Celebrate 10 years of Jane Yellowrock! Giveaway

Celebrate 10 years of Jane Yellowrock!

Enter for your chance to win the entire New York Times bestselling Jane Yellowrock series (so far), plus cool Jane swag!

“There is nothing as satisfying as the first time reading a Jane Yellowrock novel.”—Fresh Fiction

Jane Yellowrock is the last of her kind—a skinwalker of Cherokee descent who can turn into any creature she desires and fights vampires, demons, and everything in between in the city of New Orleans. 

Enter today for your chance to win all of Jane's adventures:

Skinwalker

Blood Cross

Mercy Blade

Raven Cursed

Death's Rival

Blood Trade

Black Arts

Broken Soul

Dark Heir

Shadow Rites

Cold Reign

Dark Queen

...and an advanced copy of Shattered Bonds!

Winners will also receive a Shattered Bonds bookmark and an exclusive character card featuring Jane and Beast!

“Jane Yellowrock is smart, sexy, and ruthless.”—#1 New York Times bestselling Kim Harrison

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Book Review: Grave Destiny (An Alex Craft Novel Book 6) by Kalayna Price

Grave Destiny (An Alex Craft Novel Book 6)
by Kalayna Price

April 2, 2019
Publisher: Ace

Pages: 383

The thrilling sixth book in the USA Today bestselling Alex Craft series.

Grave witch Alex Craft can speak to the dead, and that makes her a dangerous enemy for anyone with something to hide. . .

Alex is still trying to come to terms with her changing powers and her growing ties to Faerie when a case she’d rather avoid falls right into her lap. A fae prince desperately needs Alex to investigate a politically sensitive murder. She reluctantly agrees to the case, taking FIB agent Falin Andrews along as her backup.

But as Alex begins to delve into the mystery, she realizes that the intricate web of alliances and intrigue in the Faerie courts is strained to its limits. War is about to break out, one that threatens to spill over into the mortal realm. This murder is tied right to the center of centuries-old arcane unrest, and if Alex isn’t careful she may follow the twisting path ahead of her right into her grave end.

As a grave witch Alex can speak to the dead, which she uses to run her investigative agency Tongues for the Dead which has been dying a slow death lately. When Dugan, a prince of the shadow court shows up unexpectantly with a case she decides to take the case with Falin as her backup. As the trio investigate the murders, things in Faerie go from bad to worse in a matter of time.

Alex has many mysteries surrounding her and her magic which makes the stories intriguing. She has a tender heart and is a loyal person which makes her the perfect heroine for this series. Book 6 sets the stage for the future and what hopefully will lead to more.

Review: Grave Witch (Alex Craft #1)
Review: Grave Visions (An Alex Craft Novel Book 4) 
Review: Grave Ransom (An Alex Craft Novel Book 5) 

Getting 5 sheep

Denise B

About the Author:

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USA Today Bestselling author Kalayna Price writes the Alex Craft Novels, a new dark urban fantasy series from Roc, and the Novels of Haven from Bell Bridge Books. Her works have been translated into several languages and are available (or have been contracted for release) in the US, UK, Australia, New Zealand, France, Poland, Russia, and Germany. Kalayna draws her ideas from the world around her, her studies into ancient mythologies, and her obsession with classic folklore. Her stories contain not only the mystical elements of fantasy, but also a dash of romance, a bit of gritty horror, some humor, and a large serving of mystery. Kalayna is a member of SFWA and RWA, and an avid hula-hoop dancer who has been known light her hoop on fire.

Book Review: The Mortal Word (The Invisible Library Novel Book 5) By Genevieve Cogman

The Mortal Word (The Invisible Library Novel Book 5) 
By Genevieve Cogman
November 27, 2018
448 pages
Publisher: Ace
November 27, 2018
ASIN: B07B774YYJ ISBN: 9780399587443
When Irene returns to London after a relatively straightforward book theft in Germany, Bradamant informs her that there is a top secret dragon-Fae peace conference in progress that the Library is mediating, and that the second-in-command dragon has been stabbed to death. Tasked with solving the case, Vale and Irene immediately go to 1890s Paris to start their investigation.

