Once Bitten, Twice Shy by Jennifer Rardin

Second Skin by Caitlin Kittredge

The Blurb...
When werewolves from Nocturne City’s oldest packs are found shot through the head at point-blank range, homicide detective Luna Wilder isn’t sure what’s killing them or why…now the killer is determined to make Luna its next victim. To make matters worse, her boyfriend Dmitri’s demon bite is getting worse, weakening him and putting a major strain on their relationship.

Luna discovers the murders are linked to the Wendigo, shapeshifting cousins of werewolves made of smoke and shadow who drink the blood of their victims for strength. She doesn’t know whether Wendigo leader Lucas Kennuka is friend or foe, but he’s clearly determined to wrest her heart from Dmitiri. And if Luna doesn’t discover who’s behind the killings, it could destroy her fragile relationship—and cost Luna her life…

My Opinion...
Luna Wilder is back, so is Dimitri and then he leaves and then he is back. What a nightmar,e part of me just wishes for him to sod off, but then again he is good for Luna in so many ways. They are both as stubborn as can be and think they're opinions are justified, but they never really discuss anything, just fight or have wild hot were-sex. I liked the way this plot went. The ending made me chuckle, you will see why, don't skip to the end though as it might just not make sense. :)

Frostbitten by Kelley Armstrong

The Blurb...
The Alaskan wilderness is a harsh landscape in the best of conditions, but with a pack of rogue werewolves on the loose, it's downright deadly. Elena Michaels, the American Werewolf Pack's chief enforcer, knows all too well the havoc "mutts" can wreak. When the Pack learns of a series of gruesome maulings and murders outside of Anchorage, Elena and her partner Clay travel to Alaska in the dead of winter, expecting to hunt down a pack of dangerous werewolves. But, trapped in a savage, frozen realm, it is their own untamed nature - and their werewolf heritage - they have to confront ...A gripping thriller with a magical twist, Frostbitten is a brilliant new novel from an international bestseller and a writer at the very top of her game.

My Opinion...
I loved seeing Elena again, being from her view point from the start, she has really gone on leaps and bounds from the charachter in Bitten. I adore this series, anyhow. Having Clay return was satisfying, it was great to see that he had changed, a little bit and was much more accepting of Elena's way of doing things. Lots of plot twists and seeing how things developed. Not a disappointing novel, new and old fans of Kelley's work are going to be very happy reading the latest installment in the Women of the Otherworld series.

Sins and Shadows by Lyn Benedict

The Blurb...

Sylvie Lightner is no ordinary P.I. She specializes in cases involving the unusual, in a world where magic is real - and where death isn't the worst thing that can happen to you.

But when an employee is murdered in front of her, Sylvie has had enough. After years of confounding the dark forces of the Magicus Mundi, she's closing up shop - until a man claiming to be the God of Justice wants Sylvie to find his lost lover.

And he won't take no for an answer.

My Opinion...
It took me a little while to get into this book, I got distracted by another book after the first chapter but then came back to it. It takes a while to warm up to Sylvie, a bit of adjustment to get over her feeling sorry for herself, forever going to exclude all her friends from being involved. But it quickly leaps into adventure that just keeps speeding on. I ended up having a nightowl session to finish this book, well worth the patience at the start.

Librarything Profile for this book

Huntress

The Blurb...
"Devils Bargain" is written by Christine Warren. Supernatural bounty hunter Lilli Corbin made a pact with Prince of Hell: to recover a book of prophecies. When she learns it could trigger the apocalypse, Lilli is forced to make the ultimate choice: save her soul or the man she loves? "The Robber Bride" is written by Marjorie M. Liu. Welcome to a post-apocalyptic world where humans are fed on for their life forces. Now it's up to Maggie, one of the last survivors, to hunt down and destroy an army of darkness. "Down in the Ground where Dead Men Go" is written by Caitlin Kittredge. Ava is a demon slayer who needs help from mage Jack Winter to reach the demon underworld - a place of dark temptation...And, maybe, one of no return. "Sin Slayer" is written by Jenna Maclaine. A demon called Jack the Ripper is killing off the city's vampire population. It's up to Cin Craven to hunt him down - and save the infected Michael, the love of her undead life.

My Opinion...

My mind wasn't really on this anthology as much as it should have been, it was alright nothing really popped out at me.

Retribution by Jeanne C Stein

The Blurb...
With Belinda Burke, a powerful and deadly witch to track down, the last thing Anna needs is additional trouble with Williams. Warren Williams is the ex chief of police in San Diego, and a current leader in the local supernatural community. Their relationship has never been what Anna would consider good, but it’s deteriorating to a point that could be dangerous to both of their undead lives. Williams has a score to settle and he has no trouble destroying anyone who gets in his way, but it’s Anna who will ultimately put her life on the line and quite possibly save the supernatural population from a torturous and destructive future.

