woensdag 30 september 2015

Recommendations from Karin for September 2015.

In order to bring some more variety to my blog, I have asked some of my bookish friends to tell about the books they have in the past month, and to give us a recommendation. Today’s post is made by Karin from Austria.

Karin:

The last month had one definite highlight for me. I read

Archangel’s Enigma by Nalini Singh

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Naasir is the most feral of the powerful group of vampires and angels known as the Seven, his loyalty pledged to the Archangel Raphael. When rumors surface of a plot to murder the former archangel of Persia, now lost in the Sleep of the Ancients, Naasir is dispatched to find him. For only he possesses the tracking skills required - those more common to predatory animals than to man.
Enlisted to accompany Naasir, Andromeda, a young angelic scholar with dangerous secrets, is fascinated by his nature - at once playful and brilliant, sensual and brutal. As they race to find the sleeping archangel before it's too late, Naasir will force her to question all she knows...and tempt her to walk into the magnificent, feral darkness of his world. But first they must survive an enemy vicious enough to shatter the greatest taboo of the angelic race and plunge the world into a screaming nightmare.


This book has everything that I could wish for as far as paranormal romance is concerned. The worldbuilding continues flawlessly, the villain is as black as one could wish for, the hero is not only enigmatic but also an enigma, the heroine is strong and loveable and the supporting characters are interesting, compelling and you wish to read more in this series – like yesterday.
Rarely have I read a book where I loved the hero as much as I loved Naasir. He is not only a warrior, he has a wicked sense of humour and when he decides on his mate he doesn’t start pampering her (“Here, here little woman, let me take care of you”! – oh, how I hate that!!!) but he shows her the respect she deserves. He doesn’t steamroll over her, he honours her vow and he finds the perfect solution for them to come together.
I don’t like to repeat myself but again I have to say that rarely have I read a book where I liked the heroine as much as I liked Andromeda. She is still quite young – in Angelic turns of course – but she has shown from an early age that she knows how to carry through with what she wants. She is a clever scholar but also a great fighter. And most of all she accepts Naasir the way he is – she doesn’t try to make him into something better, more civilized or whatever society might think is necessary.
We also get glimpses into the lives of Dmitri and Honor, Jason and of course Illium. (I’m still waiting hard for his book). And of course there is the Archangel himself. Raphael and Elena make such an interesting couple that I wouldn’t mind to read another book with them as the leading persons.

And now to something completely different. I read three books in a series that is the exact opposite of what I’ve been talking about so far.
The first book in the series “A Neighbor from Hell” by R.L. Matthewson is

Playing for Keeps

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As the series title implies the books are always about a young woman and her disgusting neighbour. It doesn’t take much to realize that the two will fall in love and end up as a happy couple. This book and especially the second in the series

Perfection

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are laugh - out funny. One can’t take them seriously, they are just plain entertainment with lots of sex, and situations which make the reader laugh out loud.
Unfortunately I didn’t like the third book in the series as much.

Checkmate

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It drifted too much into slapstick (not the good kind) and I thought it was ridiculous for two adults to behave as they did. Still, I will continue reading this series as there are six books out now.

I hope you like these recommendations and perhaps I have lured one or the other to read one of the books. Take care and happy reading.

Karin photo Karin 2_zps9oybhsee.png

Aurian: Thanks for the recommendation Karin! I also loved Archangel's Enigma very much, I am happy the series is still going strong.



© 2015 Reviews by Aurian

dinsdag 29 september 2015

Nora Roberts – Hot Ice

A stand alone novel, published August 1, 1987.
Genre: contemporary romance
Cover: this one is much prettier than my purple one

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Whitney MacAllister. Reckless and beautiful, she possesses all the wealth and beauty every woman dreams of. Douglas Lord. His good looks and street smarts have made him a success at his chosen profession – larceny.
She has the cash and the connections.
He has the stolen documents leading to a fabulous hidden fortune.
It is a business proposition, pure and simple.
But the race to find the treasure, from Manhattan to Madagascar, is only part of the game. For their fierce and dangerous attraction to each other soon threatens to overwhelm them – unless their merciless and shadowy rivals kill them first.


