Short & Sweet Review ~ Kiss the Night Goodbye by Keri Arthur

Genre: Urban Fantasy
Series: Nikki & Michael #4
Publication Date: 29th October 2013 (1st published March 2004)
Pages: 352
Book Source: Random House Publishing & NetGalley

Synopsis: The Price Of Love

Nikki James is just an ordinary, risk-taking, psychically inclined private eye until she hooks up with Michael Kelly. Now she is something more: one of the few, the chosen, the magic-wielding undercover operatives of the Damask Circle, an organization protecting humanity from a rising tide of evil. She wants nothing more than to pass the Circle’s strict entry exams so she can get on with the business of planning her wedding to Michael. But she quickly realizes that buying a wedding dress is the least of her worries.

One hundred years ago, Michael Kelly hunted down and killed the sorcerer responsible for murdering his lover. Now the brother of that man is out for revenge, and he intends to destroy all that Michael holds dear in the process. When Michael is kidnapped, the trail leads Nikki to a dusty ghost town surrounded by a potent magical barrier, leaving her to battle a madman alone with only her wits, strength, and the one psychic gift she cannot fully control. And to make matters even worse, Michael no longer seems to remember who she is.

My Thoughts: 

Fourth and final book in the Nikki & Michael series and Keri Arthur kicks it up a notch. There's just more ... action, suspense, magic, fierceness, chemistry and the good vs evil battle kept my heart in my mouth.  

Nikki finally joins Michael as an operative of the Damask Circle, Michael kidnapped, Nikki wiped from his memories, clock ticking ...

Kudos to Keri Arthur for getting evil down pat, Kiss the Night Goodbye had the baddie with the biggest ick factor ... seriously made my skin crawl. 

In previous books Nikki & Michael's relationship has been weighed down with angst and frustration, not to mention eye-rolling and annoyance on my part. But in Kiss the Night Goodbye ... no eye rolling at all ;)

Connect with Keri Arthur

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Just a side note: the Damask Circle trilogy is being reissued in 2014 with editing and cover love. They're up on NetGalley now ... decisions, decisions, can I squeeze them in lol

Hearts in Darkness & Chasing the Shadows by Keri Arthur

Genre: Urban Fantasy
Series: Nikki & Michael #2
Publication Date: 27th August 2013 (1st published 2001)
Pages: 336
Book Source: Own purchase

Synopsis: Life has never been so insane for Nikki James. There's another teenager missing. She has another vampire to contend with. Her partner and best friend Jake is in the hospital dying. And a madman is kidnapping the wealthy. Just when it seems nothing else could possibly go wrong, Michael returns-but not for her. This time, however, Nikki has no intention of running from either the case or from what still lies between her and Michael. And she isn't going to let him run, either. The last thing Michael Kelly needs is a confrontation with Nikki-especially when his control over his bloodlust is still so tenuous. But when a kidnapper steps up his agenda to murder, he's forced into a partnership with Nikki to keep her safe. Soon Michael discovers the biggest danger he faces may not be from his need to "taste" her, but from his desire to make her a permanent part of his life-a life that is sure to get her killed. Nikki is determined to make Michael see that life apart is worse than death. But before she can make him see the light, a specter from Michael's past rises that could destroy any hope she has of a future with him. Because this time the threat isn't physical. It's a matter of the heart. Nikki must compete with the woman-the vampire-for whom Michael gave up life.

My Thoughts: 

Another missing teenager, another dangerous case for Nikki and Nikki and Michael forced to team up in the fight against evil as their cases intertwine.  

The relationship dynamic drove me nuts, Nikki & Michaels' lives are irrevocably linked, the chemistry and emotion is there but Michael's constant "we can never be" got seriously old and seriously irritating!  

Insta-love and fast-forward relationships don't work for me but geez ... these two need to get off the angst train and just get to know each other.   

On the plus side Hearts in Darkness is another action packed installment, the new entities introduced are great, especially the fire imps and I'm really curious about Nikki's morphing abilities. 

