BLOOD PRICE - Tanya Huff

From the back of the book: Night Stalker....It began with blood and death amid the streets of late-night Toronto. Vicki Nelson, formerly of Toronto's homicide detail, now a private investigator, witnessed the first attack by the force of dark magic that would soon werak its reign of terror on the unsuspecting city. And as death followed unspeakable death, Vicki became more and more deeply enmeshed in an investigation which would see her renewing her stormy relationship with her former police partner, Mike Celucci, even as she teamed up with writer Henry Fitzroy in a desperate attempt to track down the source of the seemingly unstoppable attacks. For Fitzroy, the illegitimate son of Henry VIII, had knowledge of realms beyond the mortal acquired over the centuries during which he'd mastered his own insatiable need---the life-from-death cravings of a vampire.

Henry Fitzroy had long since learned to survive without killing, learned the skills needed to blend in with the human race. But unless he, Vicki, and Mike cold find the key to conquering the magic-raised menace stalking the streets of Toronto, Fitzroy's true identity might soon be exposed and his life might prove forfeit to the uncontrollable fears of humankind. And without Henry Fitzroy, mere mortals like Vicki and Mike would not long survive against the ancient force of chaos that had been loosed on their world.....

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Another of those books that sat in the closet section of Mt Git'r'Read for some time and not sure why it took me so long to exhume it. It was excellent and a fast read.

Vicki Nelson is off of the police force due to health issues, but still can and will investigate where she can. And after seeing the remains of an attack victim, she knows she has to find out who would do this. She finds out it's more a 'what' instead of 'who' and delves into the world of supernatural.

I always like seeing how an author is going to work with the vampire legend. Henry Fitzroy has been around for a long while since he's the illegitimate son of Henry VIII and was turned as a young man. He's seen enough in his unlife and keeps to himself, writing historic romance bodice rippers for a living. The life of a writer lets him sleep all day and write all night.

Then Vicki Nelson and the murders enter his life.

I look forward to finding the rest of this series and anything else Tanya Huffhttp://andpuff.livejournal.com/ writes http://www.fantasticfiction.co.uk/h/tanya-huff/

Five blood and vampires in Toronto beans....

NIGHT RISING: Vampire Babylon Book One - Chris Marie Green

From the back of the book: Stuntwoman Dawn Madison is a girl with a lot of attitude. And a lot of issues, mostly about living up to the legacy of her mother, a world-famous movie star and sex symbol, whose untimely death left Dawn to be raised by her dad, Frank---nobody's notion of single-father-of-the-year.

Still, he is her dad. So when he vanishes while investigating the bizarre sighting of a supposedly long-dead child star, she comes home to Tinseltown to join the search for him---only to discover and erotic and bloody underground society made up of creatures she thought existed only on the screen.

They are devious. They are deadly. And some of them are dangerously attractive.....

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WOOF! This was a pretty exciting start of a series and I highly look forward to reading the rest of it.

That said, it took me a bit to like the main character, Dawn. Her daddy and mommy issues bugged me at first, but I realized I couldn't really hold that against her and I moved on. Glad I did.

The premise of the story, especially the vampire lore, was unique. It's part of why I love reading paranormal/supernatural books. Each one has a new bead on the lore.

The grit and grime of Hollywood added to the story. Everyone seemingly wanting to stay in the spotlight, remain desirable by the public and what they are willing to do to obtain it.

I don't typically dig on erotica/romance in my paranormal and I had to get past my *er* factor, but they are well written scenes and the action was more on the street (or under them) than between the sheets, so I was fine.

Favorite character had to be Kiko, one of the investigators at Limpet & Associates. My favorite kind, Smartass funny.

Four WOOF sparkly diamonds.....

BAD TO THE BONE: WVMP Radio Book 2 - Jeri Smith-Ready

From the back of the book: Turn On. Tune In. Drop Dead.

If you're just joining us, welcome to radio station WVMP, "The Lifeblood of Rock'n'Roll." Con-artist-turned-station-owner Ciara Griffin manages an on-air staff of off-the-wall DJs----including her new boyfriend Shane McAllister---who really sink their teeth into the music of their "Life Time" (the era in which they became vampires). It's Ciara's job to keep the undead rocking, the ratings rolling, and the fan base alive-----without missing a beat.

