One Grave at a Time by Jeaniene Frost {Review}

One Grave at a Time: A Night Huntress Novel

(Night Huntress #8)
by Jeaniene Frost

Mass Market Paperback, 358 pages
Published August 30th 2011 by Avon Books (Mm)

The grave is one wrong step away.

Having narrowly averted an (under)world war, Cat Crawfield wants nothing more than a little downtime with her vampire husband, Bones. Unfortunately, her gift from New Orleans' voodoo queen just keeps on giving--leading to a personal favor that sends them into battle once again, this time against a villainous spirit.

Centuries ago, Heinrich Kramer was a witch hunter. Now, every All Hallows Eve, he takes physical form to torture innocent women before burning them alive. This year, however, a determined Cat and Bones must risk all to send him back to the other side of eternity--forever. But how do you kill a killer who's already long dead?

First Line(s): "Donald Bartholomew Williams, get your ass back here now!"

Favorite Line(s): "I've watched you barely escape death several times, and each instance killed me a little inside. They may be dormant now, but we have enemies both cunning and cruel. Knowing you possess the power to defeat most of them doesn't threaten me, luv. It relieves me to my very core."

My Review: Where was the smoking hot sex scenes?!?!?

Okay, okay I know there is a lot more to the story than Bones and Cat going at it but I am not going to lie.... it's a big part for me!

Hi my name is Tena and I must be a horndog! I can handle that.

Okay, off to the actual review of One Grave at a Time... it was just alright for me. I am such a hufe fan of Jeaniene Frost and this series that I have such high hopes every time a new book comes out. Maybe too high? I found the plot to be clever and fresh ( at least to me) but I think I have hit a Paranormal wall. Maybe I have just moved on from this genre?

I would never take away from the hard work of an author and there are many awesome things about this book... the same amazing cast of characters are all back in this installment.

I just left this book not really having much to take with me. There is no love loss!

With that said I think I am going to take a few months off from this genre and start fresh in the new year!

My Rating:

Until next time...Happy Reading!

Dead Reckoning by Charlaine Harris {Review}

Dead Reckoning

(Sookie Stackhouse #11)
by Charlaine Harris

Hardcover, 325 pages
Published May 3rd 2011 by Ace

With her knack for being in trouble's way, Sookie witnesses the firebombing of Merlotte's, the bar where she works. Since Sam Merlotte is now known to be two-natured, suspicion falls immediately on the anti-shifters in the area. Sookie suspects otherwise, but her attention is divided when she realizes that her lover Eric Northman and his "child" Pam are plotting to kill the vampire who is now their master. Gradually, Sookie is drawn into the plot-which is much more complicated than she knows...

First Line: The attic had been kept locked until the day after my grandmother died.

My Review: Fact: I'm barely haning on here. I use to adore this series, couldn't wait for a new book to come out and when one did I wasn't able to put "said" book down. Now I am finding Sookie's adventures repetitive, dry and lacking. Even typing that last sentence fills me with greif.

My biggest pet peeve is that there were all these words but nothing really happened, no development.

I would like to think that Charlaine Harris is using the events in Dead Reckoning to give us a wonderful new installment into the series that will leave us unable to put the book down and rekindle our love for Sookie and the other characters in this series. When the next book comes out I will 100% be picking it up to read, maybe with a little bit more reserve than the others in the past.

Do I feel this wasy over this series because I watch True Blood on Hbo and have become acustomed to big over the top action? Maybe?!? But I once had such deep feelings for Sookie way before True Blood aired. Can Charlaine Harris make a come back, I hope so but my feelings off Dead Reckoning lead me to believe it's time to put the Sookie Stackhouse series to bed.

My Rating

Before I close on this entry I would like it to be known that I take nothing away from Charlaine as an author. She is amazing and her talent is few and far between. She has written many books and if I am just now coming across one I don't love ( and I am only one lone reader) I would say she has a good track record!

Until next time...

Happy Reading!

