Laurell K. Hamilton – Dead Ice

Book 24 in the Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter series, published June 9, 2015
Genre: urban fantasy
Cover: for the first time, I don’t get the cover or the title.



My name is Anita Blake and I have the highest kill count of any vampire executioner in the country. I'm a U.S. Marshal who can raise zombies with the best of them. But ever since master vampire Jean-Claude and I went public with our engagement, all I am to anyone and everyone is Jean-Claude's fiancé.
It's wreaking havoc with my reputation as a hard ass - to some extent. Luckily, in professional circles, I'm still the go-to expert for zombie issues. And right now, the FBI is having one hell of a zombie issue.
Someone is producing zombie porn. I've seen my share of freaky undead fetishes, so this shouldn't bother me. But the women being victimised aren't just mindless, rotting corpses. Their souls are trapped behind their eyes, signalling voodoo of the blackest kind.
It's the sort of case that can leave a mark on a person. And my own soul may not survive unscathed . . .


Just while I was in the middle of re-reading this series, I won this latest book on Paranormal Haven Blog, so I could not have been happier. I would have to wait a whole year to read it otherwise.

Anita is now very officially engaged to Jean-Claude, the new King of Vampires in America. He pulled all the stops in a very public and romantic proposal (and Anita hated every moment of it). But Anita won’t just settle down with Jean-Claude, she still loves her Micah and Nathaniel as much, and they will all engage in another kind of commitment ceremony. Of course other men in her life are very jealous they are not to be included, and she just doesn’t want to deal with them anymore.
Both Asher and Narcissus try to force their hands, but Anita won’t budge, and with next to him, neither will Jean-Claude. Their lives are working at the moment as it is, and they won’t be pushed to add more demands on their personal time.
Nicky is playing a bigger part in this book, and I really like him. Anita is still uncomfortable with Cynric (Sin) and I do agree with her on that, and I don’t like his pushiness. Or Jade.

But that is Anita’s personal life. It keeps evolving, and I do love to read about all of them and how she tries to deal with it and everyone’s feelings.

The main story here is zombie porn. Someone is making zombies who are aware of the things that are happening to them, and that someone is very strong and very evil, as he knows how to trap their souls inside. It makes Anita remember her early days, when the Senora tried to recruit her skills for something similar. Now it is her old friend and mentor Manny who’s past is coming back to haunt him, big time.

But when Anita really lets loose her necromancer powers, no one is stronger than her … but will she be in time to save the hostages?


As all my loyal readers know, I love this series. I even love the sex scenes and keep reading them instead of skipping those pages as I usually do. And there are a lot of hot love scenes in this one. Anita gets hurt a few times, or has to try to heal others, so sex is necessary. They also need to have more ties to the tigers, and perhaps add a female or two in the mix. Ofcourse politics are involved, both vampire and were-animal politics. Anita is actually getting better at it.

The only complaint I have, is that there is always so much talking and explaining needed to new police of FBI officers, about who and what Anita is. They call for her help and expertise and then don’t want to believe her. So why bother her at all? To my surprise, Larry Kirkland is back and they might even become friends of sorts again.

10 stars.

© 2015 Reviews by Aurian

New additions to my addiction

My 8th new additions post for 2015. These are the new books I have bought in the past 2 months, and I really enjoyed some of those already 

From Bookdepository:
Bailey Cates – Magic and Macaroons
Yasmine Galenorn – Flight from Death
Christine Feehan – Dark Lycan
Lori Handeland – In the Air Tonight
Lori Handeland – Heat of the Moment
Victoria Hamilton – Death of an English Muffin
Lorna Barrett – Book Clubbed
Maggie Sefton – Yarn over murder
Stephanie Laurens – A match for Marcus Cynster
Jean Johnson – The Terrans, First Salik War
Jayne Castle – Siren’s Call
Lori Handeland – Dances with Demons
J.D. Robb – Confession in Death
Ellery Adams – Murder in the Paperback Parlor
Leann Sweeney – The Cat, The Sneak and the Secret
Anthology: Edge of Darkness – Christine Feehan
Nalini Singh - Archangel's Enigma
Susan Wittig Albert - The Darling Dahlias and the Silver Dollar Bush

