Where the Wild Things Bite by Molly Harper

You know you're reading a Molly Harper book when the main characters are stuck in a crazy, life threatening situation but the author still manages to make you laugh. Molly Harper has this wonderful recipe for paranormal romance novels and it's infallible. I've never been disappointed by one of her books, probably because I understand her type of humour. Her characters are relatable, despite their peculiarities and you can't help but get attached to them. Where the Wild Things Bite, despite being short, is a wonderful addition to the Half-Moon Hollow series.

Anna, a rare book expert on the paranormal, is on a mission to return a valuable book to none other than Jane Jameson, after having appraised it, and confirmed it as an authentic and important document in the history of shifters. However, things go wrong as soon as she enters the plane that is supposed to bring her to Half-Moon Hollow. The pilot is deranged and threatens to kill her with a knife if she doesn't hand over the book, and when that fails, he tampers with the plane and crashes it in the middle of Kentucky lakeland. Anna would have crashed and died in it if it wasn't for Finn, the only other passenger of the plane. Anna accuses him of throwing her out of the moving plane but Finn guarantees her that he jumped, cradling her in his arms.

Together, they're lost in the woods, with no supplies and no sign of civilization. Only an old, but valuable book. So valuable that people are willing to kill for it. Anna, a germaphobic and very anxious person, quickly learns to survive in the woods. With shifters after her, she relies on Finn, who happens to be a vampire, to find her way through the woods. However, smart as she is, she soon realizes that Finn has somewhat questionable reasons for helping her. A liar, a thief and a con man, Finn tries to convince skeptical Anna that he really wants to help her, despite his previous motives.

Anna is a wonderful and realistic character, despite her neuroses. Her tendencies to learn every survival statistics and her obsession in reading survival guides to everything, helps her survive the Kentucky woods. Finn might be a liar and deceitful but I think he really wants to help Anna. I don't know exactly when he started to like her, but their close proximity leads up to steamy scenes. They're the most unlikely couple, but I think that's what so charming about the pair.

I really wish we could have gotten more out of Anna and Finn's story. Their trek through the woods was hilarious and entertaining, but what happened after the woods just went by so quickly. I'm glad Jane and the Half-Moon Hollow gang made an appearance but they didn't have much to do with the story. In a way, that made Anna and Finn the focus of the story. A delightful read, Where the Wild Things Bite is a must read for Jane Jameson fans.

Read More

by Tynga at Monday, September 05, 2016

 Half Moon Hollow, Library, Molly Harper, Paranormal Romance, Pocket, Review, Shifters, Simon amp; Schuster, Vampire, werewolves  Leave your mark

✎

The Single Undead Moms Club by Molly Harper

It's no secret that I absolutely adore everything Molly Harper writes. It probably has a lot to do with her creative wit and her inherent geekiness. There's also the fact that most her her heroines are just your average Jane (mostly--if you ignore the supernatural elements). However, I think what truly captivates readers are the fun and romantic stories that she delivers time and time again.

The heroines Molly Harper creates are always easy to associate with. Despite the fact that I have very little in common with this book's heroine, Libby, I still feel for her as she transitions into a vampire. Unlike her, I might not have in-law problems, child custody problems, PTA problems or blood issues, however, they are realistic enough that I can't help but root for her as she discovers her new self. Libby is a strong woman that has made the ultimate and final choice in order to stay alive and raise her son. It can't be easy suffering from cancer and knowing that you'll leave your son an orphan in just a few short months. I want to say, in her position, I probably would have done the same thing. I'm selfish enough that I would want to survive and not die so young because of bad genetics.

Wade was a nice surprise. He's definitely not the kind of guy you would expect a good PTA single mom to end up with. A Harley riding man full of tattoos isn't the kind of guy anyone expects to end up with. However since his and Libby's son form an inseparable childhood bond, they are forced to be civil, despite their bad initial meeting. I really like the fact that Libby takes it slowly and Wade respects her wishes without having to discuss it. Everything Libby does is in her son's best interest but at some point, I think she realizes she has to live for herself too.

It wouldn't be a real Molly Harper story without someone trying to kill the female lead. And I'm not talking about the racist/vampire hating PTA president who's out to socially destroy Libby. It isn't clear why a man dressed in a black ski mask is trying to kill her, but new vampire luck seems to be on her side every time she encounters her attacker. Luck, and the fact that her more or less absent sire is keeping tabs on her and secretly watching over her.

In the Half Moon Hollow world, vampires have "come out the the coffin" years ago, yet vampires still face prejudice and countless hate crimes. I think one of the books messages is that everyone should be given a chance, and you shouldn't hate someone because of who or what they are. In today's society, we might not be facing vampires, but we will be experiencing an influx of Syrian refugees. We can't judge these people because of their heritage or their religion, simply because it's different from our own. We have to respect them and try to be as accommodating as possible. We can't use fear as motive for hate because that would revert human society back centuries. (And don't twist my words as I compare vampires to refugees! I'm just saying their situations are similar.) Here in Canada, the government has done much to help the new refugees. In the USA, I just hope that when it comes to electing party candidates and a president, Americans will not let fear and hate guide their choices.

