us!

From the back cover: At eighteen, Corinne Bishop was a beautiful, spirited young woman living a life of privilege as the adopted daughter of a wealthy family. Her world was changed in an instant when she was stolen away and held prisoner by the malevolent vampire Dragos. After many years of captivity and torment, Corinne is rescued by the Order, a cadre of vampire warriors embroiled in a war against Dragos and his followers. Her innocence taken, Corinne has lost a piece of her heart as well--the one thing that gave her hope during her imprisonment, and the only thing that matters to her now that she is free.
Assigned to safeguard Corinne on her trip home is a formidable golden-eyed Breed male called Hunter. Once Dragos's most deadly assassin, Hunter now works for the Order, and he's hell-bent on making Dragos pay for his manifold sins. Bonded to Corinne by their mutual desire, Hunter will have to decide how far he'll go to end Dragos's reign of evil--even if carrying out his mission means shattering Corinne's tender heart.
This one gets 4 stars!

Review: Midnight Fear by Leslie Tentler

Leslie Tentler has really come through in her second installment of The Chasing Evil trilogy. The romance is believable, the thrills are chilling, and the pages turn almost on their own. First class whodunit! This book comes out July 26th.

When Reid Novak finally caught Joshua Cahill he thought the nightmare was over. The young Senator's son was locked away and everyone could start trying to get their lives back, especially Joshua's sister Caitlyn. For two years she dealt with the nightmares brought on by helping get her serial killer brother brought to justice. Then, in an instant, the terror came back. First a horse was found mutilated on her farm. Soon after women's bodies were once again being found in Washington D.C. with the same distinctive cuts and burns as before. Joshua was still locked away. Who could be the copycat, and why were they so intent on making Caitlyn a victim?

Four stars!