REVIEW: The Lies of Locke Lamora by Scott Lynch

Shannon C.'s review of The Lies of Locke Lamora (Gentlemen Bastards, Book 1) by Scott Lynch
Fantasy fiction released by Spectra 26 Jun 07

I've been in a fantasy mood lately, and so have unearthed a few fantasy books from my ginormous TBR to assuage this mood. One of these was Scott Lynch's debut, The Lies of Locke Lamora. This was a pleasant surprise, and well worth all the hype it generated when it was first published. The book's charming titular character, the author's snarky sense of humor, and the dark setting combined into a book I didn't want to put down. Read more

Tags: 2008, fantasy fiction, Gentlemen Bastards series, Grade A, June 2007, Review, Scott Lynch, ShannonC, Spectra, The Lies of Locke Lamora

REVIEW: Never Lie to a Lady by Liz Carlyle

Liviania's review of Never Lie to a Lady (Neville Family Trilogy, Book 1) by Liz Carlyle
Historical romance released by Pocket Star 19 Jun 07

Before reading the Neville Family Trilogy, I had no experience with Liz Carlyle. I recognized the name and knew Sybil was head-over-heels for the latest book, but I didn't know what to expect. The opening of Never Lie to a Lady disappointed me. Xanthia Neville meets Lord Nash on a terrace and they proceed to snog, an action both of them consider ill-considered and out of character. Xanthia thinks about how she drank a little, but neither of them had the excuse of drunkenness. A bit scared that I'd agreed to review the entire trilogy, Carlyle spent the rest of the book wowing me so much that I can happily ignore the first chapter. Read more

Tags: 2008, Grade A, Historical, Historical Romance, June 2007, Liviania, Liz Carlyle, Never Lie to a Lady, Neville Family series, Pocket Star, Review

REVIEW: Innocent as Sin by Elizabeth Lowell

Connie's review of Innocent As Sin by Elizabeth Lowell
Contemporary romantic suspense hardcover release by William Morrow 19 Jun 07
Massmarket paperback release by Avon 29 Apr 08 (book links to mmppb)

Contemporary romantic suspense often walks a fine line between the various elements that make them up. How to be contemporary without overloading on technical details. How to be romantic without sacrificing the suspense. How to be suspenseful without sacrificing the romance. This book didn't do such a good balancing job. Read more

Tags: 2008, April 2008, Avon, Connie, Contemporary Romance, Elizabeth Lowell, Grade C, Innocent As Sin, June 2007, Review, Romantic Suspense, William Morrow

REVIEWS: Blood Noir by Laurell K. Hamilton and Strange Candy by Laurell K. Hamilton

Gwen's review of Blood Noir (Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter, Book 16) by Laurell K. Hamilton
Urban fantasy hardcover released by Berkley 27 May 08

I've heard people describe this book as "florid" and reviews using phrases like "growing sense of ennui". I agree and I disagree. Read on to find out where I depart ways with other reviewers and where I think they may have a point... At the end of this post, there's also a little bonus review of Hamilton's 5 June 2007 release, Strange Candy - a single author anthology. Read more

Tags: Anita Blake Vampire Hunter series, anthology, Blood Noir, Grade B, Grade C, Gwen, June 2007, Laurell K. Hamilton, May 2008, Review, Strange Candy, Urban Fantasy

Review: Unbound by Lori Devoti

Liviania's review of Unbound (Unbound, Book 1) by Lori Devoti
Paranormal romance released by Silhouette Nocture 1 Jun 07

This was my first category, ever. Okay, I cracked a Suspense once but I didn't make it farther than three pages. Therefore it does not count. This was my first category to finish. I really had a fun time with it. Kara is a young woman searching for her twin sister - even braving the strange bar known as the Guardian's Keep. Outside she is attacked by a dog, which is in turn attacked by another dog . . . when she wakes up she is in the home of the attractive Risk Leidolf.

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Tags: Grade B, June 2007, Liviania, Lori Devoti, Paranormal, Review, Silhouette Nocturne, Unbound, Unbound series

REVIEW: Sun, Sand, Sex by Miller, Apodaca, and Laurenston

Limecello's review of Sun, Sand, Sex by Linda Lael Miller, Jennifer Apodaca, and Shelly Laurenston
Contemporary Romance Anthology released by Brava on 1 Jun 07

I read this anthology a while ago, and when it got dropped in my mail box to review, I was happy to read it again. Brava offers terrific anthologies, and this one definitely is one that should be read.

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Tags: 2008, anthology, Brava, Contemporary Romance, Grade B, Jennifer Apodaca, June 2007, Limecello, Linda Lael Miller, Review, Shelly Laurenston, Sun Sand Sex

Review: Into the Darkness (Dark Realm, Book 1) by Delilah Devlin

Sandy M's review of Into the Darkness (Dark Realm, Book 1) by Delilah Devlin
Contemporary Paranormal Romance published 26 Jun 07 by Avon Red

I love my vampires, and this new series by Delilah Devlin has some of the sexiest and lustiest vampires around. I liked the different take on the age-old vampire legends in this series. There are The Born, those born as vampires, and then there are those who are turned just like we've always read about before. These turned vamps are chosen by The Born when there is a need for more of their kind and those chosen are willing participants. None of that willy-nilly turning against someone's will just for the blood and gore of it. And the virgin vampire part of the story is different also. Read more

Tags: 2008, Avon Red, Contemporary, Dark Realm, Delilah Devlin, Grade A, Into the Darkness, June 2007, Paranormal, Review, Sandy M, vampires

Review: Unbound by Lori Devoti

Sandy M's review of Unbound (Unbound series, Book 1) by Lori Devoti
Paranormal romance published 1 Jun 2007 by Nocturne (Harlequin)

For some reason he just couldn't turn Kara over to the witch and that wasn't like him. When Risk finds out Kara is a twin, he begins to plan his escape from Lusse, his captor. Twin witches are rare and very powerful, a power that he can use. For so long he hasn't cared about anything or anyone, so what's the destruction of a couple of witches to him? Read more

Tags: 2007, Grade A, June 2007, Lori Devoti, Nocturne, Paranormal, Review, Romance, Sandy M, Silhouette, Unbound, Unbound series

Review: Gideon (The Nightwalkers, Book 2) by Jacquelyn Frank

Gwen's review of Gideon (The Nightwalkers, Book 2) by Jacquelyn Frank
Paranormal romance published 1 Jun 2007 by Zebra

This is the second book in Frank's Nightwalkers series. The first was Jacob, and the third will be Elijah, which is coming from Zebra either 27 Nov 07 (according to the Zebra website), Dec 2007 (according to the author's website), or 2 Jan 08 (according to Amazon.com). The series is centered around hidden groups of beings, the Nightwalkers, which include Demons, Vampires, and Lycanthropes, and their conflict with Necromancers, Hunters, and each other.

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Tags: 2007, Gideon, Grade C, Gwen, Jacquelyn Frank, June 2007, Nightwalkers series, Paranormal, Review, Romance, Zebra

Review: Demon Moon by Meljean Brook

Demon Moon (The Guardians, Book 4) by Meljean Brook
Paranormal romance released Berkley Sensation 5 Jun 07

Demon Moon is a new novel in Brook's Guardian series. Colin Ames-Beaumont, a secondary character from Demon Angel and the story in the anthology Hot Spell gets his own story. Read more

Tags: 2007, Berkley, Demon Moon, Grade A, June 2007, Lawson, Meljean Brook, Paranormal, Review, Romance, The Guardians series

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