#Audiobook Review: Working Stiff by Rache Caine

Working Stiff 

(Revivalist #1) 

by Rachel Caine

Narrated by Julia Whelan 

Published August 2nd 2011
Source: Purchased from Audible.com

 

Bryn Davis was killed on the job after discovering her bosses were selling a drug designed to resurrect the dead. Now, revived by that same drug, she becomes an undead soldier in a corporate war to take down the very pharmaceutical company responsible for her new condition...

REVIEW

First Thought
Not your "classic" zombies but still an interesting concept.

Why I Listen
I've had Working Stiff on my TBR since it's release day and after listening to a sample of the audio, the narration sounded like one I would enjoy. And I was right. The story and narration both kept me entertain. Julia Whelan get a great job with the voices and timing of the narration. I've already purchased the next book on audio.

The Story
Bryn Davis has the worst first day on a job ever.... She dies and then comes back as a "zombie".

After serving in the military and dealing with dead bodies, Bryn thought she would be a good match in the postion as the new funeral director at Fairview Mortuary. But little did she know that her sales training was not going to help her when she stumbles upon a secret side business her new boss is running from the basement of the mortuary.

Bryn quickly finds herself wrapped up in government and corporate red tape and plans to take over the world, while still having a little time for romance.

Issue(s) I Had
The only real issue I had with Working Stiff is that I had a hard time believing that Bryn, who was over in Iraq for 4 years would be so "helpless" and naive at times. I'm hoping after the events toward the end of the story that we get a tougher Bryn in the next book, Two Week's Notice.


Will I Continue the Series?
Yes. I enjoyed the world that Caine has created and I look forward to seeing what's next for Bryn.


Looking for Something Similar?
White Trash Zombie series by Diana Rowland

#Audiobook Review: Sandman Slim by Richard Kadrey

Sandman Slim  

by Richard Kadrey

(Sandman Slim #1)

MacLeod Andrews (Narrator)

Source: Library Audio

Adult Content: Contains lots of adult language, lots of violence.

 

Life sucks, and then you die. Or, if you?re James Stark, you spend eleven years in Hell as a hitman before finally escaping, only to land back in the hell-on-earth that is Los Angeles. Now Stark's back, and ready for revenge. And absolution, and maybe even love. But when his first stop saddles him with an abusive talking head, Stark discovers that the road to absolution and revenge is much longer than you?d expect, and both Heaven and Hell have their own ideas for his future. Resurrection sucks. Saving the world is worse. Darkly twisted, irreverent, and completely hilarious, Sandman Slim is the breakthrough novel by an acclaimed author.

REVIEW

First Thought 
Quentin Tarantino should direct the movie for this book!

Why I Read It

I saw Richard Kadrey on an Urban Fantasy panel at RT and was impressed with him and thought his Sandman Slim world sounded great and something different from what I've been reading.

Set up
Sandman Slim gets a lot of comparison to Jim Buthcer's Harry Dresden series. I've not read that series so I can say. But I will compare to something to give you an idea of how I saw it..... The darkest parts of Supernatural and Kill Bill rolled up into a noir type urban fantasy with an anti-hero named Stark, on a revenge mission.

See, Supernatural got your attention didn't it? Take the angel/demon mythology from the show there you go. Angels are just as big dicks as the demons. They also think humans are just talking monkeys. In Sandman Slim's world there is only gray, no black and white, no plan good or evil. Everyone is a douche bag on some level.

The "Hero"
James Stark is Sandman Slim but don't call him anything but Stark or he might shot you. But in his defense he did just spend 11 years in hell after his magical circle screwed him over and sent him there.

Stark is very much an antihero but not the swoon-worthy type, not yet anyway. He's a real tool. But he's one of those tools that you find yourself rooting for. Stark is on a bloody and gritty ride and I found myself hoping he would burn the world down along the way.

He is a total bad ass that spews sarcasm with every breath.

