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

The Shadow of Black Wings, by James Calbraith: 4 stars

Imagine a really well written historical fiction, taking place in the mid 1800’s, focusing on the adventures and intrigues occurring in and around imperial Japan. Now add an element of alternative history: the Roman Empire was never vanquished and is vying with other European powers for access to the Orient. And then top that off with a rich layer of dragons, magic and other fantasy elements. 

That’s what you have with The Shadow of Black Wings. James Calbraith does a wonderful job at weaving fact and fantasy into an alternative but very realistic history that pulls the reader into its richness. I’m definitely going to be reading the next book in the series.

http://www.amazon.com/Shadow-Black-Wings-Dragon-ebook/dp/B008FS5RPC/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1347352888&sr=8-1&keywords=The+Shadow+of+black+wings

Skin Games, by Adam Pepper: 5 stars

You think you know the story: good kid grows up on the rougher side of the tracks; a mafia henchman takes the kid under his wing, shows him the ropes. Same old, right? Not this time. Pepper takes that story and does what he does best: takes the whole thing up several notches to a brand new level. Characters in this novel lived and breathed in the room while I read. Tension, drama and adrenalin burst through in every chapter. While I loved Symphony of Blood, I think Pepper outdid himself on this one. 

I give out 3 stars really easily, 4 stars not so much, but 5 stars… A novel really has to earn those, and Skin Games definitely did.

http://www.amazon.com/Skin-Games-crime-drama-ebook/dp/B006T80SPY/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1349250800&sr=1-1&keywords=Skin+Games