Review: Undead and Unworthy - MaryJanice Davidson

My Rating: E, L, H

Published: 2008
Publisher: Piatkus

Author's Website: maryjanicedavidson.net

Purchase @ Amazon.co.uk Amazon.com


Having recently lost her dad and stepmother, Betsy Sinclair (nee Taylor) is adjusting to rather more than just married life. Their untimely deaths have left her and Eric as sole guardians of her little brother. Two vampire parents – albeit vampire royalty – for a decidedly human baby. Still, Betsy is more than up for the challenge. If only everyone would stop being so nervous around her, given her sudden recent burst of power. Betsy most emphatically Does Not Want To Discuss It, and for the moment everyone is following her lead.

But then the ghost of Betsy’s stepmother turns up at their house. And as stubborn and insufferable as she was in life, she’s even more annoying in death – especially as she regards her demise as all Betsy’s fault!

Undead and Unworthy is the seventh instalment in the Queen Betsy series by MaryJanice Davidson. Once again there is action, humour and some ludicrous outbursts from Betsy, although Tina throws a mean tantrum too.

I absolutely loved this book, I think my favourite part of the book by far was chapter one. Once you read this you will understand and I don’t want to ruin it for those of you who haven’t read it yet. All I can say is Sinclair and Betsy are left very disappointed.

The Fiends make a reappearance in this book and it’s not in a friendly way. Luckily Betsy knows what to do and sorts everything out. I thought it was good to revisit the Fiends as they weren’t mentioned much in the previous book.

Betsy’s powers are a no go area of discussion in this book for her and it seems that everyone else is staying off the subject. I feel bad for Betsy here as she doesn’t know where the powers came from or how to control them if she accidentally calls on them.

I think this book is appropriately named. Betsy feels unworthy for all the things her friends does for her, unworthy to be a queen to the vampires as she doesn’t think she is helping them, unworthy of Sinclair etc etc. Basically Betsy is sort of wallowing in self pity for part of this book until she snaps out of it of course and kicks some butt.

There was a really nice moment where Antonia the werewolf defends Betsy and I thought this was a very loyal thing to do. The ending was rather unexpected and I didn’t like certain parts of it. I can’t really say why or else it will spoil the book for you.

Overall, I really enjoyed this book and I would recommend it to anyone who doesn’t want to read a serious in depth plot paranormal novel. The series as a whole is great for a laugh and also there is a great plot line to the story but it’s nothing too sinister or tricky to understand. Enjoy!

Disclaimer: I do know own this book and I have not been paid to review this book. I borrowed this book from the library and everything I have said is of my own honest opinion.

Review: Vampire Academy by Richelle Mead

My Rating: E, B, H, X

Published: 2007
Publisher: Razorbill

Author's Website: richellemead.com

Purchase @ Amazon.co.uk Amazon.com

Lissa Dragomir is a Moroi princess; a mortal vampire with an unbreakable bond to the earth's magic. She must be protected at all times from Strigoi; the fiercest and most dangerous vampires - the ones who never die.

The powerful blend of human and vampire blood that flows through Rose Hathaway, Lissa's best friend, makes her a Dhampir. Rose is dedicated to a dangerous life of protecting Lissa from the Strigoi, who are hell-bent on making her one of them.

After two years of illicit freedom, Rose and Lissa are caught and dragged back to St. Vladimir's Academy, hidden in the deep forests of Montana. Rose will continue her Dhampir education. Lissa will go back to being Queen of the elite Moroi social scene. And both girls will resume breaking Academy hearts.

Fear made Lissa and Rose run away from St. Vladimir's - inside the Academy's iron gates, their world is even more fraught with danger. Here, the cutthroat ranks of the Moroi perform unspeakable rituals, and their secretive nature and love of the night creates an enigmatic world full of social complexities. Rose and Lissa must navigate through this dangerous world, confront the temptation of forbidden romance, and never once let their guard down, lest the Strigoi make Lissa one of them forever...

Vampire Academy is the first novel in the Vampire Academy series by Richelle Mead. The first book introduces us into the world of the vampires in Montana. Rose, a Dhampir (a mortal half vampire, half human), is the best friend and unofficial guardian of the, Moroi (mortal upper class vampire), Princess Lissa Dragomir. They are connected by a bond that was forged after a horrible accident that happened a few years prior to the present time set in the book.

The story starts with Rose and Lissa on the run from the academy and trying to keep out of Strigoi’s way. The Strigoi are vampires are evil and have killed which makes them immortal but it takes away their ability to go out in the sun and it takes away their magic. The pair ran away because there was danger near at the academy and Rose decided it was best to get Lissa away from there as she fears for their lives. They manage to remain hidden for two years. But eventually they were caught.

Once they return to the academy, a string of unusual sacrifices start happening and they are directed at our leading ladies. They don’t know who is behind it but they do know that they can’t let their secret get out or else their lives will never be the same.

Rose carries on her Dhampir education but also takes on extra training sessions with Lissa’s other guardian, Dimitiri, in order to make her the best guardian she can be. She wants to be able to protect Lissa the best she can and to do this she must know how to take down and defeat the Strigroi even if it’s someone she knows. She can’t allow herself to hesitate or to be distracted, which proves difficult when she becomes attracted to someone she really shouldn’t.

I loved all the action in this book. There were a few action scenes but there also lots of nice warm moments between Lissa and Rose. You can see that their friendship goes beyond their bond and that they care deeply for one another. Rose always has Lissa’s back and won’t let anything hurt her. Lissa is the exact same, she doesn’t like it when people try to hurt Rose.

Rose is an excellent, kick ass, tough character. She doesn’t take anything lying down, she gets back up and fights it head on. I envy her quick wittedness and her loyalty to Lissa. Nothing can break her loyalty to Lissa, even when she pushes Rose away. Lissa comes across as a delicate flower, beautiful and gentle but easily crushed if in the wrong hands. But what people don’t realise is that she is the hidden bee within that flower, ready to sting if Rose or she is threatened.

