Urban Fantasy Investigations

Saturday, June 11, 2011

Early Review: Witches of East End by Melissa de la Cruz

Witches of East End
Author:Melissa de la Cruz
Release Date: June 21, 2011
Publisher: Hyperion
The Beauchamp Family Book #1
ISBN: 1401323901
ISBN13: 9781401323905
Genre: Adult Paranormal
Review copy source: Librarything Early Reviewers

It’s the beginning of summer in North Hampton, and beautiful Freya Beauchamp is celebrating her engagement to wealthy Bran Gardiner, the heir to Fair Haven and Gardiners Island. But Freya is drawn to Bran’s gorgeous but unreliable brother Killian, and sparks fly when the two decide to play a dangerous game, following an ancient story of love, betrayal and tragedy that harks back to the days of Valhalla.

Witches of East End follows the Beauchamp family—the formidable matriarch Joanna and her daughters Freya and Ingrid. Freya, a sexy bartender, has a potion to cure every kind of heartache, while Ingrid, the local librarian, solves complicated domestic problems with her ability to tie magical knots. Joanna is the witch to see when modern medicine has no more answers; her powers can wake the dead. Everything seems to be going smoothly until a young girl, Molly Lancaster, goes missing after taking one of Freya’s irresistible cocktails. As more of the town’s residents begin disappearing, everyone seems to have the same suspects in mind: the Beauchamp women.

Fraught with love, small-town secrets, and witchcraft, Witches of East End will capture any reader who craves a page-turning, heart-stopping story of myth and magic from an author who knows how to deliver.

Meh it wasn't for me and I had to force myself to finish it. I was kinda into the book in the beginning. All the Beauchamp sisters seemed to be interesting and easy to like. As the book went on and the characters became more developed I just found myself bored with everyone. The pacing was slow and a lot of the background and situations got confusing and I lost interest in the characters as more were added and I couldn't remember who was who and what they were to the story. I did like the town and the descriptions given as well as the imaginative magic that was being cast. All the little mysteries were interesting and most wrapped up nicely. As a whole I just didn't get into the book like I would have wanted to and wont be reading any more in the series.

I gave it 2/5 stars

Friday, June 10, 2011

Review: Black Blade Blues by J.A. Pitts

Black Blade Blues
Author:J.A. Pitts
Release Date: April 27, 2010
Publisher: Tor
Black Blade Book #1
ISBN: 0765327937
ISBN13: 9780765327932
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Review Copy Source: Publisher

Sarah Beauhall has more on her plate than most twenty-somethings: day job as a blacksmith, night job as a props manager for low-budget movies, and her free time is spent fighting in a medieval re-enactment group.
The lead actor breaks Sarah’s favorite one-of-a-kind sword, and to avoid reshooting scenes, Sarah agrees to repair the blade. One of the extras, who claims to be a dwarf, offers to help. And that’s when things start to get weird. Could the sword really be magic, as the "dwarf" claims? Are dragons really living among us as shapeshifters?
And as if things weren’t surreal enough, Sarah’s girlfriend Katie breaks out the dreaded phrase… “I love you.” As her life begins to fall apart, first her relationship with Katie, then her job at the movie studio, and finally her blacksmithing career, Sarah hits rock bottom. It is at this moment, when she has lost everything she has prized, that one of the dragons makes their move.
And suddenly what was unthinkable becomes all too real…and Sarah will have to decide if she can reject what is safe and become the heroine who is needed to save her world.

Ive been surprised by many books that I have read so far this year and BLACK BLADE BLUES was no exception. I wasn't really excited to read it, it was sitting on my TBR table for months, I just couldn't think of any reason why I would like the book from the description. Although I thought the pacing was a bit slow at times I enjoyed following along in Sarah's story. Sarah was raised by very strict religious parents and has doubts and issues with her self and her sexuality. She didn't believe in anything supernatural or part of the fantasy world until things started happening to her after she reforged her favorite blade. The characters were all interesting. I think character development was strong and in place through out the book. There is some great action scenes as well as Sarah helps beat down the bad guys. If your looking for something a little different in the Urban Fantasy Genre with a fresh new heroine this is a fun read with some neat Norse Mythology thrown in to it.

I gave it 3.5/5 stars

Thursday, June 9, 2011

Review: Hit List by Laurell K Hamilton

Hit List
Author:Laurell K Hamilton
Release Date: June 7, 2011
Publisher: Berkley
Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter Book #20
ISBN: 0425241130
ISBN13: 9780425241134
Genre:Urban Fantasy

A serial killer is hunting the Pacific Northwest, murdering victims in a gruesome and spectacular way. The local police suspect “monsters” are involved, and have called in Anita Blake and Edward, US Marshals who really know their monsters, to catch the killer.

But some monsters are very real. The Harlequin have been the bogeymen of the vampire world for more than a thousand years; they are a secret so dark that even to speak their name can earn you a death sentence. Now they are here in America, hunting weretigers…and human police.

The Harlequin serve the Mother of All Darkness, the first vampire. She was supposed to be dead, but only her body was destroyed. Now she needs a new one, and she’s decided that Anita Blake’s is the body she wants. Edward thinks the serial killings are a trap to lure Anita closer to the most dangerous vampire they’ve ever hunted. The vampires call Edward “Death,” and Anita the “Executioner,” but Mommy Darkest is coming to kill one and possess the other, and she doesn’t care how many others have to die along the way.

