Week 2 Books

Grave Mercy by Robin LaFevers ***

Grave Mercy by Robin LaFevers is a Young Adult story featuring 17 year old Ismae.  Ismae is forced into an arranged marriage.  She seeks sanctuary at the convent of St. Mortain.  She discovers she is blessed by Death Himself.  She trains as an assassin and serves as a maiden to Death.  Her first mission takes her to the high court of Brittany where she is given impossible choices.

 

The book was alright.  It was very slow to get into and if it wasn’t for a friend asking for a review of the story I probably would have stopped reading it.  About halfway through the book is when it started to pick up and became more interesting.  The second story is supposed to be coming out next spring and I will probably give it a try.

 

 

First Grave on the Right by Darynda Jones *****

First Grave on the Right by Darynda Jones is a paranormal romance book starring Charlie.  Charlie sees dead people.  She is in essence the grim reaper who helps the souls pass on to the other side.  Anyone who has died under unusual circumstance insists she investigates which leads to her getting into hot water.  Further complicating her life she is have dreams about a being that might or might not be dead.

 

From beginning to end I was enthralled.  I didn’t want to put it down and went looking for the second book as soon as I finished it. 

 

Damian’s Oracle by Lizzy Ford ****

Damian’s Oracle by Lizzy Ford is a paranormal romance featuring Sofia.  Sofia has a rare gift of seeing the future and is being fought over by the White and Black Gods.  Whoever gets to her first will use her gift to help them win the war.

 

This book was very good and kept me interested throughout the story.  The storyline moved nicely.  The characters were likeable and you wanted to route for Sofia.  When I finished it I wanted the next one.

 

Maid for Love by Marie Force *****

Maid for Love by Marie Force is a romance book set on Gansett Island.  Maddie Chester would like nothing better than to leave the island with its bad memories and rumors behind.  She’s knocked off her bike on her way to work as a housekeeper for McCarthy’s Resort Hotel by the island’s favorite son Mac McCarthy.  She is too injured for work and feeling horrible Mac insists on taking care of her by moving in with Maddie and her infant son and going to work for her.  He planned on a short visit home and soon finds leaving is not an option.

 

I really enjoyed this story.  The characters were likeable and you felt for Maddie.  You also wanted to strangle Mac a couple of times for his meddling in Maddie’s life without talking to her first.

 

Warprize by Elizabeth Vaughan ****

Xylara is the daughter of a King.  When he dies her half-brother takes the trone.  Xylara was trained as a healer and where her morals push her to heal everyone including the enemy.  She learns there customs and language which draws the attention of the leader.  Due to her half-brothers incompetence she has to pick between giving up her freedom or the fall of her people.  Given her options she chooses to go with the enemy as the warprize.

 

I loved this book.  Xylara was an amazing character who you rooted for from the beginning.  The story moved along at a fast pace with enough twist and turns to keep the reader interested.  At the end of the story I wanted the second book immediately.

Books read this week

Books in Review:

Sword of Raven by Diana Duncan   ***
This paranormal romance is about Delaney Morgan whose life falls apart when her cop brother is arrested and convicted for corruption.  She finds out that she has magical abilities and everyone wants her.  Some to help and train her and others who want her essence.

It was a good story and it moved along nicely.  There were some moments in the book where the story seemed to jump ahead and it wasn't made clear so the reader was left to figure out what was happening.  Overall I will definetly be looking for the next book in the series.

If you can't stand the heat by Robin Allen **

If you can't stand the heat is a mystery set in Austen Texas.  Female protagonist Poppy Markham has left her family restuarant to be a health inspector.  Her father has her help out on the grand reopening.  During the evening Michelin-rated chef Évariste Bontecou is murdered and Poppy's stepsister Ursula is the prime suspect.  Poppy's father and stepmother expect her to figure out her is the actual murderer.

This was an ok story.  The mystery part of the story was really good and interesting.  However, the problems I had with the story were the interaction between Poppy and her family and former boyfriend.  There seemed to be a backstory about what happened with the boyfriend that was alluded to but not really explained.  Her family kept asking her to deal with the murder but were rude and obnoxious to her.  I don't know how many people would be willing to solve a murder to get someone off who was being that nasty to you.


Weddings can be murder by Christie Craig ***
Weddings can be murder is one of Christie Craig stand alone romances.  Katie Ray is about to be married and is having a massive case of cold feet.  She flushed her $8,000 engagement ring down the toilet by mistake.  Katie shows up for a meeting with her wedding planner and witness the wedding planner being murdered.  She ends up locked in a closet for 18 hours with P.I. Carl Hades.  After getting out of the closet she breaks off her engagement and ends up in protective custody with Carl.

I liked the storyline for the most part.  It was well written and flowed nicely.  The issue came in with the romance between Katie and Carl.  She breaks up with her fiance and starts up with Carl the same day.  It just didn't seem very realistic but it was interesting to see how Carl got himself out of trouble after pancaking twice.

Warrior Trainer by Gerri Russell *

Scotia was raised to protect the Stone of Destiny from everyone as well as, train everyone from the Scottish clans.  Ian MacKinnon has come to train with her so that he can defeat the four horseman who are terrorizing all of Scotland.

The premise of the story was interesting but there were to many complications in the story.  The romance was slow starting.  Ian and Scotia would get together then break apart and then they would sort of get back together just to not end up together.  The action was also very slow to start and then it was done.  The build up was long and extensive and then it was done.  I would have prefered there to be less build up.

Genie knows best by Judi Fennell ****
Sequel to I dream of genie.  Samantha Blain has just lost her father and found out her soon to be fiance is only using her for her inheritance.  When she finds a bottle in her father's safe she discovers a genie named Kal.  Kal is on probation and once he finishes granting all of Samantha's wishes he will finally be off probation.  The problem is he doesn't want her to finish her wishes because then they will be done with each other.

This was a funny and sexy book.  Drama and chaos throughout the book but it all ends up the way it should in the end.  I cannot wait for the next book in the series.

Cast in Shadow by Michelle Sagara *****
Kaylin was born and raised in Nightshade fief until a slew of murders made her run.  She ends up in the City of Elantra.  She became a hawk patrolling the streets until the murders start again.  She has to confront her past to prevent more deaths.

This was a very well written fantasy novel.  The story moved and there was enough details throughout the story to not feel like the reader was missing vital details while leaving information to be uncovered in later books.