Rating: Strong Case for 5 Stars
Genre: Mystery, Suspense, and Thrillers
**Review**
The Devil Colony is the seventh book in the Sigma Force series by James Rollins and definitely one of the better stories of the series. In this story, Sigma Force, which is a covert branch of DARPA, the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, is asked to get involved when a highly publicized explosion rocks a cave in Utah killing an important member of a research team and setting off a chain of events that is heard around the world and sets in motion events that may lead to the destruction of humanity.
Painter Crowe, who is the director and leader of Sigma, is tasked by General Gregory Metcalf head of DARPA, to get involved with the explosion investigation and bring about a quick conclusion. He realizes that the Guild is always nosing it's way into any Sigma investigation, and it will be only a matter of time before they interfere once again.
Painter is unhappy to realize that his niece, Kai Quocheets, is somehow involved and was last seen leaving the cave as the explosion goes off. Painter, as usual, is quick on his feet, and manages to thwart the end of times destruction of humanity. There is also a group that calls itself the True Bloodlines, and wants what was discovered in the caves.
I am truly happy that Painter is finally allowed to get out from his desk, and do actual field work for a change. He started out as an operative, but moved into the directors spot soon after the events of Sandstorm. Most of the stories have surrounded Commander Grayson Pierce, Monk Kokkalis, and Seichan a skilled assassin who formerly worked for an international criminal organization known as the Guild. The Guild has deep reaches into every corner of the globe and the government of the US. She has since betrayed her former employer, but is still on most countries most wanted list, including the US, and the Mossad. As of a year ago, she now works covertly for Sigma under Painter Crowe and is nearly always partnered with Pierce.
The Devil Colony intertwines fiction with history when it comes to the United States and it's founding. I was surprised to find that only part of this story actually took place outside of the US unlike the previous six installments. This book focuses on the founding fathers, and the fact that they too dealt with traitors who were willing to do anything to become rich and powerful and have a hand in the direction of what happened to this country. It also has strong Native American influences, as well as a possible connection to the Book of Mormon and whether or not a lost tribe from Israel actually found their way to the new world before Christopher Columbus.
Rollins is, as usual, an amazing researcher and writer. He vividly creates a world that you can put yourself into and not feel that things are a bit too made up or shoved down your throat in order to make a point. If you pay attention to the end of the book, you will see how hard he actually works and does his research about actual events that happened over the course of history of the US. There are truths to various storylines that he writes about, and then, of course, there are the fictional aspects which I’m disinclined to spoil for any future readers of this series.
The ending is truly emotional for all of the major players, and leaves lots of questions to the future of Sigma and it's operatives.
If you are at all interested in this series, may I recommend that you at least try to read some of the books that were previously released in this series?
ARC accepted 05/20/2011 via NetGalley.com. Book releases 07/01/2011
Tuesday, June 28, 2011
Friday, June 24, 2011
The Dragon's Mark by Alex Archer Book Review
Rating: 4.0
Genre: Action/Adventure/Science Fiction
The Dragon's Mark is the twenty-six release in the Rogue Angel series featuring Annja Creed who is not only an archaeologist, but co-host of cable TV's Chasing History's Monsters. She is the holder of Joan of Arc's broadsword that was shattered to bits and pieces upon her death. Since becoming the holder of the broadsword, Annya's own agility, speed and strength have grown in stature. It also gives her heightened senses and increased intuition to tell when danger is near, as well as becoming a symbol of justice and good in the world. One thing that makes the sword so interesting is that it is stored in what is called the Otherwhere. Annya can literally grab it at a moment’s notice when she needs to protect herself from others who are trying to harm her.
Annya is called to Paris, France by Garin Braden for a surprise birthday party for Roux, who has become Annya’s mentor. Garin is an empire builder, rogue artifact hunter and immortal thanks to his link to Joan of Arc’s sword. Garin has been playing games with both Roux, (who he wants to see dead) and Annya ever since she came in possession of Joan’s sword.
This time, his deviousness knows no boundaries, nor does his deception in training and hiring an assassin called the Dragon to go after Annja and her sword. His one command to the Dragon: no hard shall come to Annya and that she must relinquish the sword voluntarily.
The Dragon is one of the best villains this series has had in a very long time. She is cunning, and an extremely well trained as an assassin. Her actions cause Annja to not only question her sanity, and abilities, but the Dragon hits her in her own apartment which is supposed to be safe haven from intruders. The Dragon holds the last Katana ever made by a master sword smith named Muramasa. It is called Ten Thousand Cold Nights. It is also said to have the alternative powers to Annya’s own broadsword in that it carries out evil.
I actually had a wonderful time reading this book. The action sequences take place from Roux’s home outside of Paris, to Annya being chased through a NYC subway, to the tops of buildings and finally to the final confrontation in a Brooklyn Garden between Annya and the Dragon. It will be interesting to see where this story goes from here especially knowing that Garin allowed a witness to survive his attempt on Roux’s majordomo.
My only request: I would really love to know who the writer of this book was.
Definitely recommended to everyone who loves a good action adventure story.
Genre: Action/Adventure/Science Fiction
The Dragon's Mark is the twenty-six release in the Rogue Angel series featuring Annja Creed who is not only an archaeologist, but co-host of cable TV's Chasing History's Monsters. She is the holder of Joan of Arc's broadsword that was shattered to bits and pieces upon her death. Since becoming the holder of the broadsword, Annya's own agility, speed and strength have grown in stature. It also gives her heightened senses and increased intuition to tell when danger is near, as well as becoming a symbol of justice and good in the world. One thing that makes the sword so interesting is that it is stored in what is called the Otherwhere. Annya can literally grab it at a moment’s notice when she needs to protect herself from others who are trying to harm her.
