Tory had almost reached her destination when a machine gun blasted crazily from the farmhouse ahead.

"I'm a bad woman, of course," said Carling Severan, the Vampyre sorceress, in an absent tone of voice. "It is a fact that I made peace with many centuries ago. I calibrate everything I do, even the most generous-seeming gesture, in terms of how it may serve me."

"You could try to surrender to the experience and let change happen.""Change or die?" she said."Yes. Change or die.""You might have noticed, I don't do surrender very well,"

She cradled his head and bowed over him, wiping her damp cheeks with one hand. "We're so different from each other." "We live a long time. It's good to not be bored."

Dragon bound
Thea Harrison
ISBN #:  978-0-425-24150-9
Publisher Name:  Berkley Publishing Group
Date Released:  May 2011
Genre:  Urban Fantasy
Book Format:  Print.

BACK COVER BLURB:




The guy is hot on the cover, but not how I pictured Dragos or the feel of his personality that I seen.

Pia was blackmailed into committing a crime more suicidal than she could have possibly have imagined, and she had no one to blame but herself.






WHERE PURCHASED:
Purchased with my own money.

RATING:

Dead Reckoning
Charlaine Harris
ISBN #:  978-0-441-02031-7
Publisher Name:  The Berkeley Publishing Group
Date Released:  May 2011
Genre:  Urban Fantasy
Book Format:  Print.





Typical. Boring. I stopped really paying attention. This is a turning point in the series, so they really need to hype it up and change it up a little.











BTW. BLOGGER SUCKS. I'VE BEEN HAVING PROBLEMS RESPONDING TO COMMENTS. I DEARLY WANT TO HEAR WHAT YOU SAY BUT I'M NOT IGNORING YOU IF I DON'T COMMENT BACK.
Borrowed from my local library.

Book Title: LOVER UNLEASHED

Author Name: J.R. Ward
ISBN #: 978-0-451-23316-5
Publisher Name: Penguin Group/NAL
Date Released: April 2011
Genre: Paranormal/Urban Fantasy Romance
Pages: 489
Retail Price: $27.95
Book Format: Print.


BACK COVER BLURB:
Payne, twin sister of Vishous, is cut from the same dark warrior cloth as her brother. Because she is a fighter by nature, and a maverick when it comes to the traditional role of Chosen females, there is no place for her on the Far Side . . . and no role for her on the front lines of the war, either.

When she suffers a paralyzing injury, human surgeon Dr. Manuel Manello is called in to treat her as only he can – and he soon gets sucked into her dangerous secret world. Although he never before believed in things that go bump in the night – like vampries – he finds himself more than willing to be seduced by the powerful female who marks both his body and his soul.

As the two find so much more than an erotic connection, the human and vampire worlds collide . . . just as a centuries-old score catches up with Payne and puts both her love and her live in deadly jeopardy.

COVER SNARK:
It’s okay. But are they using the same guy over and over again?

FIRST LINES:

Xcor saw his father killed when he was but five years past his transition. It happened afore his very eyes, and yet even with the proximity, he could not fathom what transpired.

I was shocked. This was still a J.R. Ward book (product placement galore – though less so, 400 year old men talking like they grew up like white boys who are trying to be gangster and failing miserably, side plots that overtake the hero and heroine’s story). All the things that drive me crazy about her series was still there, but it was like someone held her back and what was left was a tightly plotted and focused story that I hadn’t seen from her in years.

Manny and Payne had a decent romance. I wish there was more of it and it was more fully developed. When I got to the end, I was like that’s it? However, since I was expected far, far less between them, I wasn’t as annoyed like I usually am. A lot of the focus inside LOVER UNLEASHED is focused on V and Jane. I could be wrong and often am (not really, but that sounds more humble), but I got the feel that the focus on V and Jane was Ms. Ward’s way of saying ‘my bad, I’m sorry that V’s book sucked donkey doo-doo and this is my way of making it up to my readers. This is how V and Jane’s relationship arc should’ve been.’ Now, if she’d do the same with Phury and what’s her face, I’d be over the moon and might actually go back to purchasing her novels instead of getting them from my library.