Fans of Molly Harper will love this book. Or fans of paranormal romance, for that matter. I've come to expect certain things from Harper yet she always surprises me with new stories and ideas. Libby and Wade make a great couple despite the fact that they're not your typical paranormal romance pair. The PTA and school activities might be new territory for Miss Harper, but her writing is still the same: fun, snarky and outrageous!

Read More

by Tynga at Monday, December 14, 2015

 Chick Lit, Half Moon Hollow, Molly Harper, Paranormal Romance, Pocket, Purchased, Review, Simon amp; Schuster, Vampire  1 Person left their mark

✎

Spider's Trap by Jennifer Estep

A quick warning: Spoilers for previous novels abound in this review! If you're not caught up, you might want to skip down to the giveaway. :)

Gin's in a very different position in SPIDER'S TRAP: she's spent much of the series hunting Monroes and dodging assassins and now she's the queen of Ashland's underworld. "Reluctant" doesn't even begin to describe how she feels about it but her feelings become moot when someone plants a bomb on her friend Phillip's boat while she's on board for a meeting. The would-be assassin's magic is unlike anything Gin has ever faced, and she can help but think it's related to her past, though she can't quite put her finger on it. Nonetheless, Gin being Gin, she goes into full seek-and-destroy mode, to ensure the safety of her loved ones.

The books in the Elemental Assassin have a definite structure to them: Gin meets threat, Gin spends novel trying to defeat threat (usually with at least one attempt that goes awry - at great cost to her person), Gin survives (again, often at great cost to her person). Within this structure, there's usually a lot of nice personal and thoughtful moments, particularly in the past couple novels, where Gin has struggled with being "out" as The Spider and how that affects the people she cares about. In SPIDER'S TRAP, Gin's reflections go in a different direction, taking us back to her early days with Fletcher, which is one of the reasons I really enjoyed this novel. Every few books, we get to dip our toes into Gin's early days -- you can't quite call it an idyllic childhood, can you? -- and these are my favourite stories because we see how Gin became the woman she is. And we get to learn about Fletcher, who I'm very attached to despite the fact that he's been dead for pretty much the entire series. Gin's formative years and her time with Fletcher are always fascinating and SPIDER'S TRAP is no exception. Estep has given us another peek at Gin's younger self, and of Fletcher in his prime, and I loved it. (As an aside, I would happily read a prequel series just about Fletcher with or without teenaged Gin and Flynn.) Without going too far into spoiler territory, I think I can safely say that it was quite fun to have Gin be something of a secondary player in some of the reminiscences. I'm afraid to be less cryptic, so you'll just have to read through the novel to really get what I mean by that!

I have such big love for SPIDER'S TRAP that I could go on and on but I'm very concerned that I'll inadvertently ruin some of the surprises so I think I'll have to sign off now. ;) I'll close by saying that, as ever, Estep has written a fast-paced, action-filled novel that also manages to deliver great character development and pithy dialogue. It's no mean feat to keep a series interesting once it's hit double digits but she's done a fine job. I'm always eager to read the next Elemental Assassin book and SPIDER'S TRAP has truly delivered. It's exciting, satisfying, and will have you hooked from the opening scene. I dare you to read the excerpt linked below and not run to the bookstore to get your own copy!

Read an excerpt

There is a tour-wide giveaway with different prizes depending on region. Make sure you check the Raffelcopter for details. The prizes:

1 winner will receive an entire print set of Jennifer’s Elemental Assassin series - all 13 books! (US/Canada only)
10 winners will receive one copy of SPIDER’S TRAP (US/Canada only)
1 winner will receive a $25 Amazon gift card (this is open internationally!)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Read More

by Tynga at Sunday, July 19, 2015

 Adult, Assassin, Elemental Assassin, giveaway, Jennifer Estep, Pocket, Publisher, Review, Simon and Schuster, Simon Schuster, Urban Fantasy  2 People left their mark

✎

Dark Descendant by Jenna Black

Telling a woman she’s basically a goddess does not get the same response it once did if you go by Nikki’s reaction.  Granted, given the way she is told and the assumptions around her discovery leave much to be desired.  To say the least, she was not surrounded by friendly faces eager to assist her with her adjustment.

That is more or less where the beginning of this story.  Nikki is a young woman coming into her powers.  What powers?  Well, honestly, even Nikki is not sure enough to tell.  This is an interesting twist on the trope of a young person’s journey of understanding dormant, newly acquired or previously unknown powers. From Luke Skywalker to Harry Potter to Eragon, we’ve seen characters on this road to self-discovery.   That, of course, is no reason to dismiss what may be an engaging story.  Fortunately, this story is engaging right from the start.

I really like books written in first person.  It’s an interesting way to learn about the main character and the way they see events. The author does an excellent job of not only letting us get to know Nikki, but, we get a good peek into who most of the characters surrounding her are.

