Review: 39. It Happened One Bite by Lydia Dare...

I was first introduced to Lydia Dare's brand of paranormal romance last year, and couldn't wait to check out It Happened One Bite!

Title: It Happened One Bite
Author: Lydia Dare
ISBN-13: 9781402245077
ARC: 390 pages
Publisher: Sourcebooks, Inc., 2011
Purchase at IndieBound, Amazon, The Book Depository
Source: Sourcebooks

drey's thoughts:
Lydia Dare's It Happened One Bite is a love story infused with humor and warm fuzzies, and it just happens that the hero is of the blood-sucking variety and the heroine can throw fireballs...

Blaire Lindsay is feisty with a capital F, rules the roost with an iron hand, and cusses like a sailor. Not exactly the epitome of a lady, at least the lady her brother would like her to be. And on top of that, she's one of a five-woman coven, some of whom have starred in Lydia Dare's series featuring the Westfield brothers...

Blaire and her brothers have just moved to an inherited castle when they find a visitor in the basement--one who's been there for twenty years.

James Maitland is confused--and doesn't understand why he's been imprisoned, or who did it. Then he finds out his rescuer may be related to his captor, which brings up the all-important question: does she know why he was thrown into that dark basement? And he's disbelieving when she says "no," but still can't help falling in love with her. Throw in some baddies from his past, and now you have a bit of tension playing out in this lil' drama...

Can James and Blaire make it? How will a coven of witches take to having a vampire in their midst, even as they've gotten used to werewolves? And what will Lydia Dare have in store for us next?

And don't think I'll tell--you're going to have to read it yourself to find out! *wink*

drey's rating: 3/5 Good: Light heart-warming paranormal romance infused with humor and wit.

Have you read It Happened One Bite? What did you think?

Review: 20. Ghost Town by Rachel Caine...

Rachel Caine's Morganville Vampires series is addicting... And so I found myself picking up #9 to find out what's happening in this little town in Texas...

Title: Ghost Town (Morganville Vampires #9)
Author: Rachel Caine
ISBN-13: 9780451231611
Hardcover: 338 pages
Publisher: Penguin Group, 2010
Purchase at IndieBound, Amazon, The Book Depository
Source: Waukesha Public Library

drey's thoughts:
So, things have settled down in Morganville--as much as things ever "settle"... But the vampires need to replace Ada, and be able to enforce the no-leaving rule, so Amelie has Claire working with Myrnin to figure out a solution. Which they do, but then Myrnin adds his special touch and things start going haywire again.

Character: I heart Claire. And I am so sorry that she has to deal with all the crazies in Morganville. How unlucky can one girl get? Don't ask... Anyway. Claire has her hands full in this installment, as she figures out that the new "Ada" isn't working quite right. And she thinks Myrnin has something to do with it, but how do you prove that the crazy vamp is really crazy? Especially when he could crunch you like a bug, and just about as quickly, too. To add to her stress level Amelie and Oliver are fighting, and nothing's looking like roses anywhere. The gang's all here, but this one's heavy on Claire and Myrnin, with doses of Shane's father Frank.

Pace & Plot: The plot is pretty straightforward: fix the machine, so that Morganville can be contained and controlled again. All the (main) stuff in between the covers is from the machine going haywire, finding out why, and attempting to fix it. I really enjoyed reading about Claire's frustration (& gross-out) with Myrnin's additions to "her" creation. Pretty descriptive, and just a bit eeeew-y. And the ending? Creeped me out!

drey's rating: 3/5 Good: Add this teen read to your vampy bookshelf... I will be picking up #10 when it comes out. I have to know what happens next. Sigh. *shudder*

Have you read Ghost Town? What did you think?

Review: 16. Mercy Blade by Faith Hunter...

This could be a really really SHORT review, 'cuz I can say it in just one word: WOW. But, because this is a serious review blog, I shall endeavor to expand on that WOW. Just for y'all... Aren't you glad I like you? *wink*

Title: Mercy Blade (Jane Yellowrock #3)
Author: Faith Hunter
ISBN-13: 9780451463722
eBook
Publisher: Penguin Group, 2011
Purchase at IndieBound, Amazon, The Book Depository
Source: Purchased

drey's thoughts:
In this highly-anticipated third installment in Faith Hunter's Jane Yellowrock series, Jane's headed to the Big Easy, to do a job for the Master of the City, Leo Pellisier. Not too much of a hardship, as her new main man--undercover cop Rick--is there too. But it's not too long before their jobs get in the way of their relationship...

To add to the man-undercover-angst, her boss Leo's not too fond of Jane right now (after the events in Blood Cross), so she also has stay-under-the-radar angst. But when trouble shows up in the form of weres (dogs AND cats), that doesn't stop her from trying to head off a revenge-motivated retaliation against Leo. Unfortunately for Jane, all of this action's just the side dish to Leo's main task for her: find the vamp who's returned to his territory, and tell him to get lost. Or else.

