Tag Archives: urban fantasy

A SENSE OF DANGER by Jennifer Estep-Dual Review & Giveaway

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A SENSE OF DANGER (Section 47 #1) by Jennifer Estep-Dual Review & Giveaway

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ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date November 16, 2021

A SPY . . .

My name is Charlotte Locke, and I’m an analyst for Section 47, a secret government agency that tracks terrorists, criminals, and other paramortal bad guys who want to unleash their abilities on an unsuspecting mortal world. I have a magical form of synesthesia that senses danger and uncovers lies—making me a stealthy operative.

I’m trudging through another day when one of Section’s cleaners—assassins—takes an interest in me. I don’t need my synesthesia to realize that he is extremely dangerous and that he will do anything to achieve his goals—even if it means putting me in the line of fire.

. . . AND AN ASSASSIN

I’m Desmond Percy, one of Section 47’s most lethal cleaners. I’m also a man on a mission, and I need Charlotte Locke’s skills to help me keep a promise, settle a score, and kill some extremely bad people.

Charlotte might not like me, but we’re stuck together until my mission is over. Still, the more time we spend together, the more I’m drawn to her. But at Section 47, you never know who you can trust—or who might want you dead.

•••••••

Sandy’s Review

A SENSE OF DANGER is the first instalment in Jennifer Estep’s contemporary, adult SECTION 47 paranormal, urban fantasy series focusing on paramortal analyst / diner waitress for Section 47 Charlotte Locke, and assassin/cleaner Desmond Percy.

SOME BACKGROUND: Paramortals make up approximately one percent of the world’s population, and most have hidden their magic from the ‘mortal’ world. Section 47 is a paramortal spy organization whose mission was to gather intelligence to prevent terrorist attacks but found themselves tracking those who use magic to commit their crimes.

Told from dual first person perspectives (Charlotte and Desmond) A SENSE OF DANGER focuses on the take down of a paramortal bio-terrorist, and the search for a mole within Section 47. Charlotte Locke is a legacy member at Section 47, meaning her father, and grandmother were previously employed by Section 47. As an analyst Charlotte has the ability to read patterns and numbers and sense danger but as a human lie detector Charlotte knows when someone may or may not be telling the truth. Upon the death of her boss, Charlotte is reassigned as a liason, working with the Section’s latest arrival, cleaner and assassin Desmond Percy, whose own father continues to make a name for himself at Section 47. Desmond is on the hunt for a paramortal bio-terrorist but his every move is met with counter terrorism and resistance such that his last mission left him struggling to survive. With the help of Charlotte Locke, Desmond is hunting down the person responsible but struggles to trust the woman with whom he is falling in love as Charlotte’s secrets run dangerous and dark. What ensues is the set up and take down of a mole within the Section 47 organization, and the potential fall-out as Desmond believes Charlotte has been compromised but Charlotte has bigger plans when all is revealed.

Jennifer Estep introduces a number of players in the world of Section 47 including some of the backstory and history of Charlotte’s legacy connections, and Desmond’s father General Jethro Percy. There is a large ensemble cast of secondary and supporting characters giving the series a familiarity not unlike the author’s Elemental Assassin. We are introduced to cleaner supervisor Gia Chan, and ‘secretary’ Evelyn Hawkes, former Section 47 spy Gabriel Chase, as well as charmer Miriam Lancaster, charmer supervisor Trevor Donnelly, Russian paramortal Adrian Anatoly, and CEO and founder of Hyde Engineering Henrika Hyde.

A SENSE OF DANGER is a fast paced, intriguing, action packed story of betrayal and vengeance, power and magic, obsession, murder, greed and excess. The premise is captivating and compelling; the characters are energetic and enterprising; the romance is seductive and passionate.

___________

Barb’s Review:

A Sense of Danger by Jennifer Estep is the 1st book in her new Section 47 series.  I am a big fan of Jennifer Estep, having enjoyed all her fantastic series.  I was thrilled to learn that she was starting a new series, and after reading the first book, I can’t wait for more. 

Secret 47 is a secret government agency that handles paranormal, terrorists, criminals, and have magical abilities.  Their job is to gather information to prevent attacks, casualties, as well as to protect the mortal world; especially against those who create dangerous weapons.  

Charlotte Locke, our heroine, is an analyst, who is very good at her job analyzing various reports and files to find mistakes, patterns, and anything that looks like threats.  Charlotte also has some magical abilities, such as having synesthesia ability to sense danger and detect lies. Charlotte followed her grandmother and father who were Section 47 employees, and she is considered a legacy employee, since her family (now deceased) were former employees.  Charlotte has been providing information to her superiors about an evil and dangerous woman (Henrika Hyde), who is building and selling horrific weapons to the enemy.

Desmond Percy, our hero, is a Section 47 Assassin (cleaners), who is considered one of the best and lethal. Desmond is also a legacy employee, as his father is a powerful member and very much in charge of Section 47. Desmond has returned to headquarters in Washington, DC for a special assignment, but also determined to find the person responsible for killing his teammates from his last assignment. 

When Charlotte is having lunch, she sees a strange man sit at her table, but she totally ignores him, and he eventually walks away. Charlotte is very much in debt, due to her father death and loss of money, and takes a night time second job as a waitress. After closing, she heads home only to be accosted by 4 assassins who are out to kill her; she is attacked, but out of nowhere, another powerful assassin manages to kill the attackers, and he takes her to her home, and uses his energy magic to heal her injuries.  Of course, her savior is Desmond, who has galvanist abilities, which uses energy around him to prevent attacks, as well as heal. 

Charlotte wakes up healed, and in a short time will learn that Desmond was the one who saved her, and despite her original dislike of him, she will soon be placed on his team to work together; especially since she is the one who knows everything about the enemy.   Their job is to find Henrika Hyde, and stop her from selling her weapons, as well as find the terrorist who was behind the attack on Desmond’s team.

