A Bit of Bite by Cynthia Eden

A Bit of Bite by Cynthia Eden

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


A killer is stalking the streets of Crossroads, Mississippi, and it’s up to Sheriff Ava Dushaine to stop him. But when suspicion falls on werewolf alpha Julian Kasey—Ava’s ex-lover and the man who still haunts her dreams—Ava knows that she’ll either have to prove his innocence…or watch the whole town go up in flames.

Originally part of an Entangled anthology.

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This was a quick interesting read. Not a lot of character development, but for a 50 page read it was not bad. Plot was good and I can imagine the world being expanded for a full length novel.



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***Kindle edition

Stolen (Women of the Otherworld, #2) by Kelley Armstrong

Stolen by Kelley Armstrong

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


It was in Bitten, Kelley Armstrong's debut novel, that thirty-year-old Elena Michaels came to terms with her feral appetites and claimed the proud identity of a beautiful, successful woman and the only living female werewolf.
In Stolen, on a mission for her own elite pack, she is lured into the net of ruthless Internet billionaire Tyrone Winsloe, who has funded a bogus scientific investigation of the "other races" and their supernatural powers. Kidnapped and studied in his underground lab deep in the Maine woods, these paranormals - witches, vampires, shamans, werewolves - are then released and hunted to the death in a real-world video game. But when Winsloe captures Elena, he finally meets his match.

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I enjoyed this second book in the Women of the Otherworld series better than the first one. It was great to see Elena and Clay working together and I loved meeting the new characters that I know will be the focus of future books in the series. I hope that we see more of Elena and Clay in future books as well. Looking forward to more in this series.



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Bitten (Women of the Otherworld, #1) by Kelley Armstrong

Bitten by Kelley Armstrong

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


Living in Toronto for a year, Elena is leading the normal life she has always dreamed of, including a stable job as a journalist and a nice apartment shared with her boyfriend. As the lone female werewolf in existence, only her secret midnight prowls and her occasional inhuman cravings set her apart. Just one year ago, life was very different. Adopted by the Pack when bitten, Elena had spent years struggling with her resentment at having her life stolen away. Torn between two worlds, and overwhelmed by the new passions coursing through her body, her only option for control was to deny her awakening needs and escape.

But now the Pack has called Elena home to help them fight an alliance of renegade werewolves who are bent on exposing and annihilating the Pack. And although Elena is obliged to rejoin her "family," she vows not to be swept up in Pack life again, no matter how natural it might feel. She has made her choice. Trouble is, she's increasingly uncertain if it's the right one.

An erotically charged thriller, Bitten will awaken the voracious appetite of every reader, as the age-old battle between man and beast, between human and inhuman forces, comes to a head in one small town and within one woman's body.

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So I pulled this book off the shelf because the television series based on the book has started and I was advised to read the book before watching the show. I am happy to say that I followed that wonderful advice and have enjoyed the series very much after having read this book.

Enjoyed the story line and the main characters. I have really enjoyed watching the story come to life on the television show.

I like Elena, but kept wanting to hit her over the head and say, "You have all of that now!! What you are so frantically try to have in Toronto, is already at Stonehaven".

Looking forward to reading more about Elena and Clay as well as seeing how the television series plays out.



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Deadlocked (Sookie Stackhouse, #12) by Charlaine Harris

Deadlocked by Charlaine Harris

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


It’s vampire politics as usual around the town of Bon Temps, but never before have they hit so close to Sookie’s heart…

Growing up with telepathic abilities, Sookie Stackhouse realized early on there were things she’d rather not know. And now that she’s an adult, she also realizes that some things she knows about, she’d rather not see—like Eric Northman feeding off another woman. A younger one.

There’s a thing or two she’d like to say about that, but she has to keep quiet—Felipe de Castro, the Vampire King of Louisiana (and Arkansas and Nevada), is in town. It’s the worst possible time for a human body to show up in Eric’s front yard—especially the body of the woman whose blood he just drank.

Now, it’s up to Sookie and Bill, the official Area Five investigator, to solve the murder. Sookie thinks that, at least this time, the dead girl’s fate has nothing to do with her. But she is wrong. She has an enemy, one far more devious than she would ever suspect, who’s set out to make Sookie’s world come crashing down.

