Review: Dinner With a Vampire

Dinner With a Vampire by Abigail Gibbs

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



3.5 Stars

GoodReads Synopsis: One moment can change your life forever...

For Violet Lee, a chance encounter on a darkened street draws her into a world beyond her wildest imaginings, a timeless place of vast elegance and immeasurable wealth – of beautiful mansions and lavish parties – where a decadent group of friends live for pleasure alone. A place from which there is no escape...no matter how hard Violet tries.

Yet all the riches in the world can’t mask the darkness that lies beneath the gilded surface, embodied in the charismatic but dangerous Kaspar Varn.

Violet and Kaspar surrender to a passion that transcends their separate worlds – but it’s a passion that comes at a price..

My Thoughts: Loved this one! Can't wait to see what happens next.

Vampires, Alternate Universes, a prophecy...

I was enchanted with "Dinner". Read it in one sitting and laughed like a schoolgirl at some of the snarkier dialog. But I'm really stumbling with how to describe it.

Poor Violet, basically being held prisoner. She can't have any contact with her family. Her Dad is in a position to make like for the Vampires very difficult. The vamps don't want to let her go because now she knows of the Vampire Realm, so she must join them, become one of them, or die. Meanwhile she is falling for Kasper who has been forbidden to be around her because he plays an important role in a looming prophecy.

There was a lot going on with this story, although it started out kind of slowly. I liked how Violet and Kaspar slowly came together. Even if he could be a Royal jackass. He could be incredibly sweet to. I guess I am a sucker for tough "bad boys" who are really marshmallows on the inside. I also thought Violet was pretty cool...as in cool as a cucumber when she was able to keep her wits about her in times of great stress. She was a good anti-hero...didn't want to be a hero, but kind of ended up one by default anyway.

I am looking forward to the next book to see more of how the prophecy is going to figure in.



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Review: Unclean Spirits

Unclean Spirits by M.L.N. Hanover

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



GoodReads Synopsis: Jayné Heller thinks of herself as a realist, until she discovers reality isn't quite what she thought it was. When her uncle Eric is murdered, Jayné travels to Denver to settle his estate, only to learn that it's all hers -- and vaster than she ever imagined. And along with properties across the world and an inexhaustible fortune, Eric left her a legacy of a different kind: his unfinished business with a cabal of wizards known as the Invisible College.

Led by the ruthless Randolph Coin, the Invisible College harnesses demon spirits for their own ends of power and domination. Jayné finds it difficult to believe magic and demons can even exist, let alone be responsible for the death of her uncle. But Coin sees Eric's heir as a threat to be eliminated by any means -- magical or mundane -- so Jayné had better start believing in something to save her own life.

Aided in her mission by a group of unlikely companions -- Aubrey, Eric's devastatingly attractive assistant; Ex, a former Jesuit with a lethal agenda; Midian, a two-hundred-year-old man who claims to be under a curse from Randolph Coin himself; and Chogyi Jake, a self-styled Buddhist with mystical abilities -- Jayné finds that her new reality is not only unexpected, but often unexplainable. And if she hopes to survive, she'll have to learn the new rules fast -- or break them completely....

My Thoughts: Ooh...love a good Urban Fantasy series and I really liked this one!

I've already started the second book in this series having read this one in one sitting. Anyway, Hanover jumped right into the action on this one. We, the audience, learned on the fly just like Jayne did.

See Jayne didn't know much about her Uncle Eric. Other than he was the one that usually rode in and smoothed things over when her life was in turmoil. So Jayne was very surprised to find out Eric was dead, left everything to her, and he was worth MILLIONS.

It's only later that strange things start happening and Jayne learns about riders and the demons from "next door", and Uncle Erics unlikely band of demon-stalkers.

The great thing is that while all the characters involved knew Eric, they all knew a different part of Eric...no really KNEW Eric. So they are sharing what parts of Eric they knew as we, the audience, are getting to know all the characters.

Another thing I am enjoying about this series is that the author is not only tackling secular "demons", he's dragging in demon-like mythologies from all sorts of religions, cultures, etc. Leaving the door wide open to a variety of stories without running out of bad guys.

By the end of the action packed first book, we haven't learned a great deal about the characters, which I believe was intentional. I think as we peel back the layers on Uncle Eric and his work, those same layers will be revealed on our characters.

I'm anxious to dive more into book 2 and see what I get to learn! I really think I will be enjoying this series even more than some others I've read.



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Review: Venom

Venom by Fiona Paul

My rating: 3 of 5 stars



GoodReads Synopsis: Cassandra Caravello is one of Renaissance Venice’s lucky elite: with elegant gowns, sparkling jewels, her own lady’s maid, and a wealthy fiancé, she has everything a girl could desire. Yet ever since her parents’ death, Cassandra has felt trapped, alone in a city of water, where the dark and labyrinthine canals whisper of escape.

