Review: Desires of the Dead by Kimberly Derting

Desires of the Dead
Author:Kimberly Derting
Release Date: February 15, 2011
Publisher: Harper Collins
The Body Finder Book #2
ISBN:   0061779849
ISBN13: 9780061779848
Genre: Young Adult

The missing dead call to Violet. They want to be found. 

Violet can sense the echoes of those who've been murdered—and the matching imprint that clings to their killers. Only those closest to her know what she is capable of, but when she discovers the body of a young boy she also draws the attention of the FBI, threatening her entire way of life. 

As Violet works to keep her morbid ability a secret, she unwittingly becomes the object of a dangerous obsession. Normally she'd turn to her best friend, Jay, except now that they are officially a couple, the rules of their relationship seem to have changed. And with Jay spending more and more time with his new friend Mike, Violet is left with too much time on her hands as she wonders where things went wrong. But when she fills the void by digging into Mike's tragic family history, she stumbles upon a dark truth that could put everyone in danger.

I didnt enjoy it as much as I enjoyed THE BODY FINDER but it was still a fantastic book. As mentioned in another review by All Things Urban Fantasy I missed the serial killer storyline from book 1. There was more tension and panic that made your heart speed up to keep you glued to the pages. Don't get me wrong there was still plenty of action and tension, i just didn't feel the fear as much as in the second book. I would have liked to see Violet do a little more body finding, there wasn't as many chances for it DESIRES OF THE DEAD. I liked the new characters, I think they are going to bring Violet to a whole new level in future books and bring some fantastic storylines. Violet and Jay's relationship is brought to a whole new level and they are still going strong, Kimberly has given them a great connection that is enjoyable to read about. Future books are definitely on my radar.

I gave it 4/5 Stars

New Releases Feb 28-Mar 6

Tuesday March 1

Accidentally Catty (Accidently Friends #5) by Dakota Cassidy
Betrayel (Haunting Emma #2) by Lee Nichols
Blackout (Cal Leandros #6) by Rob Thurman
Blood & Flowers by Penny Blubaugh
The Chaos (Number #2) by Rachel Ward
Clarity by Kim Harrison
Dark Mirror (Dark Passage #1) by M.J. Putney
Deadly Lies (Deadly #3) by Cynthia Eden
Dead on Delivery (Messenger #2) by Eileen Rendahl
Demonglass (Hex Hall #2) by Rachel Hawkins
Demon Song (Blood Singer #3) by Cat Adams
Falling Under by Gwen Hayes
Fated by Rebecca Zanetti
Hidden Away (KGI #3) by Maya Banks
It Happened One Bite (Regency Vampyre Trilogy #1) by Lydia Dare
Late Eclipses (October Daye #4) by Seanan McGuire
Live Wire (Elite Ops #6) by Lora Leigh
Mermaid: A Twist on the Classic Tale by Carolyn Turgon
Moon Cursed (Night Creatures #10) by Lori Handeland
Never Again (Wizards of Nevermore #1) by Michele Bardsley
River Marked (Mercedes Thompson #6) by Patricia Briggs
Primal Bonds (Shifters Unbound #2) by Jennifer Ashley
Taste Me by Tamara Hogan
The Truth About Vampires by Theresa Meyers
Under Wraps (Underworld Detection Agency #1) by Hannah Jayne

Thurs March 3

Vegas Knights by Matt Forbeck

If you see a mistake or know of another release that is not listed let me know!! Happy Reading 

Review: Rogue Oracle by Alayna Williams

Rogue Oracle
Author:Alayna Williams
Release Date: February 22, 2011
Publisher: Pocket
Delphic Oracle Book #2
ISBN: 1439182817
ISBN13: 9781439182819
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Review Copy Source: Author for Review

Tara Sheridan is the best criminal profiler around - and the most unconventional. Trained as a forensic psychologist, Tara also specializes in Tarot card reading. But she doesn't need her divination skills to realize that the new assignment from her friend and sometime lover, Agent Harry Li, is a dangerous proposition in every way.

