Weekly Reading Update 8/26 - 9/08/16!

Another week, another update… As always, click the title for more information!

So we’ve got a double whammy this week, since I was sick all last week and didn’t get a chance to do an update. I got a cold, and man, this thing sticks around! I am still exhausted and a little stuffy, and it’s been over a week and a half! I did manage to get some reading done, but just for-pleasure reads, not much in the way of reviews. Alas.

I went through a huge interlibrary loan read-fest - trying to get some stuff off my account. I’ve been holding on to them forever, so I figured it was about time I went through them all. And what better time than when I’m stuck in bed! I started off with The Raider by Jude Deveraux - this is apparently a famous one, and it was definitely interesting. But it was definitely typical of the 1980s historical romances. Next I moved on to Fueled by K. Bromberg - the second book in the Driven series. I really enjoyed the first one, and this one ended on a huge cliffhanger! Arg - thank goodness I was able to request the third through interlibrary loan right away.

Next I moved on to Finding Fraser by K.C. Dyer. Goodreads suggested this one to me - probably because I loved Outlander so much. It was an entertaining read, but I don’t think it was anything truly miraculous. After that, I went back into my Kristen Ashley reading binge. I’m bound and determined to figure out why this author is so well loved, considering I don’t really like her Unfinished Heroes series. So I read The Will - and it was good, there were quite a few things I liked but… still, no magic. And then I read Rock Chick, and I think I finally get it! I really enjoyed Rock Chick - enough that it is now on my wish-list! I can’t wait to read the second one.

I may have mentioned more than a few times that I’m a librarian - I also order books, specifically romance and graphic novels. Fitting, don’t you think? Well, anyways, when looking for books to purchase, I came across the best title ever - Must Love Wieners by Casey Griffin. And with a title like that? Of course I had to get it for the library! And request it for myself - it was adorable! I had to add this to my wish-list too. It just keeps getting longer and longer…

Next up were some short reads, because this is when I was getting really sick and tired - even having to call off work a few days. Sigh. So I read Spider-Gwen volume 0: Most Wanted? By Jason Latour. I’m not a fan of the spideys, but a friend has been desperate for me to read Spider-Gwen. It was okay… I requested the next volume, so we’ll see. Next was a short nonfiction title, Ireland: The Land of the Hundred Thousand Welcomes by Clare Gallagher. This was a random find, but so cute. I love Ireland, and this was filled with proverbs, translations, history, mythology, and modern facts. Next was Beauty by Laurell K. Hamilton, a very short story in the Anita Blake series. I’m mostly over Anita, but I do pick up any of the short stories from time to time, to see if I want to commit to reading the series again - so far, nope. And last of the shorties - Nightshades by Melissa F. Olson. This was one of the Tor.com novellas, and it was so good! An excellent take on vampires, or as they call them, Shades. It needs to be a series pronto!

I finished up by doing a lot of re-reads - something common for me when I get sick. Mostly because I can fall asleep while reading, pick it up at a random place, and still understand what’s going on. So I read Sex, Lies, and Vampires by Katie MacAlister, part of her Dark Ones series. Then I switched over to her Dragons series, and read You Slay Me and Fire Me Up. I do love Aisling and Drake, but there were quite a few times I wanted to smack Drake over the head. Bossy, grumpy dragon. Hmph!

That’s it for me this week!

Happy Reading!

~!~ Amanda, Novel Addiction ~!~

Weekly Reading Update 8/19 - 8/25/16

Another week, another update… As always, click the title for more information!

I really don’t have too much this week. I was really busy, with something scheduled almost every evening after work. I took a women’s self-defense class early in the week, which was amazing. Tuesday night I had to work in the evening, Wednesday I had to head to my mother’s to drop stuff off for her, and then Thursday evening my friend was having a Scentsy party. I’ve never been to one before, but man… so many good smells! But enough about that - on to the books!

I started my weekend off reading The Ukrainian and Russian Notebooks: Life and Death Under Soviet Rule by Igort. For my 2016 reading challenge, I had to read a book about a culture I am unfamiliar with - so I chose this one randomly off the shelf. I was not prepared for how horrible life was at that time. The famine was so bad, people were resorting to cannibalism, and just the way people treated other humans.. It was horrifying! I’m now stuck somewhere between wanting to know more about this time period in that part of the world, because I like to keep myself informed… but also not wanting to know any more because it’s so terrible.

Next, I moved on to Tailored for Trouble my Mimi Jean Pamfiloff. I got this one to review for Romance Reviews Today, and I was surprised how much I liked it. It starts off like every other CEO-hires-consultant-and-falls-in-love kind of book, but Tailored for Trouble jumped right off the romance trope chain and threw in some curveballs I didn’t expect. I’m already eager for the second one, but there’s no release month yet - all that’s listed is some time in 2017.

After so much contemporary, I was in the mood for some

paranormal romance - so I finally picked up Runaway Vampire and Immortal Nights by Lynsay Sands. Runaway Vampire came out earlier this year, and Immortal Nights is releasing next month - so if you love paranormal romance, now is the time to start on the Argeneau series by Lynsay Sands. I love her stuff. This series is always on my insta-buy list. And when I’m having a rough day, there’s several I pick up and re-read to feel better.

I then moved on to a graphic novel, Blue Monday: The Kids Are Alright by Clugston Flores Chynna. This is put out by Image comics, which I love, so when my library purchased this title - I had to try it. I thought it was interesting, but not something I’m going to have to read the next volume right now like some other comics. And while the characters may be teens, trust me, the language makes this something for older readers.

