Paranormal Romance & Urban Fantasy discussion

I went back and totaled last month's final update and we read 146 books.

Another one bites the dust-5 down!

1. Gena Showalter - Lords of the Underworld

2. Alexis Morgan - Dark Protector

3. Adrian Phoenix - A Rush of Wings

4. Jacqueline Frank - Damien

5. Terri Garey - Dead Girls are Easy

6. Karen Chance - Touch the Dark

7. Katie McAllister - Playing with Fire

8. Carolyn Jewel - My Wicked Enemy

9. Richelle Mead - Succubus Blues

Greatly enjoyed Richelle Mead's take on demons, angels, vampires and the rest. A fun, easy read, where the definitions of good and evil reside firmly in the grey area. I'm trying to resist the temptation to download the next one-must finish challenge first! ::Groan::

YZ Woah! That's awesome! 146? I bet we can beat it this time. We don't need that many more books... come on guys! Let's shoot for 150! :) I mean that's only 39 more books. There's what, 23 of us particpating? ONly two have finished. That's totally doable! :)

Way cool! Thanks!

Michelle M. That's the problem with this challenge.. finding some great new series that I want to continue!!! LOL Thankfully I think I found a way to make one of my book two's to work for the March challenge!! Woot! Can your next book by Richelle Mead work for March?

It might, as would the next in Terri Garey's series. But I am a terribly weak-willed creature. Plus I'm not over the moon about the next few I have on my list-makes the temptation even greater!

No! I can do it, gosh darn it. Victory will be mine! In the meantime, I'll just succumb to some other temptation, like more chocolate.

1. Bitten by Kelley Armstrong - 2/2
2. Fantasy Lover by Sherrilyn Kenyon - 2/16
3. Night Shift by Lilith Saintcrow - 2/18
4. Howling at the Moon by Karen MacInerney - 2/23
5. Once Bitten, Twice Shy by Jennifer Rardin - 2/22
6. Moongazer by Marianne Mancusi - 2/20
7. Immortals: The Calling by Jennifer Ashley - 2/24
8. Dark Lover by J.R. Ward
9. What's a Ghoul to Do by Victoria Laurie - 2/22

Sleep? Who needs sleep? Bah...

1. Gena Showalter - Lords of the Underworld

2. Alexis Morgan - Dark Protector

3. Adrian Phoenix - A Rush of Wings

4. Kerrelyn Sparks - How to Marry a Millionaire Vampire

5. Terri Garey - Dead Girls are Easy

6. Karen Chance - Touch the Dark

7. Katie McAllister - Playing with Fire

8. Carolyn Jewel - My Wicked Enemy

9. Richelle Mead - Succubus Blues


So, finished How to Marry a Millionaire Vampire...I was left with very bland feelings toward the book, though I will admit that it got infinitely better as we learned more about the formulas Roman's lab is creating and as the opposing vampire factions came closer to a real confrontation.

But, for an author billed as writing paranormal comedy, I just didn't find her book funny. Not when I have the Argeneaus to compare it against-ah, Lucian and his bandito/housekeeper ensemble. And Lucern with his own wardrobe problems. I chuckle even thinking about it.

I am now reading my last two books (one is by my bed, the other in my handbag!) so my read list now looks like this:

1)Marked The House of Night Book 1 - P.C. Cast
2) Charmed and Dangerous - Candace Havens
3) Flood - Anna Clare
4) Succubus Blues - Richelle Mead
5) You Slay Me - Katie MacAlister
6) Witch Fire - Anya Bast
7) Witchling - Yasmine Galenorn

Almost there :)

7 down, 2 to go... Unfortunately, the last two haven't seemed to grab my interest much, so I hope I can find the will power to get through them.

1. Moon Called by Patricia Briggs *2/8
2. Pleasure Unbound by Larissa Ione *2/5
3. Witchling by Yasmine Galenorn
4. Working for the Devil by Lilith SaintCrow *2/8
5. Wicked Ties by Shayla Black *2/10
6. Victorious Star by Morgan Hawke *2/1
7. A Rush of Wings by Adrian Phoenix *2/17
8. Shadow Game by Christine Feehan
9. Witch Fire by Anya Bast *2/22

Witch Fire was great, by the way. Highly recommend it if you like STEAMY PNR.

