Kicking It

Alex Craft #2.5 - Ruby Red

by Faith Hunter (Editor), Kalayna Price (Editor), Rachel Caine (Contributor)

Featuring stories by FAITH HUNTER * KALAYNA PRICE * RACHEL CAINE * CHLOE NEILL * ROB THURMAN * SHANNON K. BUTCHER * LUCIENNE DIVER * CHRIS MARIE GREEN * CHRISTINA HENRY
 
New York Times bestselling author Rachel Caine has modern-day potions witches Holly and Andrew facing off against a firebrand politician who wears literally killer boots in a Texas-sized rodeo of trouble.
 
Boot-loving Cadogan vampire Lindsey must team up with off-again, on-again vampire partner Luc when a woman from her past is targeted by supernaturals in New York Times bestselling author Chloe Neill’s all-new adventure.
 
And New York Times bestselling author Rob Thurman features Trixa Iktomi from her Trickster series dealing with magical vengeance and magical footwear.
 
Taking kick-ass urban fantasy literally, USA Today bestselling authors Kalayna Price and Faith Hunter bring together the best of the genre to once again prove when you’re fighting supernatural forces, it helps to keep your feet on the ground.

Genres: Urban Fantasy, Paranormal, Anthologies, Fantasy, Vampires, Romance, Short Stories

349 pages, Paperback

First published December 3, 2013

About the author

Faith Hunter's Junkyard Cats novella series is available in Audible, eBook, and "ridiculously expensive" (her words) trade paperback books at this time.

Faith's Jane Yellowrock series is a dark urban fantasy. Jane is a full blooded Cherokee skinwalker and hunter of rogue-vampires in a world of weres, witches, vampires, and other supernats. 15 books and several compilations of shorts

The Soulwood series is a dark-urban fantasy / paranormal police procedural /para-thriller series featuring Nell Nicholson Ingram, an earth magic user and Special gent of PsyLED. 6 books

Her Rogue Mage novels—Bloodring, Seraphs, Host, and the RPG Rogue Mage—feature Thorn St. Croix, a stone mage in a post-apocalyptic alternate reality.

Faith is a full time writer who finally hired a housekeeper when the dust bunnies multiplied, She bakes homemade bread and loves to cook.

Faith researches in great detail, and tries most everything her characters do. Research led to her life’s passions – jewelry making, orchids, Japanese maples, bones, travel, white-water kayaking, and writing.

Faith loves orchids. Her favorite time of year is when several are blooming. Pictures can be seen at her FaceBook page. And yes, she collects bones and skulls. She has a fox, cat, dog, cow skull, goat, a boar skull, a deer skull, (that is, unfortunately, falling apart) and the jawbone of an ass. Her prize skull is a mountain lion (legally purchased from a US tannery) hit by a car in the wild.

Her latest love is Japanese maples, and she has managed to collect over thirty.

She and her husband RV, traveling to whitewater rivers to kayak all over the Southeast. Whitewater Kayaking is her very favorite sport, discovered when she was researching her (Gwen Hunter) mystery book, Rapid Descent. She took a lesson and—after a bout of panic attacks from fear of being upside down trapped in a boat—discovered she loved the sport.

Under other pen names, notably, Gwen Hunter, she writes action adventure, mysteries, and thrillers. As Gwen, she is a winner of the WH Smith Literary Award for Fresh Talent in 1995 in the UK, and won a Romantic Times Reviewers Choice Award in 2008. As Faith, her books have been on the New York Times and USA Today Bestseller lists, been nominated for various awards and won an Audie Award with Khristine Hvam, among other awards. Under all her pen names, she has more than 40 books, anthologies, and complications in print in 30 countries.

For more, including a list of her books, see www.faithhunter.net , www.gwenhunter.com . To keep up with her daily, join her fan pages at Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/official.fait... and see her website blog at
www.faithhunter.net

Reviews

[Sharon ∞❥ is an emotional book junkie ❥∞ · Rating 4 out of 5]

only read:

High Stakes by Chloe Neill - 4 ★'s

I really enjoyed getting more Luc and Lindsey...it's been a long time coming.

We get to learn more about Lindsey's past which was really interesting especially the flower girls.

My favorite part was Luc and the boots! ♥

Favorite quotes:

♦ “Grape sanctity,” Merit whispered. “Sounds like the name of the world’s worst sacramental wine.”

♥ “I can’t shake you, Linds. As much as you push me away, I can’t shake you. I don’t want to shake you. I want you—all of you. If I can’t have that, then I don’t know . . .”

♥ “Don’t you ever . . . leave me . . . again,” I demanded between kisses.


•*¨`*•..•*¨`*•.•*¨`*•..•*¨`*•.•*¨`*•..•*¨`*•.•*¨`*•..•*¨`*•.


Ruby Red by Kalayna Price - 4 ★'s

An interesting story about partners, Derrick and Briar, in the Magical Crimes Investigation Bureau or MCIB for short.

I enjoyed the whole play on the Ruby Red shoes and witches but as always with shorts, it was too short!

I really like Briar. She was good in Grave Memory...hope she continues being part of the series. (whenever it continues!)

[Suzanne (Under the Covers Book blog) · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a good novella, especially if you like your books action packed and full of kick ass heroines with a leather fetish, luckily I lap that stuff up. I was also pleasantly surprised when I enjoyed nearly all of the stories in this anthology, some I did like more than others, but generally I now have a few more series to add to my reading lists.

Forked Tongues Rachel Caine

This anthology kicks off with a bang with Rachel Caine's Forked Tongues, although I haven't really read any Rachel Caine before, this short story has definitely prompted me into trying out one of her series. It gave you a quick shot of demon hunting and witches as well as a little romance between the characters. I am definitely going to have to find out what series this is from and full in the gaps!

Stolen Goods by Shannon K Butcher

A short but action packed novella involving a magical pair of red boots and hammer being put to use in nefarious ways. This short story is a really intriguing start to a series (or maybe a prequel to a pre-existing one? I am not sure) that has left me wanting to a lot more about the main characters; the beautiful and deadly Simone and craftsman Marcus and to see what is going to happen next in the battle against the bad guys.

The Girl with No Name by Chris Marie Green

You wake up in an unfamiliar bed with no recollection of where you are and how you got there...yes this may seem like a normal Saturday morning, but for the heroine of this tale, not only does she not know where she is, she doesn't know who she is. We hop along on her ride to discover her identity and why the bad guys with the glowing red eyes seems to be following her. This was an entertaining story with plenty of action and a bit of mystery; however, it definitely wasn't my favourite story in this anthology.

The Devil's Left Boot by Faith Hunter

Faith Hunter brings gives us a story set in her Jane Yellowrock universe about twin witches Cia and Liz who are reluctantly helping their high school nemesis look for her missing mother. I really enjoyed this story and it has definitely prompted me to move the Jane Yellowrock series up in my TBR pile as Faith Hunter wrote a story full of action, witchcraft and intriguing characters.

High Stakes by Chloe Neill

I haven't read the Chicagoland Vampire series, although I believe I will have to rectify that soon, for those of you who have I imagine High Stakes will be a must read. It is a story about Luc and Lindsey who I assume are characters from the main series. Lindsey's murky past has reared its head and she must go back to New York and face it and face it alone despite Luc's protests. I really enjoyed this story, it had a touch of romance and heat, which is something the other books have lacked this added spice to this novella and had me racing through the pages.

