Book Review: Evermore

Evermore by Alyson Noel

Thoughts:
Ever since she was in an accident that left all of her family dead Ever Bloom has been able to see dead people and know what has been going on in people’s lives. And that leads to an interesting book. You find out about Damen this new kid at her school who she doesn’t really know what is going on with.

I really liked this book and plan on following this series for a while. I thought it was a great book in another Teen Vampire Series (that has seemed to become all the rage). It is different. It deals with soul mates (which I think teens really enjoy – knowing that someone is out there for you and only you). And the power that Ever has but doesn’t know it is spectacular. I can’t wait to see where this one leads us.

What genre would you consider this?
Teen Paranormal

Overall:

Book Review: Dark Slayer

Dark Slayer by Christine Feehan


Thoughts: I love the Carpathian books and wish they came out more often. It is a combination of a story about two people who fall in love and are soul mates and the overall story of what is happening to that race of people. In fact over time it seems like more and more of the story has to do with the overarching story then the smaller story of just their love story.

In this case I would probably start with an earlier book in the series then this one. But if you know anything about the Carpathians – I would definitely pick it up and read it.

What genre would you consider this?
Paranormal Romance

Overall:

Book Review: Burning Wild

Burning Wild by Christine Feehan

Description: Jake Bannaconni is not a normal man. He has had a horrible childhood that has scarred him in ways that he never could have imagined. He trusts no one – not even his family. And with good reason. When he meets Emma Reynolds he knows she must be in his life no matter what. So he will stop at nothing to make that happen.

But the two have trust issues. And Jake has a large secret that a normal person won’t be able to handle.


Thoughts: More than a normal paranormal romance it has a touch of erotica. It is a hot romance that keeps you entertained. You feel for him in terms of his family and you want Emma to make him happy. You understand her need to not ruin their relationship as his child is her child and hers is his.

I love Christine Feehan but even more I like her romances. She gives them to you with unique stories. Usually they have had rough childhood. And their romancec with someone else saves them.

What genre would you consider this?
Paranormal Romance

Overall:

Book Review: Kiss of a Demon King

Kiss of a Demon King by Kresley Cole

Description: Sabine is the Sorceress of Illusions. She has been trapped by her brother (who wants more from her than she is willing to give) and knows her fate is to be the mate of Demon King. So when she gets the chance to meet her fate - she captures the Demon King in order to impregnate herself and finally have the power she always wanted.

The Demon King is a good man - who wants to have the perfect mate. She must be a wonderful Queen who would be good for his people. The last thing he wants is Sabine - who is the sister of his enemy. (And a great big liar)

Thoughts: This is the first book that I read in this series and i enjoyed it. The idea that a Demon King could be good and that Sabine doesn't have to be truly good to be a good queen and person is interesting. You can't help but root for them to be together. I will definitely be picking up the other books in the series. I will also say it wasn't difficult to start where I was - in terms of I would have liked to know more but it was fine knowing what I did know in terms of what was going on.

What genre would you consider this?
Paranormal Romance

Overall:

Book Review: City of Glass

City of Glass by Cassandra Clare (The Mortal Instruments)

Description: Clary has found out that her mother and her life isn't what she always believed it to be. She is a Shadowhunter with a special power. She can create new ruins with her stele. This allows her to fight the evil man that has put her mother in a coma and is trying to distroy the world - her father.

Her father started out being a good person but when his first child was born he changed. He became evil. And he took his son with him. Jace has always believed that he is evil and he is doing all he can to not be like that. Add to that his attraction for his newly found sister Clary and he can't help but thing that there is a possiblity that he cannot be good.

Valentine is now ready to declare war on all of the Glass City. The Shadowhunters cannot stop him by themselves. Can they trust Clary and Jace? What about the werewolves, vampires, and warlocks? Can they all learn to work together before Valentine wipes them all out?


Thoughts: I enjoyed this series when it first started out. I had no idea it was only going to be a trilogy - until I got to this book. Personally I would have liked to see it go on a little longer (because I both liked the series as well as because I thought there was so much thrown into the last book that I feel like things may have been a little rushed).

Overall though the series was a good series and I would recommend any of the other books as well - City of Ashes and City of Bones though it really is one of those series that I recommend starting at the beginning.

