Review: Dead on the Delta by Stacey Jay

Dead on the Delta
Author:Stacey Jay
Release Date: May 31, 2011
Publisher: Pocket
Unknown Book #1
ISBN:  1439189862
ISBN13: 9781439189863
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Review Copy Source:  Win from RhiReading

Once upon a time, fairies were the stuff of bedtime stories and sweet dreams. Then came the mutations, and the dreams became nightmares. Mosquito-size fairies now indulge their taste for human blood—and for most humans, a fairy bite means insanity or death. Luckily, Annabelle Lee isn’t most humans. The hard-drinking, smart-mouthed, bicycle-riding redhead is immune to fairy venom, and able to do the dirty work most humans can’t. Including helping law enforcement— and Cane Cooper, the bayou’s sexiest detective—collect evidence when a body is discovered outside the fairy-proof barricades of her Louisiana town.But Annabelle isn’t equipped to deal with the murder of a six year-old girl or a former lover-turned-FBI snob taking an interest in the case. Suddenly her already bumpy relationship with Cane turns even rockier, and even the most trust-worthy friends become suspects. Annabelle’s life is imploding: between relationship drama, a heartbreaking murder investigation, Breeze-crazed drug runners, and a few too many rum and Cokes, Annabelle is a woman on the run—from her past, toward her future, and into the arms of a darkness waiting just for her. . . . 

Annabelle being one of the rare humans that are immune to Fairy venom has the dirty job of collecting evidence from crime scenes where the police can not go. Annabelle is what I would consider an alcoholic, she takes a lot of sleeping pills while trying to escape a troubled past. While working a case an ex boyfriend who was the love of her life shows up and is now working for the FBI. She has to figure out what she feels for him but she also has her new boyfriend Cane to think about all while trying to help figure out what happened to a six year old that was found murdered.

I really enjoyed the world building, everything was extremely well explained and inventive. Although Annabelle seems pretty self destructive and the addictions get in the way of her life she was a pretty interesting heroine. Her story is well told and I ended up really liking her. The secondary characters are also well told and interesting. The plot was very creative and unique, I had no issues with getting into the story and picturing everything that was happening. I enjoyed the different take on fairies that Stacey brought to the book. I think any Urban Fantasy lover will find DEAD ON THE DELTA plenty interesting and I look forward to seeing what comes next for Annabelle.

I gave it 4/5 stars

Early Review: One Grave at a Time by Jeaniene Frost

One Grave at a Time
Author:Jeaniene Frost
Release Date: August 30, 2011
Publisher: Avon
Night Huntress Book #6
ISBN:  0061783196
ISBN13: 9780061783197
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Review Copy Source: Publisher 

The grave is one wrong step away.

Having narrowly averted an (under)world war, Cat Crawfield wants nothing more than a little downtime with her vampire husband, Bones. Unfortunately, her gift from New Orleans' voodoo queen just keeps on giving--leading to a personal favor that sends them into battle once again, this time against a villainous spirit.

Centuries ago, Heinrich Kramer was a witch hunter. Now, every All Hallows Eve, he takes physical form to torture innocent women before burning them alive. This year, however, a determined Cat and Bones must risk all to send him back to the other side of eternity--forever. But how do you kill a killer who's already long dead?

My Favorite paranormal couple is back for the sixth installment of The Night Huntress series. I have loved Cat and Bones relationship from book one. They complete and compliment each other in every way.

There wasn't as much emotional relationship stuff in ONE GRAVE AT A TIME but the story was enough that I wasn't missing it TO much but will look forward to hopefully seeing it come back in book 7. Cat is still dealing with her newest borrowed ability from the ghoul queen of New Orleans so she still has a ton of ghosts following her around. An outcast ghost shows up with such a story that Cat and Bones can not help to get involved to put a bad guy away, only its not a normal bad guy, he happens to already be dead. I really loved that some of my favorite secondary characters  Denise, Spade and Ian come in to help Cat and Bones out. Someone new joins the team Tyler and I really liked him. After reading the book he seems to have found a place in the "family" of characters so I'm definitely hoping we will see him again. There was plenty of action and heart stopping moments especially towards the end and the big showdown, I don't think Jeaniene has ever failed in delivering a fantastic ending.

I only have a small idea on where the story will go from the here so I'm excited and impatiently waiting to find out. If you have not read book One in the series HALFWAY TO THE GRAVE I highly recommend you start the series. I feel that book 6 could be read by itself but you would have missed out on so much awesome reading and storytelling that I would feel extremely bad for you. The Night Huntress Series and book 6 ONE GRAVE AT A TIME are must reads.

I gave it 4/5 stars

Early Review: Vanish by Sophie Jordan

Vanish
Author:Sophie Jordan
Release Date: September 6, 2011
Publisher: Harper Teen
Firelight Book #2
ISBN:  0061935107
ISBN13: 9780061935107
Genre: Young Adult
Review Copy Source: Netgalley 

To save the life of the boy she loves, Jacinda did the unthinkable: She betrayed the most closely-guarded secret of her kind. Now she must return to the protection of her pride knowing she might never see Will again—and worse, that because his mind has been shaded, Will’s memories of that fateful night and why she had to flee are gone.

