Review: Soul in Present Condition

Title: Soul in Present Condition

Author: Mary E. Merrell

Date of Publication: August 17, 2013

Formats Available: E-book

Buy This Book: Amazon

Synopsis: Divorced. Check.

Ghost whisperer. Check.

Human servant. Check.

Great. Check.

Rosemary Fernandes never planned on being divorced. She never expected to be able to communicate with ghosts nor be the human servant to a vampire either. But she is all these things. Rosemary has had to get tough to compete in the cutthroat world of real estate and even tougher to face her fears of the supernatural as her paranormal escapades heat up.

Marcus Lyons is a vampire and Rosemary’s master. He forbids her to get involved with any more ghosts, and maintains the secrets they hold will be her death. Rosemary knows helping lost souls is what she’s meant to do, no matter how dangerous. When Rosemary connects with an angry young spirit, Marcus puts a price on her desires. What is she willing to give to help this specter? And will Rosemary’s bargain with the vampire be the end of her relationship with sexy tattoo artist Frank Perez.

Benny Cruz talks all gangsta and sarcastic. His energy is static, and he claims he knows what Rosemary is. Benny believes Rosemary controls the dead, and leads them around on a leash. Rosemary agrees to help the lost soul and prove she can't make the dead do anything, but is someone who helps lost souls move on. Something feels off with this spirit, and Rosemary is sure Benny knows more than he’s telling.

Benny is intent on completing the task he didn't finish. Rosemary must convince the spirit that closure with his family is what’s keeping him here. What’s not done is done. When Benny’s secret risks Rosemary’s life, she must somehow save herself and help the ghost find peace. Can she afford Marcus’ price of flesh and blood and prove to the vampire he is more man than monster? And what happens when Rosemary finds herself falling for two very different men? Even though one may be a killer.

My Review: 

When I was asked to do this blog tour I was told that Soul in Present Condition was the third in a series, but could also stand alone. Unfortunately, it quickly became apparent that this novel definitely wasn't a standalone novel, there was a huge amount of plot development and character relationships that must have happened in previous novels and I didn't understand Rosemary's relationship with Marcus or some of the other characters.

Not only was I confused by some of the ongoing plot lines but frankly, I was just bored. Maybe it was because I hadn't read the previous novels, but I just couldn't get myself into the story. Even though the premise is interesting enough I just didn't feel drawn into the story or find myself interested in what was happening. I was especially bored by the mystery, Benny wasn't a very interesting ghost and I felt like the majority of the novel was spent talking about Rosemary's dealings in real estate rather than the mystery and the paranormal elements of the story; the two things that would have made the novel much more interesting.

Likewise I didn't understand the character relationships, from what I could gather Marcus, the vampire, was Rosemary's "master" of sorts but I couldn't really figure out how that relationship came to be. I also couldn't figure out the relationship between Rosemary and Marcus's maker, Lucila, the entire novel I was wondering if Rosemary liked her or didn't like her and what their relationship was. The most interesting characters in the novel were Esteban and Vivianna, to be honest I was more interested in their story than Rosemary's.

Despite it all Soul in Present Condition was a fairly well written novel with only a few typos and with a little more polish could be a wonderfully written story.  Maybe if I had read the first two novels in the series I would have liked this one better because Merrell did a great job creating an original story line and giving the characters unique personalities. However, because I was coming into the series with the third book I have a feeling my confusion may have impacted how I felt about the novel.

Fans of the series will probably find no problem with this novel, however it just wasn't my cup of tea since I hadn't read the first two. Those looking for a interesting paranormal mystery might want to check this one out but make sure to start with the first one!

2/5

Review: Supernaturally Kissed

Title: Frostbite #1: Supernaturally Kissed

Author: Stacey Kennedy

Date of Publication: January 5, 2012

Buy This Book: Amazon

Formats Available: Paperback, E-book

Synopsis: Ghosts harass and annoy Tess to save their souls. Sometimes she helps them. Other times she ignores them. But one ghost will give her no choice. Kipp, a former cop with the Memphis Police Department, will stop at nothing to gain her help, including using his ghostly charms to seduce her.

Tess must help solve the five-year-old cold case of Hannah Reid’s disappearance, because solving the case will save Kipp. But a bigger problem presents itself. Tess is falling in love with a ghost. Now she must decide. Keep Kipp forever, or find the killer.

My Review:

Supernaturally Kissed was one of the novels I was really looking forward to reading when I got my Kindle. Even though I was expecting it to be a little more serious this story turned out to be a really fun read. After I stopped thinking about all the things I wished the story had and started thinking about all the good things about it, I found myself enjoying this one more than I thought I would at the beginning.

Tess was a super fun character, she was sassy and funny and I loved reading about her. I will admit that she was a little shallow at times but in a way that was almost a part of her charm. She wasn't supposed to be an intelligent character and that was part of what made the story so mindlessly entertaining. The romance between her and Kipp was super cute and I can't wait to see where it goes, especially with Kipp as a ghost.

Despite being a little on the predictable side Supernaturally Kissed turned out to be a highly entertaining read. I absolutely loved the mystery aspect of the story and even though parts of it were a little obvious it was still super fun. I'm generally not a huge fan of mystery novels because I don't like meddling characters, however Kennedy seamlessly integrated Tess into the mystery without making it feel like she was butting in where she wasn't welcome.

My only complaint with this novel was Tess's best friend Caley. For some reason she just rubbed me the wrong way, maybe it was her brash personality or maybe it was just because she took away from Tess's interactions with Kipp but either way I just couldn't stand her. The other thing I didn't like was how many loose ends this novel left me with, I know that there are more books in the series but I just felt like the novel ended without answering a lot of questions that the book presented me with.

Overall I would recommend Supernaturally Kissed to readers looking for a fun mystery/paranormal read with plenty of romance thrown in. Even though it's far from an intellectual read it's fun in its own way and instead of wishing for something more it's fun to enjoy it for what it is; a cute love story with a little mystery thrown in.