When Cass stumbles upon a murdered woman—practically in her own backyard—she’s drawn into a dangerous world of courtesans, killers, and secret societies. Soon, she finds herself falling for Falco, a mysterious artist with a mischievous grin... and a spectacular skill for trouble. Can Cassandra find the murderer, before he finds her? And will she stay true to her fiancé, or succumb to her uncontrollable feelings for Falco?

Beauty, love, romance, and mystery weave together in a stunning novel that’s as seductive and surprising as the city of Venice itself.

My Thoughts: I thought this was a supernatural story. I think it was the title of the series, "Secrets of the Eternal Rose", that put the idea in my head. It wasn't a paranormal story...murder mystery amongst the canals and graveyards of Renaissance Venice. We got to experience how the very wealthy lived as well as how the poor working class.

I liked Cass who was still reeling from the death of her parents. She's been foisted onto an elderly aunt whose nephew is soon coming of age and the Aunt's estate will default to him. So Cass will need to be married sooner rather than later and it's all been prearranged...oh joy. This is a girl who has no control of her life and she is desperate for some.

Cass is smart. She is dedicated to her friends and what she believes in. She is caring and treats everyone with concern and respect, including those paid to care for her. I love her rebellious streak! And she has one!

The story was a little slow getting going...we spent a little too much time on Renaissance Venice descriptions for me, but that info did come back as relevant later in the story to determine who the murderer was. I made a few predictions about how the story was going to go, that I am pleased to say I was wrong about.

There is the usual love triangle...that wasn't totally resolved in this book, so I will be on the lookout for the next installment and will be rooting for Luca. Overall it was a pleasantly enjoyable read.





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Review: Nerve

Nerve by Jeanne Ryan

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



GoodReads Synopsis: A high-stakes online game of dares turns deadly

When Vee is picked to be a player in NERVE, an anonymous game of dares broadcast live online, she discovers that the game knows her. They tempt her with prizes taken from her ThisIsMe page and team her up with the perfect boy, sizzling-hot Ian. At first it's exhilarating--Vee and Ian's fans cheer them on to riskier dares with higher stakes. But the game takes a twisted turn when they're directed to a secret location with five other players for the Grand Prize round. Suddenly they're playing all or nothing, with their lives on the line. Just how far will Vee go before she loses NERVE?

My Thoughts: I'd heard a lot about this book prior to reading it. I don't know what made me think this took place in a dystopian society...it's only slightly futuristic...like maybe 10 years ahead of today. The technology to put this game into reality is out there.

The plot of the "game" was fascinating. It was basically dares, as in "Truth or Dare". The dares start out pretty easy...uncomfortable, but easy. People could pay to become part of the audience. What was really scary was how the "audience" could become involved, paying to be where and when these dares happened. Talk about putting a twist on things. Being part of that audience would have been fun, but it was easy to see how it could all go very awry.

The story unfolds, for the most part, over the course of one evening. IT's a lightning fast pace because the audience is viewing it all live. I read this in one sitting just because I couldn't put it down. This book was chilling in how plausible the story was and how much the creators of this game were able to do. Really a fantastic, quick read!





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Review: Sweet Blood of Mine

Sweet Blood of Mine by John Corwin

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



Goodreads Synopsis: Justin Case and women do not mix. Man boobs, a love of Kings and Castles, and being tight with the "nerd" crowd certainly don't win him any points either. After rescuing Katie, his crush, it turns out she might not be the girl he thought she was, while Elyssa, the school's Goth Girl, turns out to be more. Can high school get any more confusing?

Determined to improve himself, he joins a gym and meets a sexy girl that just oozes a "come hither, Justin" vibe. Until she attacks him in the parking lot, and Justin realizes she's no ordinary girl but a being with supernatural speed and strength. After a narrow escape and an excruciating migraine headache, he wakes up with supernatural abilities all his own: speed, strength, and the ability to seduce every woman he sees.

While that might sound like the perfect combo for any hormonal teen, Justin is a hopeless romantic who wants his first time to be special. Is that too much to ask for? But he doesn't know what he is or how to stop his carnal urges. One thing is clear: If he doesn't find answers there are other more sinister supernaturals who would like nothing better than to make him their eternal plaything and do far worse than kill him.

My Thoughts: I love Justin and his self-deprecating humor and sarcasm. I giggled throughout most of the book because his internal dialog was just too funny and I totally related to it when I thought back to my high school days. While Justin was going through his metamorphosis I was glad to see that he opened his eyes and saw what was in front of him.

My only complaint was that it took most of the book, and it was a long book, to get to the heart of what was causing all the changes in Justin. The suspense was killing me.

