Review: Paranormalcy by Kiersten White

Title: Paranormalcy
Author: Kiersten White
Genre: Young Adult
Release Date: 08/31/10
Summary:

Evie’s always thought of herself as a normal teenager, even though she works for the International Paranormal Containment Agency, her ex-boyfriend is a faerie, she’s falling for a shape-shifter, and she’s the only person who can see through paranormals’ glamours.

But Evie’s about to realize that she may very well be at the center of a dark faerie prophecy promising destruction to all paranormal creatures.

So much for normal.

Plot: 4.5 Stars
There were a few moments while reading this novel that I had to step back. A couple elements seemed a bit out there, and that's saying something coming from a girl that doesn't read anything that doesn't have some sort of paranormal or supernatural aspect. But I kept reading, and I'm so glad I did. Those couple of elements that seemed too fantastical at the time, came together and were explained and really made for a fantasic story. And I love a story that includes all sorts of paranormal creatures, instead of focusing on just one, and this book had everything. I also enjoy when books have government agencies that control the paranormal creature. This is a theme I see much more of in adult Urban Fantasy, so I was really excited to read about a Young Adult novel with such an agency.

Pace: 4.5 Stars
This novel was a light and quick read. The action was non-stop: every time I thought Evie would get a chance to just sit down and breath, something else was thrown at her. There was a twist around every corner, but the story never felt rushed or forced. I really enjoyed reading the story from Evie's point of view because her inner thoughts gave a lot of insight into the world, plus she had a great sense of humor.

Characters: 4.5 Stars
Evie was the perfect balance of good girl and smart-ass, rule follower and rule breaker, and because of this she felt very real. Her power to see through glamours was very interesting because I often think of only faeries as having glamours, but vampires and werewolves had them also in this novel. Lend was a very interesting character. I enjoyed his shapeshifting abilities and his family. And I loved that he helped Evie be a normal go, even though he wasn't all that normal himself. My favorite paranormal aspect of this novel was the use of the faeries to aid agency member in transportation. I hate spoilers and try not to leave them in my reviews, so all I'll say is there is a character that I wish we could've seen more of. Other than that, love this character or hate that character, the author did a great job of really bringing them to life.

Cover: 5 Stars
The moment I saw this cover, I fell in love with it. This is one of the best covers I have ever seen. I'm jealous of Kiersten, and I may never write a novel let alone get published. Normally I'm not a fan of pale pink, but it really worked for both the title and the cover model's dress to bring a bit of brightness to the darkness of the cover. I also think the cover model was a fantastic choice to portray Evie. Overall, this cover looks and feels like a scene straight out of the book.

Overall: 4.5 Stars

Disclosure: I won a copy of this book from a contest at The Allure of Books!.

Blog-o-versary Giveaway!

This past Saturday was the one year Blog-o-versary of Sara's Urban Fantasy Blog! I can't believe I've been doing this for a whole year. I also passed 200 followers sometime earlier this month. So to celebrate, I'm having a giveaway! I went through my bookcases and grabbed a couple Urban Fantasy titles that I had multiple copies of, and there'll be some swag too. Two of the three books are gently used, but I take great care of my books so they're in really good shape. And some of the swag is signed!

Here's everything that's up for grabs! It'll all go to one lucky winner!



Books:

Embers by Laura Bickle (read once)
Dead Witch Walking by Kim Harrison (read once, slight crease on cover)
Blood of the Demon by Diana Rowland (new)

Swag:

Anya Bast bookmarks -- Witch Blood, Witch Heat, Witch Fury
Meljean Brook promo cards -- Demon Forged, The Iron Duke
Jennifer Estep bookmarks -- Jinx, Spider's Bite (signed!)
Nancy Haddock promo card -- Last Vampire Standing
Adrian Phoenix bookmarks -- A Rush of Wings, In the Blood
Laura Robertson promo card -- Vicious Circle
Kerrelyn Sparks bookmark -- The Vampire and the Virgin
Rachel Vincent bookmark -- Rogue (signed!)

