Review: Black and Deep Desires by Claire Trella Hill

About the Book

Is the vampire in Ophelia’s cellar a man she can save, or a monster out for blood?

From an early age, Ophelia learned to keep her pets away from her unfeeling scientist father or they would disappear into his laboratory, never to be seen again. When her father unexpectedly returns to their isolated Yorkshire estate with a mysterious box, Ophelia’s suspicions are aroused…but nothing prepares her for the bloody business she finds.

Caged in silver and hungry, Salem is out for blood. Someone has betrayed knowledge of vampire existence to humans—but before Salem can discover who, he must escape diabolical experiments seeking the source of immortality. He cannot afford to trust the frustratingly intriguing girl who says she wants to help and smells of orange blossoms. He especially cannot wonder how she would taste.

Even though the darkly mysterious Salem insists he has no soul, that he’s dangerous, Ophelia can’t leave him to be tortured. But to help him escape, she must risk her family’s wrath—which may be a bigger threat than the monster in the cell.

The supernatural bleeds into Victorian England in this captivating YA gothic paranormal romance novel, perfect for fans of Lakesedge, Down Comes the Night, Erin A. Craig, and anyone who longs to run across a dark windswept moor in a nightgown.

Amazon / Goodreads

MY THOUGHTS

Wow! I don't think I can accurately express just how much I absolutely loved this book! My goodness, it was fantastic! Such a beautifully written Gothic romance. I was instantly pulled into the story and completely captivated. I didn't want to put it down.

 

I used to read a lot of vampire romances, but they started to get a bit stale after awhile and were always a bit too steamy for my tastes. I'm happy to say that this book rekindled my love for the genre, all while being a relatively clean read that featured a strong Christian perspective. There was a little bit of language and violence, but, seriously, this book had so many of my favorite things, that I can't complain.

 

I loved the spooky gothic atmosphere. And I loved the characters. (Well, most of them.) Salem and Ophelia were great. Salem was a bit of a grump, but I loved his loyalty, sense of honor, and the fact that he regularly quoted Shakespeare. Ophelia was compassionate and had such a tender heart for others, yet she was fierce and brave too. To say she had a difficult relationship with her family is putting it mildly. I don't think I've disliked characters as much as them in a long time. They were just flat-out horrible, and I was sorry that Ophelia had to deal with them. There were a lot of great secondary characters, too. Addie, Etienne, Faelad, etc. I'd love to read more about them someday.

 

This book took some surprising turns. And it posed some interesting questions that I'll be thinking about. Is anybody beyond redemption? What makes someone a monster?

 

I didn't want this book to end. It was so ridiculously good. It's a definite contender for book of the year. 

 

I received an advanced copy of this book and voluntarily reviewed it. All thoughts and comments are my honest opinion.

FIVE STARS

Review: Between Friends: A City Between Compilation (The City Between #11) by W.R. Gingell

About the Book

What happened to the tie frog? What is the best way of disposing of vampiric watermelon? Exactly how do you get rid of goblins in the spare room?

Friends and foes, Between and Behind—all the little pieces and curiosities that make up Pet’s new world—are here to be seen and delighted in, and put on the shelf beside books 1-10.

Featuring Cloudy with a Chance of Dropbears, All the Different Shades of Blue, and every other Short Thing formerly found on the WR(ite) Blog, along with previously unpublished novelettes and three new, never-before-seen short stories, this compilation completes the main City Between series.

Amazon / Goodreads

MY THOUGHTS

I loved this collection! It was so great being back in this world with these wonderfully weird characters. I didn't realize how much I had missed them. I'd read a couple of these stories before, but most of them were new to me. There were even a few stories that take place after the last book in the series! And, oh my goodness, they made me so happy! This collection is a must for any fan of the series.

- Training the Pet - Training the Pet? More like Pet's training the others, lol!

- Pet vs. Vampire - This was really funny. Pet does what she loves best: annoy the vampire! LOL!

- Widdershins to Deiseil - Pet calls Detective Tuatu for advice.

- Zero Sum Game - Pet gets to ask Athelas three questions.

- Cloudy with a Chance of Dropbears - I'd already read this one, but it was just as good the second time. Five-Four-One, a leprechaun, unwillingly gets sent to the human world. The only way to get home is to kill the kid. ... But, then, the dropbears show up...

