Review: The Darkest Kiss - Keri Arthur

Dark secrets.  Dangerous seduction.  It all begins with a kiss...

With a werewolf's uncanny instinct for danger - and vampire blood coursing through her veins - Riley Jenson is an officer for the Directorate of Other Races, an organisation created to police supernatural beings.  Now she's hunting for a killer who is targeting the rich and the powerful of Melbourne's society...

But for Riley the case takes a chilling turn when a second killer - a crazed young vamp - starts leaving a trail of mutilated bodies of his own.  Riley knows she's got the skill and cunning to catch two serial killers at once, until one of them strikes inside her own tight-knit clan - and a sexy beast of a vampire re-enters her life to aid the hunt.  His name is Quinn.  He's lived forever, shed blood and shared pleasure - and he's the only man over whom Riley has absolutely no control...

Riley Jenson Guardian Series:
Full Moon Rising
Kissing Sin
Tempting Evil
Dangerous Games
Embraced by Darkness
The Darkest Kiss
Deadly Desire
Bound to Shadows
Moon Sworn

For more information visit Keri Arthur's website

Review:
Although this review won't contain spoilers for The Darkest Kiss as this is book 6 in the Riley Jenson series it will probably include spoilers for previous books.  If you're new to the series or haven't read this far then I'd recommend checking out the reviews for book 1 Full Moon Rising.  It is definitely an urban fantasy series that I'd recommend though.

This book picks up with Riley a couple of months after the ending of Embraced by Darkness and we find her still struggling to deal with a broken heart after her break up with Kellen.  She is still working as a Guardian and when a politician is murdered she is called in to investigate.  Soon she has a trail of bodies and realises she has a serial killer on her hands but before long it becomes clear that there is not just one killer on the loose.  As if that wasn't enough to deal with Quinn is also back on the scene - can she capture the killers and protect her bruised heart at the same time?

This is a series I've enjoyed from the beginning but I have to say that I think it really is getting better with each new installment.  Riley has come a long way since Full Moon Rising and although I've always liked her I'm pleased to see the changes in her.  She still has her snarky, kick ass attitude but whilst nursing her broken heart she has become less interested in casual sex and she seems to have grown up more.  She will always enjoy flirting - and has more than a few men who are interested in that and more - but she wants to find a partner who she can actually care about.  It was also nice to see more about the new abilities Riley has started to gain, although they didn't help her much in this book I'm curious to see what happens next.

I wasn't sure how I felt about the fact that Quinn would be making an appearance, I really liked him at first but then his attitude started to annoy me and I'd completely gone off him.  However, I was really pleased to discover that he has also changed since the last time we saw him.  With his attitude adjustment and Riley's new outlook I can actually see a future for them again and it was nice to be reminded of what attracted me to him in the first place.  I'm now back to being interested in seeing how things play out with them over the rest of the series.

As I've come to expect from Keri Arthur the plot was well thought out and kept me turning the pages to see what would happen next.  I was on the edge of my seat at certain points mentally screaming "nooooooo
please don't let this be happening" but I can't really say more about that without giving spoilers so you'll have to read the book to find out if I was happy at the end or not.  If you're a fan of the series then I'm sure you'll enjoy this installment.  I'm looking forward to picking up Deadly Desire and finding out what happens next.

Source: Library

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Review: Last Sacrifice - Richelle Mead

It all comes down to now.

The Queen is dead and the Moroi world will never be the same.

Rose Hathaway is awaiting wrongful execution and there exists only one man who can stall this terrible fate.  Rose must look to both Dimitri and Adrian, the two great loves of her life, to find him.

With her best friend, Lissa, in a deadly struggle for the royal throne, the girls find themselves forced to rely upon enemies and questioning those they thought they could trust...

But what if true freedom means sacrificing the most important thing of all?  Each other.

Vampire Academy Series:

Vampire Academy

Frostbite

Shadow Kiss

Blood Promise
Spirit Bound
Last Sacrifice

Visit Richelle Mead's website for more information

Review:

Although this review won't include spoilers for Last Sacrifice I can't help mentioning things that have happened in previous books.  If you haven't discovered this series yet then I'd highly recommend it - it is by far my favorite young adult urban fantasy series.  I would recommend you start at book 1 Vampire Academy & not continue reading this review though as I don't want to spoil the earlier books for you.  If you're already a fan of the series then you need to get hold of Last Sacrifice as soon as possible - it is a dramatic end to the series and probably my favorite out of all of the books.

At the end of Spirit Bound we saw Rose accused of murdering Queen Tatiana and this book picks up a couple of days later with Rose in prison awaiting her trial.  If she is found guilty she will be executed for high treason so it's vital that she finds out who the real murderer is but how can she do this when she's locked up in a cell?  It's a good job Rose's friends have a plan, they have no intention of watching her death and want to keep her safely out of the way while they track down the killer.  Lissa finds herself in a situation she isn't used to - Rose is the one that needs her help for once - but she is determined not to let her friend down and will do whatever it takes to help her.

I don't want to go into anymore detail about the plot as I don't want to spoil the reading experience for anyone.  I will say that the story starts as it means to go on and jumps straight into the action.  This is a masterpiece - a book that will grip you from the very first page and won't let you sleep until it's finished.  You will get the answers to questions you didn't even know you had and Richelle Mead has done a fantastic job of pulling all the various plot threads together while still staying true to her characters.  Yes we finally get an ending to the love triangle between Rose, Dimitri and Adrian but I'm not going to say if I was happy with the outcome or not because I know I've mentioned in other reviews which team I'm a member of.  I'm sure there will be some people who don't like the final decision but I honestly think that it was the only possible outcome.  If Richelle had done anything differently it just wouldn't have fitted with what we know of each of the characters.

I've said before that Rose is one of my favorite heroines and this has definitely continued throughout the series.  She had done a lot of growing up in previous books but I felt she matured even more through Last Sacrifice.  Lissa has also changed a lot since Vampire Academy and I love the fact that despite everything they have been through their friendship is now stronger than ever.  It's great to read a series with strong friendships and good female role models.  It feels like I've watched these characters grow up and that they are now ready to go out and face the world but I'm not ready to see them go so I'm glad it's been confirmed that they will be making appearances in the spin off series.  I can't wait to see what Richelle Mead has in store for us next.

