Jen's Review: Sex and the Single Vamp

Sex and the Single Vamp by Robin Covington
Publisher: Entangled: Covet (March 24, 2014)
Genre: Paranormal Romance

Cici Trent, vampire and media darling, spends her days finding true love for humans and supernaturals (the "Others") at her dating agency. But someone is trying to sabotage her business and she needs help. Unfortunately, the best man for the job is the one who broke her still-beating heart two hundred fifty-four years ago.


Deacon is a patient vampire. He’s only loved one woman in over three hundred years— CiCi— and she chose another. So when she shows up in his office asking for help, he finally has the chance to lay that demon to rest. He’ll help her, but for a price—a night in his bed.


Adrenaline, mischief, and a little late-night B&E light the passion that even a couple of lifetimes couldn’t put out. But Deacon has a secret and when Cici is suddenly mortal, his deception might be the only way restore her immortality. Can love bridge the gap between a heartbeat and forever?

Where to Buy*:

Kindle | NOOK | Kobo

More Info:

Author's Site
Add it on Goodreads!

Other Covington Reviews:

Daring the Player
His Convenient Husband (mini review on this podcast)
Playing the Part
Playing with the Drummer
Rush
Salvation
Sex and the Single Vamp (Pat's review)
Southern Nights and Secrets
Sweet Southern Betrayal
Temptation

Jen's Review:

[Review]: "Blood Guard"

Blood Guard by Megan Erickson
Publisher: Loveswept (September 12, 2017)
Series: Mission, 1
Genre: Paranormal Romance

Dual 1st POV

Enter a world of immortal danger and desire—and discover an incredible fate borne of blood.

Tendra: One minute, I’m a bartender in gritty Mission City; the next, I’m whisked away by a vampire named Athan who tells me that I’m the lifeblood of his clan. It sounds unbelievable, but he’s got evidence I can’t deny. Turns out, Athan belongs to an underground society of vampires who feed only on humans with their consent. Their enemies have no such qualms, and they want me dead. The only thing standing in their way is strong, sexy Athan. And the closer we get, the more tempted I am to let Athan feed. . . .

Athan: How could I have known when I snatched this snarky, beautiful human off the streets that she would change my destiny? As a loyal soldier, I must deliver Tendra to our future king—my brother. Empowered with the blood of ten generations of the Gregorie breed, she is fated to rule as our queen. But there’s something between us that’s so intoxicating, so carnal, I can’t help wanting Tendra for myself . . . even if it’s treason. 

Where to Buy*:

Kindle | NOOK | Kobo

More Info:

Author's Site
Add it on Goodreads! | Find the Series

Other Erickson Reviews:

Changing His Game
Chasing Destiny
Daring Fate
Fast Connection (with Santino Hassell)
Focus On Me
Leveling the Field
Out of Frame
Overexposed
Strong Signal (with Santino Hassell)
Tied to Trouble
Trust the Focus



My Review:

[NOR Review]: "Master of Darkness"

Master of Darkness by Angela Knight

Publisher: Berkley (August 7, 2012)

Series: The Mageverse, 9

Genre: Paranormal Romance

In the final book of New York Times bestselling author Angela Knight's Mageverse, two werewolves must save humanity from a madman, despite their mutual distrust--and growing passion...

Miranda Drake is the daughter of Warlock, a werewolf sorcerer and sworn enemy of King Arthur. Like her father, she's a werewolf with magical abilities, but after years of abuse from the Alphas in her family, she is determined to stop Warlock from spreading his poison throughout the werewolf population.

Born to a long line of cops, William Justice thinks that protecting Miranda is his chance to redeem himself for not being able to stop Warlock's manipulation of the werewolves into war. But despite Justice's insistence, Miranda has no interest in trusting another dominant Alpha, even if the sexual tension between them is enough to set her aflame.

As Warlock rallies his forces and sets out to destroy Avalon, Miranda and Justice will need to learn how to trust each other--before the spark between them dies along with all of Magekind...

 

  Where to Buy*:

Amazon | BN | NOOK

More Info:

Author's Site | Book Site | Excerpt

Add it on GoodReads! | The Mageverse Series

My Review:

Years ago, Angela Knight created the Mageverse series. Now, after 8 books, it all ends in Master of Darkness. Any fan of this series will be sad to see it end, but happy with the way it turned out. Knight has done it yet again, creating one hell of a sexy novel, one with a fantastic storyline, a magical world (or two) and great characters!

I loved everything about Master of Darkness! I've been a devoted fan since book one, and I look forward to rereading this entire series for years to come—a sure sign of an amazing author!

If you have yet to enter Knight's Mageverse world, you don't know what you are missing! This series is a must read—sexy, unique, any fantasy lover's dream! However, I must warn that this is a series that needs to be read in order; so if you decided to start these books—and you should!—start from the beginning and work your way up to Master of Darkness. You won't regret it!

When your father is Warlock, the evil sorcerer trying to destroy the entire Mageverse world, life is anything but easy. Miranda's been tortured by him her whole life, and at the age of four he even put a spell on here which limits her magic and makes her fear him (and any other Alpha Males). She's nothing like Warlock though, and she wants only to kill him before he finally destroys everything she loves—and then kills her.

Justice may be a Dire Wolf now, but he's still a cop at heart—protecting the innocent no matter what. Miranda has become his life, the one woman he wants to create a Spirit Link with, and he will stop at nothing to keep her safe. Can he save her, defeat Warlock, and come to terms with his new powers—before they kill him?

