112) Demons in my Driveway by R.L. Naquin

The Blurb :

Zoey Donovan Aegis and co-opted protector of all things supernatural is moving up in the Hidden world. Actually, she's being drop kicked onto the front lines of a fight between the newly formed Cult of Imagination and Hidden governments everywhere.

The Cult is opening portals and unleashing demons, vampires and werewolves, growing closer to breaking the lock that holds back the zombie apocalypse with every world they crack open. Oh, and they want every last Aegis in the world dead, and a roving band of Hidden worshippers is only too eager to assist.

On the upside, Zoey finally has her mother back. But having another Aegis around one with very different ideas on how to run things is proving difficult. For their own safety, they're stuck inside Zoey's home. What was once a haven is now a prison, further straining maternal relations and alienating her reaper boyfriend. Taking down a cult and saving the world again would be a lot easier if she could go farther than her own driveway.

My Thoughts :

They say variety is the spice of life.  Well this series really has a lot of variety but I am not too sure about the life.  When I first started reading this series I was in awe of the different kinds of unusual creatures and the very unique concept.  However as the series continues I only become confused and unsure about the whole package.  There is so much to remember and a lot of characters to distinguish that I find myself getting a slight headache trying to keep up with everything.

Huge points to the author for coming up with something colourful, unusual and interesting but I am sorry to say that Demons in my Driveway was my last visit to Monster Haven.  If I didn't have so many books to read and a huge list of series I need to finish/carry on with I may keep this one on my radar but I feel like I am wasting my reading time with this series.  It requires a lot of concentration and you really need to know what is what and who is who.

I am not hating this series or the authors work but it is all becoming too complicated and over the top.  I am just not invested enough in this series to keep following Zoey's journey especially after some of the events that happened in this fifth installment.

Try for yourself, this is definitely a series worth checking out and making your own decision.  I can see why people would love the strange Hidden world the author has built but I am going to let them continue without me.

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51) Golem in my Glovebox by R.L. Naquin

The Blurb :

In her role as Aegis, Zoey Donovan has rescued and cared for hundreds of monsters and mythical creatures. Now humans are the ones in need of her help. Someone with a personal vendetta against the Board of Hidden Affairs has kidnapped all the other Aegises in the country--including Zoey's mother.

With the Hidden government in shambles and a string of deadly clues to follow, Zoey and her reaper boyfriend set out on a cross-country chase to stop the kidnapper from killing the captured Aegises. Along the way, they pick up a miniature golem who's on a quest to find his humanity...and may be the key to solving the grisly clues.

If Zoey succeeds in defeating this new evil, she'll finally be reunited with the mother she lost over twenty years ago. But if she fails, she'll become the final victim.

My Thoughts :

I have been too distracted, tired and busy to read lately and my to be read pile would have fallen over if it wasn't digital!  So it was time to at least get one review book off the pile and this was the next one up.  I have been following the Monster Haven series ever since I came across the first installment, Pooka in my Pantry, and have been enjoying the story, characters and very interesting paranormal elements.

This fourth part in the series takes the main character and her partner on the road.   An interesting development that I wasn't really expecting but there was good reason and it made for great reading.  The whole story this time around came across as more mature and well thought out.  The writing style is the same but I got the feeling that the author has found her flow.  Golem in my Glovebox really shines above the other books and I finally felt like things were being taken more seriously now.

There are quite a few developments in this new addition to the Monster Haven series and I very pleased with the progress made and enjoyed the story a lot.  Now that Zoey knows more about the Hidden I know more about the Hidden and together the whole adventure is much more fun and definitely more interesting.  The author has used a wide variety of paranormal elements and it makes for great reading.  I wonder what else she has up her sleeve and look forward to finding out.

You can't really go wrong with this series and it is certainly worth a try.  As the series continues I find it is beginning to feel more like a Paranormal Urban Fantasy than just a Paranormal cozy/romance/comedy/mystery.  I am glad I picked up this fourth part and I will be keeping my eye out for the next installment.

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126) Fairies in my Fireplace

The Blurb :

A migration of mythical creatures has begun, and more and more of them are landing on Zoey Donovan's doorstep. As the only Aegis left in the country, it falls to her to protect the Hidden and keep them safe—and her house has become a sanctuary for water sprites, goblins, harpies, djinn and more.

Keeping track of her boarders is a full-time job, and Zoey's already got her hands full trying to run her wedding planning business. Good thing she has a resident closet monster to keep her organized, and a hot Reaper boyfriend to help her relax every once in a while.

