Harrowgate by Kate Maruyama

It's time for a Halloween surprise! Today's review is actually written by my good friend Rachel. With her help I hope to bring a bit more variety to the reviews on Reading Amidst the Chaos, so please help me welcome her to the RAtChaos family!

Dana

~~

Michael should be overjoyed by the birth of his son, but his wife, Sarah won't let him touch the baby or allow anyone to visit. Greta, an intrusive, sinister doula has wormed her way into their lives, driving a wedge between Michael and his family. Every time he leaves the Harrowgate, he returns to find his beloved wife and baby altered. He feels his family slipping away and, as a malevolent force begins to creep in, Michael does what any new father would do--he fights to keep his family together. Kate Maruyama’s debut novel, Harrowgate, is a chilling, richly detailed story of love, loss, and the haunted place that lies between.
~~

Harrowgate is the perfect Halloween read for those interested in being spooked in a more contemplative and slowly suspenseful way.  While there is a shocking discovery, the author offers it at the beginning and with little emotion.  Rather, the anticipation while reading comes from trying, with the characters, to understand how this new world might hurt those involved.
 
I appreciated the author not getting caught up in explaining the unexplainable.  She presents the reader with the supernatural in a very natural world and expects him or her to accept this.  However, it is impressive and surprising how quickly the characters also accept these phenomena.  While it speaks to how far we will go to protect the ones we love, a clear theme of the book, I do think my own reactions would be more dramatic.  Once again, though, this understatement was so the author could focus on the quieter psychological intensity and confusion of such circumstances.
 
The issues I had with the book arose more from the doula character’s story-arch.  It is no secret that she’s the nemesis, however, you spend most of the book unsure of why.  When the inevitable discovery and fighting of evil comes, there is little true explanation and even less of a tangible resolution.  This was the part of the book in which I needed clear clarification rather than a murky and too easy ending.
 
Despite these issues, I’d give this book a solid B and recommend it as an easy, engaging, entertaining read for those willing to accept the simplicity of a not-so-simple situation.

Overall Feeling - B

Series - Series

*Title requested from NetGalley*

Alien Diplomacy by Gini Koch

Being newlyweds and new parents is challenging enough. But Jeff and Kitty Martini are also giving up their roles as super-being exterminators and Commanders in Centaurion Division while mastering the political landscape as the new heads of Centaurion's Diplomatic Corps. Enter a shadowy assassination plot and a new set of anti-alien conspirators, and nothing will ever be the same..

~~

Whoa. Reading Gini Koch sometimes makes me feel like I'm watching Gilmore Girls on crack. I love her stuff but so much is happening all the time! That could be attributed to the characters themselves being bombarded with more plots to kill them than they know what to do with, but I think any reader should prepare themselves for a bumpy ride when they pick this up.

In this particular installment, Kitty and Jeff are trying to find who they are in their new roles as diplomats - diplomats who straddle the line between truth and lie whenever they step out the door. I feel for them, especially as it becomes clear that the 'long game' of diplomatic strategy is significantly different than the action on the front line. Luckily the transition is eased along by our favorite characters - Chuck, James, Amy & Caroline - with some additions from previous books (Pierre anyone?) so it all comes together in one fun, but wild, ride.

I can't wait for the next book, especially since even with all the craziness Jeffy & Kitty still show all lovey dovey-ness their relationship is known for. I'm not sure if all sci-fi romances will make me as happy at Koch does, but this is a damn good series and highly recommended.

Overall Feeling - A-

Series - 1) Touched by an Alien 2) Alien Tango 3) Alien in the Family 4) Alien Proliferation 5) Alien Diplomacy

Alien Proliferation by Gini Koch

Alien Super-Being Exterminator Kitty Katt is expecting her first baby. But the alien attacks are getting more dangerous, and now Kitty and her* Alpha Centaurion husband, Jeff, have to find out who’s behind the conspiracy to kill Kitty’s secret agent mom and what caused Kitty’s transformation into a superhuman-and they’ve got to do it all before the baby shower…

~~

If you haven't heard about the Alien series by Gini Koch already then you've probably been living under a rock. And if you're living under a rock not only are you probably HELLA pale, I'm not sure there's anything I can do to accurately explain the place these books hold in the genre of romance, existing as they do at the intersection of sci-fi and romance. Instead we'll just go with the easy route ok? I'm sure you can handle it.