What follows is an exciting, action filled, suspenseful story that kept me unable to put the book down. Charlotte was a great heroine, as she not only smart, savvy, but unbeknownst to others, lethal with a weapon, since she learned from her father.  I also liked Desmond, as he was not only a sexy hunk, but also very confident with his ability.   It took time for them to trust each other, but the chemistry between them was hot; which was a slow burn romance.

Charlotte stepped up to find a traitor within Section 47, even if it put her own life in danger.  The last third of the book was extremely tense and exciting, with a few surprises along the way. Since she took it upon herself to expose the traitor, her relationship with Desmond suffered, as he thought she betrayed him.  I will not tell too much more, as it would be spoilers, but it was a wild satisfying ending.

A Sense of Danger is another wonderful new intriguing urban fantasy series that is very well written by Jennifer Estep.  I loved both Charlotte and Desmond, and look forward to more on them in future books.   I suggest you read A Sense of Danger, as I fully enjoyed it.


Copies supplied for review

Jennifer is graciously offering a $10 Amazon Gift card to ONE (1) lucky commenters  at The Reading Cafe:

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True Dead (Jane Yellowrock) by Faith Hunter – a Review

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True Dead (Jane Yellowrock) by Faith Hunter – a Review

 

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Description:
Jane used to hunt vampires, but now she’s their queen. She’s holed up in the mountains with the Yellowrock Clan, enjoying a little peace, when a surprise attack on her people proves that trouble is brewing. Someone is using very old magic to launch a bid for power, and it’s all tied to the place where Jane was first drawn into the world of Leo Pellissier—the city of New Orleans.

Jane is compelled to return to NOLA because someone is trying to destabilize the paranormal world order. And because she now sits near the top of the vampire world, the assault is her problem. She will do what she must to protect what’s hers. Her city. Her people. Her power. Her crown.

 

Review:

True Dead by Faith Hunter is the 14th book in her fantastic Jane Yellowrock series.  As I have said previously, this series just keeps on getting better and better. I had previously noted that the last two books were the best in the series, and now I have to say True Dead is also a fantastic read. I pray Faith will continue giving us these great stories on our fabulous Jane Yellowrock.

When we last left off, Jane had just recovered from her cancer battle, but she continues to have issues with her shifting (with Beast), and never knows what she will look like each time.  When a surprise attack in New Orleans happens, Jane and her team (Bruiser, Eli, Alex, Brute) know it is time to return to NOLA, as a powerful magical evil is bent on eliminating Jane, and take control of the paranormal world.  Jane had already made plans to return to NOLA, since she was attending Wrassler and Jodi’s wedding.

As the Dark Queen, Jane has always been the one who would step forward and defeat the enemy. In True Dead, things are slowly changing, as Jane now has added security to protect her, not to mention help in defeating their enemies.  I have to say I loved all these new people, who are there for Jane, such as Koun, Quint, Thelma, Kojo, and Brute played a big part. She is after all the Queen, and with evil once again coming for her, the extended team is up for the task, and will protect her with everything they have. Jane does need to get used to others fighting with/or for her.  An amazing group…love them.

From start to finish, the story is action-packed, constant danger, deaths, and surprises along the way (someone you may have been waiting for).  There are a few times I held my breath that we would lose one of our favorites.  I loved Beast even more, as she pushes Jane aside to come forth and fight; and the banter between them is fun, as they are now fully one; stronger, better, smarter and unbeatable.  Jane’s brother does come forth to help her battle a surprising enemy within the family. 

What follows is an exciting, intense, action-packed thriller, with Jane and team in constant danger, especially from those who have taken the side of the enemy.  She, Beast, Eli, Bruiser, Alex and the rest of their extended team, will need to use all those who have sworn loyalty to Jane, as well as other help, such as the Aya, Mithrans, Arcenniels, Infermieri, just to name a few. To tell too much more would ruin this for you, and this must be read to see some of those surprises.

True Dead was another fantastic addition to the Jane Yellowrock series.  I was thrilled with all the changes and new characters, as well as excited to see where Faith Hunter will take us next. For those of you who have not read this series (which you need to start at the beginning), you are missing a great series, a super wonderful bad-ass heroine in Jane Yellowrock, and author who kills it (& us) every time.

Reviewed by Barb

Copy provided by Publisher

 

 

 

 

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A Terrible Fall of Angels by Laurell K Hamilton-Review & Giveaway

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A Terrible Fall of Angels (Zaniel Havelock 1) by Laurell K Hamilton-Review, Interview & Giveaway

A TERRIBLE FALL OF ANGELS
Zaniel Havelock #1
by Laurell K Hamilton
Release Date: August 17, 2021
Genre: adult, paranormal, Urban Fantasy

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ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date August 17, 2021

Meet Detective Zaniel Havelock, a man with the special ability to communicate directly with angels. A former trained Angel speaker, he devoted his life to serving both the celestial beings and his fellow humans with his gift, but a terrible betrayal compelled him to leave that life behind. Now he’s a cop who is still working on the side of angels. But where there are angels, there are also demons. There’s no question that there’s evil at work when he’s called in to examine the murder scene of a college student—but is it just the evil that one human being can do to another, or is it something more? When demonic possession is a possibility, even angelic protection can only go so far. The race is on to stop a killer before he finds his next victim, as Zaniel is forced to confront his own very personal demons, and the past he never truly left behind.

The first in a new series from the author of the Anita Blake and Merry Gentry series.

•••••••••

REVIEW:For those of you who’ve read other works by her, this is different from what your use to.

Angels that walk among us and Demons that no longer hide in the shadows!

