Book Review: Survive to Dawn (London Undead #3) by PJ Schnyder

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The zombie epidemic in London has been contained, but that's all the werewolf pack that protects the city has been able to manage. Danny, as pack medic, is concerned the epidemic isn't showing any signs of slowing down. And that the pack's Alpha is too focused on eliminating the deadly threat to consider working toward a cure. When a team of American scientists arrive, talking of a vaccine, Danny is quietly hopeful.

Deanna thought she was prepared for anything. But an argument with the London pack leaves her research team exposed and alone, on their own against countless hordes of the walking dead. Within hours, her colleagues are slaughtered…and it's only because of Danny that she manages to get out alive.

Deanna unhinges Danny in every way, tempting him beyond reason. She also pushes him to face the one thing he'd been avoiding: his Alpha is wrong. Simply surviving isn't the answer…it can't be.

I received this ARC for free in exchange for an honest review.  Survive to Dawn is the third book in the London Undead series by PJ Schnyder.  The first thing I did was buy the first book in the series, Bite Me.  I like to read series books in order, and I thought it would help give me background on what had happened so far.  Actually, it wasn't necessary to do that with this series.  Survive to Dawn can be read as a stand-alone book.

The premise for this series is a good one, werewolves fighting zombies.  Unfortunately, in my opinion, the writing didn't stand up to the idea.  There was next to no world building, the explanation for how the zombies were created and what that did to London was glossed over quickly.  

There was very little character development.  We find out that Danny is very old.  Deanna's background is revealed a little more thoroughly as it relates to the storyline.  Their relationship is meant to be something like love at first site, but there's absolutely no heat, no chemistry between them.  

Unfortunately, I found myself just wanting to hurry the story along and be done with it.  Even the zombies weren't very scary, although the scene where they found her scientist friend in the park was good.  This zombie series just wasn't for me.

 I give this book 2 Bookworms.

Book Review: Bite Me (London Undead #1) by PJ Schnyder

Few people walk the streets of London since the zombie outbreak, but that's not an issue for Seth. As a werewolf, he can handle himself and save humans reckless enough to take a nighttime stroll. While on patrol he comes across a group of people under attack. The one woman brave enough to take a stand against the zombies catches his eye—and not just because of her way with a gun. Learning the beautiful woman is homeless and fends for herself only intensifies his urge to protect and care for her.

Maisie can't help but admit that she's attracted to her werewolf rescuer. She's drawn to Seth's strength and ferocity, and finds herself opening up to him in ways she never imagined, even though she's determined to not rely on Seth or anyone else. She doesn't want another person to get hurt—or die—for her sake. She has enough scars, physical and emotional, from the last time…

But when Seth realizes something is drawing the zombies to Maisie, there may be nothing he can do to save her…

The premise of this book, werewolves fighting zombies, caught my interest, so I grabbed it.  I was definitely disappointed.  It's not a long story, so little time was allowed for character or world development.  Bite Me is the first book in the London Undead series by PJ Schnyder, so I expected some detailed background about how the zombies came about and more information about the werewolves coming out to fight them.  Very little detail was given.

The only character with much background shown was Maisie, so she seems more of a real person.  She has a great spitfire spirit.   However, the relationship between her and Seth feels non-existent.  There's no real chemistry shown between them.  There are some explicit sex scenes.

The action moves along quickly, but there's not much of it.  When the zombies attacked, I didn't feel any emotion from anyone. It's just not a book I'd recommend.

 I give this book 2 Bookworms.

Book Review: Destined for an Early Grave (Night Huntress #4) by Jeaniene Frost

Her deadly dreams leave her in grave danger.
Since half-vampire Cat Crawfield and her undead lover Bones met six years ago, they've fought against the rogue undead, battled a vengeful Master vampire, and pledged their devotion with a blood bond. Now it's time for a vacation. But their hopes for a perfect Paris holiday are dashed when Cat awakes one night in terror. She's having visions of a vampire named Gregor who's more powerful than Bones and has ties to her past that even Cat herself didn't know about.
Gregor believes Cat is his and he won't stop until he has her. As the battle begins between the vamp who haunts her nightmares and the one who holds her heart, only Cat can break Gregor's hold over her. She'll need all the power she can summon in order to bring down the baddest bloodsucker she's ever faced . . . even if getting that power will result in an early grave.

