Review: Steel's Edge

Steel's Edge (Edge #4) by Ilona Andrews

The Edge series ends with another exciting installment. We've travelled the Edge world - from the Edge to the Broken, back to the Edge and now into the Weird. We've also had very different heroes and heroines in each story - something I have come to appreciate in romance series.

This go-round we have Charlotte and Richard, both trained from an early age in the mannerisms of the blueblood Weird elite. Charlotte is The Healer, very powerful and living in the Edge with Rose's grandmother because she is afraid of using the darker side of her ability. I love stories that focus on the destructive possibilities of a healing power. We first met Richard in Bayou Moon. Cerise's cousin, Kaldar's brother, and a father-figure to Lark/Sophie, Richard hunts slavers, the people who nearly destroyed Sophie when she was very young.

Richard and Charlotte team up to go after the head of the slavery ring, falling in love along the way. They are very evenly matched and fit well together. This isn't an angsty romance. It is more their mission than any insecurity that gets in their way. I liked that a lot.

Lots of action, some heartbreak for fans of the series, and lots of George, Jack and Sophie. We also get more of Spider and get to see what happened to some family members from previous books. The bits where Charlotte takes Sophie under her wing were really well done. Bayou Moon is still my fav book of the Edge, but as a whole I have really enjoyed this romance series.

I thought Steel's Edge was a good end to the series, although I hope some day the Andrews team will come back with the future adventures of an all growed up George, Jack and Sophie.

Review: Skies of Fire

Skies of Fire (The Ether Chronicles #1) by Zoe Archer

Christopher is the captain of an airship. He is also a Man O' War - fused with a metallic substance that gives him extra strength and energy (he's pretty much the battery for his ship, and he needs the ship in order to siphon off said "energy" - symbiotic relationship). He and his crew are behind enemy lines when they get a distress call from a nearby village. They find Louisa, an intelligence agent, who also used to be Christopher's lover. She has info on a munitions plant that needs to be destroyed to help turn the balance in the war.

And, of course, smexy good fun as they get reacquainted. It doesn't happen right away, of course. Christopher is still very angry she left (and how she left), and Louisa is working through her feelings as well.

This was a very quick, fun read. There isn't a ton of world explanation. I got a feel for the time and place, but there weren't any big history lessons. I kind of wanted some of that, as I find that aspect of world-building very interesting.

I did like Christopher and Louisa together. Given that Louisa left, it is easy to paint her in the villain role of the break-up, but I mostly just felt sorry for her. I thought that the pace of their reunion felt right. Not too rushed or drawn out.

There was a decent amount of action. Louisa more than holds her own, and I liked that Christopher respected it. He is alpha-ish, but doesn't try to put her in a cage.

I'll be checking out more in this series.

What's in a Name? A Transplanted Tales Contest

Kate SeRine is working on the third book in her Transplanted Tales series. Rumpelstiltskin is making an appearance, and he needs a name. The fun part - YOU can name him, as well as win some goodies!

Using the Rafflecopter widget below or on Kate's site, put in your suggestion. It can be as normal or fanciful as you like. And, to help you avoid "wasting" a suggestion, here's the list of male characters already appearing in ALONG CAME A SPIDER:

Nicky        Seth           Nate          Al(addin)
Aloysius   Gideon       Orvall       Merv
Irwin         Jack           Pete          Vlad
Alex         Ian              J.G.          Eddie
Tim          Ethan


From the entries, three names will be randomly selected. From those three, Kate will select the winner. The winning name will appear in ALONG CAME A SPIDER, the third book in the Transplanted Tales series, which is scheduled for release in August 2013.

In addition, the person who suggested the winning name will receive a prize package that includes the following:

1) A special mention in the acknowledgements of ALONG CAME A SPIDER
2) an e-book copy of RED, THE BETTER TO SEE YOU, and ALONG CAME A SPIDER as the books are released (or a prize of comparable value if the winner already owns/has pre-ordered a copy of the first two books)
3) a Transplanted Tales-themed goody basket

The runners-up will receive a copy of the Transplanted Tales book of his/her choice and some Transplanted Tales swag! Kate has hinted there might be some additional prezzies along the way...

Get those creative juices flowing and enter today!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

'Tis the Season...for a Full Blooded Giveaway!

Amanda Carlson, along with the #JessicaMcClainStreetTeam (of which I am a member), are hosting a HUGE giveaway.

10 Lucky Winners will receive a Signed Copy of FULL BLOODED, as well as Limited Edition Pack Swag, including a Coffee Mug, bookmark & stickers. The best thing about this giveaway (other than it’s INTERNATIONAL)?  Amanda will be sending them out in time for the holidays! Already have a copy of FULL BLOODED? She'll throw in a signed bookplate and you can gift your book to someone you love. (Amanda will even address it to their name.)

There are so many ways to enter, and you can enter DAILY. Fill out the rafflecopter below OR on Amanda's web site OR you can also enter at any of the other #JessicaMcClainStreetTeam sites.


a Rafflecopter giveaway




#JessicaMcClainStreetTeam

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My World…in words and pages 
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Between Dreams and Reality 

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My Bookish Ways 

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Miss Vain’s Paranormal Fantasy  

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Yummy Men and Kick Ass Chicks 
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