For Halloween, WVMP is throwing a bash sure to raise the dead. They've got cool tunes, hot costumes, killer cocktails---what could go wrong? Well, for starters, a religious firebrand ranting against the evils of the occult preempts the station's midnight broadcast. Then, when Ciara tracks down the illegal transmission, the broadcast tower is guarded by what appears to be....a canine vampire? And behind it all is a group of self-righteous radicals who think vampires suck (and are willing to stake their lives on it).

Now Ciara must protect the station while struggling with her own murky relationship issues, her best friend's unlikely romance with a fledgling vampire, and the nature of her mysterious anti-holy powers. To make it to New Year's in one piece, she'll need to learn a few new tricks.....

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I do love this series!! WICKED GAME rocked! (http://iyamvixenbooks.blogspot.com/2009/06/wicked-game-jeri-smith-ready.html) And I have absolutely no idea why it's taken me so long to get back to Ciara, Shane and the rest of the WVMP peeps.

BAD TO THE BONE deals with Ciara learning about her new abilities as a sort of vamp healer, new owner of the radio station, and being a girlfriend.

And there's the attack on the station with frequency interference during radio shows by what appears to be a hate group.

Bright side is Ciara finding the coolest dog ever! I want a dog like Dexter. I think I could make it work even if he is a vampire dog. We have a mancave, we could put in blackout curtains down there. I could find dog blood for him...as a vampire dog, I'm sure he's hyperallergenic, so DH would be good.

Supremely quick and delish read for me. It made for the best swing shift in a very long time.

Go visit Jeri @ http://www.jerismithready.com/ She has a nice stable of books out and more in the future. I can't wait to read each and every one. WVMP Radio series is on my keeper shelf, especially thanks to Jeri sending me bookplates to put inside each book. LOVE HER!

Five big sparkly vamps rock it diamonds.....

BLOOD OATH: The President's Vampire Book One - Christopher Farnsworth

From the back of the book: "Forget the War on Terror, Zach. This is the War on Horror. And you've just been drafted."

Zach Barrows is a cocky, ambitious White House employee working his way toward becoming the youngest chief of staff in history. But Zach's political rise takes an unexpected turn when he's abruptly transferred out of the White House and partnered with Nathaniel Cade, a secret agent sworn to protect the President. But Cade is no ordinary civil servant.

Bound 140 years ago by a special blood oath, Nathaniel Cade is a vampire. On the orders of the President he defends the nation against enemies far stranger---and far more dangerous---than civilians like Zach could ever imagine. And as a new threat looms, Zach has to learn to work with his undead partner, because the President's vampire is the only thing standing between the American dream and total Armageddon.

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I hope this series continues for a very long time. I can't get over how fantastic this first book was.

Zach cracked me up from the beginning with all of his arrogant manners that slowly became mellower as he learned to work with Cade. He wanted to walk his own path, but realizes this may be a better way, working with the vampire.

The story of Cade is a complicated one. He was found on a boat 140 years ago, covered in blood. He is bound to protect the President of the United States of all things supernatural and, apparently, there are plenty for him to be protected from.

Cade and Zach are now on the hunt for a creature wreaking havoc, a creature with a human face. No one is who they seem to be and no one is safe.

This is more than a supernatural thriller. It reads as a suspenseful page turner with a lead character who happens to be a vampire.

Five action packed diamonds......

THE GREYFRIAR: Vampire Empire Book One - Clay Griffith & Susan Griffith

From the back of the book: In the year 1870, a horrible plague of vampires swept over the northern regions of the world. Millions of humans were killed outright. Millions more were died of disease and famine due to the havoc that followed. Within two years, once-great cities were shrouded by the grey empire of the vampire clans. Human refugees fled south to the tropics because vampires could not tolerate the constant heat there. They brought technology and a feverish drive to reestablish their shattered societies of steam and iron amid the mosques of Alexandria, the torrid quietude of Panama, or the green temples of Malaya.

It is now 2020 and a bloody reckoning is coming.

