Laura Childs - Ming tea Murder

Book 16 in the Tea Shop Mysteries series, published May 5, 2015.
Genre: cozy mystery with recipes
Cover: beautiful



Normally Indigo Tea Shop owner Theodosia Browning wouldn't attend a black-tie affair for all the tea in China. But she can hardly say no to her boyfriend, who directs public relations for the Gibbes Museum in Charleston. Max has organised an amazing gala opening for an exhibit of a genuine eighteenth-century Chinese teahouse, and the crème de la crème of Charleston society is invited.
Max has even rented a photo booth to give guests a memory of the occasion. But Theodosia makes a grim discovery behind the booth's curtains: the body of museum donor Edgar Webster. When Max becomes a suspect, it's up to Theodosia to examine the life of the fallen philanthropist and find out who really wanted him to pay up….


Theodosia is very busy at her Indigo Tea Shop in Charleston, hosting themed tea events and doing some charity work as well. But when her boyfriend Max loses his job thanks to the murder at the museum, she takes time off to investigate. As usual, there are many suspects: the business partner, the grieving widow who doesn't seem to grieve so hard, the ex-mistress. The real murderer though, I did not guess until the end, when Theodosia found out.

All this action and suspense against a Halloween setting, was fun to read. I am not so sure I like Max for her boyfriend though, he was very ready to move to another city for a new job, and leave Theodosia behind. I wonder what will happen next. I still like Detective Tidwell a lot, he is a great character, and Theodosia can't walk over him.

This series is filled with lovable and excentric characters, and I love it. If you like this genre, or just love recipes, try it out.

9 stars.

© 2016 Reviews by Aurian

Faith Hunter - Shadow Rites

The tenth book in the Jane Yellowrock series, published April 5, 2016.
Genre: urban fantasy
Cover: good



Jane is keeping the peace between visiting groups of witches and vamps in the city, but then trouble comes knocking on her doorstep. When her house is magically attacked, the wild chase to find her assailants unearths a mystery that has literally been buried deep.
A missing master vampire, presumed long deceased, is found chained in a pit. Undead, raving mad and in the company of two human bodies. Now it's up to Jane to find out who kept the vampire hidden for so long and why, because the incident could tip already high supernatural tensions to an all-out arcane war.


The tenth book already, and I am still in love with this series. Jane is a great heroine, and her bond with Beast is unique. Her personal relationship with Bruiser is slowly evolving, and I like that a lot. The bantering between her and Eli and Alex is just like a family, and I am glad for her, that she is connecting to other humans.
Her best friend Mollie is staying over at her house, with her husband and her two precious children, and baby Angie is going to be such a strong witch, I can't wait to read more about her.
Life is never easy for Jane, there is so much going on, the plots the vampires have made over the centuries, the politics with the European Vampires who are coming for a visit, but first, the treaty with the witches. And not all the witches are happy with this treaty …

Lots of action, lots of plots, and Jane has to fight for her life more than once, and even some love scenes!

I loved every action filled page of this book and can't wait to read more.

10 stars.

© 2016 Reviews by Aurian

Jayne Castle - Orchid

The third book in the Curtain: Futuristic World of St. Helen's series, published May 1, 1998.
Genre: fantasy romance
Cover: lovely orchid.
Re-read for the second time.



A top psychic for exclusive Psynergy Inc., Orchid Adams doesn't expect even the best marriage agencies on the space colony of St. Helen's to find her a husband who measures up to her dreams. It's just as well, because she's got her hands full with a baffling murder. One thing is certain: her new client, Rafe Stonebraker, is definitely not marriage material. But Rafe - primitive, elemental, powerful, perhaps dangerous - is perfect for an affair…
An unlicensed private eye with an edgy reputation and a psychic talent so awesome he hides his true power, Rafe has some serious secrets. Not only is he trying to solve a strange theft, he is about to replace his grandfather as CEO of Stonebraker Shipping and is fighting to ward of a hostile takeover. He needs a wife - and fast - to salvage his credibility. Orchid Adams doesn't fit the profile he had in mind, but she fits in his arms. Will their mind/body merger spark a rollicking and rocky partnership, just as his latest case threatens to end their world?