Another old Nora Roberts novel, but I really enjoyed this one. No overbearing alpha male who lays down the rules, this was fun seeing them both try to outwit the other. When Whitney MacAllister is almost car jacked, she is thrown in an adventure. And as she was totally bored with her socialite life style, hanging out at all the in-places with the same in-crowd or rich people, this was just what she needed.
Being chased by gun toting criminals who are actually shooting at her expensive Mercedes, an attractive but bleeding man in the car with her, and trying to out drive their followers is just fun for her. But when they follow them to her apartment, and the danger gets heavier, that was perhaps not what she had in mind when she gave Douglas her business proposal. She would not just lend him some money, she would go with him on this treasure hunt, to keep her eye on him.

And if was so great to see him trying to get her money so he could leave her behind, and her preventing it time and again, and especially writing down every little expense they made so he could repay her for it. She is a very smart girl, and I liked her. She is certainly not used to roughing it, but she doesn’t complain about that, and she keeps going.
The mobsters on their trail are relentless as well, killing the people they have met, trying to get back the maps that Douglas stole.
And then there is the history of the treasure they are after themselves, hidden gems from Marie Antoinette, and the French Revolution. That was a bit heartbreaking to read about.

The ending was great, and I just wish this was part of a series instead of a stand alone novel. I would not mind reading more adventures with these two.

It was the right mix of romance, adventure, danger and fun, and I enjoyed every page of it. If you are young, you might think it is a bit outdated as there is no use of today’s technology. I don’t mind that a bit, as I am from that time period, and remember things without all of today’s luxuries and gadgets.

9 stars.



Autobuy authorLove this book

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© 2015 Reviews by Aurian

zondag 27 september 2015

Anthology – Seduction by Chocolate

An omnibus of novels by Nina Bangs, Lisa Cach, Thea Devine and Penelope Neri, published August 29, 2008.
Genre: contemporary romance
Cover: delicious. The real book colors are very warm. Who could resist this title and this cover if you are a chocoholic?

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More alluring than Aphrodite, more irresistible than Romeo, the power of this sensuous seductress is renowned. It teases the senses, tempting even the most staid; it inspires wantonness, demanding surrender. Whether savored or devoured, one languishes under its tantalizing spell. To sample is to crave it. To taste it is to yearn for it. Habit-forming, mouth-watering, sinfully decadent, whet their appetites to discover that seduction by chocolate feeds a growing desire and leads to only one conclusion: Nothing is more delectable than love.

Nina Bangs – Sweet Sin

A fun story where Ann has to make a life size chocolate naked men for a bachelorette party. Her partner Matt manipulated her into it, but she will have her revenge by using him as her model.
When they were 17, they had a short fling and sex in the backseat of his car, and that was a disaster. Ann has not forgotten that moment, and neither has Matt, and he wants another go at it. But she won’t give him a chance at all, even now they are working together in the bakery shop.

Yes, I enjoyed this one, it was really sizzling hot attraction between them. And some fun secondary characters as well.

8 stars.

Lisa Cach – Eliza’s Gateau

A story about a young American woman on vacation in Belgium, Europe, by herself. I did not really enjoy this one. She is a dietician, and eats only the healthy stuff because it is good for her. She dresses horribly as well, as she was raised by nuns.
So when a handsome man takes an interest in her, and tries to teach her to enjoy life, and especially the (naughty) chocolate his family’s bakery produces, she doesn’t know how to react.

I did not really like this one, as I could not connect with Eliza on any level, and I could not figure out what the hero saw in her. Neither did he for most of the story, but he felt drawn to her time and again, and showed her around for the few days she was in Bruges.

6 stars.

Thea Devine - Meltdown

This was a great story. Donna and her Jessica are event planners, and they have a reputation for getting things done, and in an amazing way as well. Jessica is really into their new client, but he has only eyes for Donna, and how she enjoys sensuous food stuffs if it has chocolate in it. But Donna doesn’t want to get involved at all, especially not with a client, so he will has to bide his time.