4/5

Review: The Body Finder #4: Dead Silence

Title: The Body Finder #4: Dead Silence

Author: Kimberly Derting

Date of Publication: April 16, 2013

Formats Available: Hardcover, Paperback, E-Book

Buy This Book: Amazon

Synopsis: Violet thought she’d made peace with her unique ability to sense the echoes of the dead and the imprints that cling to their killers…that is until she acquired an imprint of her own. Forced to carry a reminder of the horrible events of her kidnapping, Violet is more determined than ever to lead a normal life. However, the people who run the special investigative team Violet works for have no intention of letting her go.

When someone close to Violet becomes a suspect in a horrific murder, she finds herself pulled into a deadly hunt for a madman with an army of devoted followers. Violet has survived dangerous situations before, but she quickly discovers that protecting those closest to her is far more difficult than protecting herself.

My Review:

I've always had a few mixed feelings about the Body Finder series. Overall I like it but I find myself disliking it a bit more with each book, not enough to make me quit the series but enough to make me roll my eyes or groan in annoyance at a few scenes (mostly regarding Chelsea, I'm sorry but I just can't stand her character). Despite it all Derting does know how to write a good mystery and in the end I always end up liking the excitement and action of the murder mystery.

One of my least favorite things about mysteries is meddling main characters, however the Body Finder is amazing in that Violet never seems to be sticking her nose in where it doesn't belong. Derting has a way of making Violet fit into the story and her unique ability to sense the dead makes the story work in her favor instead of throwing her into a mystery that she needs to push herself into. Even though I'm not really a big fan of the team Violet is a part of (I preferred the mysteries before she was a part of them) it adds even more reason for her to be hanging around and is an interesting dynamic to the plot.

Dead Silence provided some much needed back story to Violets abilities. Even though I wasn't exactly enchanted by Violet's grandmothers diaries I was interested to learn more about the group Violet works with and who or what is really orchestrating everything they do. Despite rumors that this was the last novel in the series I sincerely doubt it after the revelations about Mr. Lee and the rest of the team and Violets threats toward the end. I'm definitely interested in seeing how this all pans out.

My biggest disappointment in this novel was the relationship between Violet and Jay. Sure, they're a cute couple and yeah, I like them together but their relationship feels dead. Even though I want them to work there just isn't any magic happening between them, not anymore anyway. Derting had plenty of chances to really heat things up between them but in the end she just let their interactions fall flat. By the end of the novel I was rooting for Rafe just because he provided a more interesting story.

Even though I was a little frustrated by the characters in this installment I adored the mystery. Derting really has something good going on with the plots of her novels and that's always what makes me like them. Even though the romance is definitely lacking I would definitely recommend this series on the basis of the mystery!

4/5

Review: Alpha & Omega #3: Fair Game

Title: Alpha & Omega #3: Fair Game

Author: Patricia Briggs

Date of Publication: March 6, 2012

Formats Available: Hardcover, Paperback, E-Book

Buy This Book: Amazon

Synopsis: It is said that opposites attract. And in the case of werewolves Anna Latham and Charles Cornick, they mate. The son—and enforcer—of the leader of the North American werewolves, Charles is a dominant Alpha. While Anna, an Omega, has the rare ability to calm others of her kind.

When the FBI requests the pack’s help on a local serial-killer case, Charles and Anna are sent to Boston to join the investigation. It soon becomes clear that someone is targeting the preternatural. And now Anna and Charles have put themselves right in the killer’s sights…

My Review: 

Briggs really hit her stride in the Alpha & Omega series with Fair Game. Despite the slow beginning this novel was the perfect blend of romance, action, and character development, all coming together to create one fantastic read. With developed characters, a beautiful romance, and a great story Fair Game turned out to be one of my favorites in the Alpha & Omega series.

I loved being able to see more of the fae and witches in this novel. Most of the other books in the Alpha & Omega series have focused solely on the werewolves but this novel opened up the door to other preternatural creatures. I think that having such a diverse cast of characters was one of the stronger points of this novel that other books in the series didn't have. Not only did Fair Game have a cast of delightfully quirky supernatural creatures but it also involved human FBI members, which made the switching point of views fascinating  I loved being able to see Charles and Anna from a human perspective.

Anna has changed so much since the beginning of the series. She's slowly started to develop into a strong character as she begins to realize her worth and refuses to allow others to push her around. In this novel Charles's and Anna's relationship goes through some rough spots and I loved seeing her take charge of the situation and start to rely on herself. Charles is one of my favorite characters, I just love reading about him and I always adore the sections in his point of view. This novel was especially interesting when it came to Charles, showing that he isn't the monster everyone (including himself) makes him out to be.

I much preferred the Boston setting over the Seattle one. In the previous novel I hadn't really enjoyed the setting or the foreign werewolves. However the stronger plot and the fantastic setting made me really enjoy this novel. Briggs has truly mastered having the perfect blend of action and romance. One of my favorite things about Briggs is that while she doesn't have a huge amount of romantic scenes in her novels she always makes the ones she does have count. No awkward writing or passionless moments, the romance got my heart pounding and kept me turning pages.

Fair Game is undoubtedly one of the stronger novels in the Alpha & Omega series. I absolutely adore Briggs's writing and while this series isn't as fantastic as Mercy Thompson it's still a wonderful read. I highly recommend this series and everything else written by Patrica Briggs!

5/5

Review: A Flower Shop Mystery #2: Slay It With Flowers

Title: A Flower Shop Mystery #2: Slay It With Flowers

Author: Kate Collins

Date of Publication: March 1, 2005

Formats Available: Paperback, E-Book

Buy This Book: Amazon

Synopsis: Law school drop-out-turned-flower shop owner Abby Knight has been asked to be a bridesmaid by her cousin. But before the couple says "I do," a groomsman disappears-and another member of the wedding party is found dead. Abby has to hurry down an aisle of suspects to unveil the truth-and make sure the bride still gets to the church on time.

My Review:

 The second installment of hte Flower Shop Mystery series was just as cute and fun as the first! Collins has a way of making a murder mystery into a lighthearted story full of witty banter, a delightful love interest, and more than enough excitement to keep me completely riveted to the novel.

I liked this one much better than the first in that this one had a better plot. The mystery was more exciting and the way Collins connected two such different ideas into one intertwined mystery made the novel just that much better. Likewise I absolutely adored the character development; Jillian is so ditzy and clueless that I couldn't help but laugh out loud at some of her antics.