Character: Jane rocks. She's tough, mentally and physically. And yet she's still vulnerable, especially when trusting her heart to others. So you're totally with her when she starts having doubts about Rick, especially when she hasn't seen him in ages, and it looks like he's hanging with another gal. But I'd expect her to not be so darn wishy-washy about him. You get the facts and then deal with it. Not dwell in angst.

I really like Bruiser in this installment, his character's much more fleshed out, and if Rick weren't in the picture (is he still? I'm not telling!), I'd say take Bruiser for a ride! *wink* The werecats who show up could've been featured more, I think, but maybe that's just because I'm curious, darn it. Yes, yes, I know all about curiosity and cats... Still...

Pace & Plot: Well. Faith Hunter doesn't make you wait for the action, that's for sure. And when the plot gets going, you want to make sure you've got a chunk of time carved out for this book, because this is jam-packed with stuff. If this were an action film, there'd be car chase scenes and explosions and death-defying feats all over it... (cue Quantum Solace theme song... yes, I'm a Daniel-Craig-as-Bond girl...) But since it's a book, you just get fight scenes, fight scenes, and more fight scenes. Phew.

Lest you think it's all action and no substance, you also get Jane wondering about her and Beast, and why there aren't more of them... Some questions get brought up, and I sure hope they get answered! I'm impatiently waiting on the next one.

drey's rating: 5/5 Outstanding! If you haven't read Faith Hunter's Jane Yellowrock urban fantasy yet, well, why not?

Have you read Mercy Blade? What did you think?

Review: 10. My Fair Succubi by Jill Myles...

I'd read Gentlemen Prefer Succubi last year and liked it, and so I said "yes!" when My Fair Succubi was offered for review.

Title: My Fair Succubi (Succubus Diaries #3)
Author: Jill Myles
ISBN-13: 9781439188194
Paperback: 340 pages
Publisher: Simon & Schuster, 2010
Purchase at IndieBound, Amazon, The Book Depository Source: Simon & Schuster

drey's thoughts:
Things aren't as they seem in this 3rd installment of Jill Myles' Succubus Diaries series. Jackie is happily digging in the jungle with Noah (and a bunch of others, but he's the only one who's important, right?) when the Serim council shows up to arrest them both. Jackie for mistakes made as a new succubi, Noah for making her one in the first place. And you'd think angels would be nice and good, but as Jackie says on page 44, these  angels are total dicks.

And if finding herself found guilty and sentenced to die isn't bad enough, her BFF Remy is possessed, Noah proposed (before they were arrested), Zane's disappeared, and one of the council has decided that Jackie would be a wonderful baby-carrier (as in, his... blech!). There's one chance for Jackie to redeem herself though, and she jumps for that lifeline wholeheartedly. And who should she run into then, but Zane?

Which brings up that classic question: Vampire or Angel? Both suck (heh), and even more so when Jackie finds out that there's history between these two. As in, one-woman-they-both-loved history. Like she needs more complications right now, huh?

Character: Life's sure been busy for Jackie, what with being turned, losing her job, falling for two hunks who hate each other's guts, having her BFF Remy get possessed by a demon, and so on and so forth. The latest complications are just another wrinkle, but gee, can she get a break already? I like how Jackie deals with the trouble she's facing--she's bound and determined to help Remy, and makes a deal to offer the man she loves a second chance at heaven, never mind about her own sentence. The part I'm not too fond of is her wishy-washiness in dealing with Zane and Noah. Never mind that they have their reasons for pursuing her, she just seems to roll with with instead of deciding what she really wants and going for that.

Pace & Plot: This was a very quick read, and the action doesn't slow down at all. *warning* There's quite a bit of sex in this one, so be forewarned if that's not your thing.

drey's rating: 3/5 Good: My Fair Succubi rounds off the trilogy very nicely, and resolves a whole lot of ambiguity for Jackie.

Have you read My Fair Succubi? What did you think?

Review: 4. Blood Prophecy by Stefan Petrucha...

I asked for this one because the cover looked really neat--all dark and broody... And it's about a vampire. Who isn't all sparkly and stuff... ;)

Title: Blood Prophecy
Author: Stefan Petrucha
ISBN-13: 9780446555999
ARC: 352 pages
Publisher: Grand Central Publishing, 2010
Purchase at IndieBound, Amazon, The Book Depository
Source: Hachette Book Group

drey's thoughts:
Stefan Petruchas' Blood Prophecy tells the story of a faithful man turned into a beast, who then spends a lifetime trying to redeem himself and save his soul.

Jeremiah Fell's journey starts in 1644 in Dedham, a Massachusetts Bay Colony, when he is infected by a nightmarish creature, and eventually heads towards the desert lands of Egypt and Syria. Why? To find a stone, a mystical stone that according to legend could cure him of this plague in his body. Or unleash a darkness that'll swallow the whole world...