“No hospitals", she says. 
"I know."
“Where are we going?"

"For ice cream. What's your favorite flavor?"

"Fuck you."

"That's my favorite, too.” - Allegra and Stark

“You're a cop..."

"U.S. Marshal." 

"Fine. A cop who can read.”  - Stark and Wells

But the reason he is on his revenge trip is not to avenge himself but that of the murder of his girlfriend. And toward the end of the book there is a real touching scene that shows that even the biggest tools has a heart underneath.

WTH?
I picked up a copy for free at Avon Red Slipper event at RT. I put it on my shelf with all my other books without thumbing through it. So when I decided to check out the audio from the library I went in cold. After a couple of hours of listening I got to noticing that the narrator never announced the chapter numbers which was old. Then I looked at the book and there is NO CHAPTERS. All of the books are that way. Weird.

Someone on Twitter said they asked Kadrey at RT why he work the books that way, and his response that the main character, Stark, is crazy. Ok so crazy people can't have chapters. LOL

The Narration 
I'm not a huge fan of male narrators (so far), just because the few I've listened to doesn't do the female voices that well. But with a male main character, I wasn't that bothered by MacLeod Andrews' female narrations (which there was only really two recurring female characters) . I thought that he voice and timing was great for Stark. I don't know that I would enjoy his voice for other books but he is well suited for the dark and gritty world of Sandman Slim.

Will I Continue The Series?
Yes. While I thought that the writing was a little rough around the edges and that the author was dating himself with some of the pop culture references and I thought it dragged a little toward the end, I still enjoyed Sandman Slim enough to continue the series and read the second book, Kill the Dead.

#Audiobook Review: Eye of the Tempest by Nicole Peeler

Eye of the Tempest 

 by Nicole Peeler 

(Jane True #4) 

Khristine Hvam (Narrator)

Source: Purchased audio from Audible.com

 

Nothing says "home" like being attacked by humans with very large guns, as Jane and Anyan discover when they arrive in Rockabill. These are professionals, brought in to kill, and they bring Anyan down before either Jane or the barghest can react. Seeing Anyan fall awakens a terrible power within Jane, and she nearly destroys herself taking out their attackers. Jane wakes, weeks later, to discover that she's not the only thing that's been stirring. Something underneath Rockabill is coming to life: something ancient, something powerful, and something that just might destroy the world.Jane and her friends must act, striking out on a quest that only Jane can finish. For whatever lurks beneath the Old Sow must be stopped . . . and Jane's just the halfling for the job.

REVIEW

The Rant/Spoiler:
I’m starting this review with a small rant and spoiler and it can be summed up with ... cock blocking.

I mean how many times can Peeler stop Jane and Anyan from doing the deed? That part where his dick was knocking on her vagina and Blondie popped in. GRRRR! And then she goes and makes him a dog for 80% of the book. I guess that was better than having more people walking in on them. When they finally get around to it, it better be fucking amazing!

The Plot:

Eye of the Tempest was a little on the weird side. It felt like a bridge book; connecting the previous book and the next book. It's a turning point in Jane's life and I think it sets the tone for the rest of the series.

The weird part is the octopus-like creature that is hiding under Rockabill that has a powerful connection with Jane. Blondie is around a lot in this installment to help Jane with her inner and outer journey in becoming the champion. Actually most of the book is about Jane, Blondie and the creature. Definitely a different feel from the other books. But I felt like it was necessary in order to have a few questions answered even if it only made other questions pop up.

The Series:

Even though Eye of the Tempest had a very different feel to it and it was not my favorite in the series, Jane True is still going strong in my heart and I'm a little nervous for the next two books. I've heard they have some tough moments. But when there looks to be a supe war in the gang's every near future that is to be expected.

The Romance:

Now that it looks like Jane and Anyan might be moving to having a future together I can't wait to see how that part of the story ends. And NO MORE COCK BLOCKING!!

