Chasing Magic by Stacia Kane *Downside Ghosts # 5*

Stacia Kane’s “Chasing Magic” is the fifth installment in the Downside series which features protagonist Chess Putnam. Kane gives readers a clearer picture into Chess’s background issues which include her abusive past that lead her to becoming a major junkie.

For the first time in the series, Chess isn't working for the Church of Real Truth in solving or debunking ghost sightings. Instead, she is working for her dealer, Bump, when it appears the drug supply has been tainted with black magic and Bumps people are turning up dead.

Lex has taken over business from his father, and now he’s looking to expanding his business which includes making a major play against Bump. This includes using Chess and Terrible's relationship in order to lure Terrible to his side where he would be an unstoppable force throughout Downside. Lex knows that Terrible will stand in the way of any harm coming to Chess.

Chess finally opens up to Elder Griffin about what happened to Terrible and how she used magic to keep his soul from leaving his body. This revelation comes at a terrible price for Chess. Griffin has always been a supporter and believer in Chess's abilities. Now that the truth has come out, Chess's position as a debunker for the Church also comes up for question.

In my humbliest of opinions, this book was probably the best of the series. I loved the storyline, as well as the mystery and suspense in identifying the true bad guy. Unfortunately, I still have problems with Chess's idiocy when it comes to her drug usage and what happens over the course of this book. I mean, come on already! When will you finally listen to Terrible and stop hurting yourself and others around you? Did you not already break the heart of the person who most thinks you are a good person with your lies and deception? How did that turn out for you?

Terrible. Terrible. Terrible. Enough said. He is one of the best characters written today and I hope that doesn't change anytime soon. I also appreciated the fact that Kane gave us an insight into Terrible's relationship with Bump. Not just boss to worker in that regards is it? I loved when Terrible realizes that he is totally and madly in love with Chess and nothing is going to change that including asshat Lex's interference.

Lex, please go the freak away and stay away! You annoy the crap out of me, and even though you stood alongside Chess in her time of need, you still tried to damage Terrible and Chess's relationship by using sneaky tactics in order to lure Terrible to your side. I'm definitely not spoiling what happens between Lex and Terrible, but let's just say that Lex got a stinging endorsement that he doesn't rule the roost.

The Downside Ghost series has always been about the gritty determination of Chess to hide the truth from others about her addiction to Crepes and Speed, and what she did in order to save Terrible. When Kane uses Downside speak for her characters, she is luring the reader into the setting along with her. In Chasing Magic, we get a first hand look at the downtrodden and how they live their lives. We also get to see, finally, how much Terrible actually loves Chess and would do almost anything for her including dressing up like a monkey and showing up for a wedding ceremony.

I shall reiterate, Chasing Magic is by far the best novel of this series! I am absolutely looking forward to another book in this series and soon!

ARC recvd via Edelweiis on 04/16/2012. Thank you very much!

Author: Stacia Kane
Title:  Chasing Magic
Publisher:  Del Ray
Released: June 26, 2012

Feature & Follow Friday 06/22/2012

Question of the week:

If you could "unread" a book, which one would it be? Is it because you want to start over and experience it again for the first time? Or because it was THAT bad?

Answer:

As for my worse series, I'm probably going to be in deep kimchee over my answer, BUT, this is just the way I feel about the whole Anita Blake series. I would go back and UNREAD the entire series after Obsidian Butterfly (book 9). My reason(s) are simple: I am tired of all the characters that have been added and nobody seems to die, or get written out of the story line. I am sick and tired of the whole Ardeur situation and the fact that Anita has been infected with lycanthrope but is unable to shift. I'm not a prude by any means, but I just don't much care for all the BDSM in the books. I loved my Anita Blake the necromancer who kicked some serious vampire ass and raised the dead. I'm pretty sure I won't be reading any more of this series anytime soon.

As for my absolute favorite(s) that I wouldn't mind going back and Unreading; hands down it has to be the Sirantha Jax series by Ann Aguirre. I love this series and am so sad that the series is coming to a close this year. I would love to get reacquainted with each of the characters for the very first time.

Please leave a comment with your link to your FF and I'll be sure to return the favor!

I absolutely love new followers and would appreciate if you followed me via GFC or

Linky!

   

Waiting on Wednesday # 16

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event that is hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine and spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating. 

This weeks WoW is.....

This is the last book in the Darkness Rising Trilogy. I actually like this

cover better than the first two. There's no synopsis yet, but I understand that 

Armstrong is merging her Darkest Rising with her Darkest Powers, thus

Chloe and crew will be returning for a final hurrah!

What do you think of this cover? Are you a fan of the series as much as

I am? Are you anxious to get your hands on an ARC of the book?

