Vanessa’s Comments (group member since Jun 15, 2017)

Vanessa’s comments from the Read, Reading, Planning to Read and More group.

Thanks DemetraP I just ordered A Fantastic Holiday Season: The Gift of Stories who knows, maybe I'll find another author that interests me. I know, like we all need another, LOL!! :-)

Feel better soon Frisco. I hope that you are just bruised.

I had a rotator cuff operation 1.5 months ago. This week I went from the physical therapists gently moving my arm to using machines with weights. In addition, I visit only 1 day a week and have 4 exercises that I'm to do 4 times a day. The therapists are completely hands off, (the reason for the weight equipment), and this is killing me. I have a high tolerance for pain but I am part of the ibuprofen club too.

I live in Connecticut, which of course is close to NYC and the other high risk NY counties. Now there has been an influx of people from New York that are either opening up their "summer" homes on the CT shore or they are renting rooms to get away from the caronavirus in CT and I also hear on Long Island, NY, it's a bad business this migration and our cases have shot up exponentially. I hope that people come to their senses.
*Jumping down off of my soapbox now!*

On to books....
I started The Sinner
Ward has a whole lot going on from the beginning. I fear this is going to be a transitional book from one big bad to another. Syn is an extremely broken character and Jo is a pre-trans vampire who makes a side living investigating "vampires". She has videoed some of the BDB in action before, and has had her mind scrubbed many times by V, who also keeps track of her knowing that she is going to transform sometime soon. It is, so far, quite serious and has a really dark tone.

Sorry to hear that you can't retire in May HappyBookWorm. I agree with you that I order books that I am totally attracted to. I do have a question, I now have 3 books that I know that I reviewed that now have no review on NetGalley. Has this ever happened to you? Two of them are Laurenston books, so I am very surprised that they actually sent this book to me. I have no way of finding those reviews either. Sometimes I forget to post them on Amazon when the book is released. Or, I don't bother because there are 100 other reviews already posted. It's just so weird. Over the years this has happened to me 5 times.

On a totally different note the latest Black Dagger Brotherhood book has been released, The Sinner.
I am still a reader of this series, and I feel that somewhere in the middle we went off the rails a bit, but it seems to be swinging back on track and the stories are closely linked. I think that this is about the only series where I will pay such an exorbitant price for a kindle version, $13.99, (at least it is 512 pages). I don't do the regular series in audio because the voices don't all coincide with what I have in my head. The BDB Legacy books are OK in audio, (for me), because they tend to be peripheral characters and not the main BDB ones.

I hope that everyone affected by Covid 19 is OK and that none here are ill. Stay safe and have hope! :-)

I was fortunate enough to receive an ARC of Badger to the Bone.

Chaotic, funny, definitely a honey badger Shelly Laurenston book, this is about Max, the middle sister of the MacKilligan sisters and her shifter "mate" Ze Vargas. A big cat who has no idea that he is a shifter. This books is rife with running gags, and lots of violence, appropriately so. I really liked it. The feel of these books is crazy but not dizzying like the wild dogs of this series tend to be. (I love Blayne and Bo and they actually make a couple of appearances in this story). It seems to me that Laurenston took time to pop in a few of her favorite characters in this novel just to keep them in the picture because Ze, Max, and Max's older sister Charlie, are all approached and subsequently recruited by the various Shifter black ops organizations.
All in all, it kept my attention and was an enjoyable dip into Laurenston's shifter series. I would rate it 4+ stars.

Now I am really stuck, maybe I will continue with the Sinclair Raven series which is all free on KU.

melindeeloo... Re: Smoke Bitten There are moments, good and bad. They thump around each other but there is never a time when you think that this is it. Not saying that there aren't "bad" passages, but per usual these books are chock a block full of plots and action. Mercy thinks that it might be rejection, but that is her own insecurities showing. But rest assured, she isn't giving up she pushes Adam until he tells her what is wrong.
(view spoiler)[ In the end it all works out (hide spoiler)]

I started a series where the first 3 books were on KU. It is The Sinclair and Raven box set. The Sinclair and Raven Collection The premise of these stories is that the Sinclair family has an ability to be where the Raven family needs them the most and throughout history the Sinclair family has saved the Duke's family,(The Ravens). All 7 of the Sinclair children have special abilities. So far it is not too bad. There is a lot of denial between the 2 main characters, which I have had about enough of, I need a little action. I'm about half way through the first book, Sensing Danger

I just finished Smoke Bitten. I must be a little more forgiving than DemetraP, because I really liked it.
It felt like the old Mercy Thompson books. Why Briggs continues to slash at the Adam/Mercy mating bond is beyond me. I like it much better when they are a force to be reckoned with team.
I must admit that it could have had more Stephan, and Zee.