Annya is called to Paris, France by Garin Braden for a surprise birthday party for Roux, who has become Annya’s mentor. Garin is an empire builder, rogue artifact hunter and immortal thanks to his link to Joan of Arc’s sword. Garin has been playing games with both Roux, (who he wants to see dead) and Annya ever since she came in possession of Joan’s sword.
This time, his deviousness knows no boundaries, nor does his deception in training and hiring an assassin called the Dragon to go after Annja and her sword. His one command to the Dragon: no hard shall come to Annya and that she must relinquish the sword voluntarily.
The Dragon is one of the best villains this series has had in a very long time. She is cunning, and an extremely well trained as an assassin. Her actions cause Annja to not only question her sanity, and abilities, but the Dragon hits her in her own apartment which is supposed to be safe haven from intruders. The Dragon holds the last Katana ever made by a master sword smith named Muramasa. It is called Ten Thousand Cold Nights. It is also said to have the alternative powers to Annya’s own broadsword in that it carries out evil.
I actually had a wonderful time reading this book. The action sequences take place from Roux’s home outside of Paris, to Annya being chased through a NYC subway, to the tops of buildings and finally to the final confrontation in a Brooklyn Garden between Annya and the Dragon. It will be interesting to see where this story goes from here especially knowing that Garin allowed a witness to survive his attempt on Roux’s majordomo.
My only request: I would really love to know who the writer of this book was.
Definitely recommended to everyone who loves a good action adventure story.
Hunt the Moon by Karen Chance (A Review)
Rating: 3.5 Stars - Will ponder if I should rate it higher.
Genre: Urban Fantasy
**Review** Possible Spoilers ----minimal----
Hunt the Moon is the fifth book in the Cassandra Palmer series by Karen Chance and the action if pretty much nonstop from the first page to the last. Questions are answered, but others are left open for a possible sixth release in the future.
As followers of this series from the first book onward, we’ve waited two long years for this book to finally come out. Was it worth the wait? Probably. Lots of things happen over a short period of time as it seems to always do in this series. Five books have taken place over the course of several months. It will definitely benefit anyone new to this series that you MUST read the first four books before jumping into this one. Otherwise, you may find yourself loopy and lost.
**Summary**
Cassie is the newest Pythia designate or the chief seer for the Supernatural World after he mentor was killed and the power somehow shifted to her who has never actually had formal training. She has withstood traitorous vampires, mages, as well as the god Apollo himself in order to stay alive. She is under the “protection” of Mircea and the vampire Senate who finally believe they have control over the office of the Pythia.
It is also coming up on her coronation date, but she is really a prisoner in a hotel room filled with vampire bodyguards against those who want to take the opportunity to try and kill her; again. The most interesting guard is Marco who is over a thousand years old and really seems to care about Cassie, even though her pink toe nails obsession would drive even the strongest vampire to drink hard. Cassie, however, is not one to stay still for a long time, and of course, finds herself in trouble once again.
Cassie is also training with John Pritkin who is a war mage, as well as half demon (incubi) in how to fight as well as protect herself. Pritkin’s training is intense, but so it the danger that awaits Cassie at each and every turn. Now, she has demigods trying to kill her so that they can once again walk the earth. Almost right away, she is attacked by a fey creature and temporarily possessed. Thankfully, Billy is on the scene to help.
Cassie is supposed to be dating 500 year old master vampire, and North American Senate member Mircea Basarab. Mircea often treats Cassie as an object, and not an actual person. He believes, as do most vampires, that Cassie and Mircea are married. Oh yes, he claims he actually loves her, shocked look on my face when I read that part. But, does he really? Or, is he listening to his boss when she tells him that it would be fine to control the office of the Pythia, and thus Cassie after years of the position holder being under the guise and protection of the Silver Circle? He basically stalked her since she was 11 years old which is just plain creepy to me. That’s just my opinion folks.
Negatives: Cassie’s screaming nearly each and every time words come out of her mouth was absolutely nerve wrecking and annoying to me. Was that really necessary? Can’t she carry out a pleasant conversation without shouting at basically everyone? Again, just asking!
The way the book ends is so obvious that Chance wants to write another Cassie story. If she ended the series now with this particular ending, there would be a whole slew of angry readers out there who would want her head on a platter. There are too many questions remaining including the fate of Pritkin. Then there is her battle with the Gods like Ares and Hel and the alliance between the Mages and the vampires that get signed because of Cassie’s action at the end of this story.
Positive(s): First, that we actually have another book in the series. Even though it was a two year wait, the book overall was worth it. I find myself hesitating in rating this book higher even though the story was pretty good.
Second, Cassie and Pritkin’s relationship is explored more as well as Pritkin’s past and who he really is. The fact that Cassie saves his life by giving herself to him fully, and I do mean fully, was one of the better scenes of this book.
Third was the meeting in 1969 between Cassie and her mother Elizabeth O’Donnell. Elizabeth was the Pythia designate at the time of the meeting and also on the run from assassins who wanted to kill her so that Cassie isn’t born. Cassie ends up in hot pursuit against some Spartoi assassins and the whole chase scene with Mircea alongside was pretty amazing. Poor Cassie can’t catch a break, let alone her breath for 5 minutes before something or someone is trying to kill her. Now, they figure her mother is a prime target to go after. It's nice to actually meet her mother after such a tragic ending to her life at the hands of the rat Anthony.
Thoughts: I actually prefer Pritkin to Mircea. Mircea still creeps me out with the whole I marked you when you were 11 years old thing so that nobody else can have you. Yes, he claims that he loves her which naturally throws Cassie for a loop in that nobody has said that to her before. But, he obviously is loyal to the vampire Senate and is not likely to say no to them when it comes to telling Cassie what to do.
I want there to be another book just so that we can tie this series up in and find out who Cassie is truly meant to be with. Will we have to wait another two years? I read where other reviewers are saying another book shall be released next year? Show me the posting!