To enter, all I ask is that you leave an Urban Fantasy, Paranormal Romance, Young Adult, or Horror recommendation. I'm always looking for new authors and series to read. :)

Giveaway Rules:

You must leave a vaild e-mail address.
This contest is US/Canada only. (Sorry, money is a bit tight.)
Please, only one comment per person.

Extra entries:

+1 Follow Sara's Urban Fantasy Blog
+1 Follow Sara's Urban Fantasy Blog on Twitter (@sara_UFblog)
+3 Tweet the contest and link to @sara_UFblog

** This giveaway will end at midnight EST on Monday 10/04 and the winner will be announced Tuesday 10/05. Winners will be chosen using Random.org.

Giveaway Winner: No Mercy by Sherrilyn Kenyon

There were 15 participants for a total of 15 total entries. Using random.org, the winner of No Mercy by Sherrilyn Kenyon is...

Jenna Wood!

You have 72 hours to respond to my e-mail with your mailing information, so I can pass it along to Laura. Congratulations!

In My Mailbox (52)

Thanks to Kristi at The Story Siren for hosting In My Mailbox every week.



Won:

Dust by Joan Francis Turner (ARC)
(Thanks to Books by Their Cover!)

Bought:

Crave by Laura J. Burns and Melinda Metz
Ascendant by Diana Peterfreund
Dead Beautiful by Yvonna Woon

Review: Sparks by Laura Bickle

Title: Sparks
Author: Laura Bickle
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Release Date: 08/31/10
Summary:

WITHOUT A TRACE

Anya Kalinczyk is the rarest type of psychic medium, a Lantern, who holds down a day job as an arson investigator with the Detroit Fire Department -- while working 24/7 to exterminate malicious spirits haunting a city plagued by unemployment and despair. Along with her inseparable salamander familiar, Sparky, Anya has seen, and even survived, all manner of fiery hell -- but her newest case sparks suspicions of a bizarre phenomenon that no one but her eccentric team of ghost hunters might believe: spontaneous human combustion.

After fire consumes the home of elderly Jasper Bernard, Anya is stunned to discover his remains -- or, more precisely, a lack of them; even the fiercest fires leave some trace of their victims -- and she is sure this was no naturally occurring blaze. Soon she’s unearthed a connection to a celebrity psychic who preys on Detroit’s poor, promising miracles for money. But Hope Solomon wants more -- she’s collecting spirits, and in a frantic race against time, Anya will face down an evil adversary who threatens her fragile relationship with her lover, her beloved Sparky’s freshly hatched newts, and the wandering souls of the entire city.

Plot: 4 Stars
Two words: Baby newts! I knew I would love this story from the moment I read the back cover copy because I absolutely loved Sparky the first time around, so of course I would enjoy more little Sparkies. Baby newts aside, I thoroughly enjoyed the detail of this novel, both in Anya's arson investigation job and her DAGR side project. The author really showed that she researched and knew her stuff when I read the paragraphs describing the possible spontaneous combustion and arson scenes. There was just one teeny tiny thing about the plot that I didn't absolutely love, and it involves the ending. Without spoiling anything, I'll just say that there were some events in the last couple chapters that seemed a bit too fantastical and coincidental. It was almost as if Anya didn't work hard enough to defeat the bad guy. But they can easily be overlooked because this story was fantastic.

Pace: 5 Stars
The pacing of this novel was perfect. I never wanted to put it down, but it was long enough that I could savor it. I love that there was never a point in which the characters stood around trying to figure out what to do, they just did what needed to be done. And Anya didn't sit around ruminating on things too much without action. A proper amount of time passed between each incident. The author did a fantasic job making sure there weren't so more events packed into a day than there was time.

Characters: 4.5 Stars
The best part of this novel (aside from Sparky and his baby newts) was getting to follow Anya and the members of DAGR through another adventure. Anya's relationship with Brian was progressing slowly, and I hope there are future novels in this series so we can see how the relationship plays out now that Anya knows more about him. I absolutely love that he set her up with all sorts of technology gizmos to watch over the newts. Katie was a lovely burst of humor, especially when she drags Anya out shopping. I thought Anya was a bit out of character during that shopping trip, but with everything going on in her life, I guess you can't blame her. As far as villians goes, Hope Soloman was one of those villians that I loved to hate and rooted against her the whole time.

