20) Thirty-Five and a Half Conspiracies by Denise Grover Swank

The Blurb :

Rose Gardner has survived plenty of close scrapes in the past, but her latest bit of trouble has landed her in the Fenton County holding cell on trumped up charges. The most powerful man in southern Arkansas, J.R. Simmons, is determined to put her behind bars for good and destroy everything she holds dear, including her boyfriend, Mason, and her friend Skeeter, reigning king of the Fenton County crime world. In a stunning betrayal, it seems as if J.R.’s son, Rose’s ex-boyfriend, might have turned tail and joined his father.

But Rose doesn’t have to face this fight alone. Her tight-knit group of friends is dedicated to helping her figure out—and foil—J.R.’s plan for ruining her, Mason, and Skeeter. But even with their support and the use of her special power, Rose is at a disadvantage. J.R. is a criminal mastermind who has been using his money, power, and web of influence to hide his conspiracies for years. How can she hope to find solid evidence implicating someone who’s mastered the art of not getting caught?

Time is running out, and soon Rose realizes that reassuming her role of the Lady in Black might be her only chance at ferreting out the evidence that will save them all. In so doing, she will risk not only her life, but the possibility that her secret identity will be unveiled to all.

My Thoughts :

It has been quiet on here the last couple of weeks but that doesn't mean I haven't been reading.   I started a new job last month and don't have such a long commute so my audiobook time has been cut dramatically and guests over the weekend meant I didn't have time to curl up and read.  However I have been working on this audio book.  The eighth book in the Rose Gardner Mysteries.  It actually released late last year but because I have listened to the whole series so far I really wanted the audio version of this latest installment.  I only came across it the other week and grabbed it and started it asap.

Things have gotten more complicated than I imagined they could get when I started this series.  The amount of trouble Rose has gotten herself into is unbelievable but is an absolute winner of a read.  I can't say I understand how so much could have happened in so little time but this new piece of the puzzle not only cleared up some big problems but it created some more.

The Lady in Black makes some very big decisions in this latest book and there are some good things that come from the choices she makes but there are some bad things too.  While I thought everything was finally coming to an end and everything was about to be cleared up nicely it was obvious that there is more to this story than Rose and the reader thought.  There are still some unanswered questions and I think there are still some twists and shocks to come.

I have to wonder if the author planned all this way back when she started the series.  Sometimes I have the feeling that there is a plan and other times I think it is all just being thrown together on the fly.  Whatever concept or system the writer has is a mute point though because she manages to grab the reader and keep you hooked right until the end.  It doesn't matter if things get over the top and become unrealistic.  I find I don't care that this has all happened within a matter of months and seems crazy.  It is a soap like opera escapism that entertains and keeps you guessing.

The ninth installment could be the last if there isn't much more to clear up but I wonder if it will be.  While I think it is time for Rose's life to quieten down and for the series to come to an end there is a little bit of me that wants this to keep going and going.  I think I like the authors attitude too much, she really doesn't mind kicking her characters and not always making things all perfect in the end.

Well worth checking out.  I can highly recommend the audio versions but I am sure the books are just as much of an entertaining read as well.  This is a series you have to read from the beginning and it is slightly paranormal due to Rose's visions which she really does use more as the series continues.

Looking forward to more!

130) Give Up the Ghost by Juliet Blackwell

The Blurb :

San Francisco millionaire Andrew Stirling wants to sell his Victorian mansion, but ghostly music, the squeaking of a long-disappeared weathervane, and an angry ghost keep running off potential buyers. After a famous psychic is called in, she informs the Stirlings that their multi-million-dollar renovations to “update” the home have left its resident ghost extremely agitated. So contractor Mel Turner is engaged to track down and replace some of the original features of the house.

But when the beautiful psychic is found stabbed, it appears someone had a very human motive for murder. Now Mel must use her ghost whispering gift to uncover the secrets of the haunted house on the hill, and her sleuthing skills to catch a killer.

My Thoughts :

I took a bit of a reading break over the Christmas holidays because I just didn't have time to read!  However I wanted to finish one last book before the New Year started and of course it was nice to see my total books read for 2015 to be a nice round 130.  I only challenged myself to 100 so I did very well!  Hopefully next year will be just as good!

