July

July was a pretty good month, almost to the 30th mark so we'll see how far August takes us.
JULY
47. She's no Fairy Princess (The Others #2) by Christine Warren
Rating: B
Comment: Not bad, the ending was kind of abrupt in my opinion. A little too convenient. but it was fun and interesting. Hunting for book 3 now. I actually read this last month but I forgot to list it down on the list so I'm carrying over to this month :)
46. (Riley Jensen #1) by Keri Arthur
Rating: B
Comment: It wasn't so bad.
45. Kissing Sin (Riley Jensen #2) by Keri Arthur
Rating: B
Comment: ditto! Quinn is turning into Richard!
44. Tempting Evil (Riley Jensen #3) by Keri Arthur
Rating: B
Comment: I think I liked this one best so far
43. Dangerous Grounds (Riley Jensen #4) by Keri Arthur
Rating: B
Comment: Not bad, totally agreed with what Riley decided on
42. Pleasure Unbound (Demonica #1) by Larissa Inoue
Rating: B
Comment: I can't help comparing thsi to JR Ward because it felt like similar to her style. I did like the book though and am curious about what happens in the next two books which features the other 2 brothers.
41. Red (Dead World #1) by Jordan Summers
Rating: B
Comment: I actually quite liked the book and after reading it directly continued on to the second book
40. Scarlet(Dead World #2) by Jordan Summers
Rating: B-
Comment:I liked this series but I felt like book two really didn't go anywhere and totally commiserated with Red. poor Red
39. Designer Knockoff (Crime of Fashion #2) by Ellen Byerrum
Rating: B+
Comment:I read Byerrum's first book in the series and I found myself enjoying that. Her heroine was witty and quirky. And I find myself wondering getting caught up on the mystery too. You have to read the first book in order though because the second one does reveal events that happen in the first. So unless you want to know who was the killer in the first one, better start with that one.
38. Hostile Makeover  (Crime of Fashion #3) by Ellen Byerrum
Rating:
Comment:Honestly, was a big I knew it to me hehe Enjoyed it though. Found out they made a tv movie of the 1st and this book. yay!
37. Poison Study (Study #1 ) by Maria V. Snyder
Rating: A
Comment: I loved it!! Couldn't wait to read the next one!
36. Magic Study (Study #2) by Maria V. Snyder
Rating: A
Comments: Loved the second book as much as the first book!! Hunting for book 3 now
35. Branded by Fire (Psy-Changelings #6) by Nalini Singh
Rating: A
Comment: Book 6 in the Psy-changelings series was very hot! The chemistry between Mercy and Riley were sizzling and you get to see some bits and pieces of the other couples too!
34. Personal Demons by Stacia Kane
Rating: B+
Comment: I quite like this first book by a new author. Her second book just came out so might give that one a read too

June

Decided to specify my rating system. Don't want to assume hehe
A : Favorite
B+ : Very good
B : NOt Bad, good
C+ : OK
C : didn't like it so much but something about it didn't satisfy me
C-: Didnt't like it

64. Dancing With Werewolves (Delilah Street, Paranormal Investigator #1) by Carole Nelson Douglas
Rating: B.
Comment: Was pretty intersting although it took me awhile to read. would read the next one though

63. Undead and Unwelcome (Queen Betsy #8) by MaryJanice Davidson C+
Rating: C+
Comment: It wasn't bad but didn't really leave me excited in the end. She should have just separated the two narratives.

62. Skin Trade (Anita Blake #17) by Laurell K Hamilton
Rating: C+
Comment: Started out pretty well for the buildup but just lost me in the end.

61. Spiral Hunt by Margaret Ronald
Rating: B
Comment: Not Bad. I'm happy to hear there is a second book and possibly a third book to make it a trilogy.

60. The Devil You Know (Morgan Kingsley #2) by Jenna Black
Rating: B+
Comment: Comparing this to the first book, I liked this one better by a mile. Morgan didn't really annoy me that much here as oppose to the first book.