Abby was hilarious in this novel, full of witty comments (mostly aimed at Jillian) and her inability to get away from her ex-fiancé Pryce,  there were plenty of awkward yet humorous moments. Even though I can't stand character who get involved in other people's business Abby is so fun to read about that it's easy to overlook her slightly annoying personality trait.

The only thing I was disappointed about was that Abby and Marco seemed to go right back to where they started in their relationship. Marco played a bigger role in this novel and I loved the extra air time he had... he sure made it count! The interactions between Abby and Marco are always a joy to read, not to mention they make an adorable couple! I'm on the edge of my seat waiting for them to get together.

For those looking for an adorable and light hearted cozy mystery series need look no further! With an exciting and fun plot, a delicious love interest, and plenty of humor there is nothing to dislike about this satisfying mystery!

4/5

Review: The Book of Blood and Shadow

Title: The Book of Blood and Shadow

Author: Robin Wasserman

Date of Publication: January 19, 2012

Buy This Book: Amazon

Formats Available: Hardcover, Paperback, E-Book

Synopsis: It was like a nightmare, but there was no waking up.  When the night began, Nora had two best friends and an embarrassingly storybook one true love.  When it ended, she had nothing but blood on her hands and an echoing scream that stopped only when the tranquilizers pierced her veins and left her in the merciful dark.

But the next morning, it was all still true: Chris was dead.  His girlfriend Adriane, Nora's best friend, was catatonic. And Max, Nora's sweet, smart, soft-spoken Prince Charming, was gone. He was also—according to the police, according to her parents, according to everyone—a murderer.

Desperate to prove his innocence, Nora follows the trail of blood, no matter where it leads. It ultimately brings her to the ancient streets of Prague, where she is drawn into a dark web of secret societies and shadowy conspirators, all driven by a mad desire to possess something that might not even exist. For buried in a centuries-old manuscript is the secret to ultimate knowledge and communion with the divine; it is said that he who controls the Lumen Dei controls the world. Unbeknownst to her, Nora now holds the crucial key to unlocking its secrets. Her night of blood is just one piece in a puzzle that spans continents and centuries. Solving it may be the only way she can save her own life.

My Review:

Once upon a time I probably would have really liked this book, however the more I read the pickier I become on what really qualifies as "good" and this novel just didn't quite make the cut. Even though I liked the premise I just couldn't get myself into the story, I didn't like the characters and I had a hard time understanding the plot, making me so frustrated that by the end I was skimming pages just so I could be done.

I really wanted to like Nora and the other characters, but in the end I just didn't. Nora was whiny and self-centered and each of the other characters had their annoying little quirks that started to really get to me. One of the biggest reasons I felt as though this novel dragged so much was because I felt no emotional connection to any of the characters. I didn't care what happened to them or what they were doing no matter how hard I tried, in the end I just gave up on trying to like them at all.

I will say that The Book of Blood and Shadow was extremely original with a good mystery. The Prague setting added a spark of danger and murkiness to the story that just wouldn't be the same with any other setting. Wasserman did an excellent job setting up the tone of the novel and I loved the feel of the novel. But even with murders, romance, European cities, and mysterious clues the novel just wasn't interesting enough to keep me entertained.

As I said the plot had potential but in the end it just didn't pan out. At times I felt confused by the complexity of the plot and had a hard time following what was going on, especially toward the end. Another thing that really threw me off was the amount of foreign language in this novel. While I generally love different languages so much of the novel was in either Latin or Czech that I felt annoyed with how many paragraphs I had to just skip because I didn't know what they were saying.

Even though I wouldn't necessarily say The Book of Blood and Shadow is a bad book, because I can understand how someone could love it, I didn't really like it. It had its moments but overall it just wasn't my cup of tea. Young adults who love a good mystery may want to check this one out but adult fans of YA may want to skip this one.

3/5

Review: A Flower Shop Mystery #1: Mum's the Word

Title: A Flower Shop Mystery #1: Mum's the Word

Author: Kate Collins

Date of Publication: November 2, 2004

Formats Available: Paperback, E-Book

Buy This Book: Amazon

Synopsis: I don't mean to meddle, honest! But can I help it if my nose for injustice is as keen as my green thumb? Now I, Abby Knight, law school dropout, am the proud new owner of Bloomers, my hometown flower shop. I'm devoted to making my business grow, but I'm no shrinking violet if someone needs my help to right a wrong -- even if that person is already dead....

So maybe Abby's life isn't the bed of roses she was hoping it would be. She adores her job, but a new low-cost competitor is killing her profits - and a black SUV just rammed her vintage Corvette in a hit and run. Determined to track down the driver, she accepts the help of hunky ex-cop Marco Salvare. But their budding relationship is threatened when the trail turns deadly. Now Abby is caught in a tangle of menacing phone calls, police corruption, and murderous road rage. If she's not careful, the next flower arrangement might be for her own funeral.

My Review:

I grew up reading mysteries but as I got older I found myself moving into different genre's and forgetting about how much I love nothing more than a good mystery. Mum's the Word was a cute and fun mystery with a witty heroine, a handsome love interest, and plenty of lighthearted action to keep me turning pages. A fast, uncomplicated read I heartily enjoyed my expedition back into the mystery genre.

Mum's the Word was pure fun. The plot wasn't very complicated, and at times predictable, but I liked not having to think too hard and just sit back and watch what happened. I absolutely loved the flower shop setting as well as Abby's coworkers and the owner of the bar across the street, Marco. Abby was a hilarious character and I absolutely loved the interactions between her and her "perfect" family.

One of the best parts about the novel had to be Marco and I'm not going to lie he was HOT. Even though he doesn't play a huge role in the novel he was one of my favorite characters and I always looked forward to the parts with him in it. Even though the romance between him and Abby felt a little bit rushed at the end I still enjoyed watching their developing relationship. Another one of my favorite characters was Tony; hilariously sleazy I couldn't help but laugh out loud at his trademark finger pistol.

One of the things I dislike most about mysteries is how meddlesome the main character always is. Abby definitely stuck her nose where it didn't belong but in the end I liked her so much that I was able to overlook it. Likewise the predictability of the plot was a bit tedious at times but overall I don't think it made a big impact on how much I liked the book, it was more about the road there than the destination.