My Opinion...
Some people have called this a filler novel and though I am inclined to partly agree, it's definatley leading to something but this book still has a plot. Action packed and adventurous as always. Carries the plot on from the previous novel, Anna has now tied the loose end well and truly off. I must agree that Anna's supermodel boyfriend doesn't live up to the standards of her ex, but I have a feeling that the next book is going to lead somewhat in that area.

Cate Tiernan's Sweep Series 1-8

Book of Shadows
Fifteen-year-old Morgan thinks witchcraft is laughable when her best friend, Bree, drags her to a meeting of the Cirrus Coven. But during a ceremony led by Cal, a new and very attractive boy who's just arrived in the area, Morgan starts to feel strange. Does she have special power? She doesn't want to get involved in witchcraft but it seems as though she doesn't have a choice. Gradually she discovers things about herself and her family that throw her whole life into question.

The Coven
Morgan has discovered she is a blood witch - that means the people she thought were her parents and her sister are not related to her, that she was adopted. She confronts her parents who reluctantly admit the adoption. Morgan is determined to find out more about her birth parents but her family try to stop her - why don't they want her to know the truth? Morgan's story is intersperced with extracts from her blood mother's Book of Shadows (a witch's book of personal spells, etc.). At the end Morgan finds her mother's Book of Shadows in her boyfriend's mother's private library.

Blood Witch
Morgan continues to unravel her past and the story of her birth mother as her relationship with Cal develops. She begins to understand more about her power as a blood witch when she finds her mother's tools of magic. Morgan can't quite relax into her relationship with Cal and the rather mysterious Hunter begins to feature more in her life. Cal and Hunter fight and, when Morgan intervenes, Hunter falls over the edge of the cliff into the rocks and water below. The book ends as Morgan begins herseventeenth birthday convinced that she is responsible for Hunter's death.

Dark Magick
Continues the story of Morgan as her power as a witch begins to grow. Her love for Cal deepens but she worries when Cal and Hunter, another witch, fight and she later believes she has caused Hunter's death. Morgan's powers grow stronger and she begins to discover truths about Cal and his mother, Selene Belltower, truths that cast doubt on Cal's motives and intentions towards Morgan.

Awakening
Morgan begins to understand something of her power and to move on with her life after the terrible betrayal of Cal, her first love. She realizes that Wicca can work for good or for evil as she fights the dark magick of Seline and Cal - and later David, who runs the store "Practical Magick".

Spellbound
Morgan continues to discover her powers as a blood witch of the Woodbane clan. She can't forget Cal, her first love, who tried to kill her, but is surprised to feel a growing attraction for Hunter. Her powers are now so strong that she is in danger from others in her clan and it is important for her to learn to use her witchcraft responsibly. When Selene and Cal use her sister Mary K. to get to her, Morgan realises that she and her family are in real danger.

The Calling
Morgan, Hunter and other members of their coven go to New York for a few days in search of the Amyranth witches. Hunter, a Seeker for the Council, is looking for Killian, a young witch in danger. It seems that Ciaran, Killian's father, is looking for him and intending to wipe his magic. After many false leads and strange meetings, it becomes clear that Ciaran is actually seaching for Morgan, wanting to take her power. He is not in the end able to do this as he suddenly realises that Morgan is his own child. Morgan is horrified to be the child of someone she considers evil. The book ends as she breaks up with Hunter because she believes she has inherited her father's evil and will damage those close to her.

Changeling
In the next installment of the compulsive series, Morgan faces the ultimate test - to choose between good or evil. She is asked by the Witch Council to lure her half-brother, Killian, in order to build a closer relationship with her father, Kieran. Her aim is to gain knowledge of the Dark Wave that will destroy Alice's coven, but, as Morgan and Hunter get back together, will her father successfully draw her over to the dark side?

My Opinion...
Having read 1-8 in this series in as close to one sitting as possible, it's obvious to see this are written for the youngest section of the YA range, though they are about a 15 year old the depth and bredth of knowledge in these books are small and could easily have been much deeper. They aren't the most wordy of books, hence the reason I have blogged them together. An interesting series, Morgan develops into a different person by book 8.

