Primal Call by Susan Sizemore

Primal Call by Susan Sizemore

A Primes novel.  I tripped over this by accident.  I like Ms. Sizemore’s Primes series but I had no idea this was coming out.  I think this might be the best one yet.  I love that the Primes universe is a matriarchal society.  The Prime, James Strahan aka Wild Jimmy Wilde, isn’t in the traditional alpha male business like cop, soldier, or corporate mogul.  This Prime is a hot, sexy, leading man type actor.  Athena Blaise is the author of the book the movie he is acting in is based on.   She lives on a farm in Missouri and he works in LA.  Her people figure a photo op with the folks doing the movie would help sales of her books.  She thinks Jimmy is too young for her and he has the problems of distance and celebrity to deal with before they can get together and even address the vampire issues.  This is grand fun.

Secret Santa by Kristine Cheney

This was a short story I picked up because of the authors self-promotion.  I don’t think I would have bought it otherwise.  Secret Santa is the story of Holly Gordon who loves Christmas and playing Secret Santa for some of the folks around town.  It is in this capacity that Holly meets Marcus Jenner.  Who makes Scrooge look like a softy.  The reason I don’t usually get books like this is because they have an unfortunate tendency to be either too saccharine or too maudlin.  I must commend Ms. Cheney as this story while being sweet and sentimental never crossed the line.  

The Real Werewives of Vampire County by Alexandra Ivy, Angie Fox , Tawny Taylor, and Jess Haines

The Real Werewives of Vampire County by Alexandra Ivy, Angie Fox , Tawny Taylor, and Jess Haines 

Come on with a title like that you know I just had to get it. 

Where Darkness Lives by Alexandra Ivy takes place in the world of her Guardians of Eternity series which I admit I’ve not read. I enjoyed the story but would probably have gotten more out of it if I had read the series. 

Murder on Mysteria Lane by Angie Fox was the other reason for me buying this book. I LOVE Ms. Fox’s Demon Slayer books. As far as I’m concerned this story was worth the price of the book. Not that the others were bad just that this one had me laughing my butt off. I could totally relate to Heather McPhee. 

Werewolves in Chic Clothing by Tami Dane was an enjoyable mystery. 

What’s Yours is Mine by Jess Haines was my least favorite of all the offerings. I couldn’t relate to any of the characters and thus didn’t get as involved in the story. 

All in all I enjoyed this book. 

Darkness Rising by Keri Arthur

This is the second book in Keri Arthur’s Dark Angels series.  Once again Risa is ass deep in alligators.  She makes a deal with the very scary head of the vampire council Madeline Hunter to find those responsible for her mothers death.  Plus she has to find the gate keys and there are forces that want her to succeed and those that want her to fail and those that just seem to want her dead.

 

This book is a fun, sexy, roller coaster ride.  Now I have to wait almost a year for the next installment.  

The Bite Before Christmas by Lynsay Sands & Jeaniene Frost

One book.  Two of my favorite authors.  Two very different types of vampires. I’m delighted. 

The Gift by Lynsay Sands is Teddy Brunswick’s story.  Teddy is the sheriff of Port Henry.  The woman he has loved all his life is now an immortal and has found her life mate.  It seems everybody has somebody but him.  Holidays suck when you are single.  This is something that Teddy and Katricia Argeneau have in common.  Katricia is an immortal in the same situation as Teddy.  She too is avoiding spending the holidays as a charity case by friends & relatives.  Thus they end up as neighbors when the power goes out from a snow storm.  She has food.  He has a fireplace and wood.  Getting together makes sense.

Home For The Holidays by Jeaniene Frost.  Shortly before Thanksgiving Cat throws Bones a 245^th birthday party.  What could go wrong?  Just about everything.  

Darkness Unbound by Keri Arthur

This is the first book in the spin off from Ms. Arthur’s Riley Jensen Guardian novels.  The worst thing about the first book in a series is the world building.  You have to be introduced to the characters and their environment.  Because this is a spin off that work has been pretty much done.  This series takes place 20 or so years in the future from the Riley Jensen series.  This series stars Risa (the little girl who saved Riley) all grown up and dealing with some of the same issues Riley had to and then adding on a whole bunch of her own.  If you liked the Riley Jensen series you should enjoy this as well.  If you haven’t read the Riley Jensen series I would recommend it but it isn’t necessary.  Now off to buy Darkness Rising the next in this series.

Model Marine by Candace Havens

I don’t usually read Harlequin’s “mini” novels but this was Candace Havens.  She writes quirky, funny chick lit.  Model Marine was a short, fun vacation for the mind.  If you need a quick escape do read this.  

Much Ado About Vampires (Dark Ones, #9) by Katie MacAlister

Katie MacAlister makes me laugh.  I have yet to read one of her books that hasn't made me laugh out loud.  Total auto-buy.