The Parlor by Lucienne Diver

Spying on a supposedly cheating husband is no fun, of course it all turns a little more interesting and a lot more dangerous when Tori discovers the husband in The Parlor. The Parlor is a gambling hot spot run by a mysterious woman in dark sunglasses and a foreboding sense of style. This is another action packed addition to this anthology and one of the stories I enjoyed the most, it has definitely inspired me to add Lucienne Diver's Latter-Day Olympians series to my TBR mountain.

Red Really Isn't My Colour by Christina Henry

This is a novella set with in Christina Henry's Black Wing's series where Madeline Black has been tasked by her great granddaddy Lucifer to look for a pair of red shoes. Of course they aren't a normal red pair of shoes, when the shoes are put on the wearer will literally dance themselves to death. This is an entertaining story, if you are a fan of the Black Wing's series than this is definitely a must read, but although I haven't read that series it was still a quick and fun read.

Snake Skin by Rob Thurman

I tried with this story, but short as it was I just couldn't get on with it, I read a little bit of it but I skipped most of it. I couldn't get on with the writing style and the story wasn't interesting enough for me to be inspired to continue anyways.

Ruby Red by Kalayna Price

Although I haven't read the Alex Craft series, I believe Derrick and Briar are characters within the series, this novella shows them solving a case of some mysterious creatures that are leaching the will to live from their victims, which is all somehow connected to a pair of sexy red shoes. Like a few stories in this novella, this would probably be appreciated more if you have read the Alex Cross series; however, if you haven't, like me, it was still an action packed adventure that will keep you entertained and give you a taster of the series.

[Robin · Rating 3 out of 5]

"High Stakes" by Chloe Neill is the only story I read in this anthology.

It’s a normal day at Cadogan House for Lindsey and Luc until Lindsey receives a message from her Grand Niece. Someone has threatened her. That person wants Lindsey to go back to New York City, the place where she was turned into a vampire in the 1920s. Lindsey cannot figure out who is behind the threats. Everyone from her past is dead. But taking no chances, she leaves Cadogan House and Luc behind to confront her enemy.

This is a very short story and part of Chloe Neill’s Chicagoland Vampire series. Luc and Lindsey are two of my favorite characters in the series, but this story really doesn’t do them justice. It’s short and predictable…a good way to pass the time. My rating: 3.5 Stars.

[Ronda · Rating 4 out of 5]

CHLOE NEILL - CHICAGOLAND VAMPIRES - 4 STARS
*********************************************

Fabulous - A story from our very own Cadagon Vampire Lindsay and how her past swiftly catches up with her. We finally see something in this short story that I've waited to see for a long time and I'm glad she's finally done this!!!

Just makes me 'thirsty' for some more Chicagoland Vamps!!

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

The great thing about anthologies is that they often give you a chance to try out a whole bunch of new authors. Kicking It has some big name authors from the urban fantasy genre so although I was most excited to read Chloe Neill and Kalayna Price's stories it was great to get to try some other new-to-me series too.

I'll talk briefly about each story below but my overall opinion of this book is good. With any anthology there will always be some stories that you enjoy more than others but this collection definitely contains more hits than misses and even the ones I didn't love were well written, I just believe I'd have enjoyed them more if I was already familiar with the series they belong to.

Forked Tongues by Rachel Caine:

In Forked Tongues Holly & Andy are facing off against a demon who is riling up the general public against witches. It's already led to one murder and and Holly is the demon's latest target so they need to work fast if they want their lives to get back to normal. This is the second short story that I've read about this couple and I'm really enjoying getting to know them both, I love that Holly is a resurrection witch and that Andy is someone she brought back from the dead but I really must read their first story so I can find out how they first met. I actually think it's a shame Rachel Caine hasn't written a full length book about these two because they're such interesting characters.

Stolen Goods by Shannon K Butcher:

I believe Stolen Goods is a stand alone story but it would make a great start to a series so I'd definitely read more if the author decided to expand on it. It's an action packed story starring a thief and a master craftsman who is an expert at making weapons. He has something she wants but she'll only get to keep it if she helps him pull of the heist to end all heists.

The Girl With No Name by Chris Marie Green:

The Girl With No Name features a character from Chris Marie Green's Vampire Babylon series and is about someone who has completely lost her memory. Imagine waking up in a strange room with no idea how you got there, or even who you are, and then trying to figure out how you got there. While this story did make me curious enough to add the first book to my to read mountain I do think I'd have enjoyed this more if I was already familiar with the world.

The Devil's Left Boot by Faith Hunter:

I feel a bit ashamed to admit I've never read the Jane Yellowrock series, its one I've heard great things about and have been meaning to read forever so now that I've enjoyed two stories set in this world I don't really have any more excuses. This story focuses on twin sisters Cia and Liz, both are witches who I believe have been side characters in the main series. When they are contacted by one of the mean kids who used to bully them in school they are reluctant to help her in any way but, once they realise her mother is missing and that blood magic may have been involved in the disappearance, they feel like they have to step in. There is only a brief appearance from Jane but I like this world and I really want to spend more time in it.

High Stakes by Chloe Neill:

I honestly can't believe it's taken me this long to discover High Stakes, I absolutely love the Chicagoland Vampires series and really like both Luc and Lindsay so I'm not sure how I missed this story about them being published. I didn't even realise Chloe Neill had a story in this anthology until I picked it up to start reading (observant I am not LOL). Anyway, this was by far my favourite story in Kicking It, it was great to learn more about Lindsay's past before she moved to Chicago and it answered some questions about why she has always been so determined to keep Luc at arm's length. They're such a cute couple and I liked that Luc always had her back even when she tried to push him away. Their relationship seems much more solid by the end of the story but I'd still love to read at least another short story about them to learn more about Luc's background and just to spend more time with them. This was a lovely addition to the Chicagoland world.

The Parlor by Lucienne Diver:

I've not read anything by Lucienne Diver before but The Parlor definitely left me wanting to read more from the Latter-Day Olympians series. The story is about P.I. Tori who has been asked to run surveillance on a suspected cheating husband. It should be a pretty boring job but when the husband goes into a gambling den called The Parlor and doesn't come back out things get much more interesting. With hints of Greek mythology and ancient Gods roaming around in the current day this series ticks a lot of my boxes and I can't wait to carry on reading it.

Red Isn't Really My Color by Christina Henry:

Christina Henry's Black Wings series is another one that's been on my radar for years but I haven't quite got around to reading it yet. Although I'm not familiar with this world I still enjoyed the story and I'm now even more curious about the rest of the series. The main character Madeline has been sent to track down a pair of red shoes but when you're given a mission by Lucifer you know things are going to get complicated and these aren't any ordinary shoes. I liked Madeline and this was a fun read.

Snakeskin by Rob Thurman:

Snakeskin is the introduction to Rob Thurman's Trickster series and it added yet another series to my to read mountain! Main character Trixa runs a bar but also makes very good money on the side by taking on special projects for clients. I was completely hooked by this story, it totally defines the phrase "be careful what you wish for" and I loved the way Trixa went about granting her latest client's request. Sometimes the bad guys really do get what they deserve!

Ruby Red by Kalayna Price:

The main reason I actually picked up this anthology is because I'm currently rereading the first few Alex Craft books so that I can finally catch up with the latest releases. Ruby Red introduces us to new characters Briar and Derrick, both members of the MCIB, Magical Crimes Investigation Bureau. They were supposed to be on vacation but get called back into work thanks to the outbreak of a mysterious magical virus. These characters haven't been in the first two books in the Alex Craft series but I believe they have a role to play in the third book Grave Memory (it's been a long time since I first read that book so I really can't remember now!). I liked them both so hope that they'll become series regulars and that we'll see a lot more of them in the future.