Unhappy with the life he life was going, Zaniel Havelock left the College of Angels, walking away from all his friends and everything he’d had become comfortable with. But the one he he couldn’t seem to give up was his ability to communicate with the angels.He now uses those said talents to aid him in his job in the police force, but it’s a branch not many get on. It’s the paranormal unit of the police force. Zaniel works alongside colleagues with different faiths and special skills (psychic’s mainly) This task force is charged with keeping the peace between humans/angels/demons. And it’s not an easy thing to do most days.

So we have a new case for Zaniel to work…..At first glance it’s a case for homicide, but upon closer inspection there seems to be an angelic side to this case.

Could an Angel have killed the victim? Why?

We also have demons to contend with, and like angels there are demons that are different from their kind. What are they up to? And when they start doing things they shouldn’t be able to do, Zaniel has no choice but to reach out to old friends. But with old friends come the old betrayals and secrets, and it’s those secrets that he’s keen to see kept buried!!

There is a religious tone to this book, but not enough to put me off from reading it. And with a new book/series comes the obligatory backstory and world building, which happens to be one of my favourite parts in a book.

Now It makes a change to see a male in the lead in this authors work, it’s usually a kicka$$ female. And the use of bedroom antics is missing too. It seems to be focusing on the detective work rather than orgies and bed hopping! a story a lot good versus evil. About personal choices and how the wrong choice can take you down a path that’s hard to turn from. It’s a murder/mystery story with an angsty romance thrown in (Zaniel is married!)

So who did kill our victim? Is there something more going on? I’m hoping we don’t have to wait too long for the next book out.

Copy supplied by the publisher

? Reviewed by Julie B.

TRC:  Hi Laurell and welcome to The Reading Café. Congratulations on the release of A TERRIBLE FALL OF ANGELS.

Laurell: Thank you so much, I’m so excited to finally be able to share the book with readers.

TRC:  We would like to start with some background information. For our followers who do not know Laurell K Hamilton, would you please tell us something about yourself?

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Laurell: I pioneered the genre of Urban Fantasy which would become Paranormal with the Anita Blake series and then the Merry Gentry series. I also created the idea of reverse harems, though I preferred the term hisem. I write mysteries set in alternate modern America where the supernatural is a given. In the Anita Blake series, it would be like waking up tomorrow with vampires, zombies, shapeshifters and more are real, and everyone knows about them. Anita starts out as a consultant for the local police and a vampire hunter because vampires are considered too dangerous to be imprisoned. If they kill someone, a warrant of execution is issued and a vampire executioner hunts them down. Anita also doesn’t date vampires or any supernaturals at the beginning of the series. Twenty-eight books later, a lot has changed.

For Merry Gentry, Celtic myth and folklore is real and the fey were kicked out of Europe after the last Great War in the 1700s. President Thomas Jefferson offered them a new home here in America where they used the indigenous site of the Cahokia mounds in Illinois as their new fairy mounds, their sithens. For those who aren’t familiar with the Cahokia, it was an abandoned site long before America was a country. Merry is the first faerie princess born on American soil, but when A Kiss of Shadows begins, she’s hiding from her relatives int the Unseelie court because there were too many assassination attempts. She’s in Los Angeles working as a private detective for Grey’s Detective Agency that specialises in supernatural problems, magical solutions.

TRC:   What challenges or difficulties did you encounter writing and publishing your first book? The new series?

LAURELL:  The book that launched my career, Guilty Pleasures was the first Anita Blake novel. It was rejected over two hundred times, because in the late 1980s there was no market for mixed genre. The fact that vampires in my world weren’t secret but just legal citizens and known to everyone were the reason a lot of horror editors rejected it. I got some lovely rejection slips. Horror editors thought it was fantasy, who thought it might be science fiction, who thought it was mystery. A lot of editors loved the book, but they couldn’t figure out how to market it, so they passed. This was before self-publishing or online publishing was really an option if you wanted a career. Admittedly it was also a time when there were enough traditional publishers to have two hundred separate rejections from major houses. Times have changed a lot since Berkley first offered me a contract for the first three Anita Blake Novels. As for publishing my newest book, A Terrible Fall of Angels, there was no problem with my publisher because I’m one of their bestselling authors with two bestselling series already under my belt. It’s my 41st novel.

TRC:  Would you please tell us something about the premise of A TERRIBLE FALL OF ANGELS?

LAURELL:  The powers of Heaven and Hell have a treaty to prevent Armageddon, which is publicly known and part of history. This treaty saved the world from the final battle that would have ended everything as we know it. There are rules about how many demons can come up to Earth and what they can and can’t do to torment humans. Detective Zaniel Havelock and the other members of the Metaphysical Coordination Unit are part of a group that literally polices the angels and demons that come into contact with the mortal world. The nickname for their unit is the Heaven and Hell Squad. They are also called in when other supernatural crimes happen, but Zaniel’s ability to communicate with angels makes him the go-to expert whenever Celestial beings are involved.

How many books do you have planned for the ZANIEL HAVELOCK series?

LAURELL:  Between four and thirteen. Of course, when I started the Anita Blake series, I thought thirteen and I’m working on book twenty-nine, so I won’t really know until I get there.

TRC:  What kind of research/plotting did you do, and how long did you spend researching /plotting before beginning A TERRIBLE FALL OF ANGELS?

LAURELL:  The sticky note with the first line of the book was up on my office wall for almost ten years. I hadn’t been reading, watching, or even thinking about angels at the time, at least in the front of my head. I’ve learned to pay attention to my subconscious and those signals from my muse, so I started searching for nonfiction books about angels, rereading Biblical teachings or insights about the angelic and other world religions. A lot of people forget that when you speak of angels, messengers of God, for Christianity, Judaism, and Islam, you’re talking about the same angels. I also researched the lives and folklore around the saints and prophets. As I was finally sitting down to write Zaniel’s story I found books on modern new age and magic about angels. The changing attitude towards them from Biblical times to now was fascinating to me both as a person and as a writer.

