Lori Handeland - In the Air tonight

The first book in the Sisters of The Craft series, published June 2, 2015.
Genre: paranormal romance
Cover: Lovely.



Four centuries ago, in a small Scottish village, three baby girls escaped the wrath of a witch hunter. Today, one young woman will learn about her secret history, her heart's destiny, and the sisters she never knew she had...
With her blue-black hair and dark eyes, Raye Larsen has never fit in with the Scandinavian community of New Bergin, Wisconsin. Being adopted is part of the reason she feels like an outsider, but what really sets Raye apart is her ability to see dead people. Everywhere. She's learned to keep her visions to herself...until she stumbles onto the ghost of a murder victim who needs Raye's help.
Enter Bobby Doucet, a distractingly handsome homicide detective who has been tracking a killer all the way from New Orleans. Could this be the break in his case he's been looking for all along? Meanwhile, the deeper Raye gets involved with the case-and with Bobby-the closer she comes to unlocking the mystery of her own origins. What she discovers about herself could destroy everything she knows...and everyone she loves. Is finding the truth worth the risk?


I have enjoyed Lori Handelands werewolf stories for years now, and when she wrote a new series about witches, I was excited. It still is related to the werewolf books though, as Edward makes an appearance here as well.
So I bought this trilogy as soon as possible, but for some reason was hesitant to start reading them. When I finally started reading this book though, I was very pleasantly surprised, as I liked it from the first page.
Someone is trying to kill Raye, as a mad man with a hatchet shows up in her apartment. She manages to escape him, and runs outside on the street. Where she meets Bobby Doucet, a police officer from New Orleans on the trail of a serial killer. Raye doesn't have a clue who is trying to kill her, or why. But she can give Bobby a clue about his serial killer, but telling him, all the murder victims were witches. And when their relationship grows, she confesses to him that she can see and talk to ghosts. She proves it, by telling him about one of the ghosts around him, a murder case he never solved and that keeps bothering him. When his partner in New Orleans follows up on her lead, the case is solved at last, and Bobby has no choice but to believe her. There is a voodoo queen in his own ancestry, but he never wanted to believe in it.

Finally Raye finds out why she has been seeing the strange Quaker like ghosts and the wolf all of her life, and the truth about herself and her birth family.


It was an exciting tale, and I enjoyed it very much. An ancient society of witch hunters has been resurfaced, and is killing witches, and now they want to resurrect their old leader. And that is one of the reasons, the police never found the killer, as there is not one of them, but a lot of them, all killing in different ways and leaving no clues behind that tie the cases together.

I love how Raye handles it all, how she discovers hidden powers in herself, and falls in love with Bobby. She is a kindergarten teacher, and she loves her job. She has one good friend, who is so very different from her, and they are fun together. I really like her.

I am very much looking forward to reading the next book, about one of Raye's sisters. I do hope she had a happier childhood than Raye.

9 stars.

© 2016 Reviews by Aurian

Deborah Blake - Wickedly Wonderful

The second book in the Baba Yaga series, published December 2, 2014.
Genre: paranormal romance
Cover: great




Though she looks like a typical California surfer girl, Beka Yancy is in fact a powerful yet inexperienced witch who's struggling with her duties as a Baba Yaga. Luckily she has her faithful dragon-turned-dog for moral support when she discovers that a mysterious toxin is driving the Selkie and Mer from their homes deep in the trenches of Monterey Bay.
To investigate, Beka buys her way onto the boat of Marcus Dermott, a battle-scarred former US marine, and his ailing fisherman father. While diving for clues, Beka drives Marcus crazy with her flaky New Age ideas and dazzling blue eyes. She thinks that he's rigid and cranky (and way too attractive). Meanwhile, a charming Selkie prince has plans that include Beka. Only by trusting her powers can Beka save the underwater races, pick the right man, and choose the path she'll follow for the rest of her life.


I have fallen hard in love with this authors' writing style and this series. Beka is another Baba Yaga working in America, but she is very different from Barbara. She is very unsure about herself and her powers, and when she gets an assignment from the Queen of the Mer and the King of the Selkies, she is not sure she can do it. The former Baba Yaga who trained her, made sure of that, by always belittling her and her efforts, and now acknowledging how very strong her powers are. Like Barbara Yager, she also has her own Chudo Yudo to guard the Water of Life while she is out surfing, but her Chudo Yudo is a Newfoundlander. A dragon disguises as a huge dog sure keeps visitors away. Her hut on chicken legs is a schoolbus in this incarnation, and her mortar and pestle an environment friendly little car.