Character: Jeremiah is an interesting character--a one-hundred-and-fifty-year-old vampire who's lived without drinking human blood, without giving in to the beast that rides his consciousness, sustaining himself instead on rodents and mammals. He is educated (well, he did have the time), articulate, honorable, and is single-minded in achieving his goal of redemption. There are only a few other characters who remotely interested me--Amala, an Arab woman who can decipher the hieroglyphs on the stone, and Hylic, a Russian mercenary whose original purpose was in destroying the stone.

Pace & Plot: I thought the plot was interesting, and I liked the French-infused (as in language) narrative. The biblical and cultural references are all up my alley. The pace however, could have used a bit more oomph in the section between his infection and when he starts his travels.

drey's rating: 3/5 Good: Blood Prophecy is a vampire story infused with a blend of history and exotic locations, but could move faster.

2011 Challenge: New Author

Review: 158. Nice Girls Don't Live Forever by Molly Harper...

After reading Molly Harper's Jane Jameson books 1 and 2, how could I not pick this one up?

Title: Nice Girls Don't Live Forever (Jane Jameson #3)
Author: Molly Harper
ISBN-13: 9781416589440
Paperback: 324 pages
Publisher: Simon & Schuster, 2009
Purchase at IndieBound, Amazon, The Book Depository
Source: Waukesha Public Library

drey's thoughts:
Molly Harper's Jane Jameson is absolutely adorable--snark and sass and all things nice. She starts off the book by breaking things off with Gabriel. Or did she? She's not sure. To occupy herself instead of moping about, she focuses on re-opening the bookstore she inherited from Mr. Wainwright and joins Half-Moon Hollow's Chamber of Commerce, where she gets roped in by blonde-cheerleader-from-hell-turned-chamber-president to get donations for their charity event. Jane's already regretting signing up when Mr. Wainwright's nephew shows up and generally annoys the heck out of everyone.

Then weird things start happening--threatening letters, exploding deliveries, vandalism, and Jane thinks someone is trying to kill her. Who could it be? And why? After all, snark never hurt anybody... But then Andrea is kidnapped. And Jane finds herself smack dab in the middle of drama from Gabriel's past.

Nice Girls Don't Live Forever had me totally laughing out loud, and yes, I snorted. My favorite passage has to be when the front of Jane's house is smeared with durian, and she spends the day wondering what the stench is coming from. Followed really quickly by Zeb's explanation that people have been killed by ripe durians falling on them. Yep, felled by a fruit.

**going off on a tangent... I used to say that when the Portugese swung by the Sultanate of Malacca back in the 1400s, instead of using the traditional keris to fight the cannons and guns, the locals should have lobbed durians with catapults at the Portugese ships... Who knows, they might've driven them off instead of being colonized! Yes, the fruit smells that bad. But it's oh so yummy!! **done with tangent

Anyway. Back on topic. If you haven't read Molly Harper, you should. If your preference is not of the fanged variety, try her chick-lit. If it is of the fanged variety, pick this up (start with #1, Nice Girls Don't Have Fangs).

drey's rating: 3.5/5 Very Good

Challenge: 100+, Support Your Local Library

107. Spirit Bound by Richelle Mead...

Title: Spirit Bound (Vampire Academy #5)
Author: Richelle Mead
ISBN-13: 9781595142504
Hardcover: 489 pages
Publisher: Penguin Group, 2010
Purchase at IndieBound, Amazon, The Book Depository

FTC Disclosure: My copy of Spirit Bound was on loan from my local library. I am an affiliate at IndieBound, The Book Depository, and Amazon, and any purchases made by clicking on the cover or the links provided may result in monetary compensation.

drey's thoughts:
Wow. Richelle Mead's fifth installment in the Vampire Academy series definitely doesn't disappoint. It's packed with non-stop action from cover to cover, and I couldn't put it down once I'd started reading.

Rose makes it through the trials and graduates, and goes to Court with Lissa while awaiting her assignment, worried that her transgressions would negatively impact her chances of being assigned Lissa's guardianship. Which is when you'd expect that Rose would be on her best behavior. Instead, she decides to do a little sleuthing, a little breaking-and-entering, and a little getting-a-convict-out-of-prison. Busy, busy Rose. And, because she's super-multi-tasker Rose, peppered in between all that is her trying to save Dmitri, getting Lissa and Christian back together, and dealing with Adrian's feelings for her (and hers for him).

But she finds the political waters at court neither shallow nor calm, as Rose manages to shock, awe, and dismay the Moroi--and the guardians--there. Mayhem and chaos follow, and it's about to get worse. What can be worse than losing Dmitri to the Strigoi, you ask? How about getting him back only to have him not want you around anymore? And tensions amp up a bunch of notches when the Queen is murdered. With Rose's stake.

