Lisa Shearin - Magic Lost, Trouble Found

Title : Magi Lost Trouble Found
Series : Raine Benares # 1
Release date : May 27, 2007
Publisher : Ace Publisher
Genre : Fantasy / Urban Fantasy

My name is Raine Benares. I’m a seeker. The people who hire me are usually happy when I find things. But some things are better left unfound…

Raine is a sorceress of moderate powers, from an extended family of smugglers and thieves. With a mix of street smarts and magic spells, she can usually take care of herself. But when her friend Quentin, a not-quite-reformed thief, steals an amulet from the home of a powerful necromancer, Raine finds herself wrapped up in more trouble than she cares for. She likes attention as much as the next girl, but having an army of militant goblins hunting her down is not her idea of a good time. The amulet they’re after holds limitless power, derived from an ancient, soul-stealing stone. And when Raine takes possession of the item, it takes possession of her.

Now her moderate powers are increasing beyond anything she could imagine—but is the resumé enhancement worth her soul?

Magic Lost, Trouble Found by Lisa Shearin is the first novel in her Raine Benares Series, and I have to say this book was very interesting; so interesting that I think I have another addiction on my hands. A friend of mine suggested that I should give this new author a try and see if it was something for me, well I have to say it was definitely a great surprise.

Raine Benares is an elf and a seeker; she can find any object or people by using her powers. The family on her mother’s side are well known as smugglers, but she doesn’t know a lot about her father’s side.

Raine’s friend Quentin steals something that will get him in trouble and he convinces Raine to hold onto the stolen necklace until they can figure out what it does and means. Raine knows she is in trouble when she cannot remove the necklace and every powerful citizen is after her to claim that necklace.

Besides Raine, who I really love; this book is full of other interesting characters. Raine’s cousin Phaelan is fabulous and he put some smiles on my face with his comments and humour. Mychael Eiliesor is the head of the Elven Guard and is after Raine to collect the necklace and hide it from all evil. Piaras is a real sweetheart, his talents are tremendous and I believe he will be a great and powerful guardian someday. And last but definitely not least is Goblin Tam Nathrach, an old friend of Raine but he has a dark side to be wary off.

You already sense the attraction of Mychael and Tam towards Raine and I’m already wondering who she might ends up with. Of course I have my preference, but for now I’m happy to see both men fighting for her attention.

This novel is well written and very addictive, the moment you start reading you’re pulled into the story and won’t be able to stop reading. I really enjoyed this book from the first pages and I know this series is going to be a keeper.

Jenna Black - Dark Descendant

Title : Dark Descendant
Series : Descendants # 1
Release date : April 26, 2011
Publisher : Pocket Books
Genre : Urban Fantasy

From the acclaimed author of the Morgan Kingsley, Exorcist books comes the gripping first novel in a new series about a private eye who discovers, to her surprise, that she's an immortal huntress.

Nikki Glass can track down any man. But when her latest client turns out to be a true descendant of Hades, Nikki now discovers she can't die. . . . Crazy as it sounds; Nikki's man hunting skills are literally god-given. She's a living, breathing descendant of Artemis who has stepped right into a trap set by the children of the gods. Nikki's new 'friends' include a descendant of Eros, who uses sex as a weapon; a descendant of Loki, whose tricks are no laughing matter; and a half-mad descendant of Kali who thinks she's a spy. But most powerful of all are the Olympians, a rival clan of immortals seeking to destroy all Descendants who refuse to bow down to them. In the eternal battle of good god/bad god, Nikki would make a divine weapon. But if they think she'll surrender without a fight, the gods must be crazy. . . .

Dark Descendant by Jenna Black is the first novel in the Descendant Series and I have to say that I liked this novel. Although I have some other books on the shelf by this author, I never read any of them but that is going to change. The way she wrote this book made mu curious to see how these other books are.