Last Sacrifice is an amazing end to a fantastic series that I can't recommend highly enough, if you haven't read it yet what are you waiting for?  Go out and get hold of a copy now!

Source: Received for review from Penguin in exchange for an honest review

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Review: Honeymoon of the Dead - Tate Hallaway

In wintry Wisconsin, occult bookseller  - and witch - Garnet Lacey isn't immune to the cold.  Thank the Goddess she has love to keep her warm, even though her new husband doesn't actually have a pulse...

No honeymoon is ever exactly perfect, but mine won't even get off the ground.  Literally!  After an extremely eventful wedding - and that's putting it mildly - Sebastian and I are about to jet-set to Transylvania for some quality R & R.  Yeah, I know it's not exactly every girl's fantasy honeymoon, but it suits me just fine.

Unfortunately, thanks to a vengeful frost demon, Sebastian and I - and our plane - are stuck in exotic Minneapolis, Minnesota.  Honestly, it wouldn't be so bad if I wasn't seeing Gods and Goddesses everywhere I turn.  I'm starting to think my new visions might be caused by the Goddess possessing my body, because ever since She moved in, I've been getting these weird waves of dizziness and seeing beings of a higher power.  And let me tell you, there are plenty in Minneapolis.  Go figure.

Now I'm learning quickly that dealing with Gods and demons - not to mention running into some people I would have rather left buried in the past - doesn't leave much quality honeymoon time for me and my new vampire hubby...

The Garnet Lacey Series:
Tall, Dark & Dead
Dead Sexy
Romancing the Dead
Dead if I do
Honeymoon of the Dead

Visit Tate Hallaway's website for more information

Review:
With Garnet and Sebastian finally married they are supposed to be jetting off on their honeymoon but with trouble attracted to Garnet like a magnet things don't go quite to plan.  Their plane is unable to take off due to a frost demon looking for revenge and the couple find themselves stuck in Minneapolis. Determined to make the best of things Garnet wants to share the favorite haunts from her old stomping ground with Sebastian.  However with 2 Goddesses fighting for control of her body she is suffering with dizzy spells and strange visions not to mention bumping into people she would rather have left in the past.  It isn't looking like this is going to be the holiday of a lifetime that they had planned on.

I have enjoyed reading the Garnet Lacey series so was sad to discover that Honeymoon of the Dead was going to be the last book in the series.  Garnet is a likable character - feisty and fun and her internal monologue usually has me laughing out loud.  This series has been great for fun light reads but I have to say I was a little disappointed with this last installment.

There were so many things going on in the plot that the story felt a bit disjointed and I never felt that everything was completely resolved.  One of my favorite things about the other books in the series has been the great cast of supporting characters.  I have to confess that I've never been Sebastian's biggest fan so I was disappointed that Parish didn't make an appearance (although I guess that is understandable considering they are on their honeymoon!).  We do get a brief visit from Matayas and William but I missed Izzy, Parish and the coven.  It was nice to see Agent Dominguez again but we didn't get to find out anything more about him and he was there more as a convenience for the plot.  I'm not even sure what he was doing in Minneapolis apart from the fact that Garnet needed a law enforcement friend.

There were still some laugh out loud moments and I'm glad I got to find out how things end up between Garnet and Sebastian.  This may not have been my favorite book in the series but I'd still recommend it to fans of the series.  If you've yet to read anything about Garnet then I would recommend the series to fans of light, humorous urban fantasy / paranormal romance stories.

Source: Library

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Review: Embraced by Darkness - Keri Arthur

Just when Riley Jenson thought her life was getting back on track, fate throws another curve ball.  The alpha of her estranged pack - and the man who tried to kill her by throwing her off a mountainside - demands her help to find his missing granddaughter.

Riley would love to refuse, but if she does, her mother dies.  And if that isn't enough, something is tearing humans to shreds, and it's up to Riley as an agent for the Directorate of Other Races, to track down the killer before another soul is embraced by darkness...

Riley Jenson Guardian Series:
Full Moon Rising
Kissing Sin
Tempting Evil
Dangerous Games
Embraced by Darkness
The Darkest Kiss
Deadly Desire
Bound to Shadows
Moon Sworn

For more information visit Keri Arthur's website

Review:
Riley is supposed to be on holiday to recover from events in the previous books but she never has been one to sit around doing nothing.  This time her holiday is spoiled when she is contacted by a member of her mother's pack - the pack that exiled her & Rhoan for being half breeds.  Riley wants as little to do with them as they have had to do with her but now they need her help - one of their pack members has gone missing and they want Riley to find her.  If Riley refuses then her mother will be killed - a threat she knows they will be happy to carry out.

I'm already a big fan of this series and Embraced by Darkness was a great installment.  We have seen Riley go through a lot in the year we've been following her but she has some difficult personal decisions to make this time regarding her relationship with Kellen.  I started getting really bad feelings about Kellen near the beginning of the story but I'm not going to say if I was right or not - you'll have to read the book to find out.  I just find it very hard to trust Riley's taste in men given her history!

I liked finding out more about Riley & Rhoan's upbringing and their relationship with members of their old pack.  It would have been nice to have a chance to meet their mother though.  I do love the strong bond between Riley & Rhoan though - they have always been close but as you learn more about their mother's pack it becomes clear that they've only really ever been able to rely on each other.  It's good that they are still always there for each other.

I enjoyed the hunt scenes with the bad guys towards the end of the book and was really unsure how Riley would escape.  There was a really interesting twist to the way Riley's powers are developing due to the experimental drug she was given at the start of the series, I'm very curious to see how this changes things for her in the future.  I did find the bad guys abilities were a little unbelievable and didn't think we were given enough of an explanation for that.  I was also a bit surprised at how easily they are defeated at the end considering how powerful they were.