- North by Tuatu - This was a Tuatu and North story and it just reiterated the fact that I'd LOVE more tales with these two. Tuatu is such a normal guy and North is this otherworldly being, but together they're this weirdly awesome team! And I'm so here for it!

- All the Different Shades of Blue - I'd already read this one, but, again, it was just as good this time. It's a story following Marazul, a hacker and merman, who gets stuck inside a cafe with Pet. So fun!

- Ties That Bind - The tie frog makes an appearance and annoys Athelas. Too funny!

- Watermelon in the Moonlight - Vampiric watermelons? What? This was crazy, weird, and totally awesome.

- Hockey Sticks at Midnight - A very short story about a girl whose items keep going missing.

- Talking Shop - This takes place after the final book in the series. A guy being chased by tentacles seeks solace inside a tailor's shop. This had a very big twist that totally caught me off guard. Loved it!

- Pins and Needles - Ah! Another one that takes place after the series ends, and OMG! There's so much I want to say, but it's all MAJOR spoilers. This was hands down, my favorite story of the bunch.

- Zero Responsibility - This Zero-centric story took me a minute to get into, but I ended up loving it. What a great way to end the collection!

FOUR STARS

Book Beginnings, First Line Friday, & Friday 56: Between Friends: A City Between Compilation (The City Between #11) by W.R. Gingell

Book Beginnings is a weekly meme hosted by Rose City Reader that asks you to share the first sentence (or so) of the book you're reading. Friday 56 is hosted by Freda's Voice and asks you to grab a book (any book), turn to page 56 or 56% in your ereader and share a non-spoilery sentence or two. I'm also linking up with Carrie at Reading is My Superpower for First Line Friday.

This week I'm featuring Between Friends: A City Between Compilation (The City Between #11) by W.R. Gingell. A spinoff series is coming out very soon, so it was really great visiting this world and these characters again in this short story collection. If you're a fan of clean urban fantasy, definitely check out this series.

About the Book

What happened to the tie frog? What is the best way of disposing of vampiric watermelon? Exactly how do you get rid of goblins in the spare room?

Friends and foes, Between and Behind—all the little pieces and curiosities that make up Pet’s new world—are here to be seen and delighted in, and put on the shelf beside books 1-10.

Featuring Cloudy with a Chance of Dropbears, All the Different Shades of Blue, and every other Short Thing formerly found on the WR(ite) Blog, along with previously unpublished novelettes and three new, never-before-seen short stories, this compilation completes the main City Between series.

Book Beginnings / First Line Friday (From the first short story - Training the Pet)

The house was a mess. There was, in general, some mess to it; this time however, the mess had all the distinct hallmarks of the Pet's influence. 

Friday 56 (From the eighth story of the collection - Ties That Bind)

When Athelas went to fetch the paper that morning, there was a tie croaking at him from the welcome mat.

What have you been reading lately?

Can't Wait Wednesday: Between Friends: A City Between Compilation by W.R. Gingell

Can't Wait Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Wishful Endings that spotlights and discusses the books we're excited about that we've yet to read. Generally, they're books that are yet to be released. It's based on Waiting on Wednesday, hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine.

This week I'm featuring Between Friends: A City Between Compilation by W.R. Gingell releasing December 5.

About the Book

What happened to the tie frog? What is the best way of disposing of vampiric watermelon? Exactly how do you get rid of goblins in the spare room?

Friends and foes, Between and Behind—all the little pieces and curiosities that make up Pet’s new world—are here to be seen and delighted in, and put on the shelf beside books 1-10.

Featuring Cloudy with a Chance of Dropbears, All the Different Shades of Blue, and every other Short Thing formerly found on the WR(ite) Blog, along with previously unpublished novelettes and three new, never-before-seen short stories, this compilation completes the main City Between series.

What upcoming release are you eagerly awaiting?

Review: Brass Carriages and Glass Hearts by Nancy Campbell Allen

About the Book

A steampunk retelling of Cinderella.

Emmeline O’Shea is determined to save the world—single-handedly, if necessary. A strong voice for societal reform, she is the natural choice to deliver a key speech at the end of the International Shifter Rights Organization’s week-long Summit in Scotland.

