69) Unraveled by Jennifer Estep

The Blurb :

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 …

My Thoughts :

It is a great week in the reading world because the newest installment in the Elemental Assassin Series was released.  Unraveled is the 15th book in the series and there can be no way that this series will ever get boring.  I don't think I could ever give any book in this series a bad review.  This has got to be one of my all time favourites and I don't think I ever want to see this one end.  Ever.

Another installment filled with the characters I have come to know so well and love.  Once more there is a great plot with the on-going story developing, twisting, evolving and making progress.  Gin has been through so much and her strength and determination continue to leave me in admiration of her even if she is only a character in a book.

The story this time around focused on the revelations made in the previous book and even though Gin gets that little bit closer to finding out the truth, once again it is snatched away from her.  She does get some answers but there are always more questions.  However the progression isn't boring or annoying. You just find yourself even more invested in Gin's future as well as all the others who are along for the ride.

Jennifer Estep does it again.  She really can't stop this series from being amazing.  I dread the day it will end and only take comfort in the fact that I can then finally read the whole series again.  Yes I could do that now but it isn't done yet.  It isn't over.  It won't be over until the assassin of Ashland puts away those knives forever.  Hopefully it will a while.

One of the best Paranormal Urban Fantasy series out there.  Unique, exciting and compelling this is a must read, a pre-order and a devour in one sitting kind of series.  I look forward to the next installment and anymore that come along.  I also can't wait for anything else this author releases.  She has a talent and style that I can't get enough of.

38) Unwanted by Jennifer Estep

The Blurb :

The fallout from his disastrous “family reunion” in Bitter Bite has 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 :

Unwanted is a novella set in the Elemental Assassin series and is told from Finn's perspective.  This short story picks up things from where Bitter Bite ended and releases in July.  Due to the wait for everyone else to read this I won't go into too many plot details.  I don't want to spoil anything!

What really stood out in this novella is that Jennifer Estep is a great storyteller.  After the events in Bitter Bite we would have usually just moved on to the next full length book with Gin taking the reins as always.  However here we have a wonderful, if somewhat slightly depressing, short story about how Finn is dealing with everything he went through.  This is a delight for readers of the series and offers a chance to see how Finn is coping.

It takes a great author to write a short story that doesn't feel rushed or low on details and Jennifer Estep manages this without a doubt.  There is good balance of information in Unwanted and there of course there is a good plot.  I was hooked from the moment I started reading and the story progressed at a nice and steady pace with the emotions and mystery building up until the very end.  Then just when you think things are over there is a nice little twist in the tale.

Any fans of the series will love Unwanted even if it is a little bleak at times.  It is a pleasure to read about Finn from his perspective but he isn't his usual happy go lucky self that readers of the series will be used to.  However there is all the usual action and excitement there with a nice interesting continuation of the story.

Well worth reading and definitely a must read for anyone following the series.  Missing this short story most likely won't make a difference in the whole scheme of things but it definitely has some interesting tidbits that will surely come up in the next full length Elemental Assassin's book.  A quick read to curl up on a nice day this Summer.

19) Bitter Bite by Jennifer Estep

The Blurb :

Which is stronger: blood ties or a battle-tested friendship?

It’s not easy being queen bee of an underworld abuzz with crooks and killers. Wielding my potent Ice and Stone elemental magic will only get me so far—my real secret is my tight-knit makeshift family, a motley crew of cops and criminals, dwarves and playboys. My foster brother Finnegan Lane is my right-hand man, but when his suddenly not-dead relative comes back into the picture, I’m the one on the outside looking in.

It’s funny how life works: one minute your best friend is rock-steady, and the next he’s doe-eyed and buying into this whole loving-relative routine to the point of ignoring you. I’d like to be happy for Finn, I really would. But all of my instincts are telling me that beneath the syrupy sweet demeanor and old-fashioned charm, this sudden interloper is planning something. The whole shtick leaves a bitter taste in my mouth. This person might have avoided the grave once, but I’ll put anyone who hurts Finn in the ground—for good.

My Thoughts :

Keep them coming!  The Elemental Assassin series continues to entertain with book number fourteen, Bitter Bite.  I knew that this would be good, all the books in this series are!  What I wasn't expecting was such nice twists and turns.  After all this time the author keeps on surprising me and keeping me hooked.

I don't want to give anything away because this book doesn't release till this coming week but I know that all you fans out there will be happy with this latest installment.  There is everything you have come to know and love whether it be the action, the mystery, the characters or the plot.  Things are just getting uglier and more dangerous in Ashland and I can't wait to see what happens next.

