Book review: Phantom Kiss by Chloe Neill

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Phantom Kiss
Chicagoland Vampires #12.5

Author: Chloe Neill
Reading Level: Adult
Genre:Urban Fantasy
Released: 17th January 2017
Review Source: Berkley | Netgalley

Vampires generally aren't afraid of things that go bump in the night, but Merit and Ethan are extra jumpy after a recent attack by a dark sorcerer. So when they learn that someone is messing with graves in Chicago's cemeteries, stealing skulls and snatching souls, they fear their powerful foe might be back for even more magical vengeance.

But after a specter begins haunting Cadogan House-and targeting vampires- they realize they're being taunted by an altogether different sort of monster. A ghoulish villain straight out of the Windy City's urban legends is on the prowl- and he won't stop until he's killed again...

**Review does not contain spoilers for Phantom Kiss but will unavoidably reveal details from previous books if you're not up to date with the series**

Considering Phantom Kiss is a novella, a stepping stone between each full installment, I can say I thoroughly enjoyed it--which isn't something I say very often with novellas. Though shorter in length than the rest of the series it didn't lack the drama, excitement and usual quirky humour from my beloveds at Cadogan House.

Ethan and Merit are one of my favourite couples, like, ever. Phantom Kiss was a welcome bonus because I got a tast of all the characters I'd come to know and love before the release of Blade Bound, the closing book to the series (totally not ready for this series to end).

Phantom Kiss dips its toes into the details of frantic wedding planning and a very narked ghost--both very different from the usual vampires, shifters and occasional Fae (that's if you forget about the stray Angel, wayward sorceress and other occasional paranormals). It was refeshing and delightful seeing the group spooked by a ghost.

The plot fast-paced, eventful and a rewarding read, I would definitely reccomend this as a read to those fans of the series. Newbies, this urban fantasy series isn't one to miss. 

Book Review: The Flame Never Dies by Rachel Vincent

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The Flame Never Dies
The Stars Never Rise #2

Author: Rachel Vincent
Reading Level: Young adult
Genre: Paranormal | Demons | Dystopia
Released: 16th August 2016
Review Source: Publisher

For fans of Cassandra Clare and Richelle Mead comes the unputdownable sequel to The Stars Never Rise, a book Rachel Caine, author of the bestselling Morganville Vampires series, called “haunting, unsettling, and eerily beautiful.”

ONE SPARK WILL RISE. Nina Kane was born to be an exorcist. And since uncovering the horrifying truth—that the war against demons is far from over—seventeen-year-old Nina and her pregnant younger sister, Mellie, have been on the run, incinerating the remains of the demon horde as they go.

In the badlands, Nina, Mellie, and Finn, the fugitive and rogue exorcist who saved her life, find allies in a group of freedom fighters. They also face a new threat: Pandemonia, a city full of demons. But this fresh new hell is the least of Nina’s worries. The well of souls ran dry more than a century ago, drained by the demons secretly living among humans, and without a donor soul, Mellie’s child will die within hours of its birth.

Nina isn’t about to let that happen . . . even if it means she has to make the ultimate sacrifice.

Rachel Vincent: the author who will end books, series and situations in a place of unexpected. It will shock you, leave you wanting more and consume your thoughts.

The Flame Never Dies is the second and final installment of the duology. It continues with Nina, her pregnant sister, and their group of exorcists who are still on the run. They managed to escape the clutches of the Church but with the rising threat of Pandemonia and it's evil ruler Kastor, the gang have aquired quite the list of enemies.

This installment felt a little less about Nina and her discovering a word she thought she knew, but more as the group as a whole. In this book, the need to keep Mellie and her unborn child safe is a main focal point.

"If I can't find a soul for my sister's baby, I will damn well give that kid my own."