And finally, quite randomly, I found myself rereading In The Company of Vampires by Katie MacAlister. I think because she posted something mentioning Ben and Fran in her online readers group - so I grabbed it off my favorites shelf and brought it to work with me. And even though I know what’s going to happen, and that everything will turn out okay.. I still get sad when Fran sees Ben with someone else. Sigh.

That’s it for me this week!

Happy Reading!
~!~ Amanda, Novel Addiction ~!~

Weekly Reading Update 6/10 - 6/16/16!

Another week, another update! As always, click the title for more information.

A few weeks ago, I posted about reading Thief of Thieves volume 1: “I Quit” by Robert Kirkman. Well I finally got my hands on Thief of Thieves volume 2: “Help Me” by Kirkman, and Volume 3: Venice by Andy Diggle. I’m still really loving this series. I can’t want to see how he manages to get them out of the next scrape. And even better - I was able to find the next volume! I couldn’t for the longest time, but it turned up on one of my library’s digital platforms. Yay!

I’ve been listening to King Lear by William Shakespeare. Mostly because it counts for my library’s Summer Reading Challenge as an audio book. I figured if I was going to listen to one in a certain format, I might as well go with a classic that I haven’t read in years. And I’m glad I did, because it turns out, I forgot a good portion of the story! There was a whole subplot that had completely slipped my mind. And the audio production was incredibly well done, sound effects and multiple voice actors included!

I'm sure you'll be seeing random or different types of reads from me in the next couple weeks, as I participate in the different challenges as part of the library's summer reading program. And the next book is a prime example of that. I grabbed the book We The Animals by Justin Torres because it fulfilled the "author with the same last initial" spot on the challenge. This was something completely different for me, but I like to try something new now and again. It was good, and I can see why it garnered praise from different critics. But I don't really see myself re-reading it in the future. 


I'm almost done with Daring in a Blue Dress by Katie MacAlister, which will be reviewed on Romance Reviews Today. While this is the third book in a series, it works just as well as a stand-alone, considering I didn't read the first two books (yet!), but I still was able to jump into this one just fine. And for long-time fans of Katie MacAlister, I think you'll hear some familiar names in this book. But that's just like her, she loves throwing in little bits like that now and again. 

And last, but certainly not least, I read the newest Rick Riordan book, The Hidden Oracle! It's the first in the Trials of Apollo series, and let me tell you, I am absolutely desperate for the next book. I can't believe I have to wait until this time next year! Zeus is punishing Apollo by turning him mortal and making him sixteen again - and even worse, with acne! Apollo maintains none of his immortal powers, though he still excels at music. Thank goodness I still have the first Magnus Chase book to read, so that might help tide me over until his next release.

See you next week! And Happy Reading!

~!~ Amanda, Novel Addiction ~!~

Weekly Reading Update 4/8 - 4/16! Better late than never, right?

I know, I know, I'm a couple days late - but I had a lot to get done. Alas, sometimes real life gets in the way of reading - no fun, for sure. 

As always, click the link to get more info about the book!

Well, I finished the Princess Diaries series this week! When I originally read these books years ago, I stopped after book four or five, I think. And I'm not sure how I managed that, because they're just so good. I think re-reading this series was exactly what I needed to boost my spirits. I also made sure to re-read The Royal Wedding (which I reviewed last year!). It was just so much better reading it right after finishing the series. And I totally had to buy them all so I can re-read them whenever I want. So I have a mix of the original hardback covers, mass market paperbacks, and the re-issued new trade paperbacks. And I don't care!

Since I finished the Princess Diaries, I had to find a new series to obsess over - so I finally picked up the Mediator series, also by Meg Cabot. A friend suggested I read this series years ago, and I finally got the chance. I listened to the first two on audio, then had to read the rest because I couldn't wait for the audiobooks to come in from the library. I finished the original books, now I'm just waiting for the new novella to come in (yay library digital collection!), and then I can read the new Mediator book that came out this year, Remembrance! 

And since I was on such a throwback kick with the Princess Diaries, I also re-read Sloppy Firsts and Second Helpings by Megan McCafferty. Because really, the only thing that can help me get past my love of Michael Moscovitz is Marcus Flutie. They were as good as I remember. But alas, my copies are worse than I remember - I bought them all second hand, and my copies of Charmed Thirds, Fourth Comings, and Perfect Fifths aren't too bad, but books one and two are kind of a mess. I might have to invest in new ones. 

I also read Dragon Soul by Katie MacAlister - another favorite author! I got to review Dragon Soul for Romance Reviews Today, and I loved it. I love all of Katie Mac's books, she just has such an amusing writing style - I end up chuckling throughout the whole book. Dragon Soul is going on my wishlist as well. I own all of Katie MacAlister's books except for the two most recent dragon books (Dragon Storm and Dragon Soul) - but I'm sure I'll find them and add them to my collection soon enough. 

Another read this week was Hate to Love You by Elise Alden. Goodreads recommended this one to me, and my library had a digital copy, so I figured why not. It was definitely... interesting. I can't say I really liked it, but I didn't full on hate it either. Part one (several years in the past), was confusing and awkward. Part two (present day) was better, and reminded me a lot of some of the Harlequins I've read in the past, and enjoyed. But there were still some issues that weren't addressed, and I hate when stand-alones aren't wrapped up completely. 

