Review: Happy Hour of the damned - Mark Henry

Happy Hour of the damned by Mark Herny

Amanda Feral, book 1

Genre: Yikes, Paranormal horror humor perhaps
Pages: 291
Published: 2008

Seattle. One minute you're drinking a vanilla breve, the next, some creepy old dude is breathing on you, turning you into a zombie. And that's just for starters. Now, the recently deceased Amanda Feral is trying to make her way through Seattle's undead scene with style (mortuary-grade makeup, six-inch stilettos, Balenciaga handbag on sale) while satisfying her craving for human flesh (Don't judge. And no, not like chicken.) and decent vodkatinis.

Making her way through a dangerous world of cloud-doped bloodsuckers, reapers, horny and horned devils, werewolves, celebrities, and PR-obsessed shapeshifters--not to mention an extremely hot bartender named Ricardo--isn't easy. And the minute one of Amanda's undead friends disappears after texting the word, "help" (The undead--so dramatic!) she knows the afterlife is about to get really ugly.

Something sinister is at hand. Someone or something is hellbent on turning Seattle's undead underworld into a place of true terror. And this time, Amanda may meet a fate a lot worse than death...

This book, omg, this book. I shouldn't like Amanda, I mean she kills and eats people! But she is so funny, I loved this book!

Amanda Feral is a bitchy, naughty, go-getter, satire and fashion loving woman working at a PR firm that she owns together with two others. She is doing what she loves to do, having an affair with her therapist, and perhaps going on a donut binge now and again. Until on day when she gets the breath. Yes, our fave fashionista is suddenly a zombie. What is a girl to do? Well go clubbing, find a great friend who hunts make.up to cover up her grey face just like Amanda, and then find teh essential gay vampire friend. What a complete triangle. Until one day when one of their friends go missing, the succubi of the bunch. And she is soon in trouble.

So yes, Amanda is a zombie, not to be mistaken for their distant cousins, the mindless braaaaaain zombies. No Amanda has class, and as long as she tries to stay out of trouble and not loose any body parts then she can go on like normal. Well except for that her stomach only can take alcohol, and human flesh. So she hunts and kills. But she has standars, no kids, or animals, and old people sticks in your teeth. But we do ger to see her bite down on people and gnaw on ribs. 

Her best friends are fellow zombie Wendy, as big a naughty pottymouth as she is, and Gil, the male guy vampire. Together they are unstoppable and they love to party. We get to hear how they all were made, and even Liesl's story, the missing succubi. Wendy and Gil are perfect sidekicks, they are funny and all three has this perfect chemistry. The constant bantering is hilarious.

Amanda is not so nice really, she can be bitchy, trash-talking, but hey she owns it. Everything that pops out of her mouth is great, and if she wasn't this fun then this would be a horror story and Amanda would not be liked. But as it is now, it is a book that should not be missed. if you are missing something in your paranormal world then this one is for you. It is weird, freaky and laughs are promised.

But of course if you do not like bitchy (yet funny) eating zombies then this book might take a while to warm up too, the humour is black as the night.

Other than all the alchol and clubbing there is also the mystery part. Finding Liesl adn trying not the get killed as the plot thickens. No one is safe anymore.

I will defintely read more one day, because how on earth is this series supposed to end? She is a zombie, if she gets a big wound in her face, well then is stays like that. How coudl she find a guy, when she could just as well eat him after sex (which is also tricky since not all things are working as she should when you are dead). And last, I would love to find out what things she says or does next. I have read that this has been descrived as Sex and the city meets the paranormal, and that is so true. She is Carrie, loving her shoes, and instead of trolling after a guy, perhaps just eating the guy in a backalley.

Blodeuedd's Cover Corner: Dunno why she is holding that goblet, still liking the cover.

Reason for reading. Own copy.

Final thoughts. One of the funniest books I have read this year, and the best paranormal. recommened

Review: To stand with Angels - Caitlynn C Gabriel

To Stand With Angels by Caitlynn C Gabriel

Genre: Paranormal western
Pages: 348
Published: May 2010 Eternal Press (PB and e.book)

For seven years she's fought her demons, but now a stranger has arrived and the real battle is about to begin... In the wild Wyoming Territory, controlled by an evil cattle baron and his outlaw's guns, one woman is hiding from her horrific crime and one man is seeking revenge. But when a deadly stranger comes to town, Evil takes on a terrifying new face. Now hiding is no longer an option and a revolver cannot kill the supernatural presence that is waiting in the dark city to claim the souls of those foolish enough to stand against it. 