Master of Darkness may be the finale for this series, but I see a spinoff series starting (soon, I hope!). Angela Knight is a very talented author, and I look forward to her future books, regardless of the series they belong to!

~~~

Thanks to Night Owl Reviews, where I received this ARC for free in exchange for reviewing the book. (Free book does not equal biased review, however!) This review is the property of NOR.

~~~ 

 

I can't tell you enough how much I love this series--it's just so well done, so sexy, and so different from others out there. King Arthur legends, vampires and shapeshifters--yum! If you have not tried this series yet, what are you waiting for? Start with book one though--it's better when read in order!

Enjoy!




Until Next Time,



*TBQ's Book Palace is a member of both the Amazon and Barnes and Nobles affiliates program. By using the links provided to buy products from either website, I receive a very small percentage of the order. To read my full disclosure on the matter, please see this post!

[NOR + ARC Review]: "Black Dawn"

Black Dawn by Rachel Caine

Publisher: NAL Hardcover (May 1, 2012)

Series: The Morganville Vampires, 12

Genre: YA Fantasy/Vampires

With its eclectic mix of vampire and human citizens, Morganville, Texas, has always been a risky place to call home. But with the invasion of the vampire’s deadliest enemy, Morganville isn’t just in danger—it’s dying…

Ever since the draug—mysterious creatures that prey on vampires—took over Morganville, the lives of student Claire Danvers and her friends have been thrown into turmoil. Most of the town’s residents have evacuated, but Claire, Shane, Eve and Michael have chosen to stay and fight.Using the city’s water system to spread, the draug have rapidly multiplied. Things in Morganville look grim, especially since vampire Amelie—the town founder—has been infected by the master draug’s bite.

Now, if Claire and her friends don’t figure out how to cure Amelie and defeat the draug, it looks like Morganville will become little more than a ghost town…

 

Where to Buy*:

Amazon | Kindle | BN | NOOK

More Info:

Author's Site | Book Site

Other Books in this Series:
Titles link to BN.

Book 1: Glass Houses
Book 2: The Dead Girls' Dance
Book 3: Midnight Alley
Book 4: Feast of Fools
Book 5: Lord of Misrule
Book 6: Carpe Corpus
Book 7: Fade Out
Book 8: Kiss of Death
Book 9: Ghost Town (Read my review here)
Book 10: Bite Club
Book 11: Last Breath (Read my review here)

My Review:
Another installment in the bestselling YA series, Morganville Vampires, another twist in the ongoing story. Black Dawn continues the story that was started when Claire Danvers was only sixteen and a newbie to Morganville. Fast-forward a few years and not only is she no longer quiet as naive and quiet, but she may be the only one able to save the town—both humans and vampires alike—from the terrible nightmare that is the draug.

There is just so much happening in this book, new twists and turns, new problems that arise and new terrors that form. It's not something that can be described or summarized—you simply have to read it. And while a person could read this book, or any of the others, out of order, I would still highly recommend that you read this series from start to finish to get the full enjoyment out of it.

I remember when this series first started. Claire was a heroine that I could stand behind, she was smart and driven to succeed, she was quiet, but yet able to stand up when the situation called for it. But as the series went on, I think we lost some of her unique character traits. She's different, changed—and I'm not completely sure that's a good thing. I miss the old Claire, the one that first drew me to this series.

Ms. Caine knows how to draw a story out, to fill it with suspense and edge-of-your-seat thrills, while still throwing in a few good laughs here and there. It's one of the reasons why I enjoy her books. But I think the best part of Black Dawn was the relationship moments between Shane and Claire—and they were few and far between. I wish there had been more, because what was there was great. This book, like all the others, was filled with action. But it didn't quiet hold my full attention—maybe I'm just waiting for Claire and her friends to get their HEA, and it seems like instead a new problem is always getting thrown in their path. I'll be honest—their life really sucks right now!

4 STARS! If you are a fan of this series, like I am, then you'll love Black Dawn. If you have yet to read this series, I would suggest starting with book one, rather than just jumping right in. Caine does it again, giving her readers another Morganville Vampire book filled with trouble and thrills, suspense and action, not to mention a bit of romance and laughter thrown in, too. It's not my favorite book in the series, but it's still a really good choice for a day of reading. I can only hope that we get the finale for this series soon; I think the characters deserve their happily ever after—or at least a break from all the problems that come with living in Morganville, Texas. :)

~~~

Thanks to Night Owl Reviews, where I received this ARC for free in exchange for reviewing the book. (Free book does not equal biased review, however!) This review is the property of NOR.

~~~ 

Enjoy!



Until Next Time,

*TBQ's Book Palace is a member of both the Amazon and Barnes and Nobles affiliates program. By using the links provided to buy products from either website, I receive a very small percentage of the order. To read my full disclosure on the matter, please see this post!

[Blog Tour Review]: "The Half-Breed Vampire"

The Half-Breed Vampire by Theresa Meyers
Publisher: Harlequin (February 21, 2012)
Series: Sons of Midnight, 3
Genre: Paranormal Romance

Summary (Amazon.com):
Ignorant of his true heritage, half-breed Slade Donovan is fated to feel like an outsider among his clan. Until a mysterious woman arrives with the ability to unlock his secrets—and make him crave a future he never believed he could have….