Original and addictive, this has got to be one of my favourite, if not my all time favourite, series.  I love Gin, the other characters and the ongoing story.  There is so much depth to the whole series that I really get pulled in to the whole situation.  It is like I am there with Gin, the description and emotions just grab hold and don't let go until the last word.

This series continues to entertain and amaze me.  Another five star read from an author who writes an absolutely wonderful story and has never disappointed me.   Looking forward to more Gin and anything else this author publishes.  She is certainly one of the best Paranormal Urban Fantasy authors who manages to offer something very unique to the genre.

74) Spider's Trap by Jennifer Estep

The Blurb :

Keep your friends close but your enemies within stabbing distance.

One important lesson I’ve learned in the assassination business is that to be the best you have to roll with the punches. Now that I’m queen of Ashland’s underworld—by default, not by choice—a lot more punches are being thrown my way. But I suppose that’s the price of victory for taking down some of the underworld’s top dogs. Good thing I have my Ice and Stone magic to help me survive my volatile new position. Just when I think things are finally settling down, someone tries to murder me during a hush-hush underworld meeting. But the real surprise is how strangely familiar my shadowy assailant seems to be.

My job is to maintain order among killers, crooks, and thieves, and soon I’m embroiled in a bloody game where the ability to keep secrets could be the greatest superpower of all. My enemies have all sharpened their knives and laid their traps, waiting for me to fall. But this Spider weaves her own webs of death…

My Thoughts :

I have arachnophobia but there is one Spider I love!  Gin Blanco.  Lately I find myself leaning more and more towards cozy mysteries but the Elemental Assassin series always manages to pull me back into the world of Paranormal Urban Fantasy and remind me why I ever read anything in the genre in the first place.

Spider's Trap is the thirteenth installment and definitely not an unlucky number for the author.  She once again managed to excite and entertain me with another addictive story that I couldn't face putting down for even a minute.  Jennifer Estep is on a winning streak and after all this time she is still writing stories that thrill and please.

There is everything inside Spider's Trap that fans have come to expect and adore.  Fights, traps, plans and lots of physical hurt.  The only question is who, what and why?  Once again those questions are answered and they are nowhere near the same as the previous twelve books.  This series continues to be original and surprising.

Jennifer Estep has trapped me in her web of amazing world building and exceptional story telling long ago and as the story keeps going I become even more addicted.  The twists and turns the on-going story takes just flow along so smoothly.  I can't help but feel invested in Gin's life and the lives of the other characters that have all made such an impact on reading enjoyment.  The final chapter promises more to come and I can't wait for the next book.  The last chapter also made me sigh in relief as I realise there is still more of Gin to come.

Once again I can only keep recommending this series.  Jennifer Estep is definitely one of my top three favourite authors and The Elemental Assassin Series is in my top three favourite reads.  One day this series will come to an end but until it does I will keep on pre-ordering or begging for ARC's.  This is a must read series and not to be missed.  Oh and when it does end I will be reading this series over and over again.  It is just too good to only read once.

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126) Black Widow by Jennifer Estep

The Blurb :

With wicked Fire elemental Mab Monroe long gone, you’d think I could finally catch a break. But someone’s always trying to take me down, either as Gin Blanco or my assassin alter-ago. Now along comes the Spider’s new arch-nemesis, the mysteriously named M. M. Monroe, who is gleefully working overtime to trap me in a sticky web of deceit.

The thing is, I’m not the only target. I can see through the tangled threads enough to know that every bit of bad luck my friends have been having lately is no accident—and that each unfortunate “coincidence” is just one more arrow drawing ever closer to hitting the real bulls-eye. Though new to Ashland, this M. M. Monroe is no stranger to irony, trying to get me, an assassin, framed for murder. Yet, as my enemy’s master plan is slowly revealed, I have a sinking feeling that it will take more than my powerful Ice and Stone magic to stop my whole life from going up in flames.

My Thoughts :

Twelve books in already?  Doesn't time fly when you are having fun?  That's certainly the case when it comes to this series.  The Elemental Assassin series just keeps getting better and better.  How the author manages to keep things so exciting, fresh and awesome are a mystery to me but I am loving every minute of this series and have been since the beginning.

Black Widow is a story full of paranoia and legal problems.  It burns in more ways than one and there are some twists and turns that you definitely won't be expecting.  Gin once again proves how much of a bad-ass she is and puts frozen peas to the test as she once again manages to get in and out of some life threatening and very dangerous situations.