Destined for an Early Grave is the fourth novel in the Night Huntress Series by Jeaniene Frost.   In my opinion, this is the best book of the series thus far.  A dastardly villainous vampire is trying to snatch Cat right out of her dreams.  Bones must go to extreme lengths to save her, and the lack of sleep and stress drives a wedge between them.  All of their friends jump in to help, but that puts them in danger as well.  The action doesn't stop in this book, neither does the roller coaster of emotion.  Hang on tight, but do read it!

 I give this book 4 Bookworms.

Book Review: Halfway to the Grave (Night Huntress #1) by Jeaniene Frost

Half-vampire Catherine Crawfield is going after the undead with a vengeance, hoping that one of these deadbeats is her father - the one responsible for ruining her mother's life. Then she's captured by Bones, a vampire bounty hunter, and is forced into an unholy partnership.
In exchange for finding her father, Cat agrees to train with the sexy night stalker until her battle reflexes are as sharp as his fangs. She's amazed she doesn't end up as his dinner - are there actually good vampires? Pretty soon Bones will have her convinced that being half-dead doesn't have to be all bad. But before she can enjoy her newfound status as kick-ass demon hunter, Cat and Bones are pursued by a group of killers. Now Cat will have to choose a side . . . and Bones is turning out to be as tempting as any man with a heartbeat.

Halfway to the Grave is the first book in the Night Huntress series by Jeaniene Frost.  I found the premise of this story very interesting, a half-vampire that hunts and kills vampires.  Freud would have a ball with her psyche!

For me, the story started out slow and didn't really pick up until after Cat and Bones start hunting together.  There was too much time spent on her training with Bones and it got boring, even though their relationship started heating up during the time. This book is definitely not for younger audiences or anyone who is offended by explicit sexual scenes, as there are many. 

I definitely wasn't expecting the ending to the book, but I'm not sure I liked it.  Still, the book was entertaining overall and I'm intrigued enough to keep going in the series.

 I give this book 3 Bookworms.

Book Review: For a Few Demons More (The Hollows #5) by Kim Harrison

Despite dating one vampire and living with another, Rachel Morgan has stayed ahead of trouble until now. A serial killer stalks the Hollows, claims victims across society, and ignites a vicious Inderland gang war. Rachel hides an ancient artifact that could stop the killer or start a battle to the death among supernatural races of Cincinnati. Every action has its price. When the vampire master Piscary is set free and the demonic Algaliarept dares to walk openly under the sun, even Rachel Morgan can't hide forever.

Well, here we start the fifth book in The Hollows series by Kim Harrison with Rachel dealing with the same problem as in the fourth book.  The werewolf artifact.  I still find the idea of this artifact and what it does just... weird.  However, For a Few Demons More shoots back up to the quality of the first few books in the series.

Harrison writes characters that you can completely love, hate, like, loathe, or anywhere in between.  She creates them in 3-D.  Even the villains have soft sides.  Everyone is constantly evolving.  I have to admit, though, that sometimes I want to slap Rachel upside the head because she doesn't learn very quickly.  She runs head-on into danger without a plan, she constantly wavers on her relationship with Ivy.  It would be nice to see her grow up some.

For a Few Demons More is a gut-wrenching, action-packed book.  Be ready for anything, because that's what's going to happen!

 I give this book 4 Bookworms.

Book Review: A Fistful of Charms (The Hollows #4) by Kim Harrison

Narrator, Cincinnati witch and bounty hunter Rachel Morgan is confronted by Nick, mortal lover who abandoned her. Savage beasts covet what he possesses, and may destroy the Hollows. While keeping a low profile to avoid eternal wrath of a vengeful demon, she must act quickly. The pack gathers for the first time in millennia to ravage and to rule.

A Fistful of Charms is the fourth book in The Hollows series by Kim Harrison.  While I love this series, this particular novel was not my favorite.  This one features werewolves, but I didn't like Harrison's take on how they function together.  They are all after something Nick stole, so Rachel has to help him.  The whole idea of this item and what it does is just strange to me.  I can't be more explicit because I don't want to spoil the book for anyone.