Anyway, I love this series.  A cozy mystery with paranormal elements is always a winner and this series has never disappointed.  This sixth installment sees two hauntings being solved and Mel's love life taking a turn.  There is also a lovely home involved that includes secret passages and a widow's walk.  The author really does know how to keep things interesting.

The mystery was interesting enough and the historical elements as well as the hauntings make this series well worth reading.  I enjoy the renovation elements and love the location and characters.  There is just so many good aspects of this series to count.

Juliet Blackwell also writes another paranormal cozy series also based in San Francisco and any cozy mystery lover will enjoy both.  You don't really have to enjoy the Supernatural to enjoy the books because the style and plot are just good enough as it is.

121) Sense of Deception by Victoria Laurie

The Blurb :

A ticked-off judge has tossed Abby in the slammer for contempt of court, and during her brief but unpleasant stay she learns the story of a condemned woman who is facing a far more serious sentence. Skylar Miller has been found guilty of murder and faces the death penalty. Everyone believes she’s guilty, including her own family and her ex-husband—everyone, that is, except Abby, whose finely honed intuition tells her this woman doesn’t belong behind bars.

With the help of her husband Dutch and her friend Candice, Abby launches into her own investigation to clear Skylar and find the real killer. But after a final appeal is denied and Skylar’s attorney scrambles for a stay of execution, time is running short—and the list of suspects keeps growing. There’s no margin for error as the life of an innocent woman hangs in the balance…

My Thoughts :

The Psychic Eye Mystery series has been a little off over the last couple of books.  They were still worth reading but they weren't as good as the earlier installments.  Sense of Deception gets things back on track and shows the 'old' Abby with less FBI involvement and some real good old crime solving skills using her psychic skills.

Of course things will never be the same as they were back at the beginning.  Abby has grown and her life has changed in many ways.  These changes means she uses her psychic skills less and seems to be more cocky in her actions.   After all she has the FBI behind her so she has some big time back-up but she relies too much on her network and the author does too.

Sense of Deception started with Abby ending up in jail which was exactly a lesson she needed to learn.  It made me happy to see her getting to spend the whole night there because she couldn't be rescued by her network of friends in high places.  It brought her back down a little and also showed her a new side of the system that was scary and unfair.

I really enjoyed the plot this time around.  The injustice question, the time limit they were up again and the fact that it was a very cold case all made things very interesting and compelling.  I knew who was the killer from the get go.  I just didn't understand why it was that person.  The reason at the end seems rushed and quite stupid but I guess there is never a logical reason why anyone does something like that.

The little side plots were a nice addition to the story and stopped the pressure and stress of the main case from taking over.  I hope we see more of Oscar and keep Dutch more in the background where cases are concerned.  As I mentioned before, Abby relies on her network too much and I also don't think it is a good idea to have her husband too have such a involvement in her cases all the time.

Despite the forced and quick ending, this thirteenth book made me feel like the books did back in the good old days.  After the last couple of installments making me feel so meh this was a great boost and I hope the series continues to keep on with this style and feeling.  However what I don't hope is that they keep the price...the new release costs the same as three paperbacks.  A harsh price for us long standing fans and a huge reason why I don't pre-order this series anymore.

113) Thirty-Four and a Half Predicaments by Denise Grover Swank

The Blurb :

Rose Gardner hates seeing her normally flamboyant best friend Neely Kate struggle with depression. So when Rose stumbles onto a piece of evidence indicating her birth mother might have been involved in a crime, she does the one thing guaranteed to cheer Neely Kate. She convinces her friend to help her solve a mystery. Though their penchant for investigating has gotten them into plenty of pickles in the past, what can go wrong if they’re looking into a case that went cold a quarter of a century ago? But the deeper they dig, the more dirt they unearth.

While she’s busy unraveling the past, Rose must also reprise her role as the Lady in Black as part of her ongoing agreement with the king of the Fenton County underworld. In so doing, she discovers a mysterious enemy is intent on attacking her friends, and her assistant DA boyfriend might be next on the list.

As both situations reach a boiling point, Rose must face the possibility that certain secrets were meant to remain buried and not even her special talent can get her out of every predicament.

