Chasing Magic (Downside Ghosts #5) - Stacia Kane

Chasing Magic (Downside Ghosts #5) - Stacia Kane
Grade: Adult UF
Rating: 5/ 5 Stars

A DEADLY HIGH

Magic-wielding Churchwitch and secret addict Chess Putnam knows better than anyone just how high a price people are willing to pay for a chemical rush. But when someone with money to burn and a penchant for black magic starts tampering with Downside’s drug supply, Chess realizes that the unlucky customers are paying with their souls—and taking the innocent with them, as the magic-infused speed compels them to kill in the most gruesome ways possible.

As if the streets weren’t scary enough, the looming war between the two men in her life explodes, taking even more casualties and putting Chess squarely in the middle. Downside could become a literal ghost town if Chess doesn’t find a way to stop both the war and the dark wave of death-magic, and the only way to do that is to use both her addiction and her power to enter the spell and chase the magic all the way back to its malevolent source. Too bad that doing so will probably kill Chess—if the war doesn’t first destroy the man who’s become her reason for living.

Description taken from Goodreads
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Just when you think The Downside Ghost series couldn’t get any more addictive (no pun intended) Stacia Kane delivers another brilliantly dark, gritty Urban Fantasy mystery to the series with Chasing Magic.

Our favourite Debunker, Chess, finds herself on another investigation, but this time its strictly for Downside. Someone is supplying dark magic induced speed, which is causing murderous rampages in Downside. Chess and Terrible must figure out who’s behind this horror and stop them before it’s too late. But of course this isn’t the only thing Chess has to worry about. Lex has declared war on Bump and his first target is Terrible.

I loved Chess’s character growth in Chasing Magic. She still makes mistakes, but Chess has become a much stronger person as she finds herself doing things that absolutely terrify her. She also fights her insecurities; all those horribly haunting things in her past, in order to be with Terrible. And that is why I find myself not only admiring Chess but also cheering for her every step of the way.

And her relationship with Terrible? Well now that they are finally together, it’s truly beautiful. Can’t wait for more Terrible goodness in the next instalment of The Downside Ghosts series.

Absolutely loved Chasing Magic. 5 out of 5

Kerrie


Orignially posted on Goodreads

Fury's Kiss (Dorina Basarab #3) - Karen Chance

Fury's Kiss- Karen Chance
Grade- Adult UF
Rating- 5 / 5 Stars


Dorina Basarab is a dhampir—half-human, half-vampire. Subject to uncontrollable rages, most dhampirs live very short, very violent lives. But so far, Dory has managed to maintain her sanity by unleashing her anger on those demons and vampires who deserve killing...

Dory is used to fighting hard and nasty. So when she wakes up in a strange scientific lab with a strange man standing over her, her first instinct is to take his head off. Luckily, the man is actually the master vampire Louis-Cesare, so he’s not an easy kill.

It turns out that Dory had been working with a Vampire Senate task force on the smuggling of magical items and weaponry out of Faerie when she was captured and brought to the lab. But when Louis-Cesare rescues her, she has no memory of what happened to her.

To find out what was done to her—and who is behind it—Dory will have to face off with fallen angels, the maddest of mad scientists, and a new breed of vampires that are far worse than undead…
Description from Goodreads
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There are some things you are guaranteed when reading a Karen Chance novel. There's going to be plenty of action, awesome side characters, witty dialogue and a scorching romance (where your screaming at the characters to "get together already!") Fury's Kiss had all that and more. And it was the 'more' that surprised me. I wasn't prepared to feel so emotional whilst reading this. There was a large focus on Dory's relationship with her father Mircea (to say their relationship is rocky is an understatement.) Mircea is the love interest in the Cassie Palmer series, and so I've always been his fan, but Fury's Kiss has cemented my love for him. Anything else I say about Dory and Mircea will be too spoilery so you'll just have to read this book to find out about their relationship.
Fury's Kiss begins with Louis- Cesare "rescuing" Dory, and when I say "rescuing" I mean Dory is trying to kill him beacuse she has no memory of who she is, who he is or how she got where she is. (Taken from page 1) "I wasn't sure, as I couldn't seem to remember the fight that had left me bloody and bruised, with a bullet hole in my right thigh and another in my left shoulder. I couldn't remember much of anything else, either, including who the hell I was. But that still wasn't the problem. No, the problem was that I'd woken up next to a vampire. One who was maddengly hard to kill".
And then the story sort of jumps. It isn't until the last few chapters where everything comes together. I'm not sure how Ms Chance does it, but it was done perfectly! I was racing through the pages, desperate to see what would happen next. There was a slight cross over with a Cassie Palmer character making an appearance, which means now I can't wait to see what the consequences of that will be in the next Cassie book.

Fury's Kiss was an amazing, kick-ass, emotional UF read and I can't wait for more. If you're a fan of Kate Daniels series, then you'll love this one.


Kerrie

Originally Posted on Goodreads

After Moonrise - P.C Cast and Gena Showalter

After Moonrise by P.C. Cast and Gena Showalter
Grade: Adult PNR
Rating: 3.5/ 5 Stars (Averaged out to 3.5 stars)


Possessed by P.C. Cast

Being a psychic detective who can channel only negative emotions makes Kent Raef good at catching murderers, but bad at maintaining relationships. Then Lauren Wilcox arrives with a most intriguing case: her twin sister has been murdered and is communing with Lauren's spirit - and sharing her body. Raef's the only one who can track the killer and free the spirit. But soon he begins to wonder just which twin he wants to save...and why...