I must admit that after the last few Anita Blake books I was kinda hesitant to pick up HIT LIST. I'm all for Laurell's sex scenes but BULLET was pretty much all orgy sex and I was thinking HIT LIST would be the same and I really missed seeing Anita in action... hunting, fighting, killing bad guys or even using her necromancy skills. You might be shocked but I can honestly tell you there was only 1 sex scene in HIT LIST, we have kick ass Anita back!!! Not only that but only 2 of her lovers are in the book and they are only in the last few chapters. I loved her with Edward again, they make an awesome team and I love seeing them in action. Olaf made a few appearances and he is as creepy as ever. I have a feeling he will be a major player in an upcoming book and I think it will be Edward and Anita hunting him down to kill him finally. We have a new Shifter in the picture. I really enjoy Ethan. He seems like he will make a great addition to Anita's group. My only complaint is the ending. I felt like it was missing something/happened to fast/just lacking, after all the difficulties The Mother of All Darkness has caused it just wasn't a fulfilling for me. To sum it up HIT LIST is full of action OUTSIDE of the bedroom so if you missed the old Anita grab yourself a copy.

I gave it 4/5 stars

Wednesday, June 8, 2011

Winner: Name and Logo Contest

Thank you to everyone that entered!!

PRIZE: All the items listed in original post.

The winning entry was from…

Sabina K.

who helped name our book discussion group ....

Investigating Wickedly Hot Books

She made multiple logos as well but we have only narrowed it down to 3 of them so far as we are having a hard time choosing.

Congrats!! I have emailed winner.

Early Review: Deceived by the Others by Jess Haines

Deceived by the Others
Author:Jess Haines
Release Date: July 5, 2011
Publisher: Zebra
H & W Investigations Book #3
ISBN: 1420111892
ISBN13: 9781420111897
Genre:Urban Fantasy
Review Copy Source: From Author for Review

They’re here, and they’re real…werewolves, vampires, mages, and other creatures of the night. For New York P.I. Shiarra Waynest, taking care of Others business started out as a way to stay solvent. But now business is getting very, very complicated…

Shiarra’s relationship with sexy werewolf Chaz may be somewhat unconventional. Still, after a few bumps, Shia is finally ready to get serious. That means meeting family–or in this case, bringing Chaz’s entire werewolf pack along for a rollicking full-moon weekend in the Catskills.

Soon after they arrive, threatening notes appear, warning Chaz to go home. Then their cabin is ransacked. Shia starts digging to find out whether it’s the work of upstart teenaged werewolves or something more sinister. Yet as rumors about her vampire connections arouse the pack’s hostility, Shia has to contend with other dangers. Not just from an adversary about to make his fatal intentions known, but from a threat that’s even closer than she knows…

WOW I was not expecting such a roller coaster ride when I got DECEIVED BY THE OTHERS in the mail. The title completely makes sense after finishing the book though. Shiarra seems to finally be settling in with the idea of being with Chaz and becoming part of the pack in a legal sense by signing a contract. Little does she know all her thoughts will soon be flushed down the drain. I have never been crazy about Chaz but OMG how i despise him now. I was so blindsided by the events that took place, my heart was about to pound out of my chest and I can honestly say the situation and writing were so powerful I found myself pissed off and crying my eyes out at many points right there beside Shia. Jess continued to pack in the action as well you wont be able to put the book down. The book pretty much revolves around the pack and we don't get to see much of Sara, Arnold, or Royce =( but you wont be to disappointing as there is so much going on throughout the book. The book ends on another dramatic note. I really don't know why Shia decided on the events at the end but DECEIVED BY THE OTHERS was hands down the best in the series yet and I'm dying to read the next book.

I gave it 5/5 stars

Tuesday, June 7, 2011

Review: Between by Cyndi Tefft

Between
Author:Cyndi Tefft
Release Date: June 1, 2011
??? Book #1
Publisher: Createspace
ISBN13: 9781460937105
Genre: Young Adult
Review Copy Source: Author for Review

It just figures that the love of Lindsey Water's life isn't alive at all, but the grim reaper, complete with a dimpled smile and Scottish accent.

After transporting souls to heaven for the last 300 years, Aiden MacRae has all but given up on finding the one whose love will redeem him and allow him entry through the pearly gates.

Torn between her growing attraction to Aiden and heaven's siren song, Lindsey must learn the hard way whether love really can transcend all boundaries.

BETWEEN ended up being a neat, different love story that I wasn't expecting to be so emotional. I think BETWEEN would be perfect for the older YA readers as there are some adult themes involved but there isn't anything to graphic. Lindsey was a likable main character. I had no issues connecting to her and her situation. Aiden was also easy to like and get to know. Its hard to talk about this book without giving away a bit of a spoiler so read ahead at your own risk. Lindsey ends up in an accident and she ends up in an in between place where she meets Aiden and falls in love. An unseen event pulls Lindsey out of the in between place and she has to cope with losing Aiden. The story ends up being pretty emotional and heartfelt. The chapters and situations flow nicely and pull you in throughout the book. Overall I ended up enjoying the story and was really happy with how everything ended.

I gave it 3.5/5 stars