 
I almost expected for that to happen. The world they live in is daunting, seems unbeatable. It's not a happy place or a nice place. For somebody to live another has to die. The urge to keep her family and friends safe is scary and despite her character growth it made her reckess. Fighting against time to find a soul for her neice or nephew she grows desperate, needing the danger away from them for the baby's sake. Instead, Finn is faced with some harsh truths of his history, Nina has a face-to-face with Kastor and Nina has to make one of the hardest decisions of her life.

The Flame Never Dies ended with a very open ending and it was completely painful. But you know what? It still kicked ass. It was kind of perfect. The author leads her readers to plans of what they want to happen but there's still a lot of room for imagination, and with the ending--anything can happen. We don't know what happened after Adam was dropped off at the children's home. We don't know if Nina and friends survive. Did they manage to conquer? We dont know any of it. That's the hardest part.

Book Review: Midnight Hunter by Kait Ballenger

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Midnight Hunter
Execution Underground #3

Author: Kait Ballenger
Reading Level: Adult
Genre: Paranormal Romance | Urban Fantasy
Released: 1st September 2015
Review Source: Harlequin | NetGalley

Hunters of the supernatural, The Execution Underground are an elite group tasked with protecting humanity…but can dark temptation destroy good intentions?

Occult specialist and witch hunter Dr. Shane Grey is called upon to investigate a string of crimes that bear all the hallmarks of black magic. But he can't take on this daunting assignment for the Execution Underground alone. He'll need the help of Vera Sanders, a witch with a dark past—and a woman who disturbs him as much as she intrigues him.

Vera is determined to ignore the dangerous chemistry between herself and Shane so she can prove her loyalty to his cause; otherwise she risks the wrath of the Execution Underground once again. If she can't make Shane trust her, they won't stand a chance in hell of defeating the evil that's terrorizing their city. No easy task, considering old habits die hard…and Vera may be the very person responsible for luring Shane into a killer's trap.

This is an Adult romance novel recommended for ages 18+ due to sexual content and mature subject matter.

Someone's causing trouble and it's big enough to catch the Execution Underground's attention. Shane, the witch hunter/magic specialist slash genius, is called to deal with the resident trouble maker when the dead are being brought back to life, and husbands are being murdered by their very dead wives. But he can't do it alone, so he asks one of his students for help.

Vera is one of Shane's students who knows all too well about dark magic and the damage it can do. She still has the buzz from her former addiction of dark magic and it's kept her in the loop with it all these years and keeps the flame lit for her addiction. When Shane asks for her help it's the perfect opportunity to redeem herself from the dark she's practiced. Falling in love with the wonderfully nerdy Hunter was just a bonus.

Shane and Vera's story was sweet. Shane's a true gentleman (but can be a a total badass when acquired) and Vera's a lot softer than she looks (but will put you in your place if you underestimate her). They're a very unconventional couple but their pairing was perfect. Shane's definitely my favourite guy so far. He wasn't the typical guy you would expect to be working with the Execution Underground, but Shane was the brains of the operation. He may not be all fists on the job but he didn't need to be. He makes smart sexy.

It combines a student/teacher romance, zombies and my favourite kind of hunter crew all in one book. Although it was a student/teacher romance, it wasn't an expected New Adult type. It was only a minor factor in the book. And the zombies and hunter crew? Awesome.

I don't know who's next (but I have heard Damon's book is going to be last which is killing me) but I really look forward to whatever is next.

Book Review: Night School by C.J Daugherty

Night School: Genesis
Night School #1, #2, #3 & #4
Author: C.J Daugherty
Reading Level: Young Adult
Genre: Mystery | Romance
Released: December 12th 2014
Review Source: Bookouture | Netgalley

Allie Sheridan’s world is falling apart. Her brother’s run away from home. Her parents ignore her. And she’s just been arrested. Again.

This time her parents have had enough. They send Allie to Cimmeria Academy - far away from her London friends. The school is beautiful, and filled with gorgeous, ultra-wealthy teens who travel by private jet, and were raised by nannies.

Allie has never felt more of an outsider.

Instead of hating boarding school though, Allie begins to feel happy. She's slowly making friends. And there's Carter, a brooding loner with whom she feels an instant connection.

