63) City of the Lost : Part One by Kelley Armstrong

The Blurb :

Casey Duncan once killed a man and got away with it. Since then she’s become a talented police detective, tethered only to her job, her best friend, Diana, and the occasional evening with her sexy, no-strings-attached ex-con lover, Kurt. But then Diana's abusive ex finds her again, despite all Casey has done to help her disappear. And Casey’s own dark past begins to catch up with her. The two women need to run—and Diana’s heard of a place where they won’t be found, a town especially for people like them…

My Thoughts :

I won't spend a lot of time on this review because this just the 1st of 6 parts in the City of the Lost.  For some reason this book is available as a whole novel but priced pretty high but there are the lower priced six installments on Kindle which I have chosen to read through.

This first installment sets the story.  You learn all about Casey, her past and her current situation.  You also get to know about Diana her best friend.  A woman who has gotten herself into a bad place and wants to runaway.  There is also Kurt, the lover that Casey may actually have feelings for but doesn't want to admit it.

How things will progress is something that will certainly be revealed in part two and part one has already done a great job of getting me hooked.  I love this author and even though there hasn't really been a paranormal aspect revealed yet, I still can't wait to read more.  The novella/short story collection may not appeal to everyone but this was a quick read and I will be reading the next part very soon.

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.

128) Wickedly Magical by Deborah Blake

The Blurb :

Known as the wicked witch of Russian fairy tales, Baba Yaga is not one woman, but rather a title carried by a chosen few. They keep the balance of nature and guard the borders of our world, but don’t make the mistake of crossing one…

Barbara Yager loves being one of the most powerful witches in the world, but sometimes she’d rather kick back in her enchanted Airstream with a beer in her hand than work out how to grant the requests of the worthy few who seek her out.

But when a man appears with the token of a family debt of honor, Barbara must drop everything to satisfy the promise owed by her predecessor—and she isn’t above being a little wicked to make sure the debt is paid in full…

My Thoughts :

After reading the first book in another series by this author, I remembered that her Baba Yaga series is on my list of series I must start reading very soon.  So I went to check out the series again and came across this pre-quel novella.  Perfect!  Check out the series and read everything in order.  Nothing better than killing two birds with one stone.

I don't want to go into the plot too much because it would give too much of the story away.  However it was an amazing read and it made me realise that I really need to start the series asap!  It was original, different and interesting.  It was fun, quirky and also well written.  I was impressed and loved this short story more than I usually like novellas.

Expect to see more from this author soon!  I am definitely getting around to reading the first full length Baba Yaga book sometime within the next few weeks.

127) Grave Matters by Jana Oliver

The Blurb :

A legendary Demon Trapper, Riley Blackthorne frequently battles with Hell’s minions. So when she travels to Scotland to meet up with her hunky boyfriend, and celebrate her eighteenth birthday, she’s thrilled at the chance to leave Atlanta and its troubles behind.

Denver Beck, who has been studying for months to become a Grand Master – a rare and highly dangerous job -- is just as eager to see his girl. He’s anticipating a romantic reunion, keen to take their relationship to the next level.

But Riley’s twisted history with Hell has garnered unwelcome interest by people willing to use her for their own purposes. Trouble is brewing in the land of the heather, the kind that will drive a wedge between her and Beck, and prove the ultimate test of their love . . . and their survival skills.

My Thoughts :

I thought the Demon Trapper series was done.  Over.  Finito!  Then I came across a new release in the series.  The fifth book.  While putting this on my wishlist I came across this novella that fits bettern books four and five and quickly got a copy so I could read things in order and hopefully get a nice reminder of the situation and series.  It has been a while...

This was a nice short story.  A nice trip to Edinburgh (a lovely city) was just what I needed and would have jumped on a plane and gone back there myself even after reading about the Demon Trapper happenings in this book.  I found myself remembering a lot of the series and characters and being reminded of certain events.  The author mentioned, when needed, points in the series that I have since forgotten.  It was a nice story and I also remember how much I loved this series.