TRC:  Do you plan a cross-over story line between the new series and your Anita Blake series?

LAURELL:  No, though an interview question from the local Kirkwood Library did give me an idea where all my universes could collide. I don’t think I’ll do it, but it’s intrigued me.

TRC:  Do you have plans to continue the Anita Blake series or are you going to concentrate on ZANIEL HAVELOCK?

LAURELL: I’m currently writing the next Anita Blake novel and I have no plans to stop writing Anita.

TRC:  Do you believe the cover image plays a deciding factor for many readers in the process of selecting a book or new series to read?

LAURELL:  I think covers have become even more important in the age when so many people decide what to read from a thumbnail image online.

TRC:  When writing a storyline, do the characters direct the writing or do you direct the characters?

LAURELL:  I’m a character driven author. I’ve thrown out entire plots, and up to a third of a novel because a character had a better idea.

TRC:  The mark of a good writer is to pull the reader into the storyline so that they experience the emotions along with the characters. What do you believe a writer must do to make this happen? Where do you believe writers fail in this endeavour?

LAURELL: Robert Frost said it years ago, “No tears in the writer, no tears in the reader.” If the writer doesn’t care deeply about what they’re writing how can they make anyone else care? A lot of writers make the mistake of jumping on trends and writing what’s hot without giving themselves a chance to find their own unique voice as a writer. Even if the writer makes a living or a career out of imitating a style that’s not truly their own, they are still cheating themselves and the readers. They cheat themselves by having missed the stories and worlds that only they could have written. They cheat the readers because if you are only imitating someone else’s voice/world/character then it shows. It can be fun, but it’s never as good as the original. It’s like the difference between a masterpiece and a good copy. The imitation never moves you as much as the original art. Some part of you knows a fake when you see it or read it.

TRC:  What is something that few, if anyone, knows about you?

LAURELL:  I’m a huge Disney fan.

TRC:  On what are you currently working?

LAURELL: The twenty-ninth Anita Blake novel, but I will have to stop briefly to finish a short story I’m writing for the anthology, No Game for Gentlemen. I’m also making notes on the next Zaniel Havelock book, and the next Merry Gentry novel.

LIGHTNING ROUND

Favorite Food – tea

Favorite Dessert – cupcakes

Last Movie You Saw – the new Suicide Squad

Dark or Milk Chocolate – Milk

Last Vacation Destination – Florida Keys

Do you have any pets? – Two cats, two Japanese chins, all rescues.

Last book you read – The Wizard’s Butler by Nathan Lowell

TRC:  Thank you Laurell for taking the time to answer our questions. Congratulations on the release of A TERRIBLE FALL OF ANGELS. We wish you all the best.

LAURELL: Thank you for inviting me.

Laurell K. Hamilton is the author of the #1 New York Times bestselling Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter series and the Merry Gentry, Fey Detective series. With more than 40 novels published and 20 million books sold, Laurell continues to create groundbreaking fiction inspired by her lifelong love of monster movies, ghost stories, mythology, folklore, and things that go bump in the night. She lives in St. Louis with her family. In her free time, Laurell trains in Filipino martial arts with a specialization in blade work. Learn more online at laurellkhamilton.com, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

 

Laurell K Hamilton’s publisher (Penguin/Random House)  is graciously offering a paper copy of A TERRIBLE FALL OF ANGELS to ONE (1) lucky commenter at The Reading Cafe.

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A Void of Magic by Sandy Williams – a Review

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A Void of Magic by Sandy Williams – a Review

 

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Description:
They trusted her to keep the peace between the paranorms. They made a mistake.

Kennedy escaped the family business when she turned eighteen. Now, an ill-timed vacation pulls her back to The Rain Hotel, the only known null zone on the planet. It’s a place where vampires can see the sun rise and werewolves can avoid the lure of the full moon. And it would be the perfect place for a paranormal wedding…if the bride wasn’t the local alpha’s daughter and the groom the scion of a vicious master vampire.

With a sexy werewolf determined to sabotage the wedding and dark forces threatening The Rain, Kennedy’s life is thrown out of balance when she’s forced to confront a past, she swore to avoid. Ultimately, she must choose: will she maintain the stability of the supernatural world…or will she destroy it.

 

 

Review:

A Void of Magic by Sandy Williams is the 1st book in her new Kennedy Rain series. Kennedy Rain, our heroine, has returned home to her family’s unique Rain Hotel. Her parents, who have run the hotel for many years, have gone on vacation and Kennedy, has been summoned to run the hotel in their absence.  What makes the Rain Hotel unique?   The hotel is a null zone for paranormals, with a treaty that has been in effect for hundreds of years; a place to recover, be at peace, or just time to relax with no pressure; a werewolf can avoid the full moon or a vampire can see the sun, or recover from an injury. The Werewolves and Vampires, plus some other unknow species take turns to come and stay at the hotel.  Kennedy knows how good her mother and father are in handling every issue, and keeping the peace; but she hated it, and left to go to school at 18. 

Kennedy was a great heroine, though a bit more stubborn and tough then her parents, and at times I thought she went a bit overboard, but she really stood up to them all, not letting them intimidate her.  Nora (a werewolf) comes to the hotel and gives Kennedy money for a wedding she wants to have at the hotel.  Kennedy does everything in her power to tell Nora that this was not a good idea, especially since her groom to be was an ancient Vampire.  This would cause bitter fights and chaos.  Kennedy also learns while running things, that the hotel is in financial straits. 