59. The Devil's Due (Morgan Kingsley #3) by Jenna Black
Rating: B
Comment: Like the second one better but still it was pretty good. I can say I am really getting into this series now

58. Wicked Lovely (Faerie #1) by Melissa Marr
Rating: B
Comment: Finished it right away. Enjoyed the first book will wait until the 4th book comes out becuase 3rd book seems like such a cliffhanger

57. Magic to the Bone (Allie Beckstrom #1) by Devon Monk
Rating: B
Comment: I like the concept of the book and it was pretty interesting. It lacks a certain cohesiveness though and you are left with so many questions in the end. It seems like her job as a hound was just an afterthought.

56. Hawke's Pride by Norah Hess
Rating: B+
Comment: Went on a romance kick this month and after I read this, I found out that I quite enjoyed it. Started to read he other books because of this too.

55. Devil in Spurs by Norah Hess
Rating: C
Comment: I have to admit I like the characters of the story and it had promise to become one of those good romances you can't seem to put down but I was disappointed that the characters especially the hero and heroine weren't really developed. I found myself skipping over some parts in the middle because it went on and on and then the end was a bit anticlimactic and the scene with tina should have happened 3 chapters ago! I think it just bugs be that Jonty was suppose to be a strong character but some scenes of her were just too meek for me. Sigh too bad.

54. Stray (Werecats #1) by Rachel Vincent
Rating: C+
Comment: Honestly, I hated the character from the beginning until around halfway the book. She pretty much whined and complained the whole time and I didn't think that her defense had any legitimate standing. She was acting more 16 than the 23 she is. It reminded me so much of Kelley Armstrong's Elena, right down to the rogue shifter and to the guy. The action and story did pick up around the latter half of the book and I rated it C+ because it did make me want to start with the next book in the series.

53. Bedeviled (A Queen of the Otherworld #1) by Maureen Child
Rating: C+
Comment: The reason that I'm giving this just an Ok is that I was not satisfied with the way it ended. You spend a big part of the book reading about how the changes are coming and how the heroine fights to ignore her destiny and how she begins to accept it. Then sudden confrontatiion that is open ended and finished. Read more on book two. I liked the premise of the book, that was what made me pick up this novel. This is Child's first paranormal novel. she often writes romances

52. The Scot, the Witch and the Wardrobe (Kitchen Witch #3) by Annette Blair
Rating: B
Comment:Third in the Kitchen witch series and an opening focuses on Victoria, Mel's vintage shop friend. Vicky who has denied she ever had magic her whole life, opens her ancestor's wardrobe, yes the one that prophesizes that whoever opens it inherits said ancestor's magic. Out pops a carousel unicorn and the scot who she litereary dreams about enters her life. Turns out his ancestor was the one who made the unicorn, and he needed it to gain back the respect for his family name. And right where things were getting steamy, Vicky's long lost magical triplet sisters pops up.
The book was an easy enough read, fun and some scenes were laugh out funny.Kira's story is still my favorite.

51: Halle Pumas Series by Dana Marie Bell
1. The Wallflower
2. Sweet Dreams
3. Cat in a Different Color
4. Steel Beauty
Rating: B+
Comment: I decided to lump all the books together because they felt more anthology lumped together than novels. I love Dana Marie Bell!! Her books are so funny and I can't wait for the next one!

50. Witch Hunt (Ophelia and Abby Mysteries #4) by Shirley Daamsgard
Rating: B
Comment: I admit that I liked this fourth book by Daamsgard. The mystery was interesting and I didn't find Abby as annoying as before. The whole fight with Abby felt kind of forced to me but all in all it was good. The one thing that feels weird for me is that at every book I feel like Ophelia is still at the same position she is when in the first book in terms of accepting her magic. I feel like she's repeating her struggle from the beginning everybook.