Princess Adele is heir to the Empire Equatoria, a remnant of the old tropical British Empire. She is quick with her wit aswell as with sword or gun. She is eager for an adventure before she settles inot a life of duty and political marriage to a man she does not know. But her quest turns black when she becomes the target of a merciless vampire clan. Her only protector is the Greyfriar, a mysterious hero who fights the vampires from deep within their territory. Their dangerous relationship plays out against an approaching war to the death between humankind and the vampire clans.

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I cannot get over how much I luh-huvved this book!! I've read many reviews for it, all glowing
raves, not a stink-a-roo in the bunch. Not many books can claim that as far as I know.

Strong lead characters, intriguing story, highly excellent eeee-vil vampires, and the Greyfriar conflicted hero. And the steampunk...gotta love it. I know I do.

Anything else I'd say would likely be spoilerific, so I'll stop.

I hope the Griffiths hurry and get the second book in the trilogy written and out on the shelves. It will be a must buy ASAP for me.

Five sparkly steampunk diamonds...

WAIT TIL YOUR VAMPIRE GETS HOME - Michele Bardsley

From the back of the book: It's one thing to date a single father with emotional baggage....but quite another to date one who's dead.

It's only because of my work as a paranormal investigator that I, Libby Monroe, end up in a town like Broken Heart, Oklahoma, chasing down bizarre rumors of strange goings-on----and finding vampires, lycanthropes, and zombies. Oh, my!

I never expected to fall in lust, but sexy vampire Ralph Genessa is too irresistible. The fact that he's the loving father of twin boys drives the nail into my coffin and wins my undying love. And you know what they say: Home is where the heart is. Only this town is being torn in two by a war between the undead, and I may be the oly thing that can hold Broken Heart together.

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I don't typically dig on paranormal romance, but I do love this series. I've reviewed two of the three of the series, BECAUSE YOUR VAMPIRE SAID SO and OVER MY DEAD BODY. (my reviews) Michele had me at I'M THE VAMPIRE THAT'S WHY. Excellent premise of a little town in Oklahoma being taken over by supernatural beings for a place to call their own, the shenanigans, some kickass fighting to keep the town and the hot monkey love. It's all tied up in a witty paranormal package that keeps me reading more when other paranormal romance books don't do nearly as much for me since they don't make me laugh like Michele's characters do.

Libby Monroe stumbles into Broken Heart while on the hunt for paranormal beings. This has been her life's work having been raised in the atmosphere with her parents. She immediately meets vampires and werewolves and dragons and gets told by Queen Patsy that she will not be allowed to leave Broken Heart, she knows too much.

It's a lot funnier than my review can let on, but I don't want to give anything away. There are some yummy love scenes, dragonfire, vampire schtuff....all good fun.

I found a neat tidbit in the pages, too. Libby is looking for something to read on Ralph's (her honey-vamp) shelves of books and finds the fab GRAVEDIGGERS WANTED: NO EXPERIENCE NECESSARY - Jeff Strand (my review in the link). I read this superbly funny thriller in June 2009 on the recommendation of J A Konrath and after reading an interview Konrath did with his buddy Jeff. Michele notes this in the afterward and I became an even bigger fan.

Five it's funny in Oklahoma beans.......

DRACULAS: A Novel of Terror -F Paul Wilson, Jeff Strand, Blake Crouch, and Jack Kilborn

My thoughts on DRACULAS....
This ain't no TWILIGHT, shiny sparkly vampire book...ruh-ruh....DRACULAS is butt-ugly fromthe get-go. And I mean that in the best way possible. Four authors who have scared the bejeezus out of me in the past with their books have collaborated to write this scarey-ass ode to the uber-Daddy of the vampires, Dracula. (they do apologize in the acknowledgements)

Dracula's skull (fangs and all) has been discovered by a farmer in Transylvania. Mortimer Moorecook purchases the skull for an unnamed price...all hell breaks loose from there.

Mortimer is dying and decides he want to not go into that dark night...he takes matters into his own hands and uses the skulls fangs to bite himself in the neck. It isn't pretty.

