Ghost Town (Morganville Vampires Book 9) by Rachel Caine Paperback: 352 pages Publisher: NAL Hardcover Available: October 26, 2010 Genre: Young Adult

Who can you trust when you don’t remember who you are? Claire Danvers has faced many challenges in Morganville … surviving school, outlasting the mean girls, dodging the all-powerful vampire rulers. But now, what’s at stake is the very core of who she is … who they all are. Because Morganville is slipping away, one memory at a time…

Reviewed by: Patti (Book Addict) Thank you Fiction Vixen for sending me this book for review!

When Ghost Town opens, life seems to be getting back to normal for Claire (well, normal for Morganville anyway). She’s been going to class, spending time with her boyfriend Shane, and working for her vampire boss Myrnin to rebuild the town’s security system after the events in Book 7, Fade Out.

Then there’s an incident in town and Claire is in the wrong place at the wrong time and has to choose between paying the consequences or letting her friends suffer; of course Claire steps up and protects her friends. She survives the punishment, barely, but then she notices that things are maybe not quite right; people are forgetting the last three years of their lives – including things like moving, graduating high school, and even who Claire is. But it’s not just the townsfolk who are forgetting, the vamps are forgetting too, which is extremely bad news. Claire thinks she knows what the problem is, but getting past Myrnin to fix it is proving to be something of a challenge. While she struggles to figure out a solution, the vampires are getting out of control and Claire is losing all that she holds dear.

I loved this book!!! Some of the foreshadowing was a bit obvious, but it didn’t detract from the story – there was so much going on and it all flowed very well. Ms. Caine did a terrific job of giving us a healthy dose of each of the main characters. I enjoyed seeing the teenagers as they were three years ago – it made for some pretty entertaining scenes. In addition to the memory storyline, the clashes we’ve seen between Amelia and Olivier came to a head in this book, Claire’s father gets sick, and her relationship with Shane is heartbreakingly changed.

I think that Claire did a lot of growing in this book, one of my few complaints about this series is that she seems a bit immature at times. In Ghost Town, Claire was challenged repeatedly and she met and exceeded each challenge again and again.

I know Myrnin doesn’t have a lot of fans, but he’s been one of my favorite characters throughout the series, and I adored him in Ghost Town. His brilliance is frightening, and the way he taunted Claire to come to him, was soooo creepy – I didn’t want to keep reading but couldn’t close the book! It’s so obvious he has feelings for Claire, very conflicted feelings, and Claire is… not exactly starting to acknowledge that, but you can see where she’s filed it away to think about later.

While not exactly a cliffhanger ending, per se, the last four sentences left me with my jaw on the floor and a “OMG, how is Claire going to deal with that?” coming out of my mouth. The next installment, Bite Club, is already too far away!

Favorite Quote:

Claire chewed her lip and continued. "We’re getting it done; really, we are, but he’s got some kind of deadline he’s not telling me about, and I’m worried he’s going to…do something crazy." "He lives in a hole in the ground, dresses funny, and occasionally eats his assistants," Eve said. "Define crazy." Claire closed her eyes. "Okay. I think he wants to put my brain in a jar and wire it into the machine."

My rating:  5 stars – my favorite book in the series so far; if you’re a Morganville fan you’re going to love this one. If you haven’t read the Morganville series yet – what are you waiting for?!

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Thank you for the wonderful review Patti!! 

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Double Cross by Carolyn Crane  Paperback: 336 pages Publisher: Spectra Available: September 28, 2010 Genre: Urban Fantasy

SOME SECRETS COME BACK TO HAUNT. OTHERS COME TO KILL…

Justine Jones has lived her life as a fearful hypochondriac until she’s lured into the web of a mysterious mastermind named Packard. He gifts her with extraordinary mental powers-dooming her to fight Midcity’s shadowy war on paranormal crime in order to find the peace she so desperately craves.

But now, serial killers with unheard-of skills are terrorizing the most powerful beings in Midcity, including mastermind Packard – and his oldest friend and worst enemy, Midcity’s new mayor, who has the ability to bend matter itself to his will.

