Before the Fall by Sable Grace

Zach was once the Order of Ancients’ most feared warrior, beating back the hounds of hell to protect the unsuspecting human race. But since he left the Order ten years ago, he’s been living as a mortal . . . until now. The gates of the underworld are breaking open, and Zach is needed in the fight once again. But before he can answer his summons, there’s one person he refuses to leave behind. Shanna may think Zach has a screw loose, spouting all this "hounds of hell" nonsense, but he has to get her to safety. The journey to the Order’s headquarters is a dangerous one, and even a warrior like Zach might not be strong enough to keep the darkness at bay.

I think this is set before Ascension, this is the countdown to the gates of hell opening and Zach, an ex warrior, has been called back into action.

A nice little action packed novella to fill the time between Ascension and the new book, Bedevilled. Kyana turns up for a short while, which was a nice surprise since I really liked her. The real story in this is Zach and Shanna's relationship, they broke up because Shanna didn't believe what Zach told her about his job although she doesn't have any choice but to believe it now. The idea of hell on earth is pretty damn frightening, and again, I love the Greek gods idea, I really can't wait to read Bedevilled.


Book Depository: Before The Fall
Amazon UK: Before the Fall

Duncan by D.B. Reynolds

Washington, D.C. - capital of an empire. Powerful. Exhilarating. Corrupt. And in the shadows - vampires far older than the nation itself.

A power unto himself, Duncan has served at Raphael’s side for nearly the entire two hundred years of his existence. But long laid plans have finally borne fruit, and the time has come for Duncan to leave Raphael and tackle the greatest challenge of his life. He will face treacherous vampires and murderous humans. He will rock the halls of human power if necessary. But Washington, D.C. will be his.

Emma Duquet cares nothing for vampire politics. She just wants to find her missing roommate and best friend, Lacey. But Lacey’s been playing with vampires of a particularly dangerous kind, and Emma will have to deal with the new vampire in town if she’s going to find her friend.

Battling powerful enemies who will stop at nothing to keep their secrets, Duncan and Emma will dig beneath the corruption and depravity that is Washington, D.C. and uncover the most heinous conspiracy of all ...

I'd like to start this review by saying that my microwave needs cleaning. You may wonder why I'm telling you this in a review? Well it's because it's D.B. Reynolds' fault that my microwave needs cleaned! Apparently porridge needs watched constantly (I'm a new porridge eater so I didn't realise it expanded the same as scrambled egg while it was cooking) while microwaving. Oh FYI, don't microwave porridge while you're reading the first sex scene with Duncan in it! Especially if Duncan is your favourite vampire and you've been waiting for his book since Raphael.

So this is the book that a lot of people have been waiting for. I know there a lot of Duncan fans out there and this is the book where we get to roll around in Duncan (*sigh* Ah, if only it were real rolling around). And away from that train of thought! Duncan becomes a Vampire Lord in this book and meets his happy ending. I really liked Emma from the start, she wasn't scared of the vamps and wasn't afraid to stand up to Duncan.

There's not a lot I can say about this book because I really do have a serious literary crush on Duncan and couldn't wait for this book to be released. Although I don't think the guy on the cover does Duncan any justice, he's too small. And on that note, I urge you all to go buy Duncan right now, although if you haven't read the first 4, go buy them first.


Book Depository: Duncan
Amazon UK: Duncan

Christmas Hazards for Pets

Yup, it's that dreaded time of year again. Christmas.

I'm a total bah humbug person but, given my day job, I thought I'd write a post about the hazards of christmas to your pet.

Christmas Trees
Yes, the simple christmas tree ... can very easily be pulled down by a curious cat or a hyperactive dog. Please make sure your tree is secured or cordoned off so your playful puppy or climbing kitty cannot be harmed. Also, if you have a real tree, make sure you clean the pine needles up regularly. They're not overly dangerous but they could stick in delicate unshod little paws and would be very uncomfortable.

Lights
Again, very easy for a cat or dog to get tangled in them or chew on them. Make sure they are attached securely and try and cover the cables so they can't be spied by curious eyes.