Overall, I loved this book and can’t wait to sink my teeth into the next book in the series, Frostbite. I think this book has an excellent plot and it’s well balance between the plot, romance and friendship. There are lots of funny parts in this book, which is because of Rose although Christian’s dark humour is rather amusing. There are scenes of a sexual nature but nothing too erotic or explicit and there are a few gruesome scenes. I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys vampire fiction. This book is a mix between PC & Kristin Cast’s House of Night Series and MaryJanice Davidson’s Queen Betsy series and I love both of these series.

Disclaimer: I have not purchased this book, I borrowed it from the library. I have not been paid to review this book and everything I have said is of my own honest opinion.

In My Mailbox...(3)

In My Mailbox is a meme that is hosted by The Story Siren every Sunday.

Having recently lost her dad and stepmother, Betsy Sinclair (nee Taylor) is adjusting to rather more than just married life. Their untimely deaths have left her and Eric as sole guardians of her little brother. Two vampire parents – albeit vampire royalty – for a decidedly human baby. Still, Betsy is more than up for the challenge. If only everyone would stop being so nervous around her, given her sudden recent burst of power. Betsy most emphatically Does Not Want To Discuss It, and for the moment everyone is following her lead.

But then the ghost of Betsy’s stepmother turns up at their house. And as stubborn and insufferable as she was in life, she’s even more annoying in death – especially as she regards her demise as all Betsy’s fault!

It wasn’t hard to follow the scent of blood to the living room where the fae had been killed. It had been a violent death, perfect for creating ghosts.

Mercy Thompson enjoys being a mechanic, but life is never simple given her increasing closeness to the local werewolf pack, and her ability to change into coyote form at will. And when a member of the fae community calls in a favour, needing her skills for a covert murder investigation, she jumps into the hunt.

But the dangers multiply and she clashes with shadowed creatures of great power. When her old boss Zee is charged with a brutal assassination, Mercy finds herself fighting alone. There are those who love her, who would keep her safe, but she is way and holds her freedom precious. Until, that is, she has nothing left to lose but her life…

Kitty Norville is a midnight-shift DJ for a Denver radio station – and a werewolf in secret. Sick of lame requests, she accidentally starts ‘The Midnight Hour’, a late-night talk show for the supernaturally disadvantaged.

After desperate vampires, werewolves and witches across the country begin calling into share their woes, her new show is raging success. But it’s Kitty who can use some help. With one sexy werewolf hunter and a few homicidal undead on her trail, Kitty may have bitten off more than she can chew…

Review: The Laughing Corpse by Laurell K. Hamilton

My Rating: G, P, X

Published: September 1994
Publisher: Marvel

Author's Website: laurellkhamilton.org
Purchase @ Amazon.co.uk Amazon.com

After a few centuries, the only death ‘big enough’ is a human sacrifice. I know because I’m an animator. My name is Anita Blake.

Working for Animators, Inc. is just a job – like selling insurance. But all the money in the world wasn’t enough for me to take on the particular job Harold Gaynor was offering.

Somebody else did, though – a rogue animator. Now he’s not just raising the dead...he’s raising Hell. An it’s up to me to stop it.

The Laughing Corpse is the second book in the Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter series by Laurell K. Hamilton.

A rogue zombie is going around killing people as its’ animator has lost control over it. Someone tries to hire Anita to raise a very old corpse but she won’t do it as this requires a human sacrifice, even with their persuasive techniques she will not do it. Jean Claude is trying to rein Anita in as his human servant but Anita is having none of it – she submits to no one.

I can’t say I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It was kind of hard to get a handle on the plot to begin with so I think this threw me off big time. I think I finally started to get into the book about three quarters of the way through. Once I got into it, I enjoyed the plotline and the characters. My favourite bit is the interaction between Anita and a copy at a murder scene.

I’m scared for Anita and her future as what happens in this story changes her and I don’t think this change is going to be good for her. She has gone one step too far.

I was hoping Jean Claude would make an appearance again. I grew to like him in the first book. Hopefully Anita and Jean Claude get together at some point – would make the whole Master Vampire and human servant link rather interesting. Seeing as Anita is blatantly not submissive.

Where was Edward in this book? I was hoping he would turn up and help Anita kill the zombie, I see him as a sort of sidekick. He has more of a violent streak than Anita though.

Overall, the story was a slow start for me and eventually I got into it but I would only recommend this to the right reader. If you want to read a more in depth novel in regard to plots and characters then this book series is for you.

Disclaimer: I do not own this book. I borrowed it from the library. I have not been paid to review this book and everything I have said is of my own honest opinion.

Review: Lover Awakened by J.R. Ward

My Rating: E, B, X

Published: September 2006
Publisher: Signet Eclipse

Author's Website: jrward.com

Purchase @ Amazon.co.uk Amazon.com

In the shadows of the night in Caldwell, New York, there’s a deadly war raging between vampires and their slayers. And there exists a secret band of brothers like no other - six vampire warriors, defenders of their race. Of these, Zsadist is the most terrifying member of the Black Dagger Brotherhood.

A former blood slave, the vampire Zsadist still bears the scars from a past filled with suffering and humiliation. Renowned for his unquenchable fury and sinister deeds, he is a savage feared by humans and vampires alike. Anger is his only companion, and terror is his only passion—until he rescues a beautiful aristocrat from the evil Lessening Society.

Bella is instantly entranced by the seething power Zsadist possesses. But even as their desire for one another begins to overtake them both, Zsadist’s thirst for vengeance against Bella’s tormentors drives him to the brink of madness. Now, Bella must help her lover overcome the wounds of his tortured past, and find a future with her…

Lover Awakened is the third novel in the Black Dagger Brotherhood series by J.R. Ward and what a series it has been so far.

From Dark Lover, we see Wrath find his true love and exact revenge for the death of his family, in Lover Eternal we see the softer side to Rhage and he finds love and inner peace and in Lover Awakened we find out more about Zsadist’s past as a blood slave and how he came to be the vampire we are terrified of but trust at the same time.

Zsadist is a very dark and cruel vampire, but there is more to him. His scars are legendary and there are many rumours about him. He is illiterate due to his slavery and he is cruel to women because of what happened to him as a slave. It’s such a sad story to read but I enjoyed every minute of it, does that make me a masochist? I felt for Zsadist when he is confused about Bella. He doesn’t want to want her but he does and this is confusing to him because of what happened in his slave days. I truly wanted to kill the vampires that had Zsadist as a slave – I felt so bad for him.