Blue Diablo by Ann Aguirre

The Blurb...
Right now, I’m a redhead. I’ve been blonde and brunette as the situation requires, though an unscheduled color change usually means relocating in the middle of the night. So far, I’m doing well here. Nobody knows what I’m running from. And I’d like to keep it that way…

Eighteen months ago, Corine Solomon crossed the border to Mexico City, fleeing her past, her lover, and her “gift”. Corine, a handler, can touch something and know its history—and sometimes, its future. Using her ability, she can find the missing—and that’s why people never stop trying to find her. People like her ex, Chance…

Chance, whose uncanny luck has led him to her doorstep, needs her help. Someone dear to them both has gone missing in Laredo, Texas, and the only hope of finding her is through Corine’s gift. But their search may prove dangerous as the trail leads them into a strange dark world of demons and sorcerers, ghosts and witchcraft, zombies—and black magic…

My Opinion...
The first thing paranormal I have read from Aguirre, I am a big fan of her Sirantha Jax series. This is quite different, the charcters are built lovingly, the plot develops into something amazing. Well worth a read.

Mean Streets

The Blurb...
The best paranormal private investigators have been brought together in one volume - and cases don't come any harder than this. Jim Butcher delivers a hard-boiled tale in which Harry Dresden's latest case may be his last. Nightside dweller John Taylor is hired by a woman to find something she lost - her memory. Kat Richardson's Greywalker finds herself in too deep when a simple job goes bad. And detective Remy Chandler has been hired to find out who killed the immortal being we know as Noah.

My Opinion...
A great anthology. I loved Jim Butcher and Thomas Sniegoski's novellas so much. Initially is was the Harry Dresden tale that pulled me to buy this collection. Remy Chandler is someone I'd like to get to know, going to read more from this author.

Destined for an Early Grave by Jeaniene Frost

The Blurb...
After their recent war with rogue vampires, Cat thinks a little rest and relaxation are in their future. But she's plagued by dreams of a Master vampire who claims to be from her past. As the dreams intensify and the shadowy figure in them proves to be more than a figment of her subconscious, she realizes there are parts of her past that have been hidden. To unlock these memories and deal with a growing danger to herself and Bones, Cat may have to venture all the way into the grave. But finding out the truth could rock what she knows about herself - and her relationship with Bones.

My Opinion...
A great conclusion to this series, thought Cat and Bones will be appearing in the spin off series. Cat still has many human flaws and so does Bones. A great plot twist and lots of action. Cat should trust Bones more and Bones should stop leaving Cat in the dark.

Leader of the Pack by Karen MacInernay

The Blurb...
On the outside, Sophie Garou is living every woman's dream: She has beauty, brains and a big-time position in Austin's most respected accounting firm(not to mention a very sexy, very successful new boyfriend). But there's one thing Sophie would rather keep under wraps: She's a werewolf. Sophie's life gets a little more hairy when her long-estranged father, Luc, arrives in the Live Music Capital to attend the werewolves' annual Howl and reconnect with his daughter. But Luc's plans fall apart after he's accused of murder and arrested by his archrival, Wolfgang, leader of the Houston pack (and one notoriously dirty dog). Wolfgang drools at the thought of Luc's impending execution, but Sophie won't let her father die without a fight. Determined to prove her innocence, she and her friends set out to find the real killer. Along the way, Sophie must deal with taboo attractions, Machiavellian intrigues, sinister agendas, and hair-raising betrayals.

My Opinion...
Fun and action packed, a great series to read. I did clap my hands at the end in excitement.

Witch Fury by Anya Bast

The Blurb...
With the untapped gift to create fire, witch Sarafina Connell is caught up in a war between good and evil. And she has no choice but to join an infamous playboy in the battle for supremacy - one that's getting hotter by the minute.

My Opinion...
Conclusional book to this four part series. Still a bit mushy in many ways but the plot comes to an end which is satisfying and sad.

Witch Heart by Anya Bast

The Blurb...
Claire, a demon's handmaiden, is rescued from enslavement by a handsome playboy. Now they're both in danger of being captured by warlocks who are determined to harness Claire's powers for evil. The third in the Elemental Witch series.

My Opinion...
A great big plot development, predictable romance what more could a girl want? Well a bit less hot and mushy-ness. One more book to go and I can sell them on.

Witch Blood by Anya Bast

The Blurb...
Water witch Isabelle Novak must form an uneasy alliance with earth witch Thomas Mahan to hunt and destroy a demon of tremendous power, even though Thomas' very presence stirs deeper desires than she ever knew she had. This is the secong instalment in the Elemental Witch series.

My Opinion...
Again, rather predictable in the romance department, but, the storyline isn't too bad and almost readable.

Strange Brew

My Opinion...
This anthology contains nine paranormal short stories all with the theme 'Drink'.

