The Keepers by Heather Graham

At the core of New Orleans lie the otherworldly vampires and shape-shifters that hide in plain sight among mankind. As one of the Keepers, an elite group possessing superior skill and strength, Fiona MacDonald's duty is to maintain peace in a place where one vampire's bite could ignite war. When Detective Jagger DeFarge, a vampire, is called in at the discovery of a body drained of blood, both the detective and Fiona must join uneasy forces.

Jagger will stop at nothing to find the murderer— including working with the sensual and suspicious Fiona. As more die, it becomes clear that this isn't the work of an ordinary vampire. No one is safe. So when the killer's attention turns to Fiona, will Jagger risk destroying his own species to protect the woman he so passionately desires?
The Keepers: Three extraordinary sisters, balancing the duties of their birthrights and the yearnings of their hearts…(courtesy of Amazon)

There are 3 Books in this Keepers series – This is book 1 (The Keepers), books 2 and 3 will be reviewed shortly (The Wolven and The Shifters), which are not written by Heather Graham, she teamed up with Deborah LeBlanc and Alexandra Sokoloff. 

This view on the supernatural world in New Orleans is extremely enthralling.  These sisters are unique with interesting and valuable abilities – Fiona is our oldest sister and has hardened herself over the last 2 years.  Graham has written Fiona to be strong willed and yet at the same time I felt vulnerable.  She is blinded by who she blames for the death of her parents. 

We are set to find a serial killer that could either be a vampire or ‘something else’, preying on beautiful blondes.  Working with Detective Jagger puts Fiona on high alert to her feelings for him.  Jagger is one hot vampire, set out to bring justice to this killer, even if it’s one of his own. 

Graham definitely knew when to turn up the heat.  She kept the storyline twisting and turning while giving us the steamy element of the forbidden romance.  Fiona has to come to terms with her feeling of placing blame as it blinds her to be open minded and she is still working hard to align herself as a Keeper.  Jagger is working hard to keep her safe, well and maybe that’s not all. 

The twist at the end was definitely not expected.  Well done!

4 Slices

Last Sacrifice by Richelle Mead

Murder. Love. Jealousy. And the ultimate sacrifice. Now, with Rose on trial for her life and Lissa first in line for the Royal Throne, nothing will ever be the same between them. (courtesy of goodreads)

Let me just say that Vampire Academy is my ALL time favorite Young Adult Read (I feel like it shouldn’t even be classified as Young Adult but I realize that is ages 18-25). 

I LOVE this series. 

Last Sacrifice is an intensely emotional and a wild ride mystery read.  Mead has kept her readers involved and on their toes once again.  As this book ends the series, I can only hold my breath waiting for the spin off series due out sometime in middle/late 2011 because her characters have come to hold such a part of my heart from the very first book (titled Vampire Academy).

In this book, our lead bad girl, Rose, has to fight to prove her innocence, find a missing person linked to save Lissa, protect the ones she loves, and determine who is her true love.  That’s a typical day in the life for Rose.  She has definitely grown in this series and I was ready for her to get her final day/reward.  I will hope to get cameo’s from her in the spin off, but Rose has been battling for everything she has since our first book.  Dimtri is tasked to watch over Rose, where will it lead them?  (I’m not giving spoilers, well trying not to) They have no choice but to fight their way.  Lissa has also grown in the series, and is ready to accept her changes.  Accepting them is one thing, but can she expect to win them?  Lissa is determined to help Rose prove her innocence.  All of Rose’s friends are out to finally come to her aide as she has done for them.  Rose, however, always wants to keep them hidden and safe. 

The story was amazing.  The way the plot unfolds and the suspense Mead leaves you in as you read kept me biting my lip.  I could not put the book down.  Mead closed where we were left from Spirit Bound, solved the mystery, left our characters in a good place where we can see a potential but it’s not finite and laid out.  All but 1, and I can only hope I get that story in the spin off.  We meet new characters here and further develop some “passerbys” from the previous books.  The spin off has so many places it can go.

Bottom line Last Sacrifice definitely gets 6 slices!!!  Mead has written this series in such a way that I feel the passion and thrills as if I was there. 

Insight by Jamie Magee

Before that fateful summer night, Willow had balanced the insight of emotion, and the vivid images. That night, the figure in her nightmare marked her wrist with a star, giving her father no choice but to tell Willow a family secret that would abruptly change life, as she knew it, forever. Before Willow had time to absorb the shock of her father's secret, her soul mate that had shared every stunning dream with her, found her, and darkness captured her closest friends. In order to save them, she must weave through broken myths and the undeniable power of the Zodiac. In the end, Willow discovers that at the moment of our birth we are all given a divine gift. (courtesy of Amazon)

Insight brings us an interesting, well thought-out, multi-dimensional world.

Who doesn’t want a world where everything is beautiful and people are happy, well that’s one dimension.  Traveling from one dimension to the next in search of their soul mates, love is found.  The main character – Willow – has been through quite a bit growing up as she has an interesting talent.  She’s got 2 best friends that have come to be like family to her and she suffers from pleasant dreams and nasty nightmares.  Landen is from her dreams and Drake is from her nightmares.  Drawn together as soul mates, she must come to help her kidnapped friends.  There is a lot to this book.  Finding your soulmate can be bittersweet when the rest of your family depends on you to stay away from him. 

