ARC Review: Dark Heart of Magic by Jennifer Estep

Dark Heart of Magic
by Jennifer Estep
Book 2 in the Black Blade series

Something Wicked This Way Comes...

As a thief, I stick to the shadows as much as possible. But when the head of the Sinclair Family picks me to compete in the Tournament of Blades, there's no escaping the spotlight—or the danger.

Even though he's my competition, Devon Sinclair thinks I have the best shot at winning what's supposed to be a friendly contest. But when the competitors start having mysterious "accidents," it looks like someone will do anything to win—no matter who they hurt.

As if I didn't have enough to worry about, mobster Victor Draconi is plotting against Devon and the rest of my friends, and someone's going around Cloudburst Falls murdering monsters. One thing's for sure. Sometimes, humans can be more monstrous than anything else...

Something is afoot in Cloudburst Falls that goes beyond the paranormal creatures that live here.  This town is inhabited by a variety of supernatural characters.  There is a tenuous balance between the ruling families but they all come together during the Tournament of Blades. Although she has only been a member of the Sinclair family for a short time, Lila Merriweather has been chosen to represent the family along with the favored son, Devon. 

When I read about the upcoming tournament, I was thrilled.  Tournaments present the perfect opportunity for all kinds of shenanigans and conspiracies.  You have all the major players involved and you never know where the next trapdoor will open.  Delicious!  This is the exciting part of the story as Jennifer Estep expertly choreographs the pitfalls and triumphs of our characters to a satisfying end.  

Over the years, I have read less and less Young Adult books.  I’m not as attracted to the traditional YA themes and have very little tolerance for love triangles.  However, I adore this series, mostly, because it doesn’t read like a YA book to me. For me, I can imagine Lila being a relative of Gin Blanco (the main character in the author’s Elemental Assassin story). It has a similar emotional draw and I really love the vivid characters created by Ms. Estep.  

Imagine if you were a teenager who lived in the periphery all you life and then one day you save the life of the most popular guy in school.  Can you imagine the insecurity you might feel? Even after be reassured of your new place in this new family, you might wait for the school to drop.  

Lila Merriweather is now a member of the Sinclair family.  She guards over the Family Bruiser and favored son, Devon.  Even as she settles in, she is still weary about letting down her guard; even through she feels a thrilling attraction to Devon.  She is in conflict between being independent and not trusting people and feeling a sense of fidelity and loyalty to her new friends.  I like that she is battling her instinct verses her values. Her choices will truly tested in the upcoming book. This story sets the groundwork for an epic battle, one that is so highly anticipated that I’m rubbing my hands with glee.  Oh, I just cannot wait. 

This middle book does its job – Making us care for what happens to our characters and setting us up for an epic next book. 

Thank you to the author, publisher and Netgalley for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review. 

ARC REVIEW: "Cold Burn of Magic" by Jennifer Estep

Cold Burn of Magic 

by Jennifer Estep

Book 1 in the Black Blade series

There Be Monsters Here. . .

It's not as great as you'd think, living in a tourist town that's known as "the most magical place in America." Same boring high school, just twice as many monsters under the bridges and rival Families killing each other for power. 

I try to keep out of it. I've got my mom's bloodiron sword and my slightly illegal home in the basement of the municipal library. And a couple of Talents I try to keep quiet, including very light fingers and a way with a lock pick. 

But then some nasty characters bring their Family feud into my friend's pawn shop, and I have to make a call--get involved, or watch a cute guy die because I didn't. I guess I made the wrong choice, because now I'm stuck putting everything on the line for Devon Sinclair. My mom was murdered because of the Families, and it looks like I'm going to end up just like her.

After reading this book, I know one thing for sure; Jennifer Estep knows how to build a darn good magical world with just the right amount of Southern charm. 

In Cold Burn of Magic, book one in Ms. Estep’s new Black Blade series, we are introduced to the charming town of Cloudburst Fall, West Virginia – where the magical creatures are the focal point of tourism.  Underneath the pretty Disneyland-like façade is the dark and dangerous world of family dynasties and rivalries that put the mafia to shame – the Sopranos have nothing on these families.   

Lila Merriweather is a teenager that has been on her own, escaping the foster care system after her mother died.  She is a high school student currently living in a storage room at the local library. She survives by committing petty crimes and helping out her “Uncle” Mo, a friend of her mother and sometimes guardian.  Mo sends her out on “missions” to steal or reposes items from the rich.  Lila also has a secret. Although not obvious from the outside, Lila has special and unique powers that could make her a target for exploitation. 