Those on the lookout for a cute and lighthearted mystery should definitely check out the first book in the Flower Shop Mystery series. With fun characters and an enjoyable story line I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed this novel.

4/5

Review: Blood on the Moon

Title: Blood on the Moon

Author: Jennifer Knight

Date of Publication: August 30, 2012

Formats Available: Paperback, E-Book

Buy This Book: Amazon

Synopsis: As Faith Reynolds enters her freshman year of college, she is a complete and utter nervous wreck.  With her best friend Derek suddenly pulling out the romance card and her dark, mysterious classmate staring her down at every turn, Faith somehow feels stuck in the middle without dating either one.  And fortune may or may not be with her when a devilishly sexy stranger offers her a welcome escape.

Boys, romance, classes, and annoying roommates are all within the realm of the expected for a college frosh.  Trying to solve the mysterious murders of young college coeds near campus is not.  Darkness seems to be creeping into every corner of Faith's life, no matter the hour.  And when she seeks the truth, danger seems to be the only thing that finds her.

Faith is well aware of the strange currents in the air, particularly when she sets off static sparks with everything she touches.  Before long, she finds herself entrenched in the deep-seeded battle between werewolves and vampires.  The war has reached the tipping point, and Faith has the power to determine where the scales fall.  But the most important question may be with whom does her loyalty lie?

Deliciously suspenseful and immediately addictive, Blood on the Moon features a headstrong heroine and all of the thrills, chills, and otherworldly boys with deadly charm that a human could ask for.

My Review:

After hearing that this novel was a bit of a Twilight knock-off I was a little hesitant to read it. However Knight's writing instantly pulled me in and before long I found myself getting really into the story. With fun characters, an exciting paranormal/murder mystery plot, and plenty of romance I loved this book more and more the farther I got.

Yes, Blood on the Moon is a little Twilight-esque but it's as though Knight took all the best parts of Twilight, tweaked them and made them better, and put them into her own story with a much stronger plot. There were very few moments when the novel seemed very similar to Twilight and they were integrated so well into the novel that they were easy to ignore. I loved how this novel took place on a college campus and the whole new world of possibilities that idea brought with it.

The romance between Lucas and Faith is a bit sudden but not sudden enough that it qualified as an "insta-love". They have a cute relationship and Faiths ability to control werewolves holds a lot of promise for future novels. The most painful part of the novel was that I felt like I was re-reading Twilight as Faith went to visit Lucas's "family", which isn't really his family at all but a group posing as his family. On a side note I know that I'm not alone in my hatred for love triangles and thankfully this book is love triangle free (even though it doesn't seem that way at first)!

Finally, the strongest point in favor of this novel is that it's just plain fun. It's an extraordinarily fun novel to read and I honestly loved every second of it. Faith is such a real character that it was easy to relate to her and the back story about her family added an interesting twist that I wasn't expecting. Brimming with action and excitement I found it nearly impossible to stop reading this book once I started.

Fans of Twilight will no doubt adore this novel and non-Twilight fans will love it as well. A cute college romance, plenty of action, and a mix of vampires and werewolves thrown in the mix make for a great paranormal mystery!

4/5

Secrets of the Eternal Rose #1: Venom Review

Title: Secrets of the Eternal Rose #1: Venom

Author: Fiona Paul

Date of Publication: October 30, 2012

Formats Available: Hardcover, Paperback, E-Book

Buy This Book: Amazon

Synopsis: Cassandra Caravello is one of Renaissance Venice’s lucky elite: with elegant gowns, sparkling jewels, her own lady’s maid, and a wealthy fiancé, she has everything a girl could desire. Yet ever since her parents’ death, Cassandra has felt trapped, alone in a city of water, where the dark and labyrinthine canals whisper of escape.

When Cass stumbles upon a murdered woman—practically in her own backyard—she’s drawn into a dangerous world of courtesans, killers, and secret societies. Soon, she finds herself falling for Falco, a mysterious artist with a mischievous grin... and a spectacular skill for trouble. Can Cassandra find the murderer, before he finds her? And will she stay true to her fiancé, or succumb to her uncontrollable feelings for Falco?

Beauty, love, romance, and mystery weave together in a stunning novel that’s as seductive and surprising as the city of Venice itself.

My Review:

After seeing the high reviews and praise for Venom I was really excited to give this Venice murder mystery a try. Unfortunately while this novel wasn't necessarily awful I didn't find myself loving it nearly as much as I thought I would. Not bad, but amateurish, writing and characters filled the pages and made it difficult for me to become immersed in the novel.

I will say that Paul has potential, even though I didn't particularly like this novel I believe that in time she may have the ability to write a great story. The plot as a whole was interesting and well thought out and there were moments when I really did enjoy Venom, however there were far more moments when I was bored or annoyed by the story.

Cass was an annoying and whiny heroine; she constantly threw herself into dangerous situations with dangerous people and then whined about it. Similarly Falco was one of the most boring love interest's I've ever read about. He had a flat personality and other than being part of some sketchy situations he never really did anything interesting. Both of them threw common sense to the wind and blundered around the entire novel figuring out a mystery that would have been solved much faster with a little communication.

Even though the Venice setting was an interesting idea it just didn't quite work out. The dialogue felt much too modern for the historical-esqe setting and other than the occasional Italian word it was easy to forget where the story was set. Even though the idea behind the novel was interesting I found myself bored with the story, toward the end of the novel things picked up a bit but didn't redeem the novel enough for me to feel inclined to pick up the next one.

While Venom is by no means a bad novel it isn't a great one either. Fiona Paul definitely has the potential to write a good novel and maybe with more practice future series by her may be worth checking out. However, fans of mystery may want to skip this series or wait for the library to obtain a copy of this novel.

3/5

The Body Finder #3: The Last Echo Review

Title: The Body Finder #3: The Last Echo

Author: Kimberly Derting

Date of Publication: April 17, 2012

Formats Available: Hardcover, Paperback, E-Book

Buy This Book: Amazon

Synopsis: Violet kept her morbid ability to sense dead bodies a secret from everyone except her family and her childhood-best-friend-turned-boyfriend, Jay Heaton. That is until forensic psychologist Sara Priest discovered Violet’s talent and invited her to use her gift to track down murderers. Now, as she works with an eclectic group of individuals—including mysterious and dangerously attractive Rafe—it’s Violet’s job to help those who have been murdered by bringing their killers to justice.