With both Vampires and Werewolves are determined to stop this wedding, Kennedy finds herself in the middle of a battle she really wanted no part of.  Blake, the second in command, for the werewolves tries to get Kennedy to help stop the wedding, which will blow up, causing her to have more angst.  Blake was a charming hunk, who truly liked Kennedy, and I expect a possible romance in future books; but Blake answers to his boss, no matter what.

What follows is a wonderful fun, tense and exciting story, with Kennedy in the middle of it all.  A tragedy will occur that will change the game, making Kennedy’s life more difficult and dangerous.  There is a dark enemy out there who will stop at nothing to sabotage the treaty, including causing her harm, and she has no idea who to trust. Will she help keep the Rain Hotel stable for the paranorms?

I do not want to say too much more, as it would spoil things, since you do need to read this book from start to finish.  A Void of Magic was a sensational start to this new series, which was very well written by Sandy Williams.  I for one cannot wait for the next book.

Reviewed by Barb

Copy supplied for Review

 


Sandy Williams writes urban fantasy and science fiction, both with a strong shot of romance. She’s a fan of the enemies-to-lovers trope and loves books with high stakes and fantastical settings. When she’s not being a bookworm, she loves playing board and card games like Dominion, Quacks of Quedlinburg, Dungeon Petz, etc (but not Goblins because she ALWAYS loses that damn game). Her next book, A Void of Magic, releases in the summer of 2021.

 

 

 

 

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The Reckoning by Marisa Noelle – Review & Tour

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The Reckoning by Marisa Noelle – Review & Tour

 

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Description:
THE FIGHT IS NOT OVER.
A NEW NEMESIS HAS AWOKEN.

Sinister visions of an evil entity with looming yellow eyes haunt Silver’s dreams, threatening to destroy the new world she and her friends have created. The terrifying omens push Silver to experiment with her abilities, but awaken a burgeoning thirst for more power.

As Silver walks a fine line between good and evil, her friends become wary of her intimidating abilities. She finds understanding in a sympathetic newcomer, but their deepening friendship drives an even deeper wedge between Silver and her suspicious friends.

Tragedy strikes during preparations for the final stand, bringing a terrible choice. Grief drives Silver toward reckless actions that may doom the final battle. Can she repair the relationships with her friends and control her powers before her vision becomes reality?

 

 

Review:

The Reckoning by Marisa Noelle is the final book in her The Unadjusteds trilogy. Refresher:  The Unajusteds is a YA Dystopian story, with Silver Melody, our wonderful teenage heroine.  Silver is very strong, fast and has abilities that make her special. In a world with most people having been altered with enhancements, Silver was one of those that were unadjusted, but her powerful abilities continue to grow.

In the last book, Silver and the team managed to defeat the evil Earl, and rescue her mother (though she is still catatonic).  All Silver cares about the finding a way to use her healing power to bring her mother out of her unconscious state.  With her father away to find a woman who knows how to bring his wife out of the state she is in, Silver is determined to help her mother.  But things start happening, the crops and land are suffering, and they need Silver to help clean and heal the crops.  Besides working on her mother, Silver is having horrific dreams every night, and she is worried if these are just nightmares, or are they a vision of what is yet to come.

Silver begins to spend time with Eli (who was saved by Silver against his torture by Earl), as he convinces her to experiment together to increase and learn more about her powers.  As her powers begin to increase, even to some dangerous levels, Silver becomes more and more belligerent against her friends, since she just wants to help her mother, and experiment on her powers.  Her friends and the president become concerned at her reckless actions, and she turns more and more to Eli.  When the nightmares get more violent, especially the “yellow eyes”, she begins to realize that someone (Eli? Entity?)  is trying to steal her powers, and her visions are real.  Silver will need to ensure her friends and team that is she is herself again and they need to be ready for the upcoming battle that is forthcoming. I loved seeing most of her friends/team from the previous books, especially Matt.

What follows is an exciting and intense adventure that once again pits Silver and her friends against an evil powerful and dangerous entity, as well as the creatures, birds, animals, hellhounds they come across.   From start to finish, this was filled with action, danger, violence, with a number of tragic events along the way.   To tell too much more would be spoilers, and would ruin it for you.

The Reckoning was a very well written, intense, violent and emotional story line that held my attention throughout.   Marisa Noelle did a fabulous job giving us an exciting story, wonderful heroine (I loved Silver, as she made a great heroine) and great secondary characters. The ending was exciting, wild and emotional and a fitting finale; though it was definitely a surprise epilogue.  

Reviewed by Barb

Copy supplied for Review

Marisa Noelle is the writer of middle grade & young adult novels in the genres of science-fiction, fantasy & mental health including The Shadow Keepers, The Unadjusteds Trilogy (The Unadjusteds, The Rise of the Altereds, & The Reckoning), and The Mermaid Chronicles – Secrets of the Deep.
She is a mentor for the Write Mentor program that helps aspiring MG & YA authors. With dual citizenship, Marisa has lived on both sides of the Atlantic and uses settings in both the USA and UK as inspiration for her novels.
When she’s not writing or reading or watching movies, she enjoys swimming. In the pool she likes to imagine she could be a mermaid and become part of some of her make-believe words.
Despite being an avid bookworm from the time she could hold a book, being an author came as a bit of a surprise to her as she was a bit of a science geek at school. She lives in Woking, UK with her husband and three children. You can find her on Twitter @MarisaNoelle77 or her website www.MarisaNoelle.com

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THE GRAVEDIGGER’S SON (Charley Davidson 13.6) by Darynda Jones

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THE GRAVEDIGGER’S SON (Charley Davidson 13.6) by Darynda Jones-Review * Excerpt tour

 

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ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date May 11, 2021

The job should have been easy.