Lila soon gets involved with the Sinclair family when she saves the favored son, Devon’s, life.  Through circumstances, she then becomes his bodyguard, following in her mother’s footsteps.  

I enjoy this new set of characters.  Lila is a survivor.  She is scrappy, living on the streets because she has to.  She reminds me of a young Gin Blanco from Ms. Estep’s other series, Elemental Assassin.  (I guess the comparison is inevitable, right?).  On the outside she is aloof, tough and thick-skinned. On the inside, she wants to see the good in people and situations.  She has skills, but more importantly, she has a huge capacity to care.  This is not a new type of character in the urban fantasy genre, but Lila’s is really developed well. 

Devon is a standout from one of the ruling families.  Despite the questionable behaviors of his family’s business, he has been able to maintain his goodness.  However, rival families target him because of his special gift. This is a risk that Lila and Devon share. 

There are great fight scenes, highly dramatic revelations, and just a wee bit of angst – enough to make the story interesting, but not too much to turn people off if you are not a YA reader. 

This story takes place in the Elemental Assassin universe.  There is mention of Ashland – home of The Spider, Gin Blanco.  This will, of course, invite comparisons.  But I found that it also helped me rediscover and appreciate Jennifer Estep’s creative and imaginative writing.  With a long running series like Elemental Assassins, where the context is familiar, it is easy to forget how difficult it is to continue to create something new and fresh.  That is what Ms. Estep does here.  She balances elements that are familiar with a fresh new set of characters and storylines that are attractive and engaging.  After I finished, two words flashed in my head, “Gimme more!”

IN A NUTSHELL:
Where you are a long time fan of the author or someone new to her work, this is a fantastic start to a new series. 

Thank you to the author, publisher and Netgalley for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review. 

Jennifer Estep is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author, prowling the streets of her imagination in search of her next fantasy idea.

Jennifer writes the Elemental Assassin adult urban fantasy series for Pocket. Books in the series are SPIDER'S BITE, WEB OF LIES, VENOM, TANGLED THREADS, SPIDER'S REVENGE, BY A THREAD, and WIDOW'S WEB. THREAD OF DEATH, an e-novella, is also available. 

HAINTS AND HOBWEBS: AN ELEMENTAL ASSASSIN SHORT STORY can be found in THE MAMMOTH BOOK OF GHOST ROMANCE.

DEADLY STING, the eighth book, is set to be released on March 26, 2013.

Jennifer also writes the Mythos Academy young adult urban fantasy series for Kensington. 

Books in the series are TOUCH OF FROST, KISS OF FROST, and DARK FROST. CRIMSON FROST, the fourth book, is set to be released on Dec. 24, 2012.

FIRST FROST, a prequel e-story to the series, is available as a download. HALLOWEEN FROST, an e-short story, is available in the ENTANGLED e-anthology.


Jennifer is also the author of the Bigtime paranormal romance series. Books in the superhero-themed series are KARMA GIRL, HOT MAMA, JINX, and NIGHTINGALE. A KARMA GIRL CHRISTMAS, an e-story, is also available.

ARC BOOK REVIEW: "Golden Son" by Pierce Brown

Golden Son

by Pierce Brown

Golden Son continues the stunning saga of Darrow, a rebel forged by tragedy, battling to lead his oppressed people to freedom from the overlords of a brutal elitist future built on lies. Now fully embedded among the Gold ruling class, Darrow continues his work to bring down Society from within. A life-or-death tale of vengeance with an unforgettable hero at its heart, Golden Son guarantees Pierce Brown’s continuing status as one of fiction’s most exciting new voices.

Golden Son is book two in the Red Rising Trilogy.  There is just so much going on in this series.  I am not sure if I will be able to do this book justice.  Therefore, I will focus my review on the themes that stand out to me.

Having just recently read Red Rising, Golden Son comes at a perfect time and this sequel is near perfect. It is dark and intriguing, full of machinations by characters you both love and hate.  The book is about how friendship and loyalty can win a war and overcome centuries-old prejudices.  It shows how inspiration overcomes coercion. Ultimately, this is a story about love, commitment, and the pursuit of a higher purpose. 

