Thursday, April 26, 2007

Dead and Dateless

If you like vampires and werewolves with a bit of murder and mystery and just a touch of comedy then Dead and Dateless is the book for you. Kimberly Raye takes the Paranormal and these other components and mixes them together with just the right touch of comedy that is sure to leave you in stitches.

Dead and Dateless is about a five hundred year old vampire named Lil Marchette that runs a dating service for the normal and paranormal. When one of her clients ends up dead and, I mean the not coming back kind of dead, Lil turns out to be the prime suspect for the case. Lil couldn't bite someone if her life depended on it. She would prefer her blood to come from a bottle. If that wasn't enough for her to deal with she has a set of customers, well you might want to call them a pack of customers, that need mates before the full moon wanes. She must also find out who the killer is along with dealing with her own midnight fantasies of a vampire/bounty hunter named Ty Bonner and maybe make stake a claim on her own true love.

Kimberly Raye will take you on a fun ride with Dead and Dateless. It has such vivid action that I felt as if I was right there in the middle of the story with Lil. Just when you think you have the mystery solved Kimberly turns it around on you. You will be pleasantly surprised with this story, I know I was. This author is on my must by list.

"Neither do we. There are a total of fifty-two members of our organization, nearly half of whom have mates and don't need your services. I'm here on behalf of the single, uncommitted, aging NUNS. Unlike you vamps, we only have a small window for procreation fifty years to be exact. Desperation always makes one less choosy. Besides, male werewolves are bossy and overbearing and extremely territorial. You have their child and bam, they're ready to pee on every tree in your front yard. While I wouldn't mind of I found the right male werewolf, I haven't and I seriously doubt I'm going to in the next two weeks."
"Why not just go to a sperm bank?"
"We ovulate during an actual sexual encounter. Our reproductive system requires a barrage of stimuli. One can't kiss or touch or nibble a turkey baster dear."
"I see your point."

Light My Fire

Aisling is back for another encore this time in London, England. She has moved in with her guardian mentor and she is still finding it hard to be a Demon lord, Guardian and a Wyvern's mate all at the same time. Things are still not good between Drake and Aisling since she left him in Budapest. Drake shows up in London and she soon finds out that her presence at a Sept meeting is required and as Drakes mate and she must show up.

Rene again shows up to take his cousin's place for a third time which now really makes her even more suspicious of him. Also Aisling has the whole imp nation after her because Jim, her little demon sidekick, ate their monarch by accident. It also doesn't help that attempts have been made on her life. Drake will probably want to protect her which is the way he is being a wyvern. It looks like war will break out and all hell is about to break loose.

Katie MacAlister packs action, romance and comedy together to make a wonderful book. It held my attention very well and I couldn't help but wonder what was going to happen next. It was a wonderfully captivating addition to the series. When the next book in the series Holy Smokes comes out in November of 2007 I will be sure to pick it up for my collection.

She pointed at a rat that peeked out from under a stack of garbage. "Draw a binding ward on that rat."
"Ok."I took a deep breath, and focused, and drew a symbol in the air that would when combined with my force of will, bind the rat to the spot.
The ward glowed red in the air for a second, then faded into nothing. The rat gave a squeak of surprise as it tried to scurry away. I started to turn away but, a slight flicker caught my eye. To my surprise, fire suddenly flared to life in the form of the ward I'd just drawn, sending the rat beneath it into a frenzy of horror.
"Oh, my god!" I ran over, ignoring my dislike of rodents to snatch the rat out of harm's way, swatting out the fire after I released the terrified rat. "I had no idea! I didn't see any fire with the blight hounds but the one on the furniture..."

Fire Me up

Our Guardian Aisling Grey is on a trip to Budapest and to a convention of supernatural beings. She is still working for her uncle as an antiquities courier and must deliver an antique amulet to a hermit. She finds out much to her surprise that Drake Vireo, the wyvern of the green dragons is staying in the same hotel she is. Rene cab driver extraordinaire also shows up to take his cousins place again which perks up her curiosity as well.