When Violet discovers the body of a college girl killed by “the girlfriend collector” she is determined to solve the case. But now the serial killer is on the lookout for a new “relationship” and Violet may have caught his eye...

My Review:

Derting seems to have really hit her stride with this novel, full of heart pounding action and non-stop excitement I could hardly put this novel down once I got into it. The perfect blend of romance and mystery this series only improves with every coming novel, leaving me eager for the fourth novel, Dead Silence!

One of the major reasons I loved this novel so much was the larger role of the killer throughout the novel. With more chapters devoted to looking inside the murderers mind I relished the chance to really understand what made the killer tick. One of the most developed and interesting murderers in the series by far the mystery aspect of this novel blew my expectations out of the water.

The excellent mystery definitely made up for the lack of romance in The Lase Echo. Even though Jay was present he played a much smaller role than in previous novels, making me suspect a love triangle may be in the works. Despite Violets vehement comments about Rafe only being a friend I have a feeling that there will undoubtedly be something between them that will come to the surface in the next novel.

With a heart stopping ending followed by a horrible cliff-hanger I'm definitely excited for the next novel in the series! Derting has improved a lot during the course of this series and I have loved watching more secrets regarding Violet and her friends come to the surface. I always love a good mystery and The Body Finder delivers every time!

I would highly recommend this series to older teens looking for a good mystery with plenty of romance. Appealing even to older fans of YA this is a series that should not be missed for any reason!

4/5

The Body Finder #2: Desires of the Dead Review

Title: The Body Finder #2: Desires of the Dead

Author: Kimberly Derting

Date of Publication: February 15, 2011

Formats Available: Hardcover, Paperback, E-Book

Synopsis: Violet can sense the echoes of the dead, unable to rest until they are at peace. Preferring to keep her ability to herself Violet knows she's made a mistake when she reports the body of a young boy dumped in a shipping container. When the FBI hunts her down asking how she knew he was there Violet struggles to keep her ability a secret or become the subject of numerous tests and study. With Jay busy spending time with his new friend Mike, Violet feels alone and unsure of where to turn next. With too much time on her hands and the FBI starting so share secrets of Mike's past with her Violet begins to dig into his past herself. However there is someone who doesn't want Violet to find out the truth behind Mike's missing mother and they will stop at nothing to keep her from finding out the truth.

My Review:

As much a love story as it is murder mystery Desires of the Dead brought mystery, romance, and the supernatural together in one gripping novel. Between the intrigue of the mystery and the heartfelt romance I loved this book more and more with every page. A fast read but completely worth it, Desires of the Dead was a great addition to The Body Finder series.

Both Violet and Jay were really fleshed out in this novel. In the first novel they had been enjoyable characters but were lacking the spark that made them feel real. During the course of this novel both of them grew and evolved into unique characters with distinct personalities. Their relationship was fluffy and unrealistic but adorable at the same time, making me smile at their dedication to each other.

As with the first book Derting switched perspectives between Violet and another mystery character. As the novel progresses we learn more and more about this mystery character, eventually discovering their identity and thus discovering the identity of the killer. I absolutely love being able to see into the murderer's life and having the chance to piece together the clues myself.

The plot of this novel was a bit weaker than the plot of the first novel but still made for an enjoyable story. With improved writing and fully developed characters this novel is a huge improvement writing-wise over the first novel. Derting has a way of keeping the reader interested until the very last page and leave them begging for more when the book is finally over!

An all-around fun and exciting series I absolutely love these books. With enough romance and action to keep everyone happy I would definitely recommend this novel to young adult mystery fans!

4/5

Phoenix Review

Title: Phoenix

Author: Kimberly Packard

Date of Publication: November 21, 2012

Formats Available: Paperback, E-Book

Synopsis: After a crazed gunman destroys her office and the man responsible for her indictment skips town Amanda Martin finds herself alone and running from the law. When she boards a bus in Chicago with no luggage and no place to go she finds herself in the small town of Phoenix, Texas. With a new identity and the need to rediscover herself she intends to stay in Phoenix, until she's ready to extract vengeance on her ex-boyfriend for involving her in his illegal securities scandal that is. When Amanda discovers there's an unsolved murder hanging over Phoenix she knows she must find the culprit, even if it drives a wedge between her and the handsome cop, David, who she feels a growing attraction toward. However, this puts her in the line of fire of two people who want nothing more than to keep the details of the murder a secret, and will do anything to keep Amanda from finding out the truth.

My Review:

I was drawn in by this novel from the first sentence and by the end of the first chapter I was completely captivated. Following three different characters; Amanda, as she struggled to reinvent her life; Shiloh, as she hid the secrets behind her best friend Katie's murder; and Alex as he struggled to find Amanda and save his career. With a small town vibe, wonderfully crafted characters, plenty of intrigue, and a budding romance Phoenix was a fantastic mystery novel.

My favorite part of this novel was the three different perspectives from each Amanda, Alex, and Shiloh. I always love being able to see into different characters heads and it really worked well for this novel. It was fun to watch how they all grew more and more connected as the novel went on even though Amanda and Shiloh hated each other and Alex was hundreds of miles away.

Throughout the novel the mystery constantly kept me on my toes. Each of the characters had something to hide and each of them seemed suspicious in their own way. Shiloh's secrets about the night of the murder and her relationship with the creepy Dr. Brown, David's older brother's involvement with Katie, and Mr. Foster's overwhelming need for Amanda to find the murderer.

Amanda was a great main character, starting off as a fierce business woman she transforms into a vulnerable small town girl. Likewise Alex and Shiloh were also strong characters, each with their own flaws and quirks weather it was Shiloh speaking in Spanish or Alex's over confidence. Amanda was by far my favorite character, scared and lost she discovers more about herself during her time in Phoenix as she solves Katie's murder and spends more time with David.

With an ending left open for a sequel and a few unanswered questions I'm definitely anticipating more from Packard. Mystery fans on the lookout for a great new author should definitely check out Phoenix; this novel will not disappoint!

