Blood Hunt

Here's the official summary:

They are the Sentinels. Three races, ancient guardians of mankind, each possessing unique abilities to protect humanity against their eternal foes: the Synestryn. Now, for one Sentinel, the only way to reclaim her forgotten past is to follow the blood.

Hope appeared out of nowhere, naked and alone, a woman without past. The only thing she knows is that she is imbued with a strange power. It's in her blood. And two men want to possess it.

One is Logan, a Sanguinar demon-fighter who needs Hope's essence to survive. As a vampire he's well-equipped to find her a like-blooded mate whose progeny could sustain his race for generations. The other is Krag, a Synestryn lord whose desire is to enslave Hope, and drain her of the lifeforce. With it he could control humanity forever.

When Hope and Logan both fall prey to Krag, a powerful desire grows between them. But is it enough to thwart their captor's diabolical plan and his demon warriors, and survive a vampire's destiny written in blood?

Review

The Sentinel Wars is by far one of my favorite series. Butcher has built an amazing and complex world where aliens have left behind three races whose sole purpose is to protect human kind from soulless demons known as Synestryns.  The story line is completely original, intense and dark. Every book in this series gripped me from the first page and I couldn’t stop reading until the last.

The first four books of this series focused on the Theroni, a group of male warriors that work in tandem with female magic users.  In Blood Hunt the focus switches to the Sanguiner, a vampiric race of healers, that are presented up to now as cold, untrustworthy and always with their own agenda. I liked the change in prospective and enjoyed learning more about the Sanguiner.

Blood Hunt focuses on the Sanguinar blood hunter Logan and the mysterious Hope. Hope has no memory of who she is, but she does know that she has power in her blood. Because of her blood Logan wants her to help his starving race and a Synestryn lord want her life force to obtain her power. I was so happy that Logan got his own book. He has been an important secondary character throughout the series, but we never know much about him. I loved the Logan’s inner conflict between his love for Hope and duty to his race.

I can’t wait for the next book to come out!

I gave this book 5 out of 5

Title: Blood Hunt

Author: Shannon K. Butcher
Publisher: Publisher: Penguin Group (USA)
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Release Date: August 2011
Series: Sentinel Wars Series #5

For more information visit Shannon K. Butcher’s website, http://www.shannonkbutcher.com/index.php?id=68

Spotlight Author for August *Shannon K. Butcher*

Biography (From her web-site)

A lot of authors knew they wanted to write books from the time they were little. Their heads were full of fanciful stories that they yearned to commit to paper with a passion that only grew as they did. They spent hours reading fiction, voraciously absorbing every kind of story they could get their hands on.

I’m not one of them.

When I was little, I wanted to be a daddy. When I learned the anatomical improbability of that happening, I decided instead to become what my dad was: an Industrial Engineer. So that’s what I did. I never once changed majors or veered from my path. After I graduated, I went to work for a big telecom company earning a steady paycheck while my husband pursued his dream to become a published author.

For those of you who might not know, my husband is Jim Butcher, fantasy and sci-fi author extraordinaire. I learned to write in an effort to help him improve his own work and as soon as I discovered that writing was more a learned skill than a natural talent I knew I had to give it a try. I couldn’t resist the challenge of taking the pieces of a story apart and putting them back together again. It’s the kind of puzzle that made me want to be an engineer to begin with – to learn how things work and why. I thought I’d write the same kind of thing Jim did, but then I picked up my first romance in 1998 and was hooked. Somehow, stories about how two people come to love each other made everything else seem shallow in comparison. Maybe it was just my hormones talking, but whatever it was, it was loud, so I listened and I started writing romances. I wrote great heaping piles of suckfulness – like most new writers – but eventually my work sucked less and hopefully that trend will continue as I learn more. Heaven knows I have a great teacher. Thanks, Jim.

A family of geeks to the core, we live in Independence, Missouri with our teenage son and a dog who is only one four-foot stick away from being a dust mop.

