Hunting Ground by Patricia Briggs

For hundreds of years, werewolves have kept their existence hidden from all but a select few humans. But, if the packs agree, the time for keeping secrets might be over.
Anna and Charles have been sent to the wolves' conclave in Seattle to keep the peace. But when Jean Chastel, the leader of the French werewolves, goes after Anna, Charles can't control himself. Chastel survives the vicious fight that ensues, but when he's discovered murdered that night, Charles is the prime suspect. And the penalty for murdering a fellow werewolf is death.
Now Anna has only days to clear her partner's name. She knows Charles is innocent, but if he didn't do it - who did?
More of Charles and Anna and even more relationship growing which I'm still loving. The thing that confused me though was that the actual storyline from the blurb doesn't happen until the book is nearly finished. For ages I thought the blurb was wrong and the story wasn't going to happen until the next book. Chastel is the typical bad guy, you love to hate him and are very pleased when he dies.
I think all women secretly want a guy like Charles who's willing to do anything to protect you and loves you unconditionally. There's a particularly nice scene where Charles shows he's willing to submit to Anna to help her overcome her fear of Alphas and deal with her wolf being able to do things that she can't do on her own.
Can't wait for more Charles and Anna.
Rating 5/5


Book Depository: Hunting Ground
Amazon UK: Hunting Ground

Cry Wolf by Patricia Briggs

Anna Latham hasn't had an easy life. Turned into a werewolf against her will and forced into a life of servitude, she'd do anything to break free from her pack. So when Charles takes on her pack's Alpha, Anna finally has a chance to escape.
But now Anna's rescuer is the one who needs help. Hikers are dying and all signs point to a werewolf that's gone rogue. An injured Charles can't handle the investigation alone and soon Anna is in way over her head. Few things more dangerous than a rogue wolf, and Anna is about to find out just what they are ...
I know I already said it in the On the Prowl review but I really really love Anna and Charles. I wish I'd read these books before I read the Mercy Thompson series because the Alphas don't seen as bad in this, or maybe it was just Adam I didn't like. I don't know ... anyway Cry Wolf. Definitely worth a read, I like the Omega aspect and how everyone reacts to Anna, also how that reaction makes Brother Wolf (Charles' wolf) react to them.
Anna had a bad start as a werewolf and it takes her a while to trust Charles but Patricia Briggs writes amazingly well and with really lets you get into their heads. It's great getting both their thoughts on the matters and you can't help (well I couldn't) shouting at them in your mind that they're both thinking the same things and if they just spoke to one another they'd move forward so much quicker. But, that's why we read books, it wouldn't be nearly as much fun if the whole story was sorted out in the first chapter. Anna meets someone who knows more about Omegas and helps him, in turn he helps them with the big showdown.
Rating 5/5


Book Depository: Cry Wolf
Amazon UK: Cry Wolf

On the Prowl anthology by various authors

Alpha and Omega by Patricia Briggs
The werewolf Anna finds a new sense of self when the son of the werewolf king comes to town to quell unrest in the Chicago pack - and inspires a power in Anna that she's never felt before.
Unfortunately, I read this story after I read the first book in the Alpha and Omega series so I knew some of the story but it was still a great read. I really like Charles and Anna and enjoyed reading about how they met and how Charles' wolf reacts to Anna when he first meets her. A definite must read.
Rating 5/5

Inhuman by Eileen Wilks
Kai has a secret gift of sensing thoughts and desires. What she senses in her neighbour Nathan could be dangerous. Because he has a secret gift, too, and it's about to be let loose.
I liked Kai and Nathan and the short was fun and exciting. I went straight to Amazon and added the Lupi series to my wishlist. This short actually fits in the middle of the series. I'm really excited about reading more involving Kai and Nathan, their relationship was a great read and I can't wait to see it develop.
Rating 5/5

Buying Trouble by Karen Chance
In a New York auction house, a Lord of the Fey crosses paths with a fiery redhead mage named Claire. But in this strange underground society, the rarity up for sale is Claire herself.
I've read Karen Chance before so I knew I'd like the writing. I liked Claire and I liked Heidar. I would really enjoy reading more about them and the dragons, I liked Karen Chance's take on Dragons, making them more like weres so they have a human form as well.
Rating 4/5

