Review: Marked in Flesh

***ARC received through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.***

Marked in Flesh (The Others, book 4) by Anne Bishop

Genre: Urban Fantasy
Edition Reviewed: Ebook
Amazon: Paperback | Kindle
Goodreads: Marked in Flesh (4)

For centuries, the Others and humans have lived side by side in uneasy peace. But when humankind oversteps its bounds, the Others will have to decide how much humanity they’re willing to tolerate—both within themselves and within their community...

Since the Others allied themselves with the cassandra sangue, the fragile yet powerful human blood prophets who were being exploited by their own kind, the delicate dynamic between humans and Others changed. Some, like Simon Wolfgard, wolf shifter and leader of the Lakeside Courtyard, and blood prophet Meg Corbyn, see the new, closer companionship as beneficial—both personally and practically.

But not everyone is convinced. A group of radical humans is seeking to usurp land through a series of violent attacks on the Others. What they don’t realize is that there are older and more dangerous forces than shifters and vampires protecting the land that belongs to the Others—and those forces are willing to do whatever is necessary to protect what is theirs…

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Review:

It amazes me how much I look forward to this series. It has become one of my favorite series and one that I constantly recommend to readers. Every time it even comes close to a release date I go crazy. And I have to force myself to be patient in between. When I know I'm coming to the end of another The Others book it's bitter sweet. That's how I know a series is perfection.

As usual the changing POVs is masterful. Being able to invest in so many amazing characters is magical. Even better is seeing how all of the characters fit into the grand scheme of things. It's a breathtaking orchestra of plots unfolding into—sheer awesomeness! It confounds me how Bishop does it with each book. How everything ties in, and it's great seeing and hearing about characters through other characters' eyes!

Not to mention how amazing it's been to see Meg and Simon's story unfold together. Emotional build up! Where characters grow to love each other over the span of a series. Not simply in the first book(s). To be teased by the endless possibility of romance and friendship between characters I love. Gosh, this is how I wish other series could have it. The emotional connection! The eventual payout. Whether it's happy or tragic. That's what makes a great character driven book. Sure some might find it slow. But for fans of intensely developed characters and true world building it's bookworm paradise.

Many have readers have claimed that the intense grip of the first two books has slowed down. It was clear from the third book that it would be. This is a different kind of intensity and if you ask me it's even more potent then the first two books. The kind that intense that affects the entire world of the Others and creates endless possibilities for where this series can go.

Oh, crap. Now I have to keep clam and relax until the next book! My mind is spinning with where this series is going to go after the shocking events of Marked in Flesh!

Sexual Content: Sexual humor and some adult themes. Some dark themes are mentioned, nothing explicit.

 
5/5- Fabulous, a beautiful obsession! 

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Previous book(s) in series:
Reviewed on BW:	Amazon:	Goodreads:
Written in Red (1) Murder of Crows (2) Vision in Silver (3) Marked in Flesh (4) Untitled (5)	Written in Red (1) Murder of Crows (2) Vision in Silver (3) Marked in Flesh (4) Untitled (5)	Written in Red (1) Murder of Crows (2) Vision in Silver (3) Marked in Flesh (4) Untitled (5)

Review: Opening Up

Opening Up (Ink and Chrome) by Lauren Dane

Genre: Contemporary Romance
Edition Reviewed: Ebook
Amazon: Paperback | Kindle
Goodreads: Opening Up (1)

New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Lauren Dane delivers Book #1 in her Ink & Chrome erotic romance series.

The men of the Twisted Steel custom motorcycle shop are great with their hands... and they're not afraid to get dirty.

PJ is exactly the kind of woman Twisted Steel owner Asa Barrons doesn't need. The last thing he wants to do is mix business with pleasure, and PJ has some of the best custom detailing he's ever seen. But the chemistry between them won't be denied, and soon he's introducing her to a whole new world in the bedroom, pushing her far beyond anything she's ever experienced. PJ finds she can't get enough, but how far is too far before he consumes her completely?

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Review:

To be honest I feel guilty giving Opening Up such a rating. It had one of the best female leads with PJ. I adored her, she was the type of lead I want to see more of in the romance genre. In fact, she's the main reason I read well past when I should have. Problems is I just got done reading some great books. Most importantly great books with amazing sexual chemistry, and they weren't even romance central books.

Sad truth is that Opening Up reads slow. It never really picks up and just plods along. Asa is the male lead and he could have been swapped out with any other male alpha out there. When he finally develops I had already checked out. Not to mention that Asa and PJ's chemistry would turn off and on for me. Most of the time it never reached the heights I needed it to.

Plus the writing and I did not get along. I had to reread some of the dialogue. I couldn't tell which alpha male was speaking. The flow of what some characters were saying was off, and I don't think it was slang. Not to mention that the writing is a little barren to me. For a while I kept thinking that Asa had a beard. Well over halfway it was confirmed and I kept wondering what kind of beard? The writing didn't create enough of a visual, emotions, and other key things to suck me in.

PJ interested me. I LOVED her! Not only her but her best friend and sister. I enjoyed how Opening Up addresses how being a woman, and being young, is used against you in the work environment. Working in the car industry makes it even worst. (Or a lot of other industries that are male "only".) PJ handles her self well and I love that she knows what she wants. When Asa tries to think for her, she shuts him down and tells him what's what. She knows how far she's willing to court him, and when she needs to move on. She's not afraid to tell him no. Even in the bedroom. There was an awesome scene about saying no to back door action! Ha-ha!

Fact is I would give PJ a 5/5. She's amazing, and if the book was about her and her career I would have been on board. Sadly it's a romance and Asa did not interest me. Which led to a lack of chemistry as a couple. I've read plenty of romance where the alpha male could have been swapped out for another one, but they had burning chemistry! For PJ I read this way past my quitting point. I dare say that many romance fans are going to love this book. If you are a big romance reader I insist that you give this book a try. For me though I'm tired of the genre and I need MORE. In the end I wanted to quit, but I couldn't miss experiencing more PJ. Sadly the rest of this book was boring and uninteresting.

Sexual Content: Plenty of humor. Yes, sex. Sadly I found that pretty flat except for a few comedic points that were put in. The two had no chemistry.

  
2/5- Average/disappointing, library check-out.

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Previous book(s) in series:
Reviewed on BW:	Amazon:	Goodreads:
Opening Up (1) Falling Under (2) Coming Back (3)	Opening Up (1) Falling Under (2) Coming Back (3)	Opening Up (1) Falling Under (2) Coming Back (3)

Wednesday Wishes

Sexual tension is something that I miss from books. Where a relationship builds over many books in a series. They don't insta-love, swoon, and jump in bed straight away. I miss that slow, intense burn.

So I mentioned on Monday that I've been drama binging. I've been lucky to watch some good ones. However, the romance in them rarely has sexual tension. My PS Partner has it, but it's a movie. I've been wanting to see it in a TV drama. I Hear Your Voice got really close. But it still had that innocent quality that I do love from dramas, but crave just a bit more from.

Well I'm watching Healer right now, thank you Dana. Just look at this picture.

Isn't the sexual tension just dripping off the screen! Ah! This is just a mild taste. But it is my current desktop wallpaper.

Not to mention that our lovely lead goes after what she wants. If you've been thinking about K-dramas, this is the place to start.

Now here's the books I've been pining after.

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The Witches of Cambridge by Menna Van Praag

Get it: Amazon | Goodreads
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Series: N/A

For fans of Alice Hoffman, Sarah Addison Allen, and Adriana Trigiani, The Witches of Cambridge reveals an astonishing world where the heart's deepest secrets give way to the magic of life-changing love.

"Be careful what you wish for. If you're a witch, you might just get it."

Amandine Bisset has always had the power to feel the emotions of those around her. It's a secret she can share only with her friends all professors, all witches when they gather for the Cambridge University Society of Literature and Witchcraft. Amandine treasures these meetings but lately senses the ties among her colleagues beginning to unravel. If only she had her student Noa's power to hear the innermost thoughts of others, she might know how to patch things up. Unfortunately, Noa regards her gift as a curse. So when a seductive artist claims he can cure her, Noa jumps at the chance, no matter the cost.

Noa's not the only witch in over her head. Mathematics professor Kat has a serious case of unrequited love but refuses to cast spells to win anyone's heart. Her sister, Cosima, is not above using magic to get what she wants, sprinkling pastries in her bakery with equal parts sugar and enchantment. But when Cosima sets her sights on Kat's crush, she conjures up a dangerous love triangle.

As romance and longing swirl through every picturesque side street, The Witches of Cambridge find their lives unexpectedly upended and changed in ways sometimes extraordinary, sometimes heartbreaking, but always enchanting

I'm a sucker for a witch book. This one caught my eye by it's cool cover. This could go either good or bad. But I'm staying positive.

Unfinished Muse by R.L. Naquin

Get it: Amazon | Goodreads
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Series: Mt. Olympus Employment Agency: Muse, Boook 1

Wynter Greene is a chronic quitter—in work, in life, and in love. When she quits a job, a boyfriend, and a seemingly minor craft project all in one day, the dormant deity blood in her veins triggers a Welcome Package from the gods. A talking—and singing—houseplant named Phyllis bullies Wynter into taking a job at the Mt. Olympus Employment Agency.

Stuck with a job in the Muse department, Wynter discovers that helping others finish what they start isn’t easy, especially for someone who can’t seem to finish anything of her own. And how is Wynter supposed to focus on anything when that guy from the Dreams and Nightmares department keeps distracting her with his rippling muscles and magnetic stare?

Wynter needs to figure her job out soon. Each failure is a tick mark on her record, and if she continues to miss her deadlines, she’ll be reassigned to the Underworld as a dog walker.

And scooping poop for a giant three-headed dog is nobody’s ideal career.

Naquin has a new series. That's all I need to hear.

Now excuse me whilst I do a happy dance!

Review: Vision in Silver

Vision in Silver (The Others, book 3) by Anne Bishop

Genre: Urban Fantasy
Edition Reviewed: Ebook
Amazon: Paperback | Kindle
Goodreads: Vision in Silver (3)

The Others freed the  cassandra sangue  to protect the blood prophets from exploitation, not realizing their actions would have dire consequences. Now the fragile seers are in greater danger than ever before—both from their own weaknesses and from those who seek to control their divinations for wicked purposes. In desperate need of answers, Simon Wolfgard, a shape-shifter leader among the Others, has no choice but to enlist blood prophet Meg Corbyn’s help, regardless of the risks she faces by aiding him.

Meg is still deep in the throes of her addiction to the euphoria she feels when she cuts and speaks prophecy. She knows each slice of her blade tempts death. But Others and humans alike need answers, and her visions may be Simon’s only hope of ending the conflict.

For the shadows of war are deepening across the Atlantik, and the prejudice of a fanatic faction is threatening to bring the battle right to Meg and Simon’s doorstep…

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Review:

Oh! Hot book! Vision in Silver is another flawless entry into The Others series! It may not have been as high an adrenaline rush as the first two, but that does not make it inferior. No. In fact, I think it was an even stronger read for bringing in the world scope and repercussions. At this point I'm not ashamed to say I'm Team Others and their humans.

I liked all the background story lines that came to the forefront here, so that readers weren't endlessly teased. The changing POVs are great and I loved getting to know so many characters. It was also wonderful seeing the world and humans through the eyes of other Others to see what they thought.

Vision of Silver was high on emotions, and to me it was a wild ride. Others and humans are hurt due to the actions of the Humans First and Last movement. I enjoyed the comentary that the movement was putting humans at risk. That some of the things they were doing and saying echoed of our own history.  Not only that but it's becoming clearer who the humans should really fear and that even the Others fear these beings.

All of the friendships and budding love where on point. See people! This is emotional build up. This is what I mean about sexual and emotional tension. It's tiring and old for characters to just fall in love fast, especially in a series. Oh, and friendships are important. Along with multiple levels of character development

What I loved even more was addressing Megan's addiction to cutting. Though I'm wondering why no one is giving her a vibrator and connecting that she's addicted to the orgasms? Hm? I'm curious what she'll use to help her tell prophecy. One of the girls uses drawing, but I don't think that will be Megan's outlet.

Overall I loved this book just as much as the previous entries into the series. I'm very curious what will happen with The Humans First and Last movement, and the people really pulling the strings behind it. There's more to it. Megan and Simon are great together, I love seeing they're friendship develop. While many claimed this was a slower read, it isn't. It's just including more in a grander scheme of things. Which I appreciate so much. The real power of this series is that it is not an Urban Fantasy series that has to solve a case each book. It's more along the lines of High Fantasy in having grand schemes. So thank you Bishop.

Sexual Content: Dark themes, but it's never truly explicit. Sexual humor and such.

 
5/5- Fabulous, a beautiful obsession!

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Previous book(s) in series:
Reviewed on BW:	Amazon:	Goodreads:
Written in Red (1) Murder of Crows (2) Vision in Silver (3) Marked in Flesh (4) Untitled (5)	Written in Red (1) Murder of Crows (2) Vision in Silver (3) Marked in Flesh (4) Untitled (5)	Written in Red (1) Murder of Crows (2) Vision in Silver (3) Marked in Flesh (4) Untitled (5)

Cover Coveting (7)

 
Cover art is found from Wicked Scribes, ATUF, Goodreads, social networks, and other sources.
***All cover art may not be final.***

My internet service has been working pretty good so I've been doing what I've been wanting to do since last spring. Junking out and catching up on my shows. I'm almost all the way caught up with Once Upon a Time. Debating whether or not to actually continue the show.

More importantly I've finished some K-Dramas that I've been trying to view for ages. (South Korean Dramas.) I've caught up and finished them, dropped the ones I should have, and started up some of the shows that are really popular. Which has been working out for me.

Ramble done.

Let's look at the new shiny covers!

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A Million Worlds With You by Claudia Gray

Previous book(s) in series:

Goodreads | Amazon

Series: Firebird, book 3 Add it: Goodreads | Amazon Genre: Young Adult Dystopian Shera’s thoughts: Another great cover for this series. I think this one is my favorite cover yet.

In the Shadow of the Dragon King by J. Keller Ford

Previous book(s) in series:

Goodreads | Amazon

Series: The Chronicles of Fallhollow, book 1 Add it: Goodreads | Amazon Genre: Young Adult Fantasy Shera’s thoughts: Simple and lovely. It almost made me add this to my TBR pile. Despite not liking the synopsis.

Like a River Glorious by Rae Carson

Previous book(s) in series:

Goodreads | Amazon

Series: The Gold Seer Trilogy, book 2 Add it: Goodreads | Amazon Genre: Young Adult Fantasy Shera’s thoughts: Gosh, I really love these covers. I don't feel like that mountain background fits well with the river and overall scene. But I love everything else.

Metaltown by Kristen Simmons

Previous book(s) in series:

Goodreads | Amazon

Series: N/A  Add it: Goodreads | Amazon Genre: Young Adult Dystopian? or Steampunk? Shera’s thoughts: This cover makes me think of steampunk. I don't like how granny everything is. That image of fire/explosion needs to be clearer. I like the attempt, but it needs to be cleaned up.

Shadow Falling by Rebecca Zanetti

Previous book(s) in series:

Goodreads | Amazon

Series: Scorpius Syndrome, book 2 Add it: Goodreads | Amazon Genre: Paranormal Romance Shera’s thoughts: N/A

The Black Key by Amy Ewing

Previous book(s) in series:

Goodreads | Amazon

Series: The Lone City, book 3 Add it: Goodreads | Amazon Genre: Young Adult Dystopian Shera’s thoughts: I love the jewel and pretty dress quality of these covers. I have yet to read a single book in this series, but I look forward to each new cover.

Billionaire in Wolf's Clothing by Terry Spear

Previous book(s) in series:

Goodreads | Amazon

Series: Heart of the wolf, book -- Add it: Goodreads | Amazon Genre: Paranormal Young Adult Shera’s thoughts: Even if this guy had great abs to start with, they look so over Photoshoped that I know there's a not real quality. Over saturation or whatever.

Review: Mastered

Mastered (The Enforcers, book 1) by Maya Banks

Genre: Contemporary Erotica
Edition Reviewed: Ebook
Amazon: Paperback | Kindle
Goodreads: Mastered (1)

From the #1 New York Times bestselling author of the Breathless Trilogy comes the first novel in the Enforcers series—a bold new direction in erotic romance that explores the games men and women play, and the price they’re willing to pay for pleasure.

What he wants, he takes with no remorse or guilt.

She stood out in his club like a gem, unspoiled and untouched. A lamb among wolves, she clearly didn’t belong. Drawn to her innocence he watched as she was surrounded by men who saw what he did—but no one but him could touch her. He summoned her to his private quarters. He sensed her fear. He also recognized the desire in her eyes. And he knew she wouldn’t leave before he possessed her. She had no need to know his secrets. Not until he had her under his complete and utter control.

What he wants, she isn’t sure she can give him.

The moment he told her want he wanted, she couldn’t resist. Instinct told her to run, but her heart said stay and walk the fine line between pleasure and pain. Though she wasn’t sure she could ever completely surrender, the primal part of her wanted to try, even knowing this man could break her in ways she never imagined. Because once he possessed her, he owned her and it would be too late to turn back. She can only pray that he doesn’t destroy her in the end.

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Review:

At first I thought I was going to write an enraged review. Now I'm just resigned.

The writing was bad. Life sucking bad. Honestly I can not believe that Banks wrote this. I'm a fan so even if the start was rocky, the writing was something I had kept hope for. Sadly even her talent for making unlikable characters likable was gone. Which sucked, because every character was horrible.

Friends that were supposed to be best friends turned on each other in a blink. All the characters where hot. All the men were macho, alpha men. Who apparently always looked pissy. There were so many mood swings going on I felt like I had whiplash. Which apparently is sexy. Not to mention that the dialogue was atrocious. If real people talked like this it would be the sign of the body stealers and the impending alien invasion. You know, as they tried to imitate speech patterns.

It hit me that I didn't want to suffer reading Evangeline. She's supposed to be naïve and innocent. Somehow being innocent equates to a pushover, unable to stand up for herself—unless she's tossing her friendships away, thinking she's ugly, and a number of other stupid things masquerading under the guise of innocents. She had to drop out of High School and get a job to help her family. How could she not have streets smarts? Why did I sit through an entire book with everyone telling Evangeline she was gorgeous, and that her not knowing she was gorgeous only made her more beautiful? Maybe I have self worth issues like Evangeline.

Because not even Drake or the sex scenes brought anything to the table. Most of those scenes were boring and emotionless. When I did feel emotion it was because I was disgusted. Because Drake would guilt Evangeline into doing sexual things she didn't like. But Evangeline did it because it PLEASED Drake. Because she TRUSTED him. If Drake cared about her he'd realize that she wasn't into it, it wasn't pleasing to her. 

There's a ton of reasons this book ticked me off. The writing is bad, and there were grammar issues on the first page. Mind you it was the placement of a period as a comma, but little errors kept popping up. It bothers me that this book is probably what a lot of readers are going to be introduced to Banks with. It's horrible. This is one of the authors who introduced me to erotica. Who made me realize that me likey ménage amour. It kills me that this is a soulless imitation of 50 Shades exists. (No when I first heard about it and saw it on the shelves in the stores that was my first thought! That Banks, or the publisher, was trying to suck off the 50 Shades train.) If you're a Banks fan you'll probably try it out like I had to. Be warned, borrow it. If you're new to Banks. Please, start with another book.

There's no way I will be checking out any more books in this series, and I'm very nervous about that HR I've been waiting for.

Sexual Content: Yep, lots. And I'm going to say it some of the sex was guilt/coerced for Evangeline to participate.

 
1/5- I couldn't finish it or wish I hadn't.

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Previous book(s) in series:
Reviewed on BW:	Amazon:	Goodreads:
Mastered (1) Dominated (2) Kept (3)	Mastered (1) Dominated (2) Kept (3)	Mastered (1) Dominated (2) Kept (3)

Wednesday Wishes

I'm not sure what it is about winter but I always get caught up on my reading. This year I'm actually pulling ahead! I think my New Years reading goals give me that big boost!

Yeah! Let's hope it keeps up!

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Broken Elements by Mia Marshall

Get it: Amazon | Goodreads
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Series: Elemental, book 1

Magic, murder, and mayhem on the shores of Lake Tahoe.

For Aidan Brook, manipulating the power of water is as easy as breathing—until the awful night her magic fails, with deadly consequences.

Though Aidan tries to outrun her past, the grisly murder of an old friend draws her back to the scene of her crimes. In Lake Tahoe, she only finds more trouble. An estranged best friend, a dangerously attractive landlord, and a couple of FBI agents are determined to complicate her life…and for the first time in years, she doesn’t mind a few complications.

As the killer grows increasingly fixated on Aidan, her past and present begin to collide. To defeat the killer, she must learn to control her power—before her broken magic fails her for the final time.

BROKEN ELEMENTS is the first book in the award-winning Elements urban fantasy series.

Numerous GR friends told me this was one of their favorites. So how could I not want it.

Darkness Brutal by Rachel A. Marks

Get it: Amazon | Goodreads
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Series: The Dark Cycle, book 1

Aidan O’Linn’s childhood ended the night he saw a demon kill his mother and mark his sister, Ava, with Darkness. Since then, every three years the demons have returned to try to claim her. Living in the gritty, forgotten corners of Los Angeles, Aidan has managed to protect his sister, but he knows that even his powers to fight demons and speak dead languages won’t keep her safe for much longer.

In desperation, Aidan seeks out the help of Sid, the enigmatic leader of a group of teens who run LA Paranormal, an Internet reality show that fights demons and ghosts. In their company, Aidan believes he’s finally found a haven for Ava. But when he meets Kara, a broken girl who can spin a hypnotic web of passionate energy, he awakens powers he didn’t know he had―and unleashes a new era of war between the forces of Light and the forces of Darkness.

With the fate of humanity in his hands, can Aidan keep the Darkness at bay and accept his brilliant, terrifying destiny?

This is another book that is getting tons of great reviews on GR from by friends. Some really picky ones love it!

The Seduction of Phaeton Black by Jillian Stone

Get it: Amazon | Goodreads
Genre: Steampunk
Series: Paranormal Investigator, book 1

In the gaslit streets of Victorian London, phantoms rule the night, demons dance till dawn, and one supernatural detective dares to be seduced by the greatest power of all. . .

He's The Man With The Magic Touch
A master of deduction, seduction and other midnight maneuvers, Phaeton Black is Scotland Yard's secret weapon against things that go bump in the night. His prodigious gifts as a paranormal investigator are as legendary as his skills as a lover, his weakness for wicked women as notorious as his affection for absinthe. But when he's asked to hunt down a fanged femme fatale who drains her victims of blood, he walks right into the arms of the most dangerous woman he's ever known. . .

She's The Devilish Miss Jones

Pressing a knife to his throat--and demanding he make love to her--Miss America Jones uses Phaeton as a willing shield against the gang of pirates chasing her. As deadly as she is, with a derringer tucked in her garter, Miss Jones is not the vampiric killer he's been staking out--but she may be just what Phaeton needs to crack the case. As the daughter of a Cajun witch, she possesses uncanny powers. As a fearless fighter, she can handle anything from Egyptian mummies to Jack the Ripper. But when an ancient evil is unleashed on the world, she could be his only salvation. . .or ultimate sacrifice.

I read some quotes for this and they just tickled me.

Review: River Marked

River Marked (Mercy Thompson, book 6) by Patricia Briggs

Genre: Urban Fantasy
Edition Reviewed: Paperback
Amazon: Paperback | Kindle
Goodreads: River Marked (6)

Coyote shifter Mercy Thompson knows that life with her mate, the Alpha werewolf Adam, will never be boring, but even their wedding doesn't go as planned. Nevertheless, a ten-day honeymoon camping on the banks of the Columbia River, alone, just the two of them, should make up for it. But the trip - and the pimped-out trailer they're using - is courtesy of the fae. And nothing from the fae comes without strings attached...

Being a different breed of shapeshifter - a walker - Mercy can see ghosts, but the spirit of her long-gone father has never visited her. Until now. An evil is stirring in the depths of the Columbia River - and innocent people are dying. As other walkers make their presence know to Mercy, she must reconnect with her heritage to exorcise the world of the legend known as the river devil...

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Review:

Most excellent! Going into River Marked I was very nervous. Especially when the wedding gets sped up and things happen lightening fast. A lot of fans won't agree with me, but at this point Mercy and Adam haven't gotten a lot of page time together. Most importantly when the stuff is going down Adam is always somewhere else, out of order, or something so that Mercy can save the day by herself.

Thankfully River Mark is the book where Mercy and Adam really get to interact. A lot of people have told me that they've known each other for 10 years and they don't need to have so much development time. But all of that happened before this series started and I didn't get to see it! That's off page development. When Mercy and Adam where together in previous books I enjoyed them together. There was heat, I saw them as a couple. But once they were mated and stuff I didn't think they had enough time to develop. The books are kind of small and there's a huge cast of characters that all get explored.

I loved seeing them exploring how to be together, how to fight and deal with when they should fight. Stuff like that. It made them feel like a real couple and for me the last book really took some shortcuts in developing characters. So it was bliss to see Mercy and Adam so fleshed out. I adore them together and look forward to them working together. (Maybe Adam won't be passed out next time and they really get to work together. Though if he gets “left behind” or stopped from helping Mercy again I'm going to be exasperated.)

Since Mercy and Adam leave the Tri-Cities that means there's not a lot of time for favorite side characters. But they are covered, so I don't think fans should gripe too much. River Marked helps to finally give some answers to Mercy's father and some other questions. Though I still ended up with a lot of questions about Mercy, a walkers powers, and so on. The Native American mythology is lovely and I love how well researched some of the places are. It was perfect. Not to mention how much I have longed to read Coyote in the Mercy verse. I knew he had to pop up! And yes. It was a glorious thing.

Not to mention how much I loved the monster. There is always something decidedly creepy-wrong about water monsters. River Devil is one of the scariest monsters I've read, definitely the scariest water monster, and I'm going to be hard pressed to read a scarier one!

In the end River Marked restored my faith in the series. Bringing back the character development that I NEED from this series. I am very curious which new characters may be coming back later. While the oldies didn't get much page time, the newbies are tons of fun and I loved them. Briggs is a champ at creating wonderful characters and I can't get enough of the ones she brings into the Mercy books. I'm really happy that this book helps to flesh out Mercy's heritage, even if it still leaves a ton of questions floating around. I loved the different feel of River Marked. Where there was only one bad guy and the book wasn't crammed with a ton of crazy mysteries and problems that Mercy has to solve. It was great getting a slower pace, though it's still a crazy rush of a read, and finally get the time to develop Mercy and Adam together. Even better together outside of the pack. I look forward to enjoying them as a married couple and can't wait to see what happens next! Trouble always finds Mercy.

Sexual Content: There are sex scenes but there the more classic fade to black, with a few “dirty” mentions. Wink Sexual humor and such.

 
5/5- Fabulous, a beautiful obsession!

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Previous book(s) in series:
Reviewed on BW:	Amazon:	Goodreads:
Moon Called (1) Wolfsbane and Mistletoe (1.5) Blood Bound (2) Iron Kissed (3) Bone Crossed (4) Silver Borne (5) River Marked (6) Down These Strange Streets (6.5) Frost Burned (7) Night Broken (8) Fire Touched (9) Untitled (10) Untitled (11) Shifting Shadows: Stories From the world of Mercy Thompson (?)	Moon Called (1) Wolfsbane and Mistletoe (1.5) Blood Bound (2) Iron Kissed (3) Bone Crossed (4) Silver Borne (5) River Marked (6) Down These Strange Streets (6.5) Frost Burned (7) Night Broken (8) Fire Touched (9) Untitled (10) Untitled (11) Shifting Shadows: Stories From the world of Mercy Thompson (?)	Moon Called (1) Wolfsbane and Mistletoe (1.5) Blood Bound (2) Iron Kissed (3) Bone Crossed (4) Silver Borne (5) River Marked (6) Down These Strange Streets (6.5) Frost Burned (7) Night Broken (8) Fire Touched (9) Untitled (10) Untitled (11) Shifting Shadows: Stories From the world of Mercy Thompson (?)