The Narration:

I was so freaking excited when I found out that Khristine Hvam was narrating the rest of the series. She has breathed new life into the Jane True series. Peeler's writing is great but the narration for books 1 -3 was not letting it shine. But the team of Hvam and Peeler is the right fit for bring Jane and crew to live for audio listeners.

#Audiobook Review: A Witch’s Handbook to Kisses and Curses by Molly Harper

A Witch's Handbook of Kisses and Curses 

by Molly Harper

(Half Moon Hollow #2) 

Narrated by Amanda Ronconi

Source: Purchased at Audible.com

Nola Leary would have been content to stay in Kilcairy, Ireland, healing villagers at her family’s clinic with a mix of magic and modern medicine. But a series of ill-timed omens and a deathbed promise to her grandmother have sent her on a quest to Half-Moon Hollow, Kentucky, to secure her family’s magical potency for the next generation. Her supernatural task? To unearth four artifacts hidden by her grandfather before a rival magical family beats her to it.

Complication One: Her grandfather was Mr. Wainwright and the artifacts are lost somewhere in what is now Jane Jameson's book shop.

Complication Two: her new neighbor, Jed Trudeau, who keeps turning up half naked at the strangest times, a distraction Nola doesn't need. And teaming up with a real-life Adonis is as dangerous as it sounds, especially when he’s got the face of an angel and the abs of a washboard—can Nola complete her mission before falling completely under his spell?

REVIEW:

They’re back…. The team of Molly Harper and Amanda Ronconi never fails to entertain me. Between Harper’s witty writing and Ronconi’s spot on narration, A Witch’s Handbook to Kisses and Curses is full of flirty fun between an out-of-town witch, Nola Leary and a sexy handyman, Jed Trudeau.

Nola, moved to Ireland from Boston after the death of her father at a young age. So she has an interesting mix of accents (which Ronconi pulls it off beautifully). Nola’s Irish side of the family has been in a feud with Kerrigans (they’re not ice skaters) another witch family for centuries. Because of this feud Nola returns to the States to find 4 magical artifacts that her family was tasked with guarding from the other family. This brings her to Half Moon Hollow, Kentucky. For such a small town it has a rather large supernatural population. There are vampires and werewolves and now a witch. Who knows what other supes could be found in the hollow……

After Nola moves into a rental she meets her sexy and often without a shirt neighbor, Jed. He and a small crew is working on the house they both rent from none other than Dick Chaney (the vampire not the former vice president). One thing leaves to another and the budding friend/romance takes place. But don’t think this is a sweet romance; it’s a Molly Harper book after all. Harper loves putting her characters through some of the most funny and embarrassing situations. Case in point the two meet while Nola climbing Jed like a tree while running from some scary creature in her kitchen cabinets, wearing only her bath towel.

So in true Harper fashion there are funny one-liners about pop culture from the freaky sleeping stalker, Edward Cullen to Black Dagger Brotherhood references and even a tip of the hat to one of Harper’s other series, you know the one about werewolf romance set in Alaska. ;)

Also Jane Jameson series might be done but Jane fans will be delighted to know that her motley crew shows up quite a bit in this newest installment in the Half Moon Hollow series helping Nola in her quest to find the 4 magical items she came to the hollow for.

If you’re looking for a side splitting read/listen you NEED to check out Molly Harper. I highly recommend ALL of her books. Oh in case you are ordering this series could be read in order but I recommend you starting with the Jane Jameson series just so you will have a better understanding of the background on those characters since the pop up throughout this series.

