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Showing posts with label Diana Rowland. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Diana Rowland. Show all posts

Saturday, April 4, 2015

41) Vengeance of the Demon by Diana Rowland

The Blurb :

Demon summoner Kara Gillian is on the wrong side of the law, and there's evidence to prove it. Too bad the courts don't accept "fighting demonic forces" as justification for murder and mayhem.

Yet Kara has problems that go way beyond her legal woes. When the enemy demonic lords spur their human accomplices into high gear, master summoner Katashi aggressively pursues their goal to establish a permanent gate between Earth and the demon realm. To hell with the consequences for humanity.

The line between ally and enemy blurs as Kara gathers the remnants of her posse to prevent a devastating demonic incursion, but a shattered trust may cost them the war and put Kara behind bars. With treachery rife, and her loved ones in danger, Kara must call upon the essence of who she truly is in order to rally back from a crushing loss.

And if she can't, the world is going straight to hell.

My Thoughts :

I have to start this review by saying that this series has always been original and well written.  I may not have always been happy with the route the story went (Touch of the Demon was a hard read) but I have always been eager to read more about Kara's story and see what happens next.  There is something about this series that makes it special and I think Kara herself has been a winning factor since the beginning.  She is kick-ass and has a good head on her shoulders which doesn't always apply to the main characters in this genre.

However now we are seven books into the series and I am at a loss at what to say about this latest installment.  I managed to read Vengeance of the Demon to the end but I have to admit that I thought about giving up on many occasions.  I struggled to keep up with what was going on, who was who and what anything meant.  I have been a fan of this series since the beginning and I couldn't remember what most of the book referred to and it was frustrating.

The characters were hard to keep up with.  I know the basics but suddenly there was a Detective Pellini involved and he becomes a major player.  All the demons were hard to keep in line.  The names started to mean nothing to me and the whole paranormal aspect became overwhelming.  The plot was interesting enough but I had no idea what past incidents they were talking about.  There are some really good twists in this book but they left me even more confused...especially Kara's aunt.  I just don't have a clue how it all fits together anymore.

I can understand how the author feels like these are details all her fans should know and understand.   However, with about a years wait between each book and in the meantime reading at least a hundred books, well I am sorry to say I can't remember all the little details to this one series however good and unique it is.  Instead I had a hard time reading this latest installment and am seriously considering not going back for part eight.  Unless I have time to read the whole series again from the beginning so I can give myself a chance of understanding it all.

Oh and to insult my problems there is a glossary which you can find at the end of the book when you have finished.  I didn't know it was there but I am sure it would have been a great help.  Would it be too much to wish for links in the Kindle version?  Wouldn't it be cool to click on the word I am having trouble with and be sent to the glossary?   Like the dictionary function?    I doubt it would happen now with the book releasing next week but you have been warned!  Help is at the back!   Putting it at the front to refresh your memory would be a stupid idea....

I loved this series.  The police procedure and the demon problems/crimes that needed to be solved but the series has turned into something else and while I am sure there are many people who are still enjoying it, I am not.  It's just hard to give up on something that has been a part of your reading list for so long.  On you pre-order and must have lists.



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Saturday, August 16, 2014

90) How the White Trash Zombie got her Groove Back by Diana Rowland

The Blurb :

It’s zombie versus zombie as the Saberton Corporation declares war against the Zombie Mafia, kidnapping several of their party. It falls to Angel to lead the remnants of her gang halfway across the country to claw their way through corporate intrigue, zombie drugs, and undead trafficking to rescue her friends—and expose the traitor responsible for their abduction...

My Thoughts :

It has been a slow reading week and this book didn't help me.  I had this on pre-order because the series is original and fun...Oh and I love the author.   However this time around I wasn't really into it for a couple of reasons.  The story seemed to drag and take forever even at my fast reading pace and the direction of the story is just not what I expected.

Giving a book a bad review because I don't like the way the story is developing isn't my thing and there is a lot of great stuff in this fourth installment.  The concept and originality still grabs me as a reader but the whole big corporation against the little people is not what I was expecting from this series.  A nice mystery surrounding a body from Angel's workplace, the morgue, would have been cool but instead this book sends us to New York and on a very crazy load of kidnapping and strange developments.