But she can't keep up monster-triage indefinitely, and as more Hidden arrive, it becomes clear that someone—or something—is hunting them. In the midst of planning an event for a notoriously difficult client, Zoey's got to figure out who's behind the hunt…and she's got to stop them before there are no Hidden left.

My Thoughts :

I came across this author purely by accident while searching for ARCs over on Netgalley.  I can't believe that I would have come across this series otherwise and that would have been a huge shame.  Something so wonderful and full of supernatural should not be missed and I am loving this series more and more as things progress, twist, turn and unfold.

Monster in my Closet and Pooka in my Pantry showed that R.L. Naquin has some real talent.  Fairies in my Fireplace shows that the author has even more talent that I thought.  As the plot unfolds and it becomes clear why Zoey's house is becominig such a huge Monster Haven it is hard not to want to applaud the author over and over again for her extremely good world building and how much fantasy she has put into this series.

My only little problem with this series is that while the amount of action, characters and great plot is amazing I also find it hard to keep up with some of the story.  So much goes on in one book and it is really easy to miss something important.  However I don't think I would want the author to change things.  Afterall a lot of the books I read sometimes could do with some of this fast paced, get on with it, action and not drag things out.  It takes a bit of getting used to at the beginning but once you are in there you can't really come back out.  So my stange and special things are packed into this series.

So if you are looking for something really fresh, wonderfully fantasical, fun and yet serious, you should really give this series a try.  I can only highly recommend it and hope that people take a chance on this author because it really is worth it.

 

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Monthly Giveaway Results & Winner Announcement!

The Monthly Giveaway is over and it is time for me to share the results with you guys!

Thanks for all the comments and entries!  I hope you will all come back for the next Monthly Giveaways!  After all it doesn't cost anything to enter!

The poll reults are showing and I can now tell you which book one this months vote!

Play with Fire and Midnight at the Oasis by Justin Gustainis came in last! I could cry about this result! Some of best books I read last month and only 6% of you wanted to win them! Boooo!!!! ;)

Joint third place goes to Pooka In My Pantry by R.L. Naquin and Peach Pies and Alibis by Ellery Adams!  Both amazing reads but with only 10% of the vote each it wasn't enough to win!

The Winter Witch by Paula Brackston came in second place.  I was really hoping this one would win because it was my real, without a doubt, best read last month.  22% of the vote was good but there was another book in the race that just couldn't be beat.

This months winner with an astounding 51% of the vote is Burned by Patricia Briggs.  I knew this book would win and I was right.  I just didn't expect it to get over half of the votes!  Well done!

Monthly Giveaway Winner
Did you win?  Check the name in Rafflecopter widget below!  If your name is showing then you won a copy of Burned by Patricia Briggs!  Keep reading to find out how to claim your prize!
Didn't win this time?  Keep trying!  Oh and make sure you check out all the books mentioned in the giveaway!  They are all worth reading!



a Rafflecopter giveaway

How to claim your prize!

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

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

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

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Use the Bookdepository or Amazon links/banners to keep the prizes coming! 

Oh and advertise Amberkatze's Book Blog wherever you can ;)

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Monthly Giveaway!

March has come and gone but Winter is still hanging around in most places. Just more time for us book lovers to curl up and read inside before we move out into the sunny parks!

The dismal weather made me turn more to the TV than to my Kindle but I still read some great books in March! Even if I could have read more.

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

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

What is the Monthly Giveaway?

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

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

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

The Winter Witch
by Paula Brackston

Frost Burned by Patricia Briggs

Pooka In My Pantry by R.L. Naquin

(E-version only!)

Peach Pies and Alibis by Ellery Adams

Play with Fire and Midnight at the Oasis by Justin Gustainis

How does the monthly giveaway work? Well in the sidebar ---> there is this poll. You vote for the book you would most like to win. Then enter the Monthly Giveaway via the Rafflecopter widget below.  When the giveaway is over the winner gets book with the most votes. So you may not even win the book you voted for! a Rafflecopter giveaway Newsletter subscribers! If you have not confirmed your email address then you will not be added to the draw!!! The poll will stay open for votes until Wednesday 17th of April 2013 12 Noon (all times are in Central European Time). The winner will be announced within days of the contest closing.