1. Seeing Eye by Patricia Briggs - A blind witch decides to help a man, a werewolf, find his brother who is an undercover cop and has disappeared while on a case.

2. Last Call by Jim Butcher - Harry Dresden walks into his favorite bar for a beer and a sandwich and finds chaos instead. What is wrong with the beer being brewed by the bar owner?

3. Death Warmed Over by Rachel Caine - Holly is a resurrectionist witch. The last time she brought Andrew Toland back from the dead she fell in love with him. Now the police need his special help to solve another case but how can Holly stand the pain when Andrew has to die this time?

4. Vegas Odds by Karen Chance - Accalia (Lia) trains recruits at the War Mage Corps. Imagine her surprise when she realizes it is her own students who are trying to kill her.

5. Hecate's Golden Eye by P. N. Elrod - Chicago 1937 - Charles Escott and his undead colleague Jack Fleming are hired to help the rightful owner steal back her pendant. The history of the jewel says that any man who touches the Golden Eye dies. Luckily for Jack, he's already dead.

6. Bacon by Charlaine Harris - Dahlia Lynley-Chivers is a vampire who is now a widow because her werewolf husband was defeated in a challenge fight for pack position. She hires a witch to help her find out what was done to her husband to make him vulnerable and weak during the fight.

7. Signatures of the Dead by Faith Hunter - Spruce Pine, North Carolina, is being targeted by a band of rogue vampires. Earth witch Molly Trueblood and her friend shapeshifter Jane Yellowrock must find the vampire lair or the killings will continue.

8. Ginger by Caitlin Kittredge - Sunny Swann and her cousin Luna grew up in Nocturne City. Sunny is a witch without much confidence in her powers totally unlike her werewolf cousin. Then why would someone want to kidnap Sunny?

9. Dark Sins by Jenna Maclaine - Venice 1818 - Cin, Michael, Devlin and Justine (The Righteous-judge, jury, and executioners in the world of vampires) are in the city for pleasure, not business. When they are all four kidnapped by a wizard and his coven Cin is forced to chose between the lives of her lover and friends or dark, evil magic.

I definitely enjoyed reading this marvelous anthology. It gave me exactly what I want from a collection of short stories such as these. There are many stories which feature characters already made well known by these authors. Particular favorites of mine are the stories by Patricia Briggs, Jim Butcher, Rachel Caine, P. N. Elrod and Faith Hunter. I have not read novels by many of these authors and this anthology has given me a chance to sample their works and make the decision of whether or not to go seek out and read their full length books.

Witch Fury by Anya Bast

The Blurb...
After a chaotic marriage and a rough divorce, all Mira Hoskin wants is stability and normality. But when sexy Jack McAllister enters her life, she discovers that what you want is not always what you need. Jack is a powerful witch with the ability to command fire and is anything but normal. As the head of a security detail for The Coven, Jack has been assigned to watch over Mira. She is a natural born witch with the ability to control air and a group of renegade witches has discovered her exsistence and are determined to steal her power - and her life.

My Opinion...
I bought the whole series on eBay a complete bargain really, or so I thought, a bit too romancy for my liking. A good read, action packed but predictable in the romance department.

Prey by Rachel Vincent

The Blurb...
A battle is coming, and Faythe will not allow the Pride to become prey...Faythe has finally come to accept that she will someday be Alpha of the Pride, and she is hell-bent on changing the sexist Tribal Council from the inside. But first she must ensure that there will still be a Pride left to lead. Her father's role as Alpha is at risk, as is his control over the territory they all love. At the same time, Faythe's exiled boyfriend is under attack from rogues somehow connected to the political schemes of the tribal council. With her world collapsing around her, Faythe must fight to keep her friends and family together, as their enemies conspire against them.

My Opinion...

I had this book preordered with Amazon and was excited to receive it on the actual day of release, which is not usually what happens with Amazon UK, who aren't the best at actually delivering on the day of release. I read this book in one sitting, stayed up all night rivited, a great fourth book in this series, Faythe is still infuriating at times but she shows great promise in this book, she starts seeing the bigger picture and realising what her future may hold.

Red by Jordan Summers

The Blurb...
War is brewing in a near-future world where murder is all but unheard of and the existence of creatures known as the Others has yet to be proven.Gina Santiago is a member of an elite tactical team in charge of protecting the world. She's devoted her life to apprehending the most heinous criminals that prey on society-and now she's after the worst one yet. On her own, with no backup, the trail takes her to a dusty, tight-knit town on the fringes of society, where everyone's a suspect. Even the sexy sheriff, Morgan Hunter, isn't telling her everything. Gina knows he's trouble, but she's inexorably drawn to him.The closer Gina comes to finding out the secret of this sleepy little town and its big bad sheriff, and the closer she comes to catching the predator, the more scared she gets - because she's beginning to realize that she has a secret too. A secret that will change Gina's life...and make her the killer's prey.