A birthday gift from Sullivan McPig:
Eileen Wilks – Mortal Sins
Eileen Wilks – Blood Magic

© 2015 Reviews by Aurian

J.R. Ward - Possession

The fifth book in the Fallen Angels series, published October 1, 2013.
Genre: urban fantasy
Cover: pretty



#1 New York Times bestselling author J.R. Ward explores what really happens when good and evil toy with humanity in her new novel of the Fallen Angels, as the salvation of a doomed soul depends once again on a crossroads....
When Cait Douglass resolves to get over her broken heart, throw off her inhibitions, and start really living, she's unprepared for the two sensual men who cross her path. Torn between them, she doesn't know which to choose - or what kind of dire consequences could follow.
Jim Heron, fallen angel and reluctant savior, is ahead in the war, but he puts everything at risk when he seeks to make a deal with the devil - literally. As yet another soul is unwittingly caught in the battle between him and the demon Devina, his fixation on an innocent trapped in Hell threatens to sidetrack him from his sacred duty....
Can good still prevail if true love makes a savior weak? And will a woman's future be the key, or the curse, for all of humanity? Only time, and hearts, will tell.


I absolutely loved the previous 4 books in this series, they were mesmerizing, filled with action and suspense, and the battle between good and evil. But this fifth book left me utterly cold. It failed to capture my attention for most of the book, and I only kept on reading because I kept hoping for the magic to reappear. A lot of the story focused on Jim and the soul he rescued from Devina, Sissy. And I just don’t care about Sissy at all, or like her, or whatever. Eddie is still in mourning for Adrian, and the only fun part of the book is Dog (which is of course God spelled backwards).

I did sort of like the story line that should have been the focus, of Cait and her choosing between the two men she meets. Two brothers, one good and one very evil. Could her love have redeemed the evil one? I sincerely doubt it, so there was no suspense there either. But the relationship between Cait and the good one consisted mainly of sex in the start, he did not even know her name!

I will read the next book, as it is already on my shelves, but I am not in a big hurry to get to it at this point, not even after all the unsuspected happenings in Heaven.

5 stars out of 10.

© 2015 Reviews by Aurian

Recommendations from Karin for August 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.

This post is much too late, my apologies for that, as I completely forgot to schedule it! Karin was on time ;)

Karin:

Again a month full of joyful reading – thanks to Aurian I discovered my love for cozy mysteries a while back and now I have found two series that I would like to recommend to you:

The first one is by Dawn Eastman:

Pall in the family and



Be Careful what you Witch for




There is a third book in this series out already but I haven’t read that yet. This series is just what I enjoyed for a light summer reading. The heroine and the supporting characters of her family are delightful. I even guessed who the culprit was in the second book but I didn’t mind that. These books have such funny scenes that I found myself laughing out loud several times. They are relatively light on the romance side but the hero is what you could wish for: handsome, strong and protective. Highly recommended!!

The second series of cozy mysteries is by Laura Morrigan:

Woof at the Door



A Tiger’s Tale



This series too is delightful although the heroine is not as likeable as the other one. She is like Dr Doolittle – she understands and communicates with animals. Mind you: it’s not the wham bam humour of a Hollywood movie. It’s done very tasteful. The animals in the books are more loveable than the humans. This series as well as the first one are written in the first person which is something I don’t really appreciate – I like to read from multiple points of view. Still, if you feel like it – give that series a try.