[Ina · Rating 4 out of 5]

High Stakes

4 stars

This was such a cute short story. I love Lindsey almost as much as Luc, so I was excited when I found out about this novella, although I might have enjoyed it a little bit more if it was written from Luc's POV (we don't really know that much about Luc's personal life and I would really like to find out more about him).

I liked insight into Lindsey's past, even though I wouldn't be angry if it was just a little bit longer and offered us more details. I was glad to see Lindsey cares about her relatives even after all these years. The plot twist was (in my opinion) very predictable, but overall didn't ruin the story for me. Because let's be honest, we didn't read this book for the mystery, we read it because of naked Luc.

[Elizabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Luc/Lindsey short story!!!!!!!!!!!

[Camila (previously the opinionated Catruler) · Rating 5 out of 5]

*My rating is based on Linds and Luc's story.

HIGH STAKES (Chicagoland Vampires #8.5) by Chloe Neill
I have been waiting for this since I read Some Girls Bite about 3 or 4 years ago? A part of me is angry because it was only one short-story and it's not like they get much time in the actual books, but I'm also glad it was short because dragging Lindsay's issues with commitment for longer would have been overkill. At the same time, in a full-lenght novel Neill could have explored Lindsay's background further (something I loved about the story!), and maybe even Luc's, whom we know almost nothing about. Anyhow, this is what we got and I MOTHERFUCKING LOVED IT!

BEWARE! The following show the fangirl mode I entered before, while and after reading this (I'm still jumpy, but some stories just mess with you like that):

[Rose Montague · Rating 5 out of 5]

Most anthologies have both good and not so good stories. This one is the exception in that the range is from pretty darn good to fabulous. The other thing I like about this anthology was the length of the stories. They all had some meat on the bones, enough to let the stories develop. I was fortunate to have read a few of these authors before and I am a big fan of Faith Hunter, Rachel Caine, and Kaylayna Price and have read a little from Rob Thurman and Chloe Neil. The four I have not read before were very good as well and I was especially intrigued by the stories from Christina Henry and Chris Marie Green. I will have to buy one of their books. The theme of the magical footwear ties the stories together between two strong selections from Rachael Caine and Kalayna Price, both of which contain characters that seem to me worthy of their own series. I hope to see more of them in the future.

[Komal · Rating 4 out of 5]

High Stakes: Chloe Neill has hinted at a Luc & Lindsey story for quite some time now, and with this little novella, she delievers a short and sweet little foray into their lives. These two have so much history and passion and watching them interact with one another with such gentleness and love was amazing. I've loved Lindsey from the start but in this story, I fell in love with Luc. The mystery was also quite intriguing as it dwelled into Lindsey's past. Overall, if you're a fan of the CLV world, this little novella is worth the read.

[Jenni]

18/3-13: I'm adding this to my tbr-pile because of Chloe Neill and the Luc/Lindsey's story *squeal* and *yeeha* LOL
Here is a short teaser that Chloe posted on her website:

And then he pulled his best cowboy move, putting a hand around my waist and whipping me against him. He smiled cockily down at me. “I’m not afraid of your issues, Linds.”

And I'm also curious about Rachel Caine's story *TMV-fan here xD*

[Selenity Jade (Coffee Addicts Book Reviews) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this specifically for Kalayna Price's entry and stayed for the rest. I liked the entire book, minus one story that disappointed me. The rest were excellent, despite not having read the series they came from!

[Marta Cox · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well this is a fabulous opportunity to sample the collected talents of some of the best authors of urban fantasy around today. This little gem contains short stories by best selling authors that are a delight to read. These tales whilst by nature short pack a punch. Each one is filled with madness and mayhem done in a kick ass style by heroines who take girl power to the extreme! A collection of supernatural stories with the women large and in charge!
From witches to demons, from Gods to shoe obsessed vampires this book is chock full of delights. A great way to catch up with some of the established authors published works but also a chance to sample new ones. Most of the authors included are not new to me but I found it an excellent way to try work by one or two that had so far eluded my Kindle. I think what delighted me most was being able to read about characters that usually take a back role in some of the popular series .
If you think the dark is scary then you really need these feisty females on your side! One thing is certain though if you read this you will be thoroughly entertained.

[Jonetta · Rating 4 out of 5]

Stolen Goods by Shannon K. Butcher
Blacksmith Matthew Brighton wants to hire mercenary Simone Solange to help him retrieve a special hammer the Fractogasts are using to construct a portal. Once complete, the portal will allow more of these destructive creatures entry and it will be the beginning of the end for humanity. Simone is all business with her leathers and magical red boots. Matthew has his own skills as she learns when she accompanies him on the assignment.

This story revved up really quickly and the action was pretty exciting. In a few short pages, you got Simone's history and motivation, understanding she wasn't someone to mess with. Matthew's skills are in his craft with leathers and it's clear there's more to this man than Simone first gauged. And, there was just enough time to create a little bit of heat between them. Hopefully, there's more to come with this couple.

[Delta]

“The Devil’s Left Boot” by Faith Hunter- (a Jane Yellowrock short story) 4 urban fantasy stars

This fun short story is about two of Molly Everhart’s sisters, the twins, Elizabeth and Boadecia (Liz and Cia).

[Mlpmom (Book Reviewer)]

RTC!

[Leiah Cooper · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rachel Caine (author) Shannon K. Butcher (author) Rob Thurman (author) Faith Hunter (author) Chris Marie Green (author) Chloe Neill (author) Lucienne Diver (author) Kalayna Price (author) Christina Henry (author)

I love anthologies. Really love them. What a great way to learn about new authors, and pick up shorts by authors we love?

In Kicking It I got to enjoy some old favorites, but I also got to read some authors I wasn’t aware of, or whose stories I haven’t had a chance to enjoy. All the stories have footwear as the main theme – and what woman doesn’t love shoes? Well, I normally only wear an ancient pair of crocs, so I should probably say most women love shoes . . . but then, I do like looking at them, so I suppose that counts?

Rachel Caine is first up with Forked Tongues: A Holly and Andrew Story. It starts with one of my favorite opening lines: It wasn’t the first time I’d woken up to a cross burning on my front lawn, but it was definitely not my favorite time, either.

Holly and Andrew don’t exactly have it easy since Resurrection Witches are now verboten, and the testimony of the dead is no longer accepted in court. Given the superstitious and sanctimonious attacks on them, and other resurrection witches, it isn’t surprising when the burning cross leads to the body of a murdered friend.

Shannon K. Butcher is next up with Stolen Goods. Marcus Brighton has a problem. He needs something stolen, something he believes only Simone Solange can steal for him. In order to attract Simone’s attention, his offer must be impressive. Impressive enough to attract the attention of the world’s greatest thief. A thief who has already stolen from him once before… and is strong enough to face off against the Fractogasts – the monsters that murdered her husband and his loved ones as well. Filled with action, Simone is a kick-ass heroine with a quirky, feminine mien that makes her one of my favorite heroines in the anthology.

The Girl With No Name was my first introduction to Chris Marie Green. What a scary way to wake up – in a motel room bed, (though fully dressed, thank goodness for small miracles), and wearing a pair of boots made of vines. Oh, and with no idea of who you are… And those freakin’ boots won’t come off.

OK, it’s set in New Orleans, so it already has a foot up on my “gotta read” meter. And what happens is both painful – and hopeful.

The Devil’s Left Boot by Faith Hunter is set in the world of Jane Yellowrock, but focuses on The Seven Sassy Sisters – after the betrayal of the their older sister in the most vile, psychotic, demon-drunk manner possible. And now, son of a witch on a switch, an old enemy comes to them for help, bearing a kid goat and wearing a kickin’ pair of Manolo boots. The blood magic is back, and the girls need Jane once more, even though they still blame her for the death of their evil, blood magic using sister Evangaline. A great story, though I have pretty much given up on where Hunter is going with the Yellowrock series.

