Spider Game by Christine Feehan (audio)

Spider Game by Christine Feehan
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

After previous stories in this series which I LOVED - this was a disappointment. It seemed that it was more soft porn than paranormal romance. I don't mind some sex scenes in my stories - it tends to spice up the story line normally - but this was overload in the extreme. It was about 1/2 to 3/4 of the way through chapter 10 before we actually saw a story/plotline emerge, and even then it was heavy on the sex which leaned toward BDSM.

I honestly didn't care much for Trap either. His character is the sort of male that puts my hackles up and makes me want to punch someone. He's overbearing, demanding, and expects subservience to an extent that pisses me off.

I also didn't feel the narrator has a tonal range that effectively "read" the women and the men. Most of the characters sounded extremely similar compared to other narrators I've listened to.

Overall it is just very disappointing for me. I'm hoping the next book can redeem my love for the series.

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Shadow Rites by Faith Hunter

Shadow Rites by Faith Hunter
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Wow! I've missed a bit of Jane's story, but this was as great as expected!

Jane, Yellowrock Securities, the witchs' conclave, and the Mithrans are preparing for a large meeting to try to reach a peace agreement between the two factions in preparation for the visit of the European Mithrans. As usual nothing can be straightforward when Mithrans are involved, and everything seems to go to wrong. Can Jane & company bring the world back to rights?

Faith's writing is always engaging, adventuresome, and descriptive - bringing the reader into the story as a part of the action. I love reading her stories as they take me out of myself and into another world.

Now to go back, and catch up... lol

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Vampire Girl by Karpoc Kinrade

Vampire Girl by Karpov Kinrade
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

**I received a copy of this ebook in exchange for an honest review.**
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Wow! What an introduction for a new series!

Ari is exactly the type of heroine I love - smart, funny, SARCASTIC, and strong. This is no shrinking violet - when life hands her a tough choice she steps up to the plate, and takes charge of her future. Raised in Portland, with no hint of mystical or mythical, Ari has always had an affinity for the night. Now that "strangeness" is starting to make sense as her mother has fallen into a coma, and the only way to save her is for Ari to agree to marry one of seven brothers - vampires - in order to determine who will rule Hell.

Each brother has been cursed with one of the seven deadly sins, and she must spend a month with each brother in his realm of Hell before deciding whom to marry. First up - Fen, Prince of War. Fen had originally decided to pass on his month with Ari as he has been tasked with seeing to her safety, and has all ready spent some time watching her in Portland. However, when it seems there is a plot afoot which has actually killed their father, the King, he changes his mind.

This story is well written with many intricate details which help you empathize with Ari, and the writing team of Karpov Kinrade has definitely mastered the art of descriptive writing so that you can imagine yourself in the story. I can't wait for book 2!

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Replica by Shannon Mayer & Denise Grover Swank

Replica by Shannon Mayer
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

** I received an ebook in exchange for an honest review.**
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Wow! WOW! And, WOWZA! How two authors manage to co-write with two characters who are so similar and so different and make it all blend so seamlessly is beyond me!

Rachel and Lea pick up shortly after where Recombinant left off. Rachel still doesn't realize the full extent of the bond she and Lea now share, and they are going their separate ways to try to fight the powers that be creating the unnatural supernatural creatures that now lurk in the shadows. Fate steps in though, and that's where it gets really interesting! Joined by two men who are almost as similar and different as Rachel and Lea - the women are now in a race against time and outside forces to shut down the Asclepius project.

I love the humor, (sarcasm), action, and emotions that are all a HUGE part of this series. Throw in supernatural creatures and you a have lure I am hopeless to resist!

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Shadow Rites (Faith Hunter) Blog Tour!

If you love Jane Yellowrock then you don't want to miss all the chances to win goodies on this blog tour!  Be sure to stop at each stop for your entries!

Listing of Blog Tour Stops

Arena by Holly Jennings

Arena by Holly Jennings
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

**I received an ebook from First to Read (Penguin Books) in exchange for an honest review.**
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This book is not what I would consider my typical genre of reading. It is a more futuristic science/fantasy genre than urban fantasy, but the premise intrigued me. As the mother of two tweens who are deeply into the Minecraft/Terraria craze the VR aspect of the story struck a cord with me, and I consider myself a bit of a geek/nerd to boot so I really wanted to see if the story would stand up to the write-up. And,... it did!

