Once In A Full Moon by Ellen Schreiber

Celeste hangs with the popular crowd at Legend's Run High and is being wooed by Nash Hunter, the football quarterback, but doesn't really feel that she belongs. She only comes in contact with the new and enigmatic student, Brandon Maddox, when she passes him in classes, the hallway, and at lunch, but she suspects there is something different about him other than that he is a Westsider and comes from the wrong side of town.

On a dare, Celeste and her friends go to a psychic's shop for a reading. When it is Celeste's turn for a fortune, the psychic grabs Celeste's hands and warns, "Beware of a kiss under the full moon." Celeste and her friends laugh and mock the fortune teller. But on her way home from their outing, Celeste is blinded by a blizzard. Disoriented, she finds herself deep in the woods bordering town. She is overcome by snowfall and unable to see anything. Above her hovers the glow of a full moon. Just then, she sees beady eyes staring back through the falling flakes. She finds herself in the midst of a pack of hungry wolves. The wolves begin to howl. She can't outrun them, and the shortest tree branch is out of reach. They slowly approach her. At the last moment, a stranger pulls her from the hungry pack. He grabs a branch and fights the pack of wolves until they retreat. In the scuffle the stranger is bitten. It is Brandon Maddox.

Celeste is enamored by her hero and can't get him out of her mind. Where Nash is a hero on the field and court, Brandon is a hero in reality. Celeste steals away from her friends to find Brandon, and they meet on a hilltop near his home. A cloudy sky lingers above them, and Celeste realizes she has fallen in love with a Westsider. But in the next few moments, Celeste will face an even bigger challenge than falling for a guy from the wrong side of town. As the two lean in to kiss, the clouds pass, exposing the glow of a full moon. Brandon feels strange and pulls away. Something is about to change-him.

Release Date 28/12/10

Nicely written wee Young Adult story. I liked Celeste but couldn't figure out why she was friends with her friends. They are very different and Celeste knows this but is still best friends with them. In real life, I'd like to think she'd have more common sense.

I really hope this is the start of a series because the book felt unfinished. It seemed to end really abruptly, without explanation. The story has definitely been left wide open so there's potential for a series here.

Wasn't too keen on her take on werewolves but I suppose that's what makes werewolf and vampire books good reads - every one is different. I'd suggest this for a light wee read, it's very short but sweet.


Rating
3/5


Book Depository: Once In A Full Moon
Amazon UK: Once in a Full Moon

Ravenous by Ray Garton

A corpse gets up and walks out of the hospital morgue. Minutes later, a policeman is killed outside the same hospital ... and partially eaten. Something deadly has come to the coastal California town of Big Rock - something that's leaving mangled and devoured bodies in its wake.

Sheriff Arlin Hurley refused to believe the wild talk of werewolves. Then a tuft of wolf's fur was found on one of the victims. But there's more than one werewolf on the prowl. It's quickly becoming an epidemic, the curse passed on not through blood but through sex. As the sheriff and his men set out to stop the spreading terror, they'll learn that many of the old werewolf legends are myths. The reality is far worse.

One word ~ Wow! The quote on the front of the book says "Razor-sharp and gut-punch brutal", very true. A very brutal story, not to be taken on lightly as an urban fantasy book in the slightest. The werewolves in this book are your stereotypical Hollywood monsters, they'll go after anyone and eat them up.

I liked the idea of the virus being transmitted via sex instead of a bite, it leaves you trying to work out who's going to turn before the book tells you and it all becomes very convoluted as you try to figure it out and link everyone together.

Big Rock is just a little town that ends up with a big pest problem and of course no-one figures it out until it's too late. I mean, come on, who believes in werewolves?! It's not exactly the first port of call for any sheriff and Sheriff Arlin Hurley is no different, despite what the evidence is telling him.

You don't get to know characters in depth since it's told from multiple POVs but they're well written in that short space. I've never read anything by Ray Garton before but he's definitely a good storyteller and keeps you hanging on right until the last word (literally!)

Well worth a page turn if you like your horror stories.


Rating
3.5/5


Book Depository: Ravenous
Amazon UK: Ravenous

My 10 Favourite Series

I wrote Top 10 up there in the post title but then thought to myself "I can't actually put them in order of most to least favourite", so I deleted the top and it is now just my 10 favourite in alphabetical order.
The lists are in reading order, I have included links to author sites and, if available, direct links from there to the individual books. Also a link to my review if I've done one.

