2012 Reading Challenges Update!

Ooh, one last update post! This will be my last update before my final post at the end of next month that tells how I did! *bites nails*

This is the challenge I hosted this year. It was to read 2012 new releases in UF and PNR.

I'm went with dedication level Take Me to the Fae Realm, which means I planned to read 21 - 30 books that fit this challenge. 

Here's my list (so far):

1. The Shadow Reader (McKenzie Lewis #1) by Sandy Williams 

2. Sacrificial Magic (Downside #4) by Stacia Kane

3. Blood on the Bayou (Annabelle Lee #2) by Stacey Jay

4. Once Burned (Night Prince #1) by Jeaniene Frost

5. Biting Cold (Chicagoland Vampires #6) by Chloe Neill

6. Summoning the Night (Arcadia Bell #2) by Jenn Bennett

7. Chasing Magic (Downside #5) by Stacia Kane

8. Deadlocked (Sookie Stackhouse #12) by Charlaine Harris

9. Shadows Before the Sun (Charlie Madigan #4) by Kelly Gay

9. Even White Trash Zombies Get the Blues (White Trash Zombie #2) by Diana Rowland

10. Shadow Bound (Unbound #2) by Rachel Vincent

11. God Save the Queen (Immortal Empire #1) by Kate Locke

12. Firelight (Darkest London #1) by Kristen Callihan

13. Nightshifted (Edie Spence #1) by Cassie Alexander

14. Moonglow (Darkest London #2) by Kristen Callihan

15. The Shattered Dark (McKenzie Lewis #2) by Sandy Williams

16. Discount Armageddon (Incryptid #1) by Seanan McGuire

17. The Kingdom (Graveyard Queen #2) by Amanda Stevens

18. The Prophet (Graveyard Queen #3) by Amanda Stevens

19. A Blood Seduction (Vamp City #1) by Pamela Palmer

20. Dire Needs (Eternal Wolf Clan #1) by Stephanie Tyler

21. The Seduction of Phaeton Black (Paranormal Investigator #1) by Jillian Stone

22. Blood Before Sunrise by Amanda Bonilla

23. Fourth Grave Beneath My Feet by Darynda Jones

24. Precinct 13 by Tate Hallaway

25. Stalking the Others (H&W Investigations #4) by Jess Haines

26. Tarnished (The St. Croix Chronilces #1) by Karina Cooper

27. The Janus Affair (Ministry of Peculiar Occurances #2) by Philippa Ballantine

28. Wicked Nights (Angels of the Dark #1) by Gena Showalter

25/28 books read; 3 more to go!

I'm such a joiner! I have joined two reading challenges for 2012, something I didn't do last year. I'm very excited! First of all, I joined the 2012 TBR Pile Reading Challenge, hosted by Evie at Bookish. This challenge is to help motivate us readers to get through those books on our shelves we've been wanting to read but haven't gotten to yet.
You can choose your level of 'commitment' for this challenge, and I chose "A Sweet Kiss". That means I want to read 21 - 30 books from my TBR shelf! Here's my list:
1. Alpha (Shifters #6) by Rachel Vincent 2. The Space Between by Brenna Yovanoff 3. My Soul to Save (Soul Screamers #2) by Rachel Vincent 4. Bitten (Women of the Otherworld #1) by Kelly Armstrong 5. Kindling the Moon (Aracadia Bell #1) by Jenn Bennett 6. Bloodlines (Bloodlines #1) by Richelle Mead 7. One Grave At A Time (Night Huntress #6) by Jeaniene Frost 8. Ecstasy Unveiled (Demonica #4) by Larissa Ione 9. Sin Undone (Demonica #5) by Larissa Ione 10. The Hunter (The Legend Chronicles #1) by Theresa Myers 11. The Restorer (Graveyard Queen #1) by Amanda Stevens 12. Archangel's Blade (Guild Hunters #4) by Nalini Singh 13. The Greyfriar (Vampire Empire #1) by Clay Griffith 14. The Iron Duke (Iron Seas) by Meljean Brook 15. Red-Headed Stepchild (Sabina Kane #1) by Jaye Wells 16. City of Bones (The Mortal Instruments #1) by Cassandra Clare 17. City of Ashes (The Mortal Instruments #2) by Cassandra Clare 18. City of Glass (The Mortal Instruments #3) by Cassandra Clare 19. City of Fallen Angels (The Mortal Instruments #4) by Cassandra Clare 20. Clockwork Angel (The Infernal Devices #1) by Cassandra Clare 21. Clockwork Prince (The Infernal Devices #2) by Cassandra Clare 22. Catching Fire (Hunger Games #2) by Suzanne Collins 23. Mockingjay (Hunger Games #3) by Suzanne Collins 25. Eternal Rider (Lords of Deliverance #1) by Larissa Ione 26. Immortal Rider (Lords of Deliverance #2) by Larissa Ione 27. Dead, Undead, or Somewhere in Between (Rhiannon's Law #1) by J.A. Saare 28. Wanderlust (Sirantha Jax #2) by Ann Aguirre  29. As Lie the Dead (Dreg City #2) by Kelly Meding
9/29 books read, 20 more to go! (I am NOT doing good here!)
I AM FAILING THIS ONE! I will definitely do this challenge again next year, and I've made it a goal to not request so many review books next year as well. There are A LOT of books on my shelf and on my Kindle that just aren't getting read.  :(


