Ilona Andrews – Clean Sweep

Once a free serial novel on their website, now published as a novel at Amazon on December 4, 2013, with an extra chapter worth of text.
Genre: fantasy / sci-fi
Cover: compelling, I like it.



On the outside, Dina Demille is the epitome of normal. She runs a quaint Victorian Bed and Breakfast in a small Texas town, owns a Shih Tzu named Beast, and is a perfect neighbor, whose biggest problem should be what to serve her guests for breakfast. But Dina is…different: Her broom is a deadly weapon; her Inn is magic and thinks for itself. Meant to be a lodging for otherworldly visitors, the only permanent guest is a retired Galactic aristocrat who can’t leave the grounds because she’s responsible for the deaths of millions and someone might shoot her on sight. Under the circumstances, “normal” is a bit of a stretch for Dina.
And now, something with wicked claws and deepwater teeth has begun to hunt at night… Feeling responsible for her neighbors, Dina decides to get involved. Before long, she has to juggle dealing with the annoyingly attractive, ex-military, new neighbor, Sean Evans—an alpha-strain werewolf—and the equally arresting cosmic vampire soldier, Arland, while trying to keep her inn and its guests safe. But the enemy she’s facing is unlike anything she’s ever encountered before. It’s smart, vicious, and lethal, and putting herself between this creature and her neighbors might just cost her everything.


I was very happy when I received the ARC for this story. Of course, two days later, the book was already available on Amazon, much to the surprise of the authors, who were planning for a Christmas release. My friend Karin has recommended this story earlier, but I don’t like to tease myself with serials, I want the whole story all at once. And she was so right in recommending this! I am not going to tell you anything about the story itself, read the blurb for that, as I don’t want to spoil anything about it for you, you just have to experience it yourself.

I read this story in one evening, totally captivated and enchanted with it. It is a brilliant mix of science-fiction as in Aliens and other worlds, and magic as known in fantasy. It did remind me in some parts of some early science fiction I read as a teen, and other parts made me think fairy tale. But it is 100% Ilona Andrews, unique, imaginative and entertaining. I instantly connected with Dina, and just wanted to know how she handled things, and the new “people” she encountered. The Inn itself is somehow a living magical creature, and it defends itself and its inhabitants against danger. That was really fun to read about.

This is for now a standalone novel, but I can happily write, the first in a series. I can’t wait for the next one, and I also can’t recommend it enough to all of you. This is a fun story filled with action and original characters and happenings, but don’t start this book expecting romance and hot love scenes. If that is all you want to read, don’t try this one.

9 stars.





Buy from Amazon: here
Buy from Barnes and Nobles: here

© 2013 Reviews by Aurian

New additions to my addiction

New additions to my addiction



I have had no time to write reviews, and I did want to post this weekend, so here is my short list of new book from last week:

From Bookdepository:
Lara Adrian – Edge of Dawn
Stephanie Laurens – Alison DeLaine – The Trouble with Virtue
Sarah MacLean – No good Duke goes unpunished
Erin McCarthy – Full Throttle
Sara Humphreys – Unclaimed
Suzanne Enoch – The Devil wears Kilts
Jean Johnson – The Grove