ALPHA & OMEGA by Patricia Briggs
The first story, Alpha & Omega , is actually a short story in the anthology On The Prowl. My review of On The Prowl.
Cry Wolf. My review of Cry Wolf.
Hunting Ground. My review of Hunting Ground.
Alpha & Omega #3 is due to be published in Autumn 2011

BLACK DAGGER BROTHERHOOD by J.R. Ward
Dark Lover
Lover Eternal
Lover Awakened
Lover Revealed
Lover Unbound
Lover Enshrined
Insider's Guide
Lover Avenged
Lover Mine

DARKEST POWERS by Kelley Armstrong
Darkest Powers website
The Summoning. My review of The Summoning.
The Awakening. My review of The Awakening.
The Reckoning. My review of The Reckoning.
And the following book is technically a new series called Darkness Rising but it's the same world as Darkest Powers and is based on the same storyline.
The Gathering is due to be released April 2011

JANE TRUE by Nicole Peeler
Tempest Rising. My review of Tempest Rising.
Tracking the Tempest. My review of Tracking the Tempest.
Tempest's Legacy. My review of Tempest's Legacy.

KITTY NORVILLE by Carrie Vaughn
Kitty and the Midnight Hour
Kitty Goes to Washington
Kitty Takes a Holiday
Kitty and the Silver Bullet
Kitty and the Dead Man's Hand
Kitty Raises Hell
Kitty's House of Horrors
Kitty Goes to War

MERCY THOMPSON by Patricia Briggs
Moon Called
Blood Bound
Iron Kissed
Bone Crossed
Silver Borne
River Marked is due to be released March 2011

MORGANVILLE VAMPIRES by Rachel Caine
Glass Houses
The Dead Girls' Dance
Midnight Alley
Feast of Fools
Lord of Misrule
Carpe Corpus
Fade Out
Kiss of Death
Ghost Town. My review of Ghost Town.
Bite Club is due to be released April 2011

OTHERWORLD by Kelley Armstrong
Bitten
Stolen
Dime Store Magic
Industrial Magic
Haunted
Broken
No Humans Involved
Personal Demon
Living with the Dead
Frostbitten
Waking the Witch. My review of Waking the Witch.
Spell Bound is due to be released July/August 2011
Men of the Otherworld is an anthology of shorts all written from the male's perspective.
Tales of the Otherworld is another anthology of shorts. If I remember correctly, Tales and Men were both written to raise money for charity.
Angelic is a novella written for Subterranean Press and was a very limited run. It is no longer available to buy (except from unscrupulous folks on ebay) but is available in audio book format.
Counterfeit Magic is also a novella from Subterranean Press. Just been released so I'm not sure about available copies. However, knowing the want of Kelley fans out there, it is probably no longer available in print.

SHIFTERS by Rachel Vincent
Stray
Rogue
Pride
Prey
Shift
Alpha. My review of Alpha.
Unfortunately, this great series is now finished.

SOOKIE STACKHOUSE SOUTHERN VAMPIRE by Charlaine Harris
Dead Until Dark
Living Dead in Dallas
Club Dead
Dead to the World
Dead as a Doornail
Definitely Dead
All Together Dead
From Dead to Worse
Dead and Gone
Dead in the Family

Tempest's Legacy by Nicole Peeler

Release date: 01/01/2011
After a peaceful hiatus at home in Rockabill, Jane True thinks that her worst problem is that she still throws like a girl - at least while throwing fireballs. Her peace of mind ends, however, when Anyan arrives one night with terrible news . . . news that will rock Jane's world to its very core.

After demanding to help investigate a series of gruesome attacks on females -- supernatural, halfling, and human -- Jane quickly finds herself forced to confront her darkest nightmares as well as her deepest desires.

And she's not sure which she finds more frightening.

Amazing third Jane True book from Nicole Peeler. Jane True really comes into her own in this and we get to see her getting stronger and realising her full potential. She gets news of her mum and works through her feelings for Anyan while trying to further the investigations into the 'clinics' found in Tracking the Tempest.

Nicole has a great writing style. She keeps you on the edge of your seat and begging for more and sticks in a whole heaping of funny as well. It's not often an author can have me laughing out loud but Nicole manages to do it regularly. Which, when I'm reading the book at work, makes me come across as a wee bit crazy!

