Review of Sagebrush Song by J.A. Campbell

Publisher: Echelon Press
Release Date: December 12, 2011
Series: #5 Into the West
Buying Links: Amazon     OmniLit

Book Blurb:

*Contains spoilers for previous books*

In the further adventures of Time-traveling Tina, her favorite cowboy, Rowe, has come forward to her time to ask for her help. They know where the silver mine is, but Old Man Taggart’s cowboys are still getting shot and the survival of the ranch is uncertain.

 Rowe truly believes that Tina can help, but before she can go back with him they need a plan. With Medicine Man Eli and his apprentice’s help, they convince Tina’s parents to let her go on a desert survival camping trip. That allows them to travel back in time to the Old West Flagstaff to find help for the Taggarts. 

 With all the differences, Tina gets a real appreciation for her era. Life in the old west isn't easy, especially if you have to ride a horse in a dress. But Tina is up for the challenge and takes it all in stride. After all, it's part of being a cowgirl in training. And having a cute cowboy for a boyfriend makes everything fun.

Teaser:

"Do you want to be my girlfriend?"

Tina slammed on the brakes, glad she wasn't out of the neighborhood. 

"Uh."

"It's okay if you don't."

"Well, yeah, that'd be great. What about the whole time difference thing."

My Thoughts:

*May contain spoilers for previous books*

I was starting to think that this installment would never be released. The publisher kept delaying the release date. I squeed when I saw it was finally available. It's the next to last installment and I'm still having trouble seeing a happy ending for Tina and Rowe.

Rowe and Tina, in conjunction with Eli and his apprentice, Angie, have come up with a plan that they think will help save Taggart's ranch. In the first part of the book, Rowe is in Tina's time and we see him as the fish out of water, trying to adapt. In the latter part of the book, Tina travels back to Rowe's time and it's her turn to be the fish out of water. She has a slightly easier time since she has some knowledge of past, but even so, it's not easy and gives her an appreciation of what it was like for Rowe.

This installment moves the story along, showcasing Tina and Rowe's relationship, as well as Tina's evolving feelings about living out west and her adjustment to it. There's not as much action in this one, it focuses more on character development, but it's fun and a good read. As much as I'm looking forward to seeing how Campbell wraps things up, I'll be sorry to see this series end.

I own this ebook.

Review of The Iron Knight by Julie Kagawa

Publisher: Harlequin Teen
Release Date:
Series: 
Buying Links:


Book Blurb:

*May contain spoilers for previous books*


Ash, former prince of the Winter Court, gave up everything. His title, his home, even his vow of loyalty. All for a girl… and all for nothing.


Unless he can earn a soul.


To cold, emotionless faery prince Ash, love was a weakness for mortals and fools. His own love had died a horrible death, killing any gentler feelings the Winter prince might have had. Or so he thought. 

Then Meghan Chase—a half human, half fey slip of a girl— smashed through his barricades, binding him to her irrevocably with his oath to be her knight. And when all of Faery nearly fell to the Iron fey, she severed their bond to save his life. Meghan is now the Iron Queen, ruler of a realm where no Winter or Summer fey can survive. 

With the (unwelcome) company of his archrival, Summer Court prankster Puck, and the infuriating cait sith Grimalkin, Ash begins a journey he is bound to see through to its end— a quest to find a way to honor his solemn vow to stand by Meghan’s side. 


To survive in the Iron realm, Ash must have a soul and a mortal body. But the tests he must face to earn these things are impossible. At least, no one has ever passed to tell the tale. 

And then Ash learns something that changes everything. A truth that turns reality upside down, challenges his darkest beliefs and shows him that, sometimes, it takes more than courage to make the ultimate sacrifice.


Teaser:


There is a reason the Winter Court freezes out their emotions, why feelings are considered a weakness and a folly among the Unseelie fey. Emotion corrupts the senses, makes them weak, makes them disloyal kith and court.



My Thoughts:


The Iron Fey series was originally planned as a trilogy but Kagawa's editor convinced her to write an HEA. Unfortunately, at times the story feels like an afterthought. While I enjoy a HEA, I think ending the series at book three would have made it stronger. The HEA is undoubtedly, a crowd pleaser, but I personally preferred the painful, heart wrenching ending in book three. One good thing about it is that unlike the first three books, it's told from Ash's perspective; Meghan doesn't make an appearance until the end of the story. It gives the story a different feel, and a deeper glimpse into how the fey, specifically Ash, think. There's one section towards the end where Ash has to confront and deal with all of the people, human and fey, that he's hurt in his long life and it's a strong scene that clearly illuminates the otherness of the Fey.

The story is one long, very long, hero's quest; Ash wants to trade his immortality for a human, mortal, soul. As with any hero's quest, he has a long, perilous journey. First, he needs to find the information that will tell him how to get to the end of the world, where he then hopes to become mortal. He and Puck begin by searching for Grimalkin in hopes that he can guide them there. Once they meet up with him, the actual journey begins. Along the way, they acquire companions, including The Big Bad Wolf, who was first introduced in the novella, "Winter's Passage". If you didn't read it, it's not necessary. They also acquire another companion along the way, one who shocks both Ash and Puck and is central to the story and Ash's quest.

The story felt overly long to me, as if Kagawa had a page count she was trying to fill. The journey could have been cut by a third to q quarter and been stronger for it. One thing I did really enjoy was Kagawa's sly reference to other European fairy tales, including Rapunzel and Baba Yaga. She doesn't ever use their names so if you aren't familiar with the stories, you may not catch the references. 

Overall, it's a decent book, full of adventure, romance, love, heart break and excellent world building.

I received both an eARC and a print book for review.

Review of Summer's Crossing by Julie Kagawa

Publisher: Harlequin Teen
Release Date: June 1, 2011
Series: The Iron Fey #3.5
Buying Links:  Amazon     Barnes & Noble

Book Blurb:

A Midsummer's Nightmare? Robin Goodfellow. Puck. Summer Court prankster, King Oberon's right hand, bane of many a faery queen's existence—and secret friend to Prince Ash of the Winter Court. Until one girl's death came between them, and another girl stole both their hearts.

Now Ash has granted one favor too many and someone's come to collect, forcing the prince to a place he cannot go without Puck's help—into the heart of the Summer Court. And Puck faces the ultimate choice—betray Ash and possibly win the girl they both love, or help his former friend turned bitter enemy pull off a deception that no true faery prankster could possibly resist. 

 An ebook exclusive novella from Julie Kagawa's Iron Fey series.

My Thoughts:

Unlike the previous stories in this series, this one is told from Puck's perspective and I very much enjoyed his voice. He's a smart mouth as usual, but we also see beyond to the caring, intelligent fey who's deeply in love with Meghan. King Oberon makes an appearance and makes Puck an offer that's difficult to refuse, one that forces him to make an awful choice. Leanansidhe and Queen Titania also appear in the book.

We get a glimpse into how Puck's mind and, though Kagawa has moved on to a new series, I hope that someday she comes back and gives more stories about Puck, from his perspective. This story had bits of humor, after all it's Puck who is telling it, but it's also fast paced, shows us more of the Summer Court, and is entertaining from beginning to end. It captured me from the beginning and held me to the end. It moves the overall story a little but you can read the next, and final, book without having read this one. But I recommend reading it, it's gripping and enjoyable.

I own this ebook.

Review of The Iron Queen by Julie Kagawa

Publisher: Harper Teen
Release Date: January 25, 2011
Series: Iron Fey #3
Buying Links: Amazon     The Book Depository

Book Blurb:

*May contain spoilers for previous stories*

My name is Meghan Chase.
 
I thought it was over. That my time with the fey, the impossible choices I had to make, the sacrifices of those I loved, was behind me. But a storm is approaching, an army of Iron fey that will drag me back, kicking and screaming. Drag me away from the banished prince who's sworn to stand by my side. Drag me into the core of conflict so powerful, I'm not sure anyone can survive it.


This time, there will be no turning back.



Teaser:

I scowled at him. "You could stop reading my emotions every time I turn around," I said, feigning irritation, when in reality my heart was beating so hard I knew he had to feel it. "If it bothers you so much, you could find something else to focus on."

"Can't help it." He sounded annoyingly cavalier, completely self-assured and comfortable, lying there on his back. "The more we're connected to our chosen someone, the more we can pick up on what they're feeling. It's instinctive, like breathing."

"You can't hold your breath?"

'
My Thoughts:

*May contain spoilers for previous stories*

I liked this one very much, it's easily my favorite in the series so far. This was the first time where I really believed in Meghan and Ash's love. Though, I have to say, it creeps me out just a bit that this centuries old elf is lusting after a human teenager. Obviously, when a being is that old, there are going to be age discrepancies when humans and fey get involved. Still, the creepiness of it never quite left my brain while reading and has bothered me since the first book. If I set that aside, I really felt and believed in their love and devotion to each other in this book, whereas I didn't in the previous stories.