Hey, Chocolate is good. I may fall to that temptation, too... HEHEHE

I ended up with a migraine this weekend. So forget reading. Kind of cheeses me off because 1. I was counting on the reading op since I am behind and 2. I really like thsi book so I'm curious to see what is going to happen!

Oh, migraines. Lady, I sympathize with you-nothing worse! But hey, the month's not over yet. I have faith in you!

Well I have to read four books to get to my nine. I'm not even halfway through the current book. I have till Saturday to finish this one and then read three more. That's gonna be pushing it. But I'm gonna try! Here's hoping......

Hustle!

(This coming from a sleep-deprived eejit who is free to spend all her non-working hours reading, so feel free to ignore me or throw me an exasperated glare.)

:)

1. Gena Showalter - Lords of the Underworld

2. Alexis Morgan - Dark Protector

3. Adrian Phoenix - A Rush of Wings

4. Kerrelyn Sparks - How to Marry a Millionaire Vampire

5. Terri Garey - Dead Girls are Easy

6. Karen Chance - Touch the Dark

7. Katie McAllister - Playing with Fire

8. Jennifer Rardin - Once Bitten, Twice Shy

9. Richelle Mead - Succubus Blues

Once Bitten, Twice Shy: Characters were okay, but were underdeveloped, as was the story as a whole. Very light on the romantic element-expression of emotional rather than physical intimacy. A couple of chuckles here and there.

That's easy just use at the beginning and at the end. (put an S in between the parenthesis.)

"

Oh, thank you so much everyone. And thanks for welcoming to the group and challenge! And for teaching me how to strikeout

Michelle,

I'm not throwing in the towel... I'm gonna try. We'll see if I can scrape it in... HEHEHE

What's worse is that I am teaching a class Saturday night. So I may not get to update if I finish a book on Saturday! Wonder if it would count if I update it on Sunday... YZ... I am teaching on Saturday night... have mercy if I have to report late? LOL

So I decided to look and see. I have 343 pages in this book and I'm on page 124. Eeek, I'm not even half through. *SIGH* Gosh, I hope I can get some good reading time in tomorrow morning while the boys are doing their morning work. I hope my headache is gone tomorrow!!!

LOL..Lady Ozma, final update of this challenge will fall on March 1, so yes, you can update Sunday.

Good to know, YZ. Thanks! I started to get real stressed thinking "EEEEK". I'm planning on crashing after my class, not getting on the computer. Of course, I could be all jazzed after my class so who knows. LOL

Witchling - Yasmine Galenorn - finished 2/16
Pleasure Unbound - Larissa Ione - finished 2/19
Vampire Academy - Richelle Mead - finished 2/20
Club Vamp - Allyson James - finished 2/21
La Vida Vampire - Nancy Haddock - finished 2/22
Working For the Devil - Lilith StCrow
The Darkest Pleasure - Gena Showalter
Nicholas: The Lords of Satyr - Elizabeth Amber
Dead Until Dark - Charlaine Harris

Well, Club Vamp turned out to be really short, an Ellora's Cave quickie or something, and not at all what I expected. Vampire Academy I liked, but I have to say, since it brings similar books to mind, I liked House of Night a LOT better. Like I'll read more Vampire Academy when I get there, but I'm DYING for the next House of Night book. La Vida Vampire was FANTASTIC! I really loved that one, and it helps that one of my closest friends lives in St Augustine, so it had that added interest value there. :) But it was well written, I think, and I'm looking forward to the next one.

Next on the agenda... hmmm... I think I'm in the mood for Dead Until Dark, so that one will probably be next! :)

Michelle M. wrote: "...Once Bitten, Twice Shy: Characters were okay, but were underdeveloped, as was the story as a whole. Very light on the romantic element-expression of emotional rather than physical intimacy. A couple of chuckles here and there."

I'm a Jennifer Rardin fan, so I thought I'd jump in here. I think her series gets better with every book and that the first is definitely the weakest in the series. However, yes, if you were expecting it to have a strong romance aspect, you would have been disappointed. The relationship is more of a slow burn.