This is a great series for fans of urban fantasy but I would definitely recommend starting with book 1 Full Moon Rising.  Riley has developed quite a lot as a character throughout the series & I think you'd be missing out if you didn't read the books in order.  I liked the fact that Riley's hormones played a smaller part in this story - I don't mind sex in a story but it can get a little repetitive when the main character is repeatedly having sex with many partners, especially when it is often with people she doesn't like & just as a part of her job.  If you haven't started this series yet but are an urban fantasy fan then I would definitely recommend giving it a try.

Source: Library

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Review: Dangerous Games - Keri Arthur

In Melbourne's urban underworld, there's a place for every fetish and fantasy.  But for Riley Jenson, one such nightclub has become an obsession.  Riley, a rare hybrid of werewolf and vampire and new agent for the Directorate of Other Races, hasn't come in pursuit of pleasure but of an unknown killer who's been using the club as his hunting ground.

Leave it to Riley to find the only ticket into the heavily guarded venue: Jin, a deliciously hot-bodied bartender who might just provide the key to unmasking a killer unlike any other in the Directorate's experience.  Taunted by a former colleague gone rogue, Riley follows Jin into a realm of pleasure she could never have imagined but as danger and passion ignite, a shocking mystery begins to unravel - one where Riley herself becomes the ultimate object of desire...

Riley Jenson Guardian Series:
Full Moon Rising
Kissing Sin
Tempting Evil
Dangerous Games
Embraced by Darkness
The Darkest Kiss
Deadly Desire
Bound to Shadows
Moon Sworn

For more information visit Keri Arthur's website

Review:
Riley and her brother Rhoan are investigating the murder of several women who have been killed in what appears to be a ritualistic manor.  She may have fought against becoming a Guardian but now she has been forced into the role she is determined to do her job well.  As their investigations lead them to a fetish club it is up to Riley to infiltrate the club and track down the murderer.

Dangerous Games is the fourth book in the Riley Jenson series and although this probably could be read first as the main background plot has started a new storyline I would recommend reading the series in order so you know the history of the characters.  I'm really enjoying this series though & would recommend it to any urban fantasy fan.  To give a slight warning though - Riley is a werewolf with a strong sexual appetite who has several regular partners and also uses sex in her role as a Guardian to gain information about her enemies.  If that is going to be something that bothers you then I'd suggest skipping this series but I would definitely recommend trying Keri Arthur's Nikki & Michael series or Spook Squad series instead.

I really love Riley Jenson - she is one of my favorite urban fantasy characters - she knows what & who she is and makes no apologies for her werewolf nature.  She didn't ask to become a Guardian and parts of the job do bother her but since she was forced into her role she is determined to make the best of it.  Her character has been through a lot since the beginning of the series with betrayals from people she trusted and physical changes after she was given experimental drugs.  I'm finding it really interesting seeing how her psychic abilities are changing and am curious to see what abilities she will gain next.

I loved Quinn in the first book but since then he has been really irritating me with his refusal to accept Riley the way she is.  He says he loves her but the way he is constantly trying to change her has been getting on my nerves for a while now.  I think they could be a good couple if only he'd learn to accept her but I'd got to the point where I felt enough was enough - I was very pleased to see Riley coming to the same conclusion in this installment.  For once she refused to listen to her hormones (that will always draw her to Quinn) and put her foot down.  I think we'll probably see more of Quinn in the future but I hope he has a change of attitude in the meantime!

I would have liked to have seen a bit more of her other regular partner, alpha werewolf Kellen, in this installment but I can understand why that wasn't possible with the storyline.  The mystery surrounding the murders moves along at a good pace and kept me interested.  I'd say this is probably one of my favorite books in the series so far and it's left me looking forward to reading book five Embraced by Darkness.

Source: Library

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Review: Destined for an Early Grave - Jeaniene Frost

Her deadly dreams leave her in grave danger

Since half-vampire Cat Crawfield and her undead lover Bones met six years ago, they've fought against the rogue undead, battled a vengeful Master vampire, and pledged their devotion with a blood bond.  Now it's time for a vacation.  But their hopes for a perfect Paris holiday are dashed when Cat wakes one night in terror.  She's having visions of a vampire named Gregor who's more powerful than Bones and has ties to her past that even Cat herself didn't know about.

Gregor believes Cat is his and he won't stop until he has her.  As the battle begins between the vamp who haunts her nightmares and the one who holds her heart, only Cat can break Gregor's hold over her.  She'll need all the power she can summon in order to bring down the baddest bloodsucker she's ever faced... even if getting that power will result in an early grave.

Night Huntress Series:
Halfway to the Grave
One Foot in the Grave
At Grave's End
Destined for an Early Grave
This Side of the Grave (Feb 2011)

For more information visit Jeaniene Frost's website

Review:
Cat and Bones are supposed to be on a romantic getaway enjoying their honeymoon and celebrating their blood bond.  However, when Cat starts to have nightmares about a powerful vampire called Gregor their holiday rapidly takes a turn for the worse.   Gregor believes that Cat belongs to him - even though she has no memory of meeting him before - and he is determined to reclaim her.  Why does Cat have no memory of Gregor and what does all of this mean for her relationship with Bones?

If you've read any of my previous reviews of the Night Huntress series you'll already know what a big fan I am of both Cat and Bones so I couldn't wait to get stuck into Destined for an Early Grave.  While it was still an enjoyable installment to the series I have to say it was probably my least favorite book so far.  The relationship between Cat and Bones goes through a lot of ups and downs in this installment and for me I would have liked to have seen more of them working together as a couple against Gregor.  Bones was being very secretive and while I understand his actions with hindsight, as I was reading I thought he treated Cat appallingly in places which I just didn't find believable considering the way he usually behaves.  Cat also behaved equally badly and there were times when I just wanted to shake the pair of them and get them to talk to each other!

I felt the storyline was a little far fetched with the appearance of Gregor who Cat had no memory of but I still enjoyed the mystery of what was happening and the action scenes were as well written as I've come to expect from Jeaniene Frost.  I loved Vlad in this book, he was such a great friend to Cat when she really, really needed someone on her side.  There were a few surprises - especially with Justina - that I really didn't see coming and I am looking forward to reading the next book even though the release date seems a long way off.  I'm pleased that I've got 2 books in the spin off series (Night Huntress World) to keep me going in the meantime!

