Sabra is a vampire who was created in 1524. The book takes place both in 2000 and in 1523 - 1524.

Sabra sees a picture of her descendant in a magazine. When she reads the article, she discovers that the vampire who had made her had an interest in her descendent. Sabra makes the decision to go see her descendant Sinja and rescue her from Ravenal’s evil clutches.

The book starts in the present day where Sabra works to keep Sinja safe with a family friend, Kurt Van Helsing. Sabra brings Kurt in on a plot where she wants to destroy her creator for tearing her away from her life all those years ago. The book then bounces back to the time where Ravenal works on creating Sabra and destroying her friend Rachel.

Blood Ties has an excellent plot line, and I think the author did an great job of character development. While keeping track of where the two storylines leave off and pick up again presents a bit of a small challenge, it keeps the reader intrigued as to what is going to happen next in each era. If you’re looking for a book that is solely about vampires and not much romance, then this book is definitely for you! The author even leaves room for a sequel at the end of the book with a slight cliffhanger.

Book Excerpt: “Blood Ties chronicles the existence of Sabra Raine, a beautiful young woman, torn from her family in the sixteenth century by a malevolent vampire known as Ravenal and condemned to eternal life as one of the undead. In the year 2000, Ravenal crosses Sabra’s path once again when he engages in the pursuit of Sinja Marquette, a talented young artist from New York. Sinja is also a direct descendant of Sabra’s. With the help of Sinja’s best friend Kurt Van Helsing, Sabra embarks on a mission to protect Sinja against the monstrous Ravenal and save her from the curse of the undead.”

Book Stats:

e-book, digital format
Publisher: Bookbooters.com (October 2002)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1592810241
ISBN-13: 978-1592810246

To purchase an electronic copy of Blood Ties click here.

(1 votes, average: 5 out of 5)

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“Myth, magic or legend? There have been Hussies since before time was measured in days and minutes. Women who fought bravely alongside their mates with sword and axe, warriors whose courage changed the world around them. Led by the first Hussy, Danu, these fragile fighters discovered their inner strengths, summoned reserves they didn’t know they possessed and passed into the fabric of legend with their daring
exploits.”

If you can let your mind open up to the possibilities that the craft of paranormal writing offer, then you can definitely find a place for Ciana Stone’s incredibly fun ride called “A Taste For Jazz.”

Jazz Boudreaux goes from your not-so-common bounty hunter to goddess-enlisted warrior within the first few pages. She wraps her mind around being called up by Danu more easily than I did. Still Stone’s taut writing and attention to detail knocked me out of my reality-based world, dumping me into one of the funnest books I’ve read in a while. I liked Jazz. I liked her a lot. She fulfilled my action heroine lust.

And her match is met in Rock. In my mind he is a cross between Vin Diesel and Dwayne Johnson. Brawn with brains, Rock is the quintessential hero. He starts his part of the book out by wondering if he will ever meet a woman who is his match intellectually and physically.

Cue Jazz. She’s got to find a brainy dweeb of a rocket scientist to protect him from dire bad things that could doom the world to extinction. Well, ok. There’s a plot point from Saturday morning serial movies. But you know what? It works. It works very well because Stone doesn’t shy away from the idea that this story is based on a far-fetched theme. She relentlessly drags the reader down the path of the action heroine who uses her brains and her guns to save the day and her man. Luckily Rock is not the shy retiring type and is busily trying to save himself.

This book is stand-alone good but when you throw in the sex – well, hand this Belle a cold glass of sweet tea because it just got hot hot hot in here. There is one main sex scene where Jazz has to give in to Rock on many levels. Stone doesn’t neglect her heroine’s hesitancy which is just what I’d expect from a woman like Jazz.

I have to give this book four and a half tombstones. I reserve a half tombstone because there were a few scenes that dipped to heavily into the Saturday morning movie camp bucket for my tastes. Still, I can tell you that I will be backing up and buying more of Ciana Stone’s books. And, the good news is that this is part of a series. Ciana Stone and her fellow Hussies have really locked on to something here. This is definitely one I’d read again—and not just for the sex.

Book Stats:

e-book, digital format

Publisher: Ellora’s Cave

ISBN: 9781419915925

To purchase an electronic copy of A Taste for Jazz click here.

To visit the author’s website go here.

(4 votes, average: 5 out of 5)

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This is the first book I have had the pleasure of reviewing from Ms. St. Clair’s many titles. The Dead Who Do Not Sleep is a short story about ghosts, vampires and incredibly enough, a magical phoenix. The story really is a mixture of slight fantasy and paranormal.

