MELANCHOLY DELUSIONS is now available!!

 Happy Release Day to my debut short story collection!

Yay. ☺️🎉

I'd like to thank Cemetery Gates Media for taking a chance on my first collection. Also for publishing and putting together such a lovely book. The end result is amazing! I'm SO excited and proud of this book.

Also, check out the beautiful cover, made by Luke Spooner/Carrion House, which captures the essence and melancholy vibes packed into these pages.

A dark gathering of 17 melancholy horror tales where mothers, lovers, friends and monsters intersect with disastrous and tragic consequences.

1. ALL MY PRETTIES

2. LOST IN TIME

3. GOLDSMITH’S ODDITY 

4. CLARA’S PHONE

5. SOMEWHERE TO BELONG

6. OTHER SIDE OF ME 

7. THE GIRLS DEVOURED BY THE WOODS 

8. SHORELINE

9. THE MAN IN THE RED SUIT 

10. OF YOU, THE END 

11. A PORTRAIT OF DEATH 

12. FADE INTO NIGHTMARE 

13. LADY OF THE HOUSE 

14. SLIPPING INTO 

15. ALLURE

16. STALKING THE SHADOWS 

17. FINDING SURVIVAL 

You can grab a copy right now:

Kindle | Paperback

 Bookshop.org

ADD TO GOODREADS

This collection includes stories that have been with me for many years. Some were previously published, others are new to the world, but all of them have been through several evolutions.

I really hope you'll give these tales a go.

Thanks for reading!

SQUAD by Maggie Tokuda-Hall & Lisa Sterle

 

Squad by Maggie Tokuda-Hall
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

I've had my eye on this colourful graphic novel for a while, and decided to read it tonight.

When Becca starts attending a posh high school, she's positive she won't make any friends. But then she helps a popular girl and gets invited into their group. Except, these aren't regular girls, and Becca makes a decision that changes everything...

You know, there are some really cool things about this story. I love the bright and pretty art. The feminist angle mixed in with werewolf lore is very interesting. There's a sweet sapphic connection. Teenage girls pushing back against the patriarchy is always great. But all of these excellent factors are undermined by a bunch of pesky passive aggressive, vaguely racist, and questionable issues.

This is really unfortunate, because I really wanted to love this.

Also, I know these are supposed to be mean girls, but this group was SO hard to like. Asides from Becca and Marley, the other characters are not pleasant. All the boys sucked. Not a single one of these characters were worth liking. I especially didn't like Arianna. Or, Becca's mother who got on my nerves. Most of her dialogue is awful and even unrealistic.

Yeah, there are some good things about this, but the pesky annoyances and everyday cliches definitely got in the way. 🫤

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UNIVERSAL MONSTERS: Little Golden Book (FunkoPop!)

 

Universal Monsters Little Golden Book by M.D. Brundlefly
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

As soon as I found this book on Amazon, I HAD to have it. The cover is adorable and I have several of these Universal Monsters Funko Pop! guys.

This book doesn't disappoint. It might be short, but it's definitely cheeky and funny. The illustrations are gorgeous and every page is super colourful. I smiled all the way through this little tale covering quite a few familiar monsters, and especially liked the ending because it's cute and so true!

Loved this. Glad I can add it to my monster collection. 😍

 

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KITTY'S GREATEST HITS by Carrie Vaughn

 

Kitty's Greatest Hits by Carrie Vaughn
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Now that I've finished the awesome Kitty Norville series, it's time to read the two short story collections that are set in her exciting supernatural world.

This is the first one.

IL EST NÉ: David's wolf has taken control of his life, but one fateful Christmas he finds himself in a Waffle House with a werewolf named Kitty. Together, they embark on a bloody adventure...

A gory, sad and heartwarming story about two lonely wolves, and gaining control when the beast side is stronger than the human half. It was nice to see Kitty find someone during the holiday season while being far from her family.

A PRINCESS OF SPAIN: I really enjoyed this historical take on Catherine of Aragon and what happens when she's married off to the future King of England and finds herself alone in a strange, dark land...

Great way to cast the creatures of the night into the past, and the kind of role they could have played. 😁

CONQUISTADOR DE LA NOCHE: This is a fantastic novella! It's the origin story of Rick, the Master of Denver—aka Ricardo de Avila—and it's a bloody, violent and totally thrilling story. Loved this as much as I love Rick.