Once they arrive, they find evidence suggesting that the murder victim might have uncovered proof of treachery by one or more Librarians. But to ensure the peace of the conference, some Librarians are being held as hostages in the dragon and Fae courts. To save the captives, including her parents, Irene must get to the bottom of this murder--but was it a dragon, a Fae, or even a Librarian who committed the crime?

Irene returns to London and Bradamant tells her about the peace conference between the dragons and the Fae set in Paris of another alternate world. The Library will mediate it, 

But when a second-in-command dragon to the King dragon is murdered, Irene along with Vale and Kai, must figure out who killed the man and get the peace treaty signed. But the Blood Countess, a Fae known that inspired Dracula, isn’t helping. 

Once again, Genevieve Cogman has drawn me into her fantasy alternate worlds peopled by mortals, Fae, and dragons. There are librarians and books, and a real-life woman infamously known as a vampire because she bathed in virgins’ blood, a Parisian underground, and much more. She has proven again that librarians make the best heroes!Review: The Invisible Library (The Invisible Library Novel)
Review: The Masked City (The Invisible Library #2)
Review: The Burning Page (The Invisible Library Novel)
Review: The Mortal Word (The Invisible Library Novel Book 5)

I give The Mortal Word (The Invisible Library Novel Book 5) 5 sheep.

Reviewed by Pamela K. Kinney

About the author:

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Genevieve Cogman is a freelance author, who has written for several role-playing game companies. Her work includes GURPS Vorkosigan and contributions to the In Nomine role-playing game line for Steve Jackson Games: contributions to Exalted 2nd Edition and other contributions to the Exalted and Orpheuslines for White Wolf Publishing: Hearts, Swords and Flowers: The Art of Shoujo for Magnum Opus: and contributions to the Dresden Files RPG for Evil Hat Productions. She currently works for the NHS in England in the HSCIC as a clinical classifications specialist.

She has had three books of her series about the multidimensional Library accepted by Tor Books, and the first two books, The Invisible Library and The Masked City, are now available. Her novels are represented by Lucienne Diver of the Knight Agency.

Book Review: Grave Ransom (An Alex Craft Novel Book 5) by Kalayna Price

Grave Ransom (An Alex Craft Novel Book 5)

by Kalayna Price
July 4, 2017
384 pages
Ace Books
Grave witch Alex Craft is no stranger to the dead talking. She raises shades, works with ghosts, and is dating Death himself. But the dead walking? That’s not supposed to happen. And yet reanimated corpses are committing crimes across Nekros City.

Alex’s investigation leads her deep into a web of sinister magic. When Briar Darque of the Magical Crimes Investigation Bureau gets involved, Alex finds herself with an unexpected ally of sorts. But as the dead continue to rise and wreak havoc on the living, can she get to the soul of the matter in time?

Alex is dating Death and works as a private investigator raising shades, oh, and did I mention she works with ghosts as well? Alex tends to be at the right place, at the right time but for the police, it’s the wrong place, at the wrong time. Dead people can’t walk, or can they? Nekros City has walking dead popping up all over the place with some very weird aspects. Alex will have to work hard to find the answer and put an end to it before the police arrest her for the crimes.

Price’s books are well developed and every page keeps you mesmerized, so if you are looking for a series that holds your attention, this is it.

Review: Grave Witch (Alex Craft #1)
Review: Grave Visions (An Alex Craft Novel Book 4) 

Getting 5 sheep

Denise B

About the Author:

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USA Today Bestselling author Kalayna Price writes the Alex Craft Novels, a new dark urban fantasy series from Roc, and the Novels of Haven from Bell Bridge Books. Her works have been translated into several languages and are available (or have been contracted for release) in the US, UK, Australia, New Zealand, France, Poland, Russia, and Germany. Kalayna draws her ideas from the world around her, her studies into ancient mythologies, and her obsession with classic folklore. Her stories contain not only the mystical elements of fantasy, but also a dash of romance, a bit of gritty horror, some humor, and a large serving of mystery. Kalayna is a member of SFWA and RWA, and an avid hula-hoop dancer who has been known light her hoop on fire.