Nikki, her family and her ‘allies’ move take an eventful journey through Washington D.C. as well as parts of Virginia.  Though the book is eventful, is doesn’t feel rushed.  The pacing feels like the natural flow of events.

This story is also unique in that it is basically a detective novel where early in exposition we learn most of what is mysterious.  The bad guys are known even though some of the good guys may be a bit iffy. Still, there may be a twist or two lurking once you think you have it all figured out.

Dark Descendant has many of the things I appreciate in a book: mystery, magic and a strong female lead.  It’s great to have books that might help a young lady see how self-sufficiency along with good allies can be combined.  I would, however, not suggest this story for a young lady (or man) under the age of 17.  There is a bit of frank discussion of mature subjects, mature language and a bit of violence that lands this at the far edge of the PG13 area.

Read More

by Tynga at Wednesday, June 24, 2015

 Descendant, Detective, Goddesses, Gods, Pocket, Purchased, Review, Urban Fantasy  4 People left their mark

✎

Black Widow by Jennifer Estep

I've had to reduce the amount of time I spend reading and reviewing due to work and one of the casualties of this tragic change was BLACK WIDOW. For the first time in a long time, I'm putting up a review of a Jennifer Estep book long after its release and it feels weird, particularly since BLACK WIDOW is an outstanding book.

As I've said before, series often get stale when they hit double digits but not the Elemental Assassin series. BLACK WIDOW is the twelfth book in Gin's story and it's a very strong entry in the series, with lots of big moments that will keep you hooked from page to page. Why? It's the big confrontation between Gin and Madeline Monroe, the latest Big Bad in the series.

Spoilers ahead for previous novels!

Madeline's been trying her mother's place in both the underworld and glossy high society of Ashland and all of her machinations come to fruition in BLACK WIDOW. With everything set, she also unleashes her endgame against Gin and it's a confrontation that has been books in the making. Madeline's plans are suitably devious and it was gratifying to see Gin go up against a foe who's more than her equal in terms of strategy. None of Gin's previous victories have been terribly easy but she definitely has her mettle and her abilities tested in BLACK WIDOW. The book puts Gin and her friends and family through the wringer, emotionally and physically, and it was an incredibly exciting read.

Because the focus of the book is on the Gin vs. Madeline showdown, there's not a lot of development for other characters. All of the gang are involved in the novel but the focus is fully on Gin and her response to the major gauntlet that Madeline drops, going after everything and everyone that Gin values. Things happen that I never would have expected and it was so much fun (for me). Estep always writes great stories but this might be my favourite book in the series because Madeline's such a great nemesis.

The end of BLACK WIDOW is particularly exciting because it establishes a very interesting shift in the Ashland underworld. As always, no spoilers for BLACK WIDOW here but I will say that it's a thrilling way to wrap up to this chapter of Gin's story.

Read an excerpt (scroll down)

Read More

by Tynga at Sunday, June 21, 2015

 Adult, Assassin, Edelweiss, Elemental Assassin, Jennifer Estep, Pocket, Review, Simon and Schuster, Simon Schuster, Urban Fantasy  Leave your mark

✎

The Dangers of Dating a Rebound Vampire by Molly Harper

Honestly, Molly Harper can do no wrong when it comes to writing paranormal romance fiction. She literally has me laughing out loud while reading her paranormal romance books. Combining snarky, remarkable and witty female characters with supernatural hot men is always entertaining, but somehow, Molly Harper is a genius when it comes to humor in paranormal romance. The funny banter and the hilarious situations is what keeps me coming back to this series or her books in general.

Realistically, the plot of The Dangers of Dating a Rebound Vampire isn't all that extravagant, nor is it very detailed, but it does serve the purpose of advancing the story between Gigi and Nik. Gigi has landed the greatest summer job for a computer science undergrad and she's actually looking forward to working for the Vampire Council. However, she never expected to meet up with her mysterious vampire who kissed her and enthralled her during her last Christmas break. She was hurt when her mystery man left her after giving her the earth shattering kiss, without even saying a word. Now, what hurts even more is when Gigi and the mysterious man cross paths again, and he doesn't remember a thing about their heated kiss. Nik feels bad about his selective amnesia, but over time he starts to realize every thought in his mind about Gigi is muddled. Despite the mutual attraction, Nik can't stop trying to kill Gigi (involuntarily), and then forgetting about the attacks, almost as if he's being controlled by magic or something supernatural.

Amnesiacs are always fun to read because you never know how things will turn out. Reading about Gigi and Nik definitely was fun even though their relationship wasn't very believable. It felt too much like love at first sight. Gigi's older sister and brother-in-law forbid Gigi from seeing the centuries old vampire, but obviously forbidden love trumps over murderous fugue states from your vampire boyfriend. More scenes and more development between Gigi and Nik would have been fun and desirable.

The nerd in me is thrilled that Molly included so many pop culture references. Harry Potter, Game of Thrones, The Big Bang Theory, The Walking Dead, and Dr. Who references (and many more) were mentioned. Oddly enough, the references were not just thrown into the text for the heck of it. No, they were actually in context and they added an interesting layer to Gigi's character.

