Series: Elemental Assassin #14.5
100 p.
Publisher: Pocket Star
Published: 7/18/16
Source: NetGalley and publisher for review
Purchase at Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Books-A-Million | Google Play | iBooks | Kobo

The New York Times bestselling Elemental Assassin series continues with a new e-novella--from the point of view of Finnegan Lane, the foster brother of Gin Blanco, and a fan favorite of readers of the series. 

The fallout from his disastrous “family reunion” in Bitter Bitehas left Finn feeling hurt, angry, and depressed. He can barely stand to look at himself in the mirror, much less eat any of the delicious barbecue from Gin’s famed Pork Pit restaurant. 

But when the funeral for a slain security guard at his bank turns into a showdown with some nasty underworld giants, Finn knows that he must act in order to protect an innocent family. 

Finnegan Lane might be the most unwanted man in Ashland these days, but he’s determined to try to make amends for his past mistakes...

My thoughts:

Oh if you have been reading these books and are a fan of Finn, you really need to get this novella! The last book was Finn's book as well, but still told in Gin's perspective. This is about the aftermath of what happened in Finn's POV. In this book Finn holds his own and you can see he is capable and deadly in his own right... if you didn't know that before. You also feel for him deeply in this story.

You may not have to read all of them to get to this novella, but I do suggest picking up a few of them first to get the feel for Finn and at least Bitter Bite before diving into this book. The last book is a necessity to know what is going on in this book and all of it is worth it. This is a series I have loved from the beginning and has a great secondary character list. So glad we are getting the perspective of those characters we love. Yes, there are several in this series.

I give this novella 4 1/2 stars. It is the perfect compliment to the series and the last book specifically. If you are a fan of Finn do not hesitate to pick this book up. You will love it.

Author bio:

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UNRAVELED (Elemental Assassin #15)
by Jennifer Estep
Publisher: Pocket Books
$7.99 | 400 pages
Published: August 30, 2016
ISBN: 978-1501142215
Goodreads
Purchase links Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Books-A-Million, Google Play, iTunes, Kobo

What could go wrong when you’re trying to unravel a decades-old conspiracy?  

 As the current queen of the Ashland underworld, you would think that I, Gin Blanco, would know all about some secret society controlling things from behind the scenes. I might be the Spider, the city’s most fearsome assassin, but all my Ice and Stone elemental magic hasn’t done me a lick of good in learning more about “the Circle”. Despite my continued investigations, the trail’s gone as cold as the coming winter.  

So when Finnegan Lane, my foster brother, gets word of a surprising inheritance, we figure why not skip town for someplace less dangerous for a few days? That place: Bullet Pointe, a fancy hotel resort complex plus Old West theme park that Finn now owns lock, stock, and barrel. At first, all the struttin’ cowboys and sassy saloon girls are just hokey fun. But add in some shady coincidences and Circle assassins lurking all around, and vacationing becomes wilder—and deadlier—than any of us expected.  

 Good thing this assassin brought plenty of knives to the gunfight… 

REVIEW:

Oh yes! Another addition to my addiction to this series. If you don't know I'm a fan of this series, then you really need to come by the blog more. I'll even put out some of the Pork Pit's BBQ and a side of slaw for you. If you don't know what that is, then you need to get to start reading this series. It's as good as I imagine Gin's cooking. :)

Series: The Conqueror's Saga #2
496 p.
Publisher: Delacorte Press
Published: June 27,17
Source: From NetGalley and Publisher for review

Lada Dracul has no allies. No throne. All she has is what she’s always had: herself. After failing to secure the Wallachian throne, Lada is out to punish anyone who dares to cross her blood-strewn path. Filled with a white-hot rage, she storms the countryside with her men, accompanied by her childhood friend Bogdan, terrorizing the land. But brute force isn’t getting Lada what she wants. And thinking of Mehmed brings little comfort to her thorny heart. There’s no time to wonder whether he still thinks about her, even loves her. She left him before he could leave her. 

What Lada needs is her younger brother Radu’s subtlety and skill. But Mehmed has sent him to Constantinople—and it’s no diplomatic mission. Mehmed wants control of the city, and Radu has earned an unwanted place as a double-crossing spy behind enemy lines. Radu longs for his sister’s fierce confidence—but for the first time in his life, he rejects her unexpected plea for help. Torn between loyalties to faith, to the Ottomans, and to Mehmed, he knows he owes Lada nothing. If she dies, he could never forgive himself—but if he fails in Constantinople, will Mehmed ever forgive him? 

