147) Cloud City by Jeanne C. Stein

The Blurb :

Vampire Anna Strong never expected to find the witch Sophie Deveraux on her doorstep, asking for a favor. But Sophie needs help, even if it's from the vampire who killed her sister. Anna, driven both by guilt and obligation, agrees to help Sophie and her psychic alter-ego Jonathan. So begins an adventure that takes them to Leadville, Colorado. All too soon, Anna wonders whether Sophie is truly a victim of circumstance . . . or the author of a clever plot to rid herself of her unwanted psychic twin.

My Thoughts :

The Anna Strong Chronicles are over but I was happy to see this short story on Amazon and had to have it.  I am glad that the series is over and that Anna got an ending but that isn't to say I won't miss this series.  I loved Anna and her kick-ass attitude she was, as named, Strong and she was a character I could admire and always enjoy catching up with.

So this novella wasn't on my to be read pile for long.  I had to have another fix of one of my all time favourites and this was just what I needed.  This story was brilliant.  Of course it couldn't beat a full length novel but it came pretty damn close.  The depth the author managed to get into such a short story and the wonderful plot that made up this installment was just amazing.  I couldn't have wished for anything better.

If you haven't already read this series then I suggest you do as soon as possible.  Now it is over you can read them all in one delightful gulp.  If you want to try the series before you buy then this novella may just be what you are looking for.  It doesn't give away much of the previous plot but it is marked as fitting into the series as #8.5.

So now I am left waiting for some new from this author.  However once thing is certain.  I will be visiting this series again soon.  I plan on listening to all the books via audible.

 

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118) Blood Bond by Jeanne C. Stein

The Blurb :
As a vampire, Anna Strong has an immortal life…but now she’s running out of time.

Anna’s relationship with shape-shifter Daniel Frey has given her hope for a future with him and his son—especially when Frey proposes…

But just when Anna starts to think her life couldn’t be better, she must fly to France to be at the side of her dying mother. There she learns that not every vampire accepts her Chosen One status. And one such vamp is about to go rogue—by leading his followers in a fight to usurp humanity…

My Thoughts :
Blood Bond is the ninth and last book in the Anna Strong Chronicles.  I am sad to see this series come to an end.  I have been enjoying Anna's stories for years and I loook forward to every Summer because I know a new installment will be released.  However on the otherside, every good thing must come to an end and Anna has definitely gone through enough and deserves some kind of retirement.
Any fans will feel the difference in this book straight away.  Anna has come so far and changed so much that it is hard not to notice how easy going she suddenly is.  How much she really wants to settle down.  How little trouble she manages to get involved in.  This book feels like the end from the very beginning and the only surprise is how it will all finish.
Readers who are looking for the kick-ass vampire chick they have come to know and love will be slightly disappointed with this last installment.  The lack of fights and problems leave a gap in the usual thrilling story I I was expecting but to be honest it was refreshing to have Anna deal with life.  A life she nearly lost all those books ago and a life she has been fighting to keep all these years.  
It was a fitting and lovely ending and there is always a chance Anna can come back again.  After all she is immortal and it would be nice to catch up with her life now and again.  Maybe via a few short stories?  I would love to know how she gets on with the life she has made for herself.  I think fans will be happy to see where she ends up.  
If you haven't had the pleasure of meeting Anna Strong yet then you now have the wonderful opportunity to read the whole series in one go.  If you already a friend of this brilliant vampire then don't take too long waiting to read this finale.  While tamer and less exciting then the previous installments it is the ultimate book in the series giving the reader everything they wanted for Anna. 





 
 

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132) Haunted by Jeanne C. Stein

The Blurb :

Anna’s shape-shifting friend Culebra finally opens up to her about his life before he owned Beso de la Muerte, a bar catering to supernatural clientele. As if summoned by the conversation, Culebra’s past stumbles into his bar in the form of an old buddy cashing in a favor.

Soon Anna, Culebra and her ex, DEA agent Max, find themselves deep in Mexico, dealing with drug cartel infighting, old vendettas and missing girls. Mexico just may prove to be Anna’s best match yet.


My Review :

I have been a huge fan of the Anna Strong Chronicles for a very long time. So it was no surprise that this new installment in the series was pre-ordered on my Kindle. However it is a surprise that the book has been out for about a month and I only got around to reading it this week! Too many books and not enough time!

What can I say about this new addition? I think the best way to sum it up is to say that Jeanne C. Stein delivered another amazing read! I loved it! Anna's life and her adventures just keep getting better and better. With twists and turns that you can't predict and with stories that are never boring.

Anna is like the friend you have always wanted in your life. Yes she gets caught up in stuff, nasty stuff, due to her being a vampire and all but if you need her she is there. Anna proves this in spades in Haunted. However be prepared to lose someone that fans have come to admire but be happy in the knowledge that Anna also has some new people come into her life.

This is a spectacular series and I hate having to wait so long for every new book. But the wait is always worth it! If you haven't met Anna yet then I suggest you do! The books are exciting, full of action and ones you can't put down easily. If you are already a fan then make sure you catch up with Anna in this latest edition because there are some interesting surprises waiting for you!

47) The Becoming by Jeanne C. Stein

The Blurb :

Anna Strong is trained for anything--until she's attacked one night, only to awaken in a dark world that exists between the living and the dead. Here, Anna struggles with her love for the two men who inhabit each realm. As her two worlds collide, fate plunges Anna into the ultimate battle between good and evil, where survival is not just for the living.

My Thoughts :

The Anna Strong Chronicles is one of my favourite series and I believe The Becoming was one of the very first books I read in the genre. It was a book that enjoyed so much that I continued reading more about vampires and other things that go bump in the night, so it has a very special place on my bookshelf and in my heart.

One day I came across this first book in the series on sale at Audible and decided to snap it up. It was strange going back to the very beginning of things but it was also very interesting to see how much I actually remembered about the Becoming of Anna Strong. Where as a few things felt familiar there was really a lot I had forgotten and I couldn't stop myself from listening to the story at every opportunity.

This is a spectacular series and one that all lovers of Paranormal Urban Fantasy should read. If you haven't already tried this series then you have a bit to catch up on. Make sure you start at the beginning and enjoy the ride. It is a little bloody and bumpy at times but it an amazing and original story.

Jeanne is one of my favourite authors and Anna is one of my favourite female vamps. I loved revisiting her debut and can't wait for the next book in the series when it comes out in Summer! That will be the eighth book and I am amazed at how far Anna has come and how deep and addictive her story has become. A must read!