I also read Lumberjanes volume 3: A Terrible Plan by Noelle Stevenson, and Paper Girls volume 1 by Brian K. Vaughan. Both were interesting, and both had dinosaurs, strangely enough. I'm a huge fan of the Lumberjanes series, so I knew that one would be great. But Paper Girls is brand new, so I wasn't sure how it would go. However, I've read a few other comics by Brian K. Vaughan, so I knew it would at least be good, if not completely amazing. I recommend both of these to any comic reader!

I think that's enough for this week, right? I'll see you again soon!

Happy Reading!

~!~ Amanda, Novel Addiction ~!~

REVIEW: Dragon Storm by Katie MacAlister!

Release Date: November 24, 2015

Type: Series, Book 2, Spin-off series, Paranormal Romance, Dragons, Mates, sex toys?

About the Book: TURN ON THE CHARM

According to some (including himself), Constantine is one of the greatest heroes of dragonkin who ever lived. Too bad he's now lonelier than ever and his biggest adventure involves a blow-up sheep—until he has an opportunity to save his kind once again. All Constantine has to do is break into a demon's dungeon, steal an ancient artifact, and reverse a deadly curse. The plan certainly does not involve rescuing a woman...

TURN UP THE HEAT

Bee isn't sure whether to be infuriated or relieved when Constantine pops up in her prison. The broody, brawny shifter lights her fire in a way no one ever has before, yet how far can she really trust him? Their chemistry may be off the charts, but when push comes to shove, Constantine will have to make a crucial choice: to save the dragons or the woman he's grown to love with fierce intensity. [Description from Goodreads.com]

My Review: Okay, I’ve been a fan of Katie MacAlister for years, and I’ve been reading the Dragon series since it started. So really, I wasn’t sure she could go much further in this world. Hadn’t she done everything already?

Well no, actually, she hadn’t. She found a whole new curve to throw at everyone with the Black Dragons series. Though, not-so-spoiler alert, Constantine isn’t really a Black dragon. Or alive.

I’ll be honest with you, I wasn’t sure I would like this book. Constantine showed up several books ago, and he was a rather annoying side character. Entertaining, yes, but he could get old real fast. So I was worried his own book would be too much to handle, if not outright bad. But I shouldn’t have doubted Katie, because she made sure Constantine maintained his previous characteristics and yet still filled that hero role like it was made for him. It turns out, I didn’t dislike Constantine after all - in fact, now he might be one of my favorites.

And his relationship with Bee is perfect. Bee is just similar yet opposite enough to mesh with Constantine’s overbearing personality. They clearly go together, as their sense of humors match. And that’s why I love this author so much, she writes strong  but quirky heroines that I could seriously see myself being friends with. She also does a great job writing hilarious sidekicks - such as Gary the talking head in this volume.

There’s no specific reason why this book isn’t getting five stars. There’s not a list of issues or whatever else. I’m giving it four stars because it just doesn’t feel like a “perfect” book. There’s always room for improvement, though in my eyes, Katie MacAlister is pretty darn close. I can’t wait for the next book in the series, Dragon Soul!

Cover Lovin’: Uhh yeah! I definitely love this cover. And it fits in perfectly with the rest of the books in this series.

Recommendation: This would be a tough book to jump into with no prior knowledge of the rest of the series. So it’s best to start with at least the beginning of the Black Dragons series (Dragon Fall, see the link below!), if not all the way to You Slay Me!

Final Rating: FOUR out of FIVE (⅘) stars! Loved this. Constantine is a perfectly imperfect hero, with a great sense of humor. And now I can’t wait for the next book!

Make sure to check out the previous book in this series, Dragon Fall, and see where it all began in You Slay Me!

You Slay Me
Dragon Fall
Dragon Storm

Happy Reading!
~!~ Amanda, Novel Addiction ~!~

Disclaimer: I received a free copy in exchange for a review.

Review: DRAGON FALL by Katie MacAlister

Release Date: July 28th, 2015

Type: Paranormal Romance, Romance, Series, Book 1 in a new series, Book 11 in an overall series, I'll gladly be your mate

About the Book: YOU FLIRT WITH FIRE...

For Aoife Dakar, seeing is believing-and she's seen some extraordinary things. It's too bad no one else believes that she witnessed a supernatural murder at an outdoor fair. Returning to the scene for proof, Aoife encounters a wise-cracking demon dog-and a gloriously naked man who can shift into a dragon and kiss like a god. Now thrust into a fantastical world that's both exhilarating and terrifying, Aoife is about to learn just how hot a dragon's fire burns.

WHEN YOU DATE A DRAGON

Kostya has no time for a human woman with endless questions, no matter how gorgeous or tempting she is. He must break the curse that has splintered the dragon clans before more of his kind die. But his powerful attraction to Aoife runs much deeper than the physical-and there may be more to her than even his sharp dragon eyes can see. To survive the coming battle for the fate of his race, he needs a mate of true heart and soul . . . [Description from Netgalley.com]

My Review: This one is really tough for me to review. There is something about Katie MacAlister's writing - most likely the sense of humor - that makes me automatically love everything she's written. But this just felt different, or maybe felt off? There was a several year break between the last Dragon Sept novel (the last of the Light Dragons series) and this one - and apparently a lot has happened. Even being a faithful reader of the series, I felt lost more than once. It's for that reason, I don't suggest a new reader pick up this book - you need to have some prior knowledge of the series.