This story really had sparks, and great characters. I liked both Jessica and Donna. They were great friends, and worked really well together. They have build up their own business, and with this new client, a potential politician, they will be even more sought after. It was interested to read about as well, so that was a nice bonus.

8 stars.

Penelope Neri – Seducing Sydnee

Sydnee is a biotechnician send to Costa Rica to help save the cacao trees. She is a very private girl, and not into anything that hints of pleasure. She thinks chocolate is just frivoulous, and not worth her time, she should be creating new vegetables or something like that.
But her professor and her best friend are plotting behind her back, and Ella has even managed to switch her clothes with only sexy and pretty stuff instead of the staid and boring things she is used to buying herself.
Add to that her fear of flying, and she is not of to a good start. Unless you count her encounter at the hotel swimming pool at night with the hot man and their one night stand, so totally not her.

The man in question can’t forget her, and is determined to find her. So when he finally finds out, it is his new employee, he won’t rest until she is back in his arms. For good this time!


This was another fun story, and I was glad that Sydnee finally learned to shed her mother’s stern upbringing and warnings of men and learned about fun and passion and the joys of chocolate.

7 stars.



buy the book from The Book Depository, free delivery
I don’t think it is available in print anymore, perhaps you can find it secondhand.

© 2015 Reviews by Aurian

vrijdag 25 september 2015

Recommendations from Peggy for September 2015.

In order to bring some more variety to my blog, I have asked some of my bookish friends to tell about the books they have in the past month, and to give us a recommendation. Today’s post is made by Peggy from Belgium.

Peggy:

I have read 5 novels in the past month, and the 3 books I enjoyed the most are:

1. Rhythm, Chord & Malykhin – Mariana Zapata

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2. Devious minds – KF Germain

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3. Pulled under – Sarah Darlington

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I haven’t read much this last month but the books that I have read were really good. One of my favorite writers, Mariana Zapata had a new book coming out in August and she has kept it a secret from us until the last moment! But that did mean that I didn’t have to wait a long time for the book to be released and that made me very, very happy!

‘Rhythm, Chord & Malykhin’ is a sweet and funny read.

Gaby Barreto her life sucks! Her boyfriend broke up with her, she had to move back home to live with her parents and she still hasn’t found a job yet. So when her twin brother Eli invites her to go on tour with him and his band the ‘Ghost Orchid’ Gaby is easily convinced. It’s not the first time that she went on tour with them, being their merch girl. So she knows what to expect from her idiot brother and his two best friends Mason and Gordo but maybe that’s just what she needs at the moment.

But her brother forgot to mention that they’re not the only band on tour and on that bus. There’s another band (The Cloud Collision) that’s touring with them and their singer Sacha Malykhin is something special! He doesn’t only have a great voice but he also has a fantastic body, tattoos and a friendly personality. A very dangerous combination!

So now Gaby not only has to deal with her crazy brother and his two crazy friends but also with another band on the bus. But that can’t be a problem for her, Gaby’s used to being surrounded by guys her whole life but the question is, is she okay with just being friends with Sacha or does she want more than friendship with him? And what does he want from her? Only friendship? Or does he also feel more for her?

Just like in her other books, Mariana Zapata really takes her time to build the story, the relationship. First, they become friends and then lovers. And I, personally, love that! But if you’re one of those readers who wants to read about sex from the very first page, then I don’t think this is the book for you. Because that’s not the writer her style. She always takes her time to build the relationship and thus the sex scenes.
I really loved the way that Gaby and Sacha went from strangers, to friends, to lovers. And I totally loved the three crazy idiots in this story. Wat more can you ask for in life then 3 loyal friends? Rhythm, Chord & Malykhin is a very sweet story.

For readers who read this story and like it, then you really have to try her first book ‘Lingus’ also. It has the same funny and sweet read about it! And you can find Tristan POV on Mariana Zapata her website.

Till next month.

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Aurian: Thanks for the recommendation Peggy! Has anyone read these books yet? Or anything else by these authors?