As a game warden, Raina Ravenwing has only one mission in the Cascade Mountains: to hunt down a pack of rare wolves that is terrorizing her tribe. Her instant attraction to Slade is a distraction the beautiful wolf whisperer can't afford, unless she agrees to let him help her. Yet working so closely together only intensifies their passion…even as the unfolding truth of Slade's identity threatens everything Raina holds sacred.

Where to Buy*:

Amazon | Kindle | BN.com | NOOK

More Info:

Author's Site | Excerpt

Where to Find Theresa:

 Website | Blog | Twitter | Facebook 

Other Books in the Series:

Click on the covers to buy from BN.com; the title links to the book's excerpt on the author's website.

Book 1: The Truth About Vampires

Book 2: The Vampire Who Loved Me

My Review:

Vampires have recently came out of the closet (er, grave), and so far have a pretty decent relationship with the mortals. But the mortals don't know that there are other things that go bump in the night. So when problems arise with the local Weres, the clan must try to take care of things—without the humans finding out.

One of their own, a fairly new vampire, Slade Donovan, is put on the case. But he's not doing so alone, oh no. He'll be working with a local Game Warden, Raina Ravenwing, a normal human (or so they think). When the skeletons in his closet come out, no one's more surprised then Slade—and he might just have more in common with those mangy fur-balls than he ever dreamed of...

The Half-Breed Vampire was a quick read, and one that managed to capture most of my attention. However, while the storyline by itself would have been interesting, the way it was told left me a bit disappointed and wanting more.

The story seemed too rushed, with about a dozen twists and secrets thrown in within only a handful of pages. It was simply too much for me to take in—just when I'd start to come to terms with one sudden plot twist, another one was thrown in my face .And all these twists lead to a story that seemed bogged down by them rather than a fast-paced adventure, like it could have been.

Raina and Slade were not the deepest of characters. They could have used more development, more substance. And the chemistry between them seemed more like a joke. I just couldn't see it, though I dearly wanted to. Slade's declaration of love (if you can call it that) came out of the blue and had nothing to back it up. I was simply left wanting after reading their supposed love story.

I think one of the things that annoyed me the most was the fact that Slade kept information from Raina. At the beginning of the book, he comes across her while fighting some Weres (he doesn't know who she is yet) and does something he knows she won't like. So he uses his vampire abilities to erase her memory of the night. But even after everything they went through together, he never tells her what he did. It's as if he simply forgot the incidence (or the author did). But I didn't. The last page came and went and I was still waiting for him to explain how they actually first met! But it never came. And that bugged me, as I know if I was Raina, I would kill him for not telling me, especially after we're supposed to be in love.

3 STARS! An okay read, but nothing spectacular in my opinion. The story simply had too many ideas thrown in, and none of them were fully developed. Everything—from the story to the vampires abilities and ways—seemed like one big magic trick: glitzy and well-practiced...and entirely too fake for my tastes. While it had potential, by the end I was simply looking forward to moving on to a new book. The Half-Breed Vampire is full of paranormal twists (and even a goddess thrown in for fun) but for me it ended up being only “average”. Maybe one day I'll go back and read the rest of this series, but only when I have some spare time and nothing pressing to read.

~*~*~
I received a PDF of this book from Bewitching Blog Tours, as part of their virtual blog tour for Theresa Meyers.
~*~*~

Follow the Rest of the Tour!

Enjoy!





Until Next Time,

*TBQ's Book Palace is a member of both the Amazon and Barnes and Nobles affiliates program. By using the links provided to buy products from either website, I receive a very small percentage of the order. To read my full disclosure on the matter, please see this post!

[NOR Review]: "Lost in Time"

Lost in Time by Melissa de la Cruz
Publisher: Hyperion Book CH (September 27, 2011)
Series: The Blue Bloods, 6
Genre: Teen Fantasy/Paranormal
Summary (Amazon.com):
The stakes have never been higher for the young Blue Bloods of Manhattan. After their brief yet beautiful bonding ceremony in Italy, Schuyler Van Alen and Jack Force depart for Egypt, desperate to find the elusive Gate of Promise before Jack must face his twin, Mimi, for a blood trial. A blood trial that only one of them can survive. But everything Schuyler thought she knew about the gate turns out to be a lie, and they soon find themselves ensnared in a deadly battle against the demon-born. Schuyler and Jack take up arms, only to realize that there is a much graver threat simmering in the Kingdom of the Dead.



Meanwhile, determined to save the only vampire she still loves, Mimi has followed Kingsley Martin into Hell. With the help of her new human Conduit, Oliver Hazard-Perry, Mimi makes a bargain with the Queen of the Dead that she may soon regret. When the time comes to choose between love and revenge, both Mimi and Oliver will learn the true meaning of sacrifice.


Confronted by danger, betrayal, and loss at every turn, the Blue Bloods must find the will to fight—and love—another day.

Where to Buy*: Amazon | Kindle | BN.com | NOOK
More Info: Author's Site | Book Site

Other Books in the Series:

Click on the covers to buy from BN.com; the title links to the book's page on the author's site  Amazon (Author's site is not working right now).

Book 1: Blue Bloods

Book 2: Masquerade









Book 3: Revelations

Book 4: Van Alen Legacy



Book 5: Misguided Angel



My Review:

Schuyler and Jack are fighting, not only for their lives but for their love, the chance to be together forever. But one thing stands in their way—Jack's (Abbadon) bond with Mimi (Azrael). As long as their immortal bond still holds, they cannot be with anyone else. But the bond is not something that can be easily broken, and in trying to do so, they may just end up risking their own lives for nothing...

