Short & Sweet Reivew: Sins of the Angels by Linda Poitevin

Title: Sins of the Angel

Author: Linda Poitevin

Genre: Urban Fantasy

Series: The Grigori Legacy #1

Mass Market Paperback, 336 pages

Published on September 27, 2011 by Ace

Source: Bought at the bookstore

Purchase the book on: [Amazon] or [Book Depository] 

Summary (via Amazon):

A detective with a secret lineage. An undercover Hunter with a bullet-proof soul. And a world made to pay for the sins of an angel...

Homicide detective Alexandra Jarvis answers to no one. Especially not to the new partner assigned to her in the middle of a gruesome serial killer case-a partner who is obstructive, irritatingly magnetic, and arrogant as hell. Aramael is a Power--a hunter of the Fallen Angels.  A millennium ago, he sentenced his own brother to eternal exile for crimes against humanity. Now his brother is back and wreaking murderous havoc in the mortal realm. To find him, Aramael must play second to a human police officer who wants nothing to do with him and whose very bloodline threatens both his mission and his soul.
 
Now, faced with a fallen angel hell-bent on triggering the apocalypse, Alex and Aramael have no choice but to join forces, because only together can they stop the end of days.

 

My thoughts:   

Sins of the Angels is the first book in a planned series, which features homicide detective Alexandra (Alex) Jarvis. There’s a serial killer on the loose, who happens to be a fallen angel who is trying to find a way back into heaven. In order to solve the murders and capture the killer, Alex will have to partner up with the supercilious but sexy Jacob Trent (Aramael). Aramael is a power, a fallen angel hunter who is posing as a mortal detective to stop his brother from murdering innocent people and wreaking destruction on earth.  What Alex and Aramael don’t know is that a murderous fallen angel is only the beginning of a sinister plan.

Mrs. Poitevin does an amazing job on combining angel mythology with police procedurals for an engaging story. There have been a lot of different angel books lately hitting the market. I’ve read a couple of books with angels, but I never enjoyed them as much as I did reading about vampire, faeries or witches. When I first heard the synopsis for this book, I was really intrigued by it and the cover reminded me of my favorite Fringe heroine, Oliva…I knew I had to check this book out. The beginning started out great but as you reached the middle of the book it felt like the story was being stretched. There wasn’t much happening, felt like I was reading word fillers till the next interesting scene. A little after the half-way mark, the book begins to pick up its pace as the author take readers through the many different plot twists. The other half of the book totally made up for the first half, and readers are left with a shocking cliff hanger till the next book!

This book would have been a solid 5, but there were two things that bugged me in the first half of the book which was the interaction between Alex and Aramael (Jacob Trent). There were moments when Alex briefly saw and felt Aramael’s wings, but she kept telling herself that she was only hallucinating and it can’t possibility be real. The two main characters also fight their attraction to one another for the majority of the book. They don’t really admit to their feelings till maybe three or four chapters before the book ended! Alex would keep finding reason not to get to know Aramael, and Aramael kept telling himself that it’s against everything he believed in/was told and he could never be with Alex, and that he shouldn’t feel the way that he does. I wasn’t a fan of the whole internal monologue they had going on.

Regardless of my little complaints, it was still a great well-developed story. I look forward to Sins of the Son (book 2), which comes out March 2012.  If you love reading about angels, or looking for a good new urban fantasy series than I suggest you give this debut novel a try!

WoW: Waiting on Wednesday [17]

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly post started by Breaking the Spine, to show books that we are patiently waiting for.  

 

Summary (via Goodreads):

Shortly after Diana Bishop and Matthew Clairmont timewalk to London, 1590, they discover that the past may not provide a safe haven after all. Reclaiming his former identity as poet and spy Matthew Roydon, the vampire falls back in step with a group of radicals known as the School of Night who share dangerous ideas about God, science, and man. Many of his friends are unruly daemonsn - the creative minds of the age who walk the fine line between genius and madness - including playwright Christopher Marlowe and mathematician Thomas Harriot. Matthew, himself, is expected to continue to spy for Queen Elizabeth, which puts him in close contact with London's cutthroat underworld.

Together, Matthew and Diana scour the bookstalls and alchemical laboratories of London where they follow the elusive trail of Ashmole 782 - and search for the witch who will teach Diana to control her powers.

[Publication date: July 10, 2012]

Why I'm looking forward to this book: I read the first book in the series 'A Discovery of Witches' and loved it! Mrs. Harkness created a world where vampires, witches and daemons live among humans, blending paranormal elements with history for a magical tale.

Gratitude Giveaways Blog Hop Winner

 

Jeanne

 

 Please reply to the email within 48 hours or a new winner will have to be drawn.

 

Thank you to everyone that entered, there will be another giveaway next month!

In My Mailbox [15]

First off, In My Mailbox is a feature that was started over at The Story Siren. Where we share what books we receive in the mail each week.