But when a death threat arrives at Emme’s home, she is immediately placed into protective custody, watched over by none other than her personal nemesis, Detective-Inspector Oliver Reed. The two have crossed paths many times, with disastrous results, but now they will have to work together in order to reach the Summit before midnight of the last day in order to ensure legislation is passed to protect the Shifter community.

As unseen enemies close in around Emme and Oliver, they struggle to reach Edinburgh by any means necessary, only to find Emme’s vindictive stepsister, Oliver’s vampire brother, and a dangerous political minefield awaiting them in Scotland.

Even more difficult is their own refusal to admit that the fiery animosity that once burned between them might be turning into the heat of romantic passion. Could a straitlaced policeman determined to uphold the law and an outspoken activist willing to break the rules ever find true love? Or will all their dreams shatter like glass when the clock strikes midnight?

Amazon / Goodreads

MY THOUGHTS

This was a fun read. The whole series has been a blast. I love a good retelling, and when you add steampunk into the mix, how can I resist?

This was probably my least favorite in the series, but in no way was it bad. I loved that Emme and Oliver finally got their happily ever after, and I enjoyed getting to see the previous characters. It was neat seeing what they were up to now. I did feel like the pacing was a little uneven at times, which made for a slower read than I expected. And while I felt like we got to know Emme really well, Oliver wasn't quite as fleshed-out and three-dimensional as her.

I loved all the nods to Cinderella. I thought the first part was a little light on the retelling aspect and I was beginning to wonder when the fairy tale parts were gonna show up. But they did eventually appear, and I thought they were cleverly done. (I loved Gus Gus!)

If you're a fan of steampunk, or just wanting to give it a try, I definitely recommend this series. I'd say start with book one, though. This one could probably technically stand alone, but there's a lot of backstory that would be missed out on. Plus, Beauty and the Clockwork Beast is one of my all-time favorite retellings.

3.5 STARS

Book Beginnings + Friday 56: Brass Carriages and Glass Hearts by Nancy Campbell Allen

Book Beginnings is a weekly meme hosted by Rose City Reader that asks you to share the first sentence (or so) of the book you're reading. Friday 56 is hosted by Freda's Voice and asks you to grab a book (any book), turn to page 56 or 56% in your ereader and share a non-spoilery sentence or two.

This week I'm featuring Brass Carriages and Glass Hearts by Nancy Campbell Allen, the fourth book in a series of steampunk fairytale retellings.

About the Book

A steampunk retelling of Cinderella.

Emmeline O’Shea is determined to save the world—single-handedly, if necessary. A strong voice for societal reform, she is the natural choice to deliver a key speech at the end of the International Shifter Rights Organization’s week-long Summit in Scotland.

But when a death threat arrives at Emme’s home, she is immediately placed into protective custody, watched over by none other than her personal nemesis, Detective-Inspector Oliver Reed. The two have crossed paths many times, with disastrous results, but now they will have to work together in order to reach the Summit before midnight of the last day in order to ensure legislation is passed to protect the Shifter community.

As unseen enemies close in around Emme and Oliver, they struggle to reach Edinburgh by any means necessary, only to find Emme’s vindictive stepsister, Oliver’s vampire brother, and a dangerous political minefield awaiting them in Scotland.

Even more difficult is their own refusal to admit that the fiery animosity that once burned between them might be turning into the heat of romantic passion. Could a straitlaced policeman determined to uphold the law and an outspoken activist willing to break the rules ever find true love? Or will all their dreams shatter like glass when the clock strikes midnight?

Book Beginnings

Emmeline Castle O'Shea stood at a podium on the balcony of the Municipal Hall for Citizen Affairs and looked out with satisfaction at the murmuring crowd, feeling the energy build in the large room as she finished speaking.

Friday 56

Gus looked at Oliver with sympathy, which reinforced Emme's prior assessment of their new acquaintance. "It is easy to don blinders where family is concerned. The most crucial information for you to know at this point is Lawrence Reed and the vampire Cadre, which he leads, are determined to prevent wide-scale acceptance of shifter reform."

What have you been reading lately?

