Title: Wolf at the Door Author: MaryJanice Davidson Series: Wyndham Werewolves #7 Cover Art: N/A Genre: Paranormal Romance Excerpt: No Source: Publisher Reviewed by: Abigail Paperback: 288 pages Publisher: Berkley Trade; 1 edition (October 4, 2011) ISBN-10: 0425243117 ISBN-13: 978-0425243114 Sexual Content: A few sex scenes Rating: Okay – A few good points, but with significant flaws. Library/swap/borrow if you want.

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*This title will be released on March 1, 2011*

Title: Under Wraps Author: Hannah Jayne Series: The Underworld Detection Agency #1 Cover Art: N/A Genre: Urban Fantasy Excerpt: Yes Source: Author Reviewed by: Abigail Paperback: 352 pages Publisher: Kensington (March 1, 2011) ISBN-10: 0758258925 ISBN-13: 978-0758258922 Sexual Content: Kissing. Lots of sexual innuendo.   My Rating: Good - A fun read with minor flaws. Maybe read an excerpt before buying.

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Description

Sick of wrongful-death lawsuits every time a full moon comes around?
Call the Underworld Detection Agency.

 

As a human immune to magic, Sophie Lawson can help everyone from banshee to zombie transition into normal, everyday San Francisco life. With a handsome werewolf as her UDA boss and a fashionista vampire for a roommate, Sophie knows everything there is to know about the undead, the unseen, and the uncanny. . .

 

Until a rash of gruesome murders has demons and mortals running for cover, and Sophie finds herself playing sidekick to detective Parker Hayes. Dodging raging bloodsuckers, bad-tempered fairies, and love-struck trolls is one thing. But when Sophie discovers Parker isn't what he seems, she's got only one chance to figure out whom to trust. Because an evil hiding in plain sight is closing in. . .and about to make one wisecracking human its means to ultimate power. . .

 

"Hannah Jayne has created an imaginative world that I look forward to visiting again and again!" --Alexandra Ivy, New York Times bestselling author

Review

The cover art for UNDER WRAPS is completely gorgeous.  It’s also completely wrong for this story.  Just by looking at it, you would expect a dark, gritty urban fantasy featuring a tough and sexy protagonist, right?  Wrong.  UNDER WRAPS has a decidedly more playful, chick lit tone with a hapless heroine who is almost the polar opposite of the fierce looking model on the cover.  That’s not necessarily a bad thing, but it does give the wrong impression.

 

Now that we’ve set the record straight, UNDER WRAPS is a fun book.  There’s a wide and wacky cast of creatures in this story ranging from a two foot tall troll who reminded me of Joe Jr. in While You Where Sleeping, a 100+ year old vampire who is stuck with the maturity—and body—of a sixteen year old boy: surly and hormonal forever, and an assortment of centaurs, zombies, pixies, werewolves, and just about every supernatural creature you can imagine. 

 

Sophie is a likeable lead as well.  She’s working a desk job at the Underworld Detection Agency (which is a lot like the DMV) when she gets paired up with a dreamy detective to solve a supernatural crime in the unsuspecting ‘normal’ world.  She ends up battling her hormones as much as any actual foes, and while she gets a kick out of ‘playing CSI,’ she’s in way over her head most of the time and squeaks by on dumb luck more often than not.  Still, she’s an endearing, if overly guy crazy character who injected every scene with levity and kept the plot from ever dragging.

 

Overall, UNDER WRAPS reminded me of a supernatural Janet Evanovich novel: a light and funny mystery with zany characters, a couple of gorgeous guys, and a heroine with heart but severely lacking in the skills department.  If you always wondered what a Stephanie Plum novel would be like if Ranger was a werewolf and the population was largely paranormal, you’ll probably love this book.  Just don’t expect it to be the next Rachel Morgan series. The next installment in the Underworld Detection Agency will be published on November 1st 2011 by Kensington

Previous Books in Series	Also Reviewed By:
N/A	Nocturne Romance Reads Alternative Worlds » Under Wraps-Hannah Jayne

 

Book Description

Despite her Fancy University (F.U.) degree, Milagro de los Santos isn't having much success at life.  She can barely pay the rent and all of her boyfriends are as frivolous as beach reads.  Then, at a party in honor of her successful ex-boyfriend, she meets the unusually attractive, quirky Oswald Grant.

Who knew that her passionate kiss with Oswald would result in serious illness, a craving for raw meat, and an aversion to sunlight?  Well, her ambitious ex knew, and after he attempts to kidnap Milagro, she must hide out with Oswald's snobby family at their country estate to recover and learn the truth about their mysterious "genetic condition."

When Oswald and his family are threatened, Milagro uses her wits, her wiles, and a whacky scheme to bring down the power-hungry creeps who refuse to let the undead live in peace.