THE BOOK OF DANIEL: I didn't think I would enjoy the story of Daniel set in Babylon and featuring so much faith and political mayhem. But I did because this little shifter twist was awesome!

THE TEMPTATION OF ROBIN GREEN: Robin Green is a soldier working the night shift in a lab studying supernatural creatures. She never breaks the rules, until she crosses paths with a seal...

I love selkie myths and this tale was an original take, while also sticking to the familiar. Oh, and Rick makes an appearance! That was a lovely surprise.

LOOKING AFTER FAMILY: This is Cormac and Ben's origin story. They're both teenagers and Cormac has just moved in with Ben's family at their farm after tragedy struck, but they're not instant friends. THIS, is when THAT happens. Fantastic tale!

GOD'S CREATURES: Another Cormac story! And of course it was awesome. You know, for someone who hates the monsters, he sure as hell is as methodical and reckless as they are. Guess that's why he's THAT good.

I enjoyed the Catholic Church connection because it adds a lot to the way Kitty's world works.

WILD RIDE: I really enjoyed TJ's origin story because it's sad but hopeful, and revealed some pretty tough inner strength he didn't believe he had. Another fantastic and emotional story.

WINNOWING THE HERD: This was a fun little glimpse into how boring Kitty's life was before she was outed as a werewolf. I enjoyed her internal thoughts and how she separated herself from the humans during a staff meeting. Who can blame her? These forced social gatherings are shitty. 😅

KITTY AND THE MOSH PIT OF THE DAMNED: An awesome action-packed story about Kitty going to a concert in hopes of getting the popular band on their show. Devil's Kitchen are hiding a secret as big as the very mysterious bartender, Jax. Jax turned out to be such an intriguing character, wish he'd made it to the series.

KITTY'S ZOMBIE NEW YEAR: I didn't expect this story to be so sad on several levels. Firstly, because Kitty goes to a NYE party at Matt's house but feels so lonely. And secondly, because of how the zombie situation turns out. Terrific story, though.

LIFE IS THE TEACHER: This is such a great story about Emma becoming a vampire and dealing with having to let go of her past, accept that taking blood is now part of her life, all while engaging in a nice seductive game. Clever tale.

YOU'RE ON THE AIR: I always loved when Kitty got calls from the supernatural community, and this little tale is about one of those. Jake is a vampire but he works the graveyard shift at Speedy Mart and doesn't have much else going on. But after calling Kitty's radio show, his boring life takes an unexpected turn. One that reminds him what he is and what he can do. Such a fun story.

LONG TIME WAITING: Cormac's jail novella is fantastic! I've wanted to read this for ages and now that I have, I'm happy to report it was awesome as I hoped it would be. Sprinkle Cormac's bad luck with the very interesting Amelia, and this turned out to be a recipe for destruction. And an unexpected partnership that happens to be perfect.


Well, I took my time reading this collection of amazing short stories and I'm glad I did. I LOVED EVERY SINGLE STORY! They're all seriously awesome and Carrie Vaughn is a terrific writer. Love her style.

PS. Also enjoyed the story notes at the end of the book.

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KITTY SAVES THE WORLD by Carrie Vaughn

 

Kitty Saves the World by Carrie Vaughn
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Well, there was no more putting it off. I've reached the fourteenth book in the very awesome Kitty Norville series, which also happens to be the FINAL BOOK! 😳

Kitty's feeling on edge and can't shake the darkness she feels closing in. But it looks like Cormac and Amelia have figured out a way to trap Roman before he gets started. Yet, it can't be this easy to defeat an ancient vampire determined to destroy the world...

Wow. Yep.

This is how you end a beloved series.

Starting the last book in one of my favourite series is always both exciting and sad. Exciting because I can't wait to see how everything turns out, but sad because I'll miss these characters and their world once it's over.

At least I still have two short story collections and a novella, set in Kitty's world, left to read.

The melancholy mood of this book is there from the get-go. As soon as Kitty's story starts, there's a blanket of darkness hanging over everything, threatening to overwhelm her. And this really sets the scene, makes sure the reader's instantly on edge. I kept waiting for Roman and/or his followers to storm in at any moment. Couldn't turn the page fast enough to find out what was going to happen next.