I also joined the 2012 Debut Author Challenge, hosted by Kristi at The Story Siren. For this one, I am going to read at least 12 YA books published by brand new authors or authors never published in YA before. I'm very excited about this one too! 
1. Cinder (Lunar Chronicles #1) by Marissa Meyer  2. The Selection (The Selection #1) by Kiera Cass 3. Shadow and Bone (Grisha Trilogy #1) by Leigh Bardugo 4. The Lost Girl by Sangu Mandanna 5. Harbinger by Sara Wilson Etienne 6. Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo 7. Hemlock (Hemlock #1) by Kathleen Peacock 8. Masque of the Red Death (Masque of the Red Death #1) by Bethany Griffin 9. Stormdancer by Jay Kristoff 10. The Lost Girl by Sangu Mandanna 11. Defiance (Defiance #1) by C.J. Redwine
My #12 is complicated. The rules state the authors can be adult writers writing in the genre of YA for the first time. But my authors I read are such established authors I feel strange calling them debut authors, even though is is their first go at YA. So I'm counting them all as one, #12:
12. Poison Princess by Kresley Cole; Death and the Girl Next Door by Darynda Jones; and Iced by        Karen Marie Moning

12/12 books read; CHALLENGE COMPLETE!

Alright, we can all see which challenge I'm sucking big time at. But that challenge will be more of my focus for 2013.

The Shattered Dark by Sandy Williams

The Shattered Dark
(McKenzie Lewis #2)
Sandy Williams
Release: October 30, 2012
Goodreads   Amazon

McKenzie was a normal college student, save for one little twist: she’s a shadow reader, someone who can both see the fae and track their movements between our world and the Realm. It’s a gift for which she has been called insane, one for which she has risked family and friends—and one that has now plunged her into a brutal civil war between the fae.


With the reign of the king and his vicious general at an end, McKenzie hoped to live a more normal life while exploring her new relationship with Aren, the rebel fae who has captured her heart. But when her best friend, Paige, disappears McKenzie knows her wish is, for now, just a dream. McKenzie is the only one who can rescue her friend, but if she’s not careful, her decisions could cost the lives of everyone she’s tried so hard to save.

Review:

       The Shattered Dark is urban fantasy gold - nonstop action, complex world building, and an absorbing romance. I adored the first book in this series. In fact, I read it in two nights staying up until four in the morning. Reading this sequel wasn't much different. I read it in one day, finishing at 2 A.M. with a sigh. Sandy Williams really knows how to suck me in to her stories and I was completely emerged in McKenzie's world while reading.

       In The Shadow Reader, Williams set the pace for her series with an energetic plot that never faltered. I worried that book two would not be able to keep up with that pace, but as it turns out I had nothing to worry about. The fast pace continues in The Shattered Dark, starting off right away with run-for-your-life action, which in this series means sword fights and fae and appearing out of nowhere through fissures. There is plenty of action in this book, with our heroine alternating between daring to join the battle and being ushered off to safety.

       The rebels have defeated the previous king and won the castle, but now the real war has begun. The fae world is in an uproar and everyone is choosing sides between the rebels, including Aren, Lena, Naito and the others that McKenzie works with, the high nobles who oppose the rebels choice of Lena to supplant the king, and the 'remnants', the term the rebels use for those who still support the previous king's Court and are battling with the rebels. These battles provide for much of the story's action and travel from McKenzie's home town, to the Fae realm, to London, and back again.

       Amidst all the fighting we have McKenzie and Aren. In the previous book much of the draw was the love triangle between these two and Kyol, the sword master for the previous king and McKenzie's long-term love interest. We watched as their relationship dissolved and McKenzie and Aren's began to heat up. Williams did a terrific job of writing a love triangle that wasn't at all annoying. I was completely lost in what would happen next. In this book we see how McKenzie and Aren's relationship evolves and struggles during the war. All they both want to do is spend some time together and get to know each other more, but the war and everything going on doesn't allow this to happen.

"I'm not a mistake, McKenzie,"he says softly, stopping beside me.


 His voice is soothing, reassuring. My chest tightens, and a warm, tingling sensation rushes through me. That scares me. I've told myself to take this relationship slowly, but my heart refuses to listen. I'm growing too attached to him too quickly. I shouldn't be on the brink of falling in love with someone I know so little about. I shouldn't want to believe every word he says. That's what happened with Kyol. I loved him so blindly and so completely, I put my life on hold. I never questioned anything he told me, and I regret that so much.

       Aren remains one of my favorite men in urban fantasy, with his messy curls, lazy smile, and intense feelings for McKenzie. He says some of the most swoon-worthy things I've ever read.

Aren pulls me gently toward him.


"You told me you wanted time. I've given it to you, and I'll give you as long as you need, McKenzie. I love you." He tucks a lock of my hair behind my ear. "You're worth waiting a decade for."

       My one complaint about this book was the lack of time McKenzie and Aren were able to spend together romantically. But this is urban fantasy, not paranormal romance, and one of the things I love about this genre is how the romantic relationships move at a realistic pace and keep things interesting between the main couple. That is certainly the case with McKenzie and Aren.

The Shattered Dark was everything I wanted in this sequel. This remains one of my favorite series and after the bomb shell ending I am on the edge of my seat for book three. I highly recommend this book and this series!

“Nothing matters but him and us and this, the way he makes me feel like I’m everything to him. Sometime in the last month, he’s become everything to me.”

Recommended for fans of: urban fantasy, stories with Fae, sexy and brave heroes, action-packed plots, and smart heroines.

