Other Reads

So I read a lot of Yasmine Galenorn and Laurell K Hamilton but am so far into all the series (Anita Blake, Otherworld/Sisters of the Moon & Indigo Court) that I didn't want to start my reviews there. However since I read so much I figured it would give me an excuse to go back and start both series from the beginning. Though I warn you there may be rantings included in those reviews that will come from future knowledge in the series:) One of the first I thought to start with (not to mention since it's the shortest) was the Indigo Court series since it's only on the second release with the new book due out July 3rd. So be on the look out for that review among others because we all know with the influence of Willow Cross and Paranormal Reads that there are always new books coming in that I have to check out!

Illumine - Alivia Anders

From knowing nothing of magic to being the sacrifice for a demon can play with anyones emotions especially when it’s your own best friend and boyfriend doing the sacrificing. Yet by some unknown miracle the demon can no more touch Essallie than we could grab thin air…but now he knows who she is!

After 5 months of demon hallucinations and still trying to be normal Essallie wants nothing more than to finish out her senior year as easily possible. So imagine her surprise when she finally gives in and goes to a party only to have the object of her hallucinations show up in the flesh. It’s him, the demon Kayden and he has tracked her all the way to Maine. The real question is will she believe him when he tells her she has powers? I know even if I did believe him the simple fact that it was a Demon encouraging me to use them would really make me wonder why.

After persuasion, fits, and finally a fever Essallie has no choice but to accept who and what she is. The real question is can she master her own powers in time for everything that’s to come?

Alivia Anders is a great tease leaving us hanging at the end of the book only to end up wanting more. I cannot wait to see where the next story will lead us and to find out what will happen with Essallie and Kayden now. Not to mention where this leaves Ursula and what will she do about it?

Forgiven - by Tich Brewster

Growing up as a fatherless child is hard especially when your mom has to work to keep your house plus manage to keep food on the table. You do kind of end up raising yourself which is what Makayla and Thaddeus had done. Thaddeus was always the popular teenager but Makayla had only recently become so after ditching her friend Eryc. Now it’s the start of another school year and Makayla is still acting like Eryc is nothing in fact she’s even hostile.

Yet one night involving a horrible accident can change everything. With the thought of losing her mom and Eryc the only one beside her, she realizes how big of a mistake she made pushing him away. Not only does Mikayla have to deal with her mom’s recovery and Thaddeus’s drinking but she seems to be getting sick herself. Mikayla needs Eryc now more than ever but with everything she has to face can she count on Eryc to remain by her side even though she had ditched him? Not to mention will he stay after she reveals the biggest secret of her life?

The Vampire Hunters Daughter - by Jennifer Wright

*Slightly spoilery review of first four books*

The initial book to this series The Vampires Hunters Daughter was free on Amazon and it sounded good so I grabbed it. Well let me tell you that first book is just a hook to pull you in:) The Vampires Daughter is written in such a way that you just cant wait to read more of the story.

Chloe had no clue who she was in fact it was that omitted piece of knowledge that had allowed her to live a semi-normal life. So when a bunch of strangers came trying to kidnap her, killing her mom in the process it was a lot to take in when she finally found out just who she was. The child half breed of a vampire & vampire hunter. Not only that but her father was the one who was responsible for sending the group that killed her mother. So what could she do about it all?

Fight back! Thats what she could do. Training hard with Drew while living with and learning about the world around her from Luke her grandfather was her new life. Oh there were other things that went on but life just wasnt the same. Chloe lived in a hunters community with hunter children and teens who had all known about this life since birth which only made her the odd one out. So when the choice came to leave the community so it could survive, the only question that would remain is had she trained hard enough and learned enough for the task before her...

Katie's Hellion -by Lizzy Ford (Book 1 Rhyn's Trilogy)

*Spoilers* Have you ever really thought about what you would do if your life was just suddenly ripped from your hands and thrust into a world you had no understanding of? Well neither did Katie.

One day she is just the average person with no real direction other than her average jobs and the next thing she knows she is a mom with a 5 year old child. Everyone around her remembers her son except her and the only thing Katie can do is think they are all crazy. Whats even more crazy is the "Death Dealer" who has been following her around ever since the child showed up. It is almost immediately that even more things start coming out of the wood work to intrude on her normal life. Katie is expected to believe that there are immortals and Ancients among other sorts of in the dark creepies. As her life is stripped away from normal who will she be able to turn to?