It was awesome to catch up with so many characters that were introduced in previous books and now turned up for the final battle! I also didn't realise how much I missed Rick until we caught up with him again.

This is the perfect ending to an outstanding series featuring an amazing cast of characters, and a fantastic heroine. I love Kitty. She's always been smart, brave, tough, kind and proved that some battles are won with brains rather than brawn. She's always let her heart lead the way and it was such a wonderful quality. Sure, sometimes it got her in trouble, but it was always worth it.

I couldn't wipe the smile off my face during the last few chapters because they were SO GREAT.

I seriously LOVED THIS BOOK.

Having said that, it's still bittersweet because now it's over. 😃+😫

 

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KITTY IN THE UNDERWORLD by Carrie Vaughn

 

Kitty in the Underworld by Carrie Vaughn
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This is the twelfth Kitty Norville, and since I'm determined to finish the series this year, I decided it was time to read the next one.

Kitty's in the middle of researching and brainstorming her latest book when Ben goes on a business trip. In his absence, and in typical Kitty fashion, trouble enters her territory and she ends up a prisoner to a group of supernaturals with ritualistic plans...

Wow. What an intense installment this one turned out to be. 😵

Stories like these always get under my skin. When a character is kidnapped, imprisoned and the captors attempt to brainwash or torture them in some way—hoping to get what they want—it makes my blood boil. Yet, I couldn't stop reading because these kinds of stories are always so intriguing. Plus it's satisfying when our main character defies her captors at every step.

In this story that situation also comes with an unexpected twist because we're dealing with a very stubborn, strong and capable alpha who bows to no one, and can't be brainwashed. Still, it was hard to watch Kitty and her wolf struggle to stay in control after being locked away, underfed and tranquilised. And awful to see how she reacted when being kept in the dark both physically and mentally.

This book was a little different to the others because Kitty was alone for so much of it. I've gotten used to having Ben, Cormac, the Denver pack and the vampires around, so it was strange and reminded me of the days when she didn't have this supernatural support system.

Luckily, Kitty's awesome and had no problem carrying her own story. She's also uncovered some pretty cool things that will no doubt come into play as the series races to its conclusion. I just hope we meet up with a certain lioness again.

Bring on the next book!

 

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KITTY ROCKS THE HOUSE by Carrie Vaughn

 

Kitty Rocks the House by Carrie Vaughn
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

It's been WAY too long since I read the 10th book in this very awesome series, so I've decided to finish it this year.

Kitty always manages to find trouble, and always has too much on her plate. But this time, she's about to reach breaking point...

I loved this! No matter how much time goes by between books, reading the next one always feels like catching up with old friends. And this installment was full of chaos, surprises, pack drama and action. Not to mention that something totally unexpected happened with Rick, the Master Vampire of Denver. Didn't expect that, but can't wait to see where it leads.

All I'm going to say is this: Catholic vamps. I mean, you wouldn't normally make that connection, but it totally works.

I always enjoy the pack dynamics, and the uneasy relationship Kitty has with Cormac. But her marriage with Ben and the way they run their territory is so cool. Proves violence and intimidation aren't always the best way to lead. Talking goes a long way.

Anyway, I enjoyed this a lot and can't wait to read the next one.

 

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BREAKING THE HABIT is now available!

That's right!

The 26th is here, which means that my Short Sharp Shocks! story is now available from Demain Publishing.

All Isla wanted to do was enjoy her honeymoon. She was looking forward to relaxing on the beach and enjoying cocktails with the love of her life. Instead, she ends up in the middle of the woods in a cozy cabin, where the past she's worked so hard to bury can find her. Turning what should be the best night of her life, into a bloody fight to stay alive.

You can grab a copy from:

Amazon US

Amazon UK

Amazon Australia

Amazon Canada

And it'll only cost you 99c! 😁


ADD TO GOODREADS


I really love the cover Adrian Baldwin made for my story about a newlywed couple who gets more than they bargained for on their honeymoon.

There's plenty of blood, some heartbreak and secrets that refuse to stay in the past.