However, this is second in the trilogy – it is the Empire Strikes Back book – the dark, middle story.  The dark, in this case, is about what hubris does to human nature. What happens to Darrow breaks my heart. Mr. Brown takes us on a roller coaster ride with masterful storytelling and a gripping narrative. I would’ve been exhausted after finishing, but the ending had me up all night. Needless to say, I will be counting the days until the next book.

IN A NUTSHELL:

It seems almost trite to say this is like The Hunger Games or Divergent or The Game of Thrones.  However, like those stories, this one leaves an indelible mark in my memory.

SUSAN: BOOK REVIEW "We Won't Feel A Thing" by JC Lillis

SUMMARY:
Seventeen-year-old best friends Rachel and Riley are in forbidden love. 

Their situation’s. . .complicated. And their timing couldn’t be worse—in just one month, he leaves for California and she starts college in New York. The absolute last thing they need is a reckless secret-love confession mucking up their perfect plans.

There’s only one logical option: scientific intervention.

Desperate for a quick fix, they sign up for WAVES, an experimental self-help program led by mysterious scientist David A. Kerning. He swears his Forbidden Love Module can turn passion back to safe platonic friendship in “six easy steps.” 

But when you arm yourself with an untested program, side effects are unpredictable. 

And sometimes when you fight love—love fights back.

REVIEW:
Ok...so I waited a bit to write this review...1)because I read it pre-release and 2)because I wanted to read it AGAIN before I put my thoughts down. I very rarely reread books...but this one has SO MUCH to absorb that it's easy to not even appreciate all the goodness big and small in it with only one read.

Now before I tell you about the story, I also want to address that yes, this is technically a M/F YA book. And for those of you who LOVED JC Lillis' How to Repair a Mechanical Heart, loved her quirky voice, and were waiting for her follow-up...do NOT be disappointed! You see, and this may sound odd, but Rachel & Riley, the MC's in this book are almost...asexual?...no that's not it...androgynous?...no. Well, it's just that this could just as easily have been 2 guys, or 2 girls, or 2 anything...because the identity of each character is less important than WHAT THEY MAKE when they're together. 

Rachel & Riley are the BEST OF FRIENDS. They are 2 peas in a pod...almost literally...as Rachel was taken in by Riley's parents and she lived with them and grew up with them. They are hilarious: Riley (my dear, dear, young man...I adore him) is an artist. And Rachel (I want to be like her when I grow up!) is grammartist...(not a word, huh?)...well, she copy edits and proofs things and loves it! :) Their friendship is so special and so intertwined and so funny and fun and lovely. 

And then the truth comes out...they're in LOVE. *gasp* Without giving away the story, they go to a crazy hippy new-agey type thing and then run into a mad scientist who ensures them he can CURE them of this love! It sounds OUTRAGEOUS AND ZANY AND WILD...and IT IS! But in that enchanting, delightful way. Their attempts to change their feelings are in and of themselves emotionally powerful (as well as funny!). But what these attempts reveal is where the true and deepest of emotions are felt. 

I love these characters for their simple, yet complicated feelings. And I love them for being odd and eccentric and endearing. I love this story for taking me on a journey w/ the best-of-friends and watching them deal with their love and devotion for one another. And I love this author for being so AWESOME and just tapping into the joy of being silly and unconventional and wacky and caring so much about another person and finding a great partnership in that. 

I say this a lot about books that I love...this one won't be for everyone. It's kinda oddball. It reminds me of old sitcoms like The Monkees that are just...out there. But, I enjoyed it so so much and I can't recommend it enough for those who want to laugh, cry, feel, and who want to do those things to the beat of a different drum.

IN A NUTSHELL:  
This book is AWESOMENESS on page...!!! :)

SUSAN: BOOK REVIEW "Divergent" by Veronica Roth

Summary: 

In Beatrice Prior's dystopian Chicago world, society is divided into five factions, each dedicated to the cultivation of a particular virtue--Candor (the honest), Abnegation (the selfless), Dauntless (the brave), Amity (the peaceful), and Erudite (the intelligent). On an appointed day of every year, all sixteen-year-olds must select the faction to which they will devote the rest of their lives. For Beatrice, the decision is between staying with her family and being who she really is--she can't have both. So she makes a choice that surprises everyone, including herself.