Seizure (Virals #2) by Kathy Reichs

I LOVE this series!  It’s like Nancy Drew meets Maximum Ride.  Seizure is the second book in the YA Virals series by Kathy Reichs author of the Temperance Brennan (Bones) novels.  This series is inventive, intelligent and fun. 

In Virals Tory and her friends are infected with a genetically altered parvo virus  that affects their DNA and gives them special powers.

In Seizure the gang is still trying to get the hang of what is happening to their bodies as well as searching for Anne Bonny’s pirate treasure.

I truly cannot wait for the next installment.

A Vampire for Christmas by Laurie London, Michele Hauf, Caridad Pineiro, and Alexis Morgan

Four holiday stories featuring vampires:

Enchanted by Blood by Laurie London seems to be a short from her Sweetblood series which I must admit I’ve not read.  The story was sweet but not my favorite of the four.  Maybe if I was familiar with the series I would have enjoyed it more.

Monsters Don’t do Christmas by Michele Hauf was a fun story taking on the definition of the word monster. 

When Herald Angels Sing by Caridad Pineiro was the reason I purchased this book.  Ms. Pineiro is on my auto-buy list.  This story is a unique play on Scrooge.  Well done and enjoyable.

All I Want for Christmas by Alexis Morgan was the biggest surprise and my favorite in this anthology.  Great characters. 

A Little Harmless Submission by Melissa Schroeder

I am so glad that Melissa Schroeder has decided to continue this series.

A Little Harmless Submission is the 6^th book in this series  (but can be read as a stand alone) and I really got a kick out of it.  Rome Carino is a cop and a Dom working a serial murder investigation.  Subs are being raped and killed.  Maria Callahan is a FBI agent with a need to prove herself.  She plans to use herself as bait to catch the killer.  Rome and Maria are combustible.  I love how Maria shakes the ice cold Dom.  This is a wonderful mystery and love story.  

Keep them coming Ms. Schroeder

Cut & Run series by Madeleine Urban, Abigail Roux

I am not sure when I picked up Cut & Run (Cut & Run #1) by Madeleine Urban, Abigail Roux but after reading it I immediately had to go and get Sticks & Stones (Cut & Run, #2) and Fish & Chips (Cut & Run, #3).  I recently re-read them as Divide & Conquer (Cut & Run, #4) just came out and I had to bring myself back up to speed before reading it. 

This is a fantastically well written series starring two FBI agents Ty Grady and Zane Garrett who not only bust crime and each others chops.  They become lovers as well.  The characters are believable and the stories intriguing.  Each book is better than the last.   I heartily recommend this series even if you don’t normally read m/m.   I am really looking forward to the next installment.

The Darkest Surrender (Lords of the Underworld #8) by Gena Showalter

The Darkest Surrender (Lords of the Underworld #8) by Gena Showalter

In this latest installment of the Lords of the Underworld series we have the story of Strider, keeper of the demon Defeat, who cannot lose a challenge without incurring a boatload of pain and Harpy Kaia twin of Bianka (Heart of Darkness (Lords of the Underworld, #4.5)). 

I was not looking forward to this one mainly due to Striders ego.  But Gena Showalter used it to inject a load of fun into what could have been either irritating or depressing but was in the end quirky, funny and sweet.

Previous books in this series are:

The Darkest Fire (Lords of the Underworld, #0.5 Prequel)

The Darkest Night (Lords of the Underworld, #1) Maddox/Violence & Ashlyn

The Darkest Kiss (Lords of the Underworld, #2) Lucien/Death & Anya, goddess of anarchy

The Darkest Pleasure (Lords of the Underworld, #3) Reyes/Pain & Danika

The Darkest Prison (Lords of the Underworld, #3.5)

The Darkest Whisper (Lords of the Underworld, #4) Sabin/Doubt & Gwen the Harpy

Heart of Darkness (Lords of the Underworld, #4.5) Angel Lysander & Bianka the Harpy

The Darkest Passion (Lords of the Underworld, #5) Aeron/Wrath & Angel Olivia

The Darkest Lie (Lords of the Underworld, #6) Gideon/Lies & Scarlet /Nightmares

The Darkest Secret (Lords of the Underworld, #7) Amun/Secrets & Haidee

Date Night, Hardcore Cowboys, and Corralling the City Girl

Date Night by Emma Holly is a fun follow up to Hidden Depths.