My Thoughts :

I have been looking forward to listening to this seventh installment in the Rose Gardner Mysteries for a few weeks now.  I am practically all caught up with the series with the eight book already out this month but not yet available on Audio.  I have to admit that I had completely forgotten the majority of what happened at the end of the previous book and it shocked me to find Neely Kate in such a bad place.  She has always been a joy to spend time with and it made the book a little dull without her usual mouthy attitude.

Despite the duller tone to this installment there was a lot of action, revelations and twists.  If you haven't read the previous books then you really don't want to start here.  You also need to make sure you read the novellas in between to get the full picture.  There are some little bits and pieces you learn in those short stories that make the full length novels even more interesting than they already are.

I find myself not liking Rose as much as I used to.  I don't know what has made me find her slightly annoying but it may have something to do with her friendship with Skeeter Malcolm.   Things have been very interesting between them and it was thrilling to see what unfolded as far as the Lady in Black was concerned.   However in this book Rose had a chance to get out of her dealings with him and she didn't take it.  I couldn't totally agree with her reasoning and thinking and it left me feeling disappointed with her.

There are so many secrets in this series that it is getting a little confusing.  However in this installment we finally find out more about Rose's real mother and why she got killed.  This however opens up even more questions and problems, something that keeps the series alive but it is also making things a little heavy.  There isn't any fun and laughter and things are getting bleaker and bleaker.  I miss that little touch of lightness the series had at the beginning.

Don't be put off by my ramblings.  I am totally and utterly addicted to this series and can't wait for the next installment to come out on Audio.  The author has already done some nasty cliffhanger endings during this series but this one was a worrying one.  A confusing one.  A wow! one.  I am actually contemplating getting the Kindle version of the next book but I just love listening to the series and it wouldn't be the same.

The paranormal aspect of this series, Rose's visions, are in full force again in this book and she is starting to use them to help her on many levels.  I only wish she would use them more in other situations and more often.  I am sure they would have helped her see what was happening around her and stopped her from making so many mistakes.

This is a series you really need to check out if you enjoy cozies and don't mind getting tangled up in a web of so many stories and mysteries that you can't see the next twist coming.  Everything is somehow related and the deeper the series go the more incredible the story gets.

112) Ghost of a Potion by Heather Blake

The Blurb :

With all the ghosts that haunt her at this time of year, Carly doesn’t exactly rush to celebrate Halloween. Even a costume ball organized by her boyfriend Dylan's mother, Patricia Davis Jackson, holds little allure. But to please Dylan, who wants peace between the two women, Carly reluctantly agrees to go.

Gossip around town is that architect Haywood Dodd plans to make a big announcement at the party. But before he can address the crowd, he’s found dead with Patricia standing over him, holding the murder weapon. Anxious to clear Patricia’s name and perhaps broker a truce with her, Carly would love to use her snooping skills to find the real killer. Only she has bigger problems to deal with—ghosts are flocking to her for help, including a very persistent Haywood Dodd…

My Thoughts :

I have so many new releases (well actually they aren't new anymore) on my Kindle but I just don't seem to be getting around to them very often.  Audio books are so much easier lately and review books keep me too busy but this weekend I decided to ignore everything else and picked something new form a favourite author of mine.

Heather Blake is one of the best paranormal cozy writers out there.  She has been keeping me happy for a few years now and I love her ideas and adore the mysteries she weaves.  This latest potion mystery wasn't all about the potions but as the title suggests, ghosts.  Carly being about to see ghosts for a few days was an interesting concept and well thought out.  If there is anytime of year that the dead could be seen it would be the days around Halloween.

Of course the murder mystery was also interesting and was a joy to try and unravel.  It kept me guessing till the end despite managing to put some of the pieces together before Carly.  When the murderer was revealed it was a little shocking but made complete sense.  I couldn't believe I missed the clues and it reminded me why I love this author so much.

Paranormal and cozy is a great combination and Heather Blake it mixing it up really well.  I can't wait for another installment in this series and any others the other is writing.  She has a great talent and I love her work.