I've got my fingers crossed that book 3 is less angst and more of everything else. 

Genre: Urban Fantasy
Series: Nikki & Michael #3
Publication Date: 24th September 2013 (1st published 2002)
Pages: 352
Book Source: Random House Publishing & NetGalley

Synopsis: Nikki James is in San Francisco at the request of her partner and best friend, Jake. The wife of an old friend is missing, and Jake intends to find her—whatever the cost. The authorities believe the kidnappings to be the work of a sick mind, but Nikki knows that the truth is something much worse—especially since she seems to have an unexpected psychic link to the killer. But as always, she is more than willing to risk her own life to save another’s.

For Michael Kelly, Nikki’s bravado is a source of endless terror. He wants nothing more than to make Nikki a permanent part of his life, but he knows that her quest is sure to get her killed. As they chase through the sewers and tunnels of San Francisco and the body count begins to rise, Michael badgers her to stay off the case, but Nikki has no intention of complying. She wants him to realize that she’s either a full partner in his life or she’s out. But nothing prepares her for the price she has to pay for her stubbornness—the life of someone she loves.

My Thoughts:

Best yet ...

Nikki and Jakes' private investigative work and Michael's missions with the Damask Circle merge once again (much to Michael's displeasure) with a horrifying case that kept me turning the pages, enthralled. 

Michael's condescending attitude and insistence that Nikki is a delicate flower in need of protection or bubble wrap borders on nauseating but I guess a 300 year old vamp isn't going to change his archaic attitude overnight. 

 “I will treat you like a full partner when you act like one” ... oh pul-eeze

Does he forget he and Nikki are life-linked and she's a tough investigator with seriously bad-ass psychic abilities that are morphing into something all-powerful?

Thankfully Nikki & Michael's relationship takes a leap from the angst train into something more 'real' ... not without battles, and ultimatums on Nikki's part and plenty of eye rolling on mine. 

Chasing the Shadows is the most enjoyable of the series so far, up next Kiss the Night Goodbye, hope it lives up to my growing expectations.

See my review of the 1st book in the series Dancing with the Devil

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Dancing with the Devil by Keri Arthur

Genre: Urban Fantasy
Series: Nikki & Michael #1
Publication Date: 30th July 2013 (1st published March 2001)
Pages: 352
Book Source: Random House Publishing & NetGalley

Synopsis: Private Investigator Nikki James grew up on the tough streets of Lyndhurst and believes there’s nothing left to surprise her. But all that changes the night she follows a rich man’s daughter into the shadows and finds herself caught in a war between two very different men. One is a madman, intent on destruction. The other has his own heart of darkness.

 For three hundred years, Michael Kelly has existed in life’s shadows, gradually learning to control his vampire cravings. He is convinced that no one can breach his formidable barriers—until he meets Nikki. With her powerful psychic abilities, Nikki swiftly invades both his mind and his heart. Nikki knows how dangerous love can be . . . but if she wants to survive, she must place her trust in this man who could easily destroy her. For only together can they overcome the evil threatening to destroy them both.

My Thoughts:

I've enjoyed Australian author Kerri Arthur's Riley Jenson Guardian series so was keen to try Dancing with the Devil when I saw it on NetGalley, unaware that it was actually first published more than 10 years ago. Re-edited and re-released with a hot new cover, but given this was some of her first work I was surprised at how much I enjoyed it.  

Nikki is a private investigator with strong psychic abilities - telekinesis  telemetry, telepathy (love it, I gobble up that stuff) she's also stubborn as a mule and sometimes just as stupid. 300 year old tortured vamp Michael is a bit of a hotty but having been around a while he's carrying baggage. 

Together they take on Jasper, who may as well be the devil himself. Keri Arthur does 'evil' well but I like to see evil bastards come to a nasty end ... yep I have a mean streak, you'll just have to read this one yourself if you want to know what happens ;)

Nikki and Michael both have 'issues' which amped up the angst. Now I'm not expecting sunshine and roses in their future, but bring on the sizzle I say. 

Overall a darkly entertaining read.