I can't wait to see what happens next.



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Review: The Girl in the Wall

The Girl in the Wall by Daphne Benedis-Grab

My rating: 2 of 5 stars



GoodReads Synopsis: Ariel's birthday weekend looks to be the event of the season, with a private concert by rock star Hudson Winters on the grounds of her family's east coast estate, and all of Ariel's elite prep school friends in attendance. The only person who's dreading the party is Sera, Ariel's former best friend, whose father is forcing her to go. Sera has been the school pariah since she betrayed Ariel, and she now avoids Ariel and their former friends. Thrown together, Ariel and Sera can agree on one thing: this could be one very long night.

They have no idea just how right they are.

Only moments after the concert begins and the lights go down, thugs open fire on parents and schoolmates alike, in a plot against Ariel's father that quickly spins out of control. As the entire party is taken hostage, the girls are forced apart. Ariel escapes into the hidden tunnels in the family mansion, where she and Sera played as children. Only Sera, who forges an unlikely alliance with Hudson Winters, knows where her friend could be. As the industrial terrorist plot unravels and the death toll climbs, Ariel and Sera must recall the sisterhood that once sustained them as they try to save themselves and each other on the longest night of their lives

My Thoughts: This book starts out like a bullet coming out of a gun, both literally and figuratively. This was a fast read because the pace of the story was fast. It was pretty easy to come to the conclusion on who the bad guy was. And the quick romance between Sera and Hudson was cute if a little to "insta-love". The book was OK, it just isn't one that I felt very strongly about one way or the other.



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Review: Pandora's Key

Pandora's Key by Nancy Richardson Fischer

My rating: 3 of 5 stars



GoodReads Synopsis: When everything you believed about yourself is a lie, how do you unlock the truth…

Evangeline Theopolis has nightmares about the violent deaths of women she has never met. Her single mother, Olivia, suffers delusions she can’t hide. And Malledy, a brilliant young man, may have a disease that will leave him paralyzed and insane. Their lives are about to collide.

On Evangeline’s 16th birthday her mother gives her a necklace with an antique key charm—a family heirloom, though no one knows what the key unlocks.

Everything changes. Her mom is hospitalized. Her godmother attempts murder. An ancient Order tries to kill Evangeline, and a lethal sect to kidnap her.

Nothing makes sense—especially Evangeline’s own face, which has morphed from geeky to eerily stunning; the ancient key that feels strangely alive against her skin; and the magical abilities she begins to possess.

Evangeline must use her wits and supernatural powers to fight her deadly adversaries and discover her true identity. But can she accept who she really is and save the world?

My Thoughts: There were two separate storylines that converged a little more than half way in. I liked parts of it and not so much other parts. The story kind of sputtered along which the shifting storylines didn't help. There wasn't much on the character development. There were a lot of characters involved which contributed to their lack of substance. This is the first book in a planned series, which really could stop with this book. I guess I would have to see the synopsis for the subsequent books to decide if I was going to read more.



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Review: Wallbanger

Wallbanger by Alice Clayton

My rating: 5 of 5 stars



GoodReads Synopsis: Caroline Reynolds has a fantastic new apartment in San Francisco, a KitchenAid mixer, and no O (and we’re not talking Oprah here, folks). She has a flourishing design career, an office overlooking the bay, a killer zucchini bread recipe, and no O. She has Clive (the best cat ever), great friends, a great rack, and no O.

Adding insult to O-less, since her move, she has an oversexed neighbor with the loudest late-night wallbanging she’s ever heard. Each moan, spank, and–was that a meow?–punctuates the fact that not only is she losing sleep, she still has, yep, you guessed it, no O.

Enter Simon Parker. (No, really, Simon, please enter.) When the wallbanging threatens to literally bounce her out of bed, Caroline, clad in sexual frustration and a pink baby-doll nightie, confronts her heard-but-never-seen neighbor. Their late-night hallway encounter has, well, mixed results. Ahem. With walls this thin, the tension’s gonna be thick…

In her third novel, Alice Clayton returns to dish her trademark mix of silly and steamy. Banter, barbs, and strutting pussycats, plus the sexiest apple pie ever made, are dunked in a hot tub and set against the gorgeous San Francisco skyline in this hot and hilarious tale of exasperation at first sight

My Thoughts: OH MY WORD!! I giggled through the beginning of this book. Actually truth be told, I giggled through the whole book for a number of reasons...but beginning was hysterical. I started this book at 7pm last night and didn't put it down until I finished at 1:30am...Thank you Ms Clayton for the set of Samsonite luggage that has taken up residence under my eyes! As usual, I've digressed!

So laying in bed last night, I would erupt into fits of giggles, which my poor sleeping husband probably didn't appreciate! Oh Well, his snores never stopped for very long!