I don't want to ruin anything but I really started to wonder in this book about the relationship between Jace and Clary. I really didn't think at any point in this book that they could be brother and sister like we were led to believe. I mean they scream - soul mates. Some may feel that the way this ended was a good thing while others may feel like the ending in that particular matter was a bit of a cop out.

As a quick note - even though I think that it is almost nothing like the Harry Potter series, something about this last book reminded me of it. Maybe it was the big battle, maybe it was the evil guy, I just don't know - but it was interesting.

Another thing that I thought a good thing in this book is while it is definitely aimed at teens - other then violence there really is no sex or any sort of act that would be inappropriate. I even loved the way they inserted (even earlier in the series) a gay character who had to come out to his parents. Everyone felt the same about him- even though it was a hard and courageous thing to do.

What genre would you consider this?
Teen/Paranormal

Overall:

Book Review: The Immortal Hunter

The Immortal Hunter by Lynsay Sands

Description: Decker Argeneau is a Rogue hunter who needs a vacation. But when there are rogue vampire's out there - vacations sometimes have to wait. When he comes across a nest of vampires and their captives everything changes. Decker has found his soul mate. Dr. Danielle McGill knows there is more than meets the eye going on. But if Decker and his friends will help her find her sister she will follow along and do what needs to be done.

Along the way Danielle realizes that Decker is not what she expected. Is she ready to be his soul mate? Can she get her sister back before she is really hurt? What happens when Danielle becomes one of the undead too?

Thoughts: I love the Argeneau series and this is just another way to extend that set of books. You get to meet and see the Argeneau's and at the same time extend it to a few more people. The only thing I see as possibly being an issue is the whole - you can only convert one person and these girls seem to have families. What do you do with that?

These books are great and one long continuation of a story. So start at the beginning or I think you will be missing way to much. You don't have to read all of the books - just the Rogue Hunter Novels.

What genre would you consider this?
Paranormal Romance

Overall:

Book Review: Nice Girls Don't Have Fangs

Nice Girls Don't Have Fangs by Molly Harper

Description: Jane Jameson was just a normal librarian when she loses her job and ends up at a bar drowning her sorrows in alcohol. She meets a very nice man and thinks things might be looking up for her. When she wakes up, she finds out she has died and become a vampire.

Imagine how strange it is to one day be human and the next to be an unemployed vampire who is being greated by the Newly Undead Welcoming Committee. It would be an adjustment for anyone. Add to that the complication of telling her family (with her quite needy mother she knows that won't be easy) and Jane doesn't know what to do.

Thankfully the man who turned her and who she is attracted to is there to help. But is he really trying to do what is best for her? Why does it seem as if someone is out to get her? I mean all those accidents can't be random can they? Can Jane figure out what is really going on before someone gets hurt?

Thoughts: I am seeing more and more of these books come out. Or maybe I am just finding them. And what I mean by that is books that are less romance and more of series of books that surround a person and their lives. Of course there usually is a romantic interest (or two) but the focus is less on that and more about the mysteries they solve, the people in their lives, or the crazy twist that makes them interesting (i.e. they are witches, vampires, detectives etc).

This one is one of those that I liked a lot. The great aunt ghost who only Jane can see is a great foil for the mother who wants nothing more then herself to be pleased. Jane is a likeable character with a best friend who is willing to deal with the fact that she has now turned into a vampire (he is even willing to find his own girlfriend who isn't considered normal). It will be fun to see how they all progress and what being a vampire will mean for them.

What genre would you consider this?
Paranormal

Overall:

Book Review: The Shadow Queen

The Shadow Queen by Anne Bishop

Description: The people in Dena Nehele have been devastated by many bad Queens who have only been interested in what was good for them. They now need a Queen who knows how to do things properly and the war that has been going on there for decades has removed all of those.

So away they go to the Shadow Realm and ask for help. There Lady Cassidy, a Queen without a court, has been waiting for her place in life. She isn't the most beautiful or the most powerful but going to Dena Nehele may be the best thing for her and for the people there. If she agrees to go and be their Queen she will have to stand firm in what she believes in. Deal with a man who wants her so badly and yet has been abused in the past and isn't quite what she is used to. Can she do it?


Thoughts: Lately I have been reading quite a few books that when I got into them I enjoyed them. I don't know if Anne Bishop plans on writing another book that has to do with Dene Nahale or if this was a single book in the larger Black Jewels series but I enjoyed it and would but my vote in for another book.