Former Cold War operatives, all linked to a top-secret operation tracking the disposal of nuclear weapons in Russia, are disappearing. There are no bodies, and no clues to their whereabouts. Harry suspects a conspiracy to sell arms to the highest bidder. The cards - and Tara's increasingly ominous dreams - suggest something darker. Even as Tara sorts through her feelings for Harry and her fractured relationships with the mysterious order known as Delphi's Daughters, a killer is growing more ruthless by the day. And a nightmare that began decades ago in Chernobyl will reach a terrifying endgame that not even Tara could have foreseen...

The Delphic Oracle Novels are so unique. I wasn't sure the whole tarot card oracle storyline would work for me but Alayna Williams does a wonderful job in explaining and laying out all you need to know so that you aren't lost with all the card she pulls.  I loved the police like investigating, some of my favorite novels have that in the story and they are always entertaining and attention grabbing. There is plenty of action and the story comes along at a good pace. The characters are enjoyable to read about and follow along with. Im looking forward to seeing what comes in the future for Alayna and Harry's relationship as well as what is in store for Cassie as she is thrust deeper into getting ready to take of as Pythia.


I gave it a 4/5 Stars

Week in Review 2/20-2/26

Books Ive Bought/received

*Blood Red Road by Moira Young- ARC- From Shelfawareness

*Iron Crowned by Richelle Mead- Purchased from Borders

*This Side of the Grave by Jeaniene Frost- Purchased from Borders


Books I read

Rogue Oracle by Alayna Williams
Dead on Delivery by Eileen Rendahl
This Side of the Grave by Jeaniene Frost
Iron Crowned by Richelle Mead

Other reviews posted

Aftertime by Sophie Littlefield
A Touch Mortal by Leah Clifford
Etched in Bone by Adrian Phoenix
Demon Song by Cat Adams
Dark Oracle by Alayna Williams

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*Want to know what people are reading? Check out and add to my "What are you reading?" post

*New Releases for the week.

* UFI will have a 2 guests this coming week. Alayna Williams will be joining us with a guest post and giveaway on Wednesday 3/2 and Dianne Duvall will be joining us with a giveaway and Interview on Thursday 3/3. Make sure to stop by to see what they have to say as well ask any questions you might have. For future guests visit here.

Review: Dark Oracle by Alayna Williams

Dark Oracle
Author:Alayna Williams
Release Date: May 25, 2010
Publisher: Pocket
Oracle Book #1
ISBN: 1439182795
ISBN13: 9781439182796
Genre: Urban Fantasy


TARA SHERIDAN HAS A GIFT . . . AND IT ALMOST KILLED HER. 
 As a criminal profiler, Tara used science and her intuitive skill at Tarot card divination to track down the dangerous and depraved, including the serial killer who left her scarred from head to toe. Since that savage attack, Tara has been a recluse. But now an ancient secret society known as Delphi’s Daughters has asked for her help in locating missing scientist Lowell Magnusson. And Tara, armed with her Tarot deck, her .38, and a stack of misgivings, agrees to try. 

Tara immediately senses there is far more at stake than one man’s life. At his government lab in the New Mexico desert, Magnusson had developed groundbreaking technology with terrifying potential. Working alongside the brusque but charismatic agent Harry Li, Tara discovers that Magnusson’s daughter, Cassie, has knowledge that makes her a target too. The more Tara sees into the future, the more there is to fear. She knows she has to protect Cassie. But there may be no way to protect herself—from the enemies circling around her, or from the long-buried powers stirring to life within. . . .



DARK ORACLE is fast paced, filled with great characters, action, mystery, and science with a touch of romance on the side. The main character and storyteller is Tara who is a Oracle who gets her intuitions and predictions from her tarot cards. She uses her tarot cards throughout the story and everything is explained expertly to help bring you better understanding of the tarot so you aren't completely lost. Tara is also a retired Criminal profiler so there is a ton of law enforcement type investigating. All together a great new Urban Fantasy.