Also, my story isn't the only one that was released. There are a handful of other Short Sharp Shocks! available today, and you can check them out HERE.

I'm very excited about this story, and even more excited about being included in an awesome series featuring so many great authors.

Yay!

An interview!

I've got another cool update!

Today, Demain Publishing posted an interview about my upcoming Short Sharp Shocks! story, BREAKING THE HABIT. 

You can read it HERE.

If you want to find out a bit about the story, my writing process and a bunch of other stuff, go and check it out. 

You can also read interviews for all the other releases.

It's SO exciting! 😃

I have some news!

Hey!

If you follow me on Twitter, you probably saw my Saturday tweet featuring a very cool announcement and a new cover.

That's right, I've signed a contract with Demain Publishing for my novelette, BREAKING THE HABIT. I'm SO excited about this upcoming release for several reasons.

This is my first new release in quite a while. Several years, actually. So it's awesome to get the opportunity to have a new story out in the wild for a new audience. So I want to thank Dean M. Drinkel for giving me the chance to share my horror story with the world.

What makes this even more exciting is that this story is going to be a part of the very cool series of stories called Short Sharp Shocks! A series that includes stories written by Barbie Wilde and Calvin Demmer, to name a few.

My story is #27. And it's SO EXCITING!

These are the books that are already available:

You can check them out here.

The other day, I received the awesome cover, made by Adrian Baldwin. Not only does it match the others in the series, but it also features something that is central to the story.

Here it is:

Isn't this creepy and cool? I love it!

As soon as I have more information--blurb, pre-order link, etc--I'll be sure to post about it here. But for now, I'm super excited and had to write a little something to share this awesome news.

Thanks for checking in.

Have a great week! 🌞

THE COMPLETE SOOKIE STACKHOUSE STORIES by Charlaine Harris

For the first time together in one volume, the complete short story collection starring Sookie Stackhouse - with new introductions from the #1 Sunday Times bestselling author of the series, Charlaine Harris. 

New fans can fill in the gaps in their Sookie lore, while old friends can revisit some of their favourite moments and characters. From investigating the murder of a local fairy to learning that her cousin was a vampire, from remodelling Tara's house to attending a wedding with her shapeshifting boss Sam, Sookie navigates the perils and pitfalls of the paranormal world. 

Gather round the bar at Bon Temps' favourite watering hole and hear stories that will make you wish that Sookie never left.

The Sookie Stackhouse series might have ended in a satisfying way, but there are still stories set in her world that I hadn't read before.

And that's why this collection, including all of them in one volume, was something I definitely wanted to read!

FAIRY DUST

A fairy walks into a bar...

No, seriously, she does. Claudine walks into Merlotte's looking for Sookie because her and her brother Claude need Sookie's help to figure out who killed their triplet, Claudette. They've got three human suspects: a stripper, a bouncer and the owner of the club.

But who did it, and why?

This is such a fun story! Sookie uses her telepathic ability to figure out who killed the fairy. I enjoyed it heaps, and liked finding out a little more about Claudine, Claude and fairies in general.

ONE WORD ANSWER

While Sookie is doing some late-night gardening with Bubba, a limo arrives at her house. A man who claims to be a lawyer by the name of Mr. Cataliades gets out and tells her that her cousin Hadley is dead, but that's not all he's there to tell her.

His visit entails more revelations then she expected...

I really liked the simplicity of this story. It's straightforward and gives Sookie some answers about her estranged cousin, but also has a few very cool twists at the end. Well-worth reading. 

DRACULA NIGHT

When Eric invites Sookie to Fangtasia for an annual vampire event to celebrate Dracula's birthday, she agrees to go, and finds out Eric is quite the Dracula fan. He's such a fanboy he secretly hopes Dracula will make an appearance at his party.

But when the person who claims to be the Lord of Darkness himself shows up, the unexpected happens...

I enjoyed this one too. It was a lot of fun to see the cool, calm, and collected Eric acting a little neurotic. Pam was great in this little story, her side comments made me LOL a lot.

LUCKY

When Greg Aubert pays Sookie a visit, hoping she'll help him figure out who's been sneaking past his spell to get into his insurance office at night, Amelia and Sookie investigate.

What that entails is a telepath and a witch following one clue after another, until Sookie can find whoever's responsible...