But not Marcus Dermott, who doesn’t like Beka, whom he thinks is just another flaky blond after he fishes her up out of the ocean, destroying his father's fishing net. He doesn't believe her excuse of rescuing a seal baby (in reality it was a mer baby). And when she wants to hire him and his boat the next day, to go for some treasure hunting, he flat out turns her down. But Beka doesn't hesitate to turn it around on him, by telling his father that she wants to hire the boat to take her out, as she knows he is the owner and really needs the money.

And when a gorgeous Mer prince starts paying attention to her, Beka is sure she can solve the problem the underwater people are having. Chudo Yudo doesn't like the prince though and doesn't trust his motives. But Beka doesn't have many friends and is determined to do her best. But it is the grouchy Marcus who has captured her romantic interest …


I enjoyed this story a lot, and I really felt for Beka, who was betrayed by someone she trusted. But in the end, she managed to solve the problem, with the help of Marcus and Chudo Yudo. I can't wait to read more stories in this very original and entertaining world. Ancient witches who help people on occasion, but also guard the earth.
Marcus was a great hero, he has some serious issues and scars, and I loved how Beka helped him with that, and with his fathers illness. He really doesn’t trust Beka, and he knows she is lying to him that she is diving for treasure. But when needed, he is there for her. And very jealous of a certain Prince …

9 stars.

© 2016 Reviews by Aurian

Freya looks back at 2015, and shares her goals for 2016.

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, or share other bookrelated stuff. Today’s post is made by Freya from Holland.

Freya:

My first post for this year is a looking back post. I used to do it on my own blog, but since I stopped blogging there, Aurian lets me use her blog for this post.

Read

I’ve read 63 novels and 31 novellas last year, a total of 94 stories. Compared to earlier years that’s not bad, but it’s still not the 100 stories I set out to read. I didn’t make a last sprint in my Christmas vacation because of a sudden Dr. Who addiction.
The 100 will also be a target for this year. I hope I will reach that. I have to eliminate some distractions, but that should be possible. And there are very good books coming out, this year.

Bought

2016 saw my library growing with 418 books. Most came from Berlin. Aurian and I were at the Loveletter Convention. I got books from Annie West and Shannon McKenna. Also there were books donated by Kris, from the organization. After the convention Aurian got in contact with Kris and organized the “Great Book Haul of 2015”. I took 323 books from that pile of books Kris (and Aurian) didn’t want. The other 65 books were bought at The Book Depository (34), Second-hand (24) and at a bookfair (7). The seven books I was given and the book I won completes the list. Next to that I also bought 25 digital books, mostly at Amazon.

Spent

I spent about €525,- on these books. This is much less than other years (2013 € 900; 2014- € 720,-) and an average of €1.25 per book.
Unfortunately the price of BD books is getting higher and higher these years.

Loved

The books I loved the most were:
- Andrews, Ilona - Sweep in peace
- Bishop, Anne - Vision in silver
- Brockway, Connie - All through the night (reread)
- Draven, Grace - Radiance
- Harrison, Thea - Midnight's kiss
- Kennedy, Jeffe - The Talon of the hawk
- Robb, J.D. - Naked in death (reread)
- Singh, Nalini - Archangel's enigma
- Singh, Nalini - Rock hard
- West, Annie - The sultan's harem bride

Resolutions

My resolutions for this year are:
1. Read at least 100 stories
2. Finish the series I started, especially these:
- Cherry Adair – T-FLAC
- Lara Adrian – Midnight Breed
- Maya Banks – Kelly Group International
- Meljean Brook – Guardians
- Jayne Castle – Guinevere Jones
- Kresley Cole – Immortals after dark
- Alyssa Day – Warriors of Poiseidon
- Suzanne Enoch – Samantha Jellicoe
- Christine Feehan – Ghostwalkers and/or Sisters of the heart
- Angela Knight – Mageverse
- Gini Koch – Kitty Katt
- Lynn Kurland – MacLeod / Piaget
- Marjorie M. Liu – D&S
- Shannon McKenna – McCloud
- Karen Marie Moning – Highland
- Robin D. Owen – Celta
- Lynn Viehl – Darkyn/Kyndred
- Eileen Wilks - Lupi