4/5

*Note: I received a copy of this novel from the author in exchange for an honest review and received no monetary compensation.*

The Eye-Dancers Review

Title: The Eye-Dancers

Author: Michael S. Fedison

Date of Publication: November 16, 2012

Formats Available: E-Book

Synopsis: A ghost girl with bright blue eyes haunts Mitchell Brant in his dreams, beckoning him to help her. One night, when he wakes up with a scraped knee after another dream about the girl he decides its time to call his friends. To his surprise his friends Joe and Ryan have been having the exact same dream. In search of answers the three boys call up the smartest guy at school, Marc Kuslanski. Despite numerous theories provided by Kuslanski they ultimately decide that Kulanski will observe them while they sleep, checking if this ghost girl is real or just a figment of the boy's overactive imaginations. That night the four boys find themselves pulled into an alternate universe, where things are completely different than at home, yet eerily similar. Once there they discover that the ghost girls name is Monica Tisdale, and she has been kidnapped. To get home the boys must rescue her or they will be stuck in this alternate reality forever.

My Review:

Despite not really being one for middlegrade novels I ended up really enjoying The Eye-Dancers. Fedison is a great author, capturing the mentality and language of four seventh grade boys perfectly. With awesome writing, an interesting plot, and unique characters this novel held my interest and made for a great read!

Each of the four boys had a distinct personality paired with a distinct flaw, which they learned to control through their time in the alternate reality. Mitchell struggled with his parents growing arguments, his speech impediment, and his need to tell lies to impress others. Joe was selfish and constantly resorted to violence whenever he felt angry or frustrated. Ryan could never make decisions and allowed himself to be led wherever the others went. Marc had a constant need to be right, never allowing anyone to offer other ideas or solutions.

During their time in Colbyville, the parallel version of their home Bedford, the four boys learn a lot about themselves and learn to control their flaws while the work together to search for Monica. With so many different personalities it was easy to relate to at least one of the characters and understand the trials they were going through. Each of them had their little quirks, such as Joe's overwhelming use of the word "bud" or Mitchell's tendency to lie to make himself sound more impressive.

While the kidnapping aspect of the plot had a lot of potential the conclusion fell a little flat. Most of the clues leading to Monica fell straight into the boy's laps and yet the struggled to see what was right in front of them. I really enjoyed the idea of the boys discovering how to improve their flaws and work together but I felt like the kidnapping was a weaker aspect of the novel.

The Eye-Dancers is a great first novel; fantastic writing paired with an interesting story this book definitely caught me off guard. Perfect for middle schoolers who enjoy a good science fiction story with a little mystery thrown in this novel will definitely encourage reluctant readers and entertain those who love to read!

4/5

*Note: I received a copy of this novel from the author in exchange for an honest review and received no monetary compensation for this review.*

Ministry of Peculiar Occurrences #2: The Janus Affair Review

Title: Ministry of Peculiar Occurrences #2: The Janus Affair

Author: Pip Ballantine & Tee Morris

Date of Publication: May 29, 2012

Formats Available: Paperback, E-Book

Synopsis: When Eliza Braun and her partner Wellington Books witness a passenger aboard Britain's latest hyperstream train vanish in a bolt of lightning they find that this is not the first of many disappearances that they cannot ignore. As more and more women in the suffragist movement begin vanishing Eliza convinces Wellington to go against his instincts and investigate the disappearances. With the arrival of former friends from New Zealand Eliza must face her past to properly investigate, leaving her questioning her place in England. Between Wellington's skill with machines and Eliza's use of weapons and explosives they just may be able to capture the culprit behind the kidnappings, that is, if they aren't the next victims.

My Review:

I had really enjoyed the first novel in this series, Phoenix Rising, so when I saw that there was a sequel I knew that I had to read it. Unfortunately while this novel wasn't bad I definitely felt that it didn't quite live up to the action and excitement present in the first novel. I found the plot of The Janus Affair to be a bit tedious and honestly I just wasn't as interested in it as I was in the plot of Phoenix Rising.

While the plot wasn't bad it was considerably weaker than in the first novel. While adding in the suffragist movement was an interesting idea it just didn't work for the story. The suffragist movement was a controversial time this novel just didn't quite capture that aspect, making the kidnappings of the suffragist women feel a little anti-climactic. The climax of the novel seemed almost random and left quite a few loose ends in terms of some of the characters; however the ending left it open for a sequel which I am highly anticipating!

This novel focused more on the characters and their interactions than the plot. As Eliza and Wellington discover their feelings for each other as well as face significant others from their past they learn a lot about each other and their feelings. While the plot of this novel fell flat the character development did not! This novel offered a deeper look at both Eliza and Wellington and offered unexpected revelations and introduced interesting new tidbits on their characters!

In the end, I enjoyed this novel a lot. Eliza is a fun character to read about and I absolutely love her relationship with Wellington. Full of action, mystery, and suspense this novel was by no means dull. I liked the adding in of New Zealand characters and the revelations about both Eliza and Wellingtons past. I loved the changing perspectives and the several plots all contained in one novel. While I didn't think it lived up to Phoenix Rising I still liked this novel and definitely can't wait for the next one!

The Ministry of Peculiar Occurrences novels are some of steampunk's finest. A great series so far I'm extremely excited to see where the series goes as Eliza drags Wellington into more adventures and they take on new cases! Definitely a great series that should not be missed by fans of steampunk!

4/5

Ministry of Peculiar Occurrences #1: Phoenix Rising Review

Title: Ministry of Peculiar Occurrences #1: Phoenix Rising

Author: Pip Ballantine & Tee Morris

Date of Publication: April 26, 2011

Formats Available: Hardcover, Paperback, E-Book

Synopsis: These are dangerous days in Victorian London as the Ministry of Peculiar Occurrences, an organization funded by Queen Victoria herself, investigates the most mysterious instances around the world. Eliza D. Braun is a wild and impulsive field agent, most of her investigations ending in explosions and mayhem. Wellington Books is a quiet archivist who spends most of his time in the damp archives of the Ministry. After an assignment gone horribly wrong Eliza finds herself trapped in the dank atmosphere with Wellington. As they begin to go thought the forgotten cases of the Ministry Eliza becomes determined to find the organization behind the unravel of her former partner. Along with a reluctant Wellington the two take on the forgotten case on their own, discovering one of the darkest brotherhoods in London's hidden corners.