High Stakes: A Luc and Lindsey Story. I haven’t really read any Chloe Neill before, so this was interesting to me. Lindsey is a veteran guard for Cardogan House, home of nearly ninety vampires. And when you are an empathy, its hard keeping all that vampire angst out of your head. But being a guard doesn’t keep her from struttin’ her stuff in fancy manicures and clothes. And Luc, her boss, just brought her ‘the sexiest pair of boots she has ever seen.’ So, un-life is good. Well, until her great-great-great niece Rachel shows up at her door with a message from an old acquaintance. An acquaintance who is threatening Rachel’s life in order to draw Lindsey back to New York, back to a fate she thought long past. The same fate as her friends who were slaughtered back in the days of bathtub gin and speakeasies. Will Lindsey throw everything away? Her unlife, her love for Luc, who loves her so very much, and her happiness? And what from her past could possibly be calling out to her after all these years?

Another author to add to my list. I’m more of a ‘furry’ lover than a ‘bitey’ lover, but I will read more of her works.

The Parlor is by an author I hadn’t even heard of before, Lucienne Diver. I looked her up – she is the author of the Latter-Day Olympians series, which apparently follows the Rick Riordan school of ‘Olympian’s kids.’ In The Parlor we meet our heroine in a “Hooters-meets-space-brothel’ getup, complete with three-and-a-half inch Plexiglass stiletto heeled boots as she prepares to play waitress in order to get photos of her client’s “cheating-rat-bastard” husband cuddled up to a hussy. What a PI does to pay off the damage done by a singing fish possessed by Poseidon . . . sigh. But she is in for more than she thought when she walks in to The Parlor. At least she is a precog. But what is she sensing, creeping about the room?

Red Isn’t Really My Color by Christina Henry takes place between Black Night and Black Howl in her Black Wings Series. To be honest, the series has been on my list for quite some time, and I have now moved it up in order to start from the beginning. As the blurb for Black Wings, the first in the series, says, As an Agent of Death, Madeline Black is responsible for escorting the souls of the dearly departed to the afterlife. It’s a 24/7 job with a lousy benefits package. That is what drew me to the series in the first place. So, as this is a “middling” book, I skipped this one until I can start the series correctly.

Rob Thurman’s Snakeskin is set ten-years before the much loved Trickster series and in the same world, and introduces some of the secondary characters. What a treat! A lie can travel half way around the world while the truth is putting on it’s shoes. And a brilliant liar just stepped through the door – and her shoes? Oh, my. Trixa Iktomi has a new job now. And isn’t that grand?

Yep. Definitely moving to the top of my “my personal reading” reading list.

The final story in this anthology is Ruby Red: A Darque Files Story by Kalayna Price. Set in the Alex Craft universe, Briar and Derrick have a new job. To find the witch who is creating an unknown contagion – a contagion that causes it’s victims to move from healthy to comatose within twelve hours. So much for their promised vacation…

Rachel Caine is the #1 internationally bestselling author of more than thirty novels, including the bestselling Morganville Vampires series, the Weather Warden series, the Outcast Season series, and the new upcoming Revivalist series. She was born at White Sands Missile Range, which people who know her say explains a lot. She has been an accountant, a professional musician, and an insurance investigator, and until very recently continued to carry on a secret identity in the corporate world. She and her husband, fantasy artist R. Cat Conrad, live in Texas.

Shannon K. Butcher. Since launching her career in 2007, award-winning author Shannon K. Butcher has penned more than eighteen titles, including the paranormal romance series, the Sentinel Wars; the action-romance series, the Edge; and a handful of romantic suspense novels and works of short fiction. Being a former engineer and current nerd, she frequently uses charts, graphs, and tables to aid her in the mechanics of story design and to keep track of all those pesky characters and magical powers. An avid beader and glass artist, she spends her free time playing with colored glass and beads.

Chris Marie Green is the author of a new series, Jensen Murphy: Ghost for Hire, and the first book is called ONLY THE GOOD DIE YOUNG. She also wrote THE SHE CODE, a New Adult Single Girl (AKA Geek Lit) novel with artwork by Billy Martinez of Neko Press Comics.

Rob Thurman is currently writing three series for Penguin Putnam’s imprint ROC FANTASY, as well as a brand-new mainstream series for Simon & Schuster’s POCKET BOOKS. Rob has also written for a Charlaine Harris & Toni L.P. Kelner Anthology, WOLFSBANE AND MISTLETOE. This year, Rob contributed a post-apocalyptic, “grim” faerie tale Western to the anthology, COURTS OF THE FEY. Rob’s work is dark, non-stop action from beginning to end, rife with purely evil sarcasm as sharp as a switchblade – and probably nearly as illegal. If one shoved LORD OF THE RINGS, THE SHINING, and PULP FICTION into a wood-chipper, the result would be what Rob aims to deliver in a novel or short story.

Faith Hunter is an American author and blogger, writing in the fantasy and thriller genres. She writes as Faith Hunter in the fantasy genre, and as Gwen Hunter in the thriller genre. She also has collaborated on thrillers with Gary Leveille, jointly using the name Gary Hunter. Hunter is one of the founding members of the blog, MagicalWords.net, a writer assistance blog, and has developed a role-playing game based on her Rogue Mage series.

Chloe Neill was born and raised in the South, but now makes her home in the Midwest–just close enough to Cadogan House and St. Sophia’s to keep an eye on things. When not transcribing Merit’s and Lily’s adventures, she bakes, works, and scours the Internet for good recipes and great graphic design. Chloe also maintains her sanity by spending time with her boys–her favorite landscape photographer/husband and their dogs, Baxter and Scout. (Both she and the photographer understand the dogs are in charge.) You can learn more about Chloe by visiting http://chloeneill.com

Lucienne Diver is a long-time book addict, literary agent, writer, mom and sun-worshipper. She’s the author of the Vamped series of young adult novels following the humorous adventures of Gina Covello, fashionista of the damned. The fourth book in the series, FANGTABULOUS, comes out in January! (Following the first three, VAMPED, REVAMPED and FANGTASTIC.)

Her new Latter-Day Olympians urban fantasy series began with BAD BLOOD and continues with CRAZY IN THE BLOOD (digital August 2012, print July 2013) from Samhain.

Christina Henry is a graduate of Columbia College Chicago and enjoys running long distances, reading anything she can get her hands on and watching movies with samurai, zombies and/or subtitles in her spare time. She lives in Chicago with her husband and son.

Kalayna Price writes the Alex Craft Novels, a new dark urban fantasy series from Roc, and the Novels of Haven from Bell Bridge Books. A USA Today Bestselling author, her works have been translated into several languages and are available (or have been contracted for release) in the US, UK, Australia, New Zealand, France, Poland, Russia, and Germany. Kalayna draws her ideas from the world around her, her studies into ancient mythologies, and her obsession with classic folklore. Her stories contain not only the mystical elements of fantasy, but also a dash of romance, a bit of gritty horror, some humor, and a large serving of mystery. Kalayna is a member of SFWA and RWA, and an avid hula-hoop dancer who has been known light her hoop on fire.

[Tori · Rating 4 out of 5]

Originally posted at http://smexybooks.com/2013/12/review-...

**GIVEAWAY ON THE BLOG-CLICK ABOVE LINK**

I have read but opted not write a review for every story in this anthology.

