Review: Black Magic, Cherry Adair

Title: Black Magic
Author: Cherry Adair

Mass Market Paperback: 400 Pages
Publisher: Pocket Star
Release Date: 7/20/2010
ISBN: 978-1439153819

Description:

SHE HATES USING MAGIC…

Ever since the death of her parents, Sara Temple has rejected her magical gifts. Then, in a moment of extreme danger, she unknowingly sends out a telepathic cry for help—to the one man she is convinced she never wants to see again.

HE’S A POWERFUL WIZARD…

Jackson Slater thought he was done forever with his ex-fiancée, but when he hears her desperate plea, he teleports halfway around the world to aid her in a situation where magic has gone suddenly, brutally wrong.

THEY’VE BEEN CHOSEN TO SAVE THE WORLD...

But while Sara and Jack remain convinced they are completely mismatched, the Wizard Council feels otherwise. A dark force is killing some of the world’s most influential wizards, and the ex-lovers have just proved their abilities are mysteriously amplified when they work together. But with the fate of the world at stake, will the violent emotions still simmering between them drive them farther apart… or bring them back into each other’s arms?

My Review:

Sara has a problem with her powers she hated them.  Unknowingly she sent her ex Jack.  Jack appears back in her life and saves the day.  (Did I mention that Jack is oh so yummy?)  Under orders from the Council they must work together both refusing and yet both were forced to do just that work together.  Together they find passion again while in search of what is killing wizards. 

Discovering the truth about Sara’s parents that they were murdered, the truth about her powers, about Jack and Sara’s former relationship, and the truth behind the deaths are all connected, and the cause of it was right in front of them the entire time.

I enjoyed Black Magic, I wanted more, even as I thought who the person was I was wrong.  With twist and turns at every corner, Black Magic will keep you on the edge of your seat.

My Rating:

Black Magic 

Review: Blood Law, Jeannie Holmes

Title: Blood Law

Author: Jeannie Holmes

Series: Alexandra Sabian

Mass Market Paperback: 400 Pages

Publisher: Dell

Release Date: 7/6/2010

ISBN: 978-0553592672

Description:

To stop a vampire killer, she’ll have to slay her own demons first.

A provocative and savvy vampire, Alexandra Sabian moves to the sleepy hamlet of Jefferson, Mississippi—population 6,000, nearly one-half vampires—to escape the demons lurking in her past. As an Enforcer for the Federal Bureau of Preternatural Investigation (FBPI), Alex must maintain the uneasy peace between her kind and humans, including Jefferson’s bigoted sheriff, who’d be happy to see all vampires banished from town. Then really dead vamps start turning up—beheaded, crucified, and defanged—killed in the same gruesome manner that Alex’s father was murdered decades ago. For Alex, the professional has become way too personal.

Things get even more complicated when the FBPI sends in some unnervingly sexy backup: Alex’s one-time mentor, lover, and fiancé, Varik Baudelaire. Still stinging from the betrayal that ended their short-lived engagement, Alex is determined not to give in to the temptation that soon threatens to short-circuit her investigation. Like it or not, though, as the body count grows, and the public panic level rises, Varik may be her only hope to stop a relentless killer who’s got his own score to settle, and his own bloody past to put right.

My Review:

I am proud to say that this is Jeannie Holmes first novel and a great one at that. Alex is a strong female vampire fighting not only crime but also racism. I loved how Jeannie detailed the racism against vampires, to me, that proved more real than humans accepting vampires easily; it was more of a reality then everyone being friendly. After all, the world is not a perfect place. She not only brought out humanity throughout Blood Law but also made you feel part of Jefferson. Jeannie made you fall in love with Alexandra.

Blood Law is written in different point of views you got a taste of what everyone was thinking. I must confess that I thought the villain was someone different she had me hook, line, and sinker.

Her vampires are not like most vampire novels, they are born. They have parents, brothers, sisters, friends, and family. They like most humans are law-obeying citizens. Blood Law is full of colorful characters rather they be bad, good, or evil. Jefferson was explained even details, even down to the Waffle House, I felt as if I have been to Jefferson before. Not only her details of Jefferson were well placed but also her knowledge of the law was obvious.

Blood Law is fast pace and kept me wanting more. I have waited a long time for Blood Law and it was worth every day I had to wait. Book two in the Alex Sabian series, Blood Secrets is slated for 2011, and once again, I will be waiting.

Rating:  

 




Blood Law: A Novel 

Review: Eternal Kiss of Darkness, Jeaniene Frost

Title: Eternal Kiss of Darkness

Author: Jeaniene Frost

Series: Night Huntress World

Mass Market Paperback: 384 pages

Publisher: Avon

Release Date: 7/27/2010

ISBN: 978-0061783166

Description:

An immortal war has been brewing in the darkness...and now one woman has stumbled into the shadows.

Chicago private investigator Kira Graceling should have just kept on walking. But her sense of duty refused to let her ignore the moans of pain coming from inside a warehouse just before dawn. Suddenly she finds herself in a world she's only imagined in her worst nightmares.

At the center is Mencheres, a breathtaking Master vampire who thought he'd seen it all. Then Kira appears - this fearless, beautiful....human who braved death to rescue him. Though her burns for her, keeping Kira in his world means risking her life. Yet sending her away is unthinkable.

But with danger closing in, Mencheres must choose either the woman he craves, or embracing the darkest magic to defeat an enemy bent on his eternal destruction.

My Review:

What can I say or how can I start? Both in the Night Huntress Series featuring Cat and Bones, and the Night Huntress World Series featuring First Drop of Crimson, Spade and Denise, book 1, I did not care for Mencheres. In fact, he was one of my least favorite in her series. However, after reading Eternal Kiss of Darkness I developed a new fondness for him. In EKOD you learn some of his past, his life, and the reason why he is the way he is.

Mencheres is a master vampire who is over forty-five hundred years old who is rescued by a human, Kira Graceling. Kira is a strong woman who is more concerned with her sister then being surrounded by vampires. They both fight their feelings that they have for each other after all they both have been burned in the past. I found it very entertaining that Mencheres could not control Kira as he could anyone else. I also found insightful seeing Mencheres in this light never would I have guessed that this was the true Mencheres.

Vlad Tepesh came when Mencheres called. This was another part of EKOD that I enjoyed was learning some of the history between Vlad and Mencheres and I loved Kira’s reaction to Vlad which is typical when one meets the one and only Vlad. Bones and Cat make an appearance as well. What I did not like what their judgment of Kira, assuming that she is like Mencheres dead wife Patra. Neither of their opinions mattered to Kira. No matter what happened in the past, in present day, ghoul, or vampire Kira gladly defended Mencheres.

What I missed was Ian of course, and I also missed Spade but I could see how they did not pertain to EKOD. EKOD made me want to reread all of the Night Huntress books now knowing more about Mencheres.

Once again, Jeaniene Frost hits the target dead center. While reading you can feel the humor, pain, despair, compassion, hope, and passion in her books. There is no doubt that Jeaniene leaves you begging for more. I, for one, cannot wait until the next installment of the Night Huntress Series This side Of The Grave slated for next year. If you have never read any of her books, I suggest that you do so. 

Rating:

Eternal Kiss of Darkness (Night Huntress World, Book 2)