Bite Me by Parker Blue

Barely eighteen-year-old heroine Valentine Shapiro got a raw deal in the parent lottery. Her father was part incubus demon, and her mother's never forgiven her for that.

Life after high school is tough enough without having to go 15 rounds with your inner demon. Thrown out of the house by her mother, Val puts one foot in front of the other and does the only thing that seems to make any sense - she takes aim at the town vampires. A stake a day, keeps the demon at bay. (But don't call her Buffy. That makes Lola, her demon, very cranky.)

Her dark side makes everyday life a roller coaster, but means she's perfect for her night job as a bounty hunter. San Antonio's vampires are out of control, and it's up to Val, her faithful hellhound Fang, and her new partner, a handsome San Antonio police detective, to get the deadly fangbangers off the city streets.

Soon enough she finds herself deep in the underbelly of the city, discovering the secrets of the Demon Underground and fighting to save those she loves. Whether they love her back or not.

Why have I never heard of this book before now? I loved the premise of this book and really enjoyed the writing. Parker Blue wrote a great cast with an awesome story.

I loved Val and totally felt her confused feelings about her family. Totally hated her mother. That was the point though and her mother really came across as a complete bi-a-tch! You can't help but hate her.
And I love, love, LOVE Fang. He's such an adorable little hellhound, although I always have a soft spot for animals, especially humanised ones.

I thought this didn't come out until the end of this month but apparently it's been out for a while and it's actually the 3rd book that's out this month. The good thing is this means I have plenty to read before I catch up with everyone else.

Definitely recommended if you like your paranormal based YAs.


Book Depository: Bite Me
Amazon UK: Bite Me

Steam and Sorcery by Cindy Spencer Pape

Sir Merrick Hadrian hunts monsters, both human and supernatural. A Knight of the Order of the Round Table, his use of magick and the technologies of steam power have made him both respected and feared. But his considerable skills are useless in the face of his greatest challenge, guardianship of five unusual children. At a loss, Merrick enlists the aid of a governess.

Miss Caroline Bristol is reluctant to work for a bachelor but she needs a position, and these former street children touch her heart. While she tends to break any mechanical device she touches, it never occurs to her that she might be something more than human. All she knows is that Merrick is the most dangerously attractive man she's ever met - and out of reach for a mere governess.

When conspiracy threatens to blur the distinction between humans and monsters, Caroline and Merrick must join forces, and the fate of humanity hinges upon their combined skills of steam and sorcery...

I'm not a huge fan of books set in years-gone-by but the vague steampunk feel to this one made it enjoyable. Cindy Spencer Pape wrote a great cast of characters and an awesome world full of clockwork machinery, vampyres and werewolves.

The only thing that bugged me about this book was at the very beginning. Merrick's weapon was like a sword but instead of being made of metal, it was made of wood. The author called it a sword-stick, for some reason that annoyed me. It seemed like a mouthful and I feel she could've just made up another word for it. But one tiny complaint (that's really just a minor annoyance on my part) does not ruin a great story.

Recommended for any supernatural, steampunk or romance fan.


Amazon UK: Steam & Sorcery

River Marked by Patricia Briggs

Car mechanic Mercedes Thompson has always known she was different, and not just because she can make a VW engine sit up and beg. Mercy is a coyote shapechanger, a talent she inherited from her long-gone father. And she's never known any other of her kind - until now.

As Mercy takes in this new situation, an evil is stirring in the depths of the Columbia River. Something deadly is coming, facts are thin on the ground and Mercy feels ill at ease. However, her father's people may know more. To have any hope of surviving, Mercy and her mate, the alpha werewolf Adam, will need all the resources the shifters can offer. Or death will be the least of their worries.

Before I start my actual review I'd like to mini rant about publishers changing book covers during a series. River Marked has a completely different cover from the rest of the series and the book is also a different size. The overall size of the book is bigger and so is the writing. I hate when publishers do this, there was nothing wrong with the size of the writing before now. Why do they feel they have to make it huge all of a sudden? Do they feel they need to pad the book or something? Just annoys the crap out of me!

Anyway, rant over, now onto the actual review.

I liked reading more about Mercy's Indian/Coyote half, even though it was still only a little and it was kind of far into the book before you found out anything. This book helped with my Adam likeage as well, as I said in my previous blogs about the Mercy Thompson series I was never a huge Adam fan until the last book.

A lot of the other characters are only in this book for a short time, it's very Adam and Mercy based. As much as I enjoyed the storyline in this book, it's nowhere near my favourite of the series. But still a must read for any Mercy Thompson fans.


Book Depository: River Marked
Amazon UK: River Marked

Click here for Mercy Thompson Part 1.
And here for Part 2.

The Goddess Test by Aimée Carter

EVERY GIRL who has taken the test has DIED.

Now it's KATE'S TURN.

It’s always been just Kate and her mom — and her mother is dying. Her last wish? To move back to her childhood home. So Kate’s going to start at a new school with no friends, no other family and the fear her mother won’t live past the fall.

