Industrial Magic by Kelly Armstrong

Genre: Urban Fiction; Magic, Werewolves, Vampires, Witches, Shamans, Demons

Sub Genre: Paranormal Romance

Rating: 5 out of 5 Stars

Back Cover: In the aftermath of her mother’s murder, Paige broke with the elite, ultraconservative American Coven of Witches. Now her goal is to starta new Coven for a new generations. But while Paige pitches her vision to uptight thirty-something witches in business suits, a more urgent matter commands her attention. Someone is murdering the teenage offspring of the underworld’s most influential Cabals – a circle of families that makes the mob look like amateurs. And none is more powerful than the Cortez Cabal, a faction Paige is intimately acquainted with. Lucas Cortez, the rebel son and unwilling heir, is none other than her boyfriend. But love isn’t blind and Paige has her eyes wide open as she is drawn into a hunt for an unnatural-born killer. Pitted against shamans, demons, and goons, it’s a battle chilling enough to make a wild young woman grow up in a hurry. If she gets the chance.

This is the fourth book in the Women of the Otherworld series. We get to see Paige and Lucas at it again. At first Paige doesn’t know what to make of the Cortez Cabal. Even though everyone knows that Lucas’ father is trying to get him to come back into the Cabal. He’s not even all that happy about his relationship with Paige. But they do make a great team. Paige helps the Cortez Cabal not for Lucas or the Cabal but for the girl that was attacked. This just adds more depth to the women of the other world. It is so well written and just couldn't get enough of this book. I can't wait to read the next book in the series, Haunted.

Publisher: Bantam

ISBN: 0553587072

Pages: 560

Series: Women of the Otherworld

Volume: 4

Dime Store Magic by Kelly Armstrong

Genre: Urban Fiction; Magic, Werewolves, Vampires, Witches, Shamans, Demons

Sub Genre: Paranormal Romance

Rating: 5 out of 5 Stars

Back Cover: Paige Winterbourne was always either too young or too rebellious to succeed her mother as leader of one of the world’s most powerful elite organizations – the American Coven of Witches. Now that she is twenty-three and her mother is dead, the Elders can no longer deny her. But even Paige’s wildest antics can’t hold a candle to those of her new charge – an orphan who is all too willing to use her budding powers for evil… and evil is all too willing to claim her. For this girl is being pursued by a dark faction of the supernatural underworld. They are a vicious group who will do anything to woo the young, malleable, and extremely powerful neophyte, including commit murder – and frame Paige for the crime. It’s an initiation into adulthood, womanhood, and the brutal side of magic that Paige will have to go everything within her power to make sure they both survive.

This is the third book in the Women of the Otherworld. We first met Paige in Stolen when she loses her mother. She has to realized that she has what it takes to take care of herself and Savannah. But when she is accused of murder it’s going to take someone she’s not sure she can trust. Lucas Cortez. This story is hot, as is Lucas. This story goes into the witches of this and shows a more in depth side to Paige. I love it. Reading how Paige goes and works with Lucas, even falling for him. This is brilliant writing, I can't wait to read the next book in this series, Industrial Magic.

Publisher: Bantam

ISBN: 0553593773

Pages: 448

Series: Women of the Otherworld

Volume: 3

Touch of the Wolf by Susan Krinard

Genre: Paranormal Romance; Werewolves

Sub Genre: Historical Romance; 1800’s

Rating: 3 out of 5 Stars

Back Cover: Braden Forster, Earl of Greyburn, has devoted his life to restoring the purity of his clan's werewolf blood. He spent years searching in vain for a distant American cousin, a woman whose wolf bloodline is a vital link in his family's heritage. Braden had thought Cassidy Holt was lost forever--until she appeared one rainy night on the steps of his London mansion . . . her raven hair in disarray, her skin scented with sunlight and sagebrush. As Braden whisks young Cassidy to his family's secluded country estate, both can sense their undeniable attraction. But Cassidy soon learns that they can never satisfy their mutual passion; Braden has already betrothed her to another. Her only hope of claiming the one man she'll always love is to unravel the dark and lustful secrets of his past . . .

This is the first of the Historical Werewolves series. Braden lives for his Cause, to breed a pure werewolf line. Cassidy has been longing for the moment when she can be with people of her own kind. When the two come together Braden feels that he is being given a gift for the Cause. Cassidy has no idea about his plans and believes that he wants her. The story has many twists and turns. Braden has to deal with his past and grow to realize what he can have. While Cassidy goes from being a dreamer to understanding something need actual work. I liked reading this book and will be reading the next one in the series, Once a Wolf.