As you can probably imagine, I'm really antsily waiting for book #6!

drey's rating: 4/5 Excellent

Challenges: 100+, Pub, Support Your Local Library

105. Kiss of Death by Rachel Caine...

Title: Kiss of Death (Morganville Vampires #8)
Author: Rachel Caine
ISBN-13: 9780451229731
Paperback: 241 pages
Publisher: Penguin Group, 2010
Purchase at IndieBound, Amazon, The Book Depository

FTC Disclosure: My copy of Kiss of Death was on loan from my public library (I heart my public library!). I am an affiliate at IndieBound, The Book Depository, and Amazon, and any purchases made by clicking on the cover or the links provided may result in monetary compensation.

drey's thoughts:
You know how it gets when you're really into a series, and the number of books in that series starts inching closer to the double-digits, and you get that itty-bitty niggle of worry that this book will not be as good as you're expecting?

Boy, was that a run-on or what? Anyway. I practically inhaled Kiss of Death. Seriously. Yeah, yeah, I know I normally read fast. And this one wasn't a big book to start with. But still. Inhaled.

The gang--Michael, Eve, Shane, and Claire--goes on a road-trip to Dallas. Yes, they get to leave Morganville. With permission, of course. And an expected return. And an escort. Who turns out to have ulterior motives for going along.

This being the gang, you know the trip's not going to go all hunky-dory-like. And it doesn't take long for the first bump in the road--when they have to detour to a small town, almost get into a fight with the locals, lose Eve's car, buy a hearse, and get thrown onto the vamp bus. Which is also from Morganville, by the way. You're thinking, "huh?"

Apparently when Bishop was on his hunt for Amelie, he left souvenirs. Souvenirs that are savage and violent, and intent on this being the last road trip the gang goes on. Ever. And now they either have to be saved, or killed. Who do you think gets to take care of this cleanup?

I'm kinda bummed that Myrnin doesn't feature more in this book. But I won't complain (too much). Because I'm waiting for #9. And keeping my fingers crossed that I inhale that one, too.

drey's rating: 4/5 Excellent

Challenges: 100+, Pub, Support Your Local Library

101. Changes by Jim Butcher...

Title: Changes (Dresden Files #12)
Author: Jim Butcher
ISBN-13: 9780451463173
Hardcover: 438 pages
Publisher: Penguin Group, 2010
Purchase at IndieBound, Amazon, The Book Depository

FTC Disclosure: My copy of Changes stopped by for quite a while, on loan from my local library. I finally read it, and returned it at the eleventh hour. I am an affiliate at IndieBound, The Book Depository, and Amazon, and any purchases made by clicking on the cover or the links provided may result in monetary compensation.

drey's thoughts:
Well. You know how sometimes you pick up a book based on the title, and then you read it and find out that the title didn't quite fit the book? I know I have, and it's soooooo disappointing when that happens. Thought I'd mention it, because the twelfth book in Jim Butcher's Dresden Files series, is definitely aptly named!

Harry's past comes back to haunt him, and he finds a major surprise behind door #1. Behind door #2 is the Red Court going on the offensive. Door #3 opens to reveal fissures in the White Council. Unluckily for Harry, all three doors spill open at the same time. And Harry is running around trying to figure things out while trying to stay alive and stop the Red Court. You know, par for the course.

I'm really glad to see that this isn't one of those series that starts to wilt and wither once you get to book 7 or 8... As it is, I'm now totally looking forward to #13, and I'm off to stalk Mr. Butcher!

drey's rating: 4/5 Excellent

Challenges: 100+, Pub, Support Your Local Library

98. Apocalypse Happens by Lori Handeland...

Title: Apocalypse Happens (Phoenix Chronicles #3)
Author: Lori Handeland
ISBN-13: 9780312366025
Paperback: 328 pages
Publisher: St. Martin's Press, 2009
Purchase at IndieBound, Amazon, The Book Depository

FTC Disclosure: My copy of Apocalypse Happens stopped by from my local library. I am an affiliate at IndieBound, The Book Depository, and Amazon, and any purchases made by clicking on the cover or the links provided may result in monetary compensation.

drey's thoughts:
Well, well, well. In book #3 of Lori Handeland's Phoenix Chronicles series, we find out about Liz's mom, and let me tell you, she's a nutjob! Liz is still fighting (ok, sometimes indulging) her attraction to her two men--ex-boyfriend Jimmy and shaman Sawyer--neither of whom she's certain of, or trusts. Must be from all the bad ju-ju floating around!

Liz is still kick-ass, and tougher than she's ever been. Of course, she's also darker than she's ever been. Due to decisions made in Doomsday Can Wait, she can no longer hear her former mentor Ruthie. Instead, she's got new voices in her head, and a bespelled collar to keep her newfound darkness contained. To add to her headaches, now Jimmy's stand-offish, Sawyer doesn't quite put out the I'm-on-your-side vibes, and a seer seeking refuge is murdered at her doorstep.