93) Ripple of Secrets by Denise Grover Swank

The Blurb :

After her assistant DA boyfriend’s near brush with death, Rose Gardner hopes to make it through the holiday season with a minimal amount of drama. But she can’t forget the promise she made to the king of the Fenton County underworld in exchange for Mason’s life. What’s worse, she’s not the only one keeping secrets—Mason has been working on a hush-hush case in his private time, Joe is grappling with the sudden reappearance of his sister after a mysterious two-year disappearance, and Hilary continues in her single-minded quest to secure a commitment from Joe at any cost—for motives only she understands.

Though peace and quiet is all Rose wants, it’s the last thing she’s liable to get. And the ripple of secrets in her life threatens to create an undertow that will endanger her and everyone she holds dear.

My Thoughts :

Yes I know!  I only just finished listening to book six in the series and shouldn't even be thinking about Rose Gardner for another couple of weeks but this between the numbers novella was begging me to read it and I wanted something quick to read today.

I am not a huge fan of short stories.  Especially from this series.  Usually they are a rehash of what just happened in the previous book from different perspectives.  While they usually offer some slight insight to the feelings and actions of various characters the story always feels like a waste of time.  However Ripple of Secrets offers some extremely important information and introduces a new character.  This novella is one that needs to be read before moving onto book seven and I am glad I took the time to read it.

The different perspectives are sometimes a little confusing but it is nice to see things from Mason's side as well as Joe's.  Also taking the reins this time around is Hilary.  A character I can't stand.  Although after reading this short story and finding out more about her past it is hard not to suddenly feel confused about how I feel about her.  Do I respect her?  Pity her?

This is one of the aspects of this series that the author has really managed to get me hooked on.  The characters.  I have built up feelings for them and there are so many unanswered questions.  I want to see how their lives continue and what happens next.  The cliffhanger ending in this short story only makes me want to listen to the next installment straight away.  It also makes me extremely happy that I am following this series in book order.

Another great installment and while it was only short, Ripple of Secrets, really packed a punch or two.

92) Thirty-Three and a Half Shenanigans by Denise Grover Swank

The Blurb :

Rose is called into action when Neely Kate’s cousin goes missing and the police refuse to take it seriously. But while the authorities—Rose’s ex-boyfriend, included—are certain the missing woman has run away, mounting evidence points to foul play. Rose agrees to help her friend, even if it means partaking in Neely Kate’s shenanigans, including an impromptu trip to a strip club.

And because trouble never comes without a guest, Skeeter Malcolm, Fenton County’s newly crowned underground king, resurfaces, saying he needs Rose’s visionary gift to track down his enemies. He makes her the only offer she can’t refuse: The guaranteed safety of her assistant DA boyfriend, Mason Deveraux, who is being threatened by forces unknown. The Fenton County law enforcement is still abuzz about the infamous Lady in Black, who took part in the underground auction that earned Skeeter his crown. Can Rose risk a reprisal of her role?

As the stakes continue to rise and the search for Neely Kate’s cousin becomes increasingly complicated, Rose must struggle to keep both her secret identity and her sanity.

My Thoughts :

Book #6 in the Rose Gardner series has been waiting on my Audible app for a couple of weeks now.  I am trying to restrain myself from just listening to them all in one gulp and instead make some progress on other audio series I have been listening to.  However each story just makes this series more and more addictive to listen to.

This time around there is a lot of Neely Kate which is great.  There are, as the title suggests, a lot of shenanigans which are fun and thrilling at the same.  Not a lot of work went on so there wasn't much Violett (which was refreshing) and Bruce Wayne (which was kind of sad).  Of course there was enough Mason and Joe to go around but it wasn't all fighting and drama this time around.  Skeeter Malcolm played an even bigger part in this sixth installment and it is obvious that we haven't seen the end of him yet.  Rose's Shenanigans have gotten her into more problems that she had before this book started.

There is something addictive about this series and I am not sure if it is just the Audible version that makes it so good.  The narrator has obviously enjoys the story as much as the readers do and she does a wonderful job of bringing the books to life.  Of course the author is the one to praise.  Putting together such a bunch of interesting and crazy characters and wrapping them all up in weird mysteries.  The paranormal aspect of Rose's visions makes this series memorable and the relationship drama is definitely a big selling point too.

If you haven't tried this series yet then you are missing out on something that manages to be serious but also very funny in a witty sort of way.  I only have one more installment to read (and a novella) to put me up to date and I hope there will be many more books to come because these characters definitely have a lot more stories to tell.

