ARC Review: The Secret of the Keepers {Kailmeyra #2} by Elizabeth Isaacs

   
  
 

Life for Nora couldn't be better; she has married the man of her dreams and loves living in the pristine land of Kailmeyra.
That is, until the darkness threatens her perfect world.
Now war is upon the land. She and Gavin must strengthen their clan and prepare to fight. But the enemy has an ally—one that not only wields power, but holds knowledge of the ancients' secrets. Secrets that could destroy creation itself.
As the darkness grows, doubt seeps in ... protectiveness hinders progress ... and the unthinkable comes to pass.
Bewildered and alone, Nora shoulders the responsibility of leading an entire race to war. As she struggles with decisions that seem impossible to make, she is haunted by one choice.

From Goodreads.

• Publisher: iUniverse
• Release Date: October 29th, 2011
• My Copy: PDF received by the author.
• Pages: N/A
• Genre: Y.A. Fantasy
• Series: Kailmeyra
• Author's Website
• Buy This Book:

The Secret of the Keepers

*Minor SPOILER from the previous book 

I really enjoyed The Light of Asteria and ever since reading it I have been jonesing for its sequel. When Elizabeth contacted me about reviewing it I could not have been happier.

It took me a little while to get back into the thick of things, because I honestly didn't remember some of the characters names and events of the previous book. However after a while I felt myself drawn once again into the fantastic world Elizabeth Isaacs has created.

I did have a bit of a problem with The Secret of the Keepers when it came to descriptions. It might be my own fault, since English is not my first language, but I got a bit lost whenever the author got into describing powers, energies, environments and so on.

However, when it came to the plot, I thoroughly enjoyed it. Nora and Gavin are still a great couple and it was so awesome to catch up with them and their clan.

I surely hope that there is a third book in the series, since I believe that is much more to be told, specially after the end of The Secret of the Keepers.

If you enjoy magical worlds and characters within a beautiful love story, this is definitely a series for you.

 

Previously On The Kailmeya Series:

  My Review of The Light of Asteria

 

 

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Review: One Grave at a Time {Night Huntress, #6} by Jeaniene Frost + GIVEAWAY!

 

THIS GIVEAWAY IS OVER!

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The grave is one wrong step away.

Having narrowly averted an (under)world war, Cat Crawfield wants nothing more than a little downtime with her vampire husband, Bones. Unfortunately, her gift from New Orleans' voodoo queen just keeps on giving--leading to a personal favor that sends them into battle once again, this time against a villainous spirit.
Centuries ago, Heinrich Kramer was a witch hunter. Now, every All Hallows Eve, he takes physical form to torture innocent women before burning them alive. This year, however, a determined Cat and Bones must risk all to send him back to the other side of eternity--forever. But how do you kill a killer who's already long dead?

From Goodreads.

• Publisher: Avon
  
• Release Date: August 30th, 2011            
  
• My Copy: Kindle Edition | Bought.
  
• Pages: 358
  
• Series: Night Huntress Series
  
• Genre: Urban Fantasy
  
• Author's Website
  
• Buy The Book:

One Grave at a Time: A Night Huntress Novel

*SPOILER FREE

Cat & Bones are back again! Two Cat & Bones novels in one year is awesome! I am also very happy to say that I enjoyed One Grave at a Time much more than I did This Side of the Grave. The action was pretty great and we had a lot of Ian time, which I adored.

I also enjoyed the military plotline and I hope we get more of it in the next book.

One Grave at a Time was still not my fave in the series, but not my least favorite either =)  I also missed Vlad in this one, though I will forgive Jeaniene, because we do have his spin-off coming up hehe.

Now onto the bad news =/ Sigh, what was once one of my favorite UF couples, might be hitting a bit of stagnant period in their relationship. Don’t get me wrong, I still love them, but they are so happy and stable together that I have to agree with my girl Danielle from ALPHA reader, it might be time to bring in an amnesia plotline or throw in the towel and have this power duo as beloved secondary characters in Vlad’s spin-off.

All in all, I am not ready to give up on this series yet, not even close. I love Jeaniene’s writing, world and stories and all that will definitely keep me coming back for more again and again, specially since Jeaniene has absolutely becoma an auto-buy author for me. This is an amazing series and a must read for any Urban Fantasy and Paranormal Romance fan out there!

But, I do have come to expect a lot from this series, and the last couple books just haven’t reached my expectations of greatness for these characters.

 

Previously On The Night Huntress Series:

 


 

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Sarah’s Reviews: The Deviant by Orren Merton

 Heinrich Straus, an eight-hundred year old German vampire, is on the run-from his past, from his crimes...from himself. Looking for a place to settle, Santo Paulo, a quiet, central California college town, seems to offer everything he's looking for: peace, quiet, and friendly people. It's not long before he is noticed by one of the local college students, who endeavors to win his heart. Concurrently with his arrival, however, local detectives uncover the serial murders of young women, and fix their sights on Heinrich. Even with a daughter of Santo Paulo as his champion, Heinrich finds that being a vampire makes proving his innocence complicated...

From Goodreads

• Publisher: Darkling Books


• Release Date: December 13th 2010


• My Copy: Received From Author.


• Pages: 298


• Genre: Paranormal Suspense


• Author’s Website

Buy the book – The Deviant by Orren Merton

With the Twilight series being at the forefront of people's minds when you see a vampire book on the bookshelves it must be hard for writer's to get people to read their take on a vampire story. Merton's The Deviant focuses on how a vampire feels when he falls in love with a normal human girl. Also as you can see by the cover he has a dog! We are taken slowly through the vampires past and his future does not look good. Can love really save him?