Secondhand Books:
Karen Kijewski - Alley Kat Blues
Karen Kijewski - Copy Kat
Karen Kijewski - Honky Tonk Kat
Karen Kijewski - Kat Scratch Fever
Karen Kijewski - Katapult
Karen Kijewski - Katwalk
Karen Kijewski - Kat’s cradle
Karen Kijewski - Stray Kat Waltz
Karen Kijewski - Wild Kat
Patricia Briggs – Steal the Dragon
Patricia Briggs – Hunting Ground
Richelle Mead - Succubus Nights
Richelle Mead - Succubus Dreams
Richelle Mead - Succubus Heat
Richelle Mead - Succubus Revealed
Jeanne C. Stein - The Becoming
Jeanne C. Stein - Blood Drive
Jeanne C. Stein - The Watcher
Amber Benson - Death's Daughter
Amber Benson - Cat's Law
Amber Benson - Serpent's Storm
Diane Farr – The Fortune hunter
Nora Roberts – Forever
Clive Cussler – Treasure of Khan
Wendy Holden - Bad Heir Day
Wendy Holden - Beautiful People
Wendy Holden - Gallery Girl
Wendy Holden - Simply Divine
Wendy Holden - The School for Husbands
Larissa Ione - Desire Unchained
Larissa Ione - Ecstacy Unveiled
Larissa Ione - Sin Undone
Leslie Kelly - Killing Time
Catherine Mann - Defender
Mary Jo Putney - The Rogue and the Runaway
Jill Barnett - Just a Kiss Away
Jill Barnett - Surrender A Dream
Julie Garwood - The Lion’s Lady
Lorraine Heath - Parting Gifts
Lorraine Heath - The Ladies Man
Johanna Lindsey - Once A Princess
Susan Elizabeth Phillips - It had to be You
Susan Elizabeth Phillips - This Heart of Mine

From the bookfair:
Cassandra Clare – City of Fallen Angels
Cassandra Clare – City of Lost Souls
Kelley Armstrong – The reckoning
L.J. Smith – Night World 2 omnibus: Dark Angel, The Chosen and Soulmate

Books I swapped with Sullivan McPig:
Marta Acosta – Happy Hour at Casa Dracula
C.L. Anderson – Bitter Angels
Barbara Annino – Tiger’s Eye
Jennifer Armintrout – Queene of Light
Kelley Armstrong – The Calling
Kelley Armstrong – The Gathering
Kelley Armstrong – The Rising
Gerry Bartlett – Real vampires have curves
Patricia Briggs – Raven’s shadow (with a gorgeous cover!)
S.J. Day – Eve of Darkness
Erica Hayes – Revelation
Mark Henry – Happy hour of the damned
M.K. Hobson – Native Star
Dorothy Howell – Handbags and Homicide
Tanya Huff – The enchantment emporium
Julie Kagawa – The Iron King
Rosalie Lario – Mark of the Sylph
K.E. Mills – The accidental sorcerer
Devyn Quinn – Darkness Descending
Caris Roane – Ascension
M.J. Scott – Shadow Kin
Jillian Stone – The moonstone and Miss Jones
Jillian Stone – The seduction of Phaeton Black
Carrie Vaughn – Kitty and the midnight hour
Jaye Wells – Red-headed stepchild
Jaye Wells – The mage in black

For review:

Books I’ve won:
At Sullivan McPig blog: Nancy Holzner – Darklands.
Nancy has added Hellhoud, and a book by Thomas E. Sniegoski called a Kiss before the apocalypse, 4 bookmarks, two magnets and a very cool Boston handbag. I wondered why she would send one book in such a huge box … Thank you again Nancy and Carien!

At Between Dreams and Reality blog: Misa Ramirez – Bare-naked Lola, Hasta la Vista Lola, and Living the Vida Lola. Thank you again Misa and Melliane!

© 2013 Reviews by Aurian

Recommendations from Maia November 2013.

In order to bring some more variety to my blog, I have asked my best friend Maia to tell about the books she has read in the past month, and to give us a recommendation.

Maia:

In the past month I've read nine books and two novella's by the writers Patricia Briggs, Thea Harrison, Shelly Laurenston/G.A. Aiken and Nalini Singh.

And the 3 books I enjoyed the most are:

Nalini Singh - Archangel's legion



G.A. Aiken - A tale of two dragons



Thea Harrison – Kinked



I know this list looks suspiciously like the books Karin liked, but what can I say, we have the same taste. ;-)


Once again I would like to recommend a series. It's the Mercy Thompson series by Patricia Briggs. I've been re-reading this series the past month, after I read Frost Burned (the latest). It's an urban fantasy series that develops into a UF with a paranormal romance flavor.
Mercy is the only known coyote shape shifter in a pack of werewolves. Other than changing into her other form, she has few special talents. But that doesn't stop her from helping the people she loves. She is a great heroine - smart, strong and resilient. The love story is great, a step-by-step dance between her and the hero (I'm not naming him, that would be a spoiler).
I really enjoyed the re-read as it has been a couple of years since I heard them first. Yes, the first time around I got to know Mercy was by audiobook. A great way to get to know books when traveling.

