Archive for December, 2011

“Double Dead,” Chuck Wendig

Friday, December 9th, 2011

Pros: Absolutely loved this no-holds-barred wild tale of a vampire forced to protect humans from zombies in order to preserve his food supply
Cons: Some zombie apocalypse tropes, but they’re given enough good window-dressing that I really didn’t mind
Rating: 5 out of 5

Disclaimer: I consider Chuck an “internet friend”, so I might be biased. But I try not to be.

 

Coburn’s never had much of a conscience to interfere with his vampiric proclivities. He’s perfectly happy seeing people as convenient food supplies. Unfortunately for him, he got sloppy—and wound up “asleep” for several years after being attacked.

It’s amazing what can happen during that time. Certainly he never imagined he’d wake up to a zombie apocalypse, with delicious warm-blooded humans few and far between. He might be smart, he might be super-fast and super-strong, but the zombies are legion—not to mention inedible.

So it is that Coburn eventually finds himself forced to protect humans rather than wantonly prey on them, shepherding his little group toward a supposed safe-haven and happily eating any bad guys they come across along the way. Unfortunately for him, even during a zombie apocalypse there are serious threats to a vampire’s existence…

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“The Departed”, Shiloh Walker

Thursday, December 8th, 2011

Pros: Intense!
Cons: It helps to read The Missing first, but it isn’t necessary
Rating: 5 out of 5

Review book courtesy of the author and Penguin Group
Also posted on Epinions.com.

 

Desiree (”Dez”) Lincoln is a psychic who works for the FBI. Her ability? She talks to dead people, and they don’t let her rest until she helps them rest. Taylor Jones is Dez’s boss, a man whose talent lies in finding psychics and helping them to focus their talent. His driving goal above all others is to save lives—because he couldn’t save his little sister when she disappeared at age six.

Dez and Taylor feel the mutual heat of attraction between them, but Taylor is too cut off, too controlled, and too much Dez’s boss to allow a relationship—and in pushing Dez away after seeing her critically wounded, he pushes her too far. She leaves the FBI entirely and strikes out on her own.

Months later, a strong-willed spirit calls to Dez from Taylor’s old hometown; it needs her help to save a girl’s life. Dez and Taylor are thrown together again to resolve a situation that keeps escalating, and Dez may be able to help Taylor find out what happened to his sister all those years ago. Hopefully the craziness will bring Dez and Taylor finally together, rather than tearing them apart even further…

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Posted in Horror & Paranormal, Romance & Erotica, Thriller, Adventure & Mystery | Permalink | 3 Comments »

“One Salt Sea” by Seanan McGuire

Monday, December 5th, 2011

Pros: This book didn’t wrench my emotions around like the last few did.
Cons: The basic plot felt like what I’d just read in another book in this series.
Rating: 4 out of 5

Review book courtesy of Penguin Group

 

Toby’s life is finally settling down; she’s adjusting to being a countess, she’s taken on a squire, and she’s even dating. It’s only a matter of time before the other shoe drops. The children of the Duchess of Saltmist have been kidnapped, and Toby has only a short amount of time to find them. The Duchess has accused the Queen of the Mists of their kidnapping, and so it’s up to Toby to prove her queen’s innocence. If she can’t, there will be war between the Fae of land and sea. As she searches on land and under the sea one thing becomes clear: someone doesn’t want her to find these children, and they’re willing to do anything to keep her from them.

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