A lot happens in this book, and both the story and the action are fast-paced but Kagawa doesn't stint on the character development. There are twists and turns, and even when I guessed where the story was guessing, Kagawa did it in ways I didn't anticipate.We learn more about the Fey world and the Fey themselves and Kagawa brings back some characters from previous books, adding to the overall depth and texture of the world building.

Meghan grew up tremendously in this book, even more so than in books one and two. While still a teen in some respects, she's forced to make some very mature decisions and really think about the consequences of her actions. Now that doesn't mean the book is all doom and gloom but it isn't a light hearted read either. There's depth to this story, but it can also be enjoyed as a romance and an adventure story.

If you have read the prior stories, you HAVE to read this one. It's too good to pass up.

I received an eARC from the publisher for review.

Book Trailer for Sirenz!

It's the holidays, and Meg and Shar are about to have a memorable encounter with Hades, Greek God of the underworld. Christmas, shoes and a god can be a deadly combination.  You may have met Meg, Shar, and Hades already in the comic YA novel, Sirenz by Charlotte Bennardo and Natalie Zaman. If not, take a sneak peek at this book trailer then head over to http://thesirenz.com/author/sirenzmeg/ then head to the bookstore to pick up a copy of the book.

Review of Winter's Passage by Julie Kagawa

Publisher: Harlequin Teen
Release Date: June 1, 2010
Series: Iron Fey #1.5
Buying Links: Amazon     Barnes & Noble    

Book Blurb:


Meghan Chase used to be an ordinary girl...until she discovered that she is really a faery princess. After escaping from the clutches of the deadly Iron fey, Meghan must follow through on her promise to return to the equally dangerous Winter Court with her forbidden love, Prince Ash. But first, Meghan has one request: that they visit Puck--Meghan's best friend and servant of her father, King Oberon--who was gravely injured defending Meghan from the Iron Fey.


Yet Meghan and Ash's detour does not go unnoticed. They have caught the attention of an ancient, powerful hunter--a foe that even Ash may not be able to defeat....

An eBook exclusive story from Julie Kagawa's Iron Fey series.



My Thoughts:

I enjoy novellas, they are perfect for a quick read and offer authors a chance to experiment with style or to expand upon a character from a series. But due to their length, they can be a challenge. This one, for me, was a disappointment.


Set in between books one and two, it picks up where book one ended. Meghan is honoring her deal with Ash to accompany him to the Winter Court. Along the way, they visit Puck, who is unchanged since the events in the first book; get chased by the Original Big Bad Wolf, but it turns out to be a misunderstanding; disagree, again, on whether Ash can love Meghan and whether or not Meghan can trust Ash; and eventually end up at the Winter Court. Grimalkin pops in briefly, for no apparent reason and Meghan meets yet another odd, and violent, Winter fey, and that's the entire novella. Basically, nothing happens. Now, on goodreads the story has an average rating of just over four stars so clearly many readers disagree with me, but I felt as if nothing happened: there was no character development, no plot development, and the only forward motion on the story was Meghan's arrival at the Winter Court. Book two is set there and Meghan has adventures there but you can easily skip this story and not miss a thing.


I own this ebook.

Review of The Iron King by Julie Kagawa

Publisher: HarlequinTeen
Release Date: February 1, 2010
Series: Iron Fey #1
Buying Links: Amazon     The Book Depository

Book Blurb:

Meghan Chase has a secret destiny; one she could never have imagined.
Something has always felt slightly off in Meghan's life, ever since her father disappeared before her eyes when she was six. She has never quite fit in at school or at home.
When a dark stranger begins watching her from afar, and her prankster best friend becomes strangely protective of her, Meghan senses that everything she's known is about to change.
But she could never have guessed the truth - that she is the daughter of a mythical faery king and is a pawn in a deadly war. Now Meghan will learn just how far she'll go to save someone she cares about, to stop a mysterious evil no faery creature dare face; and to find love with a young prince who might rather see her dead than let her touch his icy heart.

Teaser:

"Me? I'm a human." The moment I said it, I wished I hadn't. In the old fairy tales, which I was remembering more and more of, humans were always food, playthings, or the tragic love interest. And as I was quickly discovering, the inhabitants here had no qualms about eating a speaking, sentient creature. I held the same rung on the food chain as a rabbit or squirrel. It was a scary, rather humbling thought.

My Thoughts:

I love fairy tales, have ever since I was a little girl, so I was eager to read this series. I enjoy myths and fairy tales from all over the world. For this series, Kagawa draws from classical western European fairy tales for her inspiration and world building.

The fey are divided into two courts: Winter and Summer. They barely tolerate each other and frequently battle or engage in war with one another. Meghan, though she doesn't know it when the story starts, is the half human daughter of the Summer Court king, Oberon. There's a lot that she doesn't know and when she discovers the fey, her world changes forever.

She discovers that her lifelong friend Robbie is not what he seems, nor are some of her family members. Once in the fey realm, she makes both allies and enemies, rather quickly. These fey are true to their origins - cold, distant, capricious, manipulative, powerful, and terrifying. They are not friendly and helpful nor are they fun loving and light-hearted. They are however quite intriguing.

The story ran a little long at times, and although we see Meghan's attraction to Ash, the feelings of love seemed, to me, to happen suddenly and without sufficient development. I liked Meghan's ordinariness throughout the story and her determination to remain human. Kagawa's addition of the Iron Fey to the fey pantheon is brilliant and I look forward to seeing where she goes with it.

One of my favorite characters is Grimalkin, a cat who is a member of the Cait Sidhe. True to form, for both cats and fey, he is mysterious, enigmatic, capricious and rarely acts without an ulterior motive. He also has a dry sense of humor that I find appealing.

I borrowed this book from my local library.

Review of Duncan by D.B. Reynolds

Publisher: ImaJinn Books
Release Date: November 10, 2011
Series: #5 Vampires in America
Buying Links: Amazon     The Book Depository

Book Blurb (from goodreads):

Washington, D.C. … capital of an empire. Powerful. Exhilarating. Corrupt. And in the shadows … vampires far older than the nation itself. 

 A power unto himself, Duncan has served at Raphael’s side for nearly the entire two hundred years of his existence. But long laid plans have finally borne fruit, and the time has come for Duncan to leave Raphael and tackle the greatest challenge of his life. He will face treacherous vampires and murderous humans. He will rock the halls of human power if necessary. But Washington, D.C. will be his. 

Emma Duquet cares nothing for vampire politics. She just wants to find her missing roommate and best friend, Lacey. But Lacey’s been playing with vampires of a particularly dangerous kind, and Emma will have to deal with the new vampire in town if she’s going to find her friend.

Battling powerful enemies who will stop at nothing to keep their secrets, Duncan and Emma will dig beneath the corruption and depravity that is Washington, D.C. and uncover the most heinous conspiracy of all …

Teaser:

That cool reserve of his was gone, and in its place was something ice cold and deadly, and absolutely lethal. This was the real Duncan, the vampire powerful enough to command others, and she knew instinctively that he could kill her with a thought. "You have no idea what i want," he said deliberately. "Be very careful, Emmaline."

My Thoughts:

Duncan has been a fan favorite since "Raphael", the first "Vampires in America" book was published. Fans clamored for Duncan's story and it's finally here. Reynolds had a lot of pressure on her, high expectations to live up to and I'm happy to say she succeeded. :)

Where to begin? There's a mystery, Duncan agrees to help Emma find who killed Lacey. There's romance and yummy smex between Emma and Duncan, and it was a very sweet romance. There are humans actively working against Duncan, displeased that he's replaced D.C.'s former Master, and also displeased that he's actively pursuing the people involved in the illegal activities that led to Lacey's death. We also get to see Duncan's background and his initial meeting with Raphael.

While I enjoyed the mystery and the murder investigation, what I liked best were the romance, seeing Duncan take over as a Master, Duncan's interactions with both humans and vampires, and learning Duncan's background. I think my favorite part of the story is the romance. Duncan is possessive and very much an alpha but he's also willing, sometimes, to temper those traits; he can also be sweet, compassionate and thoughtful. Emma is caring, loyal, smart and independent. She's not so independent that she can't accept help, with a little prodding. At times Duncan seems almost human, then he'll say or do something that reminds you he is a vampire, and not the warm, fuzzy kind. Emma, in a refreshing change from heroines in many contemporary romances, doesn't fight her attraction to Duncan, but freely admits it. I enjoyed that very much and I enjoyed their interactions.

A sweet, sexy romance, wonderful characters (I really enjoyed Baldwin, one of the vampire guards) and a strong story made for a wonderful read.

I received a PDF from the author.

Review of Fate's Edge by Ilona Andrews

Publisher: Ace Fantasy
Release Date: November 29, 2011
Series: The Edge #3
Buying Links:  Amazon     The Book Depository

Book Blurb:

 Audrey Callahan left behind her life in the Edge, and she's determined to stay on the straight and narrow. But when her brother gets into hot water, the former thief takes on one last heist and finds herself matching wits with a jack of all trades... 