© 2015 Reviews by Aurian

donderdag 24 september 2015

Guestreview: K.F. Germaine - Devious Minds

A stand alone, published April 23, 2015.
Genre: A New Adult Comedy
Cover: I like the blush

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When Sydney Porter transfers to Northern University, she’s ready to put her past behind her. Landing a job on campus as an irreverent radio personality, she uses the anonymity to air all the campus dirty laundry—earning the infamous Sunday Lane more than a few enemies. But her true passion is spinning records, even if Drunk Earl is her biggest fan.
Sydney’s junior year kicks off with the promise to be amazing. Or at least it does until Gray Peters, hotshot quarterback, unexpectedly reenters the scene. His presence threatens to destroy everything she has going, as well as resurrecting a night Sydney never wants to remember or repeat. She’d run away like a coward, but this time she's determined to stay and fight.
A twisted battle of wit and trickery ensues, with one common goal—vengeance. Sydney and Gray set out to make each other miserable. But misery loves company, and soon, walls are destroyed and truths are revealed that could change their future forever.
*** Contains mature situations and language ***


I received this book in exchange for an honest review.

‘Devious minds’ is the first book that I read from this writer. I had heard many good things about this book, so I was very curious about it and very glad that I was given the chance to read it.

Sydney Porter loves two things in life. One is music and the second is her brother. But music is definitely first on her list. Her big dream is spinning records, so in her spare time she’s a DJ in a club. It’s not the most fancy club that there is but so long that she can do what she loves Sydney is happy. Another thing that she does in her free time is work on the campus radio show. There she’s known as the infamous Sunday Lane, infamous because nobody loves it that their dirty secrets are talked about on the radio (would you?).

Everything is going just great until one evening she sees someone from her past again. Gray Peters is someone that she would rather forget. But that’s going to be a problem, because Gray is a quarterback at the Nothern University and his coach has giving him the task to take Sydney’s little brother under his wings! And although Sydney wants to totally forget about the one night she spend with Gray. He doesn’t feel the same way. So what starts as a chance meeting soon becomes a great contest, filled with vengeance and humor. A combat between two people who uses every wit and trick they have. But at the end of it, aren’t love and hate the same?
But Gray has done something that he’s not sure that Sydney will ever forgive him for and what really happened that night where Sydney left him?

OMGI think that this is one of those books that you totally love or not. Sydney and Gray really have very bad tricks and dangerous wits in them. I really hope that I don’t do anything to fall on their bad side. You really never know what to expect from those two!! And just when I thought that it would be too much, that they would take it too far, the writer took me on a softer route and I was very happy with that. This book had just the right balance. I’m looking forward to the next book.


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© 2015 Reviews by Peggy


woensdag 23 september 2015

Dianne Duvall – Darkness Dawns

The first book in the Immortal Guardians series, published February 1, 2011.
Genre: paranormal romance
Cover: very nice

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Once, Sarah Bingham's biggest challenge was making her students pay attention in class. Now, after rescuing a wounded stranger, she's handed in the middle of a battle between corrupt vampires and powerful immortals who also need blood to survive. Roland Warbrook is the most compelling man Sarah has ever laid hands on. But his desire for her is mingled with a hunger he can barely control...
In his nine centuries of immortal existence, no woman has tempted Roland as much as Sarah. But asking her to love him is impossible - when it means forfeiting the world she's always known, and the life he would do anything to protect.


Sarah is an imsomniac working in her garden at night, when she hears people fighting. Quietly investigating, she finds a naked man staked to the ground, and two young men bent on tormenting him some more. So she hits them with her shovel and frees the naked man, taking him home with him to call an ambulance, the cops, whatever. But he won’t let her, and convinces her to just bandage him up, after removing the spikes from his hands.
But before he can tell her why he was crucified to the ground on her property, he passes out from blood loss. And so she is left with a naked man on her futon, dirty and bleeding. Sarah starts cleaning him up and bandaging his wounds, even though they are no longer bleeding and healing. How is that?