Mona Lisa Betwining by Sunny
Among the children of the moon, Mona Lisa is of Mixed Blood - part Monere, part human, and destined to be alone. Then she meets a man who could be her salvation - or her downfall.
This started of well but very quickly went downhill. The writing was horrendous, the characters were not likable and the sex scenes were cringeworthy.
Rating 1/5


Book Depository: On The Prowl
Amazon UK: On the Prowl

Alpha and Omega series by Patricia Briggs

The following three reviews are for the Alpha and Omega series, including the short in On the Prowl.

Of Course I Try by Seleste Delaney

Love is a wonderful thing. Unless you don't get a choice in the matters of your own heart.

Jocelyn has loved Max since the day she met him. Even when he scares her enough to leave, she can't resist going back. No matter how many times she tries to break free from him, she ends up in his arms and bed again. Not this time. Jocelyn needs to be free and Max isn't going to stop her from walking away -- no matter how hard he tries.

This is Seleste Delaney's first published story with Decadent Publishing. As much as I love the story, it is too short. I love short stories but they're just impossible to get into because of the length. Although luckily, Seleste has said she's got a new story in the works with Jocelyn that is longer so yay for that!

Seleste knows how to write sex scenes that aren't cringeworthy but still leave you wanting more. And as short as the story is, I liked Jocelyn and can't wait to read more of her.

Rating: 4/5


Amazon UK: Of Course I Try

Waking the Witch by Kelley Armstrong

Columbus is a small, fading town, untouched by the twenty-first century. But when three young women are found dead - victims of what appear to be ritual murders - things start to get very dark, and very dangerous ...
Private investigator Savannah Levine can handle 'dark and dangerous'. As the daughter os a black witch, she has a lot of power running through her veins, and she's not afraid to use it. But her arrival in Columbus has not gone unnoticed. Savannah may think she's tracking down a murderer, but could she be the killer's next target?
Of course she could always ask her old friend (and half-demon) Adam Vasic for back-up. But Savannah has her own - very personal - reasons for keeping Adam well away from Columbus. And in any case, she can rely on her own powers. Can't she ...?

This is book 11 of the Otherworld series and, quite possibly, one of the most anticipated. Savannah Levine was introduced in Stolen (book 2) and has been involved in every book since (at least a little, to my knowledge). We've seen her grow up and now we get to see her kick ass on her own.
Paige and Lucas are on holiday when a case comes in that Savannah wants to investigate, to prove she's old enough and can handle her own responsibilities.

It's good to see Savannah has grown out of her bratty stage. We discover in this book that she is perfectly aware of the fact that she killed her own father, despite Paige trying to hide it from her and telling her it was an accident.

I thought Savannah was getting a love interest in this book as well but that didn't end too well! Although there is a nice thing happening between Adam and Savannah which most readers were hoping for, unfortunately Kelley is making us wait to find out what's happening.
There was also the start of what could be a good story about a young girl who's mother is killed, Savannah obviously feels a connection to her so decides to help her and it leads to a very open ending that had me growling (literally) in frustration. Luckily the next book is Savannah's as well.

Brilliant read as usual from Kelley Armstrong and can't wait for more.
Rating: 5 out of 5


Book Depository: Waking The Witch
Amazon UK: Waking the Witch

Old before my time

Lately some of my thought have been making me feel old before my time.

Today, for example, I drove past a teenage boy with shoulder length hair but his hair was one length all round. The front of his hair was basically just hanging over his face. My first thought was "How the fuck can he see anything?" then I thought, "I don't get kids these days."
I'm not even 28 yet but sometimes feel like an OAP with some of the thoughts that run through my head about today's 'yoof'.
Later on tonight, as I was thinking "I need to blog this", I drove past another young guy with what could only be described as a reverse mohawk! He had longer hair at the sides and back with a big shaved line running right down the middle of his head. With this one my first thought was "WTF is that?"