At the beginning of the book Bella is still being held prisoner by the evil Lesser, Mr. O, who has decided he wants to keep her. She is beaten and forced to hear and watch the tortures of her species. Everyone is searching for Bella but she seems to be impossible to find and some believe she is dead. Luckily word gets to the Brotherhood of her location and she is saved.

I loved the tender moments between Zsadist and Bella, like when he takes care of her and makes sure she is well and that no one is to hurt her at all if it can’t be helped. After being rescued from the Lessers, Zsadist and Bella have more in common than what Zsadist has with anyone else that lives at the mansion.

Tension rises when a female within the Brotherhood mansion goes into her needing, but who will help relieve her pain? I will leave that to you to find out. Let’s just say it was an exhausting experience, both for the characters and for me reading about it. I was about ready to collapse just reading about how much pain and agony the female was in and it’s hard going on the male too.

There are a couple of deaths that were totally unexpected and I think not needed, but I suppose it will all come to light as I read on. I was like ‘No that can’t happen’ but it did and it felt like it hurt me as much as it hurt the characters in the story. That is the downside of getting too engrossed in a book, you feel everything the characters feel.

There’s a pleasant little twist near the end of the book and I totally didn’t see it coming. It was nicely hidden, and exposed in a rather humorous fashion. Really the clues are there all along, but I didn’t pick up on them.

I have to say that this is my favourite book so far in the Black Dagger Brotherhood series. I loved the in depth back story of Zsadist and his slave days and how Phury came to lost a leg. It’s also nice to learn more about the aristocracy of the vampires. I liked how in this book there were, what seemed to me, a lot more point of views of the characters. It wasn’t all Bella, or Zsadist. It was evenly proportioned and really enjoyable to read. I would definitely recommend to anyone reading this series, if you are having trouble getting into the books, please stick with them until this book at least. It will blow you away.

Disclaimer: I have not bought this book but was given it in PDF format by a friend. I am not being paid to review this book and everything I have said is of my own honest opinion.

Review: Lover Eternal by J.R. Ward

My Rating: E, B, X

Published: March 2006
Publisher: Signet Eclipse

Author's Website: jrward.com

Purchase @ Amazon.co.uk Amazon.com

Within the brotherhood, Rhage is the vampire with the strongest appetites. He’s the best fighter, the quickest to act on his impulses, and the most voracious lover—for inside him burns a ferocious curse cast by the Scribe Virgin. Possessed by this dark side, Rhage fears the times when his inner dragon is unleashed, making him a danger to everyone around him.
Mary Luce, a survivor of many hardships, is unwittingly thrown into the vampire world and reliant on Rhage’s protection. With a life-threatening curse of her own, Mary is not looking for love. Her faith in miracles was lost years ago. But when Rhage’s intense animal attraction turns into something more emotional, he knows that he must make Mary his alone. And while their enemies close in, Mary fights desperately to gain life eternal with the one she loves…

Lover Eternal is the second instalment in the Black Dagger Brotherhood series by J.R. Ward. This book focuses on Rhage’s story and about a human female, Mary Luce and her life struggles.

Rhage has made some bad choices in his life and the consequences of his actions led to him being burdened with the beast that is unleashed whenever he is fighting. Mary is a lonely woman who lost her mother to a terrible disease and is trying to get on with her life when her fate takes a cruel twist.

The story basically starts from where the first book, Dark Lover, ended. The Brotherhood are living together and are still taking out the Lessers. Mary comes across a young man and with the aid of her neighbour Bella, they help him which leads to Mary finding Rhage.

Rhage can’t leave Mary alone and courts her within an inch of her life. He takes it upon himself to protect her and this causes some strife within the Brotherhood. Along the way we see a different side to Zsadist but I won’t say anymore on that subject – I will let you find out for yourself.

The Lessers are still going around torturing the civilian vampires to get to the Brotherhood. Not much has changed there apart from they have gotten more organised than in the last book.

Well, what can I say about this book apart from I loved it so much I couldn’t stop reading. I was so entranced by Rhage and Mary’s relationship, so much torment and torture. I was so into the story that I was nearly in tears at the end, so heartfelt and real. The sex scenes were so beautifully written. How I wished I was Mary hehe.

I would highly recommend anyone that has read Dark Lover to read this book – you will not be let down. Now onto Lover Awakened – see what the Brotherhood are up to next.

Disclaimer: I have not bought this book but was given it in PDF format by a friend. I am not being paid to review this book and everything I have said is of my own honest opinion.

In My Mailbox...(2)

In My Mailbox is a meme that is hosted by The Story Siren every Sunday.

Books that I have borrowed from the libarary this week:

After a few centuries, the only death 'big enough' is a human sacrifice. I know because I'm an animator. My name is Anita Blake.

Working for Animators, Inc. is just a job - like selling insurance. But all the money in the world wasn't enough for me to take on the particular job Harold Gaynor was offering.

Somebody else did, though - a rogue animator. Now he's not just raising the dead...he's raising Hell. And it's just to me to stop it.

Lissa Dragomir is a Moroi princess; a mortal vampire with an unbreakable bond to the earth's magic. She must be protected at all times from Strigoi; the fiercest and most dangerous vampires - the ones who never die.

The powerful blend of human and vampire blood that flows through Rose Hathaway, Lissa's best friend, makes her a Dhampir. Rose is dedicated to a dangerous life of protecting Lissa from the Strigoi, who are hell-bent on making her one of them.

After two years of illicit freedom, Rose and Lissa are caught and dragged back to St. Vladimir's Academy, hidden in the deep forests of Montana. Rose will continue her Dhampir education. Lissa will go back to being Queen of the elite Moroi social scene. And both girls will resume breaking Academy hearts.

Fear made Lissa and Rose run away from St. Vladimir's - inside the Academy's iron gates, their world is even more fraught with danger. Here, the cutthroat ranks of the Moroi perform unspeakable rituals, and their secretive nature and love of the night creates an enigmatic world full of social complexities. Rose and Lissa must navigate through this dangerous world, confront the temptation of forbidden romance, and never once let their guard down, lest the Strigoi make Lissa one of them forever...

