I stumbled upon Strange Angels while doing a google search, and after I watched the intense trailer, I fell victim to great marketing and purchased the Lili St. Crow novel upon my next visit to Books-A-Million. Unfortunately, for me, the book was somewhat disappointing–like taking a bath in luke-warm water when you expected the temperature to be steamy hot.  Don’t get me wrong. Strange Angels is a good read, but it doesn’t rank among my top picks, and I’m not on the edge of my seat in wait for the sequel.

Why did this novel fall flat for me?  Simple. I wasn’t hooked from the very beginning. In fact, while I found Dru Anderson’s tough girl attitude endearing, and her zombie slaying, night hunting lifestyle intriguing, I didn’t actually get hooked into the story until chapter six. And that’s after she killed her reanimated zombie father.  I don’t know why I still didn’t care all that much when her father returns home after a hunt, tapping sinisterly on the window pane before breaking in and trying to kill his only daughter.  It was disgusting, disturbing, and vivid–all the qualities I value in action sequences. It just doesn’t make sense that I would have to push myself to read beyond that, but I did, so I think it has to do with Dru’s character. …» more

SPOILER WARNING!  If you’re like me, and your favorite Harry Potter book is Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, then the latest movie will leave much to be desired. I’m not saying it was a bad movie or anything. In fact, my husband, who has never read any of the books, went to see it with me yesterday and enjoyed it.  Unfortunately, after the last five movies staying so close to the books, The Half-Blood Prince fell a little flat, especially at the end.

My favorite parts of the book, of course, include Harry’s adventures and lessons with Dumbledore, Voldemort’s beginnings, the tension between Hermoine and Ron, and of course, the battle at the end of the book. However, in the movie, several scenes were added or changed, most notably, the burning of the Weasley’s home and the ridiculous flirtations between Harry and Ginny. The rest of the movie remained mostly true to the book, despite the many details taken out (which is understandable for a 600 page book).   …» more

Pull out your tissues, girls, because Queen of the Masquerade will draw tears. Co-written with Amanda Jenkins, this fifth installment in Tiffany Trent’s Hallowmere series once again left me mourning the fact that only one book remains.  In Queen of the Masquerade, Christina finds herself in an unknown rath with no memory of who she is or why she is there.  Taken in by a fey family, Christina is known by the name of Brigitte, and struggles to discover who she is and help to ease the burdens of the fey by helping them find a stone.

However, when Christina catches a glimpse of the handsome Rory, from whom she was separated in the portal, her memories and identity come rushing back to her, revealing the reasons for her presence in the rath and reminding her that she can trust no one, especially none of the fey. As Christina reunites with Rory, her one true love, she discovers that finding her way home and escaping with her life will be more complicated that she had imagined.

Filled with countless questions, frail loyalties, and loads of magic, Queen of the Masquerade left me turning page after page with the hope that at least one of the ladies in the Hallowmere series would escape with her one true love.  But of course, I will give away nothing! What I will say is that once again, Trent, with the help of Jenkins, left me spellbound and entranced in this story of impossible love, fragile trust, and the mysterious realm of the fey. …» more

I had an awesome time at Books-A-Million because two of the new books I ventured out for were in stock, one of which was Full Moon, the second installment in Rachel Hawthorne’s Dark Guardians trilogy.  I must admit that I was somewhat wary to read Full Moon after having read Moonlight and loved it. I thought perhaps Full Moon would suffer by comparison. However, I was pleasantly surprised. Hawthorne certainly took Lindsey’s character and created a new adventure for the Dark Guardians that certainly rivals Moonlight in action and romance.

With mere weeks remaining until the full moon will mark her transformation, the rebellious beauty, Lindsey, finds herself torn between two Dark Guardians–her safe lifelong friend, Connor, and the sexy, dangerous Rafe.  Both men have claimed her as their own, and Lindsey shares a deep connection with them both–but will she choose the mate her parents have selected or the one her heart desires? …» more

 After reading the first three books in Tiffany Trent’s Hallowmere series, I wasn’t sure how I would feel about the fourth, Maiden of the Wolf , which Trent co-authored with Angelika Ranger, because it is told entirely from the point of view of Ilona.  After reading three novels from Corrine’s perspective and liking her as a strong protagonist, I was wary to switch to the perspective of Ilona because I didn’t know much about her other than she likes to fight and is good friends with Christina. However, I must say that after the first few pages, I was hooked. Ilona defies the stereotypes of women during the Civil War era and even today. With her strength, courage, and determination to free the victims of the fey, Ilona has all the qualities I value in a great female protagonist. …» more