Get in. Assess the situation. Get out. But for veteran tracker Quentin Rutherford, things get sticky when the girl he’s loved since puberty shows up, conducting her own investigation into the strange occurrences of the small, New Mexico town. He knew it would be a risk coming back to the area, but he had no idea Amber Kowalski had become a bona fide PI, investigating things that go bump in the night. He shouldn’t be surprised, however. She can see through the dead as clearly as he can. The real question is, can she see through him?

But is anything that’s worth it ever easy?

To say that Amber is shocked to see her childhood crush would be the understatement of her fragile second life. One look at him tells her everything she needs to know. He’s changed. So drastically she barely recognizes him. He is savage now, a hardened—in all the right places—demon hunter, and she is simply the awkward, lovestruck girl he left behind.

But she doesn’t have time to dwell on the past. A supernatural entity has set up shop, and it’s up to them to stop it before it kills again.

While thousands of questions burn inside her, she has to put her concern over him, over what he’s become, aside for now. Because he’s about to learn one, undeniable fact: she’s changed, too.

**Every 1001 Dark Nights novella is a standalone story. For new readers, it’s an introduction to an author’s world. And for fans, it’s a bonus book in the author’s series. We hope you’ll enjoy each one as much as we do.**

••••••••

REVIEW:  THE GRAVEDIGGER’S SON is instalment 13.6 and novella in Darynda Jones’ contemporary, adult CHARLEY DAVIDSON paranormal, UF series, and the latest instalment in the multi-authored 1001 Dark Nights series. This is twenty-seven year old demon tracker Quentin Rutherford, and psychic/traveller Amber Kowalski’s story line. For fans of the series, Amber and Quentin were first introduced in the earlier instalments of the Charley Davidson series. Amber is the daughter of Charley’s assistant Cookie.

Told from dual third person perspectives (Amber and Quentin) THE GRAVEDIGGER’S SON focuses on two of the secondary characters in the author’s Charley Davidson series. Approximately ten to twelve years have past since we were last up close and personal with our story line couple, teens who have been in love for one another for a very long time but Quentin Rutherford disappeared from Amber’s life, a disappearance that ripped out her heart, and destroyed her soul but both Quentin and Amber have psychic abilities, abilities that grew stronger, through their teen years into adulthood.

Amber Kowalski hadn’t seen Quentin for close to ten years but investigating the possible murder of a recently deceased brings Amber up close and personal with Quentin Rutherford, the boy turned man, who is much more than she could ever have imagined. While Quentin is hunting a demon that had quite possibly gone rogue, everything begins to connect including the murder of three people connected by the past. What ensues is the search and take down of a murdering demon, and the potential fall-out as the demon sets his sights on Amber, and Amber learns the truth about the man that she still loves.

We are introduced to Amber’s assistant and earthbound spirit Kyle, and Quentin’s ‘demon’ other Rune.

For followers of the Charley Davidson series, the humour and snark is limited except for the t-shirt and meme quotes at the beginning of each chapter. I was hoping for a little more of the familiarity of the dark comedy, sarcasm and sass.

THE GRAVEDIGGER’S SON is a quick read; a fast paced, action packed story of vengeance and betrayal; friendship and love; second chances and hope. The premise is captivating; the romance is seductive and steamy; the characters are familiar and energetic. THE GRAVEDIGGER’S SON is a welcome return to the Charley Davidson’s series, a return of which there will be so much more. Here’s hoping the author has plans for a spin-off series focusing on Amber and Quentin.

Reading Order and previous reviews
First Grave on the Right
Second Grave on the Left
Third Grave Straight Ahead
Fourth Grave Beneath My Feet
Fifth Grave Past The Light
Sixth Grave on the Edge
Seventh Grave and No Body
Eighth Grave After Dark
Brighter Than the Sun (novella)
The Dirt on Ninth Grave
The Curse on Tenth Grave
Eleventh Grave in Moonlight
Trouble with Twelfth Grave
Summoned to the Thirteenth Grave
The Graveyard Shift

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Sandy

 

“Intruder!” Kyle said from behind him, a day late and a dollar short.
Quentin glared at him, and Kyle stepped back reflexively. Then he refocused his glare on Amber.
“What?” she asked, her hackles rising as hackles are wont to do.
“What are you doing here?” Again, his signs were sharp with irritation.
As Amber sat in utter astonishment—He Who Must Not Be Named was literally the last person on Earth she’d expected to see today—she used the break to take him in.
How much could a guy change in five years?
If Quentin Rutherford was any indication, a hella lot.
She barely recognized him. He’d hardened—in all the right places. His shoulders had widened more than most twenty-seven-year-olds. He’d always been muscular, even when they were kids, but either he’d been hitting the gym, or he’d been magically photoshopped. The hills and valleys that covered his body to exquisite perfection could be seen through the long-sleeved T-shirt he wore, his biceps stretching the seams to their limits. And the jeans, the ones with a few holes here and there, were not a fashion statement so much as a favored pair of work pants.
“Ms. Kowalski?” Kyle said.
Quentin turned to him, and Amber caught a glimpse of two things: the profile of his steely buttocks that had developed as much as the rest of him, and a particularly well-placed rip in the worn jeans that showed part of the indentation in his left ass cheek. The fact that he wasn’t wearing underwear was a bonus. How could anyone she hated so much be so startlingly drop-dead sexy? Life was not fair.
Then she realized something. He’d heard Kyle. Quentin had turned when Kyle spoke, and she wondered if he’d finally gotten a pair of hearing aids. They’d never helped him that much before, so he never wore them, but technology had advanced a lot since then. Maybe they had more powerful aids now that could help him hear.
She snuck a glance but didn’t see any mechanical earpieces. Interesting.
When he turned back to her, she couldn’t get over how much he’d changed. His hair was shorter now and a little darker but still a rich, tawny blond. And he’d either started wearing it spiked, or he had bedhead. Either way, he was even more gorgeous than before. Full mouth. Straight nose. Deep blue eyes like the cobalt on a ceramic bowl.
Damn it. 