Nikki Glass is a strong young woman and a great private investigator, but her last assignment turns out to be one hell of a job. Not only get she involved in a major car accident, she is also in the middle of a war between descendants of the Gods and it appears both teams wants to recruit her in their team. It appears Nikki is the last mortal descendant of Artemis, goddess of the hunt.

The characters in this book are amazing, although some of them I just wanted to strangle but if you read their story you can understand their attitude. I just haven’t figure out if the other descendants are really Nikki’s new friends and fellow warriors, or just befriend her for her powers. So I would love to see Nikki grow into one fine warrior, who can control her new powers and use them in their quest.

This novel is well written with a fabulous world and some amazing characters to make it all complete. It definitely took my full attention from the beginning and held it through the whole book. I’m definitely curious to see what Jenna Black has in store for Nikki Glass in the future novel.

Anthology - Merry Christmas Baby

Title : Merry Christmas Baby
Release date : November 15, 2011
Publisher : Harlequin
Genre : Contemporary Romance

Who will you find under your Christmas tree?

A cowboy?
Ranch hand Tucker Rankin isn't crazy about the holidays…until a wintry night before Christmas, when Lacey Evans shows him how much fun it is to be nestled all snug in her bed….

A wealthy New Yorker?
Stockbroker Jared Martin needs to get away, and Alaska's the perfect place to unwind. Especially once actress Theodora "Teddy" Monroe gets him to loosen his tie—and take it all off!

Or maybe even a man in uniform?
Soldier Silas Davenport is on Christmas leave. But when he arrives at his parents' home, no one is there…except for the irresistible Delphie Moreau. And she's one gift he won't be exchanging!

Merry Christmas Baby by Vicki Lewis Thompson, Jennifer LaBrecque and Rhonda Nelson was a fabulous anthology to get in the holiday spirit. The three different stories are about three lovely couples who found their loves at the most wonderful time of the year.

It’s Christmas Cowboy by Vicki Lewis Thompson
Lacey Evans doesn’t feel like celebrating Christmas, especially now she left her boyfriend. But when Tucker Rankin has a little accident right before her cabin, she thinks it is time to leave the past the past and start looking at the future, starting this Christmas with Tucker.

Northern Fantasy by Jennifer LeBrecque
New Yorker Jaren Martin needs a break from the city life and leaves for Alaska to attend the wedding of his best friend. Never would he have imagine to meet Teddy Monroe; the woman who turn his world upside down.

He’ll be home for Christmas by Rhonda Nelson
Soldier Silas wants to surprise his parents for the holidays, now that he finally got permission to go home. But it turns out that his parents aren’t home for the holidays and their neighbour Delphie is just the right person to spend some time with.

I really enjoy reading this anthology, right after the holidays and I have to say that the third story was definitely my favourite, although the other two are very close behind the first. All three stories were well written and very entertaining. All the characters were great and the couples were definitely right for each other. I would love to read some more of these authors in the near future.

Rachel Vincent - Blood Bound

Title : Blood Bound
Series : Unbound #1
Release date : August 23, 2011
Publisher : Mira
Genre : Urban Fantasy

As a blood tracker, Liv is extremely powerful. And in a world where power is a commodity that can get you killed, Liv's learnt to survive by her own rules.

Rule number one? Trust no one.

But when a friend's daughter goes missing, Liv is bound by a potent magical oath. She can't rest until the child is safe. And that means trusting her dangerous ex, Cam.

A sinister prophecy tells that she and Cam will be the death of each other, yet Liv's tired of being a slave to destiny. She's ready to play the forces controlling her world at their own game.

No matter what the cost

Blood Bound by Rachel Vincent is the first novel in her new Unbound Series and I have to say I was happily surprised. I’m already a huge fan of her Shifter and Soul Screamers series and it’s real hard to keep it up with those two. But I really think this series will be another great addition to my bookshelves.

She created another fabulous world where “skilled” people are living among the normal humans. One of the skilled people is Olivia “Liv” Warren; she is a tracker who can find anyone by following the pull of blood.