The story is told through different points of view. Each moving on through the story is seen as it is happening to that person. The reader gets to know each character, good and bad, incompetent and reluctant hero.

I had some laugh out loud moments, especially with Randall, the quarter shy of a dollar dim lumberjack. Like this line, "His chainsaw-the-monster redemption would be a lot better if his ass wasn't hanging out." I sort of had images Bruce Campbell's character, Ash J Williams, of Evil Dead eminence when I read Randall's scenes.

Even through the scary parts (and it's all scary), there is laughter and tears...yeah I cried. These are four splendid authors who can do this to a reader.

PS...and now I really hate clowns...
PPS/PSS..whatever...did you know that nondairy coffee creamer was flammable? READ THE BOOK!

This e-book will be released on 19 October. You can pre-order here. I jumped at the chance to review this. You should jump at the chance to read it.

A big scary bowl of diamonds rating here.....

THE PASSAGE - Justin Cronin, narr Edward Herrmann

From the back of the BOCD: It happened fast. Thirty-two minutes for one world to die, another to be born.

First, the unthinkable: a security breach at a secret US government facility unleashes the monstrous product of a chilling military experiment. Then, the uspeakable: a night of chaos and carnage gives way to sunrise on a nation, and ultimately a world, forever altered. All that remains for the stunned for the stunned survivors is the long fight ahead and a future ruled by fear---of darkness, of death, of a fate far worse.

As civilazation crumbles into a primal landscape of predators and prey, two people flee in search of sanctuary. FBI agent Brad Wolgast is a good man haunted by what he's done in the line of duty. Six-year-old Amy Harper Bellafonte is a refugee from the doomed scientific project that has triggered apocalypse. Wolgast is determined to protect her from the horror set loose by her captors, but for Amy, escaping the bloody fallout is only the beginning of a much longer odyssey---spanning miles and decades---toward the time and place where she must finish what should never have begun.

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Justin Cronin...not sure what I can say about the author or this book. I was blown away to say the uber least. My sister read the book last month and told me she was sending it to me in audio format since she was sure that would be the quickest way for me to read it. She was that adamant that I absolutely needed to read it ASAP.

And I am glad that I bumped it to the top of the commute book list. It is an epic novel, bigger in story and scope even more so than the 766 pages it clocks in at. Don't let the page number stop you from reading this fantastic tale. I listened to the audiobook even though I usually stay far away from abridged audiobooks. I really don't think I missed much of the story by listening to this abridgement. I will pick up the actual handheld when it comes out in MPB and read it just to make sure and put this on my keeper shelf. Right next to the audio format.

I liked the first part of the story, the experiments and escape...but the absolute gripping part was the last two-thirds which is after the virals (vamps) have taken over and the humans are trying to survive the night and shadows. The story really picks up when the team of refugees make their way to Colorado, point zero.

I really can't go into any more or there will be spoilers..at least that's the way I look at it. I can't emphasize enough how awesome it is.

I thoroughly enjoyed the voice of Edward Herrmann as the narrator. He was perfect. Listen to the story, read the book, just do this. It's more than a vampire book if that is what holds you back.

A bowl of it's more than a vampire book...it's epic...diamonds......

JESSICA'S GUIDE TO DATING ON THE DARK SIDE - Beth Fantaskey, narr Katherine Kellgren & Jeff Woodman

From the back of the BOCD: High school senior Jessica Packwood is a down-to-earth mathlete with a murky future. What she definitely doesn't see coming is foreign exchange student--and vampire-- Lucius Vladescu showing up at her door. According to Lucius, Jessica is actually vampire royalty, and they've been betrothe to one another since infancy.

Yeah, great. That's just what a girl wants to hear. Thankfully, Jessica has a copy of GROWING UP UNDEAD: A TEEN VAMPIRE'S GUIDE TO DATING, HEALTH, AND EMOTIONS to help her cope. And, after all, Lucius may be arrogant, but he's easy to look at. Unfortunately, Jessica's not the only girl in school who's noticed. If she can hold off the evil cheerleaders long enough, she might just find a future with Lucius--and save his sould from eternal damnation.