To be honest, I can’t tell you if the story was really good, or that my expectations were so low that I was shocked that it wasn’t as awful as I assumed it would be so I’m hyping it up more than it should be. My judgment may be screwed.

I am back to being curious about where the BDB series is going to go from here. Ms. Ward set up some new interesting plot lines that include Butch’s real father, The Bastards and their planned revenge on Wrath (why, what’s up with that), and who is that Toe’s father and family (yes, I know that’s not his real name, but WTF).

So from deciding to totally give up on the BDB series, I’m back to being intrigued to what’s coming up next. So that’s a good thing.

BTW. If anyone knows, whose the next book about?

WHERE PURCHASED:
Borrowed from my local library. I’m still leery about paying for one of her books, even after this. Time will tell.

RATING:

Nalini Singh
ISBN #: 978-0-425-24013-7
Publisher Name: The Berkley Publishing Group/Berkley Sensation
Date Released: February 2011
Genre: Urban Fantasy Romance
Book Format: Print

BACK COVER BLURB:

Vampire hunter Elena Deveraux and her lover, the lethally beautiful archangel Raphael, have returned home to New York only to face an uncompromising new evil . . .

A vampire has attacked a girls’ school- the assault one of sheer, vicious madness – and it is only the first act. Rampant bloodlust takes vampire after vampire, threatening to make the streets run with blood. Then Raphael himself begins to show signs of an uncontrolled rage, an inexplicable storm darken the city skyline and the earth itself shudders.

The omens are suddenly terrifyingly clear.

An ancient and malevolent immortal is rising. The violent winds whisper her name: Caliane. She has returned to reclaim her son, Raphael. Only one thing stands in her way: Elena, the consort who must be destroyed. . .

COVER SNARK:
I actually like this cover. I like the expression on her face. She looks fierce yet vulnerable. She looks like Elena.


FIRST LINES:

Swathed in the silken shadows of deepest night, New York was the same . . . and altered beyond compare. Once Elena had watched angels take flight from the light-filled column of the Tower as she sat in front of the distant window of the cherished apartment. Now, she was one of those angels, perched high atop a balcony that had no railing, nothing to prevent a deadly fall.

LYNETTE'S TWO CENTS:

I don’t know what to say. I just didn’t get ARCHANGEL’S CONSORT. Just didn’t get it. Now I’m going to try to explain why and I’ll probably fail horribly, so excuse me.

There is a lot going on in ARCHANGEL’S CONSORT and a lot of it is good and interesting, but it all didn’t fit together cohesively for me. Am I talking out my butt? It sounds like it doesn’t it. Seriously, I’m trying to figure this out as I type.

I loved Elena and Raphael’s relationship in ARCHANGEL’S CONSORT. You will be happy to know that I have finally forgiven Rapheal for being a complete jerk in the first book. I loved the push/give exchanged between them and the respect that they showed each other. Respect, I felt, that was lacking in the previous books in the series.

Another one of my favorite aspects was the evolution of Elena and Raphael’s relationship with their parents. All was not as it seems for both of them and I enjoyed how that played out.

So why when I loved that did I have such lukewarm feelings about ARCHANGEL’S CONSORT? I think it was the suspense. While it was there, it didn’t seem as interwoven as it should have been for Rapheal and Elena. What should have been the forefront of the novel (what’s going to happen if the ancient rises – no spoiler as it’s in the back cover blurb) the major plot seemed to be a minor subplot compared with showing how great Elena and Raphael were together and to set up the next book in the series involving one of the Seven.

See why I’m confused. If I were to take ARCHANGEL’S CONSORT apart piece by piece, I liked it very much but as a cohesive novel, I didn’t.

Make any sense? Probably not. My bad. But’s that’s my .02.