Rhyn is a half breed who had never had anyone to care about nor had anyone cared for him...save maybe Andre but even Andre couldnt keep him out of hell. After living in hell for so long he had no expectation of getting out until Katie tries to make her own escape. All of a sudden Rhyn is free from hell with the girl whom he has been charged to protect. Yet she is so much more. Katie is the one thing he just cant comprehend. With everything that comes to exist between them will they be able to navigate the treacherous and crazy world they exist in and both make it out alive?

I havent been able to get the sequel yet but it's out there and I am definitely going to get it:)

Energy - MJ Schutte

*Spoilery*
Well let me start off by saying even the cover to this wonderful story is amazing. When you get into the book itself it turns out its a very unique and wonderful story line:) The story of Brighton and Lillian is a tale that will lead through death, darkness, and dozens of other trials as they try to make the world around them better and find their place in it.
As a child who wouldnt crush on someone they had been close to forever? SO it was natural for Lillian to have feelings for Brighton although he being older didnt feel right about having feelings for her. But oh what a tale fate (MJ) can weave!
We can only imagine the world Lillian was forced to live in before she and Brighton were able to reunite and I dont think it would have been all that fun. I mean Adri's actions alone when she first meets Brighton give you some hint at how bad things were where Lillian was, it's just a good thing for her that she had the position she did. I was really happy that Adri survived and became a semi-main character. What I like more is that Adri wasnt some wimpyfied girl who would stay that way. She became a real fighter. This story isnt just another happy ending fairy tale kind of a book. It gives you real struggles and real situations that would occur in a time of fighting and mistrust.
With all the death and problems that they face I think the birth of Mischief was great to add a little lightness and happiness to prepare you for whats to come. I mean who would guess how it would turn out? The way the bond develops between Brighton and Mischief is simply amazing and wonderful (yep, I think Im a little jealous:)). For me thats one of the best parts. However losing Velvet was one of the worst. I admit I cried, I couldnt help it.
I also like the story that develops between Brac and Adri leaving me to wonder whats ahead for them. After all Adri went through she deserves a little happiness. I was really glad that in the end at least Adri and Brac were able to be happy together. One thing that does leave me curious is the disappearance of Mischief at the end of the book...I would have liked to have known he is okay before it wrapped up rather than just have had speculation. All in all a good read that makes you want to go out and get the next book

Shade's Loss

I would recommend this to book to anyone.The story itself is great and I hope there is a sequel coming…

I think everyone just really wants someone to care for them the way Damon comes to care for Shade. A 700 year old vampire who barely interacts with humans and yet his caring and compassion would rival just about anyone but only when it comes to her. That kind of devotion is truly hard to come by. What I find to be the most funny is that normally I wouldn’t even like a character like Shade. I would find her too weak or too much the victim. Yet in her case I found that I was able to like her character even with all her weakness but it was because she didn’t want to allow herself to continue to be the victim. Shade tried to work through her fears and issues as much for Damon as for herself which to me showed she had a strength waiting to emerge. Boy does she ever!!! I love that Shade turns out to be just as bad ass as Damon when it really comes down to it. I have to say I am even slightly jealous of Shade. I mean she has Damon's love, vampire strength, plus she can shift into a pimp black panther...talk about the best of both supernatural worlds. That doesn't even count the non-sparkley daywalking which is cool too. In a way I don't get where it's Shade's Loss but more of her gain.

As far as Shayla goes in a way I understand why she did what she did. I can even understand why she would believe that her actions were what was best. Make no mistake though she is the one who put this in motion in the first place. At least that’s how I see it. Yet still, I don’t really like her or want her to be with Mikhail. I am truly curious to see where that part of the story goes if there is another book. I mean I don’t know if I could be with a mate like that and Mikhail doesn’t even seem to really like her. Plus I want to find out where Damon and Shade stand in the world now not to mention if Gideon really is able to get control. Plus what I want to know is if Shayla is even more evil than we thought now that she can have more power?

As an added side note: I remember Gideon's mate saying that even though she loved Gideon she still held him responsible for her turning. It seems to me that her and Mikhail have a lot more in common now than she ever did with Shade. So what will that mean if Gideon and Shayla are suppose to be in charge together? Will Mikhail meet her? Hmmmmmmmm.......