    

Fourth Grave Beneath My Feet by Darynda Jones

Fourth Grave Beneath My Feet
(Charley Davidson #4)
Darynda Jones
Release: October 30, 2012
Goodreads   Amazon

Sometimes being the grim reaper really is that. Grim. And since Charley’s last case went so awry, she has taken a couple months off to wallow in the wonders of self-pity. But when a woman shows up on her doorstep convinced someone is trying to kill her, Charley has to force herself to rise above. Or at least get dressed. She quickly realizes something is amiss when everyone the woman knows swears she’s insane. The more they refute the woman’s story, the more Charley believes it.


In the meantime, the sexy, sultry son of Satan, Reyes Farrow, has been cleared of all charges. He is out of prison and out of Charley’s life, as per her wishes and several perfectly timed death threats. But his absence has put a serious crimp in her sex life. While there are other things to consider, like the fact that the city of Albuquerque has been taken hostage by an arsonist, Charley is having a difficult time staying away. Especially when it looks like Reyes may be involved. Just when life was returning to normal, Charley is thrust back into the world of crime, punishment, and the devil in blue jeans.

Review:

     Fourth Grave Beneath My Feet continues a fantastic series with a snarky and hilarious heroine, a sexy as hell bad boy, and a few intriguing mysteries to solve. This series is one of my favorites and Fourth Grave exceeded my expectations.

     After the events of the previous book, Charley has some unresolved issues she is dealing with - well, not dealing with is more like it. It's a great arc for Charley's character development. At some point, what she does (solving mysteries, catching bad guys, running from demons...) had to catch up with her. In the last book, it finally did. At the start of Fourth Grave we meet a Charley-turned-hermit, afraid to do anything besides lay on her sofa and order ridiculous items from the home shopping channel. Somehow, Charley still manages to keep her funny and charming personality amidst her depression and agoraphobia. She remains one of the best and most original characters in the paranormal genre.

“For one week, all I could think about was drinking margaritas--well, that and running my tongue along Reyes's teeth--but I didn't have salt--or Reyes's teeth. I'd also lacked the energy to leave my apartment to get some--or the desire to stoop low enough to beg Reyes to let me lick his teeth after what he did--so I could only wish for a margarita. And dream of Reyes's teeth."

       Reyes is just as mysterious and maddening in this book. In a previous installment Charley refers to him as "chocolate-covered heroine" and I think that is a perfect description. He's the bad boy to end all bad boys. Now that Reyes is a corporeal being, meaning that we spend more time with him in an actual human body, we get to learn about his strengths and weaknesses. Charley handles him well, but Reyes handles Charley even better. He knows exactly what he does to her - all of his sly smiles, sexy grumbles, and hungry looks are proof of that.

“There is a fine line between love and hate, or haven’t you heard? Sometimes it’s hard to decipher exactly which emotion is strongest.”


I raised my chin. “I don’t love you either.”


He lowered his head and watched me from underneath his dark lashes. “Are you certain? Because the emotion pouring out of you every time I’m near you is certainly not disinterest.”


“That doesn’t mean it’s love.”


“It could be, I promise you. Take off that sweater and give me ten minutes, and you’ll believe beyond a shadow of a doubt you’re in love.”

       As the series goes on, we get to learn more about Charley's psychologist sister, Gemma. I love seeing their interactions because Gemma is so different from Charley and tries hard to understand her but just can't wrap her head around her. They don't bounce off of each other quite as easily as Charley and Cookie - who are still one of my favorite buddy pairs in the genre - but they still have some great moments in Fourth Grave as Gemma spends a lot of time with Charley and tries to help her heal.

"I borrowed a pair of your sweats. I ran into a convenience store with them on. I talked to neighbors out in their yard when I pulled up. And only after I got inside did I realize they had 'Exit Only' written across the back."


"You stole my favorite sweats?"


"I wanted to die."


"Its weird that sweats would make you suicidal. I'd analyze the crap out of that if I were you."

This is a wonderful series with a lot of things going for it and I'm always in a good mood when reading these books. Darynda Jones has the wonderful ability to infuse humor and lightness into serious situations, which gives this series just the right balance of dark and funny. There were lots of side plots happening in this book that I wish I had time to mention, but then this review would be pages and pages long! I will say, however, that all of my favorite characters make appearances, some longer than others, including Swopes, Artemis, Donavan, Uncle Ubie, and Cookie's daughter Amber.

 Fourth Grave is entertaining, romantic, and engaging and is one of the best in the series!

This review is baed on an advance copy of the book, provided by the publisher.

Recommended for fans of: the rest of this series, paranormal fiction that combines romance and humor, hilarious one-liners, T-shirts with funny quotes, bad boys, and ghost dogs that like showers.

    

Archangel's Storm by Nalini Singh

Archangel's Storm
(Guild Hunter #5)
Nalini Singh
Release: September 4, 2012
Goodreads   Amazon

With wings of midnight and an affinity for shadows, Jason courts darkness. But now, with the Archangel Neha’s consort lying murdered in the jewel-studded palace that was his prison and her rage threatening cataclysmic devastation, Jason steps into the light, knowing he must unearth the murderer before it is too late.

Earning Neha’s trust comes at a price—Jason must tie himself to her bloodline through the Princess Mahiya, a woman with secrets so dangerous, she trusts no one. Least of all an enemy spymaster.

With only their relentless hunt for a violent, intelligent killer to unite them, Jason and Mahiya embark on a quest that leads to a centuries-old nightmare… and to the dark storm of an unexpected passion that threatens to drench them both in blood.

Review:

First of all, can we pause for a moment to appreciate that epic synopsis? Whoever writes the blurbs for Nalini's books sure knows how to make them sound exciting, that's for sure.

