Cry Wolf by Angela Campbell

Released: October 31, 2011
Format: e-book
Publisher: Carina

Series: n/a

Source: Carina (via NetGalley)

Andrea Lockhart’s job as a reporter for cheesy tabloid The Naked Truth isn’t exactly where she thought her journalism career would end up. She’s determined to make the best of it, but when her editor sends her to Woodbine, South Carolina, to investigate a werewolf sighting, Andrea decides the ridiculous assignment will be her last. Until she meets Sean Hunter.

The last time she saw Sean, he had just beat her out for the position of editor of their college newspaper, and told her she’d never make it as a reporter. Given his grand ambitions, she’s shocked to find him editing the Woodbine Weekly. Once they start competing for leads on the werewolf, Andrea becomes determined to break the story first-she can’t let Sean beat her again.

As they each get closer to finding the source of the rumors, the only thing more surprising than the truth are the feelings Sean is able to stir in her, feelings she thought she had left behind…

* * * * * * * * * * * * *

I have to say, this book was not what I expected. I received my review copy a long tie ago and I guess I forgot it was a contemporary romance not a paranormal one, so I kept expecting more supernatural stuff. My confusion is entirely on me, not the publisher or the author, but I think it affected my reading. Don’t get me wrong, I did really enjoy the story and the characters.

Andrea and Sean are a nice pair. They went to college together, parted ways after Sean was incredibly rude and cutting, and now they find themselves in the same town without any warning. Their history comes out pretty quickly so that we can understand my Andrea isn’t thrilled to run into Sean, despite how much she’s changed.  Thankfully for the HEA, Sean is no longer a jerk — he’s actually a rather upstanding guy. The two of them have chemistry that’s through the roof, which makes the sexy scenes quite steamy.  My main complaint about the lead characters has to do with Andrea — the author’s given her a lot of tragedy in her back story but it’s not explored as much as I would have liked. It’s not that I wanted Andrea to be damaged, it’s just that I felt like she was occasionally shallow. But these little flashes were definitely outweighed by her smarts and determination, which I truly appreciated.

In terms of the werewolf business,  I thought that Angela Campbell resolved the whole idea in a reasonable manner. I wasn’t 100% satisfied with it but it was the most plausible outcome given that this book is rooted in reality. The storyline gave the romance some extra thrills, which was great. I look forward to seeing what else Angela Campbell produces.

Casting the Otherworld: A Women of the Otherworld mini-challenge

I was so excited when I found out about the latest mini-challenge from Moonlight Gleam’s Otherworld series challenge. So fun! And so time-consuming! Thanks to Lucy for hosting this challenge.

There are so many great characters and actors to choose from. Plus, the world is so big now that I had a hard time remembering how the characters are described as opposed to how they are in my head. Thankfully, Kelley Armstrong as a very helpful character guide on her website, which is what I used as my starting point. (I didn’t always stick with the exact descriptions, though.) I think there are a couple that are the same as Lucy’s (of Moonlight Gleam) but some people are just so perfect for their parts.

Without further ado, here is how I would cast the Otherworld:

Elena Michaels Tricia Helfer	Clay Danvers Chris Hemsworth
Antonio Sorrentino Gerard Butler	Nick Sorrentino Jake Gyllenhaal
Jeremy Danvers Hugh Jackman	Jaime Vegas Julianne Moore
Paige Winterbourne Demi Lovato	Lucas Cortez Danny Pino
Eve Levine Angelina Jolie	Savannah Levine Nina Dobrev
Karl Marsten Matt Bomer	Hope Adams Parminder Nagra
Adam Vasic Jensen Ackles	Troy Morgan Joe Manganiello

Thanks again to Lucy at Moonlight Gleam for hosting this challenge. So. Much. Fun.

Hidden by Kelley Armstrong

Released: December 31, 2011
Format: Hardcover
Publisher: Subterranean

Series: Otherworld 10.5?

Source: Personal shelf

Hiking through the snow, holiday baking and playing board games by the fire – what’s not to love about an old-fashioned family Christmas?