I thought that the last Clare book was phoned in too. She could have done so much more with that ending. I hope that this book has the same feel as her other Infernal Devices books did. I love Tessa's character, and I hope that Clare can do well by her children.

Now what to read?

I know that there are a few fans of the Cassandra Clare Infernal Devices series here. On March 3rd, Chain of Gold came out. This is the story of Will and Tess's children and the arrival of the early Blackthorn and Carstairs families to London. I haven't had a chance to read it yet, but I will. Out of all of her Shadowhunters series, Infernal Devices was the best, IMHO.

I haven't been reading much lately but I did manage to finish It's A Wonderful Midlife Crisis. I liked this a lot more than other series that I have read by Robyn Peterman. I can't wait to read the next in the series. This book ended on a cliff hanger, and I would like to see it's resolution.

I have been reading, My Darling Duke and you can add me to the list of fans of this story. Witty, poignant, sad, happy, all that you want from a novel, and so far no TSTL moments.

Thanks DemetraP & melindeeloo I got both of those books.

LAB... That's fantastic! Sometimes we're just drawn to things and suddenly there they are. Great find! I hope that you enjoy it.

Magical Midlife Madness was more of what I was expecting from this series. I liked all of the characters and there weren't any TSTL moments. There seems to be a growing romantic involvement between the two main characters and in the end the collective group seems on track to defend Ivy House against all danger. I'm usually attracted to storylines with various personalities that some how come together in the end. I look forward to more adventures in the town of O'Briens.

I've been reading all of the PWF books. I finished Suddenly Psychic. I felt like the book was good and I liked the three women and the story but I found it a bit predictable and it didn't wow me. Per usual, Hunter did an excellent job in her descriptions and the feel of the story was real, but there was something missing for me.

I'm almost done with Magical Midlife Madness. I am liking this one more, I like the MC, she is smart and snarky. Her disbelief in all things magical was a bit drawn out, but I got over that.

I have Let it All Burn: A Paranormal Women's Fiction Novel waiting in the wings.

I seem to like the snarkier books better than the totally serious books. I guess I appreciate a bit of gallows humor at times.

I'm still on the Paranormal Women's Fiction series.

Sucks To Be Me by Kristen Painter was OK. Recent widow of a Mafia member gets accidentally turned into a vampire. I liked the story but I thought that except for her weight loss and apparent facial improvements, it could have been anyone not just a 40 something year old woman. The writing was good and I think that I will return to this series, I just thought that it would be more entertaining/funny.

I also read Shannon Mayer's Grave Magic Bounty I found that I liked this character better. Able to see those who dwell in the shadows, Breena has returned to Savannah to lick her wounds and start over. Her beloved Grandmother has passed away and Breena has returned to her hometown to try to raise enough money to buy her grandmother's house which was somehow swindled away from her by her ex as a part of her divorce settlement. She has no home, and a mountain of his debt to repay, so she moves into his cousin's spare room. She hears of an interview with a paranormal group which pays well but has an apparently high turn over rate. Needless to say she pants her way through the physical trials, but has a sharp mind and quick wit that proves her eligibility to join this "Hollows" group.

Next up Elizabeth Hunter's novel, Suddenly Psychic

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Last night I finished Wrong Side of Forty
In this book, 48 year old Marina Trahan comes home early to find her husband in bed with the town slut, who is wearing her new negligee. The young woman is their only daughter's age, and is part of the town's most corrupt and powerful family. In 48 hours she loses her husband, her home, and her job. Oh and she's been sent on a quest to find an ancient artifact by a semi-god named Alexios to save the world. Per usual, DeLeon has a hilarious "team" to assist the main character in her quest. I laughed out loud a few times, once, I had tears coming down. Marina and her sister Halcyon are night and day but through formidable teamwork Marina comes out the other side a stronger person. This was a fun book and most of the other authors tend to be on the comedic side, so I will continue this Paranormal Women's Fiction series.