My Opinion...
This story was leading in an obvious direction but it was pleasant to see how it got there, though it was often times staring you straight in the face you wondered if there would be a twist towards the end, there was and it made me go out and by Scarlet and preorder Crimson.

A Lick of Frost by Laurell K Hamilton

The Blurb...
You know me. I am Meredith Gentry, princess and heir apparent to the throne in the realm of Faerie. Once I was a private investigator in the mortal world...

You also know my circumstances: to be crowned queen, I must first continue the royal bloodline, and give birth to an heir of my own. And if I fail? Then my aunt, Queen Andais, will be free to do what she most desires: to place her twisted son, Cel, upon the throne of Faerie...and kill me.

I am surrounded by loyal guards, and my best loved - my Darkness and my Killing Frost - are sworn to protect me and to make love to me. Yet for all our eager carnal efforts, I remain childless...while the machinations of my sinister, sadistic Queen and her confederates remain tireless. So my bodyguards and I, hoping to outrun the gathering shadows of court intrigue, have slipped back into Los Angeles. But it seems exile is not enough to escape those with dark designs upon us.

Now King Taranis, powerful and vainglorious ruler of Faerie's Seelie court, has accused my guards of a heinous crime and asked the mortal authorities to prosecute them. If he succeeds, my men face extradition to Faerie - and a hideous fate. But I know Taranis's charges are baseless. His true target is me. He tried to kill me when I was a child. And now I fear his intentions are far more terrifying

My Opinion...
Bear with me while I sit down... Well this book was a bit of a shocker, now bear in mind what I said about the last book - more sex scenes than you can shake a stick at and the plot hidden at the back. Well there was still plenty of sex, but the plot actually was there and consistent throughout the book. Now I wouldn't personally rush out and pay full price for the next installment, but if I saw it in a charity shop or second hand bookstore I may just buy it.

Mistral's Kiss by Laurell K Hamilton

The Blurb....
Once upon a time I had a day job: I was a private detective. But now my other life has become a full time occupation...I am Princess Meredith, heir to the throne of Faerie.

A virtual prisoner of my aunt, the Queen of Air and Darkness, I am incarcerated with just some of our world's most beautiful men for company. They are my bodyguards - and my lovers. For I have a duty to perform: I must produce an heir. And if I fail? Well, then my life is forfeit and death awaits at the vengeful hands of my treacherous cousin Cel and his followers.

But now Mistral, captain of the queen's guard, has come to my bed. In so doing, he defies her and condemns us both. However our pleasure has reawakened an old, wild magic, a power so ancient that none can stand against it - neither my strongest, most favoured consorts nor Mistral himself. If I can but reclaim control of this fey power, there is hope and we may yet survive...

Herein lies the sensual, twilight world of Meredith Gentry, where the erotic and the exotic, the decadent and the deadly collide. You have been warned...

My Opinion...

This book has been on my tbr pile a long time, a charity shop bargain in hardback, it was starting to take up much needed space on my shelves, so I read it. It's been a while since I delved into her fae series, and I remember why I put it down. Too smutty for my own liking, though a well placed sex scence is appropriate, in this book I'd like some plot with my sex. Well towards the end, almost the last chapter the plot appears for a very brief while and actually makes this book [almost] worth reading.

To Hell and Back by Lilith Saintcrow

The Blurb...
Dante Valentine has been through Hell. Literally. Her body shattered and her mind not far behind, she's dumped back into her own world to survive - or not - as a pawn in one of Lucifer's endless games. Unfortunately, he's just messed with the wrong Necromance. And this time she's mad enough to do something about it. This time, the Devil will pay.

My Opinion...
Last in the Dante Valentine Series, conclusion to Dante's adventures. A bit of a hard read this one, Dante is at her most angsty and it tends to get in the way. I'm glad I actually finished this one, it's been one I have picked up and put down alot.

Hunter's Prayer by Lilith Saintcrow

The Blurb...
Jill Kismet, Dealer in Dark Things. Spiritual Exterminator. Demon Slayer - it's not the type of work you can put on a business card. But every city has people like me. Usually the police have us on payroll as consultants, because what ordinary cop can face down a Were or an ordinary shapechanger, or an Assyrian demon? Not to mention the silvers or the Black Mist, the adepts of Sorrow House or of the Middle Way? What ordinary cop stands a chance against a Trader, even? People disappear all the time, it's an epidemic; some of the disappearances are murder, some are fugitives, some are kidnapped by other human beings. Some of them are even found again. But a good proportion of them are taken by the things that go bump in the night. And then it becomes a hunter's job to bump back. Hard.