As nations fall around them, the Dracul siblings must decide: what will they sacrifice to fulfill their destinies? Empires will topple, thrones will be won . . . and souls will be lost.

My thoughts:

I really loved the first book in the series so I couldn't wait to get my hands on this one. I was not disappointed.

We are split in-between the siblings Radu and Lada in the telling of this adventure. Both still have feelings for Medmed but now have grown into adults and trying to figure out who they are while trying to achieve their goals. I have to say as much as I was captivated by Lada and her harsh and severe decisions I really enjoyed Radu's POV in this one. He questioned everything in the end and while he still chose a side expected, the experience changed him profoundly and I'm curious to know where he will go from here. I think he has the biggest epiphany coming and more choices on the horizon which I think will become increasingly difficult.

Now this does not mean that I missed the adventure Lada had nor her growth. She is slowly figuring out not just who she or who she wants to be but more importantly, what kind of leader she will eventually become. I also have a feeling this road will not be easy and I can see her last decisions will have severe consequences. What I took away from most of the story is that the siblings were stronger together than separately but they both wanted different things out of life. It was interesting to see them both come to that same conclusion.

I give this book 4 1/2 stars. It is a great historical fantasy and it isn't hard to get into for those that don't often read fantasy. I also recommend you read this one in order. Very few fantasy books should or can be read out of order.

There was a time when Persephone Alcmedi thought her life was hard to manage, what with wondering how to make sure she took adequate care of both her grandmother and her foster daughter, Beverley, whether she'd end up in the unwanted position of high priestess of a coven, and whether her werewolf lover, Johnny, would resist the groupies who hang around his band Lycanthropia.

But that was before the fairies started demanding that Seph's frightening, unpredictable ally - the ancient vampire Menessos - be destroyed . . . or the world will suffer. Seph and Menessos are magically bonded, but that's a secret she dares not reveal to her fellow witches lest they be forced to reject her and forbid her use of magic. And, despite the strain this casts on her relationship with Johnny, as a showdown with the fairies nears, she and Menessos badly need the werewolves as allies.

Life, death, and love are all on the line, but when destiny is calling, it doesn't help to turn away. With the individual threads of their fates twisted inextricably together, can Seph, Johnny, and Menessos keep the world safe from fairy vengeance?

Need to say this first... this series keeps on getting better. I think I've enjoyed this book most of all. I will also have to say that there were times when I thought Persephone was being manipulated again, but really in a much smaller way. However, even though it felt like that at times, it really wasn't that way at all. She was still learning and growing... under fire so to speak... so what she decided made sense. She still is ruled by emotions that overtake her, however, I also suspect that will be a growth aspect coming.

As far as Johnny is concerned... I still don't want to spoil anything I've said in the last review of this series, however he is present with his own trial and tribulations. Menessos is also paramount within this book. FINALLY I have to say that I would trust him much more now. His veneer has cracked and some human emotions erupt. However, do not expect this to happen for much of the book. For those that enjoy his arrogance, you will not be disappointed. :)

In the end I give this book 4 1/2 stars. I really enjoyed this one and even gave a tear at one time in the book. It isn't a cliffie ending, but important information is missing. So much so that I had to look at the back of the next two books (which I have) to see what happens. Had to know, but I'm not telling anything. *evil laugh*

 Karma Girl (Bigtime #1)

Bigtime, New York, is not big enough for both Carmen Cole and the superheroes and ubervillains who stalk its streets. An intrepid reporter, Carmen's dedicated her life to unmasking the spandexwearers, all because her fiancŽ turned out to be a superhero, and a cheating one at that-sleeping with none other than his nubile nemesis.

Exposing the true identities of the nation's caped crusaders and their archenemies has catapulted Carmen from her sleepy southern hometown to the front pages of the country's biggest newspaper, The ExposŽ. Hobnobbing with millionaires and famished fashionistas is all in a day's work for a woman on the trail of the Fearless Five and Terrible Triad. But when Carmen gets the scoop of her career, her life comes crashing down around her. And even Bigtime's sexiest superhero, Striker, may not be able to save her.