 Bought:

Indigo Springs by A.M. Dellamonica [purchase on AMAZON] 

Kiss of Frost by Jennifer Estep [pre-order on AMAZON] 

Gift/won:

Spider's Revenge by Jennifer Estep [purchase on AMAZON]

*Thank you Pocket/Simon &Schuster* 

What did you get in your IMM this week? Leave link in comments :)

WoW: Waiting on Wednesday [16]

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly post started by Breaking the Spine, to show books that we are patiently waiting for.  

 

Summary (via Goodreads):

 This electrifying new trilogy blends the best of paranormal and dystopian storytelling in a world where the war is over. And the vampires won.

Humans huddle in their walled cities, supplying blood in exchange for safety. But not even that is guaranteed. Dawn has lost her entire family and now reluctantly serves as the delegate to Lord Valentine, the most powerful vampire for miles. It isn’t until she meets Victor, Valentine’s son, that she realizes not all vampires are monsters....

Darkness Before Dawn is a fresh new story with captivating characters, unexpected plot twists, a fascinating setting, and a compelling voice. Written under the name J. A. London by a talented mother-son team, the trilogy is perfect for fans of True Blood and the House of Night and Morganville Vampires series.

[Publication May 29, 2012]

Short & Sweet Review: The Hour of Dust and Ashes by Kelly Gay

Title: The Hour of Dust and Ashes
Author: Kelly Gay

Genre: Urban Fantasy

Series: Charlie Madigan #3

Mass Market Paperback, 336 pages 

Published on August 30, 2011 

Source: Bought

Summary (via Amazon):

To save her sister, she must stop a silent killer. . . .

Protecting Atlanta from the off-world criminals of Underground is tough enough, but now Detective Charlie Madigan and her siren partner, Hank, learn that the addicts of the offworld drug ash have begun taking their own lives. Ash makes humans the perfect vessels for possession, and something or someone is leading them to their deaths. Charlie is desperate to save her addicted sister, Bryn, from a similar fate. As New Year’s Eve approaches and time runs out, Charlie makes a deadly bargain with an ancient race of beings and embarks on a dangerous journey into hellish Charbydon with Hank and the Revenant Rex to save Bryn and make it back before it’s too late. Only, for one of them, coming home means facing a fate worse than death. . . .

My thoughts:  Charlie and the gang are all back in the third novel, The Hour of Dust and Ashes. Someone is forcing ash victims to take their own life and making it look like a suicide.  Charlie’s sister, Bryn, is one of the handfuls of people that are addicted to ash (off-worlder drug) and Charlie does everything in her power to make sure that her sister doesn’t end up dead like the others.  I fell in love with the world and characters when I first started this series. As each book progress, the story gets better and better.  Charlie is one of my favorite heroines in the Urban fantasy genre, she strong, independent, caring, and really protective of her friends and family. Readers will get to leave Atlanta for a while and see a little of hellish Charbydon this time around. We will also get to learn a little more about the men in Charlie’s life. Rex (Revenant) with his Jinn background and Hank, where he came from and what happens to him as he grew up. 

Overall, a great addition to the series! What really stood out in this third installment is the relationship between Charlie and Hank. Their relationship is not just partners on the job but something more. There is definitely chemistry between the two characters but both haven’t taken it to the next level. I love their interaction and dialogue and think readers will enjoy it too. If you enjoy reading the Mercy Thompson series, Kate Daniel series, or The Elemental Assassin series…then pick this series up now! You won’t regret it.  Mrs. Gay definitely knows how to create a world where you never want to leave and realistic character that will you will grow to love and care for.

My favorite passage in ‘’The Hour of Dust and Ashes’’:

“For the record,” he said looking up at me with a crooked smile, “this is not how I pictured removing your pants for the first time.”

“That confident, are we?”

His smile filled out, deep and brimming with humor. “When something is this inevitable. Yes.”

I rolled my eyes, but couldn’t help but smile. I pulled one leg free and then the other.

He tossed my wet pants into the pile with the rest of my soiled clothes, then turned back and froze.

“You’re wearing spongebob underwear”

Shit.

My gaze flew downward and my mortification was finally complete. “Emma got them for me…for my birthday.” What the hell. Might as well get it over with. I turn around. “Patrick is on my ass.”

Cover Discovery [10]

Book covers found on various blogs and site

  Summary (via Goodreads):

Just when her new life as a TouchStone – a mortal bound to help OtherFolk cross between Faery and human worlds – seems to be settling down, Abby Sinclair is left in charge when the Protectorate, Moira, leaves for the Faery Court. And when the Protectorate’s away…let’s just say things spiral out of control when a spell on Abby backfires and the Faery Queen declares the Doors between their worlds officially closed.