My Review:

Phoenix Rising is an example of steampunk fiction at its absolute finest. Full of fascinating gadgets, non-stop action, and two amazing heroes this book was impossible to put down. The more I read the more I fell in love with the characters and their little quirks that made them feel so real and relatable. Paired with a fantastic plot and witty dialogue I absolutely loved this novel.

Eliza was by far one of the most fun characters I've ever read about. With her wild and impulsive behavior and her love of making Wellington, who she instantly nicknames Welly, uncomfortable I couldn't help but laugh out loud at some of her antics and adventures. Wellington, her polar opposite, also made me smile as he constantly tried to make sense of Eliza and her constant deviant behavior. Between subtle hints of romance and awkwardness I looked forward to all of their interactions.

One of the reasons I liked this book so much was the reversed roles between Eliza and Wellington. Eliza takes control of every situation, not afraid to pull out her gun and shoot while Wellington cowers behind her. Constantly torn up by the violence around him Eliza is constantly comforting Wellington and doing her best to make him uncomfortable in the process. Eliza dominates the relationship, something almost unheard of in Victorian England, making me love her character all the more.

Opening on a wild action scene and full of many more to follow this novel leaves nothing to be desired in terms of excitement. From torture, to dungeons, to wild horse chases on the streets of London there is hardly a dull moment. Eliza and her love of dynamite leaves many exploded buildings and blown up inventions in her wake, while Wellington avoids all adversaries and uses his knowledge of machines to obtain the intelligence they need.

With something for everyone, Phoenix Rising turned out to be a fantastic novel. I loved the characters, the action, the adventure, as I deftly turned pages and got lost in the story. An amazing novel on all counts this is one I would undoubtedly recommend!

4/5

The Body Finder Review

Title: The Body Finder

Author: Kimberly Derting

Date of Publication: March 16, 2010

Formats Available: Hardcover, Paperback, E-Book

Synopsis: Ever since she was a little girl Violet has been blessed (or cursed) with a very unique ability, the ability to find the dead. On top of struggling with her feelings for her best friend since childhood, Jay, Violet is disturbed when she finds a dead body one fateful day at the lake. The search for the killer becomes more and more desperate as girls continue to disappear, when a young girl who Violet used to babysit is kidnapped Violet knows she can't sit on the sidelines anymore. With the help of Jay, Violet searches the town for the shadows she knows marks a killer. As she and Jay discover their feelings for each other and get swept into the magic of the homecoming dance they forget two very important details: that the killer knows who Violet is, and, he wants her dead.

My Review:

The Body Finder turned out to be one of those books with no surprises but still managed to be enjoyable in its predictability. I loved the plot and relished in the changing perspectives between Violet and the killer, a device that doesn't happen nearly enough.  As the story picked up momentum I found it hard to put this book down and blew through the last half in an afternoon, unable to think about anything else until I had finished.

Despite being a great book, The Body Finder is very obviously a first novel. Flat characters, such as Violet's friends and parents, fill the pages along with extremely choppy writing. However having read and also loved recent books by Derting both of these things were easy to ignore and didn't take away from the overall quality of the story.

I liked both Violet and Jay while their personalities were slightly flat it was easy to overlook in the excitement of the story. Their romance was predictable but so cute that it was easy to forgive. I loved the lighthearted school story like vibe between characters; it made the rest of the story less morbid and at the same time gave Violet and Jay a needed personality boost.

Violet's ability to sense the dead is what made this book stand out to me. The way she follows echoes and bells, leading her to the killer and the deceased, was an extremely interesting ability. I'm really looking forward to reading the next books in the series to see how her ability grows and changes!

All in all The Body Finder may be a bit of a forgettable read but it's a book that's lovable in its predictability. I would definitely recommend this book to fans of mystery and the paranormal; this is a great read that won't disappoint!

4/5

Kate Daniels #1: Magic Bites Review

Title: Kate Daniels #1: Magic Bites

Author: Ilona Andrews

Date of Publication: March 27, 2007

Formats Available: Paperback, Mass Market Paperback, E-Book

Synopsis: Kate Daniels, a magic-wielding mercenary is down on her luck when her former guardian, Greg, is brutally murdered. Wanting to find the murderer for herself Kate joins forces with the local Order of Knights who give her the resources she needs to discover what really happened to Greg. With the help of the Beast Lord Curran, who rules over the local shapeshifters, Kate starts piecing together what happened to Greg the dreadful night he was murdered. Caught between the shapeshifters and the Masters of the Dead, necromancers who control vampires, who have both lost people to the attacker Kate is pressured to find the murderer, no matter what the cost.

My Review:

While I didn't hate Magic Bites I had defiantly expected better. The plot was okay, its been done before and the flat characters and mediocre writing didn't do much to engage me. Even though the story had the potential to be entertaining I just didn't find myself interested in what was happening.

Kate was your typical bad girl with a chip on her shoulder; while I didn't hate her I didn't like her either. I had a hard time relating to any part of her personality and while her use of magic was interesting it left me with more questions than answers. While still a bit flat, I liked Curran's character a bit more and I'm definitely hoping for more of him in the following novels.

For the majority of the novel I found myself a little confused. I felt like Andrews was constantly introducing new characters in the beginning that weren't mentioned again until the end, when I had already forgotten about them. I would have also loved a bit more description on the magic used in the novel, it was mentioned that Kate was more powerful than normal but I didn't understand what made her so much better.

Even though I wasn't a huge fan of this first novel I feel that Andrews has the potential to write a really fantastic book. I really enjoyed her portrayal of vampires, whose bodies could be taken over and piloted by those who control them. Little quirks like this make me interested in picking up the next novel in the series.

While I didn't love it I think the Kate Daniels series has the potential to be a great series. I'll be planning on picking up the next book somewhere down the road and I'm hoping for a great story, because I believe Andrews can do it.