WHERE PURCHASED:

Borrowed from my local library because the freaking copy that I PRE-ORDERED from Borders still hasn’t arrived.

RATING:

Book Title: TWICE BITTEN
Author Name: Chloe Neill
ISBN #: 978-0-451-23064-5
Publisher Name: NAL
Date Released: July 2010
Genre : Urban Fantasy
Pages: 368
Book Format: Trade Paperback

BACK COVER BLURB:

Merit, Chicago's newest vampire, is learning how to play well with others. Other supernaturals, that is. Shapeshifters from across the country are coming in the Windy City, and as a gesture of peace, Master vampire Ethan Sullivan has offered their leader a very special bodyguard, Merit. Merit is supposed to protect the Alpha, Gabriel Keene – and to spy for the vamps while she's at it. Oh, and luckily Ethan's offering some steamy one-on-one combat training sessions to help her prepare for the mission.

Merit must accept the assignment even through she knows that she'll probably regret it. And she's not wrong. Someone is gunning for Gabriel Keene, and Merit soon finds herself in the line of fire. She'll need all the help she can get to tract down the would-be assassin, but everywhere she turns, there are rising tensions between supernaturals – not least between her and a certain centuries-old green-eyed vampire.


FIRST LINES:

It was the beginning of Route 66, the spot where "America's Main Street" began to traverse the United States. Buckingham Fountain, the heard of Grank Park, was named for the brother of the woman who donated the fountain to the city of Chicago.

LYNETTE'S TWO CENTS:

There comes a time in a person's life when they must eat crow and confess to being wrong. Today is my time.

The Chicagoland Vampire Series have been okay reads for me. The first book more so than then the second (Please see my review of Book One and Book Two). But I still didn't get all the fuss and all the squeals of "Ethan" that I hear vibrating over the internet.

Frankly, to me I felt like these ladies needed to get a life with this rabid fan girl crap. And, just because a cute guy is described in a book I don't get the squeals when said guy had done nothing to deserve them or if the plot/character arc/dialogue didn't support the character love. By this I mean Ethan's action did nothing to support all the ETHAN love going on. I mean come on . . ..

Seriously, there is nothing sexier than a man throwing you off to someone else and putting the needs of his job/position over you. So sexy ladies!

Anyhoo, I think the rabid fan girls of this series were jumping the gun with the Ethan/Chicagoland Vamp Love. Book One was good, but there are a lot of good books out there. Book Two, was so-so. But . . .

Book Three was pretty good. It's like the author is now hitting the stride with the series . . . .

MINOR SIDENOTE/REALIZATION BEGINS:

Wait a minute. I think I had the same feelings when reading the J.R. Ward series. I liked Book One, thought Book Two was okay, but when Book Three came out it turned me into a rabid fan girl until J.R. Ward managed to ruin it for me in every single book after Butch and Marissa.

Chloe Neil please don't ruin it for me, I'm liking you now. May I please say . . . DON'T SCREW IT UP!

MINOR SIDENOTE/REALIZATION OVER:

Now for the big issue. How to write an intriguing thought provoking, review of TWICE BITTEN without revealing anything that happened in the freaking book! WTF? But I tried and that's why this review is a rambling mess! BTW, If you looking for intriguing and thought provoking reviews, no offense, you've came to the wrong blog. LOL!

I'm going to try to write a half-way decent review, but it's going to probably turn out into a rambling mess!

If you remember from the end of FRIDAY NIGHT BITES Merit has received an invitation to meet someone unknown. TWICE BITTEN opens with the meeting and it wasn't what I expected.

This meeting leads to Merit having to make a huge decision. If she accepts the challenge it can take her life and vampirism into a whole new level, but she'll be pissing off one Master Vampire named Ethan Sullivan. So she's hesitant to accept the offer.

SIDE NOTE: Am I the only one who wonders how all those notes got slipped to Merit inside the house without anyone noticing? It's never addressed and not having little stuff resolved, drives my bat sh-t crazy!