 Review

Book 1 in The Casa Dracula Series

Funny and urban fantasy are not words that often go together, at least not intentionally, but HAPPY HOUR AT CASA DRACULA is the rare exception combining cool characters, witty dialogue, and laugh out loud moments in this Jane Austen channeled vampire romp.

Milangro had a strong voice and her outlook on life was hilarious in a Bridget Jones meets Charo kind of way, and there were several bitable vampires who pursued her, but it was the vampire matriarch, Edna who stole this book for me.  She was prickly, condescending, and subtly insulting every time she spoke. I loved her.

And did I mention funny?  I laughed so hard while reading HAPPY HOUR AT CASA DRACULA that I actually had to put the book down at one point because I was crying too hard to see the pages (it was the scene where Edna takes Milangro shopping for the second time).

Was it predictable? Yes.  Was it groundbreaking in terms of world building? No.  But it was smart, and clever, and great fun from beginning to end.  If you’re feeling a little depressed by all the somber plotlines in most urban fantasy books, HAPPY HOUR AT CASA DRACULA is like a shot of margarita flavored sunshine in you tukis. I’m already planning my next visit to Casa Dracula.

Sexual Content: References to sex.  A few mild sex scenes.  A few mild scenes of sensuality.

My Rating (out of 5):
Excellent - Loved it! Buy it now & pre-order the sequel.

Click HERE to read an excerpt of HAPPY HOUR AT CASA DRACULA

Product Details

• Paperback: 320 pages
• Publisher: Pocket; Original edition (July 4, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1416520384
• ISBN-13: 978-1416520382
• Cover Art: Michael Storrings

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Book Description

Get an east Texas girl good and mad, and there’s going to be hell to pay!

Rachel Farnsworth doesn’t believe in the paranormal—she can find plenty of evil forces right in Dogwood County, like the Mega-Mart that’s driving her family’s hardware store into the ground. Then there’s her own little hell-raiser—a rowdy toddler who can turn his birthday candles into a blazing inferno with just one breath. But when her marriage goes up in smoke, Rachel discovers her husband, Kevin, isn’t just a deadbeat, he’s also a demon (a sloth demon, no less, which explains why he never helped around the house) with a renegade bounty hunter—a fallen angel named Sam—chasing down a powerful secret Kevin has kept for a millennium or two. Sam’s downfall was a beautiful mortal woman . . . and now, the heavenly attraction zinging between them has down-to-earth Rachel believing in celestial magic. But will it be enough to save her and her son from the dark forces Kevin has unwittingly unleashed on Dogwood County?

Review

Book 2 in The Dogwood County Series

CAN’T TEACH AN OLD DEMON NEW TRICKS is the sequel to Every Demon Has His Day that introduced us to Dogwood County, the secret battleground between Angles and Demons for millennia.  A number of characters crossover from the first book, but CAN’T TEACH AN OLD DEMON NEW TRICKS focuses on a new relationship and can be read as a stand alone novel.

If the cover didn’t tip you off, this is a light hearted paranormal chick-lit story full of wacky characters and zany slapstick.  Like the previous book, Rachel’s husband is a lazy good for nothing bum who turns out to be demon.  All sorts of supernatural nasties are after him because he knows the location of the tomb of imprisoned Azarel, a fallen angel who once tried to overthrow both Heaven and Hell and is eager for a second attempt.  Enter Sam, another fallen angel who doesn’t pick sides.  He has to team up with Rachel to catch her husband for the demonic bounty, and Azarel’s bounty would be even better.

For the most part, CAN’T TEACH AN OLD DEMON NEW TRICKS is a little too cutesy for my taste, especially the handful of chapters written from the perspectives of the two Watcher angels Gabriel Too & Frank The New. And there is more actual theology than I was expecting which might offend certain readers. But if you like your paranormal with a healthy dose of cozy, the Dogwood Demon series is probably just what you’ve been looking for.  You can expect a third book in this series in the near future.

Sexual Content: References to sex. A brief non-graphic sex scene.

My Rating (out of 5):
Good - A fun read with minor flaws. Maybe read an excerpt before buying.

Click HERE to Browse Inside of CAN’T TEACH AN OLD DEMON NEW TRICKS

Product Details

• Publisher: Simon & Schuster
• Published: 01 June 2010
• Format: Paperback 384 pages
• See: Full bibliographic data
• Categories: Contemporary Fiction | Horror | Fantasy | Romance
• ISBN 13: 9781416550976 ISBN 10: 1416550976 

*Disclosure: I received this book courtesy of BBPOC

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Disagree with my review?  Contact me your review for this or any other book I’ve reviewed and I might use it for 2nd Opinion Review

When I heard the title of Vicki Lewis Thompson’s new series, Babes on Brooms, and then the the first two books in the series, Blond with a Wand & Chick with a Charm, I was sold.  I immediately invited Vicki for a visit, and not only did agree…she brought prizes! Check the end of this post for the giveaway details.

New York Times bestseller Vicki Lewis Thompson believes love makes the world go around and laughter makes the trip worth taking. An eight-time RITA nominee, the 2008 recipient of RWA’s Nora Roberts Lifetime Achievement Award , and author of more than ninety books, Vicki pioneered a new kind of romance hero with Nerd in Shining Armor, Kelly Ripa’s book club pick in 2003. Following the success of her nerd stories, Vicki launched a boisterous paranormal series in 2007. Over Hexed appeared in October, 2007, Wild & Hexy in June of 2008, and Casual Hex in March, 2009.

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I MIGHT BE A WITCH
by
Vicki Lewis Thompson

Many thanks to Abigail for inviting me to blog today!  To show my appreciation for being here, I’m giving away both Babes on Brooms novels, autographed, of course!.  One commenter will get BLONDE WITH A WAND and another will get CHICK WITH A CHARM.  Good luck on this almost-St. Paddy’s Day!

As I thought about a blog topic, I decided this would be the perfect place to talk about my ancestors.  You see, one of them was hanged as a witch.  In fact, my middle name of Lewis (which is a middle name, not a maiden name) is a surname from the branch of the family that, when traced back to my New England roots, leads to this very woman.

I discovered this info in the eighties from an aunt who studied the family tree.  At the time I wrote mostly for Harlequin Temptation and didn’t even consider writing paranormal.  Sure, I thought tarot was cool, and I was constantly buying astrology books, but writing paranormal romance didn’t cross my mind.  Then in 2004, a writer named Terey daly Ramin asked me to write a chapter in Bewitched, Bothered & BeVampyred, a project where all the proceeds would go to the International Red Cross for their disaster relief fund.

I wanted to contribute, but I didn’t write paranormal.  She told me not to worry about one measly little chapter.  She assigned to one called “A Spell of C.R.A.F.T” (an acronym for Can’t Remember A F**king Thing).  So I wrote the chapter, and LOVED DOING IT.  I was in some good company in that book – PC Cast, Gena Showalter, Mary Janice Davidson, and Mary Jo Putney, to name a few – and I didn’t have sense enough to know it because I just wasn’t into paranormal.

But the seed had been planted.  Incidentally, you can’t get the book new anymore.  The publisher went out of business and used copies are selling anywhere from $33 to $200.  I have one copy, and I’m guarding it.

Fast forward to the present day, and I now have five paranormals out there and two more on the way in 2011!  I love writing them.  With straight contemporary romance you have to stick to what’s real, but in paranormal romance you can make up anything, as long as you’re consistent in the world you create.  I adore that.  I also adore researching magic and Wicca, and crystals – basically anything related to witchcraft.  I’m thinking maybe it’s in my blood.

So, anyone out there own a tarot deck?  Crystals?  Books on astrology?  I’d love to have you tell me what fascinates you about the paranormal world!

Visit Vicki on her website HERE

Thanks Vicki!  Come back anytime.

Giveaway

(1) one winner will receive a signed copy of Blond with a Wand by Vicki Lewis Thompson
&
(1) one winner will receive a signed copy of Chick with a Charm by Vicki Lewis Thompson

BLONDE WITH A WAND February 2010 Check out Chapter 1 Sexy witch Anica Revere has one absolutely unwavering rule: never, under any circumstances, get involved with a man before telling him she’s a witch. Still, what’s one silly rule? Especially when the guy in question is as cute as Jasper Danes. But when Anica and Jasper have a spat, she breaks an even bigger rule of witchcraft and turns him into a cat. Bad news for him. Worse for her. With Anica stripped of her powers for the witchy infraction, it’s up to Jasper to undo the hex—but he never expected the hardest part of the bargain would be resisting Anica. The stakes are high, and the chemistry is off the charts. But what’ll happen if Anica and Jasper both fall under the strongest spell of all—love?

CHICK WITH A CHARM March 2010 Check out Chapter 1 Lily Revere is free-spirited and fun loving—two dangerous qualities in a witch. Especially while planning her sister Anica’s engagement party, and she needs a date! She’s determined to bring hot Griffin Taylor, but he’s a divorce lawyer who claims his job has warned him off romance. He may pretend he's just not into her, but she knows better—he only needs a nudge in the right direction. Slipping a love elixir into Griffin’s drink may not be the noble thing to do—but it sure works! Lily’s dreamboat drops all defenses and the two discover they’re perfectly matched—in every way. There’s just one problem: Are Griffin’s feelings the result of some truly good witchcraft—or is he really in love?

GIVEAWAY GUIDLINES

1. Open U.S. residents only

2. Must be a follower with Google Friend Connect (right sidebar) or Subscribe via Email

3. *Include your email only if it is not listed in your profile

4. Leave a comment answering one of Vicki’s questions from her post.

5. Tweet, Facebook, Blog post, Sidebar etc. for extra entries (leave links)

6. Entries must be received by Midnight MST on March 27th