Mini-Review: Out With A Fang by Jessica Sims

Title: Out With A Fang (The Undead In My Bed anthology)
Author: Jessica Sims (includes Katie MacAlister & Molly Harper)
Series: Midnight Liasons #1.5
Publisher: Pocket Books
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Release Date: 09/25/12
Reviewed by: Sara
Buy the Book:

Summary:

Under the covers, these lovers come alive!

Katie MacAlister conjures supernatural sparks in Shades of Gray

A TV crew is filming a paranormal reality show on the grounds of an imposing old Czech Republic estate. But the electric passion behind the camera is what’s out of this world. When Noelle, a Guardian, meets vampire Grayson, who has roamed for three centuries, she awakens an aching hunger in him that only her touch can relieve...

Molly Harper cooks up laughter and thrills in Undead Sublet

After overworked Chicago chef Tess flips out (can everyone hear that arugula talking, or is it just me?), she rents a quiet house in Half-Moon Hollow for a month of R & R. But when she finds the place occupied by a drop-dead gorgeous vampire, Tess’s tastes -- for comfort food, for small Kentucky towns, and for her irresistible lover -- become nearly insatiable!

Jessica Sims excites the senses in Out with a Fang

When lonely were-jaguar Ruby consults a paranormal matchmaker, she hopes to finally move on from a heart-wrenching breakup with her one true love, a forbidden human. Nervously agreeing to a blindfolded first date with a vampire, she finds the spicy scent of him intoxicating, his voice low, sexy, and so very familiar...

Mini-Review: Out with a Fang was the perfect short story to tide me over until the release of Desperately Seeking Shapeshifter. I absolutely love the idea of a paranormal dating service, so this series is definitely one of my favorite paranormal romance series. I liked that this story was in the same world, but introduced us to new characters. I really enjoyed Ruby as she dealt with the curveballs this blindfolded first date had in store for her. There were some surprises that left her dealing with feelings she had buried away. The cover screams paranormal romance, but I wish the title could've been a different color that went with the rest of the image a little better.

Plot: 4 Stars
Pace: 4.5 Stars
Characters: 4 Stars
Cover: 4 Stars
Overall: 3.5 Stars

Disclosure: I purchased a copy of this novel for my reading pleasure.

In My Mailbox (57)

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

So my birthday was on a Tuesday this year, which is the best day of the week. Lol. It amused me that the books from my brother comes alphabetically before the books from my dad. There are a couple more books from my dad that haven't arrived yet. Other gifts not pictured (because they're not books) include Nurse Jackie season 1, Vampire Diaries season 1, Queer as Folk season 3, and LEGO Harry Potter for Nintendo DS. Can't wait to play that, it looks adorable.

From my brother:

Geist by Phillippa Ballantine
When Wicked Craves by J.K. Beck
Misguided Angel by Melissa de la Cruz



From my dad:

Crusade by Nancy Holder & Debbie Viguie
Game Over by Taylor Keating
Blood Trinity by Sherrilyn Kenyon & Dianna Love
Kiss Me Deadly anthology

Review: Here There Be Monsters by Meljean Brook

Title: Here There Be Monsters (Burning Up anthology)
Author: Meljean Brook
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Release Date: 08/03/10
Summary:

Bring these four authors together and it's sure to ignite a spark...

Angela Knight pairs a vampire warrior and his seductive captor in a battle against demonic predators.

Nalini Singh returns to the world of her Psy-Changeling series as a woman in lethal danger finds an unlikely protector -- and lover.

Virginia Kantra continues the haunting tales of the Children of the Sea in her story of a wounded soldier rescued by an enigmatic young woman.

Meljean Brook launches a bold new steampunk series about a woman who strikes a provocative -- and terrifying -- bargain for freedom.

Plot: 4.5 Stars
I haven't read too much steampunk and am fairly new, so I was pleasantly surprised by this novella. I didn't really think steampunk and romance would mix together all that well, but I was so wrong. I also didn't think such a small amount of words could describe such a fantastic and intricate world. There were some details about the steampunk world that the author developed that could've been explained a bit better, but I'm sure the upcoming novel, The Iron Duke, will go further into detail about these things and be even better.

Pace: 4 Stars
Normally, I don't really enjoy the short stories and novellas in these anthologies because they often feel rushed or lack a lot of detail. But this story had everything. It sucked me in within only a few pages and didn't let go. The author has an attention to detail that really adds to the richness of the story and made this a truly enjoyable read.

Characters: 4 Stars
Ivy was a very strong female lead in this novella. I really enjoyed that not only did she have a very masculine occupation as a blacksmith, but that she excelled in her profession. Her inner conflict throughout the story was very genuine, and she came across as a very likeable character. Mad Machen was a very intimidating pirate captain, with an even more intimidating reputation. But what I liked about him the most was how patient he was with Ivy. Although they are very different, the two make a very interesting pair.

Cover: 3 Stars
While there's nothing wrong with this cover, it seemed a little generic: a shirtless male cover model with tribal tattoos. I only read one of the four stories within this anthology, so I can only speak for this story, but the cover didn't fit. There was no sort of steampunk element at all. Even the font choices were generic. But the reddish color of the background fit the feel of this story, so it wasn't a complete loss.

Overall: 4 Stars

Disclosure: I bought this book for my own enjoyment.

In My Mailbox (47)

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

Review:

The Darkest Edge of Dawn by Kelly Gay (Thanks to Kelly and Pocket!)
Heavenly by Jennifer Laurens (Thanks to Jennifer!)



Bought:

Legacies by Mercedes Lackey & Rosemary Edghill



Won:

Demon Blood by Meljean Brook (Thanks to Meljean!)
Red Fire by Diedre Knight (Thanks to Aria @ Aria's Dark Musings)
Dark and Stormy Knights anthology (Thanks to St. Martin's Press!)

Friday Finds (3)

Friday finds was started by Misb at Should be Reading.

"The idea is to share, every Friday, about books that you’ve recently discovered (never heard of before) that sound really good!"

Title: Inked
Author: Karen Chance, Eileen Wilks, Yasmine Galenorn, Marjorie M. Liu
Genre: Urban Fantasy/Paranormal Romance
Release Date: 01/05/10
Summary:

Four of today's hottest urban fantasy writers together for the first time!

From today's most provocative authors come four tales of urban fantasy and paranormal romance exploring body art that is more than it seems-in a world of magic and mayhem that always leaves its mark.

This captivating tattoo theme surrounds each author's popular characters and worlds: Karen Chance's war mage Lia de Croissets, Marjorie M. Liu's demon-hunter Maxine Kiss, Yasmine Galenorn's Otherworld Intelligence Agency operative Camille D'Artigo, and Eileen Wilk's Lupi world.