 

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NYTimes and USA Today Bestselling Author Darynda Jones has won numerous awards for her work, including a prestigious Golden Heart®, a Rebecca, two Hold Medallions, a RITA ®, and a Daphne du Maurier, and she has received stellar reviews from dozens of publications including starred reviews from Publisher’s Weekly, Booklist, and the Library Journal. As a born storyteller, Darynda grew up spinning tales of dashing damsels and heroes in distress for any unfortunate soul who happened by, annoying man and beast alike, and she is ever so grateful for the opportunity to carry on that tradition. She currently has two series with St. Martin’s Press: The Charley Davidson Series and the Darklight Trilogy. She lives in the Land of Enchantment, also known as New Mexico, with her husband of almost 30 years and two beautiful sons, the Mighty, Mighty Jones Boys. She can be found at www.daryndajones.com.

 

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Treoir Dragon Chronicles of the Belador World #7 by Dianna Love

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Treoir Dragon Chronicles of the Belador World #7 by Dianna Love

 

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Description:
Book 7 in New York Times Bestseller Dianna Love’s explosive Treoir Dragon Chronicles of the Belador™ World series continues with more surprises, fast action, and unexpected reveals.

Casidhe followed her conscience. It cost her everything and she now faces Herrick’s wrath for deceiving him. After a disastrous trip to the Caucasus Mountains, Daegan has no mercy for another enemy, then discovers important information about his past from an unlikely source. He’s running out of days to locate the second grimoire volume on his own and enters a hostile Tribunal where Loki demands the return of Sen in one day or Beladors will pay. Reese has to choose between saving millions, including Quinn, from a demon invasion and giving up her baby. Adrianna sees an opening to save herself and Sen, but nothing is ever as it appears when dealing with monsters. Locked away by the Imortik master, Renata discovers friends imprisoned with her, who need her to escape, but she doesn’t trust the dangerous plan. Daegan is forced to make an agonizing decision to find the next grimoire volume, setting changes into motion which can’t be reversed.

Atlanta is pulling apart at the seams and Imortiks are breaking through rifts in other countries. Nonhumans in the alliance are fighting on all fronts to protect humans and their own as more predatory supernaturals pour into the city, including a goddess bent on revenge.

 

 

Review:

Treoir Dragon Chronicles of the Belador World by Dianna Love is the 7th book in this 9-book arc.  Refresher: Daegan and his team are attacked by Immortiks, who were supposed dead many years ago. They are racing against time to find the missing ‘grimoire volumes, before the tribunal kills some of their Beladors held in captivity. All of Daegan’s team are each involved in various dangerous situations along the way.

The story continues, with Casidhe desperate to get away from Herrick, and despondent that Daegan believes her to have betrayed him.  She manages to escape, with Herrick and his men trying to find her, and now she has a powerful weapon to help her fight.  Casidhe meets with Oracle again, but is told that she and Daegan need to bring what she needs together, in order for them to learn where to find the second grimoire volume.  But Daegan with help from Tristan, refuse to do anything, until Lanna explains they need to help each other to get what they want.  Daegan does not trust Casidhe, but she constantly tries to explain, with him fighting off his wanting to believe her.

Macha, is determined to get revenge on Daegan, and is using the tribunal to believe her lies.  With Sen and Adrianna captured, the tribunal wants Sen back, and are pushing Daegan to find him. Daegan is being pushed from every angle, and no matter where he turns, there is an enemy lurking’ but he is still determined to the get the grimoire volume and save the lives of imprisoned Beladors.

Quinn, Reese, Evalle, Carter are in the middle of a war with the demons and Immortiks, as they can’t handle the influx, even with Isaac’s help. They are all desperate to find Adrianna and save her, as well as protect Reese and her unborn child.

What follows is so much action constantly on so many levels, that I find myself wanting to blow all the villains away; I disliked them all, Macha, Cathbad, the new entity, Demons, Immortiks, Herrick, Brynwilde, and the tribunal (as well as Sen).  I want them all dead, as it is getting too intense with such evil all around, and our heroes losing ground.  I am not going to tell too much more, since I do not want to give spoilers.   As I have said previously, this is a 9-book series arc and you truly do need to read these books in cohesion.  If you love paranormal, urban fantasy, suspense, romance, great characters, you should be reading Dianna Love.

Reviewed by Barb

Copy supplied for Review

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Last Strand by Jennifer Estep- Dual review & Giveaway

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Last Strand  by Jennifer Estep- Dual review & Giveaway

 

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ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date March 16 2021

Every bloody thread has been leading to this . . .

I’ve battled a lot of bad guys in my time, both as Gin Blanco and as the notorious assassin the Spider. But I’ve never faced off against anyone quite as powerful and deadly as the dastardly leader of the Circle secret society.

Just when I finally have a lead on how I can defeat the evil group once and for all, new information comes to light that throws me for a loop. Suddenly, everyone and everything I love is in imminent peril of being destroyed, and I’m racing against the clock to figure out a way to save my friends.

The stakes couldn’t be higher, and the danger has never been greater. Somehow, I need to weave one last strand in my web of death—and kill my enemies before they kill me .

•••••

SANDY’S REVIEW:LAST STRAND is the nineteenth and final (for now) instalment in Jennifer Estep’s contemporary, adult ELEMENTAL ASSASSIN urban fantasy/paranormal series focusing on Gin Blanco aka the Spider aka The Assassin-the reigning Queen of the paranormal Underworld of Ashland, LAST STRAND can be read as a stand alone but I recommend reading the series in order or at the very least, read SHARPEST STING book 18.

