Ladies and Gent's Welcome to Jaz's world. . .

I must admit I had, at first, quite the time getting to like Jasmine Parks. I thought that she would be too rough and sarcastic to be likeable. I was wrong. Within a couple of the chapters her character grew on me - and is one of the most unique characters I have read to date. With that said Jennifer Rardin creates new rules for vampires. Two that stuck out to me were: vampires eat and drink (which in most books they do not) and the second rule is that one fatal blow to either the head or heart will kill them (usually in books a stake to the heart, chop of the head, and then scatter the remains far and wide.) I find that very intriguing. But I digress from the book review.

With all jobs comes secrecy. Now some jobs have more secrets than others. For example a barista at Starbucks might hold a secret to one of their lattes, while a person working for the C.I.A. might hold a secret that has more weight. Jasmine Parks is a C.I.A. agent in charge of killing terrorists both of the natural and supernatural kind. When we meet Jaz Parks she is in a meeting with her boss Pete. One of the worlds leading vampires, working for the CIA, specifically requested to work with her.

Vayl has been dead since 1744 and been working for the CIA for a good time. He requests Jaz because she is smart, skilled, and yes a little crazy (but aren't we all?) After six months together they almost know everything there is to know about each other. Their new mission is somewhere along the lines of "saving the world". They have to go up against a man named Assan. Assan has been parading around as a wealthy plastic surgeon who helps under privilege children look pretty. It is a front after all, and he has been suppling money to one of the more pure evil terrorist groups "Sons of Paradise".

Jaz and Vayl attend one of Assan's charity events at his house. Their mission seems easy. At 7pm attend dinner, 8pm eat the entrees, 9pm assassinate Assan. Sounds so easy, they'd still make time for The Late Night Show. But as one of the memorable lines in the book says "nothing goes according to plan". While Jaz and Vayl scope out the house they over hear two of Assan's goons talking about the final stage of the virus - one that will decimate 90% of the world. Now their plan has completely shifted gears. Assan is not the only player. In fact the list includes one of the "trusted" senators, Vayl's ex-wife who is out for Jaz's blood (and not in the good way), and a slew of other people. They only have a limited time to solve the riddle of the virus, stop and eliminate the terrorists, and oh yeah - save Jaz's soul (you'll understand near the end of the book.)

One you get past Jaz's rough edges she is a really funny, smart, and real character. Plus, it helps that she has feelings for Vayl - and can't act on them. It makes for some very awkward and funny situations :)

Another blog that have reviewed this book are: Wendy's Minding Spot

Other books in the series :

1) Once Bitten Twice Shy

2) Another One Bites the Dust

3) Bitting the Bullet

4) Bitten to Death

5) One More Bite

6) Bite Marks (October 2009)

Once Bitten Twice Shy by Jennifer Rardin New York (c) 2007

Rardin's website is here

Young Adult Challenge

I know I am joining the competition a little late. But rather late than never right? To sign up for the competition on J Kaye's Book Blog click here

The link to the reviews of the books will be on the left hand side of my blog (just look for this photo)

Books I have read for the challenge so far are :

1) Geek Charming by Robin Palmer

2) Secrets of My Hollywood Life by Jen Colonita

3) Dork Diaries by Rachel Renne Russell

4) Diaries of a Wimpy Kid

5) Secret of My Hollywood Life: On Location

6) The 39 Clues Book 1: Maze of Bones

7) 13 Reasons Why

8) Chosen

9) Being Nikki

10)

11)

12)

Book Ideas are

You Maybe by Rachel Vail

LA Candy by Loran Conrad

13 Little Envelopes by

Fragile Eternity by

Blood Chocolate by

Mr. Benedict and the Mysterious Society

Being an orphan is not fun. Feelings of 'unwontedness', 'despair', or 'not fitting in' are some thoughts that seem to haunt you. It's even worse if you are a very bright and talented child, and all the other orphans taunt and tease you. Reynie (Reynard in full) fits right into that category. He has is own private tutor (Ms. Perumal), reads extensively, and can even speak 3 languages. 

One day Reynie come across a newspaper add that asks "Are You A Gifted Child Looking For Special Opportunities?" It tells him to come to a building with only 1 pencil - to take the test. If he does not follow the rules exactly (if he brings say 2 pencils) then he is disqualified. The tests are hard and have 3 levels. The tests filter through many, many children - and only 4 remain. Katy, Sticky, Constance, and finally Reynie. They finally meet Mr. Benedict who tells them the reasonings behind the tests - and the task he has for them. The kids must infiltrate a top secret society that has been broadcasting brain washing messages - and only the children can.