Alien Proliferation is a fantastic addition to the series because it shows unequivocally how all the other TV series I loved in my youth got it wrong - just because you have a child it doesn't mean you stop kicking ass. In Angel Connor was kidnapped to a hell dimension to get him away, on Xena, she and Gabrielle got locked in ice for 10 years, on Charmed all of a sudden everybody was obsessed with protecting Wyatt and got all maternal...it just goes on and on. Kitty and Jeff on the other hand aren't willing or being forced to hand their responsibilities over to anyone else. They can change diapers and protect the world just fine, thank you.

For my fellow romance lovers we all see some developments for Christopher! Happy Dance! Without going into spoilers I'll just say that all is not well in Christopher-land but with the help of some of Kitty's usually blunt and in your face advice things turn out ok. I mean, I'm still off in la-la land somewhere where I kind of wish this was an erotica so Kitty could just marry them both - BUT - I'm working on letting it go ok? I'm trying. Sheesh. 

I love this series and I can't wait for April 2012.

Overall Feeling - Thumbs up.

Series - 1) Touched by an Alien 2) Alien Tango 3) Alien in the Family 4) Alien Proliferation 5) Alien Diplomacy (April 2012)

PS - Know what goes right along with this? The Men in Black III trailer! I'm as surprised as anyone when I say that I think this actually looks good and I kind of want to see it.

Mini Me: Lesserblood Lies by Ainsley Davidson

To protect her children from the despotic Trueblood, Merianne defied them by taking her girls and fleeing the planet. Even though Merianne's daughters are Lesserblood, they have the Talents. The Trueblood would train her children to use their dangerous gifts, but their methods are cruel, and Merianne would never see her girls again.

Merianne tries to give her girls a safe, quiet life, but when they befriend Thorne, a brilliant scientist, she finds herself drawn to the kind and captivating man—despite his uncanny resemblance to the Trueblood.

Thorne wants to help the girls control their emerging Talents, and he's intrigued by their mother. But just as Merianne finally accepts Thorne's help, two of her children are seized. To rescue the girls, Merianne and Thorne must risk death at the hands of the Trueblood, who will kill to protect their lies.

~~

It's rare for me to do a review for a book that was a DNF but this was just so unfortunate. It started out ok, with Meri trying to start over on a new planet with her daughters (who were kind of cute) and getting drawn into this back and forth with the 'freesearcher' Thorne, but it didn't hold out. There was a lot of forced 'future-fying' of the language that resulted in most conversations sounding strange or stilted.

Pretty quickly I found myself flipping through pages just to get to the end because not only did I not care that Meri's three children had been kidnapped, I couldn't understand how both her and Thorne were so useless. Maybe I'm too used to take-charge, kick ass heroine but I was supremely underwhelmed by the whole thing. Once I finally got to the last chapter the HEA was for the most part unconvincing and I thought Eda's (the oldest daughter) choices for her future were kind of ridiculous considering the circumstances.

**Title requested from NetGalley for review**

Basilisk by Rob Thurman

Stefan Korsak and his genetically-altered brother have evaded the Institute for three years. When they learn the new location of the secret lab, they plan to break in and save the remaining children there. But one of the little ones doesn’t want to leave. She wants to kill…

~~

If you're not reading Rob Thurman I feel like you're missing out. Ms. Thurman writes some fantastic contemporary urban fantasy/sci-fi and while this series isn't topping my love for Niko and Cal, it's pretty damn close. 

Basilisk continues the story of brothers Stefan and Michael (Misha) as they try to figure out if they can save the other children held captive at the Institute. It's one of 'those' institutes by the way, filled with medical horrors and scientific atrocities, though none as bad as creating children for the sole purpose of being psychic killing machines.

This book is written from Michael's point of view and with that comes a lot of insight into a man who does not know how to be 'normal' - to be like everybody else. He was not raised to be a person, he was raised to be a killer, and taught social skills only because they would make it easier for him to take out a target without raising suspicion. Seeing (reading) first hand about him learning to love his brother and act like a one is interesting and moving and I can't wait for the next book to come out!

Overall Feeling - Thumbs up.

Series - 1) Chimera 2) Basilisk

August in Review

I know you probably won't believe me, but I totally deserve props for this post even existing on RAtChaos. Why? Because by the time you read this I will be at Dragon*Con having a FREAKING AWESOME time!!! And when I'm having an awesome time I find it hard to force myself to stick close to my computer and write monthly wrap-up posts, even when I've managed to actually read more than a few for once, lol.