I could not put this book down! I love snark and wit...and Clayton has it in spades! You can't help but fall in love with both Caroline and Simon...but the scene stealer is Clive, Caroline's cat! And I absolutely adored Clive's last words. *sigh*...I really didn't want this story to end.

So thank you to Ms. Clayton for a thoroughly delightful night! And thank you to Jennifer Armentrout, a favorite author of mine here on GoodReads, because it was the fact that she was reading Wallbanger that brought it to my attention. I look forward to enjoying Wallbanger again in the not too distant future!



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Review: Iced

Iced by Karen Marie Moning

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



GoodReads Synopsis: The year is 1 AWC—After the Wall Crash. The Fae are free and hunting us. It’s a war zone out there, and no two days are alike. I’m Dani O’Malley, the chaos-filled streets of Dublin are my home, and there’s no place I’d rather be.

Dani “Mega” O’Malley plays by her own set of rules—and in a world overrun by Dark Fae, her biggest rule is: Do what it takes to survive. Possessing rare talents and the all-powerful Sword of Light, Dani is more than equipped for the task. In fact, she’s one of the rare humans who can defend themselves against the Unseelie. But now, amid the pandemonium, her greatest gifts have turned into serious liabilities.

Dani’s ex–best friend, MacKayla Lane, wants her dead, the terrifying Unseelie princes have put a price on her head, and Inspector Jayne, the head of the police force, is after her sword and will stop at nothing to get it. What’s more, people are being mysteriously frozen to death all over the city, encased on the spot in sub-zero, icy tableaux.

When Dublin’s most seductive nightclub gets blanketed in hoarfrost, Dani finds herself at the mercy of Ryodan, the club’s ruthless, immortal owner. He needs her quick wit and exceptional skill to figure out what’s freezing Fae and humans dead in their tracks—and Ryodan will do anything to ensure her compliance.

Dodging bullets, fangs, and fists, Dani must strike treacherous bargains and make desperate alliances to save her beloved Dublin—before everything and everyone in it gets iced.

My Thoughts: I really enjoyed this book. I wasn't sure if I was going to be able to take a whole book about "Mega". Her attitudes and behaviors in the "Fever" series got on my nerves a bit. Thankfully Moning toned her down a bit.

Now this story continues very shortly after the 5th Fever book ends. Dani is still killing any demon she can, but for some reason she has attracted Ryodan's attention and the attention he gives this young (15) lady, is a bit creepy. Then there is the former druid who has been slowly turning into an Unseelie Prince who also has a creepy fascination with Mega.

While I missed Mac and Barrons, this was a great continuation with familiar characters following a familiar style of storyline in a familiar world. I was glad to see not too much had changed because I really love the world of Mac and Barrons. I'm really looking forward to spending more time in this world with Mega. Just have to try and be patient!



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Review: Sapphire Blue

Sapphire Blue by Kerstin Gier

My rating: 3 of 5 stars



GoodReads Synopsis: Gwen’s life has been a rollercoaster since she discovered she was the Ruby, the final member of the secret time-traveling Circle of Twelve. In between searching through history for the other time-travelers and asking for a bit of their blood (gross!), she’s been trying to figure out what all the mysteries and prophecies surrounding the Circle really mean.

At least Gwen has plenty of help. Her best friend Lesley follows every lead diligently on the Internet. James the ghost teaches Gwen how to fit in at an eighteenth century party. And Xemerius, the gargoyle demon who has been following Gwen since he caught her kissing Gideon in a church, offers advice on everything. Oh, yes. And of course there is Gideon, the Diamond. One minute he’s very warm indeed; the next he’s freezing cold. Gwen’s not sure what’s going on there, but she’s pretty much destined to find out.

My Thoughts: This series is not grabbing me like I thought it would. In my Ruby Red thoughts, I mentioned that I thought it took a long time for the story to really get going. That the first book was mostly backstory and I was really hoping the story would take off in Sapphire Blue. I felt like it sputtered and stalled.

First the "romance" between Gideon and Gwen didn't really go anywhere, if anything it showed Gideon to be very fickle. Which I found disappointing, he has absolutely no faith in Gwen. If I were Gwen I'd kick his ass to the curb and ignore him completely rather than pine away for him!

I did love Gwen's grandfather and the little gargoyle like creature Gwen picks up in her travels. Xemarius has some great snarky comments and wonderful insights if only Gwen would actually listen to him. Gwen's cousin continues to be the bane of her existence as does the Count/Baron, whatever he is.

Sadly, I'm not holding out much hope for Emerald Green, the third book in this trilogy. With 2 books worth of back story and build up, I'm afraid it won't live up to the hype. I guess I will just have to wait and see.



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