Review: Between Kings (The City Between #10) by W.R. Gingell

About the Book

G’day. I’m Pet. Heirling. Biter of fae lords. Trouble.

I have a lot of names these days—including my own, real name. Unfortunately for me, someone else knows that name too; not to mention the names of my other heirling friends. Now those heirling friends have disappeared, stolen by the current King Behind for a fight to the death where only one contender to the throne remains.

The rules say there’s no way in and only one way out of that fight, but I’ve always preferred to work outside the rules. I just have to trust my friends to help each other stay alive long enough for me to get them out—without becoming a contender for the throne myself.

Because one thing is for sure: I am absolutely not planning on being the next King Behind.

Amazon / Goodreads

MY THOUGHTS

Wow, I don't even know where to start! What a wild ride! I had mixed emotions going into the conclusion of this series. I didn't want this wonderfully weird adventure to come to an end, but I was so eager to find out how everything would resolve. It didn't disappoint. It did have a bit of a slow start, but things quickly picked up and I was racing through the pages. There were big reveals, surprising twists, and an absolute shocker that left my jaw on the floor. I don't want to say too much more and accidentally spoil something. But if you're an urban fantasy fan, this series is a must read! I can't think of an UF series that I've enjoyed as much as this one.

FOUR STARS

Book Beginnings + Friday 56: Between Kings (The City Between #10) by W.R. Gingell

Book Beginnings is a weekly meme hosted by Rose City Reader that asks you to share the first sentence (or so) of the book you're reading. Friday 56 is hosted by Freda's Voice and asks you to grab a book (any book), turn to page 56 or 56% in your ereader and share a non-spoilery sentence or two.

This week I'm featuring Between Kings, the conclusion to the City Between series by W.R. Gingell.

About the Book

G’day. I’m Pet. Heirling. Biter of fae lords. Trouble.

I have a lot of names these days—including my own, real name. Unfortunately for me, someone else knows that name too; not to mention the names of my other heirling friends. Now those heirling friends have disappeared, stolen by the current King Behind for a fight to the death where only one contender to the throne remains.

The rules say there’s no way in and only one way out of that fight, but I’ve always preferred to work outside the rules. I just have to trust my friends to help each other stay alive long enough for me to get them out—without becoming a contender for the throne myself.

Because one thing is for sure: I am absolutely not planning on being the next King Behind.

Book Beginnings

There are some things in life that you have to learn for yourself. You know: how to make the perfect cup of coffee; how to step between the layers of the worlds without getting stuck somewhere you don't want to be; who you should trust and who you definitely shouldn't. That sort of thing.

Friday 56

"I'm no more the villain of the piece than you are the heroine: everything is a matter of perspective in this life."

What have you been reading lately?

Can't Wait Wednesday: Between Kings (The City Between #10) by W.R. Gingell

Can't Wait Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Wishful Endings that spotlights and discusses the books we're excited about that we've yet to read. Generally, they're books that are yet to be released. It's based on Waiting on Wednesday, hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine.

This week I'm featuring Between Kings (The City Between #10) by W.R. Gingell releasing December 31. I'm kinda sad that this is the last book in the series. I can't believe this is the end. I've loved this series, and the characters, so much.

About the Book

G’day. I’m Pet. Heirling. Biter of fae lords. Trouble.

I have a lot of names these days—including my own, real name. Unfortunately for me, someone else knows that name too; not to mention the names of my other heirling friends. Now those heirling friends have disappeared, stolen by the current King Behind for a fight to the death where only one contender to the throne remains.

The rules say there’s no way in and only one way out of that fight, but I’ve always preferred to work outside the rules. I just have to trust my friends to help each other stay alive long enough for me to get them out—without becoming a contender for the throne myself.

Because one thing is for sure: I am absolutely not planning on being the next King Behind.

What upcoming book are you eagerly anticipating?

Review: Between Family (The City Between #9) by W.R. Gingell

About the Book

When someone tries to threaten me by telling me they know my name, I take that personally.

G’day. I’m not really a pet anymore, but you might as well keep calling me Pet. It’s not like I’m gunna tell you my name anyway. And if I sound stroppy, well, I am. First, I was threatened. Now, someone has cut off my house from the human world and left my emotional support vampire on the human side. On the inside, it’s just me and an emotionally compromised fae; outside, a closed arena in the world Behind, where everyone is out to kill us and a few of that everyone might actually be capable of it.