Murrrmaiyd wrote: "...ampire Academy I liked, but I have to say, since it brings similar books to mind, I liked House of Night a LOT better. Like I'll read more Vampire Academy when I get there, but I'm DYING for the next House of Night book."

This is especially interesting to me as I got hooked on the Vampire Academy series with this challenge and absolutely loved them. I'm currently reading the first House of Night book and having a hard time getting into it. I find Zoey so judgmental and I find the tone of the book a bit preachy at times. The VA books allowed the teens to be real and flawed without judging them, but this one is feeling quite heavy handed with negative stereotypes. I'm only 90 pages in though, so we'll see how it goes.

1. Halfway to the Grave by Jeanine Frost 2-09
2.Deathbringer Bryan Smith 2-09
3. Dark Lover J R Ward 2-09
4. Pleasure Unbound by Larissa Ione
5. Working for the Devil by Lilth SaintCrow 2-09
6. Shifter antho. feat. Angela Knight
7. Count on Love Melinda Curtis
8. Marked Joely Skye
9. Risen J Knight

Hope you're feelin' better, Lady Ozma!

DarkHeart: I'm personally okay with the slow burn. I'll read the next one to see if my opinion changes. Is there more astral projection?

Thanks, Michelle! I am and so I finished Confessions of a Werewolf Supermodel! :) YAY!!!!

So that leaves me with six down, three to go! I decided that this just a hint clint book needed to be reshelved. I just can't get interested in reading it. So I've pulled a different book out. It's called "This is How it Happened (not a love story" and I figured with all the romance I'm reading next month to read something that looks like it might be the anti-romance could be fun. HAHAHA I've never read anything by Jo Barrett but this book sounded awesome!

Any bastage that dumps you after four years by EMAIL deserves whatever he gets. I hope the brownies on the front of the book are poisoned. ;)

CURSES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

To put me in a further grumpy mood... I just looked up to see if there was another series with teh werewolf supermodel to find out... the author DIED!!!! Before the book came out! NOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!


I was dying to know more about this story dangit. *SIGH*

I'm gonna go CRY!

LOL

Ozma, I suppose that shouldn't be so funny (it's sad, it's sad!), but it made me laugh...

OMG it was such an awesome story... *SIGH*

Lady Ozma wrote: "CURSES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

To put me in a further grumpy mood... I just looked up to see if there was another series with teh werewolf supermodel to find out... the author DIED!..."

Oh wow that is totally bummer :(

I suggest a new little addition to the challenge - at the end of the month, I think everyone should post what their favorite book was that they read from that month's challenge. I'm not quite done with all my books yet, but I already know which was my favorite, so I'll start.
My favorite book I read this month was A Rush of Wings by Adrian Phoenix.

That is a cool suggestion, Nichole.

I'll remind everyone to post their fave book, after the final update is posted.

Nichole, I did that last month in my blog. :) I wrote about the challenge and everything. Of course last month I read a total of 25 books so whew, that was one heck of a blog. This month I'm coming in with a more realistic number, but had planned to talk about my favourite book. I plan to rant about great books with dead authors right now. *SIGH*

I think it's a great idea! :) It's been fun reading the thread to see what people are thinking about the books they are reading!

1. Phatasmoria - Morgan Hawke 2/21 **
2. Betrayed - Jamie Leigh Hansen (2/10) **
3. The Magic Knot - Helen Scott Taylor 2/13 *****
4. Ravenous - Sharon Atwood 2/15 ****
5. Phanton's Touch - Julie Leto 2/16 **
6. The Vampire's Seduction - Raven Hart 2/18 ***
7. Scandalous Spirits - C.B. Scott 2/16 ****
8. Morning Beauty, Midnight Beast - Myrna Mackenzie 2/23 *****
9. Ghost of a Chance - Kate Marsh 2/17 *****

Finally done! I was waiting for Greywalker and Kiss of Fire to arrive in the mail and finally gave up and read something else. :)

I just looked up to see if there was another series with teh werewolf supermodel to find out... the author DIED!!!! Before the book came out! NOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!