As the body count grows, Justine faces a crisis of conscience as she tests the limits of her new powers and faces an impossible choice between two flawed but brilliant men . . . one on a journey of redemption, and the other descending into a pit of moral depravity.

Reviewed by: Sophia (FV) 

**Possible mild spoilers if you have not read the first book in the series**

After reading Carolyn Crane’s impressive debut Mind Games, the first book in Disillusionists Trilogy, I was eager to read Double Cross.  With all the amazing titles that the urban fantasy genre has to offer these days Ms. Crane had her work cut out for her if I was to be impressed yet again.  The bar has certainly been raised for what I expect in urban fantasy and Double Cross is up against some serious heavy hitters in the genre.  Carolyn Crane hits it out of the park with this second installment in her Disillusionists Trilogy.

Justine Jones is doing her part to rid Midcity of dangerous ‘gifted’ criminals by disillusioning them.  She continues to work with Packard and his group of disillusionists in a effort to rehabilitate and release these criminals that the Mayor of Midcity, Otto Sanchez, has incarcerated using his Highcap abilities.  Although Justine has never been a hundred percent comfortable with what she is doing, it seems like she has found a way, with the help of Packard, to manage her hypochondriac episodes and channel them into doing something positive.  However with her latest case she is not so certain it’s all black and white and she suspects there is a chance her target may actually be innocent.  To further complicate things, a small group of serial killers, called the Dorks are picking off Highcaps one by one.  Otto, Packard, Justine and the disillusionists must work together to end their reign of terror. 

Justine’s personal relationships are as confused as ever.  Justine and Otto are both hypochondriacs who fear vein star syndrome.  They are working on a relationship, but as the new Mayor of Midcity Otto has a lot on his plate and they are not yet on solid ground due to Justine’s previous betrayal.  Justine is also conflicted in her relationship with Packard.  She feels betrayed by Packard yet fights her romantic attraction to him.  Packard makes no secret about his feelings for Justine and feels it’s only a matter of time until she comes around making for an interesting triangle. 

As I read Double Cross I realized that I never felt as though I was a spectator, but instead felt as though I was in the middle of the action at all times.  Carolyn Crane’s writing style brings you in and makes you a part of her story before you even realize you are fully engaged with her characters, and wrapped up in an urban fantasy world that feels real and believable. 

One of my favorite things about this book, as well as it’s predecessor is the clever and subtle (and sometimes not so subtle) humor.  As I said, Ms. Crane has a way of drawing the reader into the story and I found myself laughing for thinking it’s perfectly natural to refer to heinous serial killers as the Dorks. I’m almost ashamed to admit that I found the the combined hypochondria of Justine and Otto ridiculously funny.  One irrational hypochondriac is funny, but double the dose and you’ve got a scene full of win. 

Double Cross certainly lives up to it’s title. Although I’m fairly certain where my loyalties lie, there is still a tiny flicker of doubt as all parties involved are appealing in their own way, yet they are flawed and have given plenty of reason why they should not be fully trusted.  The ending absolutely blew me away and yes, I’ve picked a team…but maybe not.

I loved Mind Games but Double Crossed gave me a good hard shove into crazy, maniacal fan girl territory.  (Don’t be scared CC, I’m harmless).   Double Cross is a must read.

P.S. I’m totally pissed that I read through this book and completely forgot to mark my favorite quotes.  I wonder if forgetfulness is symptom of vein star syndrome?  I’m pretty sure it is, but I forgot. o_O  I’ll have to look that up.  My head feels tingly.  

 

Other books in the series:

• Mind Games

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Venom by Jennifer Estep Paperback: 416 pages Publisher: Pocket Available: September 28, 2010 Genre: Urban Fantasy

What kind of assassin works pro bono?