Fantastic story written by a fantastic author and I cannot wait for the next installment, Eye of the Tempest. And here (since I just found it after posting this one) is the review for Tempest Rising, just in case you want to read this one first. The reading order is Tempest Rising, Tracking the Tempest then Tempest's Legacy.


Rating
5/5


Book Depository: Tempest's Legacy
Amazon UK: Tempest's Legacy

Maneater: a werewolf's tale by Thomas Emson

She's not sweet. She's not nice.

She doesn't fight evil. She doesn't protect the weak. She doesn't serve humanity. She doesn't work in an office by day and have a secret identity by night. She doesn't have friends and family who know nothing about her but when they find out they love her anyway. She's not cool. She's not clever. She's not kind to animals. She won't help children, the elderly, and those less fortunate than herself.

In fact, she doesn't care. But if you hurt her, she will kill you. Actually, she'll do worse than that -

Meet Laura. She'll eat you alive.

So even just going by the blurb you can tell this chick ain't gonna be painted as a lovely family woman who had some terrible accident and got turned into a werewolf. She's a bitch. Literally! She has few friends and no family.

I loved this book ... well ..... I would have if it didn't have so many spelling errors and typos in it. That really puts me off! So as it is I liked it very much.

Unfortunately, with this blurb, there's not a whole lot for me to say without giving anything away. Let's just say it doesn't fall in line with the more recent werewolf books. It's kind of confusing to read purely because it's told from everyone's point of view. There's no outright narrator in this and sometimes it takes a few sentences to even work out who you're currently reading.

Definitely a must read for all werewolf fans. It's Thomas Emson's first English novel but I'm going to be on the lookout for more.


Rating
4/5


Book Depository: Maneater
Amazon UK: Maneater

Chill Factor by Rachel Caine

******BLURB HAS SPOILERS FOR PREVIOUS BOOKS******



Weather Warden extraordinaire Joanne Baldwin, who protects the human race from monster storms, was killed, reborn as a Djinn, and then restored to her original form. She's been through a lot - and stuck her neck out many times - to save innocent lives. Now she is rolling the dice to stop an infinitely powerful, deeply disturbed kid from destroying the world ...

A teenager has holed up in style at a Las Vegas hotel with the most powerful Djinn in the world, planning who knows what kind of mischief. The Wardens' senior leadership is dead, Djinn are disappearing, and a secret society wants to help Joanne destroy the teenager, even if doing so kills her again. But everybody in Vegas has a game going, and Joanne has to learn the rules fast because the stakes have never been higher - and all hell is about to break loose ...

Book three in the Weather Warden series takes off where book two ended, David and Jo are chasing Kevin and Jonathan while trying to avoid getting killed by them. This book gives is a little Jo background story and also (surprisingly) makes you see Marion Bearheart in a different light. Jo learns some things she doesn't want to believe but has to cope with it.

I love Rachel Caine's writing, I'm a huge fan of her Morganville books as well as Weather Warden. Unfortunately I came into the Weather Warden series sorta late so I have some catching up to do but it's fast becoming one of favourite series. And I highly recommend it to all Rachel Caine fans and any urban fantasy fans wanting a wee change from vamps and weres (not that there's anything wrong with them but a little deviation never hurts).

Great read with at least gasp-out-loud moment that had me hurting!


Rating
5/5


Book Depository: Chill Factor
Amazon UK: Chill Factor

Ghost of Vampire Present by Seleste deLaney

Jocelyn has finally found her knight in shining armor in Chad, and ghosts are the last thing on her mind. Even when one shows up in her bedroom on Christmas Eve, Jocelyn's a bit more concerned about the other guests on the agenda. She'd prefer to never see another vampire, and the ghost tells her to expect not one, but three.

When the one from her past shows up even though he's supposed to be dead, she decides she's dreaming and suffers through the night. By the time dawn breaks, she's not so sure anymore.

But if it's not a dream that means her nightmare is far from over.

Sequel to Of Course I Try in which Jocelyn has her own twisted Christmas Carol.

I liked this more than Of Course I Try purely because I like Chad more. Yes, I'm fickle that way but I don't care. He's better looking and not as jerky as Max, I know I may be quick to judge since we've only had 2 shorts so far but I'm basing it on what we've learned so far and how they've both come across and I'm totally Team Chad.

I can't wait to read a full length Blood Kissed novel (hint, hint).