A light and fun supernatural read, this book is a definite read for any Molly Harper fans. It may not be the best book in the series, but it's a definite must if you want to read more about the comings and goings of the beloved vampires of the little town called Half-Moon Hollow. I'm glad the original Half-Moon Hollow vampire couple Jane and Gabriel were present, despite their brief appearances, because I really missed reading about their craziness. Gigi and Nik are a great addition to the gang, but I felt their story was a little bit too short, a little rushed for my tastes. I really hope Molly Harper has more vampire or werewolves stories to write because this girl needs her paranormal/pop culture fixes.

Read More

by Tynga at Monday, April 06, 2015

 Half Moon Hollow, Magic, Molly Harper, Paranormal Romance, Pocket, Purchased, Review, Shapeshifter, Simon amp; Schuster, Simon Schuster, Vampire, Witch  2 People left their mark

✎

How To Run With a Naked Werewolf by Molly Harper

When it comes to Molly Harper books, you're always guaranteed at least a few laughs. HOW TO RUN WITH A NAKED WEREWOLF is no exception. Her books can always get me out of a reading funk because while they aren't necessarily great literature, they're fun and easy to read. I completely forgot that she was writing another book in her Naked Werewolf series, but I'm really glad I finally picked it up since it might just be my favorite out of the series.

In the first few pages, we are introduced to the main character "Anna Moder" but we don't really know her real name until well into the book. Anna is on the run, jumping around from city to city to avoid her abusive husband. Her case is the type where the law has a really hard time protecting abused women so she takes matters into her own hands and restarts her life with fake identities whenever her husband gets close to finding her. As a computer tech, her husband is very resourceful so she never feels completely safe, even on the run.

In comes Caleb Graham, an unlicensed private investigator/bounty hunter. She witnesses him being shot by one of his targets and her old car get blown up in the process. As a trained medical doctor, her first reflex is to help him and get him to a hospital. Despite him being a stranger, she lugs Graham into his truck, gets behind the wheel and drives towards the closest hospital near the remote Alaskan town they were in. Delirious, Graham refuses to go to the hospital so they end up in a motel room where she treats his already healing gunshot wound. Obviously, this situation isn't very realistic but it's a great setting for laugh out loud moments. Especially since Anna obviously knows that he's a werewolf, but Graham doesn't know she knows, and never admits it.

Anna and Graham find themselves on the road together, travelling the picturesque Alaskan roads, working his bounty hunting jobs together and getting to know one another in the process. Steamy motel room situations, stripper bar fights and awkward fugitive apprehensions are a few of the awesome situations Anna and Graham find themselves in. The longer they're together the closer they get. It's obvious their interest for one another becomes stronger, and their bed sharing turns into a lot more than just bed sharing.

For a chick lit, Holly Harper was still able to incorporate darker themes like marital abuse and stalking. For entertainment purposes, situations were obviously exaggerated but I applaud Molly Harper for taking a chance with this novel. The fact that she writes books with amazing and strong female leads, only emphasizes how resilient and capable women can be. The expected happy ending enforces the fact that abuse situations can take a turn for the better with encouragement and a strong support group. The story gravitates around Anna and Graham but it wouldn't be possible without the cast of great secondary characters. The novel is well rounded, an absolute page turner and definitely up there on my list of awesome chick lit.

Read More

by Tynga at Sunday, October 12, 2014

 Chick Lit, Library, Molly Harper, Naked Werewolf, Paranormal Romance, Pocket, Review, Simon amp; Schuster, Simon Schuster, werewolf  2 People left their mark

✎

Poison Promise by Jennifer Estep

POISON PROMISE is the eleventh book in Jennifer Estep's amazing Elemental Assassin series and, boy, does it deliver!

For the first time in a long time, Gin's troubles are not directly related to her life as an assassin. Instead, this time around, Gin ends up doing the looking after Catalina, one of her waitresses at the Pork Pig, gets accosted by drug dealers. Of course, things escalate fairly dramatically from there, leading to a dangerous enemy, a whole new side of Bria, and some pretty epic moments, including a standout fight that takes place in a public street.

Personally, I was really interested in the development in Bria's storyline. She's desperately trying to get Burn off the streets and it's become very personal for her. The Bria we get in POISON PROMISE is a far cry from the one we met when she first came into the series, when she was gentler and happier. In POISON PROMISE, Bria is ready to go vigilante to get justice and this newfound ruthlessness was really surprising because Bria is one of the only honest cops in Ashland. On the other side of the coin, though, Bria's sense of justice is incredibly strong so it's not out of character for her to become fixated on bringing the Burn dealer down. She's pushed to her limits by the situation and it's a nice role reversal to see Gin talking her sister down from violence and rash actions.