During the highly competitive initiation that follows, Beatrice renames herself Tris and struggles alongside her fellow initiates to live out the choice they have made. Together they must undergo extreme physical tests of endurance and intense psychological simulations, some with devastating consequences. As initiation transforms them all, Tris must determine who her friends really are--and where, exactly, a romance with a sometimes fascinating, sometimes exasperating boy fits into the life she's chosen. But Tris also has a secret, one she's kept hidden from everyone because she's been warned it can mean death. And as she discovers unrest and growing conflict that threaten to unravel her seemingly perfect society, Tris also learns that her secret might help her save the ones she loves . . . or it might destroy her

Review:
A few observations rather than a review - 

* I'd forgotten how LONG non M/M books are. Each book in this series is over 500 pages. I'm hesitant, sometimes, reading stuff over 200. ha! But, it goes by quickly. 

* It's uncanny how ALIKE it is to the Hunger Games storyline. But I guess youth, dystopian, and a finding-herself heroine are not original ideas. 

* I found myself surprisingly emotional. I don't know why children dying didn't affect me as much when reading HG. In Divergent, it really...broke my heart...kids having to make adult choices, leaving home, dying. 

* The romance element is stronger in Divergent and probably why I liked it more. In HG, Katniss doesn't really love either Peeta or Gale in my opinion. In Divergent, you feel the attraction and the budding romance between Tris and Tobias. 

* Tobias is swoon-worthy (if I didn't think it was creepy to be swooning over an 18 yo boy) 

I really, really enjoyed this book. I was captivated and drawn in and held my breath at points. I liked Tris so much...and I liked Tris' journey. The action and plot play themselves out almost too quickly (all back-ended...the build up to the last 25% took awhile and dragged just a bit). But, I was engrossed in what was going to happen, and left slightly dizzy by the end. 

In a nutshell:  If book 1 is any indication, I may end up liking this better than Hunger Games

SUNNY: BOOK TOUR, REVIEW, and GIVEAWAY "Forever Young" by Sawyer Bennett

Forever Young, Book 1 of The Forever Land Chronicles

Author:  Sawyer Bennett

Release date: 1/31/13

Publisher:  Big Dog Books, LLC

Age Group:  YA/New Adult

Genre: Paranormal Romance

Thank you for joining us for the Forever Young Blog Tour.  Enjoy the review and don't forget to enter the Giveaway for a $50 Amazon Gift card.

 

SUMMARY:

She’s a loner, she likes to fight and, oh yeah...she has the ability to see the demons that lay beneath the faces of ordinary humans. It’s a gift Charlie Wright inherited the night her parents were brutally murdered when she was fourteen years old.

Now in her last year of high school, Charlie just can’t seem to keep herself out of trouble.  Rather than taking a one-way trip to juvenile detention, Charlie chooses to join a mysterious group called The ForeverLand Alliance.

And then her life really gets weird.

Charlie finds herself magically transported to an alternate universe. In Semper Terra, no one ages, people fly, and one stunningly gorgeous, immortal man manages to capture Charlie’s heart and awaken the adult woman she is becoming.

But it’s not all fun and games. For Charlie is training to become an Annihilator, a select group of Semper Terrans who protect mankind from all of those things that go “bump in the night”.

It’s only when Charlie finds herself stuck in the middle of a prophecy that could bring about the end of the world that she truly begins to understand the deep sacrifices she will have to make.

BUY THE BOOK:

Amazon | Barnes and Noble | Goodreads 

REVIEW:
Whether it is a contemporary romance or a Young Adult paranormal, Sawyer Bennett writes beautiful, character-centric, stories.  Forever Young is a prime example.  Charlie is an orphan.  She is labeled by many as a trouble-maker because she gets into fights.  Yet, when she fights, it is always about protecting the underdog, vulnerable and weak.  At her heart, she is always trying to stick up for what is right.  In this universe, she is misunderstood.  She is given a opportunity to enter an alternate reality in which people are trained to fight evil in the other world.  Here, Charlie finally finds a place to belong, grow, and experience success.

At it's center, this book is about being misunderstood and finally finding a place to belong.  It is also about fighting for the right to stay in that place.  If you've ever felt a sense of alienation, of being misunderstood, you can relate to this story. We also get to be a part as Charlie gets to experience affection and love.  I appreciate the restraint in which Ms. Bennett writes the attraction between Charlie and Caiden.  Ms Bennett connects us through strong emotions, not just physical contact.  There is the perfect amount of attraction for a Young Adult book and I wouldn't hesitate to recommend it for YA fans and younger teenage readers.

