The month of July has turned out to be a busy one, and one that put dark circles under my eyes. Funny considering I was on vacation most to it. I went to Disney world for the first time...which should have been relaxing...except for the going with my mom, 3 brothers and their various partners and young people under the age of 10. When I came back home...I needed rest. Then there was work. But on the good side, I was able to read 3 books.
First up:Halfway to the Grave
By: Jeaniene Frost 
Write up:
Half-vampire Catherine Crawfield is going after the undead with a vengeance, hoping that one of these deadbeats is her father—the one responsible for ruining her mother's life. Then she's captured by Bones, a vampire bounty hunter, and is forced into an unholy partnership.
In exchange for finding her father, Cat agrees to train with the sexy night stalker until her battle reflexes are as sharp as his fangs. She's amazed she doesn't end up as his dinner—are there actually good vampires? Pretty soon Bones will have her convinced that being half-dead doesn't have to be all bad. But before she can enjoy her newfound status as kick-ass demon hunter, Cat and Bones are pursued by a group of killers. Now Cat will have to choose a side . . . and Bones is turning out to be as tempting as any man with a heartbeat.
This series was recommended to me because I started a paranormal romance kick last month, and wanted to get a few series to read that people thought was good. I was told that this series was not too fluffy, and like many books in this category...the romance aspect was a bit off to the side to the rest of the story, and for the most part this was the truth. This series like the JR Ward series was very adult in content, and not sexually as to be expected for this genre. The world was gritty and real, people got killed horribly, there was crime and violence and noone was perfect in anyway...well except Boone. When we meet Cat, she is transferring the body of a Vampire she had killed, and she is good at killing vampires. She feels no remorse, and views it as not only her duty, but as payback for her mom. She is rough and hard like stone. Right away I saw this would not be a typical story or heroine. She has a serious chip on her shoulder and trusts no one. She is not the romantic type to swoon to be think romantic thought...she has been too damaged. Boone is a centuries old vampire, so he is cynical, and brass, and doesn't care for games. He treats Cat roughly from the start and is plainly using her for his own ends. They are both together for their own purposes and don't care much about the other. Or so they start. But of course a romance starts...but it is pretty realistic when you consider the two people and their history and personality. For the most part I liked the romance, though I felt it could have been explored more. When Boone made his confession...it still felt a bit from left field, and up till the end...I still was not sure what Cat felt for him. He put up with a lot of crap from her...which to me...considering what he was made hi m a bit too perfect. A little unrealistic. The main plot is handled well, and is not for the faint of heart, and it ties in well to the ending...which of course is a bit of a cliffhanger. I found myself a bit frustrated by Cat's decision at the end. But I suppose they had to drag it on for the next book. All in all I enjoyed the book and would read the next in the series.
Grade: B
------------------------------------Grade: B
Next up:
The River King's Road: A Novel of Ithelas
By: Liane Merciel
The first book in a new epic fantasy series about a knight who must save his kingdom's infant heir from assassination.
Brief and to the point.
The main story of the book is this: Two lands, separated by a river, have been at war for generations. The soldiers of Oakharn and Langmyr periodically have crossed the river and performed atrocities; the never-ending hate between the countries the only thing they know in life. In a period of relative quiet and peace, something terrible happens....the heir of Oakharn and his entire family and the entire village where he was staying have been destroyed. A magical weapon called bloodmist has been used to decimate the entire village, and that means a group of magic wielders called a Thorn and her magic are involved. The only survivors are Brys Tarnell, who did not go to the doomed chapel with the rest of the guard. And a girl, Odosse, was in the forest with her baby. Brys e discover the king's son with his nursemaid, who dies while he watches, and he, being a mercenary and out for money, decides to take the child with him and return him for money. He meets Odesse coming back from the forest and takes her to be nursemaid to the child. They are left to try to save the heir's life and to get him back to his land.
The main story of the book is handled very well. Brys and Odesse go on their journey to return the heir and meet all kinds of danger and horrors on the way, since the person responsible for the killing has sent the Thorn after them to kill the child. The magic is this world is explained very well and used in a believable way...which I always pay attention too. Sometimes the magic is a bit too...magical in fantasy books and ruins the entire thing because it becomes a crutch to fill plot holes. But this was all handled well. I also liked that I could relate too many of the characters so well....even the despicable ones. Their motivations were understandable, and if when I should have hated them...I found myself rooting for the bad guy...with limits of course. Some bad guys were a bit too crazy. My main complaint was that I felt that Brys was not fully explored. I got him to an extent, but even by the end of the book...I still did not know how his character changed and what he got from his journey. Usually a hero’s journey leads to a changed character at the end...even if he is kind of an anti-hero to an extent. But with Brys...although he is meant to be somewhat detached...I found him too detached and it did not help me make any kind of emotional connection to his characters. This was the case with another character a well. The characterization was a bit schizophrenic. They were just there. Also the ending felt a bit too rushed and open-ended, and vaguely unsatisfying as I was expecting more...of something...just more. I will assume there will be more books coming, but I am not sure if I will continue the series.
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The last:
The Summer of You
By: Kate Noble 
Write up:
Lady Jane Cummings is certain that her summer is ruined when she is forced to reside at isolated Merrymere Lake with her reckless brother and ailing father. Her fast-paced London society is replaced with a small town grapevine. But one bit of gossip catches Jane's attention- rumors that the lake's brooding new resident is also an elusive highwayman. Jane must face the much discussed mysterioso after he saves her brother from a pub brawl. She immediately recognizes him from London: Byrne Worth, war hero and apparent hermit-whom she finds strangely charming. The two build a fast friendship, and soon nothing can keep this Lady away from Merrymere's most wanted. Convinced of his innocence, Jane is determined to clear Byrne's name-and maybe have a little fun this summer after all.
This book continues the story of Lady Jane Cummings who was introduced in Kate Noble's last rook Revealed. In that book she is an intriguing character: sworn rival and begrudging friend of Phillipa Bennning. She was a bit of a mystery and someone you had to hate because she got on your heroines nerves and sometimes bested her. This is her book and it strives to explain her and give her a happy ending. The things I liked about this story were mainly the break from the social norms of the time the book was based in. Jane, being a lady of high standing, should be beyond reproach. She should never be alone with a man, be clean and virginal, and should listen and follow her betters...mainly the men in her family who rule over all according to the laws of the time. Jane, does neither. Her father is ill and is in no shape to rein her in, and her brother is useless and rather weak. He rather run away, than face any serious issue. This leaves Jane to do what she wants, according to what she wants. So when she meets Byrne again, she breaks all the rules. She meets with him alone...at his cottage! She goes swimming with him...naked! She starts a romantic relationship with him...and worst of all.....she has sex before marriage....in fact with no intention of marriage. But the little world that she has created for herself and Byrne starts to unravel when a highway man starts robbing the townsfolk...and her brother becomes suspicious of her activities.
Overall I enjoyed the romance in this tale and it was a good read. But I find that I enjoyed the previous book better, and Jane in the previous book better. Here she loses that snobbery and mystery and spark that made her so interesting when she was introduced. She was a bit of a bitch really. Here I find her a bit too soft...even under her circumstances. I also found the subplot of the highwayman did not tie in as well and it could have and it felt a bit too rushed in the end...and a bit over the top. But put together is was good candy. Light and fun.
Grade: B+
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