It’s hard to be a badass assassin when a giant is beating the crap out of you. Luckily, I never let pride get in the way of my work. My current mission is personal: annihilate Mab Monroe, the Fire elemental who murdered my family. Which means protecting my identity, even if I have to conceal my powerful Stone and Ice magic when I need it most. To the public, I’m Gin Blanco, owner of Ashland’s best barbecue joint. To my friends, I’m the Spider, retired assassin. I still do favors on the side. Like ridding a vampire friend of her oversized stalker—Mab’s right-hand goon who almost got me dead with his massive fists. At least irresistible Owen Grayson is on my side. The man knows too much about me, but I’ll take my chances. Then there’s Detective Bria Coolidge, one of Ashland’s finest. Until recently, I thought my baby sister was dead. She probably thinks the same about me. Little does she know, I’m a cold-blooded killer . . . who is about to save her life.

Reviewed by: Sophia (FV) 

Gin is still officially retired from her trade however she hasn’t stopped flexing her assassin skills.  She’s on a mission to end Mab Monroe, the woman who killed her mother and sister years ago.  But Gin is ever loyal to her friends and family and when she finds out that Mab’s right hand man, giant Elliot Slater is stalking her vampire friend Roslyn, she sets out to put an end to his reign of terror.  She’s also got Jonah McAllister, Mab Monroe’s personal attorney breathing down her neck and maybe even trying to break it.  He suspects Gin had some kind of involvement in his son’s murder, which she did. 

Gin kicks ass, and takes names like no other urban fantasy heroine earning her a spot on my all time favorite heroines list. In Venom, we learn even more about her past through flash backs and thus begin to discover who the real Gin Blanco of today really is.  Although Gin thinks of herself as a cold blooded killer, she is so much more.  She is an intriguing character that can be counted on to do right by those she loves no matter what it takes.

Speaking of love, Gin’s love life has taken an interesting turn.  Owen Grayson is a much bigger part of Gin’s life now and he is determined to win her over.  Gin has to decide if she should continue pining over the upstanding Detective Caine that is everything she thinks she is not, or should she take a chance on Owen who not only wants her, but seems to get her as well.  That fact that Owen is charming and super sexy doesn’t hurt his case at all.  

All of the secondary characters we’ve come to know from the previous books are present within this story but it seems that as time goes on Gin’s friends are becoming more like extended family to her.  Now a new upstanding Detective has hit town and it’s Bria, the baby sister who Gin once thought perished along with her mother and older sister.  Gin will have to keep Bria safe and in the dark about her true identity until she comes to terms with this new turn of events and decides just how to handle this new discovery.  There relationship will be interesting since they are on opposite sides of the law. 

While I enjoy the colorful cast of characters in this series, one secondary stands out above the rest and I just can’t get enough of him.  Finnegan Lane is a womanizing, sort of sleazy but not really, kind of guy that adds a special flavor to this series.  Jennifer Estep really has a knack for creating characters that by all intents and purposes should be despicable but I just can’t help but love. 

Venom, like the previous books in the series is action packed, violent, and is a genuinely kick ass read.  But Jennifer Estep really kicks it up a notch and out does herself with this installment in her Elemental Assassin series.  This is definitely a page turner and the ending will leave you itching for more.  

Favorite Quote:

Finn did what he always did when confronted by an angry woman—he checked out her boobs.

 

Books in the series:

• Spider’s Bite
• Web Of Lies
• Venom (September 28, 2010)
• Tangled Threads (May 2011)
• Untitled (October 2011)

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Author’s Website

Purchase Links: Amazon || Book Depository

Check back later today for a guest post from Jennifer Estep.  She’ll be giving away a copy of VENOM to one lucky reader.

Sin Undone (Demonica, Book 5) by Larissa Ione Paperback: 432 pages Publisher: Grand Central Publishing Available: August 24, 2010 Genre: Paranormal Romance 

HER TOUCH IS DEADLY

As the only female Seminus demon ever born, master assassin Sinead Donnelly is used to being treated like an outcast. She spent decades enslaved, and now vows she’ll die before she’ll relinquish her freedom again. Then Sin’s innate ability to kill her enemies goes awry: She creates a lethal new werewolf virus that sparks a firestorm of panic and violence.