Source: Library

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Review: Tempting Evil - Keri Arthur

Half werewolf and half vampire Riley Jenson is now an agent with the DOR - the Directorate of Other Races.  However, trusting her superiors and lovers barely more than she trusts her worst enemies, Riley plays by her own set of rules.

Her latest mission: to enter the heavily guarded pleasure palace of a criminal named Deshon Starr - a madman-scientist who's been messing around in the gene pool for decades.  With two sexy men - a cool, seductive vampire and an irresistibly hot werewolf - vying for her attention, Riley must keep focused.  Because saving the world from Deshon Starr will mean saving herself from the trap that's closing in around her...

Riley Jenson Guardian Series:
Full Moon Rising
Kissing Sin
Tempting Evil
Dangerous Games
Embraced by Darkness
The Darkest Kiss
Deadly Desire
Bound to Shadows
Moon Sworn

For more information visit Keri Arthur's website

Review:
Riley has taken the final step and become a fully fledged Guardian for the Directorate of Other Races, she still isn't sure that it is for the best but she wants to be part of the team that takes down Deshon Starr.  Her first mission isn't going to be easy - it is up to her to infiltrate Deshon's stronghold and try to discover where his secret labs are hidden so that the DOR can destroy them.  While deep undercover she is going to have to be wary about who she trusts but she will also find friends in unlikely places.  With Rhoan, Quinn and Kade also inside the compound she will have to be careful not to give away their identities or her own.  Will they be discovered before they can find the location of the labs?  Will they all make it out of there in one piece?

I really enjoyed the first 2 books in this series but I think Tempting Evil was probably my favorite book so far.  I'll admit that this series isn't going to be to everyone's taste - Riley is a werewolf with a high sexual appetite and several regular partners but as a Guardian she uses sex as a tool to gain information from her enemies.  This would be quite disturbing in real life but in the world Keri Arthur has created it is quite natural for the werewolves to give into instinct and their animal desires.  As long as you're prepared to accept that I'd highly recommend the series for urban fantasy fans.  The series has plenty of action, not just in the bedroom and I'm enjoying following Riley's story.

I was pleased to see Quinn start to redeem himself in this book, I absolutely loved him in Full Moon Rising but was really annoyed with his attitude in Kissing Sin.  As much as he still has some making up to do in my eyes I'm feeling a bit more confident that he will manage it over the next few books.  I had hoped to see more of the super hot alpha werewolf Kellen but I can understand why there wasn't much room for him in this storyline, I'm keeping my fingers crossed that we get to see a lot more of him in the series.  I did enjoy getting to spend more time with Kade though - I'm still loving that horse shifter!

Overall I loved the pace of Tempting Evil, there was so much going on that I didn't want to put it down, I'm curious to find out more about Riley's growing psychic abilities and I'm looking forward to getting to know some of the newly introduced characters better.  It won't be long before I'm getting stuck into the next book in the series Dangerous Games.

Source: Library

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Review: Spirit Bound - Richelle Mead

Rose's life will never be her own.

Rose Hathaway has been outrunning death ever since she swore to be the protector of her best friend, Lissa, no matter what.

She's finally made it back to the haven of St Vladimir's but with Dimitri, the boy she once loved, stalking her, Rose can only run so far.

She failed to kill him when she had the chance, and now her worst fears are about to come true.  Dimitri has tasted her blood, and she knows in her heart that he is hunting her.  And if Rose won't join him, he won't rest until he has silenced her...forever.

Vampire Academy Series:

Vampire Academy

Frostbite

Shadow Kiss

Blood Promise
Spirit Bound
Last Sacrifice

Visit Richelle Mead's website for more information

Review:

Although this review won't include spoilers for Spirit Bound as this is book 5 in the Vampire Academy series it may include spoilers for previous books.  If you haven't discovered this series yet then I'd highly recommend it - it is without a doubt my favorite young adult urban fantasy series.  If you're already a fan of the series then you need to read this latest installment as soon as possible - I'm not sure how I'm going to survive the wait until December to read the final book in the series Last Sacrifice!

In Spirit Bound Rose is back at St Vladimir's and getting ready to graduate - as long as she can pass the trials.  Due to the amount of school she has missed she has had to do a lot of catching up but has she done enough to pass?  Her dream has always been to be Lissa's guardian but with plenty of black marks against her name she is worried about what her assignment will be.  On top of that, since she failed to kill Dimitri in the previous book he is now stalking her, determined to kill her if she won't join him as a Strigoi.  She is safe while on campus but what will happen when she is out in the real world?

I don't want to tell you any more as it would be too easy to give spoilers but let me just assure you that Spirit Bound is as action packed as you'd expect from a book by Richelle Mead.  Alongside the action there is also a lot of emotion thrown in.  Rose has so much to deal with and she has grown so much throughout this series, she is definitely one of my favorite characters in a young adult series. 

We get to see a lot more of Adrian in this book & I really am liking him more and more.  I have to say I did feel a little sorry for him in this one - I didn't really like the way Rose treated him at times and I hope we get to see him happy by the end of the series.  I'm still a massive Dimitri fan but he had me on the edge of my seat this time.  The last book left me heart broken and things don't get much easier this time round but I'm still holding out hope for Last Sacrifice.  I would have liked to have seen more of Dimitri in this book but I'm sure he's going to feature more in the future.

Lissa impressed me this time round, she has at times been quite a selfish friend in the last few books but she finally starts showing how much she cares for Rose and actually going out of her way to help her.  Richelle Mead really is the queen of cliffhangers and Spirit Bound was no exception to this.  It has left me itching to get my hands on the final installment in the series & December seems like a very long wait. 

Source: Library

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Review: At Grave's End - Jeaniene Frost

Some things won't stay buried...At grave's end.

It should be the best time of half-vampire Cat Crawfield's life.  With her undead lover Bones at her side, she's successfully protected mortals from the rogue undead.  But though Cat's worn disguise after disguise to keep her true identity a secret from the brazen bloodsuckers, her cover's finally been blown, placing her in terrible danger.