    The task is dangerous for if they fail then the world will fall under the evil plans of Mr. Curtain (who we later learn is Mr. Benedict's twin). Along the way the children learn that they have a family and that they each poses strength that help them out as a whole.

Do the kids finally beat Mr. Curtain and save man-kind? 

The book was ok. I found that at times the passages went on for longer than necessary. But it is a kids book. All in all I'd give it an "ok" rate. It was neither remarkable nor regrettable. 

Another review (far better from mine) is found at BookApex 

The Mysterious Benedict Society by Trenton Lee Stewart (c) 2008

In this Series:

1) The Mysterious Benedict Society

2) The Mysterious Benedict Society and the Perilous Journey 

3) The Mysterious Benedict Society and the Prisoners Dilemma (coming soon)

Kitty Goes to Washington

The closing chapter in "Kitty and the Midnight Hour" is a sad one - I almost cried.

Towards the end of the first book, Kitty is finally becoming a stronger wolf at the irk of the alpha female Megan. Megan has always been jealous of Kitty - and sees the way Carl looks at Kitty. So what would any women do when jealous? Well get rid of the competition of course! Sure it's a little harder when the competition is a werewolf who has superhuman strength and heals a lot quicker than your average bear but thats why you hire hitmen or create a psychotic werewolf to take out the alpha male. Only problem: your target is smarter than you think.

Kitty uncovers the hideous truth of her pack - and challenges Megan. TJ comes to the aide of Kitty and the cost is TJ's life. Carl bans her from her home in Colorado and makes her a lone wolf. She has no choice but to wander the wilderness of the US.

Our Kitty is not scared to travel the United States by herself. She sees it as an adventure which she is more than willing to do. However the lose of TJ weighs her down, and not having a pack is something she misses as well. While on the road she gets a call from her friend Ben (who also happens to be her lawyer). Ben tells her that the US Senate would like her to appear in a hearing for her knowledge on the matter of the Supernatural World - and she has no choice but to show up in DC.

In DC she is stopped by a roadblock and a MIB (Man in Black) asks her to pull over. When she does she is told that Alette, the Master of the City, is offering Kitty her hospitality. Now, we've all read books were the Master of the City kills without remorse and doesn't offer anything without getting anything in return. Alette is not like that; she is 'old world' and still clings to that which made her human.

When Kitty arrives to the Senate hearing she is gets face to face with Senator Duke - a bible thumping senator that believes all that is Supernatural is by caused by demons, and in leagues with Satan and therefore evil. Kitty had hosted the Senator on her talk show a couple months back. The hearings begin with Dr. Flemming - who leads the study of Pre-natural Biology. As the hearings continue, Kitty's time to testify gets pushed back, closer to the full moon which Duke knows and counts upon.

When you get a hunch you follow it right? Kitty has a feeling that Flemming is up to no good, and calls on Cormac for help (Cormac and Kitty become quite good friends). They break into Flemming's lab and find that there are 2 cells - on with garlic paint and the other with silver flecked paint. This 'scientist' knows more than he puts out.

Once again Kitty must play the role of Sherlock Holmes and uncover the darker side of Flemming, Duke, and Leo. Leo is Alettes second in command that will sell her out for his own selfishness.

As the series continues we follow Kitty on her adventures that become more intense, and we see her grow from submissive little wolf to a stronger wolf.

I love how Vaughn mixes the Supernatural with the everyday - it's SiFi without being ridiculous.

Recommend to me by Darla D.

Kitty Goes to Washington by Carrie Vaughn (c) 2006

Next Book : Kitty Takes a Holiday

Kitty and the Midnight Hour

Trying to make a place for yourself in this world can be tough. Your friends, co-workers, family, and even strangers on the street always seem to have advice that is either "what's best in mind for you" or "well meaning". How would you cope though - if you have a pack leader that wouldn't let you be yourself and follow your dreams?

Kitty Norville is trying to balance her wants and need with that of the Supernatural world - a balance that is often hard to keep. She entered the world not by her own choice but by that of a Werewolf out on the prowl. She was in her college years and with a man who took advantage of her; by raping her and then leaving her in a secluded dark park.