And with that little adventure, Sarah is drawn into the war between Immortals and vampires, as the vampire responsible for this won’t let her life after helping his enemy. Roland will do whatever he has to protect her, as she saved his life. He would have burned in the sun in just a few more minutes. Other immortals gather to help clean up this unusual large nest of vampires, while two of their oldest are on a search for someone else. Someone calling in their minds, crying for help.


I have read many series with immortals, warriors, fighting bad vampires, but there is always room for more good series. And this is definitately one of them. I liked Sarah, and she doesn’t accept anything on face value. When she thinks Roland is just another vampire, like the ones they are fighting, she runs. Or rather, tries to. She demands explanations and she will not cower in a corner when they are attacked again, she will fight alongside them. And when he tells her his back ground story, how he became an immortal, she does question things as well. Things he has always accepted and took for granted.
Roland has always been a loner among the Immortals, not even wanting a human servant to take care of his daytime needs. No one has been invited into his home, they don’t even know where he lives. But now that he has Sarah to protect, he will do whatever is necessary, even sacrificing his home and sanctuary. He has been in love twice before, and twice he has been betrayed by the woman. So does he dare to fall in love with Sarah now? Sure she is different from those other women, and it was centuries ago, but does he dare risk his frozen heart to thaw?

Yes, I enjoyed this book a lot, and will certainly read more books in this series. I loved all the main characters and the other Immortals, and would love to find out more about them. There is a very intriguing explanation for their origins.

9 stars.



A blogger made me buy it

buy the book from The Book Depository, free delivery

© 2015 Reviews by Aurian

maandag 21 september 2015

Bailey Cates – Magic and Macaroons

The fifth book in the Magical Bakery Mystery series, published July 7, 2015.
Genre: paranormal cozy mystery, with recipes
Cover: tempting, lovely colors.

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For magical baker Katie Lightfoot, the only way to beat the Savannah summer heat is to whip up some cool treats for the Honeybee Bakery's patrons. But when a meeting of the spellbook club is interrupted by a stranger collapsing on the floor of her shop, mumbling something about a voodoo talisman, Katie drops everything to begin investigating.
Her search for answers quickly leads her into a dangerous blend of Savannah's infamous voodoo queens, a powerful missing charm - and a deadly witch who seems to be targeting the city's magical community. And with the case getting hotter by the second, Katie will have to work fast to track down the talisman and the killer before the timer runs out...


I am in love with this paranormal cozy mystery series. They use hedgewitchery in their bakery, meaning herbs and good meanings, and it seems to be working. I like Katie and her aunt and uncle and the spellbookclub. But this time, voodoo is involved, and Katie knows nothing about it. And their friend Cookie does, but she is very reluctant. Apparently, her new husband is against her getting involved in this, but she just has to help Katie. As a Light Witch, Katie still doesn’t know much about what she can do, or is supposed to do. But as the body of the police inspector who once told her about herself, is found, she knows the normal police won’t be able to solve this case. She has to help and save his niece, who is still in a coma in the hospital.

A really great adventure, I do love reading more about voodoo, even though a lot of it is creeping me out. And when a voodoo priestess goes evil, she can harm a lot of people.

Katie’s boyfriend Declan wants to help as well, and even is ready to try and channel his late uncle again, although he hates it when his body is taken over. But he is trying, and learning more about Katie, and he knows she has no choice in the matter. Their personal life is going nicely, and I like reading about that as well.

All the witches familiars play a part in this book as well, and that was nice to read about too. They are all so very different, and they work well together. But, I could do without the snakes. Phobic, me? You bet I am!

A great series, and I do recommend it if you love this genre.

10 stars.



Autobuy authorLove this book

buy the book from The Book Depository, free delivery

© 2015 Reviews by Aurian

zaterdag 19 september 2015

Emma Jane Holloway – A study in Silk

The first book in the Baskerville Affair series, published September 24, 2013.
Genre: steampunk
Cover: good

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In a Victorian era ruled by a council of ruthless steam barons, mechanical power is the real monarch and sorcery the demon enemy of the Empire. Nevertheless, the most coveted weapon is magic that can run machines - something Evelina has secretly mastered. But rather than making her fortune, her special talents could mean death or an eternity as a guest of Her Majesty's secret laboratories. What's a polite young lady to do but mind her manners and pray she's never found out?
But then there's that murder. As Sherlock Holmes's niece, Evelina should be able to find the answers, but she has a lot to learn. And the first decision she has to make is whether to trust the handsome, clever rake who makes her breath come faster, or the dashing trick rider who would dare anything for her if she would only just ask.