Genre: Urban Fantasy
**Review** Possible Spoilers ----minimal----
Hunt the Moon is the fifth book in the Cassandra Palmer series by Karen Chance and the action if pretty much nonstop from the first page to the last. Questions are answered, but others are left open for a possible sixth release in the future.
As followers of this series from the first book onward, we’ve waited two long years for this book to finally come out. Was it worth the wait? Probably. Lots of things happen over a short period of time as it seems to always do in this series. Five books have taken place over the course of several months. It will definitely benefit anyone new to this series that you MUST read the first four books before jumping into this one. Otherwise, you may find yourself loopy and lost.
**Summary**
Cassie is the newest Pythia designate or the chief seer for the Supernatural World after he mentor was killed and the power somehow shifted to her who has never actually had formal training. She has withstood traitorous vampires, mages, as well as the god Apollo himself in order to stay alive. She is under the “protection” of Mircea and the vampire Senate who finally believe they have control over the office of the Pythia.
It is also coming up on her coronation date, but she is really a prisoner in a hotel room filled with vampire bodyguards against those who want to take the opportunity to try and kill her; again. The most interesting guard is Marco who is over a thousand years old and really seems to care about Cassie, even though her pink toe nails obsession would drive even the strongest vampire to drink hard. Cassie, however, is not one to stay still for a long time, and of course, finds herself in trouble once again.
Cassie is also training with John Pritkin who is a war mage, as well as half demon (incubi) in how to fight as well as protect herself. Pritkin’s training is intense, but so it the danger that awaits Cassie at each and every turn. Now, she has demigods trying to kill her so that they can once again walk the earth. Almost right away, she is attacked by a fey creature and temporarily possessed. Thankfully, Billy is on the scene to help.
Cassie is supposed to be dating 500 year old master vampire, and North American Senate member Mircea Basarab. Mircea often treats Cassie as an object, and not an actual person. He believes, as do most vampires, that Cassie and Mircea are married. Oh yes, he claims he actually loves her, shocked look on my face when I read that part. But, does he really? Or, is he listening to his boss when she tells him that it would be fine to control the office of the Pythia, and thus Cassie after years of the position holder being under the guise and protection of the Silver Circle? He basically stalked her since she was 11 years old which is just plain creepy to me. That’s just my opinion folks.
Negatives: Cassie’s screaming nearly each and every time words come out of her mouth was absolutely nerve wrecking and annoying to me. Was that really necessary? Can’t she carry out a pleasant conversation without shouting at basically everyone? Again, just asking!
The way the book ends is so obvious that Chance wants to write another Cassie story. If she ended the series now with this particular ending, there would be a whole slew of angry readers out there who would want her head on a platter. There are too many questions remaining including the fate of Pritkin. Then there is her battle with the Gods like Ares and Hel and the alliance between the Mages and the vampires that get signed because of Cassie’s action at the end of this story.
Positive(s): First, that we actually have another book in the series. Even though it was a two year wait, the book overall was worth it. I find myself hesitating in rating this book higher even though the story was pretty good.
Second, Cassie and Pritkin’s relationship is explored more as well as Pritkin’s past and who he really is. The fact that Cassie saves his life by giving herself to him fully, and I do mean fully, was one of the better scenes of this book.
Third was the meeting in 1969 between Cassie and her mother Elizabeth O’Donnell. Elizabeth was the Pythia designate at the time of the meeting and also on the run from assassins who wanted to kill her so that Cassie isn’t born. Cassie ends up in hot pursuit against some Spartoi assassins and the whole chase scene with Mircea alongside was pretty amazing. Poor Cassie can’t catch a break, let alone her breath for 5 minutes before something or someone is trying to kill her. Now, they figure her mother is a prime target to go after. It's nice to actually meet her mother after such a tragic ending to her life at the hands of the rat Anthony.
Thoughts: I actually prefer Pritkin to Mircea. Mircea still creeps me out with the whole I marked you when you were 11 years old thing so that nobody else can have you. Yes, he claims that he loves her which naturally throws Cassie for a loop in that nobody has said that to her before. But, he obviously is loyal to the vampire Senate and is not likely to say no to them when it comes to telling Cassie what to do.
I want there to be another book just so that we can tie this series up in and find out who Cassie is truly meant to be with. Will we have to wait another two years? I read where other reviewers are saying another book shall be released next year? Show me the posting!
Wednesday, June 22, 2011
Graveminder by Melissa Marr
My Rating: 2.0
**Summary**
In the year 1712, a woman named Alicia Barrows unwittingly opens a gateway into the land of the dead and sets things in motion that will have an everlasting impact on the town of Claysville. Seeing the error in her ways, she agrees to work with Death in order to bring the deceased back to their world. Alicia is therefore named the first Graveminder whose responsibilities are to ensure the dead are taken care of, and if any rise, she is to escort them back to the land of the dead.
There is also an Undertaker that is supposed to help her bring them back to the land of the dead while protecting her at all times. Each previous Graveminder or Undertaker has either been a Barrows family member or a Montgomery. Each is responsible for choosing their own replacement as are the representatives of the town’s council. For some reason, which is never explained, Graveminders can not see the ones that came before them.
Because of Alicia’s mistake, the townspeople of Claysville agree to a contract with Death that basically gives them longevity and near perfect health. If they didn’t agree to the contract, then the entire town would have been eliminated and permanently linked to the dead. Nobody knows what is really in the contract, just that no resident born in the towns limits can leave permanently. If they die outside of town, they must be returned to Claysville to be interned and minded or else other residents will start dying. Lastly, only a select few can ever know the truth about what is happening in town. The rest are kept ignorant including the Sheriff who gets migraines if he knows too much.
