Everneath
Everneath #1
Author: Brodi Ashton
Source: Publisher
Genre: Young Adult
Publisher: Balzer + Bray
 (January 24, 2012)
ISBN-13: 978-0062071132

Last spring, Nikki Beckett vanished, sucked into an underworld known as the Everneath, where immortals Feed on the emotions of despairing humans. Now she’s returned- to her old life, her family, her friends- before being banished back to the underworld… this time forever. 


She has six months before the Everneath comes to claim her, six months for good-byes she can’t find the words for, six months to find redemption, if it exists. 


Nikki longs to spend these months reconnecting with her boyfriend, Jack, the one person she loves more than anything. But there’s a problem: Cole, the smoldering immortal who first enticed her to the Everneath, has followed Nikki to the mortal world. And he’ll do whatever it takes to bring her back- this time as his queen. 


As Nikki’s time grows short and her relationships begin slipping from her grasp, she’s forced to make the hardest decision of her life: find a way to cheat fate and remain on the Surface with Jack or return to the Everneath and become Cole’s…

This was one of those books that you are dying to read and you know you won’t be doing anything else until you read that last sentence on that last page.  I first fell in love with this book upon seeing a preview of the cover on another blog.  Then I continued on and read the summary. It sounded so captivating that I just knew I wanted to read it!

After reading the first chapter I thought Cole was going to be the good guy.  What I came to find out was that Cole was the tempting bad boy that you want to love, but nothing good can come out of a relationship with him.  Jack was the true hero and good guy of the book.  I fell in love with him the moment he entered the story and hoped he would be Nikki’s salvation and white knight.  What I didn’t expect was the way the story ended and had me craving for more!

Be prepared to have tissues on hand for an ending that will rip your heart out and wishing we wouldn’t have to wait so long for then next book in the series.  With Greek myth, characters that hold on and don’t let go, and a plot that flows wonderfully, you will be captured from page one and not wanting the ride to end.

Outstanding book that will stay on my bookshelf for rereading!

*I received this ARC copy free of charge in exchange for an honest review*

Magic Bleeds
Kate Daniels #4
Author: Ilona Andrews
Source: Personal Purchase
Genre: Adult Urban Fantasy
Publisher: Ace (May 25, 2010)
ISBN-13: 978-0441018529

Kate Daniels cleans up the paranormal problems no one else wants to deal with-especially if they involve Atlanta’s shapeshifting community. 


And now there’s a new player in town-a foe that may be too much for even Kate and Curran, the Lord of the Beasts, to handle. Because this time, Kate will be taking on family.

AMAZING!
OUTSTANDING!
FANTASTIC!
This book has me on adjective overload!  There are so many more words I could use to describe my thoughts on this book, but honestly, none of them come close to the awesome that this book is.

I have decided that Curran is now to be called the Sexiest Beast Lord or His Furriness instead of plain Beast Lord.  His Majesty was one of the best parts of this book.  I literally jumped for joy whenever he appeared on the pages and swooned at his sexy form.  I wanted to crawl into the pages and pet his fur and distract him away from Kate.  Seriously, how can Kate even attempt to deny him? I would have crawled all over him in book one, but the authors wait until book four to give us Chapter 17!  I read that chapter three times before moving on to the rest of the book.

In this installment of the series, Kate is up against not only the most powerful enemy yet, but she is also up against her Aunt Erra.  That’s right readers — we get to see her go up against her Father Roland’s sister.  Erra also happens to bring disease wherever she goes at thinks she can defeat Kate. Be prepared for a blood bath when these two collide several times in the book.

Not only can Ilona Andrews deliver the perfect story of suspense, fantasy, fighting and honor, but the author can also deliver some of the best witty and humorous dialogue throughout the chaos. I found so many quotes in this book that I would love to share, but then I would have to quote the whole book!

I have found this series to be a new favorite of mine and has made me discover that Urban Fantasy can be just as great as other genres.  I can’t wait to get my hands on the next book and pick up where Magic Bleeds ends.

The phone rang. I picked it up.
“Are you sitting down?” Curran’s voice asked.
“Yes.”
“Good.”
Click.
I listened to the disconnect signal. If he wanted me to sit, then I’d stand. I got up. The chair got up with me and I ended up bent over my desk, with the chair stuck to my butt. I grabbed the edge of the chair and tried to pull it off. It remained stuck.
I would murder him. Slowly. And I’d enjoy every second of it.
— page 142 Kate and Curran

“I don’t know your wolves.” I looked at Jim. “Why can’t you go if you’re so concerned?”
He sighed. “Because certain people aren’t altogether rational at the moment.  If I came with you, I’d have to answer uncomfortable questions.  I ask questions, I don’t answer them.”
“What kind of questions?”
“Why were you in a vehicle with Kate, alone? What were you wearing? What was she wearing? How long were you there?  Did you do something or did you talk? What was the nature of your discussion? Could this trip have been avoided?”
I rubbed my face.  “So basically you’re scared that His Lordship might get his panties in a bunch?”
— page 255 Jim and Kate

Outstanding book that will stay on my bookshelf for rereading!

Magic Strikes
Kate Daniels #3
Author: Ilona Andrews
Source: Personal Purchase
Genre: Adult Urban Fantasy
Publisher: Ace;
(March 31, 2009)
ISBN-13: 978-0441017027

Drafted into working for the Order of Merciful Aid, mercenary Kate Daniels has more paranormal problems than she knows what to do with. And in Atlanta, where magic comes and goes like the tide, that’s saying a lot.


But when Kate’s werewolf friend Derek is discovered nearly dead, she must confront her greatest challenge yet.

This series has been such a great find to read.  Each one keeps getting better and better.  Seriously, it has been a hard choice on which one is my favorite so far, but I think this one surpassed the first two and became my new favorite of the series.

Derek was always one of my favorite secondary characters and when he is attacked in this book, I literally wanted to rip someone to pieces.  The horrific things the enemy does to Derek was just heart wrenching and I nearly collapsed just like Kate when she went to see him after the attack.  I wanted justice and I wanted it to be just as painful as what Derek had went through.  The way Jim explained his reasoning on disobeying the Beast Lord made me see Jim in a new light as well.  It showed his compassion and loyalty to his friends that I hadn’t really seen in the previous books.

This brings me to the dynamics that are evolving around Kate and Curran.  *swoon* Can this Beast Lord get any sexier?  I fell harder for this character this time around and I am sure other readers will agree that this book was the one that opened our eyes to the sexiness that is called Curran.  His compassion surfaced and showed that he does have a softer side and understands the reasoning in the way members of his Pack did what they did.  Instead of destroying them for what they had done, he surprised me and decided to fight right beside them.  He showed his loyalty back to the Pack and stood ground with them in a bloody battle that could have killed them all.

The sexual tension is stepped up a notch in this book as well.  The bet had to be the most stupid thing out of Kate’s mouth if she truly didn’t have chemistry with Curran, but I think it was one decision her subconscious really wants to happen.  That is one bet that I wouldn’t mind losing if I was betting with Curran myself! *sigh*

The scenes near the end were almost my undoing.  I was swooning with the words and actions from Curran.  I wanted a furry Beast Lord of my own.  I seriously cannot wait to start the next book and see what happens next.  This series has become a serious addiction to me and I can’t break the hold it has on me.

“His Majesty needs a can-I girl anyway. And I’m not it.”
“A can-I girl?” Andrea frowned.
I leaned back. “‘Can I fetch your food, Your Majesty? Can I tell you how strong and mighty you are, Your Majesty? Can I pick your fleas, Your Majesty? Can I kiss your ass, Your Majesty? Can I…”
It dawned on me that Raphael was sitting very still. Frozen, like a statue, his gaze fixed on the point above my head.
“He’s standing behind me, isn’t he?”
Andrea nodded slowly.
“Technically it should be ‘may I’,” Curran said, his voice deeper than I remembered. “Since you’re asking for permission.”
–page 42

“I flexed my wrist, popped a silver needle into my palm, and offered it to him.
‘What’s this?’
‘A needle.’
‘What should I do with it?’
He’d walked right into it. Too easy. ‘Please use it to pop your head. It’s obscuring my view of the room.’
– Kate & Saiman page 63

Outstanding book that will stay on my bookshelf for rereading!