There's not much doing on the romance front in POISON PROMISE -- but that's a good thing! Gin and Owen are doing well and I'm glad that the focus of this novel was on the Burn storyline, not on tearing them apart as soon as they've gotten back together. They have their stolen moments of romance and it's still really sweet to see Gin have these softer scenes where she can forget about being the Spider and enjoy being in love. I keep hoping that Philip will finally make his move with Eva but I guess I'll have to keep waiting.

POISON PROMISE also advances the M. M. Monroe story arc, giving us some very interesting information. Once you start reading, you'll see what I mean but it would truly spoil your experience to write out what happens. The clues are seeded throughout the novel and it's gotten me very excited to see what Estep has in store for us in BLACK WIDOW. She ends POISON PROMISE in a way that will have you screaming for the next book in the series.

As always, I have nothing but good things to say about this Elemental Assassin novel. You'll love POISON PROMISE, guaranteed.

Read an excerpt (scroll down)

Read More

by Tynga at Monday, July 21, 2014

 Adult, Assassin, Edelweiss, Elemental Assassin, Jennifer Estep, Pocket, Review, Simon amp; Schuster, Simon and Schuster, Simon Schuster, Urban Fantasy  Leave your mark

✎

Under the Dome: Part Two by Stephen King

I reviewed Part One of this book a few weeks ago, and I'm really glad I read both parts one after the other. They really should be read together, the way the book was originally published as a hardcover. If it weren't for the sheer size, the paperback would have been published in one book, but I assume that wasn't physically possible. Part Two starts off as if Part One never ended and overall, I enjoyed the second part as much as I enjoyed the first. I might have like Part Two a little bit more, because we finally get to know what is going on and where the Dome comes from. Personally, I find the origin of the Dome a little too far fetched but still a pretty good idea.

Obviously what comes out of the mind of Stephen King is usually pretty far fetched. He's the type of writer that forces you to think outside the box as he pushes the boundaries of your imagination. He's definitely a great storyteller and I'm sure generations to come will know who he is, and his books will probably stay in print for a long period of time. His ability to mix so many themes and genres in his writing is incredible and if I was an aspiring author I could only dream to be able to do what he does so well. Under the Dome might not be Stephen King's masterpiece but I think I would consider it pretty high on the list.

It's really difficult to review this book without giving away any spoilers. Dale Barbara is still at the center of the story but his plans to help the people of Chester's Mill are put on hold when he gets imprisoned by the police force that is now more or less controlled by the "dictator" Jim Rennie. When I picture Jim Rennie, one of the town selectman of Chester's Mill, I know it's pretty awful to think but I think of the Mayor of Toronto, Rob Ford. For the physical appearance, not for the faults in personality.

One thing's for sure, time is running out for the people inside the Dome because while nothing can enter the Dome, nothing can get out either. That mean exhaust fumes, generator fumes, soot from fires and cigarettes, and basically everything is polluting the air. The simple act of breathing is getting harder and harder, and life inside the Dome is becoming less and less possible.

One thing I'm never crazy about is multiple point of views. In this case, when I say multiple, I mean lots (probably 20+, and I'm not kidding)! In order to make his readers understand how many lives are affected by this Dome, Stephen King used point of views of many citizens of the town. It definitely widens your view of the small town and it makes you realize how people can react differently in times of stress and when faced with unknown dangers. As the story goes on, many point of views are loss because of the high fatality rate inside the Dome. Some people die of natural causes because of the lack medical resources and personnel inside the Dome, some are murdered, while others commit suicide. Overall, you can say the book is pretty gruesome, with all those fatalities, but I think the main themes and lessons of part two makes the story a little less dark. There's definitely hope for Barbara and his gang in the smog inside the Dome but freedom definitely doesn't come easy.

Despite the length of this novel, I really enjoyed it. I loved seeing how this mysterious Dome affected people so differently, but at the same time, it really made me ponder how human nature leads some people to make the wrong decisions "for the good of the people." Under the Dome proves that dictatorships don't work. Humans are not made to be controlled under strict rules and blind trust. So many lessons can be pulled from this story while still being entertained by a great story. Because of its length and dark themes, UNDER THE DOME won't be for everyone, but I would recommend it to anyone interested by the storyline.



 

Read More

by Tynga at Sunday, July 06, 2014

 Dystopian, Pocket, Purchased, Review, Science Fiction, Science-Fiction, Simon amp; Schuster, Stephen King, Thriller, Under the Dome  Leave your mark

✎

Under the Dome: Part One by Stephen King

There's a few reason why I wanted to read this book. First, I attempted to read a library copy of UNDER THE DOME when it first came out as hardcover but because it was so large, I gave up on it because it was so intimidating. I think the publisher did the right choice in reprinting them as two parts when it came to releasing them as paperback. 640 pages is a little less intimidating than 1074. Another reason I wanted to read it is because I'm hooked on the TV series based on the book, and season 2 will be airing in about a week. I figured I would review the books before the new season began in anticipation for the TV show.