I knew Rhonda--she lived in Amarillo, and I was living in a little town about 60 miles outside "the big city." We weren't best buddies, but we had a lot of laughs together. She had such a big sense of humor--this would totally tickle her, to know people were upset because she couldn't finish her series.

Okay, let me go find my list...

1. Stay the Night by Lynn Viehl
2. My Immortal Protector by Jen Holling
3. Baby Be Mine by Eve Gaddy
4. The Single Dad's New-Year Bride by Amy Andrews
5. A Bride for his Convenience by Edith Layton
6. The Right Mr. Wrong by Cindy Myers
7. Naughty or Nice by Sherry Browning Erwin
8. The Accidental Demon Slayer by Angie Fox
9. Sabriel by Garth Nix

I've finished all but Sabriel. It's off my shelf, though, and sitting on my desk.

I've also read The Sharing Knife Horizon and the new Stephanie Laurens, and I'm currently reading Kitty and the Dead Man's Hand, but I'll get it finished pretty quick and get to Sabriel this week.

I have lots of other stuff to do this week too...

That's next on my list, Nichole. I've made so many swap outs from my original list that I'm glad to know that Rush should be good!

OMG Gail, my mother and I went out for death by chocolate in Ronda's honour. We're both real upset. I totally was so into that werewolf supermodel book. It was awesome. I was totally ready to get the next book and find out WTH was going on in Nevada, what happened to the supermodel's birth mother and adopted parents... and now I'll NEVER KNOW... It really did upset me.

It was a FANTASTIC book. It was just awesome! I loved the characters!! The premise! The mystery! *SIGH*

I'm glad to know something more about her. I read she died of cancer and that is the suck. I wish she hadn't have had to suffer through that nightmare.

Lady, that IS sad, on many levels. But you've convinced me to add the book to my TBR list so you've done your part to pay homage!

She seems to have written other books. With your high praise, we'll have to check them out as well.

1. Gena Showalter - Lords of the Underworld

2. Alexis Morgan - Dark Protector

3. Adrian Phoenix - A Rush of Wings

4. Kerrelyn Sparks - How to Marry a Millionaire Vampire

5. Terri Garey - Dead Girls are Easy

6. Karen Chance - Touch the Dark

7. Katie McAllister - Playing with Fire

8. Jennifer Rardin - Once Bitten, Twice Shy

9. Richelle Mead - Succubus Blues

Whoo hoo! Only one to go! I am the bizzomb. Who knew I had such fortitude?

::pats self on back while tooting own horn::

Touch the Dark started off a little disjointed. I was getting a tad confused as she described the lay of the land. But by the end, I was eagerly devouring pages. I enjoyed this action-packed read. There were still some areas that needed more development, but overall I thought it was exciting, with engaging characters. I always love vamp politics, and the different power centers of Chance's world promise lots of future confrontation and intrigue.

Hmn. Since I have almost a week to finish my last book, I think I'll be naughty and read the next Cassie Palmer first. I need more Mircea!

Michelle,

Great progress, and I would say, you left the best for last. A Rush of Wings is a fantastic read.

I'm currently listening to Touch the Dark, and I'm having a hard time with it. Feels like an Anita Blake rip-off, and Cassie is getting annoying. I hope it gets better.

Yz,

I had a very hard time with it in the beginning. I got more into it once she started having visions into Louis Cesar's mortal life (I almost wrote Jean Claude-hmnnn). If, by the entrance of the talking head, you're not content, it's probably not going to improve for you.

I still feel as though lots of aspects would benefit from fuller explanation. But I didn't get an Anita Blake vibe off of it. Cassie seems far more normal than Anita ever has and just seems to be coping with her lot in life.

(I loved most of the Anita Blake books, but her self-doubt, stand-offishness, quick temper, and ugh the arduer have driven me mad. I'm giving her one more book to grow up.)

I can't imagine listening to a book like Touch the Dark. Since it's first person, the voice reading the story becomes infinitely more important and colors your perceptions of the character. Your reader's interpretation of Cassie's voice may make it feel Anita Blakey if that's what the publishers think the audience is looking for.