IN A NUTSHELL: This is book one, so there is a lot of world building.  It is a great set up for the series and I look forward to seeing how Charlie grows and evolves.  I'm in!

Thank you to the author and publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

USA Today Best-Selling author, Sawyer Bennett, is a snarky southern woman and reformed trial lawyer who decided to finally start putting on paper all of the stories that were floating in her head. She is married to a mobster (well, a market researcher) and they have two big, furry dogs who hog the bed. Sawyer would like to report she doesn't have many weaknesses but can be bribed with a nominal amount of milk chocolate.

Author's Social Media Links:

     

 GIVEAWAY

$50 Amazon Gift Card

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Follow the tour to see reviews, guest posts, and excerpts by clicking the button below

 

SUNNY: BLOG TOUR, GIVEAWAY, AND REVIEW "Death and the Girl He Loves" by Darynda Jones

Welcome to the Death, and the Girl He Loves Tour.  We are so pleased to be apart of this event. Join us for a review of the book and make sure you enter the Giveaway. 


SUMMARY:

The fate of the world is not something a girl wants on her shoulders, and that is especially true for Lorelei McAlister.  Unfortunately for her, that is exactly where the world’s fate has decided to take up residence. Lorelei has seen firsthand the horrors that lie beneath our everyday world. And those horrors are getting her friends killed. Because of this, she agrees to leave the sanctity of her hometown and is sent to a different world entirely. A boarding school. But even here she is being watched. Someone knows what she is. What she carries inside her soul.  And on top of that she’s seeing visions.  This is nothing new for Lorelei.  But these visions are something more: death, destruction, and the end of the world.   Lorelei must face the fact that there are people who want her dead, and no matter where she goes, no matter how far she runs, the lives of her friends and family are in mortal peril.  Lucky for her, her friends and family include the handsome Angel of Death, a fiercely protective half-angel, and a ragtag group of loyal supporters who aren’t afraid to get a little dirty in the name of fighting pure evil. 

BUY THE BOOK:

Amazon │ B&N 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

NYTimes and USA Today Bestselling Author Darynda Jones has won numerous awards for her work, including a prestigious Golden Heart®, a Rebecca, two Hold Medallions, a RITA ®, and a Daphne du Maurier, and she has received stellar reviews from dozens of publications including starred reviews from Publisher’s Weekly, Booklist, and the Library Journal. As a born storyteller, Darynda grew up spinning tales of dashing damsels and heroes in distress for any unfortunate soul who happened by, annoying man and beast alike, and she is ever so grateful for the opportunity to carry on that tradition. She currently has two series with St. Martin’s Press: The Charley Davidson Series and the Darklight Trilogy. She lives in the Land of Enchantment, also known as New Mexico, with her husband of almost 30 years and two beautiful sons, the Mighty, Mighty Jones Boys. She can be found at www.daryndajones.com.

AUTHOR'S LINKS:

Website │ Facebook │Twitter 

REVIEW:
SWEEEEEET!  For fans of this Darklight series, this is a perfect ending to the trilogy.  The crew is back to help Lorelei stop the end times as prophesied.  At the end of book 2,  Lorelei is sent away to boarding school in Maine in order to keep her safe.  But she cannot outrun her legacy and no matter where she turns, she must confront her role in stopping the destruction of the world.  Therefore, she runs back home.  Thank goodness!  

I loved this book for so many reasons, but here are some highlights:

1. No external enemies.  We no longer have to worry about the strange cult.  This is just Lorelei and friends trying to figure out how to stop the end of the world. 

2. Like Lorelei, I too am crushed by her burden of responsibility.  Everyone is counting on her and she feels like she is in the dark. 

3. There is an incredibly interesting twist at the end that I found utterly satisfying.  I suspect not everyone may appreciate it, but I thought the additional tension and drama resulting from this turn was exquisite and perfectly in line with the themes of this series. 

4.  Despite all the drama about end times, the romance with the Angel of Death, the threat of the cult, this series boils down to the bonds of friendship.  Darynda Jones could not have made this sweeter.  Like I said in my review of the first book, these friendships remind me of the gang on Scooby Doo - zany, honest, troublesome, and most of all, loyal. 