What is this, I reading an e-book, yes crazy right, but I do make exceptions. This time because of the way the author asked me, I liked kind of humour she had in the way of asking, and because she was so nice at a review that was good, but not you know, loving it. This books deserves a good try I thought, and went in, with the horrible job, reading at a PC. *shakes fist against the sky, get an e-reader to my country.. stat, why do we suddenly live at the backwater of civilization.*

Ok after my sometimes going on about things not really about the review thing I will now move on. Oh first I must mention something, I have been watching this Hallmark or whatever Western series movies, and the are sweet, fluffy and the music hits major drama mode when a baby chick is in trouble. You get the general idea. Anyway, Western, so was totally in mood and it helped me see things (and yes I might have pictured the guy as one of the hunks from that said series.)

Rian is living god knows where (Wyoming) and she never sees a living soul. She used to have her brother Jackson with her but he was killed so now it is only her and her nephew Kendall. She is scared, and she is hiding from the terrible thing she has done in the past. She is plagued by horrible nightmares. Then one day a man shows up, but he is wounded and she helps him. But he is hunted and heaven is soon falling down upon her. Especially since there are evil around that will not be stopped.

It has been ages, I mean ages since I read anything set in the 19th century, and I do like cowboys. All that shooting, brothels, saloons, and a certain chivalry. 

Here we have your typical western, a badly wounded man, bad men after him, and a damsel in distress. She patches him up and soon realises, that oh yes he sure is hunky after all. They might just need each other but both are hurting badly. There is shootings, and there is saving.

But the book does not end there, nope, there are demons loose, bad demons bent on corrupting men. Bradyn is not a nice man, no he has done his fair share of mistakes, and the devil wouldn't mind getting his hand on his soul. Around the middle the book changes from it's Western face and takes on this paranormal face and it looks bad for all. There is one scary demon around, and soon there will be more, and angels.

I liked that it was set in the wild wild west, it was pretty cool to find a demon there, and it fits very well with the era. But the way she ended it, I mean it was happy and all but it had this ominous feel to it. There are more stories to tell.

Blodeuedd's Cover Thoughts: I can't dis it cos I like green.

Reason for reading: Author sent me an e-book

Final thoughts: If you like your western with a slice of paranormal then this one might be for you.....3

Review: Slave to Sensation - Nalini Singh

Slave to Sensation by Nalini Singh

Psy-changeling, book1

Genre: Paranormal romance
Pages: 334
Published: 2006

In a world that denies emotions, where the ruling Psy punish any sign of desire, Sascha Duncan must conceal the feelings that brand her as flawed. To reveal them would be to sentence herself to the horror of "rehabilitation"—the complete psychic erasure of everything she ever was.

Both human and animal, Lucas Hunter is a changeling hungry for the very sensations the Psy disdain. After centuries of uneasy coexistence, these two races are now on the verge of war over the brutal murders of several changeling women. Lucas is determined to find the Psy killer who butchered his packmate, and Sascha is his ticket into their closely guarded society. But he soon discovers that this ice- cold Psy is very capable of passion—and that the animal in him is fascinated by her. Caught between their conflicting worlds, Lucas and Sascha must remain bound to their identities—or sacrifice everything for a taste of darkest temptation. 

I read a short story by Nalini Singh in the book The Magical Christmas Cat, and I just knew that I wanted to read more about these changelings, because they were just so cute, and rough. And thanks to Bookmooch.com and Ladybug @ Escape in a book I got the chance.

But first a friend of mine read it, and let's just quote her first. LOVE. Yes she found a new series, and stalked Nalini Singh's website, and bought the rest of the series, even before I read book 1. So ok I did not go that crazy but I still really liked this book.

This is a world where humans, The Psy and changelings live side by side. Psy rule the business world, and have a hand in most things. The changelings live close to nature, and the Psy do not think much about them. The changelings are too animal, while the Psy have no feelings at all, no love, no hate, just cold logic. Except for Sascha Duncan who finds herself breaking down, espeically when she is ding business with hot changeling Alpha Lucas Hunter. He is hunting a serial killer, and soon enough hunting her too, but in another way.

The Psy is just scary, no feelings, and the do not even have sex, because why bother when they feel nothing, and it is so icky too, all sweaty, and with fluids. And then do not eat nice things either. Would suck to be them, but then again they do not know what they are missing.