Flash forward to the present and it now becomes Rebekkah Barrow’s turn at being the Graveminder after her grandmother Maylene is killed by a walking dead who has been prevented from being minded out of spite and jealously after not being named her replacement. Rebekkah loves Byron Montgomery who becomes the Undertaker to her Graveminder, but can’t stand him at times. She wants to get close to him, but after their past where they kissed while he was dating her step sister, things became ice cold between them.
They go back and forth so many times that Bryon is the person I felt okay with, while Rebekkah got under my skin like nails on a chalkboard. Each has spent years away from Claysville, but now they are inexplicably drawn back to town. Once they are named Graveminder and Undertaker, they can never leave town again. I call this the Twilight Zone factor.
I actually liked Byron, Amity Blue, and even Daisha better than I did Rebekkah. Rebekkah acted like one of Ms. Marr’s teenagers throughout the book. At least Daisha had a reason for eating the people she did, and even though Bryon couldn’t forgive her, she still is a better character overall than Bekka. Creepiness factor was that Daisha actually ate and drank her victims blood. No, she is not a vampire nor a zombie either.
A proper description of a Graveminder in this book: A Graveminder keeps the dead in the earth or brings them to Charlie, aka Mr. Death, if they go for a walk. While her partner the Undertaker, is supposed to protect her from harm and be with her for her lifetime. If any Claysville resident dies elsewhere and was left alone without minding, they would wake up and people in the town die horribly.
I really did have high hopes for this solo work after having finished reading the Wicked Lovely series. Maybe, and this is just my opinion, she should have stayed away from doing an adult release. I will never criticize anyone for liking a book in polar opposite to me hating it. I guess I must be a glutton for punishment in that I actually allowed myself to finish this story instead of abandoning it.
Best part of the book? The ending!
Would I recommend this book to anyone? Debatable at this time.
**Summary**
In the year 1712, a woman named Alicia Barrows unwittingly opens a gateway into the land of the dead and sets things in motion that will have an everlasting impact on the town of Claysville. Seeing the error in her ways, she agrees to work with Death in order to bring the deceased back to their world. Alicia is therefore named the first Graveminder whose responsibilities are to ensure the dead are taken care of, and if any rise, she is to escort them back to the land of the dead.
There is also an Undertaker that is supposed to help her bring them back to the land of the dead while protecting her at all times. Each previous Graveminder or Undertaker has either been a Barrows family member or a Montgomery. Each is responsible for choosing their own replacement as are the representatives of the town’s council. For some reason, which is never explained, Graveminders can not see the ones that came before them.
Because of Alicia’s mistake, the townspeople of Claysville agree to a contract with Death that basically gives them longevity and near perfect health. If they didn’t agree to the contract, then the entire town would have been eliminated and permanently linked to the dead. Nobody knows what is really in the contract, just that no resident born in the towns limits can leave permanently. If they die outside of town, they must be returned to Claysville to be interned and minded or else other residents will start dying. Lastly, only a select few can ever know the truth about what is happening in town. The rest are kept ignorant including the Sheriff who gets migraines if he knows too much.
Flash forward to the present and it now becomes Rebekkah Barrow’s turn at being the Graveminder after her grandmother Maylene is killed by a walking dead who has been prevented from being minded out of spite and jealously after not being named her replacement. Rebekkah loves Byron Montgomery who becomes the Undertaker to her Graveminder, but can’t stand him at times. She wants to get close to him, but after their past where they kissed while he was dating her step sister, things became ice cold between them.
They go back and forth so many times that Bryon is the person I felt okay with, while Rebekkah got under my skin like nails on a chalkboard. Each has spent years away from Claysville, but now they are inexplicably drawn back to town. Once they are named Graveminder and Undertaker, they can never leave town again. I call this the Twilight Zone factor.
I actually liked Byron, Amity Blue, and even Daisha better than I did Rebekkah. Rebekkah acted like one of Ms. Marr’s teenagers throughout the book. At least Daisha had a reason for eating the people she did, and even though Bryon couldn’t forgive her, she still is a better character overall than Bekka. Creepiness factor was that Daisha actually ate and drank her victims blood. No, she is not a vampire nor a zombie either.
A proper description of a Graveminder in this book: A Graveminder keeps the dead in the earth or brings them to Charlie, aka Mr. Death, if they go for a walk. While her partner the Undertaker, is supposed to protect her from harm and be with her for her lifetime. If any Claysville resident dies elsewhere and was left alone without minding, they would wake up and people in the town die horribly.
I really did have high hopes for this solo work after having finished reading the Wicked Lovely series. Maybe, and this is just my opinion, she should have stayed away from doing an adult release. I will never criticize anyone for liking a book in polar opposite to me hating it. I guess I must be a glutton for punishment in that I actually allowed myself to finish this story instead of abandoning it.
Best part of the book? The ending!
Would I recommend this book to anyone? Debatable at this time.
Tuesday, June 21, 2011
Alien in the Family by Gini Koch
Rating: 3.0
Genre: Science Fiction/Romance
Alien in the Family, by Gini Koch, is the third release in the Katherine "Kitty" Katt science fiction romance series. If you thought things were wacky the last time out, prepare for a rollercoaster ride that ends with some surprises including one I did not see coming and now wonder in what direction the series will go from here.
Kitty is a former marketing guru who is now Commander for the Centaurion Divisions Airborne Division. She was given the position after she killed a superbug with a pen, and then came up with various ways to kill the superbugs including the use of hairspray. Airborne is made up of mostly humans, US Navy Pilots as well as James Reader who is a former runway model and everything Jeff Martini is not. Funny, handsome, charming, and NOT jealous of Kitty's relationship with other men.
She even has a few A-Cs mixed in like Lorraine and Claudia who are her best A-C friends and Dazzlers, or beautiful A-C women who are also extremely intelligent. How Kitty is the commander of anything is beyond me and others ask the same question throughout the series. She is clueless to the rules and regulations of the CD, since she prefers to spend all her days and nights having monster sex with Jeff. But, she seems to always be the first one to figure out what is happening before anyone else can, and jumps in without hesitation when those she loves are in anyway put in harms way.