As if that wasn't enough, a woman from Bones's past is determined to bury him once and for all.  Caught in the crosshairs of a vengeful vamp, yet determined to help Bones stop a lethal magic from being unleashed, Cat's about to learn the true meaning of bad blood.  And the tricks she's learned as a special agent won't help her.  She will need to fully embrace her vampire instincts in order to save herself - and Bones - from a fate worse than the grave.

Night Huntress Series:
Halfway to the Grave
One Foot in the Grave
At Grave's End
Destined for an Early Grave
This Side of the Grave (Feb 2011)

For more information visit Jeaniene Frost's website

Review:
Although this review won't include spoilers for At Grave's End this is the third book in the series and I would strongly recommend reading the series in order to get the most out of these fantastic books.  If you haven't already discovered this series then I would definitely recommend it if you're a fan of urban fantasy and paranormal romance stories.

Things are finally looking up for Cat - she has the love of her life Bones working at her side helping to rid the world of rogue vampires and she has a great team to back her up.  She should probably have guessed that things wouldn't stay easy for long though.  More vampires are now aware of the Red Reaper and she is finding it harder and harder to carry out her job as a decoy without being recognised - even when she is using multiple disguises.  Not only that but a female vampire from Bones' past is determined to see him dead and she is prepared to do anything to make it happen.  This is an enemy like none that they've faced before - a vampire much older and considerably more powerful than Bones who isn't going to be defeated easily.

If you've read any of my reviews of the previous books in this series then you'll already know what a massive fan I am of both Cat & Bones.  They are both strong individuals and they are one of my favorite urban fantasy / paranormal romance couples.  I have to say that I was slightly disappointed that we didn't get to see more relationship development between them in this installment of the series - after the amazing heat of One Foot in the Grave I was expecting to see more of the passion between them.  Having said that I found that the book was so action packed that I couldn't turn the pages fast enough & I read the whole book in just one sitting.

There are so many things going on in this story - enemies old and new, betrayals by people they thought they could trust, battles to end all battles and not everyone will survive to the end of the book.  A lot of old faces will make an appearance (yay for Spade & Rodney!) and we are introduced to some fab new characters too including a couple of historical figures you're bound to recognise.  I loved the action in At Grave's End and you are taken on a complete roller coaster ride of emotion alongside Cat making you laugh out loud one minute and leaving you close to tears the next.  There was one point where my heart was in my mouth & I just could not believe what had happened.  Cat is in for a difficult ride in this book but she really does have to step up to the plate and accept her vampire heritage which I thought she managed admirably.

There are also some interesting new developments with Cat's team and I'm looking forward to see what Jeaniene Frost has in store for everyone next.  I am getting slightly fed up with Tate still trying to take Cat away from Bones, yes I feel for him but there is just no way he can compete with Bones and I hope he moves on with his life soon before he ruins is friendship with Cat.  Overall I didn't quite enjoy this one as much as I loved One Foot in the Grave but it was still a fab read and I can't wait to continue reading this series.

Source: Library

Other Reviews:
Ink and Paper
Story Wings
I'd So Rather Be Reading
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Review: Blood Promise - Richelle Mead

How far will Rose go to keep her promise?

The recent Strigoi attack at St. Vladimir's Academy was the deadliest ever in the school's history, claiming the lives of Moroi students, teachers and guardians alike.

Even worse, the Strigoi took some of their victims with them... including Dimitri.  He'd rather die than be one of them, and now Rose must abandon her best friend, Lissa - the one she has sworn to protect no matter what - and keep the promise Dimitri begged her to make long ago.

But with everything at stake, how can she possibly destroy the person she loves the most?

Vampire Academy Series:

Vampire Academy

Frostbite

Shadow Kiss

Blood Promise
Spirit Bound
Last Sacrifice

Visit Richelle Mead's website for more information

Review:

Although this review won't include spoilers for Blood Promise please, please don't read beyond this paragraph if you're new to this series.  Events at the end of book 3 (Spirit Bound) make it impossible to review this book without giving away a major spoiler for the first 3 books.  If you haven't yet discovered this series then I would highly recommend it to both adults and teens - it has become my favorite YA vampire series by far & I can't praise it enough.  Check out the reviews of Vampire Academy for an introduction to the series.

OK so hopefully if you're still reading this review you've already read at least as far as Shadow Kiss.  What can I say about Blood Promise?  Apart from the fact that this series just gets better with every book and I'm now desperately waiting to read Spirit Bound!  Talk about an ending that will have you on the edge of your seat and leave you begging for more.

At the end of Shadow Kiss we saw Rose leaving Lissa and St Vladimir's Academy to search for Dimitri.  Knowing that he'd never want to be Strigoi and that he was turned against his will she is determined to track him down and keep her promise to him.  Rose sets off on her own for Russia believing that Dimitri will have returned to his home town and she eventually tracks down his family.  Let me just take a minute to point out how much I liked Dimitri's family and I loved the way they accepted Rose and made her feel so welcome.  We get to learn so much more about Dimitri from his family and from flashbacks Rose has about times they have spent together and it made it easy to see how much he & Rose meant to each other.

When Rose finally tracks Dimitri down it leads to some heart wrenching scenes that brought tears to my eyes in several places.  As much as Rose wants to believe he is the same Dimitri he has changed and is no longer the same man that she was so in love with.  It is hard to see him in such a different light & I desperately missed the old Dimitri.  Scenes between them are intense and emotional but I thought that Richelle Mead handled things really well.  Everything that Rose said and did was completely believable & my heart went out to her.

Although Rose and Lissa are apart for the first time we do still get to find out what is happening with Lissa via the bond they share.  Rose frequently checks in with Lissa to see what is going on at the Academy and we see a lot of what is happening with Lissa, Christian and Adrian.  Rose is also visited by Adrian in her dreams and I'm starting to like him more and more as I get to know him better.  Lissa's behaviour is becoming more erratic and it soon becomes clear to Rose that something strange is going on at the Academy but she has so much else to deal with that she can't drop everything to go to Lissa immediately.  I had actually found myself a bit disappointed with Lissa in Shadow Kiss because she never seemed to give any thought to Rose's feelings so I was pleased to see that this started to change in Blood Promise and I'm hoping that she will redeem herself.