The changelings are my favourite, they are sweet, but brutal at the same time. There was this scene with two cubs and my heart just broke from cuteness. And this whole skin privileges thing, yes I liked that.

I like the future world that Singh has created. It feels real, it feels scary, and still there is magic in it all. Because there is still hope and love around. And it is a strange world, in one corner there is the Cold Psy, and in the other the animal-like, and sometimes brutal Changelings.

I liked the chemistry between these two characters. Sascha is slowly falling more and more in to big pit of feelings, and she thinks that her mind is going insane. But at the same time she needs Lucas, if only for a few days. And he is all alpha and protective, but at the same time such a  big sweet panther.

There is passion, and romance, heartbreaking love. There is the thrill of the hunt( though I did pretty easily figure out who the killer was.), and the tick of the clock as the wolves prepare to attack the Psy to get back at them for taking one of their own. If the killer can't be found, there will be a bloodbath.

I enjoyed the story, I loved the characters, I adored those cute cubs, and I do want to read more from Singh. Here is to hoping my friend reads fast.

Blodeuedd's Cover Corner: Very paranormal romance, ok I guess, I mean it is not bad.

Reason for reading: Own book

Final thoughts: When the cats play you better play with them, or you will regret it.

(btw have anyone noticed my shapeshifter theme by now, freaky really how it happened,  but next up is demons and then zombies ;)
'

Review: Strange Neighbors - Ashlyn Chase

 Strange Neighbors by Ashlyn Chase

Book1

Genre: Light paranormal romance
Pages: 384
Published: June 1st Sourcebooks Casablanca

He's looking for peace, quiet, and a little romance...
There's never a dull moment when hunky all-star pitcher and shapeshifter Jason Falco invests in an old Boston brownstone apartment building full of supernatural creatures. But when Merry MacKenzie moves into the ground floor apartment, the playboy pitcher decides he might just be done playing the field.

A girl just wants to have fun...
Sexy Jason seems like the perfect fling, but newly independent nurse Merry's not sure she's ready to trust him with her heart...especially when the tabloids start trumpeting his playboy lifestyle.

Then pandemonium breaks loose and Merry and Jason will never get it together without a little help from the vampire who lives in the basement and the werewolf from upstairs.

Merry wants independence. She is 25 and has been living with her dad and brother all her life. She wants a bit of Sex and the city, and she has found the perfect flat to start her new life in. At once she catches the eye of the landlord, a certain hunky baseball player named Jason Falco. Perhaps she will get to have a bit of fun after all. Jason on the other hand is not the all American guy that he seems to be. He is a shape shifter, and he is looking for that special someone, and Merry seems to be all that and more.

Merry is sweet, it is hard not to like her. Jason is a hunk, and lusting after her. But who said romance was easy? Throw in a paparazzi in search of a story and their fling can turn ugly. That reporter, grrr, did not like her, and that was the only time I thought Merry was too sweet, at the same time, it was the right thing to do. Do not worry she has got claws too.

Jason wants something more, because he needs something more when he is a shifter, romance can be a bit hard, not to mention sex. He can't fall too hard to a girl, because he, he mates for life. Something you have to love in a guy.

Did someone say sex, oh yes, Ashlyn Chase has previously written erotic romances, and trust me, she knows what she is doing, and there is some mind-blowing passion in here. For a sweet contemporary paranormal romance there is bed action too. Fear not.

Then there are the tenants. Oh they are the best. Jason's aunt who calls the cops all the time, such a busy-body. The scary looking guy in the basement who is obviously a vampire. Konrad, who does seem to have some werewolf tendencies, Nathan who surely has something going on too. Chad, your friendly neighbourhood ghost *coughs* or should I say your annoying neighbourhood ghost who wants to keep his bachelor pad and haunts it. Then there are two witches upstairs who seems to be having mind-blowing sex all the time, or? This is not your average sort of building.

I liked the witches, they were fun. I hope to see Nathan find a girl one day, even if he does not want it, and I have a sneaking suspicion who Konrad might fall for. And there is Chad, oh yes annoying Chad, lol, but have to love him too. He wants to find out who killed him and so this book is also a mystery when they try to find his killer.

Now where was I, yes there is romance, hot passion, an aunt trying to snoop around, fun tenants, and some shocking details about certain persons promised. All is not how it seems, but then by reading about the tenants I am sure you guessed that so far.

Blodeuedd's Cover Corner: It looks cute and fun

Reason for reading: From the publisher

Final thoughts: A fun paranormal with romance, and passion promised.....3