Hit List by Laurell K Hamilton

A serial killer is hunting the Pacific Northwest, murdering victims in a gruesome and spectacular way. The local police suspect "monsters" are involved, and have called in Anita Blake and Edward, US Marshals who really know their monsters, to catch the killer.

But some monsters are very real. The Harlequin have been the bogeymen of the vampire world for more than a thousand years; they are a secret so dark that even to speak their name can earn you a death sentence. Now they are here in America, hunting weretigers, and human police.

The Harlequin serve the Mother of All Darkness, the first vampire. She was supposed to be dead, but only her body was destroyed. Now she needs a new one, and she's decided that Anita Blake's is the body she wants. Edward thinks the serial killings are a trap to lure Anita closer to the most dangerous vampire they've ever hunted. The vampires call Edward "Death," and Anita the "Executioner," but Mommy Darkest is coming to kill one, and possess the other, and she doesn't care how many others have to die along the way.

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So yeah. I can't say that I loved this book. I can say that I had high hopes. SUCH high hopes. I remember when Laurell first revealed that this was going to be an Edward heavy book and I did a mental happy dance. Edward? Such a great character! I loved Obsidian Butterfly (old I know - but I'm just saying!) and I figured that with him featured in this installment things couldn't be too bad.

But see, this is a great example of how I can in fact be wrong sometimes.

The whole thing was just 'eh'. I felt like nothing happened until the last chapter and then that was so anti-climatic I just sat there going "That's it? That's really it?" with a look of confusion on my face. Luckily only one person was recipient of my 'less than pleasant' texts about the whole thing. I'm not even sure what's happening here because I was never one of those LKH fans that sat there wringing my hands because Anita started going out and having explicit sex. I still liked Anita, I liked the small - small - harem she had going on at that time, and I didn't feel like it detracted from the overarching storyline.

And I wouldn't say that it was sex in this book that detracted from the overarching storyline. I just felt like the storyline was a little lackluster in the first place. Everything was too easy and got wrapped in neat little bows that just left me wondering why I'd read the book in the first place.

Which made me sad. Because at one point I really loved these books and sat almost frothing at the mouth in anticipation of the next one. Sigh.

Still, are you by chance looking for something to perk up your expereince while reading this book? If so I'd HIGHLY recommend you go check out the 'Hit List Drinking Game' on ALPHA reader. It has such gems as:

"Anita has sex with a gorgeous stranger because the ardeur needs to feed and said guy is somehow down-trodden/outcast/misunderstood etc, but he appreciates Anita's blatant arousal of him (she likes me, she really likes me!) - CHUG!"

I almost feel like I should reread Hit List just for a chance to play along!

Overall Feeling - Eh/Thumbs down

Series - .... 20) Hit List

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In case you missed it, you still have almost a full day and a half to enter my Young Adult Giveaway!!

Magic Dreams by Ilona Andrews

New York Times bestselling author Ilona Andrews spins "Magic Dreams". Shapeshifting tigress Dali Harimau finds herseulf in deep waters when she must challenge a dark being to a battle of wits or risk losing the man for whom she secretly longs.

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Even though I'm just going to be reviewing one of the stories from the Hexed anthology, I definitely feel it's worth the individual shout out. Why you ask? Because after sitting in Barnes & Noble and reading it I STILL felt like I had to buy it. Team Andrews, on the strength of their writing alone, got me to buy something I'd already finishing reading. And I think that's pretty damn impressive.

"Magic Dreams" is a little vignette, a look into the head of Dali and subsequently Jim, the feline Alpha within the Pack. They're both characters readers have gotten to know well throughout the Kate Daniels series, but as a first person story written from Dali's point of view, we get to learn even more about what makes them so great. Dali has her own insecurities, her own issues, and her own feelings for Jim. Their little romance had just been hinted at previously but here it just explodes and it's fantastic.

As a romance reader I love getting the chance of seeing more of the side characters and their relationship and Ilona Andrews doesn't disappoint. "Magic Dreams" is short and snappy and while it makes me want more, it certainly doesn't leave me feeling like something's missing. I'm just always going to be that person asking for more when it's this good ;)

I highly recommend it and definitely think it's a great addition to the world of Kate Daniels.

Overall Feeling - Thumbs up.

Series - 1) Magic Bites 2) Magic Burns 3) Magic Strikes 4) "Magic Mourns" 5) Magic Bleeds 6) "Magic Dreams" 7) Magic Slays

Mini Me: Magic Slays by Ilona Andrews

Kate Daniels may have quit the Order of Merciful Aid, but she’s still knee-deep in paranormal problems. Or she would be if she could get someone to hire her. Starting her own business has been more challenging than she thought it would be—now that the Order is disparaging her good name, and many potential clients are afraid of getting on the bad side of the Beast Lord, who just happens to be Kate’s mate.

So when Atlanta’s premier Master of the Dead calls to ask for help with a vampire on the loose, Kate leaps at the chance of some paying work. Turns out this is not an isolated incident, and Kate needs to get to the bottom of it—fast, or the city and everyone dear to her might pay the ultimate price . . .

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I decided to write a mini review Magic Slays mostly in the hopes that I'd be able to refrain myself from going on and on about how great it is. Because it is. Great. 

Writing team Ilona Andrews has done it again with this latest release, showing that the spark and wit that has made Kate so wonderful to read about in previous installments isn't going anywhere. In fact I'd say that things are perhaps even getting better on the character front. Kate, Curran, Andrea - most of the men and women we've been introduced to before become more well rounded in this book, primarily because Andrews brings their inner thoughts to the forefront in this novel. It's not just their job or what they do to protect others, it's their motivations and why they do it that are becoming more and more part of the plot. 