I gave it 4/5 Stars

Early Review: Demon Song by Cat Adams

Demon Song
Author:Cat Adams
Release Date: March 1, 2011
Publisher: Tor
Blood Singer Book #3
ISBN:  0765324962
ISBN13: 9780765324962
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Review Copy Source: Publisher for Review 


In a world where magic is real and the supernatural is almost normal, bodyguard Celia Graves has survived a vampire attack which made her a half-vampire and awakened her latent Siren abilities. She’s battled a Siren Queen to the death and twice faced down a demon that wants to kill her--slowly. She’s also had her heart broken--twice--by her old flame, magician Bruno DeLuca.

Perhaps the worst thing was the discovery that Celia’s life has been warped by a curse laid on her during childhood--the cause of everything from the death of her little sister to the murder of her best friend the same night that Celia became an Abomination.

An ancient rift between the demonic dimension and our own--sealed during the destruction of Atlantis--begins to open, threatening to loose all the demons of hell on humanity (including the one personally bent on destroying Celia). Celia’s hellish recent experiences have given her the unique combination of abilities needed to close the rift. But to overcome the curse, which nearly guarantees her failure, she’ll need to join forces with people she no longer trusts...and put people she has come to care about directly in harm’s way.  

I have really enjoyed reading all the books in the Blood Singer series. Celia just can't catch a break, even though there are so many people against her she still is the one to always save the day and shes resilient enough to keep her head up. If you have enjoyed the other books in this series you wont be disappointing in continuing it. The drama and romance is kicked up a notch with a love triangle, the action is continued while Celia continues to kick the bad guys back to where they came from. She has fantastic loyal friends by her side to help her at every turn. We get some sad closure on some things and new beginnings with others. The ending makes it clear that Celia still isn't going to catch that break she so deserves in book 4 and I can't wait to see what she does next.

I gave it 4/5 stars

Review: Etched in Bone by Adrian Phoenix

Etched in Bone
Author:Adrian Phoenix
Release Date: January 22, 2011
Publisher: Pocket
The Makers Song Book #4
ISBN:  1439137307
ISBN13: 9781439137307
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Review Copy Source: Publisher for Book Tour


SON OF A FALLEN ANGEL. FORGED IN VAMPIRE’S BLOOD. SWORN TO A MORTAL WOMAN. IF DANTE FALLS, THE WORLD FALLS WITH HIM. . . .
  THREE LEGACIES ETCHED IN BONE

More beautiful and powerful than any creature the world has ever seen, Dante Baptiste has become the supreme target of the three worlds that spawned him. The mortal agents of the Shadow Branch have tried to control his mind through psychological torture. The vampire elders who guide nightkind society have plotted to use him in their bloodthirsty bid for power. And the Fallen have waited for millennia for Dante to claim his birthright as their Maker. But Dante belongs to no one—except the woman he loves. . . .

ONE PASSION SWORN IN BLOOD

Determined to face the Fallen and the world on his own terms, Dante hopes to piece together his shattered past and claim his future, with FBI agent Heather Wallace at his side. But in Heather’s human family awaits an unexpected enemy. One who could rip Heather from Dante’s heart and fill the holes with bullets. One who could force Dante to choose his darkest destiny—as the Great Destroyer. . . .

Adrian Phoenix absolutely rocks but OMG the frustration she makes me go through. Why am I frustrated? Because this is one of those book starts at one point and ends at the same point so that you read through the whole book devouring all the information and awesomeness only to find out you will have to wait for the next book to get the details you want so darn bad. AHHHHH. This is one of those reviews I'm having a hard time writing because of spoilers. ETCHED IN BONE is fast paced, the writing style is brilliant as always to bring you book full of suspense, action and great dialogue. I love Adrian Phoenix's books but I really hope book 5 doesn't leave me as frustrated at the end.


I gave it 4/5 stars