Review: Dark Lover - J.R. Ward

My Rating: E, B, X

Published: September 2005
Publisher: Signet Eclipse

Author's Website: jrward.com

Purchase @ Amazon.co.uk Amazon.com

In the shadows of the night in Caldwell, New York, there’s a deadly turf war going on between vampires and their slayers. There exists a secret band of brothers like no other – six vampire warriors who are defenders of their race. Yet none of them relishes killing more than Wrath, the blind leader of the Black Dagger Brotherhood.

The only purebred vampire left on earth, Wrath has a score to settle with the slayers who murdered his parents centuries ago. But, when one his most trusted fighters is killed – leaving his half-breed daughter unaware of his existence or her fate – Wrath must usher her into the world of the undead – a world beyond her wildest dreams...

Dark Lover is the first novel in the Black Dagger Brotherhood series. This book focuses on Wrath’s story which involves revenge and love.
Well I have to say that I thoroughly enjoyed this book, so much that I have already started the next one, Lover Eternal, and can’t put it down either. These books are very much addictive. The Brothers have some seriously cool names and very fitting for what their job requires them to do – Wrath, Rhage, Tohrment, Vishous, Phury and Zsadist.

Wrath is the King of the Vampires and he is blind. This doesn’t stop him from kicking some Lessers butts though. He has been tormented for years over the deaths of his parents and has been seeking revenge every since. He is mated with a vampire female, Marissa, but he is not truly with her in the ways that other male vampires are with their shellans, female mates. This all changes once Wrath meets Beth, half-breed daughter of Darius, a fallen Brother. Wrath keeps an eye on Beth and takes care of her during her transition period.

The Lessers are disgusting looking, soulless, impotent creatures that are trying to exterminate the vampire race. They serve the Omega, from what I gather is a very ancient and evil creature, who is a life taker and the opposite of the vampires’ Scribe Virgin who gives life. In this story their leader, Mr. X, is trying to lure out civilian vampires to get to the Brotherhood. I will let you read on to find out if they are successful or not.

This book has a lot, a lot, of sex scenes. I think I lost count of how many times our characters got it on but it was exciting to go on that journey of self discovery with them. Beth is trying to figure out who she is, one day she is an editor for a paper and has never had the chance to have her own work published and then the next day she finds out she is a half-breed and will be turning into a vampire any day now. I think this is enough to blow anyone’s minds and have them confused about who they are. Beth takes to it with ease though as if this transition was the thing she was waiting to happen to let her live her life to the fullest. Before she never had a boyfriend, worked all the time and the only friends she had were the guys at the local police precinct that gave her tip offs for stories.

Overall I loved this book and I think this is a new series of books that I am definitely going to keep reading. You will not regret reading this book. Revenge, love, fun, self-discovery, romance – what more could a reader ask for?

Disclaimer: I borrowed this book from the library and I have not received any payment for reviewing this book. Everything I have said in this review is of my own honest opinion.

Review: Burned - PC & Kristin Cast

My Rating: E. P, B

Published: April 2010
Publisher: Atom

Publisher's Website: pccast.net

Purchase @ Amazon.co.uk Amazon.com

Zoey Redbird is the youngest High Priestess in the House of Night history and is the only person-vamp or fledging – who can stop the evil Neferet from raising all kinds of immortal trouble. And she might just have a chance if she wasn’t so busy being dead.

Well, dead is too strong a word. Stevie Rae knows she bring her BFF back from her unscheduled va-cay in the Otherworld. But it’s going to take a lot more than hoping to bring Zoey back. Stevie Rae might have to give up a few secrets of her own...

Burned is the latest instalment in the House of Night series by PC and Kristin Cast. It’s deliciously exciting and will keep you hooked.

I really enjoyed the journey that this book takes you on. It deals with friendship, loyalty, love and above all else, honour.

We see Zoey and her friends on a journey to their own self-discovery. And on the way they realise that there is only one way this can go or else it will be the end of the world as they know it.

Zoey is busy trying to keep get to grips with herself and keeping a hold on Heath, her first love and consort, whilst Stark, her Warrior, is mad with grief over what has happened to his High Priestess. He is extremely furious with himself as he feels he was unable to protect her by choosing the wrong path.

Stevie Rae is on a mission to help get her friend back by finding out as much as she can about the Otherworld but nothing is ever simple. Her life gets rather complicated and causes her to lie to the ones she cares about.

Aphrodite is about the only one that’s keeping it altogether and trying to get everyone on the same page in her bid to get Zoey back into the real world. And as usual she is being her usual bitchy self about it all. But we expect that of her – wouldn’t want her any other way.

Other than the main plot to this book, I feel there is a huge underlying meaning within the story, one that applies to us all - we all may be broken at one stage in our life for whatever reason, but in the end we have to pull ourselves together with a little help from our friends.

On that note, I would like to say that this is a great series to read and the latest addition to is nothing but brilliant writing. I would highly recommend this book to anyone who is a fan of the series and enjoys reading about the vampire world. This book that can be enjoyed by all. I can’t wait for Awakened to come out now...I wonder what’s in store for the fledglings.

Disclaimer: I did not get paid to review this book. I borrowed this book from my sister. Everything I have said is my own honest opinion.

Review: Undead and Uneasy - MaryJanice Davidson

My Rating: E, L, H

Published: 2007
Publisher: Piatkus

Author's Website: maryjanicedavidson.net

Purchase @ Amazon.co.uk Amazon.com

Betsy Taylor, undead vampire queen, has been given a new nickname by her nearest and dearest: Bridezilla. Because whether you’re alive or undead, planning weddings is a bitch. Especially when your groom thinks the whole thing is a waste of time.

Betsy’s also dealing with a full house: she lives with a ghost (Cathy), a werewolf (Antonia), a gay physician/human (Marc), her fiancé and vampire king (Eric Sinclair), her best friend (Jessica), and a recovering Fiend (Garrett). But when Sinclair disappears and then, one by one, her friends go missing, Betsy begins to get seriously uneasy…

Undead and Uneasy is the sixth installment in the Queen Betsy series. This book is full of witty comments, action and baby sick.