Now adapting to her pack, she finds that she is the bottom of the pack - something she doesn't mind too much as long as she can keep her pride and joy - her radio show. They say all good things must come to an end, and our Kitty does not agree to that saying. A local Vampire leader comes to her alpha and demands that she stop her radio show - for it might bring attention to the supernatural world. Wold you let something go that you've worked so hard to create? I did not think so.

Kitty whines and begs for Carl (the alpha pack leader) to let her keep the show after it becomes syndicated, after all she'll be giving Carl a nice fee to let her keep the show. That does not bode well with the Vampires and other pack members especially her best friend TJ. He agrees with Carl (naturally so, since he is the Beta male) and tells Kitty to shut the show down.

One night while doing the show she gets a rather interesting call.

"Hello Kitty I'm in the lobby and I'm here to kill you."

Quickly thinking Kitty knows the only way to save her life is to keep the guy on the line, and then make him her friend. Cormac (the hitman) tells her the rules set forth - he must kill her on air. However, our Kitty is smart and a fast thinker - and comes to the conclusion that both she and Carmac have been set up. She quickly explains this to Cormac who then makes a deal with Kitty.

The death threat on Kitty is only one of many. She now begins to play detective, and finds that all that glitters is not gold within her pack. The police begin to call on her as a retainer to help them solve a slew of murders that have yet to be solved. Can Kitty find out who has been orders the hits - is it the Vampire leader or someone within the pack? Who has been slaughtering helpless victims in the city? Kitty has to solve the riddles while fighting for a place in the world.

Recommended to me by Darla D

Kitty and the Midnight Hour by Carrie Vaughn (c) 2005

Books in this Series:

1) Kitty and the Midnight Hour

2) Kitty Goes to Washington

3) Kitty Takes a Holiday

4) Kitty and the Silver Bullet

5) Kitty and the Dead Man's Hand

6) Kitty Raises Hell

The Battle for the Crown

What would you do if you found out you were pregnant and your uncle (being the King of Light and Illusion) raped you? And on top of that claims that the children you carry are his? Tough situation.

The book begins with Merry in the hospital - hours after getting out of the Faerie Mound. Since she is the first with child her cousin Cel should no longer be in line for the throne. But both courts will see to Merry's death - and now her guards, and her have to fight not only for her life but the life of her unborn. This is no simple task because they have been cast out from both the Seelie and Unseelie courts.

While Merry is in the hospital she gets a special visitor on near and dear to her heart - her brownie grandmother. Her grandmother is bewitched and attacks Merry, causing the guards to kill her grandmother and Marry to fight back at both courts.

Book 7 of the Meridith Gentry series, the battle rages on. Merry is so close to claiming the crown and protecting her guards.

Books in the series are :

1. Kiss of Shadows
2. Caress of Twilight
3. Seduced by Moonlight
4. Stroke of Midnight
5. Mistral's Kiss
6. Lick of Frost
7. Swallowing Darkness
8. Divine Misdemeanors

Wicked good

So I'm dusting off this poor lovely blog. I've read a handful of books, but did not post them. The first book I read was Wicked Lovely by Melissa Marr.

Categorized in the YA section, its not a bad book. It deals with faeries and demons, love, and lose. I'm sure that young teens can feel what the main character feels for the depth of love is not that deep.

Aislinn has always seen the faeries - but told by her grandmother never to look directly at them and never to speak to them. Growing up she has never broken her grandmother's rules - ever, until one night. Keenan the Summer King approaches her - something the faeries never did and asks her on a date. That is the catalyst that will change her world forever. She now has to fight for her life, and the life of her human friend Seth, who's late announced love put a 'love triangle' twist to this book.

I became a little frustrated being inside Aislinn's thoughts when Seth was mentioned. The way she became so sap it frustrated me. It was like Stephanie Meyer and Twilight - in the sense it was almost sufficational love. At the mere thought of Seth she gets all gooey eyed and timid. psh. I did like the fast pace of the book - and how the Winter Girl stood up to the reached Winter Queen.

This is the first in its series.

The Series:

1) Wicked Lovely
2) Ink Exchange
3)Fragile Eternity

I'm trying to get my blogs short and sweet so bare with me as I try different writting styles :P

Wicked Lovely by Mellisa Marr (c) 2007