Archangel's Storm is the fifth installment in Singh's Guild Hunter series and this one centers on Raphael's spymaster, Jason. In previous books we have seen Jason as a shadowy figure who brings Raphael needed information. He is not a character I was dying to read about since his part in the past has been minimal, but this book turned out to be my favorite in the series since book one!

Jason is indeed dark and shadowy, but he is also strong, loyal, wise, and deep. His childhood was traumatic and he spent time as a mute by choice which has led to him now being a man of few words whose trust you must work hard to earn. I really liked his character a lot and I especially loved the way he treated the heroine.

Our heroine is new to the series, a member of archangel Neha's family and a princess in her court named Mahiya. She has been almost like a prisoner in Neha's court, hated and abused but then expected to act like a princess. She was strong and able to keep secrets and I felt like she was a perfect match for Jason. She had experienced a crazy childhood and over that they could bond.

Readers might remember Neha as the archangel based in India. Over the course of the last couple books we have seen her start to lose her cool, so to speak, after a series of events that led to the death of her daughter, Anoushka. The fact that this story is mostly set at Neha's palace in India was a big draw for me because I love Indian culture and loved everything about this setting. After all the other stories in this series have been set mainly in New York and focused on Raphael's Tower, it was a breath of fresh air to see how another archangel ran her territory and to spend some time in her court.

Jason and Mahiya's relationship is slow and steady for a while. They have both experienced tragedy and its left them each kind of empty and afraid of love. What I loved here was their growing attraction, their mutual respect and adoration, and how their trust developed slowly and at a believable rate. When they first met they were not instantly attracted to each other. Their love grew and the sexual attraction came with that. (Of course, because its Nalini Singh, we get some awesome and hot sex scenes!) I was completely drawn into their relationship, especially Jason's attempt to keep Mahiya at arm's length despite the fact that he was clearly deeply in love with her.

"Mahiya, don't see more in me than there is."

She tilted her head a fraction to the side. "Perhaps I am my mother's daughter after all - I have decided on you, Jason. And if that is a foolish choice, it is also one I will never regret."

He clamped his hand over her wrist when she would've turned away, holding her to him. Instead of struggling, she stilled, her eyes glimmering with determination and another emotion far more dangerous.

"I can't give you what you want," he repeated, some unknown thing tearing and ripping inside him at the thought of having to sever his connection to her, when it was the first time in his life he'd trusted even a part of himself to a lover.

[...] "Will it be enough to love and not be loved?" he asked, knowing it was a brutal question. "To give and never receive?"

Her smile grew impossibly more luminous. "You have no idea what you give me."

This Guild Hunter book is a little different than the previous books with the fresh setting and the sweet and reluctant love shared by the main characters, and keeps the series from becoming monotonous and repetitive. Lovers of this series will not be disappointed with this one!

Recommended for fans of: paranormal romance, angel stories, broken characters, stories with palace and court settings, Indian culture, and other Nalini Singh books.

    1/2

Kiss of Steel by Bec McMaster

Kiss of Steel

(London Steampunk #1)

Bec McMaster

Release: September 4, 2012

Goodreads   Amazon

A brilliantly creative debut where vampires, werewolves, and clockwork creatures roam the mist-shrouded streets of London...


When Nowhere is Safe
Most people avoid the dreaded Whitecapel district. For Honoria Todd, it's the last safe haven. But at what price?


Blade is known as the master of the rookeries--no one dares cross him. It's been said he faced down the Echelon's army single-handedly, that ever since being infected by the blood-craving he's been quicker, stronger, and almost immortal.
When Honoria shows up at his door, his tenuous control comes close to snapping. She's so...innocent. He doesn't see her backbone of steel--or that she could be the very salvation he's been seeking.

Review:

Blade's hand tightened on her shoulder, reluctant to let her go. But then he felt her body tense and forced himself to release her. No point scaring her off. He'd have to move slowly, let her get used to him. For he intended to have her. It was just a matter of when.

Kiss of Steel was an unexpected gem of a book with fantastic characters, good action, and hotness hotness hotness! This books gets an easy five stars from me and leaves me waiting on the edge of my seat for book two!

McMaster created a world where the aristocracy has vampire blood flowing through their veins and the cruel reign supreme. The rich and powerful willingly take on vampire blood to become 'blue bloods', meaning that they are stronger, faster, and live longer but one day they will begin turning into full fledged vampires and will have to be killed. They must drink human blood to survive, but have to watch for signs that the vampirism is taking over. This spilt into two different kinds of vampires was intriguing and I really loved it.

This paranormal steampunk romance (light on the steampunk, heavy on the romance) is told from the alternating points of view of Honoria and Blade. Honoria is the daughter of a scientist who was experimenting with blue bloods and vampirism to find a cure when he was unexpectedly murdered. Honoria, who was always interested in her father's work and even worked alongside him for a bit, is a knowledgeable and likable heroine. She is smart and witty, but also very loyal to her family. She is the sole caregiver for her younger sister, Lena, and her brother, Charlie, who has a dangerous illness.

He smiled and her breath caught. Such a wicked, devilish smile. If she had been a normal young woman, without the heavy burden she carried, she might have let her gaze linger. Or if he had been a man instead of a monster. 

Blade is the rough and tumble ruler of Whitechapel, the poor district where the destitute and dangerous live. Honria finds herself living in Whitechapel after her father's death and eventually her path crosses with Blade's. They strike a deal that benefits them both, but Blade secretly just wants to keep Honoria close. Honoria is afraid of Blade because he is a blue blood and she knows he must drink blood to survive. She also knows that she has responsibilities at home and a secret to keep about her brother and she can't just give in to Blade.