Second Look Book Review: Night Shift (Midnight, Texas #3) by Charlaine Harris

Midnight, Texas TV series is set to premier April 30, 2017 on NBC

http://www.nbc.com/midnight-texas?nbc=1

Night Shift (Midnight, Texas #3)
by Charlaine Harris

May 3rd 2016 by Ace

From the #1 New York Times bestselling author of the Sookie Stackhouse novels—“the Mark Twain of things that live under your bed”*—comes a new novel of Midnight, Texas, the town where some secrets will never see the light of day...

At Midnight’s local pawnshop, weapons are flying off the shelves—only to be used in sudden and dramatic suicides right at the main crossroads in town. 

Who better to figure out why blood is being spilled than the vampire Lemuel, who, while translating mysterious texts, discovers what makes Midnight the town it is. There’s a reason why witches and werewolves, killers and psychics, have been drawn to this place. 

And now they must come together to stop the bloodshed in the heart of Midnight. For if all hell breaks loose—which just might happen—it will put the secretive town on the map, where no one wants it to be...

It seems that people are coming to Midnight, Texas, and killing themselves right at the main crossroads of this small town. Something is going on, with the first suicide happening in October, and Lemuel, the vampire who works at night at the local pawnshop, Midnight Pawn, owned by Bobo Winthrop, is reading and translating ancient texts to find out clues. As more and more he delves into the book, he begins to realized something terrible is driving these people, most who have done some sort of harm or not a good friend of the local witch, Fiji Cavanaugh. That t might even be the reason that supernatural beings like him and tiger shapeshifters, witches, killers and psychics come to this town. 

Bestselling author Charlaine Harris who brought the Sookie Stackhouse series I loved a lot, has me addicted to this trilogy with this last book. I really wish this town was real, so I could take a trip and visit it and its unusual inhabitants along with the mundane ones living there too. Edgy at times and down to earth at others, Night Shift captures the reader’s imagination with a paranormal mystery hook, line and sinker.

Review: Midnight Crossroad & Day Shift (Midnight, Texas #1 &#2)
Review: Night Shift (Midnight, Texas #3)

I give Night Shift 5 sheep.

SharonS

About the Author:
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Charlaine Harris is a New York Times bestselling author who has been writing for over thirty years. She was born and raised in the Mississippi River Delta area. Though her early works consisted largely of poems about ghosts and teenage angst, she began writing plays when she attended Rhodes College in Memphis, Tennessee. She switched to novels a few years later, and achieved publication in 1981 with Sweet and Deadly.

Personally, Harris has been married for many years. She mother of three wonderful children and the grandmother of two. She lives in central Texas, and when she is not writing her own books, she reads omnivorously. Her house is full of rescue dogs.

Book Review: Doctor Who: City of Death by Douglas Adams and James Goss

Doctor Who: City of Death
by Douglas Adams and James Goss
October 6, 2015
304 pages

Publisher: Ace Books
ASN: B00X593D8O

ISBN: 9780425283905
Based on the beloved Doctor Who episode of the same name by Douglas Adams, the hilarious and brilliant author of The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, comes City of Death…

“A nasty, savage race, the universe was glad to see the back of them…”

4 billion BCE: The Jagaroth, the most powerful, vicious, and visually unappealing race in the universe disappears from existence. Few are sad to see them go.

1505 CE: Leonardo da Vinci is rudely interrupted while gilding the lily by a most annoying military man by the name of Captain Tancredi.

1979 CE: Despite his best efforts not to end up in exactly the right place at exactly the wrong time, the Doctor, his companion Romana, and his cybernetic dog, K-9, arrive for a vacation in Paris only to discover that they have landed not only in one of the less romantic periods in Parisian history, but in a year in which the fabric of time has begun to crack.

It is once again up to the Doctor to uncover an audacious alien scheme filled with homemade time machines, the theft of the Mona Lisa, the resurrection of the Jagaroths, and the beginning (or possibly the end—it is all quite complicated, you see) of all life on Earth.