Werewolves Elena Michaels and Clayton Danvers want to give their four-year-old twins, Kate and Logan, something their parents never had: a nice, normal holiday. No Pack responsibilities, no homicidal half-demons or power-hungry sorcerers to deal with – just the four of them, alone, at a chalet outside Ontario’s Algonquin Park. Then a strange werewolf shows up at their door…while the town is buzzing about a young man, back from college, found half-eaten in the woods. And there’s the missing little girl…

With all the signs pointing to a rogue mutt with a taste for human flesh, Elena and Clay have no choice but to investigate. But are they the hunters – or the hunted?

 * * * * * * * * * * * * *

As you’ve probably guessed from my participation in the Women of the Otherworld series challenge, I’m a big fan. Huge fan! I adore these books and think Kelley Armstrong is an exceptional author, which is why I shill out the big bucks when she releases a novella through Subterranean Press (even though I know it’ll come out as an e-novella eventually, though that wasn’t the case for the first couple when they were first released). I love how special they are and I always enjoy her writing so I figure it’s worth the extra money. Groceries are over-rated, right? (FYI: I have the bottom cover on mine but I wanted to show both because I love how both versions show Clay and Elena together, just changing who’s in wolf form.)

In any case, the most recent novella to come out is Hidden. Narrated by Elena, it takes place after the events in Frostbitten so you shouldn’t read it unless you’re at least that far in the series, unless you don’t mind the spoilers. (There are characters in Hidden who are introduced in Frostbitten and they reference events from that book.)

Elena and Clay have two main issues in Hidden: 1) what to do with the mutt they meet, and 2) whether or not they should tell their kids that they’re werewolves. You’d think it’d be a lot to squeeze into a novella but Kelley Armstrong’s done a fabulous job once again. The plot unfolds in a well-paced manner and there’s just enough story to be satisfying. I particularly enjoyed the Christmas backdrop since Christmas is a particularly special holiday for Elena and Clay. I also loved getting another glimpse into the Danvers/Michaels family dynamic and seeing how Kate and Logan are growing up.

I adore these Otherworld novellas because they give readers an extra glimpse into the lives of our favourite characters. It’s such a delightful window into Elena and Clay’s family and I loved it. I can only hope that Kelley Armstrong continues to write short stories and novellas now that she’s wrapping up the series so that we can continue to visit our favourite characters in this amazing world.

Dark Frost by Jennifer Estep

This week’s post is all about Dark Frost by Jennifer Estep. It’s the third book in the Mythos Academy series and it’s fantastic. You can find out more by clicking on the link above.

Knight’s Curse by Karen Duvall

Released: August 23, 2011
Format: Trade paperback
Publisher: LUNA

Series: Knight’s Curse #1

Source: Personal shelf

 A skilled knife fighter since the age of nine, Chalice knows what it’s like to live life on the edge—precariously balanced between the dark and the light. But the time has come to choose. The evil sorcerer who kidnapped her over a decade ago requires her superhuman senses to steal a precious magical artifact…or she must suffer the consequences.

Desperate to break the curse that enslaves her, Chalice agrees. But it is only with the help of Aydin—her noble warrior-protector—that she will risk venturing beyond the veil to discover the origins of her power. Only for him will she dare to fully embrace her awesome talents. For a deadly duel is at hand, and Chalice alone will have to decide between freedom…and the love of her life.

* * * * * * * * * * * * *

It took me a while to decide to pick up Knight’s Curse. The cover copy sounded great but there was just something about it that had me putting it down when I was at the bookstore. But then, the other day, it seemed like the perfect fit so I ordered it and waited…and waited…for it to arrive. Thankfully, it finally showed up!  And while I wasn’t compelled to read it in a single sitting, I did find it it be quite enjoyable. Here’s why:

The world that Karen Duvall has created is fantastic. I love the idea of an order of female knights and had no idea it was a real thing back in the day. (If you’re feeling nerdy, you can check out this site for some history.) I think it’s a very original setting for an urban fantasy/PNR series and I look forward to finding out what happens to Chalice next in Darkest Knight. (Incidentally, am I the only one who thinks Batman when they hear that title?) I thought the author’s take on gargoyles was particularly interesting but I won’t say too much to keep it a surprise for you all.

