Local Book Signing: Ruined by Paula Morris

See my review of Ruined HERE

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Garden of Darkness by Anne Frasier

Garden of Darkess
(Tuonela Book #2)
by Anne Frasier

Genre: Supernatural Thriller

Rachel Burton tried to leave, but the killing brought her back. The skinned body was found in the woods, just as Rachel—the town medical examiner—was driving out of Tuonela for good, or so she thought. Now her baby will be born here, and the betrayal of Evan Stroud—the man she’s always loved, the man who can never see the light of day—will continue to haunt her waking and sleeping hours… 

Others are coming to Tuonela, drawn to the legend of the Pale Immortal, the so-called vampire whose exhumed body is now on display. And others will die. As Evan succumbs to madness, those around him will suspect the worst of him. But everything he is rumored to be will pale in comparison to the one who has been awakened…

Tuonela is a town whose name means "land of the dead" and there's a dark secret that even the locals refuse to speak about.  The residents are shockingly use to the mysteries deaths, soft whispers on the wind, and the Old-Tuonela ghost town, only 5-miles away, where only a few brave souls dare to visit.  Yet, with the opening of the new museum exhibit displaying the mummified body of the "Pale Immortal" (the supposed town vampire from 100 years ago, Richard Manchester),  Tuonela is now being overrun with out-siders and  journalists  . . . including some university students completing their senior work of a Blair Witch Project- esque documentary on the town's haunted past.  What's Tuoneal and it's residents to do when a dark history begins to unravel?

There are five characters that the reader follows throughout "Garden of Darkness".  The first being Rachel Burton, a town local, whose parents passed away a few year previously.  She's also the only one in Tuonela to complete a full autopsy on the skinless cadavers.  She desperately wants to leave the town and move to California, but is basically coerced into staying, even though she's eight months pregnant.  Next is Alastair Stroud, the chief of police, and father to the town's most talked about resident, Evan.   He takes up drinking again after discovering some disturbing facts about a terrible mistake he made in the past.  Evan Stroud suffers from a skin disease that makes him sensitive to light as well as the brunt to every vampire joke in Tuonela.  He shares a dark secret with his father and is driven to the point of insanity in this book.  Next we have, Graham Stroud, Evan's son, who escaped from an abusive mother to find his heritage and is disappointed in what he discovers.   He now works as a part-time security guard at the museum while completing high school, but gets close with outsider, Kristin Blackmoore, whose is in town working on the documentary.

The story is a bit rocky here and there, but easy enough to follow overall.  At the beginning, the reader really has no idea what is going on since following so many different point-of-views.  Eventually the POVs begin to collide and the tale gets creepier and creepier.  It's like a nice Dean Koontz tale with footsteps outside your bedroom door when you're home alone or spooky scratching sounds in the dead of night.  I LOVE that!  Sadly it's also one of those books that builds up nicely, but ends abruptly.  Boo!  The only way to truely enjoy this book is reading it late into the night.  Sweet Dreams.

Likes: The spook factors throughout the tale were fun.

Dislikes: This was Book #2 in a trilogy and unfortunately, book #3 will never be published in the series.

Rating:

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The Dangerous Protector by Janet Chapman

The Dangerous Protector
(Puffin Harbor Book #2)
by Janet Chapman

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Willow Foster is committed to protecting Maine's precious coastline. She's equally committed to avoiding her one-time fling, Duncan Ross, the rugged Scotsman who's got her hometown believing she's the love of his life. But when Willow goes home to uncover the mystery behind a worrisome lobster catch, she learns that pub owner Duncan holds some mysteries of his own...and that taking a chance with her heart might open her life up to passion beyond her wildest dreams.

When a lobster-man, Ray Cobb, alerts Maine Assistant Attorney General Willow Foster to the presence of contaminants and dead lobsters in Puffin Harbor, she begins a personal and secret investigation. She's unofficially assisted by bar owner and former Navy-man Duncan Ross, whose offers of both marriage and passion she's been resisting since a one-night stand 18 months earlier. As the two explore both the corporate paper trail and the local seascape, Duncan reveals that he's actually a Scottish lord, while Willow is forced to grapple with her fear of commitment.

Occasionally I like to mix it up and read a nice historical romance or some hot contemporary story.  This was definitely a likable read, plus it's been sitting on my library shelf for years (yes, years!) unread.   Right off the back, Duncan (aka Dunky) and Willow (aka Counselor) steamed up the pages with their chemistry.  Duncan's made it clear his ready to take the next step while Willow is hesitant and basically goes the opposite directions every time a serious relationship talk comes up.  They blend together so well from the beginning that it's hard not to enjoy them as a couple.  Duncan moved to Maine from Scotland and opened a bar two years previously, while Willow is a local AG and works on cases non-stop unless she's visiting her sister, Rachel, in Puffin Harbor.  Whenever Ducan and Willow see each other, they bicker, they flirt, they secretly share kisses and more . . . and now the whole town is placing bets on their wedding even though neither are officially together.  Too fun!  This was a quick read for me, maybe since it was a nice change from my normal reading style, and the mystery part to the story flowed smoothly throughout.  Didn't feel rushed or bada-bing-bada-bang (abruptly finished) at the end, like some stories can be.  Nothing Paranormal.  Nothing Supernatural.  Nothing Fantasy related.  Just an easy HOT read . . . just what I wanted!