Next up, Hearts in Darkness and the third and fourth books in the Nikki and Michael series will follow at one month intervals.

Connect with Keri Arthur

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The Water Witch by Juliet Dark

Genre: Fantasy
Series: Fairwick Chronicles #2
Publication Date: 12th February 2013
Pages: 352
Book Source: Random House Publishing & NetGalley

Synopsis: After casting out a dark spirit, Callie McFay, a professor of gothic literature, has at last restored a semblance of calm to her rambling Victorian house. But in the nearby thicket of the Honeysuckle Forest, and in the currents of the rushing Undine River, more trouble is stirring. . . .

The enchanted town of Fairwick’s dazzling mix of mythical creatures has come under siege from the Grove: a sinister group of witches determined to banish the fey back to their ancestral land. With factions turning on one another, all are cruelly forced to take sides. Callie’s grandmother, a prominent Grove member, demands her granddaughter’s compliance, but half-witch/half-fey Callie can hardly betray her friends and colleagues at the college. 

To stave off disaster, Callie enlists Duncan Laird, an alluring seductive academic who cultivates her vast magical potential, but to what end? Deeply conflicted, Callie struggles to save her beloved Fairwick, dangerously pushing her extraordinary powers to the limit—risking all, even the needs of her own passionate heart.

My Thoughts:

After enjoying the first book in the series, The Demon Lover I was happy to pick up The Water Witch, secretly hoping for more hot sex ... yep, not disappointed! Hey in all fairness Callie McFay seems to be attracted to every hot male in the book, ok three of them ;)

Following her calling as a doorkeeper Callie McFay protects the last doorway between Faerie and the human world. In The Water Witch she comes to some understanding of her formidable powers and the connection I didn't feel with her in The Demon Lover surprisingly surfaces. She's not all the way there yet but a bit more kick-ass-ness helped with likeability. 

The town of Fairwick oozes magic and myth and in this installment we're introduced to new otherworldly characters. It's an eclectic mix of fey and witches, the exploration vivid and indepth, but it rambles into drawn out. There's an abundance of story lines and sub plots but not much progression if that makes sense.

Despite flaws, I'm invested (and not just in the sex) and I'm looking forward to the final book in the trilogy. Yep I'm almost hoping Callie and her succubus get their HEA, I'm drawn to his tortured character ... he has a certain appeal despite his kind-of-creepy life-sucking qualities.

"You have only to call my name to bring me back," he whispered, his breath hot in my ear. "You have only to love me to make me human."

UK cover (released Sept 2012)

Note: Juliet Dark is the pseudonym for Carol Goodman & the 1st book The Demon Lover is published in the UK under the title Incubus. 

Visit Juliet Dark's website to find out more.

Short & Sweet Review ~ This Side of the Grave by Jeaniene Frost

Genre: Urban Fantasy

Series: Night Huntress #5

Publication Date: 

Pages: 357

Book Source: Own purchase

Synopsis: Danger waits on both sides of the grave.

Half-vampire Cat Crawfield and her vampire husband Bones have fought for their lives, as well as for their relationship. But just when they've triumphed over the latest battle, Cat's new and unexpected abilities threaten to upset a long-standing balance . . .

With the mysterious disappearance of vampires, rumors abound that a species war is brewing. A zealot is inciting tensions between the vampires and ghouls, and if these two powerful groups clash, innocent mortals could become collateral damage. Now Cat and Bones are forced to seek help from a dangerous "ally"; the ghoul queen of New Orleans herself. But the price of her assistance may prove more treacherous than even the threat of a supernatural war . . . to say nothing of the repercussions Cat never imagined.

My Thoughts: 

You all know I have the hots for Bones ... I'd marry him & have his babies in a heartbeat but he's already taken so I settled for a kindle named Bones ... poor substitute but you take what you can get ;)

This Side of the Grave was action packed as Cat, Bones and the team battled some nasty ghouls intent on an all out species war. But this installment wasn't without some touching moments and the smart-ass one liners from my favourite vamps seriously cracked me up. Cat is a matured version of her kick-ass self and Bones is Bones. I loved their flirtatious teasing and sexy time was set-the-sheets-on-fire hot!