Stolen Goods by Shannon K. Butcher. In a world poised on the brink of an alien take over, a man hires a renowned thief to help him recover a magical artifact that could spell the end of humanity if it falls into the wrong hands.

Stolen goods is a well written novella with a strong storyline, personable characters, and lots of action. Butcher gives our characters somewhat complicated pasts that are addressed in the story and adds to the faint sexual undercurrents flowing through it. The main conflict is ripe with tension and horror as Butcher gives us a front row seat to what we as humans have to look forward to if our couple doesn’t win this battle. Enjoyable all the way around and I hope Butcher writes more on this couple and their unique skills.

The Girl With No Name by Chris Marie Green. When a young lady awakens in a strange room with no memory and wearing a pair of unusual knee high boots, she finds herself playing a dangerous game of cat and mouse as she struggles to recover her memory and stay alive.

This is my first time reading Ms. Green but not my last. Green’s incorporation of nature, magic, and the price for using it is interesting, especially when applied to our heroine. The story reveals well as we start out in the unknown and each clue leads us deeper into the mystery that surrounds our heroine’s memory loss and the reasons she is running. Interesting side characters and a possible love interest let us know our heroine isn’t fighting alone. Fast pacing and a kick arse heroine made this a joy to read.

The Devil’s Left Boot by Faith Hunter. Two young witches take a missing person case from an old enemy. Their investigation leads them into the town’s past and into the arms of an insane vampire whose appetite for Christian Louboutin is only matched by her appetite for blood and chaos.

I like Hunter’s Jane Yellowrock series so I was excited to read a novella that revolves around the witch family that Jane has a love/hate relationship with. Word of warning, this story exists mid series and may spoil those who haven’t read book four-Raven Cursed. Witches, vampires, and a baby goat provide action, suspense, and humor when these two witches find themselves in a quandary that only Jane can get them out of when they stumble on their town’s bloody past and become more in touch with the dark side of their magic.

High Stakes (Chicagoland Vampires, #8.5) by Chloe Neill. Cadogan House guard Lindsey adores her boss Luc but the chains of her past leave her unable to commit to a relationship with him. When her past comes calling, threatening her family, Lindsey travels back to her beginnings and lays some ghosts to rest for good.

Fans of Neill’s Chicagoland Vampire series have watched as Luc and Lindsey have danced around their attraction for years. Luc has done everything possible to make Lindsey his but with no avail. She is too stubborn and scared to give that much trust to one person. High Stakes is a short novella that finally tells us of Lindsey’s turbulent past and seems to hint at good things for her relationship with Luc.

Red Really Isn’t My Color (Black Wings, #2.5) by Christine Henry. The many greats grand daughter of Lucifer isn’t really big on family reunions or her family period but when Lucifer makes a request, she can’t refuse. Charged with recovering a pair of cursed red dancing shoes from the fairies leads Madeline Black into a battle with the Queen of Fae’s top assassin.

Having never read Christine Henry, this short story seemed the perfect way to ease myself into her series. Red Isn’t My Color plays off Hans Christian Andersen’s moralistic fairy tale-The Red Shoes. Mayhem follows our winged warrior as she confronts the Queen of the Fae’s right hand man and finds herself set up as a well shoed sacrificial lamb. Our heroine triumphs but is forced to use a side of herself that leaves her fearful of the consequences. A well plotted storyline with equal parts humor and that resolves fully but leaves faithful fans with hints towards the future.

Snakeskin (Trickster series, #0.5) by Rob Thurman. Making a deal with the Trickster can have unforeseen consequences as a customer learns the hard way.

Thurman’s Trickster series is a favorite of mine, right behind her Leandros series. The heroine, Trixa Iktomi, is a trickster; a semi divine shape shifter. Youthful in appearance and dangerous in reality; Trixa gives her customers what they ask for but often manipulates the results. In Snakeskin, a prequel set about ten years prior to book one, Trixa uses her skills to give a murderous black widow her heart’s desire. Humor reigns supreme as Trixa teaches a valuable lesson on the evils of greed.

Kicking It is a fun anthology that offers readers a variety of kick arse heroines in a collection of action packed stories by some of Urban Fantasies hottest authors to date. Though some stories are stronger then others, the collection as a whole is an engaging read sure to enchant.

Rating: B-

[Mary Heron · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great mix of stories

All characters from other series. Mainly side characters but it's nice to see an established series from a different point of view. I really enjoyed all of them, though I do have my favourites and also some new authors to check out.

[Paige · Rating 4 out of 5]

The basis for this anthology is kick-ass heroines. I actually was planning to buy this but won it from Goodreads (go me!). I am a fan of several of the authors so how could this go wrong?
Most of the stories were fantastic and hit the mark; one or two, not so much.


Forked Tongues by Rachel Caine—
I’m a Rachel Caine fan. She was one of the reasons this anthology was on my list.
Ms. Caine’s contribution is another Holly & Andy story. To be honest, Holly and Andy are just ok for me. The first story, in my opinion, was the best. This story only showcased Holly’s lack of kick-ass-ness. Had the anthology been about characters that kick-ass then this would have fit because Andy (and his old timey smarts and brand of justice) kicked ass. Holly did a good job of being the damsel in distress.

I’m not faulting the story; it is enjoyable. I also know that Ms. Caine has several kick-ass heroines in her repertoire. I am just questioning why this particular story is in this anthology.


Stolen Goods by Shannon Butcher—
Having heard of Mrs Butcher but not being a paranormal romance fan, this was my introduction to her writing. I was impressed with her detailed descriptions of characters. The story was enjoyable but seemed a hyperbole. This kick-ass heroine (Simone), who is hired because she is THE best thief, is completely ADD when on the job. She is easily distracted by thoughts of other men when her mind should be on the job. Maybe it is because I’m not a romance-junkie, but if you’re a bad-ass and the best in your field, you should be completely focused on the job rather than daydreaming about your past.


The Girl with No Name by Chris Marie Green—
Another new author for me and another enjoyable story. A girl, who has no idea who she is, wakes up in New Orleans and attempts to determine her identity. This seems like it could be part of a series but I was unable to find a series with this character. Definitely has potential.


The Devil’s Left Boot by Faith Hunter—I have to admit that I’ve only read one Jane Yellowrock book. I enjoyed it and plan to read more but so far I’ve only gotten through one. This story seems to pick up after a major event in the series. Twin witches are tasked with helping an enemy. An enjoyable story and a lure to quickly catch up on the series so I can learn the rest of the story.


High Stakes by Chloe Neill—
Ms. Neill is the main reason I wanted to read this anthology. I had never heard of her prior to an Ilona Andrews book signing. She happened to be paired up with them so I decided to check out her series and fell in love with it immediately. I only wish I had finished the book prior to the book signing.

A Luc and Lindsey story that provides a little history on Lindsey but nothing on Luc. It is sweet but leaves me wanting more. Maybe a future short story will be dedicated to Luc.


The Parlor by Lucienne Diver—
Another new author for my list and sadly, my least favorite story. I was more than a little confused as this was my introduction to this series—the heroine is somehow related to the gods (Medusa, to be specific). Her relationship is mentioned but I’m not sure why—her boyfriend (?) never makes an appearance other than by name (once or twice).
The fact that she can kick-ass and take names makes this a good addition to the anthology.


Red Isn’t Really My Color by Christina Henry—
This was my favorite new-to-me author’s story. Related to Lucifer, this do-it-her-way-or-the-highway heroine is tasked with something she’d rather ignore. There are fae to fight, she has a pet gargoyle (the size of a baby guinea pig), and she is contrary—what isn’t to love about her?