My Opinion...
Another good book, second in the Jill Kismet series, action packed, Jill is developing into a kick ass heroine.

Night Shift by Lilith Saintcrow

The Blurb...
Jill Kismet is a dealer in dark things and demon slayer, and it's her job to patrol the nightside. In the cold pre-dawn, Jill is called in to assess the aftermath of a particularly savage cop-killing. Under the haunted eyes of the forensic techs, Jill picks up the stench of hellbreed and something else - something dangerous and tainted. But this makes no sense as hellbreed always work alone, distrusted even by their own kind. Jill's a Hunter, trained by the best, but she's in over her head. Welcome to the night shift ...

My Opinion...
This is the first book in a new series, Jill Kismet, set in the same world as the Dante Valentine series. Action paced as always with anything Lili writes, she has a great way of setting scenes and building characters. Jill is also lest angsty than Dante so is a touch easier to read.

On the Prowl

The Blurb...
These all-new paranormal romances from today's hottest authors feature a female werewolf who comes into her own; a Lord who crosses paths with a fiery mage; a mixed-blood Child of the Moon who faces an uncertain future; and a woman whose sixth sense proves to be a dangerous talent.

My Verdict
A great selection of short stories, I am a big fan of anthologies. I already own/read books in the worlds created by these authors.

The Awakening by Kelley Armstrong

What the Blurb says...
Chloe Saunders used to be a normal teenage girl - or so she thought. Then she learned the shocking truth - she is a walking science experiment. Genetically altered at birth by a sinister group of scientists known as the Edison Group, Chloe is an aberration - a powerful necromancer who can see ghosts and even raise the dead, often with terrifying consequences. Even worse, her growing powers have made her a threat to the surviving members of the Edison Group, who have decided it's time to end their experiment - permanently ...Now Chloe is running for her life with three other supernatural teenagers - a charming sorcerer, a troubled werewolf and a temperamental young witch. Together they have a chance for freedom - but can Chloe trust her new friends?

In my Opinion.

The second in the series, some real interesting plot twists, very fun and adventurous indeed.

White Witch, Black Curse by Kim Harrison

The Blurb...
The 7th stirring instalment of the urban fantasy-thriller series starring Rachel Morgan. A pacey and addictive novel of sexy bounty-hunting witches, cunning demons and vicious vampires. The demon, Algaliarept, although banished back into the everafter has infected others of his kind with his interest in a witch who can channel demon magic. Rachel soon finds herself with not one but three hellions on her tail; and one of them is even crazier and more dangerous than all the fairy assassins, weres and vampires on the planet.

In my opinion...
It's been a while since I read anything from the Hollows and I remember why, a few sniffles to start with but then it really gets into the action, well paced, great to see Ivy, Jenks etc back on form.

Specials by Scott Westerfeld

What the Blurb Says...
"Special Circumstances" - These words have sent chills down Tally's spine since her days as a rebellious Ugly. Back then Specials were a sinister rumour - frighteningly beautiful, dangerously strong, breathtakingly fast. Ordinary pretties might live their whole lives without meeting a Special. But Tally's never been ordinary...Now she's been turned into one of them: a superamped fighting machine, engineered to keep the Uglies down and the Pretties stupid. The strength, the speed, and the clarity and focus of her thinking feel better than anything Tally can remember...most of the time. One tiny corner of her heart still remembers something more. Still, it's easy to tune that out - until Tally's offered a chance to stamp out the rebels of the New Smoke permanently. It all comes down to one last choice: carry out the mission she's programmed to complete, or listen to that tiny, faint heartbeat telling her that something's wrong...Either way, Tally's world will never be the same.

In my Opinion...
Another great book in this series, really well created world.

Chosen by P.C. & Kristen Cast

What the Blurb Says...
"I guess it had gone okay with Stevie Rae. I mean, she had agreed to meet me tomorrow. And she hadn't tried to bite me, which was a plus. Of course, the whole trying-to-eat-the-street-person thing was highly disturbing..." Zoey's best friend, Stevie Rae, is undead - in an eww! zombie! kind-of-way, not in a cool vampire kind-of-way. She's struggling to retain her humanity and Zoey doesn't have a clue how to help. But she does know that anything they discover must be kept secret. Trust has become a rare commodity. Sinister forces are at work at the House of Night, where the line between friend and enemy is becoming dangerously blurred. Not suitable for younger readers.