Heinrich (the vampire) is after salvation and he makes friends along the way but within this there is a spate of murders going on in the town and he knows he could soon be top suspect.I liked that Heinrich was a traditional vampire with none of the newer traits associated so the writing wasn't trying to hard. That said the writing might seem a little over the top as you are taken to a minute by minute guide of all Heinrich's conversations but it's done in a way that is truly fascinating. 

All the little mundane things actually are interesting. Although this takes the story away from the mystery side of the tale and I'm afraid this side of the story didn't surprise and even his relationship with Hope didn't set the emotions going. My one major personal gripe is there are a few typos which I tend to find stand out like a sore thumb but that said cannot argue with this being a good read.

You can find out more about Sarah HERE!

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Review: Hard Spell {Occult Crimes Unit Investigation #1} by Justin Gustainis

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

“Stan Markowski is a Detective Sergeant on the Scranton PD's Supernatural Crimes Investigation Unit.
Like the rest of America, Scranton's got an uneasy 'live and let unlive' relationship with the supernatural. But when a vamp puts the bite on an unwilling victim, or some witch casts the wrong kind of spell, that's when they call Markowski. He carries a badge. Also, a crucifix, some wooden stakes, a big vial of holy water, and a 9mm Beretta loaded with silver bullets.”

From Goodreads.

• Publisher: Angry Robot 
• Release Date: July 7th, 2011   
• My Copy: eCopy received from the Author.
• Pages: 416 
• Series: Occult Crimes Unit Investigation Series 
• Genre: Urban Fantasy 
• Author's Website
• Buy the Book:

Hard Spell (Occult Crimes Unit Investigation)

*NO SPOILERS.

Anyone that has read my blog for any period of time knows how much I love Urban Fantasy, even if me and the genre and I have our issues sometimes. However, I have to admit that I don’t tend to be the biggest fan of Male protagonists in UF. Nothing against it, but I just connect better with women, that’s all.

However, I have to say that I thoroughly enjoyed Stan as the protagonist of Hard Spell. I really liked the world Justin created for this series, the rules, creatures and character history was extremely interesting and engrossing.

I did feel that the book lagged for a while in the middle part of it, though. That made me take longer to read it than I would normally take, but towards the end things got so awesome that I could not put it down until I was done.

All in all, Hard Spell is a very good first book in a series and it does a great job in setting up the world and characters. Despite its shortcomings, I enjoyed it a lot and am definitely looking forward to the next installment in the series.

 

 

Next in The Occult Crimes Unit Investigation Series:

EVIL DARK

Coming out on February 28th, 2012

 

 

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Quickie Series-Catch-Up Reviews: Lover Unleashed {BDB #9} by J.R. Ward & Hunt The Moon {CP #5} by Karen Chance

 

 

 

Payne, twin sister of Vishous, is cut from the same dark, warrior cloth as her brother: A fighter by nature, and a maverick when it comes to the traditional role of Chosen females, there is no place for her on the Far Side… and no role for her on the front lines of the war, either.
When she suffers a paralyzing injury, human surgeon Dr. Manuel Manello is called in to treat her as only he can- and he soon gets sucked into her dangerous, secret world. Although he never before believed in things that go bump in the night- like vampires- he finds himself more than willing to be seduced by the powerful female who marks both his body and his soul.
As the two find so much more than an erotic connection, the human and vampire worlds collide … just as a centuries old score catches up with Payne and puts both her love and her life in deadly jeopardy.

From Goodreads.

• Publisher: NAL 
• Release Date: March 29th, 2010              
• My Copy: Kindle Edition | Bought.
• Pages: 489
• Series: Black Dagger Brotherhood Series 
• Genre: Paranormal Romance 
• Author's Website
• Buy The Book:

Lover Unleashed (Black Dagger Brotherhood, Book 9)

*NO Spoilers.

The Good: Anytime I get to see the BDB boys and girls is a good time. I was very happy to see Payne and Manny get their HEA and Specially to see Vishous get some closure. A lot of emotions in the air, my heart broke, I cried and enjoyed every minute!

The Bad: It felt more like V’s story than Payne and Manny`s and I felt like things got wrapped up too nicely for Payne and Manny. It felt too easy =/

The Smex: Payne and Manny were hot, but I have seen much hotter in this series =/

 

 

Previously On The BDB Series:

 

Next On The BDB Series:

Coming on March 27th, 2012!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cassandra Palmer recently defeated a god, which you'd think would buy a girl a little time off. But it doesn't work that way when your job description is Pythia-the world's chief clairvoyant. Cassie is busier than ever, trying to learn about her power, preparing for her upcoming coronation, and figuring out her relationship with the enigmatic sexy master vampire, Mircea.
But someone doesn't want Cassie to become Pythia, and is willing to go to any lengths to make sure the coronation ceremony never happens- including attacking her mother before Cassie is even born.

From Goodreads.

• Publisher: Signet Select
• Release Date: June 7th, 2011             
• My Copy: Kindle Edition | Bought.  
• Pages: 419
• Series: Cassie PalmerSeries 
• Genre: Urban Fantasy 
• Author's Website
• Buy The Book:

Hunt the Moon: A Cassie Palmer Novel

*NO Spoilers.

The Good: A great trip back into one of my favorite world and characters. Fast-paced and so full of action, you will feel out of breath.

The Bad: Maybe a little too much action =/ 

The Romance: A lot of goodness for those that are Team Mircea and those like me that are Team Pritkin!  = Awesome!

 

Previously On The Cassie Palmer Series:

 

 

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