Hover takes place about three weeks after [b:Gravity|12844575|Gravity (The Taking, #1)|Melissa West|http://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1329368010s/12844575.jpg|17995545]. Now on Loge, Ari is trying to learn all she can about the planet, its inhabitants (the Ancients), and Jackson. She has yet to see another human, but she knows that thousands fled Earth when she did. Zeus said they would be safe on Loge, but while she never fully trusted him, she's learning he's even more devious and cruel than expected. The more she learns, the more she realizes she's in a race against time to save not only herself and those she loves, but an entire race. I know that part of becoming okay with myself and the future, no matter where it takes me, is because of Jackson. On Earth he taught me that there was a world outside of what I had always known. Now here, on Loge, he's taught me that even the strongest, most guarded people have a vulnerable side. I love watching the relationship between Ari and Jackson change and grow. I like the worlds that Melissa West has created. I like that we were given a look at both Earth and Loge. I also like learning more about the Ancients and Ari's friends. What I don't like -- the cliffhanger endings. But, the sting has worn off a bit and I'm anxious for [b:Collide|16032329|Collide (The Taking, #3)|Melissa West|/assets/nocover/60x80.png|21802945], due out sometime in 2014.

** Spoiler Warning: If you haven't read [b:Sanctum|13482750|Sanctum (Guards of the Shadowlands, #1)|Sarah Fine|http://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1353166271s/13482750.jpg|19016498], I recommend you skip this review. I have left it open because the blurb gives away more than I have, but both my review and the blurb are spoilerish. So, go back and start at the beginning! Fractured picks up shortly after [b:Sanctum|13482750|Sanctum (Guards of the Shadowlands, #1)|Sarah Fine|http://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1353166271s/13482750.jpg|19016498]. Lela is back in Rhode Island, as ordered by the Judge, and must now battle the Mazikin who have escaped from the Shadowlands. For her, a lot has changed because of the time she spent in the Shadowlands, but for Diane, her foster mother, only a day has passed since she last saw her. Lela's still a teenager who must stay out of trouble and attend high school. All of which is easier said than done when she's meant to be battling evil and protecting the living. Thankfully for Lela, Malachi and Raphael (their angel-esque companion) are there to help. Soon after, two guards from other cities join their guard as well. Jim, from the Blinding City, has trouble following orders. However, Henry, from the Wasteland, does not. Lela's new leadership position proves challenging, but with the support of the men, they begin hunting the Mazikin. Recently, people in RI have spotted others running on all fours, which the team knows to be a characteristic of Mazikin (spirits that can possess people, not only possessing their bodies, but also accessing their memories and skills). They begin to fear four guards may not be enough to get the job done. Although some battles have been won, the war is just beginning. The team must work together, which proves challenging, if they have any hope of succeeding in their mission. Another challenge - these men have been out of the "real world" for decades and much has changed. Not only that, they are no longer able to kill at will, they must follow societal laws. ... it felt so upside down. Malachi was the leader between us, not me. I wanted him to be in charge, but at the same time I realized he couldn't be. Not here. Not on my turf, where everything he'd learned over the last seventy years would get us in a crapload of trouble."I never expected to be a liability, Lela. I want to be an asset to you. I want to destroy anything that threatens you." The setting of the book differs from that of [b:Sanctum|13482750|Sanctum (Guards of the Shadowlands, #1)|Sarah Fine|http://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1353166271s/13482750.jpg|19016498]. No longer in the Shadowlands, the gang must attend high school, which creates all sorts of new experiences for the guards as well as teenage drama. Regardless, Lela's determined to stay on track. The sexual tension between Lela and Malachi melts the page. Their fragility is almost palpable. The ending will take your breath away! I really like Sarah Fine's writing style and am now fully invested in these characters. I cannot wait for the next installment. I NEED it, but sadly, will have to wait. Thank you to Amazon Children's Publishing and NetGalley for providing an advanced copy.Quotes are taken from the pre-published copy and may be altered or omitted from the final copy.