Meanwhile, Ethan pimps Merit out again but this time it's to the shifters. The big Shifter conference, which has been talked about since book one, is finally coming to fruition and they want Merit as the guard. The only saving grace to Ethan pimping her out again is that Ethan is pulling guard duty with her too.

Ethan and Merit together, without all the drama crap. Is a thing to behold? They worked great together.

Adam had dropped on top of Gabriel, his arms a protective cocoon over Gabriel's head. Ethan had done the same thing to me. His body was over mine, his arms over my head, his lips at my ear. The contact made me shudder with desire, even as chaos broke out around us. And I wasn't thrilled about the role reversal: I was his guard, after all. I was supposed to protect him. But my rank as Sentinel didn't stop him from surrounding me with his body and from yelling, "Be still!" even as I struggled beneath him, trying to reverse our positions to keep him out of harm's way.

Be still, he silently repeated, as I huddled on the floor enveloped by the feel and warmth and smell of him.

Of course, then Ethan has to go screw it up and then Ethan's ex appears on the scene.

Theirs a whole lot going on inside the Caldogen (is that how you spell it, I had a mental block) House people.

Merit and Ethan have to uncover the plot against the shifters. The shifters are angry, aggressive dudes. Ethan's primal instinct comes out and he man's up and puts Merit first for a moment. But, don't get you're hopes up, because it's a very short moment. As-hole!

Morgan is a baby and he needs to man up. Let's kick Morgan off the island people!

Umm, when is she going to ask about the other people in the house and their positions? Isn't she curious about Malik's wife? I was assuming that the black female vamp was Malik's wife but it's never stated and their story isn't explored. Frankly, I'm interested. But since Merit seems not to be interested then I'll never know. That's one thing that annoys the heck out of me about novels told in first person.

Merit is kinda self-centered. I'm glad Mallory called her on that.

Speaking of all the Ethan love. Screw him. Catcher is The Man for me. Despite all their fights he always puts his woman first. That's a man!

"Mallory Carmicheal and Catcher Bell," he (Ethan) said. "Catcher, I believe you and Lacey met when she was in the House."

"Yep." That was all Catcher said. He didn't bother extending a hand.

"It's nice to see you again, Catcher."

He barely acknowledged the greeting, and my heart warmed. Catcher was gruff, sure, but that usually didn't involve outright snubbing people, at least in my experience. I may have given him and Mallory a lot of crap about their naked shenanigans, but he knew which team he was on.

Umm drawling a blank now.

Umm, I loved the chemistry between Ethan and Merit it's revved up several notches. I can totally see them being a team now, once Ethan gets that stick out of his A--. Now it's looking more like a romance. Since that's what I prefer, want to bet that the next book isn't going to have a hint of romance?

I'll definitely get the next release. And only because in the end, Ethan does this.

Inside the box sat a baseball, its well-worn white leather marked by the signatures of every Cubs player from the pennant-winning team. It was just like the one I'd had – just like the one I told him about . . .

I'm now an Ethan girl. At least until he goes back to being an A-s. I'm fickle like that!

WHERE PURCHASED:
Won ARC from publisher with NO promise to review.

Rating:
B+

BACK COVER BLURB:

Vampire Hunter Elena Deveraux knows she is the best – but she does not know if she is good enough for this job. Hired by the dangerously beautiful archangel Raphael, a being so lethal that no mortal wants his attention, Elena knows failure is not an option – even if the task is impossible.

Because this time, it's not a wayward vamp she has to track. It's an archangel gone bad.

The job put Elena in the midst of killing spree like no other – and pull her to the razor's edge of passion. Even if the hunt does not her, succumbing to Raphael's seductive touch just might. Form when archangels play, mortals break . . . .

FIRST LINES:

When Elena told people she was a vampire hunter, their first reaction was an inevitable gasp, followed by, "You go around sticking a sharp stack in their evil putrid hearts?"

Okay, maybe the actual words varied, but the feel was the same.