Kitty and her Alpha Centaurian betrothed, Jeff Martini, are six weeks away from being married but, Kitty hasn’t even firmed up her wedding party participants or plans yet or bought her wedding gown. Both families are questioning if this romance is really happening, or if Kitty is going to play runaway bride by running off to be with her best friend since the age 13 Chuckie. It doesn’t hurt that he is as rich as Bill Gates, the head of the CIA’s ET Division which oversees the Centaurion Division, and Australia's most eligible bachelor.
Kitty finds that she is totally stressing out about her wedding. The reason for the stress she is experiencing? Jeff’s mother Lucinda, she believes, hates her and still wants him to marry someone else who is A-C. Kitty’s family has already expressed their opinion on the fact that Chuckie or Christopher would have been better mates for her than Jeff, but have come to understand that Kitty isn't the brightest lightbulb in the box when it comes to matters of the heart. She is the poster girl for interspecies marriage that is considered a test case for other couples that has been for far too long, prohibited by the Pontifex. She was responsible for a staged intervention by the US government to allow sanctuary to anyone under the age of 30 who wants to have a relationship beyond what the A-C’s considered to be right. Now, distant relatives are coming to give her a worthiness test, and nobody knows what exactly that entails; only Kitty realizes that it is meant for her to fail. Oh and the Unity necklace that Jeff gave her was the trigger in letting them know that Jeff has chosen a mate.
Surprise! Jeff and Christopher are actually descended from royalty. Jeff doesn’t want a thing to do with his family’s former planet since they basically kicked his entire family off planet for their religious views. I will probably get my head handed to me for saying this but, it really feels as though the writer has made a correlation between the aliens of Alpha Centauri and the Jewish people of Europe during the early 20th century for which six million died unnessarily.
On top of everything else, assassins nearly succeed in taking out one of the main characters who I have come to love James Reader. Sorry, but if James wasn’t gay, Kitty and he would definitely make a fun couple. James is the anti-Jeff in more ways than one. He also jumps right in without any hesitation and helps Kitty and Jeff plan their wedding, and buy the ideal dress for her. I have no clue why Koch feels the need to dress Kitty as a slut however, regardless if this were Las Vegas, as it is drilled into the readers heads over and over again. I dont much care for all the hot monkey sex that just seems to happen like anywhere, but I'm sure others who love romance and lost of sex will.
My one complaint in regards to this story, it seems to drag on from time to time instead of getting to the point; the wedding of Jeff and Kitty.
I absolutely loved the introduction of the Poofs. If you have ever watched the original Star Trek series, then think of them as the tribbles. Only these poofs are known as royal pets and they immediately attach themselves to Kitty, Jeff and Christopher. They even grow and eat the bad people!
Funniest moment of the book for me: Kitty and her alpha teammates (which now include an MD candidate named Tito, who saves James life) are gathered in Las Vegas to plan out strategy for meeting the alien invasion head on. Kitty, as always, is ignored by Chuckie and Jeff since they are having a man moment in seeing who has the biggest balls. Kitty, in a moment of pure brilliance, raises her top up to show her girls and everyone stops what they are doing; including Lorraine and Claudia who are cracking themselves up with laughter. The Navy pilots, of course, demand pictures for the sake of moral. Chuckie and Jeff are left speechless and mumbling like idiots. Bloody brilliant.
Yes, there is a wedding, but naturally nothing is done normally with Kitty and Jeff on the scene. Instead of walking down the aisle, they run like it was a track meet. There are some really interesting new aliens introducted as well. Canus Majorians, Feliniads, Reptillians, and Amazon assassins who want Kitty as one of their own. One of the aliens even becomes Kitty's soul sister and matron of honor.
Overall, the story was good, but it could have been alot better if it didn't seem to go on, and on at times. The ending is interesting as well, and it appears Kitty's future as part of the CD is up in the air since you know Jeff will not allow her to jump into fights now.
Genre: Science Fiction/Romance
Alien in the Family, by Gini Koch, is the third release in the Katherine "Kitty" Katt science fiction romance series. If you thought things were wacky the last time out, prepare for a rollercoaster ride that ends with some surprises including one I did not see coming and now wonder in what direction the series will go from here.
Kitty is a former marketing guru who is now Commander for the Centaurion Divisions Airborne Division. She was given the position after she killed a superbug with a pen, and then came up with various ways to kill the superbugs including the use of hairspray. Airborne is made up of mostly humans, US Navy Pilots as well as James Reader who is a former runway model and everything Jeff Martini is not. Funny, handsome, charming, and NOT jealous of Kitty's relationship with other men.
She even has a few A-Cs mixed in like Lorraine and Claudia who are her best A-C friends and Dazzlers, or beautiful A-C women who are also extremely intelligent. How Kitty is the commander of anything is beyond me and others ask the same question throughout the series. She is clueless to the rules and regulations of the CD, since she prefers to spend all her days and nights having monster sex with Jeff. But, she seems to always be the first one to figure out what is happening before anyone else can, and jumps in without hesitation when those she loves are in anyway put in harms way.
Kitty and her Alpha Centaurian betrothed, Jeff Martini, are six weeks away from being married but, Kitty hasn’t even firmed up her wedding party participants or plans yet or bought her wedding gown. Both families are questioning if this romance is really happening, or if Kitty is going to play runaway bride by running off to be with her best friend since the age 13 Chuckie. It doesn’t hurt that he is as rich as Bill Gates, the head of the CIA’s ET Division which oversees the Centaurion Division, and Australia's most eligible bachelor.