Snakeskin by Rob Thurman—
He has been on my ‘to read’ list for a while. I’m not sure why I haven’t read his books yet. This was a fantastic story and a background to a series I have yet to read.
Who doesn’t like a tricky and well-developed & well-meaning villain as the protagonist?


Ruby Red by Kalayna Price—
Another author whose series I enjoy. I’m a fan of and have read all of the Alex Craft series. This is set in the world of Alex but does not involve Alex. It has been a while since I read the last book so I’m not sure where this ties in but the story is enjoyable.

[Shawnie Nicole · Rating 4 out of 5]

Honest Review no spoilers - Netgalley

Every story in KICKING IT features a heroine from several different authors. They kick ass, take names, save lives, and don't wait for thank you(s). I haven't read any books from five of the nine authors, so I was very interested in testing the waters and seeing if I liked the work of said authors. I will not review all of the stories, but I hags picked four of them to give you a look into the books.

1. Shannon K. Butcher - STOLEN GOODS
I was pleasantly surprised because when it started I had no idea what to expect . The heroine is a world class thief and she's good. Her take no shit attitude hides the scarred, half broken woman she really is and the "job" she is asked to do threatens to break her the rest of the way. It takes her back to the "people" who ruined her life and she is none too happy about going back, but she understand the importance of the job. It doesn't hurt that her client brings out feelings she thought long dead. But that scares her more than anything else. I liked this short story way, and the ending had me ready o demand to know more. The world Shannon built was different from what I am use to reading and I can't wait to read more.

2. Chris Marie Green - THE GIRL WITH NO NAME
This was my first rodeo with this author and I have to say, she intrigued the life out of me. The fact that the heroine wakes up in a hospital with no memory of herself or anything else had me a on the edge of my seat, because with these types of stories anything can and will happen. The heroine has some major hurdles to get over with no memory but she get impressions which help her get where she needs to be. These series of events lead her back to the Bayou where answers are given and then love us possibly lost.

3. Faith Hunter - THE DEVIL'S LEFT BOOT
This book takes place in Jane Yellowrock's world but doesn't specifically feature her. I love the world Faith has built and Jane is one of my favorite heroine's of all time. Liz and Cia, twin witch's who are her "best friends sisters are the heroines (sorts) in this story. The twins are asked to look into and find a missing mother who isnt known to do anything out of the ordinary. They think its going to be easy-peasy, but nothing in Jane Yellowrock's world is easy, and soon the girls find themselves trapping a wacked-out vampire/witch with a shoe fetish. Putting all the pieces together, Liz and Cia realize that they are going to have to call the one person they aren't ready to deal or confront yet... JANE. I loved this story, because I didn't like how they blamed Jane when she was doing her job, even though it was the witch's who should have been doing said job. Liz and Cia are forced to deal with the truth of it all once she saves their lives.

4. Chloe Neill - HIGH STAKES
I have honestly stopped reading Chloe's CHICAGOLAND VAMPIRE SERIES, but I loved Luc and Lindsey when I was reading the books. They always made me laugh, so I was excited to read their story. The focus is of course on Lindsey and her past is coming back to hit her hard enough to scare her and force her to push the one person who has her back away. Leaving Chicago and heading to New York, she's thinking it will be an easy job, Luc taught her well. But some things aren't what they seem and soon Lindsey is faced with her past in the form of one of her friends, she thought long dead. Death stares her in the eyes and she realizes she messed up with Luc. Luckly... Luc doesnt listen to well. I absolutely loved this, it was good to see Lindsey get her happy ever after.

All in all, this anthology was amazingly good,and even though I didn't like all the stories it was still good to get to look into their respective worlds. The good books out weighted the bad which is why... BOOK PAGES AND DRIPPING INK GIVES KICKING IT 4 1/2 BLACK ROSES.

This is a must read anthology, with heroines that make you laugh, who make you mad, happy, and everything in between.

[Torzilla · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lots of awesome stories to read! Individual reviews and ratings below. Overall, I loved this anthology and I wish that most of the stories were longer. Still, I have no complaints about brevity affecting quality, which is a first with an anthology for me.

Rachel Caine, "Forked Tongues" -- 4/5
Caine was one of the first authors I read pre-blogging. While I found the Weather Warden series to be awesome, later books did have a tendency to get a bit repetitive (so I couldn't really binge on the latter half of the series). I wasn't sure what to expect when reading this piece. Interesting take on witches, that's for sure. Would I foam at the mouth to read more about this couple? No, but I would enjoy learning more about them in future stories. I'm sure that after learning more about them, I probably would foam at the mouth to read even more, heh.


Shannon K Butcher, "Stolen Goods" -- 3/5
This was an engaging read, but for some reason, I can't remember what the heck happened (it's been about a week or two since I read this one). Still, I would check out Butcher's series when I finally make a dent in my TBR.


Chris Marie Green, "The Girl with No Name" -- DNF
Writing style wasn't for me.


Faith Hunter, "The Devil's Left Boot" -- 5/5
First reason I bought this anthology.

I'm biased. Have been a rabid fan of the JY series since Skinwalker first came out. Anything Jane-related is pretty much guaranteed to be kick ass, and this novella was no exception. I particularly enjoyed viewing Jane from another character's POV. We see her in such an intimate way--what with the series in her POV and all--so, she doesn't seem as brusque. But witnessing her from the eyes of another character who does not interact with our favorite heroine very often allowed me to learn about Jane all that much more.


Chloe Neill, "High Stakes" -- 4.5/5
Ever have an author on your TBR who you've been meaning to read, but just never had the chance to check out? Then you get excited because you find out he/she is in the anthology you bought, and now you can see if said author is worth the hype? Neill is worth the hype, and her books (currently lost in one of my TBR boxes) will be found ASAP.


Lucienne Diver, "The Parlor" -- 2.5/5
Not a favorite, but I managed to finish it. I thought the idea behind everything was interesting, but the narrative voice wasn't really the type I enjoy.


Christina Henry, "Red Isn't Really My Color" -- DNF
I hate myself for not enjoying this series... But I just can't get into the writing style, which sucks, because the idea behind everything is pretty interesting. I went in hoping that I'd change my mind and enjoy this one, but sadly, I still can't get into it.


Rob Thurman, "Snakeskin" -- DNF
Three pages and I gave up. The intro was too bland for me. Character's voice didn't hold my attention.


Kalayna Price, "Ruby Red" -- 5/5
Second reason I bought this anthology. I love the Alex Craft series, and was hoping that we'd get something with more Death and Alex. Sadly, no Death--BUT, this was still a great story filled with badassery. Kalayna reminded me why I love her writing and why, exactly, I'm such a rabid fan. Great characterization, lots of awesome magic, and it's relevant enough to a world I'm familiar with that I was filled with a sense of connection again. Ruby Red ended the anthology with a wham, bam, thank you ma'am that left me closing the paperback with a smile on my face.


Worth the money? To any UF fan, hell freaking yeah. To anyone who has been meaning to check out most of these authors, but don't want to buy each of their books? Definitely. To anyone who is tempted to try out UF? Of course, you'd be starting out with some of the best in the genre. These ladies prove exactly why they're bestsellers.

[Jen (That's What I'm Talking About) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Note: I am participating in a joint review. I only reviewed the titles written by Christina Henry, Lucienne Diver, and Chloe Neill.
For a full review of all the shorts in the anthology, please visit: http://twimom227.com/2013/11/review-k...
Review copy provided by NetGalley/Publisher

High Stakes by Chloe Neill

Chicagoland Vampires #8.5 (A Luc and Lindsey story)

Luc is Captain of the Guard of the Cadogen vampire House and Lindsey is their top guard. Recently, before this short began, something happened between the long-time friends that moved them to "more than friends." While Luc is pushing forward, Linds is reluctant after being his subordinate, friend, and comrade for so many years. Told from the POV of Lindsey, we learn of her sordid past as a young, wild vamp in New York. Now someone from her past is looking to kill her. 