The great writing style and the sassy zombie are still in there which kept me going to the end.  There are some great characters and some laughs but this fourth part didn't leave me as excited as parts one and two did.  I am not sure if I am the only person who isn't enjoying the route this series is taking and maybe it was just a one time thing and next time it will turn around and go in a different direction but I think next time I will leave the pre-ordering and just get the book if and when.

Still loving this author and still enjoying the concept but I am wary of the future.  Maybe I just wasn't in a good reading mood and this is the book that caught up in it but I won't know for sure unless I revisit this series again sometime.  I do actually want to try this one on audiobook so hopefully I will enjoy this one more a second time around.



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Saturday, February 8, 2014

10) Fury of the Demon by Diana Rowland

The Blurb :

Who can Kara Gillian trust?

That’s what she’d like to know. Demon summoner and now a consultant for the FBI, Kara Gillian has spent the past several months in the demon realm training while recovering from the treachery of the demonic lord Rhyzkahl. Yet though the torment and betrayal she suffered at his hands continues to plague her, she’s not about to let that slow her down.

Kara returns to Earth to search for a fellow summoner being held by allies of Rhyzkahl. Aiding in the hunt are Kara’s friends, FBI agents Ryan Kristoff and Zack Garner. However, Kara and Zack know Ryan’s true identity—though he himself does not—and questions of loyalty threaten to tear apart their previously close-knit group. Rhyzkahl’s machinations run deeper than they could have ever imagined, and the search for the missing summoner takes on a desperate edge while dangers from ancient demon oaths loom and enemies increase in power and numbers.

Armed with her skills, wit, and attitude, it is up to Kara to save her friends and her world.

The price of failure will be her soul.

My Thoughts :

Despite not enjoying the previous installment in this series I still pre-ordered this sixth book about Kara Gillian. Why? Because I am a huge fan of the series and the author.  I wanted to see where things went story wise.  Also there was the fact that I have grown quite attached to the characters and wasn't ready to let them go.  I hoped that this sixth addition would take things back to where they belonged.

The first few chapters had me worried.   The story takes off where we left Kara in the Demon Realm.  This was the last place I wanted the story to be based.  The last book was, in my opinion, not as good as it could have been because of the location.  Yes, the story needed to go there but I preferred the Detective, murder, mystery and human world that this series thrived in for the first four books.

So I did a little happy dance when after a couple of chapters the plot in this sixth book took Kara back to Earth.  It was nice to have the story back on home territory with the characters I have come to know and love.  It was also nice to have the characters from the Demon Realm come over too.  Actually with the amazing plot this book had it was just all round goodness and back to how things should be.

The usual dark and brutal demon filled storyline continues in this newest installment. Anyone who has been following the story will be happy to hear that quite a few questions get answered this time around.  There are some interesting twists and turns with some revelations that some of you, like myself, may have seen coming.  There is also the usual hint of humour here and there to keep the book from being too death and doom filled.

All in all this was a good addition to the series and I am happy with how things are progressing.  I am also happy that I kept with this series and did pre-order Fury of the Demon instead of waiting or even giving up.  Kara is a very special character and this series is unforgettable and unique.  I look forward to seeing what happens next and will keep pre-ordering this series because it is one of the better Paranormal Urban Fantasy series out there right now.




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Sunday, August 25, 2013

Monthly Giveway Results & Winner Announcement!

August is already coming to an end but the July Monthly Giveaway has just ended!  So a new monthly Giveaway will be coming along soon!  However right now we need to see who won the last one!

I had some good choices this month and I am pretty sure there was something for everyone!

So which book got the most votes?  Who has won a copy of the winning book?  Let's find out!


How does the Monthly Giveaway work? 


I pick five of my favourite reads from the last month (sorry no ARCs are included unless they have already been released!) then you guys go to the poll and vote for the book you want to win or the one you think deserves to win! Remember! You may not actually win the book you voted for.

Here are the results :

In last place is Deadly Forecast by Victoria Laurie with only 5.5% of the vote.  This is a good read if you have been following the series.  However against the other books on offer I was sure it wouldn't get many votes, and it didn't.


Fourth place with 11% of the votes goes to Tarnished and Torn (A Witchcraft Mystery #5) by Juliet Blackwell.  I am not sure but I think a cozy mystery, paranormal or otherwise, has never won the Monthly Giveaway.