Series

Paranormal Romance

Sentinel Wars

1. Burning Alive

2. Finding the Lost
3. Running Scared
4. Living Nightmare
5. Blood Hunt

Edge

1. Living on the Edge

Romantic Suspense

Delta Force
1. No Regrets
2. No Control
3. No Escape 

Novels

Love You to Death
Dark and Stormy Knights
On the Hunt (with Jessica Andersen, Deidre Knight and Gena Showalter)

For more information on Shannon K. Butcher, go to

http://www.shannonkbutcher.com/

Books Coming Out In August...

Here is a list of books coming out in August.

Please add your favorite books and authors to the list.

(Aug 2, 2011) Blood Cursed by Erica Hayes (Book 4 in the Shadowfae series)

(Aug 2, 2011) Master of Shadows by Angela Knight (Book 8 in the Mageverse series)
(Aug 2, 2011) Bloodhunt by Shannon K. Butcher (Book 5 in the Sentinel Wars series)
(Aug 2, 2011) Downpour by Kat Richardson (Book 5 in the Greywalker series)
(Aug 2, 2011) Retribution by Sherrilyn Kenyon (Book 28 in the Dark-Hunter series)
(Aug 2, 2011) Storm's Heart by Thea Harrison (Book 2 in the Elder Races series)
(Aug 2, 2011) The Watchtower by Lee Carroll (book 2 after Black Swan Rising)

(Aug 2, 2011) Working Stiff by Rachel Caine (Book 1 in the Revivalist series)

(Aug 3, 2011) The Last Oracle by Patricia Simpson (Book 3 in the Forbidden Tarot series)
(Aug 8, 2011) Shadow Bound by Erin Kellison (Book 1 in the Shadow series)
(Aug 9, 2011) Thirst No. 4 (omnibus) by Christopher Pike (Book 4 in the Last Vampire series)
(Aug 9, 2011) The Lantern by Deborah Lawrenson
(Aug 16, 2011) Second Grave on the Left by Darynda Jones (Book 2 in the Charley Davidson series)
(Aug 16, 2011) The Tempering of Men by Elizabeth Bear and Sarah Monette (Book 2 in the Iskryne World series
(Aug 16, 2011) Kitty's Greatest Hits by Carrie Vaughn – story collection featuring Kitty Norville
(Aug 23, 2011) Bloodlines by Richelle Mead (Book 1 in the Bloodlines series)
(Aug 23, 2011) The Power of Six by Pittacus Lore (Book 2 in the Lorien Legacies series)
(Aug 23, 2011) Body of Sin by Eve Silver (Book 4 the Otherkin series)
(Aug 23, 2011) Lord of the Vampires (Nocturne) by Gena Showalter (Book 1 in the Royal House of Shadows series)
(Aug 23, 2011) Dark Taste of Rapture by Gena Showalter (Book 9 in the Alien Huntress series)
(Aug 23, 2011) Blood Bound by Rachel Vincent (Book 1 in the Unbound series)
(Aug 23, 2011) Knight's Curse by Karen Duvall
(Aug 23, 2011) Where Demons Fear to Tread by Stephanie Chong
(Aug 30, 2011) Wings of Fire by Caris Roane (Book 3 in the World of Ascension series)
(Aug 30, 2011) One Grave at a Time by Jeaniene Frost (Book 6 in the Night Huntress series)
(Aug 30, 2011) Crossroads by Jeanne C. Stein (Book 7 in the Anna Strong Chronicles)
(Aug 30, 2011) Night Falls on the Wicked by Sharie Kohler (Book 5 in the Moon Chasers series)
(Aug. 30 2011) Enemy Mine by Karin Harlow (Book 2 in the L.O.S.T series)
(Aug. 30 2011) Aftermath by Ann Aguirre (Book 5 in the Sirantha Jax series)

THE SOOKIE STACKHOUSE aka SOUTHERN VAMPIRE SERIES

Here's the official summary:

Harris created The Sookie Stackhouse urban fantasy series about a telepathic waitress named Sookie Stackhouse who works in a bar in the fictional Northern Louisiana town of Bon Temps. Each book follows Sookie through her adventures involving vampires, werewolves, and other supernatural creatures. As of now there are elven books in this series: Dead Until Dark, Living Dead in Dallas, Club Dead, Dead to the World, Dead as a Doornail, Definitely Dead, All Together Dead, From Dead to Worse, Dead and Gone, Dead in the Family, Dead Reckoning.