An absolutely fascinating story. I do love me some steampunk now and then, and this was certainly a good book. I liked Evelina. She was raised in the circus, as her mother ran away with a circus artist. Her grandmother taught her everything she new about her magic, but Evelina’s is so much stronger. And when her other grandmother came to take her with her, and have her raised as a gentlewomen, she was torn between two lives.
England is now ruled by steam barons, and they rule with an iron hand. Magic is outlawed, and so are inventors who try to make machines that don’t run on steam. So if Evelina is discovered, she will face a quick death. She can combine magic and machinery, making them alive, by putting nature spirits in them. It was absolutely fascinating.
So when a maid is murdered in her friend’s house, and her father, a former Ambassador, tries to sweep it under the rug, Evelina is determined to find out the truth. After all, her uncle is the famous Sherlock Holmes, and he has also thought her a thing or two.


Lots of intrigue, lots of daring action and great gadgets and secrets. I loved it, and will certainly read the next book soon. I liked Evelina, she knows she is not important to society with her humble background, and she would love to go to university instead of attending balls and the like. And then there are the two men who want her, but in the end, they both betray her. But she takes her own destiny in her hands, and I do love that. She is never dependent on anyone, though she values her friendship with her hosts’ daughter.

I am very curious for what will happen in the next book, and what is the deal with the automatons from Switzerland, and if the bad guy is really dead or not.

Keywords: great main character, fascinating world building and story, original.

9 stars.



A blogger made me buy itLove this book

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© 2015 Reviews by Aurian

donderdag 17 september 2015

Linda Lael Miller – Daring Moves

A stand alone, published June 29, 1990.
Genre: contemporary romance
Cover: horrible, but I could not find a picture of my cheese one, with the lace border.

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She’d done it before: fallen in love with the wrong man. But life didn’t come with an introduction manual and Amanda Scott knew she’d have to rely on her instincts. Fate placed Jordan Richard right in front of her … and chemistry took it from there. But things began to get complicated when her ex-lover reappeared in his life – with his estranged wife not far behind. Despite her growing passion for Jordan, Amanda found herself repeating past mistakes.
Only by making a daring move could she claim her one chance at happiness.


It has been a long time since I read a Linda Lael Miller story, I used to read her historical romances in Dutch as they were translated.
This story did not do much for me. I did like Amanda, because she had a sense of humor, and was strong enough to break things of with her boyfriend as soon as she found out he was married. And now she is interested in another man, Jordan Richard, whom she met while they were both waiting in line to get a book autographed by the author.
And while Amanda and Jordan hit it off, I did not really like Jordan all that much. He seemed cold and aloof, and he misjudged Amanda a few times without wanting an explanation for her reasonable actions. So they broke up, and Amanda went on with her life, the way she had dreamed of thanks to a bit of help from her parents. Of course they meet again and make up, as that is the way of romance novels. But I still do not like him more in the end.

I have about 50 other books on my shelves by this author, and I sincerely hope I will enjoy those more. I will try out a cowboy book next, but this one was nice and thin and that is why I picked it. With so many books, you might wonder why there is no autobuy author button under this post, but she really is not. I have bought all those books second hand over the years. She has just written so many! And I love to fill boxes to save on postage.

