The Eleventh Plague by Jeff Hirsch

The Eleventh Plague by Jeff Hirsch

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


In an America devastated by war and plague, the only way to survive is to keep moving.

In the aftermath of a war, America’s landscape has been ravaged and two-thirds of the population left dead from a vicious strain of influenza. Fifteen-year-old Stephen Quinn and his family were among the few that survived and became salvagers, roaming the country in search of material to trade. But when Stephen’s grandfather dies and his father falls into a coma after an accident, Stephen finds his way to Settler’s Landing, a community that seems too good to be true. Then Stephen meets strong, defiant, mischievous Jenny, who refuses to accept things as they are. And when they play a prank that goes horribly wrong, chaos erupts, and they find themselves in the midst of a battle that will change Settler’s Landing--and their lives--forever.

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Keeping in mind that this was written as a teen book It was a pretty good read. Interesting take on how America falls with a virus used as a weapon by China. The story revolves around Stephen who is left alone when his father is injured and left in a comma. He chances upon a group of folks who have managed to create a bit of a haven in the chaos that is a future America and Stephen desperately wants to belong but has a hard time fitting in. Overall interesting enough to keep me reading and want to read more by this author.



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Forbidden Nights with a Vampire (Love at Stake, #7) by Kerrelyn Sparks

Forbidden Nights with a Vampire by Kerrelyn Sparks

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


Another nice addition to the Love at Stake series.


Vanda Barkowski is in trouble.

As the owner of a hot nightclub, she's more unconventional than most of her fellow vampires, and if some think her a little out of control, then so be it. But after three former employees filed a complaint about her temper, Vanda is sentenced to an anger management class. Worse, Phil Jones agreed to be her sponsor. Phil, the mortal who is forbidden to her . . .

If Vanda knew who--or what--Phil really is, she'd reconsider her attraction to him, for his true nature is wilder than anything she'd ever imagined. He has tackled the beast within and now is the perfect person to help Vanda with her rage . . . if only he can keep his cool when she makes him so undeniably hot. But with rogue vamps on the loose, will they ever have their forbidden nights?

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I enjoyed Vanda and Phil's story although Vanda is much softer than I would have expected from her appearance in other books.

I like how this series is evolving into a more detailed world. Instead of just getting individual stories of couples we are now getting a lot more interaction with other characters and the entire story line of the Malcontents versus the Good guys in each book.





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Gunmetal Magic (Kate Daniels World #1) by Ilona Andrews

Gunmetal Magic by Ilona Andrews

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


Includes a free bonus: a Kate Daniels novella, "Magic Gifts."
(Author recommends reading the novella first.)

The New York Times bestselling Kate Daniels novels have been hailed as “top-notch urban fantasy” (Monsters and Critics). Now, Ilona Andrews delves deeper into Kate’s world, and reveals its untold stories…

After being kicked out of the Order of the Knights of Merciful Aid, Andrea’s whole existence is in shambles. She tries to put herself back together by working for Cutting Edge, a small investigative firm owned by her best friend.

When several shapeshifters working for Raphael Medrano—the male alpha of the Clan Bouda, and Andrea’s former lover—die unexpectedly at a dig site, Andrea is assigned to investigate. Now she must work with Raphael as her search for the killer leads into the secret underbelly of supernatural Atlanta. And dealing with her feelings for him might have to take a back seat to saving the world…

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So moving right along into Andrea's story line had me a bit concerned. How could the authors possibly keep up the pace that they have set with the Kate Daniels series? How could Andrea's story be anywhere near as good as Kate's? Well they did!! I can not say enough how much I love this world that they authors have created. The new Atlanta is a place that I want to visit on a regular basis, no matter who is the centerpiece of the story.

Andrea's story was just as kick ass, action packed, hot guy filled as any of Kate's books!! I love these characters and would be happy to read nothing but stories about them for the rest of my days!



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Magic Gifts (Kate Daniels #5.4) by Ilona Andrews

Magic Gifts by Ilona Andrews

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


Available as FREE download from Ilona Andrews Website for 2 weeks from Christmas Day, this novella takes place at the same time as Andrea’s book, right after MAGIC SLAYS, and the two stories intersect.

A dinner date after a hard day at work sounds heavenly. Of course, when that date is between the Beast Lord and Kate Daniels, things don’t go as planned. Before you know it, undead are running amok, heads are being chopped off, lawyers are deployed and used with extereme prejudice, and drunk vikings are calling people out.

Read at your own risk.

MAGIC GIFTS will appear as a bonus in the back of GUNMETAL MAGIC, Andrea’s book.

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I can not say enough how much I love the Kate Daniels series of books. I would read a 10 page essay if the authors wrote it. It always amazes me how much the authors can fit into their short stories and novellas in this series. They almost read like full fledged novels because they contain so much action, emotion and wonderful story lines. I especially enjoyed this story as I read it immediately prior to reading Gunmetal Magic which it is intertwined with. Fantastic Read!!!



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Magic Slays (Kate Daniels #5) by Ilona Andrews

Magic Slays by Ilona Andrews

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


Plagued by a war between magic and technology, Atlanta has never been so deadly. Good thing Kate Daniels is on the job.

Kate Daniels may have quit the Order of Merciful Aid, but she’s still knee-deep in paranormal problems. Or she would be if she could get someone to hire her. Starting her own business has been more challenging than she thought it would be—now that the Order is disparaging her good name, and many potential clients are afraid of getting on the bad side of the Beast Lord, who just happens to be Kate’s mate.