This was another great story that captured not only Sookie's world, but what makes a well-written short story really work. Loved it!

GIFT WRAP

Sookie's all alone on Christmas Eve, but when she goes for a walk in the woods and finds an injured Were, she insists on taking him home to make sure whoever attacked doesn't return to finish him off.

But the mysterious stranger brings a little festive magic to her lonely night...

Oooooh. This was a nice story that proves good things come to those who wait. I wasn't expecting the sneaky twist at the end. Very cool.

TWO BLONDES

Sookie and Pam head out on a roadtrip to Mississippi so they can do a mysterious task for Eric. Sookie doesn't mind going along for the ride, even though Pam scares her a bit.

Visiting the casinos and overindulging on buffets goes well, but when the meeting takes place, of course things don't go according to plan...

In typical Sookie fashion, her voice and methodical way of doing things sucked me right into the story. 

This was a lot of fun because Pam & Sookie get caught up in some hilarious stripper business. Not to mention how well their quick thinking syncs, and the little twist at the end was also very cool.

IF I HAD A HAMMER

When Sam and Sookie go to help Tara and JB with a home-improvement project, they didn't expect to find a bloodied hammer within the walls. Or the angry presence they unleash, and the nanny who might end up being the only one who can help them solve this old murder mystery...

This was an interesting take on hauntings, and also a great way to learn some darker and less known historical facts about Bon Temps. It's also always very cool to read any story that enhances just how much Sookie means to Sam. :)

SMALL-TOWN WEDDING

Sookie and Sam leave Bon Temps to go to Wright, a small town in Texas. They're going to attend Sam's brother's wedding, which should be a joyful event, but turns out to be another nightmarish incident in Sookie's life.

After the werewolves and shifters came out to the public, a lot of people developed a new prejudice against them. And this town seems to be filled with those awful people...

I really enjoyed this tale, and read it in one sitting. I particularly enjoyed spending time with Sam and Sookie, just being friends. 

Also, the closure she finally finds with Quinn was a great touch to the story. 

PLAYING POSSUM

All Sookie was supposed to do was deliver a bunch of cupcakes to her nephew's kindergarten class. Instead, as usual, Sookie ends up getting caught between a hostile gunman and a powerful witch...

This is another great story. I enjoyed how well the suspense and danger was captured in a school surroundings. 

The focus was on Sookie and Hunter's talent going up against the very real terror that grips American classrooms too often in real life. But the supernatural flair was also present.

IN THE BLUE HEREAFTER

When Manfred Bernardo heads to Bon Temps after his dead grandmother tells him to go in a dream, he ends up at a softball tournament sitting beside a pretty blonde woman who can totally read his mind.

He enjoys her company but takes a while to figure out why his grandma sent him there in the first place...

The interesting thing about this story is that it's in the POV of Manfred Bernardo from the Harper Connelly series and the Midnight, Texas trilogy. So it was very cool to read a story featuring Sookie, but seen through the eyes of a different character.

Not to mention the tease of Manfred's future.

The Complete Sookie Stackhouse Stories is an awesome collection. Not just because all of Sookie's short stories are in one place, but also because the UK hardback volume is so nice.

I also enjoyed the story introductions by the author, because I love the behind-the-scenes stuff.

Sookie Stackhouse is one of my favourite characters, and one of the series that introduced me to urban fantasy and captivated my imagination so much. Dragging me deeply into this dangerous world of vampires, werewolves, shifters, witches, fairies, and SO much more.

Great book.

The Complete Sookie Stackhouse Stories, January 2018, ISBN 9781473222311,Gollancz

CLEAN SWEEP by Ilona Andrews

Clean Sweep by Ilona Andrews

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

By the time I found out about this book, it was too late to read it online. So I was very excited when it was released as an eBook.

Dina is just an average girl running a nice B&B in small-town Texas. She has a cute Shih Tzu and is a good neighbour. Except, her one guest is an actual otherworldly lifetime visitor outrunning hideous crimes, and Dina happens to be an Innkeeper.

Inkeepers are connected to the house and land. They can wield magic and access other places. The inn can do some freaky stuff too.