If you haven't started this series you are seriously missing out!

Need more convincing: here's my reviews for the first 4 books
Halfway To The Grave #1 ~ 5 stars
One Foot In The Grave #2 ~ 5 stars
At Graves End #3 ~ 4.5 stars
Destined For An Early Grave #4 ~ 4.5 stars

Visit Jeaniene Frost's terrific website & blog to find out more about this author and her work.

The Prophet by Amanda Stevens

Genre: Urban Fantasy
Series: Graveyard Queen #3
Publication Date: 24th April 2012
Pages: 352
Book Source: ARC courtesy Mira & NetGalley

Synopsis: My name is Amelia Gray.

I am the Graveyard Queen, a cemetery restorer who sees ghosts. My father passed down four rules to keep me safe and I've broken every last one. A door has opened and evil wants me back.

In order to protect myself, I've vowed to return to those rules. But the ghost of a murdered cop needs my help to find his killer. The clues lead me to the dark side of Charleston—where witchcraft, root doctors and black magic still flourish—and back to John Devlin, a haunted police detective I should only love from afar. Now I'm faced with a terrible choice: follow the rules or follow my heart.

My Thoughts:

I really enjoyed the change of pace in The Prophet, ok it wasn't as intense as the first two books but it was still atmospheric, in a quieter way. The Prophet focuses on a tangled web of mystery, interlaced with lies and dark magic.  

Amelia returns to her life in Charleston, accompanied by furry family member, Angus but recent traumatic experiences appear to have taken a toll leaving her less focused and driven, a little more vulnerable.  

I got my wish for more Devlin in this installment, but in saying that I don't feel like I know him any better. Yes there's progress in Amelia and Devlin's complicated relationship but it's sloooow; pick up the pace Devlin or I might transfer allegiance to Team Thane. I'm also hoping it's not long before Devlin learns the truth behind the death of his daughter Shani, giving him the strength to move on.   

Amanda Stevens recently announced there's another 3 books in the Graveyard Queen series which is awesome because I'm not done. 

Check out my reviews of the previous books in the series:

The Restorer book 1

The Kingdom book 2

Visit Amanda's awesome website to find out more about the author and her work.

The Kingdom by Amanda Stevens

Genre: Urban Fantasy
Series: Graveyard Queen #2
Publication Date: March 27th 2012
Pages: 376
Book Source: Harlequin/Mira & NetGalley

Synopsis: Deep in the shadowy foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains lies a dying town ...

My name is Amelia Gray. They call me The Graveyard Queen. I’ve been commissioned to restore an old cemetery in Asher Falls, South Carolina, but I’m coming to think I have another purpose here.

Why is there a cemetery at the bottom of Bell Lake? Why am I drawn time and again to a hidden grave I’ve discovered in the woods? Something is eating away at the soul of this town - this withering kingdom - and it will only be restored if I can uncover the truth.

My Thoughts:

I loved the first book in the Graveyard Queen series The Restorer and Amanda Stevens follows through with another chilling installment with book 2. The Kingdom follows a similar vein to The Restorer, a gothic, sinister read, wonderfully atmospheric, but this one has a real sense of evil permeating the pages, like mist rolling in from the mountains. 

Amelia Gray has taken on a commission in the isolated town of Asher Falls, restoring Thorngate Cemetry, but her escape from Charleston is as much about escaping her feelings for police detective John Devlin. I thought Angus was a welcome addition to the cast of characters, Amelia's new furry friend, a rescued 'bait dog'. It was lovely to see their relationship develop; they need each other, they're both in need of a little unconditional love and loyalty. 

In The Kingdom we're introduced to Thane Asher, heir to the Asher empire. Amelia is strangely drawn to him and whilst I missed the presence of the brooding Devlin, Thane  grew on me. However as the pages closed on The Kingdom my hopes were heightened for more ... Devlin.