The books are:
1. Moon Called (2006)
2. Blood Bound (2007)
3. Iron Kissed (2008)
4. Bone Crossed (2009)
5. Silver Borne (2010)
6. River Marked (2011)
7. Frost Burned (2013)

The next one is Night Broken, and will be released March 11, 2014, and I can't wait to read it! I really love these books; I even read the graphic novel "Homecoming" about how Mercy comes to live in the Tri-cities. I also can recommend the Alpha & Omega series that ties in with Mercy's series. It's more paranormal romance than UF and written in third-person.




An unexpected phone call heralds a new challenge for Mercy. Her mate Adam's ex-wife is in trouble, on the run from her new boyfriend. Adam isn't the kind of man to turn away a person in need - and Mercy knows it. But with Christy holed up in Adam's house, Mercy can't shake the feeling that something about the situation isn't right.
Soon, her suspicions are confirmed when she learns that Christy has the farthest thing from good intentions. She wants Adam back and she's willing to do whatever it takes to make it happen, including turning Adam's pack against Mercy.
Mercy isn't about to step down without a fight, but there's a more dangerous threat circling. Christy's ex is more than a bad man - in fact, he may not be human at all. As the bodies start piling up, Mercy must put her personal troubles aside to face a creature with the power to tear her whole world apart.

Aurian: Thanks for the recommendation Maia, I have been re-reading this series myself, and my reviews have been posted in the past few weeks. So of course I agree with it.

Well, readers, no new variety this time to check out, but it still are some great books that Maia has recommended.

© 2013 Reviews by Aurian

Nora Roberts – Happy ever after

The fourth book in the Bride Quartet series, published November 2, 2010.
Genre: contemporary romance
Cover: nice



Childhood friends Mackensie, Parker, Laurel and Emmaline have formed a very successful wedding planning business together. While helping thousands of happy couples to organise the biggest day of their lives, three of the four women have all found love themselves – but workaholic Parker remains resolutely single.
Her business is her life and she devotes all her energy to it. But as she is forced to re-evaluate her friendships, Parker finds that someone is about to divert her focus …


I have devoured these last three books in the Bride Quartet pretty quickly, I just loved them. The friendship between those four amazing women, and their own special road to love. Of course I knew while reading the second book who Parker, our forth heroine, would end up with, but it was fun to read how it all worked out.
Parker is a workaholic, available 24/7 for her nervous brides with questions and problems to solve. She loves her work and she is very good at it. While Emmaline takes care of all the flowers and the bridal bouquets, Laurel takes care of the bridal cakes and all the other pastries requested and Mackensie is the best photographer there is, Parker takes care of all the planning and the details and keeps everything on course. She is the troubleshooter of Vows.

She is very happy for her three best friends to have found a love of their own, and is a bit envious of their new happiness, as she longs for one herself. But so far, there has not been a man who has captured her interest. Until now, and he seems so very unsuitable for her.
Parker comes from a wealthy family, she has always had money, but she also has a very strong work ethic and she has class. She knows how to act and behave in any given situation, managing people and events.
Parker and Del had a very happy childhood, with loving parents. Until their parents died in an accident, and Del became the head of the household, having to take care of the estate and of Parker. He still looks after his little sister and her three friends, even though Parker really doesn’t need it anymore. And now one of his friends is interested in his sister …

Malcolm Kavanaugh did not have a great childhood. He grew up an army brat but when his father died, his mother had to move back home and go to work for her own brother. His uncle exploited her shamelessly, making her work double shifts, and talking her down. But his mother did not know that her brother also bullied Mal, and loved to hit him. When she did find out, they moved out at once. As soon as he was old enough, Malcolm drove off to California, working his way cross country, most often as a car mechanic. He made a name for himself in Hollywood as a stuntman, until a stunt went horribly wrong. With the settlement money Mal came back home, to his mother, and bought the old garage he used to work as a kid. He is doing very well for himself now, and for his mother, who does his paperwork for him. Malcolm is not a man looking for a relationship; he enjoys a casual fling, but nothing long term. He knows that Parker is not a lady to just play with, but still, there is this attraction between them.