↑ Grab this Headline Animator

83) Picking up the Pieces by Denise Grover Swank

The Blurb :

While Rose might be reeling from the news that Joe’s ex-girlfriend is pregnant, she’s got bigger issues to deal with. One, putting her business back together albeit with a new partner and into two separate entities; and two, trying to keep the Fenton County Sheriff’s Department from figuring out the true identity of the Lady in Black.

My Thoughts :

While the Rose Gardner series is one of my favourite audio series and I refuse to waste an Audible credit on a novella.  This short story follows the fifth book and as the title suggests, it is all about Picking up the Pieces.  Anyone who has ready Thirty-Two and a Half Complications will know that the title has a lot of meaning.

I really like the concept of this series but this short story doesn't embrace Rose and her visions of the future at all.  If anything the novella is a rehash of past stories with a little piece of new information thrown in now and again to keep it from going stale.  There are some revelations that any fan of the series will want to know but this isn't the right short story to read to get a feel for the series or just to give it a try.  This short story will ruin the whole series if you don't read it in the proper place.

There is no mystery in this book, just an extended epilogue to the fifth installment.  What makes this one worth reading is the change in POV with not only Rose telling the story but also Joe and Violet sharing their side of things.  While I thought this would help me understand these two characters better and maybe like them more (I have been slowly building up some major dislike for them both for the last couple of books) I actually found myself liking them even less.  If the author was attempting to get them some sympathy votes or explain their actions better then she failed in my view.  I may have liked Joe's decision at the end but Violet is my least favourite character at the moment.

So if you are a fan and are following this series then you really need to give this one a read.  Don't go into hoping for too much but go into it knowing that you already know a lot of the content and there are some interesting developments here and there and some vital information to store away for the next books in the series.

I will be heading back to see what happens next with Rose as soon as possible.  I am really enjoying this series and the audio books are well worth checking out.

↑ Grab this Headline Animator

81) Thirty-Two and a Half Complications by Denise Grower Swank

The Blurb :

There’s no denying trouble finds Rose Gardner like a divining rod finds water, especially when Rose lands in the middle of a bank robbery. But after the robbers steal her deposit bag—containing a large amount of cash—she soon finds out that trouble is threatening her business as well, thanks to her sister Violet’s financial mismanagement.

To top it off, Rose’s ex-boyfriend, Joe Simmons, has moved back to Henryetta to fill the chief deputy sheriff position. Rose’s involvement as a witness is the perfect opportunity for Joe to reinsert himself into her life. But Mason Deveraux, Fenton County Assistant District Attorney and Rose’s new boyfriend, has waited too long for Rose to give her up without a fight.

Rose’s pregnant best friend, Neely Kate, suggests they find the robbers using Rose’s visions and Neely Kate’s knowledge about everyone in town. The women are soon hot on the trail of the stolen money, but Rose is caught off guard when Neely Kate’s snoopiness detects the biggest complication of all: Rose might be expecting a baby of her own.

My Thoughts :

The Rose Gardner series is one of my favourite audio series and I am slowly getting to the newest installment.  This fifth part is one of the most dramatic yet and if this was a TV show I would have thrown something at the TV at some points and if I had read this I may have given up because it was sometimes too much to handle.  However listening to the story is amazingly good and very addictive.

I love the concept of this series.  The idea that someone has visions of the future is a nice supernatural twist.  The fact that the 'gift' Rose has is so clumsy and unreliable is just an added bonus.  Rose herself is a nice character and it has been great to see her grow and change into the person she is.  She keeps getting stronger but her life keeps getting more and more complicated.  It is real.  It happens.  Her problems are problems we can relate to and although some of the situations she gets into are more over the top than normal everyday life it makes you realise that there are other people out there that are having a worse day/life than you.

The mysteries are always well thought out and keep me guessing.  I like the twists and turns the author builds in to keep you muttering 'crappydoodles' along with Rose till the very end.  This time around the danger wasn't as life threatening as in the previous book.  However it was a situation that had Rose very close to losing everything.  Things definitely spiral a little out of control in this one and there are some very huge relationship problems and dramas involved.  Not everything is resolved and it has you looking for the next installment before you are even finished with this one.