Tinsel & Ribbon
This stuff can be very dangerous if swallowed. If you're pet is lucky, it could just pass out with no damage. The unlucky ones could end up needing surgery to remove the offending article and also some damaged bowels. Keep everything out of the way from your pets.

Baubles
Anyone that's ever dropped one of these while decorating know how easily they shatter. Just be careful with glass baubles if you have a pet, try and not give your pet the chance to knock any off the tree.

Holly
Holly leaves and berries can be toxic to pets and will cause some gastric upset. Best not to give your pet the chance to eat any.

Mistletoe
Mistletoe, same as holly, can cause some gastric upset and it can also cause some heart problems. So, again, better to not give your pets the chance to eat any.

Ponsietta
While not toxic to pets, it can cause some irritation of the mouth, as well as excess salivation and possibly some vomiting. Again, as with most of the things on here, try and avoid your pet getting a hold of it.

Lilies
A relatively new turn up in the Veterinary field, lilies are extremely toxic to cats. A simple brush up against it leaving pollen on the cat's coat can cause kidney failure. Not just a christmas thing but a lot of flower arrangements will have lilies in them. If you are a cat owner, you should try and avoid lilies completely.

Batteries
Again, not primarily a christmas thing but it is a time of year where people tend to have a lot of batteries around for toys and decorations. Obviously batteries, if chewed, can cause a lot of damage so make sure batteries are well hidden from your pets.

Chocolate
Most people know about this by now but I thought I'd put it in here anyway. Chocolate contains a chemical called Theobromine which is toxic to pets. The general rule is: the darker the chocolate, the more theobromine so the less is needed to be toxic. Try and keep all chocolate away from pets, so don't place chocolate beneath the tree and try not to use chocolate hanging decorations.

Raisins, Grapes & Currants
Not as many people know about this, but grapes, raisins & currants can cause kidney failure in dogs if ingested. Again, the best course is to make sure your dog can't access these.

Turkey BONES
No, turkey's aren't toxic to pets but the bones can cause a lot of damage if ingested. Bird bones are hollow and shatter very easily so if a dog or cat swallows a bone, they can cause a lot of damage to their digestive tract. They can scratch and cut on there way down and could puncture through the intestines, this would require fairly major surgery. So it's just better to make sure your turkey carcass is disposed of properly and don't give your pets a chance to get at it.

Another thing to remember at this time of year is a chemical called Xylitol. It's an artificial sweetener and can be found in a lot of chewing gums and diet sweets. This is, again, fairly new to us in the Veterinary world but it can cause a lot of problems if ingested. And it doesn't need to be a lot. So, like everything else, try and make sure your pet doesn't get a chance to eat it.


When you look at this list, it seems like christmas is a very dangerous time of year, but if you think of all these things as you're decorating and "hiding" (not always from pets) presents, you'll hopefully be hazard free.

Dark Vow by Shona Husk

Jaines Cord plans to kill the man who murdered her husband, even though killing a Bounty Hunter is said to be impossible. One bullet took away her livelihood, her home and her love. One bullet made by her. Fired from the gun she completed for the Arcane Bounty Hunter.

Obsidian wears the scars of disobeying the powerful Arcane Union. He barely escaped with his life and now lives quietly, in a town the lawmen forgot. When Jaines arrives asking too many questions, he's faced with a decision. Help her or run...again. Obsidian knows that if he flees he'll always be looking over his shoulder. His name is one of the first on the Bounty Hunter's death list.

Yet when Obsidian is offered an opportunity to stop the stone taking over his body in exchange for retrieving the gun, he asks Jaines for her help. Now Jaines must choose: a dead man's vengeance or a living man's hope?

Release Date 14th November 2011

Set in a world with 10 lords, each job/calling vowing to a different one. The magic users vow to the Arcane Lord, the gunsmiths/blacksmith etc. vow to the Smith lord, and there's also the Farmer, Miner, Carpenter, Stonemason, Weaver, Brewer, Hunter and Warrior. But women aren't allowed to get papers for a profession so Jaines was never allowed to be a qualified Smith so when her husband is killed she doesn't have a lot of options. Her rage makes her vow vengeance against the Bounty Hunter that killed her husband.