Telling you more about the story will give away a lot.  This is a little longer than the usual novella but it was still a quick read.  It was worth reading and a definite must read for anyone, who like me, hasn't gotten hold of that new fifth installment.  Things happen that you will need to know before carrying on the series.

110) Fangs for the Memories by Molly Harper

The Blurb :

How did Andrea and Dick Cheney fall in love? Join Half-Moon Hollow’s favorite couple for a trip down memory lane—to a time when Mr. Wainwright was newly dead, Jane Jameson was a newbie vampire, and a budding paranormal romance was not yet uncorked…

Half-Moon Hollow’s supernatural social event of the season—Zeb’s Titanic-themed werewolf wedding—is coming up, and Dick Cheney (not that Dick Cheney!) needs a date. But Andrea’s had enough of clever, handsome, and rakish to last a lifetime, and Dick Cheney is certainly not the sort of man you bring home to mom (not that Andrea’s deadist parents are speaking to her ever since she dropped out of college and became a blood surrogate.) Shameless, relentless, roguish, with a Stetson-worthy swagger, a naughty sparkle in his eyes, and a constant smirk—oh, and fangs—no, Dick is the last person (er…vampire) Andrea wants to date.

But the infuriatingly irresistible man who lives quietly on the edge of a criminal underworld knows exactly what he wants, and once he surprises Andrea with a thrilling hot and dirty kiss behind the paranormal bookshop, she knows what she wants too: Dick. All it takes to ignite their unconventional courtship is a near-undeath experience that confronts Dick with a choice between turning Andrea, losing her forever, or tapping into his countless shady resources).

My Thoughts :

It was a special week for Half-Moon Hollow fans!  Not only did we get a full length novel but there was also a novella released about how Andrea and Dick got together.  A story that I am sure many a fan has been waiting for.

However I have to say it fell a little short.  This short story was a welcome addition to the series but to be honest I wanted Andrea and Dick to get a nice full length story with all the wit and charm I am used to and not this short tale.  I didn't feel it did them justice and it was all over before it began.

Yes this is well worth reading if you are a fan but expect to be slightly disappointed.  It was a nice read but it certainly wasn't everything I was hoping for.  Although maybe it wasn't a good idea to release this short story so close to the full length new release.  I was on such a high from reading The Single Undead Moms Club that this was a lame dessert.

An amazing series that I will always pre-order but release the novellas in between full length books because then they taste much sweeter!

103) Dead Blondes Tell No Tales by Denise Swanson

The Blurb :

Skye’s beau, Simon, asks her to keep an eye on his mischievous mother, Bunny, who is hosting at her bowling alley a Spring Break Bash that will include a talent show, trivia games, and karaoke. As Skye sets up for the event, she’s stunned when a statuesque, scantily clad blonde shows up at Bunny’s door—Ruby, a sex-toy shop owner who used to be a showgirl with Bunny in Las Vegas. Bunny is overjoyed to be reunited with her old friend, but barely a minute later, Ruby butts heads with the police over showing off paraphernalia from her shop. More mayhem ensues when Ruby’s beloved Cadillac is vandalized and her room is set on fire.

It appears that someone is after Ruby, but the blonde is too nervous to cooperate with the authorities. Ruby’s evasive behavior convinces Skye that she’s hiding some critical information that would explain the recent havoc at the bowling alley. With the safety of the Spring Break Bash attendees on the line, Skye decides to find out Ruby’s secret before some nefarious criminal decides that dead blondes tell no tales.

My Thoughts :

I am reading this series in order and came across this novella that fits in after the sixth book.  So before I even think about starting book seven I had to read this short story.  The story first appeared in an anthology called 'Drop Dead Blonde' and was released as an eSpecial years later.  So be careful because some places put this story as being after book fourteen because of the release date.

There isn't much to say about this story except that it was good.  Short stories are hard to review without giving too much away and the blurb already does a good job of that.  I will say that Simon's mum is turning out to be a nice magnet for trouble and I am pretty sure she will be responsible for many more of the mysteries in the series.