Cassidy is a strong queen who has done what she needs to for the people (and solved some mysteries in the process). She may not have all the power but she does have willpower and a strong knowledge of what is right. It would also be fun to see how Gray progresses. At first he is a man child who has been hurt so badly he can't age. But upon meeting Cassidy he begins his progression into the man that he could be. We don't get to see this finished progression and it would be great to see where he goes from here.

The Black Jewel books can be a little confusing (which is why the needed glossary in the front is a life saver) but at the same time I think there is so much good stuff and imagination going on there in this complicated world - that it is worth spending the time to figure it out.

What genre would you consider this?
Paranormal/Fantasy

Overall:

Book Review: In Over Her Head!

In Over Her Head by Judi Fennell

Description: Erica Peck has always been a little afraid of the water - ever since an experience that she had as a child. But being part of a marina owning family means that Erica must get over her fears if she wants to be respected by her tough big brothers.

She thougth she found love with a fiance who was not what she expected. She learned quickly before any lasting damage was done. But that has left her heart a little hurt.

For Reel Tritone being the second son of a king who doesn't seem to have time for him is quite the burden. He has learned to rebel. And his favorite thing to do when rebelling - find Erica. He has been attracted to her since the first time he saw her. He isn't the traditional merman but he lives the life that has been assigned to him.

When Erica's life is endangered Reel does what any self respecting merman who loves a human would do. He breaks all the rules to save her. But that leads both of them down a path that means some hard decisions. Are these decisions something they can both live with?


Thoughts: This is done perfectly. I mean who can have a book about a mer-man and a woman finding romance without the twists that Judi Fennell includes in this book. It is one of those cross-species things that could be creepy (at least to me) but instead because of how it is done, you want to see the two of them get together.

I have to admit that I am not much of an underwater person (maybe it has to do with my own brush with a shark the first time I went snorkeling) but the world that is described in this book almost makes me want to give it another try. (Sorry I won't be because snorkeling and hyperventilating just doesnt' mix as I have learned.)

The world is beautiful and fun. And even the charecters you think you shouldn't like for whatever reason have redeemable qualities - much like the real world. How many people are truely evil - some but not them all!

This is a fun and different romance and I can't wait to see what is next in the trilogy.

What genre would you consider this?
Paranormal Romance

Overall:

Book Review: Blood Bar

Blood Bar by Norm Applegate

Description:Kim Bennett (who is featured in Applegate's other books as well) is a woman who is sure of herself. She is a madame who is into the S&M game and has recently delved into solving murders. When an acquaintance calls her and asks her to help because her lover - a vampire - was murdered, Kim runs to her side.

This takes her on an adventure that has Kim (and many others) looking for this vampire book - The Black Testament. The Black Testament was supposedly written by Jack the Ripper and has all sort of secrets in it. As far as Kim is concerned vampires don't really exist. So this is all some weird story. But as she gets deeper into the world Kim has to start to wonder. Maybe they do exist.

Thoughts: What a unique book. The theme of vampires is something I have read a lot about over the last few years and is something I enjoy - but I really have a hard time comparing this book to anything else that I have read. And that is a good thing. The heroine Kim isn't necessarily likable. She is a hard woman that has a past that has caused her to be the way she is. She likes sex -and she likes it the way she likes to have it (but mind you this book isn't about the sex though it is a theme that winds its way through the story).

But despite Kim not being a character I would want to be friends with the story has so much of a different twist to it that I just didn't mind. This isn't a story that I wanted to identify with. But the theme of it, the way it progresses still keeps me entertained.

I was curious how I would like a female main character in a book written by a man. In earlier posts I have written about how men writing from men perspectives are interesting and not something I see often enough (except with action books). I have heard some people mention that they think that women writing men can be off (and since I am a woman I can't say one way or another for sure). I think this book is written in a way that it is ok that a man is writing it - and in fact maybe gives it a refreshing outlook. This woman is hard on the outside. She has had to be. I wouldn't consider her feelings or emotions the same as a the generic woman's (mainly out of hope that no one has gone through the things she has). The writing style displays this more than anything else.

Applegate's first book Into the Basement is going to be a movie. And I definitely will take a look to see what I have missed by not reading that first book.

What genre would you consider this?
Paranormal

Overall: