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2013 Reading Challenge
Jen (That's What I'm Talking About) has
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New-To-Me Authors
2013 reading goal:
15 new-to-me authors.
1) Stacy Gail
2) Heather Massey
3) Sidney Bristol
4) Ann Mayburn
5) Thea Harrison
6) Virna DePaul
7) Mary Quast
8) Molly Harper
9) Eleri Stone
10) PJ Schnyder
11) Kait Ballenger
12) Denise L. Wyant
13) Lucy Monroe
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Showing posts with label Pocket Books. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Pocket Books. Show all posts
Friday, May 24, 2013
Review: A Witch's Handbook of Kisses and Curses by Molly Harper
A Witch's Handbook of Kisses and Curses
Author: Molly Harper
Release Date: May 28, 2013
Publisher: Pocket Books
Half-Moon Hollow #2
ISBN: #978-1451641851
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Format(s): Paperback (368 pgs), e-book
Book Source: Edelweiss
About the book:
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Nola Leary would have been content to stay in Kilcairy, Ireland, healing villagers at her family’s clinic with a mix of magic and modern medicine. But a series of ill-timed omens and a deathbed promise to her grandmother have sent her on a quest to Half-Moon Hollow, Kentucky, to secure her family’s magical potency for the next generation. Her supernatural task? To unearth four artifacts hidden by her grandfather before a rival magical family beats her to it.
Complication One: Her grandfather was Mr. Wainwright and the artifacts are lost somewhere in what is now Jane Jameson's book shop.
Complication Two: her new neighbor, Jed Trudeau, who keeps turning up half naked at the strangest times, a distraction Nola doesn't need. And teaming up with a real-life Adonis is as dangerous as it sounds, especially when he’s got the face of an angel and the abs of a washboard—can Nola complete her mission before falling completely under his spell?
What I’m talking about:
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Nola, a witch with mediocre talent but potential to be more, moves to Half-Moon Hollow, Kentucky from Ireland after one too many "nudges" from her deceased Nana. She leaves behind her doting boyfriend and the safety of her family with the purpose of recovering four magic items that her Nana entrusted to her lover from years ago--Nola’s unknown grandfather.
Immediately Nola earns the trust of and makes friends with the locals, who are critical in Nola’s quest to find the lost items. In addition, Nola befriends her hunky neighbor, Jed, who lives in the other half of Nola's rental home. Jed’s sexy body and easy-going nature has Nola second guessing the “normal” boyfriend she left back home.
I am a first time reader of Ms. Harper’s books, and I can say with certainty that A Witch’s Handbook of Kisses and Curses will not be my last! I completely enjoyed Ms. Harper’s writing style, humor, and world-building. Although this book falls within a series, which is a spin-off of another one of her series, I never felt lost or that I was missing critical back story.
A Witch’s Handbook is told from the first person POV of Nola, which gives it a “chic lit” feel, but it’s not dumbed down or overly silly. After a rough childhood (horrible mother!) and armed with the desire to “be normal,” Nola tries to hide who and what she truly is. However, she is intuitive and smart, and coming to The Hollow allows her to discover this for herself. I enjoyed watching Nola laugh with her new friends/family and learn to love herself and all the quirks that come with being a McGavock witch. Her sense of humor is outstanding (for example calling an opossum trapped in her cupboard a “rodent of unusual size”), and her nature is light and fun.
At the center of the tale is the need to recover the four everyday “magical” items. We learn that these items hold the key to keeping the Kerrigans, who are the "black magic" members of the McGavock family, from gaining power over Nola’s family and wrecking havoc in the world. The story includes a bit of mystery as strange things start happening around Nola, to include a break in of the bookstore formerly owned by her deceased grandfather. Adding to the tension is a looming deadline before which Nola has to locate the items. Altogether, it created a bit of excitement, suspense and tension which had me constantly trying to figure out the who, what and why’s.
Probably the best thing about the book is the troupe of locals who become Nola’s adopted family. The banter with local vamps Andrea and Jane lend humor to the tale, but also allow us to see different sides of Nola. Andrea’s husband, Dick, is another source of comic relief, stemming from his silly actions when dealing with Nola. Then there is Jed, who has a “devil may care” attitude one moment, while in the next, he leaves flowers for Nola at her windowsill. Watching their romance develop was sweet and sexy. I adored Nola and Jed, and I loved how she helps him with a “family problem” that is pretty humorous. In the end, the story chronicles how everyone comes together in friendship and love, which makes this book such a feel good read.
The entire story was well-scripted, thoughtful and humorous. From the process of searching for the artifacts to the budding friendships with Jane, Andrea, and the rest. Her flirtatious nature with Jed, and her humanity work at the local clinic. I also enjoyed the slow uncovering of Nola’s childhood memories, to include how horrible her mom was and conversely, how loving her father was.
A Witch’s Handbook of Kisses and Curses is a wonderful story! Although overall the book is light and fluffy, the humor and plot are sharp, making this a worthy read. I enjoyed almost every moment of the story, smiling on the inside and out. It wasn't deep or emotionally gripping, but fun and warm. It is entertainment for the sake of joy. There was an interesting and exciting plot behind the fun, and the humor made me chuckle several times over, possibly recognizing it as something I would do or say. Everything was well-written, with no loose ends or side stories left dangling. I most certainly plan to visit Half-Moon Hollow again.
My Rating:
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Loved it - enthusiastically recommend (A)
Labels:
Monday, March 25, 2013
Review: Deadly Sting by Jennifer Estep
Deadly Sting
Author: Jennifer Estep
Release Date: March 26, 2013
Publisher: Pocket Books
Elemental Assassin #8
ISBN: #978-1451688993
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Format(s): Paperback (400 pgs), e-book, audio
Book Source: Edelweiss
About the book:
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Red is definitely my color. Good thing, because in my line of work, I end up wearing it a lot.
Most people shy away from blood, but for an assassin like me — Gin Blanco, aka the Spider — it’s just part of the job. Still, it would be nice to get a night off, especially when I’m attending the biggest gala event of the summer at Briartop, Ashland’s fanciest art museum. But it’s just not meant to be. For this exhibition of my late nemesis’ priceless possessions is not only the place to be seen, but the place to be robbed and taken hostage at gunpoint as well. No sooner did I get my champagne than a bunch of the unluckiest thieves ever burst into the museum and started looting the place.
Unlucky why? Because I brought along a couple of knives in addition to my killer dress. Add these to my Ice and Stone magic, and nothing makes me happier than showing the bad guys why red really is my color.
What I’m talking about:
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Note: this review contains spoilers from earlier books in the Elemental Assassin series.
It’s been one long month for Gin since she killed her lover Owen’s ex-fiancee at the conclusion of the last book, Widow’s Web. Giving Owen the space he requested, Gin puts on a good face and keeps her tough exterior, but inside she’s a wreck. Lucky for us, her brother Finn attempts to help lift Gin’s spirits by taking her shopping for some fancy digs to wear to an gala showcasing items from the late Mab Monroe’s estate. Of course, this is Ashland and we are talking about Gin Blanco, aka the Spider, so even a simple shopping trip has its hazards. And only Gin would get excited about the store being robbed while she’s in the dressing room! It’s a great opening sequence that sets the mood for the entire book.
The story moves forward to the opening gala where Gin reluctantly attends with Finn. As soon as Gin arrives, her magic alerts her to some bad vibes coming from the museum stones. Yet even after she witnesses some odd behavior from a few of the giants working there, Gin keeps quiet about her bad feelings. Then to top it all off, since this is an event for all the movers and shakers of Ashland, it’s no surprise to this reader when Owen shows up with a date... one that happens to be wearing the same dress as Gin! It is a classic moment!
Soon after everyone arrives, things go downhill and get real ugly. There is a massive heist underway and everyone is held captive. Once again, it’s up to Gin to save the day. It’s not an easy feat, and there are twists and complications every step of the way.
About three-quarters of the book occurs at the museum and only over the course of only a few hours. I felt that the single locale and short timeframe of the situation added an urgency and intensity to the story. It was hard for me to put the book down since there were no breaks in the action. Additionally, reading the events unfold through the POV of Gin kept me on my toes and continually guessing at what is going to come her way next.