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This read a bit like a mystery and the pace was much calmer than recent Sookie books. Not to say that it was not enjoyable. I liked the fact that things were not so crazy and hectic. I can see where the author is cleaning up loose ends in preparation for the last book in the series and I look forward to seeing how she leaves Bon Temp and all of it's residents at the end.



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***Kindle edition

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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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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Wanted: Undead or Alive (Love at Stake #12) by Kerrelyn Sparks

Wanted: Undead or Alive by Kerrelyn Sparks

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


He's a vampire from the big city . . .

Phineas McKinney thought New York City was tough, until he was attacked by Malcontents—evil vampires who consider mortals to be snacks. Saved by the good vampires, Phin swore to devote his now undead life to stopping the Malcontents. He's got his job cut out for him when word comes that their enemy may be hiding in Wyoming. What does a city boy like him know about horses and campfires? Good thing he's got Brynley Jones with him . . . if only she didn't hate every vampire on earth.

She's a werewolf princess . . .

Bryn believes vampires are seductive and charming, and that makes them dangerous. So she's more than a little annoyed about teaming up with Phin, even if he is the only bloodsucker able to make her inner wolf purr. But as they hunt down the new leader of the Malcontents, danger threatens . . . and Phineas and Brynley discover a passion that will rock the foundation of their supernatural world.

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Another fun book in the series. This is a fun series and I love how it is coming together as more than individual books.

Enjoyed reading about Phineas, though to be honest it was hard to take him seriously most of the time, given his 'Love Doctor' persona from previous books. What an ending too! Can't wait to see how Phineas handles his new life in future books.



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Fathers and Sons (Curran POV #2) by Gordon Andrews, Ilona Andrews

Fathers and Sons by Gordon Andrews

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


The second volume of Curran POV takes place after the events of MAGIC BLEEDS. Infuriated by Kate’s treatment at the hands of the Pack, the Beast Lord demands an explanation. When words fail, claws and fangs must do the talking.

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Great addition to the end of Magic Bleeds. Loved Curran's POV when he woke up and found out that his people had been challenging Kate as his mate. This was like reading an extra chapter in the book.



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***Kindle Edition

Curran (Kate Daniels) by Gordon Andrews, Ilona Andrews

Curran by Gordon Andrews

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


Not short story, novella, or standalone, but collection of scenes written by Gordon Andrews as a companion to our Kate Daniels series of books. These scenes illustrate the point of view of Curran, the Beast Lord of Atlanta and are provided in gratitude to our readers for all of their support.

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Loved reading these little snippets from Curran's POV on events that happened in the first 3 books of the series. Great companion piece to the books!!



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***Kindle Edition

Wolfsbane and Mistletoe by Charlaine Harris, Toni L.P. Kelner , Kat Richardson, Alan Gordon, Carrie Vaughn , Patricia Briggs , Dana Stabenow , Nancy Pickard, Karen Chance, Keri Arthur, Rob Thurman

Wolfsbane and Mistletoe by Charlaine Harris

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


The editors of "Many Bloody Returns" deliver the perfect howl-iday gift, with new tales from Patricia Briggs, Carrie Vaughn, and many more.

"New York Times" bestselling authors Charlaine Harris, Patricia Briggs, Keri Arthur, and Carrie Vaughn—along with eleven other masters of the genre—offer all-new stories on werewolves and the holidays, a fresh variation on the concept that worked so well with birthdays and vampires in "Many Bloody Returns."

The holidays can bring out the beast in anyone. They are particularly hard for lycanthropes. Charlaine Harris and Toni L. P. Kelner have harvested the scariest, funniest and saddest werewolf tales by an outstanding pack of authors, best read by the light of a full moon with a silver bullet close at hand.

Whether wolfing down a holiday feast (use your imagination) or craving some hair of the dog on New Year's morning, the werewolves in these frighteningly original stories will surprise, delight, amuse, and scare the pants off readers who love a little wolfsbane with their mistletoe.

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Very much enjoyed this anthology of Christmas werewolf stories. Of course with the line up of authors here I am not surprised. There were some great takes on Santa -- From Santa Claws(an evil werewolf hunting monster) to Santa (the Saint of many things, including werewolves (poor Rudolph though). A few vampires and lots of different weres made these stories wonderfully entertaining!