Between figuring out what to do about the bad guys, worrying about the boys and her group of seers and DKs (demon killers), and trying to find the traitor in their midst, Liz sure has her hands full in this third book. I'm off to get number four.

drey's rating: 3.5/5 Very Good

Challenges: 100, Support Your Local Library

97. Doomsday Can Wait by Lori Handeland...

Title: Doomsday Can Wait (Phoenix Chronicles #2)
Author: Lori Handeland
ISBN-13: 9780312947163
Paperback: 337 pages
Publisher: St. Martin's Press, 2009
Purchase at IndieBound, Amazon, The Book Depository

FTC Disclosure: My copy of Doomsday Can Wait was a library book that waited patiently to be read. I am an affiliate at IndieBound, The Book Depository, and Amazon, and any purchases made by clicking on the cover or the links provided may result in monetary compensation.

drey's thoughts:
I'm really enjoying Lori Handeland's Phoenix Chronicles series so far. I didn't review the first book, Any Given Doomsday because I read it a while ago and it had to get back to the library (because I was this this close to late!). But I liked it enough that I got the next few in the series, and practically devoured this one.

One reason I like this series: the heroine--Elizabeth Phoenix--lives in Milwaukee. Gotta root for the local kick-ass gal! She's an ex-cop who's bartending for her former partner's widow. And, she's also the head honcho for the forces of good in the race to stop the Apocalypse and defeat the evil minions of Satan. (All of a sudden I have the theme song from Transformers floating through my head...)

Now, being head honcho has its benefits, but also drawbacks--especially the all-the-bad-guys-want-to-kill-her kind. I won't tell you what happens because you really should read it for yourself. But Doomsday Can Wait packs in non-stop action, romantic tension, and quite a few surprises. I'd read the rest of the series even if Liz didn't live in Milwaukee!

drey's rating: 3.5/5 Very Good

Challenges: 100+, Support Your Local Library

91. Emma and the Vampires by Jane Austen and Wayne Josephson...

Title: Emma and the Vampires
Author: Jane Austen and Wayne Josephson
ISBN-13: 9781402241345
Paperback: 289 pages
Publisher: Sourcebooks, Inc., 2010
Purchase at IndieBound, Amazon, The Book Depository

FTC Disclosure: My copy of Emma and the Vampires was provided by the publisher for this review. I am an affiliate at IndieBound, The Book Depository, and Amazon, and any purchases made by clicking on the cover or the links provided may result in monetary compensation.

drey's thoughts:
I have to say, I never remembered Jane Austen's Emma as being a so, well, clueless. Or petty... But I guess she was, because I sincerely doubt Wayne Josephson completely rewrote a classic!

I requested a copy of Emma and the Vampires because I'd just gotten into the whole re-imagined classics genre with Jane Slayre, and thought it would be fun to read another. But I have to admit, I didn't enjoy this one very much. I didn't like Emma very much--she stuck her nose where it didn't belong, had a completely inflated opinion of herself, and was quite petty and a tad rude, just because somebody else dared to impress her friends and neighbors. In fact, I thought she was quite the brat.

And maybe I'm just getting old and cranky, but I found that I really wasn't in the mood for brattiness. This one was just ok to me. If you have a different opinion, please do comment and share your thoughts!

drey's rating: 2/5 Ok

Challenges: 100+, Pub

87. Another One Bites the Dust by Jennifer Rardin...

Title: Another One Bites the Dust (Jaz Parks #2)
Author: Jennifer Rardin
ISBN-13: 9780316020572
Paperback: 318 pages
Publisher: Orbit, 2007
Purchase at IndieBound, Amazon, The Book Depository

FTC Disclosure: My copy of Another One Bites the Dust came from the library after I picked up Once Bitten, Twice Shy and enjoyed it. I am an affiliate at IndieBound, The Book Depository, and Amazon, and any purchases made by clicking on the cover or the links provided may result in monetary compensation.

drey's thoughts:
Can I start by saying I love the cover? I mean, how totally simple is that?? And the blood droplets... The perfect finishing touch! *grin*

Anyway. Another One Bites the Dust picks up with Jaz's next mission. This time she's tracking down a missing armor that was stolen from a super-secret military testing center, along with a super-villain who's trying to achieve dragonhood (dragondom?). The usual hijinks ensues, and this time it's boosted with extra ampage from a cast of characters who're still trying to get used to the fact that they're all working together. Of course, the bad guys all lead back to the uber-baddie on the CIA's list, so Jaz and gang have to try to neutralize the threat, retrieve the armor, and find someone who'll lead her to the top of the baddie pile-up. All without getting killed by her dreams of her past. Whew. The girl knows how to stay busy, huh?