Her gaze flickered his way. "You're staring."

"Can't 'elp meself," he replied. "You were made to be stared at."

Blade is that sexy Alpha male we all dream about and McMaster didn't hold back when creating him. His immediate attraction to Honoria and determination to have her no matter what coupled with his kindness and generosity toward her make him completely impossible to resist.

He'd be in Undertown now, hunting a vampire among the Slasher gangs and the humans who lived down there. Determined to do his duty to the people who relied on him, and to the little adopted family he'd gathered around himself. He was illegitimate, illiterate, and a self-professed scoundrel. And he had more honor in his little finger that half the so-called lords of the Echelon.

Honoria and Blade are amazingly well written. They both have so many sides and secrets. Their building relationship was a wild ride to read, from distrust to faith to attraction to love. There was a great balance between seduction and sweetness between these two that I really appreciated. And then there was the hotness. Goodness, McMaster threw in all the stops with these two and I was practically drooling during some of the scenes. This one will keep you up late reading, that's for sure!

"Honoria. Look at me."

To look at him would undo her. She slipped her shoes off and crossed toward him, her stockinged feet sinking into the thick carpets. To have his mouth on her skin.....She shook the thought off with a shiver. Such an intimacy had never occurred to her. A hot little flush swept through her lower belly. 

There are a lot of twists and turns in this book, some you might see coming and some that will certainly surprise you. The action scenes mostly center on the hunt for a rogue vampire that is on the loose in the city and McMaster proved that she can handle the action as well as the bedroom. One of the only complaints is that I wanted to see more of our main 'bad guy', Vickers. Both Honoria and Blade each have their own fights to pick with Vickers and when we finally meet him he is all the evil that was promised. He is that slimy and power hungry bad guy on a constant ego trip and I found myself waiting for a big showdown where he'd finally be put in his place.

I don't know what I can say to make you read this book, but whatever it is let's just pretend I said it! This will be in my top ten favorite reads this year for sure. It really had everything I usually look for: action, strong heroines, sexy Alpha, mysteries to solve, creepy bad guy, and hot sex! Can you really go wrong here? Look for book two in the spring, which will focus on Honoria's sister and Blade's second in command (a werewolf!) as well as continue Honoria and Blade's story.

Honoria watched with lazy abandon, seemingly content to lie in his arms.

"You want to do it again, don't you?" she whispered.

He almost dropped the soap. "Not tonight."

"Liar." Christ, when had her voice turned to smoke?

Recommended for fans of: well-written paranormal romance, vampires, plots with mysteries and twists, sexy sexy sexy men, Firelight and Moonglow by Kristen Callihan, and everyone who wanted more sexy times in God Save the Queen by Kate Locke.

    

This book is part of:

Shadows Before the Sun by Kelly Gay

Shadows Before the Sun
(Charlie Madigan #4)
Kelly Gay
Release: July 31, 2012
Goodreads     Amazon

The electrifying sequel to the acclaimed urban fantasies The Better Part of Darkness, The Darkest Edge of Dawn, and The Hour of Dust and Ashes!
After filling out mountains of paperwork, Detective Charlie Madigan sets out for a death-defying trip into heavenly Elysia to rescue her partner Hank and bring the siren home. Of course, she doesn’t expect to leave behind an all out siren revolution or return home to find that jinn crime boss, Grigori Tennin, has begun a massive search for the divine being, Ahkneri. Tennin’s tactics set off a chain reaction that puts Charlie in the crosshairs of the shadowy creature known as Death and awakens Ahkneri from her long sleep. And when Vengeance rises, Atlanta will never be the same.  

Hank deserves more than you falling down now, Charlie. Stand and fight.

The Charlie Madigan series continues to impress and entertain me with this fourth installment, Shadows Before the Sun.

First of all, let me tell you that the above synopsis really does nothing to tell you what this book is about. In fact, the part of Tennin and Akneri isn't even exactly correct. But have no fear, I will help you out. At the end of the previous book Hank was carted off, back to his home of Elysia. This book starts with Charlie getting ready to leave for Elysia, embarking on a rescue mission to bring Hank back. No one knows if Hank if dead or alive, or perhaps something even worse than dead. At the airport she meets a traveling partner she didn't realize she was going to have - Alessandra, the Oracle. Alessandra and Charlie have a spotty history - they're both strong and stubborn women, and throw in Alessandra's mysteriousness and they don't really get along.

Charlie and Alessandra are quite the pair and I really loved that Gay finally let us learn a little more about the Oracle. I enjoyed watching the two grow closer as they worked together to con the Elysian royalty and find Hank. It turns out that Alessandra is a complicated character, even more mysterious than previously thought. Her actions and reasoning are intriguing and I grew to love her character in this one.

We get to read several short scenes from Hank's point of view and it was a nice change to see things through his eyes. It also confirms what we readers suspect, Hank is indeed alive but not exactly doing well.

Sometimes he dreamt. . . Mostly they were nightmares, repetition of his torture, of his tired soul being pulled back in his broken body. But some were relished, like those of death, blood, and vengeance against the Circe. And some were more painful than others. The good ones were the worst.

But here is part of the reason this book gets four stars instead of five: Hank is missing for 3/4 of the book. No, I'm not kidding. And these brief scenes where we see Hank's situation from his point of view do nothing to fill the void felt by his absence. I just felt like the whole trip to Elysia took way too long and took us too far from Charlie's world. Everyone is missing in this one: Rex, Emma, and Brim are only in the story briefly, Charlie's sister Bryn and the mage are never seen at all, and Gregoi Tennin is completely out of the picture.