49. The Witch is Dead (Ophelia and Abby Mysteries #5) by Shirley Daamsgard
Rating: C+
Comment: I just gave this an ok, I didn't really like most parts of the book in that Ophelia annoyed me the whole time. And I don't know why but I figured out who the kidnapper was right after Tink was kidnapped. I didn't really think the mystery was all that strong. Aunt Dot didn't really endear me to her all that much. The book was  so-so, would probably still read the nect book though.

58. Really Unusual Bad Body by MaryJanice Davidson
Rating: B
Comment: MarjJanice Davidson is always a fun read. Given that this book is anthology so you don't really see any development. It was fun and easy read, but didn't really leave any impression, So I can't really judge it any higher. I didn't like the 2nd story so much but enjoyed the other 2 especially the 3rd one.

May Readings

76. Mine to Possess (Psy-changeling #4) by Nalini Singh A
75. Hostage to Pleasure (Psy-changeling #5) by Nalini Singh A
74. Killer Blonde (Jaine Austen Mysteries #3) by Laura Levine B+
73. Shoes to Die For (Jaine Austen Mysteries #4) by Laura Levine B
72. Fish Out of Water (Fred the Mermaid #3) by MaryJanice Davidson
71. The Trouble with Demons (Raine Benares #3)by Lisa Shearin B
70. Scent of Shadows (Sign of the Zodiac #1) by Vicki Pettersson B+
69. The Taste of Night (Sign of the Zodiac #2) by Vicki Pettersson B
68. Magic Burns (Kate Daniels #2) by Ilona Andrews B+
67. Magic Stricks (Kate Daniels #3) by Ilona Andrews A
66. Bone Crossed (Mercy Thompson #4) by Patricia Briggs A
65. Blood Engines (Marla Mason) by T. A Pratt B

67. Magic Strikes (Kate Daniels #3) by Ilona Andrews

Magic Strikes(The third book in the Kate Daniels series)
(2008)
A novel by
Ilona Andrews

Drafted into working for the Order of Merciful Aid, mercenary Kate Daniels has more paranormal problems than she knows what to do with. And in Atlanta, where magic comes and goes like the tide, that's saying a lot.But when Kate's werewolf friend Derek is discovered nearly dead, she must confront her greatest challenge yet.
Dead shapeshifters and Derrick trying to steal from Saiman, gets Kate involved in the underground world of underground fighting in the MIdnight Games, where she discovered that the prize was something to be used as part of a bigger conspiracy.

I adored Magic Strikes!! BUT I found out that the next book doesn't come out until June or end of May 2010 nooo!!! I just read the prologue from IA's site (Be warned though that if you haven't read the third book DO NOT READ the prologue because it would be a spoiler) I am so dying to find out what happened ! I love how Andrea and Raphael put more of an appearance in the story. I found out the the anthology Must Love Hellhounds will be the story between them so can't wait for that one. Although we don't get to see much of Derek. His role was pretty big in a way that he was a big catalyst in a lot of the reasons Kate went for it. We also find out a bit about Kate's background and who she is and why she is who she is. I love the confrontation between Jim and Kate! And the scenes between Curran and Kate were so funny!! (the "he's right behind me isn't he" scene and the telephone conversation about Jim)  and hot!!! (most of the scenes theyre together!). And admittedly the ending unleashed the kick-ass romantic in me ;)  hehe The flying castle so reminded me of Laputa!

Rating: A

68. Magic Burns (Kate Daniels #2) by Ilona Andrews

Magic Burns(The second book in the Kate Daniels series)
(2008)
A novel by
Ilona Andrews
As a mercenary who cleans up after magic gone wrong, Kate Daniels knows how waves of paranormal energy ebb and flow across Atlanta like a tide. But once every seven years, a flare comes, a time when magic runs rampant. When Kate sets out to retrieve a set of stolen maps for the Pack, Atlanta's paramilitary clan of shape shifters, she quickly realizes much more is at stake. The stolen maps are only the opening gambit in an epic tug of war between two gods hoping for rebirth, and if Kate can't stop the cataclysmic showdown, the city may not survive.

I bought the first book in the series from Amazon when it first came out and it was a new discovery for me. It was really interesting how how Andrews created a world where magic and technology where at an odds. Since the third one just came out a month ago, I took the time to reread the second one again to refresh myself since I don't really remember what happened. That's the problem with waiting a whole year for a book, you forget the previous one. In the second book, in helping the Pack retrieve the map, Kate comes across evidence of an amateur coven who mistakenly calls upon the wrong God. Protecting one of the children of the coven, and a magic tsunami on it's way, Kate finds out that all things will culminate in the onset of the flare.
I thought the second book is stronger than the first book. Kate kicks ass but her interaction with Julie was handled well in my opinion. We also see a development in the tension between Cullan and Kate, as well as introduction to other very likable characters that fits well into the story.

Rating: B+

April Readings

Still behind on the reviews but here's the list of April readings

If you haven't read Nalini Singh, you have got to read her!!!! Kresley Cole and Alexandra Ivy were pretty good too!!

89. Cast in Secret (Chronicles of Elantra #1) by Michelle Sagara B
88. Watchers in the Night (Guardians of the Night #1) by Jenna Black C
87. When Darkness Comes (Guardians of Eternity #1) by Alexandra Ivy B+
86. Embrace The Darkness(Guardians of Eternity #2) by Alexandra Ivy B+
85. Darkness Everlasting (Guardians of Eternity #3) by Alexandra Ivy B+
84. Darkness Revealed(Guardians of Eternity #4) by Alexandra Ivy B+
83. Angel's Blood (Guild Hinter #1 ) by Nalini Singh A
    Angel's Pawn by Nalini Singh
82. A Hunger Like No Other (Valkyrie #2) by Kresley Cole A
81. No Rest for the Wicked (Valkyrie #3) by Kresley Cole B+
80. The Warlord Wants Forever (Valkyrie #1) by Kresley Cole B
79. Slave to Sensation (Psy-changeling #1) by Nalini Singh A
78. Visions of Heat (Psy-changeling #2) by Nalini Singh A
77. Carressed by Ice (Psy-changeling #3) by Nalini Singh A

Angels' Blood (Guild Hunter#1) by Nalini Singh

Angels' Blood
Book One of the Guild Hunter Series

"Nalini Singh introduces readers to a world of beauty and bloodlust, where angels hold sway over vampires.

Vampire hunter Elena Deveraux is hired by the dangerously beautiful Archangel Raphael. But this time, it's not a wayward vamp she has to track. It's an archangel gone bad.

The job will put Elena in the midst of a killing spree like no other - and pull her to the razor's edge of passion. Even if the hunt doesn't destroy her, succumbing to Raphael's seductive touch just may. For when archangels play, mortals break."

A world where angels are the ones that make vampires and in order to become a vampire your back background is thoroughly checked and if you sign a contract then you agree to serve that angel for 100 years. But be warned, angels are not all "angelic" as portrayed in all the books you've read. Angels are different and powerful beings that are beyond human moralities. Like the gods of old, they can be petty, vain and vindictive as well as just and honorable (by their standards). When these vampires try to run away from their contract, vampire hunters are hired to trap and bring them back to their masters.
The best of the best, Elena is hired by the archangel of New York, Michael to track down an archangel turned rogue. Because not much
is known about angels, everything is on a need to know basis and she can't tell anyone about it, or else you suffer a horrible horrible faith. But comes the attraction, being attracted to the very being that strikes incredible terror in your heart is not a wise thing to act on, all the while finding a rogue archangel.

This is actually the first book that I read for this author and I have to say I'm loving her.  I've been hearing a lot of good things of the author and I love Elena and Michael and I love the supporting characters as well. And the ending was pretty cool for me. There are a lot of hints of further story development in the novel and I can't wait for the next one to come out. one long year of waiting ;]

Rating: A