The Thief (Black Dagger Brotherhood #16) by J. R. Ward

Author’s Synopsis

Having allied themselves with the Band of Bastards, the Brotherhood is committed now more than ever to eradicating the Lessening Society. Recovering from their most recent battle against the last of the lessers, the Brotherhood comes to realize that the fight against their enemies is far from over.

Throe, Xcor’s former second in command, is using an ancient tome to summon a new army engineered by a force more dangerous and evil than the Omega.

And now the brothers of the Black Dagger Brotherhood will be tested both at home and on the battlefield.

My Views

This series just gets better: the vampires get hotter, the strong female leads get sassier, and the plot continually evolves into something more satisfying. Readers may be forgiven if they start to think of the Black Dagger world as real.

Sola may be a strong woman but her grandmother is stronger so when she’s called back into the danger zone how can she say no. It might destroy her but the chance to say goodbye to the love of her life is something she can’t deny. While Vishous’ life is spiralling into a dark abyss but with a new threat on the streets, he has no option but to deal with it the only way he can.

This latest instalment in the Black Dagger world made me laugh, cry, and feel completely lost when I’d finished it. Book hangovers have never been so prevalent; roll on the next instalment.

http://www.gothic-mansion-books.com/

Miss Frost Saves the Sandman: A Nocturne Falls Mystery (Jayne Frost #3) by Kristen Painter

Author’s Synopsis

Welcome to Nocturne Falls, the town that celebrates Halloween 365 days a year. Jayne Frost is a lot of things. Winter elf, Jack Frost’s daughter, Santa Claus’s niece, heir to the Winter Throne and now… private investigator. Sort of.

When the Sandman comes to Santa’s Workshop, the shop Jayne manages, to do his first ever book signing, it’s a major event. He’s kind of a supernatural celebrity and she needs to keep him happy. All is well until trouble shows up at the party thrown in his honor. Trouble in the form of Luna Nyx, the Mistress of Nightmares and his creepy counterpart. The Sandman’s assistant says Luna is dangerous, and Jayne believes it when her dreams turn dark. Can Jayne keep the Sandman safe from this gothic goddess? Or will Luna’s threats put them both to sleep for good?

My Views 

Jayne Frost is back along with a few friends including the adorable Spider, her talking cat. Not only is she dating two of the best-looking men in town but she’s also right at the heart of yet another crime. Who knew a winter elf could have so much fun?

I am a little addicted to Spider. Jayne is great fun, but the cat is my favourite character. This story is yet another easy read mystery with a light and breezy feel. The magic and mystery are charming as are the characters. I must admit that I can’t wait to find out who Jayne chooses out of her eager dates but my money is on the vampire.

http://www.gothic-mansion-books.com/

Broken Melody: A Twisted Vampire Tale by Jospeh Kiel

Author’s Synopsis

Carefree student Melody Freeman has just woken up with a hangover from hell, no memory of the night before and two bite marks on her neck. With a nagging desire to find out just what she got up to last night, she again hits the city with her best friend Rachel to retrace their steps.

What follows soon descends towards another night of forgotten debauchery until Melody learns the truth: last night she was infected… by a vampire. Worse still, a group of vampire slayers have captured her and when the sun comes up the next morning and fangs sprout from her mouth, Melody will be executed.

But that is unless she can undo the transformation by finding the very vampire that infected her and killing him. Melody and Rachel set out on the hunt into the forbidden corners of Meridian on the ultimate all-nighter. It will be a night of warped challenges and perversions, filled with sex, drugs and rock ‘n roll. A twisted race against time before she turns…
My Views

This full-action book is refreshingly British. Melody isn’t the kind of character you want to fully identify with but secretly you get her, you’ve been her, and you still hanker after her zest for life. Kiel has created a seedy underground world within a fictional, albeit typically British, city and filled it with mysterious paranormal creatures and regular human lowlifes. The story is a journey where Melody’s life remains precariously balanced but that doesn’t stop her on her quest.

This novel is darkly funny, intriguing, and strangely emotional. The cover really suits the book and I hope Kiel creates some kind of series out of this standalone story because the characters are desperate to come out to play.

http://www.gothic-mansion-books.com/

White Silence (Elizabeth Cage #1) by Jodi Taylor

Author’s Synopsis

Elizabeth Cage is a child when she discovers that there are things in this world that only she can see. But she doesn’t want to see them and she definitely doesn’t want them to see her.  What is a curse to Elizabeth is a gift to others – a very valuable gift they want to control.

When her husband dies, Elizabeth’s world descends into a nightmare. But as she tries to piece her life back together, she discovers that not everything is as it seems. Alone in a strange and frightening world, she’s a vulnerable target to forces beyond her control. And she knows that she can’t trust anyone…

 

My Views

This book is full of tension. I really liked Elizabeth, and I worried about her because she had an air of frailty that had consolidated itself with her life choices. The more I learned about her the more worried I became and with the scary clinic with its foreboding ruler at her heels I had a nail-biting time.

Taylor has created Elizabeth with an intense internal light but then she throws her poor character into terrible dark situations in which the reader also gets completely immersed and it strengthens the suspense of the story and the reader’s fear. I can’t wait for the next book in the series.

http://www.gothic-mansion-books.com/

School for Spirits: A Dead Girl and a Samurai by Aron Lewes

When Leigh walks home from a party she doesn’t expect it to be the end of her life or the beginning of another life but that’s what happens. With her guardian angel in tears, she enters the School for Spirits and finds that death is definitely not the end, it’s not even the end of school.

The concept behind this book really intrigued me but the story itself was even better. Leigh is your average teenager and seeing her new ‘life’ through her innocent eyes made me laugh and cry. Battling an obsessive roommate, a seriously hot angel, and a moody mentor she has to get to grips with the highly emotional whims and wishes of the living.

The story is sweet, funny, and emotional and most definitely not just for teenagers.

http://www.gothic-mansion-books.com/

Blood Fury (Black Dagger Legacy #3) by J. R. Ward

Novo doesn’t need a man to make her strong, she wrote the book on female independence but she seems to have one large weakness. Peyton’s aristocratic focus is off centre and he can’t seem to keep it in check even when the stakes are high. Saxton’s broken heart begins to heal but the fates may have other plans.

This all-action episode in the Brotherhood mansion has plenty of suspense and a boatload of heartache so be prepared, there will be tears. Ward has built a vast world filled to the brim with alpha males of all kind and then topped it up with strong females.

I don’t think I’ve come across such addictive stories before, I can’t wait to read the next one.

http://www.gothic-mansion-books.com/

Extracted (Extracted Trilogy #1) by R. R. Haywood

When three extraordinary people wake up in a concrete bunker, they are understandably confused but over the next few days and then weeks things will become even more surreal. Inventing a time machine is great until it interferes with the world’s ability to exist at all. What they need are three highly intelligent, highly trained individuals to right the wrongs but extracting these people isn’t as easy as it sounds and keeping them focus turns out to be even harder.

As time travel novels go this one is high action and intriguing. The science is balanced nicely with the turmoil inside the characters’ minds. Haywood has created three well-developed and emotive characters with entirely different backgrounds, cultures, and personalities and has shown all the conflict expected and more when all three are put together at a time of extreme stress. Needless to say, I’m hooked on the characters just as much as the story itself.

http://www.gothic-mansion-books.com/

Fight (Caged Trilogy #2) by H. G. Lynch

Having been caught and made prisoner once again, Tilly is helpless. The fact that Dominic is incarcerated with her makes everything worse. She doesn’t dare resist the witches request because Dominic will pay for it in pain and the witches know just how to cause pain.

The first book in the series brought up plenty of questions and many of them are answered in this story. Tilly’s whole life has been one long sentence of misery and servitude but that doesn’t stop her falling in love. Her strength and endurance shine through even when others around her turn their backs.

Frank’s orders cause major conflict and Tilly is still pulled between the two male wolves like an eternal triangle. This is not just a love story. Lynch is particularly adept at pulling readers into the action and creating an addictive story.

http://www.gothic-mansion-books.com/

Miss Frost Ices the Imp: A Nocturne Falls Mystery (Jayne Frost #2) by Kristen Painter

Jayne is enjoying her new role as the manager of the toyshop. She likes working with her best friend Juniper but the best thing about being in Nocturne Falls has to be her boyfriends, both of them. Greyson is a cute vampire with a sexy Irish accent and Cooper is a summer elf who was her first love back in college. She cannot possibly choose between the pair.

Her life becomes complicated once more when she opens a box and lets trouble out. What do you do when your cat starts talking?

Jayne is such a likable character that you can’t help but care about her but as for her love life I can’t help but wonder what’s on her mind. She needs to choose and my vote is on the vampire. Painter describes Jayne’s need for sweet treats too well, I can picture each and every dessert in detail and I’m not sure that’s a good thing because I’m now craving pastries, ice-cream, oh and a talking cat.

http://www.gothic-mansion-books.com/

Blood Vow (Black Dagger Legacy #2) by J. R. Ward

When Axe joins the Black Dagger Brotherhood’s Training program he intends to stay at arm’s length from the others especially Peyton and his Glymera pals. When a chance meeting throws him in the path of the lovely Elise all bets are off. Not only does he become her bodyguard, but he also finds a connection that he’d never believed was possible.

This is not just a romance but a coming of age novel. Axe finds more out about himself than he knew existed and becomes a valuable member of the team through his brave actions. Elise is yet another strong female as per Ward’s usual style but her character is also determined and challenging. The bond between the pair is strong but the reasons for them not to be together are getting in the way, causing a friction for all those around.

The story is yet another beautifully romantic episode to the Black Dagger Legacy with its intricately crafted world and amazing full-bodied characters.

http://www.gothic-mansion-books.com/