Published by: HarperCollins

Releases: April 9, 2013

Shaedes of Gray by Amanda Bonilla

If you are looking for a novel filled with vampires, werewolves, Fae, or a combination of the three, Shaedes of Gray isn't for you. If you are looking for something new and different with an interesting storyline as well as characters like Shaedes, jinn, oracles, and sylphs, well, Shaedes of Gray is definitely what you are looking for.

Amanda Bonilla has created a series that is centered around a race called the Shaedes and a character named Darian. Darian, our protagonist, was once human before she was transformed into something else entirely different after meeting the enigmatic and charming Azriel.

Thanks to Azriel keeping her in the dark, Darian spent nearly a century alone in her thoughts and working as an assassin ridding humanity of it's worse sort of scum. She truly believed that she was the only one of her kind and that Azriel was dead.

Darian's whole life changes when she is given a job to eliminate Xander Peck. Xander just happens to be the king of the Shaedes and has known about Darian for ages yet for some reason or the other, never bothered to inform Darian that others existed.

Darian quickly learns how absolutely wrong she was in her thinking and in allowing herself to believe anything that Azriel had told her over the 25 years they spent together. Even knowing there are other Shaedes in existence, I didn't feel as though Darian made any sort of connection to anyone but Raif.

Shaedes of Gray is a pretty interesting start to a new series by an yet another I've been trying to read since this book came out. I've read dozens of reviews and up until now, have been unable to find this book within my local library. By the way, thank you Library for FINALLY paying attention to my requests!

As with other first novels in a series, the world building is necessary to the overall scheme of things. We NEED to know about the characters that are being introduced and taken up so much of the story line. We need to know the world we are being introduced to and the different kinds of supernatural beings that live in Seattle.

Yes the story was slow and hard to take at times. Yet, I wouldn't want to change a thing. We need to understand who Darian is and why she's an assassin. We need to know why Azriel left her behind to her own devices and eventually ended up with Tyler as her handler. We also need to know why Xander decided to test Darian's usefulness and turn her world around on a dime.

I liked Darian's character well enough even with her flaws and the fact that she is mostly unfeeling until the end. She is sometimes irritating in her ability to get along with those she is supposed to be working with and is in constant conflict with others of her race like Anya. However, after reading Shaedes of Gray and certain revelations about her own transformation, I can't wait to see what happens next in Blood Before Sunrise.

I actually liked Tyler better than Xander just because he actually gave himself to her as a means of showing how much he cared for her. It doesn't make him a weakling although it was rather creepy to know that he is at Darian's every beck and call and isn't exactly human.

I didn't much care for Xander or his sudden feelings he found for Darian after all was said and done. Of course, Bonilla writes him so that he comes across as the sexy as hell male character who UF and PRN readers love to fall in love with.

Another character I found appealing and interesting was Raif. Raif is another Shaede and brother to Xander who trains Dorian in order for her to be a better soldier rather than just an assassin. Raif has other secrets as well, and I'm anxious to see where Bonilla goes next with him.

Overall, even with my hesitation on liking certain characters and the slow start to the story, I am definitely looking forward to reading the next book in the series asap.

Author: Amanda Bonilla
Title: Shaedes of Gray
Publisher: Signet
Released: December 6, 2011

Cover Reveal - All The Broken Pieces by Cindi Madsen

*Synopsis*

Liv comes out of a coma with no memory of her past and two distinct, warring voices inside her head. Nothing, not even her reflection, seems familiar. As she stumbles through her junior year, the voices get louder, insisting she please the popular group while simultaneously despising them. But when Liv starts hanging around with Spencer, whose own mysterious past also has him on the fringe, life feels complete for the first time in, well, as long as she can remember.

Liv knows the details of the car accident that put her in the coma, but as the voices invade her dreams, and her dreams start feeling like memories, she and Spencer seek out answers. Yet the deeper they dig, the less things make sense. Can Liv rebuild the pieces of her broken past, when it means questioning not just who she is, but what she is?

Title: All the Broken Pieces
Author: Cindy Madsen
Publisher: Entangled Publishing
Releases: December 11, 2012

All the Broken Pieces, by Cindi Madsen, publishes December 2012.

It’s available for pre-order now on: Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Be sure to add it to your TBR pile on Goodreads!

Connect with Cindi at:
http://www.facebook.com/CindiMadsenBooks
https://twitter.com/#!/CindiMadsen
http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/1029223.Cindi_Madsen
http://cindimadsen.com/

Read the exclusive excerpt here!

Olivia reached up, feeling the tender spots on her head. Her fingers brushed across a row of—were those little ridges made of metal?

“Careful. The staples are almost ready to come out, but it’s still going to be sore for a while.”

Staples?! Her stomach rolled. I have staples in my head? She lowered her now-shaking hand. “Can I get a mirror?”