Cover: 5 Stars
I love this cover just as much as the cover of the first book in the series, Embers. The color palette screams fire and is really eye-catching. I don't think many books could pull off this color palette and not be about an arson investigator and lantern. The cover model chosen is exactly how I envision Anya, and she definitely gives off a tough-as-nails, don't-mess-with-me vibe. My favorite part is the salamander torque around the cover model's neck. As much as I'd love to actually see Sparky on a cover, the torque is just as great because it shows that he hasn't been forgotten.

Overall: 4.5 Stars

Disclosure: I received a copy of this book from the author.

Giveaway: No Mercy by Sherrilyn Kenyon

Recently, I was contacted by Get Red PR and thanks to them I have a copy of No Mercy by Sherrilyn Kenyon to giveaway.

Live fast, fight hard and if you have to die then take as many of your enemies with you as you can. That is the Amazon credo and it was one Samia lived and died by. Now in contemporary New Orleans, the immortal Amazon warrior is about to learn that there’s a worse evil coming to slaughter mankind than she’s ever faced before.

Shapeshifter Dev Peltier has stood guard at the front of Sanctuary for almost two hundred years and in that time, he’s seen it all. Or so he thought. Now their enemies have discovered a new source of power -- one that makes a mockery of anything faced to date.

The war is on and Dev and Sam are guarding ground zero. But in order to win, they will have to break the most cardinal of all rules and pray it doesn’t unravel the universe as we know it.

http://www.sherrilynkenyon.com/

---

Giveaway Rules:

Just answer the following question:

What's your sanctuary?

You must leave a vaild e-mail address.
This contest is open to the US only.
Please, only one comment per person.

** This giveaway will end at midnight EST on Saturday 09/25 and the winner will be announced Sunday 09/26. Winners will be chosen using Random.org.

In My Mailbox (51)

Thanks to Kristi at The Story Siren for hosting In My Mailbox every week.



Review:

No Mercy by Sherrilyn Kenyon

Won:

Sins of the Soul by Eve Silver
(Thanks to Eve!)

Bought:

Blameless by Gail Carriger
Personal Demons by Lisa Desrochers
Impossible by Nancy Werlin

Review: Radiance by Alyson Noel

Title: Radiance
Author: Alyson Noel
Genre: Young Adult
Release Date: 08/31/10
Summary:

Riley has crossed the bridge into the afterlife -- a place called Here, where time is always Now. She has picked up life where she left off when she was alive, living with her parents and dog in a nice house in a nice neighborhood. When she’s summoned before The Council, she learns that the afterlife isn’t just an eternity of leisure. She’s been assigned a job, Soul Catcher, and a teacher, Bodhi, a possibly cute, seemingly nerdy boy who’s definitely hiding something. They return to earth together for Riley’s first assignment, a Radiant Boy who’s been haunting a castle in England for centuries. Many Soul Catchers have tried to get him to cross the bridge and failed. But all of that was before he met Riley...

Plot: 2.5 Stars
This was a very short novel, and it really showed. It seemed like a lot of the details were glossed over, and some elements of the plot were a bit rushed. Riley's conflict and resolution were a bit early on in the story compared to most, and there really wasn't much to it. It seemed like Bodhi's conflict and resolution were more important and given more detail, but he was not the main character. There were also some details that didn't always add up. At one point, Riley is told to shush because the kids around her can hear the thoughts she's projecting, but there are other points in which she is ignored. Plus, Riley can't hear anyone else's thoughts. It would've been fine if it had been described as something you can turn on and off, or turn into, but it was not.

Pace: 3.5 Stars
Although a few elements in this novel seemed a bit rushed, it was definitely a quick and easy read. I really enjoyed how it took a character from Noel's Immortals series, but was it's own story. It could've easily been bogged down by too much information about Riley's sister, Ever, and what was happening in the other series. I just wish there was a bit more too the story. It seemed to end a bit too quickly.