Likes:  I enjoyed the town's betting pool for when --or rather if the wedding between Duncan and Willow will take place and having the various citizens of the Harbor admit who (and how much) they bet on.

Dislikes:  There are definitely a lot of characters going on throughout the story and perhaps if I would have read Book #1 (The Seductive Impostor) first, I wouldn't have been confused trying to remember who was who.

Rating:

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Undead and Unfinished by Mary Janice Davidson

Undead and Unfinished
(The Undead Book #9)
by Mary Janice Davidson

Genre: Paranormal Romance

In Undead and Unfinished, the ninth novel featuring the adventures of Vampire Queen Betsy Taylor, Betsy strikes up a deal with the devil. Now, Betsy has the ability to read the Book of the Dead without going insane and she finally gets the chance to discover all the dark mysteries it holds. When a visit to Hell turns into a time traveling journey filled with risky encounters, Betsy gets more than she bargained for. As she interacts firsthand with her past generations, Betsy’s meddling will impact the future in ways she does not yet understand.

Vamp Queen Betsy Taylor's at it again and no matter what goes down in Minneapolis, whenever Betsy's involved, it's usually not good. Her sister Laura or as Betsy's refers to her (numerous times!) throughout the book, Antichrist, gets involved in a scheme to visit her true mother, the Devil, in Hell.  Wanting to tag along (reluctantly!) to make sure everything is A-okay, Betsy follows Laura to have a personal tour down-under, witness the hellish treatment of Ted Bundy and Henry VIII, and travel in time.  Yes, that's right - I said travel in time since Laura needs to practice that skill if she's to take over her Mother's position upon retirement.   Something neither are willing to do, but it's not like you have much choice in Hell.  

This use to be such a cute series and who couldn't enjoy Betsy Taylor—former model, newly unemployed secretary, 30, and still single—who wakes up after being flattened by a small SUV in a tacky coffin wearing cheap knock-off shoes and is now the Queen of the vampires?  Come on . . . that was a hilarious plot!  But the last few books in the series have been major major bombs!!!  I couldn't even finish the last one and, sadly, I've stopped buying the ridiculous hardback copies of this series.  Thanks to my library though, I can safely test the waters again with the next addition, Undead and Unfinished.  I'm not offering praise or anything, but Davidson is at least is taking steps in the right direction with Book #9.  I struggled at times to continue (Could Betsy just SHUT UP for once and stop making senseless chatter?), but at least I finished this story and the ending was surprisingly shocking to me . . . didn't see that coming at all!  I did enjoy the Devil's description of being the "giver of knowledge" since "knowledge is like a hammer . . . it's neither good nor evil.  What matters is how you apply it." (pg 125) I think that was probably the deepest thought throughout this whole book.  If you've been a fan from the beginning, you'll more than like be tempted to check this one out and honestly it's not as bad as the last two (those were just SAD excuses for books) but it's nothing great to brag about it either.  Pure Fluff!

Likes: The references to The Body Shop's Strawberry bath gel . . . OMG I love that stuff, too!

Dislikes: I use to think Betsy's obsession with shoes was quirky, but now it's just ridiculous!

Rating:

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*REREAD* One Foot in the Grave by Jeaniene Frost

One Foot in the Grave
(Dark Huntress Book #2)
by Jeaniene Frost

Genre: Paranormal Romance | Urban Fantasy

Half-vampire Cat Crawfield is now Special Agent Cat Crawfield, working for the government to rid the world of the rogue undead. She's still using everything Bones, her sexy and dangerous ex, taught her, but when Cat is targeted for assassination, the only man who can help her is the vampire she left behind. Being around him awakens all her emotions, from the adrenaline kick of slaying vamps side by side to the reckless passion that consumed them. But a price on her head—wanted: dead or half-alive—means her survival depends on teaming up with Bones. And no matter how hard she tries to keep things professional between them, she'll find that desire lasts forever . . . and that Bones won't let her get away again.

Half-Vampire, Catherine "Cat" Crawfield (know as "Kitten" to only one other), is now a full fledged Vampire Huntress.  She has her own specially trained team, works within a secret government branch, and cannot forget about the dark past (particularly one leather jacket wearing vamp) which is catching up with her.  Vampire Master, Bones (known to his close personal friends as "Crispin"), didn't take well with Cat disappearing five years ago; since then, he's be on the hunt for any information pertaining to her where-abouts and he just got lucky.