One of her childhood friends Anne pays her a visit, it appears Anne’s husband was killed and she wants Liv to track down the killer. At first Liv doesn’t want to do it, but because of a childhood binding, she and her three friends are bound together by a promise and have to help one of the others when they ask.

But that is not all the trouble she is getting, her ex-lover Cam Caballero is back and he wants to help her find this killer. Since Cam is a powerful name tracker, it’s wise to accept his help. But Cam also wants some answers, as in why she left him al those years ago without any explanation.

From the moment you see Liv & Cam together you know those two belong together and that makes you wonder what happened between them in the past. They both went through some difficult time since their break-up, but I believe they are stronger now than ever. I absolutely love Cam’s determination to get Liv back in his live, no matter the reason why she left in the first place.

Even though this is the first novel in the series and you know it will be full of background information and world explanation, it grabbed me from the beginning. The characters are fabulous; there wasn’t one character I dislike, even the bad guy Cavazos has his great moments and I’m curious to see what bad things he will be doing in the next novel Shadow Bound and if he will give Cam and Liv a hard time. It seems I have to wait and find out.

Veronica Wilde - Hollywood Ghosts

Title : Hollywood Ghosts
Release date : October 1, 2007
Publisher : Liquid Silver Books
Genre : Erotica / Paranormal Romance

High in the Hollywood hills is a beautiful Spanish revival mansion that is one of California’s most sinister secrets. Over the decades, its luxurious rooms have witnessed multiple movie star deaths and scandals from suicides, to cult rituals, to brutal celebrity slayings. And the ghosts who loved being famous in life don’t like getting ignored in death.

Rachel Dentley, a UCLA student who’s been hired to house-sit for four months, doesn’t know any of this. To her, the mansion is simply her beautiful new home for the semester ... until phantom bloodstains and ghostly parties scare her senseless. Luckily for her, not one, but two, experts in shining armor offer their assistance--gorgeous filmmaker Lorenzo Cortez and free-spirited parapsychologist Dr. Zane Sullivan. Lorenzo wants to film a documentary about the house that will launch his career. Zane wants to gather enough evidence of the hauntings to validate his field. And each man wants Rachel for his own.

As the days pass, the haunted house grows more menacing--and the sexual tension between Rachel, Lorenzo, and Zane reaches fever pitch. When all three indulge their cravings in a scorching ménage, the murderous ghosts intercede with their own agenda--to make Rachel one of them.

Hollywood Ghosts by Veronica Wilde is a erotica ménage à trios, which includes a house sitter, a movie maker and a ghost hunter.

Rachel Dentley has found her boyfriend in bed with another woman, so she left him and their life behind and is desperately in need for a place to stay. So she decides to take a house sitting job of a fabulous mansion for a few months. It appears some of Hollywood greatest actors lived there, but also died there.

In the first few days Rachel experience some weird things in the house that she cannot explain, luckily for her two extremely handsome men show up on her doorstep and convince her that they can help her ghost problem.

Lorenzo Cortez is a film maker and has been attracted to Rachel since she met her ex-boyfriend and now that she is single he won’t stop until she’s finally his. Dr. Zane Sullivan is a professor of parapsychology and wants to study the mansion for awhile, so when Rachel moves in, he sees the opportunity to finally investigate the ghostly activity in the house.

The attraction between Rachel and the two men is huge from the moment they enter the story. She has a hard time to stay away from both of them, cause she doesn’t want to choose between them. But when the main ghost turns his attention towards Rachel and wants her to join him, both men know that they have to work together to keep the woman they love save, even if that means sharing her with the other.

This short novel is well written and very enjoyable to read. I loved the triangle relationship between Rachel. Lorenzo and Zane and was glad to see they decided to overcome their differences and both choose for the same woman. Okay, they hop into bed way too soon, but I know this is a short story and there isn’t much time to wait until the time is right. But the storyline was great and I love the ghost-thriller theme.