Wild About You (Love at Stake, #13) by Kerrelyn Sparks

Wild About You by Kerrelyn Sparks

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


Handsome Howard...
Hunky Howard...
Hot Howard...

It's not every day that Elsa Bjornberg feels delicate, not when she hosts a home renovation show where she can effortlessly demolish a kitchen. But from the moment she meets Howard Barr, this bear of a man makes her feel like a woman. And the way he looks at her, as if she were a pot of honey he'd like to lick...

Howard is not like most men. For one thing, he's a shapeshifter. And he always thought his celebrity crush would never amount to anything more than drooling at Elsa on TV. When his meddling vampire employer gets involved, the star is suddenly within his grasp—and within a hair of her life. For an ancient curse forbids their newfound love, and Howard is suddenly torn between his desire for her and his desire to keep her alive.

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Love to read some cheesy romance every now and then and this one was cheesy through and through. Not quite as much action and involvement in the back story with this book, as with previous books in the series, but still a wonderful romance.

We learn more about Howard, the were-bear, and have a new paranormal aspect added with the Guardians. Overall a nice addition to the series.



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Let Them Eat Stake (A Vampire Chef Mystery, #2) by Sarah Zettel

Let Them Eat Stake by Sarah Zettel

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


It's a dream for a "Vampire Chef"-cater the high-profile wedding of a 200-year-old vampire and a wealthy witch. So why did celebrity chef Oscar Simmons walk away from this gig? Charlotte agrees to take his place, even though she knows this event, thrown by power-hungry vampires and witches, could make (or break) her career, her restaurant, and her life. But when Simmons turns up dead, the groom's family starts vanishing, and the police start asking pointed questions, Charlotte fears she may have picked the wrong wedding to stake her reputation on..


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This was another good read in the Vampire Chef series. I would love to give this series more than 3 stars but for some reason the books just seem a little one dimensional to me. There is not the depth needed to make me really love the books. The story line is always interesting but often a little convoluted. Things don't tie together as smoothly as they should. The characters are interesting, but again don't have enough depth to make them really memorable.

I will gladly continue with this series if there are more. But I hope that they author is able to add that something more that seems to be lacking to make it a really great series instead of just a good one.



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A Taste of the Nightlife (A Vampire Chef Mystery, #1) by Sarah Zettel

A Taste of the Nightlife by Sarah Zettel

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


Charlotte Caine isn't called "the Vampire Chef" because she's a member of New York's undead community-she just cooks for them. Her restaurant, Nightlife, is poised to take the top slot in the world of "haute noir" cuisine.

But when a drunk customer causes a scene, a glowing review from the city's top food critic doesn't seem likely-especially when that customer winds up dead on Nightlife's doorstep. Now, with her brother under suspicion for the murder, Charlotte has to re-open her restaurant and clear her brother's name-before they both become dinner.

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This was an interesting start to what I think will be a good new series.

The start of the book was a bit choppy. The world building could have been stronger and the character development was a little 1 dimensional, but the mystery itself and the premise for the book was a good one. The story started coming together a bit by mid way through the book and I am looking forward to reading the next in the series to see where the author goes.



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The Crocodile's Last Embrace (Jade del Cameron Mysteries, #6) by Suzanne Arruda

The Crocodile's Last Embrace by Suzanne Arruda

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


Returning from Europe, intrepid explorer Jade del Cameron arrives in Kenya with bittersweet memories-and the certainty that Africa is her home and Sam Featherstone the man she wants to share her life with. When a letter arrives from America, Jade hopes it's Sam sending word of his return. Instead, it's a message written in the hand of her long- dead fiancé, asking "Why did you let me die?"

When two men die under mysterious circumstances and Jade discovers that her old nemesis, Lilith Worthy, has escaped from prison, the deaths and the letter form the most dangerous case Jade has ever faced, pitting her against a ferocious crocodile-and an even more deadly human killer.

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This book took me back to what I loved about the first few books in this series. It centered on the mystery and less on the descriptions of the flora and fauna of Africa. The final showdown between Jade and Lilith as well as decisions about her relationships with Sam and Harry are all neatly wrapped up in this book.

From what I can gather from the author's website this book was not intended to be the final book of the series, but it did end in a good way if it does end up being the final one. I would gladly pick up more if the author finds a new publisher for this series in the future.



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Treasure of the Golden Cheetah (Jade del Cameron Mysteries, #5) by Suzanne Arruda

Treasure of the Golden Cheetah by Suzanne Arruda

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


Intrepid photojournalist Jade del Cameron is about to embark on safari for a Hollywood film shoot inspired by the ancient legend of King Solomon's lost treasure, under the leadership of adventurer Harry Hascombe and with the companionship of the young healer Jelani and her pet cheetah Biscuit. But when the film's financial backer is stabbed to death by a native man who then commits suicide, the trip is cast by a sinister pall. And as the expedition moves higher onto Kilimanjaro's rugged slopes, a series of dastardly hoaxes and a fatal native curse convince Jade that a killer is at work.