Kitty finds that she is totally stressing out about her wedding. The reason for the stress she is experiencing? Jeff’s mother Lucinda, she believes, hates her and still wants him to marry someone else who is A-C. Kitty’s family has already expressed their opinion on the fact that Chuckie or Christopher would have been better mates for her than Jeff, but have come to understand that Kitty isn't the brightest lightbulb in the box when it comes to matters of the heart. She is the poster girl for interspecies marriage that is considered a test case for other couples that has been for far too long, prohibited by the Pontifex. She was responsible for a staged intervention by the US government to allow sanctuary to anyone under the age of 30 who wants to have a relationship beyond what the A-C’s considered to be right. Now, distant relatives are coming to give her a worthiness test, and nobody knows what exactly that entails; only Kitty realizes that it is meant for her to fail. Oh and the Unity necklace that Jeff gave her was the trigger in letting them know that Jeff has chosen a mate.
Surprise! Jeff and Christopher are actually descended from royalty. Jeff doesn’t want a thing to do with his family’s former planet since they basically kicked his entire family off planet for their religious views. I will probably get my head handed to me for saying this but, it really feels as though the writer has made a correlation between the aliens of Alpha Centauri and the Jewish people of Europe during the early 20th century for which six million died unnessarily.
On top of everything else, assassins nearly succeed in taking out one of the main characters who I have come to love James Reader. Sorry, but if James wasn’t gay, Kitty and he would definitely make a fun couple. James is the anti-Jeff in more ways than one. He also jumps right in without any hesitation and helps Kitty and Jeff plan their wedding, and buy the ideal dress for her. I have no clue why Koch feels the need to dress Kitty as a slut however, regardless if this were Las Vegas, as it is drilled into the readers heads over and over again. I dont much care for all the hot monkey sex that just seems to happen like anywhere, but I'm sure others who love romance and lost of sex will.
My one complaint in regards to this story, it seems to drag on from time to time instead of getting to the point; the wedding of Jeff and Kitty.
I absolutely loved the introduction of the Poofs. If you have ever watched the original Star Trek series, then think of them as the tribbles. Only these poofs are known as royal pets and they immediately attach themselves to Kitty, Jeff and Christopher. They even grow and eat the bad people!
Funniest moment of the book for me: Kitty and her alpha teammates (which now include an MD candidate named Tito, who saves James life) are gathered in Las Vegas to plan out strategy for meeting the alien invasion head on. Kitty, as always, is ignored by Chuckie and Jeff since they are having a man moment in seeing who has the biggest balls. Kitty, in a moment of pure brilliance, raises her top up to show her girls and everyone stops what they are doing; including Lorraine and Claudia who are cracking themselves up with laughter. The Navy pilots, of course, demand pictures for the sake of moral. Chuckie and Jeff are left speechless and mumbling like idiots. Bloody brilliant.
Yes, there is a wedding, but naturally nothing is done normally with Kitty and Jeff on the scene. Instead of walking down the aisle, they run like it was a track meet. There are some really interesting new aliens introducted as well. Canus Majorians, Feliniads, Reptillians, and Amazon assassins who want Kitty as one of their own. One of the aliens even becomes Kitty's soul sister and matron of honor.
Overall, the story was good, but it could have been alot better if it didn't seem to go on, and on at times. The ending is interesting as well, and it appears Kitty's future as part of the CD is up in the air since you know Jeff will not allow her to jump into fights now.
The Dollmaker by Amanda Stevens
Rating: 3 stars
Genre: Mystery, Suspense, Thriller
Seven years ago Dave Creasy and Claire Doucett were married and had a happy little girl named Ruby. Dave was a New Orleans police detective who at the time was looking into the murder of a teen girl named Renee Savaria. Dave was also falling further and further into darkness by drinking constantly and turning moody and lashing out at others because the case was getting to him. He even went as far as to sleep with a female officer who was known to be loose in bed and who later exposed the truth about their sexual encounter to Claire. Both Claire and Dave blamed the other for Ruby's disappearance, especially Claire who was the last person to see her alive besides the Dollmaker that is. Later, because of Dave's inability to get his head cleared up, Claire walked out the door, and Dave ended up quitting the force and becoming a full time drunk.
It is now seven years later and Claire has married yet another cop, Alex Girard, but they are in the process of getting a divorce. He blames Claire’s inability to let the past go and still having feelings for Dave as well as her inability to let her daughters disappearance go. So, when Claire notices a doll in a shop window that is the spitting image of her missing daughter Ruby, everything changes quickly for Claire. Her life spirals out of control as she is run over by a car not paying attention to where she was at the time.
She then has to face the fact that nobody believes Claire’s view that the life like doll was made from Ruby’s image maybe even by the kidnapper himself. Not even her sister or mother. Not even Alex who totally misses clues in the shop owners disappearance or the fact that a picture of Ruby is found in her shop. Needless to say, but I shall say it anyho, I hated Alex. Especially after Claire's sister shows up and sleeps with him even though their divorce isn't yet finalized.
After all else fails, she ends up running to Dave who is now a Private Investigator and has other things on his plate besides helping Claire. Dave appears to be heading for a showdown with his former officers of the law in what ends up connecting Renee Savaria's death to a call Dave received on the night Ruby disappeared. Dave believes that both cases are linked to the same killer, and possibly the disappearance of his daughter. After asking for and getting help from his former partner, the pieces of the puzzle slowly come together to the point where those involved in having Dave lose valuable evidence that could have solved Renee's murder and possibly saved Ruby's life.
I liked the overall story and the plot line, and the fact that the story takes place in and around New Orleans post-Katrina. The only problem I had with the story was the rather blunt ending to the story and other plot lines were left unanswered. It was as though the writer or editors were in a big hurry to release the story, and didn't bother understanding that readers might want to know more.
When the Dollmaker is introduced to the readers, you know immediately who he is but not why he is kidnapping and killing little girls and making dolls from their likeness. Ok, so, we understand that it had alot to do with his upbringing and his mother's desire to allow him to be different. We also know that he tormented his father and aunt after they tried to "correct" him surgically.