Next I would recommend a writer who I would call the godmother of all historical romances.
I discovered Georgette Heyer when I was in my teens (and no, I won’t tell you how long ago that was). I read her books in German then of course and I have to warn you – they are no easy reads in English. The reason for my warning: Heyer stuck close to the speaking patterns of these days.
These books are very different to what we are used to reading in historical romances these days. Of course you recognize the subtle courtship, but the most you get is a kiss at the end of the book. But the whole journey of getting to that one kiss is such fun to read, the supporting characters mostly show Heyer’s trademark of humor, there are mysteries, villains – in short everything you could ask for.
I love books like: “The Grand Sophy”, “Venetia”, “Frederica” “A Civil Contract” “The Reluctant Widow” – I could go on and on. So, if you feel up to the challenge of reading them in English, give those books a try. (Or you might even try them in your native language. The German translations were really good!!)

This is about it for this month. I hope you find a lot of good books to read!



Aurian: Thanks for the recommendation Karin! I would love to read that first series especially, love the covers! That is always the first thing to catch my attention, a gorgeous cover. And of course I have read Georgette Heyer! I still have dozens of her books both in Dutch and in English in my attic, and re-read them occasionally. The Grand Sophy is my absolute favourite though.
How about you, reader? Have you read anything by this Grand Dame of Romance? Which one is your favourite?

© 2015 Reviews by Aurian

New books to look forward to for September 2015

This is the list of new releases for the month of September 2015 I am looking forward to:

Catherine Coulter – The End Game – Brit in the FBI 3 HC
Christine Feehan – Dark Ghost – Dark 27 HC
Christine Feehan – Dark Blood – Dark 26 PB
Heather Graham – The Hidden – Krewe of Hunters 17 HC
J.D. Robb – Devoted in Death – In Death 41 HC
J.D. Robb – Down the Rabbit Hole – Anthology
Jacquelyn Frank – Bound by Sin – Immortal Brothers 3
Jennifer Ashley – The Stolen MacKenzie Bride – Mackenzies 8
Kim Harrison – The Drafter – Peri Reed Cronicles 1 HC
Nalini Singh – Archangel’s Enigma – Guildhunter 8
Stephanie Laurens – By Winter’s Light – Cynster 21
Susan Wittig Albert – The Darling Dahlias and the Eleven O’Clock Lady – Darling Dahlias 6 HC
Susan Wittig Albert – The Darling Dahlias and the Silver Dollar Bush - Darling Dahlias 5 PB

I have read a total of 13 books and 1 novella this month. I have no idea where the time went I should have spend reading. I do hope to do better next month.

Did I match my reading solutions for last month? Almost!
I have read 2 cozy mysteries:
Ellery Adams - Murder in the Paperback Parlor
Leann Sweeney - The Cat, the Sneak and the Secret

6 books longer than 1 year on my shelf:
Dara Joy - High Energy
Jayne Ann Krentz - Whirlwind Courtship
Nora Roberts - Lawless
Nora Roberts - Born in Fire
Nora Roberts - Born in Ice
Nora Roberts - Born in Shame

no book I have won / been gifted / given for review:

and for my Kindle freebie/Nora Roberts challenge:
Nora Roberts - Lawless
Nora Roberts - Born in Fire
Nora Roberts - Born in Ice
Nora Roberts - Born in Shame

© 2015 Reviews by Aurian

Ilona Andrews – Sweep in Peace

The second book in the Clean Sweep series, selfpublished as a serial on their blog, and still available there.
Genre: urban fantasy
Cover: Okay I guess, I don't know if it is the official cover, as it is not on their website.



I could also not find a blurb.

This book is awesome. It takes place about 5 months after the first book. Dina is still living in Gertrude Hunt Inn, her magical bed and breakfast place, but she is sorely in need of guests, as her only permanently residing guest points out: Her Grace, Caldenia ka ret Magren.
So when an Arbiter needs a place for three warring factions to stay, while he tries to negotiate a peace treaty, between the warring factions on the planet Nexus, she is not in the position to say no, even though she is his very last choice (every other Inn has turned him down). The Inn needs guests, and not only for the money it will bring. To cater to so many important people in the galaxy would be a sure feather in her cap, but keeping the peace between them won’t be easy. She will also need a cook to cater for them …

It is such a good story, and I don’t want to spoil anything, but Arlan is one of the guests.