The main characters are here, Rachel, Al, Jenks, and Ivy; who gets more involved than usual, which was interesting.  I really enjoy how Harrison grows each character throughout the books.  As in real life, they change their personalities and views on issues as things happen.  

The story slowed down in places, like when they hung out at the hotel trying to figure out what to do.  The whole big scene on the bridge was sad and a little weird.  It didn't leave me completely satisfied. 

I still love the series.  In my opinion, they need to be read in order to get the full benefit of the stories and the characters.  So read this one, but maybe don't expect as much.  They do get a lot better!

 I give this book 3 Bookworms.

Book Review: The Royal Treatment (Alaskan Royal Family #1) by MaryJanice Davidson

In a world nearly identical to ours, the North won the Civil War, Ben Affleck is the sexiest man alive, and Russia never sold Alaska to the U.S. Instead, Alaska is a rough, beautiful country ruled by a famously eccentric royal family, and urgently in need of a bride for the Crown Prince. But they have no idea what they're in for when they offer the job to a feisty commoner

MaryJanice Davidson has become one of my all-time favorite authors.  I first found her by reading Undead and Unwed, the first book in her Undead series.  Wanting more, I found The Royal Treatment.  I must be honest and say I didn't like it as much as do her Undead books, but it is a sincerely hysterical book!

The Royal Treatment is set in an alternate reality, the world is almost the same as this one, but Alaska is it's own country and has its own rulers.  And boy are they a bunch of nuts!  The characters are not as fully fleshed out as I prefer them to be, but I loved all of them.  They each have their own quirky personality and odd habits.  I want to take them all home with me!

The only negatives I found were the profanity used and the fairly explicit love scenes.  As I don't really mind the language, and I blip over the love scenes if they're too much for my delicate constitution.

Books don't make me literally laugh out loud very often, but this one did.  Actually, all of MaryJanice Davidson's books do.  Every time!

 I give this book 4 Bookworms.

Book Review: Every Which Way But Dead (The Hollows #3) by Kim Harrison

There's no witch in Cincinnati tougher, sexier, or more screwed up than bounty hunter Rachel Morgan, who's already put her love life and soul in dire jeopardy through her determined efforts to bring criminal night creatures to justice.

Between "runs," she has her hands full fending off the attentions of her blood-drinking partner, keeping a deadly secret from her backup, and resisting a hot new vamp suitor.

Rachel must also take a stand in the war that's raging in the city's underworld, since she helped put away its former vampire kingpin - and made a deal with a powerful demon to do so that could cost her an eternity of pain, torment, and degradation.

And now her dark "master" is coming to collect his due.

Yes, I know I'm reviewing these out of order.  This is what happens when you try to play catch-up with reviews.  Anyway...

The Hollows by Kim Harrison is definitely one of my favorite series of all time.  Every Which Way But Dead is the third book in the series and is another example of the excellent writing of Kim Harrison.  I think I'd enjoy reading her grocery list.

Rachel is in trouble.  She's wrestling the demon Al to keep her freedom; trying to find her way in her relationship with Ivy, her roommate; getting hot under the collar for Kistan, the vampire; and arguing with her partner, Jenks.   So, yah, everything's normal.

While the story is great, the genius as always in this series is the characters.  Harrison writes characters that can pop off the page and go out to dinner with you.  As long as it's not Piscary, the vampire kingpin.  

You can read this book without reading the first two in the series, but I think it would be more enjoyable to start with the first book, Dead Witch Walking and read them in order.  This series is a must read for paranormal/supernatural vampire, pixy, werewolf fans!

 I give this book 4 Bookworms.

Book Review: A Perfect Blood (The Hollows #10) by Kim Harrison

Ritually murdered corpses are appearing across Cincinnati, terrifying amalgams of human and other. Pulled in to help investigate by the I.S. and FIB, former witch turned day-walking demon Rachel Morgan soon realizes a horrifying truth: a human hate group is trying to create its own demons to destroy all Inderlanders, and to do so, it needs her blood.

She's faced vampires, witches, werewolves, demons, and more, but humanity itself might be her toughest challenge yet.

A Perfect Blood is the 10th book in The Hollows series by Kim Harrison.  I've been gobbling these books up like Thanksgiving dinner since I found the series!  I probably should go slower because there are only two more books published in the series, but one is expected to be published next year.  I also read somewhere that the series was only going to 13 or so books.  (whimper)

Anyway, as always, there's lots of action and excitement.  Once again, Rachel is being hunted for something.  I know she's the main character in the series, but I'd like to see Ivy or Jenks being hunted as the main story!  Still, it was a great storyline that kept me reading way past my bedtime.  

Rachel's relationship with Trent is changing and both of them are confused.  It's fun to watch them circle each other as they try to figure out what's happening.  Since Rachel doesn't have a boyfriend in this book, there's not as much adult material, but she does have some naughty thoughts!

A Perfect Blood lives up to its predecessors in the series.  It's smart, funny, exciting, and enjoyable to read!  

 I give this book 4 Bookworms.

Book Review: At Grave's End (Night Huntress #3) by Jeaniene Frost

It should be the best time of half-vampire Cat Crawfield’s life. With her undead lover Bones at her side, she’s successfully protected mortals from the rogue undead. But though Cat’s worn disguise after disguise to keep her true identity a secret from the brazen bloodsuckers, her cover’s finally been blown, placing her in terrible danger.

As if that wasn’t enough, a woman from Bones’s past is determined to bury him once and for all. Caught in the crosshairs of a vengeful vamp, yet determined to help Bones stop a lethal magic from being unleashed, Cat’s about to learn the true meaning of bad blood. And the tricks she’s learned as a special agent won’t help her. She will need to fully embrace her vampire instincts in order to save herself—and Bones—from a fate worse than the grave.

At Grave's End by Jeaniene Frost is the third book in her Night Huntress series.  They're still going after evil vampires, so there's still plenty of blood and guts to go around.  Actually, things got more intense in this story, I ended up liking it more than the first two.

Cat and Bones continue to heat up the pages expressing their love for each other.  The bonds of friendship have been building over the course of the books and are an important part of this book.  Cat's mother even seems to mellow a teensy bit.  Mencheres, the most powerful vampire in this world, comes to the forefront in this novel.  Can such a powerful vampire be destroyed by love?

At Grave's End is full of twists and turns, so make sure to pay attention.  You never know what may rise up against you!

 I give this book 4 Bookworms

Book Review: One Foot in the Grave (Night Huntress #2) by Jeaniene Frost

Half-vampire Cat Crawfield is now Special Agent Cat Crawfield, working for the government to rid the world of the rogue undead. She’s still using everything Bones, her sexy and dangerous ex, taught her, but when Cat is targeted for assassination, the only man who can help her is the vampire she left behind.

Being around Bones awakens all her emotions, from the adrenaline rush of slaying vamps side by side to the reckless passion that consumed them. But a price on her head—wanted: dead or half-alive—means her survival depends on teaming up with Bones. And no matter how hard Cat tries to keep things professional between them, she’ll find that desire lasts forever…and Bones won’t let her get away again.

One Foot in the Grave is the second novel in the Night Huntress series by Jeaniene Frost.  As with the first novel, it's hard-hitting  and fast paced.  There's a lot of blood and guts; there's a lot of fairly explicit sex.  

Being a romantic at heart, I enjoy the relationship between Cat and Bones.  They love and protect each other, but don't let each other get away with any crap.  They scream one minute and kiss the next.  

Some aspects of the book don't click for me.  Like ghouls.  What exactly is the point of them in the book and the scene of them making one was kind of high on the ick factor.  Also, it drags some in the middle, the talking and preparation.

It's a good series and I plan to keep reading.  Keep in mind this is definitely not a book for younger audiences!

 I give this book 3 Bookworms.

Book Review: Black Magic Sanction (The Hollows #8) by Kim Harrison

Rachel Morgan has fought and hunted vampires, werewolves, banshees, demons, and other supernatural dangers as both witch and bounty hunter - and lived to tell the tale. But she's never faced off against her own kind...until now. Denounced and shunned for dealing with demons and black magic, her best hope is life imprisonment - at worst, a forced lobotomy and genetic slavery. Only her enemies are strong enough to help her win her freedom, but trust comes hard when it hinges on the unscrupulous tycoon Trent Kalamack, the demon Algaliarept, and an ex-boyfriend turned thief.

It takes a witch to catch a witch, but survival bears a heavy price.