Ms. Estep is an amazing storyteller. The carefully detailed descriptions--from food I want to devour to scenery I feel like I can step into--makes the story so enjoyable to read and easy to visualize. Ms. Estep knows how to reveal clues at the just the right time to keep me glued to the pages. And her characters pack an emotional intensity that doesn't drive me away or interfere with action.
As for that emotional intensity... let’s talk about Gin and Owen. I’ll admit, I wasn’t too torn up at the end of the last book when Owen said he needed some time. I get it - a lot had just happened. However, the opening of Deadly Sting paints a more detailed picture of Gin. Learning of Gin’s loneliness and heartbreak tore me up inside. The gala is the first time that Gin and Owen see one another in a month. The moment was funny because of the fact that his date was wearing the same dress as Gin, but my heart shattered, unlike at the end of the last book. Gin loves Owen, but pride and insecurity get in the way.
As the book progressed, the pair has opportunity to talk open and honestly. Generally, one of my pet-peeves in books occurs when characters engage in deep dialogue or sexually-driven thoughts when in the midst of intense and dangerous circumstances. That is why I loved the fact that Gin acknowledges that “right now” isn't an appropriate time for the pair to discuss their issues, but then goes on to note that they may die that night and she wants to get out all the things left unsaid for the past month. I genuinely delighted in the honest, raw intensity of Owen and Gin, and Ms. Estep's ability to convey the mixed-up and heart-wrenching emotions that go along with the pair. I also liked Owen’s own introspection on things that had happened because it gave me better insight to why he is acting the way he is. Since I don’t want to give any spoilers, I’m not going to say how things are left between the pair at the end of the book; however, once you read it, I’d love to chat!
After the heist is over, Gin is determined to find out who is ultimately behind the events that occurred at the museum. There is a great scene near the conclusion of the book that is very satisfactory, especially to long-time readers of the series. (no spoilers!). I was completely entertained with how Gin handles the situation.
Deadly Sting is another excellent piece of work from Ms. Estep. I enjoyed the fact that roughly seventy percent of the story takes place in the span of a few hours and in one location. Despite this, the story never went stagnant. The movement was constant - whether it was the action (which there is a lot of, many dead bad guys per usual) - or the constant thoughts running through Gin’s head. The continuing love story between Owen and Gin was emotionally powerful and rich. I adore Gin’s family and friends and how close sisters Bria and Gin have become. Gin may need to kill alone at times, but she embraces and relies on the fact that they are always there for her. All-in-all a great read.
My Rating:
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Loved it - enthusiastically recommend (A)
Reviews in the Series:
Tuesday, October 23, 2012
Review & Giveaway: A Trace of Moonlight by Allison Pang
A Trace of Moonlight
Author: Allison Pang
Release Date: Oct. 30, 2012
Publisher: Pocket Books
Abby Sinclair #3
ISBN: #978-1439198360
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Format(s): Paperback (400 pgs), e-book
Book Source: Book Tour
About the book:
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Drinking from the waters of lethe and offering herself up as Faerie’s sacrificial Tithe …these just might be the least of Abby Sinclair’s problems.
Abby’s pact with a demon—whether or not she remembers making it—is binding, so she’d better count herself lucky that (in the words of a daemon who knows better) there’s nearly always a loophole. But her friends’ reckless attempts to free her, well intentioned though they may be, set off a disastrous chain of events. In no time at all, Abby turns her incubus lover mortal and gets herself killed, cursed, and married to an elven prince whose mother wants her dead. She might have even been able to recover from all that had she not lost the Key to the CrossRoads to her mortal enemy, who promptly uses his restored power to wreak havoc on the OtherWorld and put its very existence in jeopardy.
Only one person can make things right again, but to find her, Abby must place her trust in allies of mixed loyalties, and conquer her nightmares once and for all.
What B is talking about:
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Trapped in Faery with no memory of how she got there or the destiny that still awaits her, Abby Sinclair finds herself at the center of a brewing unrest between the different paths of the Crossroads. Although dying (and coming back to life) certainly puts a new perspective on the happenings around her, Abby has to learn to trust in those dearest to her before time runs out, and any hope of a world worth living in is lost forever.