Jaines is strong and independent, even in what seems to be a seemingly western-aged time. And she and Obsidian are a perfect fit for each other.

I loved the writing and story in this book. This is also another new author to me, and I find a lot of the Carina Press books I'm reading are introducing some great authors to me.


Amazon UK: Dark Vow

Slip Point by Karalynn Lee

From childhood, Shay had one dream - to join the Space Corps with her best friend and sweetheart, Jayce. When the Space Corps reveals that the father she thought was dead is actually an infamous pirate and rejects her application, the dream dies and she leaves the planet without saying a word to Jayce.

Ten years later, Shay is a pirate herself. She captains her own ship and has earned a reputation as one of the slipperiest pilots around. That's why she's recruited for a dangerous secret government mission. But the cargo she's assigned to smuggle turns out to be a woman with a government bodyguard - Jayce.

Jayce never thought he'd see Shay again, and when the mission forces them together on her ship, he isn't sure he can forgive her for deserting him; but their desire for each other is stronger than ever. Jayce knows he wants to be with Shay, but how can he trust a woman who's both a pirate and the girl who broke his heart?

Release Date 7th November 2011

This reminded me of Firefly and Serenity (even though that was cowboys and this is pirates) and I loved the writing and the storyline. I love the characters, especially Shay, she's very likeable and fun, and I can sort of get on her side about leaving Jayce .... who is also very likeable and cute.

I've never read anything by this author before (I'm not sure if she has anything else released) but I think I'd like to read it. In fact, I'm off to check on her just now.


Amazon UK: Slip Point

Carrier Of The Mark by Leigh Fallon

When Megan Rosenberg moves to Ireland, everything in her life seems to fall into place. After growing up in America, she's surprised to find herself feeling at home in her new school. She connects with a group of friends, and she is instantly drawn to darkly handsome Adam DeRís.

But Megan is about to discover that her feelings for Adam are tied to a fate that was sealed long ago - and that the passion and power that brought them together could be their ultimate destruction.

The story in this book was good, it's based around the elements - air, water, fire and earth. The only thing was, I was disappointed by the actual writing. It all seemed very rushed. I get that the author had a lot to fit in but it feels like she had too big a story for length of the book. It feels like it could have been broken into 2 parts, or the book could have been longer.

As I said, the story was good. I really liked the idea behind it and was excited to read it. I'll probably read more (if there is going to be more), and see how it goes from there. It's a very quick read so it's worth a borrow at least.


Book Depository: Carrier Of The Mark
Amazon UK: Carrier of the Mark

Crescendo by Becca Fitzpatrick

Nora should know better than to think her life can return to normal after falling in love with a fallen angel. And Nora's life isn't normal - her dad was murdered, and the facts about his death just don't add up. Now Nora's own life is in imminent danger. Are she and Patch strong enough for the battle ahead?

The sequel to Hush Hush by Becca Fitzpatrick, which I put off buying until it came out in PB and then I actually forgot about so I only got round to buying it last week. I really don't know why I waited so long since, as soon as I started reading Crescendo, I remembered how easy Becca Fitzpatrick's books are to read.

Once again Patch constantly changed from good guy to bad guy to good guy, and you're never entirely sure on how it's going to end up. Becca does a fab job at keeping you guessing, although I have to say I never trusted the full on bad guy or the other suspected bad guy. Definitely worth a read, and does a good job at keeping all the angel books in the charts. Angels are still high up in the YA reading list.


Book Depository: Crescendo
Amazon UK: Crescendo

My Soul To Steal by Rachel Vincent

Sometimes dreams do come true ... and that's the last thing Kaylee needs.

Working things out with Nash - her maybe boyfriend - is hard for Kaylee. She's already coping with being a teenage banshee. Worse, Nash's gorgeous ex-girlfriend just transferred to their school.