Right from the beginning things are action packed and start out with the main character Will Spark being murdered and coming back as a ghost. He initially starts out trying to find out who and why he was killed. As things slowly unfold to him, a plot much deeper than a random killing is revealed.

The story was well written, concise and thoroughly enjoyable. There were a few scenes that were fairly grisly, but the storyline had to support those aspects as well. I recommend this novella to anybody who enjoys the paranormal genre. Personally, I am looking forward to reading more of Ms. St. Clair’s work.

Book Stats:

e-book, digital format

Publisher: Writers Exchange E-Publishing

ISBN: 1920972617

To purchase an electronic copy of The Dead Who Do Not Sleep click here.

To visit the author’s website go here.

(1 votes, average: 5 out of 5)

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Ohh boy! Some people have big mouths and then some people have Nina Blackman’s mouth. Scratch that… nobody does the big mouth like Nina. We first saw Nina in The Accidental Werewolf as Marty Andrew’s color wheel accomplice and best friend. Even as a secondary character in that book she really made an impression on me, and I was glad that she got her own book.

At the beginning of Accidentally Dead, things haven’t changed much as far as her abrasive personality goes. Though she has started a new job as a dental hygienist - which is a turn in the upwards direction for our protagonist - that, my friends, is where the trouble begins. This time it isn’t her mouth that gets her into trouble, but a sexy mysterious guy who takes a bite out of her while looped up on happy gas.

Things definitely turn sour the next day when she can’t eat chicken wings without hurling and wants to eat the neighbors’ dog as a snack. Not to mention the teeth… oh, I meant FANGS. It seems that Nina is now a part of the paranormal population of vampires… and she is PISSED.

The story is full of funny twists and turns as Nina tries to find the cure for vampirism so she can go back to her old life. Unfortunately, her studly sire, Gregori Statleon, has thrown her for a loop. Is he man enough to handle the hostile word wars of Nina? Can Nina find a cure and go back to her old way of life? You will just have to tune into your copy of Accidentally Dead when it comes out this July.

I will say that I was very impressed and even shed a tear or two learning more about Nina and why she acts the way she does. The book has some excellent life lessons that we all could take something away from. That, and it is funnier than hell. If you like the writing styles of MaryJanice Davidson or Katie MacAlister, then you will LOVE Dakota Cassidy. She’s in a class all her own!

Book Stats:

• Paperback: 352 pages
• Publisher: Berkley Trade (July 1, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0425221598
• ISBN-13: 978-0425221594

To purchase a print copy of Accidentally Dead click here.

Books in this series in the order they should be read:
The Accidental Werewolf
Accidentally Dead
The Accidental Human - Scheduled for release March 2009

To visit the author’s website go here.
To visit the author’s blog go here.

(5 votes, average: 4.8 out of 5)

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Severance Packages is the second in a series featuring Inspector Jane Doe, head of a Homicide squad in Victoria Australia. As revealed in the first book, Flowers From the Grave, Jane is able to communicate with ghosts after suffering a head injury.

This time around, Jane and her squad are hunting a very twisted killer. His victims are found dismembered with the various pieces wrapped in plastic and labeled SEVERANCE PACKAGE, 1 of 6. While on site where pieces of the second victim were found, Jane encounters Eddie, the victim’s ghost. During conversations taking place over several days, Eddie is able to tell Jane information about his life and what he remembers of his attack. While unable to reveal her source of information to others in the squad, she confides in her fiancé Oliver, a doctor and profiler. Together they try to fit the pieces of Eddie’s information together with the evidence Jane and her squad are able to uncover.

After reading the first in the series, I am familiar with and like the characters in this series. The detail of the case and its investigation are well written and put together. There’s also a bit of a twist to the case at the very end. Personally though, I thought the ending was a little lackluster. Everything came together in the end, yes, but I guess I prefer to see the bad guy put up a fight and give the police a reason to thump on him or her a bit. But again, that could just be me and my personal vindictive attitude! Overall though, I do like the series and look forward to further installments.

Book Stats:

• Paperback: 254 pages
• Publisher: Writers Exchange E-Publishing (November 20, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 192131401X
• ISBN-13: 978-1921314018

To purchase a print copy of Severance Packages click here.

To purchase an electronic copy of Severance Packages click here.

Books in the Jane Doe series in the order they should be read:
Flowers From the Grave
Severance Packages

To visit the author’s website go here.