All the crew are around in this twelfth installment and they all get affected by the new Monroe in town.  The plot is, as always, genius and there is no slow quiet moment as the story unfolds and comes to an end.  The promise of more Gin Blanco and the Elementals in Ashland is the final hooray and happy moment in this book.   I can't wait to see what comes next.

If you haven't tried this series yet then you are really missing out on something special.  I have to say that this series is not only a must read but most definitely in the top three of my all time favourite series.  Jennifer Estep can keep writing about Gin as long as she wants as long as she keeps delivering amazing reads like the twelve already on the shelves.  Every new release is just another five star salute from me.  Don't miss out on this exceptional series.

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64) Poison Promise by Jennifer Estep

The Blurb :

Gin Blanco is hard-nosed, sexy, and lethal. Nicknamed “The Spider,” she’s a stone elemental assassin who brings her unique mix of magic and tact to every assignment, no matter the target.

There’s a new drug on the streets of Ashland, and its name “Burn” sums up the potent effect it has on its users. When one of her restaurant employees is threatened by dealers of the drug, Gin steps in to set things straight…

My Thoughts :

This ARC has been on my Kindle taunting me for a couple of months and I finally caved and read it today.  Yes!  In one day!  That shows how amazing this series is.  I only managed to stop myself from reading Poison Promise straight away because there were other books that needed to be read first but I couldn't hold out any longer.  This series is the best.  There isn't any other series I can think of that can stand up to Gin and the fantastic set of friends and family she has.

Gin's story isn't a new one but it continues to impress and amaze.  Poison Promise is due out next month and it is the eleventh installment in the original and unforgettable Elemental Assassin Series.  I never need my memory jogged when I pick up a new part in the story because this series is too unusual and special to not remember.  This new addition to the series is no exception and from the get go I was, as always, captivated by the story that began to unfold.  It was hard to put down and I found myself only stopping to have lunch and then going right back.

I don't want to give away the plot but any fans of the series need not worry.  This isn't the last installment and there are some really nice wow moments.  The continuation of Gin's life as an Elemental Assassin is just as compelling as the previous installments and Poison Promise has as much action, depth and urban fantasy as all the others have before it.  Nobody will be disappointed but there are some surprises.

For anyone who hasn't read any of the books yet...well I wonder what rock you have been living under.  The Elemental Assassin series is a must read for any lovers of the Paranormal Urban Fantasy genre and anyone who likes a kick-ass leading lady. I would love to be friends with Gin and the gang and with each new installment I can't help but love them even more.

My praises for Jennifer Estep can be found on each review I have written for each book she has had released.  She is a must read and pre-order author but usually I find myself begging to get a copy of the newest Gin story before it is released.  I just can't get enough.  This is a series that I will hate to see end and one I will definitely be re-reading for years to come.

As a closing note I have to wonder why this series hasn't made it onto TV or been made into a film.  Although I also have to wonder if anyone could actually do the books justice.  They are just too special.

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155) The Spider by Jennifer Estep

The Blurb :

For the first time, the full origin story of Gin Blanco's transformation into the fearsome assassin known as the Spider—book ten in the red-hot Elemental Assassin urban fantasy series.

In a prequel tale, Gin Blanco goes through her paces on the way to become the most feared assassin in the Ashland. Her mentor, Fletcher Lane, is not going to go easy on her—if she’s going to become a fearsome killer, she has to learn to use her elemental Stone and Ice powers alongside old-fashioned human street smarts.


My Thoughts :

The Elemental Assassin Series is one of my favourite reads ever.  This is a series I pre-order and recommend to anyone who will listen.  I love everything about the books and the author has never disappointed me.  Ten books in and I am still in awe of this amazing Urban Fantasy.  Brilliant characters, thrilling storylines and great action is packed into every single book.  The concept is original and unforgettable and I never get bored of Gin and her assassin stories.

Yes I can praise this series until the cows come home but I also have to slap the publishers a little bit.  This is not the full origin story of Gin.  This is a very monumental story that has an effect on how things came about.  It isn't a prequel to the series but more of a flashback to a time where Gin was just establishing herself as an assassin.  It shows Gin making a bad decision and it coming back to haunt her.  That first moment in her assassin life that she bit off more than she could chew and made a huge mistake but managed to come back from it.  An inspirational story and one that shows the much loved character letting her guard down.

The Spider is a spectacular story that incorporates the majority of the characters the reader has come to know and love during the last nine books.  A fun and interesting look at how Gin really met everyone and how small the world of Ashland really is.  I loved every moment and could hardly put the book down until I finished it.  Just like every other Gin Blanco installment it had me hooked till the very end.