But when Allie is attacked late one night, the school suddenly begins to feel like a very dangerous place. Allie finds out that nothing at Cimmeria is what it seems.

And that she is not who she thought she was…

Note: on Goodreads this series has been listed as “paranormal.” This series does NOT hold paranormal aspects what-so-ever.

Having devoured Night School, Legacy, Fracture and Resistance in under 48 hours, I thought I'd write a serial review for all four!

Night School was just as brilliant as the first time I read it. The suspense, the secrecy, all of the unanswered questions...it all added up to make such a delightful novel. But it didn't end there...Legacy, Fracture and Resistance continued in a bundle of love, confusion and a whole lot of drama a girl Allie's age shouldn't have ti deal with.

Grief makes a person change. Allie learned that after her brother left. She rebelled...three arrests in one year and a criminal record gained. The third and final arrest was the last straw for her parents, they couldn't cope with with her out-of-control and was sent away to boarding school. I really felt for Allie’s character during this part. I know people who’ve been in similar situations with similar outcomes and the realism of how Allie dealt with it was spot on.

It doesn’t take Allie long to recognise that there’s something not quite right with Cimmeria Academy. The school, the teachers, the students, the connections and high power everybody seems to have when she’s just simply Allie from London sent to a boarding school as punishment. It doesn't take her long to find out the truth, and it's definitely not what she expected to hear.

Despite having already read the first three novel previously, I felt excitement as the anticipation built in places and I was very eager to start book 2 after finishing the first. It was an exciting book. Judging from the summary I did think it was paranormally invested, however the actual book the opposite of what I was expecting. It was a pleasant surprise.

Seriously, this series is awesome. There are so many ups and downs and changes that the mystery of "what's next?" had me engrossed in the whole series. I literally think my eyes were glued to my kindle the whole time I was reading with only the acceptation to eat and sleep. This is the quickest I've polished off four books before, and I can't tell you how excited I am for book 5.

There is a love triangle, and I wasn't a fan of the indecisive back-and-forth, however I still enjoyed it. Carter and  Sylvain are awesome (and totally kick-ass) characters and though they're both different and equally awesome. Resistance did end on a cliffhanger (stupid things) and I died a little when I realised Endgame wasn't released until June 2015.

Book Review: Eyrie by Emma Michaels

Eyrie
Society of Feathers #2
Author: Emma Michaels
Reading Level: Young Adult
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Released: September 17th 2014
Review Source: Crushing Hearts and Black Butterfly Publishing | Netgalley

Somewhere between falling and flying… you will find the truth.

The truth is being unveiled and Iris’ past is unlike anything she ever could have guessed. For Stryx, finding your missing half doesn’t always mean finding your mate. Iris has been missing a part of herself for so long that no one is sure she will be able to put the pieces back together and her ever reliable dreams may be forcing her astray. Coping with the death of someone she loved, she is forced to face the truth and break free from the lies that have caged her.

“Somewhere between falling and flying...you will find the truth.”

I devoured Owlet and Eyrie in under 24 hours.

I’m really enjoying this series. The main characters are awesome and one of my favourite parts about this novel was getting to know the vultures more, seeing them more as people rather than full-time guards. Their personalities popped out some. A new character appears, too. He stole my heart instantly. Nestor is the cutest, considerate youngster who’s Iris’ new guard. I love him so much!

Eyrie continues straight on from Owlet. Life isn’t easy for Iris after everything which has happened, coming to terms with the death of a love one isn’t easy for her and she’s left with one blood relative, her grandfather. But she also has a million other things to deal with/come to terms with.  One of them being her species doesn’t know she lives, her death faked as an infant to save her life. The truth needs to come out. They need to know she lives as an Owlet. They need to know the power she holds inside of her—power which could change thing for the better.  And they definitely need to know what a lying, betraying snake Caleb is, because he needs to be stopped.