Some holiday indeed…

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Dr. Who: City of Death novel by James Gross is based off the Doctor Who classic episode of the same name. The TV script was never meant to be penned by Douglas Adams (author of the hilarious The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy), but by David Fisher with the title A Gamble of Time. Written without using much of Paris, they got more money to do this other adaptation of the script and wanted Fisher, but he was going through a divorce at the time and couldn’t do it, so Douglas Adams, script editor for the show at the time, took over instead.

Reading the book, as a longtime fan of Adams' The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, Gross used Adams’ same brand of humor in City of Death as the book that made the number 42 famous. It fit the Doctor, that wacky madman in a blue box. This is the #4 Doctor, the one with the famous long scarf. His companion at this time was Romana, a Time Lord herself (played by first Mary Tamm, later in the series by Lalla Ward). They are visiting Paris for a holiday. K-9, the Doctor’s robot dog, is also in this story but the Doctor left him in the Tardis since the robotic dog would have missed the point of Paris completely. As the Doctor tries to give Romana a taste of the food and art of the city, they are dragged into what may be another adventure in which the Doctor will have to save the Earth again. This one involves the Mona Lisa, a last alien of his kind, and Time.

Doctor Who: City of Death mixes humor, science fiction and time travel in a way that any reader will gladly hitch a ride with their imagination and enjoy. James Gross captured the Douglas Adams humor I’ve grown to love.

I give Doctor Who: City of Death 4 sheep

Pamela K. Kinney

DieAstra's Bucket

About the Authors:

Douglas Adams 
website
was born in 1952 and educated at Cambridge. He was the author of five books in the Hitchhiker’s Trilogy, including The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy; The Restaurant at the End of the Universe; Life, the Universe and Everything; So Long, and Thanks for All the Fish; and Mostly Harmless. His other works include Dirk Gently’s Holistic Detective Agency;The Long Dark Tea-Time of the Soul; The Meaning of Liff and The Deeper Meaning of Liff (with John Lloyd); and Last Chance to See (with Mark Carwardine). His last book was the bestselling collection, The Salmon of Doubt, published posthumously in May 2002.

James Goss
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has written three Torchwood novels, a Doctor Who novel, and two radio plays, and is the co-author, with Steve Tribe of The Dalek Handbook and Doctor Who: A History of the Universe in 100 Objects. His books Dead of Winter and First Born were both nominated for the 2012 British Fantasy Society Awards.

Book Review: Veiled (Alex Verus #6) by Benedict Jacka

Veiled (Alex Verus #6)
by Benedict Jacka
Paperback, 304 pages
Expected publication: August 4th 2015 by Ace
ISBN13: 9780425275757
I thought I’d escaped my past. But my old master is back and making a new play for power. And he’s not the only one targeting me…

Diviner Alex Verus and the Council that governs the magical community have never gotten along. But with his former teacher back in Britain, Alex is in desperate need of allies, and he’ll do whatever it takes to get them—even if it means accepting a job with the Keepers, enforcing magical law.

Alex forms an uneasy alliance with his new partner, Caldera, but his attempt at legitimacy quickly turns lethal when a mission puts him in possession of an item that factions both inside and outside of the Council would kill to get their hands on.

Once again caught in the middle of a deadly conflict, Alex will need all his abilities to figure out who his friends are—especially when enemies are hiding on all sides.

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After a narrow escape Alex and his charges made in Hidden, events in Veiled take a turn and introduce the inside workings of the Light Council. Actions and events have started to take shape that even this Fate Mage could not have foreseen. Alex is forced to swallow his pride and work alongside Caldera and the Keepers. Things are not what they really seem to be… This time around.

In Veiled we are “allowed access” into the inner workings of the Light Council, and the many branches of politics which have sway over both the Light and Dark Mages. While working alongside Caldera, Alex gets pulled into a case that will affect the balance of power in the Council.