3. Start reading these series
- Ilona Andrews – Kate Daniels and/or Edge
- Jennifer Ashley – Shifters unbound
- Mary Balogh – Survivor’s club
- Kirsten Callihan – Darkest London
- Anna Campbell – Sons of Sin
- Loretta Chase – Dressmakers
- Kim Harrison – the Hollows
- Karen Hawkins – MacLean Curse
- Larissa Ione – Demonica
- Alexandra Ivy – Guardians of Eternity
- Eloisa James – Dutchess
- Lisa Kleypas – Wallflower
- Elisabeth Lowell – Donovans
- Susan Mallery – Buchanan
- Alexis Morgan – Paladins of Darkness
- Mary Jo Putney – Lost Lords
- Nora Roberts – Night Tales; Stars of Mithra; Circle
- Gena Showalter – Lords of the Underworld
- Linnea Sinclair - Ghost
- Christina Skye – Draycott
- multi author – Royal house of Shadows

If I can do 2 and 3, I’ll get to realize 1. So hoping for a great year for reading and buying books!



Aurian: Thanks for this summary Freya! I sure hope you will indeed read some of the great series you have already started years ago, as I know you will love those books.
But to tease you, I can tell my readers, that unless you shake your fascination for/addiction to anything David Tennant, you won't make it ;)

© 2016 Reviews by Aurian

Heather Blake - Ghost of a Potion

The third book in the Magic Potion Mystery series, published October 6, 2015.
Genre: paranormal cozy mystery
Cover: lovely



In the latest from the bestselling author of One Potion in the Grave, it's Halloween in Hitching Post, Alabama, and potion shop owner Carly Bell Hartwell has an especially spooky customer to handle...
With all the ghosts that haunt her at this time of year, Carly doesn't exactly rush to celebrate Halloween. Even a costume ball organized by her boyfriend Dylan's mother, Patricia Davis Jackson, holds little allure. But to please Dylan, who wants peace between the two women, Carly reluctantly agrees to go.
Gossip around town is that architect Haywood Dodd plans to make a big announcement at the party. But before he can address the crowd, he's found dead with Patricia standing over him, holding the murder weapon. Anxious to clear Patricia's name and perhaps broker a truce with her, Carly would love to use her snooping skills to find the real killer. Only she has bigger problems to deal with - ghosts are flocking to her for help, including a very persistent Haywood Dodd...


Carly is a witch with her own magical potions shop, and she hates Halloween. Those three dangerous days, the ghosts come out and if they find out she can see them, they won't leave her alone until she has helped them with whatever is preventing them to cross. She used to love this time of year, and helping ghosts find some closure until a very nasty experience with an evil ghost a few years ago. Nowadays, she just hides inside the house with a lot of comfort food and chick movies. Her cousin Delia thinks otherwise, she sets out especially to help as many ghosts as she can. But the best laid plans go amiss, when Carly is front and center at a murder scene, and the ghost asks for her help. And then he disappears as he doesn't want Carly to find out his secrets after all.

While searching for Haywoods ghost, Carly is noticed by Virgil Keane, and he needs to know his beloved dog Louella is all right, as he himself was killed in a hit and run car accident while walking her.

But Carly doesn't give up on her quest to find out the truth about who killed Haywood Dodd, after the why was pretty easy. More and more secrets are unearthed, and I was absolutely flabbergasted at the reason why Patricia dislikes Carly so much that she has been sabotaging her relationship with Dylan from the get-go.

Delia also doesn't have an easy Halloween, when she find Jenny Jane Booth. When a ghost comes too close, the empath/witch feels the ghosts' death, and as Jenny suffered a stroke, it is almost impossible for Delia to walk, and to communicate with Jenny. Finally Carly's father helps them when a note also doesn't work, by telling the ghost (who doesn't affect him) to keep her distance from the girls. Jenny Jane Booth wants to see her grandchild and so the mission is to find out where Moriah is living now, and to find a way to bring Jenny Jane with them, without her disabling them in the car. When the three days are over, the ghosts will fade and not be able to cross over until next year …


So, some good deeds are done by Delia and Carly, but the secrets that are unearthed have caused a lot of trouble and death by the people who wanted it to be kept a secret. But the biggest one is about Dylan, Carly's boyfriend, who is also a Deputy, and his mother, who is the main murder suspect. I was absolutely astonished about what I found out, and I can't wait to learn what will happen next.