(No Ratings Yet)

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Starting at the beginning of Midnight Brunch, Milagro is feeling pretty happy with the way things have settled down, she’s found love and a sense of family that she so desperately needed in her life. Then they exclude her from a big mysterious ceremony and she gets bent out of shape. Perhaps her new family doesn’t trust her after all.

She leaves the ranch in a huff to hide out in the desert to work on an upcoming movie script. She’s under a lot of pressure, and to top it off some rogue member of the vampire clan is out to get her and is threatening her life. She ends up as a quasi personal assistant to the washed up actor starring in the film and befriends a member of the paranormal paparazzi. Needless to say things really start to heat up when the posh resort she’s staying at seems to be hiding a deeper sinister plan. Will Milagro be able to keep her head off the chopping block again? Will she find peace and harmony within her family once again?

You can find out what happens to Milagro when you pick up your copy of Midnight Brunch, book 2 in the Casa Dracula series by the talented Marta Acosta! I can hardly wait for the September release of book 3, The Bride of Casa Dracula. If you haven’t read the series, you will definitely want to read this review I did of the first book Happy Hour at Casa Dracula to get up to speed.

Book Stats:

• Paperback: 336 pages
• Publisher: Pocket (April 24, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1416520392
• ISBN-13: 978-1416520399

To purchase a print copy of Midnight Brunch click here.

Books in the Casa Dracula series in the order they should be read:
Happy Hour at Casa Dracula
Midnight Brunch
The Bride of Casa Dracula

To visit the author’s website go here.
To visit the author’s blog go here.

(1 votes, average: 5 out of 5)

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A definitely grown up take on Little Red Riding Hood, The Woodsman by Belle Scarlett is recommended for readers 18+. Lady Lily Rouge is on her way through the Enchanted Forest to meet her sight unseen fiancé on the other side when her carriage is overtaken by a bold black wolf with vivid blue eyes. Said wolf leads (or corrals) her to a small cottage off the beaten track and proceeds to trap her inside.

Big Bad Wolf Marrok Ulfang has been waiting for this red cloaked maiden since he was bespelled during King Arthur’s campaign for the Holy Grail over thousand years before and has dreamed of her ever since. At first convinced by his inner wolf to get the pesky curse out of the way and then get down to enjoying Lily, he instead decides to take the noble martyrdom route and to sacrifice himself to allow Lily to have everything he couldn’t give her. He does this without asking Lily if she wants him to do so. She is, of course, furious and is quite determined to use her newly discovered feminine wiles to turn him from his chosen path.

The Woodsman is set in an interesting world with well thought out and researched links between fairytale, myth, and story. I enjoyed reading this and thought it a fun short read (85 pages in length). My one regret about this story is I would have loved to read it as a full length novel instead of a short novella.

Book Stats:

e-book, digital format

Publisher: Ellora’s Cave

ISBN: 9781419916342

To purchase an electronic copy of The Woodsman click here.

To visit the author’s website go here.

To visit the author’s blog go here.

(No Ratings Yet)

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In the book Night Life, Luna Wilder is a werewolf who works for the Nocturne City Police Department. Luna comes from a family of witches, but she didn’t inherit the family witch blood. She is tough, has a temper and tends to get herself into trouble. She strives to close her cases and be a successful detective.

Luna struggles with the beast that is within her. The werewolves run in packs, but Luna is an Insoli and travels without a pack because of the way she became a werewolf. She lives with her cousin Sunny, a witch who is always trying to find ways for Luna to overcome the werewolf blood in her. Luna doesn’t have much contact with her grandmother because of the werewolf blood.

Luna is on a case where she finds girls that are killed in a ritualistic fashion. Her first suspect is a pack leader named Dmitri Sandovsky. At some point in the case, she stops suspecting him and starts to fall for him. Luna runs into a wall with who she thinks the true suspect is and needs Dmitri’s help to prove it.

I give this book 4 1/2 tombstones. I think its a good start to what will be a great series. There was action, mystery and romance. The book leaves you hanging in the end, wanting to know what will happen in the next book.

The mystery aspect to this book made it intriguing and interesting. Ms. Kittredge does a great job in helping the reader to visualize the world she has created. I enjoyed Luna as a main character, since she was on the tough side and the romance in the book wasn’t too over done. I recommend this book, and if you enjoy it, you won’t have to wait long for the second in the series called Pure Blood, which will be out at the end of August.