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Timeless (Parasol Protectorate, #5) by Gail Carriger

Timeless by Gail Carriger

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


Alexia Tarabotti, Lady Maccon, has settled into domestic bliss. Of course, being Alexia, such bliss involves integrating werewolves into London High society, living in a vampire's second best closet, and coping with a precocious toddler who is prone to turning supernatural willy-nilly. Even Ivy Tunstell's acting troupe's latest play, disastrous to say the least, cannot put a damper on Alexia's enjoyment of her new London lifestyle.

Until, that is, she receives a summons from Alexandria that cannot be ignored. With husband, child, and Tunstells in tow, Alexia boards a steamer to cross the Mediterranean. But Egypt may hold more mysteries than even the indomitable Lady Maccon can handle. What does the vampire Queen of the Alexandria Hive really want from her? Why is the God-Breaker Plague suddenly expanding? And how has Ivy Tunstell suddenly become the most popular actress in all the British Empire?

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What a perfectly Alexia Tarabotti finish to an absolutely fantastic series. I love the way that the series was wrapped up in such a perfectly amusing fashion. I have really enjoyed this series of books.

The mystery of the God-Breaker Plaque is solved, Alexia and Lord Maccon's future is laid out and everything was wrapped up nicely. Loved how Biffy and Ivy were involved in the ending as Biffy was one of favorite characters.

I am definitely going to be looking for more from Gail Carriger in the future!!



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Heartless (Parasol Protectorate #4) by Gail Carriger

Heartless by Gail Carriger

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


Lady Alexia Maccon, soulless, is at it again, only this time the trouble is not her fault. When a mad ghost threatens the queen, Alexia is on the case, following a trail that leads her deep into her husband's past. Top that off with a sister who has joined the suffragette movement (shocking!), Madame Lefoux's latest mechanical invention, and a plague of zombie porcupines and Alexia barely has time to remember she happens to be eight months pregnant.

Will Alexia manage to determine who is trying to kill Queen Victoria before it is too late? Is it the vampires again or is there a traitor lurking about in wolf's clothing? And what, exactly, has taken up residence in Lord Akeldama's second best closet?

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This fourth book in the Parasol Protectorate series was not as fast paced as previous books. So it was a bit slower of a read, but a lot of interesting things happened. We learned a lot more about Alexia and her history as well as that of several of the other characters. Lot of things happened which lead to some pretty major occurrences. To top it all off along comes Prudence. Can not wait to see how the final book ties all of this up!!



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Blameless (Parasol Protectorate, #3) by Gail Carriger

Blameless by Gail Carriger

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


Quitting her husband's house and moving back in with her horrible family, Lady Maccon becomes the scandal of the London season.

Queen Victoria dismisses her from the Shadow Council, and the only person who can explain anything, Lord Akeldama, unexpectedly leaves town. To top it all off, Alexia is attacked by homicidal mechanical ladybugs, indicating, as only ladybugs can, the fact that all of London's vampires are now very much interested in seeing Alexia quite thoroughly dead.

While Lord Maccon elects to get progressively more inebriated and Professor Lyall desperately tries to hold the Woolsey werewolf pack together, Alexia flees England for Italy in search of the mysterious Templars. Only they know enough about the preternatural to explain her increasingly inconvenient condition, but they may be worse than the vampires -- and they're armed with pesto.

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I can not say how much I love this series. Such a fun read. The characters are wonderful and so much happened in this book. I love Biffy and Lord Akeldama. Can not wait to read more about them in the next book. Alexia is such a wonderful character and her relationship with Lord Maccon is so much fun.

Looking forward to the next adventure that this wonderful group blunders into!



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Changeless (Parasol Protectorate #2) by Gail Carriger

Changeless by Gail Carriger

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


Alexia Tarabotti, the Lady Woolsey, awakens in the wee hours of the mid-afternoon to find her husband, who should be decently asleep like any normal werewolf, yelling at the top of his lungs. Then he disappears - leaving her to deal with a regiment of supernatural soldiers encamped on her doorstep, a plethora of exorcised ghosts, and an angry Queen Victoria.