Their paths fatefully cross again in of all places, a close friend's wedding; where both are in the bridal party.  Keeping feelings contained is something Cat prides herself on and plus, she's a professional now and cannot put more around her in danger.  Thus, the reason she left years before.  Bones, on the other hand, refuses to lose Cat (again!) and is willing to expose himself to her co-workers as well as train those within Cat's agency.  Beside the romantic tension between the two yummy main characters, tons of vampire history is given, Cat's father's identity is revealed and his relationship is closer to her than previously thought,  Bone's vampire heritage is learned, and lots of action packed adventures are had.  If you read the first book in the series, you'll be itching to jump right into the next.  It's a great followup and Cat saves herself (and the story) from becoming too much of a kick-ass/bad-ass female read (something I loathe!) by having Bones show her up with his amazing vampy powers.  I'm also that rare exceptional reader that dislikes books with men/women in uniforms (ie. law enforcers) thus, the "secret" hunting agency (not just a police force) twist of the tale helped me enjoy it a lot better! To each their own, eh? So . . . Enjoy Dark Huntress Book #2 y'all!

Likes: I adored the part when Bones was faster than a speeding bullet during their date, could fly after those they hunt, and that Cat joked they should leap tall buildings in a single bound next.  Super silly, but cute!

Dislikes:  Cat's mom has NEVER grown on me throughout the series.  I basically skip the sections she's in.

Rating: 

 

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Blue Bloods: Keys to the Repository by Melissa de la Cruz

Blue Bloods : Keys to the Repository
(Companion to The Van Alen Legacy)
by Melissa de la Cruz

Genre: Companion | Paranormal Romance | Young Adult

Lavish parties. Passionate meetings in the night. Bone-chilling murders. Midterms. The day-to-day life of Schuyler Van Alen and her Blue Bloods friends (and enemies) is never boring. But there's oh-so-much more to know about these beautiful and powerful teens. Below the streets of Manhattan, within the walls of the Repository, exists a wealth of revealing information about the vampire elite that dates back before the Mayflower. In a series of short stories, journal entries, and never-before-seen letters, New York Times bestselling author Melissa de la Cruz gives her hungry fans the keys to the Repository and an even more in-depth look into the secret world of the Blue Bloods.

Half-Blood

Birth Name: Schuyler Theodora Elizabeth Van Alen Chase

Origin: September 1, 1992, New York, New York

Known Past Lives: None: she is Dimidium Cognatus (half-human, half-vampire), the first and only one of her kind.

Azrael, Angel of Death, Twin Angel of the Apocalypse

Birth Name: Madeleine Alexis Force, known as "Mimi"

List of Human Familiars: See pages 84-88 in Records of Human Interaction for full list. (Too many to mention here; number in possible violation of the Code.) HA!

Kingsley Martin

Assigned to investigate the murder of Aggie Carondolet, Kingsley enrolled as a student at Duchesne.  With his cocky confidence, smoldering air of mystery, and devastating good looks {NOTE FROM RENFIELD: SCRIBES, ARE YOU SURE VENATOR MARTIN HASN'T HACKED INTO THIS FILE?}, Kingsley was a legend only a week after arriving at Duchesne. {NOTE TO RENFIELD FROM K.M. HI RENNY!}

You'll find fun facts like this and more scattered all throughout Keys to the Repository.  It gives detailed accounts of all the main character's family backgrounds, current status, list of bond mates, physical characteristics, as well as city maps, a full history of the Blue Bloods, and a peek at Bliss's "Wolf Pack" side story in search of the Hounds of Hell.  Lovely stuff for all followers of the Blue Blood series, like myself.  It's a companion read, so don't expect much.  I personally have a love/hate relationships with companion reads.  On one hand, I enjoy the little details and shorts stories about all of my favorite characters, while on the other hand, I hate that the fans have to wait even longer for an actually book, and not just an encyclopedia, to continue the series.  Yayy that Misguided Angel (Book #5) is right around the corner on October 26.  We even get a special treat with Bloody Valintine, a romantic novella, that will be published next year! Double Yayy.

Keys to the Repository answered some nice questions of mine (like: What was Schuyler and Jack's first meeting at the Perry St apartment like? or More insight to what happened to Dylan Ward) but then left me blank on so much more (like: Is it true that Stephen Chase, Schuyler's red blood father is only "presumed" deceased? or Wait, so . . . Kingsley was only believed to be trapped in the underworld and not finished?) If you like Schuyler and the gang, you'll enjoy all the "documents" within Melissa de la Cruz's newest work.

Likes: "Mr. Darcy's Requests" was nice!  "Stolen moments, stolen kisses, a secret oasis." Yummy! (pg 59)

Dislikes: Sometimes there's so much information to absorb that I get overwhelmed and can only read the books for bits at a time.

Rating:

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Book Blogger Hop #1 (My First)

BOOK PARTY

Who is your favorite new-to-you author so far this year?

Dan Waters
I have been surprisingly shocked at how much I enjoy his work! The fact he's male is even odder for my romantic reading style/taste; yet, he has become a instant favorite of mine since beginning the Generation Dead series. I even went out and bought the third, Passing Strange, just the other day.

Thanks for hopping by!

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