I liked this third in the series the best, Orchid is a great heroine. She is also an author of romance novels, featuring psychic vampires. Meaning talents with an off the chart power, that captivate the poor prism's that fall in their hands/powers. Her own rare prism talent is very much sought after by a dangerous scientist who wants to study it, and her, but she wants nothing to do with the creepy man. And neither do her friends…
Rafe Stonebraker is also a powerful Talent, and it won't be easy to find himself a wife who can deal with him and his peculiarities. But Orchid seems to have no trouble at all with that part of his personality. And when they work closely together to find out who stole the alien artefact, they sure learn everything about the other they need to fall in love.
But first they will have to survive the madman behind it all…

The three heroines in this series all work for Psynergy Inc, so they know each other distantly. The three heroes are good friends though; they all fought together against the pirates.
I love the worldbuilding a lot, the concept of talents and prisms, and the different kinds of psychic powers people have.

This might be an old series, but it is perfectly readable and I recommend it.

10 stars.

© 2016 Reviews by Aurian

Jayne Castle - Zinnia

The second book in the Curtain: Futuristic World of St. Helen's series, published June 1, 1997.
Genre: fantasy romance
Cover: my book has the little cover, which I prefer, although you all know I like handsome half naked men on my covers!
Re-read for the second time.



She's called the "Scarlet Lady"- but only Zinnia Spring would rise above her shocking nickname by dressing defiantly in red. Ever since a false tabloid story ruined her reputation and her interior design business, this headstrong lady has made a living using her psychic abilities - a highly prized skill that sets her apart on the space colony of St. Helen's. But when she's hired by casino owner Nick Chastain, their meeting of the minds - and hearts - has her seeing stars.
Nick Chastain craves what he doesn't have - respectability. He calls on Zinnia's powers to help find his father's journal, and to dig up answers to his own mysterious past. Zinnia doesn't have to be psychic to know what else Nick wants; together they're an explosive combination that may just blow St. Helen's sky-high with intrigue, danger, and a passion that's anything but predictable. But when a ruthless killer crosses their search, Zinnia must risk everything she's got - in a love affair where winner takes all.


I love this series a lot, the unusual setting, the great characters, and of course the psychic powers the inhabitants of St. Helen's possess. But here, two different talents have to work together to be able to use their powers. Zinnia is a powerful prism, and Nick needs her to focus his talent through her. Without a prism, he can only use it for a few seconds. But working together with Zinnia, opens up a whole new world for him.
He has never been tasted, but he knows his talent is off the charts. And lucky for him, so is Zinnia's talent. When at first she accuses him of kidnapping a client of hers, who tried to sell him his father's lost journal, now she accepts that he did not do that. To prevent her from investigating on her own, Nick proposes a partner ship, as he is in a much better position to get information from the underworld he operates in.
Zinnia's family is not happy with her association with Nick, they want her to marry a respectable man, but according to the matchmaking agency, Zinnia is unmatchable. And she is happy about that, having no interest in marriage at all. But when her reputation gets sullied by a sleazy reporter again, and her business that was just recovering nicely, falls down around her, Zinnia is not so sure anymore.
Nick wants respectability. In a society where family is everything, his parents were not married, and his father's family has never accepted him. But now they seem to need his money to save the family firm, and apparently, it is his duty to his family…

Nick wants his father's diary to prove that he was murdered, and did not commit suicide due to the nature of his talent (as is his own), but someone else is after it as well. And that person doesn't shy away from murder ….

A great story, a good lovestory with amazing characters, and a dangerous plot that I liked.

9 stars.