 Kaldar Mar-a gambler, lawyer, thief, and spy-expects his latest assignment tracking down a stolen item to be a piece of cake, until Audrey shows up. But when the item falls into the hands of a lethal criminal, Kaldar realizes that in order to finish the job, he's going to need Audrey's help...

Teaser:

"What's the difference between you and me and a murderer?"

"A murderer kills out of passion or for money. We kill for our country."

Kaldar shook his head. "We kill to keep our people safe. 'Country' has a nice ring to it, but it doesn't really get to the heart of the matter. Families, Gaston. Our family. Your brothers, your cousins, uncles, aunts, grandmother. We do this so they can sleep in their beds at night, worry about their daily problems, and have delicious berry wine on their porch while their kids play in the grass."

My Thoughts:

This series is a fast paced blend of action, political intrigue, espionage, romance, and magic. In "Fate's Edge", the action continues with characters introduced in earlier books and some new characters. If you haven't read the preceding books, you could probably read this one on it's own. I read book one but not book two and had no trouble following along.

Kaldar and Audrey are both con men, with one difference - Kaldar is still in the game while Audrey has gotten out of the game. But then Audrey's no-good father, from whom she's been estranged for years, convinces her to work with him on one last job, stealing an item of magical power from a country in the Weird.. Although the job itself goes smoothly, there are difficulties at the end of the job and that pulls in Kaldar. He works for a CIA-type organization in the Weird and is assigned the job of retrieving the stolen item. He starts by tracking down the criminals responsible for the heist which leads him to Audrey. At first, she refuses to help him but her conscience gets the better of her and she agrees to work with him.

As they try to track down the stolen items, they encounter numerous obstacles, and while overcoming them, they start to respect each others abilities. Kaldar is an inveterate flirt, and when he tries to flirt with Audrey, she turns him down. Audrey recognizes his type and repeatedly rejects him. He takes that as a challenge and pursues her. She admits that she's attracted but doesn't want what she thinks he's offering. Over the course of the book, they flirt and spar as the sparks build up.

Audrey is a sympathetic character, Kaldar is the wild boy trying to be good, and together they make a great couple. There's an overarching story arc, well developed characters, a good eye for detail and intriguing plot lines. It's an enjoyable addition to the urban fantasy world.

I received a paperback from the publisher for review.

Christmas Week Reviews

I've been hearing about the Iron Fey series since it was first released and it's gotten excellent buzz. I have a fondness for fairy tales, classic and new, so this sounded right up my alley. However, I tend to be disorganized and downloaded the two free novellas before ever reading any of the books. Then I got review copies of the last two books and decided that I really needed to start at the beginning so I requested the first two from my library. However, I kept procrastinating and decided that I really needed to set myself some review dates or I'd never get them done. I decided to be ambitious and do the entire series. Each day during the week between Christmas and New Years, when my school is closed, I will review a book or novella, starting on the 26th. (Christmas day itself will be a review of "Duncan" by D.B. Reynolds)

What with getting sick, then playing catch up, getting sick again (a different illness), and getting ready for the holidays, I again fell behind but I managed to get them all read and the reviews written. I'm not as fanatical about the series as other readers and bloggers but overall I enjoyed it.

Here's the schedule for the week:

December 25: Review of "Duncan" by D.B. Reynolds, Vampires in America #5
December 26: The Iron King by Julie Kagawa, Iron Fey #1
Deceber 27: Winter's Passage b y Julie Kagawa, Iron Fey #1.5
December 28: The Iron Daughter by Julie Kagawa, Iron Fey #2
December 29: The Iron Queen by Julie Kagawa, Iron Fey #3
December 30: Summer's Crossing by Julie Kagawa, Iron Fey #3.5
December 31: The Iron Knight by Julie Kagawa, Iron Fey #4

I hope you will enjoy the series review and happy holidays, whatever one(s) you celebrate.

Diana Gabaldon Chat Update

Yesterday's chat attracted so many people that it actually crashed the site. What a nice feeling that must have been for Ms Gabaldon, to have so many people interested in talking to her! Since the crash did mean that the chat was cut short, and not everyone who wanted to could be part of it, BookTrib has put the video of the chat up on their site.

Located on the BookTrib navigation bar is a section labeled E-vents. If you "mouse-over" that word, the menu will pop-down and reveal the words Book Parties. Click on those words and you will be taken to the page that contains all of their past E-Vents. Diana Gabaldon is at the top and you can watch her anytime.

BookTrib hopes to have her return with her next release.

Review of Killing Rites by M.L.N. Hanover

Publisher: Pocket Books Urban Fantasy
Release Date: November 29, 2011
Series: #4 in The Black Sun's Daughter series
Buying Links: Amazon     The Book Depository

Book Blurb (from goodreads): 

*Contains spoilers for the previous books*

Jayné Heller has discovered the source of her uncanny powers; something else is living inside her body. She's possessed. Of all her companions, she can only bring herself to confide in Ex, the former priest. They seek help from his old teacher and the circle of friends he left behind, hoping to cleanse Jayné before the parasite in her becomes too powerful. 

 Ex's history and a new enemy combine to leave Jayné alone and on the run. Her friends, thinking that the rider with her has taken the reins, try to hunt her down, unaware of the danger they're putting her in. Jayné must defeat the weight of the past and the murderous intent of another rider, and her only allies are a rogue vampire she once helped free and the nameless thing hiding inside her skin. 

Teaser:

"So you want to finish the latte and we can get this over with?"

 "Get what over with?"

 "I know why you're here. We don't have to dance around it. You came to kill me, and I'm not up for dying just yet. So-"

"I didn't come to kill you. I came for dinner. I didn't even know you were here," I said. "Besides, I wouldn't do that. You're my friend."......

"Damn. You have it got bad. I figured we were doing that moment of camaraderie for old times' sake thing before we went all Bushido on each other," he said.

My Thoughts:

*Contains spoilers for previous books*

This series just gets better and better. My friend Sophie introduced me to the series a couple years ago; I read the first book and enjoyed it, but didn't get around to reading the other books until recently. I read books two, three and four back to back, which gave me quite an appreciation for the series. You definitely need to read this series in order, without skipping. Each book has major plot developments and action. Jayne (pronounced Zha.nay) at times seems TSTL and inclined on the one hand to just coast along, living day to day, and on the other hand to jump into a situation without thinking, but gradually she grows, matures, and learns to think ahead and to take responsibility. In this book, we see and feel her disillusionment, her weariness, and her growing realization, which started in book two, that sometimes it's okay to leave a rider inside a human being, that they can work together peacefully.

This story focuses primarily on Jayne and Ex; Chogyi Jake is still recovering from wounds sustained in book three and Aubrey and Kim are in Chicago, trying to rebuild their lives. We learn more about Ex in this book, and get to know him better, including why he quit being a Catholic priest. Jayne also learns a lot about herself, and not all of it is pleasant. There are answers to some loose ends from prior books, including the origin of the series' name, and the end sets up an intriguing new direction for the series.

Hanover does an excellent job with "Killing Rites" - it held my attention from the beginning and I read it in two sittings. It has action, a well thought out plot, deft characterization, strong world building and characters that are easy to like even when you disagree with their actions. If you haven't read this series, you really need to. Hanover has taken the stock creatures of horror and urban fantasy - demons, vampires, etc. - and given them an all new spin, mixed with a bit of religion and philosophy.

I received a paperback from the publisher for review.

In My Mailbox #12

In My Mailbox was started by The Story Siren. It's a way to share and highlight all the books we receive, even if we don't review them. l share books that I buy, that I receive for review, get from the library, borrow from a friend, etc.

Click on the pictures for links to their goodreads pages.

Purchased

It was a very good week for purchasing books. Subterranean Press, who prints Kelley Armstrong's novellas, released her new one, "Hidden", in ebook format for only $5.99 and to celebrate, they also lowered the ebook price of "Counterfeit Magic" and "Angelic" to only 99 cents. I already own the latter two in print but couldn't pass up the opportunity to get them for my Kindle at such a bargain price. I initially put "Hidden" on my Kindle wish list (I pre-ordered the print copy, it should be arriving soon) but then changed my mind and bought it too. Hey, it's Kelley. 'Nuff said. :P

WOO HOO!!! After a delay of several months, the next book in JA Campbell's Into The West YA series is finally out! I  have been waiting and waiting and waiting....I really, REALLY enjoy this series. Romance, action, the Old West and time travel plus very good writing. And Julie is a really, really nice person to boot.

Review

I got one review book, the third book in a series but I think it might be doable even though I haven't read the first two.

I also downloaded some Kindle freebies and got one book from the library. That one was for my classroom but after my co-teachers and I looked it over, we decided it didn't meet our needs and I returned it.

What did you get this week?

