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

Interview: YA Paranormal Author J. Meyers

Intangible
Author: J. Meyers
File Size: 722 KB
Print Length: 349 pages
Publisher: J. Meyers
Released: January 29, 2012
Available on Amazon

SUMMARY: Twins Sera and Luke Raine have a well-kept secret—she heals with a touch of her hand, he sees the future. All their lives they’ve helped those in need on the sly. They’ve always thought of their abilities as being a gift.

Then Luke has a vision that Sera is killed. That gift they’ve always cherished begins to feel an awful lot like a curse. Because the thing about Luke’s ability? He’s always right. And he can’t do anything about it.

INTERVIEW WITH J. MEYERS
Brenda: Intangible is an amazing YA paranormal read. I've heard you've had a wonderful response to it, so I'm hoping we can look forward to a second book in the future. Can you tell us when and if we'll be getting another story?

J: Oh, wow! Thank you so much for the compliment. :-) The response has been incredible and overwhelming--I feel really blessed, in all honesty. And, yes, there is a book two coming. I'm working on it right now and hoping it'll be out by the end of the year (fingers crossed!). And I have to say that I'm really, really excited about the story in book two.

Brenda: I loved the way you handled Sera's first relationship with a guy. This is such an exciting, yet stressful time for teenagers. Did you have to think a lot about how you would handle it in the story?

J: I wanted this to be a clean read--something that I'd be totally comfortable with my kids reading (and I'm really picky about that)--so I already knew there wasn't going to be any sex in it. And for Sera, for a first relationship, it doesn't make sense (to me) for it to go that way anyway. At least not that quickly. So I didn't have to really figure much out for this book. With every character I wrote, I put myself in their shoes, tried to look through their eyes, feel their reactions based on their life experiences. And with Sera there were many things I could relate to--one of which was the first relationship as a teen girl and being consumed, giddy, surprised, and also not ready for some aspects.

Will there be more advanced relationships in subsequent books? Probably. But only when it makes sense for the characters. At the same time, I'm not writing romance, so if there is more romantic action it's still not going to be a focus of the story, just a plot point. It's important to me to write books that anyone can enjoy and that any parent isn't going to cringe that their daughter or son is reading. I want to stay true to what characters would really do, but also keep it appropriate for my youngest readers. My 9 year old wanted to read the book, and while he isn't quite in my target audience age range yet, I wasn't worried at all about the content being inappropriate for him. It was really nice to be able to say yes to him reading my book. :-)

Brenda: Time for a mom moment-- I loved that you explored Sera's temptation to use her gift in a negative way. I felt like there were a few "lessons" to be learned from the story, but yet you were subtle about it, so as to avoid any "eye rolling" from teens. Were you thinking about any of this as you were writing?

J: No, actually, I wasn't. I was just exploring Sera in all her imperfections. She's a good person, but she's not *all* good. She makes bad decisions sometimes, she does things she shouldn't do out of anger/frustration . . . just like we all do.

Brenda: When I read the description of Marc with his red hair I immediately thought of Shaun White and it stuck in my head. Did you have inspiration for your characters?

J: Not really. (But I can totally see Shaun White as Marc now that you say that!) There's a little bit of me in every character, and I'm sure little pieces of people I know, but no one character was based on any one specific person. I don't even have any celebrities pictured in my head as any of my characters. (You know, except for Shaun White now.) They are each unique creations.

Brenda: Thank you so much for taking the time to answer my questions. I'm really looking forward to whatever story you come out with next.

J: It's been a real pleasure, Brenda! I'm thrilled that you enjoyed the story, and can't wait to share book two with you! Thank you! :-)

MY THOUGHTS ON INTANGIBLE
Intangible is a compelling, fast paced, read with rich characters that jump off the page into the reader's mind and heart. I found myself wishing I'd had friends like Fey, Luke and Sera when I was in high school. Fey is protective, witty, mysterious and beautiful, yet she doesn't let it go to her head. Luke is good looking, loyal, smart, and caring. Sera is kind, smart, couragous and compassionate. I enjoyed the unfolding of their secrets and personalities as the story progressed. The three of them are the heart of Intangible, but that doesn't mean the other characters we meet aren't crucial to the story as well.

Intangible is set in a world where vampires, elves and magic exsist, but are unknown to most humans. Luke and Sera are 17 year old twins who have special talents that they've kept secret their entire lives until events unfold that expose what they can do. They experience heartbreak, loss and betrayal while trying to figure our how they figure into the supernatural world they've discovered. I loved the author's take on the paranormal. The story was at times heart wrenching, but never without hope.