In the end, I believe I will try another story by Ms Stevens that is not part of the Graveyard Queen series. Maybe that one will have a better ending.
Genre: Mystery, Suspense, Thriller
Seven years ago Dave Creasy and Claire Doucett were married and had a happy little girl named Ruby. Dave was a New Orleans police detective who at the time was looking into the murder of a teen girl named Renee Savaria. Dave was also falling further and further into darkness by drinking constantly and turning moody and lashing out at others because the case was getting to him. He even went as far as to sleep with a female officer who was known to be loose in bed and who later exposed the truth about their sexual encounter to Claire. Both Claire and Dave blamed the other for Ruby's disappearance, especially Claire who was the last person to see her alive besides the Dollmaker that is. Later, because of Dave's inability to get his head cleared up, Claire walked out the door, and Dave ended up quitting the force and becoming a full time drunk.
It is now seven years later and Claire has married yet another cop, Alex Girard, but they are in the process of getting a divorce. He blames Claire’s inability to let the past go and still having feelings for Dave as well as her inability to let her daughters disappearance go. So, when Claire notices a doll in a shop window that is the spitting image of her missing daughter Ruby, everything changes quickly for Claire. Her life spirals out of control as she is run over by a car not paying attention to where she was at the time.
She then has to face the fact that nobody believes Claire’s view that the life like doll was made from Ruby’s image maybe even by the kidnapper himself. Not even her sister or mother. Not even Alex who totally misses clues in the shop owners disappearance or the fact that a picture of Ruby is found in her shop. Needless to say, but I shall say it anyho, I hated Alex. Especially after Claire's sister shows up and sleeps with him even though their divorce isn't yet finalized.
After all else fails, she ends up running to Dave who is now a Private Investigator and has other things on his plate besides helping Claire. Dave appears to be heading for a showdown with his former officers of the law in what ends up connecting Renee Savaria's death to a call Dave received on the night Ruby disappeared. Dave believes that both cases are linked to the same killer, and possibly the disappearance of his daughter. After asking for and getting help from his former partner, the pieces of the puzzle slowly come together to the point where those involved in having Dave lose valuable evidence that could have solved Renee's murder and possibly saved Ruby's life.
I liked the overall story and the plot line, and the fact that the story takes place in and around New Orleans post-Katrina. The only problem I had with the story was the rather blunt ending to the story and other plot lines were left unanswered. It was as though the writer or editors were in a big hurry to release the story, and didn't bother understanding that readers might want to know more.
When the Dollmaker is introduced to the readers, you know immediately who he is but not why he is kidnapping and killing little girls and making dolls from their likeness. Ok, so, we understand that it had alot to do with his upbringing and his mother's desire to allow him to be different. We also know that he tormented his father and aunt after they tried to "correct" him surgically.
In the end, I believe I will try another story by Ms Stevens that is not part of the Graveyard Queen series. Maybe that one will have a better ending.
Eat Slay Love by Jesse Petersen (A review)
Rating: 4.0 stars
Genre: Dystopian Fantasy/Science Fiction
Eat Slay Love, by Jesse Petersen, is the third book in the Living with the Dead series. Sarah and David have been through hell and back after surviving the zombie apocalypse and escaping from Seattle where the infestation started. Along the way, they have stumbled across cults, mad scientists and other groups who have tried to kill them. Now, they intend to do everything they can to reach the Midwest Wall where they hope to find survivors, including Sarah’s mother Molly, and safety from the massive zombie outbreak that has spread all over the Badlands (the West).
It has been more than a month since David was bitten by a zombie after coming into contact with a mad scientist who also had a cure. Sarah has been having nightmares of him turning zombie and her shooting him dead. Thanks to the cure, David hasn't turned, nor does he desire to eat anyone’s brains. But, he's not exactly normal either. His strength has more than doubled, he needs more and more food to keep him from going hungry and he can walk among the zombies without being attacked. Sarah calls him the Zombie Whisperer.
Sarah, as always, is sarcastic, funny, and witty, as well as a little worried that the infection will end up costing David his life. She absolutely loves her guns and toys she picks up along the way, and by the end of the story, she has an even better toys to play with. Think really big guns.
On the way to the wall, the couple meets up with a reporter named Nicole Nessing who worked for ENZ – Entertainment News Zone (Think TMZ). She was down in Mexico when the outbreak started, and since then has been hearing things about the couples exploits from various survivor camps. Sarah calls her a stalkerazzi, and truly hates her when they first meet. They also meet Colin McCray, who is the lead singer of Lead Tongue who decided to remain locked up in a hospital in Oklahoma trying to get help for his drug addiction. Colin definitely should have been tossed to the zombies, but I digress.
Nothing is ever easy for Sarah, David and crew. They once again face a test of survival by a group who have come together to keep out the infected and other survivors. Call it Mad Max and the Thunderdome if you will. Eventually, they do reach the Midwest wall, but nothing is as it appears. In fact, it appears that the government is doing its best to ignore the situation in the Badlands.
I love the fact that Sarah and David have remained married throughout the zombie infestation; in fact, they’ve actually grown closer in every way possible. While others are struggling to survive, Sarah and David ended up making zombie killing a business adventure and have a growing fan base throughout the badlands.
I’m not going to spoil this story or the ending which is definitely worth reading about. The ending does leave open for the continuation of this series, but for now, this is the last book of the series. This book is only 200 pages long so readers will have no trouble getting through this book. There are a few unanswered questions that need to be answered including one very important one regarding David, and Sarah’s parents.
However, I still rate this as a fun and interesting book that will take its place in my ever growing zombie book obsession that I need serious help with.