As any fan of this series knows, Melissa de la Cruz does not write a simple story. Oh no. Just when you believe that you may have things figured out, a new twist is thrown in, a new secret is learned, and you are back to fumbling in the dark with the characters, only seeing part of the overall scene, waiting for the lights to be turned on. In Lost in Time, Melissa does this yet again. But while the story may be complex and ever-changing, the basic premises still hold: finding out the full truth about the Blue Bloods' world, how Schuyler, a half-breed that should never have existed, fits into all of this, and whether or not Jack and Schuyler will ever get their chance to be together. While it would be nice if I could look you in the eye and tell you that all of that has been figured out within the pages of Lost in Time—I'd be lying. Melissa leaves us on yet another cliff hanger, waiting anxiously for the next, and final, installment in this captivating series!

There is simply too much going on in Lost in Time to even begin to explain it in a review—besides the fact that the explanations would be nothing more than a big spoiler for future readers. Because of this, I won't even try. Even after reading all of the books in this series (not including the final book, due to be released in another year), there were many times that I felt a bit lost while reading this one. I kept wondering if I had missed something—even going back to check that I did indeed have the previous books in this series—because one moment the story would be going along, and suddenly a new character would be mentioned, or a new task or secret that had been told, and I had no memory of ever reading about it. It seems like a lot of things were left out of the book, things that apparently happened right before Lost in Time started, or things that happen in between the chapters.

Speaking of chapters: rather than being told from one character's POV, this novel switches from three different stories (rotating chapters). One chapter will tell of Schuyler and Jack's struggles and adventures, the next would tell of Mimi's, and then it would switch to Allegra's (Gabrielle) memories from before Schuyler was even born. Each chapter would take place in a completely different time; there was no time line to follow while reading them. One moment, it would be only two weeks since Event A happened, next chapter it is suddenly two months—and we haven't heard about anything that happened in between! Perhaps dates at the beginning of each chapter would have helped...or else a different approach to the writing of the three separate stories. Either way, while it wasn't a complete mess by any means, it did make it a rougher ride than it needed to be.

I, personally, couldn't see the reason for Allegra's chapters, as none of them really told us anything pertinent to this story. Yes, we see the problems that she had with Charles (Michael), as well as her love with her human familiar (who will become Schuyler's father), but nothing else is told, though she is constantly begging for Charles to tell her the truth about secrets he has been hiding from her over the years. Allegra's chapter was the last one in this book, and we still had not learned anything—even though this chapter was set in the present, rather than memories from 20 years ago. We're left still wondering what big secret Michael, the Uncorrupted and Pure, is hiding from everyone—including his own bondmate, his other half. With the way he's been dragging it out, refusing to tell her all these years, I wonder if we will ever find out before the end of the series...

4 STARS! Lost in Time is another wonderful installment in a truly fabulous series! If you haven't already been bitten by the Blue Blood's bug, now is the time to start the series, as you will have time to read books one through six before the final book comes out in 2013. The series may be written for a YA audience, but believe me when I say that this is also a great pick for those of us who graduated from high school years ago! The storyline is very unique, as Melissa's idea of vampires are not what we've grown up with, and the plot is constantly changing, thickening, as we journey towards the end. I can't even begin to image what the final book will hold, but I know that it will be just as captivating and fast-paced as the rest of the series. If you are looking for a great paranormal romance, one that is filled with adventures and myths, love and second chances, fate and personal choices, Lost in Time is the novel for you!

~~~
Thanks to Night Owl Reviews, where I received this book for free in exchange for reviewing the book. (Free book does not equal biased review, however!) This review is the property of NOR.
~~~ 



Enjoy!






Until Next Time,

*TBQ's Book Palace is a member of both the Amazon and Barnes and Nobles affiliates program. By using the links provided to buy products from either website, I receive a very small percentage of the order. To read my full disclosure on the matter, please see this post!

[Review]: "Night Light"

Title: Night Light
Author: Amy Blankenship
Series: The Blood Bound Series, 2
Publisher: CreateSpace
Publication Date: September 2010
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Summary (Amazon.com):
Quinn Wilder has watched her with the hungry eyes of a cougar since the day she was born. When she became a teenager, the temptation to claim her as his mate quickly became a rift between him and her overprotective brothers. When their fathers killed each other in battle, the ties between the two families were severed and she was taken safely out of his reach. Stalking her from a distance, Quinn finds the vampire war has its good points when she forgets to stay away. Kat Santos hadn't seen the owner of Night Light for years. That is until Quinn suddenly decides to kidnap her and accuse her of setting him up for the vampire murders. Realizing the enemy is playing them, the two families combine their strength to stop the vampires from terrorizing their city. As the underground war escalates, so do the flames of desire as what started out as a kidnapping quickly turns into a dangerous game of seduction.






Places to buy Night Light at:

*Amazon.com (print)

*Amazon.com (Kindle)

*B and N.com (print)

My Review:

Night Light picks up (more or less) where book one, Moon Dance left off, as is the way the series is to be enjoyed. With so much going on, it'll be easy to get lost, but not if you follow carefully and be sure to keep in mind that many things were either explained in book one or will be explained in future books. From page one you are thrown right back into the story; be sure to fasten your seat belts because this is going to be one bumpy ride!