Yep. The Heirling Trials have begun, and it seems like it’s either be king or be dead when it comes to the world Behind…

Amazon / Goodreads

MY THOUGHTS

I was extremely excited for this book. Not gonna lie, a little nervous, too. The previous one had some jaw-dropping and heartbreaking moments, so I was incredibly curious about what would happen next, and how they'd handle the fallout.

Between Family was great. It was exciting at every turn; I never knew what was coming next. No real shocker there, though. Every book has been a weirdly wonderful and surprising adventure. And with this being the penultimate book in the series, I expected some big things to happen. And, oh boy, do they! Some exciting, others worrisome. And that ending! Why?! I need the next book ASAP! If you're a fan of urban fantasy, don't miss out on this fantastic series.

FOUR STARS

Book Beginnings + Friday 56: Between Family (The City Between #9) by W.R. Gingell

Book Beginnings is a weekly meme hosted by Rose City Reader that asks you to share the first sentence (or so) of the book you're reading. Friday 56 is hosted by Freda's Voice and asks you to grab a book (any book), turn to page 56 or 56% in your ereader and share a non-spoilery sentence or two.

This week I'm featuring Between Family (The City Between #9) by W.R. Gingell.

About the Book

When someone tries to threaten me by telling me they know my name, I take that personally.

G’day. I’m not really a pet anymore, but you might as well keep calling me Pet. It’s not like I’m gunna tell you my name anyway. And if I sound stroppy, well, I am. First, I was threatened. Now, someone has cut off my house from the human world and left my emotional support vampire on the human side. On the inside, it’s just me and an emotionally compromised fae; outside, a closed arena in the world Behind, where everyone is out to kill us and a few of that everyone might actually be capable of it.

Yep. The Heirling Trials have begun, and it seems like it’s either be king or be dead when it comes to the world Behind…

Book Beginnings

Life has come to a pretty mess when you're starting to get paranoid about why you're still alive.

Don't get me wrong; I'm glad I'm alive. I'd just like to know why.

I know, I know; that sounds weird. Let me explain.

Friday 56

"I feel like it's a bad idea to go out again," I said slowly, giving voice to thoughts I didn't quite understand. "Not that it's a bad idea to make sure your parents are okay, but it feels like stuff is closing in on us, and I don't know what direction it's closing in on us from. I don't like it. I don't like that Zero's dad is in here, either."

What have you been reading lately?

Can't Wait Wednesday: Between Family (The City Between #9) by W.R. Gingell

Can't Wait Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Wishful Endings that spotlights and discusses the books we're excited about that we've yet to read. Generally, they're books that are yet to be released. It's based on Waiting on Wednesday, hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine.

This week I'm featuring Between Family (The City Between #9) by W.R. Gingell releasing August 31.

About the Book

When someone tries to threaten me by telling me they know my name, I take that personally.

G’day. I’m not really a pet anymore, but you might as well keep calling me Pet. It’s not like I’m gunna tell you my name anyway. And if I sound stroppy, well, I am. First, I was threatened. Now, someone has cut off my house from the human world and left my emotional support vampire on the human side. On the inside, it’s just me and an emotionally compromised fae; outside, a closed arena in the world Behind, where everyone is out to kill us and a few of that everyone might actually be capable of it.

Yep. The Heirling Trials have begun, and it seems like it’s either be king or be dead when it comes to the world Behind…

What upcoming release are you eagerly awaiting?

Review: The Witching Hours: The Vampire Knife by Jack Henseleit

About the Book

The first book in a spooky new series for only the bravest of readers--perfect for fans of The Spiderwick Chronicles. Now in paperback!

Siblings Anna and Max love scary stories, but when they find an enchanted knife on a dark and stormy night in Transylvania, truth becomes stranger than fiction. Suddenly, they find themselves dragged into a world of monsters and magic...a world where it soon becomes all too clear that vampires are not just a fairy tale.

And when Max mysteriously vanishes, it's up to Anna to find him. But can the siblings find a way to survive their own scary story?