I like Jaz. I like that she's trying to deal with her loss and with the realization gained at the end of Once Bitten, Twice Shy (I can't tell you what it is, it's a dead giveaway if you haven't read the former)... I like that she makes mistakes, but tries to think fast enough on her feet to remedy any ill effects if she can. I like her interactions with those she loves, and I love her interactions with those she loathes. If you're looking for an easy-to-read series with a character who'll make you laugh out loud, pick up Jennifer Rardin's Jaz Parks books. I'm going to track down #3.

drey's rating: 3.5/5 Very Good

Challenges: 100+, Support Your Local Library

86. Once Bitten, Twice Shy by Jennifer Rardin...

Title: Once Bitten, Twice Shy (Jaz Parks #1)
Author: Jennifer Rardin
ISBN-13: 9780316020466
Paperback: 290 pages
Publisher: Orbit, 2007
Purchase at IndieBound, Amazon, The Book Depository

FTC Disclosure: My copy of Once Bitten, Twice Shy was brought home for a lil' while from the library because I thought the cover looked cool... I am an affiliate at IndieBound, The Book Depository, and Amazon, and any purchases made by clicking on the cover or the links provided may result in monetary compensation.

drey's thoughts:
Once Bitten, Twice Shy was a spur-of-the-moment pick that I'm glad made it home with me. Jennifer Rardin's Jaz is a butt-kicking, gun-toting, smash-talking, vampire-smelling, car-crashing, highly-efficient assassin. Yup, you heard me. And, she's hilarious. Excerpt:

No doubt about it, I am the only item in this office under the age of fifty.

You wouldn't know it to look at my clothes, though. I'd come straight from an American Airlines flight during which an aviophobic widow had wadded various handfuls of my blouse and jacket into her fists the entire trip. I looked like a homeless woman. Holy crap. If I lost this job I'd soon be a homeless woman. And that was the good news!

"Look, Pete, I know you told me to cut out the car hits. The repairs are too expensive. You told me that. So I stopped. I haven't caused an 'accidental' crash in three months--you know that! But this last one just couldn't be avoided."

"I understand you took out my counterpart in MI5."

"Well, yeah, but only because his driver was in on the plot. He'll be fine. You heard that too, right? His back will heal in, like, six weeks."

I hope that shows you what I mean, but my fingers got tired and didn't want to type anymore--and this is from the first 2 pages! Her new partner, Vayl, is an awesome foil for Jaz. Even if he's vampire. Even when she used to hunt and kill vampires. And off they go, doing their assassin and apprentice-assassin thing... When their latest target turns out to be more than he seems, Jaz and Vayl get tangled in a web of secret cults and sacrifices. And find out some surprising things about Jaz herself. Once Bitten, Twice Shy was a very quick read that kept me interested all the way through. I cannot wait to get to the next book, Another One Bites the Dust.

drey's rating: 4/5 Excellent

Challenges: 100+, Support Your Local Library

74. Twice Bitten by Chloe Neill...

Title: Twice Bitten (Chicagoland Vampires #3)
Author: Chloe Neill
ISBN-13: 9780451230645
Paperback: 355 pages
Publisher: Penguin Group, 2010
Purchase at IndieBound, Amazon

FTC Disclosure: My copy of Twice Bitten was provided by the publisher when I begged (and yes, I mean begged). I am an IndieBound and Amazon affiliate, and any purchases made by clicking on the cover or the links provided may result in monetary compensation.

drey's thoughts:
If you haven't picked up Chloe Neill's Chicagoland Vampires books, whyever the heck not? Especially if you're a fan of fangs, wit, and sass.

Twice Bitten continues where Friday Night Bites left off. Merit is still Sentinel of House Cadogan, still hopelessly nuts about that green-eyed specimen of yumminess (aka Ethan), and still (yup, still) a vampire. Her relationship with Mallory is on the outs, and Morgan too (which made me sad *sniffle*). But, Merit being Merit, she keeps on going on.

Ethan, of course, doesn't make anything easy on her. From offering up her services to the wolves to bringing in an old flame to visit, Merit has more than her fair share of Ethan-aggravation in this CV installment. But, as I've come to expect from Ms. Neill, there is quite a bit of character development and growth--along with the requisite sass, of course--and by the end of Twice Bitten, I am on a cloud of satisfaction. Kind of like when you've just inhaled (leisurely, of course, to prolong the enjoyment) a very decadent slice of double-chocolate cheesecake, and while you're so full you could burst, you cannot wait to take another bite. Vamps and secret societies and weres galore... I wonder when #4 will be out? (Please let it be soon... Pretty please??)

drey's rating: 4/5 Excellent!

Challenges: 100+, Pub

Tour: 45. Jane Slayre by Charlotte Bronte & Sherri Browning Erwin...