Captive is a short told from Malachi's perspective. We learn what he was doing when Lela is captured in [b:Sanctum|13482750|Sanctum (Guards of the Shadowlands, #1)|Sarah Fine|http://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1353166271s/13482750.jpg|19016498] and how caught off guard he is by her strength. She was a girl. Not the prettiest he'd ever seen, but there was something about her that made him want to stare for hours. Something mysterious and challenging. Something unbreakable and defiant. He's unsure how to proceed. Cautiously, most definitely. No matter what happened now, no matter who she turned out to be, something had shifted inside of him. Nothing would ever be the same.There are several ways you can snag this baby for your own: (1) Pre-order book 2, [b:Fractured|17667916|Fractured (Guards of the Shadowlands, #2)|Sarah Fine|http://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1373468644s/17667916.jpg|24663476], from Amazon (before 29 Oct 2013) and you'll receive this short for free. Per Amazon, "Download must be claimed by November 28, 2013. Promotion limited to one per customer." (2) Buy it individually for $0.99 on Amazon or borrow it for free if you're an Amazon Prime member.

[ALERT: This book deals with rape, suicide and drug abuse]One of my 2013 favorite reads. Currently, Amazon Prime members can borrow the book for free. I recommend it and not simply because it's free. Sanctum introduces us to Lela Santos who has survived foster family horrors and will do anything to protect herself. Not used to letting anyone get close, Lela is overwhelmed by the friendship Nadia, the popular girl at school, has given her. Nadia's helped her realize she doesn't want to simply survive life, she wants to live it. "Life seemed worth living, and a future seemed worth having ..." So, when Nadia overdoses, she's devastated. While mourning her friend's death, she accidentally falls to her own death. Sanctum tells the story of a girl who is willing to go through hell, literally, to do whatever it takes to save her friend. She does this knowing what she will experience when she gets there - nightmares of the Suicide Gates and what lies behind them have haunted her every night for two years. Once she's there, however, things are even worse than she'd expected. She's beginning to realize that she may never find Nadia or save her if she does. My plan: Get into the city. Get Nadia. Keep us safe. Find a way out. Simple. Malachi (a name that always make me think of the character in the 1984 version of Children of the Corn - ewww) has been in the city for seventy years; he's the Shadowlands' Captain of the Guard. While interrogating Nadia, he learns why and how she came to be there. He is in awe of her strength, tenacity and courage, but worries that alone she will never be able to find her friend or get out alive. In the Shadowlands, it's all about what you NEED versus what you WANT. Until you know the difference, you're not going anywhere. Together, Lela, Malachi, and Ana (another guard) work together to survive the city, find Nadia, and get Lela out.With Sanctum, Sarah Fine has created a type of purgatory (several, actually) that is haunting, intriguing, dark, but not without hope. Parts of the Shadowlands reminded me a bit of "Constantine" and "Defending Your Life", but only a tiny bit. These characters fight not only to survive, but also to forgive and heal themselves. I fell in love with Malachi and admire Lela's inner strength. I am so excited to have found this series! I look forward to their future adventures - Book 2: [b:Fractured|17667916|Fractured (Guards of the Shadowlands, #2)|Sarah Fine|http://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1373468644s/17667916.jpg|24663476] and a special short: [b:Captive: A Guard's Tale from Malachi's Perspective|17733363|Captive A Guard's Tale from Malachi's Perspective|Sarah Fine|http://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1365184671s/17733363.jpg|24808902].Want/Need More? The author publishes entries from Malachi's Journal on Tumblr and shares a map of the Shadowlands on her website.[Rating: 4.5★]

Wow. I was really excited to see another release in this series, which I initially thought was meant to be a trilogy. But, 15% in I had to stop. What a disaster - not just the current state of Pfeffer's Last Survivors' world, but the book itself. {DNF ~ no rating}

The beginning of Biting Bad was a bit ho-hum for me. Merit and Mallory meet over pizza at Saul's when they learn Bryant Industries, local distributor of Blood4You, has been hit by protester group "Clean Chicago". From there things progress as you'd expect. Valentine's Day is approaching and the recent chaos in the city is going to cause Merit and Ethan to scrub their date. Yada yada yada.Up until about the 60% mark, I was able to walk away from the book with no problem. The second half of the book is where things picked up and actually became interesting. I read straight through at that point, anxious to find out whodunnit and why, and was left with an ending that has me looking forward to [b:Wild Things|12958042|Wild Things (Chicagoland Vampires, #9)|Chloe Neill|http://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1370886480s/12958042.jpg|18115366] in Feb 2014. Sadly, the past several books have gone that way for me. They start out just okay, a bit meh, but by the end I'm once again looking forward to the next book. Seems to be a sad recurrence with books within the series lately. I wish the whole book was as exciting as the last half. {Rating: 3.5★}