The results are disastrous for both sides: OtherFolk trapped in the mortal world are beginning to fade, while Faerie is on the brink of war with the daemons of Hell. Along with her brooding eleven prince Talivar and sexy incubus Brystion, Abby ventures to the CrossRoads in an attempt to override the Queen’s magic. But nothing in this beautiful, dangerous realm will compare to the discoveries she’s making about her past, her destiny, and what she will sacrifice for those she loves

[Publication: February 28, 2012]

Summary (via Goodreads): 

 She’s the new head of the Underworld Detection Agency’s strangest division. What a nightmare…

Being a human immune to magic helped Sophie Lawson get promoted. It’s also made her a major, very reluctant player in a game that stretches beyond even the Underworld. Having handsome buttoned-down Englishman Will as her new guardian is one tempting blessing, especially since sexy fallen angel Alex is mysteriously MIA lately. But as a frightening number of demons start disappearing around the city, Sophie suspects that an Armageddon-level prophecy is about to become everyone’s nightmare. And her investigation is testing her bravery — and Will’s unexpected vulnerability — in ways neither could predict. Now Sophie and Will are fast running out of time as an unstoppable evil prepares to lay waste to demons and humans alike…

[Publication May 1, 2012] 

Summary (via Goodreads):

 SOMETIMES WHAT YOU COVET IS IMPOSSIBLE TO KEEP.

For werewolf Natalya Stravinsky, the supernatural is nothing extraordinary. What does seem strange is that she’s stuck in her hometown of South Toms River, New Jersey, the outcast of her pack, selling antiques to finicky magical creatures. Restless and recovering from her split with gorgeous ex-boyfriend, Thorn, Nat finds comfort in an unusual place: her obsessively collected stash of holiday trinkets. But complications pile up faster than her ornaments when Thorn returns home—and the two discover that the spark between them remains intense.

Before Nat can sort out their relationship, she must face a more immediate and dangerous problem. Her pack is under attack from the savage Long Island werewolves—and Nat is their first target in a turf war. Toss in a handsome wizard vying for her affection, a therapy group for the anxious and enchanted, and the South Toms River pack leader ready to throw her to the wolves, and it’s enough to give anybody a panic attack. With the stakes as high as the full moon, Nat must summon all of her strength to save her pack and, ultimately, herself.

[Publication April 24, 2012]

 Summary (via Goodreads):

If you live in the dark long enough, you begin to forget the light…

KORI DANIELS is a shadow-walker, able to travel instantly from one shadow to another. After weeks of confinement for betraying her boss, she’s ready to break free of the Tower syndicate for good. But Jake Tower has one final job for Kori, one chance to secure freedom for herself and her sister, Kenley, even if that means taking it from someone else…

The job? Recruit Ian Holt—or kill him.

Ian’s ability to manipulate the dark has drawn interest from every syndicate in the world, most notably an invitation from Jake Tower. Though he has no interest in organized crime, Ian accepts the invite, because he’s on a mission of his own. Ian has come to kill Tower’s top Binder: Kori’s little sister.

Amid the tangle of lies, an unexpected thread of truth connecting Ian and Kori comes to light. But with opposing goals, they’ll have to choose between love and liberty….

[Publication June 1, 2012]

Summary (via Goodreads):

As a living descendant of Artemis the Huntress, private investigator Nikki Glass knows how to track someone down. But when an Oracle shows up, warning the descendants about wild dog attacks in Washington D.C., Nikki is afraid it might be a trap. The Olympians believe the “dogs” are jackals, controlled by a blood-crazed descendant of the Egyptian death-god Anubis. Whatever. . . . If Nikki hopes to muzzle Dogboy, she’s got to catch him in the act. But when she stakes out a local cemetery, she ends up face-to-snout with a snarling pack of shadow-jackals whose bite is worse than their bark. These hellhounds are deadly—even for an immortal like Nikki. “Dog” spelled backwards may be “god,” but that won’t stop Nikki from teaching these old gods some new tricks. Like playing dead.

[Publication April 24, 2012]

Summary (via Goodreads):

Shortly after Diana Bishop and Matthew Clairmont timewalk to London, 1590, they discover that the past may not provide a safe haven after all. Reclaiming his former identity as poet and spy Matthew Roydon, the vampire falls back in step with a group of radicals known as the School of Night who share dangerous ideas about God, science, and man. Many of his friends are unruly daemonsn - the creative minds of the age who walk the fine line between genius and madness - including playwright Christopher Marlowe and mathematician Thomas Harriot. Matthew, himself, is expected to continue to spy for Queen Elizabeth, which puts him in close contact with London's cutthroat underworld.

Together, Matthew and Diana scour the bookstalls and alchemical laboratories of London where they follow the elusive trail of Ashmole 782 - and search for the witch who will teach Diana to control her powers. 

[Publication July 10, 2012]

Summary: N/A
[Publication MAY 22, 2012]