Back home, Jacinda is greeted with hostility and must work to prove her loyalty for both her sake and her family’s. Among the few who will even talk to her are Cassian, the pride’s heir apparent who has always wanted her, and her sister, Tamra, who has been forever changed by a twist of fate. Jacinda knows that she should forget Will and move on—that if he managed to remember and keep his promise to find her, it would only endanger them both. Yet she clings to the hope that someday they will be together again. When the chance arrives to follow her heart, will she risk everything for love?

In bestselling author Sophie Jordan’s dramatic follow-up to Firelight, forbidden love burns brighter than ever.

In the second installment of Sophie Jordan's Firelight series Jacinda is taken back to the pride. VANISH stars exactly where FIRELIGHT left off with Jacinda, her sister, mother and Cassian trying to get out of town before the hunters catch up to them. Everything is different when they return to the pride. People have changed, status' are up in the air, and everything is all around uncomfortable. Jacinda has to go against people she felt were there for her and stick up for herself way more then she has ever had to before. There are a lot of twists, turns and unexpected happenings. The Love triangle between Jacinda, Cassian and Will is at an all time high and Jacinda's emotions are all over the place. I didn't feel VANISH was a good as FIRELIGHT but it set the stage for book 3 and I feel t will blow book 1 and 2 out of the water. If you enjoyed FIRELIGHT I would definitely still pick up VANISH.

I gave it 3.5/5 stars

New Releases Aug 14-20

Tues Aug 16

Bargains and Betrayals (13 to Life, #3) by Shannon Delany

Blood Drive: A Vampire Novel by Traci Houston

Kitty's Greatest Hits by Carrie Vaughn

Low Town: A novel by Daniel Polansky

Second Grave on the Left (Charley Davidson, #2) by Darynda Jones

Please let me know if you see a mistake or find that something is missing =) Happy reading. 

Winner: Black Night by Christina Henry

Thank you to everyone that entered!!

PRIZE: One copy of Black Night

The winner chosen by Random.org is…

Tynga

Congrats!! I have emailed winner who has 48 hours to respond with mailing address or I will pick another.

Review: Second Grave on the Left by Darynda Jones

Second Grave on the Left
Author:Darynda Jones
Release Date: August 16, 2011
Publisher: St. Martins Press
Charley Davidson Book #2
ISBN:  0312360819
ISBN13: 9780312360818
Genre: Urban Fantasy

Charley Davidson, Grim Reaper Extraordinaire, is back in this sexy, suspenseful novel of supernatural shenanigans.

When Charley is rudely awakened in the middle of the night by her best friend who tells her to get dressed quickly and tosses clothes out of the closet at her, she can’t help but wonder what Cookie’s up to. Leather scrunch boots with a floral miniskirt? Together? Seriously? Cookie explains that a friend of hers named Mimi disappeared five days earlier and that she just got a text from her setting up a meet at a coffee shop downtown. They show up at the coffee shop, but no Mimi. But Charley finds a message on the bathroom wall. Mimi left a clue, a woman’s name. Mimi’s husband explains that his wife had been acting strange since she found out an old friend of hers from high school had been found murdered a couple weeks prior. The same woman Mimi had named in her message.

Meanwhile, Reyes Alexander Farrow (otherwise known as the Son of Satan. Yes. Literally) has left his corporeal body and is haunting Charley. He’s left his body because he’s being tortured by demons who want to lure Charley closer. But Reyes can’t let that happen. Because if the demons get to Charley, they’ll have a portal to heaven. And if they have a portal to heaven…well, let’s just say it wouldn’t be pretty. Can Charley handle hot nights with Reyes and even hotter days tracking down a missing woman? Will Cookie ever get a true fashion sense? And is there enough coffee and chocolate in the world to fuel them as they do? Here is your signpost for the most hilarious read of the summer: Second Grave On The Left.

I love me some Charley Davidson and Reyes is just a fantastic added bonus. I think Charley is one of the funniest heroines I have had the pleasure to read about.  Her snarky replies and come backs have me laughing so hard sometimes that tears streak down my face. All of the characters that Darynda introduces fit perfectly and add there own elements to the story. There is great action and twists thrown around, Charley almost dies multiple times, we learn more about Reyes (yummy), we get to see some shocking things done by her family, and the ending will take your breath away and leave you wanting more. Every word and every scene in the book had be glued to the pages. I really have nothing bad to say about the second installment of the Charley Davidson series but I can tell you that I can not wait to get my hands on THIRD GRAVE DEAD AHEAD.

I gave it 5/5 stars

Week in Review 8/7-8/13

Books Ive Bought/received

Kittys Greatest Hits by Carrie Vaughn- From Publisher for review

Wayfinder by C.E. Murphy- ARC- Librarything Early Reviewers win

In the Forest of the Night by Kersten Hamilton- ARC- From Publisher on request of Author for review



Books I read

Half-Blood by Jennifer Armentrout
Wayfinder by C.E. Murphy
Water to Burn by Katharine Kerr

Reviews posted


Eternity by Heather Terrell
Misfit by Jon Skovron
Touch of Frost by Jennifer Estep
Accused by Kate Kaynak

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* New Releases for the week. Was there anything you were looking forward to reading?

* Christina Henry is giving away a copy of Black Night to one lucky winner.

* An Interview with Mari Mancusi went up on Thursday.



*If you see something on my books Ive read list that you are dying to know about let me know I'm back logged on reviews and can move it up on the list if I know people are wanting one.

* I love comments so if you see something you like (or not) please comment away and let me know.