The mage in black - Jaye Wells

Sabina Kane doesn't have the best track record when it comes to family. After all, her own grandmother, the leader of the vampire race, just tried to kill her. When she arrives in New York to meet the mage side of her family, the reunion takes the fun out of dysfunctional. 

On top of that, the Hekate Council wants to use her as a pawn in the brewing war against the vampires. Her mission will take her into the bowels of New York's Black Light district, entangles her in mage politics, and challenges her beliefs about the race she was raised to distrust. And Sabina thought vampires were bloodthirsty.

My thoughts:

Ok so you all know about middle book/second book syndrome...well this book was actually better than book 1 *high fives self*.

I hope the rest of the series will be good too cos as it is now it's cool, kick-ass and did I say cool? Oh I did, well it was ;)

Sabina is...arghh ok I will not say the word again. Kick-ass (oh B you are so original). In the last book she left LA, cos that is what you should do when you gran tries to stake you, the evil vampire bitch she is. So Sabina tries her luck with the mage side of the family.

There we meet her twin sister. New people...nuff said. Her pet demon, yay, and of course Adam whom she likes.

There are fights, prophecies, assassins and a cliffhanger ending that makes me want book 3 at once.

Conclusion:

I like it.

Cover

nice

edit: I have to tell you that the book was read and review written late December *insert music of doom* You'll see

Paperback, 326 pages
Published April 1st 2010 by Orbit
Sabina Kane #2
Urban fantasy
Own

India Black and the Widow of Windsor - Carol K.Carr

Black is back—Her Majesty’s favorite spy is off to Scotland in this new adventure to ensure the Queen doesn’t end up getting killed.

When Queen Victoria attends a séance, the spirit of her departed husband, Prince Albert, insists she spend Christmas at their Scottish home in Balmoral. Prime Minister Disraeli suspects the Scottish nationalists plan to assassinate the Queen—and sends the ever resourceful India and the handsome British spy, French, to the Scottish highlands.

French will take the high road, looking for a traitor among the guests-and India will take the low road, disguised as a servant in case an assassin is hiding among the household staff. India is certain that someone at Balmoral is determined to make this Her Majesty’s last Christmas…

My thoughts:

I do think I liked this one even better than book 1. It might have been the downstairs/upstairs things ;)

Right, so our favorite brothel owner has been sent to Scotland. There she will play the part of a servant. Being a former whore, India does know how to act and get information. Sure she is not the best all the time, but who would be that when put in a situation like this without any schooling. So I like her.

French is there too playing the bored aristocrat who does what he wants. And there was something almost said that the beginning that sure had me wondering. Will we never learn more about him?

Amusing situations, danger, spying and one strange old lady. India sure has her hands full in this book. I also wonder if the almost flirting between her and French will lead somewhere...oh yes the questions. I guess I just need to read book 3.

Conclusion:

A Christmas gathering turned deadly. Two spies, a lusty nobleman to avoid and the question of who is trying to kill the queen. A fun book that had me guessing.

Cover

works

Paperback, 320 pages

Published April 17th 2014 by Titan Books (first published October 4th 2011)

Madam of Espionage Mysteries #2

Historical /suspense/spy/mystery

For review

Otherwise Engaged - Amanda Quick

Miss Amity Doncaster, world traveler, is accustomed to adventure and risk. Benedict Stanbridge, a man of science and a spy for the Crown, has faced danger in the darker corners of foreign lands. But they are about to face a threat that is shockingly close to home . . .

One does not expect to be kidnapped on a London street in broad daylight. But Amity Doncaster barely escapes with her life after she is trapped in a carriage with a blade-wielding. Her quick thinking, and her secret weapon, save her . . . for now.

But the monster known in the press as the Bridegroom, who has left a trail of female victims in his wake, has survived the wounds she inflicts and will soon be on his feet again. He is unwholesomely obsessed by her scandalous connection to Benedict Stanbridge—gossip about their hours alone in a ship’s stateroom seems to have crossed the Atlantic faster than any sailing vessel could. Benedict refuses to let this resourceful, daring woman suffer for her romantic link to him—as tenuous as it may be.

My thoughts:

This was sure no fluffy romance, I liked that. It felt more like a hybrid.

The back story is over in a few pages, Amity and Benedict meet and part, and that's it. Then Amity gets kidnapped, but she is no swooning miss. She uses the weapons she have and gets away. She is resourceful, and independent (she travels and writes about her travels after all.) I liked Amity, she was a good heroine. Interested in everything and inquisitive.

Benedict, I am just going to call him a nerd because he was and I loved him for it. He is an engineer and loves everything about it. But he is also honorable, brave and with a good head on his shoulders.

I got two characters I enjoy and want to see together. There are also some good side characters.

The story was good too, it moved easy and suddenly I had finished the whole book. Light, yet suspenseful. Amity got away from a murderer who is still alive. So to stay alive they will team up and try to find the guy. There is also another danger in the background that has to do with how they two met in the first place.

Conclusion:

Suspense, danger, spying and romance too of course. I enjoyed this one.

cover
I approve

Hardcover, 352 pages
Published April 22nd 2014 by Putnam Adult
Ladies of Lantern Street #3
Historical romance
For review

Valour's trial - Tanya Huff

Gunnery Sergeant Torin Kerr is a Confederation Marines marine. She's survived more deadly encounters and kept more of her officers and enlistees alive than anyone in the Corps. Unexpectedly pulled from battle, Torin finds herself in an underground POW camp that shouldn't exist, where her fellow marine prisoners seem to have lost all will to escape. Now, Torin must fight her way not only out of the prison but also past the growing compulsion to sit down and give up not realizing that her escape could mean the end of the war.

My thoughts:

I have been waiting for this book ever since I read book 1 (yes I read the blurbs for the rest of the books, I am too curious). Anyway, great premise so I waited.

It's starts with Torin getting ready for battle and then bam! (it takes a while for the bam but bear with me). So bam! Torin wakes up in a tunnel, she is now a POW. All while Craig refuses to believe she died in battle and tries to find her.

That was the premise I was interesting in. Torin in a POW camp, and not any POW camp. A weird underground jail where they do not know who put them there in the first place. And Torin wants out, and nothing stops Torin cos she is a kick-ass marine who never gives up.

I was also curious about the war thing as I started to wonder about things (just like Torin), like why they are even fighting. No one knows. And we do learn a few things about the whole war.

Conclusion:

This book does not have as much action as previous book, it's more of an adventure of sorts and I liked it. Still fast and furious.

Cover

They are all the same

Paperback, 400 pages
Published April 17th 2014 by Titan Books Ltd (first published May 27th 2008)
Confederation #4
Military sci-fi
For review