Malcolm loves to find out how things work, and to fix anything mechanical. He is totally unpredictable when it comes to his approach to Parker, and it left her off balance. I loved it. Yes, he is pushy at times, and just grabs her for a passionate kiss when he wants to, but he does not hurt her. But Malcolm also does not want to talk about himself or his past, and Parker has a lot of trouble with that. She wants to understand him, know him, she wants to stand beside him, and he doesn’t let her.

Parker is also not settling for less than she deserves or can have, and Malcolm really has to open up to her, or risk losing her. Parker is not willing to be just someone he visits to have sex with or take out on his Harley, he will have to share his feelings.


A very engaging story, I really enjoyed it. The couple who came in for a first consult in the first book, are married in this book. And their wedding started it all, the brides’ brother is now Mackensie’s fiancée.
I very much enjoyed Malcolm’s mother and Mrs. G. as important secondary characters. Malcolm’s mother is very important to him, and she still has him firmly in hand, making him mind his manners and buying a new suit when she tells him to. There clearly is a lot of love between them, even though he basically ran off when he was 18. He did sent money home, even though he did not go home himself very often.

I admire Parker for how she handles all those brides and their mothers and other relatives. She builds the wedding of their dreams for them. I love the descriptions even though I have no intention of getting married myself.
Parker is strong, she is there for her friends, and she knows what she wants and doesn’t want. It was fun to see her wobble on her feet thanks to Malcolm, and it was even more fun when she discovered riding on the back of a Harley. Her brother Del could not imagine it either, and he sure lost a bet about it. The four women have been good friends since childhood, and their four men have been old friends as well, or new friends and it is so nice to see everyone interacting. They are certainly not afraid to tell each other the truth.

And as I said before, I love the romance part of these books, but the friendship parts perhaps even more. Four great love stories, and as a bonus, I enjoyed learning more about the wedding business.

9 stars.

© 2013 Reviews by Aurian

ARC Review - Gini Koch – Alien Research

The eighth book in the Katherine 'Kitty' Katt series, to be published December 3, 2013.
Genre: sci fi romance
Cover: I like it.



When rumors of a new super-drug surface, the FBI comes to Jeff and Kitty Katt-Martini for help. It becomes quickly apparent that the drug is merely the tip of a deadly iceberg and a much more insidious plan is underway involving Titan Security, Gaultier Enterprises, and YatesCorp.
As newly discovered A-Cs and hybrids begin to surface, each with expanded and deadly talents, more and more signs point to a new evil genius who's using the A-Cs and their enemies both as guinea pigs. Then Area 51 and the Dulce Science Center go silent while Alpha Team, Airborne, and most of the worldwide A-C Security team are there for training. And if that's not bad enough, Centaurion Division is hit with more bad, and deadly, news: Chernobog the Ultimate, isn't a hacker myth, he's a real person -- and he's on the bad guys' side.
Now Kitty and company must find the real Dr. Feelgood and stop him or her before the latest version of Surcenthumain hits the streets and more people they love are harmed, or worse. But when the inconceivable happens, Kitty's focused on two things only: reviving the ACE entity before their enemies realize Earth's best protection isn't actually active…and revenge.


Kitty is ready for a quiet day spent with her daughter Jamie and her friends, while her husband Jeff is going to work at Congress. She is still not really used to the fact that Jeff is a member of Congress. But as soon as the limo taking them to their favourite restaurant for breakfast leaves the Embassy, that peace is destroyed. Members of Club 51 and other hate groups are protesting their existence, and bombarding the limo with dirt and garbage.
And later, when they want to leave the restaurant, they get a visit from the Cabal of Evil, wanting to make deal with Kitty. Of course Kitty is not interested in it at all, her best friend Amy is still trying to get control over her father’s company, and the Board is preventing that from happening.