Starstruck {Review}

Starstruck
by Cyn Balog

Hardcover, 256 pages
Expected publication: July 12th 2011

by Delacorte Books for Young Readers

Gwendolyn "Dough" X doesn't think she has much going for her—she carries a few extra pounds, her family struggles with their small bakery in a town full of millionaires, and the other kids at her New Jersey high school don't seem to know that she exists. Thank the stars for her longtime boyfriend, Philip P. Wishman—or "Wish." He moved away to California three years ago, when they were 13, but then professed his love for her via e-mail, and he's been her long-distance BF ever since.

At the beginning of her junior year, though, Wish e-mails that he's moving back to Jersey. Great, right? Well, except that Dough has gained about 70 pounds since the last time Wish saw her, while Wish—according to his Facebook photos—has morphed into a blonde god. Convinced that she'll be headed for Dumpsville the minute Wish lays eyes on her, Dough delays their meeting as long as she possibly can.

But when she sees Wish at school, something amazing happens. He looks at Dough like she's just as gorgeous as he is. But Wish is acting a little weird, obsessed with the sun and freaked out by rain. And the creepy new guy working at the bakery, Christian, is convinced that there's more to Wish's good looks than just healthy eating and lots of sun. He tells Dough that a mark on Wish's neck marks him as a member of the Luminati—an ancient cult of astrologers who can manipulate the stars to improve their lives. Is Wish and Dough's love meant to be—or are they star-crossed?

First Line(s): For the first time in four years, I've lost my appetite.

My Review: Just when I thought I had seen/read all there is about Paranormal characters Starstruck falls into my lap. It was refreshing and new and that made Starstruck a fast read. This was a fast and decent read. The story was a tad predictable, but I found the characters right on the mark for teenagers ( wish it wasn't the case but it's fact). If your looking for a new twist on paranormal books, give this one a go!

My Rating:

A Special thanks to Yara at
at Once Upon a Twilight Book Tours

Until next time...

Happy Reading!

Infinite Betrayal { Review}

Infinite Betrayal
by Gayle Donnelly, Robyn Mackenzie

ebook
Published March 21st 2011 by Liquid Silver

Mina Roarke had always been told she was special. In what way, she never fully understood until circumstances led her down a path of adrenaline-charged danger, blazing sexual heat and ultimate betrayal.

Mathias, a warrior for a secret shifter race known as The Coteri, has been ordered to protect Mina at all costs. Although his oath to protect her is paramount, can he rein in his animal instincts long enough to not claim the one person he’s forbidden to have?

First Line(s): The cold mist of the morning air did nothing to clear away the hurt and confusion that filled Mina's mind.

My Review: This is an fantastic story with shape shifter action, romance ( and at times hot crazy lust!), suspense, and the battles one faces when trying to learn who you really are and finding a family you thought was never going to be. If your cup of tea is paranormal romance that goes beyond the romance and has great details, look no farther than Infinite Betrayal!
I cannot wait until the next book in this all new series comes out. Dying to learn who will survive, who won't and of course to read more of the steamy romance scenes.There are so many characters involved in this new series that I hope we are in for many books to come.

My Rating: 4 stars!!!

Until next time...

Happy Reading!

This Side of the Grave by Jeaniene Frost {Review}

This Side of the Grave

(Night Huntress Series #5)

by Jeaniene Frost

Product Details:

Pub. Date: February 2011

Publisher: HarperCollins

Publishers Format: Mass Market Paperback ,

384pp

Synopsis:

Danger waits on both sides of the grave. Half-vampire Cat Crawfield and her vampire husband Bones have fought for their lives, as well as for their relationship. But just when they've triumphed over the latest battle, Cat's new and unexpected abilities threaten to upset a long-standing balance . . . With the mysterious disappearance of vampires, rumors abound that a species war is brewing. A zealot is inciting tensions between the vampires and ghouls, and if these two powerful groups clash, innocent mortals could become collateral damage. Now Cat and Bones are forced to seek help from a dangerous "ally"—the ghoul queen of New Orleans herself. But the price of her assistance may prove more treacherous than even the threat of a supernatural war . . . to say nothing of the repercussions Cat never imagined.

First Line(s): The vampire pulled on the chains restraining him to the cave wall.

Favorite Quote(s): "I love your hands,' he sighed. 'You think I look like an angel? Well, Kitten, your hands are my heaven and your eyes are my home.'" (Bones)"

My Review: Short and sweet because I am certain the baby is about to wake up and I am determined to hammer out this review. I liked it! Didn't hate it, but was able to put it down, which I was not able to do with the other books. I adore Cat and Bones and they remain one of my top 5 couples but this book lacked the humor and steam I have grown use to in the past. With that said I look forward to reading the next book in this series and seeing where my favorite characters go.

My Rating: Solid 3 stars

Until next time...

Happy Reading!

Beastly: Alex Flinn {Review}

Beastly

by Alex Flinn

Hardcover, 304 pages

Published October 1st 2007 by HarperTeen

I am a beast. A beast! Not quite wolf or bear, gorilla or dog but a horrible new creature who walks upright. I am a monster. You think I'm talking fairy tales? No way. The place is New York City. The time is now. It's no deformity, no disease. And I'll, stay this way forever ruined unless I can break the spell. Yes, the spell, the one the witch in my English class cast on me. Why did she turn me into a beast who hides by day and prowls by night? I'll tell you. I'll tell you how I used to be Kyle Kingsbury, the guy you wished you were, with money, perfect looks, and the perfect life. And then, I'll tell you how I became perfectly...beastly

First Line(s): I could feel everyone looking at me, but I was used to it. One thing my dad taught me early and often was to act like nothing moved me.

Favorite Quote: "those who do not know how to see the precious things in life will never be happy."

My Review: I adored this book! Beastly was an amazing book! The was Alex Flinn retold ythe story of Beauty and the Beast was captivating. I was interested throughout the whole story. Kyle was a total jerk at first ( I found myself thinking dude got what he had coming to him). These feelings made it all the more emotional when his heart started to change and you started seeing him for the person he really was inside. This retelling was close enough to the one we all know from our childhood but Alex Flinn added some much needed twists to give this story a new life! Kudos!

My Rating: 4 stars

Here is a clip to the movie that was made off this book. I have not seen it but just from previews alone you can see they changed it up a bit.

Until next time...

Happy Reading!

Bloodfever: Karen Marie Moning {Review}

Bloodfever

(Fever Series #2)

by Karen Marie Moning

Pub. Date: August 2008
Publisher: Random House Publishing Group
Format: Hardcover , 303pp

Synopsis:

I used to think my sister and I were just two nice southern girls who'd get married in a few years and settle down to a quiet life. Then I discovered that Alina and I descend, not from good wholesome southern stock, but from an ancient Celtic bloodline of powerful sidhe-seers, people who can see the Fae. Not only can I see the terrifying otherworldly race, but I can sense the sacred Fae relics that hold the deadliest of their magic.
When my sister was found dead in a trash-filled alley in Dublin, I came over to get answers. Now all I want is revenge. And after everything I've learned about myself, I know I have the power to get it....
MacKayla Lane's ordinary life underwent a complete makeover when she landed on Ireland's shores and was plunged into a world of deadly sorcery and ancient secrets.
In her fight to stay alive, Mac must find the Sinsar Dubh-a million-year-old book of the blackest magic imaginable, which holds the key to power over both the worlds of the Fae and of Man. Pursued by Fae assassins, surrounded by mysterious figures she knows she cannot trust, Mac finds herself torn between two deadly and irresistible men: V'lane, the insatiable Fae who can turn sensual arousal into an obsession for any woman, and the ever-inscrutable Jericho Barrons, a man as alluring as he is mysterious.
For centuries the shadowy realm of the Fae has coexisted with that of humans. Now the walls between the two are coming down, and Mac is the only thing that stands between them....

First Line(s): All of us have our little problems and insecurities.

Favorite quote(s): "One day you will kiss a man you can't breathe without, and find that breath is of little consequence."

My Review: Karen Marie Moning always delivers and the way she writes with such vivid description you really do feel like you are in the story. This was a solid follow up book in this series and I found myself enjoying it more than the first. But I have to be honest, I am having a hard time with this series because in both books so far there is no clear start, middle and end to the book. I get it is a series, but I still like to like I got a bit of closure in at least some of the story lines that pan out in each book and we don't really get this in the Fever Series. In other words there is no way these books would ever be able to stand alone, and you have no choice ( not that I want one, ha ha ha) but to see this series through till the end.

My Rating: Solid 3 stars

Until next time...

Happy Reading!

DarkFever: Karen Marie Moning

Darkfever

(Fever Series #1)

by Karen Marie Moning

Product Details
Pub. Date: October 2006
Publisher: Random House Publishing Group
Format: Hardcover , 320pp

Synopsis:

MacKayla Lane’s life is good. She has great friends, a decent job, and a car that breaks down only every other week or so. In other words, she’s your perfectly ordinary twenty-first-century woman. Or so she thinks…until something extraordinary happens.

When her sister is murdered, leaving a single clue to her death–a cryptic message on Mac’s cell phone–Mac journeys to Ireland in search of answers. The quest to find her sister’s killer draws her into a shadowy realm where nothing is as it seems, where good and evil wear the same treacherously seductive mask. She is soon faced with an even greater challenge: staying alive long enough to learn how to handle a power she had no idea she possessed–a gift that allows her to see beyond the world of man, into the dangerous realm of the Fae….

As Mac delves deeper into the mystery of her sister’s death, her every move is shadowed by the dark, mysterious Jericho, a man with no past and only mockery for a future. As she begins to close in on the truth, the ruthless Vlane–an alpha Fae who makes sex an addiction for human women–closes in on her. And as the boundary between worlds begins to crumble, Mac’s true mission becomes clear: find the elusive Sinsar Dubh before someone else claims the all-powerful Dark Book–because whoever gets to it first holds nothing less than complete control of the very fabric of both worlds in their hands….

First Line(s): My philosophy is pretty simple- any day nobody'svtrying to kill me is a good day in my book.

My Review: Okay, okay so I am late reading this series but that should not suprise anyone. I get to everything just on my own time!

I am glad I finally started this series. While I thought this book was slow at points it did pick up, and I love how Karen Marie Moning always uses so much details in the stories she writes. I had no problems picturing Mac in my head or Barron's.

Coming into this book I will admit I knew nothing about this series except fellow bloggers and friends raving about it and of course the author ( she is fantastic).

The second I finished this book I raced over to my book shelf and picked up the next book in the series. I can NOT wait to see what happens next to Mac and Barrons ( I hope they finally hook up... I am sure they do, but don't know for certain so hush)!

My Rating: 4 stars

Until next time...

Happy Reading!

Without Reservations: Review

Without Reservations

(With or Without #2)
by J.L. Langley

Paperback: 268 pages
Publisher: Samhain Publishing (April 17, 2007)

Sometimes love just catches you by the tail. Chayton Winston is a veterinarian. He is also a werewolf. Much to his Native American parent's chagrin, he has always dreamed of a fair-haired, Caucasian mate. However, he never imagined his mate would be male. As a heterosexual man, he's not quite sure what to do with a male mate, but more than willing to find out. Keaton Reynolds wakes up, in wolf form, and finds himself with a mate. He's instantly attracted, but not so thrilled to find out the man is straight. Having been in a relationship once before where his partner professed to be "Not gay" left a bad taste in his mouth. Keaton wants to make a break for it and pretend he never set eyes on Chay-but Chay is not ready to let him go. Together the two work to solidify their shaky relationship and battle the prejudices against homosexuals. Chay must deal with not only his mother's prejudices against gay men but also her hatred of white people. When a power struggle in Keaton's pack threatens Keaton's life, the two men learn to depend on one another and their relationship to get them through it.

Warning, this title contains the following: explicit sex, graphic language, violence and hot man-love.

First Line(s): "Broom....Broom... Mommy, if I'm a wolf like Daddy, why can't I change into a wolf?"

