Curse the Dawn by Karen Chance

Cassandra Palmer may be the all-powerful Pythia now, but that doesn’t mean people have stopped trying to kill her. Most of the supernatural power players don’t want the independent minded Cassie as chief clairvoyant—and they’ll stop at nothing to see her six feet under.

The Vampire Senate does support Cassie in her position, but their protection comes with a price: an alliance with the sexy master vampire Mircea, who has claimed Cassie as his own.

But even the vampires will have trouble keeping Cassie alive now that the self-styled god Apollo, the source of the Pythia’s power, has it in for her in a big way. To save her life—and the world—Cassie’s going to have to face down her creator once and for all.

I always enjoy these books. Cassie is just a fun character - her relationships with Mircea and Pritkin are complex and filled with all kinds of sizzle. But more than that, the adventure in this story is just great to tag along with. Chance just has her plot filled with the ups and downs and crazy adventures of a fantastic series. When we get new characters, they're always colorful and add to the journey that Cassie and the rest are experiencing. Every new books shows the growth and progression of Cassie as Pythia and I can't wait to see where it all goes next!

Overall Feeling - Thumbs (definitely) up. It's another one of those you can't get without reading the previous books first, but who cares! They're all fun!
Series - 1) Touch the Dark 2) Claimed by Shadow 3) Embrace the Night 4) Curse the Dawn

Date With Destiny by Michelle Pillow and Mandy Roth

Academically minded, uptight Anna only agreed to go on Date with Destiny, a campy TV game show, because she wanted to win an SUV. She never dreamed that accidentally selecting the wrong prize would land her on a cruise ship full of supernaturals. At least she's bringing someone along for the ride — her best friend Winter, a kooky free spirit with a penchant for mischief.

Andre and Christian, were-panthers and twin brothers, are polar opposites as far as personalities go. One views life as a party, the other is entirely too serious. But once they meet their intended mates, this night-and-day duo can finally agree on one thing — Anna and Winter will be theirs and theirs alone before they get back to shore.

Very unimpressive. I mean REALLY unimpressive. Bad, even. At the very least uninspired. I should have known better. I knew I owned the first e-Book in this series already, but since I didn't remember it all that clearly I just assumed from the description of Date With Destiny that I was in for a fun, and funny, time. Instead I got a boring, format driven story that only made me feel like I'd wasted my $4. It was very much a wham-bam-thankyouma'am kind of story. The characters have sex, have their mystical pre-destined futures told to them, and then proceed to fall to their knees in gratitude that everything worked out allright and they're magically in love with their chosen were-panthers. GIVE ME A BREAK! Where's the upheaval, the outrage, ANY kind of plot development that would allow me to believe that these women actually fell in love? It's a ridiculous 'love story' told in two parts (for both of the couples) and completely unworthy of anyone's time. Next!

Overall Feeling - Thumbs down. A complete waste of time. Try reading something by Shelly Laurenston instead- you'll actually enjoy yourself.
Series (if you care) - 1) Pleasure Cruise 2) Date With Destiny 3) Pleasure Island

White Witch Black Curse by Kim Harrison

Some wounds take time to heal . . . and some scars never fade.

Rachel Morgan, kick-ass witch and bounty hunter, has taken her fair share of hits, and has broken lines she swore she would never cross. But when her lover was murdered, it left a deeper wound than Rachel ever imagined, and now she won't rest until his death is solved . . . and avenged. Whatever the cost.

Yet the road to hell is paved with good intentions, and when a new predator moves to the apex of the Inderlander food chain, Rachel's past comes back to haunt her. Literally.

Kim Harrison has again crafted a great novel, one that gives even more insight into the complicated relationships of Rachel, Ivy, Jinx and everyone else they've come into contact with throughout the series. Since Kisten's death Rachel has been desperately trying to put together the pieces of what happened, thinking that this will allow her to avenge his death and get on with her life. But like all good writers, Harrison doesn't let the reader, or Rachel, find an easy way out. Kisten's death has roots much further back in the past then any of them had suspected, and it is only through looking backward can they begin to move forward. Sounds corny, huh? In fact this story is filled with surprises and it reaffirms the fact that Harrison has created characters that anyone would be excited to get to know better. Hopefully she'll be able to keep it up and continue Rachel's adventures in future exciting stories.

Overall Feeling - Thumbs (way) up. While you can't read this one without having the background of the first books, once you get to it it's well worth the wait.
Series - 1) Dead Witch Walking 2) The Good the Bad and the Undead 3) Every Which Way But Dead 4) A Fistful of Charms 5) For a Few Demons More 6) The Outlaw Demon Wails 7) White Witch Black Curse

Kitty Raises Hell by Carrie Vaughn

Sometimes what happens in Vegas doesn't stay in Vegas.

Kitty and Ben flee The City That Never Sleeps, thinking they were finished with the dangers there, but the sadistic cult of lycanthropes and their vampire priestess have laid a curse on Kitty in revenge for her disrupting their rituals. Starting at the next full moon, danger and destruction the form of fire strikes Kitty and the pack of werewolves she's sworn to protect.

She enlists the help of a group of TV paranormal investigators - one of whom has real psychic abilities - to help her get to the bottom of the curse that's been laid on her. Rick, the Master vampire of Denver, believes a deeper plot lies behind the curse, and he and Kitty argue about whether or not to accept the help of a professional demon hunter - and vampire - named Roman, who arrives a little too conveniently in the nick of time.

Unable to rely on Rick, and unwilling to accept Roman's offer of help for a price, Kitty and her band of allies, including Vegas magician Odysseus Grant and Kitty's own radio audience, mount a trap for the supernatural being behind the curse, a destructive force summoned by the vengeful cult, a supernatural being that none of them ever thought to face.


So the latest Kitty installment came out mere months after the fifth book was published, I'm assuming to pacify all those fans who had been waiting so impatiently for that book. The story again takes us into the lives of Kitty and Ben, but this time they're facing a supernatural force beyond even their experience - demons, gods, and cults - oh my! Banding together within the pack and with the help of some shadier than usual characters, Kitty tries to destroy a force that she can't even name. With plenty of ups and downs and the [prerequisite suspense, Vaughn adds to Kitty's tale, but really just makes me want to read the next one and figure out what happens to Cormac. Prison mystery here we come!

Overall Feeling - Thumbs up. Enjoyable as part of Vaughn's series, but I've read better.
Series - 1) Kitty and the Midnight Hour 2) Kitty Goes to Washington 3) Kitty Takes a Holiday 4) Kitty and the Silver Bullet 5) Kitty and the Dead Man's Hand 6) Kitty Raises Hell