I have to say that the drama in this one was a little irritating at times.  The whole Joe aspect was really starting to annoy me.  I wanted Rose to say so many things to him or take different actions but dragged on throughout the book and frustrated me.  Also the drama with her sister Violet was getting on my nerves a little.  Especially at the end with the revelation of what she had done.  The character just keeps making decisions and doing things that are not hers to make and shouldn't be made without Rose and I can't believe Rose hasn't done more about it legally.

Yeah, I know this is all a work of fiction but this is a series that you can really get your teeth into and can't help but fall in love with.  There are some amazing characters and quirky, funny and exciting moments.  The story is always interesting and well thought out with you always wondering what will happen next.  There are sides to be taken, clues to watch out for and problems to be solved.  Sometimes you won't like the outcome but on the other hand there will be times when you will be over the moon with what happens.

This is a series that is well worth trying out.  It is very addictive and emotional but in a very good way.  I always want to listen to the next book straight away but manage to at least listen to one book in between.  Oh and any worries I had about the change in narrator are long gone ;)

↑ Grab this Headline Animator

80) Kitty Saves the World by Carrie Vaughn

The Blurb :

It’s all come down to this, following the discoveries made by Cormac in Low Midnight, Kitty and her allies are ready to strike. But, when their assassination attempt on the evil vampire Dux Bellorum fails, Kitty finds herself running out of time. The elusive vampire lord has begun his apocalyptic end game, and Kitty still doesn’t know where he will strike.

Meanwhile, pressure mounts in Denver as Kitty and her pack begin to experience the true reach of Dux Bellorum’s cult. Outnumbered and outgunned at every turn, the stakes have never been higher for Kitty. She will have to call on allies both old and new in order to save not just her family and friends, but the rest of the world as well.

My Thoughts :

It's the end!  The final installment in the Kitty Norville series.  Fourteen books and ten years later it is time to say goodbye to Kitty and find out how it finishes.  The author has had plans since that first book, plans on how it would end and what would happen along the way but I am sure there have been twists and turns that she didn't even see coming and now it is over.  Kitty fans beware.  When you have read Kitty Saves the World you are done.  No more.

Was it the best ending ever?  Not sure.  It was pretty good but there were some things that went on in this book that I didn't expect.  There were some characters that got involved that I definitely didn't imagine had a place in this series and definitely not right at the end.  It was an interesting development but strange.

Is there a nice happy ending?  Not going to tell you.  Read it yourself.  I don't want to spoil things but there isn't a ending for all the characters and I am hoping that the author is going to do a nice spin-off with Cormac/Amelia at the reins.  It would make for great reading.  The previous Kitty book proved that.

Am I sad it is over?  No.  I thought I would be but after all this time and all the stuff Kitty has dealt with it was time for her to get an ending.  Whatever ending.  I am not telling you ;)  Anyway, it was a great series with ups and downs that kept me reading from book one till this final book fourteen.  I enjoyed it, loved it and am happy to have been a part of it.

For anyone who hasn't even tried this series, now you have no excuse.  It is over. You can read them all as slow or as fast as you want to.  This is one of the best Paranormal Urban Fantasy series out there with original and unique twists and great characters.  The story was always worth reading and I look forward to something new from the author in the same style.

↑ Grab this Headline Animator

78) Spellcasting in Silk by Juliet Blackwell

The Blurb :

Lily would like nothing better than to relax, enjoy her friends, and take care of business at her store, which is booming thanks to San Francisco's upcoming Summer of Love Festival. But as the unofficial witchy consultant to the SFPD, she is pulled into yet another case.

A woman has jumped off the Golden Gate Bridge, and her apparent suicide may be connected to a suspicious botanica in the Mission District. When the police investigate the shop, they ask Lily to look into its mysterious owner, whose granddaughter also appears to be missing. As Lily searches for the truth, she finds herself confronted with a confounding mystery and some very powerful magic…

My Thoughts :

Juliet Blackwell has two paranormal cozy mystery series on my must read list and this is one of them.  The Witchcraft Mysteries are great reads and Spellcasting in Silk is the seventh installment about Lily the witchy vintage clothes shop owner.  The series is quite original and their are certain things that keep this one fresh and unusual.  The vintage clothes are definitely a nice concept but the addition of a pig familiar (who isn't really a pig) makes things very interesting and different.