Now, Jade will be tested as never before-by mysterious forces...and by a murderer who may prove too much for even Jade's strength and determination.

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Like the last book in the series I had a harder time getting into this book. The descriptions of Africa are breathtaking, but the action is a bit slow.

Jade makes some decisions about her life, but she may have made them too late. I look forward to reading the next book to see how that plays out for her. I am hoping that the action picks up a little in this next book.



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The Leopard's Prey (Jade del Cameron Mysteries, #4) by Suzanne Arruda

The Leopard's Prey by Suzanne Arruda

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


Fourth in the series starring a larger than- life heroine far ahead of her time. (Denver Post).

American adventuress Jade del Cameron has returned home to British East Africa to help the Perkins and Daley Zoological Company collect wild animals for zoos in the States. But the real danger begins when the body of a local merchant is found on a coffee-growing plantation. Authorities determine the cause of death to be murder,and their prime suspect is Jade's beau, movie-maker and ace World War I flyer Sam Featherstone. To clear Sam's name, Jade launches her own investigation, but nothing prepares her for the journey that lies ahead, during which she'll have to confront more than one kind of brutal killer, face-to-face.

This book in the Jade del Cameron series took me a little longer to get into. The author is very descriptive in writing about Africa and the animals, but the action in the book tends to be drawn out.

Still an enjoyable read and a mystery that I did not figure out.



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23 Hours: A Vengeful Vampire Tale by David Wellington

23 Hours: A Vengeful Vampire Tale by David Wellington

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


In the next 23 hours, there will be no reprieve,
no mercy, and no time off for good behavior.

When vampire hunter Laura Caxton is locked up in a maximum-security prison, the cop-turned-con finds herself surrounded by countless murderers and death-row inmates with nothing to lose . . . and plenty of time to kill.

Caxton’s always been able to watch her own back–even when it’s against a cell-block wall–but soon she learns that an even greater threat has slithered behind the bars to join her. Justinia Malvern, the world’s oldest living vampire, has taken up residence, and her strength grows by the moment as she raids the inmate population like an open bar with an all-you-can-drink supply of fresh blood. The crafty old vampire knows just how to pull Caxton’s strings, too, and she's issued an ultimatum that Laura can’t refuse.

Now Laura has just 23 hours to fight her way through a gauntlet of vampires, cons, and killers . . . 23 hours to make one last, desperate attempt at protecting the world from Justinia’s evil.

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Very good read in this series.It has been a while since I read the last book in this series, but that did not take away from my enjoyment of this book!
The ongoing battle between Laura and Justinia is reaching it's climax and I can not wait to read more.



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Cherry Bomb (Jack Daniels Mystery, #6) by J.A. Konrath

Cherry Bomb by J.A. Konrath

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


At the end of Fuzzy Navel, J. A. Konrath surprised readers with an agonizing cliff-hanger: One of Lieutenant Jacqueline "Jack" Daniels's loved ones is dead. But who Readers were left clamoring to know more.Cherry Bomb, the sixth Jack Daniels mystery, opens at the funeral. While Jack stands graveside, tears in her eyes, her cell phone rings. It's the killer, escaped maniac Alex Kork, taunting Jack, drawing her ever further into a twisted game of cat and mouse. Because while Alex is more than willing to kill random victims, Jack is her true prey. But which woman wants revenge more

Cherry Bomb is J. A. Konrath's most gripping novel of suspense yet--filled with twists and turns that will keep readers on the edge of their seats.

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A lot of resolution in this book. Jack and Alex finally have their showdown. We learn rather Harry is Jack's brother and Jack comes to a decision about her relationship with Phin. Curious where the series is going to go from here. Great read!!



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Fuzzy Navel (Jack Daniels Mystery, #5) by J.A. Konrath

Fuzzy Navel by J.A. Konrath

My rating: 5 of 5 stars



Anthony and Macavity Award finalist J.A. Konrath returns with the latest gripping--and hilarious--Jack Daniels mystery.Things are going well for Lieutenant Jacqueline "Jack" Daniels of the Chicago Police Department. She has solved some of the city's toughest and most high-profile homicides. Her personal life is finally in order. Her friends and family are safe and happy. And she just got a call that eased her mind like nothing else could: Alex Kork, one of the most dangerous criminals Jack ever arrested, killed herself while in jail.

But things sour quickly when a group of vigilantes on a murderous spree decide to take down a cop and the people she cares about ... and they turn downright awful when Jack discovers that Kork may not be dead after all.

The next eight hours will be the worst of Jack's life. And that's saying something.

Fuzzy Navel is perfect for readers who like their mysteries with a shot of humor.

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This was a non-stop, action packed read. I was unable to put it down and finished it in one day. Alex escapes prison and comes after Jack. The story takes place over an 8 hour stretch and is mind blowing. Thank goodness I had the next book in the series as I was able to immediately see what the answer to the cliff hanger was. Excellent series!!!



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