Back home at the Embassy, there is more bad news waiting for Kitty. The FBI has finally come up with their own version of an Alien Division, just like Chucky is heading for the CIA. And the new director is testing them, wanting to start a congressional inquiry into the happenings at Gaultier Enterprises and Titan Security. Of course the A-C’s don’t want that to happen, too many secrets might come to light, like them killing some of the really evil bad guys. Then Kitty gets a phone call from Walter, who usually runs security at the Embassy, that he and all the other security personnel who went for training to Dulce, are in big trouble. Before Kitty can react to that, the unthinkable happens, and they are hacked. Their complete database is stolen, and all their data is wiped out. Their own resident hackers are powerless to counter that. There is only one hacker in the world who could have done that, and that is Chernobog the Ultimate. Most think he is only a rumor, but one of them knows it for a fact. And Olga acknowledges it, she even knows the woman personally. Now they will have to find their lost data again, and get some revenge on whoever did this.
But first, they will have to safe their missing friends and personnel, with Kitty in charge of it all.


I have to admit I was a bit hesitant to start this new book, as I did not really like all the politics in the previous one. But well, it is a Gini Koch book, and I am unable to let it just lie on my desk. So, I started reading it on Saturday, and kept on reading until I had to give up at 4 a.m. The next morning when I woke up I immediately continued reading until I was finished. And my verdict: I loved this book. It is completely action packed again, with Kitty and the gang having to run all over the place to safe everyone else. The complots were mind boggling until Kitty explained it al, and I just had so much fun reading this book. There are also some very sad scenes in the book though, so have some tissues ready.

I am a big fan of Kitty and how she always manages to unravel a complot against them. The Poofs and Peregrines play a big part in this book, and I do love that. And finally Kitty discovers the truth about the AC-elves. I loved those parts. Okay, I notice I am using the word “love” way too much in this review, but I can’t help myself.

Gini Koch has a truly unique writing style, and it fits what I like perfectly. I love most of the characters. I have to make an exception for Christopher, as I just can’t like him. The book is action packed, and filled with surprising twists and new characters. I can never predict what will happen next and I dare you to try. But don’t worry, there is a bit of time left for Kitty and Jeff to enjoy their sex life, and to have some family time with Jamie. There is also violence and death, and I do wonder why evil guys never really die.

If you haven’t read the previous books, please don’t dive into this one as you will have no idea whatsoever about who is who or what has happened before.

10 stars.

© 2013 Reviews by Aurian

Patricia Briggs – Silver Borne

The fifth book in the Mercedes Thompson series, published March 30, 2010.
Genre: urban fantasy
Cover: Mercy gets more and more tattoos on the cover, not in the book, but I do like it.



When Mercy Thompson, mechanic and shapeshifter, attempts to return a powerful fae book she previously borrowed in an act of desperation, she finds the bookstore locked up and closed down.
It seems the book contains secrets – and the fae will do just about anything to keep it out of the wrong hands. And if that doesn’t take enough of Mercy’s attention, her friend Samuel is struggling with his wolf side – leaving Mercy to cover for him lest his own father declare Samuel’s life forfeit.
All in all, Mercy has had better days. And if she isn’t careful, she may not have many more.


I can’t believe how little I remembered of this book. And it is such a good one. This time it is Samuel who gets Mercy in trouble. Samuel is a very old werewolf, and he has grown weary. Being a doctor is no longer enough for him, and he decides to kill himself. Lucky for him, his wolf does not want to die and takes over, keeping him alive. Usually, a werewolf with the wolf in control, turns into a savage beast, but Sam is stronger than that, and he can control himself. But Mercy needs to keep this a secret from the other wolves, as it would mean a death sentence.
After her disastrous date with Adam, when one of the pack was unduly influencing her thoughts and actions, she has the perfect excuse to keep her distance from Adam and the pack for a while. But when an armed man comes to her garage, looking for a werewolf to kill, Adam drives to the rescue. Not that he needed to do that, as Mercy had everything well in hand. Somebody has send a television bounty hunter after Adam Hauptmann with a fake warrant to kill him. And given Mercy’s garage as the address where he could be found. Which is very strange, as Adam is a local businessman who goes to work 6 days out of 7.
As Mercy has brought Sam with her to work, Sam is the werewolf almost getting killed. For not telling Sylvia Sandoval that the big dog she brought with her, and that her littlest daughter Maria has been crawling all over and riding like a pony, she looses her friendship. Her son Gabriel is no longer allowed to work for Mercy as well, as it is not a safe environment for her son. And Mercy has no choice but to agree on that, she will sure miss his help though.