Chalice, the main character, has a fascinating backstory. Karen Duvall takes a trope — orphan learns about her family and special destiny — and makes it feel fresh. I really loved the opening scenes with a younger Chalice because we get to see the moments that really shape her relationship with Gavin and the Vyantara. I didn’t always like grown-up Chalice but I understood where she was coming from because of these great opening moments.

Overall, I thought Knight’s Curse was a great debut and I look forward to reading Darkest Knight, which I have on my e-reader right now!

Grave Dance by Kalayna Price

I also forgot to mention that you can check out my thoughts on Grave Dance by Kalayna Price, the second Alex Craft novel. I posted that last week but forget to mention it here. Here’s the link.

Deadly Descendant by Jenna Black

I was lucky enough to get a review copy of Deadly Descendant from Simon & Schuster thanks to Tynga so that’s my blog for the week over there. Click here to check it out.

Bitten by Kelley Armstrong

Released: September 10, 2011
Format: Mass market paperback
Publisher: Seal

Series: Otherworld #1

Source: Personal shelf

Elena Michaels is the world’s only female werewolf. And she’s tired of it. Tired of a life spent hiding and protecting, a life where her most important job is hunting down rogue werewolves. Tired of a world that not only accepts the worst in her–her temper, her violence–but requires it. Worst of all, she realizes she’s growing content with that life, with being that person.

So she left the Pack and returned to Toronto where she’s trying to live as a human. When the Pack leader calls asking for her help fighting a sudden uprising, she only agrees because she owes him. Once this is over, she’ll be squared with the Pack and free to live life as a human. Which is what she wants. Really.

* * * * * * * * * * * * *

Bitten is probably the first urban fantasy novel I ever read. My friend Amy introduced me to the book around 2004 and I was instantly hooked. I frequently re-read Bitten because I think it’s beautifully written and tells a compelling story. This time around, I’m re-visiting the novel as part of Moonlight Gleam’s Women of the Otherworld Series Challenge, which I joined last month. The challenge actually started in March so I’m already behind but Lucy has been incredibly flexible with the rules so I’m going to do my best to get caught up. ^^

Because I’ve read this book so often, I thought I’d spend my time talking about why I think it’s such a wonderful book and what it means to me, rather than a more traditional review post. I hope you don’t mind the change of pace!

As I mentioned, Bitten was probably the first urban fantasy book  I ever read. I’ve always enjoyed stories with preter-/supernatural elements, no matter the medium, but I used to spend most of my time reading mysteries, romance, and suspense. And then I read Bitten. No, I devoured Bitten. From the first chapter, where we experience Elena’s Change with her, I was hooked and there was no way I was going to stop reading until I had learnt all of Elena’s story. I connected with Elena instantly because she was so well written — damaged, strong, vulnerable, angry, and so much more. Excellent characters are something of a Kelley Armstrong trademark to my mind and each and every one is unique, regardless of the number of pages they get.

I was also completely intrigued by the werewolf lore: only 35 werewolves in the world, either hereditary (father was a werewolf so they were taken and raised with the knowledge that they would Change) or bitten, either Pack or mutt, with Elena as the only female werewolf in existence. It sounds so simple when I write it out like this but the world building is rich and wonderful and it just sucked me right in.

And then there’s Philip. Elena and Clay’s love story is central to the Otherworld series and I’d completely forgotten about Philip, the man Elena was involved with in Bitten. He’s so sweet and normal and kind. And completely overshadowed by Clay. Some of my favourite scenes in the book are when Philip and Clay interact.