To learn more about J. Meyers and her books visit here:

http://www.jmeyersbooks.com/

You can also read Intuition, a 22 page short story that takes place before the events in Intangible for free. The normal price is .99, so be sure to take note if it's still free when you go to the page. Available from Amazon

Molly Harper's Paranormal World

Nice Girls Don't Bite Their Neighbors
Jane Jameson, Book 4
Author: Molly Harper
Paperback: 368 pages
Publisher: Pocket Books
Released: February 28, 2012
Available from Amazon in Paperback and e-book

SUMMARY: Just as Jane Jameson’s unlife seems to be stabilizing, fate sinks its fangs firmly into her butt. Despite her near-phobia of wedding planning, her no-frills nighttime nuptials to her sexy boyfriend, Gabriel, are coming along smoothly. That is, until she turns a fatally wounded teenage acquaintance, and the Council pronounces her responsible for the newborn vamp until he can control his thirst.

Tensions inside the house are growing…and outside, a sinister force is aiming a stake straight for the center of Gabriel’s heart. Most brides just have to worry about choosing the right dress, but Jane fears that, at this rate, she’ll never make it down the aisle for the wedding all nice girls dream of…

In Molly Harper's world there really is a handbook for the undead. Jane Jameson appreciates this because she is now, through no fault of her own, part of undead society and she lives for books and research as a librarian. If anyone needs a handbook it's Jane. We meet her in Nice Girls Don't Have Fangs, and continue to get to know her and her friends, through 3 more books. In the newest story, Nice Girls Don't Bite Their Neighbors, we join her in preparing for her wedding, which in true Jane fashion is not simple, nor free of danger.

Ms. Harper has a wonderful, witty, and charming style of writing. Her characters, from adorable babies to ghostly senior citizens are over the top, yet the reader can identify with them because not one of us can claim we don't have crazy in our group of friends and family. What I truly love about these books is that with all the antics, witty banter and the adventure the reader falls in love with Jane's passion and loyalty to those she loves. There are the sexy, steamy moments with Gabriel, Jane's sire, and the touching moments with Zeb, her bestfriend since childhood. I smiled as she made new friends, and wished I could go out on the town with them. We grieve with Jane, celebrate with her, giggle, sniffle, gasp, get angry and cheer her on as she "fixes" people and situations in her life.

I'm sad that Nice Girls Don't Bite Their Neighbors is the last Jane Jameson story, but happy to know that her and her friends will be at least a small part of the next two stories released by Molly Harper. It's also comforting to know that Jane and her friends are no farther away then a reread of all four books in her series. If you haven't read any of Jane Jameson series, now is a perfect time to start because you don't have to wait for the books. You can read them one right after the other in all their shiny goodness.

Jane Jameson Series
1. Nice Girls Don't Have Fangs
2. Nice Girls Don't Date Dead Men
3. Nice Girls Don't Live Forever
4. Nice Girls Don't Bite Their Neighbors

Molly Harper's website has more information on the books and her other stories here: http://www.mollyharper.com/

Allison Pang's A Sliver of Shadow

A Sliver of Shadow
Abby Sinclair 2
By Allison Pang
Paperback: 400 pages
Publisher: Pocket Books
Released: 2/28/2012
Available from Amazon in e-book and paperback

SUMMARY: Just when her new life as a TouchStone – a mortal bound to help OtherFolk cross between Faery and human worlds – seems to be settling down, Abby Sinclair is left in charge when the Protectorate, Moira, leaves for the Faery Court. And when the Protectorate’s away…let’s just say things spiral out of control when a spell on Abby backfires and the Faery Queen declares the Doors between their worlds officially closed.

The results are disastrous for both sides: OtherFolk trapped in the mortal world are beginning to fade, while Faerie is on the brink of war with the daemons of Hell. Along with her brooding eleven prince Talivar and sexy incubus Brystion, Abby ventures to the CrossRoads in an attempt to override the Queen’s magic. But nothing in this beautiful, dangerous realm will compare to the discoveries she’s making about her past, her destiny, and what she will sacrifice for those she loves.

Allison Pang has created a world that is magical and beautiful, yet edgy and dark at the same time. The heroine, Abby, is a wonderful character who is full of passion, loyalty, and a need to do the right thing even when it means sadness or sacrifice.

In the second book of the series, we are reunited with characters, including a sarcastic, perverted minature unicorn, a broody incubus, a beautiful fairy baby, a crippled prince and the friends that have Abby's back. The author reveals more about all of the characters, taking us deeper into the intrique of this magical world.

We also meet new characters, and travel in the land of the fae. A Sliver of Shadow is full of action, romance, friendship, danger, tested loyalties, and much more. I had trouble putting the book down once I started, wanting to know what was going to happen next. I have to mention that I was especially fond of Talivar, an elf who, according to our heroine Abby, looks like Legalos with a leather eye patch and facial "scruff". Let's take a minute to envision this:

Sigh. Next to Abby, he's my favorite character in A Sliver of Shadow, and we learn much about him in this story. Yes, I'd wear a Team Talivar t-shirt in a heartbeat.

Fans of Jaye Wells, Melissa Marr and Kim Harrison will love Allison Pang. I can't wait to read the third story in the series, A Trace of Moonlight, which is scheduled for October 2012.

You can read an excerpt of the first and second book here: http://www.heartofthedreaming.com/a-sliver-of-shadow/

~Brenda