Overall, this is a touching and entertaining tale. As someone that's never read the series, I had no problems whatsoever following Luc and Lindsey and enjoying their love story. In fact, for a story so short, I felt completely emotionally invested. Knowing the pair has a history helped a lot. It was just enough information to understand and make connections. 

Rating: B+ (Review by Jen Twimom)

The Parlor by Lucienne Diver
A Latter-Day Olympians story

The story revolves around a supernatural PI with gorgon blood. She has limited powers. She is hired to find out if a husband is cheating, but instead ends up in a deadly web. The owner of the club where the husband frequents is a deadly creature of myth. The story is short and straight forward. I enjoyed it, but it was harder to get into the story than the other two. I had enough information to read it as a stand alone, but it was clear I was missing out on background information. The fact that I didn’t even know the main character’s name until halfway through the story was a little frustrating. However, with that said, the mythology that was presented intrigued me, and I certainly am interested in finding out more about this series. I enjoyed the main character’s humor and snark.

Rating: B- (Review by Jen Twimom)

Red Really Isn’t My Color by Christina Henry

Black Wings #2.5

Agent of Death, Maddy Black, is sent on a mission by her many-greats grandfather, Lucifer,to retrieve the mythical Red Shoes. These shoes will force the person wearing them to dance non-stop. They are currently in the possession of Sammy Blue, ambassador for Maddy's newest foe, faerie Queen Amarantha. 

Love Beezle's dry wit and obvious sarcasm.  And for readers of the series: it is nice to see Maddy not so jaded and filled with her dark powers. She is a younger, more innocent woman in this book than in the current series (which just released book 6). 

The story is quick and fun with a small but entertaining twist. It can easily be enjoyed by newbies and series fans. It showcases all that is great from the series: humor, action, and the struggles of a human with the legacy of Lucifier's power. The short flows well and is enjoyable. 

Rating: B+ (Review by Jen Twimom)

[Melindeeloo · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am an anthology nut so I liked Kicking It. This has nine kickin' stories involving footwear of some significance from a fair number of my favorite UF authors, most set in the worlds of their series. I admit that I was a bit biased toward those connected shorts - probably because I brought a fair bit of knowledge of those worlds/characters with me into those stories and could focus on the action. A quick rundown...

Forked Tongues - Rachel Caine - I believe this is Caine's third story starring resurrection witch, Holly, and Andy, a resurrected witch from Old West times kept alive by their love. I really like this pair but I brought their history with me from the previous stories, so I really enjoyed seeing them work together to deal with a boot wearing nemesis.

Stolen Goods - Shannon K Butcher - not connected to her Sentinel Wars, A thief with magical boots and an artisan mage who coerces her help to try to steal a magical artifact being used by unearthly villains they both have reason to hate. I enjoyed this story and I wouldn't mind seeing more of the pair.

The Girl With No Name - Chris Marie Green - I think it might tie into one of Green's series but I haven't read anything by her before. The hook for this was interesting but as a whole the story was more on the side of ok.

The Devil's Left Boot - Faith Hunter - a Jane Yellowrock connected story but starring the sisters of Jane's witch friend Molly - The sisters are hired to find the missing mother of their high school 'mean girl' nemesis. I liked this, although there is just a brief cameo for Jane.

High Stakes - Cloe Neill - Chicago Vampires story with Luc and Lindsey in the spotlight. This was pretty short, I liked that it gives a bit of Lindsey's history, but I was expecting a bit more of them together though.

Lucienne Diver - The Parlor - this is apparently hooked into Diver's Olympian series which I haven't read. I liked the mythic tie-in.

Red Isn't Really My Color - Christina Henry - from her Black Wings series, I only read the first book (which hadn't grabbed me) but this had enough promise to make me consider checking out the second book - the gargoyle is kind of cute.

Snakeskin - Rob Thurman - a Trickster prequel, I liked this story but it wasn't what I expected - I had heard that it was supposed to introduce the side characters (I forget the two guys names right now) but they are incidental - the focus is Trixa's case.

Ruby Red - Kalayna Price - an Alex Craft story but not starring Alex - she's just mentioned at the end. I liked the story and I am hoping there will be more Alex someday soon.

[Sharon · Rating 4 out of 5]

The flock knows I am a big urban fantasy fan. I love a heroine that kicks butt, takes names and scores the hot hero, eventually. This is urban fantasy and ain't nothing easy for the heroine. I was excited to check out this anthology because I have only read a few of the authors and this was a chance to test drive some others. All the stories center around the author's ass kicking heroine and boots. The stories ranged from 3.5 Sheep to 4.5 Sheep, and the ratings have more to do with my personal preference for certain writing styles and UF tropes. But all the stories are unique and creative. This is a great collection for urban fantasy lovers and those who are curious what all this UF talk is about.

The first story is Rachel Caine's "Forked Tongues" and probably my favorite in the collection. I haven't read any of Rachel's books so I don't know if this story about witches Holly and Andrew is from one of her series. She created a complete world building experience in very few pages and a unique heroine and hero pairing. This story is all that and the bag of chips.

Faith Hunter's "The Devil's Left Boot" is from her Jane Yellowrock series and another of my favorites. The story is about sister witches who are still recovering from the necessary death of their sister at the hands of Jane. Faith combines drama and humor as the sisters hunt down a vamp with a shoe fetish. Jane does make an appearance.

Urban fantasy is know for the heroine's snarky sense of humor, and all these stories deliver. This was one of my favorite lines from Lucienne Driver's "The Parlor"

"There were few things to do in that tiny concrete room but braid my wild hair as tightly as I could to keep it from getting in my way, panic, and kiss my ass good-bye. Only my ass and I didn't have that kind of relationship."

4 "ass kicking" Sheep
http://www.ismellsheep.com/2013/12/bo...

[Traci (Mad Hatter Reads) · Rating 4 out of 5]

My Rating: 4.5 out of 5
Source: I received an e-Copy via the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

What I love about anthologies is they give me a little taste of the series world to tide me over until the next major series installment is released. Kicking It provides just that with perfect little tastes of some of my favorite Urban Fantasy series…and did I mention that each story centers around something near and dear to my heart? That’s right, each one features BOOTS in all of their glorious manifestations be they demon possessed cowboy boots, gorgeous hand-tooled red leather magical boots (with matching purse), or sexy-as-hell black knee-high stilettos. Excuse me while I wipe off the drool for a minute.

While some of the stories (Faith Hunter’s The Devil’s Left Boot and Chloe Neill’s High Stakes for example) are set in familiar UF worlds, they don’t necessarily feature the main characters. Instead we get more insight into the world by getting to spend a little time with various secondary characters, although we do get glimpses of from our fave heroines.

The stories are all quick reads…like I said earlier an ideal little taste. The action moves quickly so you’ll be able to finish a single story during a lunch break or power through several if you’re like me and take a few hours to read each evening. I also have to admit that I wasn’t as familiar with some of the authors as I was with others (hey-don’t judge they’re all on my TBR!), but now that I’ve had this little introduction I can’t wait to dive into their worlds. So make sure you have Kicking It on your pre-orders for December 3, 2013, it’s a must-read!

[Chrissy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I bought this for the Alex Craft short story after finishing my reread of that series in preparation for the final book. But the other short stories in here look interesting too, so I'm definitely planning to read more and will update this review once I do.