With Prince of Shadows, Nancy Gideon brings the story told in her Shadows series (a continuation of her Moonlight series) full circle. In [b:Hunter of Shadows|10846905|Hunter of Shadows (Moonlight, #5)|Nancy Gideon|http://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1304405240s/10846905.jpg|15761430], (the first in this quad) Silas MacCreedy, Kendra's cousin, heads to New Orleans looking to secure his clan's place in the Shifter hierarchy. Later, in [b:Betrayed by Shadows|13622428|Betrayed by Shadows (Moonlight, #7)|Nancy Gideon|http://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1349057383s/13622428.jpg|19225925], Brigit, Silas' sister, flees the Terriot clan hoping to find help for Kendra's predicament and finds love in New Orleans in the process. Prince of Shadows gives us the story of what was happening in the Terriot clan while Silas and Brigit were in New Orleans with Max' clan. As the story beings, we see Brigit rushing off and Kendra left behind forced to choose a mate from among the Terriot heirs. There are eight unmated Princes, but only one has ever meant anything to her - Cale. However, that was before she witnessed him stand by while his father murdered those closest to her. While that's true, he's only ever done what was necessary to survive under his father's tyrannical rule with the hope that one day he would be able to rule and strengthen the clan restoring it to its former glory.This series continues to be one of my favorites. Nancy is a great storyteller. I hope this is not the last Moonlight/Shadows story to be told.

Bound by Night, the first in Larissa Ione's new PNR series MoonBound Clan Vampire, is a unique mixture of Native American and supernatural lore. Eighty years ago, humans became aware of the existence of vampires. Twenty years later, humans enslaved vampires - defanging them, torturing them, and making them house slaves. Twenty years ago, there was a vampire uprising and many escaped from and killed their human slavers. Vampires are animals that must always be harnessed. Nicole Martin and her brother, Chuck were the only survivors in the Martin family. The Martins are well-known for Daedalus, "... the company that revolutionized vampire slavery and used vampires like lab rodents to advance human medicine." Nicole, however, feels the company needs to shift their focus more fully on medical advancements. Since losing her family and nanny (house vampire) during the rebellion, she hates vampires, but she doesn't believe they should be defanging, torturing, or neutering them.Because vampire morality rates during childbirth are dangerously high, the ShadowSpawn and MoonBound clans make a trade. The ShadowSpawn clan loaned the MoonBound clan Neriya, a vampire who has a rare ability to delivery babies safely in exchange for weapons. While in their care, Neriya was taken. Riker, a MoonBound vampire, takes point on a rescue mission to free Neriya from the humans. He feels questioning Nicole Martin is the best place to start. I am a big fan of Larissa's writing. I loved her Demonica series and was happy to learn she'd started a new one focusing on vampires. The mix of Native American lore with that of vampires is interesting. I look forward to learning more about the vampires and their clans.Thank you to Gallery, Threshold, Pocket Books and NetGalley for this ARC. Quote taken from the pre-published copy and may be altered or omitted from the final copy.

Super short prequel that is one part love story, one part peek into the start of Ann's RAZORLAND trilogy. I would've loved to learn a bit more, but enjoyed the offering we were given. (3.5 stars)

This is Part 2 that gives us the rest of the story explaining what kept Curran from meeting Kate for their Naked Dinner.  Gordon notes - This should be read before Book 4, MAGIC BLEEDS.  At the end of Part 1, Curran had just been alerted to a death in the Clan Heavy pack.  In Part 2, he's off to investigate.  And, if you know Doolittle, you'll know exactly why Curran didn't make it to Kate's.

“How about you stop bossing me around and just fix me, damn it.”

“What’s the hurry?” Doolittle began examining my legs.  His voice was coming from far away, as if he was speaking from a bottom of a deep stairwell.  “What’s so important?”

Words came slowly.  “I have to meet a girl.”

“Is she special?”

“Yes.”

“Then she will understand.”

The world spun, blinked, and then darkness took me into its mouth and bit down.

She would understand.  I would explain it.

It would be okay.

(show spoiler)

This short can be found on the authors' website here.

(Part 1 is provided again, in case you missed the first post.  Scroll down for Part 2.)