Mom looked at Dad, then back at her. “I don’t think that’s a good idea. Not until you’ve healed a little more.”

Mom patted Olivia’s leg. “You just relax. We’ll be back in a few minutes.”

The two of them left the room, but when Mom swung the door closed, it didn’t latch. Olivia could hear their voices in the hall.

“I still think we should…” She couldn’t make out the rest of Dad’s muffled words. “…know if I can do this.”

“…late for that,” Mom said. “We’d lose everything, including…” Her voice faded as they got farther away. “…have to move.”

Olivia could tell the conversation was tense, but the words were impossible to decipher now. Holding a hand in front of her face, she turned it back and forth. A plastic tube ran from her arm to a machine next to her bed. She peeked into her nightgown and stared in horror at the long red stripe running down her chest.

Sick.

You’re alive. You shouldn’t be thinking about looks.

Lowering her hand, she scanned the room. I wonder how my face looks. From the way Dad stared at me, plus the fact Mom won’t let me see a mirror, it must be bad.   Brains are more important than looks.

That’s what ugly people say.

Olivia put her hands on her head and squeezed. “Stop it,” she whispered to her arguing thoughts, hysteria bubbling up and squeezing the air from her lungs. What was happening to her? Why didn’t she recognize her parents or know where she was? Who she was? Tears ran warm trails down her cheeks. “Just make it all stop.”

Kelly Keaton's A Beautiful Evil

A BEAUTIFUL EVIL, by Kelly Keaton, picks up shortly after the end of DARKNESS BECOMES HER. 17-year old Aristanae (Ari) Selkirk has decided to stay in New 2 and has been granted access and the opportunity by New 2’s Novem families to start school at Presbytere and learn how to fight with Bran Ramsey.

Presby is a place where students are taught a curriculum that consists of normal as well as paranormal studies. It is also where the Novem’s library is located and only a few have access to the secrets held within. The library is Ari’s best way to find information on her gorgon curse, and a way for her to stop Athena in her tracks, and to rescue Violet.

Ari is a descendant of Medusa and knows that unless she finds a cure before she turns 21, she will become just like her legendary relative and she will end up turning people into stone. After seeing what her future could hold at the end of DARKNESS BECOMES HER thanks to Athena, Ari will do almost anything to avoid a fate she considers worse than death itself.

For the first third of this book, it was all about Ari’s training and her desire to find a way to avoid her curse as well as finding a way into Athena’s well-fortified castle to rescue Violet. This means a lot of world building and character development. While it wasn’t mind blowing and action packed, it wasn’t something that could be avoided. Ari understandably needs to find a way to help herself before she can help others.

Then things really start to pick up as a new character that may, or may not be able to help Ari in the future, Menai, is introduced and Sebastian undergoes a drastic change at the hands of Athena. We also get to see more of Ari’s own father-Theron-who has been tortured repeatedly by Athena for what she sees as his betrayal for not doing what she asked of him.

Ari really grew on me as a character this time out. She understands the consequences of her actions, yet remains steadfast and true to her willingness to protect those like Violet who are a bit of a wild card. Violet really comes through in this installment, and I want to know what her powers are that allowed her to walk away from Athena relatively unscathed.

For Sebastian, he came away changed and more powerful than anyone can imagine. What that means in the general scheme of things and the war against Athena, is anyone’s guess. His relationship with Ari also is something that has grown after he was shocked to learn what will become of her when she turns 21. Those looking for romance will have to wait a little longer to see if Keaton actually goes in that direction.

If you are looking for a villain among villains, then Athena is your choice. She is sick, evil, twisted, and terrifying. She truly believes that she is indestructible and able to use Ari to do her bidding and that Ari will bow down to her wishes. We even get a look into her background and how she was able to defeat Zeus.
 
I loved the continued presence of Crank, Dub, and especially Henri. Henri plays a major role in this storyline and we learn more about his abilities. He is definitely worth reading about all on his own.

For me, there MUST be another installment in this series since many questions are left unanswered, and the status of Athena is left opened to interpretation by the reader. There are so many different ways for this series to come to a grand standing ending, that it would be ashamed if the third book wasn't better than the first two.

Author: Kelly Keaton
Title: A Beautiful Evil
Published by: Simon Pulse
Released: February 21, 2012

Interview: Jess Haines Author of Stalking the Others

On the blog Today, I am lucky to have Jess Haines, the author of the H&W Investigations

series. Her latest installment, STALKING THE OTHERS, really knocked my socks off!

My review will be posted after this interview. Along with this interview, there will be an

opportunity for one person to win a copy of STALKING THE OTHERS thanks to 

Jess and Kensington Books.

  

Let's get right to the questions!

GR- Where did you get your inspiration from for writing this series, especially a character like Shiarra Waynest?