© 2016 Reviews by Aurian

Ilona Andrews - Magic Stars

Book 8.5 in the Kate Daniels series, published December 8, 2015.
Genre: urban fantasy
Cover: meh



From award-winning author Ilona Andrews, an original novella set in the New York Times number-one best-selling Kate Daniels world and featuring fan favorites Derek, Curran, and Kate's very independent ward, Julie.
Scarred, solitary Derek Gaunt has separated from his Pack and is truly a lone wolf. With no family, he answers to no one but is fiercely loyal to a chosen few. So when several of those close to him are murdered, he'll stop at nothing to hunt their killer through the magic-drenched streets of Atlanta.
Never one to be left on the sidelines and equally determined - some might say stubborn - Julie Lennart-Olsen soon joins in his pursuit, and what began as revenge turns into a race to save the city. Their search pits them against powers they never imagined and magic so old, it predates history. It may cost Derek his life, but there are things for which even he would risk everything.


I am certain this series needs no introduction to my readers. I loved this novella a lot. Remember, you have to read this one after Magic Shifts, not before!

Curran and Kate have separated from the Pack, and are living on their own, in a new house on a huge plot of land. Their neighbours are not all that happy with them though, especially the nosy one at the other side of the street. But Kate and Curran don't care much about that.
Kate is working with her own firm, but Curran is a bit restless. Then a challenge presents itself in the Order of the Knights, which as totally fallen to pieces without leadership, and Curran could be taking over …
In the meantime, Julie and Derek are pursuing an investigation on their own, and that is certainly not without danger.

I did like the ending especially, with Julie and Kate's father ... I do wonder what will happen next. Is Roland as evil as Kate thinks, or is he genuinely interested in her and her life?

8 stars.

© 2016 Reviews by Aurian

Recommendations from Karin for April 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. Today’s post is made by Karin from Austria.

Karin:

I am a little late for my recommendations but I hope you can find it in you to forgive me. To make it up to you (hopefully) I have some really good books to recommend this time.

First of all I want to bring another winner by Shelley Laurenston to your attention. It’s

The Undoing



No one would ever accuse Jace Berisha of having an easy life--considering her husband you know killed her. But that was then! Now she fights for mighty Viking gods with the spectacular and vicious Crows. But things are turning very bad, very quickly because a vengeful, ancient goddess has come into the world with just one thing on her mind--ending it. And the only way they can hope to stop her is if the Crows join forces with their one-time enemies, the Protectors. A Viking Clan created to do nothing but kill every Crow they see. Thankfully, Protector Ski Eriksen is a peace loving kind of guy. Because the woman he is desperately trying to get close to is the beautiful and not-very-chatty Jace. Battling Nordic clans? Unkillable goddesses? Jace's mean-spirited dog? None of these things would ever get in the way of a true Viking!


Now I am the first to say that I did not like the first book in this series. There were too many persons, the heroine was not to my liking and I actively disliked the hero. So I was a little hesitant to buy this book and I’m very happy to say that I loved this book.

If you have not read the first book yet I would go so far as to say – don’t bother. Everything is explained nicely, you will have no problems to understand this world and the characters are so much more likeable than in “The Unleashing”. (Just a remark on the side: I enjoyed reading about Kera a lot more than I did in her own book).

Now this book contains everything that I love about Shelley Laurenston’s books: there is a love story that I could enjoy; there is her trademark snarky humour; there are so many ridiculous situations that I was laughing out loud time and again.
Jace, the heroine, is a strong Crow (yes, she is a Crow – the Norse Gods are involved, after all), she is clever, she speaks multiple languages and she chooses her love interest wisely; Ski, the hero, (that was the only think I was not fond of, I think this name is ridiculous, although it’s short for Danski – but that’s not much better in my opinion) – he is a warrior and a Nerd.
He and his brethren, the Protectors, are described in a way that made me love them all.

I really enjoyed this book and I started reading it again after I had finished it – which for me means: highly recommendable.

Then I enjoyed reading

Eidolon by Grace Draven



In a bid for more power, the Shadow Queen of Haradis unleashes a malignant force into the world. Her son Brishen, younger prince of the Kai royal house, suddenly finds himself ruler of a kingdom blighted by a diseased darkness. His human wife Ildiko must decide if she will give up the man she loves in order to save his throne.

Three kingdoms on the verge of war must unite to save each other, and a one-eyed, reluctant king will raise an army of the dead to challenge an army of the damned.

A tale of alliance and sacrifice.