I re-read Hardcore Cowboys by Stacey Espino in preparation for the release of Corralling the City Girl.  Cowboy ménage.  I think I enjoyed Hardcore Cowboys more than Corralling the City Girl despite the squick factor of the brothers in Hardcore Cowboys not that they did anything with each other its just that family shouldn’t play that closely.  In Corralling the City Girl the guys are not related but they are assholes at the beginning.  I don’t care how horny I was I don’t think I would have put up with Dawson or Chase for very long.  Brad was all over the place.  A total switch.  Submissive and domineering.  They manage to redeem themselves at the end but of the two Hardcore Cowboys was better.

Slow Ride by Erin McCarthy

Slow Ride is the 5^th book in Erin McCarthy’s Fast Track series.  I’ve enjoyed each and every one.  I am not a racing fan and know next to nothing about the sport despite living in the south where NASCAR is a religion.  This series takes place in and around the sport but can be appreciated by those of us who are just there for the fun of watching two people get together.  These are fast paced, sexy, and a whole lot of fun.    

Changes: Book 3 of The Collegium Chronicles (Valdemar) by Mercedes Lackey

Changes: Book 3 of The Collegium Chronicles (Valdemar) by Mercedes Lackey

My ALL time favorite fantasy series is the Valdemar series by Mercedes Lackey.  I continue to re-read each book and snap up each new offering.  Changes is as well written and enjoyable as the 35 or so books before it.

This series could almost be classified as YA even though it deals with adult topics.  Sex is inferred never described. 

Mercedes Lackey usually writes in 3 book arcs and you can read these books stand-alone but they are so much better if you read them in order.  

Men Out of Uniform by Maya Banks, Karin Tabke, and Sylvia Day

Men Out of Uniform by Maya Banks, Karin Tabke, and Sylvia Day

Soul Possession by Maya Banks - I was a little disappointed by this story.  It had lots of hot sex but the story just left me luke warm.  Don’t know if it was the story or my frame of mind when I read it.  I will re-read at a later date and re-evaluate because I usually like Maya Banks work.

Two cops want the same bartender.  The night she gets fired she decides to take them up on their offer of a threesome.  The same night her boss gets killed and she is the number 1 suspect.  I did like the twist at the end.

Wanted by Karin Tabke – I did enjoy this story.  It had some rather humorous moments mixed in with smoking sex and a sweet romance.  Undercover cop and former seal Colin Daniels has to keep the only woman he has ever really loved from being killed by the mob on her way to testify against her estranged mob boss husband.

Taking the Heat by Sylvia Day

I think this was the best of the lot.  Sylvia Day tells a fast paced sweet and sexy story about a U.S. Marshall, Brian Simmons, who has to get his ex, whom he has never gotten over, safely across the country to testify against a crime cartel.  

Angels of Darkness by Nalini Singh, Ilona Andrews, Meljean Brook, and Sharon Shinn

Four stories with angels or angel like creatures.

                Angel’s Wolf by Nalini Singh – This story takes place in Nalini Singh’s Guild Hunter world.  If you love her Guild Hunter novels you will enjoy Angel’s Wolf.  This story doesn’t involve any of the major characters except peripherally.   Nimra is an angel holding territory in Louisiana for Raphael.  She has a problem and is sent Noel, a damaged vampire, to assist her.  A good short story.

                Alphas: Origins by Ilona Andrews – This is unlike anything I’ve read from Ilona Andrews.  This is by far the most unique of the stories in this anthology.  I usually have a time with the first novel in any series because it is taken up with world building so when you can read a short story like this and get through the world building too.  It just goes to show how talented the Ilona Andrews team is.  I’d encourage them to continue with this but I don’t want to them take time away from their Kate Daniels series.

                Nocturne by Sharon Shinn – This story takes place in Sharon Shinn’s Samaria series world.  I’ll have to admit I haven’t read anything in that series but I may now.  A thoroughly delightful tale of a serving girl and a blind angel.

                Ascension by Meljean Brook - This story takes place in Meljean Brook’s Guardian series world.  I’ll have to admit I haven’t read anything in that series either.  It too sounds like it might be worth checking out.  I like that the angel like Guardians are flawed and can have a crisis of faith.

It’s been a busy week.

Life, it’s what happens when you are trying to read. 

I read Werewolf in the Northwoods by Vicki Lewis Thompson or what I subtitled never say never. Roarke Wallace, brother to Aidan from Werewolf in Manhattan, gave his brother pure hell for hooking up with a human mate.  He meets Abby Winchell while on assignment to disprove a bigfoot sighting in Portland, Oregon. She is human and fight it though he may she is meant to be his mate. 

I went to the theater to see Wicked and loved it.  Must read book.

I re-read Blood Trinity by Sherrilyn Kenyon and Dianna Love and the free short story Fire Bound so that I would be up to date when I read Alterant.  I enjoyed Alterant it was fast paced and at times read like a video game.  I like this world they’ve built and the characters are relatable. I look forward to further adventures with Evalle and the gang.