Forked Tongues (Rachel Caine) - 4 stars
This story isn't connected to any of the author's series, but there are two short stories about these characters that come before this one: Death Warmed Over in Strange Brew and Holly's Balm in Hex Appeal. I haven't read the previous stories, but I definitely might seek them out in the future. I really liked resurrection witch Holly and her resurrected gunslinger boyfriend from Wild West times, and the concept for this world was really cool. I kind of wish there were full-length novels about these characters.

Stolen Goods (Shannon K. Butcher) - 3 stars
I liked both of the main characters well enough and the plot and pacing were good, too. The only thing that kept this from being more than 3 stars was the villains. I'm not generally a fan of stories with villainous alien creatures from another dimension who are the bad guys entirely because of what they are and not because of who they are. I like my villains to have complex personalities and individuality too, which these didn't. I have no idea if this story is connected to any of the author's series, but even if it was I wouldn't be interested in reading more.

The Girl With No Name (Chris Marie Green) - DNF/no rating
A girl wakes up with no idea where - or who - she is. That's all I know about this story because I didn't care to keep reading and find out more. Memory loss is generally speaking one of my least favorite tropes. There are exceptions where it works for me, when it's a series I already enjoy and the series also features one memory loss story/arc among a lot of other things going on. But a character I don't know or care about yet, who has no memory of who she is... a character I know exactly as little about as she remembers about herself... I just don't care. (This also seems to be part of the Vampire Babylon series, and as vampires are usually not my favorite thing either, I have even less interest in finding out more now.) This is a definite case of it's not the book, it's me. And I haven't read far enough to really be able to say anything about the quality of the writing. That's why it doesn't get a bad rating, it just gets no rating at all.

The Devil's Left Boot (Faith Hunter) - 2.5 stars
This story about twin witches who help their high school bully find her missing mother is part of the Jane Yellowrock series. Extremely hit-you-over-the-head-with-it part of the Jane Yellowrock series. If you love Jane Yellowrock, you'll probably enjoy it. I've only read the first Jane Yellowrock book, and I didn't care for it much. But aside from not really liking Jane, I think it's a weird authorial choice to write a side story to a series, make different characters the main characters of that short story, but still have the main character of the main series be the one to save the day and solve the problem in the end. I maybe could've liked this story more if it had really been a story of Liz and Cia, the two witches, but it felt like the whole purpose of the story was to glorify Jane some more. And she's just not that great in my opinion. She shouldn't be the center of the universe. And if the author feels like Jane is the center of the universe, she should stick to writing only from Jane's POV then instead of making Jane the de-facto main character of other people's story.

High Stakes (Chloe Neill) - 3.5 stars
This story is about Lindsay and Luc, two characters from the Chicagoland Vampires series, which I haven't read and still don't plan to read. (It takes a lot of people doing a lot of convincing to get me to pick up a vampire series. I'm just not a vampire girl.) That being said, I had no problem tolerating the vampire-ness of vampires for the length of this short story. The characters were likeable, and the story flowed nicely. A tasty little snack, but not the kind of thing that I'd personally choose for a full course meal.

The Parlor (Lucienne Diver) - 4 stars
I liked the main character and the writing was full of snarky humor. Tori is a PI and she's after a supposedly cheating husband, but when he disappears in The Parlor, a gambling den, she realizes something else is going on. I liked Tori's voice and put the Latter-Day Olympians series on my tbr. I think I'd enjoy learning more about Tori and her world someday.

Red Isn't Really My Color (Christina Henry) - 2 stars
Maddy Black is told by her many-greats-grandfather Lucifer to retrieve the Red Shoes (which torture the wearer by making him dance for eternity) from a faerie. This story didn't really manage to grab my attention and I started skimming half-way through. Maddy comes across as a too much brawn, too little brains for my taste. The writing feels like it's trying too hard to be witty (and failing at it) and there's too much of the-bad-guys-helpfully-explaining-their-plans-ahead-of-time syndrome. This does not make me want to try any more of the Black Wings series.

Snakeskin (Rob Thurman) - DNF/no rating
I can't tell you anything about this story because the rambling writing style made me nope straight out of there after only a few pages and nothing had actually happened yet.

Ruby Red (Kalayna Price) - 3.5 stars
This is a short story about Briar Darque and her partner on one of their cases set just before her first appearance in the Alex Craft series. Briar is a fun character when she appears in the Alex Craft series, but without Alex to play off of, I didn't enjoy her quite as much. I also wish this story had featured her partner, Derrick Knight, a little more. I would've loved to learn more about his wyrd abilities and how they work. We don't really see or learn anything new about Briar or Derrick that we didn't already know from when they appeared in the main series. So for people who've read Alex Craft, it feels kind of unnecessary. And I feel like for people who haven't read Alex Craft, it doesn't include enough of the world-building to whet your appetite for the main series.

[Darcy · Rating 3 out of 5]

This review is only bases on the stories by the following stories

Shannon K. Butcher - I normally really like this author, but this story didn't do it for me. I felt like I was missing something like the back story. I ended up not finishing it.

Faith Hunter - I love the world of Jane Yellowrock, so was happy to see this story was set in it, but was surprised it held more of the Everhart sisters. I knew there were bad feelings between the sister/witches and Jane due to what happened. I liked that through this 2 of the sisters were able to work through their issues. I loved how the sisters work together and even sort of got back at the mean girl from their past.

Chloe Neill - Luc and Lindsay make me smile, so when I realized this story was centered around them I was happy. I liked how it started, but hated how Lindsay pushed Luc away when she needed him most. I found Lindsay's past and her connection to her family to be interesting, but hated how the past came back to threaten her. I was glad that Luc didn't listen to Lindsay and was there to rescue her, but even better was when they got back home and Uncle Luc was thanked.

Kalayna Price - This one was just ok for me. I did like learning more about the officers that investigate Alex.

[Jaymie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've come to enjoy these types of anthologies for a couple of reasons. I love seeing how writers with sometimes wildly different writing styles and worldviews deal with a common theme. The new paths their thoughts take you down is a journey you don't want to miss. The other great thing is being able to explore new authors and some of their favorite characters through the short story window provided in this context.

The common theme, as you may have guessed from the title, is footwear...with a preternatural hitch. Who could resist the adventures of these action taking women in their stopmy boots, stilettos, dancing shoes, and otherwise enchanting (or enchanted as the case may be) footgear. In this varied collection, the editors Faith Hunter and Kalayna Price, did a wonderful job of arranging the stories into a sequence that makes it very readable cover to cover.

If you are a fan of any one of the authors, preternatural fiction/mystery in general, or even just like a good yarn about shoes with issues you will thoroughly enjoy this compilation. I heartily recommend checking it out.

[Dr susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kicking It is an anthology which means to review it fairly, I should write a review for each short story....nine shorts, nine reviews? Not gonna happen. I do not wear heels, stiletto or otherwise, but even I love the look of a good boot.
I did not read Henry's Red Isn't Really My Color because I have lost all patience with her Black Wings series.
All of the other stories are entertaining. Caine's Forked Tongues brings back Holly and Andrew, a poignant witch couple with a twist. Holly and Andrew also have a story in Strange Brew and Hex Appeal. Hunter's The Devil's Left Boot gives the witchy Everhart twins a story of their own, and an opportunity for forgiveness. Neill's High Stakes allows Lindsey to have a story, and has the most hysterical discussion of 'grape sanctity'. Thurman's Snakeskin gives a look at Trixa and her boys before the books, and is a classic Trickster story. Price's Ruby Red is set in the Grave Witch world with characters that could easily have their own books, but these two may have bad news for Alex.