Is this really an elaborate plot to kill Mercy, and get the old Fae book she has borrowed from Phineas? Tad warned her about the book, he had gotten a strange message from Phin, and now the bookshop is closed and Phin has gone missing, and strange Fae are popping up all over the place. Mercy makes sure the book is in a safe place, and starts investigating with Sam. Which is a good thing when she is attacked by some strange and very strong kind of Fae and Sam kills him.

Of course Adam and the Marrok find out too soon about Sam’s condition, and they are very concerned about Mercy’s safety. According to Charles, Samuel’s brother, Sam has perhaps one week left before he fades and dies anyway. With only one half of the soul wiling to live, there is just not enough left. Unless Samuel finds something or someone new to live for….


A very action filled book, and I loved every page of it. The drama with Samuel/Sam, the intrigue with the Fae who is after the book, and the maker of the Silver Borne was a good story line. Add to that the stuff happening with the werewolf pack, Adam having to fight for his life and his title as Alpha while severely wounded, and the traitor in the pack being found out. Jesse is sweet on Gideon, and she helps Mercy find him when he gets abducted by the bad Fae. I really like how strong Jesse has become in this series.

Adam proves again how well he knows Mercy, and that he doesn’t want her to change. She is loyal to her friends, and he cannot fault her for that. But he will have her back when needed. I do love how their relationship is progressing.

This will be the last book I am re-reading for now in this series, on to new books, new worlds to discover.

10 stars.

© 2013 Reviews by Aurian

New books to look forward to for December 2013

This is the list of new releases for the month of December 2013 I am re looking forward to:

Jean Johnson – The Grove – Guardians of Destiny 2
Erin McCarthy – Full Throttle – Fast Track 7
Gini Koch – Alien Research – Katherine Kitty Katt 08
Jennifer Estep – The Spider – Elemental Assassin 10
Juliet Blackwell – Home for the Haunting – Haunted Home Renovation Mystery 04
Anthology: Kicking it – Rachel Caine, Chloe Neill, Rob Thurman, Kalayna Price e.a.
Kathryne Kennedy – Everlasting Enchantment – Relics of Merlin 4
Sara Humphreys – Unclaimed – Amoveo Legend 5
Stefanie Sloane – The Wicked Widow meets her match – Regency Rogues 7
Bella Andre – Let me be the One – Sullivans 6
Cecy Robson – A cursed Moon
Debbie Macomber – Marriage between friends
Elizabeth Lowell – Dangerous Refuge PB
Faith Hunter – Jane Yellowrock World Companion
Jennifer Estep – The Spider – Elemental Assassin 10
Kimberly Raye – Jesse – Texas Outlaws
Stephanie Laurens – Cynsters: the beginning

I have read a total of 21 books and 1 short story this month.

Did I match my reading solutions for last month? Yes I did, and especially on the older books I own.
I have read 2 cozy mysteries:
- Bailey Cates – Charms and Chocolate Chips
- Heather Blake – A potion to die for

Books longer than 1 year on my shelf:
8 rereads and 5 new reads:
- Christina Skye – The perfect gift
- Nora Roberts – One man’s art
- Nora Roberts – Bed of Roses
- Nora Roberts – Savour the Moment
- Nora Roberts – Happy Ever After

1 book I have won:
- Cherry Adair – Ice Cold

and 1 requested review book:
- Catherine Lloyd – Death comes to the village.

© 2013 Reviews by Aurian