Within the first few pages of the book, you immediately realize that despite some similarities, the stories are quite different. Some of the characters are recognizable, but not quite the same, while others are completely different or are non existent in the TV show. Also the woodchuck in the book is replaced by a cow in the TV series. While there's a murder in the beginning of the book, there is one in the book too, but committed by someone else, killing someone else. One thing that is definitely the same is the confusion created by the dome and the tense atmosphere in the small Maine town. People are frightened and when people are scared, they can act defensively or in some cases, can turn aggressive and hungry for power.

The idea of the dome is quite original but the fact that everything goes crazy once people realize what's happening is typical of human nature. A sociopathic cars salesman turned politician, Big Jim Rennie becomes obsessed in controlling everything and holding the power in the small town of Chester's Mill. Everything under the dome turns upside down, and rules of civilization aren't really followed anymore. An Iraq soldier doesn't want to be a hero, but under the circumstances, the town needs one and he is more or less dragged into the role of protagonist. Dale Barbara's military training comes in handy for controlling unique situations and I find it interesting to see his military and analytical thinking coming into play. Julia Shumway, the town's newspaper publisher is another character that takes a leadership role in trying to figure out the mystery of the dome. There are so many different characters that sometimes it's hard to follow, but the book wouldn't be what it is without the town, and the town wouldn't be anything without its townspeople.

Overall, I really enjoyed part one but I must warn you, reader, it's a very slow novel. The first 30 min after the dome hits takes about 100 pages to describe. I guess that's the magic of literacy. It can take so many words to describe a short amount of time. It also allows you to be omnipresent in so many different places all at the same time. The author takes the time to describe what happens to many different characters when the dome hits. The chaos of dome day arrises from the many crashes into the invisible wall, whether it be by plane, car or tractor. If you want a fast read, this is definitely not the book for you, but if you have the time to take it all in, and the concept intrigues you, I say go for it.

This long but detailed thriller is worth it, if you have the time to absorb all the details. Personally I don't read many Stephen King novel because his writing is unique and detailed but now I feel like I should be reading more of his novels, even if they aren't my usual genre. Since it's available, I'm diving right into part two. I don't want to forget any details, especially because there's so many characters to follow. I'm also very happy the new season of the TV show will be airing soon so I can keep comparing the two very different, yet similar stories.

Read More

by Tynga at Sunday, June 22, 2014

 Adult, Dystopian, Pocket, Purchased, Review, Science Fiction, Science-Fiction, Simon amp; Schuster, Stephen King, Thriller, Under the Dome  Leave your mark

✎

Banishing the Dark by Jenn Bennett

One of the best books of the year, hands down! Jenn Bennett has knocked it out of the park with BANISHING THE DARK, creating a strong, emotional finale for Cady's journey.

I had high expectations for BANISHING THE DARK because Bennett has given us such an amazing journey so far. I couldn't wait to see how Cady would react to the news of her pregnancy, especially on the heels of the foundation-shattering revelations  about her Moonchild abilities. (You may remember  my OMG reaction to BINDING THE SHADOWS.) BANISHING THE DARK picks up shortly after the end of the previous novel and all of the questions that I had  at the end of Book 3 are answered in the newest novel, and then some. I've always said that Bennett is a talented and daring writer and Cady's final book is truly a dazzling finish to Cady, Lon, and  Jupe's  journey.

The main focus BANISHING THE DARK is Cady and Lon's need to master Cady's abilities and keep Cady's mom from taking over Cady's body. She'd be a supercharged villainess with amazing powers and that wouldn't be good for the world, let alone Cady, who would be a prisoner in her own body. They also need to conceal Cady's pregnancy from her mother, in case Mommy Dearest decides to inhabit their unborn child. A complicated scenario, especially when they're missing a lot of the pieces needed to succeed. As always, Bennett has crafted an immensely satisfying plot that will keep you on the edge of your seat, wondering how Cady and Lon will get themselves out of this mess.

One of the neat things about BANISHING THE DARK is that Bennett has added chapters from Jupe's point of view. I adore Jupe and this was a real treat. He's such a charming young man and the chapters about him really added to the overall narrative. I don't know about you but I would definitely  read a story told from Jupe's point of view!

BANISHING THE DARK is the final instalment in the Arcadia Belll's story and it's a humdinger! I'm sorry to say goodbye to Cady and her friends but I'm thoroughly satisfied with the emotional journey that Bennett has given us. You can be sure I'll be re-reading this series on a very regular basis.

Read More

by Tynga at Monday, May 19, 2014

 Adult, Arcadia Bell, Edelweiss, Jenn Bennett, Pocket, Review, Simon and Schuster, Simon Schuster, Urban Fantasy  5 People left their mark

✎

Demon From the Dark by Kresley Cole

Another passionate novel in an amazing series! Immortals After Dark is my favorite paranormal romance series out there, and I'm glad to say Kresley Cole delivered once again a page-turner.