Then she meets Henry. Dark. Tortured. And mesmerizing. He claims to be Hades, god of the Underworld — and if she accepts his bargain, he’ll keep her mother alive while Kate tries to pass seven tests.

Kate is sure he’s crazy — until she sees him bring a girl back from the dead. Now saving her mother seems crazily possible. If she succeeds, she’ll become Henry’s future bride, and a goddess.

If she fails...

Release Date 26th April 2011

The idea of this book instantly stood out to me. It was just so different from all the other books out there, not that I don't love me some werewolves or vampires or witches etc. But Greek Mythology has always intrigued me, so this seemed really interesting.

I like the twist that Aimée put on the classic mythology and I really liked the characters of Kate and her mom. The storyline of Kate having to come to terms with her mother's impending death and, once they're in Eden having everyone know about it, is really heart wrenching. I'd hate to have everyone treating you special and constantly pitying you because they knew your bad news, it's the main reason I'd hate to live in tiny town or village.

I thought I'd worked out the ending about halfway through the book but I was entirely wrong! I loved that, lol. I hate when I know the baddie/twist/whatever before it's revealed, it makes it less exciting.

This is the first book I've read from Aimée Carter and it certainly won't be the last. I can't wait for the sequel!


Book Depository: The Goddess Test
Amazon UK: The Goddess Test

Hunting Human by Amanda E. Alvarez

For two years, Beth Williams has run from the past - and the beast that dwells inside her. She is haunted by memories of being kidnapped and the savage attack that killed her best friend. Now Beth finally thinks she's ready to move on...with Braden Edwards, a charming, irresistibly sexy man who tempts Beth to embrace the present.

But the past lurks closer than Beth realizes. Markko Bolvek, one of the werewolves who kidnapped her, has tracked her to Portland, Oregon, his pursuit fueled by a hunger for vengeance. Only Braden, a werewolf himself, senses the danger shadowing her steps. The Edwards and Bolveks have been enemies for centuries - and despite the instant connection he feels with Beth, Braden isn't sure which side of the war she's on.

With suspicion at odds with their attraction, Beth and Braden must learn to trust one another to stop Markko for good. Can Beth accept the wolf within - and love a man who embodies everything she fears?

Release Date 28th March 2011

Okay, so I wasn't even halfway through this book when I realised how difficult this review would be to write. Why difficult, you might ask? Because I loved it, and it's hard to write a review for a book you love without sounding overly gushy.

I really, really, really hope this is the first of a series. I loved the characters and the storyline and the tension .... oooh the tension! I really love a book that constantly makes you guess about the hero and heroine, the will-they-won't-they situation. He likes her but she doesn't know it, she likes him but he doesn't know it, he thinks she's a baddie, she thinks he's a baddie. I love it, even if it gets me all agitated and angry with my e-reader. Why can't they hear me talking to them? I know how you both feel but you just won't listen to me!!!! *deep breath*

Before you start thinking I'm crazy, I know they're fictional characters, but that's what makes me love a book. When the author has the ability to make me feel what they feel and get so involved I question my own sanity! I LOVE it, lol.

So yeah, it's a great book with some great characters and a really fun storyline. Let me put it this way, I read it in one day over three sittings with only breaks to eat and perform boring household chores in between. It's not very often a new (to me) author can do that to me so that's a big deal, in my head anyway.


Amazon UK: Hunting Human

Ember and Ash by Pamela Freeman

The old ones will have their revenge.

Two peoples have been fighting over the same land for a thousand years. Invaders crushed the original inhabitants, and ancient powers have reluctantly given way to newer magics. But Ember was to change all this with a wedding to bind these warring people together - until her future goes up in flames.

Ember's husband-to-be is murdered by a vengeful elemental god, who sees peace as a breach of faith. Set on retribution, she enlists the help of Ash, son of a seer. Together they will pit themselves against elementals of fire and ice in a last attempt to end the conflicts that have scarred their past. They must look to the present, as old furies are waking to violence and are eager to reclaim their people.

Release Date 01/05/11

I've never read anything by Pamela Freeman before, and I really love the world she's created here. And, after looking at her website, it seems that her Castings Trilogy books are set in the same world so I may have to give them a read as well.

The world she's created is large and filled with lots of different groups of people. The Travellers are still hated and despised by some of Acton's People, who invaded the Traveller's land to begin with. The land is split into domains which are ruled over by Warlords. The Gods speak to certain people and magic is widely known of. Stonecasting is a well used way to tell the future.

It's a very different world from which we live in and Pamela has written it well. The hatred felt from some of Acton's People toward the Travellers is well known by some, I'm sure. The characters are likeable, and there are loads of them to choose from as well, so many that I'd have trouble picking a favourite. Very well written and a really good read, I definitely recommend it.


Book Depository: Ember and Ash
Amazon UK: Ember and Ash