I was somewhat torn about this one, it was good to see what else was going on in the series outside of Alex training Luna, keeping contact with Anne and Variam, along with trying to avoid his old master. This book was dealing more with the Light Council. Which to me was too much of an info dump. There was a lot about the Council and all the different branches, what they all do and where they fit into the scope of things. The only thing that helped me follow what was going on was Benedict's author page, since he has created an entire encyclopedia for this series.

There were a few new characters introduced that did keep my interest. One is Chalice who offers to train Luna with her magic. The other is Xiaofan who is a time adept. The blink fox, who is a personal favorite, returns. I am really hoping that we get to see more of these 2 new characters, they have piqued my interest.

If you have followed Alex this far, I’m going to say keep going with this one. If this is an introduction to the series I will say check out the first book.

review: Cursed (Alex Verus #2)
review: Choosen (Alex Verus #4)
review: Hidden (Alex Verus #5)

3 1/2 Sheep

DanielleD

About the Author:
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Benedict Jacka became a writer almost by accident, when at nineteen he sat in his school library and started a story in the back of an exercise book. Since then he's studied philosophy at Cambridge, lived in China, and worked as everything from civil servant to bouncer to teacher before returning to London to take up law.

Book Review: Magic Shifts by Ilona Andrews (spoiler free)

Magic Shifts (Kate Daniels #8)
by Ilona Andrews

Hardcover, 400 pages

August 4th 2015 by Ace

In the latest Kate Daniels novel from #1 New York Timesbestselling author Ilona Andrews, magic is coming and going in waves in post-Shift Atlanta—and each crest leaves danger in its wake…

After breaking from life with the Pack, mercenary Kate Daniels and her mate—former Beast Lord Curran Lennart—are adjusting to a very different pace. While they’re thrilled to escape all the infighting, Curran misses the constant challenges of leading the shapeshifters.

So when the Pack offers him its stake in the Mercenary Guild, Curran seizes the opportunity—too bad the Guild wants nothing to do with him and Kate. Luckily, as a veteran merc, Kate can take over any of the Guild’s unfinished jobs in order to bring in money and build their reputation. But what Kate and Curran don’t realize is that the odd jobs they’ve been working are all connected.

An ancient enemy has arisen, and Kate and Curran are the only ones who can stop it—before it takes their city apart piece by piece.

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This series never gets old. You would think after 8 books things might get a little "meh." But Magic Shifts is as fresh and exciting as every other book in this series. If you aren't reading this series, you need to go sit in the corner. I've left a copy of Magic Bites (book 1) for you.

Kate and Curran have started a new chapter in their lives and the punches keep coming and they keep rolling with them. I'm glad we are seeing a bit more of Roland. I like him, in a that evil bastard needs to die, but not yet way. By the end of the book we know what his end game is, but Kate has matured through out this series and she is ready to do this the right way...I hope, she is Kate after all <G>.

Still full of humor, mystery and lots of historical information about the latest big bad to invade Atlanta. While I could have done with a little less of the knife history lessons, I'm sure others appreciated it.

Fun scene:

[Kate] "I thought you might be injured."

He [Curran] looked at me "We've met, you and I?"

I deliberately took a big step back.

"What?" he growled.

"I'm making room for your ego."

"Fine. I should have left a note!"

"You should've."

"Answer me this, did you hesitate at all or did you see the giant, go 'Wheee!' and run toward it?"

"She ran toward it." Juke quipped.

"He was biting people in half."

"I rest my case," Curran said. "A note wouldn't have made a difference."

P.S. I still want to be Kate Daniels when I grow up.

5 "Slow clapping" Sheep

SharonS

About the authors:

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Ilona Andrews is the pseudonym for a husband-and-wife writing team. author2sm“Ilona is a native-born Russian and Gordon is a former communications sergeant in the U.S. Army. Contrary to popular belief, Gordon was never an intelligence officer with a license to kill, and Ilona was never the mysterious Russian spy who seduced him. They met in college, in English Composition 101, where Ilona got a better grade. (Gordon is still sore about that.)

Gordon and Ilona currently reside in Oregon with their two children, three dogs and a cat. They have co-authored two series, the bestselling urban fantasy of Kate Daniels and romantic urban fantasy of The Edge.