Nora Roberts 2012 Release Schedule

I'm a fan of Nora Roberts as well as her alter ego, JD Robb, and always look forward to her new books, though I don't buy every one. I usually buy her Robb books once they go to paperback and I get her Roberts books from my library. The ones that I really like I buy when they're available in paperback. I like to know when they are being released, as do many of her readers, and Roberts thoughtfully provides a schedule on her website. She also just sent out her newsletter with a schedule of new releases (not  re-releases) for 2012. I've reprinted it below and here's a link to the full release schedule on her website.

FEBRUARY

Celebrity in Death (hardcover)

APRIL   

The Witness (hardcover) 

MAY

The Last Boyfriend (trade) The Inn BoonsBoro Trilogy #2 

SEPTEMBER

Delusion in Death (hardcover)

NOVEMBER

The Perfect Hope (trade) The Inn BoonsBoro Trilogy #3

 

The newsletter also had an excerpt from the next JD Robb book, "Celebrity in Death". There will be a link to the excerpt on her site in a few days. Enjoy!

Menages in Romance & An Excerpt from "The Naughty List" by Jodi Redford

 

Jodi Redford, who I first met on Twitter and who writes fun paranormal romances (Pufferfish! You'll have to read her books to understand. :P), is my guest today. Jodi is a lot of fun and gets quite crazy on Twitter. I've had the pleasure of reading and reviewing four of her books and was delighted when Jodi agreed to join me here today. Jodi wrote a post about her experience with menages in romances and also has an excerpt from The Naughty List" to share with us and a copy to give of her new book, "The Naughty List" to give away to one lucky commenter. 

At the ripe age of seven, Jodi Redford penned her first epic, complete with stick figure illustrations. Sadly, her drawing skills haven’t improved much, but her love of fantasy worlds never went away. These days she writes about fairies, ghosts, and other supernatural creatures, only with considerably more heat.

She has won numerous contests, including The Golden Pen and Launching a Star. When not writing or working the day job, she enjoys gardening and way too many reality television shows.

Currently residing in Michigan with her husband and menagerie of pets, she is a member of RWA national and Greater Detroit Romance Writers of America.

She loves to hear from readers. You can email her at jodiredford@jodiredford.com and visit her online at www.jodiredford.com.

 

  BOOK BLURB (from author website):

 Makin’ a list, and rocking it…twice.

Perpetual good girl Lacey McGuire has two Christmas wish lists. One suitable for public consumption…and a private one that’s too hot to handle. Right at the top: wild, wicked fantasies about her best buddies and business partners Ryan Hollister and Bram Colton.

Besides the fact they’re both poster boys for Hunks ’R’ Us, they’ve been there for her through thick, thin and the heartbreak of a cheating fiancé. So what if her boys will never know they star in her sexiest daydreams? In her fantasy world, her heart will never get trampled again.

Ry and Bram are pretty sure Lacey never meant to email a list of some of her raunchiest wants. Particularly the one that tightens their shorts—she wants a threesome. With them. Although they’ve loved her for years, they made a pact to keep Lacey off limits in order to protect their friendship. Now all bets are off. And the quest to give her all she wants—and more—is on.

Warning: This book contains a wickedly hot M/F/M ménage that will heat up the holidays. Friends steaming things up in a hot tub. Bondage and blindfolds. Sexy shenanigans at a Christmas tree lot. And maybe even a glimpse of Santa…in a Speedo.

THE NAUGHTY LIST

By JODI REDFORD

ASIN: B005F0WR88 ISBN: 978-1-60928-626-2

Published by: SAMHAIN

Genre: FICTION, ROMANCE, EROTICA, CONTEMPORARY

Format: Print, ebook

Length: 145 pages, 310 KB

Release Date: NOVEMBER 29, 2011
Website:  www.jodiredford.com 

Twitter: https://twitter.com/#%21/jodiredford
 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1786728222

Thanks Jodi, for visiting today!

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EXCERPT

"Lacey, we need to talk."

Her heart sank as Ry’s tense demand spun in her mind.

They’d read the email. She couldn’t fool herself into believing otherwise. Just like she couldn’t fool herself into thinking she’d get out of the conversation waiting for her on the other side of the bathroom door. Sucking in a deep, fortifying breath, she pushed away from the wall and prepared to face her best friends.

Two men who now—without a question of a doubt—knew she wanted a kinky threesome.

Yeah, this wouldn’t be awkward. At all.

The desire to race back inside the restroom stall and have a mental breakdown—or throw up—was overwhelming. Somehow she found the fortitude to take a shaky step toward the door. Then another. You can do this, damn it. She stepped out into the back hallway. The restaurant was eerily quiet. It was easy to pretend that she was the only one in the entire building.

If only.

Shoving her hands into her coat pockets to hide their trembling, she walked into the main bar area. Ry and Bram hadn’t moved an inch from their posts. They both watched her as she approached, their expressions unreadable. That, more than anything, disturbed her. She’d half hoped Bram would be grinning and cracking lewd comments about how she’d pulled the world’s biggest prank on them.

Prank…

Wait, maybe that’s how she could get out of this—by convincing them it’d merely been a bad joke. It was a long shot, considering the incredibly personal stuff she’d included on the list, but maybe they’d take pity on her and let it go.

She offered the guys a tentative smile. “Sorry about that. You know us women and our tiny bladders.” She winced at her overly cheery tone. Why am I talking about bladders? Trying not to feel like the biggest moron on the planet, she cleared her throat. “Anyway, you wanted to speak to me about something?”

Ry stared at her for a long moment, his eyes dark and intense. She couldn’t remember ever having been under the full power of his focus like that. It took every ounce of her willpower not to shiver. Or duck and hide behind the bar. “Why didn’t you tell us, Lace?”

Although it was pathetic and ridiculous, she decided to play dumb. “Tell you what?”

Of course Ry wouldn’t let her off that easy. “You know damn well what I’m talking about. Your threesome fantasy.”

She forced a laugh. “Oh. That. I thought you guys would get a chuckle over it. I only wish I could have seen your faces when you read the email.” Not that she’d needed to be there. It wasn’t exactly difficult to conjure twin expressions of stupefied shock.

Actually, the shock she could handle. It was the inevitable pity concerning her delusional fantasy land that had her stomach in knots.

Bram sidled up next to Ry. A frown marred his features. “It was a…joke?”

“Well, duh. Of course.” She rolled her eyes for good measure. “I can’t believe you both fell for it.”

For a brief moment she swore Bram looked disappointed. Ry, on the other hand, just leveled her with his patented let’s-cut-through-the-bullshit stare. “It wasn’t a joke. I know it and you know it.”

“Don’t be silly. Do you think I’d tell you all of that embarrassing stuff if it was real?”

The rugged planes of Ry’s face softened, but the heat in his gaze didn’t abate. “There’s nothing to be embarrassed about.”

“I—I didn’t say I was embarrassed.” Oh crap. Yes, she did. She really needed to learn how to choose her damn words better. She cleared her throat, figuring it was past time for a fast recovery. “Why would I be embarrassed over a joke?”

“Because it isn’t one. But judging from how flustered you’re acting, I’d say it’s a safe bet you didn’t intend for Bram and me to ever know about any of it. And that’s really unfair of you, Lace.”

The accusation in Ry’s stare was almost unbearable. A thick ball of shame wedged in her throat. She’d always been brutally honest with him and Bram before, hadn’t hidden anything from either of them up until now. But there were some things you didn’t go blabbing to your business partners, for God’s sake—like the desire to be tied up and blindfolded for a night of raunchy sex. “C-could we just forget any of this happened?”

“It’s too late for that, Lace. You can’t expect us to pretend we don’t know. To not wonder.” Ry stepped closer, his gaze drifting to her mouth. Hunger burned in his eyes.

Her heart thumped in response. She’d imagined that particular look on his face countless times, never believing she’d see it in actuality. This had to be a dream. Or another of her fantasies. The last part of his statement registered and she blinked. “W-wonder? About what?”

“You. Us.” His knuckles brushed the underside of her jaw, tipping it ever so slightly upwards as his head descended. “This.” The husky word feathered her lips, a prelude to the lush pressure of his mouth upon hers.

Disbelief and pure giddiness combated inside her while one startling thought spun through her brain in a ceaseless loop. RyiskissingmeRyiskissingmeRyiskissingme. His tongue coaxed past her lips and glided over hers, the sensation drowning out the delirious chorus in her head. He tasted of coffee and aroused male. It was the most delicious combination of all time. Even as she was reveling in that fact, a pair of hands slid around her hips from behind. Bram’s heat blanketed her back. There was no mistaking the hard ridge of his erection nudging her tailbone.

This can’t be happening. But even as she was trying to assure herself of that, Ry reluctantly broke their kiss and leaned back. Their gazes crashed into each other for a moment before he glanced over her head at Bram. Some unspoken communication passed between the two men. Still dizzy from Ry’s kiss and confused as hell, she craned her neck to look up at Bram. Without warning, his mouth staked its own claim, taking over where Ry’s had left off.

