Kiss the Dead by Laurell K Hamilton

When a fifteen-year-old girl is abducted by vampires, it’s up to U.S. Marshal Anita Blake to find her. And when she does, she’s faced with something she’s never seen before: a terrifyingly ordinary group of people—kids, grandparents, soccer moms—all recently turned and willing to die to avoid serving a master. And where there’s one martyr, there will be more…


But even vampires have monsters that they’re afraid of. And Anita is one of them…(courtesy of Amazon)



I'm a big fan of the Anita Blake series, after all, having Amy hand me this series 3 years ago is what got me back into reading!  The dynamic in the series of a strong kick ass female that is set in her ways and yet, still manages to come this far and open up is great.  I have a few favorite characters and Hamilton keeps the story going whether it's a crazy vampire or an insane lover, there's always action and hot sex!  If you read Hamilton, you better be open minded and ready to be turned on but remember there's action and lots of blood.

This all being said, I read Kiss the Dead in about 5 hours.  I didn't want to put it down.  If Hamilton ended the series right here today with this book, I wouldn't be disappointed.  Don't get me wrong, I don't want her to end the series, I'm just saying that this book would bring comfort to the series ending.  I don't want to give to many spoilers away, but if you think you might be concerned, don't read on, just take my advice and read this one.

Bottom line, this book has me happy for Anita.  This is a change for some of the books, Hamilton usually has us lost in crazy sex scenes, but halfway through the book and not one scene yet.  Hamilton brings up the true Anita here, the US Marshal, the Executioner, as she works with the cops and SWAT team to find what has happened to the girl.  Well done action in only Anita's bad ass way.  Anita is with Zerbrowski (we all loves him) and it's amazing how far he's come to be Anita's partner and respect her.  Finally Anita has a game plan with all her men.  I still love Micah, Nathaniel, and Jean Claude the best for her.  We see some drama with Sin and Nicky will do anything for her, even if it costs him his life.  Anita has come full circle (many argue they don't like it or the amount of sex, well then read something else), coming full circle shows you that Anita has grown, she's comfortable in herself now.  She went from warding off men to opening her heart to quite a few and would do anything to protect them, which she shows again here as 4 end up in a bad situation.  And I'm just going to say --- fricking Asher, REALLY?  This book could be a turning point for the series.

6 slices

Stalking the Others by Jess Haines

Vampires, werewolves, mages - the Others are very real, and wreaking havoc in Shiarra Waynest's life. But now, she's retuming the favour...Once, she was one of the good guys - or as close as a New York P.I. can get. Then Shiarra Waynest was drawn into the world of the Others. Every faction has its own loyalties and agenda. And Shia's recent betrayal by her ex-boyfriend means that she may be on the verge of becoming a rogue werewolf at the next full moon...Of course, with all the threats against her, Shia's not sure she'll live long enough to find out. The enigmatic vampire Royce wants her back in his clutches, as do two powerful werewolf packs, along with the police. Instead of going into hiding, Shia is enlisting the aid of her enchanted hunter's belt and every dirty P.I. trick she knows. If she's going down, she'll take out as many of her enemies as she can - and hope that in the process, she keeps whatever humanity she has left...(courtesy of Amazon)



The H & W Investigations series is one of my favorites because it takes me from a mostly “were” girl to root for for the “vamp”.  I adore Royce.

Haines is a talented writer.  In her past books, she has had me so wrapped emotionally in the book, when our leading lady, Shia, dealt with some crazy ass stuff in the last book, I was right there with her.  In fact, it took me a day to be able to come down from it  I won’t say what, for those of you that have not read the series, but I was dying after I finished.

Haines packs in action and our heroine is not perfect.  She makes mistakes along the way, but she is learning to hold her own in the world of the Others.  This book starts me out still pissed as I rehash our adventures. Haines keeps the action going and steps up Shia’s characters for buttkicking. Shia is a little lost as our book begins, her world is turned upside down in Deceived.  Here she's on a rampage and has to figure out exactly who she can trust.  To me, there is one constant hanging around :) :) :)

Our book ends with a bang.  FINALLY.  I say again how much I love Royce.  Haines had me reminiscing of some of my favorite series as well as freaking out that I have to wait for the next book with the tease she gives in the end.  I can't tell you the end....and I'm itching to find out what happens.  The tease is of the first chapter in the next book!!!!!  One of the best feelings when reading a book is the anticipation of what is coming.  Haines definitely carves up that anticipation.  You like Shia and you can't help (thanks to Haines writing) really feel like you are right there with her in this book. 

For those of you that haven’t read the series, it’s a rocking time.  Shia is a PI that wants nothing to do with Others, she’s been hit a little too close with them before.  But she is tossed in with them as she helps the local vamps.  Over and over again, she’s battling with the Others, or against some, and she’s stuck with them no matter what.  Now…she could become one.  Haines is a talented writer, she brings in humorous banter between her characters that has you feeling as if these are friends hanging out with you.  She keeps action going, along with our steamy chemistry on the romance side.  You won’t be at a loss picking up these books, and let me know when you catch up, so we can hash out these details.  I’m dying to really talk shop on Royce! 

H&W Investigations is HERE with Jess Haines and Stalking the Others

STALKING THE OTHERS BLOG TOUR
Guest Post Stop 6: The H&W Gang Discuss Their Phobias

By Jess Haines


Hello there!  Jess Haines here.  I’m the author of the urban fantasy H&W Investigations series (HUNTED BY THE OTHERS, TAKEN BY THE OTHERS, DECEIVED BY THE OTHERS, and the upcoming STALKING THE OTHERS).

Shiarra has been having a pretty bad time of things lately. She’s here with some of her friends (and otherwise) to tell you about it.  Over to you, Shia!

____________________

Sara: This one is pretty obvious.

Shiarra:  Yeah. Any bite-y, clawed thing of the night.

Chaz:  Oh, come on. You weren’t afraid of me.

Shiarra:  That’s because I didn’t know what you were. Plus, it’s a little hard to be afraid of a guy you’ve seen wandering around your apartment in his Ghost Busters boxer shorts.

Arnold: I prefer Captain Hammer on my boxers.

Royce: I don’t wear boxers.

Everyone Else: …

Shiarra: We don’t want to know what you’re wearing under those business suits.

Sara: …actually…

Arnold:  Hey!

Sara:  Kidding, honey. Kidding.

Royce:  I should hope so.

Arnold: My boxers are the only ones you should be looking at, damn it.

Sara:  Yes! I know. Anyway. On topic.  I’m afraid of spiders, snakes, and the IRS.

Royce:  I’d have to agree about the IRS. Dealing with the corporate taxes and licensing and such when most of your businesses and shell corporations have been around longer than the country’s established government can be a nightmare.

Chaz:  Yeah? Well, I hate fleas.

Shiarra:  Ew.

Chaz:  And ticks.

Shiarra:  Double-ew.

Chaz: Tapeworms, too.

Shiarra:  Enough already!

Chaz:  What? I do.

Royce:  Dogcatchers, too, I would imagine.

Chaz:  Shut up, fangs.

Arnold: I bet we can all guess what the vamp is afraid of. Sunlight, garlic, fangirls…

Shiarra: …body shimmer lotion…

Sara: …teenaged wangst…

Royce:  Yes, yes, we get the point.

Shiarra:  Vampire baseball?

Royce:  What does that even mean?

Shiarra:  Never mind. My comedic brilliance is wasted on you.

Sara:  I got it.  Heh.

Royce:  This is ridiculous.

Arnold: Oh! Oh! I want to share my phobia!

Sara:  Okay, your turn.

Arnold:  I’m afraid of summoned planar beings that haven’t been harnessed into a body and metaphysically cohered to a mage who is trained how to control it.

Chaz: Was that English?

Shiarra: It sounded like words, but nothing came out.

Arnold: Oh, come on. Do I really have to explain that?

Sara:  I think I get what you’re saying. You’re afraid of familiars that have broken away from their masters somehow. Or never had a master. Right?

Arnold:  That’s what I said.

Shiarra:  Next time, use small, normal people words.

Chaz: I don’t get it.

Shiarra:  Big surprise.

Chaz:  No, I mean—I don’t get how they can’t have a master. How do they get here if no one is controlling them?

Arnold:  Believe me, it can happen, and it’s not pretty.

Royce:  Indeed. They are not easy to banish or kill.

Arnold:  How would you know?

Royce:  Have you ever seen a familiar survive beyond the death of its master? I have.

Shiarra:  Yeah, that’s all kinds of creepy right there.

Sara:  It wouldn’t be that bad if he didn’t look so pleased with himself while he said it.

Arnold:  Wow. Great. I’m ready to go. Forever.

Royce:  That’s right. Run away, little mage. When you’ve been around as long as I have, you see and do things far beyond the ken of mortal men.

Arnold: You guys?

Sara:  Let’s get out of here.

Shiarra:  Right now.

____________________


You can learn more about Shiarra and the rest of her friends in HUNTED BY THE OTHERS .   For the next stop on the blog tour, be sure to visit the official STALKING THE OTHERS blog tour calendar!

You can also visit me on the web:

http://www.jesshaines.com/
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/JessHainesAuthor
Twitter: http://twitter.com/#%21/Jess_Haines
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/jesshaines

Thanks again for having me and the gang over, Jennifer!
_____________________________________________________
Always welcome here Jess, especially if you bring Royce :) Check out our review of Stalking as well as Hunted, Taken, and Deceived.  You will not be disappointed in this series, especially not in Stalking, but you have got to get out there and start at the beginning so you can catch up before the release on July 3rd :)

Kensington is hosting a giveaway - they have 15 copies in the pot to giveaway.  The giveaway is open to US/Canada only - enter below for your chance to win one of the books :)


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