Those of you who have followed my blog for a while now, know that I love cozy mysteries, and especially paranormal cozy mysteries. And I have to tell you, Heather Blake is one of the best authors I have read so far in this genre. Heartily recommended. It is the perfect mix of humor, suspense, danger, magic and love and great characters that makes this series a delight to read. Carly's family sure is eccentric!

10 stars.

© 2016 Reviews by Aurian

Thea Harrison - Shadow's End

The ninth book in the Elder Races series, published December 1, 2015.
Genre: paranormal romance
Cover: nice



For Beluviel, consort to the Elven High Lord, and Graydon, gryphon and First Sentinel of the Wyr, even the slightest desire for each other is forbidden. But two hundred years ago, after a desperate play to save Beluviel's stepson left them indebted to the cruel Djinn Malphas, they found their fates inexorably linked together - and the hunger between them growing too strong to ignore...
Two centuries later, with their debt to Malphas coming due, Beluviel and Graydon realize that, if they are to stand any chance of saving their souls, they must once again work together - this time more closely than ever before. But every moment they spend with each other brings them nearer to losing something even more vital - their hearts...


A very bad blurb, you could say only the names are correct, the rest of it is not. They are not indebted, they are blackmailed by Malphas, and they had to struck a bargain with him. Two hundred years ago, Graydon came to Beluviel's aid when her stepson didn't show up as promised, and she feared it would get him into trouble with his father again. Graydon has always admired Beluviel from afar, knowing there could never be anything between them, as she is married to the Elven High Lord, and he was a Sentinel of the Wyr. Relations between Dragos and the Elven were hostile, as they still remember the time when Dragos was just a wild beast, and considered Elves just like cattle, and his rightful prey.
But now she needs his help, and he gladly offers it. On their way to Malphas' private residence, they get to know each other, and finally give in to their attraction. Graydon knows she is his mate, and to be with her will be difficult, but not impossible. They can be together for short periods of time. Her marriage is in name only, as the Elven High Lord doesn't even bother to be discreet with his many affairs and lovers, and even asked her to raise his bastard son as her own. And now Beluviel will do whatever it takes to keep that precious child safe.
But Malphas is smarter and out for revenge, and he blackmails them into staying apart forever, or he will kill Ferion. Malphas completely controls Ferion, he can even make him kill his own mother…

For two hundred years, Graydon has bided his time, gather intel and evidence of Malphas evil doings, until he has enough to make an appeal to the High Court. Because of things that happened in the previous book, he knows that Malphas doesn't only control the new Elven High Lord, but many other people in high places as well, and also in the human government. He has become too dangerous and needs to be killed. So with the help of all of their allies, they will fight Malphas … But killing a First Generation Djinn, is not easy at all … and the price they pay is very high indeed.


I cried my eyes out in this book, feeling for Beluviel and Graydon who were denied their love for each other for so long. But now, after they have dealt with Malphas, they can start a new life, together. But Graydon cannot give up his duties to Dragos as his First Sentinel, not after all the other Sentinels who have recently found their mates and moved out of the Wyr. Can Beluviel give up her forest and her people to be with him? To live in the same building as Dragos?

I loved this story, and getting a glimpse of the live and work of a Sentinel before all the action started. Peanut is a precocious little boy, and I am very curious what will happen in his future. He grows up so extremely fast. But the focus is on the romance between Graydon and Beluviel, and they deserved their happiness so much.

A good mix of action, love, emotions and friendship and loyalty, I truly believe this series is just getting better and better. Thea Harrison has created a wonderful world, and I am certain I won't be bored with it for many years to come.

10 stars.