Review

Normally I would write a review for each book, however since I read all the books in this series at once, I decided to write a series review. I’m a huge fan of the TV series True Blood.  I was hesitant to read the books because usually I end up liking the books more than the show or movie and I didn’t want to end up not liking True Blood. The exception would be the Vampire Dairies. I love the show and the books were one of the worse books series I’ve ever tried to read. However, Charlaine Harris just came to my home town for a book signing and after meeting her I decided I had to read her books. She was so much fun and had a great sense of humor, which is something I love in an author.

This is what I thought of the series as a whole. I loved the world building, the characters were fantastic, I enjoyed watching Sookie grow as a person and of course I loved all the sexing men in her life. However, I found some of the books to be slow and anti-climactic. The books that really stood out to me were Dead to the World, Definitely Dead, Dead and Gone and Dead Reckoning. Those books made it were worth reading the whole series.  My least favorite books of the series were All Together Dead and Dead in the Family.

As a whole I enjoyed reading about the adventures of Sookie and I will continue to read this series. The book series didn’t stop me from loving True Blood!

I gave this series 3.5 out of 5

Title: The Sookie Stackhouse Series
Author: Charlaine Harris
Publisher: Penguin Group (USA) Incorporated
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Release Date: May 2001 to May 2011
Series: Series: The Sookie Stackhouse Series, 1 through 11

For more information visit Charlaine Harris’s website, http://www.charlaineharris.com/

Heart of the Highland Wolf

Here's the official summary:

Ian McNeill, laird of Argent Castle finds his capital squandered through unwise investments and the wolf clan's home that has been theirs for centuries is in danger of being forfeit for nonpayment of taxes. When a movie producer contacts him with the notion of using his castle to produce a movie, Ian abhores the idea, but it's his only salvation. Even worse, his people become extras in this epic Highland movie. But when one American werewolf romance author, Julia Wildthorn, slips into the castle under the guise of being with the movie company, except she is trying to jumpstart her muse with writing a book set in old-world Scotland--specifically about his castle and his people as the characters in her newest book venture--she and Ian tangle.

Review

This is the seventh book in Spear’s Werewolf series, though she does write each book so it can be read as a standalone. However I have enjoyed reading them as a series and there are some characters that show up in more than one book. I have loved this series as a whole. She does a good job tying in true wolf behavior with her version of the Weres. Combine that with action, intrigue, compelling characters, and magic you have an all-around good read.

This was my least favorite book of the series. Her other books had well developed characters and a lot of mystery with a romantic background. Heart of the Highland Wolf seemed to be a light humorous romance. It just didn’t have the edgy quality the other books had. That being said, it was still a fun read and I’m looking forward to Dreaming of the Wolf due out in December 2011.

I gave this book 3 out of 5

Title: Heart of the Highland Wolf

Author: Terry Spear
Publisher: Sourcebooks, Incorporated
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Release Date: June 2011
Series: Series: Werewolf Series, #7

For more information visit Terry Spear’s website, http://www.terryspear.com/id51.html

Spotlight Author for July * Lori Handeland *

Biography (From her web-site)

Lori Handeland is a New York Times, USA Today, Waldenbooks and Bookscan Bestselling Author and the recipient of many industry awards, including two RITA Awards from Romance Writers of America for Best Paranormal (BLUE MOON) and Best Long Contemporary Romance (THE MOMMY QUEST), a Romantic Times Award for Best Harlequin Superromance (A SOLDIER'S QUEST), the Colorado Romance Writers Award of Excellence, the Write Touch Readers Award, the National Readers Choice Award and the Prism Award.Â

Lori is published world wide in several genres--historical, contemporary, series and paranormal romance, as well as urban fantasy and historical fantasy--by such publishers as: Dorchester, Kensington, Harlequin, St. Martin's Press, Harper-Collins, Simon and Schuster and Penguin/Putnam.