Alpha Male Diner: Wolf Shifter, Luc Black by Jan DeLima (Summer Moon)

Luc Black (wolf shifter)

recipe by Jan DeLima

Summer Moon (Celtic Wolves #2)

Ingredients:-Celtic warrior who can shift into a wolf (also known as the Beast of Merin)
-Protector of the innocent
-Dually honed muscles from fighting in both human and wolf forms
-Ink black hair and mercury colored eyes (his eyes turn blue when influenced by his wolf)
-Remains loyal to his deceased wife for over sixty years… until the female alpha of his neighboring territory temps him with an offer he can’t refuse

Season with:
-A tattoo of an owl from shoulder to waist
-Hunted at birth due to fear
-Raised by an older brother to be a warrior of honor
-A gentle lover despite his fierce reputation and appearance
-Understands women (this final ingredient is dangerous so add with caution)

Directions:
Preheat reading location. Fold ingredients together gently as some of them are combustible when combined. Lastly, oven temperature may need frequent readjustments since this alpha hero tempted the author to write far more loves scenes than she originally planned.

Taste Test:

Luc wrapped the knitted blanket around Rosa and draped it like a shawl. Fisting his hands around the corners, he pulled her forward, like a fish caught in a weir. Before she could guess his intent, she found herself on his lap, cocooned in heat and hot male skin, with her legs dangled over his knees.

“Now, is this so bad?” he taunted while tucking her head under his chin.

“I suppose not.” Pondering where to place her hands, she ended up curling them in her lap, while her shoulder rested in the crook between his arm and chest.

In truth, it was hypnotic setting on him like this—dangerously so, like the hush before a storm. The rise and fall of his torso as he breathed lulled like a male siren, along with the weight of his arms and the lure of his skin against her cheek. The most exquisite scent of forest and man wove around her senses. More tempting, underneath it all lay the hint of musk, of potent wolf waiting in the shadows to protect her if the human failed.

All her tension ebbed like a babe in caring arms. Away from Guardians and wrapped in strength; she’d not felt this safe since childhood. How sad that she’d found peace with a virtual stranger. And how easily she could become addicted.

Oh, yes . . . this was dangerous. “How long do we have to stay like this?”

“Shhhh . . .” His throat moved as he swallowed while his hands trailed up her thighs and under her sweater, but only to knead the muscles of her lower back.

As if she weren’t becoming a puddle of goo already.

Before long, her eyes grew heavy, drifted closed. Had he been waiting for this moment of surrender, she wondered drowsily, when her guard had dissolved enough to welcome his gentle game? And did she care? For this was far more pleasant than any others she’d been forced to play.

He shifted to the side and moved his shoulder, leaned a bit, and her head rolled back, only to be caught by the soft pressure of his mouth on hers. So tender she didn’t even open her eyes. Were a man’s lips supposed to be this soft? Like with other carnal acts, she had little experience with kissing, sadly enough.

Having known only violence or indifference, her perceptions reeled. Indeed, if this was passion, then she didn’t know how to respond. But she was curious enough to try. She would admit that to herself, and even to him if he asked . . . She was so hungry to know what others whispered about in giggly tones. How many stories had she heard, from Tesni and others, of their forbidden trysts and naughty secrets, only to feel like a bystander to their private joy?

“Open your mouth, Rosa.” The order came on a husky whisper against her lips.

Summer Moon (Celtic Wolves #2)
by Jan DeLimaPaperback, 304 pages
September 30th 2014 by Ace

She won’t be ruled again……

Rosa Alban has been obedient her entire life. But when her alpha husband dies, she seizes the opportunity to flee the oppressive Guardians—the rulers of the secret shapeshifter world. Her flight instantly brands her as a pack traitor, and she has no choice but to seek protection from a neighboring tribe by marrying one of their sons.

Known as the Beast of Merin, Luc Black loyally plays the part of unwanted son and devoted brother. He realizes marrying Rosa will strengthen his tribe’s territory, but he has no intention of loving ever again. Still, he’s unprepared for the intense physical need the wild she-wolf awakens in him.

When the Guardians hone in on Rosa, Luc must fight to protect his new bride. And as war descends, the unlikely allies discover their destinies are irrevocably entwined.

You are welcome to read the first chapter of Summer Moon on Jan’s website.

About the Author:
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Jan lives in Maine with her husband of twenty years and their two teenage sons. Unlike many authors, Jan didn't pen stories at an early age but has always been a dedicated reader. She loves stories and storytelling. It wasn't until after her children entered school that she began writing. Raised in a military family, she lived in different countries such as Thailand and Germany, but home base has always been Maine. She brought a mixture of all her experiences to her first published novel, blending castles and Celtic lore with the wild nature of her home.

Book Review: Hidden (Alex Verus #5) by Benedict Jacka + giveaway

Hidden (Alex Verus #5)
by Benedict Jacka
Paperback, 304 pages
Expected publication: September 2nd 2014 

by Ace

When the details of my apprenticeship to a sociopathic Dark mage were made public, I expected some scrutiny. After all, mages love gossip. But unveiling my secret past hasn't done me any favors with those closest to me...

With his talent for divining the future, Alex Verus should have foreseen his friends’ reactions to the revelations about his previous life. Anne Walker no longer trusts him—and has also cut all ties with the mage community after getting kicked out of the apprentice program. As a favor to Luna, Alex’s own apprentice and Anne’s best friend, he checks in on her only to be told to leave her alone.

Then Anne gets kidnapped. The Council Keepers of the Order of the Star believe Dark mages from her past may be involved. Working with the Keepers, Alex and Luna discover that Anne has been taken into the shadow realm of Sagash, her former Dark mage mentor, and they must find a way to rescue her.

But another shadow from the past has resurfaced—Alex’s former master may be back in London, and Alex has no idea what his agenda is.

After Alex had explained his past to his apprentice and charges (students he has sponsored at the school) the lines of friendship have been stressed, and the trust between them gone. Luna still has hope all will be forgiven after everyone has some time apart from each other. About 6 months after the fallout, Luna starts to worry about her friend Anne and asks Alex to try to talk to her and convince her to come back to the flat where they all lived.

Alex would rather put this all behind him and move forward, everyone made their choices and he wants to leave it at that. Until Alex finds out Anne has been kidnapped and he's been put on the spot to help save her. Reluctantly Alex needs to call on the help of those that turned their back on him to help save Anne.

During a meeting with Sonders, Variam, Luna and Caldera, Sonders is determined to prove it is one person that is guilty, while Variam is willing to bet his life it is someone else. Luna is just worried for her friend, Alex just wants this all to end and get Anne back safely. Variam suggests Anne could be in a shadow realm that belongs to their old master Sagash.

Using some intimidation tactics and a few punches Alex finds out Anne is in a shadow realm, gets his hands on a key to open a portal there and takes off to find Anne. Dealing with a number of enemies and his old master, Alex is able to get to the bottom of what is going on with Anne and why she was kidnapped in the first place. New friends are made, some bonds strengthened, along with Alex managing to anger someone in one way or another.

In the 5th book you get to find out what choices were made after the fall out of book 4 (Chosen). You find out about Anne's background and what happened to her while she was under the teachings of Sagash. I had a major issue with Anne's views in the book, she made mistakes in her past, but rather than face them and admit to what they were she pushed that all away and has been paying the price for that.

Alex has to snap Anne out of her "Woe is me" pity party and make her face the reality of her choice's along with what it is doing to her friends to herself.

Outside of Anne and her outlook, I had fun with this one, there were a few new names and faces added to this book. Just remember to never make a promise to a blink fox and forget about it later.review: Cursed (Alex Verus #2)
review: Choosen (Alex Verus #4)

4 sheep

DD

About the Author:
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Benedict Jacka became a writer almost by accident, when at nineteen he sat in his school library and started a story in the back of an exercise book. Since then he's studied philosophy at Cambridge, lived in China, and worked as everything from civil servant to bouncer to teacher before returning to London to take up law.