The Arbiter is determined that a peace treaty is made, and he is willing to manipulate Dina and everyone else to get it done. And when Dina realizes that, she is not too happy, and shows him more of what she can do. But she has started this, and she will have to see it through, until her guests go over the line too much …

Danger, intrigue, treason, action, magic and humor, it has it all. Even a little hint of romance. I love the little glimpses of the other universes, like when Dina is shopping for a cook, and how she deals with him. Yes, she does miss her almost love-interest and alpha werewolf Sean Evans but he stepped into the galaxy 5 months ago and has not been back nor sent word to her.

And the ending, as usual, it is a big surprise and so well done. I sure hope they will write another one soon. This is a series worthy of re-reading.

10 stars.

© 2015 Reviews by Aurian

Lori Wilde – The first love cookie club

The third book in the Twilight, Texas series, published October 26, 2010.
Genre: contemporary romance
Cover: Christmassy



"On Christmas Eve, if you sleep with kismet cookies under your pillow and dream of your one true love, he will be your destiny."
The townsfolk of Twilight, Texas, believe the legend, but not Sarah Collier - not since she was a pudgy teenager, running down the church aisle on Christmas Day in a jingle bell sweater and reindeer antlers, trying to stop Travis Walker from marrying someone else. She may be grown-up, slimmed-down, bestselling children's book author "Sadie Cool" now, but Sarah will never forget that day. And she'll never fall foolishly in love again!
But when a letter from a sick fan brings Sarah back to Twilight, she's shocked to discover that Travis is the little girl's father - unattached and hotter than ever. His smile still makes her melt, but Sarah knows that ship has sailed. Travis, however, might have different ideas.


My first Lori Wilde book, and although I enjoyed it, I sure have some issues with it as well. I liked Sarah/Sadie, she was shy and hated being out in the public. But her best friend and manager has arranged for her to visit her home town at Christmas time, as the request of a very sick little girl. And as she has been trying unsuccessfully to write the sequel to her best selling children’s book for years now, perhaps Twilight will give her the inspiration she needs.
She used to spend her summers with her grandmother in Twilight, as her parents are two very busy heart surgeons, and too busy to spend much time with their only child. But after making a fool over herself over next door bad boy Travis, she never went back. And when her grandmother died, her parents sold the house without asking her opinion.
What she doesn’t know, is that Travis got married as he got a girl pregnant. His daughter has had medical problems since birth, and his wife Crystal could not handle it anymore. So he is now a single dad and the local sheriff, and living in her grandmother’s house.

The ladies of the First Love Cookie Club are the ones who organize all the evens and charity in town, and when they found at that the famous Sadie Cool is their own Sarah Collier (her grandmother was one of their group) they are determined to get her together with Travis at every opportunity. Sarah is reluctant, but his little girl quickly steals her heart. The attraction is still there between them, but dare she risk her heart again?


I enjoyed this book for the most part, but often during emotional or tender scenes, Saran would say something that totally threw me out of the mood, and not once, but often. I really disliked that. I loved Travis. He is a very diligent father, and where his wife left, he gives his daughter his all, even when the cost of her medicine will cost him his house and everything else he owns as the insurance won’t pay for it.
And when his wife wants a second chance, he certainly is not interested. He has fallen for Sarah, and not even for his daughter will he give his wife a second chance. She will only run away again when things get hard.

I liked the legend, the setting of the village at Christmas time and all of the events, and the main characters. But the conversations let something to desire. So I am not in a hurry to read another book in this series, although there are certainly some happenings and characters I would not mind reading more about.

6 stars.

© 2015 Reviews by Aurian