Paula... I liked Oath Sworn so much that I got the next book, Family and Honor .
In this series, Jacky is a werecat in a werewolf world. Like most big cats in nature, she lives a lonely life of seclusion. She owns a bar in the middle of no where Texas and is somewhat content. All this changes when an 11 year old human girl knocks on her door late one night. She is the human daughter of the Dallas/Fort Worth werewolf pack Alpha and is seeking protection, (Duty), from Jacky. A long ago pact stated that werecats can be called on for protection by invoking an ancient call. A werecat for only 10 years, Jacky knows the law but never imagined that the wolves knew that she existed much less could send an 11 year old to her on her own. Because of the Duty, she is supposed to be neutral and not to be hunted or bothered in any way, but of course there complications and she and the girl, Carey have to go on the run. In this world werecats are much stronger and quicker, and can take down quite a few wolves at once, but when they send a hunting party then things get wild. All in all, I found the MC thoughtful not wreckless, she was methodical in her actions and a genuinely likeable persona. This is free on KU. There are only 2 books out so far, with the third out on April 15th.

I purchased one of the other books in the Paranormal Women's Fiction Novels series. This is by Jana DeLeon, Wrong Side of Forty. I'm usually a fan of DeLeon so I gave this one a try.

I've been trying to read more, as I have a ton of books on my TBR. So, I finished a few quick books and a few full length novels.

Make Her New
Unlove Me
These are typical T.S. Joyce. She has a way of portraying people with disabilities, (especially emotional rather than physical ones), with compassion.

Pack of Lies
I love this new couple, both are hiding some big things but I see their potential. I hope that it doesn't take 6 books to do it.

Blood & Ash
I'm interested in this couple. I'm always interested in a frenemies to partners story line especially with a snarky heroine.

Iron Master I liked this couple, straight talking, not a lot of anxiety, and a willingness to compromise, they were true partners/mates.

I'm going to try something that I saw on KU, Oath Sworn I don't think that I've ever read this author before, but the premise sounds good.

I want to thank whomever recommended Spiked I liked it very much, but I think that the second book was even better. Summoned both are free on KU and I really enjoyed the circumstances of the second book more than the first. I like when a heroine doesn't go running off all cocked up and places herself in a precarious situation. The MC, Neely, has no one to help her navigate this supernatural world that she finds herself in. A telepath and a "Spiker" she has the capability of entering a person's brain. She can alter it, read it, or "spike" which kills the person. She has been on the run for almost as long as she can remember, has spiked a few people along the way, but has no idea of her power. Wanted by various alphas to kill or read someone on command, she hasn't had a real chance to hone her craft or settle down. Of course she finds herself in a small town made up of mostly shifters and the alpha is on to her. Add in crazy witches, maniacal alphas from other packs, and a general distaste for her kind, and it makes for an amusing 2 books. I can honestly say that I am looking forward to the next book in this offbeat series.

Next up I have a couple of TS Joyce books to read, Make Her New and Unlove Me I love how Joyce manages to use unusual shifters in her stories. These are always quick reads.

I must admit I've read The Kraken King The Kraken King quite a few times myself. It's a comfort read for me. In fact when hubby had his open heart surgery last year, it's what I read while he was in surgery.

On the subject of reading, I thought that especially after my surgery that I would read more, nope. Holding my kindle gets tedious and I find myself doing lots of household chores but not while listening to books. I try to keep busy because when I stop, my shoulder/arm aches. I am getting caught up on series on Amazon Prime and Netflix.

OMG She's so sweet, what a cutie! Thanks Doug, I needed that!

I didn't know that Lynn Viehl has stopped writing. I haven't caught up on that series, add it to the list.

Funny thing, I didn't recall anything about the Audible deal, and that was because the first 3 books I read this year qualified for the deal. I looked back and found the verification e-mail.

TINNGG..You have my sympathy, it's hard enough to take care of your own stuff, much less someone else's. Just what you need more to occupy your time. I wish you peace.

I think that I read somewhere that Spencer is writing an Elfhome book next. I never got into that series, I think that I might wait until it is complete before attempting it again, especially seeing that she takes forever between books, very GRRM-like.