This novel basically covers Kat and Quinn's story, but in Blankenship's typical writing style, all the books are meant to be one big one, with the various characters showing up again and again, each time letting us find out a bit more about them. The focus of the story is not so much the romance of any one couple, or the romance in general really, but rather the paranormal world they are living in, the creatures they are fighting, and the romance plays the second string, there for a few pages and then gone again until it is needed again.



We find out in Night Light that Kat and Quinn are mates...and have been, technically, for over 10 years, though Quinn has been oblivious to the fact. One night, back when Kat was still 16, she made her first (and particularly strong) batch of Heat, the special liquor blend the shifters enjoy. Quinn came by and they started to drink. After most of the bottle, both of them were a bit tipsy, Quinn more so than Kat, and after he mated with her that night, he woke up the next morning with no memory of it and has stayed as far away from her as possible ever since.



Left with the mating mark and a missing mate, Kat has been holding it in ever since... but when she once again finds that same bottle of Heat n the pantry, she decides it's time to numb the pain. And, of course, who should come over right then but Quinn himself. This time it's Kat that has the liquor addled brain, but not enough to make her forget what happened 10 years ago... and tired of Quinn playing macho man and demanding to know who mated with her, she finally tells him the truth. Neither one of them gets much sleep that night; after all, they have ten years to make up for!



Meanwhile, the rest of the (many) characters are busy trying to fight the evil they feel in the city. And it's going to take every last one of them if they want to make it out alive. The demon that is trapped below the city, slowly gaining enough power to get herself out, won't be as easy to kill as the vampires they've been up against lately, but when you have shifters, demi-gods, fallen angels, and other paranormal people/creatures on your side, anything is possible. And so the fight begins...


4 STARS! Another wonderful story in this very intricate paranormal series! A word of advice, however: this is the type of series that is best enjoyed when read in order, and even better if it is read back-to-back with no delay between all the books. I made the mistake of allowing a few weeks, and many other books, to come between book one and two, and at times I had to stop and backtrack to make sure I was following the correct characters and storyline. If you wish to dive into a paranormal world, one with a very hot romance on the side, then I would highly recommend Blankenship's Blood Bound Series!

~*~*~

I received this e-book from the author in exchange for the review. My opinion on the book has nothing to do with receiving the book for free. Thanks again, Amy!

~*~*~

Until Next Time,

Enjoy!

*TBQ's Book Palace is a member of both the Amazon and Barnes and Nobles affiliates program. By using the links provided to buy products from either website, I receive a very small percentage of the order. To read my full disclosure on the matter, please see this post!

[NOR and ARC Review]: "Last Breath"

Title: Last Breath
Author: Rachel Caine
Series: Morganville Vampires, Book 11
Publisher: NAL Hardcover
Publication Date: November 1, 2011
Genre: YA Fantasy/Romance
Summary (Amazon.com):
With her boss preoccupied researching the Founder Houses in Morganville, student Claire Danvers is left to her own devices when she learns that three vampires have vanished without a trace. She soon discovers that the last person seen with one of the missing vampires is someone new to town-a mysterious individual named Magnus. After an uneasy encounter with Morganville's latest resident, Claire is certain Magnus isn't merely human. But is he a vampire-or something else entirely?




Other places to pre-order Last Breath at:

*Amazon.com (print)

*Amazon.com (Kindle)

B and N (print)

B and N (NOOK)

My Review:

This is book 10 in the bestselling Morganville Vampires series. The excellent storytelling by Rachel Caine hasn't dwindled one bit. Last Breath is just as thrilling and witty as book one, and twice as captivating!




There's never a sane (or dull) day in Morganville, Texas—that's something you learn quickly once you become a citizen. But when suddenly the vampires in the small town are concerned, even frightened, by a sudden message from a neighboring vamp community, one thing is clear: trouble is coming, and it is worse than anything Morganville has seen before. And frankly, that's saying something!



In between the chaos provoked by the message, another problem is brewing, this time between the two factions of the town. Eve and Michael have plans for their future, and it begins with the sound of wedding bells. But if the citizens, from either side, have their way, it will end in blood instead. Despite the sides, they both have the same core belief: Vampires and humans should not mingle, beyond one providing a meal for the other. Even Amelie, the town Founder and ruler has taken this side, for “the sake of the town”. Needless to say, neither Eve nor Michael will accept this answer, and so the fight begins!



Suddenly a newcomer is seen in town—or, rather not seen, as only Claire can seem to see the man as he wanders the town, always disappearing before she can catch him. Not long after she first sees him, vampires suddenly begin to go missing. And so begins the downfall of Morganville. For it not even the vampires are safe from this danger, then how will the mere humans survive?



Perhaps the most unexpected, and most emotional, twist comes out in between these two problems. To avoid ruining the novel for everyone, I won't explain this particular twist. However, I will say that Caine did a truly wonderful job at writing it; as I read it, my stomach was in knots, my eyes seemed to be constantly blinking back tears, and I could only hope, like the characters in the book, that everything would turn out differently, that it would be okay once again. Not many books have affected me to this degree before. It is mostly due to this section of the book that I gave Last Breath a perfect rating—if the characters are so well written and cared about that I would react this way while reading their struggles, then you know that the book has been written correctly, woven together by a true master!