Same goes with clothes. I get young women (well girls basically) getting in my taxi wearing barely there clothes and I find myself thinking "What is she wearing?" and "Why would she leave the house dressed like that?"

Death's Daughter by Amber Benson

For the last few years I'd been in a state of bliss - living under a self-imposed Forgetting Charm, because I so did not want to go into the family business. What I wanted was a glamorous career in New York City and the opportunity for a normal life - buying designer shoes on sale, dating guys from craigslist, Web surfing for organic dim sum for my boss. And then my father's Executive Assistant, a faun named Jarvis, shoed up to tell me that my dad had been kidnapped.
Good-bye, Forgetting Charm. Hello, (unwanted) responsibility. Not only am I expected to step into the CEO slot on the company Board, but I have to "prove my worth" by competing against the Devil's protege - who's so hot in more ways than one. The contest involves finding three (why is it always three?) objects of power. In Hell.
One of them is this adorable puppy - who happens to be a hellhound. The others are turning out to be not much fun. All this so I can take (unwanted) charge of Death, Inc.
My name is Calliope Reaper-Jones, and I'm ... Death's Daughter.

To my knowledge, this is Amber Benson's first solo foray in the author world. She co-wrote The Ghosts of Albion series (on my Amazon wishlist) with Christopher Golden. She's also an actress, producer and director, in short she's a busy girl.

I enjoyed Death's Daughter, it was a bit slow to start but once it was actually into the storyline, the pacing picked up a bit. The characters are fun and I enjoy Calliope's relationship with her family, especially Clio, her younger sister. It's like most people's relationships so easy to relate to.
The storyline is fun. We get to follow Calliope to Hell and back as she completes her 3 tasks as well as dealing with family issues. Just so she can reluctantly take charge of her father's company and therefore save him and find his kidnappers and also save her family's lifestyle at the same time (if you read the book you'll know what I'm talking about here).
The ending was fun but sort of anti-climactic, I felt. Definitely worth a read though and I'll be buying the second book Cat's Claw.


Book Depository: Death's Daughter
Amazon UK: Death's Daughter

Yet another driver rant

Haven't done a book review in ages but I thought I'd get another rant off my chest. I hate bank holiday Mondays because the Sunday drivers are out .... again! As if it's not bad enough to get stuck behind them on a Sunday, we now have to put up with them on Mondays too.

First off, we have some idiot pull out in front of me at a roundabout. Seriously? You can't possibly wait an extra TWO seconds for me to get off the roundabout?
Then we have some complete eejit who gets in the outside lane at a roundabout to go straight across, I'm going right so I'm in the inside lane. Fuckwit in the outside lane then proceeds to go straight across the roundabout nearly hitting me instead of going ROUND the ROUNDabout! The clue is in the feckin' name!!!

Review: Halfway to the Grave

Halfway to the Grave (Huntress book 1) by Jeaniene Frost

Half-vampire Catherine Crawfield is going after the undead with a vengeance, hoping that one of these deadbeats is her father – the one responsible for ruining her mother’s life. Then she’s captured by Bones, a vampire bounty hunter, and is forced into an unlikely partnership.

In exchange for help finding her father, Cat agrees to train with the sexy night stalker until her battle reflexes are as sharp as his fangs. She’s amazed she doesn’t end up as his dinner – are there actually good vampires? Pretty soon Bones will have her convinced that being half-dead doesn’t have to be all bad. But before she can enjoy her status as kick-ass demon hunter, Cat and Bones are pursued by a group of killers. Now Cat will have to choose a side … and Bones is turning out to be as tempting as any man with a heartbeat.

First off I liked the characters. Bones and Cat work well together and there's a nice chemistry between them. Cat's mother and grandparents are kinda off putting but they're not main characters so I can deal with that.

My main problem with this book is Bones' language. The author seems to overuse any words she sees to be English, sometimes, in my opinion, out of context. It bugs me to the point that I'm still wondering whether I want to read the next book or not.

Overall, it's a great book and a great read. As I said Bones' voice can get annoying after time but it wasn't annoying enough to get me to stop reading.