Audio Review: Flesh and Blood by Kristen Painter

Flesh and Blood

by Kristen Painter

House of Camarre #2
Narrated by Abby Craden

Source: Purchased from Audible.com

With the ring of sorrows still missing, and the covenant between othernaturals and mortals broken, Chrysabelle and Malkolm's problems are just beginning. Chrysabelle still owes Malkolm for his help, but fulfilling that debt means returning to Corvinestri, the hidden vampire city neither of them is welcome in.The discovery that Chrysabelle has a brother could mean reneging on her promise to Malkolm, something that might make him angry enough to loose the beast living inside him. And fulfilling her vow could prove devastating for Chrysabelle-especially when you throw in power hungry witches, dead fringe vampires, and the Kubai Mata.

Normally I save my thoughts about the narration of the audiobook to the end of the review. But since I almost gave Flesh and Blood a 3 star rating based on the narration I going to talk about it first.

Abby Craden's narration of the main characters was pretty good and her "reading" voice (non dialogue narration) was good. Where I had a problem with the narration was her choices for A LOT of the secondary characters more to the point the minority characters. For example Katsumi is an Asian vampire and Craden's narration of her sounded like siamese cats from Lady and the Tramp. I had that song "We are Siamese if You Please" stuck in my head whenever Katsumi can on scene.

Doc

Another character I had problem with was Doc. I read the first book, Blood Rights and I didn't either remember or picked up on the fact that he is Africain American but listing to Carden's voice for him I thought, is Doc black? So I asked my two read along co-hosts that recently read Blood Rights and they were not sure either. I looked him up on the House of Comarre website and saw a picture of the character. Yep, he's Africain American. But I didn't enjoy the stereo-type voice that the narrator gave him; she made him sound like a street thug mixed with a white raper (Vanilla Ice). I thought he would say Yo-Yo at any moment.

I was so focused on how much I disliked the narration of the minority characters that it took me out of the story many times. But I thought it was unfair to lower my rating of the writing that Kristen Painter brought to life. It's just a case where I will read the rest of the series instead of listening. It happens.

Ok now that my rant about the narration of the audiobook is over I'll talk about the book.

Audio Review: Moonshifted by Cassie Alexander

Moonshifted

by Cassie Alexander

(Edie Spence #2)

Narrated by Tai Sammons

Source: Library Audio

After surviving a brutal vampire attack, Nurse Edie Spence is ready to get back to work—attending to supernatural creatures in need of medical help. But her nursing skills are put to the test when she witnesses a hit-and-run on her lunch break. The injured pedestrian is not only a werewolf, he’s the pack leader. And now Edie’s stuck in the middle of an all-out were-war…

With two rival packs fighting tooth and nail, Edie has no intention of crossing enemy lines. But when she meets her patient’s nephew—a tattooed werewolf named Lucas with a predatory gleam in his eye that’s hard to resist—Edie can’t help but choose sides. The question is: can she trust this dangerous new ally? And can she trust her own instincts when she’s near him? Either way, Edie can’t seem to pull away—even if getting involved makes her easy prey…

I'm done with audios in this series. I can't help but wonder if the narrator is killing my thoughts on these books. Time will time when I read book three, Shapeshifted.

While I'm talking about how the narration bugs me I'm going to take about something else that bothers me in this series so far. The weird ass German Grandfather voice coming from the radio. Edie has in her possession a radio from a patience that seems to be haunted by the grandfather of said patience and he only speaks German. This has not been explained clearly enough IMO and now there's an extra WTF part to it when the voice gets another side character to implant the wiring from different household appliances around Edie's apartment. The ending result is just plain twisted and I can't think of how it works into the plot.  

Ok so I'm told you what bugs me now let me tell you want I did like. I still like Edie as the main character. She's a human nurse working in the supernatural wing of the county hospital. Dealing with all kinds of weird supe stuff. In the last book, Nightshifted, Edie learns about vampires and some of their political rules. Just enough to get herself into to trouble. This time around Edie is in the middle of werewolf laws and is under the protect of the local pack because she witness the pack leader get hit by a truck.

Edie is doing her best to juggle work, holidays with the family and her smexy werewolf bodyguard. Oh and the sexy shapeshifter, Asher.