I have to say that I absolutely loved Blood Promise and oh the developments at the end - I have got to get my hands on Spirit Bound asap because I NEED to know what happens next!  If you enjoyed the first 3 books in the series then you're going to love this installment.  If you're new to the series & ignored my spoiler warnings to make it this far (yes, I'm thinking of you Bear!) then you need to get your hands on Vampire Academy now - this series really shouldn't be missed.

Source: Library

Other Reviews:

Ink and Paper
So Many Books, So Little Time
Chrissie's Corner
I'd So Rather Be Reading
GretchTM's Reading Haven
If you have reviewed this book on your blog please leave a link to your review in the comments & I'll add the link here.

Review: One Foot in the Grave - Jeaniene Frost

You can run from the grave, but you can't hide...

Half-vampire Cat Crawfield is now Special Agent Cat Crawfield, working for the government to rid the world of the rogue undead.  She's still using everything Bones, her sexy and dangerous ex, taught her, but when Cat is targeted for assassination, the only man who can help her is the vampire she left behind.

Being around him awakens all her emotions, from the adrenaline kick of slaying vamps side by side to the reckless passion that consumed them.  But a price on her head - wanted: dead or half-alive - means her survival depends on teaming up with Bones.  And no matter how hard she tries to keep things professional between them, she'll find that desire lasts forever... and that Bones won't let her get away again.

Night Huntress Series:
Halfway to the Grave
One Foot in the Grave
At Grave's End
Destined for an Early Grave
This Side of the Grave (Feb 2011)

For more information visit Jeaniene Frost's website

Review:
Although this review won't contain spoilers for One Foot in the Grave this is the second book in a series so if you've not read Halfway to the Grave I'd recommend reading that before you continue reading this review.  This is a fantastic series though so would definitely recommend giving them a try!

The end of Halfway to the Grave saw Cat trying to protect Bones by leaving him to go and work for the government in a special department set up to fight vampires.  One Foot in the Grave continues the story 4 years later - Cat has now established her vampire hunting team and trained her men in the same way Bones taught her in the past.  But no matter how good their training has been her team are still only humans and can't protect Cat when she finds herself being targeted by vampire assassins.  Bones has also managed to track her down and she is forced to turn to him for help.  The attraction between them is still strong and Bones is determined not to let Cat get away from him again.

Wow, what can I say about One Foot in the Grave?  I absolutely loved the first book in the series but this on blew me away!   I am head over heals crazy about Bones - yes his British slang doesn't sound natural to a Brit but it suits him & I love the way he talks, he is also sexy as hell and the scenes between him and Cat are scorching.  I'd heard a lot about the infamous chapter 32 but boy did it surpass my expectations and I think it may have ruined me for other paranormal romances :o) 

If you liked the first book in the series then I guarantee you'll enjoy this one even more.  It had everything I loved about Halfway to the Grave and then some.  I've already mentioned how HOT it is but it is also action packed and full of twists that will make Cat rethink everything she has ever been told.  We are introduced to some great new characters - I really liked Cat's team members Tate, Juan, Dave and Cooper and am looking forward to seeing more of them in the series.  I enjoyed watching their interactions with Cat and the way they all looked out for each other.

Although this is classed as paranormal romance I would consider it one of those books that crosses over with the urban fantasy series & would recommend it to fans of both genres.  I can't wait to get my hands on the next book and am looking forward to seeing what is in store for Cat and Bones in the future.  If you are new to the series then I'd strongly recommend starting with the first book as it really does need to be read in order to get the full back story between the main characters but this is definitely one of my favorite series and one not to be missed!

Source: Library

Other Reviews:
Ink and Paper
Story Wings
I'd So Rather Be Reading
If you have reviewed this book on your blog please leave a link to your review in the comments & I'll add the link here.

Review: Kissing Sin - Keri Arthur

From Melbourne's gleaming skyscrapers to its edgy nightclubs, Riley Jenson's world is fraught with danger and desire.  A drop-dead-gorgeous werewolf - with a touch of vampire coursing through her veins - Riley works for an organisation created to police the supernatural races.  But when she wakes up naked and bruised in a deserted alley, she knows only that she must run for her life.

Within moments Riley collides with steely, seductive, Kade, who is fighting a life-and-death battle of his own.  With old lovers and enemies gathering around her, Riley knows she is being pursued by a new kind of criminal.  Because in Riley's blood is a secret that could create the ultimate warrior - if only she can survive her own dangerous desires...

Riley Jenson Guardian Series:
Full Moon Rising
Kissing Sin
Tempting Evil
Dangerous Games
Embraced by Darkness
The Darkest Kiss
Deadly Desire
Bound to Shadows
Moon Sworn

For more information visit Keri Arthur's website

Review:
When Riley wakes up to find herself naked and covered in someones blood in the middle of a deserted alleyway she knows she is in serious trouble.  She has no memory of the previous week and absolutely no idea where she is or what has happened to her.  Soon finding herself under attack she has to flee for her life and comes across Kade who is being held prisoner in the compound and they have to work together to make their escape.  But who is behind their imprisonment and what did they want with Riley? 

I really loved Full Moon Rising and was looking forward to reading Kissing Sin, Keri Arthur has done it again with another fab urban fantasy story.  I still love Riley, she may work her way through quite a lot of sexual partners but I like the fact that she is completely open about what she is and is prepared to stand up for what she believes in.  I loved Quinn in the first book but didn't think much of his attitude in Kissing Sin - he pushed Riley away and then suddenly when he changes his mind and decides he wants her again he expects her to drop everything and jump straight into an exclusive relationship with him.  Riley has never tried to hide her attitude to sex and multiple partners and I was annoyed that Quinn didn't seem interested in listening to her point of view or the fact that he isn't able to give her everything she needs.  I'm hopeful that his attitude will change again throughout the series and he will start to redeem himself though.

With Quinn's behaviour as it was I was much more taken by the new love interests that we come across in this book.  First we have the gorgeous shifter Kade who turns into a stallion (why oh why are there not more horse-shifters in urban fantasy?  Am I just not reading the right books?), can anyone say "hung like a horse"?  Oh boy did I like Kade!  We also have mysterious alpha Kellen who we were briefly introduced to in Full Moon Rising.  At this stage I'm not sure if he can be trusted or not but I have a feeling we're going to be seeing a lot more of him in future books and I'm interested to see how things develop between him & Riley.