When I got a chance to review this series I jumped at it! I've been so curious and became even more so when I got a couple of quick references to "Karma Girl comics" in the Elemental Assassin Series and The Mythos Academy Series. So, the question remains... did I enjoy this book? Oh yes I did! It was a fun adult book with a couple of smexy scenes within. It was fun, campy without being over the top and completely entertaining. Yes you figure out the identities of the superheros and ubervillians way before the characters do, but quite honestly that was part of the point of the book. If you think about it, really, it is any different than what you get in comic books? Seriously... how many people were fooled by Superman's glasses? LOL

By day, Fiona Fine is a successful couture designer, catering to the high society players of Bigtime, New York. By night, she's Fiera, a member of the heroic Fearless Five who can create and manipulate fire with her bare hands.

Fiona's personal life, though, isn't so hot. She still misses her fiancŽ, who was killed by ubervillains a year ago. Still, men admire Fiona's smoking assets, and she decides to get back in the dating game- especially after she meets Johnny Bulluci. But this notorious playboy has plenty of secrets to go along with his sexy smile. And, with two new ubervillains in town who are intent on raising hell, Fiona's love life might just crash and burn.

Thanks to her unwanted superpower, fashion designer Bella Bulluci may be the luckiest woman in Bigtime, N.Y. But luck can be good or bad, and it seems like just as many embarrassing things happens to Bella as do positive ones. 

Like when a charity event that Bella plans get crashed by Hangman, a deadly ubervillain who's after a prize sapphire that's on display. Hangman almost succeeds in stealing the jewel for his evil ubervillain boss, Prism, but Bella's luck helps her escape with the sapphire star along with some help from the suave and charming Debonair. 

Debonair's not an ubervillain, but he's not really a superhero either. Still, Bella can't help but fall for him, despite her personal vow to have as little to do with heroes and villains as possible. But with Hangman and Prism still after the sapphire, Bella's going to need every bit of her luck power just to survive ...

 This was another fun book. I really enjoyed Bella and her dislike of all things super. Either villain or hero. However, Debonair makes Bella reconsider things once he has her in his "den of seduction". She isn't the type to go after someone who seduces many women for the thrill... but something about him attracts him despite her aversion. This combo makes it for another fun book. One where we see if two very shy people can overcome their "press" and make a connection.

My only complaint was Bella's attitude with her body. She constantly complained and worried over nothing. However, it is resolved in the end and don't we all know someone like that? ;D I also wanted to kick Debonair in the @ss and liked him but didn't (if that makes sense) until he was fully himself. In other words, when he was neither Debonair or his alter identity but his true self to Bella did I enjoy and root for him fully. I really LOVED him then.

I give this book 4 1/2 stars and recommend this book to anyone who loves a fun campy book.

Ever the Brave
by Erin Summerill
Series: Clash of Kingdoms #2
Published: December 5,17
Publisher: HMH Publishers for Young Readers

After saving King Aodren with her newfound Channeler powers, Britta only wants to live a peaceful life in her childhood home. Unfortunately, saving the King has created a tether between them she cannot sever, no matter how much she'd like to, and now he's insisting on making her a noble lady. And there are those who want to use Britta’s power for evil designs. If Britta cannot find a way to harness her new magical ability, her life—as well as her country—may be lost. 

The stakes are higher than ever in the sequel to Ever the Hunted, as Britta struggles to protect her kingdom and her heart.

From the book:
Recently named the world's chief clairvoyant, Cassandra Palmer still has a thorn in her side. As long as Cassie and a certain master vampire--the sizzling-hot Mircea--are magically bound to each other, her life will never be her own...

The spell that binds them can only be broken with an incantation found in the Codex Merlini, an ancient grimoire. The Codex's location has been lost in the present day, so Cassie will have to seek it out in the only place it can still be found--the past.

But Cassie soon realizes the Codex has been lost for a reason. The book is rumored to contain some seriously dangerous spells, and retrieving it may help Cassie to deal with Mircea, but it could also endanger the world...

Now to the question that those who have been following the series might ask. Does she break the geis? Do her and Mircea finally give into their passions? Guess what? Not going to spoil it for you. You'll just have to read it to find out. I will say that it sets things up nicely for the next book. This book gets 4 out of 5 stars and is recommended, especially if you have been a fan of the series. If you haven't read this series before I do recommend getting "Touch the Dark" which is the first book and start reading. You won't be sorry. :)