Asher finds himself going from hot one two night stand guy to the friend zone. I'm right there with Edie and not knowing if Asher can be trusted, time will tell. I'm thinking since the three book is titled, Shapeshifted that we will get more Asher time. One can hope.

Anyway, I'm enjoying Edie and her world enough to give the series another book to see if it really is the narration that's killing my excitement. I think once I read it for myself and hopefully the weird ass thing with German grandfather/Cyborg human thingy won't be back or at the very least explained better to where it makes sense.
 

Audio Review: Raven Cursed by Faith Hunter

Raven Cursed

by Faith Hunter

Jane Yellowrock #4

Narrated by Khristine Hvam Kies

Source: Purchased at Audible.com

The vampires of Asheville, North Carolina, want to establish their own clan, but since they owe loyalty to the Master Vampire of New Orleans they must work out the terms with him. To come up with an equitable solution, he sends an envoy with the best bodyguard blood money can buy: Jane Yellowrock.

But when a group of local campers are attacked by something fanged, Jane goes from escort to investigator. Unless she wants to face a very angry master vampire, she will have to work overtime to find the killer. It's a good thing she's worth every penny.

The Heroine(s): Jane's a kick ass rouge vampire hunter. She's a skinwalker which means she more than just a were. She can change into almost any animal but her beast prefers the form of a mountain lion. I find the inner monologue between Jane and Beast every interesting and well written. So instead of one heroine you get two.

The Plot: Jane is back at home in North Caroline but she can't get away from events that took place in New Orleans during Mercy Blade and she definitely can't get away from the people from New Orleans.  Leo the head vamp of the South has hired Jane as the head of security for the vampire meeting. Jane hires Derek Lee and his group of good ol' boys. Then there's Ricky Bo. Jane brought him near Ashland, NC to get help with his issue. So Jane may have left New Orleans but she brought the major players with her.

Before the vamps can have their important conference about making peace with the witches, Jane is faced with dead bodies all over town. Humans are blaming vampires but then it starts looking like werewolves might be the ones ripping the humans apart.

Since Jane is back in NC we get to see more of Molly and her family. I love Angie Baby, Molly's young daughter so I'm glad we get to see her again. We also get to see more of Big Evan, Molly's husband. In fact Molly's whole family (sisters included) into the action this time around.

The Big Bad(s): This time around we get two bad guys that Jane has to fight. Neither is easy. One is a friend that tries to harm loved ones of Jane. Another is a bad ass that happens to be a shapeshifting witch that happens to be a demon.

Jane's Love Life: Jane and Beast are still not seeing eye to eye on the mate front. If Beast has her way Jane would be sleeping with Ricky, Bruiser and Leo. After all big cats don't mate for life. Jane may have lusty thoughts about more than one man but she is a one man gal. I've never really been a fan of Ricky as the love interest. I just didn't feel the connection between him and Jane. Then he cheats on her while working a case in Mercy Blade. But I starting liking him a little in Raven Cursed.

Quotes: Evan stood at bottom of stairs with hands on hips, studying room. Saying things low under breath. More sex talk about mothers. Humans think of sex at strange times. Jane laughed. I did not understand. - Beast

"Your cat did this?"
"Yeah, she was hungry and Molly wouldn't let her eat Evangeline"
When Rick arched an eyebrow at me, I shook my head and said, "For dinner, Ricky Bo."
"Of course."

Will I Continue Series? Hell yes! Even though I'm a little frustrated with Jane's love life I'm still on board for more Beast and Jane action.

Narration: Khristine Hvam Kies continues to make this series a real enjoy to listen to. I love her voices for Beast, Angie Baby, and many others. She does an amazing job with the timing and I feel like she is acting the story out instead of just reading a book.