HIS HUNGER CAN’T BE DENIED

Half-werewolf, half-vampire Conall Dearghul is charged with bringing in Sin to face punishment for the plague. And she’s no stranger: He’s bound to her by blood, and the one sexual encounter they shared has left him hungering for her raw sensuality. Worse, Sin is the underworld’s most wanted and Con soon learns he’s the only one who can help her . . . and that saving her life might mean sacrificing his own.

Reviewed by: Amy 

The old saying goes, "It’s been a great ride" and may I add a damn sexy one too!  When I reflect on the Demonica series by Larissa Ione, I feel as warm and sated as a Seminus demon after an incredible romp in a broom closet at Underworld General!  There are two authors that unleashed my exuberant love for paranormal romance: J.R. Ward and Larissa Ione.  Ms. Ione has the gift of creating an amazing world of demons, vampires, and werewolves that sucks you in for the ride of your life!

Sinead "Sin" Donnelly is a "bad-ass" master assassin, Lore’s twin sister and the only female Seminus demon in creation.  Like the rest of her siblings, Sin has had more than her share of a hellish past, but her bad luck has just taken an even darker turn.  Picking up where Ecstasy Unveiled leaves off, Sin has unintentionally created a deadly virus, labeled "Sin Fever," that is destroying werewolves.  Now that the werewolve’s Warg Council is aware that Sin started the virus, not only is the Council out to destroy her, but her own den of assassins want to take her out as well.  Conall "Con" Dearghul, a hybrid vampire-werewolf (dhampire) and paramedic at Underworld General Hospital, has contracted the virus.  He learns that in order produce the antibodies to attack and remove Sin Fever from his body, he has to drink Sin’s blood.  Initially, Con wants nothing to do with Sin. After their brief sexual encounter in Ecstasy Unveiled, Con cannot forget the feel of Sin’s body or the taste of her blood and though he craves more (of both), he knows that if he drinks too much it could destroy them.  While Sin and Con are assisting her half brother Eidolon in trying to isolate a cure for the virus, the Underworld jailers arrive at the hospital to arrest Sin.  Sly as foxes, Sin and Con escape and go into hiding from the Council and her assassins. Now that it’s just the two of them, we begin to see both Sin and Con expose their true nature and what lengths they will go to trust and protect one another.

Sin Undone is an AMAZING story and is hands down the BEST in the Demonica series.  Considering I thought the first four books were all 5-star reads, that is saying something!   I adore so many aspects of Larissa Ione’s style and delivery.  The first 50 pages of Sin Undone had me laughing myself silly. "Typhoid Mary" and "Smurfette" were a couple of Wraith’s pet names for his sister. Sin’s response to Con feeding from her, "I don’t let anyone fang me," had me in stitches.  And, the unfiltered dialogue between the brothers and Sin is real and off the cuff.  Another great attribute is the way Ms. Ione conveys intimacy and sensuality between her characters.  The dialogue is certainly part of it, but what strikes me most is the unspoken moments: a light caress to the throat, a gentle lick to seal a wound or rubbing toes with your lover.  These moments, woven seamlessly into the story line, are simple, yet all powerful to the reader.

And now to the sex scenes. (Would someone pass me a fan!)  Let me tell you that Ms. Ione can write some of the most erotic, steamy sex scenes in paranormal romance!  Her scenes generate incredibly sensuous, sizzling heat that torches the pages.  And for the record and for the win, Con teaches Sin what it is to "make love" and he demonstrates this with his "extended erotic play" over every part of her body making her his "personal playground."  Not only does their first love making moment spike your temperature to combustion, but another particular sexual moment with a snowball was, and I quote, "a-fucking-mazing."   

Larissa Ione has the brilliance and finesse of creating a unique paranormal world that does not overwhelm you, but draws you in to the complexity of characters, their high-strung yet sometimes buried emotions, their comedic one-liners and their love for sex!  Each character has their own idiosyncrasies, self esteem issues, and the overall desire for acceptance, love and a better world.  While I’m sad we’ve reached the finale of the Demonica series, I praise Ms. Ione for giving it a phenomenal ending and, as a reader, you can’t ask for anything more!  