This is the story of Kali Ling - a 20-year old woman who has only ever wanted to be a top-notch virtual gamer. She's worked, trained, studied, and... and acted, partied, and ignored reality to get where she is. And, just as she has a chance to make history her world starts to crumble. Kali learns that in order to be the leader she needs to be she must look back to trainings she had abandoned and center herself before she can help balance and effectively lead her team to victory.

This was obviously well-research and well written. It kept me invested throughout the story - even when I didn't agree with the actions of the primary characters. It can also be read as a statement regarding our culture and where it very well might lead if we aren't careful. In fact, I found it to be reminiscent of Animal Farm by George Orwell. I look forward to reading any sequels to this story.

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The Haunted Heist by Angie Fox

The Haunted Heist by Angie Fox
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

**I received an ebook in exchange for an honest review.**
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Verity & Frankie are up to it again! Frankie has become increasingly upset regarding his "grounding" while Verity has been putting more energy into trying to get her graphic design business back up to par. When her best friend's uncle gives her a chance to get her business up and running again she jumps on the opportunity,... and - as usual - ends up in the wrong place at the wrong time.

When circumstances point to the possibility of a ghost being the culprit Verity and Frankie join forces with Ellis to try to get to the bottom of the caper and ghostly craziness ensues!

I love the zany and fun action in this series! Verity's circle of friends (and LUCY!) help keep you on your toes no matter which story you are reading!

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Heroes by Ednah Walters

Heroes by Ednah Walters
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

** I received an ebook in exchange for an honest review.**
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Action! Adventure! Love! Magic! What more do you need in an awe-inspiring, hard-to-put-down book?!

Eirik and Celestia's adventure continues as they search for his sister and grandmother. Witches are being killed and their bodies are disappearing. The Norns appear to be hiding. Immortals appear to be tied to most everything in one way or another, and some mortals will need to be trusted with secrets they'd normally never be shown.

Ednah's writing will draw you in, make you believe, and expand your imagination! I love the descriptive way she writes, and the details which tie her Runes world into the Norse mythology pantheon.

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Reckless by Maggie Shayne

Reckless by Maggie Shayne
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

**I received an ebook in exchange for an honest review.**
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Wow! Drama and action abound!

What happens when you pair up a jaded undercover federal agent with a too-smart-for-her-own-good crime investigating writer? A page-turning, quick-paced roller coaster of a story! Maggie's expert storytelling has you routing for Toni Rio from the beginning!

Neither Nick nor Toni want to trust the other, but fate has thrown them together for better or for worse. Both have tragedy in their past, and guilt dogging their steps, but they must come to trust each other if they both hope to survive the crime family they were hoping to break.

This is a break from my normal genre of paranormal reading, but it helped refresh me as a change of pace. I loved the characters, and how Maggie tries to set at least part of almost every story she writes in local towns and cities.

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Mercury Striking by Rebecca Zanetti

Mercury Striking by Rebecca Zanetti
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

**I received an e-copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.**
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Having read the On The Hunt anthology, I had a previous taste of this story in the prequel novella, Scorpius Rising. And, call me naive, but I didn't actually realize this was the same series until I was about 10% through the book!

This book is a little outside my "normal" genre realm, but still appealed with the post-apocalyptic setting and alien virus issue. Jax Mercury & Lynne Harmony are strong protagonists with a terrific dynamic. Surrounded by many multi-faceted characters - several of whom I can see future books about in this series - and several of whom, unfortunately, you won't.

This is a fast-paced story with violence, death. love, and regrets a-plenty. What would happen if suddenly 90% of the world's population was either dead or insane after catching an alien virus? This book will give a detailed idea of this author's take! I could easily see this being a movie along the lines of the Resident Evil series.

Rebecca has created a well-though out and detailed world in this book, and I can't wait to "see" the rest of the series!

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