Audio Review: Nightshifted by Cassie Alexander

Nightshifted

by Cassie Alexander

Edie Spence #1
Narrated by Tai Sammons

Published May 22nd 2012 by Blackstone Audio, Inc.
  Source: Purchased at Audible.com

Nursing school prepared Edie Spence for a lot of things. Burn victims? No problem. Severed limbs? Piece of cake. Vampires? No way in hell. But as the newest nurse on Y4, the secret ward hidden in the bowels of County Hospital, Edie has her hands full with every paranormal patient you can imagine—from vamps and were-things to zombies and beyond...

Edie’s just trying to learn the ropes so she can get through her latest shift unscathed. But when a vampire servant turns to dust under her watch, all hell breaks loose. Now she’s haunted by the man’s dying words—Save Anna—and before she knows it, she’s on a mission to rescue some poor girl from the undead. Which involves crashing a vampire den, falling for a zombie, and fighting for her soul. Grey’s Anatomy was never like this ..

Nightshifted had a kind of slow start for me. It took me about half of the book to really get into the story. But I think the biggest part was due to the narration. Tai Sammons didn't change her pitch enough so I was confused sometimes as to which character was speaking. I felt like she was just reading the book to me instead of "acting" the story out like some great narrators can do. With that being said I will be listening to the next book, Moonshifted because it's free through my library and I'm on a time crunch to get it done so that I can read the 3rd book, Shapeshifted. And that will be the real telling point for me if the narration is what brought Nightshifted from a 4 Halo book to a 3 Halo book. But I'm getting ahead of myself.

What drew me into Nightshifted is the fact that the story is set mostly in a hospital so I knew that it would be a different kind of book. (Cassie Alexander is a nurse by day (or night) so I was a little worried that the medical parts would be a little too technical but she did a great job of keeping it in dumby terms.)  I thought of the hospital scenes in Larissa Ione's Demoncia series when I started and was wondering if Edie's hospital would be similar. There was a few small similarities in the fact that Y4, the supernatural underground level of the county hospital is a secret from the humans and they only treat the supes. But that was about it.

Edie is not your usual urban fantasy heroine. First she is just a plain human, no special abilities. She's just a nurse working the nightshift that switched over to Y4 to help get her drug user brother some help. She made a deal and now he can't get high or drunk no matter how much he tries. We'll have to see if he change the type of person he is in the following books. (I'm assuming we will see more of him.)

While Edie is working a shift at Y4 she makes a rookie mistake with a vampire patient causing his death. But before he dies, he asks Edie to help Anna. So now our everyday human nurse has a mission to save a girl that she has no clue where or who/what she is. Not only is Edie is trying to keep afloat in her life by working to pay her rent, trying to keep her brother from ending up dead by a drug overdose but now she has to keep her promise to a patient that she feels she killed.

Alexander kept me entertained with the developing mystery within the plot about Anna and I grew to like Edie as the main character. Some of the secondary characters have potential. But one thing I didn't care too much for was the romantic relationship that Edie has with the zombie patient (I don't even remember his name). He was a good guy but the part where he has to replace his body parts with other people's was just a little off putting for him to be the romantic lead IMO.

Another thing I had a hard time with was the grandfather speaking German through a radio. I was very confused by who's grandfather it was. I'm not sure if the grandfather was Edie's or one of her patients. I don't know if that was just not written well to be clear or if I had tuned out during the part it was explained. (A bad side effect of having a not so great narrator.)

There was some funny moments. One that sticks out for me is the scene where a dragon shifter with syphillis get loose in the hospital and Edie wonders at one point if she had slept with the dragon shifter while he was in his human form.

In any case I enjoyed Nightshifted enough to check out the next book to see if Edie and her world will grow on me more.

Audio Review: Succubus on Top by Richelle Mead

Succubus On Top  

by Richelle Mead 

(Georgina Kincaid #2)

Elisabeth Rodgers (Narrator)

Love hurts, and no one knows it better than Georgina Kincaid. If she so much as kisses Seth Mortensen, the shy, sexy writer she's been dating, she'll drain his life force. Admittedly, the shape shifting and immortality perks of a succubus are terrific, but it's completely unfair that a she-demon whose purpose is seduction can't get down with the one mortal who accepts her for who she is. . .