Sabine's no ordinary girl. She's a mara, a real-life walking nightmare. Draining people's energy through their darkest dreams sustains Sabine ... and makes her Kaylee's top suspect in a cluster of super-creepy deaths.

To win back Nash, Kaylee's determined to unearth the truth. But Sabine knows the deathly secrets of Kaylee's subconscious - and she's not afraid to use them to get whatever and whoever she wants ...

Since we've been reading all of Kaylee's trials and tribulations, I thought I'd instantly hate Sabine. And I tried, I really did. But I kinda sorta liked her. Yeah, she's a bitch but she's a very likeable and understandable bitch. That being said, I'm still not sure who I want to be together - Nash and Kaylee or Nash and Sabine. Because I'm almost certain there's a certain reaper that has feelings for Kaylee and I kinda sorta like him better than Nash.

I'm still loving this series, Rachel Vincent is an excellent writer and really keeps you gripped. I like both her YA and her adult series, and I'm convinced she can't write anything bad. So obviously, I highly recommend anything written by her.


Book Depository: My Soul To Steal
Amazon UK: My Soul to Steal

Last Breath by Rachel Caine

Claire Danvers is concerned when three vampires vanish from Morganville without a trace. The last person seen with them is someone new to town - a mysterious individual named Magnus. Claire is convinced creepy Magnus isn't human ... but is he a vampire, or something else entirely?

Claire's hunt for answers leads her to solving another mystery that's long been puzzling her: why do vampires live so far out in a sunny desert when they're sensitive to sunlight? The answer has nothing to do with sunlight, but with water - and an ancient enemy who has finally found a way to invade the vampires' landlocked community. Vampires aren't the top predators on earth. There's something worse that preys on them ... something much worse. Which means if Claire, and Morganville, want to live, they will have to fight on to the last breath ...

Book eleven and still loving it. This book has several voices, including Amelie, Michael and Eve. I discovered I liked Amelie's voice, she's very regal and thinks about how everything might affect Morganville. Even though some of the choices she makes seem weird and wrong, they're for the good of the town and keeping the peace.

This book has one particularly shocking section that I was not expecting and, as is the norm for Rachel Caine's books, there are several small shocks in the book too. One thing I really enjoy is getting into Shane's head more and finding out exactly how he really feels about Claire. It's silly but I feel protective of Claire, we've read her growing up and seen all the hardships she's had.


The UK version also had a free short story called Anger Management which is set between Bite Club and Last Breath and focuses on Shane going to a Founder-mandated Counsellor instead of jail. It was very short and I do really enjoy Shane so that's a huge bonus!


Book Depository: Last Breath
Amazon UK: Last Breath

Blood Bound by Rachel Vincent

Bound by blood, condemned by fate.

As a blood tracker, Liv is extremely powerful. And in a world where power is a commodity that can get you killed, Liv's learnt to survive by her own rules.

Rule number one? Trust no one.

When a friend's daughter goes missing, Liv is bound by a potent magical oath. She can't rest until the child is safe. And that means trusting her dangerous ex, Cam.

A sinister prophecy tells that she and Cam will be the death of each other, yet Liv's tired of being a slave to destiny. She's ready to play the forces controlling her world at their own game.

No matter the cost.

I've been waiting for this book since I finished Alpha. This is Rachel Vincent's new series after the Shifters series finished. The premise behind this series really interests me and I can't wait to read the next one.

Liv is a tracker meaning she can track anyone with blood or a name. She made an innocent pact with her childhood friends that accidentally became a binding contract, which is all fine until one of the friends shows up asking for her help. Liv can't refuse thanks to the binding.

I didn't like Anne to start with, her coming out of the blue and asking for Liv's help, knowing she can't refuse, seemed a bit of a bitchy thing to do. She eventually sort of grew on me, although I'm still not exactly a fan. I really can't wait for the next book and I'm glad Rachel's back with another great series.


Book Depository: Blood Bound
Amazon UK: Blood Bound