I don’t know how MaryJanice Davidson does it. Every time I read one of her books I’m constantly giggling to myself. Betsy’s humour , wit and ability to get into trouble no matter what she does just leaves me in hysterics.

Betsy has some trying times in this book but it’s nice to see that she is able to sort out some of her previous problems from the other books in the series. She finally makes amends with John Delk, who was previously a Blade Warrior who killed vampires, and they become friends again. We learn more about Antonia’s pack. Marc finally finds love or more like lust at this stage, but finally he is getting some action.

The book starts with Betsy and Eric looking over wedding announcement cards and as usual Eric shows no enthusiasm for this task. We then go on to Betsy looking for her wedding gown which isn’t successful. Then something terrible happens that affects Betsy deeply and then everyone starts to go missing.

Betsy is alone for the majority of this book apart from the odd phone call from Tina, who is stranded in another country and garbles phones calls from Marc that makes no sense and sounds like he’s in danger. The Vampire Queen is working hard trying to figure this mess all out when she is attacked. Once the attack is over, she is finally able to move on to try and find her loved ones.

Finally clarity hits Betsy, in the strangest of places, during a phone call with her mother. Seriously I think it’s so funny how Betsy comes up with the answers to everything. But even this enemy seems too strong for Betsy. Does she find her loved ones and rescue them? Well I’ll leave you guys to read the book to find out for yourselves.

Again, I have enjoyed this book as I have all the previous book in the series. I think this book is exceptional, highly entertaining, full of antics and baby sick. What more do you want from a book? Well maybe less of the baby sick. I would recommend this book for young adults and upwards and is definitely worth the read.

Disclaimer: I have not bought this book or been given it free of charge and I am not receiving money to review this book. I borrow this book from the local library and everything I have said is based on my honest opinion.

In My Mailbox...(1) - EDIT

Hi,

So, my lovely boyfriend bought me two books yesterday to try and cheer me up. They aren't from the supernatual genre but I still enjoy reading books by these authors and are worth checking out. The great thing about these two books are that you don't have to read the series to be able to follow the story.

 

8th Confession by James Patterson

When a rock star, a fashion designer, a software tycoon and a millionaire heiress are all murdered in mysterious circumstances, Detective Lindsay Boxer is quickly assigned to the high-profile investigation.

Few people are as interested when a local hero, Bagman Jesus, is found brutally executed. Reporter Cindy Thomas, however, becomes fascinated by his story. He was loved by so many - who would want to kill him? Could the down-and-out Samaritan have been hiding a dark secret?

Both Lindsay and Cindy need the help of their fellow members of the Women's Murder Club to crack these complicated cases; but with tensions running high, will the friends be strong enough to stick together, or will the strain tear them apart?

Roadside Crosses by Jeffrey Deaver

On the internet, you can never be sure who is listedning.

Anyone can discover your secrets. Your deepest fears.

And some will use them against you.

Roadside crosses are appearing along the Californinan highways - memorials to deaths that have not yet occurred.

Now Kathryn Dance, Special Agent and kinesics expert, must race against the clock to find a psychopath before he can carry out his deadly plans...in the cyber world and the real.

Have any of you read these books? If so, what do you think of them?

Contest over at 'I Should Be Writing'

So..for Valerie's birthday she is celebrating she is hosting a contest. There are prizes for readers and prizes for writers.

If you are interested, head over to 'I Should Be Writing' for all the deails.

In My Mailbox...(1)

In My Mailbox is a meme that is hosted by The Story Siren every Sunday.

Books that I have borrowed from the libarary this week:

Tall, Dark and Dead by Tate Hallaway

Trouble is magic is so addictive, especially when you've got inner goddesses like Lilith to contend with. And it doesn't stop there for Garnet; if you are going to run an occult bookstore then you've got to expect customers like Sebatian Von Traum, with this piercing brown eyes, sexy accent, killer body and total lack of aura; which means he's dead...

Trouble can be so hard to resist, and what with Vatican witch hungers, long-lost vampire exes and a boyfriend with an ex-wife who is literally stirring in her grave, Garnet Lacey has trouble enough for anyone.

Dark Love by J.R. Ward

In the shadows of the night in Caldwell, New York, there's a deadly turf war going on between vampires and their slayers. There exists a secret band of brothers like no other - six vampire warriors who are defenders of their race. Yet none of them relishes killing more than Wrath, the blond leader of the Black Dagger Brotherhood.

The only purebred vampire left on earth, Wrath has a score to settle with teh slayers who murdered his parents centuries ago. But, when one of his most trusted fighters is killed - leaving his half-breed daughter unaware of his existence or her fate - Wrath must usher her into the world of the undead - a world beyond her wildest dreams...

Undead and Uneasy by MaryJanice Davidson

Betsy Taylor, undead vampire queen, has been given a new nickname by her nearest and dearest: Bridezilla. Because whether you're alove or undead, planning weddings is a bitch. Especially when your groom thinks the whole thing is a waste of time.

Betsy's also dealing with a full house: she lives with a ghost (Cathy), a werewolf (Antonia), a gay physician/human (Marc), her fiance and vampire king (Eric Sinclair), her best friend (Jessica), and a recovering Fiend (Garrett). But when Sinclair disappears and then, one by one, her friends go missing, Betsy begins to get seriously uneasy...

Review: Dark Prince - Christine Feehan

My Rating: G, R, B

Published: April 2005

Publisher: Leisure Books

Author's Website: christinefeehan.com

Purchase @ Amazon.co.uk Amazon.com

Raven Whitney is a psychic who has used her gift to help the police track down a serial killer. Now she is determined to escape the glare of recent publicity for the peace of the Carpathian Mountains. Despite her own emotional fatigue, Raven finds herself connecting psychically to another wounded individual somewhere close by. Prince Mikhail s the leader of his people but, as his ancient Carpathian race nears extinction, he is close to giving in to loneliness and despair. Then a female voice enters his mind and tries to console him. Intrigued, Mikhail becomes obsessed with finding his unusual human female. From the moment their minds touch, Raven and Mikhail form a connection. But there are those who incorrectly view all Carpathians as vampires, and are determined to give their extinction a helping hand...

