88) Stakeout at the Vampire Circus by Kevin J. Anderson

The Blurb :

Zombie P.I. Dan Shamble and his ghost girlfriend are called to the Vampire Circus when a fortune teller’s cards go missing. Not exactly the glamorous life, but the stakes escalate when a vampire trapeze act goes dead wrong, and Shamble discovers even more skeletons in the closet than the ones that live there.

As he shuffles for clues through an unnatural cast of carnies, he faces a slate of suspects that could freak out even the most daring detective—a werewolf lion tamer, a fat lady with an enormous secret, an undead ringmaster…and what could be scarier than a circus clown? The only thing certain is that the show must go on—dead or alive.

My Thoughts :

When I added this book to my wishlist I didn't realise that it was just a short story.  So it was a surprise to see it was so short when I started reading it.  However it didn't matter that this was only a novella because it was a great way to see what this series is really like.  The cover looks good and the blurb sounded terrific but I knew I was taking a gamble by trying a new author and something that is a little different.  I think it paid off though.

In theory I liked this one.  I am not sure if I would like a full sized story but I was quite impressed by the concept and characters.  Unfortunately this short story takes place after the debut in the series so I did find myself a little lost in regards to who was who and why things were the way they were.  The author did add some explanations but they were, as the story, short.

The mystery wasn't very exciting and although there was some action there wasn't really any depth to the whole thing.  This was just a small look into the series so I wasn't expecting too much more but there was a lot of promise shown and I found the characters very interesting.  The general feeling and style reminded me a lot of the Harry Dresden series by Jim Butcher and the work of Justin Gustainis.

Dan Shamble the Zombie PI has showed a lot of promise and the story left me feeling that the concept for this series is different and unusual enough to make me want to read more.   Stakeout at the Vampire Circus has left me intrigued enough to add the first book to my wishlist so I can find out more about this PI.   Hopefully I will get to meet him again sooner rather than later.


  

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87) Bled & Breakfast by Michelle Rowen

The Blurb :

Fledgling vampire Sarah Dearly knew what she was getting into when she married master vampire Thierry de Bennicoeur. As an agent of the Ring, Thierry is sent all over the world to solve vampire crimes and keep them secret from humans. And now Sarah’s on the job with him—for better or worse.

Right after their wedding in Las Vegas, Sarah and Thierry get their next assignment: Three vampires have gone missing in Salem, Massachusetts, and they need to find out why. Their contact in Salem turns out to be a local lothario with a penchant for witches, but before he can help them, he suddenly goes up in smoke—leaving behind nothing but a stain on the ground and a seemingly impossible mystery.

Did a witchy ex-mistress cast a deadly spell, or is there something even more sinister happening to the vampires of Salem? Getting to the truth may require raising the undead, with a little help from the owners of a vampire-friendly bed and breakfast. But uncovering Salem’s darkest secrets may drag some of Thierry’s own past into the light.

My Thoughts :

Although Michelle Rowen has a lot of books to her name I have to admit that I haven't really taken the time to read her work.  I believe I read at least one of her books (at least my Goodreads informs me so) but I can't really remember it.  I also know that I have a few of her books on my wishlist but why I haven't read them is a mystery to me because she really does write a good book.

I am not totally sure if I like Sarah and Thierry.  There is something a little too business like about their relationship and I am not totally feeling the love.  However their lives and the mysteries they have got involved in so far are well worth reading about.  I especially enjoyed this installment which was set in Salem. Of course, as expected from the location, there were witches involved but there was also some nice ghost elements attached as well.  The plot twisted and turned till the very end but I already had my suspicions of who was behind it all.

The writing style is nice and makes the story easy to follow.  There are some funny parts now and again to stop things from getting to serious and I found myself giggling on a few occasions.  It seems that the characters will move around in every book making them both the only people you really need to get to know but there were enough characters involved in this magical paranormal mystery to stop it from getting boring.

A paranormal cozy mystery is something I can't pass up on so I am happy this series has come along and has finally gotten me to pick up something by this author.  I quite enjoyed the first installment, Blood, Bath & Beyond and now I can add the sequel to my list.  It seems this is a series I was meant to read and I have started looking into this authors other work.  Which lead me to the discovery that there are more books about the characters from this series.  While these new installments are called the 'Immortality Bites Mysteries' there is also an 'Immortality Bites' series.

Well worth checking out if you already know this author.  If, like me, you haven't really had much to do with Michelle's work so far you may want to check this series out and take it from there.  I certainly have an interest in her other books.  Just a matter of making more time for reading ;)




  

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86) Notorious Nineteen by Janet Evanovich

The Blurb :

New Jersey bounty hunter Stephanie Plum is certain of three truths: People don’t just vanish into thin air. Never anger old people. And don’t do what Tiki tells you to do.