3/5

Throne of Glass Review

Title: Throne of Glass

Author: Sarah J. Maas

Date of Publication: August 7, 2012

Formats Available: Hardcover, Paperback, E-Book

Synopsis: Known as Adarlan's Assassin Celaena Sardotheien has been slaving away in the Salt Mines of Endovier ever since she was betrayed and then captured. When Prince Dorian Havilliard offers her the chance to escape the mines and win her freedom through a competition to find the best assassin in the country Celaena puts her hatred for the royal family aside and agrees to compete. As other competitors start being brutally murdered Celaena begins questioning who she can trust, everyone seems to be hiding secrets, even deadly ones. Between her brutal training and her growing attraction to Prince Dorian Celeane must figure out who the murderer is, before she is killed and the freedom she is fighting so hard for is taken from her.

My Review:

I was really excited to read this book, I had heard great things about it and the intriguing plot summary made me just that much more eager to start it. I instantly loved Celaena, her trainer Chaol, and Dorian; all of them had fun and unique personalities that made them thoroughly entertaining to read about.

I was fascinated by the plot, I love books about female assassins and this novel reminded me of a mix of Grave Mercy and The Hunger Games. Full of death, action, danger, and a pinch of romance Throne of Glass is full of heart stopping moments as Celaena fights for her life against a crew of cruel and cold competitors.

Celeane was an amazing character, I absolutely loved her. From her flippant comments to her cool yet impertinent demeanor I couldn't help but smile at her comments and actions. Dorian was another great character, half of him an arrogant prince and the other half willing to stand up to his father and do what he thinks is right.

Although I loved the characters I had a bit of trouble getting into the story. While the plot was by no means dull or poorly constructed I just didn't find myself getting lost in the story. Throne of Glass was just one of those books that didn't quite do it for me, I really wanted to love this book more than I did but it just didn't happen.

Even though this book didn't quite do it for me I would definitely recommend it to fans of The Hunger Games and fans of the YA genre looking for an action packed novel about a sassy female assassin. I'll be looking forward to future novels by Maas!

4/5

Lady Julia Grey #3: Silent on the Moor Review

Title: Lady Julia Grey #3: Silent on the Moor

Author: Deanna Raybourn

Date of Publication: March 1, 2009

Formats Available: Paperback, E-Book

Synopsis: Despite him warning them away Lady Julia Grey, her sister Portia, and her brother Valerius arrive at Brisbane's new home in Yorkshire to find him as distant and contrary as ever. When Julia meets the other residents, the proud but mad Allenby family Julia senses that they are hiding secrets as old as their lineage. When one of them poisons Brisbane, the man they are dependent on for their very lives, Julia is determined to solve the mystery even if it means doing it on her own. As Julia learns shocking truths about both the Allenby's and Brisbane she discovers that there is more between the two that meets the eye. Despite her growing attraction to Brisbane, who continues to push her away, Julia begins to question whether or not he truly wants her there and if she should leave him and the Allenby's to resolve their differences on their own, even if it means murder.

My Review:

I absolutely adore this series! While the second one still holds the place as my favorite, Silent on the Moor was a fantastic addition to this already wonderful series. The first book in the series where a murder does not take place I was a little disappointed with the mystery aspect but the interactions between Julia and Brisbane, as well as the wonderful character and world building, more than made up for it.

The plot of Silent on the Moor was more character driven than plot driven compared to other books in the series. With a focus on the relationships between Julia and Brisbane and Portia and Jane, as well as interactions between the other characters the mystery fell into second place. While the mystery wasn't bad it wasn't as action packed and exciting as previous mysteries in the series, however it was vital for the series and it worked out perfectly.

The romance between Julia and Brisbane was one of the main focuses of the novel, from the obstacles in their way to their hot and cold relationship. I absolutely love their relationship; Julia's sassy and stubborn personality paired with Brisbane's rough and equally stubborn personality makes them a joy to read about.

While the mystery wasn't the best, it was still scandalous and intriguing. The Allenby's were just the right amount of strange and their startling secrets kept me interested throughout the novel. Full of illicit relationships, a cruel brother, and an insane daughter there was more than enough drama to keep the plot moving along.

The Lady Julia Grey series is by far one of my favorite mystery series and perhaps one of my favorites of all time. Fans of romance and mystery will devour these fabulous mysteries full of scandal and intrigue. I highly recommend this series!

4/5

Lady Julia Grey #2: Silent in the Sanctuary Review

Title: Lady Julia Grey #2: Silent in the Sanctuary

Author: Deanna Raybourn

Date of Publication: January 1, 2008

Formats Available: Paperback, Mass Market Paperback, E-Book

Synopsis: Recently arrived from her six month journey to Italy Lady Julia returns home to Sussex for a Christmas celebration at her father's estate. Full of family and friends Julia runs into the one man she hoped never to see again, Nicholas Brisbane, with a fiancée trailing after him no less. When a horrific murder takes place and the body is found in the chapel Julia and Brisbane must team up again to solve the murder before it's too late. With the halls being haunted by a ghost, disappearing jewels, a murderer on the loose and inclement weather making it impossible to leave, Julia and Brisbane but discover the murderer before they strike again.

My Review:

A compelling mystery, forbidden romance, and a cast of quirky yet complex characters made Silent in the Sanctuary an absolutely irresistible read. Despite the sizable length of the novel Raybourn's pacing was flawless, without a dull moment in sight and a fascinating mystery it was impossible not to love the second novel in the Lady Julia Grey series.

The interactions between Julia and Brisbane continue to be my favorite part of the novel, perfectly complimenting each other they are both stubborn and independent yet it is obvious that they care about each other. From stolen kisses to heated arguments their unconventional relationship leaves me eager to see where it goes in the next book.

I absolutely adore Raybourn's colorful characters. All of them have something to hide and all of them disregard society's rules of the time. Julia is a sassy and headstrong heroine, completely ignoring the orders of Brisbane and putting herself in danger so she can solve the mystery. Each of the characters has their own strange habits and colorful history, giving even the minor characters a hidden depth.

Despite the leisurely pace, the actual murder taking place around page 200, I was not bored for a second by this novel. The intricately woven plot of more than one mystery and the masterful dispersing of clues kept me guessing the entire time for a conclusion I didn't quite see coming.

Rayborne is a wonderful romantic mystery writer, from her engaging plot to the hints of romance between Julia and Brisbane I could hardly put this book down. Silent in the Sanctuary was an absolutely wonderful read on all accounts and is a novel I would heartily recommend.

4/5