by: Rachel Caine

Number of pages: 320

Unknown (Outcast Season Book Two)
I love this book and love the series. My only “complaint” is the non-stop pace. I simply can’t catch my breath as I read these books.

A continuation or offshoot from the Weather Wardens series, the “un” books star ex-djinn, Cassiel, who was stripped of her almost god-like djinn powers to be a mere mortal. Well, that’s not completely correct. She has some powers, but they are dependent on the life energy gifted to her by a warden.

Not all wardens would be so gracious to give her power, but Luis Rocha does.

He also is helping her track down his missing niece, and uncovering the mysterious abductions of several children. All of these children are linked by one or both parents being a Weather Warden. The special powers they have from their parents’ is being used against the djinn, the humans, and the planet.

Non-stop mayhem, a slowly evolving mystery, a really complicated baddie, and potential romance makes this book a must read for weather warden-lovers.

Overall book rating: 8.75

by: Angie Fox
Number of pages: 308

The wild and wacky life of Lizzie the Demon Slayer wouldn’t be complete without a trip to Las Vegas to keep her Fairy God Uncle from marrying a succubus.

Intrigued? You should be. This paranormal universe is unlike any other on the market. The character is more Kindergarten teacher (her former profession) than Vampire Slayer, and the loony trail of Biker Witches that help her are unlike any other leather-clad sidekick. But the true side-kick award goes to little Pirate, who’s plucky-dog-sense gets him a bit of demon pant leg and a whole lotta trouble.

But before you despair completely, there is a shiny-bad-boy griffin (he looks like a greek yum yum model so it’s bonus time!) who rides along side Lizzie, giving her the support and lovin’ every Demon Slayer needs.

Overall book rating: 8

by Joy Nash

Huh. Dante Allegretti might roll in his grave at this modern interpretation of the circles of hell, then again it was very well thought out even if the leading characters had things just a bit too convenient. I’m not saying their journey was easy, just convenient. Hum… mixed reactions to this installment, but it was better than some of the others in this series.

Writing: can’t fault the writer too much because it was an enjoyable read. 7.4; characters: cardboard? 6.1; Plot: 8.4 the hell analogy was very good, but misguided. conclusion: convenient. contrived? 6.5 Total Score: 7.1

by Jacquelyn Frank

Demon king Noah finds his mate. And she’s got superpowers. Yawn. Even the sex scenes were boring. Ms. Frank should have left the leading lady dead, it would have been more interesting.

score: 6…barely

Mary Janice Davidson, Susan Grant, Gena Showalter, and PC Cast

Paranormal meets Desperate Housewives, with strange behavior as the norm.

Disdaining Trouble : good story, drew you into the atmosphere. Was the best one of the book even if it did stretch believability. 7.8

The nanny from Hell: not as good as the first story but sweet enough to give you satisfaction: sub-character arcs not developed. 7.1

A Tawdry Affair: too much going on. The story opens with so much backstory unwritten it is very hard to follow.5.2

It’s in his kiss: cute, but not noteworthy. Romeo and Juliet and contrivance. 6.4

by Lori Handeland

Elizabeth Phoenix used to be a police officer, but left because her “gift” of seeing things through touch caused the death of her partner. Now she is drawn into more intrigue as her foster mother is brutally murdered. And the main suspect is her ex-boyfriend and enigma, Jimmy Sanducci.

Drawn into an underworld of paranormal war, she must choose to follow her destiny and avenge her foster-mother’s death and pick up the mantle of leadership she left behind.

Grade: writing: 8.6

Other books this week: Razor Girl(another Shomi title) by Marianne Mancusi…with all the hype on this list over Shaun of the Dead and zombie books, this one is a MUST read. It’s zombie camp with attitude wrapped up in a nice little thriller / zombie / apocalypse / romance. Weird combo, huh? It scores at least an 8 out of 10 on the Amy meter (hard grader, no curve, no mercy…I’m one of _those_ “critics”)

Also read and recommend: I read “Because Your Vampire Said So” by Michelle Bardsley. A VERY cute installment of the single mom vampires of Broken Heart, Oklahoma. One thing I forgot/didn’t remember about this series, is that each book deals with a different single parent. So I got confused. Is that a bad thing? Not really. This little romp has demons, ancient vampires, teenage boys smoking pot…you know… the usual mess we clean up, right?

LOL! Sometimes I wish hot, hunky, were creatures would pop into my backyard for me, JUST ME…! At least a 6.5-7.5 because it was entertaining. But don’t expect substance.

Full Moon Rising (re-read), Kissing Sin (re-read), Tempting Evil, Dangerous Games, and The Darkest Kiss by Keri Arthur. The Riley Jenson series. (at least until the latest)

You see what I see?

I missed one. Yep, I couldn’t get my hands on Embraced by Darkness. I liked this series a lot (for a bunch of paranormal/urban fantasy novels) but really need to find that one. It leaves a big hole in the series, IMO. That proves that although the stories do sort of stand alone, there is back story in each book that builds toward future books.

I’ve a bone to pick with this series. There have been complaints that Laurell K. Hamilton’s heroine Anita Blake acquires men and superpowers like flowers and candy…well… one could say that of Riley Jenson too. While not as “Mary Jane” as Anita (as in, she kicks butt and has a lot of sex with different men…oh wait…huh.)

I’ll stop there.

by Kelley Armstrong

This is the first of the “Women of the underworld” books by Kelley Armstrong I have read. The set up goes like this: Half demon tabloid reporter Hope Adams is dragged to Miami to investigate a gang of supernaturals who are causing trouble for the Cortez Cabal. Far from being a cheesy knock off of a paranormal “Godfather” this engaging book flows craftily through a urban fantasy world that has been well-constructed and is rich with intrigue.

Hope’s mission is complicated by the arrival of her estranged “boyfriend” the werewolf, Karl Marsten. Karl’s mission? To make sure Hope doesn’t end up dead. The stakes are high and the action and adventure are higher.

Overall: Extremely good read, recommended. 9.3

by Rachel Cain

Book Six of the Weather Warden series and I’m still not finding a bad book in the bunch. This step out of the “chase the Weather Warden while she tries to figure things out” realm was like a breather in the middle of a particularly bad storm. Warden Joanne Baldwin is still being chased, but she has no prior memories to conflict with the story, no backstory to interject, etc. Which makes this book stand out. The other books have a tendency to jump around in timelines while in this book you are forewarned in advance that you are going into someone’s memories. Thank you author!

Joanne has been stripped of her memories and left for dead. That’s where sexy Warden Lewis and even sexier Djinn David find her. Just as things start to go right, they go wrong and Joanne is forced from everything she has just re-learned to run from the demons that chase her.

This amazing series firmly places Aladdin as a kiddie tale and this one as the “Dracula” of djinn stories. It is a must read for urban fantasy fans.

Overall: 9.5