There are also some amazing scenes in Bitten — scenes where I sat back and thought, “Did she really just do that?” There’s a particular moment in the climax that seems so anti-climactic but also perfectly right and I just knew, when I read those lines, that this author was going to keep me on my toes. If you’ve read Bitten, you probably know exactly what I’m talking about it. If you don’t, I won’t say anymore to avoid ruining the moment for you.

Bitten is also the book that introduces us to Karl Marsden, debonaire thief and mutt who wants territory. I think it’s safe for me to mention that he appears in other books down the line and that I’m so happy about that because I find him charming. He’s like James Bond with an even greyer moral compass and I adore him.

Those are just some of the reasons I love to read Bitten. Things get even more interesting in Stolen and I’m excited to get into that book soon.

Thanks to Lucy of Moonlight Gleam for hosting this challenge and getting me to articulate precisely why I’m such a fan of this book!

Hunting the Shadows by Alexia Reed

Released: May 7, 2012
Format: e-book
Publisher: Carina

Series: Shadow Ops #1

Source: Review copy from Carina

Amy has spent her life in isolation. Locked away in the Centre, a secret government facility where children with extraordinary abilities are raised as highly skilled fighters, she longs for a normal life. A life where being around people doesn’t overload her sensitive telepathic mind. A life where she can’t see through the eyes of a murderer as he hunts down his next victim…

J.C. Nikolaiev was a top researcher, but when his conscience got the better of him, he tried to destroy his work and free his subjects-and was imprisoned as a traitor. To save himself and prevent more people from dying, J.C. must catch the serial killer stalking the halls of the facility. But his only leads come from a woman whose thoughts have invaded his mind…

Finally out of the psych ward, Amy joins forces with J.C. to find the killer before he closes in on them. Can their growing attraction withstand the truths they uncover?

* * * * * * * * * * * * *

As you probably know by now, I’m a big fan of Carina Press. They have a fantastic variety of titles and authors, which I appreciate because there’s something for all of my different moods. I decided to try Hunting the Shadows because I was in the mood for something a little different. Hunting the Shadows is romantic suspense tinged with the paranormal. Everyone at the Centre has some sort of gift, thanks to some genetic engineering and a lifetime of training. They really run the gamut of abilities, from telepathy like Amy, to the ability to manipulate time or change memories. Some of the folks at the Centre are working for the greater good but there are just as many people who have nefarious purposes. It’s an interesting world and it was a lot of fun getting to know its inhabitants. Amy and J. C. are great protagonists. J. C. has the strong and stoic thing down pat while Amy is a bit more open with her emotions, despite (or perhaps because of) being isolated for most of her life. I also liked most of J. C.’s teammates, even though we don’t get to know them as well as Amy and J. C. My favourites were Mackenzie and Ajay and you’ll see why when you pick up Hunting the Shadows!

In terms of plot, the book is well executed. Amy and J. C. hunt for the murderer and make some interesting discoveries along the way. When I found out who the killer was, I had a kind of duh moment but it didn’t detract from my enjoyment of the novel. I was interested in knowing how J. C. and Amy would trap the killer and how the killer managed to evade detection for so long. In some ways, the story’s evolution and world reminded me of Christine Feehan’s Ghostwalkers series or Jayne Castle’s novels (which is a compliment to my mind), though there are enough differences that the comparison was fleeting.

Overall, I enjoyed this story. It’s a strong debut from a fellow Canadian (go, Canada!) and, from the looks of Alexia Reed’s website, there are more Shadow Ops books to come. I look forward to seeing where she takes us next.

Cover Love: Scent of Magic by Maria V. Snyder

As always, a big shout out to Carmel at Rabid Reads for hosting this meme.

My choice this week is one of my favourite authors, Maria V. Snyder: he next book in her Healer trilogy, Scent of Magic. She just posted it on her blog and I wanted to share.

I love the colours and how strong Avry looks on the cover. Plus we get a glimpse of Kerrick! I think the cover’s a big improvement on the one that the publisher used for Touch of Power, which I didn’t like. According to the author’s blog, this is a near final version but I can’t see what they’d want to change.

Here’s the back of the book, complete with blurb: