Happy Mother’s Day!  While it’s true that most urban fantasy heroines tend to fly solo, there are a handful that manage to balance supernatural smack downs and motherhood. 

Top 5 Urban Fantasy moms

*This title will be released on April 24, 2012*

Title: Summoning the Night Author:  Jenn Bennett Series: Arcadia Bell #2 Cover Art: Tony Mauro Genre: Urban Fantasy Excerpt: No Source: Author Reviewed by: Abigail Mass Market Paperback: 336 pages Publisher: Pocket Books; Original edition (April 24, 2012) ISBN-10: 1451620535 ISBN-13: 978-1451620535   Sexual Content: One sex scene Rating: Excellent - Loved it! Buy it now & put this author on your watch list.

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Giveaway provided by Pocket Books

3 copies of SUMMONING THE NIGHT by Jenn Bennett

 

Sometimes a cover can survive having one or two elements being “off” without getting a thumbs down, but other times the error is terminal.  Bad Photoshopping, suggestive smoke, floating animal heads… what’s your cover art bridge too far?

Thoroughly Kissed by Kristine Grayson 

(Click to enlarge) Not Yet Available for Pre-Order.

Description: Emma Lost can still remember the day she woke up in the back of a VW van after her famous thousand years' snooze - the one that inspired the Sleeping Beauty myth. Emma knows it's no fairy tale - she's the real Sleeping Beauty, trying to hide her magical powers and swearing off kissing strange men for the rest of her life. Of course, most men follow her around like lovesick puppies...except for Michael Found, her gorgeous boss. The rational, logical Mr. Found doesn't believe her theories about such things as Fates and fairies and magic, and he's determined to expose her as a fraud. But Emma knows for sure the magic truly does exist, and she's going to give Michael a lesson he'll never forget - even if it means breaking her vow of not kissing men. “It’s gorgeous. “ – Kristine Grayson

Series: N/A Artist: N/A Goodreads: Link	Publisher: Sourcebooks Release Date: June 2012 Source: Author’s Blog
Julia’s Thoughts	Abigail’s Thoughts
Nothing like a dude in sweatpants trying to act casual to say “Happily Ever After”.  The colors are over the top cutesy, this cover needs something that is actually cute to pull it off.  He’s hot and hiding his hands… which is worrisome, not cute.	Yep, the colors totally kill this.  Way too bright and childish.

Previous Covers in This Series

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Title: Kindling the Moon Author: Jenn Bennett Series: Arcadia Bell #1 Cover Art: Tony Mauro  Genre: Urban Fantasy Excerpt: Yes Source: Author Reviewed by: Abigail Mass Market Paperback: 384 pages Publisher: Pocket; Original edition (June 28, 2011) ISBN-10: 1451620527 ISBN-13: 978-1451620528 Sexual Content: A scene of sensuality. A semi-graphic sex scene Rating: Excellent - Loved it! Buy it now & put this author on your watch list.

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Description

Meet Arcadia Bell: bartender, renegade magician, fugitive from the law. . . .

Being the spawn of two infamous occultists (and alleged murderers) isn’t easy, but freewheeling magician Arcadia “Cady” Bell knows how to make the best of a crummy situation. After hiding out for seven years, she’s carved an incognito niche for herself slinging drinks at the demon-friendly Tambuku Tiki Lounge.

But she receives an ultimatum when unexpected surveillance footage of her notorious parents surfaces: either prove their innocence or surrender herself. Unfortunately, the only witness to the crimes was an elusive Æthyric demon, and Cady has no idea how to find it. She teams up with Lon Butler, an enigmatic demonologist with a special talent for sexual spells and an arcane library of priceless stolen grimoires. Their research soon escalates into a storm of conflict involving missing police evidence, the decadent Hellfire Club, a ruthless bounty hunter, and a powerful occult society that operates way outside the law. If Cady can’t clear her family name soon, she’ll be forced to sacrifice her own life . . . and no amount of running will save her this time.

Review

Urban fantasy, like any genre, develops it’s own markers, it’s own rules, and it’s own clichés.  In the hands of a good author, fun can still be had.  But when you take a talented author and break free of the usual urban fantasy tropes, the end result is magic, or in this case, the result is KINDLING THE MOON by Jenn Bennett, the first book in the  Arcadia Bell series.

Arcadia Bell is one of those rare breeds of urban fantasy heroines who walks the line between uber-tough-warrior-chick and thoughtful-run-to-live-another-day-chick.  She’s got the magical prowess to cause some serious damage (and she does in KINDLING THE MOON), but she’d prefer to avoid danger if possible and she has no problem relying on others for help (and who wouldn’t when help comes in the form of a Captain Jack Sparrow look-a-like whose beta in the ways you want and Alpha too).  Typically, we get one extreme or the other in this genre and I really appreciated the very realistic balance shown in Arcadia.

And wow was the worldbuilding cool.  Demons, alternate dimensions, and magic users are all subtly different in this series.  The details that are given are just enough to breath life into this world while still leaving enough mystery for future books.  Sort of like mixing the mythologies of Diana Rowland’s Kara Gillian series with Kelly Gay’s Charlie Madigan series, two of my favorites. 

I had only two minor complaints.  I did figure out the ending right away, and I wish the danger had felt real and dire instead of just mildly alarming.  It never got there for me which did cut down on my excitement while reading.  Arcadia is trying to clear the name of her parents before they face murder charges, but since we never really meet them, the sense of urgency never really connected with me.   But those are minor issues in an otherwise excellent book.

Don’t you love it when an urban fantasy author gives you something new? Something that hasn’t already be staked to death in this increasingly flooded genre? Me too, which is why I‘m ready to belly up to the bar for more stories about this magical bartender in KINDLING THE MOON.  The next Arcadia Bell book is called SUMMONING THE NIGHT and will be published in April 2012.

Previous Books in Series	Also Reviewed By:
N/A	Romancing the Darkside – 5/5 Alternative Worlds Wicked Lil Pixie Reviews – 4.5/5

*Cover Art may not be final*

Click author names to visit their webpages & click titles to pre-order from The Book Depository or Goodreads if it isn’t available for pre-order. 

Sirensong by Jenna Black

Series: Faeriewalker #3 Date/Publisher: July 5th 2011 by St. Martin's Griffin Cover Artist: N/A Cover Source: Jenna Black via Twitter Author Comments: Since I see it's up on Amazon & therefore it's OK for me to go public, here's the cover for SIRENSONG.http://yfrog.com/h8cb5cj My Thoughts: My least favorite of the three.  The full face is a little too stereotypically YA and the colors are to vibrant. SHADOWSPELL was so killer but I don’t love this follow-up.  Still totally want to read it though.

Description:

Previous Book in the Series:

Kindling the Moon by Jenn Bennett

Series: Arcadia Bell #1 Date/Publisher: June 28th 2011 by Pocket Cover Artist: Tony Mauro  Cover Source: Book Chick City Author Comments: Ta-da! It’s Arcadia standing in front of her bar, Tambuku Tiki Lounge. Everything is just so damn right about it! Pocket Books: I totally heart you. I also heart Tony Mauro, who is the talented cover artist. I’m in heaven. My Thoughts: Very cool.  Tony Mauro always does great work, but his equal emphasis on both the girl and the setting is just perfect for an UF cover.

Description:

MEET ARCADIA BELL: BARTENDER, RENEGADE
MAGICIAN, FUGITIVE FROM THE LAW. . . .

Being the spawn of two infamous occultists (and alleged murderers) isn’t easy, but freewheeling magician Arcadia “Cady” Bell knows how to make the best of a crummy situation. After hiding out for seven years, she’s carved an incognito niche for herself slinging drinks at the demon-friendly Tambuku Tiki Lounge.

But she receives an ultimatum when unexpected surveillance footage of her notorious parents surfaces: either prove their innocence or surrender herself. Unfortunately, the only witness to the crimes was an elusive Æthyric demon, and Cady has no idea how to find it. She teams up with Lon Butler, an enigmatic demonologist with a special talent for sexual spells and an arcane library of priceless stolen grimoires. Their research soon escalates into a storm of conflict involving missing police evidence, the decadent Hellfire Club, a ruthless bounty hunter, and a powerful occult society that operates way outside the law. If Cady can’t clear her family name soon, she’ll be forced to sacrifice her own life . . . and no amount of running will save her this time.

Previous Book in the Series:

N/A

Darkness Unbound by Keri Arthur

Series: Dark Angel #1 Date/Publisher: October 2011 by Piatkus Books Cover Artist: N/A Cover Source: Keri Arthur Author Comments: Here's the UK cover for Darkness Unbound, the first of the Dark Angels novels. I love it My Thoughts: FYI, this is the UK version not the US version, but it’s showing up everywhere so… Well, her arms are crossed and there is a motorcycle in the background…if only there was some way we could find out if she’s tough or not…Meh, I’m holding out for the US version.

Description:

Risa Jones is as extraordinary as her heritage. Born from a lab-enhanced clone mother and an Aedh father, she can not only talk to the souls of the dying and the dead, but she can see the reapers and walk the gray fields that divide this world from the next.

They are skill she rarely uses, however, preferring to concentrate on the business she shares with her two best friends. But when her mother asks her to help the parents of a little girl locked in a coma, she reluctantly agrees. What she discovers scares the hell out of her. Because the little girl’s soul no longer resides in her body, and it wasn’t death and the reapers that took her.

Someone had ripped her soul from her flesh.

As it turns out, a creature consuming the souls of the innocent–and not so innocent–is the least of her problems.

Because someone wants to rip open the gates that divided hell from earth, and Risa is a key component in their plans.

And the only person standing between her and disaster is a reaper who isn’t exactly on her side.

Previous Book in the Series:

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Awake at Dawn by C.C. Hunter

Series: Shadow Falls #2 Date/Publisher: October 2011 by St. Martin's Griffin Cover Artist: N/A Cover Source: C.C. Hunter Author Comments: I got my first glimpse of Awake At Dawn’s cover.  Amazingly, they depicted the scene where Kylie first saw the falls.  I love it. My Thoughts: Really pretty.  I like how this series is giving such an emphasis on one basic feature, first the tree and now the falls.  A really nice distinctive look for these books.

Description:

N/A

NOT AVAILABLE FOR PREORDER Visit Goodreads page

Previous Book in the Series:

The Power of Six by Pittacus Lore

Series: Lorien Legacies #2 Date/Publisher: August 23rd 2011 by HarperCollins Cover Artist: N/A Cover Source:  Imperial Beach Teen Blog Author Comments: N/A My Thoughts: Yes, technically not paranormal, but alien powers and magic are a lot alike.  As for the cover, the colors are a bit harsh.

Description:

Second edition in the Lorien Legacies, a YA alien series.
“I can feel it in my bones that he is one of us. And I know somehow, that I must find him.”

Previous Book in the Series:

Dark Heart Rising by Lee Monroe

Series: Dark Heart Forever #2 Date/Publisher: June 2nd 2011 by Hodder Children's Books Cover Artist: N/A Cover Source: Love Fantasy Sci-Fi Novels Author Comments: N/A My Thoughts: Wow are these covers gorgeous…the muted colors, the way he’s holding her...  Has anyone read the first book?

Description:

Jane and Luca’s story continues ... but not quite as they had planned. When challenges and threats from the immortal world of Nissilum rip the young lovers apart, Jane is bereft. Without Luca’s dancing green eyes, and gentle smile, Jane feels lost, sad and alone. But then a trip to Paris with her grandmother thrusts her in the path of the amiable Soren - a kindred spirit who may be just the distraction she needs ... Meanwhile in Nissilum, Luca struggles with the loyalties and expectations that come with being a part of the immortal world. A world that is about to be shaken at its very core: rumblings of mounting unrest are spreading, and with rumours of an angel rebellion growing no creature is safe – especially not a mortal girl who has fallen in love with a wolf boy...

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Crave the Moon by Lori Handeland

Series: Nightcreatures #11 Date/Publisher: June 28th 2011 by St. Martin's Paperbacks Cover Artist: N/A Cover Source: Escape Between The Pages Author Comments: N/A My Thoughts: Standard romance guy meets Lolita farmer Barbie.

Description:

Hunger and desire can lead to a dangerous place
THE ENEMY
Gina O’Neill will do anything to hold on to her beloved ranch that has been in her family for generations. Enter Mateo Mecate, an archeologist whose greatest wish is to dig there. Prepared to despise Matt—and to thwart his agenda—Gina cannot deny the shocking desire she feels for him.
THE PASSION
Matt believes that the Nahua Springs Ranch holds an important key to Aztec history—one that will restore his standing in the archeological community. But he never expects to go head-to-head with the maddeningly sensuous owner, Gina. The ranch seems to have cast a spell on them both...
THE WAR
When Gina and Matt delve into the secrets of this ancient place, they awaken something unspeakably evil—a shapeshifter who is centuries old. A werewolf with vengeance on its mind. A sorcerer of incredible power. Can Gina and Matt defeat this enemy—even as their conflicts deepen…and their attraction grows more dangerous?

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And my picks for Best & Worst…

Best Cover	Worst Cover

So any new to you covers? Which are your Best & Worst picks?