Worth reading if you are a fan of the series and obviously worth reading in the right placement if you haven't started the series yet or like me are getting stuck in there.

102) Malediction by Melissa F. Olson

The Blurb :

Ask Jesse Cruz how I died.

In life, Samantha Wheaton often got the last word—and not much has changed after her death. To find out what really happened to her sister, boundary witch Allison “Lex” Luther will travel to Los Angeles to talk to Cruz, the former LAPD detective who investigated the murder. When Jesse proves reluctant to talk, however, Lex must find more of the people connected to the Henry Remus case –including a young woman with a very ugly dog and very familiar powers.

As she searches for answers, Lex finds herself venturing deeper down a rabbit hole—one that may lead her to a big bad wolf.

My Thoughts :

Didn't I just read a book from this author?  Yes!  Luckily I went to check on her other books and saw that this novella fits in after the book I just read, Boundary Crossed and before the next book, Boundary Lines.  When I read the blurb for this short story it was obvious that this needed to be read before I start the second book in this series.  It is also pointed out by the author that this story is not to be read if you haven't already read the Scarlett Bernhard books.  This is something I can confirm.  Do not read this one without being up to date!  This is a spoiler novella.

Now if you have read all the books, Malediction isn't going to offer you much in the way of new information.  Readers of the Scarlett Bernhard series already know how Sam got killed and what really happened.  However it is really important to the new series that Lex finds out the truth.  This is a story that opens up Lex's 'Old World' a little more and also lets us have a little look at what is going on back in LA.  Some things have changed and others have not.  It is a nice interesting trip and a nice extra story strengthening the connection between the two series.

Well worth reading if you have read all the installments so far.  A definite must read before reading Boundary Lines and I am really happy I didn't start listening to that one yet.  I am pretty sure I would have been disappointed seeing as the ending of Boundary Crossed pointed to this line of questioning.

100) Brighter Than the Sun by Darynda Jones

The Blurb :

All his life, Reyes Alexander Farrow has suffered the torments of the damned. Only one thing has given him hope: the woman who radiates a light that no mortals can see; a light that only the departed can see...

My Thoughts :

Before I start my review I just want to say...100 books read this year!!!!  I have completed my reading goal for 2015 and it feels good ;)

So...a novella from one of my favourite series ever!  Not to be missed especially as it is told from Reyes point of view.  Any fan of the series would be crazy not to pick up a copy of this bad boy and while it was worth the money it wasn't all I expected.

While the majority of the information was new and there were many insights to Reyes life before he and Charley got together, there were some rehashes of events.  I guess it was to be expected and it did need to be in there but novellas are short stories and I want them to packed with all new shiny things.  Thats just me though.

I guess the disappointment for me was the timing of the book.  It was more or less all about Reyes childhood until the Charley Davidson series started.  As I said, lots of new eye-opening details, stories and stuff but I was really hoping to get to see the 'now' through Reyes eyes.  With everything that happened in the last book, well I wanted to see how that all felt for him.

Can we expect more Reyes novels in the future?  Maybe more up to date on the time line?  I certainly hope so.  This was one of the best novellas I have read and that comes from someone who usually hates them all.  Fans will love this and new readers will need to read the first few books in the series first to actually understand and respect this short story.

Well worth the time and money.  As are all the Charley Davidson books.  Looking forward to the next full length installment!

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.

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.

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79) Panty Raid by Lorraine Bartlett

The Blurb :

Tori Cannon and her BFF, Kathy Grant, get together for a girl’s weekend of wine, cookies, and laughter, but there’s also the specter of a panty pincher hanging around the laundry room of the complex where Tori lives. Kathy thinks they can catch the culprit red-handed in a panty raid!

My Thoughts :

There isn't much to be said about this novella.  It is a prequel to the first Lotus Bay book, With Baited Breath, which I really enjoyed reading at the beginning of this year.

I hoped that this short story would refresh my mind a little because the longer I wait for a sequel in the series, the more I forget what happened and who the characters were.  Panty Raid succeeded in doing that but it wasn't as good as the full length novel.