Characters: 3 Stars
Having never read a young adult novel with such a young protagonist, I wasn't sure how much I'd be able to connect with Riley. As much as I wanted to connect with her, she came across as very whiny and self-conscious. But she also came across as a bit mature for her age, so it wasn't a complete disconnect. Bodhi stayed a complete mystery throughout the whole novel. I hope we get to learn more about him in the future, because he has the potential to be a great character.

Cover: 3 Stars
My favorite part of this cover is the bridge in the background, since it plays such a big part in Riley's character, both in this series and her sister's series. I also enjoy that Buttercup is with Riley on the cover. The model chosen to play Riley was a good choice to portray her, and the pose is very interesting. The one aspect of the cover that seemed off for me was the bright colors. The story wasn't nearly as light and fluffy for such bright colors in my opinion.

Overall: 3 Stars

Disclosure: I bought this book for my own enjoyment.

Giveaway Winner: Sparks by Laura Bickle

There were 19 participants for a total of 49 total entries. Using random.org, the winner of Sparks by Laura Bickle is...

Mysteriousrose!

You have 72 hours to respond to my e-mail with your mailing information, so I can pass it along to Laura. Congratulations!

In My Mailbox (50)

Thanks to Kristi at The Story Siren for hosting In My Mailbox every week.

Bought:

Cruel Enchantment by Anya Bast
Firelight by Sophie Jordan
Beautiful Dead: Arizona by Eden Maguire
Chosen by Jeanne C. Stein



Won:

Witch Blood by Anya Bast
(Thanks to Anya for hosting Twenty Days of Enchantment!)
The Cold Kiss of Death by Suzanne McLeod
(Thanks to Suzanne!)
Paranormalcy by Kiersten White
(Thanks to Allison from The Allure of Books!)

Author Interview + Giveaway: Laura Bickle

Today I'd like to welcome Laura Bickle, who is stopping by to talk about her new Urban Fantasy release, Sparks, which released on August 31st and is the sequel to Embers. You can see my 5 Star review of Embers here, and look forward to my review of Sparks coming soon. Plus, as an added bonus, Laura is offering up a copy of Sparks to a lucky commenter! Details at the end of the post.

---

Sara: How would you describe your novels, Embers and Sparks, for readers who haven’t heard of them before?

Laura: Anya Kalinczyk spends her days as an arson investigator with the Detroit Fire Department, and her nights pursuing malicious spirits with a team of eccentric ghost hunters. Anya is the rarest type of psychic medium, a Lantern. In Embers, she suspects a supernatural arsonist is setting blazes to summon a fiery ancient entity that will leave the city in cinders. By Devil's Night, the spell will be complete, unless Anya -- with the help of her salamander familiar and the paranormal investigating team -- can stop it.

Along with her inseparable salamander familiar, Sparky, Anya has seen, and even survived, all manner of fiery hell -- but her newest case in Sparks creates suspicions of a bizarre phenomenon that no one but her eccentric team of ghost hunters might believe: spontaneous human combustion.

After fire consumes the home of elderly Jasper Bernard, Anya is stunned to discover his remains -- or, more precisely, the lack of them; even the fiercest fires leave some trace of their victims -- and she is sure this was no naturally-occurring blaze. Soon she's unearthed a connection to a celebrity psychic who preys on Detroit's poor, promising miracles for money. But Hope Solomon wants more -- she's collecting spirits, and in a frantic race against time, Anya will face down an evil adversary who threatens her fragile relationship with her lover, her beloved Sparky's freshly-hatched newts, and the wandering souls of the entire city.

Sara: How would you describe each of your main characters in one sentence?

Laura: Anya's got one foot in the seen world and the other in the hidden world of spirits; she's a fire investigator who is reluctant to user her power as a Lantern to devour malicious spirits.

Sparky is Anya's faithful fire salamander familiar who cuddles with his Glow-Worm toy and fiercely defends Anya from supernatural threats.

Brian is the tech manager in a group of ghost hunters who has been wanting to date Anya, who keeps pushing him away.

Drake is a serial arsonist, crime victim, artist, and... also the only other Lantern Anya has ever met.