Fans beware!  This doesn't come out till next month.  Sorry!  I tried to hold out on reading this one as long as possible but I always cave in when it comes to this series.  Any avid reader of Estep's books will know that they are just irresistible and not in a cute way.  If you haven't already tried this series then you are missing out on what could actually be the best Urban Fantasy series around.  There are only a couple of other series that I could honour with this title but the Elemental Assassin series is definitely up there in my top three reads.  

 

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Jennifer Estep Contest Results!

The Jennifer Estep Contest is now closed!  

It is time to see who has won a copy of  Heart of Venom!


 Check the widget below to see if your name is showing!  Congrats is it is!  You won!  Contact me to claim your prize.

Didn't win this time?  Make sure you keep coming back and keep entering the giveaways!  For instance the new Monthly Giveaway is coming up soon.  

Also if you didn't win still make sure you read the Elemental Assassin Series!  It is amazing and you will not be disappointed!

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Jennifer Estep Contest Reminder

Jennifer Estep fans!  Have you already entered the contest to win a copy of  Heart of Venom?    Or do you already have a copy?

 I absolutely adore this series and can only highly recommend it to everyone! 

Make sure you use the Rafflecopter widget below to enter the giveaway and maybe you will win a copy of the newest installment in the Elemental Assassin Series.      

Hurry up!  The contest ends in a couple of days!

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Book Excerpt & Contest with Jennifer Estep

Jennifer Estep fans!  Have you already got yourself a copy of Heart of Venom?  It is out now and it is one of those must buy and read asap books!    

The Elemental Assasin Series is one of my all time favourite reads and Jennifer Estep is an amazing author.  If you haven't read any of her books yet then it is high time you do!  You are really missing out on something original, thrilling and unforgettable. 

To get you all in the mood and to entice those who have not yet been introduced to The Elemental Assassin Series, Jennifer has sent me a nice little excerpt for you all to enjoy.  She is also giving away a copy of Heart of Venom to one lucky person!  So make sure you enter the contest below.  

HEART OF VENOM EXCERPT

Like Roslyn, Sophia was running a little late that morning, since she’d wanted to get rid of the two dead giants in the cooler. I’d given all the restaurant staff the day off with pay, so both Sophia and I could enjoy our time at the salon, and I’d told Sophia that the giants’ bodies could wait another day, or at least until after our salon time, but she had insisted that she was going to dispose of them this morning. Or maybe she was simply being practical. Odds were that someone else would jump me at the Pork Pit sometime in the next few days, and, well, that cooler could only hold so many bodies. As it was, Finn and I had had to pack the two giants in like pieces of a jigsaw puzzle just so we could close the lid.

Sophia had disposed of dozens of bodies for me and for my mentor, Fletcher Lane, before I’d taken over the assassination business from the old man. She could handle two giants with her eyes blindfolded and one hand tied behind her back. But Jo-Jo looked so worried that I wrapped my hand around hers and gave it a gentle squeeze, careful not to smear the polish that she’d put on my nails.

“Do you want me to call Sophia and see where she’s at?”

Jo-Jo shook her head. “No, that’s all right. Like I said, it’s probably just heartburn. I think I had one too many cups of Finn’s chicory coffee this morning. That stuff will knock your teeth plumb out of your mouth, it’s so strong.”

She gave me a chipper smile, grabbed the plastic tub, put it on her lap, and started sorting through the many bottles of polish. Jo-Jo held up first one pink, then another, trying to find one that she thought Bria might like, but the cheery colors did little to brighten my mood.

Maybe it was the way Jo-Jo’s sculpted eyebrows were pinched together in worry, or maybe it was how quickly her smile slipped back into a frown when she thought that I wasn’t looking at her anymore. I couldn’t see the future like she did, but Jo-Jo had been right about too many things in the past for me to dismiss her dread as nothing more than caffeine overload. If she thought something ominous was gathering on the horizon, then no doubt, the wind was blowing storm clouds in our direction right now.

BIO INFO

Jennifer Estep is a New York Times bestselling author, prowling the streets of her imagination in search of her next fantasy idea. Heart of Venom, the ninth book in her Elemental Assassin urban fantasy series, will be released on Aug. 27. Kiss of Venom, an e-novella, is also available, along with other books, short stories, and e-novellas in the series. For more information, visit www.jenniferestep.com or follow Jennifer on Facebook, Twitter, and Goodreads.

JENNIFER’S LINKS

Website / Blog / Facebook / Twitter / Goodreads

Contest Time!