5 STARS! Rachel Caine has done it yet again, bringing the world of Morganville to life in vivid clarity. The characters are enjoyable and intriguing, for as the books go on we seem to get a deeper look at all of them. Their struggles, relationships, and even everyday joking make the novels come to life in the reader's hands. Last Breath is easily the best book in the series (to date) and has all the right elements for a great read: romance, mystery, action, thrills, and humor! A must read, whether you've read the rest of the series or not. I anxiously await book twelve, as the ending for this one was a whopper of a cliff hanger—not that I'd expect anything less from Caine. After the interesting, and high-paced, roller coaster ride that was Last Breath, I can only image what she has in store for us next. Whatever it is, I'll be ready and waiting for it!





~~~
Thanks to Night Owl Reviews, where I received this ARC for free in exchange for reviewing the book. (Free book does not equal biased review, however!) This review is the property of NOR.
~~~ 

Enjoy!




 

Until Next Time,


*TBQ's Book Palace is a member of both the Amazon and Barnes and Nobles affiliates program. By using the links provided to buy products from either website, I receive a very small percentage of the order. To read my full disclosure on the matter, please see this post!

[Review]: "Moon Dance"

Title: Moon Dance
Author: Amy Blankenship
Series: The Blood Bound Series, 1
Publisher: CreateSpace
Publication Date: July 5th, 2010
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Summary (Amazon.com):
Envy's life was great. Great brother, great boyfriend, and the best job a girl could ask for... tending bar at the most popular clubs in the city. At least it was great until she got a call from one of her best friends about her boyfriend doing the vertical limbo on the dance floor at Moon Dance. Her decision to confront him begins a chain of events that will introduce her to a dangerous paranormal world hidden beneath the everyday humdrum. A world where people can transform into jaguars, real life vampires roam the streets, and fallen angels walk among us. Devon is a werejaguar, a little rough around the edges and one of the joint owners of Moon Dance. His world is tilted on its axis when he spies an alluring vixen with red hair dancing in his club, armed with a cynical heart and a taser. With a vampire war raging around them, Devon vows to make this woman his... and will fight like hell to have her.




Other places to buy Moon Dance at:

*Amazon.com (print)

*Amazon.com (Kindle)

B and N.com (print)

B and N.com (NOOK)

My Review:

In a world where many things go bump in the night, sometimes it's hard to tell who is on the good side, and who is pure evil....Enter Amy Blankenship's paranormal world, where vampires are not just fictional characters in cheap horror movies and shifters roam the land. Moon Dance, the first novel in her Blood Bound series, gives us a brief taste of the paranormal, while showing a promise for many future thrills and horrors to be found. Within the pages of this book lies a very complex storyline; at times, you must read carefully to be sure that you do not get confused with the various characters and their intentions.



Many of the problems that arise in this book are due to an event that happened over 30 years before the beginning of the story. There are two shifter clans in the area—the cougars and the jaguars. For many years, they lived in peace and friendship as the leaders of both were best friends. Or so it seemed... But when the mate of the jaguar leader is found murdered, Kane, a vampire and trusted friend of both of these men, is framed for her death, as he is lying on top of her body. Furious, Malachi seeks revenge and with the help of Nathaniel binds Kane to the earth, burying him alive and locking his powers away. Only the blood of his soul mate can release him, and Kane, though having lived for centuries, has never found her.


Nearly twenty years after this, Malachi finds out the truth—that his mate was not killed by Kane, but rather by his friend, and the leader of the cougars, Nathaniel, who then framed it on Kane. They head into the woods, to the very spot where Kane is still locked deep in the earth, to settle this once and for all. In the shifter's world, that means a fight to the death. During their fight, a young girl who was camping in the area stumbles upon them after running after her puppy. In the rumble, Tabatha is injured. Her blood seeps into the soil...and begins to awaken Kane. His soul mate has finally come! Unfortunately, it is days before Kane is strong enough to dig himself out of the grave, and by then Malachi and Nathaniel have since killed one another and the girl long gone.


Upset by the loss of his mate, Kane seeks revenge on both of the shifter groups, as he does not know that he was framed all those years ago, instead thinking that he was simply betrayed by both for no reason. Sending his newly made vampires out to do the work, a string of hideous murders soon follow as he attempts to frame the shifters for them.


While Kane wrecks havoc on the city, specifically the two shifters' nightclubs, Envy, our heroine for this story, walks into the jaguar's nightclub with the intention of seeking her own revenge on an ex-boyfriend who is enjoying a night on the town (or so it seems). She never expected that she would end up spotting a sexy, very dominant man, while there... nor did she dream that she would have a one-night stand with him! Devon, one of the sons of Malachi and part owner of the nightclub, is attracted to Envy from the start...but it isn't until he takes her that night that he realizes what he has done: claimed his mate. Clueless to the paranormal world that she's stepped into, Envy leaves during the night, not knowing that this was not a one-night stand like she thinks, but rather the beginning of a very permanent relationship.


In between Envy and Devon's intense mating, the overall storyline continues. Can the shifters put aside their argument with each other to find the killer and stop him before they are all revealed to the human world? Will Kane realize his error as well before it is too late to repair the damage and he loses the chance to find his missing mate, possibly for good this time? Only by reading Moon Dance will you find out the answers!