SOME BACKGROUND: Years earlier, Gin lost her father to a supposed accident, then her mother and older sister to a deliberate fire started by a fire elemental, a fire ordered by the notorious group known only as The Circle. Fostered and mentored by Fletcher Lane, Gin would become the fiercest elemental assassin the Underworld would ever know.

NOTE: There are some scenes of graphic violence that may not be suitable for more sensitive readers.

Told from first person perspective (Gin Blanco) using present day and memories from the past, LAST STRAND follows the beginning of the end for the group known as The Circle. Gin Blanco has spent most of her life training for and defending against a number of enemies, all with ties to The Circle. With the revelations about her father’s murder, and the person responsible, Gin struggles with the information and connection to her extended family, family that is about to meet its’ match. When an ultimatum is given, Gin must take aggressive steps to protect the people she loves, and in this, ending the life of the person out to destroy them all. The leader of the Circle is gunning for our heroine, beginning with the take down and demise of her business, and everything it entails.

The familiar secondary and supporting characters include Gin’s sister Bria, and her step-brother Finn Lane (Bria’s lover); Gin’s assistant /vampire Silvio Sanchez, vampire Roslyn Phillips, police officer and giant Xavier dwarves Jo Jo and Sophia Deveraux, Lorelei Parker, as well as Underworld boss and security specialist Liam Carter, vampire Hugh Tucker, Bellum Bank owners and fire elementals Charles Yang, and his daughter Drusilla; elemental and giant Emery Slater, and current leader of The Circle Mason Mitchell.

LAST STRAND is a story of family, friendships, relationships and love; a story of betrayal and vengeance, power and control; greed, avarice, hatred and malice. The premise is exciting and engaging; the characters are fierce, energetic and determined- the camaraderie and friendships are electric and deep. Jennifer Estep has revealed LAST STRAND is the final instalment (for now) in the Elemental Assassin series but the author has plans for more stories focusing on the secondary characters introduced throughout the series. The Elemental Assassin series is a dramatic, thrilling and wonderful series.

 

BARB’S REVIEW:
Last Strand by Jennifer Estep is the 19th and final (for now) book in her fantastic Elemental Assassin series. I am a big fan of Jennifer Estep, having read all her series, and this series is my favorite. I love the lead character, Gin Blanco (The Spider), as well as all the wonderful secondary characters that help support Gin.   I can’t say enough about how Estep keeps the flow going so smoothly in each and every book in this terrific series, as well as the exciting action throughout.  Needless to say, Gin Blanco, the Spider, is one of the best literary kick-ass female heroines, as well as one of my favorites. 

In Last Strand, Gin and Finn have discovered where Fletcher has hidden the money, he had  supposedly stolen from the Circle leader, Mason Mitchell.  With some of their friends hiding nearby to help them if needed, they enter a bank that has strong rules, and very powerful clients, as well as strict security measures.  To their shock, the vault in Fletcher’s name is loaded with treasures and money, which amounts to a lot of money, but Gin is confused, as it is not as much as she expected.  They leave without a problem, to go home and meet with the group how to find a way to get everything out of the vault, before Mason Mitchell finds out. Before they get a chance to move the money, Mitchell and his giants, including the evil Emery, threaten the life of one of theirs, forcing Gin to agree to give them what he wants. 

Gin has dreams about Fletcher and how he taught her things, but no matter what she cannot figure out what clues he was telling her.  Gin also knows that not only is her life on the line, but so are all of her family and friends.  Mason Mitchell will stop at nothing to kill them all.  She also learns what Mason is planning to destroy her Pork Pit restuarant, as well as take complete control of Ashland. Can she stop him?

What follows is an exciting, action filled, pulse pounding adventure that will bring Gin and her team into death defying situations. But with help from her fantastic friends and others, she will devise an elaborate plan to destroy Mason.  Will it cost her life, or that of her loved ones?

This series is always an edge of your seat suspense when following Gin Blanco, as she is always in the middle of a wild violent adventure.   To tell too much more would be spoilers, and I do not want to ruin it for anyone; especially this being the final book (for now). But as we come to the conclusion of the series, we worry who will survive.

I love spending time with Gin, but I also love all the recurring secondary characters that are Gin’s friends and family that she is loyal to, and they are always there for each other.  Finn, Owen, Bria, Silvio, Sophia, Jo Jo, Lorelei, Silvio are all great members of Gin’s group.   

Jennifer Estep is a master at creating exciting, mind-boggling adventures in each story, and making Gin into such a great heroine.   Last Strand was a wonderful action filled addition to this series, which also gives us answers to some questions, as well as an amazing and satisfying conclusion.  If you have not read the Elemental Assassin series, it is time for you to start now.

 

 

Jennifer Estep is a New York Times, USA Today, and international bestselling author prowling the streets of her imagination in search of her next fantasy idea. 

Jennifer writes the Elemental Assassin urban fantasy series. Sharpest Sting, book #18, will be released Oct. 8.

Jennifer is also the author of the Crown of Shards, Mythos Academy, Black Blade, and Bigtime fantasy series.

For more information on Jennifer and her books, visit www.jenniferestep.com or follow Jennifer on Facebook, Goodreads, Amazon, BookBub, Blog and Twitter. You can also sign up for her newsletter.

 

 

Jennifer is graciously offering a $10 Amazon Gift card to ONE (1) lucky commenters  at The Reading Cafe:

1. If you have not previously registered at The Reading Cafe, please register by using the log-in at the top of the page (side bar) or by using one of the social log-ins.

NOTE:  If you are having difficulty commenting after logging into the site, please refresh the page at the top of your computer

2. If you are using a social log-in, please post your email address with your comment.

3. Please LIKE and Follow Jennifer Estep on Facebook

4. LIKE us on FACEBOOK and then click GET NOTIFICATION under ‘liked’ for an additional entry.

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7. Giveaway open Internationally

8. Giveaway runs from March 16- 20, 2021

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