I loved the action in Kissing Sin, there are so many plot twists and it is impossible to decide who can be trusted and who is secretly plotting against Riley and the Directorate.  Riley's boss is still determined to get Riley working as a guardian and she is still reluctant to take on the role but she is unwilling to walk away from the investigation.  She is forced to turn to old lover Misha as he seems to be the only one who can give them any clue into what is going on at the mysterious cloning labs and I thought some of the scenes with him were great.  I started off hating him but in the end I really felt for him.

Overall I'm still really enjoying this series and looking forward to reading more.  It's a great urban fantasy series but it does contain quite a lot of sex with multiple partners - if this is something you're not going to enjoy then you might want to give it a miss.  If you're open minded enough not to let this bother you & you like paranormal romance with great hot scenes and a great twisting plot then I'm sure you'll enjoy this & I would definitely recommend it.

Source: Library

Other Reviews:
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Review: Halfway to the Grave - Jeaniene Frost

Flirting with the grave...

Half-vampire Catherine Crawfield is going after the undead with a vengeance, hoping that one of these deadbeats is her father - the one responsible for ruining her mother's life.  Then she's captured by Bones, a vampire bounty hunter, and is forced into an unholy partnership.

In exchange for finding her father, Cat agrees to train with the sexy night stalker until her battle reflexes are as sharp as his fangs.  She's amazed she doesn't end up as his dinner - are there actually good vampires?  Pretty soon Bones will have her convinced that being half-dead doesn't have to be all bad.  But before she can enjoy her newfound status as kick-ass demon hunter, Cat and Bones are pursued by a group of killers.  Now Cat will have to choose a side ... and Bones is turning out to be as tempting as any man with a heartbeat.

Night Huntress Series:
Halfway to the Grave
One Foot in the Grave
At Grave's End
Destined for an Early Grave
This Side of the Grave (Feb 2011)

For more information visit Jeaniene Frost's website

Review:
Cat was born after her mother was attacked and raped by a vampire.  When she was just 16 she discovered that she is a half-vampire and ever since then she has been hunting vampires to get revenge for her mother.   Thinking herself a successful vampire hunter it comes as quite a shock to her when Bones manages to take her by surprise.  Finding she has been kidnapped Cat has no choice but to agree to Bones' proposition that he trains her and they work together hunting vampires who have killed.  Cat has been taught that all vampires are evil but the more time she spends with Bones the more she comes to question her beliefs. 

Halfway to the Grave has been on my radar for a while and my only regret is that I didn't start reading the series years ago - although the advantage is that there are already 3 more books available for me to sink my teeth into!  I do have to say a big thank you to Jo (Ink & Paper) and Lynsey (Narratively Speaking) for convincing me to read this now though!!  Although this book is labelled as paranormal romance I would personally categorise it as urban fantasy.  Yes there is romance (& very hot romance at that!) but there is plenty of action and the relationship between Cat and Bones doesn't end with a happy ever after (HEA) at the end of this book.  The entire series is based around these 2 characters so I'm assuming we're going to see a lot of development in their relationship throughout the series and I'm hopeful for a HEA by the end of the final book.  I personally love both of these genres and would definitely recommend this series if you are a fan of either paranormal romance or urban fantasy.

I liked Cat immediately - she is a feisty heroine who is willing to fight for what she believes in.  She has a lot to learn in this book and I really enjoyed watching her opinions change as she learnt more about Bones and her vampire heritage.  I wasn't sure about Bones for the first couple of pages but I quickly fell in love with his character.  Although his character is supposed to be British he doesn't really speak English as we would in modern day and it took a little bit of getting used to.  However, by the time we were a few chapters in I barely even noticed that anymore - his speech patters just seem to suit his character.  I loved the verbal sparing that goes on between Cat & Bones and was pleased that this continued throughout the book.

There is a lot of world building going on in Halfway to the Grave so the beginning of the story is a little slower paced but not in a bad way - I thoroughly enjoyed getting to know the characters and learning about Jeaniene Frost's twist on the vampire mythology.  Once the background has been laid down the pace quickly picks up and you are swept along on an action packed ride that will keep you up far past your bedtime.  Like I've already mentioned the story doesn't have a HEA ending and there are plenty of questions left unanswered but that is something I enjoy in a series and I can't wait to see what happens with Cat & Bones in the next book One Foot in the Grave.

Source: Library

Other Reviews:
Ink and Paper
Mindful Musings
Story Wings
I'd So Rather Be Reading
If you have reviewed this book on your blog please leave a link to your review in the comments & I'll add the link here.

Review: Shadow Kiss - Richelle Mead

What if following her heart means losing her best friend - forever?

Rose Hathaway knows it is forbidden to love another guardian.  Her best friend, Lissa, must always come first.  Unfortunately, when it comes to the gorgeous Dimitri Belikov, some rules are meant to be broken.

Lying to Lissa about Dimitri is one thing, but suddenly there's way more than friendship at stake.  The immortal dead are on the prowl and in a heart-stopping battle, Rose will have to choose between life, love and the two people who matter most.

But will her choice mean that only one survives?

Vampire Academy Series:

Vampire Academy

Frostbite

Shadow Kiss

Blood Promise
Spirit Bound
Last Sacrifice

Visit Richelle Mead's website for more information

Review:

Although I don't give spoilers for Shadow Kiss in this book I wouldn't recommend reading further if you are new to this series.  I strongly recommend reading the series in order starting with Vampire Academy and then Frostbite.  If you're a fan of the series already then read Shadow Kiss now - but make sure you have Blood Promise to hand so you can read it straight afterwards!  If you haven't discovered the series yet what are you waiting for? This is seriously a must read for urban fantasy fans both young and old.