Sirrush is the granddaddy of all fire elementals, who's taking a nap in the salt mine beneath the city... until summoned by Drake.

Sara: What sets your novel apart from the rest of the Urban Fantasy genre?

Laura: I deliberately set out to do something different, something out of the box. The primary supernatural creatures in the story are ghosts and a fire salamander elemental. Salamanders haven't gotten much press since Paracelsus' time, and I wanted to imagine what a relationship with such a volatile and unpredictable familiar would be like. One of my characters tells the heroine that "There's a reason no witch will take a fire salamander as a familiar, you know."

My heroine, Anya, does not always do the right thing at the right time for the right reasons. She's human, and she makes mistakes. She's flawed, but I think she's flawed in interesting ways that make her less predictable than many heroines I've read. She's not the kind of woman who will easily find a "happily ever after."

The other unique quality about the story is the setting. The story is set in Detroit, which has a very distinct voice, and became a character of its own in a true urban fantasy sense.

Sara: What was the inspiration behind Sparky, Anya’s adorable and hilarious familiar? Did you always want him to love all things electrical, or did that trait come later on in the writing/editing process?

Laura: Sparky was named by my husband for Sparky Anderson, the former MLB manager for the Detroit Tigers.

In terms of personality, he's a composite of all the pets I've owned. He's protective, snarky, and chaos follows him wherever he waddles. And he does love to fiddle with electrical things - chew cell phones, blow up microwaves, activate sprinkler systems. Salamanders were said by Paracelsus to be fickle creatures, entirely unsuitable as familiars. And I can see why.

I think that it's important for Anya to have a source of unconditional, nonjudgmental love in her life. At night, Sparky sleeps on Anya's bed and cuddles his Glow-Worm toy. She needs that sense of security. I think that we all do.

Sara: Your knowledge of the arson investigation really comes through while reading Embers. How much research was involved in this series?

Laura: My background is in criminology, and I've worked in and around criminal justice for more than ten years. I have a good understanding of criminal procedure in conventional investigations, but arson was all new. I spent a lot of time at the library, taking notes and paging through fire science textbooks, to learn how things burn, how evidence is collected, and what techniques are used to analyze the evidence.

Sara: The paranormal investigation team, DAGR, was an interesting addition to the series. It’s not too often I read about these teams without it being a spoof. Are you interested in shows like Paranormal Activity? If so, do they serve as research or entertainment?

Laura: I've seen some of the television shows about ghost hunting. I think it's an interesting premise, and I do take note of the equipment they use. The group dynamics for a bunch of people chasing something so slippery is also fun to watch.

Sara: Can we look forward to more books in Anya and Sparky’s world? Please?

Laura: At the moment, I'm only contracted for Embers and Sparks. I would love to continue, as I have notebooks full of ideas for new adventures. And I love the characters dearly... especially Sparky. We'll just have to wait and see what happens in the mysterious world of publishing and sales!

Sara: What are you currently reading?

Laura: I'm currently reading Lucy Snyder's Spellbent. Lots and lots of fun. I'm also reading The Complete Idiot's Guide to Alchemy and Linda Robertson's Fatal Circle. Also on my nightstand, in no particular order, are: Batman: Vampire, The Instant Tarot Reader, Sam's Learn HTML in 24 Hours, and The Sonambulist.

Thanks so much for having me! I had so much fun. :-)

---

And now for the giveaway. Laura has graciously offered one lucky commenter a copy of Sparks. All you have to do is answer the following question, or ask Laura one of your own!

Do you think having a magical familiar would be like owning a pet? What kind of familiar would you want?

WITHOUT A TRACE

Anya Kalinczyk is the rarest type of psychic medium, a Lantern, who holds down a day job as an arson investigator with the Detroit Fire Department -- while working 24/7 to exterminate malicious spirits haunting a city plagued by unemployment and despair. Along with her inseparable salamander familiar, Sparky, Anya has seen, and even survived, all manner of fiery hell -- but her newest case sparks suspicions of a bizarre phenomenon that no one but her eccentric team of ghost hunters might believe: spontaneous human combustion.

After fire consumes the home of elderly Jasper Bernard, Anya is stunned to discover his remains -- or, more precisely, a lack of them; even the fiercest fires leave some trace of their victims—and she is sure this was no naturally occurring blaze. Soon she’s unearthed a connection to a celebrity psychic who preys on Detroit’s poor, promising miracles for money. But Hope Solomon wants more -- she’s collecting spirits, and in a frantic race against time, Anya will face down an evil adversary who threatens her fragile relationship with her lover, her beloved Sparky’s freshly hatched newts, and the wandering souls of the entire city.

Giveaway Rules:

You must leave a vaild e-mail address.
This contest is International.
Please, only one comment per person.
Must answer or ask a question.

Extra entries:

+1 Follow Sara's Urban Fantasy Blog
+3 Tweet the contest and link to @sara_UFblog

** This giveaway will end at midnight EST on Wednesday 09/15 and the winner will be announced Thursday 09/16. Winners will be chosen using Random.org.

In My Mailbox (49)

Thanks to Kristi at The Story Siren for hosting In My Mailbox every week.

This week was a HUGE week of new releases that I had to have. I was at the bookstore almost every day, either picking up books I had ordered or finding new ones on the shelf. Some of these books weren't purchased this week, but did arrive this week. So I didn't spend quite as much as it looks like this week (thank goodness I get paid on Friday). I was also sad that Blameless by Gail Carriger hasn't made it's way to any of the stores in my area, but hopefully it'll be here soon.

Review:

Sparks by Laura Bickle



Bought:

Plain Kate by Erin Bow
Clockwork Angel by Cassandra Clare
Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins
Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins



Cold Magic by Kate Elliot
Ghost of a Chance by Simon R. Green
Native Star by M.K. Hobson
Truthseeker by C.E. Murphy



Sixty-One Nails by Mike Shevdon
Unraveled by Gena Showalter
Blood on Silk by Marie Treanor
The Haunted by Jessica Verday

Month in Review: August

I give up trying to read at the pace I used to. The more I try, the more it doesn't happen. I read more than I did in July, but not much. And I know I posted last month about doing a 200 follower giveaway. Don't worry, I haven't forgotten. I just haven't figured out what I want to do yet. :)

Anyway, here are the books I read in August (along with links to their respective reviews):

August: 7

Prophecy of the Sisters by Michelle Zink 3.5 Stars

Death Most Definite by Trent Jamieson 4.5 Stars

Here There be Monsters by Meljean Brook 4 Stars

Almost to Die For by Tate Hallaway 3.5 Stars

When Blood Calls by J.K. Beck (ARC) 5 Stars

The Darkest Edge of Dawn by Kelly Gay 5 Stars

Heavenly by Jennifer Laurens DNF

---

So what did everyone else read in August? :)

Review: The Darkest Edge of Dawn by Kelly Gay

Title: The Darkest Edge of Dawn
Author: Kelly Gay
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Release Date: 08/31/10
Summary:

It takes a strong woman to keep the peace in a city of endless night...

Deep beneath Underground, a cunning bid for power and revenge has begun -- one that threatens to make Atlanta the new battleground in the ultimate confrontation between good and evil. The powers of hellish Charbydon have the upper hand after plunging the city into primordial night. And under the cover of darkness, a serial killer targets the most powerful Elysians in the city, the angelic Adonai. For Detective Charlie Madigan and her siren partner Hank, tracking deadly predators is all in a day’s work... but this case will test the limits of their strength and friendship as it draws them into a deadly world of power plays, ancient myths, explosive secrets, and a race against time that risks all that Charlie holds dear.

Plot: 5 Stars
In this sequel, we're introduced to new characters and delve deeper into the politics of Elysia and Charbydon. Between the investigation and the power plays, you would think Charlie didn't have time for anything else. But she also has to juggle with the aftermath of her ex-husband's decision, a partner acting strange, and a kid who is growing up. Any normal person would be overwhelmed, but Charlie handles everything thrown at her. I just hope in future books we get to visit Elysia and Charbydon, I think they'd be very interesting.

Pace: 5 Stars
This novel never stopped. Kelly has a way of writing that keeps you on the edge of your seat, bouncing with excitement for the next scene. It picked up not long after the first novel, and didn't skip a beat. I didn't remember too many details from the first novel since I read it nine months ago, but I had no problem jumping right in. There was just enough details here and there to jog my memory and bring it all back. The author also did a great job of showing time pass throughout the novel. What could've easily been packed into 48 hours, like many novels do, was a little more spread out without slowing down.

Characters: 4.5 Stars
When The Better Part of Darkness ended, Charlie had a lot she was going to have to deal with, and The Darkest Edge of Dawn really showed how much her character had grown to accomodate the changes her body was put through. She had a lot of her plate throughout the book, and she handled it all really well. Her daughter, Emma, was once again a great addition to the book. She showed real maturity for her age and was full of surprises. Hank, a character I really enjoyed in book one, was kind of all over the map in this book. I'm hoping he'll calm back down in the future since his voice-mod problem was taken care of.

Cover: 5 Stars
This cover was lighter than its predecessor, while still keeping the dark and gritty feel that suits the novel so well. My favorite details of the whole cover is the bullet hole right above the title and the green flash coming from the cover model's gun. It's a nice touch since Charlie carries three weapons: one for humans, one for Elysians, and one for Charbydons. I also really like the facial expression on the model. It's a very angry expression, but it feels true to Charlie. I don't think she would want to have a seductive expression, it's not her style.

Overall: 5 Stars

Disclosure: I received a copy of this book from the publisher.

Review: When Blood Calls by J.K. Beck

Title: When Blood Calls (ARC)
Author: J.K. Beck
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Release Date: 08/31/10
Summary:

Attorney Sara Constantine is thrilled with her promotion -- until she finds out that she must now prosecute vampires and werewolves. The first defendant she’ll be trying to put away? Lucius Dragos, the sexy stranger with whom she recently shared an explosive night of ecstasy.

When Lucius kisses a beautiful woman sitting next to him at the bar, he’s hoping only to avoid the perceptive gaze of the man he’s planning to kill. But what starts as a simple kiss ignites into an all-consuming passion. Charged with murder, Luke knows that Sara is determined to see him locked away -- unless he can convince her that he’s not a monster. And that might mean making the ultimate sacrifice.

Plot: 5 Stars
This novel really showed off the author's knowledge of the court system. In a way it was reminiscent of Diana Rowland's Mark of the Demon, and her knowledge of police procedure. I really enjoyed the detail the author brought to the novel, both within the paranormal court system, and in the characters' lives. I also enjoyed the paranormal lore in this story, particularly the vampires and how they must stay in control of their demon in order to keep from becoming homicidal maniacs.

Pace: 5 Stars
I really liked that this novel was from multiple points of view, including a few that were not the main heroine and hero. It was a pleasant change from so many paranormal romances I've read lately. It gave a fuller picture to the story being told. And I think it also helped move the novel along because you got to witness more scenes, as compared to just being told about them. The twists and turns in this novel were intense, and the ending blew my mind.

Characters: 5 Stars
I felt a real connection to Sara, and not just because we share the same name (and it was spelled right). She was very passionate for her career and her beliefs, and just came across as very personable. Lucius wasn't your typical hero in some ways. Although he was completely badass, he wasn't cocky about it. He showed compassion, both towards Sara and towards his ward, an girl who was a bit addled when he changed her and never quite in control as a vampire. The detectives involved in the case had interesting powers, and I loved to hate them.

Cover: 5 Stars
I'm not normally a fan of the bare-chested male on a cover, but for some reason this cover really attracted my eye. I enjoyed not seeing the cover model's face so that I could imagine my own image of Lucius from only the descriptions given within the novel. I like the color combination of black, gray, and red. The choice of using two fonts for the title is very interesting and unique, and definitely makes this title stand out next to other titles in the genre. My favorite part of the cover is the attention brought to the ring, because it does play a part in the story.

Overall: 5 Stars

Disclosure: I received an ARC of this book from the author.