Abby is back in the third, and final, installment of this wonderful series from Allison Pang, and is just as much a danger to herself and others as ever. As a TouchStone, Dreamer, and KeyStone, Abby has had to shoulder enormous responsibility, and has made some disastrous mistakes along the way. Caught between the arrogance of powerful immortals and the impatience of her own mortality, Abby has often caused more trouble than she could possibly solve. But, the Abby in A Trace of Moonlight has changed. She is more cautious, less self-assured, as well as more giving. She is a better, wiser Abby, and more deserving of the dedication and sacrifice of those who love her.
That’s not to say she doesn’t make mistakes this time around, too. Although Abby again manages to cause some problems and heartache, she still has the loyalty and faith of her closest friends, all of whom I was very happy to see again. Brystion and Talivar have returned, each vying for Abby’s love and both proving themselves to be devoted and worthy of real happiness. Phineas, possibly my favorite character in the series, is back as well, in all his pervy, flatulent glory, still playing the role of Abby’s confidant and advisor. Also joining Abby are Melanie and Charlie, their friends from The Hallows, and the colorful denizens of the Barras.
Although I have enjoyed this series from the beginning, A Trace of Moonlight is my favorite story yet; the world Ms. Pang has created having grown richer and more inventive with each successive novel. While not a romance, A Trace of Moonlight devotes a good many of its pages to Abby’s tangled love life, finally giving some closure to the inevitable turmoil that comes from considering any sort of love between those who are mortal and those who aren’t. Told from Abby’s perspective, the series has allowed me to cringe at her failures and cheer her accomplishments, especially as she comes to realize that the weight of destiny isn’t hers to bear alone. While I’m happy that Abby’s tale turned out as it did, I am very sorry to see this series end. It’s been a good one.
B’s Rating:
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Loved it - enthusiastically recommend (A)
GIVEAWAY: As part of the blog tour, Allison is sponsoring a giveaway of A Trace of Moonlight at each stop on the tour. Thank you to Allison for sponsoring the giveaway! To enter, please use the RAFFLECOPTER entry form, below. This is open INTERNATIONALLY! For more information about the giveaway and tour, please visit Bewitching Book Tours.
Stops on the Tour:
October 16 Interview
Preternatura
October 16 Review
Place of Reads book blog
October 17 Guest blog and review
The Book Nympho
October 18 Guest blog
Urban Fantasy Investigations
October 18 Promo and review
Confessions from Romaholics:
October 19 Interview
October 20 Promo and review
Bitten By Love Reviews
October 21 Review
Sky Rose Reviews -
October 22 Interview and review
Urban Girl Reader –
October 23 Interview
Laurie's Paranormal Thoughts and Reviews
Oct 23 Review
October 24 Review
Between Dreams and Reality:
October 25 Guest blog
Ramblings From This Chick
October 26 Promo and review
Mama Knows Books
October 27 Promo
Cabin Goddess
October 27 Promo and review
Gizmos Reviews
October 28 Promo (review)
Nikki Brandyberry
Ramblings From A Chaotic Mind
October 29 Guest blog and review
Tynga's Reviews
October 30 Promo and review
The Book Tart
October 31 Interview and review
Fangs, Wands & Fairydust and Winged Effigy
November 1 Interview
Juniper Grove
November 1 Promo
My Miscellaneous Bookshelf.
November 2 Interview
Books & Other Spells.
November 2 Promo
Bookin' It Reviews ~
November 3 Promo and review
Snowdrop Dreams of Books
November 4 Interview
Simply Infatuated
November 4 review
LilyElement Book Reviews
November 5 Promo
Mimmi's Musings
November 5 Promo and review
Booked & Loaded
November 6 promo
SMARTMOUTHTEXAN
November 7 Promo
V's Book Life
November 7 Review
A Bibliophile's Thoughts on Books
November 8 Interview
November 9 Interview and review
The Reading Diaries
November 10 Interview and review
Never Judge a Book by its Cover
November 11 Interview
Under the Covers Blog
November 11 review
Book Briefs
November 12 Promo and review
Starry night book reviews
November 13 Review
Butterfly-o-Meter Books
November 14 Interview and review
The Speculative Salon:
November 14 Promo and review
On the Broomstick
Wednesday, August 22, 2012
Review: Widow's Web by Jennifer Estep
Widow’s Web
Author: Jennifer Estep
Release Date: Aug. 21, 2012
Publisher: Pocket Books
Elemental Assassins #7
ISBN: #978-1451651775
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Format(s): Paperback (400 pgs), e-book
Book Source: Author
About the book:
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Once an assassin, always an assassin. So much for being plain old Gin Blanco. With every lowlife in Ashland gunning for me, I don’t need another problem, but a new one has come to town.