This time around, we witness the growing relationship between Carrow, a rebel witch who's been kidnapped and pressured to recover a vemon, and said venom (demon turned vampire), Malkom. I think what I liked most were the numerous and virtually unbeatable challenges they had to face in their relationship. The biggest one being the language barrier. Carrow speaks English, and understand very little demonish. Malkom on the under hand used to know a little English, but due to dire circumstances, he forced this language out of his brain and speaks only demonish now. It's one hell of a barrier to overcome, especially when all the psychologists agree that communication is the key to a lasting relationship lol

There's is also a small detail like the fact that Carrow is suppose to seduce him so she can drag him back to the human facility holding her adopted daughter in hostage. How can you get involved in a relationship doomed from the start? Especially since Malkom seems to be such a careless brute, all seven feet of him. The Demon also bears numerous psychological traumas and Carrow can only glimpse the tip of the iceberg. The poor hero has been betrayed once and again and trust doesn't come easy. I thought it was smart of Cole to put Malkom in a position where he had to trust Carrow, when her intentions are to betray him from the start. Her moral debate was even better when she realized she was starting to have feelings for him but knew deep down it wouldn't change the outcome.

Cole's writing was as usual extremely engaging and I kept turning pages late into the night. I liked that plot events kind of split the timeline of our hero's relationship in three: The pre-betrayal romance, the actual betrayal and anger, and the possible reconciliation. The whole novel was a roller-coaster of emotions and I enjoyed myself very much! 

The conclusion promises much action in the novel to come because the situation in which Carrow and Malkom found themselves is far from settled, and I'm extremely curious to see what comes next.

Read More

by Tynga at Friday, March 07, 2014

 Adult, Demon, Immortals After Dark, Kresley Cole, Paranormal Romance, Pocket, Purchased, Review, Simon amp; Schuster, Simon Schuster, Witch  4 People left their mark

✎

The Care and Feeding of Stray Vampires by Molly Harper

It’s no secret that I’m a huge fan of Molly Harper’s writing style. The humor and sarcasm is right on par with mine and her characters are so easy to like. THE CARE AND FEEDING OF STRAY VAMPIRES is no exception to that, even if I have been reading this series out of order. While there was nothing extra special about this book compared to Harper’s other ones, I really enjoyed reading this one is particular. Probably because her characters felt authentic and the interactions between them were so amusing.

In my opinion, Iris and Cal are a great addition to the cast of Half-Moon Hollow, the little Kentucky town were many of Harper’s books are based. For such a small town, it has a tendency to attract a lot of supernatural events. In this case, Cal is drawn to the town because of the uncharacteristically harsh vampire killing happening all over the country. Apparently some vampires are being poisoned by drinking bad batches of synthetic blood, which is making them go more or less crazy and kill whoever’s near them. And Half-Moon Hollow is the place to investigate because it’s the location of the first dramatic kill. Cal is hired to investigate what’s going on and he unwittingly becomes a target for poisoning himself. He ends up getting really sick and passing out on his kitchen floor after drinking blood from a town welcoming basket. Iris, the main character of the story, literally stumbles upon him as she’s dropping off a client contract for Cal to sign. As a “personal errand girl” for vampires and vampire needs, she usually does a lot of things for her clients but cleaning them up and caring for them (especially feeding them straight from the source) is not in her job description.

It goes against Iris’s southern upbringing to simply leave this vampire out in the sun and when he asks her to help him by lodging him in her house, she can’t refuse. The huge amount of money he offers kind of seals the deal… Laying low in her house and hiding from the vampire community while he recuperates is his goal but as he gets better, the investigation into the killings and his poisoning becomes a priority. When you have a very good looking vampire and a young woman living together, you can expect sparks to fly, especially when you’re reading a paranormal romance. Cal and Iris have a lot of chemistry and although their relationship is an odd one, it’s really fun to read the scenes with their hilarious banter. The sex scenes are just an added bonus.

Personally, I think what makes this book different from the author’s other books is the relationship between Iris and her younger sister Gigi. Orphaned as a teen, Gigi had to turn to her older sister for guidance and parenting. While their relationship isn’t a typical one, I think even if Iris plays the role of single parent, they’re sisters first and their relationship is one that anybody would wish to have with a sibling.

Southern charm, hilarious moments, and great characters are what I’ve come to expect from Molly Harper and she really delivers with this book. If you’re in the mood for a good laugh and a straight forward story, this is one to pick up. One of my guilty pleasures is a good chick-lit book and Harper has a knack for adding paranormal elements to chick-lit stories. As the first of a spin-off series, this is definitely a book you can dive into if you haven’t read any of Harper’s other books.

Read More

by Tynga at Sunday, February 23, 2014

 Adult, Half Moon Hollow, Library, Molly Harper, Paranormal Romance, Pocket, Poison, Review, Simon amp; Schuster, Simon Schuster, vampires  1 Person left their mark

✎

A Witch's Handbook of Kisses and Curses by Molly Harper

In my opinion, there's no one who can do better paranormal comedy than Molly Harper. Her characters are always quirky, the hilarious situations are really fun to read, and the sarcasm is on par with some of the best rom-com out there. However, I think what makes this book work is, despite all the good bits, the paranormal story is still there to hold the book together.