I’m a huge fan of Grace Draven’s and so far she has never let me down. I was a little uncertain about this second installment in the “Wraith King” series because from what I gleaned from Facebook it contained a little more doom and gloom than I really like. I have to say it’s a lot darker than “Radiance” which I love to pieces, one disasters strikes after the other but still it’s a book I would recommend.

Last but not least I would like to bring a new author to your attention.
Michelle Diener wrote

“Dark Horse” and “Dark Deeds”



Some secrets carry the weight of the world.

Rose McKenzie may be far from Earth with no way back, but she's made a powerful ally--a fellow prisoner with whom she's formed a strong bond. Sazo's an artificial intelligence. He's saved her from captivity and torture, but he's also put her in the middle of a conflict, leaving Rose with her loyalties divided.

Captain Dav Jallan doesn't know why he and his crew have stumbled across an almost legendary Class 5 battleship, but he's not going to complain. The only problem is, all its crew are dead, all except for one strange, new alien being.

She calls herself Rose. She seems small and harmless, but less and less about her story is adding up, and Dav has a bad feeling his crew, and maybe even the four planets, are in jeopardy. The Class 5's owners, the Tecran, look set to start a war to get it back and Dav suspects Rose isn't the only alien being who survived what happened on the Class 5. And whatever else is out there is playing its own games.

In this race for the truth, he's going to have to go against his leaders and trust the dark horse.



Rescue might just be the death of her.Far from home . . . Fiona Russell has been snatched from Earth, imprisoned and used as slave labor, but nothing about her abduction makes sense. When she's rescued by the Grih, she realizes there's a much bigger game in play than she could ever have imagined, and she's right in the middle of it. Far from safe . . . Battleship captain Hal Vakeri is chasing down pirates when he stumbles across a woman abducted from Earth. She's the second one the Grih have found in two months, and her presence is potentially explosive in the Grih's ongoing negotiations with their enemies, the Tecran. The Tecran and the Grih are on the cusp of war, and Fiona might just tip the balance. Far from done . . . Fiona has had to bide her time while she's been a prisoner, pretending to be less than she is, but when the chance comes for her to forge her own destiny in the new world she's found herself in, she grabs it with both hands. After all, actions speak louder than words.

They are sci-fi, there are adventures, the characters are well explained, there is a little mystery involved and there are very satisfying romances. I liked both books a lot and I will continue reading this series.

This is it for this month. Until we meet again next month: Happy Reading.



Aurian: Thanks for the recommendation Karin! I might try the Shelly Laurenston book after all. I did re-read Bit me last week. Still love those honey badgers! And I know my friend Linda is a big fan of Michelle Diener as well.

© 2016 Reviews by Aurian

Annie West - The Sheikh's Princess Bride

A book in the Desert Vows series, published March 17, 2015.
Genre: contemporary romance / category romance
Cover: sweet



Wanted: royal bride and mother!
For Sheikh Tariq of Al Sarath, one miserable marriage was enough. With a kingdom to rule he has no time - nor wish - to find a bride, but his children need a mother.
Could Princess Samira of Jazeer be the answer? Samira has sampled passion, and it left a bad taste... So, knowing she can't have the children she's always wanted, Samira steps into Tariq's ready-made family. Her only condition? No sex!
Samira had thought royal duties and her love for Tariq's children would fill the hole in her heart, but a craving is building that only the Sheikh's touch can cure...


One stupid mistake in the past, has cost Samira her dreams. There will be no loving family for her, as she won't be able to have children. The next best thing will be marrying a man who already has children, like her brother's best friend Tariq. She has always had a crush on him, and now he has become a widower. But will he want a wife with a scandalous past like Samira?
And will his two little boys be enough to fill the emptiness in her heart?

A marriage of convenience, Tariq accepts Samira's proposal, but he will do whatever he can to make her change her mind about the no sex rule. After all, he has been in love with her since she was 16, and he only married someone else for the sake of his kingdom …


I really enjoyed this book, and my heart broke for Samira. Especially when she fell in love with a man who tells her he is uncapable of love himself…

9 stars.

© 2016 Reviews by Aurian