However there is something about the magical aspects of this series.  I am enjoying the different views on magic but I have a feeling that the author wants to teach the reader about every single type of magic.  Meanwhile there is no focus on Lily's magic and what she is really capable of.  On the other hand she seems to be the go to witch when you need help but she hasn't even been in San Francisco a year.  This, I have to say, threw me a little.  I thought Lily had surely spent more than a year in the city by now.  She is so well known and so settled in.

I suppose a series grows there are always going to be small aspects that start to stick out.  I am not saying I didn't enjoy this book.  I liked it a lot.  Although I remember liking the other books in the series more.  The mystery was interesting but the investigation and conclusion were confusing.  There were a lot of characters and aspects involved that made it harder work than it should be to follow the story.

So I guess you could say this wasn't my favourite installment.  However I continue to love the series and look forward to seeing what happens next in Lily's world of magic and vintage clothing.  This remains a must read series for me and I am definitely keeping it on my pre-order list.  After all this is a wonderful paranormal cozy series that stands out from others.

↑ Grab this Headline Animator

76) The Veil by Chloe Neill

The Blurb :

Seven years ago, the Veil that separates humanity from what lies beyond was torn apart, and New Orleans was engulfed in a supernatural war. Now, those with paranormal powers have been confined in a walled community that humans call the District. Those who live there call it Devil's Isle.

Claire Connolly is a good girl with a dangerous secret: she’s a Sensitive, a human endowed with magic that seeped through the Veil. Claire knows that revealing her skills would mean being confined to Devil’s Isle. Unfortunately, hiding her power has left her untrained and unfocused.

Liam Quinn knows from experience that magic makes monsters of the weak, and he has no time for a Sensitive with no control of her own strength. But when he sees Claire using her powers to save a human under attack—in full view of the French Quarter—Liam decides to bring her to Devil’s Isle and the teacher she needs, even though getting her out of his way isn’t the same as keeping her out of his head.

But when the Veil threatens to shatter completely, Claire and Liam must work together to stop it, or else New Orleans will burn…

My Thoughts :

Chloe Neill is one of the good Paranormal Urban Fantasy writers that you always want more from. So despite being behind on the Chicagoland Vampire series I couldn't resist requesting a copy of this 'first in a new series' when I saw it.  The blurb sounded good and the cover was of the usual quality.  I just hoped that I hadn't made the wrong choice by taking on another series.

The good news is that The Veil was definitely worth reading.  It wasn't a mind blowing wow read but it was unique and exciting.  There are no resemblances to Merit so don't even go looking and there isn't even a mention of vampires so make sure you aren't going to be all upset when this isn't what you expected.  The Veil is something completely new and once you get into Devil's Isle it is pretty hard to leave again.

As plots go this was very good.  A nice story with enough happening to keep me interested and some great world building got me hooked within a few chapters.  I was eager to find out where the author was taking things and what other cool new surprises she had up her sleeve.  As it turned out things continued to get even better as the story progressed with the magic and paranormal elements shining through and impressing me.

The characters were a different matter though.  It seems the author used all her energy on the great world building and didn't put enough into the people living in it.  Claire was open enough but I didn't really feel like I got to know her that well.  Also I couldn't accept the fact that she was twenty-four years old.  I think the author had a problem with this too because it was mentioned every now and again like a reminder.

Liam and the others were ok but they didn't feel like they were going to be staying till the end of the book.  I could have said goodbye to them at any time and wouldn't have cared if a completely new bunch of people appeared and took their place.

The world that Chloe has created in this new series is very special but I felt like I was still missing some pieces of the puzzle.  I got the impression that the characters weren't telling me everything I needed to know and I yearned for the Veil to open and more paranormals to appear.  Also I was completely confused about how the rest of the world was doing.  Why are these people suffering?  Why can't they get better goods etc.  Surely the rest of the world is ok?  Maybe I didn't take this information in properly?

Teething problems aside this was a strong series debut and a great concept.  I am looking forward to reading more about Claire, the Veil and Devil's Isle.  The seed has been planted and I am going to watch it grow.

↑ Grab this Headline Animator