I was also disappointed that there was a huge build up regarding the curse on the dragon septs, and then a re-appearance of an old villain... but nothing was solved. I know that's because this is going to be the major story arc of the Black Dragons mini-series, but some resolution at the end of the book would have been good. Instead, this book felt unfinished. The only thing resolved here was that Kostya and Aoife did finally express their feelings for one another.

Hopefully Katie MacAlister takes us a few steps forward towards the end of the curse in the next book, Dragon Storm - coming in November 2015.

Cover Lovin': I really like this cover. And no, not just because of the delicious looking guy on the cover - but because of the tattoo. I think the tattoo was an interesting addition. It also fits in well with the other more recent books in the series (the Light Dragons).

Recommendation: I'm not sure that this could work as a stand-alone. I've read the entire rest of the series, and even with that, I had forgotten stuff that happened since the last book, leaving me feeling confused. Reading some previous books in the series is recommended.

Final Rating: I'm going to have to rate this book lower than I've rated any other Katie MacAlister book ever, which makes me sad. THREE POINT FIVE out of FIVE stars (3.5/5). The humor is still there. The love story is perfect. But there was no resolution or even a step forward in the main storyline, which was a big let down.

Get your copy of Dragon Fall from Amazon.com now! New to the Dragon Septs series? Check out the book that started it all - You Slay Me!

Happy Reading!

~!~ Amanda, Novel Addiction ~!~

Disclaimer: I received a free e-copy in exchange for a fair and honest review. Thanks Netgalley!

REVIEW: "Much Ado About Vampires" Katie MacAlister

Amazon - "Much Ado About Vampires" by Katie MacAlister
Why this book?: I'm a big fan of Katie MacAlister, and her Dark Ones series is truly superb.

Type: Vampires, Series, Soulmate/Beloved, zombies, past lives, paranormal romance, humor

Recommendation: Definitely for older readers! Cora and Alec have their share of steamy scenes, 18+

Disclaimer: This book was purchased by me for my own entertainment. I am reviewing it here because I wanna!

About the book: Corazon Ferreira is a jaded woman. Turns out she was a vampire's mate in a past life. And no matter how distractingly gorgeous he is, she just can't get the image of him killing someone out of her head. But when her life depends on him, Corazon's going to have to stop overthinking things-and start trusting her heart...

My review: I really, really enjoy this author. And as with any prolific author, die hard fans will start to notice some similarities in each book, especially if the author has several different series running at once. And, well.. I really started to notice it in some of Katie's books. I still laughed out loud while reading them, and enjoyed the stories, but.. I was losing a little of the magic. And then "Much Ado About Vampires" came strolling onto the scene. Yes, Katie's signatures are still there, but she's thrown some interesting new things in as well - such as scenes from the hero, Alec's perspective. Katie MacAlister has done this before, but usually when the heroine was not there - for the most part, the heroine is the main character, and it's all from her point of view. I thought it was incredibly refreshing to hear how Alec was feeling about the whole situation, and not just from his thoughts that the heroine picks up now and again (Beloveds, if you don't know, can sometimes hear their Dark One's thoughts). I hope Katie keeps up the different points of view. Her heroes are just too amazing for us never to get their side of things!

I'm a big sucker for soul mates, especially the kind that find each other in later reincarnations - and that's (sorta) what we get here. Corazon is Alec's Beloved reincarnated, complete with some (read: about two minutes of it.. and she was dead at the time) knowledge about their former life together. They really are adorable together, and Corazon's change from vampire hater/being afraid of Alec to not able to keep her hands off him, well.. it's an amusing journey.

I can't wait for the next Dark One book, and I especially can't wait for Katie MacAlister's next release, "It's All Greek To Me," a contemporary releasing within the next few months. If you think Katie's paranormals are good, be sure to check out her contemporaries! "Men in Kilts" is still one of my favorite romances of all time.

Cover Loving: Definitely a good one. Not quite sure that's how I picture Alec, but.. well, the man is quite hunky.

Final Rating: FIVE out of FIVE (5/5). I chuckled out loud, I smiled like a big goof, and I loved loved loved the scenes from Alec's perspective - a great read that is (of course) going on the Keeper Shelf/Bookcase.

If you haven't already, get your copy of "Much Ado About Vampires" by Katie MacAlister from Amazon.com asap! And use the handy dandy link at the top.

Happy Reading!
~!~ Amanda ~!~

Here be dragons! REVIEW: "The Unbearable Lightness of Dragons" by Katie MacAlister

 Why this book?: I had to move this up the reading queue due to an author event thingie this weekend, where there will be spoilers of this book.

Type: Here Be Dragons, Series, Favorite Authors, He-man Dragons, Wyverns, Mates, War

WARNING: There are NO spoilers of this book in the review, HOWEVER - this review is written with the mindset of you (the reader) having already read book one, "Love in the Time of Dragons."
From the back of the book: Ysolde de Bouchier is a woman beset with trials. The dragon part of her, which was buried deep for centuries, is still making itself known, but in ways that just don't make sense. She's continuing to have visions, but now they involve events she wasn't present to witness.

As if that isn't enough, she's caught up in a tangled web of plans that seems to grow more complex every day. Not only does she have to work out peace between her light dragon mate, Baltic, and the weyr; she also has to free his friend, convince an archimage to life the spell controlling her magic, figure out what it is that the First Dragon expects her to do, rescue a half-dragon damsel who's in over her head, and once and for all clear Baltic's name of murder charges that continue to plague him.