It's not just her personal life that's in chaos. Doug, Georgina's co-worker at a local bookstore, has been exhibiting bizarre behavior, and Georgina suspects something far more demonic than double espressos. She could use an assist from Bastien, an irresistibly charming incubus and her best immortal friend, but he's giving Georgina some highly distracting come-hither vibes. Georgina is going to have to work solo on this one--and fast, because soon, Doug's life won't be the only one on the line. .

If you'll remember in the review about Succubus Blues I mention there being two love interests. We get to see more of the second guy, Seth. He is Georgina's favorite author that she meant while working in the book store. But the problem is he is human and a good guy. I know that doesn't sound like a problem but when you're a succubus like Georgina Kincaid and you try to stay away from the good guys so that you don't suck their life force then dating is a problem.

In Succubus on Top, Georgina is dealing mostly with her relationship with Seth and trying to figure out how to make it work. She meets his family and sad by what she will never have. But she can't let Seth go so it's an emotional roller coaster between the two.

The plot or mystery if you will, is focused around the humans in Georgina's life and how they are acting crazy as bat shit. Doug, one of Georgina's friends and co-workers, is in a band and things really start to take off for him but he's starting to act weird. So Georgina adds figuring out what's wrong with to her plate.

Now if she didn't have enough problems, Georgina's long time incubus friend blows into town to causing problems. Bastien is the incubus in question and Georgina taught him everything he knows back in the day. He stays on her case about how boring she is now, while asking for her help.

Succubus on Top is filled with steamy and funny hi-jinks from being to end. Richelle Mead grabbed my attention with the first book and with the second, Succubus on Top she has me running to start the 3rd book.  Looking for a fun urban fantasy read? Check out the Georgina Kincaid series by Mead and you won't be sorry. I recommend checking the series out on audio. The narration is fun and I truly believe it's one of the main reasons I'm enjoying the series.

Audio Review: Succubus Blues by Richelle Mead

Succubus Blues 

by Richelle Mead 

 (Georgina Kincaid #1)

Elisabeth Rodgers (Narrator)
Source: Purchased from Audible.com

Being a succubus sounds pretty glamorous. Shape-shifting, killer wardrobe, what's not to like? But Georgina Kincaid's life is far from exotic. Her boss is a middle-management demon with a thing for John Cusack movies, and she can't have a decent date without sucking away part of the guy's life, which means her crush on sexy writer Seth Mortensen is going nowhere fast. But all of that pales in significance when an unknown entity "helpfully" begins killing her immortal adversaries. For once, all her hot charms and drop-dead one-liners won't help, because there are some creatures out there that both heaven and hell want to deny..

I really enjoyed Richelle Mead's Vampire Academy series and wanted to give her adult writing a try. So during different audio sales I've finally purchased the whole series and after having them in my audible.com library for a while; I thought it was time to finally start the series.

I'm really glad I did! I wasn't sure what to expect going in and I was pleasantly surprised by the humor. I was picturing a darker listen. Georgina is the first succubus character I've read. I was picturing her being a lot like Bo on Lost Girl but that's not the case.

Yeah, she feeds from the energy she takes during sex but she can also shapeshift which is pretty cool. There's a funny scene at the being where she shifts into a demoness, or at least what the nerd she is about to sleep with thinks a demoness should look it.

When Georgia feeds from a male it takes years off his life, so after many years of feeding from anything with a penis she now sticks to douche bags so that she doesn't feel bad about shortening the lives of the good guys.

Georgia has another good quality....she works at a book store. So in her "human" life she works as an assistant manager at a local book store chain where she is also sleeping with her boss. In her "demon" life she tries to make her quota for her demon boss while trying to stick to her douche bag only rule.