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

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41) Pooka In My Pantry by R.L. Naquin

The Blurb :

Zoey Donovan—empath, wedding planner, go-to girl for monsters with personal problems—has been marked twice for pickup by Death. On both occasions, Riley the smoking-hot reaper has refused to follow through. For his breach of protocol, Riley is now on probation. For her refusal to die on schedule, Zoey's right to live is challenged. She will have to undergo a life-or-death trial, but she won't know when or where it will happen…

Staying alive might not be so difficult if the Leprechaun Mafia hadn't strolled into town. Now every business owner with the slightest connection to the supernatural community is being threatened with the most appalling bad luck if they don't pay up. Mirrors are smashed, bodies are dropping, and Zoey's still got clients waiting for fabric samples.

With a little luck, she might be able to save everyone and still have time for a second attempt at a decent first date with her favorite reaper.

My Thoughts :

When I read and reviewed, 'Monster in my Closet', the first book in this series, I was pretty sure that things could get more interesting and mad. However Pooka in my Pantry outdoes the debut in the Monster Haven series and introduces the reader to even more strange and weird monsters, paranormals and supernaturals. Take all those little known about fairy tale characters or old wives tales and you can be sure to find some of them packed into this book.

The mass and mess of elements in this book is sometimes not pretty. The story goes off on tangents and even though you have the feeling that everything does fit together somehow the writing style (or the main character) manages to come across as a drug induced weirdo. It doesn't sound pretty but it actually is. It sounds strange but it works and some how I can't help but praising this weird and wonderful sequel.

No holds barred and some exceedingly nice twists and turns really make this one stand out. Reapers, sea serpents, Leprechauns and yes, as the title suggests, a Pooka, is only the tip of the iceberg when you delve into this fanscinating 'hidden' world the author has created. Your imagination can run wild and what you didn't think was possible can and will happen inside this book. I throughly enjoyed it.

Zoey and her band of friends and monsters make for good entertainment. Her love interest is slowly taking some shape and her friendships are getting well established but her future seems a little up in the air. Some of the strangeness in this book shows that there could be some really hard times ahead for Zoey. Swimming in the newness of the whole 'Hidden' world she has been thrown into to may leave her tired and needing some air but she is turning out to be stronger than she looks.

If you are a Nicole Peeler fan or enjoy some Ben Elton or Douglas Adams then you may find this series to be right up your street. You need a sense of humour and an open mind to love this book but it pays off. I can't wait to see what happens next and despite the 'all over the place' feel of this series so far I can see it for what it is. Special.

Pooka in my Pantry is due out on the 25th of March and is only available in E-book form. Check out the debut Monster in my Closet to catch up with the story so far.

106) Monster in my Closet by R.L. Naquin

The Blurb :

I stopped believing in monsters long ago. But I knew I wasn’t imagining things when I found one in my kitchen baking muffins. I’d seen him before: lurking in my closet, scaring the crap out of my five-year-old self. Turns out that was a misunderstanding, and now Maurice needs a place to stay. How could I say no?

After all, I’ve always been a magnet for the emotionally needy, and not just in my work as a wedding planner. Being able to sense the feelings of others can be a major pain. Don’t get me wrong, I like helping people—and non-people. But this ability has turned me into a gourmet feast for an incubus, a demon that feeds off emotional energy. Now, brides are dropping dead all over town, and my home has become a safe house for the supernatural. I must learn to focus my powers and defeat the demon before he snacks on another innocent woman and comes looking for the main course.

My Review :

The blurb for this one sounded really interesting so I couldn't resist giving it a try. A new author with a debut book is always a risk but if nobody took a chance on those new writers we wouldn't have any good new stuff to read.

Monster in my Closet started off really well. I was instantly excited about the concept and finding a monster in her kitchen was a great concept. However the point of being scared to actually not caring it was a monster and letting him stay was a little too quick for my liking. Actually the first twenty percent of the book saw a mass of strange and weird things happening but Zoey just went with it. I found her way too accepting and was a little put off by her quick adjustment.

On saying that the rest of the story was pretty darn good. Quiet cute in places but also a little frightening in others. There was a good plot going on with the incubus and it fit in perfectly with the wedding planner job. On saying that I found the author was trying way too hard. There were loads of supernaturals introduced that could have come later on. There wasn't much time spent on the actual world building aspect and all these creatures seemed to just come out of nowhere all of a sudden and hijack Zoey's life.

All in all I did enjoy this read. Granted it needs some work if it is going to expand into a series but I would definitely read a sequel. It was fun and had me hooked to the point that I wanted to read till the end and not give up. I will be keeping a look out for more work by this author when it comes. Worth giving a try if you like cozy paranormal mysteries.