Title: Jane Slayre
Author: Charlotte Bronte & Sherri Browning Erwin
ISBN-13: 9781439191187
Paperback: 391 pages
Publisher: Simon & Schuster, 2010
Purchase at IndieBound, Amazon

FTC Disclosure: My copy of Jane Slayre was provided by Pocket Books for this blog tour. I am an IndieBound and Amazon affiliate, and any purchases made by clicking on the cover or the links provided may result in monetary compensation.

drey's thoughts:
I'll admit it, I've never picked up one of these mix-the-classics-with-zombies-or-vampires books. I've been curious, but apparently not that curious... That is, until the opportunity to read Jane Slayre showed up... I saw that wicked-looking knife--er, stake--and thought to myself, "why not give it a whirl?"

I should note here that while I do know that this is a re-imagining of the classic Jane Eyre, it's been decades since I read the predecessor. Seriously. So while I know Jane Eyre is a classic, and I've even read it, blah blah blah, I don't remember much about it (hangs head in shame).

Anyway. We're not here to talk about what I don't remember about Jane Eyre, instead, we're here to talk about what I thought of Jane Slayre. Or maybe it should be "I'm here to talk about..."! *grin* Jane Slayre is a very fun read that had me in stitches. Maybe it's because the zombies lose appendages. Maybe it's because the vampires are so very surprised when she stakes them. Like that poor ginger-haired bloke who tries to attack Jane, then asks for advice, before being dusted off her hands. He never even had a chance!

Not that it's all fun and roses--Jane's cousins are complete write-offs, her aunt is something else altogether, and the love of her life is married to a thing in the attic. I actually laud her for leaving Rochester when she does--it shows that she is strong and true to her moral core, even if she does question her decision along the way. And even when another opportunity presents itself, she pursues her goal of finding a cure for lycanthropy, for a chance at happiness...

This might not be for you, if you think the classics are perfect just the way they are and shouldn't be messed with. Otherwise, pick this up for an interesting and entertaining romp.

drey's rating: 3.5/5 Very Good

Challenges: 100+, Pub

Giveaway!
Thanks to Pocket Books, I have one copy of Jane Slayre for you, if you're a US resident. To enter, comment and let me know if you have read these mix-'em-up novels. If so, which one(s)? Your verdict? If not, are you curious? Why? Do it all before 6:00 pm CST April 28th!

*Only one comment per person, please. Duplicates will be deleted.

23. Fade Out by Rachel Caine...

FTC Disclosure: My copy of Fade Out was on loan from my local library, and has since returned to its collection. I am an IndieBound and Amazon affiliate, and any purchases made by clicking on the cover or the links provided may result in monetary compensation.

About the book:

Without the evil vampire Bishop ruling over the town of Morganville, life has changed--dramatically. The resident vampires have made major concessions to the human population. With their newfound freedoms, Claire Danvers and her friends are almost starting to feel comfortable again--almost.

Now Claire can actually concentrate on her studies, and her friend Eve joins the local theatre company. Yet when one of Eve's cast mates goes missing after starting work on a short documentary, Eve suspects the worst. As she and Claire investigate, they soon realize that not only is the subject of the film the vampires themselves, but that this project is a whole lot bigger--and way more dangerous--than anyone suspected.

drey's thoughts:
Welcome to Morganville. Where the things that go bump in the night have just concluded a civil war, and victors and losers alike are trying to adjust to the changes that have come to stay. Well, mostly. Because some definitely do not want to adjust. And letting the dissent fester is a leadership that does not appear to be all present.

Things may be back to normal, but that doesn't mean that it gets easier for Claire. Eve has a new goth friend, and Claire goes through am-I-losing-my-best-friend anxieties, compounded when she finds out that Kim and Shane had previously hooked up. Adding to Claire's misery? Ada hates her. Really, really hates her. Never mind that Ada isn't even real...

This next Morganville Vampires installment keeps the tension going in that little town, and even brings in technology! But I'm ready for this series to get wrapped up, and for Claire to be able to go on her merry way.

drey's rating: 3/5 Good

Title: Fade Out (Morganville Vampires #7)
Author: Rachel Caine
ISBN-13: 9780451228666
Paperback: 237 pages
Publisher: Penguin, 2009
Purchase at IndieBound, Amazon

Challenges: 100+, Support Your Local Library

19. The Van Alen Legacy by Melissa de la Cruz...

FTC Disclosure: My copy of The Van Alen Legacy swung by for a short visit from my local library. I am an IndieBound and Amazon affiliate, and any purchases made by clicking on the cover or the links provided may result in monetary compensation.

About the book:

With the stunning revelation surrounding Bliss's true identity comes the growing threat of the sinister Silver Bloods. Once left to live the glamorous life in New York City, the Blue Bloods now find themselves in an epic battle for survival. Not to worry; love is still in the air for the young vampires of the Upper East Side. Or is it? Schuyler has made her choice. She has forsaken Jack for Oliver, choosing human over vampire. But old loves die hard... And even coldhearted Mimi seems to suffer from the ties that bind.