There is a romance interest (well two but you don't see that at first). But the love life of a succubus is not easy. If you enjoy a book with all kinds of supe creatures where the main setting is in a book store, with a bit of mystery, Succubus Blues is read for you.

I was drawn to Succubus Blues because of Richelle Mead's name; and she keep me entertained with her fun world and sassy, smart heroine and zany secondary characters.  Rodgers' narration was a prefect fit with her quick wit timing and  her girl next door voice.

Audio Review: Frost Burned by Patricia Briggs

Frost Burned 

by Patricia Briggs 

(Mercy Thompson #7)
Narrated by Lorelei King

Mercy Thompson’s life has undergone a seismic change. Becoming the mate of Adam Hauptman—the charismatic Alpha of the local werewolf pack—has made her a stepmother to his daughter Jesse, a relationship that brings moments of blissful normalcy to Mercy’s life. But on the edges of humanity, what passes for a minor mishap on an ordinary day can turn into so much more…

After an accident in bumper-to-bumper traffic, Mercy and Jesse can’t reach Adam—or anyone else in the pack for that matter. They’ve all been abducted.

Through their mating bond, all Mercy knows is that Adam is angry and in pain. With the werewolves fighting a political battle to gain acceptance from the public, Mercy fears Adam’s disappearance may be related—and that he and the pack are in serious danger. Outclassed and on her own, Mercy may be forced to seek assistance from any ally she can get, no matter how unlikely

The Heroine: Mercy Thompson is a skinwalker (coyote shifter) that grew up within a wolf pack. She's the town mechanic and she can see ghosts. Mercy is not really the alpha type herione. She can't go one book without getting bloody and bruised but she can take care of herself. She is much like her coyote form, wiley and resourceful where she lacks the werewolf strength. It also helps that her skinwalker magic is different than wolf magic in the way that she cannot be controled by vampires and other plus for her is that fae objects of power seem to like her.

The Alpha: Adam Hauptman is the alpha of the local werewolf pack and Mercy's mate and husband. I like that Adam is the type of alpha that knows to give his woman a little space to do her own thing. He knows that Mercy is an independent woman and even after they mated he still lets her be who she is, within reason.


The Plot: I was wondering if we would see more about the events that took place at the end of Fair Game, the campanion series. But we didn't and I was little disappointment by that. But we did get to see some fae and vampire action this time around when Mercy has to reach out for help when Adam and the pack is kidnapped. We get to see more of Mercy and Adam connecting through their mate bond and I really enjoyed seeing some scenes through Adam's POV. All in all I enjoyed Frost Burned a little more than the last book, River Market becuase it moved at a faster pace.


The Series:  Mercy Thompson is one of the best examples of a well written urban fantasy series with lovable characters reader really care about. Patirica Briggs keeps me entertained book after book. If I had to find something to complaint about, it would be the lack of smexy scenes in the series. Yes it's Urban Fantasy but even some UF has sexy times and sex scenes. Briggs glosses over them which most of the time doesn't bother me but I would like to get at least one hot scene with Mercy and Adam. I'll just have to get my smut fix from other books. I'm every excited that we will not have another 2 year wait for the next book in the series, Night Broken is schedule to release in 204, at least according to Goodreads. 

The Narration: I received an arc from Ace but I'm so behind on my reading backlist so when I saw that my library had Frost Burned on audio I jumped at checking out so I could get the book finished faster.

I've read all the other books in the series so I wasn't sure what to expect starting the audio since the narrator was Lorelei King. I love King's work on Darynda Jones' Charley Davidson series but I never would have pictured her as Mercy's voice. I guess because I consider Mercy's world a little darker and Mercy more serious. But after listening to King bring Mercy to life I'm viewing Mercy in a different light. I think with King's narration I picked up on more of the snark and humor that I didn't pick up in earlier books by reading them. 

Other books in the series: