2012 Series Review: The Belador Series

In order to catch up with my reviews and blog posts, I'm going to review series that I either began to read in 2012, or caught up on by reading the latest book to be published after having followed it since the beginning.  I'll note all of those posts as "2012 Series Review"  with the title of the series.

The Curse 
 Belador Series #3 
Sherrilyn Kenyon 
Dianna Love 
Print Length: 417 pages 
Publisher: Pocket Books 
Released: September 18, 2012 
Available in Print and Digital 

SERIES SUMMARY: A league of international warriors with extraordinary abilities rise up to save mankind from supernatural terrorists. Three warriors bound by a Code of Honor face a world of trouble… Evalle Kincaid – An Alterant (part Belador and part unknown species) – A half breed, she works twice as hard as the pure blood Beladors. The Beladors are studying her as her powers progress and develop, because those powers can turn against her and humanity. 

I started reading this series in 2010 when I was sent a copy of Blood Trinity by the publisher . I've read each one, the latest being The Curse, which was released in September of 2012.  This series is paranormal romance mixed with urban fantasy, but I also feel it has a bit of epic fantasy to it as well.  Evalle Kincaid, the heroine, is the focus of the series.  There are two romantic interests, one human and one supernatural. After reading the second book these were my feelings about Evalle and Storm:

 The relationship between Evalle and Storm, a supernatural tracker with a secret Evalle keeps even from her friends, figures in the story prominently. He's a sexy alpha male with feelings that cause him to be uber protective of Evalle. The sexual tension is off the charts between the two of them but sex is not going to happen any time soon, which might put off some readers but I appreciated it. Evalle suffered sexual abuse in the past and it would have been insensitive and unrealistic to have her jump in the sack immediately with Storm, especially since he can tell she's been abused. 

The relationships in the series and the progress of the plot remind me of the Kate Daniel's series by Ilona Andrews in that more is revealed about Evalle, her past and her powers in each book. The romance is not the focus of the series, but it's an important element.  The books are a perfect mix of urban fantasy and paranormal romance with fast paced action and great characters in a gritty, complex world of magic.

The Belador Series 
1. Blood Trinity (2010)
2. Alterant (2011)
3. The Curse (2012)

Firebound is a free Belador short story that can be downloaded from Ms. Love's website.

The series officially began with the story Midnight Kiss Goodbye, which is part of Dead After Dark anthology, which features Trey and Sasha, but not Evalle. The couple does appear in the series, however.

I'm really looking forward to the next story in the series, coming out this summer:

4. RISE OF THE GRYPHON (July 2013)
Evalle’s best friends Tzader and Quinn face unthinkable choices, as relationships with the women they love grow twisted. Evalle’s relationship with the Skinwalker Storm takes a major step and becomes complicated when the witchdoctor he’s been hunting begins to stalk her. With death breathing down her neck, Evalle is forced to embrace her destiny . . . but at what price?

 Find out more at Dianna Love's website: http://www.authordiannalove.com

~Brenda

Fathom: A Captivating YA Tale

Fathom
Author: Merrie Destefano
Print Length: 310 pages
Publisher: Merrie Destefano
Released: September 24, 2012
Sold by: Amazon Digital Services, Inc.

SUMMARY: Turning sixteen can be hell, especially if everyone in town thinks your mother killed herself and your sister. All Kira Callahan wants to do is swim, hang out with her best friend, Sean, and ignore the kids who torment her at school. That is, until one day when she gets invited to a party. For three minutes her life is wonderful—she even kisses Sean in the driveway. Then somebody spikes her drink at the party and some girls from out of town lure her into the ocean and hold her underwater. Kira soon discovers that the group of wild teenagers who have come to visit Crescent Moon Bay are not as innocent as they seem. In fact, nothing is as it seems—not the mysterious deaths of her sister and mother, not her heritage, not even her best friend. And everything seems to hinge on the ancient Celtic legends that her mother used to tell her as a child.

It's no secret that I love Merrie Destefano's books and stories.  Her writing has a beautiful flow to it, bringing the reader inside the story to experience it with the characters.  Fathom is the first Young Adult story I've read by Merrie, and my summer was so chaotic I had fell behind in book news, and didn't know much at all about her new novel.  I dived into the unknown and was captivated by the end of the first chapter, wanting to know what was going to happen to Kira.  Was her family evil?  Hmmm...maybe her best friend wasn't what he seemed? Why did her mother kill herself and her sister, but spare Kira?  I needed to know! 

Ms. Destefano captured the voice of a teenage girl so well, it made me feel 16 again.  I identified with Kira and her hormonal confusion battling with the need to do what is right.  The words flowed from page to page, keeping me captivated from start to finish.  I loved the characters, and truly appreciated that the adults were as interesting, flaws and all, as the teens.   They were part of the story, not relegated to the background, as some YA stories tend to do.  

Lastly,  I must mention the twists, the turns and the surprises along the way.  This is not a predictable story. It's fresh, passionate and compelling and will surprise the reader.  Fans of Melissa Marr, Karen Mahoney, and Colleen Houck will love Fathom.

To read the first chapter and find out more about Fathom visit Merrie's website at:
http://www.merriedestefano.com/fathom.html

~Brenda

An ARC Review: A Trace of Moonlight

A Trace of Moonlight
Abby Sinclair #3
Author: Allison Pang
Paperback: 400 pages
Publisher: Pocket Books
Release Date: 10/30/2012
Preorder for Kindle

SUMMARY: Abby’s pact with a demon—whether or not she remembers making it—is binding, so she’d better count herself lucky that (in the words of a daemon who knows better) there’s nearly always a loophole. But her friends’ reckless attempts to free her, well intentioned though they may be, set off a disastrous chain of events. In no time at all, Abby turns her incubus lover mortal and gets herself killed, cursed, and married to an elven prince whose mother wants her dead. She might have even been able to recover from all that had she not lost the Key to the CrossRoads to her mortal enemy, who promptly uses his restored power to wreak havoc on the OtherWorld and put its very existence in jeopardy. Only one person can make things right again, but to find her, Abby must place her trust in allies of mixed loyalties, and conquer her nightmares once and for all.

I've reviewed the other two books in this amazing series, and each one sucked me in more than the last. I have to say that Allison Pang is one of the first authors I've read that really had me torn between two heroes. Talivar is a loyal, sexy, underdog with a quiet strength. Brystion is sexy, and he knows it. He's striking, aggressive, passionate and often selfish...it's his nature. A Trace of Moonlight takes my impressions of these two men and twists them up like a Cat's Cradle gone wrong. The story itself is full of twists and turns, life changing battles, sacrifices and epic events.

Abby is an amazing heroine. She's not a physical fighter, but she is smart, compassionate and doesn't sit on the sidelines waiting to be rescued. She uses what she has available to her in every situation. A Trace of Moonlight is fast paced, emotionally packed and amazing. Fans won't be disappointed. 

The series should be read in order.  Fans of Melissa Marr, Patricia Briggs or Jenn Bennett will love the Abby Sinclair series. The books include:

1. A Brush of Darkness
2. A Sliver of Shadow
3. A Trace of Moonlight

For more information on Allison Pang and the Abby Sinclair series visit here:
http://www.heartofthedreaming.com/

(Be sure to click on "Extras" and look at the trading cards. They are beautiful!)
~Brenda

The Taken: Supernatural Noir Mystery

The Taken
Celestial Blues, Book One
Author: Vicki Pettersson
Paperback: 432 pages
Publisher: Harper Voyager
Published: June 12, 2012
Available in Paperback and Kindle

Griffin Shaw used to be a PI, but that was back when gumshoes hoofed the streets . . . and he was still alive. Fifty years later, he's an angel, but that doesn't make him a saint. One small mistake has altered fate, and now he's been dumped back onto the mortal mudflat to collect another soul—Katherine "Kit" Craig, a journalist whose latest investigation is about to get her clipped.

Bucking heavenly orders, Grif refuses to let the sable-haired siren come to harm. Besides, protecting her offers a chance to solve the mystery of his own unsolved murder—and dole out some overdue payback for the death of his beloved wife, Evie.
Joining forces, Kit and Grif's search for answers leads beyond the blinding lights of the Strip into the dark heart of an evil conspiracy. But a ruthless killer determined to destroy them isn't Grif's biggest threat. His growing attraction to Kit could cost them both their lives, along with the answer to the haunting question of his long afterlife . . .

I've been a fan of Vicki Pettersson for years now because of her epic series, The Signs of the Zodiac. When the series ended I was completely satisfied with how she wrapped it all up, but I was sad because I didn't know when we would see something new from her. She gave hints as early as she could, and slowly revealed the deets on her next series. I was very interested, but after the cover was released I was giddy with anticipation. Rockabilly? Noir? Hard-boiled P.I.? Angels? 
 
A summer of teen drama and freelance writing kept me from reading The Taken until this week. I found myself nervous as I started it. What if I didn't like it? Perish the thought. I plowed in with abandon and as soon as I saw dialog like this I knew I would love it:

"Look, I'm sorry to the one to tell you, kid. But you've been rooked."

Griffin Shaw, one of the main characters, is straight out of 1950's Las Vegas. He doesn't have to shop at vintage clothing stores because he IS vintage. He still wears the Fedora he had on when he died. He's a Mickey Spillane character come to life, thrown into modern Las Vegas where nothing is at it was, which makes him a tad cranky.  He's an angel brought back to the "mudflat" to correct a mistake.

Kit Craig is a female reporter with style, finesse, and intelligence who sees the best in everyone, and refuses to let life get her down. She's the polar opposite of Griffin Shaw, and she's determined to help him while helping herself, even if he is cranky and crazy. It doesn't hurt that he looks like he stepped out the 1950's with a presence and style that takes her breath away. The Taken is truly a breath of fresh air for me, because of the writing, which blew me away, and the unique world the author has created with it's quirky characters. I can't recall ever reading this amazing mix of mystery, romance, and urban fantasy with a noir twist. It's fast paced with action in all the right places, keeping the reader on the edge of their seat.

Vicki Pettersson has the ability to bring the people and streets of Las Vegas alive, mixing the past and present together with the unseen paranormal aspects of the fictional world she has created. The Taken is dark and gritty, yet hope shines through Kit and her relationship with Griffin, taking the reader's breath away over and over.

Ms. Pettersson just released the cover for the second book in the series, The Lost, which will be released in March 2013.

To find out more about The Celestial Blues series visit here:
http://www.vickipettersson.com/

~Brenda

Thirteen to End It All

Thirteen
Women of the Otherworld
Author: Kelley Armstrong
Hardcover: 464 pages
Publisher: Dutton Adult
First Edition (July 24, 2012)
Available for the Kindle
 
Summary: A war is brewing—the first battle has been waged and Savannah Levine is left standing, albeit battered and bruised. She has rescued her half brother from supernatural medical testing, but he’s fighting to stay alive. The Supernatural Liberation Movement took him hostage, and they have a plan to expose the supernatural world to the unknowing. Savannah has called upon her inner energy to summon spells with frightening strength, a strength she never knew she had, as she fights to keep her world from shattering. But it’s more than a matter of supernaturals against one another—both heaven and hell have entered the war; hellhounds, genetically modified werewolves, and all forces of good and evil have joined the fray. Uniting Savannah with Adam, Paige, Lucas, Jaime, Hope, and other lost-but-not forgotten characters in one epic battle, for a grand series finale.
 
Thirteen by Kelley Armstrong is the final book in her Otherworld Series.  Let's be honest, there is no perfect ending to a loved series of books, because we ALWAYS want more.  We tell ourselves it's okay because we can read the books again from start to finish, but there is always that nagging thought that we want to know MORE.  Sometimes we get it, sometimes we don't, but it never takes away from the love of the author and their writing.  Thirteen is a great last book, bringing together past characters to battle the bad guy with the author's wonderful wit and heartfelt emotion. 

I don't want to give spoilers, but after waiting so long for Adam and Savannah to come to their senses, I will say the interaction between them was extremely satisfying.  Yes.  Extremely.  That said, the story is so much more than the relationship between the two of them.  There are heartwrenching moments throughout the story as sacrifices are made, and the fighting escalates.  Winning this battle isn't easy, and doesn't come without a price.  It wouldn't have been as good of a story if the end came easily.

Fans will not be disappointed in this final book, but like me, I'm sure they'll wish for a short story or novella in the future.   That's okay though, because that's what fans do, even as they smile and close the pages of the last book. If you haven't read Kelley Armstrong's series I highly recommend starting with Bitten, the first in the series, to get a feel for the world she's created.
 