After a slow summer of chasing low-level skips for her cousin Vinnie’s bail bonds agency, Stephanie Plum finally lands an assignment that could put her checkbook back in the black. Geoffrey Cubbin, facing trial for embezzling millions from Trenton’s premier assisted-living facility, has mysteriously vanished from the hospital after an emergency appendectomy. Now it’s on Stephanie to track down the con man. Unfortunately, Cubbin has disappeared without a trace, a witness, or his money-hungry wife. Rumors are stirring that he must have had help with the daring escape . . . or that maybe he never made it out of his room alive. Since the hospital staff’s lips seem to be tighter than the security, and it’s hard for Stephanie to blend in to assisted living, Stephanie’s Grandma Mazur goes in undercover. But when a second felon goes missing from the same hospital, Stephanie is forced into working side by side with Trenton’s hottest cop, Joe Morelli, in order to crack the case.

The real problem is, no Cubbin also means no way to pay the rent. Desperate for money—or maybe just desperate—Stephanie accepts a secondary job guarding her secretive and mouthwatering mentor Ranger from a deadly Special Forces adversary. While Stephanie is notorious for finding trouble, she may have found a little more than she bargained for this time around. Then again—a little food poisoning, some threatening notes, and a bridesmaid’s dress with an excess of taffeta never killed anyone . . . or did they? If Stephanie Plum wants to bring in a paycheck, she’ll have to remember: No guts, no glory. . . .

My Thoughts :

I forgot how much I loved Stephanie Plum until I read book #18 a couple of weeks ago.  So the idea of #19 still not being read was annoying me slightly and I decided I needed to get a copy as soon as possible.  While over on Audible.com I noticed that Nototious Nineteen was read by Lorelei King (she also narrates the Charley Davidson series by Darynda Jones) and I just couldn't resist using my credit to listen to the book.  She is a spectacular narrator and as soon as the file was on my iPod I started listening.

Everything that I expected and much more was inside this 19th installment.  Stephanie managed to blow up at least two cars and got tasered, posioned, cut and nearly blown up herself.  Madcap action the whole way through and loads of dieting tips from her sidekick Lula.  Also some nice 'babe' moments from Ranger and some 'Cupcake' sweetness from Morelli.  The whole gang was involved and you know it is going to be good when Grandma Mazur starts packing heat.

Laughing alert!  This audiobook isn't one to listen to on public transport.  I am sure some people thought I was up to something because I must have had a constant huge smile on my face and then suddenly started laughing.  My rolling eyes must have also had some people worried about my health but if they could hear what I was hearing...wow this book was just amazingly good and funny!

If you are a fan you will love this book as much as I did and if you haven't yet tried this series, well you should seriously consider it.  I always feel so good after a Stephanie Plum episode and even now, a few days later, I still find myself smiling and giggling when I remember certain things that happened in this book.  Great plot and highly entertaining! Can't wait for more!




 

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Monthly Giveaway Reminder!

The Monthly Giveaway is in full swing!  Have you already voted and entered?

I am feeling very lucky to have already read the five books on offer this month because to be honest it is a hard choice!  Which one do you want to win?  Here are the links to the books on offer :


Full Blooded (Jessica McClain #1) 
by Amanda Carlson


Drop Dead Beauty (A Ghost Dusters Mystery #5) 
by Wendy Roberts (e-book version only!)


The Shambling Guide to New York City 
(The Shambling Guides #1) 
by Mur Lafferty


Dead Man's Deal (The Asylum Tales #2) 
by Jocelynn Drake


A Witch's Handbook of Kisses and Curses (Half Moon Hollow #2) 
by Molly Harper



To pick which book you would most like to win just go vote in this poll.  Then enter via the giveaway widget.

You still have a few days left until the rafflecopter widget stops taking entries.  So make sure you check to see if you have won or even if you can earn more entries.

Not sure how the giveaway works?  Want to know more?  Just check out the original Monthly Giveaway posting!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Newsletter subscribers! If you have not confirmed your email address then you will not be added to the draw!!!

The poll will stay open for votes until Monday 22nd of June 2013 4pm (all times are in Central European Time). The winner will be announced within days of the contest closing.

Enter your email address:   Delivered by FeedBurner

Use the Bookdepository or Amazon links/banners to keep the prizes coming! 
 Oh and advertise Amberkatze's Book Blog wherever you can ;)

  

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85) Imaginable by J. Meyers

The Blurb :

Twins Sera and Luke Raine’s unusual abilities are growing. Sera is healing vampires now, making them human again. And, at times, Luke can actually change the future he Sees.

But Sera’s healing has dangerous consequences, and though Luke is altering the outcome of more visions, he can’t control them yet.