I think this series has nowhere to go but up, but newcomers should definitely pick up the other books in this series before reading Slays. There's just too much back story and character continuity now to let the casual reader pick up the subtle nuances of everything. Don't be sad though readers, because it's a fun ride the first - or the millionth - time!

Young Adult Giveaway! **CLOSED**

I'm so happy to bring you guys another giveaway! Earlier this week a representative from  Zeitghost Media contacted me to let me know about a new young adult release, Ruby Red by Kerstin Gier:

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Gwyneth Shepherd's sophisticated, beautiful cousin Charlotte has been prepared her entire life for traveling through time. But unexpectedly, it is Gwyneth, who in the middle of class takes a sudden spin to a different era!

Gwyneth must now unearth the mystery of why her mother would lie about her birth date to ward off suspicion about her ability, brush up on her history, and work with Gideon--the time traveler from a similarly gifted family that passes the gene through its male line, and whose presence becomes, in time, less insufferable and more essential. Together, Gwyneth and Gideon journey through time to discover who, in the 18th century and in contemporary London, they can trust.

~~

Doesn't it sound great?! Totally up my alley young adult-wise, with what sounds like a spunky heroine, a windy plot, AND maybe a touch of romance! Unfortunately I'm totally swamped and my TBR pile cannot in any way handle another book. It can't I tell you! Complete catastrophic meltdown would be on the horizon if I tried to tweak and nudge my shelves to add another book.

I know - I should just go cry in a corner, right?

Still what this means for you my dear readers is that there's a copy Zeitghost Media can send to you instead! The rules are exceedingly simple, mostly because there's only one -

Leave me a comment (on this post) that says 'Enter Me' with your email address

Giveaway is open until Tuesday June 14th, and the winner will be announced the following Wednesday. Sorry but this giveaway is only open to my US and Canadian readers.

It's as simple as that and like usual I'll be using Random.org to choose a winner. Yay giveaway! They're so fun for you AND me!

Oh and if you're in the mood to wet your whistle with a little book trailer goodness, check out the one for Ruby Red here.

One Night, Two Heirs by Maureen Child

Duty is his world. And upon seeing Sadie Price with twin girls, marine Rick Pruitt realizes he has some proposing to do. He never would have left Royal, Texas, if he'd known Sadie was carrying his babies.

Yet the feisty single mom has no intention of agreeing to a loveless marriage. True, she and Rick share a bond, as well as undeniable passion. But Sadie believes vows should last a lifetime, not be declared out of obligation. Making it Rick's new mission to change her mind…

~~

**I requested this title for review from NetGalley**

Once upon a time I really enjoyed series romances. Maybe the Presents line wasn't my favorite, but Silhouette Desire often had some good stuff and Maureen Child has definitely reminded me why I used to like them so much. In One Night, Two Heirs she's written a heartwarming story starring two real characters. This isn't a soap opera, the man isn't an ass, the whole world isn't out to get them - it's two people trying to create a life for themselves.

Amazing right?

The plot is pretty clear from the back summary but I don't think it manages to capture the charm. Rick and Sadie don't come together in an immediate happy ending, but neither does Rick spend 90% of the book 'punishing' her for not telling him that she was pregnant. Instead they both have to work through their insecurities and fears to try and find a middle ground. One where they feel safe to love each other and commit to their new family. I kind of found the whole thing refreshing.

Plus, as the beginning of a new chapter in the history of the Texas Cattleman's Club readers are introduced to a lot of new characters who I'll be excited to read about later. Though I have to admit I'm little worried since later installments aren't going to be written only by Child. I guess we'll just have to see what happens but I definitely recommend you pick this up because as a quick read (for the beach or not) it's pretty great!

Overall Feeling - Thumbs up.

Series - 1) One Night, Two Heirs (July 2011) 2) The Rebel Tycoon Returns (TBA)

Teaser Tuesdays (6/7)

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

* Grab your current read
* Open to a random page
* Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
* BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
   * Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

"'Enjoying yourself?'

He grinned, nodded.

Did he really have to be so cute? Was that really fair to her at all?"

--pg 277, The Mane Squeeze by Shelly Laurenston

I'm severely lacking in the profoundness department

So I feel like I should have some sort of profound statements to blog with today. Something to accurately portray the joy I've experienced at finishing the latest Ilona Andrews and Nalini Singh.

Yeah. I feel like I should. But I don't.

Somehow any of the profundity that sometimes - just sometimes - I manage to grasp onto when I write aren't coming to me today. In fact, I was gonna do a whole post wrap-up for May as ususal but I've decided that instead I'm just going post it here. REBELLION!!!

Let's just hope I feel better about things on Monday.

The Beast in Him by Shelly Laurenston

The Mane Attraction by Shelly Laurenston (x2)

The Mane Squeeze by Shelly Laurenston

Here Kitty, Kitty by Shelly Laurenston

Mona Lisa Eclipsing by Sunny

The Creed Legacy by Linda Lael Miller

When You Dare by Lori Foster

The Search by Nora Roberts

Mine to Possess by Nalini Singh

Hostage to Pleasure by Nalini Singh

Corralled by Lorelei James

One Night, Two Heirs by Maureen Child

Dead Reckoning by Charlaine Harris

Midnight Crystal by Jayne Castle

Pack Challenge by Shelly Laurenston

Side Jobs by Jim Butcher

Magic Slays by Ilona Andrews

No More Mr. Nice Guy by Jennifer Greene

The Unbearable Lightness of Dragons by Katie MacAlister

Books Read/Reviewed:

20 (counting repeats)/5 

**sorry I would have linked more but there's something up with my blog search engine. Darnit Blogger!**