Author Beth Fantaskey injects a little humor into the vampire romance genre with this critically acclaimed debut, while narrators Katherine Kellgren and Jeff Woodman capture Jessica and Lucius' colorful personalities.

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This story is such a fab one to listen to! It's funny, spooky, romantic, it's what I had hoped TWILIGHT would have been and wasn't.

Poor Jessica has enough issues with being odd chickie out what with being a 'mathlete', has vegans for parents and is an adopted child with a foggy foreign past.

I enjoyed watching the progression of the cautious and irritated Jessica dealing with the arrogant and pushy Lucius as he 'courted' Jessica. And then the tables started turning as Jessica realized what she was becoming and how she felt about Lucius and Lucius started courting other girls and enjoying his Americanized life.

The dry humor in the beginning segueing to life as it can be with the issues that plague normal let alone vampire teens was entrancing to watch.

I can't wait for her next book, JEKEL LOVES HYDE and I'll be listening to that one, too.

Four chocolate vampire yumminess.....

BLOOD RETRIBUTION: Lee Nez #2 - David and Aimee Thurlo

From the back of the book: Lee Nez is a nightwalker--a Navajo vampire. He's also a New Mexico state police officer. Paired with sexy FBI agent Diane Lopez, Lee is tracking down violent smugglers who have killed two cops while bringing silver and turquoise across the border from Mexico.

Shocked to discover that the smugglers are Navajo shapeshifters--skinwalkers--Lee and Diane realize they must wipe out the whole pack, and fast, before the skinwalkers realize there's a nightwalker on their tails. Werewolves and vampires are deadly enemies....

Complicating matters, Lee is being stalked by a pair of vampire assassins. He killed the leader of their clan and the survivors are bent on revenge. Blood for blood, as the saying goes.

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This was my purse book, therefore it took a very long while to get through. I wish I'd had more time immediately with it so that the story would take hold and keep me there. I read the first one a long while back, but it stuck with me. This one didn't grab me right away and the two stories going on with two sets of 'bad guys' had me a little off at times, too.

All that said, I did like reading more adventures about Lee Nez, now known as Officer Leonard Hawk in this particular alias. I look forward to finding the next two in the series. I've been told they are hard to find, so I hope I can run across them somewhere. I will be looking for the Ellah Claw series the two authors have as well as the Sister Agatha series.

Four Southwest skinwalker beans....

THE STRAIN - Guillermo Del Toro & Chuck Hogan, narr Ron Perlman

From the back of the BOCD: They have always been here. Vampires. Nesting and feeding. Now, their time has come. In one week, Manhattan will be gone. In one month, the country. In two months...the world.
A Boeing 777 arrives at JFK, when she suddenly stops dead. All communication channels have gone quiet. An alert goes out to Dr Eph Goodweather, head of CDC's rapid-response team that investigates biological threats. What he finds makes his blood run cold.
So begins a battle of mammoth proportions as the vampiric virus that has infected New York begins to spill out into the streets. Eph, who is joined by former professor Abraham Setrakian and a motley crew of fighters, must now find a way to stop the contagion and save his city---before it's too late.
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I had a difficult time with some of the scenes in this book. I admit to fastforwarding through anything that had to do with the killing of kids or animals. The writing is so well written and graphic, I got a tad nauseous with the attacks on the adult characters. I listened to them, but barely made it. *shudder*
It's an interesting take on the vampire lore, it is indeed a virus that is transmitted through the bite, but it's not a typical vampire teeth gnaw. It's a growth under the tongue that lashes out and goes to town on the victim, which turns the victim into a vampire almost immediately. The affected vamps don't like sunlight and silver can do a big ol' number on them. Killing by beheading is the best way, crosses and holy water aren't very effective with this virus.
Because of the fastforwarding scenes and fast switching from one scene to another caused me to not like the story as much as I could have. It's a good horror story, though, and worth a listen or a read.

Four vampiric virus beans....

CARPE CORPUS: Book 6 Morganville Vampires - Rachel Caine

From the back of the book: Welcome to Morganville, Texas. Don't stay out after dark.

In the small college town of Morganville, vampires and humans live in (relative) peace--until all the rules got rewritten when evil vampire Bishop arrived, looking for the lost book of vampire secrets. He's kept a death grip on the town ever since.

Now an underground resistance is brewing, and in order to contain it, Bishop must go to even greater lengths. He vows to obliterate the town and all its inhabitants--the living and the undead. Claire Danvers and her friends are the only ones who stand in his way. But even if they defeat Bishop, will the vampires be content to go to the old rules after having had such a taste of power?

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I am always exhausted while reading this series, but it's well worth the debilitation.

Claire is always trying to do the right thing while being young, uber intelligent, in love and living in a town of vampires. Shane is in vampire jail, Michael is working for the bad guy, Eve hates her and her vampire mentor, Myrnin, is on the edge of madness. She's got to do what it takes to make things better if possible, if the good guys will let her help.

This is one of my favorite series. And now this one is my favorite of the series. Each one has that 'honor' as I read it and each next one has the possibility.

Highly recommedable to anyone who enjoys a well written story, vampire or otherwise.

Five Texas vampires aren't all bad (and not all good) beans.....

What's Your Vampire Name?

DeSeRtRoSe has a neat little name generator she found....What's your vampire name? I am curious...I meander over to here.....to find out.....

The Great Archives determine you to have gone by the identity: Aurora du Coudray

Known in some parts of the world as: Venus of Winged Harbingers

The Great Archives Record: A third sight foretelling doom and disaster

It's a little fussy, but what the hey.....

SCORE!

My package of goodies from Jeanne Stein arrived yesterday! I have a signed copy of MANY BLOODY RETURNS, a signed postcard (I love these for my bookmarks), two Anna Strong pens, and the magnet of the cover of Jeanne's newest book, RETRIBUTION. She knew I had the other four, so completed my set. And if you look closely, you can see I scored a set of my my very own vampire teeth (which Lady K absconded with after this pic) and much coveted Devil Duck.
Thank you, Jeanne! You rock! For anyone wanting to try their hand, Jeanne is having another contest at her and Mario Acevedo's blog, Biting Edge, tomorrow.

UNDEAD AND UNWED - MaryJanice Davidson

Lordy! I love this series! It's like a nice smartass vampire sorbet between heavier paranormal, thriller, suspense courses.
UNDEAD AND UNWED is the first in the Queen Betsy series and I can't believe how long it took me to find this one and finally get a chance to read it! Thank goodness Our Lady of the Books had a copy and I snagged it before anyone else could. Then it became my purse book for the longest time. Now I am no longer on shift work, I couldn't get any 'me time' to sit-sip-read, dagnabbit! Finally made this one my bedside book and smoked through it in short order.

Poor Betsy, aka Elizabeth Taylor, has just lost her job, been attacked and then run over by an Aztec (the car I must avert my eyes when I see on the street). She wakes up in a cold sterile looking place and discovers she's in a funeral home ready for burial! WTH??! AND, she's shod in a pair of inferior Payless shoes and a non-quality fabric outfit! Her evil stepmother has 'splainin' to do....
Betsy hightails it out of there and finds she is attractive to all men and dogs. Her best friend is not overly dismayed to see her alive-ish and kickin'. Her mother is overjoyed, her father and stepmom go into denial when Betsy arrives to take back her high quality shoe collection that her stepmom, Ant, stole.
Betsy also learns that she might could possibly be the Queen of the Vampires. She learns this from Eric Sinclair, vampire yum supreme and his minions, Tina and Dennis. Betsy has pissed off the reigning main vampire dude, Nostro, in all his bad vampire cliche splendor. Nostro doesn't take kindly to being laughed at and ignored as Betsy quickly does.
It's a battle to the death-death....
Five smartass vampire beans.....bookmark....

THE BECOMING: An Anna Strong, Vampire Novel - Jeanne C. Stein

Ahhhhhh.....What a refreshing vampire story! A refreshing story, plain ol'. I like the strong lead characters, especially when the author makes the lead character a strong female. Anna Strong is indeed a strong female lead character and she rocks!

Anna is a private investigator and she and her partner are attacked while on stakeout of a bail jumper. Anna awakens in the hospital and her memory slowly begins to come back, along with an emerging strength and ability to heal quickly. She finds her doctor to be her mentor after he breaks the news that Anna is now a vampire. Life, or unlife, as she knows it has changed.

The vampire who attacked her is on the loose and Anna feels the need to find and put him down. And she knows she needs to figure out how to work with the men in our lives: Max her DEA agent boyfriend, David her partner, and Avery the doctor who becomes her mentor in the world of the vampire.

I thank Jeanne for LEGACY, #4 in the series and the gift card that allowed me to get #1 and #3 in the series sooner. And thank you Mark Henry for the interview with Jeanne that led to my winning.

Five rockin' beans.....

.....and here's the bookmark

Vampires anyone?? Chance to win a book...

Had a note on my Shelfari page from Evie over at RandomMinutiae. She is giving away chances to win Raven Hart's THE VAMPIRE'S SEDUCTION over at her site. There's a fab interview to go with....

FEAST OF FOOLS: Book 4 MORGANVILLE VAMPIRES - Rachel Caine

HOT DAY-UM! I swear, this series just gets more amazing with each volume.

There's a new vampire in town and he's an even bigger evil badass than all the others combined. Mr. Bishop's also the father of Amelia, the Founder of Morganville, so you know he's honkin' ancient and powerful.

All in town are to swear fealty to the sinister old guy in town and there's still the cure for the taint that is causing the old vampires to go mad after so many years. It's caused Amelia to put a stop to making new vampires until the cure is found. It's what's helped keep the balance (as much balance as can be in the town of Morganville), so what is going to happen to the status quo if the cure is found.

Then there's the relationships of the four in the Glass house. Claire and Shane are still in teen love. Shane being a gentleman, and Claire being 16, has put a halt to anything further than some heavy smooching. Claire is really wishing Shane wasn't so much the gentleman....but respects him for the person he is....just wishing 17th birthday would hurry up and get here.

Eve and Michael are massively enamoured and are old enough to act on it. Shane is coming to grips with Michael being a vampire now instead of the ghost of the house.

OH, and there's the arrival of another set of parents....Claire's mom and dad move to town!

Claire is hard pressed to decide which of all of the above is the most mind-numbingly stressful.

I will read anything Rachel Caine writes! She left me hangin' at the end of FEAST OF FOOLS and I didn't even get mad. I just want her to write faster!!!

Five smokin' hot beans!!

X-RATED BLOODSUCKERS - Mario Acevedo

Hot DAMN! I would love to meet Felix Gomez, vampire private eye supreme, if only for a wee nuzzle....yum....

Felix is hired by a porn star to look for the killer of a dead other porn star. He meanders out to LA to not so much meet and greet, more so to search and destroy.

He does meet some interesting creatures, human and inhuman alike on his search for the killer. There are vampires who are following the rules and those in power who are breaking them.

My favorite character, besides Felix, is Coyote. He has been around the block a time or a few hundred and is a delight in all his ickiness. He is a character and helps Felix when he needs it.

I still have to get myself over the parts of the meals they ingest. Not so much the blood sucking, that's par for vampire course. Nope, the menus that give me the *shudder* factor are burritos with red sauce..the red being blood, the coffee mixed with blood, SCONES dipped in blood....GACK!

The rest of the story, dialogue, characters are all fab!

Four blood sucking beans....

HALFWAY TO THE GRAVE - Jeaniene Frost

Can I get a YOWZAH??!! Holy Schmokes this was a good 'un! I so cannot wait for the next in the series. Seriously tough action, excellently hot characters...and the sex scenes...whooftah!

Catherine 'Cat' Crawfield is a half breed, half human, half vampire. Her mother was raped and bitten by a vampire and Cat is the result of that union. Her mother hates all vampires and Cat has been on a mission to kill all vampires....until she meets Bones. He is about to become dust, but strikes a bargain and becomes her trainer and partner in the killing of bad killer vampires, in exchange for helping Cat find the man who is her father so she can kill him for her mother.
And did I mention the sex??!! Hot-cha-cha!!!
Bones and Cat...what a match!


Four holey schmokes beans....