I am surprised that White Trash Zombie Apocalypse by Diana Rowland only made it to third place!  I love this series and it is amazingly funny and thrilling.  However you guys only gave it 13% of the vote because the other books on offer looked better!


It was close but Fifth Grave Past the Light by Darynda Jones came in at second place.  I was not expecting that at all!  But if you are all fans of the series I guess you have bought and read this one already.


So first place this month goes to Midnight Frost by Jennifer Estep!  Well done!  Jennifer is one of my all time favourite authors and I love it when her books win the Monthly Giveaway!


The winner of the Monthly Giveaway and a copy of Midnight Frost by Jennifer Estep, should now be showing in the Rafflecopter widget below.  If you see your name then contact me to claim your prize!  If you want a Kindle version then make sure you include the right email address and if you want a paper copy then make sure you send me your mailing address!

Didn't win this time?  The next Monthly Giveaway will be coming up soon!  Otherwise you can check the sidebar for other contests that are open.




a Rafflecopter giveaway




Newsletter subscribers! If you have not confirmed your email address then you will not be added to the draw!!!


The poll will stay open for votes until Saturday 24th of August 2013 4pm (all times are in Central European Time). The winner will be announced within days of the contest closing.




Enter your email address:  
Delivered by FeedBurner


Use the Bookdepository or Amazon links/banners to keep the prizes coming! 
 Oh and advertise Amberkatze's Book Blog wherever you can ;)


  Free Delivery on all Books at the Book Depository


Amberkatze's Book Blog

Wednesday, August 7, 2013

Monthly Giveaway!

July is over and so is my holiday!  It was extended by a day due to a late flight but that meant I got another book read!  So not all bad!

I have some good choices this month which is good considering the poor offerings in the last couple of months.  I hope you manage to find one to vote for and maybe, just maybe, you will win a copy!

So who wants to win a copy of one of my favourite reads in July? Keep reading and find out more!

Every month here on Amberkatze's Book Blog there is a Monthly Giveaway!


What is the Monthly Giveaway? 



You have the chance to vote for which book you want to win from my five favourite reads from last month!

I pick five of my favourite reads from the last month (sorry no ARCs are included unless they have already been released!) then you guys go to the poll and vote for the book you want to win or the one you think deserves to win! Remember! You may not actually win the book you voted for.

Here is a little info about each book on offer this month. Just click on the book title and author to see my review :




White Trash Zombie Apocalypse (White Trash Zombie #3) by Diana Rowland



Fifth Grave Past the Light (Charley Davidson #5) by Darynda Jones



Midnight Frost (Mythos Academy #5) by Jennifer Estep


Tarnished and Torn (A Witchcraft Mystery #5) by Juliet Blackwell 


Deadly Forecast (Psychic Eye Mystery #11) by Victoria Laurie 








How does the monthly giveaway work?

Well in the sidebar ---> there is this poll. You vote for the book you would most like to win. Then enter the Monthly Giveaway via the Rafflecopter widget below. When the giveaway is over the winner gets book with the most votes. So you may not even win the book you voted for!



a Rafflecopter giveaway



Newsletter subscribers! If you have not confirmed your email address then you will not be added to the draw!!!


The poll will stay open for votes until Saturday 24th of August 2013 4pm (all times are in Central European Time). The winner will be announced within days of the contest closing.




Enter your email address:  
Delivered by FeedBurner


Use the Bookdepository or Amazon links/banners to keep the prizes coming! 
 Oh and advertise Amberkatze's Book Blog wherever you can ;)


  Free Delivery on all Books at the Book Depository


Amberkatze's Book Blog

Thursday, July 11, 2013

98) White Trash Zombie Apocolypse by Diana Rowland

The Blurb :

Lights, cameras... zombies!

When a zombie movie starts filming in town, things get crazy, and white trash zombie Angel Crawford suspects it’s not just the plot of the movie that’s rotten. With zombies both real and fake roaming the streets, it’s up to Angel to fit all the pieces — and body parts — together to save herself, her town, and quite possibly the human race.

My Thoughts :










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Sunday, March 3, 2013

Monthly Giveaway Results/Winners

The January Monthly Giveaway is over! And the February one will be starting soon! 2013 is racing along!

Time to see which book won the Monthly Giveaway and who has won a copy of the winning book!

What is the Monthly Giveaway?