Rating
4/5


Amazon UK: The Ghost of Vampire Present

Heart of the Wolf by D.B. Reynolds

Kathryn Avinger is a werewolf, daughter of the North American Alpha. Young, beautiful and obedient to her Alpha’s will, Kathryn was married off ten years ago to a much older and wealthy human, finding herself neatly trapped in an abusive prison of money and privilege.

Renjiro Roesner is a powerful and charismatic wolf, an enforcer for Kathryn’s father … and, once upon a time, Kathryn’s promised husband. Returning from a mission to find Kathryn married and gone, Renjiro left the country, bitter and betrayed. But when someone tries to murder Kathryn at her husband’s funeral, Renjiro comes home to protect the only woman he ever loved.

Racing against time, their long-simmering passion flaring hotter than ever, Renjiro is determined that this time Kathryn will be his. But first, he’ll have to keep her alive long enough to claim her.

Short but sweet (and sexy) story. Even at only 89 pages long, you still love Ren and Kathryn. Ren has that sexy-hot dominant male thing going on that I love!

Since it's a short story, I can't really comment on the pacing or such but I read it in the hour before I went to work and didn't want to put it down.

Great story and only cost, like, a quid so well worth it. Get it from Bookstrand and don't be put off with the checkout process. It's all very confusing and a bit too long for my liking. I like click and enter your details and you're done.


Rating
4/5


Amazon UK: Heart of the Wolf

'Twas a Dark and Delicious Christmas

From the keeper of Santa’s naughty list, delightful little Elves eager to please, and the sensual love of a toy soldier—the holidays are filled with orgasmic cheer. Where wishes come true, Frosty is itching for a melt-down, fairies and angels are randy to grant your every wish, ‘tis the season to be oh, so jolly-filled.

Unwrap your darkest desires…for this is Christmas, and it will never be the same.

I was planning on doing a general review of the book as a whole but I decided to do a mini review of each tale.

Santas's Naughty List by Stacey Espino
I admit it was a bit weird to read an erotic story starring Santa but it was hot. And don't worry, Santa's not the sex interest.
3/5

My Boys by Amarinda Jones
More elves here as well as angels. A worrying thought for me was that this story, as well as the above, had a female lead who got very turned on by intruders. I hope it's not a trend! Fun sex scenes though. *fans self* Very fun.
3.5/5

A Christmas Curse by Ericka Scott
As good as the previous two stories were, I was glad to finally read one that had a proper story attached to it. Otherwise I feel like I'm just reading porn!
4/5

The Little Red Ribbon by A.D. Blackburn
Nice story and a likeable male lead. Although, again, I felt like I was just reading porn.
4/5

Once Upon a Christmas Spanking by Rachel Clark
A very enjoyable BDSM based tale. Focusing on how a couple can be together and not let each other know what they want in the bedroom.
5/5

Yes Alana, There is a Santa Claus by Seleste deLaney
Nice story with a likeable leading lady. My only problem with this story is that I know the author personally, and consider her a friend (even if we live in different countries) so I couldn't help but picture her in the lead role. Which isn't a bad thing! Don't get me wrong, Sel's hawt as fuck but it's just weird picturing your friend having sex!
5/5

Carly's Delights by Lauren Pilla
What a kewl take on elves. Very cute story ~ well, cute and sexy ;)
5/5

Kingdom of Sweets by Gigi Brevard
A bit of a weird take on Nutcrackers, I'll never look at one the same way again.
3.5/5

Holly's Clause by Kerri Nelson
A demonic twist on a slightly porn-ish storyline. I do not mean that in a bad way but in a delivery man "I have a big package for you" way.
5/5

Hard for the Holidays by Skylar Sinclair
A few spelling errors in this one, instant turn off for a reader like me. Not too sure how I feel about an erotic story about Santa! It all seemed so .... wrong, lol.
2.5/5

The Christmas Fae by Emma Shortt
A sweet story about the cutest sounding fairy ever. I had the hugest crush on her after reading this one.
4/5

Jack Frost by Misty Burke
A hot little take on Jack Frost.
4/5

A Christmas Wish for Laura by Shannan Albright
Another nice (and sexy) take on Jack Frost
5/5


So all in all 'Twas a Dark and Delicious Christmas is the perfect book for making you hot on those cold winter nights. There's a bit of something for everyone in here ranging from oooh-hooo-mamma sex to grab-the-headboard sex.

Just became available in print form today as well, direct from Evernight Publishing.