Salina might seem like a sweet Southern belle, but she’s really a dangerous enemy whose water elemental magic can go head-to-head with my own Ice and Stone power. Salina also has an intimate history with my lover, Owen Grayson, and now that she’s back in town, she thinks he’s hers for the taking.
Salina’s playing a mysterious game that involves a shady local casino owner with a surprising connection to Owen. But they call me the Spider for a reason. I’m going to untangle her deadly scheme, even if it leaves my love affair hanging by a thread.
What I’m talking about:
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Widow’s Web picks up only a few weeks after the conclusion of the last book, By a Thread. The opening is an amazing gut check that will leave you speechless for a couple of moments. It starts with Gin on the job - hunting her prey and preparing to take out her latest target. We learn the intricate details of how she prepared for this kill, and the scene is amazing. Ms. Estep is a masterful story teller, and she sucked me into Gin’s world so quickly.
All-in-all things are going well for Gin. She and Owen are closer than ever, and even the attempts on her life aren’t as frequent as they were after Mab’s death. But all good things must come to an end for our heroine, and that happens the moment Salina Dubois strolls into Underwood restaurant. We discover that this gorgeous southern belle is Owen’s ex, and she has her sites on reclaiming Owen as her own. Once again, Ms. Estep expertly weaves a scene that conveys an immense amount of intimate emotion and reaction. The fact that the story is told from first person puts the reader right in Gin’s head, and my heart was breaking as she notices all of the signs of someone who may still be in love with another.
As the story progresses, we learn that Salina may not be the polite charmer that Owen remembers. Owen’s sister, Eva, and underworld gambling racketeer, Phillip Kincaid, both have much to say about Salina, none of it good. Unfortunately for Gin, she’s now in the middle of an ugly situation -- fighting siblings, enemies reengaged, and meanwhile, she’s watching her lover distance himself. This story is full of layers that Gin must peel away to determine where the truth lies. Ultimately, Gin must make some difficult decisions, which add much to her character and the tale. It was hard for me to read at times because I was so worried about what might happen, but in the end Ms. Estep takes the story in the direction it needs to go.
Gin is one of my favorite heroines. She’s an assassin with a heart. She has had so much bad in her life, that she values the good so dearly. And I love that Gin is smart. She notices everything around her, and puts pieces of the puzzle together. There is no finding a clue and then filing it away for another day. Since we are privy to her POV, we figure things out as she does. For example: Gin notices how quickly Kincaid eats and compares it to how she ate when she lived on the streets. That gives us quite a bit of information, rather than letting us figure it on our own.
I also enjoy how Gin’s relationship with her sister, Bria has progressed. In the last book, they began to open up and let go of the past. Ms. Estep has taken their connection another step forward, in fact, Bria even refers to Gin as the Spider without cringing. The pair are learning how to balance their opposing careers (assassin and police office) while continuing to support one another.
Finally, we witness a more emotional, vulnerable Gin. She has a lot on the line as she debates internally how to deal with Salina and what Salina means to Owen. Ms. Estep strikes my heartstrings as she takes Gin on an emotion-filled ride with highs and lows that left me wanting more. Gin is growing past her history with Mab and onto a life that is free of revenge, which opens up so many new avenues for our heroine.
In the end, this story moves and flows. As per usual, there is lots of action and adventure. Widow’s Web has both highs and lows, and I, for one, am happy to take on both ends of the spectrum with Gin as my guide.