Perhaps this whole part of the story could have been shorter? I'm not sure how but goodness it was like  reading a whole different story. Since Gay's diverse group of amazingly written characters are one of my favorite things about this series, and with the way things were left between Charlie and Hank, I wasn't ready for them to all be missing or barely around in this book.

That doesn't mean this isn't a great story, because it certainly is. There are a lot of twists and turns that I didn't expect. And like I said previously, I really did like Alessandra taking a step to the forefront. I also loved the world building Gay gave us with Elysia. She managed to create an entirely different world from Earth and Charbydon. Her famous world building is a major strength in this series.

And when that 3/4 of the book is over and everyone has found their way back to Earth? The story moves right along at a fast pace. Some wonderful things that I've been waiting for finally take place and the book's ending battle is amazing and well constructed.

God, he was beautiful.

And there was so much more to him than just the beauty. It was everything I'd learned, everything on the inside, everything he had endured that added to the picture standing there all hard and lean, a fallen angel with a tormented soul and a devil's attitude.

The introduction of a new and perplexing character, named Leander, while in Elysia carries over to the story on Earth and leaves us wondering where his story will go in future books. Charlie's connection to the Ancient Akneri is explored further and we finally get to find out more about the Ancients and Akneri herself. Questions also finally get answered about Death, the mysterious smoke-like creature who comes to Charlie every time she uses her powers and tries to kill her.

It almost feels like Gay is cramming as many story line closures as she can into this last quarter of the book. I hope this doesn't mean this series is in danger of not continuing, because I adore this series and even though this one is my least favorite so far, the series as a whole is one of my all time favorite urban fantasies. I believe Kelly Gay has stated somewhere online that the series is indeed continuing, but I still have concerns.

My hope for the next book is that we get to explore Hank and Charlie's continuingly awkward yet chemistry-filled relationship, we get to see Emma and Brim work their magic together, Bryn and the mage reappear, and we get more REX!

Recommended for fans of: urban fantasy, unique fantasy elements, strong heroines who have realistically clumsy or embarrassing moments, and sexy sirens.

This review is based on an early finished copy provided by the publisher.

   

Reviews for previous books in the series:

The Better Part of Darkness

The Darkest Edge of Dawn

The Hour of Dust and Ashes

Blade Song by J.C. Daniels

Blade Song
(Kit Colbana #1)
J.C. Daniels
Release: August 1, 2012
Goodreads     Amazon

Kit Colbana—half breed, assassin, thief, jack of all trades—has a new job: track down the missing ward of one of the local alpha shapeshifters. It should be a piece of cake.
So why is she so nervous? It probably has something to do with the insanity that happens when you deal with shifters—especially sexy ones who come bearing promises of easy jobs and easier money.
Or maybe it’s all the other missing kids that Kit discovers while working the case, or the way her gut keeps screaming she’s gotten in over her head. Or maybe it’s because if she fails—she’s dead.
If she can stay just one step ahead, she should be okay. Maybe she’ll even live long to collect her fee…

You know how sometimes you feel like you read a different book than everyone else? Yeah, that's me and Blade Song. I did not care for this book at all. I adore urban fantasy, its my favorite genre to read. I like the love/hate relationships, the strong heroines, the balance of fighting and romance, and the mysteries to be solved. This book fell flat for me in every one of those areas.

The heroine is supposed to be a baddass that several are comparing to Kate Daniels. She wields a katana and works with shifters. Sound familiar? Unfortunately, at the mention of her name in the same breath as Kit's, Kate Daniels has passed out from shock. Kit and Kate are nothing alike. Kit makes stupid decisions over and over again and her choices of allies and enemies boggles the mind (Jude the vampire? NOT your friend Kit). And she is supposed to be a sword master with her katana that she has a special connection with. Instead, we CONSTANTLY see her using other weapons instead of the sword. Why? I want to see some serious sword fighting dammit!

Kit's relationship with our hero, Damon, starts off on shaky ground and they instantly don't like each other (although Kit is attracted to his physical hotness). I thought I was getting some of that love/hate that I love, where the hero and heroine banter back and forth until their chemistry wins out and they fall madly in love, and into bed. That is not what I got. Kit and Damon have a hate/hate relationship, with both treating the other awfully. Their banter is not playful and on the edge between arguing and flirting. Their's is just fighting and being mean. There is even a point where Damon smashes Kit's head again the trunk of a car and chokes her out to the point that her throat and voice are messed up for a while. What. The. Hell? How am I supposed to swoon over that? And Damon is not nearly as apologetic as he should be or charming enough after that happens for me to get over it. Ugh.

Then, at 60% in, suddenly they are head over heels for each other. Its a very awkward transition that felt disjointed to me. Why the sudden change? I just couldn't by it.

I also didn't really love the world this story takes place in. None of the secondary characters really flourish for me and I felt like it was just the Kit and Damon show with these useless extra people occasionally thrown in.

I read just over 70% of this book, which I think was quite noble of me considering my issues with it. I also feel that this is enough of the book to write an honest review of it. I realize that the romantic relationship probably continues to evolve in the last 30% of the book, but I just couldn't get there.

However, several of my good blogger friends have read and loved this book - and I mean loved it. If you're still on the fence, please feel free to read their positive reviews and make up your mind for yourself. I have listed links to their reviews below. This one just wasn't for me AT ALL, even though I gave it a valiant effort.

Not Recommended.