Series

Urban Fantasy

Phoenix Chronicles

1. Any Given Doomsday
2. Doomsday Can Wait
3. Apocalypse Happens
4. Chaos Bites

Paranormal Romance

Night Creature

1. Blue Moon

2. Hunter's Moon
3. Dark Moon
4. Crescent Moon
5. Midnight Moon
6. Rising Moon
7. Hidden Moon
8. Thunder Moon
9. Marked By The Moon
10. Moon Cursed
11. Crave The Moon

For more information on Lori Handeland, go to

http://www.lorihandeland.com/index.php

Books Coming Out In July...

Here is a list of books coming out in July.

Please add your favorite books and authors to the list.

            

(July 1) DARK AWAKENING by Kendra Leigh Castle – Book 1 in the Dark Dynasties series
(July 1) In the Heat of the Bite by Lydia Dare – Book 2 in the Gentleman Vampires series
(July 1) Never Cry Wolf by Cynthia Eden – Book 4 in the Night Watch series
(July 1) Touch If You Dare by Stephanie Rowe – Book 2 in the Soulfire series
(July 5) Sirensong by Jenna Black – Book 3 in the Faeriewalker series
(July 5) Bloodlust by Michelle Rowen – Book 2 in the Nightshade series
(July 5) Revelation by Lauren Dane – Book 2 the De La Vega Cats series
(July 5) Grave Dance by Kalayna Price - Book 2 in the Grave Witch Series
(July 19) Code of the Wolf by Susan Krinard - Book 8 in the 19th Century Werewolf series
(July 26) Rush of Pleasure by Rhyannon Byrd – Book 8 in the Primal Instinct series
(July 26) Seduce Me in Flames by Jacquelyn Frank – Book 2 in the Three Worlds series
(July 26) Bound By Moonlight by Nancy Gideon – Book 4 in the Moonlight series
(July 26) Another Kind of Dead by Kelly Meding – Book 3 in the Dreg City series
(July 26) Spell Bound by Kelley Armstrong – Book 12 in the Women of the Otherworld series
(July 26) Kill the Dead by Richard Kadrey - Book 2 in the Sandman Slim series
(July 27) Touch of Frost by Jennifer Estep – Book 1 in the Mythos Academy series

Chosen By Blood

Here's the official summary:

United by fate. Bound by desire.

Five years after the Second Civil War ends, humans and otherborn— humanlike creatures with superhuman DNA—still struggle for peace. To ensure the continued rights of both, the FBI forms a Para-Ops team with a unique set of skills.

CHOSEN BY BLOOD

Leader of an Otherborn clan, half-breed vampire Knox Devereaux would do anything to find a cure for the anti-vamp vaccine slowly starving his people into extinction. When the FBI contacts him about leading a team of hand-selected Others on a mission to reclaim the stolen antidote, Knox accepts. His new assignment places him in direct contact with Special Agent Felicia Locke, the beautiful human he’s craved since their very first meeting.

Review:

What a great start to a new series. The story was richly detailed and exceptionally written. I love worlds where human and paranormal beings live knowingly among each other. I liked the concept of the FBI Para-Ops team consisting of various Otherborn and humans for the good of the world. The combination of all of these elements allows for action, fighting, conspiracy, and turmoil. The Para-Op team kept me extremely entertained. The author put together a great cast of characters. I loved that each team member was so different and that they didn’t easily get along together.

Felicia and Knox were great core characters. They were both leaders, stubborn, and their chemistry was smoking hot. After reading the prologue I know this would not be a typical romance and I was right. Although I was not comfortable with the friend and wife being a stepping stone to their happiness, I enjoyed the struggle between the characters. They have a very complicated history. Vampires and humans have very different beliefs and live very different lives, this just adds to the tension and conflict between these two characters.

I enjoyed how fresh and different this story was. I loved all the Para-Op team characters and can’t wait to learn more about them.