When a vicious alien animal starts killing dogs and soon escalates to humans, Dina can't ignore what's going on around her. Even if it means stepping outside the safety of her inn's boundary. And with the help of a werewolf and a vampire, she might be able to help save the neighbourhood.

Sean—the werewolf—and Arland—the vampire—are as fascinating as Dina. All three characters have interesting backstories. I'm also curious about Caldenia. Oh, and the thing about her missing parents is so sad. Hope she gets some answers.

I really enjoyed this story and loved the way an urban fantasy situation was blended with science fiction. Very well done.

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MURDER OF CROWS by Anne Bishop

Murder of Crows by Anne Bishop
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

OMG. This book is fantastic! I actually put it on hold as soon as it appeared at my local library, LOL. And just like the one before it, I enjoyed it so much that I plan to pre-order the paperback edition as soon as it's available.

I was hooked from the very beginning. This is fast becoming one of my favourite series. It's just so original, and so well written that everything about this alien world becomes so vivid while reading it... I love it!

Meg has been in the Lakeside Courtyard for a while now and she's settled into her job as Human Liaison very well. She's also accepted and protected by the Others and has even helped set up a 'human pack' that everyone recognises. She's also managed to make Simon Wolfgard a lot more sympathetic towards humans--and that includes the police--than even he ever imagined he could be.

But when humans start targeting crows as well as Crows, everything changes. There are humans who are starting to forget their place and instead want to stand up to the Others. When that happens, whole villages and cities can be wiped out or asked to relocate. And Meg is having prophecies about what's going on around her. Serious things that will impact all of them, and lead back to the place she escaped.

Once again, the POV changes were excellent and help the reader see the many angles of the same story. This very dangerous world is made even harsher by the stupid actions of humans, who even in a world run by other beings still want to exert their greedy, selfish ways. I also enjoyed getting a glimpse into the institution where the other blood prophets are imprisoned and experience the horrible things done to these poor girls who are born with enough of a burden without adding slavery, rape and domination to the mix.

The addition of Intuits was also interesting, and I hope we get to find out even more. It's just so great to see these characters all develop and change their attitudes towards each other because of one brave girl who dared to take a stand. It just proves that without the bad apples, all kinds of creatures--big and small--can learn to get along.

I love these characters. I especially love the special bond Meg and Simon are developing towards each other. Something so strong that it scares the hell out of both of them.

Can't wait to read more of this awesome series!

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WRITTEN IN RED by Anne Bishop

Written in Red by Anne Bishop

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

OMG. This book is fantastic! I borrowed it from the library and enjoyed it so much that I pre-ordered the paperback edition today. I must have a copy. ;)

Meg Corbyn is a blood prophet, and she's on the run. Her ability to see visions of the future via precise cuts to her skin makes her a sought-after tool. But after escaping from the Controller, she seeks shelter in a Courtyard. A place where monsters live and humans are rarely invited.

The night she arrives, Simon Wolfgard makes her an offer she can't refuse: a job and shelter. She's desperate enough to accept and her arrival turns the Courtyard upside down.

There are several words to describe this story: Wow. Amazing. Intoxicating. Yeah, I absolutely adored this book. It hooked me in from the beginning and kept me on the edge of my seat all the way through.

It was well written, the POV changes were perfect, the characters felt so real, and the world building was unique. This is a very dangerous world where the Others pretty much call the shots and humans can be wiped out if they anger them. These are frightening, ancient beings who crave human meat and blood, and take on the guise of wolf, bear, coyote, crow, hawk, etc. The vampires were also very interesting.

I loved Meg. She's such a fantastic, innocent character who is so selfless her kindness often puts her in harm's way. But that's just who she is. Her interaction with the Others transforms their way of thinking, and her friendship with the young wolf Sam is so cute. Let's not forget about Simon, and how their initial awkwardness towards each other becomes so much more.

Oh, and Monty. I really liked him too.

I can't wait to read the next book!

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KITTY STEALS THE SHOW by Carrie Vaughn

Kitty Steals the Show by Carrie Vaughn

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This week I received Kitty's 12th book, so I wanted to catch up with her. And of course, this is one of my fave UF series. :)

Kitty, Ben, and Cormac head to London so that Kitty can speak at the First International Conference on Paranatural Studies. But wherever she goes, so does trouble. It starts with something simple and harmless--Luis, the attractive Brazilian were-jaguar flirting with her--but ends with plenty of struggles, and more of a glimpse into just how dark and serious the Long Game is.

She also meets a few more allies: Ned, the Master vampire of London, and Caleb, the werewolf alpha of the British Isles. It was so cool to meet these two and I found them fascinating. I hope they pop back into the series. Cormac's ghostly passenger, Amelia, also gets a chance to go back home and meets some of her ancestors. I really want to read more about how Cormac was possessed by this ghost. Oh, and what about those creepy faeries? Yikes.

I really enjoyed this book! It's another interesting instalment that puts Kitty into the middle of the stirring war and even puts her credibility on the line. I can't wait to see where it leads...

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FULL BLOODED by Amanda Carlson

The start of an exceptionally fast-paced and irresistibly sexy new urban fantasy trilogy.

 

Born the only female in an all-male werewolf race, Jessica McClain isn't just different - she's feared.

 

After living under the radar for the last twenty-six years, Jessica is thrust unexpectedly into her first change, a full ten years late. She wakes up and finds she's in the middle of a storm. Now that she's become the only female full-blooded werewolf in town, the supernatural world is already clamouring to take a bite out of her. Now her new Pack must rise up and protect her.

 

But not everyone is on board. There are certain superstitious werewolves who think Jessica means an end to their race - and they're not about to go down without a fight.

 

Firstly, I just want to say that I love this cover, and the one for the second book. Secondly: Wow! That's what I thought while reading this book.

Jessica McClain is living under the alias of Molly Hannon so no one knows where/what she is. She happens to be the daughter of one of the toughest werewolf Alphas in the world, and also the only female in an all-male race. But no amount of hiding is going to keep the truth from getting out now.

She never showed any signs of changing, but it didn't stop the male wolves from despising her, which is why she left the 'safety' of the Compound in the first place. However, one night the impossible happens and Jessica actually changes into a wolf, and she trashes her apartment.

As her father and his most trusted wolves go to her aid and work out the best way to tell the rest of the Pack what's happened, the tension grows. But her fellow Pack wolves aren't the only ones she has to worry about, because it seems that being the only female werewolf in the world has attracted the attention of some other supernaturals. Not to mention the human cop who keeps breathing down her neck...

All hell breaks loose when she's ambushed inside a bar, but finds an ally in the most unlikely shifter.

Full Blooded is an awesome addition to the urban fantasy genre. The world building is fantastic, the heroine a tough woman with a lot of vulnerabilities she won't let stand in her way, and the supporting cast is outstanding. There are so many characters to love, some to hate, and some intriguing ones.

I loved everything about this book! I was instantly hooked and couldn't wait to get to the end... Of course, now, I can't wait to read the next book. Oh, and I can't wait to find out more about Rourke. ;)

Full Blooded, September 2012, ISBN 9780356501260, Orbit

BLOODED: A Jessica McClain Novella by Amanda Carlson

Jessica McClain was born the only female in an all male race. The only problem is-she's no wolf. Called a curse, a witch and the Daughter of Evil by the superstitious wolves, Jessica decides to fight for her freedom, at age nineteen, the only way she can-in the ring.

When she's brutally attacked right after her fight, is it enough to finally earn her freedom off Compound, or will she be forced to endure the hatred even longer . . .

I'm looking forward to getting stuck into the Jessica McClain series, but I wanted to read the prequel first. And, wow, what an introduction to this character.

 

The story starts with Jessica fighting a man who is way bigger and stronger than her. He also happens to be a werewolf, and although he's beating the crap out of her, she still doesn't give up. She's a bit of a smartass and refuses to stay down. So I pretty much liked her right away.

 

When her father stops the potentially lethal fight, the story really opens up. It turns out that Jessica lives in a compound filled with wolves, and her father's their leader. Still, that hasn't stopped most of the wolves from hating, baiting, and attacking her any chance they get. She also has a twin brother. She seems to be an anomaly--the only female born in a male race. And most of them hate her for it, and believe she's evil.

 

All she wants to do is leave the compound with her father's blessing, but he doesn't want to let her go. And if he doesn't, he might end up losing her anyway...