JH - Many moons ago, I used to role play on AOL. ("Gasp!" I hear you say. "The horror! 

Say it ain't so!') In the late 90's, I went to the movies and sat down to watch something

involving lots of violence. A preview for Blade hit the screen-and I knew I had to have a 

vampire hunter character of my very own! I would love her and hug her and squeeze her and call her...Shiarra Waynest.

The Shia of today and the Shia of yesteryear are very different in terms of personality. 

She may be different than her original incarnation, but I kept her name, her kickass 

belt, and a few other odds and ends...

As for the overall inspiration for the series, in 2001, I started writing a super serious high

fantasy novel. Skip ahead to late 2007, and I was still writing that same book. However! I 

had an epiphany, and decided that I was so sucked in to making a deep and somber

doorstop that I'd lost the sight of the fun side of writing. I wrapped up the first draft of the fantasy novel and got rolling on HUNTED BY THE OTHER in early 2008. Within a few

months, I had a finished manuscript and started on my agent hunt while concurrently

editing the first book and starting the second. The rest of the series just came to

me-and hopefully you'll get quite a few more H&W novels out of me!

GR - Who is your favorite character to write about?

JH - I love them all for different reasons. It's hard to choose a favorite because they

all have behind-the-scenes significances and histories-not to mention strengths and 

flaws-that the reader haven't seen and color my perspective.

If forced to choose, I'd say it's a toss-up between Royce and Arnold. Royce is such a 

delightfully devious bastard, and so much fun to write, that it's hard not to love the 

vampire. Wouldn't want to be in Shia's shoes if I was faced with him, though!

On the other hand, there's Arnold. He's got a huge "look out for number one" mentality, 

but he's also a nerd with glasses and (channeling a bit of Genie here) phenomenal cosmic 

powers at his fingertips. C'mon, you know that's hot.

GR -  Which of the four books released in the H&W Investigations series (I’m including Stalking the Others) was the most fun to write about?

JH - The second book, TAKEN BY THE OTHERS. The last few years have been pretty

 stressful for me, and I channeled a lot of that into my work. Using it as a vehicle to

make vampires something worth fearing again was pure pleasure for me.

GR - If you could be any paranormal character or have any one supernatural talent, what would it be? Why?

JH- If I had a choice, I would totally be a dragon. Treasure, long lifespan, the ability 

to fly, magic and the biggest kid on the block. Need I say more?

GR -  Can you tell us anything about the upcoming books in this series? (IE how many more are you contracted for?)

JH - I'm currently contracted to write six books in the H&W investigations series. STALKING THE OTHERS, the book I am promoting for this blog tour, is number four. The next book tentatively titled FORSAKEN BY THE OTHERS, will most likely come out sometime next year.

GR - How would you feel if this series was bought and turned into a major motion picture?

JH - Chances are pretty good you could hear my screams of glee echoing through the hills of the Angeles Crest Forest. I would be pretty darned happy about it!

GR - What actress would play Shiarra?

JH - I would love to see Dina Meyer in the role. Alicia Witt or Evan Rachel Wood could also probably pull it off, but I have admired Dina as an actress for a long time, and I think she'd do a great job for the part.

GR - What actor would play the debonair vampire Royce?

JH - In the entirely theoretical HUNTED BY THE OTHERS movie, I would have to say my first choice would be Robert Downey, Jr. 

GR - What is your favorite place to write?

JH - I've learned to write pretty much anywhere. When I have a choice about it, I like to park it on my couch with my laptop and a movie playing in the background. Coffee and chocolate are delicious extras. *g*

GR - When did you decide to become a writer?

JH - I've wanted to be an author since I was a teenager in junior high school, but I never made any effort to realize that dream until I was in my late 20's. I went to college straight out of high school in an attempt to learn how to become a professional writer and get published. Unfortunately, my experience in school put me off so badly that I stopped writing for several years. It wasn't until fairly recently that I decided to give writing fiction another shot. As you can see, it has worked out well for me.

GR - What other genres do you enjoy reading?

JH - Aside from urban fantasy, I love horror, epic fantasy, science fiction, and the occasional non-fiction (covering a broad range of topics from travel to philosophy to memoir). My reading tastes, like my taste in movies, are very eclectic. If sufficiently intrigued by a sample or back cover blurb, I'll read almost anything.

GR - Are there any particular scenes that you have had edited out, that you would love to go back and have added to the story?

JH - Ah, no. Those scenes have all been edited out for good reason. *g*

GR - Thank you so much Jess for giving me the opportunity to participate in this blog and for taking the time out of your busy schedule to answer my strange questions!!

JH - Thanks again very much for having me, and for being part of the STALKING THE OTHERS blog tour!

Don't forget to check out the giveaway as part of this interview!

a Rafflecopter giveaway