 

(DNF)

Check out some other opinions:

Red Hot Books (rating: B+)

Sinfully Delicious Books (rating: 4/5 stars)

Addicted 2 Heroines (rating: 5/5 stars)

Early Review: Full Blooded by Amanda Carlson

Full Blooded
(Jessica McClain #1)
Amanda Carlson

Release: September 11, 2012

Amazon Release: Available NOW!

Goodreads     Amazon

Born the only female in an all male race, Jessica McClain isn’t just different—she’s feared.
After living under the radar for the last twenty-six years, Jessica is thrust unexpectedly into her first change, a full ten years late. She wakes up and finds she’s in the middle of a storm. Now that she’s become the only female full-blooded werewolf in town, the supernatural world is already clamoring to take a bite out of her and her new Pack must rise up and protect her.

Also check out my interview with the author Amanda Carlson HERE

This book took me on a great ride that made me not want to put it down! I was completely sucked in by the exceptional characters, fast-paced action, and lots of twists and turns.

Full Blooded is the first in a new urban fantasy series that centers around the Northern U.S. Pack of werewolves. There are other paranormal beings (witches, vampires), but the wolves are the focal point. Our main character is Jessica, daughter of the Pack's Alpha and new to being a werewolf. The story begins with a bang as we watch Jessica change for the first time. Jessica is the first of her kind, and to make matters worse it was predicted that if she became a wolf it would lead to the demise of her Pack. This is a really interesting concept that I haven't read before. Typically the issue revolving around females in shifter books is that there aren't many of them or that they need to be protected so they can breed. This concept takes that idea step further - there aren't any female werewolves.

Jessica is strong and smart, not without her flaws, but with very few stupid moments that made me scratch my head. For the first few chapters I had a difficult time not comparing this series to Rachel Vincent's Shifters series - the way Jessica is loved by some and reviled by others, the ever so plenty number of male wolves hanging around, the family structure of the Pack and the fact that Jessica is the daughter of the Alpha - it was just really hard not to make those comparisons. And while I adore the Shifters series, the main character, Faythe, grates on my last nerve for more than half the series and I was fearful of getting involved in another series where I want to strangle the heroine. I even put the book aside for several weeks.

Imagine my surprise when I finally got back around to Full Blooded and devoured the rest of the book in one day! Jessica is nothing like Faythe. Although there are many similarities to the other series, this book shines all on its own and does not read like Shifters at all (again, I want to say that I love that series, I just didn't want to read a copy and I didn't want another Faythe).

This series does have a plethora of men to adore, and adore them I do. Here's a little rundown of the men in Jessica's life:

Tyler: Tyler is Jessica's brother and, obviously, the Alpha's son. He is a strong fighter who is fiercely protective of Jessica. They have a close bond and a secret connection that begins when she changes for the first time.

Nick: A shifter, but not a wolf, Nick is Jessica's close friend and buddy, as well as her partner at her human P.I. job.

Danny: A trusted member of the Pack, Danny oversees the Pack members living in the city away from the Pack. He is a little overly independent at times for a werewolf, and his accent helps to make everything out of his mouth sound clever.

James: Dark, serious, and sexy - that's James. He is the Alpha's second and his body is to die for. We even get a little glimpse of him at his sexiest in Full Blooded. Don't forget his delicious Irish brogue.

Rourke: Another shifter who is not Pack, but don't ask him what kind of shifter he is, Rourke's trustworthiness is always in question since he is a hired mercenary famed for his skills and his ruthlessness. He is well-built, strong, and sexy galore. He has a complicated chemistry with Jessica that we just don't know whether or not to trust.

(Callum McCain) The Alpha: Jessica and Tyler's father is the Alpha of the Northern U.S. Pack. He has a reputation for being the strongest of all the Alphas. He is respected and he is fair.

See what I mean? A lot of men to keep track of. By halfway through the book I really wasn't having any difficulty keeping them separate, but occasionally I would confuse two characters. They are all wonderful characters, though some get more fleshed out than others. I hope as the series continues we get to know more about each of these yummy men.

Fans of shifters stories and urban fantasy with likable heroines will love this start to a new series. Oh, and there is romance in this book, the kind that I love in my urban fantasy. This is decidedly not a paranormal romance, but those of you that need a little heat between those fight scenes won't be disappointed. In the next book I expect we might get even more steam. This series is definitely one to watch!

Recommended for fans of: strong but affable heroines, a delicious harem of male side characters, werewolf stories, Vincent's Shifters series, and great urban fantasy.

    1/2

Reading Challenges Update - July!

This is where I will be keeping track of my reading challenges for 2012. I'm very excited about all of them! Check them out:

I am hosting my own reading challenge this year, and I'm very excited about it! This challenge is for reading adult paranormal and fantasy books released in 2012. If you are interested in joining in, you can do so on the Sign Up Post.

I'm going with dedication level Take Me to the Fae Realm, which means I plan to read 21 - 30 books that fit this challenge. I might bump it up to the higher level as the year goes on........we'll see.  :)

Here's my list (so far):