There was a cliffhanger, one I kind of expected, however it was executed in a way which I didn’t expect, if that makes sense. I loved how the author did that.  And the shame is I don’t have Stryx to read right now, because I'm dying to get my hands on it!

Book Review: Owlet by Emma Michaels

Owlet
Society of Feathers #1
Author: Emma Michaels
Reading Level: Young Adult
Genre: Paranormal Romance | Fantasy
Released: September 17th 2014
Review Source: Crushing Hearts and Black Butterfly Publishing | Netgalley

Somewhere between falling and flying… there is a girl.

Iris has a secret. She lost her memory eight years ago and never told a living soul. After an asthma attack one night she finds out that her dreams of a strange house on a snowy island may be a memory resurfacing but the more she learns about the past the more she realizes the life she has been living is a lie. As the façade her father has built starts to crumble around her she will have to decide which means more to her; the truth or her life.

"Chocolate chip pancakes are more important than grudges"

Iris’ life has just been turned upside down. Her life wasn’t as normal as she’s been made to believe; she wasn’t as normal as she believed, and neither was her father or nurse. Nothing was as it seemed anymore. Suddenly she’s meeting people she should have know years ago but didn’t. Falcon, the wonderful boy she’s always loved, and who always loved her—but doesn’t remember—is back in her life, along with the extended family she never knew she had. But it’s not lovely reunion where they have time to get to know each other, no. Her family is in danger, and if anybody finds out Iris is alive and not dead like the whole world was made to believe, she’ll have people after her too.

I loved. I’m a huge fan of paranormal novels, but here there were no vampires, no werewolves and no shifters. It was completely different to what I’ve read before, and that's saying a lot considering the amount of paranormal books I've read, and it was fantastic! The characters were just as great. Iris is normal, venerable, has a medical condition, but also very strong as a person and an Owlet. She was real. I loved her character. As for everyone else, we're just getting to know them and I'm looking forward to seeing them unravel and getting to know them better.

Owlet is what I call a build-up novel. It sets you up with just the right amount of information, drama and anticipation for things to really kick-in in book 2. And that's exactly what Owlet did. It wasn't by anyone's standards a slow paced novel or lacking in any way, but I can see thing flaring up in the second book, Eyrie.

I smiled...I cried (currently have panda eyes because my mascara ran), and I fell in love with every single character present within the novel (excluding the bad guys, of course). The book flew by; I was in shock when the end came. It seemed like one minute I was reading chapter 5 and the next it was the end. Right this second I’m going to buy book 2 and dive straight in. The story has only just begun, and I know things are about to get interesting.

Book Review: Watch Me by Cynthia Eden

Watch Me
Dark Obsession #1 
Author: Cynthia Eden
Reading Level: Adult
Genre: Contemporary Romance | Romantic Suspense
Released: December 9th 2014
Review Source: Hocus Pocus Publishing | Netgalley

Watch Me…The first book in New York Times and USA Today best-selling author Cynthia Eden’s sexy new romantic suspense series…DARK OBSESSION.

He was hired to protect her.

Watching gorgeous Gwen Hawthorne wasn’t a hard job—but it certainly was tempting. Chance Valentine had tried to keep his distance from the sexy socialite for years, but when her father hired him to keep watch on her—as a twenty-four, seven bodyguard—Chance knew his control was about to be pushed to the limit.

He’d never wanted another woman the way he desired her. Hot. Intense. Consuming. Being so close to Gwen, Chance knew that he wouldn’t be able to resist her. So he gave into his need, her need, and he took them both to the edge of a dark and consuming desire.

But Chance soon realizes that he isn’t the only one watching Gwen. Someone else is out there, a stalker who won’t rest until Gwen is destroyed. Every day, every moment…Gwen is in danger. And Chance knows that if he can’t unmask the stalker, then he may just lose the only woman he has ever loved.

She’s in danger. He’s been hired to protect her. He’s also the man she can’t seem to shake from her mind when their lives come clashing back together when Chance is the only man she’ll allow to bodyguard her. Danger lurks around every corner...