  

Two things I just have to rave about:

We discover much about Amelia's past in this installment, it's all intertwined with Asher Falls. Long held secrets are exposed and it's all very twisty and unexpected and awesome. But none of the awesome stuff stopped me wanting to slap Amelia the 3rd, 4th and probably 5th time she put herself in danger ... stoopid!!

   

The palpable creepiness, the undercurrent of foreboding. The kind of creepy that leaves you with goosebumps, your scalp prickling, the hair rising on the back of your neck and starting at things that go bump in the night ... or day for that matter. It's creepy good, I literally couldn't put this one down.

I'm enjoying this series so much I'm continuing straight on with The Prophet which is due to be released April 24th.  

Visit Amanda's awesome website to find out more about the author and her work.

Every Other Day by Jennifer Lynn Barnes

Genre: YA Urban Fantasy
Release Date: 27th Dec 2011
Pages: 336
Book Source: Egmont US & NetGalley

Synopsis: Every other day, Kali D'Angelo is a normal sixteen-year-old girl. She goes to public high school. She attends pep rallies. She's human.

And then every day in between . . .She's something else entirely.

Though she still looks like herself, every twenty-four hours predatory instincts take over and Kali becomes a feared demon-hunter with the undeniable urge to hunt, trap, and kill zombies, hellhounds, and other supernatural creatures. Kali has no idea why she is the way she is, but she gives in to instinct anyway. Even though the government considers it environmental terrorism.

When Kali notices a mark on the lower back of a popular girl at school, she knows instantly that the girl is marked for death by one of these creatures. Kali has twenty-four hours to save her and, unfortunately, she'll have to do it as a human. With the help of a few new friends, Kali takes a risk that her human body might not survive. . .and learns the secrets of her mysterious condition in the process.

My Thoughts:

Kick-ass action, feverish pace, quirky cast of characters, blood, gore and violence (oh yeah) make this one a winner in my book. Preternaturals; hellhounds, basilisks, dragons, chupacabras, zombies are an accepted reality, co-existing with humans under government protection ... pretty cool world building.

Kali is human one day and slayer of preternatural beasties the next. Working against the clock, the countdown as she changes from human to hunter amps up the suspense and had my heart in my mouth a few times. Pretty much a loner until she ends up with unexpected allies Skylar & Bethany. 

Skylar is cute, sassy and a little odd and Skylar's brothers are an awesome lot. Bethany starts off as a typical mean girl but she's obnoxiously loyal, sarcastic, hilarious and I loved her. These two had personality plus and their banter had me giggling. 

Jennifer Lynn Barnes writes in a no-fluff way, not that there isn't emotion, there is, but she gets down and dirty and doesn't mind throwing in the twists and turns and some totally hateful curveballs!

Highly recommend this one for lovers of urban fantasy :)

Read more about Jennifer Lynn Barnes: website, blog, tumblr.

The Restorer by Amanda Stevens

Genre: Urban Fantasy
Series: The Graveyard Queen #1
Copyright: April 2011
Pages: 400
Book Source: Own Purchase

Synopsis: My name is Amelia Gray. I’m a cemetery restorer who sees ghosts. In order to protect myself from the parasitic nature of the dead, I’ve always held fast to the rules passed down from my father. But now a haunted police detective has entered my world and everything is changing, including the rules that have always kept me safe.

It started with the discovery of a young woman’s brutalized body in an old Charleston graveyard I’ve been hired to restore. The clues to the killer—and to his other victims— lie in the headstone symbolism that only I can interpret. Devlin needs my help, but his ghosts shadow his every move, feeding off his warmth, sustaining their presence with his energy. To warn him would be to invite them into my life. I’ve vowed to keep my distance, but the pull of his magnetism grows ever stronger even as the symbols lead me closer to the killer and to the gossamer veil that separates this world from the next.

Review:

Wonderfully atmospheric, I was hooked from the first line "I was nine when I saw my first ghost." 

Never acknowledge the dead

Never stray far from hallowed ground

Never associate with those who are haunted

Never, ever tempt fate.