This deliciously creepy book is a modern Brothers Grimm tale, full of adventure and fun frights that will have readers jumping in their seats and ripping through the pages to find out what happens next.

Amazon / Goodreads

MY THOUGHTS

This was a super fun and quick read. I kinda forgot that I had a copy of this book, so when I stumbled upon it again, I had to read it. And I'm glad I did. After reading two serious and emotional books, this was the perfect read to follow them up with. It made me laugh and kept a smile on my face. It also had just a hint of spookiness, which I really enjoyed. And it held my full attention from beginning to end.

Anna and Max had a really sweet sibling relationship. It was nice to read about a brother and sister who got along and supported each other, instead of fighting the whole time, which seems to be the common thing in books like this. I appreciated that.

This would be a perfect read for Halloween. And I'm sure readers of all ages will enjoy it. I'll definitely be on the lookout for the rest of the series.

FOUR STARS

Review: A Void of Magic (Kennedy Rain #1) by Sandy Williams

About the Book

They trusted her to keep the peace between the paranorms. They made a mistake.

Kennedy escaped the family business when she turned eighteen. Now, an ill-timed vacation pulls her back to The Rain Hotel, the only known null zone on the planet. It’s a place where vampires can see the sun rise and werewolves can avoid the lure of the full moon. And it would be the perfect place for a paranormal wedding…if the bride wasn’t the local alpha’s daughter and the groom the scion of a vicious master vampire.

With a sexy werewolf determined to sabotage the wedding and dark forces threatening The Rain, Kennedy’s life is thrown out of balance when she’s forced to confront a past she swore to avoid. Ultimately she must choose: will she maintain the stability of the supernatural world…or will she destroy it.

Amazon / Goodreads

MY THOUGHTS

I absolutely loved this book! I'm a big fan of this author's Shadow Reader series, so I was thrilled when I found out about this new one. This first installment did not disappoint. It was fast-paced and hard to put down. And I loved the whole idea of the null zone and the Rain Hotel. It was so unique.

Kennedy's an awesome character. She's got a take-charge attitude and never backs down from a challenge. It seemed like nothing was going right for her. She had to deal with one crisis after another after another, but she kept her chin up and did what needed to be done. Even though she would've rather been doing anything else. I admired that about her. Was her attitude abrasive at times? Sure, but in the kind of world she lives in, she pretty much had to be that way to survive.

This story took some twists and turns that I did not expect. Wow, I didn't see that coming! The next book in the series can't come out soon enough! If you're a fan of urban fantasy, I highly recommend checking this book out.

I received an advanced copy of this book and voluntarily reviewed it. All thoughts and comments are my honest opinion.

FIVE STARS

Can't Wait Wednesday: A Void of Magic (Kennedy Rain #1) by Sandy Williams

Can't Wait Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Wishful Endings that spotlights and discusses the books we're excited about that we've yet to read. Generally, they're books that are yet to be released. It's based on Waiting on Wednesday, hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine.

This week I'm featuring A Void of Magic (Kennedy Rain #1) by Sandy Williams releasing July 27. I read this author's first urban fantasy series, Shadow Reader, about ten years ago and loved it. When I saw she was releasing a new series in this genre, I got so excited! I can't wait to get my hands on a copy!

About the Book

They trusted her to keep the peace between the paranorms. They made a mistake.

Kennedy escaped the family business when she turned eighteen. Now, an ill-timed vacation pulls her back to The Rain Hotel, the only known null zone on the planet. It’s a place where vampires can see the sun rise and werewolves can avoid the lure of the full moon. And it would be the perfect place for a paranormal wedding…if the bride wasn’t the local alpha’s daughter and the groom the scion of a vicious master vampire.

With a sexy werewolf determined to sabotage the wedding and dark forces threatening The Rain, Kennedy’s life is thrown out of balance when she’s forced to confront a past she swore to avoid. Ultimately she must choose: will she maintain the stability of the supernatural world…or will she destroy it.

What upcoming release are you eagerly anticipating?

Double Review: A couple of gaslamp mysteries

Manners and Monsters by Tilly Wallace

Hannah pushed into the room she loved the most. Could there be anything more marvellous in the world than a library? Other women might prefer a ballroom, or a millinery shop, but Hannah swooned over books.

