Wednesday Wishes

Well I finally finished a TV series that I’ve always wondered how it all ended. Avatar: The Last Air Bender. Yeppers, I’m one of those.

Have to say it was a great ending, I wondered how Ang would save the world yet remain true to himself.

That said let’s get back to book loving.

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Moonshifted by Cassie Alexander

Get it: Amazon | Goodreads
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Series: Edie Spence, book 2

Moonshifted
An Edie Spence Novel
Cassie Alexander

After surviving a brutal vampire attack, Nurse Edie Spence is ready to get back to work—attending to supernatural creatures in need of medical help. But her nursing skills are put to the test when she witnesses a hit-and-run on her lunch break. The injured pedestrian is not only a werewolf, he’s the pack leader. And now Edie’s stuck in the middle of an all-out were-war…

With two rival packs fighting tooth and nail, Edie has no intention of crossing enemy lines. But when she meets her patient’s nephew—a tattooed werewolf named Lucas with a predatory gleam in his eye that’s hard to resist—Edie can’t help but choose sides. The question is: can she trust this dangerous new ally? And can she trust her own instincts when she’s near him? Either way, Edie can’t seem to pull away—even if getting involved makes her easy prey…

Currently I’m reading the first book and I’m enjoying it a lot. So of course I’m wish’n and hoping for the next book. And well the next ones . . .

The Blue Blazes by Chuck Wendig

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

Meet Mookie Pearl.
Criminal underworld? He runs it.
Supernatural underworld? He hunts in it.
Nothing stops Mookie when he’s on the job.
But when his daughter takes up arms and opposes him, something’s gotta give…

The Blue Blazes – the first in a new urban fantasy series in which lovable thug Mookie Pearl must contend with the criminal underworld, the supernatural underworld, a new drug that makes the invisible visible, and a rebellious teen daughter who opposes him at every turn.

A review of this one on ATUF caught my eye. Only three words were needed from the review:

“Mobsters! Monsters! Violence!” –ATUF review by Chris

Yeah, I’m so there.

Review: Drink Deep

Drink Deep (Chicagoland Vampires, book 5) by Chloe Neill

Genre: Urban Fantasy
Edition Reviewed: Paperback
Amazon: Paperback | Kindle
Goodreads: Drink Deep

"A strong-minded, sharp-witted heroine who will appeal to fans of Charlaine Harris' Sookie Stackhouse series and Laurell K. Hamilton's Anita Blake." (Library Journal)

Clouds are brewing over Cadogan House, and Merit the vampire can't tell if this is the darkness before the dawn, or the calm before the storm. With the city itself in turmoil over paranormals and the state threatening to pass a paranormal registration act, times have never been more precarious for the vampires. If only they could lay low for a bit...

Then magic rears its ugly head when Lake Michigan turns black. The mayor insists it's nothing to worry about, but Merit knows a panic is coming. She'll have to turn to friends old and new to find out who's behind this, and stop them before it's too late for both the vampires and humans.

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Review:

***This review is written for readers who have read the previous titles***

Ethan is dead. Even though this is exactly what I wanted from book one, it feels like a scape goat. Now Merit can finally grow as a character and the readers can truly get to know her. Sure there's a lot of Ethan moaning and groaning. It also infuriates me that Merit couldn't be a character because she was so far up Ethan's butt that she couldn't be strong enough on her own.

Jonah and Merit's relationship is amazing! Jonah is the male candy that I have wanted for Merit to have from book 1. He's smart, funny, he is THERE for Merit, and it's clear that he genuinely cares for her. (Plus, so far he doesn’t have the totally wacked up vampire baggage that seems to come with the fangs.) In Jonah's hands Merit is growing and I love it, he's not over powering her.

The apocalypse is happening and the reason behind it was one of the worst apocalypses ever. Certain Cadagon vampires should have known what it was that was causing all of it. They were protecting the freaking item for goodness sake! Also, I wanted to know how the person who stole the item even knew it was there to be taken. It never fell together.

The apocalypse was fun. It allowed the books to explore sorcerers, fae, water sirens/nymphs, and some alternative myths. The GP vampire in charge of the house was a great plot show and tell for readers to see how corrupt the GP really is. It was great feeling the rage and rallying over the injustice of it all. The build up for a real adversary in Mayor Tate is awesome, as well as the development of the office of the Chicago supernatural Ombudsman.

Character development . . . er, I don't think Neill knows how to do it. Mallory changes so much and it never feels real. It's so sudden that the big plot bomb (yeah, another one!) was so obvious that I was annoyed the series was even going there. Oh, and the major plot bomb of the last book is simply taken back. Oh, and the whole Catcher thing in this book was awful. There were some tender moments and than some mood swings so big that I just couldn't believe it.

This series both thrills and teases me, and drives me bonkers! Even though I want to give up on it I just can't stop. Neill's writing is too addictive! I keep crawling back for certain reasons, and now that Jonah is going to be a recurring character I have to know what happens to him. Merit's latest relationship may annoy me with the dramatic short cut it took, but I am there.

Sexual Content: Plenty of sexual humor and some bedroom time.

 
3/5- Adored it, just a few minor details held it back.

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Previous book(s) in series:
Reviewed on BW:	Amazon:	Goodreads:
Some Girls Bite (1) Friday Night Bites (2) Twice Bitten (3) Hard Bitten (4) Drink Deep (5) Biting Cold (6) House Rules (7) Biting Bad (8) Wild Things (9) Untitled (10)	Some Girls Bite (1) Friday Night Bites (2) Twice Bitten (3) Hard Bitten (4) Drink Deep (5) Biting Cold (6) House Rules (7) Biting Bad (8) Wild Things (9) Untitled (10)	Some Girls Bite (1) Friday Night Bites (2) Twice Bitten (3) Hard Bitten (4) Drink Deep (5) Biting Cold (6) House Rules (7) Biting Bad (8) Wild Things (9) Untitled (10)

Cover Coveting(4)

***All cover art may not be final.***

Cover art is found from Wicked Scribes, ATUF, Goodreads, social networks, and other sources.

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Across a Star-Swept Sea by Diana Peterfreund

Previous book(s) in series:

Series: For Darkness Shows the Stars, book 2 Add it: Goodreads | Amazon Genre: YA Dystopian Shera’s thoughts: Really love that her dress not only has some stars making up her dress, but ocean waves! So lovely. My only complaint is the way they made her hair. they look like dreadlocks in some places. Maybe that’s her hair, but it just clashes. Also, the overlay on her upper body looks like it’s muddying the image instead of adding an edge.

Blood Bond by Jeanne C. Stein

Previous book(s) in series:

Series: Anna Strong Chronicles, book 9 Add it: Goodreads | Amazon Genre: Urban Fantasy Shera’s thoughts: Another great edition the the series. I hope the woman on the cover is not supposed to be Anna, she looks completely different from the last one(s?).

Chain of Illusions by Boone Brux

Previous book(s) in series:

Series: Bringer and the Bane Add it: Goodreads | Amazon Genre: Paranormal Romance Shera’s thoughts: Only the first cover hints that this series is about dragons, and I’m a bit bummed they didn’t try to incorporate it. However, this is the best cover in the series, there’s some real creativity.

Chosen by Benedict Jacka

Previous book(s) in series:

Series: Alex Verus, book 4 Add it: Goodreads | Amazon Genre: Urban Fantasy Shera’s thoughts: Don’t know what it is about these covers but I love them!! I just knew yellow had to be up next. The uniformed look is probably what really makes me like these covers.

Keep your eyes peeled for more!! I’ll be posting them later.

Review: Hard Bitten

Hard Bitten (Chicagoland Vampires, book 4) by Chloe Neill

Genre: Urban Fantasy
Edition Reviewed: Paperback
Amazon: Paperback | Kindle
Goodreads: Hard Bitten

Meet Merit, a "wonderfully compelling vampire heroine" (USA Today bestselling author Julie Kenner).

Chicago is beset by supernatural tensions, and Merit-vampire protector of a safe haven called Cadogan house-is worried that the humans will be reaching for their pitchforks any minute. It doesn't help that yet another vampire rave is broken up by the mayor, and a new inhibition- reducing drug is circulating through the community.

It's up to Merit to put her house in order-literally. And if that takes getting a little blood on her hands, so be it.

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Review:

A standing ovation!! Neill actually listened to me!! She read my very first reviews of Some Girls Bite and gave it to me! (OK, not likely.) While many fans found the "big shock" of Hard Bitten horrible—many were left feeling mutinous—I was jumping for joy and doing a happy dance. I've said my peace on that, moving on.

Neill seems to forget that not every reader is fond of Ethan. This apparently was the book that readers should like Ethan he’s changing, wooing Merit. There are many points made that while Ethan made the choice to choose the House over Merit, she does the same thing. My problem is that Ethan didn't choose the House over Merit, he was afraid. He ran like a scared little kid and gave up Merit. Merit keeps secrets for a while, but ends up telling Ethan that there are some things she can't tell him. Secrets that are not hers to give. Big difference.

There are moments in a series where authors of amazing skills (such as Keri Arthur in her Riley Jenson series) can take a character that isn't well liked—even hated—and redeem them. That was what needed to happen to Ethan. However, I'm having my doubts about the Neill's ability to create good character growth. Other characters still annoy me and they seem to have bipolar disorder with jumping personalities.

The mystery was really fun, while it didn't surprise me like the last one it was really well developed. Something was missing with this one. (Yeah, I know I got what I asked for and I'm still moaning.) Three huge plot developments occur and yet the majority of the book felt like filler. The bright side is Jonah, Merit's Red Guard "partner", he's amazing. Oh, I hope he gets to move in on Ethan claim of Merit.

Sexual Content: Plenty of sexual tension, making out, and humor.

 
3/5- Adored it, just a few minor details held it back.

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Previous book(s) in series:
Reviewed on BW:	Amazon:	Goodreads:
Some Girls Bite (1) Friday Night Bites (2) Twice Bitten (3) Hard Bitten (4) Drink Deep (5) Biting Cold (6) House Rules (7) Biting Bad (8) Wild Things (9) Untitled (10)	Some Girls Bite (1) Friday Night Bites (2) Twice Bitten (3) Hard Bitten (4) Drink Deep (5) Biting Cold (6) House Rules (7) Biting Bad (8) Wild Things (9) Untitled (10)	Some Girls Bite (1) Friday Night Bites (2) Twice Bitten (3) Hard Bitten (4) Drink Deep (5) Biting Cold (6) House Rules (7) Biting Bad (8) Wild Things (9) Untitled (10)

Review: Twice Bitten

Twice Bitten (Chicagoland Vampires, book 3) by Chloe Neill

Genre: Urban Fantasy
Edition Reviewed: Paperback
Amazon: Paperback | Kindle
Goodreads: Twice Bitten 

Shapeshifters from across the country are convening in the Windy City, and as a gesture of peace, Master Vampire Ethan Sullivan has offered their leader a very special bodyguard: Merit, Chicago's newest vampire. Merit is supposed to protect the Alpha, Gabriel Keene-and to spy for the vamps while she's at it. Oh, and luckily Ethan's offering some steamy, one-on-one combat training sessions to help her prepare for the mission.

Unfortunately, someone is gunning for Gabriel, and Merit soon finds herself in the line of fire. She'll need all the help she can get to track down the would-be assassin, but everywhere she turns, there are rising tensions between supernaturals-not least between her and a certain green-eyed, centuries-old master vampire.

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Review:

Ahhhhh, finally a satisfying mystery! It was great thinking that I had solved the mystery before the big reveal time and than wham! Neill finally pulls the wool over my eyes. It was glorious! Love books that surprise me and it was soooooo great.

Of course my first complaint is about Ethan. Never really liked him (yes I mentioned how I'd like him to get killed off). Neill expands a bit and tries to show a softer side of Ethan. However, it didn't do much for me. The change in Ethan's tactics is so drastic from the last book that it was unbelievable for me. Then when he finally gets to taste the forbidden fruit he turns out to be what I had originally thought he was: an absolute jerk. Right now I'm just praying that Neill can crank out some great character development so that I can like Ethan—cause he's the man candy that poor Merit is stuck with.

Other things took away from my sheer enjoyment of a mystery well done. The other characters such as Mallory and Catcher just annoy me to death, Morgan's fall to total man-child-of-rudeness-and-stupidity just tics me off (he seemed so great in book 1 and than boom true colors.) The vampire magic and GP is still fuzzy, underdeveloped. The saving grace were the shifters and my beloved Jeff. His developing romance is wonderful. Plus the question of what kind of shifter he is tantalizes readers!

Merit is invited to join the Red Guard by Noah, head of the rogue vampires and apparently a secret society working against GP to maintain balance. The idea behind it is really exciting, but I was disappointed by the reasons she for her choice.

In the end my like and dislike of this series makes for a fun and frustrating read. Love the author’s writing style and humor, not fond of her characters. However, I'm addicted despite it all. The big shock in the next book, if what it is what I think it is, is keeping me on board for sure.

Sexual Content: There is a sex scene (no I won’t say who with) and plenty of sexual humor.

 
4/5- Great! Really enjoyed it

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Previous book(s) in series:
Reviewed on BW:	Amazon:	Goodreads:
Some Girls Bite (1) Friday Night Bites (2) Twice Bitten (3) Hard Bitten (4) Drink Deep (5) Biting Cold (6) House Rules (7) Biting Bad (8) Wild Things (9) Untitled (10)	Some Girls Bite (1) Friday Night Bites (2) Twice Bitten (3) Hard Bitten (4) Drink Deep (5) Biting Cold (6) House Rules (7) Biting Bad (8) Wild Things (9) Untitled (10)	Some Girls Bite (1) Friday Night Bites (2) Twice Bitten (3) Hard Bitten (4) Drink Deep (5) Biting Cold (6) House Rules (7) Biting Bad (8) Wild Things (9) Untitled (10)

Wednesday Wishes

Gosh it feels good to be creating a post for Book Whispers. Life has been crazy busy and I’ve only had time to maintain my profile on Goodreads. That said, expect to see regular posts again. >_<

To all of you in the disaster zone, my thoughts and prayers are with you. Thanks to everyone who is pitching in and helping. You’re all heroes.

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Since it seems like Book Whispers has been forgotten I decided to delve back into my Future Purchases shelf and see what goodies I’ve forgotten all about.

The Shapeshifter's Secret by Heather Ostler

Get it: Amazon | Goodreads
Genre: Paranormal YA
Series: the Shapeshifter's Secret, book 1

Like any sixteen-year-old, Julia's used to dealing with problems. From her overprotective father to her absent mother to a teacher who definitely has it in for her. But everything changes when Julia's reactions become oddly vicious and angry---more animal than human. This action-packed adventure has it all: humor, romance, and a plot that'll keep you guessing to the very last page.

Completely forgot about this one, I’m still mixed on how much I want to read it and how much I simply like the covers.

Of Poseidon by Anna Banks

Get it: Amazon | Goodreads
Genre: Paranormal YA
Series: Of Poseidon, book 1

Galen is the prince of the Syrena, sent to land to find a girl he's heard can communicate with fish. Emma is on vacation at the beach. When she runs into Galen — literally, ouch! — both teens sense a connection. But it will take several encounters, including a deadly one with a shark, for Galen to be convinced of Emma's gifts. Now, if he can only convince Emma that she holds the key to his kingdom . . .

Told from both Emma and Galen's points of view, here is a fish-out-of-water story that sparkles with intrigue, humor, and waves of romance.

This one is the current mermaid/sea creature title that I’ve thought about buying over and over again, but never do it. Not sure why . . .

Otherkin by Nina Berry

Get it: Amazon | Goodreads
Genre: Paranormal YA
Series: Otherkin, book 1

Dez is a good girl who does as she's told and tries not to be noticed. Then she rescues a boy from a cage, and he tells her secrets about herself. Now inside her burns a darkness that will transform her.

Everything is about to change--and neither Caleb, nor the Otherkin, nor those who hunt them, are prepared for what Dez will unleash.

Yes! Yes, I know! This one has made it on to my WW list waaaaaaaaay to much. No. Let’s be honest . . . it was on there when I first saw the cover. Than again when it released, and I keep posting about it regularly. Why have I not bought it yet!!? It’s a shifter title that is clearly unique.