In my opinion...

Grrr, this series has me hooked, yet I can't stand the main character. Not going to pay full price for the next few in the series, but if they are on offer then I may just succomb.

Betrayed by P.C. & Kristen Cast

What the Blurb Says...
It seems that (un)life is going pretty well for Zoey Redbird. She's settled in at the House of Night finishing school and is coming to terms with the vast powers the vampyre goddess, Nyx, has given her. She even has a boyfriend...or two. Best of all, Zoey finally feels she has found somewhere she belongs. Then the unthinkable happens.Human teenagers are being killed, and all the evidence points to the vampires at Zoey's school. While danger stalks the humans from Zoey's past life, she begins to realise that the very powers that made her so unique might also threaten those she loves. Then, when she needs her new friends the most, death strikes the House of Night. Zoey finds herself facing a betrayal that could break her heart and jeopardise the very fabric of her world. Not suitable for younger readers.

In my Opinion...

This was a very frustrating read, I know YA's are fickle at times, I remember it well myself, but two boyfriends at once and carrying them on, no wonder her friends fell out with her, I've already bought the third book in the series so I shall read it next just to clear it off myshelf.

Marked by P.C. & Kristen Cast

What the Blurb Says...
When sixteen-year-old Zoey Redbird gets Marked as a fledgling vampire she must join the House of Night school where she will train to become an adult vampire. That is, if she makes it through the Change. But Zoe is no ordinary fledgling. She has been chosen as special by the Goddess Nyx and discovers her amazing new power to conjure the elements: earth, air, fire, water and spirit. When Zoey discovers that the leader of the Dark Daughters, the school's most elite group, is misusing her Goddess-given gifts, Zoey must look within herself to embrace her destiny - with a little help from her new vampire friends. Not suitable for younger readers.

In my opinion...

This looks like a promising to be a great series, read in an afternoon a great start to a new series.

Pretties by Scott Westerfeld

What the Blurb Says...
Tally has finally become 'pretty'. Her looks are beyond perfect, her clothes are cool, her boyfriend is totally gorgeous, and she's completely popular. It's everything she's ever wanted. But beneath all the fun - the non-stop parties, the high-tech luxury, the total freedom - is a nagging feeling that something is very wrong. Something important. And sure enough, when a message from Tally's 'ugly' past arrives, the fun stops cold. Now Tally has to choose between fighting to forget what she knows and fighting for her life...

My Opinion...
This book changes things for Tally and her world, the world was enlarged and more mystery. A great YA book.

Uglies by Scott Westerfeld

What the Blurb Says...
Tally lives in a world where your sixteenth birthday brings aesthetic perfection: an operation which erases all your flaws, transforming you from an 'Ugly' into a 'Pretty'. She is on the eve of this important event, and cannot wait for her life to change. As well as guaranteeing supermodel looks, life as a Pretty seems to revolve around having a good time. But then she meets Shay, who is also fifteen - but with a very different outlook on life. Shay isn't sure she wants to be Pretty and plans to escape to a community in the forest - the Rusty Ruins - where Uglies go to escape ' turning'. Tally won't be persuaded to join her, as this would involve sacrificing everything she's ever wanted for a lot of uncertainty. When she is taken in for questioning on her birthday, however, Tally gets sent to the Ruins anyway - against her will. The authorities offer Tally the worst choice she could ever imagine: find her friend Shay and turn her in, or never turn Pretty at all. What she discovers in the Ruins reveals that there is nothing 'pretty' about the transformations...And the choice Tally makes will change her world forever.

What I thought...
I was sucked into this series so quickly, it was a great series full of adventure, mystery. I loved how the language and the technology, very interesting.

Poltergeist by Kat Richardson

What the Blurb Says...
Meet Harper Blaine. She doesn't just see dead people? Harper Blaine was your average small-time PI until she died - for two minutes. Now she's a Greywalker - walking the thin line between the living world and the paranormal realm. And she's discovering that her new abilities are landing her all sorts of "strange" cases. In the days leading up to Halloween, Harper's been hired by a university research group that is attempting to create an artificial poltergeist. The head researcher suspects someone is deliberately faking the phenomena, but Harper's investigation reveals something else entirely - they've succeeded. And when one of the group's members is killed in a brutal and inexplicable fashion, Harper must determine whether the killer is the ghost itself, or someone all too human.

My Opinion...
I didn't really bond with this book and even thought the other books in the series were riviting I really couldn't get into this one, it was a chore to read.

The Dangerous Book for Demon Slayers by Angie Fox

What the Blurb Says...
Demon slaying powers should come with an instruction book ...

