One foot in the grave, by Jeaniene Frost: 5 stars

So after devouring the first book in this series, I immediately bought one Foot in the Grave, which continues the story of Cat and Bones. Cat has a new boss now and a new support team, but we know where her heart and mind really are. The energy and intensity is still high and the action is non-stop.

If you like the Sookie Stackhouse stories, you’ll love this series. It’s not as dark and even more fun. Jeaniene Frost maintains her strong writing style and great story flow, and gives us more insights into this crazy world she’s created. Love it! Not for the kiddies to read…

http://www.amazon.com/Foot-Grave-Night-Huntress-ebook/dp/B0010SEMP0/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1349251469&sr=1-1&keywords=one+foot+in+the+grave

Halfway to the grave, by Jeaniene Frost: 5 stars

I’d seen the names Cat and Bones in different ‘favourite couples’ polls floating around Goodreads, but I had no idea who could possibly get away with naming characters with those names. Aparantly Jeaniene Frost can. By the time I’d finished Halfway to the Garve, the first in a series, I was frantically rushing to my computer to by the next book, thanking the technology gods for Kindle and wireless.

Imagine Sookie Stackhouse meets Buffy the Vampire Slayer. That gives you some idea. Cat is half vamp, half human and full on vampire killer. Bones is her next target. Suffice it to say that things don’t go according to plan.

While there are elements of the story that remind me of other vampire stories, the overall result is wonderfully original. Excellent writing style, great story flow, just the right amounts of romance, adventure and drama, fascinating characters who are ultimately likeable (maybe even lovable, but not in a fluffy kitten kind of way). Yup, I’ll probably cave in and get the third one as well! 

Important Note: this is definitely not young adult lit. Just letting you know…

http://www.amazon.com/Halfway-Grave-Night-Huntress-ebook/dp/B000W94FU0/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1349251343&sr=1-1&keywords=halfway+to+the+grave

Hollowland, by Amanda Hocking: 5 stars

A deadly mutation of the rabies virus has wrecked havoc on the world, transforming the victims into monsters resembling zombies from a B movie. The only safe place to live is in military controlled compounds. Unfortunately, the compound Remy lives in has just been overrun with zombies and now she’s on the run through a hellish landscape of monsters, weirdoes and escaped circus lions.

This book pulled me right in, immersing me in this new world that Remy and her friends struggled to survive. I loved how Remy was such a strong character. I have to admit to being a little jumpy reading it when I was in a quiet house at night and wondering if that was the dog barking or the death cough of a zombie. 

Intense and absorbing, I recommend this book, unless you’re by yourself, at night, with strange sounds outside…

http://www.amazon.com/Hollowland-The-Hollows-1-ebook/dp/B00466H8JK/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1349251182&sr=1-1&keywords=Hollowland

The Hunger Games, by Suzanne Collins: 5 stars

I get it now, what all the hype was over this book. It was good, really good. Suzanne Collins takes something as familiar as a TV game show and twists it into an evil mechanism to control the population. In the arena, 24 teens must fight to the death; only one victor will leave alive. Sounds grim and gruesome, but somehow the humanity of the characters shines out amidst the darkness. The Hunger is definitely worth reading.

http://www.amazon.com/The-Hunger-Games-ebook/dp/B002MQYOFW/ref=tmm_kin_title_0?ie=UTF8&qid=1346153556&sr=8-2

Alphashock, Episodes 1 - 3, by Sam Best – 4 stars

In a distant future, Chicago is a city-state in a precarious balance between order and riots. Keeping the peace are the Elite Task Forces, and the most highly effective on is Elite Task Force One. Episode 1 of Alphashock pits Task Force One against Anton Olivetti, Prince of one of the Dynasties who rule the city. In Episode 2, they take on the head of one of the Dynasties. But things aren’t quite what they seem and the team is in for a nasty surprise. This SciFi series just keeps getting better as Task Force One is drawn deeper into the political intrigues of the Dynasties in Episode 3. But this time, their mission is unofficial, unauthorized and very personal.

While quite different in style from his full-length novel, Ashes (which is still my favourite), Sam Best keeps up his strong writing style. If you’re looking for adrenalin pumping, action packed adventure with lots of creative futuristic gadgets thrown in, this series might just fit the bill. Gritty and intense, this is a great read if you’re looking for well written, high speed action and adventure. A series definitely worth following; I’ll be watching for Episode 4 of Alphashock.

Episode 1: http://www.amazon.com/ALPHASHOCK-Episode-1-ebook/dp/B0083PD5GU/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1344330630&sr=1-1&keywords=alphashock

Episode 2: http://www.amazon.com/ALPHASHOCK-Episode-2-ebook/dp/B008BYSW7K/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1346153350&sr=8-2&keywords=Alphashock

Episode 3: http://www.amazon.com/ALPHASHOCK-Episode-3-ebook/dp/B0092UD0H4/ref=sr_1_3?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1347353702&sr=1-3&keywords=alphashock