No one told Ysolde that dragon love would be so hard....

Review: Oh, I do so love Baltic. If you want a hero wounded by his past, accepting of the dirt and accusations people throw at him - Baltic is your man - er... Dragon. The relationship between him and Ysolde/Tully is a unique one, since they were mates in the past, then resurrected, and managed to find each other again. I love Baltic's sense of humor, and how, despite being such a tough guy and heralded as a murderous lunatic, he has no problem telling Ysolde exactly how he feels about her, or laughing at her antics. And I'll say it, my heart breaks a little every time he mentions how he fought to find a way to bring Ysolde back after he was resurrected, because he couldn't bear living without her.

This book isn't as quick and easy as some of Katie MacAlister's books usually are. Many of her previous novels can be picked up with no problem, but the Light Dragon books use so much of what has previously happened in the Dragon world that someone could easily get lost. And even more so, Ysolde is occasionally pulled into her visions/memories, not just as herself in them, but as a voyeur of whatever is going on. It can get confusing, with Ysolde talking to someone in the present, then suddenly in the past - I had to re-read some passages a couple times to really understand what was going on.

Recommendation: People who enjoy fun, humorous, and strangely epic series should definitely check out Katie MacAlister's dragon series. But be sure to read the full series to understand what's going on - this book can be a doozy without all the prior knowledge.

Cover Loving: Oh my, Katie MacAlister does have the best yummy man covers.

Final: FOUR out of FIVE. Good, as expected. Katie Mac writes some wonderful fiction.

Happy Reading!
~!~ Amanda ~!~

Review of "In the Company of Vampires" by Katie MacAlister

 OMG IT'S FINALLY HERE! The book I have been waiting years for! THANK YOU, KATIE for finally get Ben and Fran's story out there.

Disclaimer: This book was purchased for me by my aunt, because she is awesome. I was not given this book, nor anything else, in exchange for a review. I am an Amazon Affiliate, which means... please buy via my link?

Type: Paranormal Romance, Dark Ones, Reunion, Vikings run amok, Weasel Gold, Regaining a soul (or not), A were that knows nothing about relationships

Why this book?: DUH, it's BEN and FRAN! I've been waiting for this since finishing book two of the Goth Faire series!

About the book: Francesca Ghetti's best friend was just kidnapped. Fortunately, Fran managed to find her, but after a frantic phone call or four, she notices her mother has also gone missing. So Fran decides to return to Europe to hopefully find her mother and maybe see her exboyfriend Ben - oops, I mean just to find her mother. But more and more things are going missing, and life with Ben is getting interesting, so maybe she won't be running away again after all... Toss in some secret relatives, a gaggle of amazingly hilarious Vikings, a romance to sigh over, and you have the start of an AMAZING book.

This is it, the book I have been waiting for FOREVER, or at least it feels like it. When I started reading Katie MacAlister, I read *everything* by her, including her teen fiction series, the Goth Faire books, under the name Katie Maxwell. I inhaled them, and I still pick them up and re-read them from time to time. But they ended far too soon, after only two books. I resigned myself to never hearing more, until Katie announced Ben and Fran would be the hero and heroine of the next Dark Ones book. I followed all the status updates giving hints about the books, I eagerly read the blog posts, I entered all the contests hoping to get an advanced copy.. but alas, no. So instead, on the release day, November 2nd, I went to SIX stores to find my copy.. and ended up only getting it at 9:45 PM that night. My Mom ran out with me (it was a 30 plus minute drive there), and my aunt was kind enough to give me a gift card to buy it with. So there you have it, my not-so-epic tale of anticipation for "In the Company of Vampires." Maybe now I should get to the review.

I laughed out loud in the car, earning weird looks from my family. I snorted and threw my hands up during frustrating moments, earning weird looks from people in other cars on the interstate. And when it was over, I felt.. empty still. Katie MacAlister has recently mentioned that while Ben and Fran will feature in other Dark Ones books, they will not be the main characters again, at least it's not likely. And while Ben and Fran's story is mostly told, there are so many questions left unanswered, it was hard not to feel a little let down at the end of the book. In the first few Dark Ones books, things were mostly wrapped up by the end of each book, but we've started getting more and more questions in the past several books in the series - and now "In the Company of Vampires" added a dozen or so more.

I'm not sure readers that are not familiar with the original Goth Faire books would truly appreciate all of the jokes, and most importantly - Ben and Fran's relationship. And lucky for those readers, the two Goth Faire books have been released as an omnibus with a swankified new cover! That's right, Katie MacAlister released "Confessions of a Vampire's Girlfriend," so any interested reader could get caught up. Even without reading these books, however, I think ItCoV can stand on it's own as a hilarious story - the Vikings will literally make you laugh out loud. But I really do recommend reading "Confessions of a Vampire's Girlfriend" as well as the previous Dark One novels, not just for the backstory.. but because they are quite awesome. But anyways, I thought the book was handled well - Ben and Fran had been apart for so long (or barely seeing each other), that they had to re-learn who the other is, which means any reader new to the Ben and Fran books can re-learn right along with them... Or just learn, as they would not really be re-learning but.. Well, you know what I mean.