5 stars out of 10.



buy the book from The Book Depository, free delivery

© 2015 Reviews by Aurian

zondag 13 september 2015

Anthology – Witch High

An anthology of stories edited by Denise Little, published October 7, 2008.
Genre: paranormal young adult
Cover: good

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High school is different for everyone. For some, it's a time to shine, and for others, a time to survive. Then there are the students who attend those special schools for the gifted. But what if there was a school that catered to those rarest of students - those who can do magic?
These fourteen tales explore the challenges that students of the magical arts may face in a high school of their very own. If you think chemistry is tough, try alchemy. If you ever fell victim to a school bully, how would you deal with a bully gifted with powerful magic? And if you needed more time to study, what spell could give you all the time you desired?
These are just a few of the magical adventures that will await you when you enter Salem Township Public High School #4 - otherwise known as Witch High...


14 short stories written by: Kristine Kathryn Rusch, Laura Resnick, Phaedra M. Weldon, Pamela Luzier, Christina E. York, Jody Lynn Nye, Sarah Zettel, Debra Dixon, Esther M. Friesner, Bill McCay, Pauline J. Alama, Karen Fox, Sarah A. Hoyt and Diane Duane.
Some big names I know, lots of unknown names, and the editor is new to me as well.

A nice mix of stories, all taking place in the same high school in Salem. Some I loved, some I didn’t like, some were fun, some were sad. The usual mix in an anthology.

Those of my readers who know me, know I have a weakness for witches, so from all the books I took home with me from Berlin, this one was the first I picked out. The cover just kept calling my name. Overall, I really enjoyed this book, but there was not one story in there that made me think: wow, I need to read more books by this author, this is so good/fun/amazing.

Still, it is perfect for in between reading, or only just a story a day.

6 stars.



© 2015 Reviews by Aurian


vrijdag 11 september 2015

Anthology: The Real Werewives of Vampire County

An omnibus of novels by Tami Dane, Angie Fox, Jess Haines and Alexandra Ivy, published November 1, 2011.
Genre: paranormal romance / urban fantasy
Cover: I prefer my cover over the new generic one.

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Drama. Scandal. Secrets. And a whole lot of supernatural goings-on.

I'm Pureblood Were, And Proud Of It. . .
"Where Darkness Lives" by Alexandra Ivy


No one's more surprised than Sophia when she's struck by an unfamiliar maternal urge to move near her daughters. But instead of being greeted by a welcome committee, she's targeted by kidnappers. . .and saddled with a gorgeous bodyguard on a mission to protect - and seduce. . .

This had all the promise of a great story, with a very strong heroine and a nice mystery, but the lusting and love scenes brought it down for me.
Still, I want to read more of her work.

I'm A Tomboy At Heart, But I Want A Man Who Makes Me Feel Like A Real Woman. . .
"Murder on Mysteria Lane" by Angie Fox


When a werewolf trophy wife is found dead in Vampire County, Heather McPhee goes undercover to investigate. Heather's never been a mascara-and-manicures sort of girl, but she's willing to learn. Especially with sexy vampire detective Lucien Mead posing as her husband. . .

I have read more Mysteria Lane short stories by Angie Fox, and I do want more. The one was very entertaining and I liked both main characters. With Heather being a psychic it gave even more paranormal to the story then just werewolves and vampires.
I liked this story best.

Who's Afraid Of The Big, Bad Werewolves? Not Me, That's For Sure. . .
"What's Yours is Mine" by Jess Haines


Still Waters is like many other exclusive gated communities - except that it's home to one of the largest werewolf packs in the state. But Tiffany Winters isn't frightened of her big, bad new neighbors. In fact, she intends to take her place among the pack. . .

This was a fun story, rich, beautiful socialites hunting other rich, beautiful socialites to become new pack members.

This Is A Town Full Of Secrets. And I Intend To Uncover All Of Them...
"Werewolves in Chic Clothing" by Tami Dane


Ever since Christine Price moved in with her fiancé, Jonathan, and his twelve year-old son, she's worked hard to fit in with a cadre of local women whose lives seem picture-perfect. Except no one in Jon's upscale neighborhood is quite who they appear to be. Least of all Jon. . .

I really did not like this one, at all. And as it was the second story in the book, it cause me to put the book away for weeks before trying the next story. The only fun part was the last sentence.


All in all, I am disappointed with this book, I expected more, different from the title and the authors contributing.

7 stars.



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© 2015 Reviews by Aurian