Once again things start going all awry and she finds herself in the middle of trouble all over again. Mortal men start falling at her feet, which she feels quite embarrassed over, and can't figure out why they are doing it. She is at the conference to find a Guardian mentor to help her learn her powers and maybe control the powers she does not know. You would think that would be easy but each guardian she comes into contact with turns up dead which is getting very upsetting.

Katie MacAlister delights us with another in the Aisling Grey Guardian series. It is a spectacularly written story that adds to the Aisling and Drake relationship. It keeps you guessing what Aisling and her demon are going to do or get into next. I can't wait to read the next book in the series. You will be pleasantly surprised at this addition and will want the whole collection as I do.

I nodded. “It’s pretty obvious that it has masculinity issues, which means it values its manly bits. A little flick of the knife in the demonic happy zone and voila! Instant compliance.

Nora shook her head, a slight smile on her face. “I don’t believe I have ever seen anyone control a demon using on the threat of emasculation. It is unprecedented. It is… quite an odd method of control.”

“Aisling is a very unique woman,” Drake said as he walked by holding a smoking, quivering tablecloth full of imps. “It is one of her many charms.”

I grinned at him.

Wednesday, April 11, 2007

You Slay Me

Award winning and New York Times bestselling author Katie MacAlister writes romance, mystery, and non-fiction books. Her book You Slay Me is a wonderfully written story about an antiquities courier named Aisling Grey that finds out she is a Guardian, a keeper to the Gates of Hell, after she travels to Paris to deliver an antique golden dragon statue for her uncle. Everyone she comes in contact with seems to realize that she is a Guardian. Including a very good looking real life dragon named Drake Vireo who steals the statue out from under her and leaves her with the dead body of her customer and a very confused French inspector. It seems the only person that doesn't realize she's a guardian is Aisling herself.

In trying to clear her name of the murder Aisling also discovers she is to be the mate of the dragon that stole the statue from her. She vows to get the statue back with or without Drake's help to help clear her name. In doing so she conjures up a demon in the form of an irritating shaggy dog along with dealing with Drake and her new found title as well. She makes a host of friends including a taxi driver and healer who offer to help her clear her name.

Plot twist after, plot twist make this a very exciting read. I did not want to put this book down. Katie did a fine job of character development. I was falling out of my chair laughing at the comedic parts of the book and you will as well. Katie does an amazing job of weaving a murder mystery that that will keep you guessing. I plan to read the whole Guardian Series to find out what she has in store for our Guardian next. I was most intrigued with this book and Katie MacAlister will be added to my must buy list.


Bonjour. I see you have successfully summoned ... a demon?"
I upped the wattage of my smile, painfully aware of the blush that rode in my cheeks. "Yes, well, the summoning went a bit ...awry. This is Jim."
"Yeah, Hi, whatever, I'm not allowed to speak unless Her Holiness there permits me....Fires of Abaddon! Baby, baby, baby!" Jim's eyes almost bugged out of its furry black head as Cecile waddled into the room. Jim did an odd little shimmy toward the surprised looking Corgi. "Are you one hot looking mama, or what? Hey, baby, who's your daddy?"

Saturday, April 07, 2007

The Literary Forum

I hope we see some readers using the literary forums soon I would love to even see just some offers to read a book to review in the general section. Authors you too if you like my review work I will even make that a section. If you want me to review a book for you request it in the review section of the Literary forums. I will get add it to my list Authors also make sure to send me an e-mail for quote requests as well.

Zollyanna

Reading and Reviews

I have been a bit behind in my writing but not in my reading but in a way they go hand in hand. You will see I do have a review up. Three more scheduled to be put up and,another I am currently reading to review after those . Hold your breath here, then still four more to review after that one. No, make that 6 I have one that is in electronic format and another that is sitting in a bag that my sweet husband bought me. Plus 2 that are on my to be bought list when they come out this year that go with a collection I already have. So if you like to read keep watching that sight I have a ton of reviews coming at you you may be wanting to pick them up at your local bookstore or online with the one in electronic format.

Aluve' my friends

~Zollyanna