So when Atlanta’s premier Master of the Dead calls to ask for help with a vampire on the loose, Kate leaps at the chance of some paying work. Turns out this is not an isolated incident, and Kate needs to get to the bottom of it—fast, or the city and everyone dear to her might pay the ultimate price . . .

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As always with any Kate Daniels books this was a fantastic read. I have actually been immersed in the world of Kate Daniels through several books and they have seamlessly blended into one fantastic story that I find myself so totally immersed in that I never want to leave. I don't think that these authors will ever be able to write fast enough to satisfy my voracious appetite for Kate Daniels' world.





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Magic Dreams (Kate Daniels #4.5) by Ilona Andrews

Magic Dreams by Ilona Andrews

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


Magic Dreams originally appeared in the anthology Hexed.

From New York Times bestselling author Ilona Andrews comes a tale of darkness, desire, and werecats.

Alpha Pack leader Jim Shrapshire has always been the strong, silent type. But something has come over him--a magic force currently residing in one of the Pack's headquarters. Were-tigress Dali Harimau has always wished she could get Jim's attention--but now he needs her help.

Stricken with a magic-sickness, Jim needs Dali's flair for magic. And to save him, she must challenge a powerful, dark being to a battle of wits.

Includes an excerpt of Ilona Andrews's upcoming novel in the world of Kate Daniels, Gunmetal Magic, available in August 2012.

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I can not say enough about how much I love this series. These novellas just make it so much better. I love these little peeks into the lives of the characters that I have gotten to know and love from this series.

In this novella we read about Jim, second only to Curran in Alpha status, who has inadvertently been caught in a dark magic curse that is killing him. He goes to Dali, our vegetarian, half blind, were Tiger, who secretly loves Jim, for help.

The fact that the authors manage to fit so much into such a short novella is amazing, and one of the very reasons that I love this series so much. Love the relationship between Jim and Dali and can not wait to see more of them in upcoming books.



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Valentine Murder (A Lucy Stone Mystery #5) by Leslie Meier

Valentine Murder by Leslie Meier

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


It’s Valentine’s Day in Tinker’s Cove. And while the cupcakes Lucy Stone is baking for her children will have pink frosting and candy hearts, Lucy’s thoughts aren’t centered on sugary sentiments. She’s barely arrived at her first board meeting of the newly-renovated library when Bitsy Howell, the new librarian, is found dead in the basement, shot only minutes before story hour was to start. The agitated board members assume that Bitsy was killed by an outsider, until Detective Lt. Horowitz arrives on the scene and announces that the killer is among them.

Lucy was already aware that Bitsy’s uppity big city ways rubbed some people in Tinker’s Cove the wrong way. But she has a hunch that motives for the librarian’s violent death run a lot deeper. From Hayden Norcross’s elegant antique shop to Corney Clark’s chic kitchen, Lucy relentlessly snoops into the curious lifestyles and shocking secrets of Tinker’s Cove’s most solid citizens—secrets that will plunge her into a terrifying confrontation with a conniving killer…

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Another fun Lucy Stone mystery. I enjoy these books because Lucy lives in a small town very similar to mine. The mystery was okay, lots of possible suspects.



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Back to School Murder (A Lucy Stone Mystery #4) by Leslie Meier

Back to School Murder by Leslie Meier

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


TINKER COVE'S OWN AMATEUR SLEUTH LUCY STONE

DISCOVERS THAT SCHOOL DAYS CAN BE MURDER.



It’s back to school time in the peaceful Maine town of Tinker’s Cove, and for mother-of-four Lucy Stone it isn’t a moment too soon. But trouble at the local elementary school soon has the sometime crime-solver juggling family, job, and night classes with another mystery to solve. And it starts with a bang.

A bomb goes off with the noon lunch bell, but not before all the kids are safely evacuated, and Carol Crane, the new assistant principal, is hailed as a hero. But days later, Carol is found murdered and everyone is stunned when the most popular teacher at the school is arrested for the crime. However, not everyone is buying the open-and-shut case, including Lucy Stone, who senses there’s more to things than meet the eye.

It soon becomes clear that Lucy is flirting with danger, as sizzling secrets and explosive surprises provide a primer for the most diabolical of motives. Hot on the trail of a clever killer, the dedicated mom and seasoned sleuth must harness the courage and cool aplomb to uncover a crime that just might give her an education in the fine art of murder.

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Being from a small town similar to the one that Lucy Stones lives in and being employed in the education system, I found this book more interesting for that aspect, than for the actual mystery. I found it interesting how the author managed to portray the very real to life atmosphere of a small town. The prejudice and bigotry that you find in small towns. Suspicion of anyone different or from 'elsewhere'. I also found the whole negative attitude towards schools, teachers and the education system to be realistic as well. Especially from folks who never set foot in a school besides dropping their children off there in the mornings.

Overall I enjoyed the book. I figured out Carol Crane prior to getting half way through the book and the 'whodunit' was a bit rushed and lackluster. Lucy's husband is a neanderthal. But overall I do enjoy reading the Lucy Stone mysteries. I like the fact that Lucy is a real life mom and woman who faces all of the real challenges that women face today.

My favorite line was when Lucy stated that her family viewed her as 'just another kitchen appliance.' What mother can not relate to that feeling.



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