My one small critique is that the episode at the boarding school seems a little out of sync with the rest of the book.  It sole purpose seems to be to pick up an additional character, Kenya.  Don't get me wrong, Kenya plays an important role in the story, but maybe her appearance could've occurred Riley's Switch.  


When I first heard that Darynda Jones was writing a Young Adult series, I wondered what it would look like.  I love her Charley Davidson books for the snark, action, drama, and of course, the hot relationship with Reyes Farrow -- a lot of which is for mature (or maturer) audiences.  This series shows Darynda's strengths in storytelling, world-building, and developing relationships that hits to the heart. 

IN A NUTSHELL:
The perfect ending to a fun, comical, endearing series.  I will miss my "Scooby gang".   

GIVEAWAY

  a Rafflecopter giveaway

SUNNY & SUSAN: SPOTLIGHT TOUR "Love Lessons" by Heidi Cullinan

Blurb:
Love doesn’t come with a syllabus.

Kelly Davidson has waited what seems like forever to graduate high school and get out of his smallminded,
Charming isn’t so easy. Everyone here is already out. In fact, Kelly could be the only virgin on campus. Worst of all, he’s landed the charming, handsome, gay campus Casanova as a roommate, whose bed 
might as well be equipped with a revolving door.

Walter Lucas doesn’t believe in storybook love. Everyone is better off having as much fun as possible with as many people as possible…except his shy, sad little sack of a roommate is seriously screwing up his world view.

As Walter sets out to lure Kelly out of his shell, staying just friends is harder than he anticipated. He discovers love is a crash course in determination. To make the grade, he’ll have to finally show up for class…and overcome his own private fear that love was never meant to last.

Warning: This story contains lingering glances, milder than usual sexual content for this author, and a steamy dance-floor kiss. Story has no dairy or egg content, but may contain almonds.

To read more of "Love Lessons", an excerpt of chapters 1&2 can be found HERE..

Expected publication: October 1st 2013 by Samhain

Pre-Order "Love Lessons" here

Amazon     B&N     Kobo

About the Author: 

Heidi Cullinan has always loved a good love story, provided it has a happy ending. She enjoys writing across many genres but loves above all to write happy, romantic endings for LGBT characters because where just aren't enough of those stories out there. When Heidi isn't writing, she enjoys cooking, reading, knitting, listening to music, and watching television with her husband and ten-year-old daughter. Heidi also volunteers frequently for her state's LGBT rights group, One Iowa, and is proud to be from the first midwestern state to legalize same-sex marriage. Find out more about Heidi, including her social networks, at www.heidicullinan.com.

Website/Blog │Facebook │Twitter │Goodreads

SUNNY: BOOK REVIEW - "Death, Doom, and Detention" by Darynda Jones

SUMMARY from Goodreads:
The normal part of Lorelei MacAlister’s life didn’t just slip away quietly the day Jared Kovach came to town. Nope. The normal part of her life shattered. It exploded. It burst into a gazillion shards of fleeting light.

It went out with a bang.
Goodbye normal.
Hello dark and eerie.

While her best friend, Brooklyn, is focusing all of her energy on helping Lorelei hone her abilities, Lorelei is dealing with the reality that Satan’s second in command has taken up residence inside her body. Oh, and the fact that she has a crush on the Angel of Death. But what a beautiful death it is. If those weren’t bad enough, something sinister has come to town and it wants nothing more than to hear Lorelei’s dying breath as it strangles it out of her. Thank goodness the gang has a supernatural champion. But what happens when the only being who can save them switches sides midstream? How can a group of misfits capture one of the most powerful beings ever created? And will they find out how to bring Jared back to them before it’s too late?

REVIEW:
This is not the kind of book you want to pick up if you haven't read Death and the Girl Next Door. But if you have, you are in for a treat! This book starts where the first book left off...Lorelei learning about her fate, the upcoming war with demons, in the company of her besties, protected by her Static Cling, and in love with the hot Angel of Death. What I like most about this series is Lorelei's relationship with her friends. They are not perfect but they are pure and true. Also applause to Darynda Jones for adding diversity to this group of friends without hitting us over the head with it. There are less antics from the crew, but just as much drama as Lor is being targeted by a group of "descendants." If the first book sets up the framework, this book deepens the mystery.

IN A NUTSHELL:
Reading the little preview at the end of this book reminds me that it's going to be a long summer waiting for the next installment!