Oooh doesn't that just give you the chills? The Restorer has an eery undercurrent that permeates the novel and raises the hair on the back of your neck, you know the feeling? ... not outright scary but downright creepy!

Amelia, The Graveyard Queen, is self-assured, intelligent, confident and entirely likeable and her career as a well-respected cemetry restorer, utterly fascinating. It's the originality of the Charleston setting, and lyrical descriptions of graveyards, headstones, epitaphs & symbolism that I fell in love with.

Detective John Devlin is enigmatic and brooding, a "still waters run deep" kinda guy and when his past is revealed you can understand why. I'm hoping that as the series evolves, Devlin's layers are peeled back and exposed. The tension between Amelia & Devlin is palpable and heightens the general sense of unease but this isn't a romance, it's a seductive combination of history & mystery that keeps you turning the pages with urgency.

I think I've found my next urban fantasy series addiction; ok it's not Cat & Bones ... yet, but I can't wait to see where the author takes this in The Kingdom, in stores April 2012.

The Abandoned is an ebook exclusive prequel to The Graveyard Queen series - available @ amazon, (unfortunately not for Aussies) B&N & eHarlequin.

Visit Amanda's awesome website to find out more about the author and her work.

My Soul To Lose by Rachel Vincent

Genre: YA
Series: Soul Screamers prequel
Copyright: 2009
Time: 1hr 48 mins
Book Source: free audio

It was supposed to be a fun day, shopping at the mall with her best friend. Then the panic attack started and Kaylee Cavanaugh finds herself screaming, unable to stop. Her secret fears are exposed and it's the worst day of her life.

Until she wakes up in the psychiatric unit.

She tries to convince everyone she's fine--despite the shadows she sees forming around another patient and the urge to scream which comes burbling up again and again. Everyone thinks she's crazy. Everyone except Lydia, that is. Another patient with some special abilities ...

Review:

My Soul To Lose is the novella prequel to Rachel Vincent's Soul Screamer series. It's a super quick, intriguing read; just a teaser really, for what I'm sure is going to continue to be a fascinating storyline.

Waking 15 hours after an extreme 'panic attack' to find herself in a psychiatric unit has Kaylee doubting her own sanity. I quickly connected with the main character, Kaylee is one tough cookie, she's funny, sarcastic and there's more to her than meets the eye. 

Dr. Nelson: “Do you have any family history of mental instability?”

Me: “Yes. My cousin thinks she’s twenty-one. My aunt thinks she’s eighteen. I’d call them both mentally unstable.”

Dr. Nelson: “Do you now, or have you ever, used or abused caffeine, alcohol, nicotine, cocaine, amphetamines, or opiates?”

Me: “Oh, yeah. All of it. What else am I supposed to do in study hall? In fact, I better get my stash back from your rent-a-cop when I check out of here.”

Kudos to Rachel Vincent; I was hooked from the start, the narrator is good, there were plenty of skin crawly moments and I'm diving straight into My Soul To Take, the 1st book in the series.

Download the free ebook from the Soul Screamer's website - click here

or you can download the audio version for free on audible.com - click here

This month on The Eclectic Reader you can win a copy of Matched by Allie Condie, or Last Sacrifice by Richelle Mead or The Leopard Unleashed by Elizabeth Chadwick. Check this blog post for details. Open Internationally.

Destined For An Early Grave by Jeaniene Frost

Genre: Urban Fantasy
Series: Night Huntress Book 4
Copyright: 2009
Pages: 385
Book Source: Own book

Her deadly dreams leave her in grave danger...

Since half-vampire Cat Crawfield and her undead lover Bones met six years ago, they've fought against the rogue undead, battled a vengeful Master vampire, and pledged their devotion with a blood bond. Now it's time for a vacation. But their hopes for a perfect Paris holiday are dashed when Cat awakes one night in terror. She's having visions of a vampire named Gregor who's more powerful than Bones and has ties to her past that even Cat herself didn't know about.