Rose is still trying to deal with her forbidden love for Dimitri - for her whole life she has been taught that protecting the Moroi is more important than anything and that, as a Dhampir, her needs should come last.  She is starting to feel resentment towards Lissa after watching her being so happy and in love with Christian while knowing that she and Dimitri will never be able to be together.  But that isn't the only thing going on with Rose, she is getting increasingly angry over the smallest things and can't understand why her temper is so out of control.  When she starts seeing ghosts she really does start to think that she is loosing her mind.

Meanwhile the novice guardians are in the middle of their practical assignment where they must guard one of the Moroi from surprise attacks made my the teachers on campus.  Of course Rose knows she will be guarding Lissa - just like she will be after graduation - so it comes as quite a shock when she finds she has been assigned to someone else.  Avoiding Adrian's advances, juggling her temper and trying to ignore the ghostly figures she keeps seeing isn't going to make it easy to protect the Moroi she has been assigned to.  Much worse is to come though when she figures out that the ghosts are trying to warn her of great danger and she finds herself in the middle of a war fighting for survival.

If you're a fan of the last 2 books in the series then you're going to love Shadow Kiss.  It is by far my favorite in the series and I am desperate to get my hands on the next book, Blood Promise.  I love Rose in this book, she is dealing with so many things and her emotions are all over the place but she has grown an incredible amount since book 1.  Her feelings towards Lissa and her duty clash with her love of Dimitri and watching her try to work through everything really pulls at your heartstrings.  We also get to see more of Lissa and Christian who I love as a couple, spend time with the swoon worthy Dimitri who I adore, learn more about Adrian who I have to say is growing on me and spend time with Eddie who is such a sweetheart.

This book will take you on an emotional roller coaster ride like no other you've been on before.  I don't want to give any spoilers so I'm just going to say that this book will leave you spinning - the twist Richelle put in at the end was utterly heartbreaking and I have no idea how she is going to be able to fix things to my satisfaction.  Having gone through similar things in her adult succubus series I have confidence that she'll be able to work things out eventually but I just can't see how at the moment.  Shadow Kiss was truly an addictive read & I was unable to put it down, reading the entire book in just 1 sitting.  It left me wanting to scream with frustration & I have to admit to shedding a few tears.  Richelle is a queen of cliffhangers and has left me itching to start the next book, I'm just relieved to know that it's already in print so I can go out and get a copy immediately!

Source: Library

Other Reviews:

Ink and Paper
So Many Books, So Little Time
Chrissie's Corner
I'd So Rather Be Reading
Darlyn & Books
If you have reviewed this book on your blog please leave a link to your review in the comments & I'll add the link here.

Review: Frostbite - Richelle Mead

...Winter break turns deadly

A massive vampire attack has put St. Vladimir's Academy on high alert.  With all the deadly creatures closing in, this year's trip to the wintery peaks of Idaho has just become mandatory.

But Rose Hathaway can't escape her (guy) troubles.  Her relationship with gorgeous Dimitri can never be and her closest friend has just confessed to his huge crush on her...

The glittering winter landscape may seem like the perfect hideaway - but Rose, and her heart, are in more danger than she ever imagined.

Vampire Academy Series:
Vampire Academy
Frostbite
Shadow Kiss
Blood Promise
Spirit Bound
Last Sacrifice

Visit Richelle Mead's website for more information

Review:
Frostbite is the second book in the series and I would strongly recommend you read the series in order starting with Vampire Academy.  Although I don't include spoilers for Frostbite in this review if you haven't read Vampire Academy yet you might not want to read any further.  I absolutely love this series though so I would definitely recommend checking it out if you haven't started reading it yet!

Continuing the story on from the end of the first book Rose and Lissa are still at St Vladimir's Academy trying to catch up on the work they missed while on the run for 2 years.  Rose is working hard with the help of Dimitri but things between them are strained since they still can't act on the feelings they have for each other.  She also has to deal with the realisation that her close friend Mason has feelings for her - they get on so well that perhaps they would make a good couple?

When a group of Strigoi attack one of the royal families Rose finds herself caught in the middle of the investigation.  It soon becomes clear that the attack was like nothing that they have ever seen before - the Strigoi are working together in ways that are previously unheard of and now pose a greater threat than ever to the Moroi.  Increased security measures mean it will be safer if the entire school goes on the annual ski trip - it will be easier for the guardians to protect everyone if they are all together.  But when some of the novices decide to take action against the Strigoi, Rose and her friends find themselves in a danger they couldn't even have imagined.

I loved Vampire Academy but enjoyed Frostbite even more.  We get to see quite a different side to trouble maker Rose - she still has a temper and her smart mouth will continue to get her in trouble but we get to see her do quite a lot of growing up throughout the book.  We get to meet her mother Janine and Rose has to start dealing with the issues between them.  Rose has also become more sensible and after events in the last book she is fully aware of the danger that the Strigoi pose to both the guardians and the Moroi.  She was already one of my favorite young adult heroines but I like her even more now.

We don't see as much of Lissa in this book but I'm enjoying watching things develop between her and Christian.  I think they make a great couple and I'm looking forward to seeing how things continue between them.  I also really liked Christian's aunt Tasha - another great female role model who has great kick ass potential that I'm fully expecting to see more of in the future.  Things between Rose and Dimitri may be difficult but I love watching them together, the attraction between them is potent but I find the fact that they are both trying so hard to do the right thing and stay away from each other intriguing - I don't think I could be that noble in their position!

Another new character who I'm not so keen on at the moment is Adrian but I have a feeling he is going to be someone with an important part to play in the future of the series.  I'm curious to see what will happen with him but I hope his character grows on me more than he did in this installment.  Let me just say prepare to be on the edge of your seat in the second half of this book.  When the main action kicks off I was having trouble reading fast enough - I just couldn't wait to find out what would happen and how they would manage to get out of the predicament they found themselves in.  You might want to have a few tissues to hand though as there are a few heart in mouth moments before you reach the end of the book!  I definitely consider this to be my favorite young adult vampire series and I would urge anyone who loves vampires to give it a try - I'm sure you won't be disappointed!

Source: Library

Other Reviews:
Ink and Paper
Darlyn and Books
So Many Books, So Little Time
Chrissie's Corner
Story Wings
I'd So Rather Be Reading
If you have reviewed this book on your blog please leave a link to your review in the comments & I'll add the link here.