Her senses reeled from the unexpected double whammy. Getting the daylights kissed out of her by Ry was incredible enough, adding Bram to the mix…it was a damn miracle she was still standing upright. As if her body was looking to change that status quo, she swayed, her knees threatening to buckle. Bram freed one hand from her waist and tunneled his fingers through her hair, managing to hold her steady and at the same time tilt her head for better access to her mouth. His tongue was just as insistent as Ry’s and possibly twice as bold.

A gruff, slightly irritated cough issued from Ry. Bram released her, his tongue taking its time to depart her mouth. Dazzled, she licked her lips and attempted to form a coherent thought. “I—I don’t understand. What’s going on here?” She’d been certain they’d be freaked out by the email. Having them all but devour her was the last reaction she’d been expecting, for damn sure.

Bram caressed her hip. “We want to give you that threesome, Lace. Along with everything else on your list.”

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 GUEST POST 

 Thanks, Bea, for having me on your blog today to talk about a favorite—and controversial—topic of mine: threesomes in books.


In the erotic romance world, ménages are undoubtedly a popular pairing. Or I guess that should say multi pairing. It’s become less and less taboo over the past few years, and in many instances, the pairings have expanded beyond the typical threesome to become four, five, six—you name it—someones. Personally, that’s a tad too crowded for me, but I can see how the erotic possibilities are titillating to many readers.




I’ll be the first to admit that I wasn’t an immediate sell on the whole “ménage in a romance” concept when they first flooded the marketplace. I couldn’t fathom how a relationship existing beyond the standard twosome could work, or be romantically satisfying. Don’t get me wrong, I knew there were real life polyamorous relationships out there, but because I didn’t actually know anyone practicing that lifestyle, the dynamics involved were foreign to me. Then I read Lorelie James’ Rough, Raw and Ready, and my virginal ménage blinders were ripped off.




Oh, lordy, were they ripped off. *wipes sweat from brow* Not only was that book so wonderfully hot and sexy, it was loaded with enough damn conflict to keep my stomach churning and my fingers furiously flipping the virtual pages. Just like that, I’d become a ménage convert. Yes, I’ll admit it was the sexiness between the sheets that initially lured me in, but it was the amazing and heartbreaking conflict the characters shared that stamped the seal on my newfound love affair with ménages. It made perfect sense to me now, why these books were vastly appealing. Not only did they fulfill that taboo fantasy of being the complete focus of two (or more) men’s devoted and lusty attention, but if done right, these books were capable of punching you right in the emotional jugular as you suffered along with the characters as they struggled to find a way to make their unconventional relationships work. Because let’s face it, sometimes loving one person can be tough. Try adding another to that equation.




So here’s my challenge to you. If you’ve never read a ménage, think about stepping out of your comfort zone, and give one a try. Just like me, you might be surprised, and a new fan.  

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GIVEAWAY!!!

Jodi is kindly giving away one copy of "The Naughty List", in the digital format of the winners choice, to one lucky commenter. The giveaway is open internationally. Using the rafflecopter widget below, leave a comment with your email address to enter. 

Please read my Giveaway Policy. 

Review of "The Naughty List" by Jodi Redford

Publisher: Samhain

Release Date: November 29, 2011

Buying Links: Amazon     Samhain


Book Blurb (from Goodreads):

Makin’ a list, and rocking it…twice. 

Perpetual good girl Lacey McGuire has two Christmas wish lists. One suitable for public consumption…and a private one that’s too hot to handle. Right at the top: wild, wicked fantasies about her best buddies and business partners Ryan Hollister and Bram Colton.  
 
Besides the fact they’re both poster boys for Hunks ’R’ Us, they’ve been there for her through thick, thin and the heartbreak of a cheating fiancé. So what if her boys will never know they star in her sexiest daydreams? In her fantasy world, her heart will never get trampled again.

Ry and Bram are pretty sure Lacey never meant to email a list of some of her raunchiest wants. Particularly the one that tightens their shorts—she wants a threesome. With them. Although they’ve loved her for years, they made a pact to keep Lacey off limits in order to protect their friendship. Now all bets are off. And the quest to give her all she wants—and more—is on.
Warning: This book contains a wickedly hot M/F/M ménage that will heat up the holidays. Friends steaming things up in a hot tub. Bondage and blindfolds. Sexy shenanigans at a Christmas tree lot. And maybe even a glimpse of Santa…in a Speedo.

Teaser:

"We're going to test your multitasking skills. The idea is to have all of us come together. You up for it?" An agonized sound came from Bram as he leaned over her. "I'm seconds away from blowing." "Tough. Count baseball stats or something."

My Thoughts:

I usually enjoy Ms Redford's writing. I've read all of the books in her That Old Black Magic series and enjoyed them. This was the first non-paranormal work of hers that I'd read. Maybe it was the lack of paranormal trappings but I didn't enjoy this one as much. It was hot and sexy like her previous books, but the cliches and tired writing were more apparent in this story.

She even put a little sashaying hip action into her walk. More than likely she looked silly and uncoordinated as a one-legged duck, but with no one around to judge, she didn't give a hairy rat's behind.

Despite his having just come his brains out, his c**k thickened with renewed life.

The ending was abrupt and felt unreal but, it was a decent story, if not Redford's best. Bram and Ryan were presented as alpha males though neither one really felt like it to me. The dynamics between the three of them were well done and all of the characters were likable. I'd have liked to see more depth to them but that was partly a function of the story length. I do like the way Redford writes love scenes and there is no lack of them in the story. :D Overall, hot and sexy, with adequate writing.

I received the ebook from the author for review. 

Dec. 16th Twitter Chat With Adrian Phoenix

Urban Fantasy author Adrian Phoenix, whose books include the the Hoodoo series and The Maker's Song series, will be doing a twitter chat in conjunction with Pocket After Dark. The chat is tomorrow December 16, 2011 from 12:30PM EST to 1:30PM EST, on Twitter. She is open being asked either burning or silly questions so have fun with it!

Everyone who asks a question will be entered to win a free signed copy of BLACK HEART LOA.

In order to see the questions that Pocket After Dark will ask her, you need to follow both @AdrianPhoenix and @pocketafterdark.

I won't be there as I'll be at work. For those of you who do make, it have fun!

Excerpt from "Midnight Star" by Billi Jean

                                              

Thanks to Sizzling Press Promotions and author Billi Jean, today I have an excerpt from Billi Jean's PNR novel, "Midnight Star". It was released September 2010 by Noble Romance.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Billi Jean has been writing since high school when she couldn't wait for Robert Jordon to write his Wheel of Time series faster. She writes from home in a little two hundred year old farm house in Western Massachusetts where she shares her space with her active children, an old dog, and two lazy cats.

Her first book, Midnight Star, has won numerous awards and was voted Best Book by Long and Short Reviews. Her next installment in the Sisters of the Moon series, Silver's Chance, hit the shelves in August 2011. The next, A Spartan's Kiss will arrive right on Valentine's Day, 2012.

Stop by her blog http://readingwritingromance.blogspot.com/and leave a message! For more information on what's coming up in her series, friend her on Goodreads, or follow her blog for snippets of her upcoming stories in the Sisters of the Moon series. 

                                                 
 
BOOK BLURB (from author):

Ranger is a werewolf, a Lykae with a problem. He's found his one true mate, the only female who can complete him. Only trouble is, he's denied his instinct to claim her. Now his mate hates him as much as she believes he hates her. He will have to risk both their lives to finally prove to his stubborn vampire he loves her?

Star is a half-breed vampire with a past of not being accepted because of her mixed blood. Ranger is just one more example of how much she doesn't fit into the immortal world no matter how much she tries to fool herself into believing otherwise. She's a strong female, a fighter, but when it comes to the opinions of others, she has no defenses. Why fight what she knows is true? She is a half breed, less than those around her. She has a home, friends and females she loves like family. Only trouble is, her family is now related to the mangy wolf man who hates her.

 

When life throws Samantha a curve ball in the form of an ancient Lykae warlord bent on marking her as his—what's she going to do? Run like hell? Oh, yeah, that so worked the first time around. With Derrick hot after her tail, Samantha discovers being the hunted just might not be as bad as she thought.

Derrick is a warlord hardened by centuries of battle. Now that he's free from years of torment, he discovers his mate. Only his beautiful little half wolf is as determined to deny him, as he is to claim her.

As the battle to keep her safe intensifies, Derrick faces the biggest fight of his life: winning Samantha's heart and keeping alive long enough to claim her.

MIDNIGHT STAR 

By BILLI JEAN 

ISBN: 978-1605923079

Published by: NOBLE ROMANCES

Genre: FICTION, PARANORMAL, ROMANCE

Format: Trade, ebook

Length: 486 pages

Release Date: SEPTEMBER 2010

 

Thank you Billi for sharing an excerpt with us today.  