But Alexia is armed with her trusty parasol, the latest fashions, and an arsenal of biting civility. Even when her investigations take her to Scotland, the backwater of ugly waistcoats, she is prepared: upending werewolf pack dynamics as only the soulless can.

She might even find time to track down her wayward husband, if she feels like it.

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Loving this series. While this book was not quite as entrancing as 'Soulless' it still had it's moments. I enjoyed the mystery, the introduction of new characters and the opportunity to learn a bit more about Alexis's new husband. Definitely a lot of world building in this book that hopefully leads to several more great reads.

The ending is without doubt a huge and unexpected cliffhanger that makes me want to immediately start in on the next book in the series (which I have right here fortunately).



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Soulless (Parasol Protectorate, #1) by Gail Carriger

Soulless by Gail Carriger

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


Alexia Tarabotti is laboring under a great many social tribulations. First, she has no soul. Second, she's a spinster whose father is both Italian and dead. Third, she was rudely attacked by a vampire, breaking all standards of social etiquette.

Where to go from there? From bad to worse apparently, for Alexia accidentally kills the vampire—and then the appalling Lord Maccon (loud, messy, gorgeous, and werewolf) is sent by Queen Victoria to investigate.

With unexpected vampires appearing and expected vampires disappearing, everyone seems to believe Alexia responsible. Can she figure out what is actually happening to London's high society? Will her soulless ability to negate supernatural powers prove useful or just plain embarrassing? Finally, who is the real enemy, and do they have treacle tart?

SOULLESS is a comedy of manners set in Victorian London: full of werewolves, vampires, dirigibles, and tea-drinking.

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I am not really sure what I was expecting when I started this book, but it was not what I got. What a wonderfully refreshing read! I have been reading so many books lately with strong main characters, enmeshed in life and death battles with supernatural creatures, that I was totally blown away when I started reading this book. At first the writing style made me do a double take. So many intelligent words! Then we have a main character who is witty and naive? A love interest who is gruff and somewhat clueless at times.

I absolutely fell in love with this book. This is my first foray into what I believe is a form of steampunk fiction and I am hooked. My brain woke up and took notice and I want more!!



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Magic Burns (Kate Daniels, #2) by Ilona Andrews

Magic Burns by Ilona Andrews

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


As a mercenary who cleans up after magic gone wrong, Kate Daniels has seen her share of occupational hazards. Normally, waves of paranormal energy ebb and flow across Atlanta like a tide. But once every seven years, a flare comes, a time when magic runs rampant. Now Kate’s going to have to deal with problems on a much bigger scale: a divine one.

When Kate sets out to retrieve a set of stolen maps for the Pack, Atlanta’s paramilitary clan of shapeshifters, she quickly realizes much more at stake. During a flare, Celtic god Morfran supersedes goddess Morrigan for witch coven worshippers of the Crow, and sea monsters from the Underworld enter via the Cauldron of Plenty. Kate starts looking for Pack maps and 13-year old Julia's witch mother, and ends up uniting shapeshifters and vampire zombie controllers to save the world.

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I read the first book in this series back in 2008 so I was a little concerned that it would be hard to get back into the series. Fortunately it was not. I was able to jump right in and did not feel like I had missed anything.

I love the main character, Kate. She is definitely a kick-ass heroine with a witty, quirky personality. There are plenty of other interesting characters and the story line keeps you reading. Looking forward to moving on to the next book in this series. Can not wait to see how Kate and Curran's relationship evolve.



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Gil's All Fright Diner by A. Lee Martinez

Gil's All Fright Diner by A. Lee Martinez

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


Bloodier than Fried Green Tomatoes!
Funnier than The Texas Chainsaw Massacre!

Welcome to Gil's All Night Diner, where zombie attacks are a regular occurrence and you never know what might be lurking in the freezer. . . .

Duke and Earl are just passing through Rockwood county in their pick-up truck when they stop at the diner for a quick bite to eat. They aren't planning to stick around--until Loretta, the eatery's owner, offers them one hundred dollars to take care of her zombie problem. Given that Duke is a werewolf and Earl's a vampire, this looks right up their alley.