A nice short read, the conclusion turned out to be quite amusing.  I look forward to the next Tori and Kathy installment and hope it at least pops up on my recommendations soon.  The first book was so good and I really want to know what the characters get up to next.

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67) Not a Monster of a Chance by Denise Swanson

The Blurb :

Not a Monster of a Chance is a short story set in Scumble River, once again featuring Skye Denison. It is set during her summer vacation where she has taken a job as a lifeguard to supplement her income and a drowning victim disappears. What happened to the woman? Is she a victim of the Scumble River Monster?

My Thoughts :

I started the Scumble River Mysteries last month and so far I am really enjoying the series.  So when I was checking out which book was next in line, I saw that there was a short story between books two and three.  Keeping to the order I decided to read this quick novella and stay on track.

There isn't much to say about this short tale.  It was a nice quick read and entertaining enough.  The mystery was fun and it was nice to see Skye during her vacation even if she is working.  It was also good to see how things are going with the other characters.

Well worth reading if you are following the series and certainly a nice short story to read if you want to get a feel for the series in general.  However don't forget that his series is already 17 book in and this is only #2.5 so it is a little older and not as technologically advanced as the cozies you read these days!

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63) Sell-by Date by Melissa F. Olson

The Blurb :

This prequel story takes you back to the first meeting between Scarlett and fan favorite Molly, a vampire with a complicated past and an even more complicated motive for inviting Scarlett into her home. Here, for the first time, read the story of Molly and Scarlett's first meeting - from Molly's point of view.

My Thoughts :

The blurb basically says it all.  There isn't much more that can be said about this short story except that any fans of the series will enjoy it.

I always liked Molly and it would have been nice to see her get her own series but I guess this is all we are going to get.  The story is nice enough but it could have been longer and gave some more Molly history but as prequels go this was a good one.

Well worth checking out if you have already read the series or if you haven't tried it yet.  The Old World isn't well defined and explained in this short story but there is enough in there to get you intrigued.

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52) Falling to Pieces by Denise Grover Swank

The Blurb :

When Joe walks out of Rose’s life, she can’t imagine life without him. But with support from her friends—and an unexpected person—Rose finds her way to climb out of her despair.

After his father’s blackmail forces him to leave the love of his life to protect her, Joe is thrown into the race for Arkansas State Senate. But while Rose has people to help her grieve, Joe finds himself completely alone—except the one person he detests is the only person who’s offering comfort

My Thoughts :

After finishing the third installment in the Rose Gardner Mysteries I was eager to keep going.  This novella fits between books three and four and I wanted to follow the correct reading order and decided to read this short story on my Kindle.  I have been listening to the series but didn't see the point in listening to something so short.

I am glad I decided to read this one because there wasn't much in Falling to Pieces that would have made an audio version enjoyable.  This half an hour read (an hour if you don't read as fast as me) would have wasted maybe three or four hours if listened to.  You see Falling to Pieces is a rehash of the end scenes from Thirty and Half Excuses where a big event takes place in Rose's life.  Something I am sure some readers would have seen coming and maybe even welcomed.

This short story goes through the events again and also fills in a few of the missing pieces.  It expands on what you read in Thirty and Half reasons by adding another characters perspective and giving you a more in-depth view of what went on from both sides of the fence.  There is also a slight continuation of the story with some events that take place after the previous book but all in all Falling to Pieces was another look at what happened with the cut out scenes added.

While this was slightly repetitive it was also nice to see what happened from both angles and to find out how the whole event started and ended.  Any fans of the series will find this novella to be informative and interesting but it definitely not one of those short stories you can read to get a taste of the series and the writer because it is technically one big spoiler.  So only read this if you have read up to book three.

This series is well worth reading and this novella is definitely a must read if you are reading the series.  However I could have done without it.  It wasn't overly special or amazing but I don't regret reading it.  I am very glad I didn't look for an audio version.  I am also even more eager to continue the series and see what happens next.  It will certainly be a very rocky and adventurous time for Rose but then again everything in her life since the series has begun has been exactly that.

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