 

This was an excellent prequel novella. It packs quite a punch. There's so much action, but we still get to find out a lot about Jessica, her family, and the dangerous world she lives in. The men who hate her are shockingly brutal and violent. While the few who care about her are gentle and honest.

 

Yeah, I'm already a fan and can't wait to get my hands on the first book! 

The Blog Tour might be over...

But I've stopped by Naomi Clark's blog to weigh in on the Vampire versus Werewolf Debate.

I'm actually a fan of all supernatural creatures, but today I'm taking the werewolf side. ;)

(And there's a Joe Manganiello pic included. You're welcome!) LOL.

Happy Friday, everyone!

TANTALIZE: Kieren's Story by Cynthia Leitich Smith

Illustrated by hot new talent Ming Doyle, Cynthia Leitich Smith’s TANTALIZE is reimagined as a graphic novel— seen through Kieren’s werewolf eyes.

As a hybrid werewolf, Kieren is destined to join an urban Wolf pack and learn to master his shift. Soon, he’ll leave everything behind: home, school, his family, and Quincie, his human best friend . . . who’s beginning to be a whole lot more than a friend. For years, Kieren has managed to keep his desires— and his wolf— at bay. But when the chef at Quincie’ s family restaurant is brutally murdered, Kieren resolves to be there for her, even if it means being framed. Even if it means watching Quincie’s beloved restaurant morph into a vampire lair. But when the new chef begins wooing her, how long can Kieren control his claws? How long can he protect Quincie— and himself?

In an elegant graphic edition featuring cinematic sequential art by debut artist Ming Doyle and lush, romantic cover art by Sam Weber , bestselling author Cynthia Leitich Smith re-envisions her delicious dark fantasy through wolfish eyes.

I really enjoyed Tantalize, so when I found out there was a graphic novel of the story through the eyes of Kieren, I borrowed it from the library.

Kieren is a young werewolf who will soon have to go and become a part of a pack. But he's in love with his best friend Quincie. When she starts acting strange and dead bodies start popping up all over the place, Kieren's determined to figure it all out. He's also determined to save Quincie, no matter what.

It was nice reading his side of the story and I really enjoyed how it all came together at the end. The story was great, but the art was good. I kinda wished that the whole book looked just as lovely as the cover, but it didn't. Still, the story and art complemented each other.

A BLOODY GOOD SECRET by Sierra Dean

You can’t keep a good Secret for long.

Secret McQueen, Book 2

After cheating death twice in one night, confessing her true nature to her werewolf soul mates and being asked to kill one of her closest friends, Secret took a much-needed vacation. By running away.

Now she’s back in town—dragged kicking and screaming—determined to clear Holden Chancery’s name. Right after she finds out what he’s accused of. It shouldn’t be hard—Holden has a habit of using their new and scintillating psychic bond to break into her thoughts and dreams at some very, shall we say, awkward moments.

Just a few things stand in her way: a secretive Tribunal leader, a group of would-be vampire slayers and two werewolf boyfriends who refuse to let her operate in her customary lone-wolf style. Even less amusing are the terrifying creatures that someone is using in an attempt to gain control of the council. Even for this out-of-the-ordinary bounty hunter, it’s a challenge with potentially deadly teeth.

Warning: Contains an ever-plucky heroine with no shortage of weapons, super-hot mind games, an ever-complicated love triangle and one hell of a creepy amusement park.

I really enjoyed the first book in this series, as well as the prequel novella, so I was looking forward to getting stuck into this one.

After the Tribunal gave Secret her latest assignment, she took off. How can she kill Holden without knowing what he's accused of? So, she's gone to spend a bit of time with her grandmother. But when she's forcibly taken back to New York, Secret has no choice but to face everyone and everything she ran away from.

Now, she's determined to clear Holden's name. Which includes finding out why the Tribunal wants him dead. But this will lead her to an unexpected discovery, as well as some truly horrible creatures hiding out in an abandoned amusement park.

Oh, and let's not forget her very complicated love life--she's got two werewolf boyfriends, and a pesky vampire that seems to be consuming her fantasies lately.

This was another very exciting, action-packed installment and I can't wait to read more... especially after the unexpected ending. Lucky for me, I have the next novella already waiting for me on my Kindle! ;)        

H&UFRC books read: 53/24