I hope all of you are prepped for a great Labor Day weekend (yay for 3-day weekends!) and if you're not following me on Twitter yet (@goodredherring) you really should because I plan to spend most of my weekend tweeting cool pics of what I'm seeing at D*C!

What a Dragon Should Know by G.A. Aiken

Kitty's Big Trouble by Carrie Vaughn

Midnight Sins by Lora Leigh

The Assassins' Lover by Emma Holly

Charming the Highlander by Janet Chapman

The Last Dragon by Jane Yolen

Ain't Myth-Behaving by Katie MacAlister

Colters' Wife by Maya Banks

Slow Ride by Lorelei James

Dragon Bound by Thea Harrison

Storm's Heart by Thea Harrison

Scent of Danger by Andrea Kane

A Rake's Vow by Stephanie Laurens

Basilisk by Rob Thurman (review coming soon!)

Something About You by Julie James (reviewing coming soon!)

Books Read/Reviewed: 

15/10

Alien in the Family by Gini Koch

Super-Being Exterminator Kitty Katt and the Alpha Centaurian she loves, Jeff Martini, should be finalizing their wedding plans. But that was before she discovers Jeff is in line to become Emperor back on his home world. Kitty knows she is everything a royal family wouldn't approve of, and is bracing herself for the worst. As it turns out, the royal family is just the beginning. Especially when extraterrestrial Amazonian terrorists are determined to start and end Kitty and Jeff's nuptial festivities with a bang.

~~

 Unsurprisingly at this point really, I loved this book. Readers are treated to more of the smart mouth dialogue and action that made the first two such fun to read. I've got to hand it to Gini Koch though for creating a character in Kitty that is fun and lovable, even as she rides that line as the all-knowing yet somehow oblivious to her own charms, heroine. 

I've read many a series where a heroine can be fun and funny a couple books in but when later there's a complete lack of growth they get stale. Here we have a great cast of supporting characters that are growing as people right along with Kitty, the type of hilariously convoluted story line that Koch somehow always manages to make seem normal, and hot sex with romance.

What are you waiting for? Science fiction or not, don't miss out on this great book!

Overall Feeling - Thumbs up!

Series - 1) Touched by an Alien 2) Alien Tango 3) Alien in the Family

Alien Tango by Gini Koch

It's been five months since marketing manager Katherine "Kitty" Katt started working with the aliens from Alpha Centauri, and she and Jeff Martini are getting closer. But when an experimental spacecraft is mysteriously returned to the Kennedy Space Center, Kitty and the rest of her team are called in to investigate. Now the team must survive murderous attacks, remove a space entity from a group of astronauts, and avoid an unhinged woman with a serious crush on Kitty's high school boyfriend. And that's all before evil masterminds decide Kitty's extermination is vital.

~~

Oh my goodness, look, look! I remembered what I am supposed to be doing around here and have a book review for you guys!

Sorry things have been a little slow lately, life has been doing it's usual interfering and keeping me from 1) reading all the books I want to be reading and, 2) writing any reviews that would help show the world I'm not a sloth. Still things are getting better (mostly) and here's a review to prove it!

But seriously though I have to admit that this is a bit of a cop out because if you read book blogs AT ALL you've heard about Gini Koch. Her science fiction romances are the new blog darlings, and I have to say deservedly so. She has a unique voice and a really fun way of writing about what could be a trite topic. Kitty is forthright and strong on her own, and while she dances on that 'invincible heroine' line she never completely trips over it.

Alien Tango picks up 6 months after Touched by an Alien, with Kitty trying to find her place with Jeff and in this new MIB-like world. We're not really so much about Super Beings at this point (though they pop up a little), it's the nitty gritty of the AC world that's got everyone tangled up. Can Kitty marry Jeff? Does Kitty want to marry Jeff? What about Christopher? What about Chuckie? Are any of the Americanized (or Earth-ized? Earthian-ized? Whatever) AC's going to get the chance to live their lives without parental influence? Who knows! The book whizzes through a lot, and if you blink you might miss the fact that Koch is doing more than just writing a romance book. She takes a hard look at religion, prejudice, immigration, acceptance - all with a small and crap ton of action.