Favorite Quotes: (I couldn’t pick just one!)

"She felt Con’s silver eyes boring into her like drill bits, and to her annoyance, her body flushed with warmth as though remembering another drilling he’d given her."

"Your here because wargs are dying, and it’s you fault," he growled, a hint of an odd British-ish accent tweaking his words.  It happened when he got all pissy, and it was strangely…hot.

"Don’t….leave….me." A lump formed in his throat. "Listen to me, Sin. I swear, I’ll come back. I won’t leave you." A single tear dripped down her cheek as he squeezed her hand and leaned over to brush his lips across hers.  A deep, primal rage rose up in him.  He would get her brother’s, and he would tear apart the bastard who had done this to her.

Purchase Links: Amazon | Book Depository

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Other books in the series:

• Pleasure Unbound
• Desire Unchained
• Passion Unleashed
• Ecstasy Unveiled

Author’s Website

***Giveaway***

Thanks to Hachette Book Group, I have FIVE copies of Sin Undone to giveaway!  All you have to do to enter is leave a comment here on Amy’s review. 

Because the prizes will be mailed directly from the publisher, only residents of the U.S. or Canada are eligible to win, no P.O. Boxes, please.  Giveaway is open until September 7, winners announced soon after.  Good luck!!

Mind Games by Carolyn Crane  Paperback: 384 pages Publisher: Spectra Available: March 23, 2010 Genre: Urban Fantasy

JUSTINE KNOWS SHE’S GOING TO DIE. ANY SECOND NOW.

Justine Jones has a secret. A hardcore hypochondriac, she’s convinced a blood vessel is about to burst in her brain. Then, out of the blue, a startlingly handsome man named Packard peers into Justine’s soul and invites her to join his private crime-fighting team. It’s a once-in-a-lifetime deal. With a little of Packard’s hands-on training, Justine can weaponize her neurosis, turning it outward onMidcity’s worst criminals, and finally get the freedom from fear she’s always craved. End of problem.

Or is it? In Midcity, a dashing police chief is fighting a unique breed of outlaw with more than human powers. And while Justine’s first missions, including one against a nymphomaniac husband-killer, are thrilling successes, there is more to Packard than meets the eye. Soon, while battling her attraction to two very different men, Justine is plunging deeper into a world of wizardry, eroticism, and cosmic secrets. With Packard’s help, Justine has freed herself from her madness—only to discover a reality more frightening than anyone’s worst fears.

FV: Amy, I’m so excited to be chatting about Mind Games by Carolyn Crane with you. I’ve heard great things about this book and I’ve had it on my TBR for quite a while. Now that I’ve finally read it, I’m kicking myself for waiting so long.  I think the only upside to having waited so long is the torturous wait for the second book in the series (Double Cross) doesn’t seem as bad.

Amy: Yes, I’m kicking my self as well for putting it off due to my usual lack of interest in Urban Fantasy.  But thanks to Carolyn Crane I have a new outlook for the UF genre!

FV: You’ve said that Urban Fantasy is not really your thing and this is the first one you’ve made it all the way through.  What were your first impressions when you first started to read?  Why was this one different for you? 

Amy: I think so much of why Mind Games clicked for me was the action started right from the first page and reminded me a lot of how romantic suspense stories start.  And, the world building happened in slow increments within the action that I was not bored trying to soak in a new world order. 

FV: I agree with you on the world building for sure. I was immersed in Carolyn Crane’s world before I even realized it.  It was such a natural introduction and I absolutely loved the uniqueness of it.

Amy: Also, a lot of UF writers have no incorporation of m/f romance or sex.  I need an inkling of smut or at least sexual tension between characters to keep me riveted to a story and Carolyn Crane delivered that which was a major plus for me!