I picked five of my favourite reads from January month (sorry no ARCs are included unless they have already been released!) then you guys could vote for the book you would like to win or the one you think deserves to win!

Did you enter the Monthly Giveaway? Did you vote? Here are the results!


In last place with a miserable 3.64% of the vote was Death, the Devil, and the Goldfish by Andrew Buckley. You may not have wanted to vote for this book but make sure you read it at some point. It is hilarious!


12.73% of the vote earned What a Ghoul Wants by Victoria Laurie fourth place. Great spooky series but it seems there were other books in the giveaway that you guys wanted more!


Third place goes to Bewitched, Bothered, and Biscotti by Bailey Cates. 16.36% wasn't a bad score and I hope you all try this yummy magical cozy mystery series.


The runner-up this time around is Touch of the Demon by Diana Rowland. Only 18.18% of your votes went towards this book being a winner but it wasn't enough!


The winner, with an astounding 49.09% of the votes is : Crimson Frost by Jennifer Estep! Amazing amount of votes and the clear winner! Congrats!



The Contest winners should now be showing on the widget below. If you are one of the winners then make sure to contact me with your choice of book from the two winning books. Also make sure you send me your Kindle email address if you would like a Kindle version of the book! Otherwise an address!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Keep the contests going by using the Bookdepository.com and Amazon.com links/Banners below and around the site.

--------------------------

How to claim your prize!

Please contact me via email - Amberkatzes_book_blog at gmx dot eu within the next 7 days to claim your prize. Your claim will go quicker if you send me your address. If you won a contest where you can choose your prize, then please make sure you state in your email which book you would like. This will help things go alot quicker! If you won an e-book please make sure you send me the email address you would like the book sent to!

If you email me and don't get a reply within 48 hours please post on the blog letting me know. Some email gets eaten by my spam filter. However please don't send me more than one email unless you really don't get an answer within 3 days. I am not online 24/7 ;) Sometimes it takes a little longer to reply.

If a prize isn't claimed after 7 days I will, if the author agrees, pick another winner.

Please also note that I can not be held responsible for prizes that come direct from authors. I will check with them for you if you haven't received your prize but I can not hunt down your mail! Any prizes that come from myself could come from a 3rd party eg. Amazon or Bookdepository. If I am sending a prize myself please be aware that it could take a few weeks to reach you as it is coming from Europe.

Keep the contests going by using the Bookdepository.com and Amazon.com links/Banners below and around the site.

Amberkatze's Book Blog

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Sunday, February 24, 2013

Monthly Giveaway Reminder

Do you want to win one of my favourite reads from last month? Well all you have to do is enter the Monthly Giveaway!

What is the Monthly Giveaway?

I picked five of my favourite reads from last month (sorry no ARCs are included unless they have already been released!) and you guys get to vote for the book you want to win or the one you think deserves to win! Remember! You may not actually win the book you voted for.

Here is a little info about each book on offer this month. Just click on the book title and author to see my review -



What a Ghoul Wants by Victoria Laurie


Death, the Devil, and the Goldfish by Andrew Buckley


Bewitched, Bothered, and Biscotti by Bailey Cates


Crimson Frost by Jennifer Estep


Touch of the Demon by Diana Rowland





How does the monthly giveaway work?

Well in the sidebar ---> there is this poll. You vote for the book you would most like to win. Then enter the Monthly Giveaway!

The poll will is open until Friday 1st of March 2013 4pm (all times are in Central European Time). So you only have till the end of the week to vote and enter!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Newsletter subscribers! If you have not confirmed your email address then you will not be added to the draw!!!

Enter your email address:

Delivered by FeedBurner

Use the Bookdepository or Amazon links/banners to keep the prizes coming! Oh and advertise Amberkatze's Book Blog wherever you can ;)

Free Delivery on all Books at the Book Depository

Amberkatze's Book Blog

↑ Grab this Headline Animator

Sunday, February 17, 2013

Monthly Giveaway - Win one of my January reads!

February is nearly over already and it has taken me till now to start the January Monthly Giveaway! So apologies for the long wait but now it is finally here! The first Monthly Giveaway of 2013!

Every month there is a Monthly Giveaway!

My January reads were a mixed bunch and there weren't that many to choose from. So picking five books for the Monthly Giveaway wasn't too hard. I just wonder if there is anything that will interest you guys?