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The club music blared, the bass from the speakers making the room thud around them. Star glanced up from adjusting her sword grips and tried to ignore the irritating wolf on the sidelines. As if. Ranger was a force of nature, like some crazy hurricane blowing through her control. She just couldn't ignore the irritating male.

She spotted her next opponent through the sea of onlookers. Finally, a real challenge. A fight would take her mind off Ranger like nothing else could. The mixed crowd of immortal species crowding the fight club's floor parted to let the big blond demon through.

"Agni, so good of you to give me some sport."

Dark eyes reflected the low lights of the club as he grinned. Shoving his golden hair off his forehead, he gave her a full once over. Tall, at least six-foot-six, the golden demon was an eyeful, and knew it.

"Always willing to oblige a female; you know me, Star."

Tilting her head, she eyed him closely, biting the inside of her cheek to keep in a grin at his teasing. They'd been friends for a long time, since she'd cared for him after his family beat him nearly to death. If that was possible for a demon. Families were a pain in the ass. At least blood related families. Agni, or Fire as she liked to tag him, 'cause he was a hottie, had a family rivaling her vampire "House" for evil. House. The term had her anger, already high, stroking up a notch. The vampire's took pride in their pure lines, their little Houses and the lineage they could trace back to the father, or in her case, mother of their line.

She snorted. She'd rather drive a stake in her own heart than claim any kind of relation to her House. She had her few friends, and an adopted family; she didn't need or want anything from the past. Agni should feel the same, but she'd heard he still bowed to the wishes of his messed up brother. Still, the male had always come through for her, always been there since the first years of her freedom. He'd even returned the favor she'd shown him years later when her world had crashed down around her with Selenia’s death.

"Ah, good, then. You'll be hitting the mats soon, Fire."

Tipping his head back, he gave her one of those full-body laughs she loved.

"Ah, vamp-baby, you have no idea how much I love to hear those words fall from a female's lips." Flexing his arms, he proudly displayed all his golden muscles from his biceps to his hands. His tight, black tee didn't hide anything either, merely added to his sensuous strength. The fabric clung to his hard chest and tight six-pack above his loose fitting jeans. Too bad all his hot skin and intensity just didn't turn her on. She'd been vaguely considered taking a lover over the last few months, but not her demon friend.

Ranger stepped forward into her line of sight. Her stomach bottomed out. She turned her attention to her sword, trying not to notice how her hand trembled a little. Gripping the hilt tighter, she wished she could avoid him, put him out of her thoughts.

Glancing at him from under her lashes, she wanted to groan. Her heart rate increased and she grew wet between her thighs; both reactions irritated her even more. Taking a deep, sweat-scented breath, she frowned. Did she smell something spicy, a bit warm and musky, over the heat of the demon's fire? The subtle scent tickled her senses then drifted on. Ranger. She knew him, his scent. Sadly, an irresistible pull she fought tugged at her whenever the male appeared.

Shaking her head to rid herself of such distractions, she focused on Agni still facing her, his handsome face tilted as he read more than she probably wanted. She lifted a brow, held out one hand and pretended to exam the back for the shakes. "Nope, not quivering in fear."

"Damn right, I only want my females shivering in delight, not in fear." Agni laughed again. Winking, he pulled her in for a quick hug. He smelled clean—like soap and something woodsy. Warmth radiated off his skin, skin almost too hot to touch, much like his nickname. Fire, she thought with a smile.

She tossed her head, not impressed, but amused. They'd been flirting like this for over a century. "Yeah? I'd heard you lost your vibe in some alley? Flat on your back, knife at your throat, a wolf ready to skin your hide? Samantha was all over you like nobody’s business and you had nothing to do but spill."

She'd heard more than that from a grumbling Derrick, the one Lykae worth a spit, in her opinion. He'd not been too happy when Samantha had dodged him to go make a play for information from Agni about Susanna. Star had told Samantha she could trust Agni, but at the time, Samantha hadn't trusted anyone, least of all a demon she thought had fed her misinformation while she was on her hunt for her sister. All was well now though. So well, it was almost eerie. Samantha was mated to Derrick, a Lykae who'd supported and loved Samantha when word had come that her sister, Susanna, had been murdered. Even now, the pain sliced at her when she thought of Susanna gone from this world. Susanna, so sweet, so kind, so willing to do whatever she had to do to make everyone around her happy, gone from them all. It was beyond cruel.

Even Agni had played his part in trying to find Susanna. The man was worth his weight. And knew it.

A big grin split his handsome face, revealing his own set of impressive fangs. Demons were so cool. They made a vampire feel at home. "Damn, that's low, Star."

"Aw, don't be such a baby. Your ego seems still intact."

"Baby? Damn, you don't even have a hint of sympathy for me, do you?"

Grinning at his wounded act, she shrugged, examining her black nail polish. "Not really, since you're going to be flat on your back again real soon."

He laughed harder and shot her another wink. "Fine, let the games begin, vamp-baby."

 

She smirked and returned to her corner, accepting a bottle of water from her friend, Tara, a Fae with a touch of witch blood. She and her bonded, Daren, also from the Fae, had come with her tonight, but she could tell they were both interested in other things. Other things being themselves and a bed. Star tried not to let jealousy sour her stomach, but the green monster still did. Both immortals had been her friends for centuries. They'd always been looking for a bed. And in all that time, their bond never bothered her. A lot of things never bothered her before, she thought with a glare at the wolf man. Ranger hovered near the edge of the crowd, gazing in her direction.

"Are you going to be done any time soon?"

Eyeing Tara's beautiful but impatient face, Star shrugged. "You don't have to stay," she reminded her. She needed this night. Thus, the past two hours of fighting. Even now, the workout had barely taken the edge off. What she wouldn't do for a real battle, Death Stalkers or something equally bloody.

"Well, that's comforting." Tara ran a hand up Daren's arm, curling her long, slender fingers around his big biceps before reaching up to brush his dark chestnut hair off his brow. The two were making her sick. "We might get that fun time sooner rather than later, hunk."

"Simmering is good, no, my love?" Daren was dressed as usual in a hip gray pin-striped vest with a soft tee underneath. The combo looked good on the lean mage. And Tara matched him hip for hip in her jade silk blouse and black, skintight leggings with killer knee-high, black-heeled boots. The two made a stunning couple, and knew it. The Fae always did, she thought with another irritating glance at the two.

Gag her. Really. The two needed a bed.

She resisted the urge to glance around the club, feeling eyes on her and betting on Ranger. His elusive scent tickled her nose again, distracting her and making her blood race. She just couldn't be attracted to the big lug like this. Her interest in him bordered on insane. Not to mention it was wrong on so many levels she wanted to hit someone, herself first of all, him second.

Across from her, Agni tested his blade, and she stifled her unease and focused on him and their impending fight.

Anticipation rushed through her system like a triple shot of espresso. It wasn't often she could fight without having to worry over harming her opponent too badly.

 

"Fighters, ready?"

Glancing at the immortal keeping score, she nodded. There were no referees in this level. The fight ran for six rounds with no rules. The huge male, a cloud demon judging by the blue swirls traced around his broad face and shaved head, merely kept time, made certain they broke off when the bell rang, and called the match. He waited until Agni nodded before hitting the bell and getting the hell out of the way.

 

She didn't have long to wait. Agni never let her being a female hinder his attacks. Swords out, they met in the middle with a loud scream of steel on steel. Blue sparks shot off their blades. Grinning, she shoved hard, loving the strain of muscle. She knew his tricks and wasn't about to let him get her too close. Knocking him back with a swift kick, she went low and hit him hard enough to unbalance him. Jumping back up, she tried to beat him to the punch, but he waited for her when she landed, forcing her to give him ground or get her head nearly taken.

She grinned. This was why she fought. Fighting was a dance, but with pain.

Excitement hummed through her veins, awaking every nerve, every muscle, every sense. She was the fight. Her twin swords were merely an extension of herself.

Not ducking back fast enough, she took a blow to the ribs, catching most of his wicked blade with her own. Gaining his back, she hit him hard enough to knock him to his knees. She jumped at the opportunity and gave him three swift blows with her sword hilt to the upper back then topped off her attack with a knee to his jaw.

In response, he growled low, and suddenly she found herself flying through the air, only to land flat on her back, her jaw aching. A low, threatening growl sounded near her, but she focused all her energy on the fight, barely registering the noise above the cheering crowd.

Arching, she pivoted and landed on her feet in time to stop Agni's downward stroke. Twisting away to meet him with one of her own, she caught his big feet with hers and nearly had him down.

The bell rang and they slowly lowered their weapons.

She grinned. Power throbbed through her.

He split a smile too and shook his head.

"Damn, female. What has your panties in a bind?"

"Males like you," she shot back before thinking. Ah, so very true. Males like him. Handsome, too-masculine-for-their-own-good males. Muttering a soft curse, she refused to glance around for Ranger.