If I had to make a complaint I'd have to say that I would appreciate if Koch would stop 'testing' Kitty and Jeff. While the question of who she would end up with worked really well in the first book, in this one I just got distracted by the possible foreshadowing. Yes romances wax and wane and it would possible for Kitty and Jeff to break up. But how about we stop having Kitty's mother and every other random trying to point out how she's the densest woman on the planet and there are all these other options just in case she changes her mind? Just saying - just putting it out there. Not completely necessary.

Either way this book is a ton of fun and I highly recommend to anyone who loves a sense of humor and a great HEA!

Overall Feeling - Thumbs up. 

Series - 1) Touched by an Alien 2) Alien Tango 3) Alien in the Family (2011)

Looking Back: July & Being a Little Selfish

July has been a hard month for me book-wise. Near the end there I wasn't as excited as I usually am about books - I couldn't believe it! I'm still not sure what's up, I might have to start going back to not forcing myself to read things to post about them - reading what I want without the pressure will probably be good for me.

You know what? That's what I'm going to do in August. I'll try my best to complete the books I've requested to review through NetGalley, but I'm going to put a lot of focus on just reading what I want when I want. Novel concept I'm sure, but I think somewhere along the way I got confused about what I was doing.

This is a mostly complete list of what I read this month, though I admit that this is probably less complete than others. When I'm randomly jumping from book to book because I'm not very happy with what I'm reading it turns out I'm not very good at keeping track ;)

Lover Mine by J.R. Ward
Wildest Dreams by Jayne Ann Krentz
Derek's Bane by MaryJanice Davidson
Family Man by Jayne Ann Krentz
Obsidian Prey by Jayne Castle
Beast Behaving Badly by Shelly Laurenston (x2)
Bonds of Justice by Nalini Singh (x2)
Night Myst by Yasmine Galenorn
Her Heart's Divide by Kathleen Dienne
Dawn in Eclipse Bay by Jayne Ann Krentz
The Search by Nora Roberts
When He Was Bad by Shelly Laurenston
Hidden Talents by Jayne Ann Krentz
Magic Bleeds by Ilona Andrews
McKettricks of Texas: Austin by Linda Lael Miller
Motor City Fae by Cindy Spencer Pape
Discord's Apple by Carrie Vaughn

Reviews/Books Read: 12/19
(counting rereads)

Discord's Apple by Carrie Vaughn

When Evie Walker goes home to spend time with her dying father, she discovers that his creaky old house in Hope’s Fort, Colorado, is not the only legacy she stands to inherit. Hidden behind the old basement door is a secret and magical storeroom, a place where wondrous treasures from myth and legend are kept safe until they are needed again. The magic of the storeroom prevents access to any who are not intended to use the items. But just because it has never been done does not mean it cannot be done.

And there are certainly those who will give anything to find a way in.

Evie must guard the storeroom against ancient and malicious forces, protecting the past and the future even as the present unravels around them. Old heroes and notorious villains alike will rise to fight on her side or to undermine her most desperate gambits. At stake is the fate of the world, and the prevention of nothing less than the apocalypse.

It turns out I had no idea what I was getting into with this one. I thought I did, but I really - really - didn't.

Vaughn creates in Discord's Apple an intriguing look at a scarily possibly post-apocalyptic future, with terrorists and road checks a part of everyday life. Evie is just another woman there, trying to eke out a living as a comic book writer when she gets the worst new: her father is dying and she's needed back in Colorado. Once she's there everything changes, as she learns more and more about the legacy she's heir to.

But the story is more than just that; in addition to Evie's journey to help and care for her father, readers are drawn in the world of Sinon/Alex, the man who convinced Troy to open its doors to the horse. With him comes Hera, Apollo, and the whole pantheon of Greek Gods from myth and legend. Magic is being released back into the world, no longer under the guard of the Keepers of the Storeroom. What that magic will do, how it will be used by man and Gods alike are the questions.

Vaughn writes the story flipping between quite a few different characters' viewpoints. It took me a few chapters to get the hang of it, because it wasn't always obvious who I was reading about, but by the end it I was quite happy with her choice. Leading me as a reader to see things from different people allowed Vaughn to explain and explore the post-apocalyptic world she'd created without 'telling' me about it. I still don't know why exactly the US has roadblocks and you need a permit to drive with oil - the explanation for that particular disaster isn't explained. But what Evie and her creative partner Bruce experience as inhabitants of this future world do all the work of letting me know that bad things have and still are happening.