Women of the Otherworld
1. Bitten (2001)
2. Stolen (2002)
3. Dime Store Magic (2003)
4. Industrial Magic (2004)
5. Haunted (2005)
6. Broken (2006)
7. No Humans Involved (2007)
8. Personal Demon (2008)
9. Living with the Dead (2008)
10. Frost Bitten (2009)
11. Waking the Witch (2010)
12. Spellbound (2011)
13. Thirteen (2012)
 
Otherworld Tales
Witch Magic(2004)
Angelic (2009)
Men of the Otherworld (2009)
Counterfeit Magic (2010)
Tales of the Otherworld (2010)
Becoming (2011)
Hidden (2011)
Chaotic (2012)
The Hunter and the Hunted(2012)

You can find out more about Kelley's Otherworld series, plus her other books, on her website: http://www.kelleyarmstrong.com

~Brenda

Heroines Who Kick Butt

Heroines that kick butt, are intelligent, and show a compassionate side to their personalities are my favorite characters in the urban fantasy genre. Sometimes the heroine starts out as a bit of a loner, but then she comes to realize how important it is to ask for help when it's needed. This month I read two books with heroines that had me cheering for them and feeling their pain as they discovered who they could trust and what their place is in their world. 

 

The first kick butt gal is Arcadia Bell from the mind of Jenn Bennett in her book Summoning the Night. I love Arcadia because she's tough, independent, compassionate and she rolls with the punches. She's in a relationship with sexy Lon Butler, who comes with an energetic, smart and wiley son named Jupe. I loved the interaction between Cady and Jupe. His mother is vain and superficial, incapable of giving him any emotional support. He latches on to Cady, and becomes important to her too. They make a fun team when Lon isn't around, backing each other up in any situation. When Lon is around they become a family, which is a fragile circumstance for Cady, who was almost sacrificed by her own parents.

The second book in the series, Summoning the Night is a fast paced urban fantasy with romantic elements. The characters are rich, complex and often surprising. I highly recommend this series to fans of Ilona Andrews, Rob Thurman and Allison Pang.

I'm excited that there will be two new Arcadia Bell stories in the next year. Leashing the Tempest is a novella that takes place after the second book. It's a special Christmas story with Cady, Lon, Jupe and Kar Yee. In June of 2013 the third book, Binding the Shadows, will be released. I'm looking forward to not only Cady's adventures, but how the relationship between her, Lon and Jupe progresses. The books, including the future releases are as follows:

1. Kindling the Moon (2011)
2. Summoning the Night (2012)
2.5 Leashing the Tempest (December 2013)
3. Binding the Shadows (June 2013)

To find out more about Jenn and her books visit her at http://www.jennbennett.net .

 

The second urban fantasy with a kick butt heroine is written by Kelly Gay. Shadows Before the Sun is the fourth book in the Charlie Madigan series and I must say it's the best one yet. Charlie has been through some tough times in this series, but she keeps going because of her daughter, and the other people she loves.  In the first three books she's fought her feelings for her partner Hank for many reasons.  We were left hanging at the end of the third book due to his arrest by officials from his home world.  Will they act on their feelings? Will Charlie be able to bring Hank home? Readers will not be disappointed in the events of Shadows Before the Sun. We learn more about Charlie's powers and the changes she's going through and how loyal she is to those around her. On top of all that, she kicks butt emotionally and physically, throughout the entire book.  The Charlie Madigan series is urban fantasy at it's best, and I certainly can't wait for the next book in the series to see what happens in her life and in the world Kelly Gay has created.  The series is best read in order, as follows:

1. The Better Part of Darkness (2009)
2. The Darkest Edge of Dawn (2010)
3. The Hour of Dust and Ashes (2011)
4. Shadows Before the Sun (2012)
To find out more about each book visit Kelly at http://kellygay.com/news.

The Black Hole of Life?

I've been reading and writing since April, even though my posts came to a halt.  I've been keeping up my reviews at goodreads, and I'm writing from 6-8 home and garden articles per month to help pay some of the bills.  So, why did I fade into a black hole on my blog?

One 50th Anniversary party for Chuck's parents where we cooked for almost 200 peeps AND we managed to clean up pretty dang good...

One graduation for my middle son Michael...

Three birthdays on which certain people turned 18, 19 and 52, and one could have been me, the other two might have been my sons, including the 19 year old below wearing a Batman pin:)

Two break ups, a "let's get together" again, and then another break up. Names have been left out to protect the innocent, and well, not so innocent. Teenage hearts were tossed around and beaten up a bit:(

One graduation open house with hot wings, pulled pork, a taco bar, cake and other yummy food.  Oh yeah, and a table full of stuff I dug out from the graduate's childhood...

Then there was drama, more drama,  a broken truck, a broken van, kid's broken car and finally...

One mini-vacation!

I have some cool reviews coming up on the blog this month, and on goodreads.  Thanks to those who have hung in there with me:)

~Brenda