Publisher: Bantam

ISBN: 0553580183

Pages: 416

Series: Historical Werewolf

Volume: 1

Full Moon Rising by Keri Arthur

Genre: Urban Fantasy; Vampires, Werewolves

Rating: 3 out of 5 Stars

Back Cover: A rare hybrid of vampire and werewolf, Riley Jenson and her twin brother, Rhoan, work for Melbourne’s Directorate of Other Races, an organization created to police the supernatural races–and protect humans from their depredations. While Rhoan is an exalted guardian, a.k.a. assassin, Riley is merely an office worker–until her brother goes missing on one of his missions. The timing couldn’t be worse. More werewolf than vampire, Riley is vulnerable to the moon heat, the weeklong period before the full moon, when her need to mate becomes all-consuming. Luckily Riley has two willing partners to satisfy her every need. But she will have to control her urges if she’s going to find her brother….Easier said than done as the city pulses with frenzied desire, and Riley is confronted with a very powerful–and delectably naked–vamp who raises her temperature like never before. In matters carnal, Riley has met her match. But in matters criminal, she must follow her instincts not only to find her brother but to stop an unholy harvest. For someone is doing some shifty cloning in an attempt to produce the ultimate warrior–by tapping into the genome of nonhumans like Rhoan. Now Riley knows just how dangerous the world is for her kind–and just how much it needs her.

Riley is your kick butt kind of character. She has no wishes to become a guardian like her brother even though she is being pushed to go that wrought. There is a lot going on in this book and your right there with Riley trying to piece the puzzle together. While she is trying not to get tempted by her own needs. This is more of a suspense story with paranormal throne in to add a little spice. I found it to be a good story that made me not put it down till I knew how it ended. I can't wait to read the next book in this series, Kissing Sin.

Publisher: Bantam

ISBN: 0553588451

Pages: 416

Series: Riley Jenson Guardian

Volume: 1

Not Quite a Husband by Sherry Thomas

Genre: Historical Romance; 1800’s

Rating: 4 out of 5 Stars

Back Cover: Their marriage lasted only slightly longer than the honeymoon—to no one’s surprise, not even Bryony Asquith's. A man as talented, handsome, and sought after by society as Leo Marsden couldn't possibly want to spend his entire life with a woman who rebelled against propriety by becoming a doctor. Why, then, three years after their annulment and half a world away, does he track her down at her clinic in the remotest corner of India? Leo has no reason to think Bryony could ever forgive him for the way he treated her, but he won't rest until he’s delivered an urgent message from her sister—and fulfilled his duty by escorting her safely back to England. But as they risk their lives for each other on the journey home, will the biggest danger be the treacherous war around them—or their rekindling passion?

This is yet another good historical romance by Sherry Thomas. Bryony has run away from everything. Most assuredly Leo Marsden. Leo must come to deliver a message and bring her back to her sick father. Only things seem to keep getting in the way. The story is well put together. I really like that Bryony is a doctor in the late 1800’s. It makes the story quite compelling to read. The dynamic between Leo and Bryony is very entertaining. I really enjoyed reading this book.

Publisher: Bantam

ISBN: 0553592432

Pages: 352

Series:

Volume:

His at Night by Sherry Thomas

Genre: Historical Romance; 1800’s

Rating: 5 out of 5 Stars

Back Cover: Love is hottest in the darkness before dawn. Elissande Edgerton is a desperate woman, a virtual prisoner in the home of her tyrannical uncle. Only through marriage can she claim the freedom she craves. But how to catch the perfect man? Lord Vere is used to baiting irresistible traps. As a secret agent for the government, he’s tracked down some of the most devious criminals in London, all the while maintaining his cover as one of Society’s most harmless—and idiotic—bachelors. But nothing can prepare him for the scandal of being ensnared by Elissande. Forced into a marriage of convenience, Elissande and Vere are each about to discover that they’re not the only one with a hidden agenda. With seduction their only weapon—and a dark secret from the past endangering both their lives—can they learn to trust each other even as they surrender to a passion that won’t be denied?

Elissande just wants to get her and herself out of her uncle’s home. Lord Vere is investigating Elissande’s uncle while holding behind his idiotic guise. But then he gets snared into marring Elissande. As the story moves forward you find that there is so much more going on then what is first seen. I loved this book for that. I liked how just when you think the story is going to go one way it turns on its ear. Vere for all his intelligence is rather dumb in matters of his own heart. I can’t wait to see what is next for Sherry Thomas as I really love her writing.

Let me know what your thoughts are.