LYNETTE'S TWO CENTS:

BEWARE! BEFORE YOU READ THIS REVIEW. I DON'T KNOW WHAT'S WRONG WITH ME TODAY, BUT I'M IN A MOOD AND PLUS I HAVE A KILLER MIGRAINE!

READ AT YOUR OWN PERIL!


I purchased this book because everyone on Twitter is talking about Raphael this and Raphael that and I admit to being curious about all the drama. I also know that I’m so ornery that if they were all over this guy, I probably wouldn't like him.

I WAS RIGHT.

#####WARNING, WARNING, WARNING, WARNING, WARNING, WARING#######

THIS REVIEW IS GOING TO PAUSE FOR A MOMENT WHILE I SPEND A LOT OF TIME SNARKING ON RAPHAEL. IF YOU FEEL THAT THIS WOULD HURT YOUR FEELINGS, PLEASE SCROLL DOWN TO THE NEXT COUPLE PARAGRAPHS!

Come on girlies? What's up? Rafael is a dick. He makes Elena cut herself, mind rapes her, and is a complete jerk to her. SO FREAKIN' SEXY GUYS. THAT'S JUST THE TYPE OF MAN I WANT IN MY LIFE. As I was reading this, all I could keep thinking is, is this the hero? Okay, I know he was in the "Quiet," for some of the more awful stuff that he did to her, but that is no freakin' excuse!

I know I'm being harsh here, but to me his behavior was akin to a man getting drunk, getting in his car and killing someone and thinks that he should be excused because he was drinking. Come on! Just because he's an angel, sexy, and the top of the food chain, does that excuse his behavior?

NO FREAKIN' WAY!

Okay, I will admit that he warms up during the middle to end of the book (after Elena pops his wings with a specialty weapon and brings his arrogant ass down). But by that time, it was a little too late to me. Also, can anyone tell me what is it about these two that makes you think they're destined to be together? Seriously, what is it besides incredibly hot sex and pheromones that make these two perfect for each other?

Speaking of sex, what was up with that? The whole book was one big build up of sexual tension and then when you get to the actual sex scene, it's like a paragraph. That felt like a cop out to me. If you're going to build up sexual tension like that you got to deliver (unless you're writing inspirational). I mean I'd seen more graphic sex scenes in a straight Harlequin Romance novel.

####WARNING OVER#######


Okay, now that I'm done snarking on Raphael, let me get to my review!

I can tell that this series is going to be a guilty pleasure read. Although I know it's going to annoy the hell out of me, the same way Bella Swan annoys the hell out of me, I'm not going to be able to not read this series.

WHAT I LIKED!


• I really liked Elena. She was so kick-ass. The only issue I had with her is her taste in men. But, I can forgive her for that. Raphael does sound sexy. Yes, I would've banged him at every opportunity, but I wouldn't have fallen in love, or put his needs above my own. Especially as he DIDN'T DO ANYTHING TO DESERVE SUCH DEVOTION!

• The world building is off the chain (ghetto slang, excuse me)! It was awesome. I would like to sit down with Ms. Singh and just get inside her head. I think she'd be an awesome person to talk to. If I haven't completely offended her by snarking on her hero. Sorry, about that!

• Supporting characters (with the exception of Dimitri who is in the same vein as Raphael). I loved how they were all multi-layered, had their own issues but didn't overwhelm the main story the way some authors do. (cough, cough, cough J.R. Ward)

• The actual writing. Despite hating the hero, the writing sucked me in from the first page!

Also, I must admit that I tore through this book, despite having a killer migraine last night (I still have it this morning). I also admit that this morning, I logged onto my library account and requested the second book in the series.

UMM, YES HYPOCRITE IS LYNETTE AND DAMN PROUD OF IT.

I'm interested in seeing where the characters are going, especially Elena.

I've found a new guilty pleasure, but that doesn't mean I won't snark about it.

STAY TUNED!


WHERE PURCHASED:

Borrowed from my local library.


Rating:
C+