Amazon UK: 'Twas a Dark and Delicious Christmas

Grave Secret by Charlaine Harris

When she was 15, Harper Connelly was struck by lightning. She's left with headaches and episodes of muscle weakness. Sometimes her right hand shakes.

And she can find dead people.

It's taken a few years, but Harper's made a success of her life. She's making a living, using her talent to help people, and she's got a boyfriend - her stepbrother Tolliver. Then Tolliver's father arrives, seeking forgiveness, and the police get information that Harper's sister Cameron, missing for so many years, has been spotted. So Harper's life is becoming a little complicated, but she doesn't expect these complications to include Tolliver getting shot, or seeing a policeman die taking a bullet for her.

Harper can find dead people - but now it's clear someone wants her dead ...

The fourth Harper Connelly book sees Harper and Tolliver deal with the fallout of An Ice Cold Grave's events and also coming out officially as a couple to friends and family. They're still trying to see more of their sisters and are still hoping to set up a home nearby so they can be more involved in their lives.

Charlaine Harris has a real nice writing style, not all her chapters end on cliff hangers but I can't seem to help myself from page turning (even if I've told myself I'm going to bed after this chapter!). Her characters are normal and relatable which helps to like them and follow their lives.

With Harper and Tolliver being back in Dallas, old friends and family emerge and, of course, thoughts about Cameron. Harper has always been convinced that Cameron is dead and she'd one day find her but an anonymous tip about a sighting in Texarkana still gets her hopes up about the possibility of her being alive.

We get a bit more insight into what happened before, during and after Cameron's disappearance and see some more of what Harper and Tolliver's childhood years were like.

The major letdown with this book, for me, was the ending. It seemed rushed and kind of thrown together. Also it felt very much like the whole story is being wrapped up and I'm wondering if this is, in fact, the last in the series.

Rating
4/5


Book Depository: Grave Secret
Amazon UK: Grave Secret

Tracking the Tempest by Nicole Peeler

Jane True has almost come to terms with her supernatural heritage ... almost.

Valentine's day is fast approaching, however, and Ryu - Jane's bloodsucker boyfriend - can't let the day go by without getting all gratuitous. This time his shenanigans involve a last-minute ticket to Boston and a hefty dose of interference in her life.

And when Ryu's best laid plans inevitably go awry, Jane winds up embroiled in an investigation involving a spree of gruesome killings. All evidence points towards a being of tremendous power ... who, much to Jane's surprise, may just turn out to be another halfling.

I can't think of a word that would accurately describe how much I love Jane True and the world and characters that Nicole Peeler has created.

Jane is just beginning her training since learning of her Selkie heritage, and her relationship with Ryu is still in the beginning stage. This book sees her struggling to keep her new life and her old life seperate and also puts her relationship with Ryu to the test.

I'm glad we get to see more of Anyan in this book, I really like the Barghest and hope he continues to pop up in future books. And Jane and Ryu's relationship? *fans self* HAWT!! I want me one of those, for xmas maybe? Please?

Seriously, I can't give this series enough praise. The characters, the world, the pacing and the story are all fantastic.

Rating
5/5


Book Depository: Tracking The Tempest
Amazon UK: Tracking the Tempest

Ghost Town by Rachel Caine

When Claire is ordered to repair the systems that protect Morganville, it's not just cutting into her study time, it's a life-threatening problem. If there's one thing this vampire-infested town is serious about, it's security.

But achieving the impossible only brings a whole new set of problems, and the upgrades have unexpected consequences: people inside the town are slowly beginning to forget who they are, even the vampires. Soon, the town's little memory problem has turned into a full-on epidemic. Now Claire needs to figure out a way to pull the plug on her experiment - before she forgets how to save Morganville...

This is the latest installment in the Morganville series and Rachel Caine still manages to keep the reader gripped. Even after 9 books, the story keeps flowing and keeps you hooked until the very last page where, upon finishing it, you cannot wait for the next book.

Claire has more responsibility in this book, she must fix the computer that controls a lot of Morganville after Ada was destroyed. But, in typical Morganville fashion, nothing goes according to plan. Myrnin is his usual (slightly schizophrenic) self and this does nothing to help the cause. Claire has grown a lot since Glass Houses and she's now in a serious relationship with Shane. She's matured quickly and I really like her and the group dynamics of the Glass house members.

As usual with the Morganville books, I didn't want to put it down and I'm eagerly awaiting the next book.



Rating
5/5


Book Depository: Ghost Town
Amazon UK: Ghost Town