Young vampires unite in this highly anticipated fourth installment of the New York Times best-selling series.

drey's thoughts:
So what do people do after an apocalyptic battle? Why, batten down the hatches and hide out, of course. Hoping that the baddies will just go back where they came from. Which is what the Conclave--what's left of it anyway--decides to do. Well, ok. That, and hunt down Schuyler. Because she killed Lawrence, she is a Silver Blood, and she must be tracked down. Ok, so how delusional can people (ok, even blue bloods) be? Seriously?

In this installment, I really enjoyed Bliss' storyline. How she figures out what's happening, how she tries to keep a shred of herself alive, and how she tries to find her sister. Schuyler's story was just ok, for me. Mimi's was slightly better than I expected--she does some growing up. The boys mostly stayed in the background, making this a girl-power book, lol.

My overall opinion? I expected more out of this one. After the ending in Revelations, I thought there'd be more bombshells dropped here, more lines either tied off or expanded. But it felt like an in-between-er book, one to fill space in between two big storylines. So, that gives me hope for the next one. If you've read the previous Blue Bloods books, you will want to pick this one up, just to read what happens.

drey's rating: 2.5/5 Better than OK

Title: The Van Alen Legacy (Blue Bloods #4)
Author: Melissa de la Cruz
ISBN-13: 9781423102267
Hardcover: 369 pages
Publisher: Hyperion, 2009
Purchase at IndieBound, Amazon

Challenges: 100+, Support Your Local Library

16. Blood Cross by Faith Hunter...

FTC Disclosure: I am an IndieBound and Amazon affiliate, and any purchases made by clicking on the cover or the links provided may result in monetary compensation. My copy of Blood Cross was purchased for my nook.

About the book:

The vampire council has hired skinwalker Jane Yellowrock to hunt and kill one of their own who has broken sacred ancient rules-but Jane quickly realizes that in a community that is thousands of years old, loyalties run deep...

drey's thoughts:
Well. That blurb above really doesn't say much, does it? But don't let that deter you from picking up this 2nd book in Faith Hunter's Jane Yellowrock series... I mean, just look at that cover! How much more bad-ass can she be? *grin*

All kidding aside. I loved Skinwalker, and I have to say that Blood Cross did not disappoint at all. Jane is awesome! Even when she's tired, covered in blood, hiding from Leo, and hunting the rogue.

I cannot wait for more Jane. I am off to go stalk Faith to find out more, lol!

drey's rating: 4/5 Excellent

Title: Blood Cross (Jane Yellowrock #2)
Author: Faith Hunter
ISBN-13: 9780451463074
eBook
Publisher: Penguin Group, 2010
Purchase at IndieBound, Amazon

Challenges: 100+, Pub

13. Skinwalker by Faith Hunter...

I picked up Skinwalker after reading a post on C.E. Murphy's site about a possible collaboration between her and Faith Hunter, with Joanne Walker and Jane Yellowrock. I was intrigued, and while shopping for eBooks for my new nook (yay!), picked up Skinwalker and Blood Cross...

FTC Disclosure: I am an IndieBound and Amazon affiliate, and any purchases made by clicking on the cover or the links provided may result in monetary compensation. Skinwalker is all mine.

About the book:

A year ago Jane nearly lost her life taking down an entire blood family of deadly rogue vampires that preyed on the helpless local populace of an Appalachian town. Now, after months of recuperation, she’s back and ready to fight again. Except this time, she’s hired by those she’s trained to kill—vampires…

Jane Yellowrock is the last of her kind—a skinwalker of Cherokee descent who can turn into any creature she desires and hunts vampires for a living. Back from hiatus, she’s hired by Katherine Fontaneau, one of the oldest vampires in New Orleans and the madam of Katies’s Ladies, to hunt a powerful rogue vampire who’s killing other vamps.

Amidst a bordello full of real “ladies of the night,” and a hot Cajun biker with a panther tattoo who stirs her carnal desire, Jane must stay focused and complete her mission—or else the next skin she’ll need to save just may be her own…

drey's thoughts:
Jane Yellowrock is a complex character. She's tough, inside and out. She's alone most of the time, except for the Beast. And she's not what you'd expect from the get-go, so try to read this one without any preconceptions... And she's now in my group of favorite urban fantasy heroines.

The story in Skinwalker starts out deceptively simple - Jane shows up to take on a job. There are brief references to the last job she'd completed, nothing in-depth, nothing to give away what she is, other than vamp hunter. LOVE her calling card, by the way--"have stakes, will travel"...

Faith Hunter keeps you reading, not just with the plot and action, but with gradual revelations about Jane. And at every reveal, I thought to myself, ok, I can see that, I get it now. But you don't. Not till she's been completely unwrapped, and the big "whoa" gets you. This one should be on the TBR pile for urban fantasy fans.

drey's rating: 4/5 Excellent

Title: Skinwalker (Jane Yellowrock #1)
Author: Faith Hunter
ISBN-13: 9780451462800
eBook
Publisher: Penguin, 2009
Purchase at IndieBound, Amazon

Challenges: 100+