Overall Feeling - Thumbs up. It was not at all what I was expecting but it's a very well written novel combining old magic, fable, technology - and the end of the world.

Series - None

Chimera by Rob Thurman

Ten years ago, Stefan Korsak’s younger brother was kidnapped. No one knew who took Lukas, or why. He was simply gone. But not a day has passed that Stefan hasn’t thought about him. As a rising figure in the Russian mafia, he has finally found him.

But when he rescues Lukas, he must confront a terrible truth–his brother is no longer his brother. He is a killer. Trained, brainwashed, and genetically transformed into a flesh-and-blood machine with only one purpose–assassination. Now, those who created him…will do anything to reclaim him.

And the closer Stefan grows to his brother, the more he realizes that saving Lukas may be easier than surviving him…

Rob Thurman is one of those authors that is bringing back male centered fiction for me. Along with Simon R. Green and Jim Butcher, Thurman writes first person male narratives that are engaging and enthralling, while never dropping the ball with any supportive female roles. Everyone ends up very equal, even if it turns out that one is a half-human/half-monster hybrid that has the ability to destroy the world (her other series).

In addition to wonderfully fleshed out main characters, the other thing that makes me so excited about Thurman's releases is her ability to take an old genre and make it new. This kind of science fiction/pseudo paranormal base is not anything new, especially for the urban fantasty genre, but it is not done as rote here. Stefan is a complex character who's had to do a lot of bad things to try and get the opportunity to do one good: find this brother. There are a lot of places where we as the reader are lead to believe one thing only to find out a twist at the end.

I enjoyed this book a lot and would recommend it to pretty much everyone. I can't wait to read the next installment and would love to hear about what you think if you give it a try!

Overall Feeling - Thumbs up. I love Rob Thurman's work, her ability to take a character - male or female - and make them believable to the reader. When she also combines it with an incredibly unique set of plot circumstances you can't deny that you've got a good thing on your hands.

Series - 1) Chimera

Bonds of Justice by Nalini Singh

Return to the powerful, turbulent Psy/Changeling world created by the “amazingly talented”* Nalini Singh, as a human detective finds himself working the most unlikely of cases—in the dark heart of a Councilor’s domain…

Max Shannon is a good cop, one of the best in New York Enforcement. Born with a natural shield that protects him against Psy mental invasions, he knows he has little chance of advancement within the Psy-dominated power structure. The last case he expects to be assigned is that of a murderer targeting a Psy Councilor’s closest advisors. And the last woman he expects to compel him in the most sensual of ways is a Psy on the verge of a catastrophic mental fracture…

Sophia Russo is a Justice-Psy, cursed with the ability to retrieve memories from men and women so twisted even veteran cops keep their distance. Appointed as Max’s liaison with the Psy, she finds herself fascinated by this human, her frozen heart threatening to thaw with forbidden emotion. But, her mind filled with other people’s nightmares, other people’s evil, she’s standing on the border between sanity and a silken darkness that urges her to take justice into her own hands, to become judge, jury…and executioner…

You know I could try harder to wax poetically about what makes Nalini Singh such a great author and the Psy-Changeling Series such a wonderful series, but I just don't you'll get it.

Every time Singh comes out with a new book this series gets better and better. Not only is she terrific at creating self contained love stories within each book, she is is proving herself a master of the longer story arch. Each successive book continues the central story of Psy, Changelings, and Humans all trying to figure out how to live with each other; harder still when as a reader you realize that one part of the triangle is breaking down under stress.

Also Singh writes a very emotionally compelling love story with every book. I think that's what has her stand out as such a great romance writer. Her romances are central to everything and I as a reader feel attached to all of the characters; watching both parties grow individually and together they mean a lot to me.

When you read as much as I do it's even more a joy to have the chance to read a series written by an author that obviously takes the time and energy to craft an intelligent, emotionally gratifying, exciting love story. I highly recommend this series to anyone and everyone.

Overall Feeling - THUMBS UP. Singh pulls out another incredible paranormal romance that tugs at the heart and has you racing to the finish line.