Hannah is not the typical lady of society. Though once accepted by the elites, she is now ostracized. She assists her father, the so-called "mad scientist", in his research of Unnatural Creatures and their diseases. A most improper role for a young lady. And the fact that her mother was one of the first Afflicted doesn't really help her case much either.

But she doesn't let that get her down. She's quite content with her life. She knows she's loved by those who really matter. And while she wouldn't mind a few more friends, and though she secretly longs for a true romance, she's perfectly fine with how things are. Honestly.

While attending her best friend's engagement party, a footman is murdered. His brain is missing, so the obvious suspect is one of the Afflicted women who attended the party. Because of her expertise in the Afflicted, Hannah reluctantly partners with the rude Lord Wycliff to catch the murderer.

I LOVED this story! It was so much fun! Hannah was an exceptionally likable character, and Lord Wycliff had a Mr. Darcy-like charm that I just couldn’t resist. I did guess the murderer fairly early on, but that didn't hinder my enjoyment at all. In fact, I didn't want the story to end. I’m so glad there are many more stories in this series for me to enjoy. I can’t wait to see what these characters are up to next.

4.5 STARS

Amazon / Goodreads

The Werewolf of Whitechapel by Suzannah Rowntree

Liz has no memory of her life before the werewolf attack that scarred her and sent her to St. Botolph's. She's vowed to find the truth of her attack and make the monster pay for what he did to her. And her new position as lady's maid and bodyguard to a minor royal is the perfect opportunity to find answers. Because of her new position, she'll be in regular contact with the monsters (werewolves, vampires, sirens) since they populate the Continental Royal ranks.

Fresh into her new job though, Liz finds out her best friend from St. Botolph's has been murdered, and now she has a new mission. Find the murderer and make them pay.

I fully expected to love this one, but I couldn't get into it. It might've just been my mood, though. I had just finished a heavy and emotional read right before this one and was ready for a light and fun diversion, which this one was described as. And while there were moments of lightness and laughs here, it was also darker and much more... political... I guess you could say, then I anticipated. And while that's not a bad thing, it just was not what I was in the mood to read.

I was halfway through with it and moderately intrigued by the mysteries, so I thought I'd set it aside for a little while and come back to it. I picked it back up about three weeks later and still couldn't get into it. I still had the same issues with it. The things that irritated me before irritated me even worse. I was just as frustrated with certain things. And Liz was even more unlikable than I remembered. I hate not finishing a book, and I hate writing a bad review even more, but I'm sad to say I abandoned this book around 60%. It had a lot of promise, it just wasn't for me at this time.

DNF

Amazon / Goodreads

Review: Between Decisions (The City Between #8) by W.R. Gingell

About the Book

Life is complicated.

I mean, life has always been complicated, but there’s a difference between monsters-are-trying-to-kill-you complications and monsters-are-in-love-with-you complications. I’m still not sure which is more dangerous.

G’day. I’m Pet. Two-thirds of a pet, anyway: the vampire isn’t claiming ownership these days, but he’s definitely encroaching. On the list of other encroaching complications is the threat of heirling trials, a certain fae lord, and a mysterious librarian—not to mention the thing that’s killing people on Hobart’s waterfront…

One day, I’ll have a normal life. Today is not that day.

Amazon / Goodreads

MY THOUGHTS

Oh my goodness! This book, y'all! I don't even know where to start. That ending? AHHHH! It tore my heart to shreds! We finally got some answers. Oh, man, do we get answers! Were they the answers I wanted? No. Was I surprised? Not really. I always suspected. The clues were all there, but I hoped my suspicions were wrong. I so badly wanted to be wrong.

Sorry for this incoherent mess of a review. I really don't know what to say. This book just about wrecked me. And I really do need the next one, like, right now. If you haven't started this series yet, do yourself a favor and grab yourself a copy of book one, and be prepared for an unforgettable and weirldly wonderful ride.

FIVE STARS

Book Beginnings + Friday 56: Between Decisions (The City Between #8) by W.R. Gingell

Book Beginnings is a weekly meme hosted by Rose City Reader that asks you to share the first sentence (or so) of the book you're reading. Friday 56 is hosted by Freda's Voice and asks you to grab a book (any book), turn to page 56 or 56% in your ereader and share a non-spoilery sentence or two.