I found this series last year and have been steadily reading through it ever since.  It's so exciting to find a new series that I love so much, especially one with so many books already written! In Black Magic Sanction, Rachel has to deal with being shunned and the Coven trying to destroy her (literally).  

There were some things in this book that I would have been as happy without.  Such as the little skill/physical talent that Rachel discloses after she makes love to Pierce.  I think that little tidbit was supposed to be funny, but just came off as stupid to me.

As always, there is a lot of action in the book and things move along quickly.  Bis, the teenage gargoyle, gets a larger role in this story.  I really enjoyed that as he is so cute and sweet - and there aren't that many cute and sweet characters in this series!

While not my favorite book in the series, Kim Harrison still has the ability to make me laugh and cry when I read her work.  I'm still in love with her characters and hope to read the next book in the series soon.

 I give this book 4 Bookworms.

Book Review: A Clockwork Christmas - Anthology

Changed forever after tragedy, a woman must draw strength from her husband's love. A man learns that love isn't always what you expect. A thief steals the heart of a vengeful professor. And an American inventor finds love Down Under. Enjoy Victorian Christmas with a clockwork twist in these four steampunk novellas.

Anthology includes:

Crime Wave in a Corset by Stacy Gail
This Winter Heart by PG Forte
Wanted: One Scoundrel by Jenny Schwartz
Far From Broken by JK Coi

I know it's past Christmas, but I prefer to think I'm early for Christmas 2012!

I was really excited to get this collection of Steampunk stories to read for Christmas.  I just discovered the genre last year and was looking for any good stories I could find. I found this on Netgalley and was given a copy for review from the publisher. Unfortunately, I was very disappointed in this collection.

First off, there was little to no Christmas anywhere.  One of the stories just mentioned it as the heroine was ill and slept through it.  If a book is going to be called a Christmas Anthology, then Christmas needs to be the main theme throughout.  It wasn't.  Bah Humbug!

Then there's the fact that these stories totally put the "steam" in Steampunk!  Every story had fairly explicit sex scenes in them.   I'm not a prude, but I prefer my literature without the sex.  I like the romance that just hints at it and lets me imagine the rest.  Nothing in the synopsis led me to believe there would be such steamy scenes.  I worried about any teens who might grab the book because of the steampunk genre.  

The stories themselves weren't captivating, so with the two strikes against them already, I just didn't really enjoy this anthology.

I give this book 2 Christmas Penguins!

• File Size: 691 KB
• Print Length: 353 pages
• Publisher: Carina Press (December 5, 2011)
• Sold by: Amazon Digital Services
• Language: English
• ASIN: B005Z1C47Q

Book Review: Hardball by V.K. Sykes

After years of hard work and keeping her nose firmly to the grindstone, Dr. Holly Bell has finally achieved her dream: a position as a pediatric surgeon at a prestigious teaching hospital. Children’s lives rest in her skilled hands. That means total dedication to her work and her patients without letting anything or anyone get in the way. And a hot affair with a superstar athlete is most definitely getting in Holly’s way.

Nate Carter, star pitcher for the Philadelphia Patriots, has the world in the palm of his baseball glove. He’s at the height of his game, a west coast team is about to lure him with even greater riches, and the most gorgeous women in town are in full pursuit. Nate has everything he wants, or at least he thinks he does, until he meets the beautiful and brainy Dr. Holly Bell. He’s totally up for a hot affair, and Holly turns out to be the hottest.

But will Holly be willing to play his game? When the lovely doctor starts changing the rules, Nate realizes he just might be playing for keeps.

Hardball is a pleasant romance with a lot of heat!  You can probably guess the amount of heat by the cover.  It's too bad I read the ebook and didn't get to look at it in between chapters!

The story doesn't really have any surprises in it, but it's very well written and easy to read.  Holly is a strong female protagonist and enjoyed her standing up to Nate for what she needed.  The characters are very likeable, and oh so very human.  Their strengths are shown as well as their flaws, so the reader can see them as real people.

If you prefer your romance without any spice, then give this book a skip.  Everyone else, you'll really enjoy it!

*Disclaimer:  I received this book from the authors for review, I was not required to write a positive review.

I give this book 3 Bookworms.

Format:  Ebook
Pages:  194
ASIN:  B005639YOY