Book Excerpt: “The first book in a thrilling, addictive new series by a talented new voice in dark fantasy. Welcome to Nocturne City, where werewolves, black magicians, and witches prowl the streets at night…

Among them is Luna Wilder, a tough-as-nails police officer whose job is to keep the peace. As an Insoli werewolf, Luna travels without a pack and must rely on instinct alone. And she’s just been assigned to find the ruthless killer behind a string of ritualistic murders—a killer with ties to an escaped demon found only in legend…until now.

But when she investigates prime suspect Dmitri Sandovsky, she can’t resist his wolfish charms. Pack leader of a dangerous clan of Redbacks, Dimitri sends her animal instincts into overdrive and threatens her fiercely-guarded independence. But Luna and Dimiri will need to rely on each other as they’re plunged into an ancient demon underworld and pitted against an expert black magician with the power to enslave them for eternity…”

Book Stats:

• Mass Market Paperback: 352 pages
• Publisher: St. Martin’s Paperbacks (March 4, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0312948298
• ISBN-13: 978-0312948290

To purchase a print copy of Night Life click here.

Books in the Nocturne City series in the order they should be read:
Night Life
Pure Blood

To visit the author’s website go here.
To visit the author’s blog go here.

(No Ratings Yet)

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Flowers From the Grave is the first book in a series featuring Melbourne Homicide Detective, Inspector Jane Doe. After being injured during the course of an investigation of a serial rapist/killer, Jane takes a month off to recover and rents a cottage on the coast about three and a half hours outside of Melbourne. Her landlord, Beryl Greenough, just happens to be the wife of a former supervisor of Jane’s. Having left the Melbourne police, he is now on the force in Port Campbell, a small village near Jane’s rental cottage. Jane is also using her stay to figure out if she wants to marry her boyfriend Oliver, who proposed the day before she left.

During her stay, she meets Ryan O’Byrne who, as it turns out, is a ghost. So far, only Jane and Beryl are able to see and talk to him. Ryan’s wife Nellie had been raped, murdered and thrown off a cliff near Jane’s cottage. Even though he is a ghost, Ryan is unable to communicate with Nellie and believes it’s because her killer was never found. Ryan tries to convince Jane to investigate his wife’s murder, but as it happened forty years ago and Jane is out of her jurisdiction, she doesn’t think there’s much she can do. That is until another body shows up on the same beach with the same injuries. Jane’s police instinct takes over and, with Ryan’s help, she works with the local police. They determine that the two murders are connected and set out to find the killer.

While I did like this book, I was able to peg the killer early on. When that happens, no matter how much I liked the book, it’s a bit of a let down for me when I get to the end. Other than that though, this was well written with wonderful descriptions. I’ve reviewed something else by Wendy Laing and she definitely has a talent for painting pictures in your mind with her descriptive writing. The characters were easy to like and I hope to see them again in this series.

Book Stats:

• Paperback: 94 pages
• Publisher: Writers Exchange E-Publishing (April 12, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 187696247X
• ISBN-13: 978-1876962470

To purchase a print copy of Flowers From The Grave click here.

To purchase an electronic copy of Flowers From the Grave click here.

Books in the Jane Doe series in the order they should be read:
Flowers From the Grave
Severance Packages

To visit the author’s website go here.

(No Ratings Yet)

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Felicity’s Curse may be a kid’s book but it will have you jumping at noises and leaving the lights on to make sure nothing is coming up behind you! Tracy Considine, her twin brother Frankie and their parents move from Long Island, NY to Leams, Massachusetts three days before the twins’ thirteenth birthday. Tracy and Frankie’s parents both grew up in Leams and decided to move back after Mrs. Considine’s mother passed away. The twins had both spent a lot of time in Leams visiting their grandmother during summer vacations, and had made friends with others their own age.

After arriving at their new home, Tracy and Frankie soon realize that the town and the people in it are somehow different from what they remember. There is an air of secrecy around town that feels almost evil. People aren’t acting like their normal selves, pets are disappearing, there are strange noises coming from the woods at night, and even the twin’s parents are acting oddly. When the little brother of one of their friends disappears after trying to tell Frankie what is going on, the twins know they have to find out the truth. When they do, it is more evil than they could ever imagine.

This book was incredible and I think people of all ages will like it. I know this review is somewhat vague but I really don’t want to give anything away. You simply have to read it for yourself to find out what happens!

Book Stats:

e-book, digital format

Publisher: Writers Exchange E-Publishing

Recommended Minimum Age 12+
Violence Level Low

To purchase a copy of Felicity’s Curse click here.

(No Ratings Yet)

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