© 2016 Reviews by Aurian

Deborah Blake - Wickedly Dangerous

The first book in the Baba Yaga series, published September 2, 2014.
Genre: paranormal romance
Cover: love it



Known as the wicked witch of Russian fairy tales, Baba Yaga is not one woman, but rather a title carried by a chosen few. They keep the balance of nature and guard the borders of our world, but don't make the mistake of crossing one of them...
Older than she looks and powerful beyond measure, Barbara Yager no longer has much in common with the mortal life she left behind long ago. Posing as an herbalist and a researcher, she travels the country with her faithful (mostly) dragon-turned-dog in an enchanted Airstream, fulfilling her duties as a Baba Yaga and avoiding any possibility of human attachment.
But when she is summoned to find a missing child, Barbara suddenly finds herself caught up in a web of deceit and an unexpected attraction to the charming but frustrating Sheriff Liam McClellan.
Now, as Barbara fights both human enemies and Otherworld creatures to save the lives of three innocent children, she discovers that her most difficult battle may be with her own heart…


I absolutely loved this story. Barbara sure can be a wicked witch if she wants to, and she loves mischief. She lives with her talking dog, who is really a small dragon, in an enchanted Airstream, which makes it very convenient to pack up and go to the next place where her help is needed. Of course, getting that help is not easy, the person asking for it must be worthy, and must fulfill a difficult task as well…
So when she is summoned by the Russian grandparents of a missing child, who still know the old stories about Baba Yaga, and the child's mother asks for her help, she grants it. If Barbara has one weakness, it is children.

What she doesn't count on, is meeting the local Sheriff, and having unexpected feelings about him. Liam is totally bowled over by this strange woman as well, but after his loss, he never wants another woman in his life again. Still, she is intriguing, maddening and mystifying him, and he can't help but be drawn to her, and her secrets.

Nor the Sheriff and his deputies, not the county police have found any evidence at the abduction sites, they don't have any leads or suspicions at all. Baba will have to call for help in searching for those missing children, in places the human police can not, so she calls on the Three Riders. (I won't describe them to you, as that is an adventure on its own).

When Barbara finds out that someone from Otherworld is creating problems for the local villagers, and is probably behind the abduction of those children as well, she has no choice but to inform the Faery Queen about what is happening. There has to be an undiscovered portal between the worlds that the woman calling herself Maya is using. Perhaps because all of the hydrofracking in the surrounding countryside lately. She can sense the turmoil in nature, the crying for help in the earth, the water and the air, the pollution taking over. Why are humans so dense, so insistent in killing the environment for profit?


The story itself is amazing, although I have to admit I thought it was slow going at times, with no real action taking place, nothing magical or investigating going on by Barbara. But in the end, the action I wanted was there, as were a lot of solutions to the problems. I enjoyed that a lot.
I loved the interaction between Barbara and Liam, and her dragon/dog ChudoYudo. And then of course the Three Riders, who come to the aid of any Baba Yaga who needs them. They are unique and fun, and I want to know more about them.

I will definitely read the next story soon, and I know book 3 will be available shortly.

A good series, and I recommend it if you haven't tried it before.

9 stars.

© 2016 Reviews by Aurian

New books to look forward to for February 2016

This is the list of new releases for the month of February 2016 I am looking forward to, and as I just realized I haven't pre-ordered any of those, I am going shopping as soon as I post this on my blog:

Anne Bishop - Vision in Silver - Others PB
Faith Hunter - Blood in her Veins - Jane Yellowrock
J.D. Robb - Brotherhood in Death - In Death 42 HC
Jennifer Estep - Bitter Bite - Elemental Assassin 14
Joanne Fluke - Wedding Cake Murder - Hannah Swenssen 19 HC
Kalayna Price - Grave Visions - Alex Craft 4
Lucy Arlington - Off the books - Novel Idea Mystery 5
Patricia Briggs - Dead Heat - Alpha and Omega 4 PB
Robin D. Owens - Ghost Talker - Ghost Seer 4
Theresa Romain - A gentleman's game - Romance of the turf 1
Yasmine Galenorn - Darkness Raging - Otherworld 18

I have read a total of 28 books and 1 novella this month, which is truly amazing! I started out the year with some great 10 star reads.

Did I match my reading solutions for last month?

I have read 9 cozy mysteries:
Heather Blake - Ghost of a Potion
8 Miss Seeton mysteries (re-reads)

8 new books longer than 1 year on my shelf:
Jim Butcher - Cursor's Fury
Jim Butcher - Captain's Fury
Jim Butcher - Princep's Fury
Nora Roberts - Time Was
Cecy Robson - Cursed by Destiny
Theresa Romain - Season for Desire
Sharon Lathan - In the arms of Mr. Darcy
Christina Henry - Black Howl

1 historical romance:
Theresa Romain - Season for Desire

2 Nora Roberts books:
Nora Roberts - Time Was
J.D. Robb - Devoted in Death

© 2016 Reviews by Aurian