Seriously. Why does a new hair dryer have a twelve-page how-to manual, but when it comes to ancient demon-fighting hocus-pocus, my biker witch granny gives me just half a dozen switch stars and a rah-rah speech? Oh, and a talking terrier, but that's another story. It's not like my job as a preschool teacher prepared me for this kind of thing.

So I've decided to write my own manual, The Dangerous Book for Demon Slayers, because no one tells me anything. Dimitri, my "protector," may be one stud of a shape-shifting griffin, but he always thinks he can handle everything by himself. Only he's no match for the soul-stealing succubi taking over Las Vegas. If I can't figure out how to save him - and Sin City - there'll be hell to pay.

My opinion...

This is such a fun series, Lizzie is cheeky and funny, Grams is kickass and witty, such a great combination, it was a fun and fast read. Can't wait for the next.

Don't Talk Back to Your Vampire by Michele Bardsley

What the Blurb Says....
Ever since a master vampire became possessed and bit a bunch of parents, the town of Broken Heart, Oklahoma, has catered to those of us who don't rise until sunset - even if that means PTA meetings at midnight.
As for me, Eva LeRoy, town librarian and single mother to a teenager daughter. I'm pretty much used to being "vampified". You can't beat the great side effects: no crow's-feet or cellulite! But books still make my undead heart beat - and, strangely enough,so does Lorcan the Loner. My mama always told me everyone deserves a second chance. Still, it's one thing to deal with usual undead hassles: rival vamps, rambunctious kids adjusting to night school, and my daughter's new boyfriend, who's a vampire hunter, for heaven's sake. It's quite another to fall for the vampire who killed you...

My verdict...

Second in the series, follows on from I'm the Vampire That's Why, from a different character viewpoint. Chick Lit with Fangs.

I'm the Vampire That's Why by Michele Bardsley

What the Blurb says...

There's a new breed of soccer mom in town-with fangs. Does drinking blood make me a bad mother? That's the question single mom Jessica Matthews faces when she wakes from a savage attack sucking on the thigh of Patrick O'Halloran, a super-hot Irish vampire who'd generously offered his femoral artery to save her from death...only to make her one of the undead. Jessica can't rest until the beast that did this to her is caught. Meanwhile, she's having trouble committing to Patrick (in the vampire handbook, physical intimacy costs you several hundred years of being bound together) and keeping her kids in line.

My Review...

This has been on my tbr pile for a looooong time, when I finally got around to reading it, it wasn't as bad as I first thought it would be, I am not a big fan of chick lit it's a bit too 'fluffy' for my liking, but this has fangs and it's not fluffy. Each book is written by a different character's opinion.

The Mammoth Book of Vampire Romance

What the Blurb Says...

24 new short stories from the hottest names

Fall in love with someone out of this world.

If love transcends all boundaries then paranormal romance is its logical conclusion. From the biggest names around, here are 24 tales to take you to another time and place.

Let Alyssa Day, Sherrilyn Kenyon, Cheyenne McCray, Jeaniene Frost, Ilona Andrews, Kelley Armstrong, Maria V. Snyder, Carrie Vaughn, Allyson James Marland and others show you powers beyond your wildest imaginings.

Within these pages mythical beasts, magical creatures of all shapes and sizes, heart-stoppingly handsome ghosts, angels, and mortals with extra-sensitive sensory perception play out the themes of extraordinary desires.

This is the titles of the shorts and the authors
The temptation of Robin Green / Carrie Vaughn

Succubus Seduction / Cheyenne McCray
Paranormal romance blues / Kelley Armstrong
John Doe / Anna Windsor
Taking hold / Anya Bast
How to date a superhero / Jean Johnson
Daniel / C. T. Adams and Cathy Clamp
Light through fog / Holly Lisle
The Tuesday enchantress / Mary Jo Putney
Trinity blue / Eve Silver
Grace of small magics / Ilona Andrews
Once a demon / Dina James
Night vision / Maria V. Snyder
Pele's tears / Catherine Mulvany
Pack / Jeaniene Frost
When gargoyles fly / Lori Devoti
The lighthouse keeper and his wife / Sara Mackenzie
Blood song / Lynda Hilburn
The princess and the peas / Alyssa Day
At second bite / Michelle Rowen
Blue Crush / Rachel Caine
The wager / Sherrilyn Kenyon
In sheep's clothing / Meljean Brook
The dream catcher / Allyson James

My Verdict...

I loved this collection of short stories, a great introduction to many new authors that I had never even thought about reading until now.

A great collection, you don't need to have read any of the previous works, they are a glimpse into their world [or another one] and it's nice to try new authors.