There were a few tiny flaws, at least for my personal tastes, but nothing drastic enough to make me unhappy with the book. The main thing that lead to Moon Dance receiving this rating rather than a higher one was the lack of relationship building. The sex was great, and while I very much enjoy my romances to be red-hot like this one was, I also need to know that the hero and heroine base their relationship on more than just fantastic sex and burning desire. In this case, Envy seemed to just accept that Devon was now her mate at the end of the book, even though they had not talked about what he was (she simply found out when he changed during a fight against the vampires). Devon, being the dominant male that he is, simply sees her as his mate; there is no other reasoning (at least not any that were brought forth during the story) for his need to claim her forever. I guess I'm too much of the romantic at heart—I need the build up and declaration of love from both characters, not just hot sex and a mating mark meant to bind them forever (although both are encouraged!)
 

4 STARS! A promising start to a paranormal romance series, Moon Dance managed to capture my interest and hold it until the very last page. Blankenship can tell a great story, not to mention add a new twist to many of the creatures we've read about dozens of times. The sex, though only taking up one or two scenes, is very intense and primal desires run rampant. Overall, Moon Dance was a very enjoyable and quick read, one that I would recommend to paranormal fans everywhere! I look forward to reading the remaining books in this series, as the other characters introduced to us captured my interest.
 
 

 

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I received this e-book from the author in exchange for the review. My opinion on the book has nothing to do with receiving the book for free. Thanks again, Amy!

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Enjoy!

Until Next Time,

*TBQ's Book Palace is a member of both the Amazon and Barnes and Nobles affiliates program. By using the links provided to buy products from either website, I receive a very small percentage of the order. To read my full disclosure on the matter, please see this post!

[NOR Review]: "Full Blood"

Title: Full Blood

Author: Liberty Stafford
Publisher/Publication Date: eXtasy eBooks (part of Devine Destinies pub)/ November 15th, 2009
Available in: E-Book 
Summary:
Bad dreams are plaguing them all and its not just the dhampir who cannot sleep. Catching them unawares, the Otovic's past returns to haunt them. Vladimir, the vampire father who Daniel has never met, wants him back to join the family. Wants a brother for his full blood brother, Marko, the baby his mother gave to gypsies and never spoke about again. Money and power surround Vladimir and Marko. Friends are soon purchased including the headmaster of Thomas High where Marko joins the upper school to charm his brother Daniel into a deadly circle of trust. Marko fits in and seems to be the perfect student. Intelligent, hard working, generous. Everyone is unaware of the deadly secret he is hiding, that he would rather drain them all of their blood than spend another minute polluted by their company.Helena falls for his supernatural charms and spends a fortune on a designer dress to impress him at his party. However, Marko has infected his brother and he begins to change. His moods blacken. His temper soars. His patience shatters.Little does Daniel know that he will soon need Katarina's help to save his soul as she struggles with his estranged family for power over his soul.




My Review:

Although a slight improvement from Liberty Stafford's previous novel, Half Blood, the sequel Full Blood is still lacking---for me at least. The promise is there, but it just never seemed to come through all the way.

The beginning of the novel peaked my interest a bit, what with the sudden twist in the story and addition of characters. Sadly, this interest didn't last too long before the writing style and characters turned my slight interest into daydreaming instead of paying attention to the words on the page. Never a good thing, when reading a book-- the book should have your entire concentration, without much effort on your part (if any!). But with both novels in this YA series, I've found my mind wondering to other things...

The characters, while they had their moments, mostly felt too shallow for me-- not their personality so much as their lack of development. After two books, I still have no real image of any of the main characters in my mind, and honestly, at times I didn't care what happened to them next. There was nothing about them that made me want to continue the story, nothing to connect me to them. Even the conversations seemed a bit forced, artificial at times.

Although, for the most part, the writing was pretty well executed, I still had my problems with this element as well. Personally, I prefer when an author shows the reader what's going on, with good, captivating descriptions, instead of simply telling us, in forward, blatant words. For me, Stafford seemed to do more of the second option, and because of this not only was I lost during a few scenes, but the writing was dry, not lush and full of flowing descriptions.

I'm not saying that this book didn't have its moments, it did, but they were few and far between, though the ending picked up considerably. I guess I'm use to a slightly different kind of YA vampire novel, more of a (true) romantic story instead of the darker, yet lighter as far as story/character complexity, story that Stafford has provided. I'm not saying her work is bad, but I'm being honest-- it's not really my kind of book.

3 Stars! Perhaps this book will be a hit for others, but for me I was only left with disappointment, in the storyline and characters. There wasn't a lot that stood out for me, as far as originality goes, and what had the potential to be original, never quite made it. A quick, light read, but not one I would pick up again. Perhaps future books by this author will catch my interest, but for now, I'm setting her aside.

 Cover Note:  I'll be honest-- I'm not feeling this cover. At all. A bit freaky-- no offense to the author/publisher/cover artist that may be reading this. For me, it just doesn't grab my attention at all.

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Thanks to Night Owl Romance, where I received this e-book for free in exchange for reviewing the book. (Free book does not equal biased review, however!) This review is the property of NOR.
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 Enjoy!



Until Next Time,

[Review]: "Half Blood"

Title: Half Blood

Author: Liberty Stafford

Publisher/Publication Date: eXtasy eBooks (part of Devine Destinies pub)/ Nov. 2009

Available in: E-Book

Summary:

Ever felt like you don't fit in? Try being only half human. Daniel Otovic is a loner. A misfit. Discovering his father is a vampire doesn't increase his popularity at school. Dhampirs don't fit in anywhere. His cousin, Niko, is a jock. Nobody realises he is a dhampir, too. Except Niko feeds on humans. During detention, Daniels discovers the school talent show is imminent. Captivated by the enchanting singing of Katarina, he is persuaded to take part. His mind is not really on task. He has fallen in love and it's not a good time, having just discovered his paranormal heritage. He has new skills. He can fly. He can run like the wind. He can shape shift. Premonitions haunt him. Most of them are about Katarina and she is in danger. Growing up on the Bosnian border, Daniel could do nothing without Niko. In England, it is no different. Only Niko is hungry and Katarina seems like a tasty meal for him and his newly fashioned jock vampire friends. Can Daniel handle being a dhampir when for years he considered himself a normal guy? He has to handle it. Katarina's life depends upon it.