So I'm giving "In the Company of Vampires" by Katie MacAlister a FIVE out of FIVE (5/5). Any book that can make me laugh that hard and squeak in public deserves the highest rating possible. I'd probably give it a six if that wasn't fangirl-y overkill. If you need a laugh, and love a good reunion story with some paranormal friction tossed in, be sure to pick up "In the Company of Vampires".. or really any of Katie Mac's books.

Have you read this book? Tell me your thoughts in the comments! Want to read it? Pick up your copy at Amazon.com by clicking the link to the left.

Happy Reading!
~!~ Morning Glow ~!~

Cover goodness! (Invincible AND Light Dragons!)

C'MON GUYS! Today is the last day to enter my contest for an ebook by HP Mallory. Contest ends TONIGHT at 11:59pm. I will announce the winner Saturday morning. Assuming I can yank myself out of bed earlier enough to do that before work (ugh, work). Enter HERE by leaving a comment. You know you want to.

Now, for the promise cover goodness. Like... delicious cover goodness. First up... the next book in the Chronicles of Nick by Sherrilyn Kenyon - "Invincible"!!!

Oh my gosh, yum right??? I can't wait. I loved "Infinity."

AND NEXT!!! "The Unbearable Lightness of Dragons" Light Dragons book TWO by Katie MacAlister.

READY?!




Oh the yummyness!
Enjoy!

Review of "Unleashed" by Katie MacAlister

 First off, don't forget to enter my contest for a CSNstores.com gift card! Just click here

 "Unleashed" is Katie MacAlister's novella in the recently released anthology "Cupid Cats." Stories by Vicki Lewis Thompson and Connie Brockway are also included. I may be going crazy, but I swear I saw that the proceeds for this anthology go to help animal shelters local to each author. I thought I saw Katie MacAlister mention that on her blog or facebook, but I can't find it. If I find any new information on that, I'll try to edit this post to include it.

Disclaimer: This book, "Cupid Cats," was given to me as a gift. I was not given this book in exchange for a review.

Type: Anthology, Paranormal Romance, Vampires, Weres, Scottish men (Yum!)

"Unleashed" is the story of Avery Scott, a Moravian Dark One (Vampire!), and Jacintha Ferreira, resident "kitty whisperer." Jacintha, or Jas, has been called out on a report that a rather large wild cat has been found in a local cat rescue, and finds not just a jaguar, but a very confused Moravian. Turns out, Avery managed to get himself turned into a jaguar on a recent case, and it's up to Jas to help him solve it. And a quick case turns into a possibly deadly mission.

Fans of Katie MacAlister's Dark Ones series may recognize Avery as one of Paen Scott's brothers, a character from earlier on in the books. Paen and his Beloved return to aide Jas and Avery, whether they want it or not. I love series for this reason. Paen and Sam, his Beloved, got their Happily Ever After in a previous book, but they do show up in later ones. Usually after a HEA, that's it, we just have to imagine what happens after that, but with a recurring series.. we at least get a little taste of their new life from time to time.

Katie MacAlister didn't disappoint with her novella, "Unleashed." She packs a lot of action in a short about of space, and still maintains her quirky humor, one of the reasons I love her. After having read so many (er.. all) of her books, I see a lot of recurring themes and actions. The rather yummy sounding fantasy involving a paintbrush and a bowl of melted chocolate pop up in this story, for just a second.

And the "Twilight" references had me snickering the whole time.

I'm going to give "Unleashed," Katie MacAlister's story in the Cupid Cats anthology, a FIVE out of FIVE. It was a quick, fun read, and now I can't wait until her next release. Speaking of that...
Katie MacAlister's upcoming releases:
"Death's Excellent Vacation" - Anthology - August 3, 2010
"In the Company of Vampires" - Dark Ones novel - November 2, 2010

ItCoV is my most looked-forward-to release OF THE YEAR. I've been waiting for the continuation of Ben and Fran's story for a long, looong time.

Happy Reading! And don't forget to enter the CSNstores.com contest! (See link at top of post)
~!~ Morning Glow

Now reading: "and falling, fly" by Skyler White

Review of "Love in the Time of Dragons" by Katie MacAlister

Well, another book positively inhaled. "Love in the Time of Dragons" came out last Tuesday, and I've been searching for it since then. Finally managed to find it at Borders, which is a 30 minute drive, btw, but dang was it worth it.

Darned Disclaimer: I, the reviewer, bought this book on my own. The book, nor any monetary compensation, was given for me in exchange for a review.

Type: Paranormal romance (the Dragon kind!)

From the back of the book: " Tully Sullivan is just like any other suburban mom - unless you count the days every ear that she zones out and turns base metals into gold. Those are weird. And now she's woken up in a strange place surrounded by strange people who keep insisting thet they're dragons - and that she's one too. But not just any dragon. She's Ysolde de Bouchier, a famed figure from dragon history.
Tully can't shape-shift or breathe fire, and she's definitely not happy being sentenced to death for the misdeeds of a dragon mate she can't remember. All Tully knows is that she wants her son back. So she'll have to find a way to solve the crimes of a past she has no memory of living... "

Sounds good, right? It was! But then, this is Katie MacAlister we're talking about. I wouldn't expect anything less. While I love everything she does, her Dark Ones and the Dragons series are the best. And "Love in the Time of Dragons" is no exception. In her Dragons series, we've had Drake, wyvern of the green dragons, Gabriel, wyvern of the silver dragons, and now Baltic, who is a Light dragon - a whole new ball game here, folks. While this book has classic Katie Mac elements, at the same time, this feels so different. These two - Baltic and Tully/Ysolde, are fighting to find out their past, and to keep their lives. Despite this being a novel of the Light dragons, this part of the series may be taking a slightly darker path.