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107) Kiss of Venom by Jennifer Estep

The Blurb :

Owen Grayson is bound and determined to get Gin back...if her enemies don’t get her first.When you have a history of dating an assassin, a night out on the town can turn deadly—fast. Owen Grayson is still wracked with guilt over the end of his love affair with Gin Blanco, and there aren’t enough gin and tonics in all of Ashland to ease his heartache. But when Gin happens to show up at the same nightclub, he isn’t the only one hoping to get her alone.

Some shadowy figures will do anything to take down the Spider, Gin’s assassin alter ego, and Owen will do anything to protect her. This could be the way to win her back, or at least give her a night off from fighting for her life—if Owen can survive

My Thoughts :

The Elemental Assassin Series by Jennifer Estep is one of my favourite reads.  Oh wait...I have said this before.  Have you guys finally read them all yet?  Well this one is a novella and I managed to read book #9, Heart of Venom and then realise this one, #8.5 in the series, had already been released.  So I read them out of order but it didn't matter at all.  Well in a way it did but this short story definitely doesn't give anything away about Heart of Venom.

What makes this short story special?  It is a story about Owen, told from his perspective and it also shows how much he really loves Gin.  It is a nice way to see how totally and utterly mad he is about her and why he did what he did in book #8.  There are interesting insights into the guy who may be the only person to actually hurt the tough hard as nails assassin.  You will want to check this out.

However much I am in awe of this series and love getting new episodes in the Elemental Assassin story there is something I have to say about this novella.  If I ever had to pick a worst book in the series it may just have to be this one.  Now it wasn't horrible and I gave it four stars over on Goodreads but it wasn't Gin and it wasn't amazing.  It was a great read but not my favourite.  Usually I love everything about Gin's stories and hang on every word but Kiss of Venom wasn't like that for me and it didn't make me go wow.

On saying that you have to remember how brilliant this series is and that this is a must read story.  If you are looking forward to the release of Heart of Venom in August then you need to read this novella and get prepared for what is to come.  Check it out and don't miss out on a chance to get to know Owen a bit better than you did before.

  

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106) Heart of Venom by Jennifer Estep

The Blurb :

When a terror from the past threatens Gin’s friend and body-disposer, Sophia, Gin will stop at nothing to protect her, even if it means walking straight into a killer’s trap. Meanwhile, the rocky romance between Gin and Owen reaches a turning point—can they reunite and rekindle their love? Or will the things Gin has been forced to do in her line of work as the deadly assassin the Spider keep them apart forever? Assuming, that is, she survives long enough to find out…

My Thoughts :

The Elemental Assassin Series by Jennifer Estep is one of my favourite reads.  So it was a very huge deal for me to leave this one on my Kindle without reading straight away.  Yeah I couldn't wait to read it and I am sure there are a lot of people out there who would love to have an advance copy of this new installment.  However I didn't want to read it too early and have to wait so long for the next part and I also didn't want to annoy you all with my review and making you wait so long for the release (which is just under a month away!)

Heart of Venom is the ninth installment in the series about assassin Gin Blanco.  Her paranormal abilities help her face up against the supernatural bad boys and girls of Ashland and she has helped keep the streets a little safer.  This time around the score to settle is very personal.  We finally get to know more about Sophie and JoJo and what happened to the sisters and what turned them into the family that Gin has come to love and rely on.

It is a story filled with pain and hurt but of course it is also a story of courage and strength.  With Gin's typical kick-ass determination and her band of friends/family you have a story that is just as good, if not better, that the other eight stories before it.  Heart of Venom answers questions while leaving new ones open in their place.  The book is everything a fan of the series could hope for and it is a little bit more.

Something bigger is coming and this book shows the signs.  Anyone who has followed the series since the beginning will see the clues.  While I hope that more will be revealed in the next book I am sure that the author will keep us guessing about things for a little longer.  Which is actually also ok with me.  The more Gin books, the better and I can't wait for the next fantastic installment.

The Elemental Assassin Series is one of the very best Paranormal Urban Fantasy books you could ever hope and wish for.  These are books to be treasured and it is a series that is a pleasure to read.  I love Gin and the other characters and I am totally and utterly invested in their story.  I yearn for more all the time and other books just feel dull because they don't have Gin!

So make sure you check out this amazing series if you haven't already.  If you are waiting for this new installment then you don't have much longer to wait.  Pre-order a copy asap!  You won't be disappointed.  Acually, have you ever been disappointed by this author and series?  No!  They are practically perfect!

  

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