My Review:

Vampire novels flood the bookshelves, with new ones coming out almost weekly. So what does Half Blood have to offer that the others out there don't have? For one, the main character, and dhampir, is a guy. Honestly, other than that, the novel has very little unique features.

It's your average “good versus evil” vampire story, with a “coming of age and all the hardships it brings” subplot. Not a horrible book, just not anything new. On top of that, the writing was about average as well, and the characters were a bit dry.

Although it's suppose to be a teen paranormal romance, the whole book seemed more like a Dark Gothic, though admittedly aimed more towards the younger readers than anyone else. I guess I was expecting more from the characters, and the story in general, then what I got in the end.

Don't think that I hated the book-- I didn't. I simply didn't love it either. A quick, short read, but one that's a bit forgettable in the end.

3 Stars! Although having Daniel as the main character provided a bit of a change for this genre, it wasn't enough to raise the book above all the other vampire books out there. It wasn't a waste of time, by any means, but unfortunately it wasn't a vampire book I'd recommend readily to everyone. I'm hoping that the sequel, Full Blood will bring more to the table than Half Blood did.

Cover Note: I'll be honest-- I'm not feeling this cover. At all. A bit freaky-- no offense to the author/publisher/cover artist that may be reading this. For me, it just doesn't grab my attention at all.

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Thanks to the publisher (via NOR) for the free e-book copy of Half Blood in exchange for the review.
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Enjoy!




Until Next Time,

[Review]: "The Historian"

Title: The Historian

Author: Elizabeth Kostova

Publisher: Little, Brown & Company

Publication Date: October 2006

Genre: Fiction, Vampires

Summary (B&N):

In this riveting debut of breathtaking scope, a young girl discovers her father's darkest secret and embarks on a harrowing journey across Europe to complete the quest he never could -- to find history's most legendary fiend -- Dracula.

When a motherless American girl living in Europe finds a medieval book and a package of letters, all addressed ominously to "My dear and unfortunate successor..." she begins to unravel a thread that leads back to her father's past, his mentor's career, and an evil hidden in the depths of history. In those few quiet moments, she unwittingly assumes a quest she will discover is her birthright -- a hunt that nearly brought her father to ruin and may have claimed the life of his adviser and dear friend, history professor Bartholomew Rossi. What does the legend of Vlad the Impaler, the historical Dracula, have to do with the 20th century? Is it possible that Dracula has lived on in the modern world? And why have a select few historians risked reputation, sanity, and even their lives to learn the answer?

So begins an epic journey to unlock the secrets of the strange medieval book, an adventure that will carry our heroine across Europe and into the past -- not only to the times of Vlad's heinous reign, but to the days when her mother was alive and her father was still a vibrant young scholar. In the end, she uncovers the startling fate of Rossi, and comes face to face with the definition of evil -- to find, ultimately, that good may not always triumph.

Other Places to Order The Historian at:

Amazon.com**

B&N.com

Borders.com

My Review:

Although it was a bit slow to start out, and at times I almost (though not quite) got lost in the flow of the story, The Historian is a truly thrilling ride, and one I would highly suggest to anyone looking for something new to read!

Despite the fact that this book is about vampires, I can honestly say it's not like any of the other books out there on this subject. Different, unique, and one-of-a-kind are great words to describe this novel. You'll find no romanticized vampires in this novel!

I enjoyed how Elizabeth Kostova managed to tell this captivating story, weaving together not only the story from Paul and Helen's point of view (through letters and some of it though story telling on Paul's part), but also from the point of view of Paul's daughter. While switching from the two POV's may, at first, seem a bit confusing, Kostova did a magnificent job at it, and I can honestly say that there was only one or two spots where I was momentarily confused.

Since the novel was told in such a unique way, and done well, I really felt the connection to not only the story but the characters as well. They were not just words on a page, but honestly seemed like they were real. This was partly due to the lush details provided and partly due to the talent of the author. Not every author can pull this off, but fortunately Kostova did because, to be quiet honest, if she had not managed this, this story would have been drastically different, and a great deal harder to get through without losing interest.

4 STARS! A seamless twist of history and myth, The Historian is a great read for anyone that enjoys a good mystery. Mystery, suspense, a bit of historical accuracy, and even a dash of romance--- really, who wouldn't be interested in reading it? And don't let the vampire plot turn you away, I promise, it's nothing like any vampire story you've read before!

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Thanks to Book Soulmates, from whom I won this from in a contest back in October.

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Sorry that I've been slacking on my posts this month-- I promise, I'll be back full time next month! :)

Enjoy!

Until Next Time,

**As an Amazon Associate, if you happen to buy this book from my link, I get a very small percentage of the order. Any money I may get this way will go into a fund to help buy books/shipping to host more contests here on my blog next year. If you are already planning on buying said book from Amazon, please consider simply using my link to check out. Thank you!