I gave this book 4 out of 5

Title: Chosen by Blood

Author: Virna DePaul
Publisher: Penguin Group (USA)
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Release Date: May 2011
Series: Series: A Para-Ops Novel Series, #1

For more information visit Vina DePaul’s website, http://www.virnadepaul.com/books_paranormal.shtml

Magic Bleeds

Here's the official summary:

Kate Daniels works for the Order of the Knights of Merciful Aid, officially as a liaison with the mercenary guild. Unofficially, she cleans up the paranormal problems no one else wants to handle—especially if they involve Atlanta’s shapeshifting community.

When she’s called in to investigate a fight at the Steel Horse, a bar midway between the territories of the shapeshifters and the necromancers, Kate quickly discovers there’s a new player in town. One who’s been around for thousands of years—and rode to war at the side of Kate’s father.

This foe may be too much even for Kate and Curran, the Lord of the Beasts, to handle. Because this time, Kate will be taking on family…

Review

This is my favorite book in the series to date. I think that Ilona and her husband Gordon really hit their stride in this book and have something special to offer readers. The worldbuilding and character development is so imaginative and descriptive, it’s just outstanding. The secondary characters are just as awesome as the primary. With each book you can’t help but to become more emotionally invested in in the story and the characters.

Magic Bleeds reveals many details including more about Kate’s past and her destiny. It raises the stakes, putting us that much closer to the confrontation with her family. We are also treated to some awesome fight scenes and great emotional development between Curran and Kate. It is one big rollercoaster ride of excitement, magic and romance.

Speaking of romance, the relationship between Curran and Kate has never been so intense and full of passion. Whether they are in a battle of wills, kick each other’s asses or making out. I really enjoyed see Kate in a much more emotional setting.  

I gave this book 5 out of 5

Title: Magic Bleeds

Author: Ilona Andrews
Publisher: Penguin Group (USA)
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Release Date: May 2010
Series: Series: Kate Daniels Series #4

For more information visit Ilona Andrews website, http://www.ilona-andrews.com/kate-daniels/

The Darkness Beyond

Here's the official summary:

An online game of cat and mouse leads a Paladin warrior on a deadly rescue mission to claim the irresistible lover who should be his greatest enemy.

D. J. Clayborne has finally met his match. After weeks of playing cyber tag, a mysterious hacker bests D.J. at his own game. His nemesis downloads a top-secret history of the Paladins, forcing him to go on the hunt. The trail leads D.J. straight to Regina Morrison, a woman who is as sexy as she is talented in the cyber world.

Reggie has been working around the clock to stop a legendary computer hacker from accessing her clients' files. She just hasn't told her boss she found the intriguing culprit weeks ago. The last thing she expects to have D.J. show up on her doorstep and that he's even sexier than his evasive avatar. Now they're flirting with a dangerous line between duty and desire.

Reggie's deep investigation gets her kidnapped by the Others and forced across the hostile energy barrier into an alien world. Now it's up to D.J. to track down the captivating woman whose ability to break through his firewalls is also breaking through to his warrior's heart.

Review:

I have to say that this was one of my favorite books of the series. I've been waiting forever for D.J. to get his own story, and I was delighted to see him get paired with a woman who can hold her own, especially on his own turf, cyber space. You got to love a cyberqueen that can out hack the legendary computer hacker, Knightwalker.

I could not get enough of D.J.’s character. His humor is contagious and he has a geeky charm to him, despite being over 6 feet tall and built like a warrior. Not to mention he would go to any lengths to save Reggie when she gets herself mixed up his dangerous world.

The idea of the Paladins is new and creative, and I found the plot in The Darkness Beyond to be intriguing and exciting. Over the course of this series I have enjoyed learning about alien worlds, corrupt officials and the courageous warriors that fight for humanity.   

I gave this book 5 out of 5

Title: The Darkness Beyond

Author: Alexis Morgan
Publisher: Pocket
Genre: Science Fiction Romance
Release Date: June 2011
Series: Paladins- #8

For more information visit Alexis Morgan’s, http://www.alexismorgan.com/paladins.html