Magee has developed Landen to the point that I can see his crystal blue eyes in my head.  Drake comes out me with dark eyes that definitely don’t show his soul.  When Willow makes her choice, will history repeat itself, will the worlds exist as they are now? 

Insight is definitely a thrilling, interesting read.  I found the character development to be well done, the story is rich with information and set up.  Magee gives us Insight, packed with story.  A few times I thought it may have been too much, but Magee brought it back and wrapped it up nicely – looking forward for the next book to see if our characters further develop and if our ending stays where it is.  (crosses fingers).


3 Slices - 

Hop and Follow

We are participating again this week.  Hosted each week - the Friday Follow (Parajunkee) and Blog Hop (Crazy for Books)






This week question from Follow Friday - is

What do you do besides reading / reviewing as a hobby??

Our Answers - Jenn enjoys photography and scrapbooking.  Amy enjoys baking and cooking.  

And from Blog Hop is 

 "What very popular and hyped book in the blogosphere did you NOT enjoy and how did you feel about posting your review?"

If there is a hyped book typically it's one we want to read, but as far as posting a review - we pride ourselves on being upfront and honest, so we would post the review as such.

So head on over to these 2 sites - visit some of our other favorite blogs and follow.  Leave a comment here if you are a new follower and we will follow back. 

Have a great weekend! 

xoxo

-Seduced

Horror & Urban Fantasy Reading Challenge 2011

WE ARE PARTICIPATING in the BOOK CHICK CITY 2011 Reading Challenge.




Go over to BCC and sign up - here are the details

Challenge Details

• Timeline: 01 Jan 2011 - 31 Dec 2011

• Rules: To read TWENTY FOUR (24) horror & urban fantasy novels in 2011 (24 is the minimum but you can read more if you wish!)

• You don't have to select your books ahead of time, you can just add them as you go. Also if you do list them upfront you can change them, nothing is set in stone! The books you choose can crossover into other challenges you have on the go.

• You can join anytime between now and the later part of next year.

• At the beginning of Jan 2011, you will find a link to add your reviews.

• You don't have to have a blog to join in - for those without a blog just FILL IN THIS FORM and I will add you to the list - just join the discussion in the comments section to let us know when you've read a book and what you thought of it! :)

Motor City Witch by Cindy Spencer Pape

She’d left magic behind

Once upon a time, Elise Sutton had been a powerful witch and paranormal enforcer. Once she’d been madly in love with Fae lord Aidan Greene. But when Aidan had considered his duties more important than their relationship, the love affair ended badly. Shortly after, while on the hunt for a rogue demon, Elise was brutalized and almost killed. Months later she gave birth to a beautiful baby girl. To protect her child—and her heart— Elise decided to live a nonmagical life.

Until she meets Aidan again, and he assumes Dina is his daughter. When Dina is kidnapped by a racial purity movement, Elise turns to Aidan for help. The icy facade she has built around herself shatters at Aidan’s touch. Together they have to hunt through the human and faery worlds to find Dina...and to discover whether or not they have any kind of chance at a happily ever after.(back cover comments)

Book 2 in the Urban Arcana series by Cindy Spencer Pape is even hotter than the first.  Pape has managed to create characters that immediately have your heart.  I didn’t need to picture these characters to connect with them.  Their stories had me straight away.  Motor City Witch is even more of a suspenseful thriller.  The rekindled romance is hot and erotic.  I’m impressed and can’t wait for more in this series.  Fae and Wolves being some of my favorites wrapped with witches puts this book high on my list.  Add in the fact that the story and writing is well done and I’m hooked.

Pape doesn’t go overboard on detail – gives you just what you need.  She’s known for her love of the happily ever after and I didn’t feel like she over did it.  We’re left waiting to find out what happens with the mystery that’s spanned over the 2 books so far. 

5 slices 

Motor City Fae by Cindy Spencer Pape

Detroit artist Meagan Kelly has had a strong sixth sense all her life, but that doesn’t mean the gorgeous stranger’s crazy story—that she’s a half-elf, half human heiress—is true. But Meagan can’t deny the evidence of her own eyes—he’s Fae. A tall, blond, handsome, pointy- eared elf—and a man she just can’t get enough of. Ric Thornhill’s assignment just got a lot more complicated. The more time he spends with Meagan, the harder it is to see her as a political tool to prevent an all- out war between humans and Fae. Now Meagan’s in a race to master her newly released powers in time to prevent the conflict, convince a jealous Queen not to strip Ric of his powers, and find out if she can build a life that straddles two worlds.(back cover comments)

This is the first book in the Urban Arcana series and it sucks you in right away.  Pape has written a steamy quick read – as in quick because I could not put it down.  From the moment the book opens, our characters meet – Meagan is an artist with some hidden talents and Ric is ready to show her how to find them.  Little does Ric know that he has been looking for Meagan all along.  I found a little of the story reminiscent of a prior Fae series I have read, so I was even more involved in this one.  This story had it’s own twist and outcome I was quickly longing for.  Erotic and mysterious, this story is a keeper.  Pape did a great job wrapping the titillating sex scenes with an action packed puzzle to solve.  We have the pleasure of previewing the next in this series – Motor City Witch – and I can’t wait to start it.  Expect a review by the end of the week.  

5 slices - when I can't put it down it's a must read for you :)