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: The Chase (Fox and O'Hare #2) by Janet Evanovich and Lee Goldberg

Internationally renowned thief and con artist Nicolas Fox is famous for running elaborate and daring scams. His greatest con of all: convincing the FBI to team him up with the only person who has ever caught him, and the only woman to ever capture his attention, Special Agent Kate O’Hare.  Their newest target is Carter Grove, a former White House chief of staff and the ruthless leader of a private security agency. Grove has stolen a rare Chinese artifact from the Smithsonian. Confronting Grove’s elite assassins, Nick and Kate rely on the skills of their ragtag crew and a band of AARP-card-carrying mercenaries led by none other than Kate’s dad. A daring heist and a deadly chase lead Nick and Kate all over the world.  But it’ll take more than death threats, trained henchmen, sleepless nights, and the fate of a dynasty’s priceless heirloom to outsmart Fox and O’Hare.

Janet Evanovich is one of my all-time favorite authors.  Her Stephanie Plum series is fast-paced and fun, never failing to entertain.   The Chase, the second novel in the Fox and O'Hare series does not quite live up to the Plum series.  

I'm not sure how these collaborations between writers work, how much each writer contributes; I have never read anything by Lee Goldberg with which to compare this book.  It feels to me like the difference between color and black and white.  The Fox and O'Hare series is just a little less colorful, a little less funny.

Nicolas Fox and Kate O'Hare are antagonists who are forced to work together, who begin to feel an attraction for each other.  It's obvious the series is leading to some sort of romance between the two, but it doesn't feel real.  Perhaps they are waiting to strengthen this in forthcoming books.

The gang that goes along for the ride is a fun mixed-up group of unique personalities.  My favorite is Kate's dad, Jack.  His idea of quality time while his daughter was growing up was teaching her how to shoot different weapons.  He loves it when she comes to him for help in her schemes to take out the bad guys and he has a plethora of old war buddies who are available to assist in the operations.  I'd love it if subsequent books in the series would flesh these characters and their personalities out even more.

There were a lot of similarities between the first book in the series, The Heist, and this one.  One genius evil mastermind with a network of highly trained goons to defeat.  A secluded isle/plantation to retreat to, lots of explosions and bullets.  

Yet I have to say the book was enjoyable to read.  If you like suspense thrillers, action-type books, you should enjoy this book.

I received this book in exchange for an honest review from Netgalley and RandomHouse Publishing.

I give this 3 Bookworms.

Book Review: Horizon (Aftertime #3) by Sophia Littlefield

Cass Dollar is a survivor. She's overcome the meltdown of civilization, humans turned mindless cannibals, and the many evils of man.But from beneath the devastated California landscape emerges a tendril of hope. A mysterious traveler arrives at New Eden with knowledge of a passageway North—a final escape from the increasingly cunning Beaters. Clutching this dream, Cass and many others decamp and follow him into the unknown.

Journeying down valleys and over barren hills, Cass remains torn between two men. One—her beloved Smoke—is not so innocent as he once was. The other keeps a primal hold on her that feels like Fate itself. And beneath it all, Cass must confront the worst of what's inside her—dark memories from when she was a Beater herself. But she, and all of the other survivors, will fight to the death for the promise of a new horizon.

I never would have thought I'd become a zombie fiction fan, but I am, and Sophia Littlefield with her Aftertime series is a large reason why.  This series isn't a slashy, guts and gore horror tale.  Well, yes, it's got that in it, there's lots of zombies slaying and slaying zombies with various parts flying around.  But there's more depth to it.

The underlying theme is how humans react when everything is taken away from them.  There are no modern conveniences, friends and family are turning into horrible cannibalistic monsters, every day is a fight for survival.  Through Cass Dollar's eyes, we see a myriad of human reactions; cults are formed, killer gangs roam, families hide, and groups gather to form new inter-dependent societies.

It's a scary, harsh world that Sophia Littlefield has created.  She doesn't shy away from the ugliness that reality can bring.  Even her heroes have some darkness inside them, which shades their actions.  This only makes the reading more exciting, as anything can happen.

Horizon is the third and seemingly last book of the series, unfortunately.  I highly recommend the books if you're a post-apocalyptic zombie fan.  Read them if you dare!

 

I give this book 4 Bookworms. 

*I was allowed to read this book by its publishers and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.*  

Book Review: Triple Shot by Sandra Balzo (Maggie Thorson Mystery #7)

There's a chill in the Wisconsin air, and it's a shot in the arm--a triple espresso shot--to Uncommon Grounds, the Brookhills coffeehouse owned by Maggy Thorsen and real estate maven Sarah Kingston. Their new autumn drink is a huge success. But two estate agents have died lately, and Sarah herself is under investigation for irregularities at her job.

 

This is a murder mystery set in a small town, so all the characters know each other and know all about each other.  Yet it definitely can't be classified as a cozy mystery!

The dialogue was written much in the form of the Puzzle Lady mysteries.  It's a little difficult to become accustomed to, but is quite charming and effective in presenting the storyline.  

The book is well written, and makes for fast reading.  It has a bit of something for everyone:  intrigue, murder, mystery, romance, and history!  The guilty party was cleverly concealed until virtually the last page.

I didn't know it was a series when I started reading, but I didn't feel like I was missing anything.  The story reads well on its own.  I enjoyed reading Triple Shot very much!

 

Ralph gives this book 4 bookworms.