Baltic has been the Big Bad through the whole series, though he didn't really make an appearance until May and Gabriel's books. But here he is in his own book, and this time, maybe he's not as bad as we think. Oooh, I just love stories where you get to see things from the supposed-bad guy's point of view. And Baltic definitely isn't a goody two-shoes sort of Dragon (are any of them?), but he's not the horrible creature every thinks he is.

I loved Baltic's character, and Tully, and Brom - Tully's son. Normally, reading a book where the heroine already has a child or is pregnant is not my thing. But Katie MacAlister even managed to get me to enjoy that! Brom is such an interesting character, and adds an equally interesting dynamic to Baltic and Tully/Ysolde's relationship. Speaking of Tully/Ysolde... I can't imagine what it's like to forget everything about your life, and only get glimpses of it through visions or dreams. Entire decades, or maybe even centuries, of her life are missing. Which is also an interesting twist to the story - to know someone, in this case - Baltic, but at the same time, you don't.

There are a few things I wish could be tied up in this story - like who the heck Gareth really is? And what he is. If this was mentioned in the book, I managed to miss it. There were also a few other points (all spoilers, so I won't mention them here) that were left hanging out there - a cliffhanger ending, darn it. But Katie MacAlister has already mentioned she's working on the second Baltic and Ysolde book, so thank goodness for that.

I give "Love in the Time of Dragons" FIVE hunky shirtless men out of FIVE. Trying out a new rating system based on the suggestion of a good friend. I love Katie MacAlister and all she does, obviously, but this book left me with a whole different feeling at the end - and it's not a bad one. I'm eagerly awaiting the sequel.

And speaking of eagerly awaiting - in the back of "Love in the Time of Dragons," there's a teaser for the next Dark Ones book - "In the Company of Vampires." Katie has already revealed the cover and stepback cover (so gorgeous!!), but I've been awaiting this book for years - it's Ben and Fran's story, from her Goth Faire YA books. In the next Dark Ones installment, Ben and Fran are re-united, and I say it's about time! I about pulled my hair out after reading the teaser - I can't wait until November!

Upcoming releases for Katie MacAlister:
"Cupid Cats" - anthology with Vicki Lewis Thompson and Connie Brockway (July 2010)
"Deaths Excellent Vacation" - anthology (August 2010)
"In the Company of Vampires" - Ben and Fran's book (November 2010)

Happy Reading!

Review of "Steamed" by Katie MacAlister

Ahhh Katie MacAlister, one of my favorite authors. And when she said she wanted to try a Steampunk novel, well... I said Alright, I'll try it to. And I did. And we'll just see how it goes, okay? Okay!

Disclaimer: I purchased this book on my own, no money nor any fun freebies were exchanged for a review. Or even un-fun freebies (whatever they may be).

From the back of the book: " Jack Fletcher's heart is about to get punked. Computer technician Jack Fletcher is no hero, despite his unwelcome reputation as one. In fact, he's just been the victim of bizarre circumstances. Like now. His sister happens to disturb one of his nanoelectrical system experiments, and suddenly they aren't where they're supposed to be. In fact, they're not sure where they are when...

...they wake up to find a woman with the reddest hair Jack has ever seen - and a gun. Octavia Pye is an Aerocorps captain with a whole lot of secrets, and she's not about to have her maiden voyage ruined by stowaways. But the sparks flying between her and Jack just may cause her airship to combust, and ignite a passion that will forever change the world as she knows it. "

First off, I'm totally in love with the tag line "Jack Fletcher's heart is about to get punked." It's perfect, and just sparks immediate interest. Along those lines, the cover is stunning. I'm usually more of a fan of non-illustrated covers, but this one is definitely an exception.

This was actually my first journey into steampunk, and I know well not to judge every style of novel by one example. However, I think my first glimpse at Steampunk wasn't a bad one. I can't see all steampunk novels being like this, since Jack starts out in our world, and is knocked into a different version of reality - one that is steampunk-y.

I could see a lot of the things I love about Katie MacAlister's stories in this book. There are character types you find in her other novels, with just enough spin on them that they don't get old. I liked Jack and Octavia both, but I felt like Jack had a bit too much of a backstory. The author made me feel like I had missed something, that Jack Fletcher had had novels previous to this, and that I had come in on the middle of a series. I always love it when characters had an interesting life, one that shaped them in amazing ways - but this seemed like just a bit too much for me. Octavia, on the other hand, seemed better, easier to understand. Yes, the reader is told she has many secrets, but it never gets to be too overwhelming, while Jack's past seems like too much information thrown at the reader at once.

But that wasn't too much of an issue. My main problem with the book was the switching of perspective. Chapter one started from Jack's perspective, and the second chapter switches to Octavia's perspective. It just feels a little jarring when you get used to seeing things through one character's eyes, then the next page moving on to the other person. And there were ways to help the reader realize whose thoughts we would be hearing for that chapter, but sometimes it wasn't enough.

All that said, I really did enjoy "Steamed" by Katie MacAlister. There are certain habits Katie MacAlister has that I love, and they showed up in this book. I really enjoyed the characters, the plot was interesting, and I thought the steampunk-y elements were well done. However, as I said, I am new to this genre. I think "Steamed" is a good stepping stone for non-steampunkers to break into the genre, if they wish.