But the shambling dead are just the tip of a particularly spiky iceberg. Seems someone's out to drive Loretta from the diner, and more than willing to raise a little hell on earth if that's what it takes. Before Duke and Earl get to the bottom of the diner's troubles, they'll run into such otherworldly complications as undead cattle, an amorous ghost, a jailbait sorceress, and the terrifying occult power of pig Latin.

And maybe--just maybe--the End of the World, too.

Gory, sexy, and flat-out hilarious, Gil's All Fright Diner will tickle your funny bone--before ripping it out of its socket!

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I really enjoy Martinez's writing. Considering that this was his first novel I have to say well done. What a fun read. I fully intend to find more of his books to read soon.



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Staked (Void City, #1) by J.F. Lewis

Staked by J.F. Lewis

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


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UNREPENTANT. UNIMPRESSED. AND TOTALLY UNDEAD.

Eric's got issues. He has short-term and long-term memory problems; he can't remember who he ate for dinner yesterday, much less how he became a vampire in the first place. His best friend, Roger, is souring on the strip club he and Eric own together. And his girlfriend, Tabitha, keeps pressuring him to turn her so she can join him in undeath. It's almost enough to put a Vlad off his appetite. Almost.

Eric tries to solve one problem, only to create another: he turns Tabitha into a vampire, but finds that once he does, his desire for her fades - and her younger sister, Rachel, sure is cute. And when he kills a werewolf in self-defense, things really get out of hand. Now a pack of born-again lycanthropes is out for holy retribution, while Tabitha and Rachel have their own agendas - which may or may not include helping Eric stay in one piece.

All Eric wants to do is run his strip club, drink a little blood, and be left alone. Instead, he must survive car crashes, enchanted bullets, sunlight, sex magic, and werewolves on ice - not to mention his own nasty temper and forgetfulness.

Because being undead isn't easy, but it sure beats the alternative.

~~~



Definitely an interesting read. The storyline was not as smooth as I would have liked and the character building could have been better, but lots of action and enough plot to keep you wanting to read. I am happy that I have book #2: Revamped sitting here because this one ends right in the middle and the next one takes up right there. Looking forward to reading the next book to see where Eric, Tabitha and Marilynn go from here.



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Bestial by Ray Garton

Bestial by Ray Garton


Something very strange is happening in the coastal California town of Big Rock. Several residents have died in unexplained, particularly brutal ways, many torn apart in animal attacks. And there's always that eerie howling late at night....


You might think there's a werewolf in town. But you'd be wrong. It's not just one werewolf, but the whole that's gradually transforming. Bit by bit, as the infection spreads, the werewolves are becoming more and more powerful. In fact, humans may soon be the minority, mere prey for their hungry neighbors. Is it too late for the humans to fight back? Did they ever have a chance from the start?

My review

rating: 5 of 5 stars
As much as I enjoyed 'Ravenous' it was just the appetizer for Bestial. What a great read. I so enjoy Garton's writing and his take on the supernatural. This book was less about the blood and gore and more about the story of what happens to Big Rock when it is invaded by werewolves. Loved the fact that some of the main characters from this book are the Private Investigators from 'Night Life' I am looking forward to more of their adventures in future books (at least that is where I hope that Garton is going with them.)

Excellent read and highly recommended!

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Ravenous by Ray Garton

Ravenous by Ray Garton


From Publishers Weekly
A serial rapist is on the loose in the sleepy California town of Big Rock, and sheriff Farrell Hurley's secretary is the latest victim. When a self-proclaimed werewolf hunter named Daniel Fargo comes into town claiming that Big Rock has an infestation of the creatures, Hurley thinks the man is insane, until the eviscerated corpses and attacks by large animals start in earnest. For Garton, lycanthropy is an STD, spread mostly through rape, that runs rampant through a small town fraught with affairs and intrigues. His werewolf is a terrifying creature: not a remorseful, helpless cursed human but a homicidal beast driven by a dual urge to breed and feed. Hurley is a sheriff to root for, and Garton's well-paced horror novel reworks the werewolf myth to great effect.

My review

rating: 5 of 5 stars
Great read. It is really nice to read a werewolf book that is not a romance, but classic horror.

I really enjoy Garton's writing and his take on the supernatural. Highly recommend this to horror fans.

Looking forward to reading the sequel 'Bestial'.


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