Dark Prince is a tale of an advanced race of people that are neither human nor vampire. They are one step closer to being a vampire than the normal human and only make this transition if they allow the darkness to consume them. Their sole purpose, it would seem, is to find their life mate

The Carpathians are a dying race. Their women aren’t able to give birth to girls and most of their children die within the first year of infancy. This situation is weighing heavily on their Prince Mikhail’s shoulders. He is in despair and edging closer to the darkness within him until a female human, Raven, makes a psychic connection with him to try and help ease his depression.

I thought this story was very inventive and creative and I enjoyed the story but I didn’t like all of it. Mikhail infuriated me with his commanding ways and his obsession with Raven. I understand they are true life mates etc etc etc, but can you imagine never having a moment to yourself to do the things that you enjoy but instead always having to be around the same person for all eternity. On top of that you aren’t able to leave them or else you will both die. I think I would scream blue murder. Don’t get me wrong, I love my other half and can’t imagine life without him, but I need my own personal time too.

I get it if they both fell in love and got to know one another before all that happened, but instead Mikhail performed an everlasting act upon the both of them without even consulting Raven first. If I was Raven I would have went nuts and wouldn’t have given into him. But saying that, love at first sight is said to be a rather powerful thing.

It was rather irksome that Raven gave into Mikhail’s every sexual advance but at the same time I can understand her need to be with him to make everything seem right. How their love for one another came about is a tad unbelievable to me but it works in for the story.

I wasn’t sure where the story was heading from the first couple of chapters as it all seemed to be about Raven and Mikhail. I thought to myself at this point – this can’t be all that happens. I kept going on with reading it and found half way through the book there was some action scenes but thought oh well that’s over, what’s on the agenda now, what else can happen? Then the bad guy shows up finally and it doesn’t all work out great for him but I thought it all worked out a bit too easy for Mikhail. I thought Andre would have had a few more tricks up his sleeve.
All in all, I was rather annoyed most of the way through because of Raven giving into everything so easily and not really questioning who or what Mikhail was and putting her trust so easily into someone before he laid everything out on the table for her. The ending was lacking slightly for me, I think I expected too much. The sexual scenes were tastefully done and leaves a little bit to the imagination. I do think there was a rather lot of sex scenes, it seemed like every time you turned a page they were at it. I most likely will continue with the next book to see where the series leads me.

Disclaimer: I have not bought this book or been given it free of charge and I am not receiving any money to review this book. I borrowed this book from the local library and everything I have said is based on my honest opinion.

Review: Undead and Unpopular - MaryJanice Davidson

My Rating: E, B, L Published: 2006 Publisher: Piatkus Author's Website: maryjanicedavidson.net Available @ Amazon.co.uk Amazon.com Betsy Taylor, Vampire Queen, already has plenty on her plate. For one thing, next week is her 31st birthday – and her 1st anniversary of being undead. On top of that, she still has wedding plans to finalise – and it’s not helping that the prospective groom is avoiding anything to do with it. And then there’s her decision to stop drinking blood – something she has yet to share with Eric Sinclair, her fiancé. So the last thing she wants to deal with is uninvited guests, even if they happen to be powerful European vampires who have finally come to pay their respects the week before her birthday. Some of them don’t want Betsy as their Queen, and will do anything to get rid of her. As if turning thirty last year (not to mention dying) hadn’t been traumatic enough. And trying to give up blood is making her really cranky... Undead and Unpopular is the fifth book from the Queen Betsy series. It will definitely make you laugh out loud, giggle non-stop and have you demanding to have a pair of designer sandals in winter time. I absolutely love this series. Every page I turn, Betsy is always saying or doing something that makes me laugh. Her humour is utterly fantastically flippant but she is a bit precocious when it comes to her Queenly duties and very self centred regarding everything else. Betsy was just a normal girl fascinated with designer shoes, until one day, she died and rose as a vampire. But she wasn’t just any vampire, she was the Queen of all vampires. Apparently this was all foretold in The Book of the Dead, a sort of vampire bible. Some of the vampires weren’t too happy about this and don’t believe she is their Queen. They soon realise once they meet her that there’s no doubt that she is their Queen. She is now organising her wedding to Eric Sinclair, who doesn’t seem to be interested in this human ceremony because to him they are already married and are to be together for at least one thousand years. This irks Betsy something terrible. Her one year anniversary of being dead is just around the corner along with her thirty first birthday and now she decides to go on a hunger strike thinking because she is the Queen she can do anything. As she finds out, it just makes her really cranky and irritable. (WARNING - POSSIBLE SPOILER’S FOR PREVIOUS QUEEN BETSY BOOKS AND FOR THIS BOOK SERIES IN FOLLOWING PARAGRAPH) As in all the Queen Betsy series books so far, there is always some dilemma for Betsy. I think in Undead and Unpopular all the drama for her is based on how she decides to rule her vampire kingdom, at the moment the majority of vampire are still sticking to the old laws. Betsy doesn’t want any vampires killing humans. When she finds out that one of the vampires that has come to pay their long overdue respects was the one that murdered and turned her friend Sophie, she has to take a stand and do the right thing by her friend and by her subjects. But she doesn’t want to just kill the bad vampire, she wants to start afresh so she decides that he has to pay one way or another. It takes a friend’s illness, their reluctance to be turned into a vampire and a fight with a zombie to make Betsy realise what she has to do about Sophie’s problem. Betsy finds clarity in the strangest places. (END OF SPOILER WARNING) Jessica is going through a major crisis in this story as you will find out as you read on and of course Betsy makes it all about her. Betsy is rather self-centred when it comes to most things, but in the end she works it all out and realises it’s not about her at all. Marc is still going about but he’s not really a prominent character in this book. Tina is her usual self and slaving after Eric. Undead and Unpopular isn’t really big on serious plots, but more of a humorous and light read. It’s good for a giggle. There are a few sexual scenes in this book but nothing I would call explicit enough to warrant an ‘X’ rating but I still wouldn’t recommend it to young readers. I think the series is really great and I really enjoy reading them. I can’t wait to find out how the wedding goes. Good luck Betsy! Disclaimer: I have not bought this book or been given it free of charge and I am not receiving any money to review this book. I borrowed this book from the local library and everything I have said is based on my honest opinion.