That said, I'm giving "Steamed" by Katie MacAlister a FOUR out of FIVE. I did enjoy it, it was a quick, fun read, but as I said, the switching of perspective gave me pause a few times. As far as I remember, Katie MacAlister's earlier novels never had this issue, and it wasn't until her past few releases that's she's picked up this habit. I just wish there was a smoother way to transition between the two, if she decides to keep it up.

Happy reading!
~!~ Morning Glow

Review of "Me and My Shadow" by Katie MacAlister

Another Katie MacAlister book come and gone.. I get so excited on the release day, I buy it, inhale it, then have to wait until the next one... On to the review!

From the back of the book: " May Northcott is a woman at the end of her rope. She'd almost gotten used to her employer, the ex-demon lord Magoth, spending his days hanging around her home and interrupting her private moments with her love, Gabriel. Then trouble appears on her doorstep in the form of a nearly dead man.

With May fighting to control the dragon shard, Magoth wrangling to regain his position and powers, and a mysterious and deadly dragon bent on their destruction, Gabriel has his work cut out for him. Now he'll have to claw his way through all the distractions and convince May that their love is strong enough to conquer all of their enemies. "

"Me and My Shadow" by Katie MacAlister is the next installment in the Silver Dragons series, which followed the Green Dragons series. Katie MacAlister is famous, at least to me, for some great quick reads, because I really can inhale her book in a few hours after buying it. There has been times when I so looked forward to her next book that I made sure the evening of the release day was free and clear of appointments, or whatever else.

I really love Gabriel, and while I wasn't sure about May as a character at first (when we met her in the first book), but I quickly came to enjoy her. As usual, some of the side characters came to annoy me, but this is something I've found happening more often in all the books I read, not just one particular author. Cyrene (May's "twin") was a little too much for me at times. And she has an extremely logical (sort of?) reason for being so.. so.. bothersome? No, that's not the word.. So Argh!, but there were several times I just wanted to punch her and get it over with. I'm interested in reading the next book in the dragons series ("Love in the Time of Dragons") to see what happens with Cyrene. And Magoth.. ahhh Magoth. Except for his temper tantrums, which could indeed be life threatening, I loved having him around to make dirty little comments and just make everyone uncomfortable. The only thing I wish I could have seen more of was some May and Gabriel alone time. Not necessarily sexytimes, but the two main characters were often in separate parts of the world, and would just communicate via phone. I would have preferred to see them together more often, interacting in person.

That said, I give "Me and My Shadow" by Katie MacAlister a FOUR POINT SEVEN out of FIVE. I love Katie MacAlister, she's one of my favorite authors ever, and I will buy and read everything she does, but I'm not sure this book WOWed me as much as she usually does. I still enjoyed it, I still love the characters, and I can't wait to find out what happens next with the dragon septs, I just feel a little.. I feel like it left with a few too many questions, maybe is the problem.

That all said, make sure to check out "Steamed" by Katie MacAlister, coming out February 2nd, 2010. This is her first foray into the steampunk genre. And also coming next year is Katie's "Love in the Time of Dragons," so far scheduled for May 4th, 2010. "Love in the Time of Dragons" is the first book in the Light Dragon's series, and I have a post with the cover and other little tidbits somewhere on the roster.

Happy Reading!
~!~ Morning Glow

Photo courtesy of Amazon.com
Book was purchased by myself, not given in exchange for review.

A Contest for you to check out!!

The blog Fangs, Fur, and Fey are celebrating their three year anniversary with a wonderful contest! What are they giving away to the lucky winner(s) you may ask?! Well! The grand prize winner gets a Kindle! And twenty two other winners will get a 20 dollar gift card to a vendor of their choice (they have a list to choose from).

I've already sent in my entry, what are you waiting for??? Oh.. the link? Right! Here you go!
HERE Good luck!

And on another note, yesterday (Tuesday Nov 3) was the release day for Me and My Shadow, Katie MacAlister's next Silver dragons novel. I'm heading out to grab my copy later today. Here's hoping I find it in the first store I go to! My city isn't big on book stores.. and the ones we do have, almost never have new ones out.

Happy reading!!
Morning Glow

Katie MacAlister covers!

Since I was talking about favorite authors recently, I figured I would promote one of my favorite authors, by showing some cover art of two of her upcoming books.

First we have "Steamed" her first book in the steampunk genre. I've not read any steampunk before.. infact, I didn't even know it existed until she started talking about writing it. Now I can't wait! And just look at that cover, isn't it wonderful? Very bright, very eyecatching.. I'm sure it will fly off the shelves! I know I can't wait.








And what do we have here? Her next book in the dragons series (this time it's a novel of the Light Dragons!) titled "Love in the Time of Dragons." For those of you that follow her Dragon septs series, it's Baltic's story.



For more information on the dragon book, she has a blog_post that answers some questions.


And for more information on her writing process, her life, and some dishy guys (every monday!) visit her BLOG !


And, not a fan of paranormal romance? Don't worry, she also writes contemporary romance, historical romance, as well as her paranormals. She has also started writing a paranormal mystery series under the name Kate Marsh. AND she has some YA fiction under the name Katie Maxwell ("Circus of the Darned" is my favorite!).

Check it out! And be sure to drool over the amazing covers.

Covers courtesy of Katie MacAlister's blog