This week I'm featuring Between Decisions (The City Between #8) by W.R. Gingell. 

About the Book

Life is complicated.

I mean, life has always been complicated, but there’s a difference between monsters-are-trying-to-kill-you complications and monsters-are-in-love-with-you complications. I’m still not sure which is more dangerous.

G’day. I’m Pet. Two-thirds of a pet, anyway: the vampire isn’t claiming ownership these days, but he’s definitely encroaching. On the list of other encroaching complications is the threat of heirling trials, a certain fae lord, and a mysterious librarian—not to mention the thing that’s killing people on Hobart’s waterfront…

One day, I’ll have a normal life. Today is not that day.

Book Beginnings

Housemates can be a handful. Mine more than most, but that's to be expected when two are fae and one's a vampire.

Friday 56

"Don't know how you lot lived without me," I said. "Isn't it fun when all the stuff you thought you knew might not be true?"

What have you been reading lately?

Review: Soulless (Parasol Protectorate #1) by Gail Carriger

About the Book

Alexia Tarabotti is laboring under a great many social tribulations. First, she has no soul. Second, she's a spinster whose father is both Italian and dead. Third, she was rudely attacked by a vampire, breaking all standards of social etiquette.

Where to go from there? From bad to worse apparently, for Alexia accidentally kills the vampire -- and then the appalling Lord Maccon (loud, messy, gorgeous, and werewolf) is sent by Queen Victoria to investigate.

With unexpected vampires appearing and expected vampires disappearing, everyone seems to believe Alexia responsible. Can she figure out what is actually happening to London's high society? Will her soulless ability to negate supernatural powers prove useful or just plain embarrassing? Finally, who is the real enemy, and do they have treacle tart?

Amazon / Goodreads

My Thoughts

Soulless had been languishing on my TBR list for way too long and I'm so glad I finally read it. It was so much fun!

The world building was great. I love a steampunk setting and when you add supernatural elements, I'm even more stoked. Here we have vampires, werewolves and ghosts. They're not hiding in the shadows, but are very much known to the public and are a vital part of society. The vampires in this book are very interesting and rather different from what I'd previously read. They group together in “hives” and have a somewhat bee-like structure to their society. It's all very intriguing. The werewolves and ghosts were pretty much what I expected them to be though.

Alexia was a hilarious and all-round fun heroine to read about. She always had a perfectly-timed witty or sarcastic comment for everything. Her and Lord Maccon were perfect for each other. Their banter was entertaining and their chemistry was off the charts! And I can't forget to mention Lord Akeldama. My favorite character, he definitely stole the scene every time he showed up.

I'm very eager to check out book two to see what happens next.

NOTE: This is not a clean read. It does contain some extra steamy scenes.

Four Stars

Review: Between Cases (The City Between #7) by W.R. Gingell

About the Book

G’day. I’m still here. Still Pet.

Well, I’m only two thirds of a Pet these days, but you might as well call me Pet anyway. Everyone does: everyone but the vampire, that is.

Life is more unbalanced these days—cases are cutting closer to home than usual. I thought I was the only one, but there are others like me: kids whose parents were murdered just like mine. Stuff that never fit into place before is beginning fall into place.

And my psychos are getting really weird. I mean, they’ve always been weird, but now they’re getting weirder.

Why would a fae lord decide to collaborate with humans?

Why has the fae steward started sneaking out at night?

And why is the vampire reading romance novels?

Amazon / Goodreads

My  Thoughts

Oh my goodness, y'all! This was an outstanding addition to the series. It's my favorite so far. So much happens! There's some reveals and answers and, of course, more questions. It's fast paced with lots of action and tons of humor. There's even a little bit of romance! Gosh, I'm so excited to find out what happens next!

My favorite part of these books is watching the ever evolving relationship between Pet and her three psychos. So much progress has been made with all of them and even though there's still a few trust issues, it seems like there's a really great friendship being built there.

I want to say so much more but it would all be spoilers. I'll just end with a big recommendation for this series. If you're a fan of urban fantasy, do yourself a favor and pick up a copy of these books. It's so much fun. Start at the beginning because each book builds on the previous one.

Five Stars