"Damn," Agni grumbled, wiping the sweat off his forehead. "You're taking out your male troubles on me?"

"Quit your whining. Why shouldn't I?"

The bell rang and they were back on.

 

For the next hour they fought well, taking and giving blow after blow. In the end, they settled on a draw. The crowd resurfaced around her with a roar of approval. The music blared, pounding in time with her heart.

"Well, Star, if I can give you some advice?" Agni grumbled, rubbing his shoulder dramatically. "Be patient. Males take a while to train."

Like she wanted to train some male, she almost shot back at him but swallowed the words as she spotted Ranger's name go on the list of competitors. If she'd known he'd be here, let alone fighting, she never would have come.

"Later, Agni."

Touching her arm lightly, he halted her. "Hey, not so fast, come share a drink, I have a question for you."

That got her attention. She came here to fight not talk. Rubbing his hair with a towel, he watched her. He looped the towel over his big shoulders and pinned her with a grin.

She sighed. That look always worked on her.

Behind him, she spied Torment, a demon from another family, but a close friend of Agni's. The two of them had both aided her more than a few times over the years. She didn't know the dark-haired, dark-eyed demon as well as Agni, but she knew him as an honorable male. He nodded when their eyes met.

Agni didn't relax until she took his towel. She wiped her own sweat off before she walked with them to a table. She tried not to grumble as she took a seat.

"So, talk, huh?" She watched Agni for a moment more before she sighed, nodding to the bar and the watchful barmaids for a round of drinks. She had time before her next fight. Maybe she wouldn't have to fight Ranger. He might lose, after all. Or maybe she would face the arrogant wolf and make him eat mat.

"Yeah, talk, you know the concept, right, gorgeous?"

Rolling her eyes at Torment's endearment, she sank deeper into the soft leather booth. She knew males, and he wasn't as interested as he put out. But they were both friends, males she'd fought back-to-back with, so maybe they were just teasing her.

"Goose." She ordered from the little barmaid.

 

Flashing a grin, the witch winked. "Nice match, Star; what'll it be, boys?"

"Damn, Star, I forgot you know how to drink. I'll have one as well," Agni said.

Torment nodded. "Good choice."

As soon as the young witch swished off, Star turned her attention to the demons. "So, what's up?" she asked, nervously tapping her claws on the scarred tabletop, trying not to glance around for Ranger.

"Shit, female. What's up with you?" Agni asked, casting her fingers a frown.

Stilling them, she sat back for her drink and tried for calm. Daren and Tara shot her questioning looks from their table but stayed put when she shook her head.

"Nada, what's the topic?"

"We wanted to ask you about the Immortal Council."

Tossing the vodka down, she glared at Agni. "Gods, not you too. I'm not joining some council of pompous idiots who think they can order others about."

Torment snorted a soft chuckle and belatedly she remembered both males were on the council.

"Damn, I didn't realize I was pompous. An idiot occasionally, but pompous?" Torment's deep voice rumbled in reply.

She rolled her eyes. "You know what I mean; there's no chance of it."

Watching him sink his big frame back in the booth, she waited. No way he'd give up so easily. Demons were worse than a dog with a bone. Once they thought something, wanted something, they were like little kids trying every angle to get their way.

"But Samantha and her mate are on the council," Torment murmured, rolling his drink between his big hands.

"Yeah, they are." Pride swelled inside for her family, but her? No way. "And before you say another word, I can fight Death Stalkers all by my little immortal self; I don't need the council telling me how."

"True. You can fight them when you happen to run into them."

 

She gave Torment a look for his sarcasm but he only grinned again. Did the male really find her gorgeous? His look seemed to say so. Hard and huge, Torment had always struck her as a deeply, intensely honorable fighter with hot scars. She loved scars on a male. The silver eyebrow piercing did something for him too. Unique. Both Agni and Torment didn't go with the flow; they struck out on their own course. So why did they seem intent on pushing her down a path now?

"Your family is insisting, eh?" Agni asked then.

She sighed, depressed at how easily he cut to her problem. How much did he know? Probably a great deal. He had family problems too, but not like hers. Her beautiful females wanted her respected, honored for her strength. She just wanted to be left alone. She liked being alone. Or she had, until recently. Now she just itched all the time, like her skin stretched too tight over her restless body. "I just want to be left alone, not bothered by all the drama."

"Yeah, well, let me know how that works out, 'kay?"

Frowning at Agni, she stretched her legs, trying to ease the muscles after such a long match. He looked a bit somber, as if the world weighed on him. She'd seen him suffering from depression, overwhelmed with the responsibilities his title earned him. Years ago, she'd even been one of the only immortals he trusted with his life during the worst of his family's battles. Families. Ties of blood. She preferred to choose her own family. And why not? Agni's had given him nothing but grief, and maybe a sword to the back. He'd suffered a great deal in the past from his siblings and their little wars.

Tilting her head, she considered his question and him. He looked off. Quiet, almost pensive, the demon hung his head a moment more before meeting her eyes. Intense, he simply waited for her to speak, obviously knowing she'd respond. He was probably one of the only immortals alive that could move her with a look.

"Yeah, maybe it's not working too well lately, but things will settle down, I'm sure."

"Yeah, you think so, huh? I doubt it, Star. Things are coming to a head in the immortal world. Too many are taking the dark vow. Too many are siding with the evil they spread. Soon there will be no standing back and trying to wait for this to pass. Soon, we'll all be forced to take action. And sides."

Agni nodded his agreement. His blond brows drew down sharply in a fierce frown. "This isn't something new. Through the years, the balance has to be struck, then shifted, re-aligned. Soon, immortals will be forced to try and stem the flow of evil, or darkness will overcome."

"And the immortal council knows how to stop this from happening, huh?" She watched Torment, then Agni. Both looked seriously concerned.

But they were wrong. Agni was wrong. Things would settle down.

"You feel it. You're more aggressive lately, aren't you? Damn, you nearly floored me."

She rolled her eyes. "I always almost floor you."

 

She wasn't more aggressive from some imminent battle. She itched with a constant state of  . . . arousal. She awoke hot and bothered by her dreams. Glancing toward the mats, she spotted Ranger watching her with a deep frown. A shiver raced down her spine and her body tingled into awareness. Her libido kicked into overdrive and her response to him pissed her off.

Irritated with herself, she turned away, only to meet the gazes of the two demons watching her closely. She couldn't believe she'd been caught ogling some wolf man who was so disgusted with her he barely held himself in check. Not when she had two fine looking males sitting with her. She could take either male home and work out all her pent up frustration over the course of the evening. Right? If only she felt even a smidgeon of attraction for either demon, her theory might work.

Agni glanced at the mats. His blond brows snapped down into a scowl before he met her gaze. His eyes flared dark black, the slit irises disappearing. Handsome face creased, he leaned forward on his arms. "Ranger? You're attracted to . . . Ranger?"

"She is?" Tor sat forward too, even glancing in surprise from her to Ranger, then back.

"Star?" Agni drummed his fingers on the table, trying to get her attention.

If she could have shifted home without looking like a complete baby she would have. She ignored them both, instead focusing on her empty glass like it held the answers to the universe. "Not going there."

"Damn, Starbright. Could you pick a male who hates you more?"

"He's an ass." Agni snorted right over Torment's sharp question.

They were, sad to say, both right. "Damn, Tor, why not jab the knife deeper and twist?"

Torment looked suitably sheepish. "Sorry, Star, I wasn't thinking. I mean, you've been . . . well, we noticed you've been showing the signs, but . . . well, I might have thought, well, that—"

"He thought you might be interested in him." Agni chuckled.

Torment scowled, quickly glancing at her with as close to a blush on his high cheekbones as the fierce demon would ever get. "A male can dream, right? You're beautiful, strong, honorable, any male would be damn lucky to have you and that"—he jerked his thumb at the mats, frowning harder—"ass doesn't deserve you if he doesn't realize it."

Well, so much for keeping her embarrassing attraction to the enemy under wraps. Did Torment really think such things of her? If so, he'd managed to shock her. Women sought the male out, as much as they chased after Agni, and both looked willing to step in to replace the obsession she was forming over the wolf.

Too bad it wouldn't work. Really. Life sucked sometimes.

Glancing at the demon again, she sighed before focusing on her drink. So, Torment thought her beautiful and strong. Good thing he didn't know her well. The thought, the subtle self doubt, caught her off guard. She squelched it quickly. She had enough embarrassing things occurring without her inner wimp rising up. Her face heated and she wanted to groan. She never blushed. Blushing wasted good blood.

 

Blood she happened to be low on at the moment because for some reason she'd been unable to take much from the victims she chose. Usually, she hunted human evil. Rapists. Child molesters. Killers. All her victims were the vilest she could find. Humans were completely unaware something much more powerful than themselves haunted the back alleys and deserted places of this shared world. Something powerful but hidden in plain sight. Over the centuries, she’d not once been spotted. And she wasn’t as careful as some immortals were in blending in. She might not flaunt her fangs, but she didn’t hide them either.