**ARC Received from publisher via NetGalley.com** posted 06/19/2011
Genre: Dystopian Fantasy/Science Fiction
Eat Slay Love, by Jesse Petersen, is the third book in the Living with the Dead series. Sarah and David have been through hell and back after surviving the zombie apocalypse and escaping from Seattle where the infestation started. Along the way, they have stumbled across cults, mad scientists and other groups who have tried to kill them. Now, they intend to do everything they can to reach the Midwest Wall where they hope to find survivors, including Sarah’s mother Molly, and safety from the massive zombie outbreak that has spread all over the Badlands (the West).
It has been more than a month since David was bitten by a zombie after coming into contact with a mad scientist who also had a cure. Sarah has been having nightmares of him turning zombie and her shooting him dead. Thanks to the cure, David hasn't turned, nor does he desire to eat anyone’s brains. But, he's not exactly normal either. His strength has more than doubled, he needs more and more food to keep him from going hungry and he can walk among the zombies without being attacked. Sarah calls him the Zombie Whisperer.
Sarah, as always, is sarcastic, funny, and witty, as well as a little worried that the infection will end up costing David his life. She absolutely loves her guns and toys she picks up along the way, and by the end of the story, she has an even better toys to play with. Think really big guns.
On the way to the wall, the couple meets up with a reporter named Nicole Nessing who worked for ENZ – Entertainment News Zone (Think TMZ). She was down in Mexico when the outbreak started, and since then has been hearing things about the couples exploits from various survivor camps. Sarah calls her a stalkerazzi, and truly hates her when they first meet. They also meet Colin McCray, who is the lead singer of Lead Tongue who decided to remain locked up in a hospital in Oklahoma trying to get help for his drug addiction. Colin definitely should have been tossed to the zombies, but I digress.
Nothing is ever easy for Sarah, David and crew. They once again face a test of survival by a group who have come together to keep out the infected and other survivors. Call it Mad Max and the Thunderdome if you will. Eventually, they do reach the Midwest wall, but nothing is as it appears. In fact, it appears that the government is doing its best to ignore the situation in the Badlands.
I love the fact that Sarah and David have remained married throughout the zombie infestation; in fact, they’ve actually grown closer in every way possible. While others are struggling to survive, Sarah and David ended up making zombie killing a business adventure and have a growing fan base throughout the badlands.
I’m not going to spoil this story or the ending which is definitely worth reading about. The ending does leave open for the continuation of this series, but for now, this is the last book of the series. This book is only 200 pages long so readers will have no trouble getting through this book. There are a few unanswered questions that need to be answered including one very important one regarding David, and Sarah’s parents.
However, I still rate this as a fun and interesting book that will take its place in my ever growing zombie book obsession that I need serious help with.
**ARC Received from publisher via NetGalley.com** posted 06/19/2011
Treachery In Death by J D Robb
Treachery in Death by J D Robb (aka Nora Roberts) is the thirty-second novel in the In Death series featuring our main character Lieutenant Eve Dallas. (There are actually more but they are considered to be novellas.) The year is 2060 and summer in NYC is hot and humid with no end in sight. Murder doesn’t take a break just because it is hot outside; neither do the murder cops who are responsible for bringing justice to the killers. This is the responsibility of the murder cops, or Homicide Division of the NYPSD.
Eve and her partner Detective Delilah Peabody have just finished catching the bad guys responsible to tasing a man to death and stealing candy bars, chips and other items. Peabody nearly gets her head kicked in by one of the bad guys which causes Eve to offer a bit of advice. Peabody decides to listen to Eve’s suggestion about learning how to move on her feet better, which includes exercising more.
After completing her struggles in working out, she overhears a conversation between two cops that is an obvious reference to the fact that they are dirty and into things they should be helping to shut down, and not spreading. The cops are Lt. Renee Olberman the daughter of a legend cops call the gold standard, and Detective William Garret, both whom belong to the NYPSP’s Illegal Squad.
After escaping without anyone realizing she was in arms distance of being discovered and most likely taken down, Peabody shares her story with Eve and Roarke and the fun begins. Eve, Peabody, Roarke, McNabb, Webster, Feeney, Mira, even Commander Whitney, all come together in working to bring Olberman’s team down once and for all.
Think of Treachery in Death as the daughter to The Thin Blue Line by Joseph Wambaugh. This is about cops in the NYPSD Illegal’s department going bad and rogue. They use intimidation, sex, bribery, threats, and murder to get their way. The have killed several of their own officers because they felt they knew too much and were getting in the way of making money. Olberman is a woman who is driven by her own insecurities because of who her father is. She doesn’t care who she rolls over as long as she eventually get the promotion to Captain, and then Commander. Her squad revers her in a cult like fashion and does exactly what she tells them to do.
On the positive: I was extremely grateful and happy that Peabody played such an important role in this story. I actually think she is one of my favorites when it comes to this series, and could really see her in the forefront more often.
I don’t much get into the romance part, even though it is obviously necessary to keep readers interested in the series. I mean, yes, Roarke is Hottie McHockster and all that.
I like the fact that Eve goes up against what she perceives as the blue line that cops sometimes fall behind in order to support their fellow officers. She gets the full cooperation of a plethora of fellow officers in her squad and several others who are unlucky enough to be thrown into the mix. Eve is a hard-ass and puts herself into harm’s way more often than not.
I absolutely loved the ending of this story and with how her squad stood up for Eve, and not turned their back on her for going against fellow cops. If you can read the ending without shedding a tear, then please call me, we need to talk.
I believe, in my opinion, that this is one of the better stories of the entire series, and that’s saying a lot. The story was factual in nature, and the danger was palpable with every turn dangerous to Peabody and Eve’s determination to bring Renee and her crew down. I love the fact that Detective Lilah Strong stood up for what’s right, and hope that Robb transfers her into Eve’s squad.
Next books in series:
33. New York To Dallas (November 2011)
34. Celebrity in Death (February 2012)
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