“He’s watching me” ... “He could see me” ... “He knew what I was wearing” 

He watches her, stalks her, and knows her every move. Things get dangerously serious when her bag was stolen and a mysterious van tries to run her over. It’s no longer about stopping the man who’s stalking her; it’s about stopping the man before he kills her.

Chance is hired by Gwen’s father to protect her, but he’s not interested in the money. Not interested in the clientele the powerful man could bring to his business. Gwen was in danger, and that was all he cared about.  But it wasn’t that easy. Gwen and Chance have a past, not one which can be shoved under the rug and forgotten about.

“You could destroy me, and you’d never have to lift a hand to do it.”

I really enjoyed the first instalment to the Dark Obsessions series. And I’m about to say something I’ve never said before...in this novel, I enjoyed the mysterious aspects more than the romantic side. The romance wasn’t lacking, in fact it progressed lovely and we got to see as Gwen and Chance reconnected and sorted things out. But the question of “who is doing all of this and why?” bugged me. It had me intrigued from start to finish and even then I was still shocked when everything unravelled. I loved how it was all planned out and executed.

I’m looking forward to the next instalment, too. The sub-characters were written in an appealing way that I actually want to pick up book two when it’s unleashed on the world (unfortunately there’s been many times where I’ve never picked up book 2 because they weren't appealing enough in book 1). Great job, Cynthia!

Book Review: Remember Me by Romily Bernard

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Remember Me
Find Me #2
Author: Romily Bernard
Reading Level: Young Adult
Genre: Mystery | Thriller
Released: September 23rd 2014
Review Source: HarperTeen

In the sequel to Find Me, Wick Tate, sarcastic teen hacker, is back and once again dealing with criminals and corrupt cops…and a brooding new love interest. Will Wick persevere when some secrets refuse to stay hidden?

Wick had thought her troubles were over.

But she should’ve known better.

Not only is she embroiled in a new murder case, which starts with a body with “Remember Me” carved into it and doesn’t stop there, but she also discovers new evidence surrounding her mother’s suicide…which leads her right back to her imprisoned deadbeat dad. And she has to deal with her flirty new hacker friend, Milo, sniffing around—which her boyfriend, Griff, isn’t too happy about.

The pressure might be too much as secrets—including Wick’s own—climb to the surface.

Remember Me is an edge-of-your-seat thrilling read that’ll have readers turning the pages at lightning speed! The paperback of Find Me is on sale simultaneously, and a digital original novella from Romily, featuring Griff, is on sale just a few weeks before!

I love technology, I love computers, and I definitely love watching crime movies and shows. Remember Me, the sequel to Find Me, is a mixture of these. I love a book with mystery and actions, Remember Me is the IT book!

Wicket Tate is not your typical teenage girl. Nope. This girl has skills… hacking skill that is.  A hacker can destroy your life and well, I wouldn’t mess with her!

As mentioned before, this is a sequel to a series and this picks up months after. Wicket thought her life would be “normal”. With her hacking skills, she helped in her father’s arrest. Not only this, but she and her sister are finally safe. They were adopted by a loving family. Though Wicket is still brilliant and protective of her sister, she is broken. She is now suffering from PSTD and is having trusting issues… and I do not blame her. Soon Wicket learns that normal is not for her. She is now being blackmailed by a detective and she must get involved to keep her family safe, again.

Throughout the book, Wicket is uncertain about many things. Her struggle becomes yours. In Remember Me, you will get to know her better, you will learn a new side of her. Even though she struggled, she remains true to herself. She is still Wicket, the girl I loved from the first book. A girl that is loyal, caring and still does the right thing, even though she is a hacker. I was happy with this sequel and glad to see Wicket fight her battles and once again exceed her expectations.

Remember Me is filled with actions, mystery and suspense. I would recommend fans of mystery to start this fun and action-packed series. If you are a fan of the first book, prepare yourself. You will not be disappointed!

Check out OUaT's review of Find Me (book 1) in the series HERE.