Vampires had the ability to take a victim's thoughts. When they bit, a vampire often needed to erase they'd ever been near the human. Erasing memories, seeing their past, all of that was there for the taking. She took memories, and disgusting ones at that, and shoved them back at her victims. But she added a twist, a bit of role reversal. When her targets awoke from her bite? They not only lacked a few pints of blood but awoke thinking they'd been a victim of a violent crime. Most stayed straight for quite some time after she gave them what Bethany dubbed "Star Justice." She called it fun.

Her fun hadn't been so fun lately. Even the taste of her victims' blood had been affected by her mood, it seemed. The blood tasted off, like it'd gone bad and she had to force herself to swallow even the few mouthfuls she could stomach. She'd almost rather go hungry, chance being weak rather than put her lips on the neck of some foul, disgusting human, she realized. And that sucked. Because, really, what else was there? She couldn't ask an immortal to donate. Hopefully this affliction would pass, and soon. Otherwise she might start hitting the next Red Cross truck when it drove by. Drive by blood snatching. Shit, she could just see it now.

Rubbing the thought away with a hand on her brow, she looked up to meet both demons watching her closely, like she might have the answers to the universe. As if. She was barely holding herself together here, let alone anyone else.

"Look, let's just ignore all this. It'll go away. Obviously, I have some misplaced fascination for jerks that I'll outgrow. Maybe it's a vampire thing. You know? Pain and all that . . . ."

Both demons eyed her with twin frowns. Males—they just didn't give up, did they? Both of them looked at Ranger again before they turned back to focus on her.

"Huh, tell me how that works out, 'kay?"

Grumbling under her breath, she chose to ignore Agni.

Torment eyed her skeptically when she looked up again. He resembled Ranger in a lot of ways. If he had blue, lighter-than-the-sky eyes, he might be related. With his ebony hair he kept way too short, square, stubborn jaw and big, broad shoulders, he could pass for a distant relative. If you ignored his slit pupils and body heat. And the fact he was a demon. "Well, if it helps any, we're all feeling the rise in tension. Maybe your attraction to the male is part of it."

"Yeah, we all get jittery before a big battle. It's no different now. You've been in immortal conflicts before; you know what I speak of." Agni nodded, sitting back to give her an apprising look. Like he'd somehow won a point for his immortal battle argument because of her out of control sexual attraction to a silly wolf? Geesh, she had been in many immortal battles, and not once had she felt like this. Not that she was telling either of them that little jewel. Oh, no.

He raised a brow at her silence, like he'd won a point. Men.

"Geesh, give me a break, Fire."

 

Torment's frown deepened. "Makes sense. The battle will be soon, no doubt about it."

Soon. A shiver raced down her spine unexpectedly at Torment's deep-voiced concern.

Yes, she'd fought before. The life of an immortal overflowed with fighting. But she'd also given up causes like the demons were talking about. Who cared if someone took vows with the dark side? Evil spread like oil on water, both for immortals and humans. Fighting against it seemed useless. Pointless. The world was balanced with good and evil, it just worked out that way. There wasn't some evil plot to rule the world by some stupid Death Stalkers. What the hell would they do with it anyway? They couldn't really use the humans, after all, so they'd be what? Ruling over immortals? Like they could find them all? Geesh. It was too farfetched to believe. Impossible, really.

Once again her gaze drifted to Ranger. Did he believe this crap? An imminent battle between good and evil? She doubted it. By all accounts, the male owed his loyalty to the pack. Hell, she knew first hand he did. Six months ago he'd tried to take her head for trespassing on their sacred stronghold. But the Lykae rarely took sides in the immortal battles.

The last time had been centuries ago and that battle still burned her dreams more often than not. Losing Selenia, the only person who had ever shown her kindness and even love, had nearly killed her. Without Agni coming to her in those dark hours after Selenia’s passing, she might not have survived.

In that battle, she’d been good enough to fight side by side with the Lykae. She’d saved many of the clan that long ago, chilly night. But not the one person who meant more to her than anyone. Selenia. Yet, now, she had Selenia’s kin, and she’d not lose their love to the mangy wolf glaring at her.

Standing near the mats, he looked more than ready for battle. Hot and flushed from his match, not even breathing hard, he embodied the image of a confident, immortal male. He gave her the scratch. Not a swift and heavy arousal. No, no, no, she told her overeager sex drive. He wasn't the reason she'd been considering taking a lover. No, he couldn't be.

"I have a hard time believing there will be some huge battle in the near future. The world has changed. We've changed. The last battle was long ago, in another age." She reminded both demons. And she'd lost too much. She couldn't believe in something that might take away all she'd gained.

Torment watched her with a thoughtful expression, his dark eyes not missing much, she knew. Did he truly believe there would be some battle?

"There are rumors of evil corrupting immortals. Not asking for vows, but demanding them, and turning immortals to beasts if they resist."

Shivers raced over her skin. Turning immortals to beasts? Her eyes shifted to Agni, but he looked grim.

"Is this true? Have you seen such a thing?"

Torment shifted and grimaced. "No, I've not seen the transformation, but the information comes from a source I trust. The darkness is spreading. I've heard rumors of these beasts from several sources, one right here in London. A lab was found under a human club where the procedure"—he snorted and shook his head in disgust—"was being tried out. The source—"

"Hey, what's with the source? Don't I get a name?"

 

In other words, didn't he trust her?

"Hell, Star, he's deep in this, I can't just be throwing his name out there."

"Well, why are you telling me all this secret stuff then? I mean, why?"

He nodded to her swords again. "If the balance is being disrupted, unbalanced, it would explain your increasing need to fight."

She laughed. She couldn't help it. Some immortal bogey man was changing immortals into beasts if they didn't sign up for the dark side and Torment believed this rumor because her long-dormant sex drive had kicked in and to quell the urge she needed to fight?

Agni shifted and tipped back his head, drinking his vodka in a big swallow. "Perhaps you just need to fight more because you're just blood thirsty, eh?"

"Yep, glad you finally noticed." She flashed her fangs and smiled when Agni and Torment both laughed. The tension between them eased, but inside her stomach rippled with anxiousness, making her shift in her seat. If the Death Stalkers had found a way to change immortals into beasts that they then used, would that shift the necessary balance needed for good and evil to exist? Could this world, both mortal and immortal, continue with only one or the other?

"Ah, Ranger is up again. He must have some. . . aggression to work off as well." Agni shot a grin at her when she snorted.

"Hey, are you going on this mission of his? I heard a rumor one of the pack females, a youngling still, was taken, or missing?" Torment asked suddenly, bringing her back to all the reasons she hated the wolf man.

Shaking her head, she glared at him for even asking. The female wasn't even clearly missing yet and Ranger wanted her to aid him? Hell no. "No. Not going."

"Ah . . . and you aren't taking the position on the council either, I take it?" Agni asked.

"Nope. Not going to do that either."

Agni shrugged, giving her his half grin. "Huh. Interesting."

The male in question sauntered off the mat then, drawing her eye. As she watched, he grabbed a bottle of water, broke the cap and drank it down.

He stood tall, at least six and a half feet, and like all wolves he sported highly developed shoulders and the lean, mean look of the wolf. Like all his kind, the loss of temper could bring out their inner beast, not that he'd turn to a wolf, or wolf man, but she'd seen more than one Lykae with his beast out and impressive didn't even begin to describe the change. Fierce, bigger than their normal selves . . . when the beast was loose, he drove the bus, so to speak. And, being a beast, he drove on pure instinct and very little thought. Ranger wouldn't beast-out at a competition; he had an iron-like control, but still, she imagined him, all hot and huge, his wolf flashing his eyes a lighter blue, and for some reason she shivered.

 

He usually wore jeans and a t-shirt; tonight was no different. His faded jeans cupped his ass and fit his long, muscular legs to perfection, loose in all the right places, snug in so many fascinating others. And the leather belt. Gods, it was hot. Brown, wide and just plain sexy. Tonight, he had on a faded green T with some band branded over the chest. Godsmack, she noticed when he turned. She snorted. Typical. Such a hard rock band would fit him since he was a bone head, so why not?

But why did he look so sexy hot just drinking from the damned water bottle? Her breasts felt heavy and achy, her stomach contracted painfully, and she shut her eyes to block her view.

Gods, she needed to get a grip. Corralling her lust into a ball of anger, she glared at the male. He hated her, huh? Yet, now he wanted to use her like a dog to aid his hunt for a missing female pack mate? Well, wolf man, I'm about ready to educate you on how far I've come from being anyone's little pet.

He turned then and those blue eyes met hers from across the sea of people. Her stomach bottomed out. Damn it. She couldn't be attracted to the arrogant ass.

Somehow repeating herself wasn't helping.