Series - 1) Slave to Sensation 2) Visions of Heat 3) Caressed by Ice 4) Mine to Possess 5) Hostage to Pleasure 6) Branded by Fire 7) Blaze of Memory 8) Bonds of Justice 9) Play of Passion (November 2010)

Touched by an Alien by Gini Koch

How can a sexy marketing manager join forces with an Alpha Centauri male in Armani to save the planet-using hairspray, a Mont Blanc pen, and rock n' roll? Easy... She's Touched by an Alien

Marketing manager Katherine "Kitty" Katt steps into the middle of what appears to be a domestic dispute turned ugly. And it only gets uglier when the man turns into a winged monster, straight out of a grade-Z horror movie, and goes on a killing spree. Though Kitty should probably run away, she springs into action to take the monster down. In the middle of the chaos a handsome hunk named Jeff Martini appears, sent by the "agency" to perform crowd control. He's Kitty's kind of guy, no matter what planet he's from. And from now on, for Kitty, things are going to be sexy, dangerous, wild, and out of this world.

There has been a lot of hype about Koch's first release, but after reading it for myself I can see why it's been getting such kudos. A real sci-fi romance is rare in my opinion; currently the market is inundated with paranormal and fantasy oriented romances. A book of this particular bent is a refreshing change and makes me excited to see what other first time authors have to add to the genre.

I could go on about the Men in Black similarities that other reviewers have brought up (and are very true), but I'd rather talk about Koch's ability to fool the reader.

***SLIGHT SPOILER ALERT***

The first alien that we as the reader get to know well is Jeff Martini. He's smooth, handsome, and has an instantly like-able charm. The second alien is Christopher, Jeff's cousin, who spends the majority of the first part of the novel teasing Kitty and generally being a dick in almost every way possible. Everyone around Kitty picks up on the fact that Christopher is being a jerk because he likes her, but she's distracted by her feelings for Jeff and the chaos of superbeings trying to take over the world. Which makes a lot of sense in my opinion.

Now, why I was fooled - I was really worried that Jeff was going to get the boot as the romantic interest for being the good guy! So many romances these days have heroines ending up with the slight jerkwad who, while intially misguided in his execution, sincerely likes the heroine. Rarely do guys like Jeff, the honest-to-goodness good guys who have been clear with their intentions from the beginning, win the girl. I went through almost half the book expecting Kitty to end up with Christopher, and I almost jumped with joy when I realized Jeff was going to be rewarded for all his good behavior by actually GETTING THE GIRL. Woohoo!

***SLIGHT SPOILER OVER***

So yes, this is a fun book that I hope can keep up the momentum of its intriguingly efficient and witty heroine. I like Kitty a lot, but I'm keeping my fingers crossed that Koch is going to be able to keep her personality from going overboard.

Overall Feeling - Thumbs up! I haven't come across a real sci-fi romance in a while, but Koch has created a great one in which both the technology and her characters' feelings seem very real.

Series - 1) Touched by an Alien 2) Alien Tango (December 2010)

Lunch Break! (4/27)

I used the excuse of a new Borders coupon (I hate you Borders! I don't care if I have to pay for a Barnes & Noble membership - you always make me regret going in your store!) to stop by during lunch for some new books. I didn't get Lover Mine yet, I'm waiting to drop by my local B&N after work because they have a 40% off coupon!

Anyway, to get back to the point, I got some new books that I can't wait to start reading:

No Greater Pleasure by Megan Hart (Order of Solace series)($3.99)
Wild Fire by Christine Feehan
Nothing But Trouble by Rachel Gibson
The Bargain by Julia Templeton ($3.99)
Heart Change by Robin D. Owens ($3.99)



















Talk to you soon when I actually get through some of these and have reviews ready!

January in Review

Hey Everyone,

So I know this is a little late (darn you January!) but here's a list of the books I got through during the month. Most of them were good, though some were DEFINITELY better than others. Surprisingly enough, the ones that I enjoyed the best seem to be ones that I picked back up off myself after years of neglect. It goes to show you that sometimes the best trip to the library or bookstore can be done inside your own home - or through the homes of your friends. Just because I like owning the majority of the books I read doesn't mean that allowing yourself some 'shopping' time through your friends shelves won't result in wonderful things. You never know what you're going to find and keeping your mind open to new possibilities is never a bad thing!