My Review: I had high hopes for this book. I mean werewolves and romance ( romance is romace, I am not one to look away from m/m or f/f), it has it all. With that said this book was just okay.... maybe a "strong" okay. When I finished it I had a take it or leave it attitude about it. The characters played well off each other and the book had humor, but if you are looking for a romance with depth than keep looking. If you want a steamy romance ( erotic) read, look no farther because it has PLENTY of this!

My Rating: 3 stars

Until next time...

Happy Reading!

Sleeping Beauty Vampire Slayer: Maureen McGowan

Sleeping Beauty Vampire Slayer

by Maureen McGowan

Book Details:

Author: Maureen McGowan

Pages: Paperback, 320

Publish Date: April 1st 2011

Publisher: Silver Dolphin Books

Long ago in a faraway kingdom where humans co-exist with vampires, werewolves and fairies, a beautiful baby princess named Lucette is born. The king and queen host a celebration, but exclude the vampires because of tensions brewing between their previously peaceful kingdoms. Angry at the slight, the Vampire Queen crashes the party and puts a curse on the baby: when Lucette reaches adulthood, she will cut herself, and the instant her blood falls upon the ground, she will never wake again while the sun is in the sky. When night falls, she will awaken while everyone else in the kingdom will fall asleep, leaving Lucette alone in the darkness.

The royal wizard can’t reverse the spell, but alters it so that the curse can be lifted if Lucette proves she has found true love. But falling in love seems impossible if all the eligible bachelors are sleeping. Furious at the curse tampering, the Vampire Queen breaks the peace treaty that forbids vampires from attacking the people of Lucette’s kingdom. An army of vampire slayers is created to defend the kingdom from the nightly rampaging bloodsuckers.

Lucette secretly trains with the army, knowing that if her parents’ attempts to protect her fail and the curse comes true, one day—well, technically one night—she’ll be the only one in her kingdom awake to fight back.

And here’s the twist – you’re in control. At three points during the story, you get to decide what Lucette would do next. Depending on your choice, you flip to that relevant tab for the continuation of the story. Based on your choices, Lucette’s adventures unfold. And the extra fun part? After reaching one outcome, the reader can re-read the book, choose different options, and read an entirely different story!

First Line(s): Sun streamed through the floor-to-ceiling windows lining the western-facing of the palace's reception room.

My Review:
Do you all remember those books where there were different options you could choose from, several paths throughout the novel and alternative endings? I loved these books when I was younger, so I was happily when I discovered this novel fits into that category! There are three or four times throughout the novel where you get to pick the path of the heroine. The only bad thing about this is that, no matter which path you pick, the ending still remains the same. That was a real bummer for me.

The main character, Lucette, is well-written. She has depth, a multi-layered personality and boy is she witty. I would have liked to know more about Alex and Tristan, the two possible love interests of Lucette. The King and Queen were much better developed, with interesting personalities.

Over all I loved the story! This novel is not the best piece of fiction ever written, but it is a fun and is a fast read for sure!

My Rating: 4 stars

I would like to thank Net Galley for the chance to read and review this book. I was given this book to read in exchange for a honest review.

Until next time...

Happy Reading!

2011 Paranormal Romance Challenge

This is a challenge to read 20 paranormal romance book between Jan 1st through Dec 31st. Any books read before Jan will not count.

Click the above picture to get more details and to sign up for this reading challenge.

Come back to this link often ( this picture will be on my sidebar once it is 2011 with a link) to see how I am doing with this challenge.

My List:

1. 
   
   Sleeping Beauty Vampire Slayer: Maureen McGowan


2. 
   
   Without Reservations: J.L. Langley


3. 
   
   Dark Fever- Karen Marie Moning


4. 
   
   Bloodfever: Karen Marie Moning


5. 
   
   Beastly: Alex Flinn


6. 
   
   The Mammoth Book of Vampire Romance 2 ( didn't love this book, no need to write a review)


7. 
   
   Dead Reckoning by Charlaine Harris


8. 
   
   One Grave at a Time by Jeaniene Frost


9. 
   
   Starstruck by Cyn Balog


10. 
    
    Infinite Betrayal by Gayle Donnelly and Robyn Mackenzie

Until next time...Happy Reading!