This is Part 2 that gives us the rest of the story explaining what kept Curran from meeting Kate for their Naked Dinner. Gordon notes - This should be read before Book 4, [b:Magic Bleeds|6479550|Magic Bleeds (Kate Daniels, #4)|Ilona Andrews|http://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1311280294s/6479550.jpg|6670775]. At the end of Part 1, Curran had just been alerted to a death in the Clan Heavy pack. In Part 2, he's off to investigate. And, if you know Doolittle, you'll know exactly why Curran didn't make it to Kate's. “How about you stop bossing me around and just fix me, damn it.”“What’s the hurry?” Doolittle began examining my legs. His voice was coming from far away, as if he was speaking from a bottom of a deep stairwell. “What’s so important?”Words came slowly. “I have to meet a girl.”“Is she special?”“Yes.”“Then she will understand.”The world spun, blinked, and then darkness took me into its mouth and bit down.She would understand. I would explain it.It would be okay. This short can be found on the authors' website here. (Part 1 is provided again, in case you missed the first post. Scroll down for Part 2.)

This Curran POV is Part 1 of 2 that will help explain why Curran was absent for the Naked Dinner. In this part of the story, Curran attends a lunch meeting with Aunt B. Raphael tells Curran he is in love with Andrea Nash and they are dating. Andrea is beastkin and, at the time of this short, living within Pack territory despite the fact that she is unaffiliated. She is a knight of the Order and should her nature be revealed and made public, she will lose her job, at the very least. Aunt B asks that Curran "... do nothing. We simply ask that you overlook this matter and allow us time to resolve it in a manner that will be mutually beneficial.” In trade for this request, he asks for honesty. “When I make a decision and you have genuine concerns or reservations, you tell me. If you have doubts we will discuss them privately, but publicly, once a decision is made and announced, you will support me, unconditionally. No more games, no more snide comment, no more clever jokes. I know your job is tough. So is mine. Being the boss sucks, and sparing with me is fun, but I need you and Mahon both. I need your council and wisdom.” Following the meeting, he learns of the death of a Clan Heavy member.This short can be found on the authors' website here.

Oh, how I love it when Gordon treats us to Curran POVs! This one takes place during [b:Magic Bites|38619|Magic Bites (Kate Daniels, #1)|Ilona Andrews|http://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1331612872s/38619.jpg|38381]. Curran is at Fernando's when Kate walks in for her date with Dr. Maximillian Crest. When she spots Curran staring she sends over a bowl of milk. ;) God, I love those two!This short can be found on the authors' website here.

Stacia treats her Downside fans to a (not so) short story, which takes place between [b:Unholy Ghosts|6261189|Unholy Ghosts (Downside Ghosts, #1)|Stacia Kane|http://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1359346082s/6261189.jpg|6444397](#1) and [b:Unholy Magic|6557156|Unholy Magic (Downside Ghosts, #2)|Stacia Kane|http://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1359346230s/6557156.jpg|6749788](#2). Better yet - It's written entirely from Terrible's POV! She definitely deserves some major badass author points for that because, while it's - at times - a struggle to read a book written only in Downspeech, I cannot imagine what it must take to write one. She's done an amazing job and takes the readers right where they want to go (aside from his bed, of course) ... inside Terrible's mind. Initially, I frequently found myself questioning Terrible's thoughts and actions because I am current with the series. I had to remind myself, more often in the beginning of the book, that this takes place early on in the series. So, the relationship between Terrible and Chess is still new and it proves to be a challenge for him; she's in his thoughts all the time now, which creates some complications in his current relationship. He was careful not to sit too close. If he sat too close he might forget and touch her, like resting his hand on her knee or some shit. Hard to remember sometimes that she weren't his, that just cause he wished she was and sometimes felt like she was, ain't meant she was for real. Wrong Ways Down gives us a better understanding of Terrible while we watch him solve a mystery. As the Downside's (and Bump's) enforcer, Terrible has seen a lot. Part of his job is taking care of the people who work for Bump and ensuring their safety. So, when a street-man turns up dead and, worse still, one of the girls is attacked, Terrible's sole mission is to find out whodunnit and make.them.pay. If fists were brains he was the smartest dude in the city, and he couldn't help how that made him feel good. While trying to solve the mystery, Terrible considers iffen he could call in Chess. Bump don't see the point cuz'n no ghost sign, aye? "The only evidence he had that it could be something to do with magic was his own suspicion. Maybe he was just wishing it causen it'd be a chance to see Chess more." He already saw her a fuck of a lot more than he'd ever expected, or hoped. Almost every day. Never would have seen that one coming; iffen he'd been asked two months past he'd have said she may have been the prettiest dame he'd ever met but she seemed like one of the bitchiest too. But turned out she weren't a bitch at all. She was fucking amazing, and iffen he could spend all his time with her he would. However, while his thoughts often stray to Chess, he still doesn't consider himself worthy of a girl like her. Fans are given a peek into Terrible's past, insight on his relationship and fierce dedication to Bump, and why he never decided to try his fighting skills in the professional ring versus on the street.More than ever, I am anxious for book 6, which is currently [b:Untitled|15840729|Untitled (Downside Ghosts, #6)|Stacia Kane|/assets/nocover/60x80.png|21582052], but has a release date set for 3 July 2014. Thankfully, to help ease the long wait, Stacia has another short, [b:Close to You|18111020|Close to You (Downside Ghosts, #5.5)|Stacia Kane|http://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1373713292s/18111020.jpg|25435937], coming out on October 8th.