The main problems with Touch the Dark, to me, were:
A. It was a big information dump. Karen Chance didn't seem particularly skilled at weaving the history and mythology into the story. Instead she just told you everything up front, which is a lot to take in at once and makes it hard to really get invested in the story. I thought it would have been better if she had started it a little slower; back to when she first met Tomas, and gave the backstory in smaller doses.
B. Cassie was a really bland heroine; she didn't seem to have any unique qualities to make her stand out from all the other kickass Heroines-In-Leather that are so ubiquitous in the genre. Everything interesting about the series is happening around her; Cassie herself seems like a blank slate.

But I did think it got better toward the end; things start to come together and you learn things about Cassie that set up the rest of the series. Also, Mircea becomes a more central character and the interaction between them is interesting. I encourage you to keep going, Yz!

You got a point there, Michelle. The reader for the Cassie Palmer series is the same reader who is more popular as Anita's voice, so yes, that is a big similarity. I do like her voice, and I enjoy listening to her, thats why I'm continuing on despite the, at the moment, "convoluted" storyline.

I feel that so many things are happening, and Cassie has the habit of having her thoughts wondering off that I find annoying. I'll try to get the second book in print, and see if that makes a difference, although I like first person's stories in audio. It has always worked for me...like Anita Blake, Mac for Fever series, etc.

Nichole, DEFINITELY an info dump. There's no easing the reader in and letting things unfold as they come. I agree that perhaps starting further back in time might have helped. If it had to be an info dump, a prologue or time line would've been preferable.

You're right, Yz, that the method she chose makes everything feel convoluted.

Since London Girl says the series only improves, we may also have a case of "first novel" syndrome.

Anywho, I'll be starting the second today, so I'll weigh in on that later!

I'm sticking to it, whether in audio or print, not entirely sure yet. I really like the narrator so if the story improves, I might just stick with audio on this.

After all, I put the third title in one of the many challenges I'm in, so I guess I'll just continue...LOL..

Michelle, I'm so glad you are going to read it! It was a great book! I'm just sorry you are going to have this mystery hanging over your head. But you will enjoy the book!

I think I'm going to have check out her wulves books. Though they don't LOOK like they are in the same "world". *SIGH* But... :)

Oz's Mum here--we (meaning me) will be getting the Wulves of London books after the first (I HATE this time of year, no money til the IRS shark is paid off) of March. Then to see if they will slot anywhere into the March reading challenge. :o) I was also glad to learn more about Candace, because that was a seriously GREAT book (Confessions of a Were-wolf Supermodel) and I had been so looking forward to the series.

Well, I'm getting ready to head to the dentist, uck, yuck. See you guys later

OK, so I finished another book that I loved! This one was not paranormal but was perfect! I high recommend it! You will probably all love it! LOL It was the anti-romance and I loved it. Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned! This was a perfect read, too, for February with that stupid Hallmark Holiday made to make 90% of the world's population feel like garbage. Huzzah for Anti-Love! :)

Ok, so I just really loved this book. I was all ready to vote for Supermodel Werewolf for "favourite" this month, but now i'm torn!!! Maybe it's the Anti-Love story! AUGHHH!

Here's my complete list:
1. Tall, Dark, and Dead by Tate Hallaway
2. The Front by Patricia Cornwell
3. The Vampire of Venice Beach by Jennifer Colt
4. Blue Moon by Lori Handeland
5. The Haunting by Hope Tarr
6. Confessions of a Werewolf Supermodel by Ronda Thompson
7. This is How It Happened (Not A Love Story) by Jo Barrett

So I only have two more books! YAY! And it's only Tuesday. So I'm hopeful! I have two books that look like they will be quick reads, but I still went for this Patricia Briggs book I'd originally planned on. It's Moon Called. Hopefully I can finish it up and one more and complete this challenge!

PS... thanks for this AGAIN YZ! My read count for the year is 32 so I'm really working at my TBR pile something fierce! Your challenges are keeping me going and giving me a purpose to my selections! More fun this way!

You are welcome, Lady Ozma. I have to admit I've been reading more too, since I started the challenges. And it keeps me motivated, so I'm happy to know that it works for others, too.

I always start the year off well. I get all into reader mode at the holidays. But then as i get swept up in my spring things and starting school back up with the boys... I taper off. So... yeah this is keeping me going!