FV: While I don’t always need romance in my urban fantasy, I do enjoy it.  I loved the romantic tension in Mind Games, I was on the edge of my seat and undecided for most of the book.  I think this story had a good balance of romance, mystery and suspense. 

FV: Most urban fantasy stories seem to be written in first person.  Mind Games was written in first person, present tense.  I’m a fan of first person POV, but I admit, I’m not used to first person, present tense and I found it distracting at first.  I think it took me about eight chapters before I quit thinking about it.  How did you feel reading first person, present tense?

Amy: First person definitely gives the story a unique vibe but it really didn’t bother me all that much. However, I would have enjoyed a look into Packard’s mind and emotions.

FV: I really didn’t mind not having insight on the thoughts of the other characters.  I think it really added to the suspense and not knowing how to feel about Packard.  I know not all people feel that way about first person POV though.

FV: Let’s talk about our heroine Justine.  She’s a thirty-something hypochondriac of epic proportions.  She fears she has vein star syndrome, a disease that killed her mother.  Although hypochondria is really nothing to laugh at, Justine’s character is quite funny.  Her internal dialog and paranoia made me laugh constantly.  I’m not proud of that, I blame Carolyn Crane.  It was just so funny darn it.  What are your thoughts on Justine? 

Amy: I think Carolyn Crane was brilliant in choosing hypochondria as the vice for Justine. I loved and laughed as well at her constant paranoia as it reminded me of some real life people I know!  I enjoyed Justine’s brassiness yet sensitive nature. She felt very real and a character that could totally be your best friend.

FV: What about our hero Packard?  What was your impression of him?   Did you fall for him right away? 

Amy: First impression was definitely a "you scratch my back, I’ll scratch yours" and I ultimately believed Packard was for all parts out for himself.  But as the story progressed and you began to see the underlying tings of jealously he had toward Justine’s boyfriend and the protectiveness he formed towards her it definitely changed my over all view of him.  Ms. Crane was also great at conveying the innate vibe that Justine and Packard felt off each other whenever they were together in a room. That intense chemistry between the two added to the sexual tension and I loved it.

FV: Oh yes, the sexual tension was out of this world.  Nom, nom.  <—That’s an official book review term, true thing.  

FV: I found myself to be quite distrustful of Packard throughout most of the book.  I wanted to trust him and understand his motivations but there always seemed to be a wrench thrown into the works just when I was ready to get on board with the plan.  He seemed to be manipulative however, it was hard to fault him considering his reasons for his behavior.

Amy: I found Packard to be a bundle of emotions and as hard as he tried to adjust to his circumstances it was always his "Achilles heel" so to speak. Without giving away spoilers, it will be very interesting to see how Packard evolves in the next book (Double Cross) given his changing environment.

FV: Is it September 28th yet?  

FV: Did you have a favorite scene? 

Amy: Yes, but I can’t reveal it without spoilers lol.

FV: Me too!  Let’s just say my favorite scene involved a hot tub and a cucumber reference.    There is so much brilliance to discuss in the book it’s impossible to do it without spoilers.

Amy: I really enjoyed the whole concept of Mind Games and can’t wait to get my hands on Double Cross to see what’s in store for all of the characters!

FV: I’m totally with you there Amy.  Mind Games has a firm spot on my top ten favorite urban fantasy’s of 2010 and I can not wait to see what’s next for Justine and others.

Amy’s favorite quote: (There were too many to list but here is one of the steamy quotes:)

"He kisses up my neck, lingering tantalizingly over my ear, doing warm breathy things that feel illicit, especially once his tongue gets involved.  Then he bits down on my earlobe, hot and sharp, and a swoon moves through me, like unexpected sunshine on my stomach." 

How much and how fast can I get that? Lol

FV’s favorite quote:

“When you get around solid, upstanding men, you’re like a bird with tinfoil. It makes you incoherent on a romantic level.”

Amy and FV’s Rating: 

Purchase Links: Amazon | Book Depository

Other books in the series:

Double Cross (September 28th, 2010)

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