The Darkest Craving is Kane's story. He carries Disaster. His demon "caused catastrophes everywhere Kane went". For this and other reasons, Josephina Aisling (a Fae) finds him very attractive. She's learned about and followed the Lords' lives by reading centuries worth of stories created by the Fae scribes based on information received from spies who follow the warriors. The Lords are "... stars of the best and worst soap opera in Séduire, the realm of the Fae."Josephina's half-sister, Princess Syndra carries the demon of Irresponsibility. The Fae king has been hunting for a way to remove the demon without harming his daughter, but so far, he's been unsuccessful. Josephine is punished, in place of Syndra, whenever she/her demon causes trouble. Her most recent punishment? "A ticket to the Never-ending - a portal leading into hell." When she stumbled upon Kane chained in hell, she couldn't believe her luck. She sees him as her ticket to freedom and acceptance. After making him promise to help her, she frees him from his binds and gets him to safety.Josephina's humor was hilarious at times, but a bit annoying at others. I have been waiting for Kane's story for years, but I was somewhat disappointed. That said, it was heartbreaking to learn about all that he has suffered and made me like him even more for his strength. It was great learning more about him and seeing him find his HEA, but I found I was more interested in the side stories about Torin and Cameo. So, I'm super excited to read [b:The Darkest Touch|18301663|The Darkest Touch (Lords of the Underworld, #11)|Gena Showalter|/assets/nocover/60x80.png|25790272] due out in 2014, which suggests Torin's story is up next. {Rating: 3.5★}

Magic Rises begins with Kate sparring with Julie or rather trying to get Julie out of her funk and into the training exercise. They jab and poke at each other with their snark, but in the end, Julie gets her way and rushes off. This light-hearted beginning lulls us, makes us happy to see the relationship between the two growing, especially after what Kate went through to save Julie. That sense of peace ends abruptly, however, when Kate is rushed to Doolittle's where two changeling sisters are suffering. They're going lupe, as so many of the Pack's children do, and there's nothing she can do to save them. The one way they can be saved is with a magical solution known as panacea, which is produced by European shapeshifters. Highly guarded and hard to come by, the Pack has been trying to recreate panacea but has had no success.So, when the European packs invite Curran to guard a pregnant changeling, Desandra, and serve as impartial witness to the birth until the inheritance squabbles are settled, he jumps at the offer. He does so because the payment for this job is ten drums of panacea, which will give each baby born to the Pack a 40% better chance of survival. For this, they are willing to venture across "... the ocean in the middle of hurricane season, go to a foreign country filled with hostile shapeshifters, and babysit a pregnant woman, while everyone plots and waits for an opportunity to stab {them} in the back." Once there, they knew they would have to maintain an iron hold on their tempers. As always, that's sometimes easier said than done. From the moment they arrive at Castle Megobari things go downhill.I'll end there as to not spoil anything for anyone. Suffice to say, this book is FULL of intense moments. As always, there is some humor splashed about to break the tension. But, for me, Magic Rises is the best of the series so far. I've no doubt I say that after every book in the series, but it's absolutely true at the time. The series continues to get better with each new release. This writing duo continues to not only up the ante and raise the bar but also surpass it. A book and series lover's dream! Now, we all must suffer the long wait for book #7. Kate's terms of endearment for Curran:Your Furry MajestyYour FurrinessYour FoolishnessHis FurrinessBoy toy / man candy