1. The Shadow Reader (McKenzie Lewis #1) by Sandy Williams 

2. Sacrificial Magic (Downside #4) by Stacia Kane

3. Blood on the Bayou (Annabelle Lee #2) by Stacey Jay

4. Once Burned (Night Prince #1) by Jeaniene Frost

5. Biting Cold (Chicagoland Vampires #6) by Chloe Neill

6. Summoning the Night (Arcadia Bell #2) by Jenn Bennett

7. Chasing Magic (Downside #5) by Stacia Kane

8. Deadlocked (Sookie Stackhouse #12) by Charlaine Harris

9. Shadows Before the Sun (Charlie Madigan #4) by Kelly Gay

9. Even White Trash Zombies Get the Blues (White Trash Zombie #2) by Diana Rowland

10. Shadow Bound (Unbound #2) by Rachel Vincent

11. God Save the Queen (Immortal Empire #1) by Kate Locke

12. Firelight (Darkest London #1) by Kristen Callihan

13. Nightshifted (Edie Spence #1) by Cassie Alexander

14. Moonglow (Darkest London #2) by Kristen Callihan

15. The Shattered Dark (McKenzie Lewis #2) by Sandy Williams

16. Discount Armageddon (Incryptid #1) by Seanan McGuire

17. The Kingdom (Graveyard Queen #2) by Amanda Stevens

18. The Prophet (Graveyard Queen #3) by Amanda Stevens

19. A Blood Seduction (Vamp City #1) by Pamela Palmer

20. Dire Needs (Eternal Wolf Clan #1) by Stephanie Tyler

21. The Seduction of Phaeton Black (Paranormal Investigator #1) by Jillian Stone

22. Blood Before Sunrise by Amanda Bonilla

23. Fourth Grave Beneath My Feet by Darynda Jones

24. Precinct 13 by Tate Hallaway

25. Stalking the Others (H&W Investigations #4) by Jess Haines

26. Tarnished (The St. Croix Chronilces #1) by Karina Cooper

27. The Janus Affair (Ministry of Peculiar Occurances #2) by Philippa Ballantine

28. Wicked Nights (Angels of the Dark #1) by Gena Showalter

18/28 books read; 10 more to go!

I'm such a joiner! I have joined two reading challenges for 2012, something I didn't do last year. I'm very excited! First of all, I joined the 2012 TBR Pile Reading Challenge, hosted by Evie at Bookish. This challenge is to help motivate us readers to get through those books on our shelves we've been wanting to read but haven't gotten to yet (you can click on the picture to sign up if you also suffer from this problem). 
You can choose your level of 'commitment' for this challenge, and I chose "A Sweet Kiss". That means I want to read 21 - 30 books from my TBR shelf! Here's my list:
1. Alpha (Shifters #6) by Rachel Vincent2. The Space Between by Brenna Yovanoff3. My Soul to Save (Soul Screamers #2) by Rachel Vincent4. Bitten (Women of the Otherworld #1) by Kelly Armstrong5. Kindling the Moon (Aracadia Bell #1) by Jenn Bennett6. Bloodlines (Bloodlines #1) by Richelle Mead7. One Grave At A Time (Night Huntress #6) by Jeaniene Frost8. Ecstasy Unveiled (Demonica #4) by Larissa Ione9. Sin Undone (Demonica #5) by Larissa Ione10. The Hunter (The Legend Chronicles #1) by Theresa Myers11. The Restorer (Graveyard Queen #1) by Amanda Stevens12. Archangel's Blade (Guild Hunters #4) by Nalini Singh13. The Greyfriar (Vampire Empire #1) by Clay Griffith14. The Iron Duke (Iron Seas) by Meljean Brook15. Red-Headed Stepchild (Sabina Kane #1) by Jaye Wells16. City of Bones (The Mortal Instruments #1) by Cassandra Clare17. City of Ashes (The Mortal Instruments #2) by Cassandra Clare18. City of Glass (The Mortal Instruments #3) by Cassandra Clare19. City of Fallen Angels (The Mortal Instruments #4) by Cassandra Clare20. Clockwork Angel (The Infernal Devices #1) by Cassandra Clare21. Clockwork Prince (The Infernal Devices #2) by Cassandra Clare22. Catching Fire (Hunger Games #2) by Suzanne Collins23. Mockingjay (Hunger Games #3) by Suzanne Collins25. Eternal Rider (Lords of Deliverance #1) by Larissa Ione26. Immortal Rider (Lords of Deliverance #2) by Larissa Ione27. Dead, Undead, or Somewhere in Between (Rhiannon's Law #1) by J.A. Saare28. Wanderlust (Sirantha Jax #2) by Ann Aguirre 29. As Lie the Dead (Dreg City #2) by Kelly Meding
9/29 books read, 20 more to go! (I am NOT doing good here!)


I also joined the 2012 Debut Author Challenge, hosted by Kristi at The Story Siren. For this one, I am going to read at least 12 YA books published by brand new authors or authors never published in YA before. I'm very excited about this one too! I even already read my first book for the challenge - Cinder!
So there you have it! My challenges for 2012! I will tag all my reviews that meet either of these challenges so you can always find them under the Features tab. Yay for 2012!
1. Cinder (Lunar Chronicles #1) by Marissa Meyer 2. The Selection (The Selection #1) by Kiera Cass3. Shadow and Bone (Grisha Trilogy #1) by Leigh Bardugo4. The Lost Girl by Sangu Mandanna5. Harbinger by Sara Wilson Etienne6. Something Strange and Deadly by Susan Dennard7. Innocent Darkness (Aether Chronilces #1) by Suzanne Lazear8. Origin by Jessica Khoury9. Black City (Black City #1) by Elizabeth Richards10. Hemlock (Hemlock #1) by Kathleen Peacock11. Masque of the Red Death (Masque of the Red Death #1) by Bethany Griffin12. Silver by Talia Vance13. What's Left of Me (Hybrid Chronicles #1) by Kat Zhang14. Dead Girls Detective Agency by Suzy Cox15. Defiance (Defiance #1) by C.J. Redwine16. Dark Star by Bethany Frenette  17. Mystic City (Mystic City #1) by Theo Lawrence 
7/12 books read; 5 more to go (to meet challenge)!