Would you like to win one of the books I read in January? Well you can! Just keep reading and enter the Monthly Giveaway!

You have the chance to vote for which book you want to win from my five favourite reads from last month!

What is the Monthly Giveaway?

I pick five of my favourite reads from the last month (sorry no ARCs are included unless they have already been released!) then you guys go to the poll and vote for the book you want to win or the one you think deserves to win! Remember! You may not actually win the book you voted for.

Here is a little info about each book on offer this month. Just click on the book title and author to see my review -



What a Ghoul Wants by Victoria Laurie


Death, the Devil, and the Goldfish by Andrew Buckley


Bewitched, Bothered, and Biscotti by Bailey Cates


Crimson Frost by Jennifer Estep


Touch of the Demon by Diana Rowland




How does the monthly giveaway work?

Well in the sidebar ---> there is this poll. You vote for the book you would most like to win. Then enter the Monthly Giveaway via the Rafflecopter widget below. When the giveaway is over the winner gets book with the most votes. So you may not even win the book you voted for!

Newsletter subscribers! If you have not confirmed your email address then you will not be added to the draw!!!

The poll will stay open for votes until Friday 1st of March 2013 4pm (all times are in Central European Time). The winner will be announced within days of the contest closing.

Enter your email address:

Delivered by FeedBurner

Use the Bookdepository or Amazon links/banners to keep the prizes coming! Oh and advertise Amberkatze's Book Blog wherever you can ;)

Free Delivery on all Books at the Book Depository

Amberkatze's Book Blog

↑ Grab this Headline Animator

Wednesday, January 23, 2013

10) Touch of the Demon by Diana Rowland

The Blurb :

Kara Gillian is in some seriously deep trouble.

She’s used to summoning supernatural creatures from the demon realm to our world, but now the tables have been turned and she’s the one who’s been summoned. Kara is the prisoner of yet another demonic lord, but she quickly discovers that she’s far more than a mere hostage. Yet waiting for rescue has never been her style, and Kara has no intention of being a pawn in someone else’s game.

There’s intrigue to spare as she digs into the origin of the demonic lords and discovers the machinations of humans and demons alike. Kara is shocked to discover that she has her own history in the demon realm, and that the ties between her and the demonic lords Rhyzkahl and Szerain go back farther than she could have ever imagined. But treachery runs rampant among all the lords, and she’s going to have to stay sharp in order to keep from being used to further their own agendas. The lords have a secret that dates back to earth’s ancient history, and it could have devastating repercussions for both worlds.

Yet more than anything else, Kara’s abilities as a homicide detective will be put to the test—because this time the murder she has to solve is her own.

My Thoughts :

I love this series and have been following it since the beginning. Touch of the Demon is only the fifth book about Kara Gillian but it seems like so much more has happened and that the series is older. So I was surprised when I started this one. It took me totally off guard. Kara wasn't home. She was in the Demon realm and wasn't doing too good.

A whole new ballgame comes out in this fifth book and it shocked me at first. I really wanted to go open up the last few chapters of book 4 as I couldn't remember what happened. The I distinctly remembered a nasty cliffhanger and things started coming back to me. However as Kara's time in the Demon realm continued realisation dawned on me. It looked suspiciously like Kara was there for the whole book. Oh and the book was quite lengthy.

Now my shock wasn't disappointment. I still enjoyed this book immensely. I just found it hard to get adjusted to the strange change of scenery and pace. There was so much to take in and thankfully the book was longer to compensate for the amount of new information but it was quite heavy and I admit at times that I struggled to keep going. I was so used to Kara's police procedure/Demon problems in the normal world. I missed it a lot. Maybe even more than Kara did.

Despite the change in location and pace the style stayed the same and Kara was Kara. Lots of action in this one with some twists and turns that not only cause Kara a lot of pain but also teach her some interesting lessons. It was nice to see the otherside of the Demon aspect this book has always had and I have to say the author did a brilliant job of exploring it.

However I hope Kara comes back to Earth. One of the things that I really loved about this series was the cop side of the character/story. I missed this in Touch of the Demon and really want that back in book six. The chances are that Kara will be in the Demon realm a little longer but that won't put me off reading more about it. I still love this series and author. Super Urban Fantasy that is a must read!


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