Walk on the Wild Side by Christine Warren (eh)
Street Game by Christine Feehan (good)
The Royal Treatment by MaryJanice Davidson (great)
Blaze of Memory by Nalini Singh (great)
What A Dragon Should Know by G.A. Aiken (great great!)
Guilty Pleasure by Lora Leigh (good)
The Family Way by Jayne Ann Krentz (good)
Kitty's House of Horrors by Carrie Vaughn (good)
Dark Slayer by Christine Feehan (great)
Got Fangs? by Katie Maxwell (great)
Come Up and See Me Sometime by Lucy Monroe (good)
Circus of the Darned by Katie Maxwell (great)
Heart Mate by Robin Owens (great)
Inked by Karen Chance, Yasmine Galenorn, etc. (great)
The Good, The Bad, and the Uncanny by Simon R. Green (good)
Bone Magic by Yasmine Galenorn (good)
Hunting Evander by Kim Knox (good)
Changing Perspective by Marilu Mann (ok)
Hot for the Reunion by Ann Jacobs (eh)
The Bad Widow by Barbara Elsborg (eh)
Her Very Special Robot by Ann Jacobs (double eh)
Taking Shape by Tielle St. Clare (great)
The Iron Hunt by Marjorie M. Liu (great)
Midnight's Daughter by Karen Chance (great)
Death's Mistress by Karen Chance (great)
Queen Sharon by Sala (great)
Night Game by Christine Feehan (great)

The Good, The Bad, and The Uncanny by Simon R. Green

Things were going so well for P.I. John Taylor, that it was only a matter of time before everything hit the fan. Walker, the powerful, ever-present, neverto-be-trusted agent who runs the Nightside on behalf of The Authorities, is dying. And he wants John to be his successor-a job that comes with more baggage, and more enemies, than anyone can possibly imagine.

I've been reading Green's Nightside books for what feel like forever, and while this one was good, it also somehow left me wanting. I think one of the best and worst things about Green is that he has an incredible ability to create characters. All of them with unique back stories and with their own desires and quests. Reading this book I just felt a little overwhelmed by it all. There seemed to be SO many characters and so much going on that I found it hard to pin point exactly where my attention should be. I guess I should just be paying attention to everything all along, but come on Green - sometimes my mind likes to wander a bit! I'm pretty positive that it primarily has to do with the gritty, noir-like quality of Green's books. It's never obvious who-dunnit and it's never who you first suspect either. He's the master of keeping you guessing and showing you that a character you knew is someone you never really saw at all. Take Walker for instance - an integral character since the beginning, it was really hard me to read about him in this book. He changes a lot and shows John quite a bit of what changed him. Very sad, really. In the end I can definitely see how Green is laying the groundwork for a new story arc for John Taylor and I'm excited but almost apprehensive to find out where he takes it next - but he's for sure got my money when the next book comes out!

Overall Feeling - Thumbs up. You can never quite tell where your eye should be looking, but it's another fast paced suspense book that leaves you wanting more!

Series - 1) Something From the Nightside 2) Agents of Light and Darkness 3) Nightingale's Lament 4) Hex and the City 5) Paths Not Taken 6) Sharper Than a Serpent's Tooth 7) Hell to Pay 8) The Unnatural Inquirer 9) Just Another Judgement Day 10) The Good, The Bad, and The Uncanny

Heart Mate by Robin D. Owens

All his life, Rand T'Ash has looked forward to meeting his HeartMate, with whom he could begin a family. Once a street tough but now a respected nobleman and artisan, he has crafted the perfect HeartGift, which, in the custom of the psychically-gifted population of the planet Celta, is the way a man finds-and attracts-his wife...

Danith Mallow is irresistibly drawn to the magnificent necklace on display in T'Ash's shop, but she is wary of its creator, despite an overpowering attraction. In a world where everyone is defined by their psychic ability, Danith has little, and thus is at the opposite end of the social spectrum from T'Ash. But T'Ash refuses to accept her rejection, and sees it as a challenge instead. They are HeartMates, but can T'Ash persuade his beloved to accept her destiny by his side?

I know I should probably devote more of my book reading time to new books, but this one just called to me! And think that since it's been years since I read it the first time around I get a free pass to talk about it here. Robin D. Owens' HeartMate series is a great foray into the futuristic romance realm, and she does it without being ridiculous in her world building. As you read this book and the ones that come next you learn more and more about Celta but you never feel like she's saying 'Now I'm going to teach you guys about the flora and fauna of the planet...blah blah blah' which some authors do. Instead you have a very compelling love story between two people who've experienced hardship and are learning how to trust their feelings for each other.