Haunted by Gena Showalter

Artist Aurora Harper is convinced she's witnessed a crime - a murder so brutal she's repressed the memories, only to paint the scene by the light of the moon. Now she needs her new neighbour, Detective Levi Reid, to help her track down the victim - and the killer. Levi's dealing with his own memory issues, but one thing he knows for sure: Harper is meant to be his, and nothing can take her away from him - not in this life...nor in death…
Description from Goodreads
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After Moonrise is a company that deals with hauntings, possessions, and other supernatural mysteries. Their employees are not your normal detectives. They each have special "gifts" which allows them access to the other realm. They take on cases of unsolved murders, talking to the ghosts of the victim and their loved ones, as well as helping ghosts move on to the afterlife.

Possessed is the first book in the After Moonrise novel, and is written by PC Cast.

In Possessed, Kent Raef's world gets turned upside down when Lauren Wilcox enters his office at After Moonrise. Although the police suspects it was accidental, Lauren knows her twin sister was murdered. She knows this because Lauren's twin, Aubrey, is communicating with her. And that's not all. Aubrey is still being tortured by her murderer even after death. Kent must find a way to save both sisters from this killer before its too late.

I really liked the start of this novel. I thought it was pretty solid and a good lead in to what the novel is about. It was intriguing and I liked the idea of psychic detectives that use emotions to find "the bad guy". But where the storyline for the romance was taken, was just a bit too weird for me and I didn't like it. Paranormal Romance novels are my favourite genre. They are my go-to books and so, not liking the romance in this book has really disappointed me. Everything else though I really enjoyed.
3/5 stars

Haunted is the second book in the After Moonrise novel, and is written by Gena Showalter.

The book starts with us meeting Detective Levi Reid. He isn't exactly sure why he moved to his new residency, in the bad side of town, only that he experiences blackouts and one day found himself in his new place. He suspects these blackouts have something to do with being suspended from his work for attacking a suspect. But when his neighbour knocks on his door and asks for his help, all thoughts about his own problems vanish.
Aurora Harper thinks she's a witness to a brutal murder. The reason she only "thinks" this is because when she wakes in the morning it's to find herself with a paintbrush in her hand and a half finished painting of the brutal scene. Her best friend Lana (who works for After Moonrise) convinces her to talk to their neighbour, who is a "normal" detective, and ask for his help.

I really enjoyed this novel. It kept me guessing all the way and I was surprised with the way it ended. I also liked the romance. I'm a sucker for when two people from completely different upbringings get together. Aurora with her formal gowns and Levi with his foster homes couldn't be more different, and yet they are perfect for each other. Probably because Aurora, despite her upbringing, is no princess. I adored Aurora, she has spunk. And Levi is very alpha like, which is the perfect ingredient for a paranormal romance novel.
4/5 stars


Kerrie

Originally Posted on Goodreads

Bared to You - Sylvia Day

Bared to You (Crossfire #1) - Sylvia Day

Grade: Adult
Rating: 5/5 stars

Our journey began in fire...

Gideon Cross came into my life like lightning in the darkness—beautiful and brilliant, jagged and white-hot. I was drawn to him as I'd never been to anything or anyone in my life. I craved his touch like a drug, even knowing it would weaken me. I was flawed and damaged, and he opened those cracks in me so easily...

Gideon knew. He had demons of his own. And we would become the mirrors that reflected each other's most private wounds... and desires.

The bonds of his love transformed me, even as I prayed that the torment of our pasts didn't tear us apart... (Description from Goodreads)

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If you’re a fan of Fifty Shades then you'll like Bared to You.
If like me, you didn't mind the first Fifty book, adored the second but was then left disappointed by the third, then you'll LOVE Bared to you!

You will notice a lot of similarities between the two series, but it's the differences that make me love Bared to You.

By just comparing the first Fifty book to Bared to You, both have an intense "lust at first sight” scene, where you can see, not fire-works but flame throwers, being let off when they stare at each other.

Both male characters are extremely good looking, multi billionaire's with haunting childhoods. This means they both don't "do relationships". Both have women in their past that try to cause drama. They are controlling, dominating, possessive, alpha males but where Christian had a coldness to him (especially in the first book); Gideon has a warmth that had me melting at the words that left his mouth.

Then there are the female character's who couldn't be more different. Eva is not Anna. She's had a traumatic childhood herself, which means she is not naive or innocent like Anna. But Eva is also so strong. She knows what she wants and doesn't want and isn't afraid to voice, or apologise for what she wants (in fact Gideon was the one doing most of the apologising). Eva also had a vulnerable side that made me love her even more. There is nothing better than having a strong female character in a novel.

There are other similarities, story wise, as well, but I was able to ignore them and just enjoy this story for what it is. And it is an amazing romance that at times, had me swooning.

Bared to You largely focussed on Gideon and Eva's relationship. There were plenty of ups and downs that made the story interesting and had me flipping the pages in desperation to find out what happened next. Many of the story threads are left open at the end (for example, we learn about Eva's past but not about Gideon), which means you are left feeling anxious for the next book.

Kerrie

(Originally posted on Goodreads)