Nola Leary is new to Half-Moon Hollow, the setting of many Molly Harper novels. She's only there as temporary resident, on a "quest" to find four magical artifacts that will save her family's magic. Ever since her grandmother passed away a little while back, she has felt responsible for her family and her family's well being. In theory, the search shouldn't be too hard because the artifacts should all be in her long lost grandfather's book shop. However, since he has passed away too and his organization skills were never great (awful, actually) things turn out to be a little harder than she expected. When she meets the new bookstore owner Jane Jameson, she welcomes any help she can get, so reveals her quest to her new vampire friend. Nola is the type of character that I love to read about. She makes almost every situation hilarious and if she would be an actual person in real life, it would be awesome to have her as a friend. It might be exhausting at time, but her sincerity and liveliness would definitely be worth it.

Obviously, this book wouldn't be complete without a hot and likeable guy. Jed Trudeau just happens to be Nola's next door neighbour and despite his extreme hotness, he's actually a very nice guy. His and Nola's humour are on the same page so their banter is definitely interesting and witty. Nola doesn't reveal her quest to Jed when she first meets him and she isn't very truthful about where she's from either. Jed has his own secrets too and there's an air of mystery that follows him around most of the book. Jed and Nola make a great pair and even if she feels guilty for cheating on her boyfriend with Jed, deep down I think she truly feels like her relationship with Stephen has never been very authentic in the first place.

As always, the Half-Moon Hollow residents make great secondary characters. Their eccentricities are what you expect to see in small town characters but Molly Harper is able to add her own little flair to them. What's great about this novel is you don't need to read any of her other books to understand this one. This is theoretically the second full length book of the series, which is actually a spin off to another one, and many of the characters from the previous novels are featured in this one. If you've read the other books, it's actually nice to meet the characters again to see how their happily ever after is working out for them, but it's really not necessary to know their back story in order to under Nola and Jed's.

I always highly anticipate Molly Harper's novels but for some reason, I've been a really bad fan and I haven't been keeping up. What thrills me is that a new book from her werewolf series is due out soon so I'm really looking forward to that since it's always been my favourite series of hers. If paranormal comedy is for you, I really recommend Harper's since it will make you laugh out loud and entertain you to the very end. It's as if this sub-genre was created for her since her wittiness was made to go with this type of paranormal romance. That being said, A Witch's Handbook of Kisses and Curses is a definite success and I highly recommend it.

Read More

by Tynga at Sunday, January 12, 2014

 Half Moon Hollow, Library, Magic, Molly Harper, Paranormal Romance, Pocket, Review, Romance, shapeshifters, Simon amp; Schuster, vampires, witches  2 People left their mark

✎

The Spider by Jennifer Estep

Can you believe that THE SPIDER is the tenth book in Jennifer Estep's Elemental Assassin series? And that it's still so good? Not many series make it to double digits and stay fresh but Estep's managed to do it with Gin and her increasingly dangerous lifestyle. But in THE SPIDER we see something a little different since the bulk of the story is a flashback to one of Gin's early assassinations and the fallout that ensued. It's fairly obvious that she survives since it's a flashback but it's also a seminal moment in Gin's development as an assassin so it's pretty cool to be able to see a younger, less experienced Gin getting her feet wet. What should be a straightforward assassination ends up being something much more layered and complex and it puts Gin through the wringer, both physically and emotionally. (One of the trademarks of an Elemental Assassin novel!)

For me, the best part of THE SPIDER is the opportunity to see Fletcher Lane in action. He's one of the major influences in Gin's life and it's really cool to see him doing his thing as the Tin Man. I've always wanted to know him better since what we've seen of Fletcher (primarily through Gin's memories) thoroughly intrigued me and THE SPIDER finally gives us the opportunity to see Fletcher Lane in his prime. We also get to see Finn when he was a bit more brash, which was a real treat since he's so suave and composed during most of the series.

There are some great little cameos in THE SPIDER. Some of them were quite unexpected so I don't want to spoil it but I will say that some familiar names will pop up outside of Fletcher, Finn, Jo-Jo, and Sophia. It's great to see some of the first meetings between characters and it's fun to see the threads that Estep is able to sew into the series with this novel.

As always, kudos to Estep for crafting a delightful novel. THE SPIDER is a really fresh entry into one of my favourite series. It puts the ongoing mystery of M. M. Monroe on hold but it gives us a great opportunity to delve into Gin's history and see just why she's so good at what she does. Origin stories are always a lot of fun and while this doesn't tell the full story of Gin becoming the Spider, it does give the reader a great deal of insight into how she went from an angry teenager to an incredibly patient and lethal assassin. I truly hope there are more flashback stories in our future.

Read More

by Tynga at Monday, December 16, 2013

 Adult, Assassin, Edelweiss, Elemental Assassin, Jennifer Estep, Pocket, Review, Simon amp; Schuster, Simon Schuster, Urban Fantasy  Leave your mark

✎