Gregor believes Cat is his and he won't stop until he has her. As the battle begins between the vamp who haunts her nightmares and the one who holds her heart, only Cat can break Gregor's hold over her. She'll need all the power she can summon in order to bring down the baddest bloodsucker she's ever faced . . . even if getting that power will result in an early grave.

Review:

Can I just say Bones sooo does it for me and leave it at that :)

No?? you want more convincing ... ok.

This would have to be one of my favourite urban fantasy series, the perfect combination of high-octane action, passion, hilarious dialogue, suspense, Bones, Bones, and did I mention Bones.

While Cat & Bones don't quite set the sheets on fire in Destined For An Early Grave, passion is definitely back and I was ... most satisfied :)  I guess we've been spoilt, it would take a lot to surpass the infamous hot and dirty chapter 32 in book 2 but anything with Bones and Cat doing the horizontal mambo or the vertical mambo for that matter is a winner! Obviously there's more to the story than the aforementioned postitions but when it comes to Bones I seem to have trouble maintaining a coherent train of thought. 

Now where was I? Cat and Bones' relationship issues escalate in this installment, due in part to obstinancy and lack of communication on both sides but the introduction of new villian Gregor also contributes to sparks flying. Fortunately the snarky one-liners had me laughing out loud overriding my desire to smack the couple's heads together on the odd occasion. Once again old friends provide a great supporting cast and I love Fabian's (the ghost) role in this book.

There are so many great quotes I could tease you with but I'll leave you with this one between Cat's mother, Justina and Ian.

"Don't you have somewhere else you could be?" she asked him in a withering voice.
Ian's smile just broadened. "Certainly. Pull up your skirt, and I'll show you."

I can't squeal enough about this series and I'm seriously going to suffer waiting for my next Cat & Bones fix in This Side Of The Grave coming 22nd Feb 2011

Visit Jeaniene Frost's terrific website & blog to find out more about this author and her work.

See my reviews for the first three books in the Night Huntress series  - Halfway to the Grave  & One Foot In The Grave  (both 5 stars) and At Graves End  4.5 stars.

This month on The Eclectic Reader THREE lucky readers will win their choice of books. Check this blog post for details. International entrants welcome.

Glass Houses by Rachel Caine

Genre: YA Urban Fantasy
Series: The Morganville Vampires book 1
Copyright: 2006
Pages: 248
Book Source:  Contest win from Teens Read & Write

Welcome to Morganville Texas.

Don't stay out after dark.

This was a really quick, fun read and whilst it may not have technically ticked all the boxes I enjoyed it immensely. It's engaging, dark and tense, kind of 'Mean Girls' meets supernatural world.

Claire is a 16 year old brainiac attending college in Morganville Texas, a small town where vampires rule the roost, and there's nothing 'nice' about these vamps. When Claire gets on the wrong side of Monica, queen bitch bee of college, and her life is threatened she desperately seeks off-campus housing at the Glass House. Owned by the mysterious Michael Glass, Claire's other roomies include Eve, a rebellious goth with a caring nature and sarcastic, funny-guy Shane; a highly entertaining mix.

Most of the humans in Morganville have a vampire patron meaning they're protected, but the teens of Glass House are different, they're unprotected by choice and hence ... fair game. Claire and her friends make a deal with the devil to give themselves any chance of survival in 'creepyville' and what follows is a page-turning ride. Just when you think you've got the plot all pegged, Michael's reveal was a tingly surprise.

I have it on good authority from Hannah @ Changing My Definition of Life that this is a series worth continuing on with and she'd know. Hannah read the entire series in a Rachel Caine read-a-fest one week and loved them! Thanks to the cliffhanger ending in Glass Houses and Hannah's enthusiasm I'll be ordering, not just the next book, The Dead Girl's Dance, but as many as I can afford :-)

Visit Rachel Caine's website to find out more about the Morganville Vampire series and her other work.

This month on The Eclectic Reader one lucky reader can win The Iron King OR Ecstasy Unveiled OR Captive of Sin. Check this blog post for details. International entrants welcome.