Review: First Drop of Crimson - Jeaniene Frost

My Rating: VG, B, X Released: 9th February 2010 Publisher: Avon Books Author's Website: jeanienefrost.com Available @ Amazon.co.uk Amazon.com The night is not safe for mortals. Denise MacGregor knows all too well what lurks in the shadows – her best friend is a half-vampire Cat Crawfield – and she has already lost more than the average human could bear. But her family’s past is wrapped in secrets and shrouded in darkness – and a demon shapeshifter has marked Denise as prey. Now her survival depends on an immortal who lusts for a taste of her. He is Spade, a powerful, mysterious vampire who has walked the earth for centuries and is now duty-bound to protect this endangered, alluring human – even if it means destroying his own kind. Denise may arouse his deepest hungers, but Spade knows he must fight his urge to have her as they face the nightmare together... First Drop of Crimson is the first novel in the Night Huntress World series, a spin off series from the Night Huntress series starring Cat Crawfield. The Night Huntress World series are novels, I think are, introducing us to the other characters that you would have met if you have read the Night Huntress series and giving us a more in depth look at their history. I’m not sure that I knew what to expect from this book or what to make of it. The beginning felt a bit off for me with Spade’s automatic lust and feelings towards Denise. This was probably because I am used to reading about the emotions flitting back and forth between Cat and Bones, and haven’t really thought much about the other characters and their lives/feelings out with Cat’s knowledge before. I certainly didn’t catch the look that they gave one another in the Night Huntress series – come to think of it, I don’t think it was actually mentioned (I could be wrong, don’t have the book in front of me to check). The plotline was rather interesting as the Night Huntress series, so far, hasn’t dabbled with demons so that put a nice new spin on things. The demon is quite essential to the plotline because he is the one of the reasons that Denise and Spades cross paths. I liked that we found out more about Spade’s rather unfortunate and sad past and what happened to Denise as she was hardly mentioned in the fourth book of the Night Huntress series. It’s a shame that she blamed herself for everything that happened. I felt bad for Denise for being dragged into this whole mess with the demon. Denise’s family’s past has created some serious bad karma for her and has caused some of her family members to end up dead. The demon threatens to kill the rest of her family unless she brings him what he wants, and believe me it’s nothing short of simple. His sought after toy has been hidden deep within the vampire world. This demon business has a bad affect on her and she has to learn how to control herself. Spade craves Denise like he craves blood, ever since the first time he met her, but was warned to stay away, which he has done. But when she calls him requesting supernatural help, he wilfully obliges. He never realised what he was getting himself into when he agreed to help. As the story progresses, Spade doesn’t want to let Denise go. He ends up falling for her and because of what has happened in his past, he is determined not to let her die. The only thing stopping him carrying out his plan is that Denise doesn’t agree with it one bit. (WARNING - SPOILER’S FOR NIGHT HUNTRESS & NIGHT HUNTRESS WORLD SERIES IN FOLLOWING PARAGRAPH) It was a nice surprise to see Cat and Bones in this book. I didn’t think they would appear what with the story focusing on Denise and Spade and their problems, but I suppose Spade has helped them quite a bit in the past. Once they turned up, if felt like everything would be okay, they would take over and save the day. They didn’t take over, but they did help a lot. I was constantly wondering when Denise would find out that Cat had finally gone all the way to the other side – seemed like Spade wasn’t going to tell her. (END OF SPOILER WARNING) Overall, I thought the story was very good and there was a fine balance between romance and the plot. There quite a lot of scenes that contain sexual content. It’s not too explicit but I would recommend the book for more mature teens and adults. First Drop of Crimson was definitely a page turner and I had trouble putting it down at certain bits, so I had to keep reading, even until the late hours of the night, luckily it was a weekend. Disclaimer: I bought this book with my own money and I am not receiving money in for this review. Everything I have said is of my own honest opinion.

Review: Blood Bound - Patricia Briggs

My Rating: E, P, B Released: 2007 (USA) & 2008 (UK) Publisher: Ace, Penguin Group (USA) Inc & Orbit (UK) Author's Website: patriciabriggs.com Available @ Amazon.co.uk Amazon.com Mercy Thompson; woken at 3am by a vampire. Stefan also happens to be a friend, and he needs her help. He has to deliver a message to a fellow undead and needs a witness that won’t be noticed – and Mercy’s shapeshifting abilities maker her the perfect candidate. But the assignment turns into a bloodbath and Mercy attracts the attention of not just a powerful vampire, but the even more powerful demon possessing him. She can count on the supernatural community for protection – and alpha werewolf Adam would like her to rely on him in other ways, too – but when it comes to being protective, she’s on her own. Blood Bound is the second book in the Mercy Thompson series by Patricia Briggs. If you have read Moon Called and enjoyed it, prepare to be enthralled with Blood Bound. This story is full of action, a love triangle or even a quadrangle depending on how you look at it, and a tad bit of lusting. This book has been rather enjoyable to read. It has been a nice break from some of the other supernatural books I have been reading lately as it’s more focused on the plot than romance although the story does touch on the subject more than once. You don’t get caught up in the romance, or lust, enough that it makes you forget what the plot is all about. Our heroine Mercy, gets pulled into some serious trouble along with her wolf friends and Stefan due to her loyalty, caring personality and her over protectiveness for the ones she loves or cares deeply about. (WARNING – THIS PARAGRAPH CONTAINS SPOILERS) From the first book, Moon Called, we know that Mercy was raised by wolves and is a skinwalker. Her other form is a coyote. We also know that she used to be in love with Samuel Cornick until his father Bran, the Morrok, told her to leave. In the meantime, she has been living across from the local Alpha, Adam Hauptman. It seems that there is a love triangle going on between these three – Samuel still loves her and mourned her when she left as if he had lost his mate and previously Adam named her as his mate in front of the pack so that she wouldn’t be attacked by them. But it seems that Adam likes Mercy more than he lets on and I think the feeling is mutual. Samuel was her first love and even though he was using her as a means to have a living child she still loves him deep down. (END OF SPOILER WARNING) Mercy is requested to repay a favour to a friend, Stefan - a vampire, who wants her to witness an act as her four legged self. Paying Stefan back opens a whole can of worms and could have cost Mercy her life. After finding out the powerful vampire is being possessed by a demon, the local Alpha, Adam, and her past love, Samuel, decide that she is to stay out of the way and that they and the vampires will deal with this vampire. Mercy, being Mercy, couldn’t just sit and do nothing. She decides to intervene when the wolves plans go a tad wrong - putting herself in imminent danger. We can clearly see that there is a love triangle but I think this is going to turn into a love quadrangle, the fourth member being Stefan. Mercy thinks of him as a friend, but doesn’t know if he considers her a friend as he has never come out and said it. He is one of the undead and they are known as evil and can turn their back on you in a heartbeat, not the type of person you would think would call you a friend, more like someone that would use you. But Mercy has never thought of Stefan as being like the other vampires. She thinks he is one of the good ones despite constant warnings from her friends that she can’t trust him. I think there is some deep affection for Mercy emitting from Stefan as we find out as the story unfolds, but I am not sure what it will turn into. Mercy already has Adam and Samuel to deal without adding Stefan to the mix. The problem with trying to figure out who Mercy will end up with is down to how submissive she is willing to be. Wolves are known for being dominant and living in the cave ages as their women don’t have the same rights as the men in the pack. Choosing Adam would lead to her having the same status and dominance over the other wolves as Adam, i.e. if Adam wasn’t about the other wolves would have to obey her commands. I think if Mercy officially went and said that she was with Adam as his mate, that this might cause some conflict within the pack as they only currently tolerate her and are not around her all the time. Being with Samuel would leave Mercy uneasy as to whether he is with her out of love or just to get a child out of it. Samuel doesn’t belong to a pack, he’s more of a lone wolf at the moment but he is the Marrok’s son so is a very dominant wolf. If Mercy was to be with Stefan I don’t think she would have to change at all but she would forever be watching her back with the Mistress of the Seethe as Stefan still answers to her. The Mistress doesn’t like Mercy as she fears her. She may like him as a friend but I am not sure how she would cope having a relationship with a man that is literally dead during the day. I will definitely be reading the rest of the series just to find out what does or doesn’t happen between those two. Blood Bound is a book I think you can read on its’ own and it isn’t essential to know what happened in book one, Moon Called, to understand what is happening. The situations and storyline are well set out and quite easy to follow. The action scenes aren’t too graphic and there aren’t really any sexual content in this book. This book can definitely be read by teenagers and any age upwards. Disclaimer: I have not bought this book or been given it free of charge and I am not receiving any money to review this book. I borrowed this book from the local library and everything I have said is based on my honest opinion.

Review: Witch Fire - Anya Bast

My Rating: G, B, L, X Released: June 2007 Publisher: Berkley Sensation Author's Website: anyabast.com Available @ Amazon.co.uk Amazon.com

Mira Hoskins doesn’t know she’s a natural-born witch who possesses the rare – and powerful – element air. And she never expects to find herself tied to a mahogany bed frame, captive of a man who aches to fulfill her every desire and let loose the magick that dwells inside her… Heat emanates from elemental fire witch Jack McAlister. The Coven, a governing authority of witches, has sent him to protect Mira from a band of warlocks who drains witches of power…and life. Long ago, he saw Mira’s parents murdered by this same dark magick. He’d like to quell his guilt and offer her everything she deserves. But she’s the long-lost cousin of his boss - making seduction off-limits. With Jack’s strong guidance, Mira is luring forth her inner magick. But this sense of duty is quickly swelling into insatiable hunger. He was warned about the natural attraction between air and fire. Now he risks being consumes by the woman he shouldn’t want – but can’t stay away from… Witch Fire is the first in the Elemental Witches series. It is a sizzling, hot novel that will leave you begging for your seat to be touched. This story will have you hooked and will make you keep turning those pages just to find out what happens next. I have to say that I enjoyed every minute of this book. I felt as if I was part in the story, I felt everything that Mira and Jack felt – so much I was nearly blushing at certain parts. It’s a magical feeling (no pun intended) when an author can make you feel like this through their written words. I am used to reading novels that involve vampires, werewolves and all those other beasties that go bump in the night. But this story focuses mainly on the witch world which is interlinked with humans. There is the odd mentioning of demons here and there but nothing too specific. These witches have managed to live amongst humans and have gone unnoticed. The main character, Mira, is an easy character to relate to in the sense that every woman at some point in their life has been low on their self esteem and unsure of who they really are. She doesn’t know her family as she was brought up by her godmother and all her life she never knew she was a witch – let alone a very strong and much sought after Air Witch. Enter Jack. This is a man who knows what he wants and can’t help himself but have it. I’m sure after you read this story you will be wanting your very own personal Jack. It’s kind of hard to describe Jack as a character. In the beginning you get the idea he is a womanizer, but deep down he has just never met the right woman. He has a very bad relationship with his father, one that cannot be resolved. Jack witnessed Mira’s parents death at a tender age and has blamed himself since. He is full of remorse and guilt for what he witnessed and this reflects in this actions towards Mira. The villains in this story are the kind that you really don’t want to mess with. They have magickal powers just like Mira and Jack but they use theirs for evil. They are also infamous in the human world as wealthy businessmen. They are corruptive witches, known as warlocks, and will stop at no means to get what they want and that’s Mira and her powers. Witch Fire’s plot is easy to follow and quite straight forward. It’s not one of those in depth stories that you have to sit and read about five chapters to understand what is going on. There were times throughout the book that I was able to guess what was going to happen next but don’t let this deter you from enjoying the story. I think I managed to guess what was going to happen because I have read so many supernatural books and have probably come across a similar story outline, either that or I am an ace detective . I think what makes this book so easy to read is the storyline, the fact that it involves action, love, romance and quite a bit of lust, everything you want from a supernatural romance novel. This book is definitely not for young people, but maybe the more mature teen and adults due to the sexual content. Witch Fire is an ideal book that you can read anywhere…when you are on holiday or snuggling up in front of the fire (at least then you have an excuse for the redness of your cheeks). Disclaimer: I have not bought this book or been given it free of charge and I am not receiving any money to review this book. I borrowed this book from the local library and everything I have said is based on my honest opinion.