Publisher: Bantam

ISBN: 0553592440

Pages: 432

Series:

Volume:

Delicious by Sherry Thomas

Genre: Historical Romance; 1800’s

Rating: 3 out of 5 Stars

Back Cover: Forbidden pleasures are always sweetest…Famous in Paris, infamous in London, Verity Durant is as well-known for her mouthwatering cuisine as for her scandalous love life. But that’s the least of the surprises awaiting her new employer when he arrives at the estate of Fairleigh Park following the unexpected death of his brother. To rising political star Stuart Somerset, Verity Durant is just a name and food is just food, until her first dish touches his lips. Only one other time had he felt such pure arousal–a dangerous night of passion with a stranger, who disappeared at dawn. Ten years is a long time to wait for the main course, but when Verity Durant arrives at his table, there’s only one thing that will satisfy Stuart’s appetite for more. But is his hunger for lust, revenge–or that rarest of delicacies, love? For Verity’s past has a secret that could devour them both even as they reach for the most delicious fruit of all.…

Verity loves cooking but doesn't want to marry as she knows that others fell that she is just a cook. Stuart has just inherited his from his brother. He also gets his cook whom he can’t help but want to know better. These two have a past together Verity knows while Stuart hasn't figured it out. I like how they dance around each other. It’s a well written book that will have you entertained. I really like this book. I will keep an eye out for Sherry Thomas’ next book.

Publisher: Bantam

ISBN: 0440244323

Pages: 432

Series:

Volume:

Hope’s Folly by Linnea Sinclair

Genre: Romance

Sub Genre: Science Fiction; Space life

Rating: 2 out of 5 Stars

Back Cover: Admiral Philip Guthrie is in an unprecedented position: on the wrong end of the law, leading a ragtag band of rebels against the oppressive Imperial forces. Or would be if he can get his command ship—the derelict cruiser called Hope’s Folly—functioning. Not much can rattle Philip’s legendary cool—but the woman who helps him foil an assassination attempt on Kirro Station will. She’s the daughter of his best friend and first commander—a man who died while under Philip’s command and whose death is on Philip’s conscience. Rya Bennton has been in love with Philip Guthrie since she was a girl. But can her childhood fantasies survive an encounter with the hardened man, and newly minted rebel leader, once she learns the truth about her father’s death? Or will her passion for revenge put not only their hearts but their lives at risk? It’s an impossible mission: A man who feels he can’t love. A woman who believes she’s unlovable. And an enemy who will stop at nothing to crush them both.

When I first got this book I was really looking forward to reading it. I love stories that involve space and adventure. This book reminded me of Battlestar Glactica, Babylon 5, Firefly and Star Trek all rolled into one. The sad part is it wasn’t in a good way. I really wish that it had been able to hold up. But the story just fell flat. And I had no idea that this was part of a series until I got to the end. Which made me a bit sad to find that I was in the middle of the series. But having never read the others I was able to still follow the stories.

Publisher: Bantam

ISBN: 0553592181

Pages: 448

Series: Dock Five Universe

Volume: 3

Clan of the Cave Bears by Jean M. Auel

Genre: Fiction; Ice Age, The Dawn of Modern Humans

Sub Genre: Historical Fiction

Rating: 5 out of 5 Stars

Back Cover: This novel of awesome beauty and power is a moving saga about people, relationships, and the boundaries of love. Through Jean M. Auel’s magnificent storytelling we are taken back to the dawn of modern humans, and with a girl named Ayla we are swept up in the harsh and beautiful Ice Age world they shared with the ones who called themselves the Clan of the Cave Bear. A natural disaster leaves the young girl wandering alone in an unfamiliar and dangerous land until she is found by a woman of the Clan, people very different from her own kind. To them, blond, blue-eyed Ayla looks peculiar and ugly--she is one of the Others, those who have moved into their ancient homeland; but Iza cannot leave the girl to die and takes her with them. Iza and Creb, the old Mog-ur, grow to love her, and as Ayla learns the ways of the Clan and Iza’s way of healing, most come to accept her. But the brutal and proud youth who is destined to become their next leader sees her differences as a threat to his authority. He develops a deep and abiding hatred for the strange girl of the Others who lives in their midst, and is determined to get his revenge.

As the 6^th book in the series of the Earth’s Children is about to come out I thought that I would do a write up on the first book, for those of you who have not read the series. This is the first book in the series and takes place in the Ice Age. It’s the story of Ayla who is taken in by a tribe that is not of her kind. There is much to this story as we follow Ayla as she learns and gains a role within her tribe, but is always kept outside. I loved this book, with its descriptions of the world and how things where. Following the tribe and their day to day lives add another dimension to the story. Ayla is a character that you care about from the start. The book was one that I couldn’t put down as I read it. The next book in the series is, The Valley of Horses.

Publisher: Bantam

ISBN: 0553381679

Pages: 512

Series: Earth's Children

Volume: 1