Now Sera is in danger as the dark creatures of the Realm seek to use her. As Luke struggles to master his gift in order to save his sister, he discovers even more about his powers.

And what he learns just may put him in greater danger than Sera has ever been.

My Thoughts :

It seems like forever since I read Intangible, the first book in this Young Adult series.  I remember enjoying the book and looking forward to reading the sequel at some point.  No rush but interested.  So when the author offered me a copy of Imanginable it wasn't a hard question to answer!

Intangible felt so far away but when I started reading this second installment I didn't feel lost or confused.  I fell back into the world very easily and knew who was who and what was what without too much trouble.  I did get the feeling that there were too many people involved but I managed to keep track of them all and started to enjoy the plot that unfolded.

This is a Young Adult series but it is quite grown up.  I actually forgot that some of the characters were supposed to be Young Adults because they acted very grown up.  In some cases the characters were much older than they seem with fae and vampires having some long histories to brag about.  All in all this is one you can share with the younger reader in your life or just read because you like the concept.

There are some really interesting paranormal aspects in this series and they are developing nicely.  I like the abilities Sera and Luke have and the mix of vamps and fae seemed over the top at first but as the story continues and twists things together, well it is nice and unique.

Not a series I am rushing out to buy but it one that I have taken a passing interest in.  I enjoyed this new installment and am curious how the author will keep building things up for Luke and Sera.  It could go too far and go over the top but right now there is a great plot and concept developing and I will definitely be checking out the next part.

 

     

   

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84) Pros & Cons by Janet Evanovich & Lee Goldberg

The Blurb :

FBI special agent Kate O’Hare has made it her mission to nail international con artist Nicolas Fox. When she discovers his plot to plunder a venture capitalist’s twentieth-story Chicago penthouse of all its cash and treasures at the same time that the self-proclaimed “King of Hostile Takeovers” is getting married, Kate is 85 percent—okay maybe 92 percent—sure that she’s finally going to bag Nick Fox.

Problem is, first Kate has to convince her boss, building security, and maybe even herself, that wedding planner Merrill Stubing is actually Nicolas Fox. Second, she has to figure out how to corner and capture him without disrupting the event of the year. And third, what’s going to happen once O’Hare finally gets her hands on Fox? It’s going take a pro to catch a con before the fireworks over Lake Michigan go off.

My Thoughts :

Pros & Cons is a short story that introduces a new series by Janet Evanovich.  Teaming up with Lee Goldberg, this O'Hare & Fox prequel shows that the authors are well suited to each other.  The idea is fun and well written and I have to say that I enjoyed this short story.   It made me laugh and giggle in all the righ places and it also left me excited about what could come next.

The title compliments the book plot by showing us the 'pro' and the 'con'.  The name of the series O'Hare and Fox is actually quite amusing when you have read this novella and think about it.  I think the authors have put a lot of work into this concept and it could actually be a hit.

There is a sneek peek of the debut first novel in the series, The Heist, but I decided not to check it out.  I will definitely be getting a copy of the book soon due to this great introduction but I know if I read the sneek peek that I won't be able to stop myself buying The Heist right now.  I know that is the point...but I am not being sucked in to that ploy! ;)

If you are an Evanovich fan then you will really want to check this series out and Pros & Cons is a great way to see what the series will involve.  I believe it is a free ebook (In Europe we don't get the free stuff...) but that doesn't really matter.  The small price of this read is worth the fun, mystery and mayhem that takes place in the short story.



 

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83) Violet Tendenices by Jaye Wells

The Blurb :

Former assassin Sabina Kane heads to Los Angeles to find her kidnapped sister. Helping her on the mission are her hot mage partner, her Mischief demon minion, and a Vanity demon named Valva. The problem? She's got to figure out how to find her sister without letting her enemies know she's back in town. But when Sabina seeks out an old ally -- a vampire strip club owner named Fang -- for help, Sabina learns the hard way that Vanity demons don't know the meaning of the phrase "low profile."

My Thoughts :

I was a huge fan of the Sabina Kane series and when I saw this novella was finally available to me (some Kindle books just don't like Europe!) I couldn't resist snapping it up.

There was everything I expected inside this short story.  Gighul getting into trouble and some nice action moments.  It made me remember how amazing this series is/was and made me sad to know there will not be any more books about Sabina and her Mischief demon.  Also ui showed how great this author is.  Her ability to write a great short story without losing the feel for the series and characters is to be praised.  Violet Tendencies didn't feel rushed or forced.  It just felt right.

If you haven't already tried this Paranormal Urban Fantasy delight of a series then you really need to check them out.  Already finished with Sabina but missed this little snack?  Make sure you take some time to have a reunion with Sabina and her friends.  You won't regret it!

Oh and Jaye Wells fans should keep an eye on Amazon!  She has some good looking new stuff coming out soon!

     

   

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