Overall Feeling - Thumbs up. While some of her other books might not be my favorite, she starts off the series strong with great characters and a wonderful romance.

Series - 1) Heart Mate 2) Heart Thief 3) Heart Duel 4) Heart Choice 5) Heart Quest 6) Heart Dance 7) Heart Fate 8) Heart Change

Kitty's House of Horrors

Talk radio host and werewolf Kitty Norville has agreed to appear on TV's first all-supernatural reality show. She's expecting cheesy competitions and manufactured drama starring shapeshifters, vampires, and psychics. But what begins as a publicity stunt will turn into a fight for her life.

The cast members, including Kitty, arrive at the remote mountain lodge where the show is set. As soon as filming starts, violence erupts and Kitty suspects that the show is a cover for a nefarious plot. Then the cameras stop rolling, cast members start dying, and Kitty realizes she and her monster housemates are ironically the ultimate prize in a very different game. Stranded with no power, no phones, and no way to know who can be trusted, she must find a way to defeat the evil closing in . . . before it kills them all.

Apparently Carrie Vaughn is one of the few authors I'm not stalking because this book came out without me knowing! It was only thanks to the handy B&N new paperback tower that I was able to keep up to date with this series - though I do think I would have stumbled upon it eventually! I've always enjoyed this books, though Vaughn's tendency to have delayed releases is probably what keeps me from being totally obsessed with it. Kitty is a woman who was involuntary turned into a werewolf and, at the beginning of the series, was part of an emotionalyl and physically abusive pack. I'm happy to say that by the time this book rolls around things are a lot happier but it all takes a turn for the worse when she decides to take part in a new 'reality show'. While Kitty goes into it suspicious of the TV executive's motives not even she could have imagined the deadly consequences of bringing together so many different supernaturals. All of Vaughn's books have some element of suspense and mystery, but this novel really reminded me of a horror movie because you never know who's going to die next and no ones safe from the carnage.

Overall Feeling - Thumbs up. A lot of good people die, but it's an enthralling ride to the finish so I say either start the series to get to this one, or pick up this latest and see what happens to Kitty next!

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 7) Kitty's House of Horrors

Reading Amidst the Chaos - Live from B&N

Walk on the Wild Side by Christine Warren

Kitty Sugarman is a lot tougher than her name implies. Still, she’s content with how her small- town life keeps her removed from all the changes happening in the world—like the Unveiling of the Others. That is, until a near-tragedy strikes and Kitty discovers she has abilities . . .thanks to a father she never knew was alive. He also happens to be a were-lion and leader of one of the most powerful Prides out West.

WALK ON THE WILD SIDE

When Kitty heads to Vegas to find out more about her father, it’s his sexy, seductive second-in-command or baas of the Pride, Marcus Stewart, who commands her attention. Now that she has tempted Marcus’s hunger for a mate, Kitty finds herself stuck in a vicious struggle for her father’s fortune, while deadly unrest stirs within the pride. Kitty’s rivals won’t rest until she’s gone for good, but Marcus will fight until his last breath to save her…even if it means going against the pride.

I like Christine Warren so I love to give her the benefit of the doubt, but let me tell you - if this book didn't have such a satisfactory ending it might have gotten a thumbs down. I just have an issue when all of sudden characters are 'scolding' the heroine. Yes, I want you to help her grow. Yes, I want you to teach her new things about herself and her future. But DON'T scold her like she's 4 years old and decided to have a tantrum, because even if the heroine tries to shrug it off by saying that she was being a brat, I won't believe you. I've been reading the whole story and do in fact know what's been going on. Ok then, to move on. The reason I do like and would recommend this book is totally for the last 3/4. Warren again pulls out a good shape shifter love story, in a world that has enough similarities to ours to make everything seem plausible and because of that, that much cooler. As a warning to my readers, there is a full on 'shifted into lions and then had sex' scene. It's well written and I feel works with the story. I'm never quite prepared when authors pull this card, but Warren carries it off and doesn't make the scene go so many pages that it would start to feel weird. But you're warned.

Overall Feeling - Thumbs up. Slightly irksome in the beginning, it pulls it out in the end as a still fun read. Though I do remember now why I don't reread it more often....

Series - 1) Wolf at the Door 2) She's No Faerie Princess 3) The Demon You Know 4) Howl at the Moon 5) Walk on the Wild Side 6) One Bite With a Stranger 7) You're So Vein 8) Big Bad Wolf