My Rating:
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Enjoyed - strongly recommend (A-)
Reviews in the Series:
Friday, March 2, 2012
Review: By a Thread
By a Thread
Author: Jennifer Estep
Release Date: Feb. 28, 2012
Publisher: Pocket Books
Elemental Assassins #6
ISBN: #978-1451651768
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Format(s): Paperback (384 pgs), e-book
Book Source: Author
About the book:
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When killing people is your job, there’s no such thing as a vacation.
Then again, how often does an assassin live long enough to enjoy her retirement? In this line of work, you either get lucky or you get dead. And since I destroyed my nemesis Mab Monroe a few weeks ago, all of Ashland’s lowlifes are gunning to make a name for themselves by taking out the lethal Spider—me, Gin Blanco. So I’m leaving behind my beloved barbecue joint and heading south with my baby sister, Bria, to cool my heels in a swanky beach town. Call it a weekend of fun in the sun.
But when a powerful vampire with deadly elemental magic threatens an old friend of Bria’s, it looks like I’ll have to dig my silverstone knives out of my suitcase after all. Complicating matters further is the reappearance of Detective Donovan Caine, my old lover. But Donovan is the least of my problems. Because this time, the danger is hot on my trail, and not even my elemental Ice and Stone magic may be enough to save me from getting buried in the sand—permanently.
What I’m talking about:
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As I stated when I reviewed Thread of Death (review HERE), I am new to Ms. Estep’s Elemental Assassins series, but with the “blessings” of the author herself, I jumped into the series with both feet, and am I glad that I did!
The story takes place shortly after the events in Thread of Death, which featured the funeral of underworld figure Mab Monroe. Our heroine, Gin Blanco defeated nemesis Mab in book #5, Spider’s Revenge, in a climatic duel. Now the word is out that Gin is in fact the assassin known as the Spider, and everyone wants a piece of her, especially Mab’s former associate, Jonah McAllister. So at the suggestion of her friends and family, Gin takes a long overdue vacation with her younger sister.
I could go on and on about the plot of By a Thread because it was such a fun story. It had all the right elements - action, love, intrigue - but what I adored most was that we watched Gin’s relationships with her sister, Bria, and her lover, Owen, grown and deepen. By the end of the book I had tears in my eyes because of the emotional bonding I witnessed.
However, let me back up a little here. This book is action packed! I was literally skipping words to find out what was going to happen next - I could not read fast enough. I was often on edge, sometimes even mentally “covering my eyes” because I was continually waiting for something else to go wrong with Gin. Even though she agrees to go on vacation, trouble has a way of finding her. I felt bad for Gin as she fought to protect her sister’s BFF, unpacking her numerous weapons, doing the tough jobs, while her sister watched her with an eye of almost disgust. But it was a good thing Gin doesn’t know how to take a break from the life of an assassin, because this time they tangled with one of the most vicious vampires known to walk the earth. And let me tell you, parts of this book were a bit gruesome, made more cringe-worthy out of concern for Gin.
Randall Dekes is a evil, sadistic vampire with no redeeming qualities. He makes an excellent villain, especially when he takes on and tortures Gin. He also has ties to Jonah McAllister, which makes him enemy number one.
As I said earlier, although a thrilling ride, the best parts of this book are the emotional pieces which stirred my heart. I loved the little nuggets and memories from Gin’s deceased foster father, Fletcher. In addition, Ms. Estep does a superb job portraying Gin's longing to be close with her sister. In opening scenes when she travels with Bria to Blue Sands--it was heart breaking. I could feel Gin's self-doubt and her desire for her sister's love.
And when it comes to love... I ADORE Owen! Owen and Gin are ideal for each other. Individually, they aren’t perfect, but accept each other for who they are, even when they make mistakes. It’s like they know each other on a sub-atomic level and are just content to admire and love the other as is. And when Owen says to Gin "You're mine," rawr!
This was my first full-length Elemental Assassins book, but I easily jumped right in. Gin reminds me of Buffy the Vampire Slayer: sometimes the battle is hers alone to fight; she wants to help others; she has a good heart. I loved how Gin really came into her own and accepted who she is and what she does. I think you will too!
My Rating:
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Purchase Info:
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