Thursday, December 18, 2008

November Read Part 2

02. Swallowing Darkness (Meredith Gentry 7) by Laurell K. Hamilton Rating:B+

"Merry Gentry is not your average private investigator. Half human, half faerie, she's caught in a struggle that threatens not only her life, but the lives of those she desires and holds dear. Her very existence and her rightful place on the throne of Faerie have long depended on her ability to produce an heir - and now, after many failed attempts, the services of her royal guards have found her pregnant...
It is a triumphant moment, but revelation follows revelation: for Merry carries two babies, and she knows thay they have more than one father...And of course, there are those of her own flesh and blood who want Merry dead, but she is a fighter and wields a wild magic. And this is her world, where the magical and the mortal intertwine, where folklore, fantasy and erotically charged adventure collide..."

LKH pretty much writes her characters as a Mary Sue but I kind of liked it. This was way better than Blood Noir, at least the story went somewhere. There were a lot of plot that were closed so it could end here but there seems to be 3 more books coming so I gather there would be more. A new arc perhaps. A quick and easy read if you are a fan.

03. Birthright by Nora Roberts Rating:B+

" When five-thousand-year-old human bones are found at a construction site in the small town of Woodsboro, the news draws archaeologist Callie Dunbrook out of her sabbatical and into a whirlwind of adventure, danger, and romance. While overseeing the dig, she must try to make sense of a cloud of death and misfortune that hangs over the project - fuelling rumours that the site is cursed. She must cope with the presence of her irritating - but irresistible - ex-husband, Jake. Furthermore, when a stranger claims to know a secret about her privileged Boston childhood, she is forced to question her own past as well... A rich, thrilling, suspenseful tale from a 'storyteller of immeasurable diversity and talent' (Publishers Weekly), Birthright follows an inspiring heroine, an intriguing hero, and a cast of fascinating characters whose intertwined lives remind us that there is much more going on under the surface than meets the eye."

I really liked how interesting the book was, the issues raised as well as the development of the relationship between the characters is just what made me really like Roberts in the first place. And the protagonists is an archaeologist, way cool.

04. Halfway to the Grave (Night Huntress 1) by Jeaniene Frost Rating:B+

"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."

The first of the Night Huntress Novels, I thought it was a very good read. Interesting characters and the promise of an exciting new series. Definitely reading the next books.

05. One Foot in the Grave(Night Huntress 2) by Jeaniene Frost Rating:A

"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."

I thought this second book was better than the first. Adding a whole new set of characters, we get to see more of the relationship between Bones and Cat and how Cat developes as the protagonist of the book, with evil father and bitter mother and all.

06. Dead Girls Are Easy (Nicki Stynx #1) by Terri Garey Rating:B-

"There's something about almost dying that makes a girl rethink her priorities. Take Nicki Styx—she was strictly goth and vintage, until a brush with the afterlife leaves her with the ability to see dead people.
Before you can say boo, Atlanta's ghosts are knocking at Nicki's door. Now her days consist of reluctantly cleaning up messes left by the dearly departed, leading ghouls to the Light . . . and one-on-one anatomy lessons with Dr. Joe Bascombe, the dreamy surgeon who saved her life. All this catering to the deceased is a real drag, especially for a girl who'd rather be playing hanky-panky with her hunky new boyfriend . . . who's beginning to think she's totally nuts.
But things get even more complicated when a friend foolishly sells her soul to the devil, and Nicki's new gift lands her in some deep voodoo.
As it turns out for Nicki Styx, death was just the beginning."

This was an ok read for me, the characters were interesting enough. And the jamaican vodoo practices were cool. I think it's just the whole twin thing that didn't go well with me. WOuld probably read the next book just to see what happens

07. Single White Vampire (Argeneau Vampires #3)  by Lynsay Sands Rating:A

"SWM—"Lucern." Successful biographer of family, books recently categorized as "paranormal romances." Something of a recluse. Hates crowds, aggressive women. Doesn't like sunbathing, garlicky dinners or religious symbols. Likes old-fashioned values; spicy Mexican dishes; warm, nice-smelling necks; and plump red lips. Stronger than ten men and can vanish in the blink of an eye. Currently unaware he's seeking a woman to share eternity.
SWF—"Kate C. Leever." Newest editor of Romance at Roundhouse Publishing. Perky, fun. Has recently discovered a legacy author just dying to be broken out. In fact, her career could take off from it. (The tall, dark, handsome writer just needs to be taken to several romance conventions and introduced to his fans . . . and stopped from acting so strange in public.) Dislikes "difficult, rude, obnoxious, pig-headed writers." Currently unaware she's met the man of her wildest dreams."

I LOVE Lynsay Sands, her Rgeneau series just keeps me coming back for more. I thought this was a funny read and the whole convention thing was really interesting.


08. Ill Wind (Weather Wardern #1) by Rachel Caine Rating:B

"Joanne Baldwin is a Weather Warden. Usually, all it takes is a wave of her hand to tame the most violent weather. But now, she's trying to outrun another kind of storm: accusations of corruption and murder. So, she's resorting to the very human tactic of running for her life...
Her only hope is Lewis, the most powerful warden known. Unfortunately, he's stolen not one but three bottles of Djinn-making him the most wanted man on earth. Still, she's racing hard to find him-before the bad weather closes in fast..."

While I was waiting for the next Lynsay Sands from bookmooch, I started on the weather warden series since i got the first 4 books already. There's a whole new system of weather control with wardens of all 4 elements and Joanne is sucked into the politics and consequences of it. Honestly I didn't think it would be that serious a book but it was serious, gritty and fast-paced. Pretty nice beginning to a series.

 


09. Heat Stroke (Weather Wardern #2) by Rachel Caine Rating:B

"Mistaken for a murderer, Weather Warden Joanne Baldwin is hunted down and killed by her colleagues. Reborn as a Djinn, she senses something sinister entering earth's atmosphere-something that makes tomorrow's forecast look deadly."

Second in the weather warden series, this book continues in with it's tragic undertones. It made me keep wanting more but at the same time dreading what could happen next. Warning though, cliff hanger in the end. It made me pick up book 3 right away :)