Dark Needs at Night's Edge - Book Review by Voodoo Bride

Dark Needs at Night's Edge (Immortals After Dark #5)
by Kresley Cole

What is it about:
Neomi Laress, a famous ballerina from a past century, became a phantom the night she was murdered. Imbued with otherworldly powers but invisible to the living, she haunts her beloved home, scaring away trespassers--until she encounters a ruthless immortal even more terrifying than Neomi herself.

To prevent him from harming others, vampire warrior Conrad Wroth's brothers imprison him in an abandoned manor. But there, a female only he can see seems determined to drive him further into madness. The exquisite creature torments him with desire, leaving his body racked with lust and his soul torn as he finds himself coveting her for his own.

Yet even if Conrad can win Neomi, evil still surrounds her. Once he returns to the brutality of his past to protect her, will he succumb to the dark needs seething inside him?

What did Voodoo Bride think of it:
I'm totally reading out of order, but this one sounded more interesting than A Hunger Like No Other which I should have been reading if I kept to series order. And reading the blurbs I had the feeling I wouldn't miss out if I did read out of order.

And I must say I liked this story better than the novella that started this series (The Warlord Wants Forever).
I really liked the idea of a romance between a ghost and a vampire. Neomi can't be touched by Conrad so this made for a romance that's much more about personalities than physical lust. It's still all a bit quick and I would have liked more of a build up where they really get to know each other, but it felt much more convincing than the romance in the novella.

Knowing this time the story is set in the present also made that I didn't feel as lost about the time period as I did in The Warlord Wants Forever. I still really like the mythology and world building that's there.

There were appearances of characters from previous books that make me wonder if I will like them if I decide to read the books that are about them, or if they're as obnoxious as they seemed in this book. The couple that's in A Hunger Like No Other didn't make an appearance as far I could tell, so I will read that one when I'm in the mood for Paranormal Romance and decide if I'll read more depending on how much I like it.

All in all this book was a very enjoyable PNR, even if it won't end up on my keeper shelves.

Why should you read it:
It's an enjoyable and entertaining PNR read.


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Teasing on a Wednesday

Cara couldn't imagine what the sphere could be. Maybe an intergalactic message in a bottle?
"What are you?" she asked the object.
That's when it replied.

(page 187, Invaded by Melissa Landers)


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Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following: - Grab your current read - Open to a random page - Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!) - Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

The Shift of the Tide - Release Day Book Review

The Shift of the Tide (The Uncharted Realms #3)
by Jeffe Kennedy

What is it about:
A QUICKSILVER HEART
Released from the grip of a tyrant, the Twelve Kingdoms have thrown all that touch them into chaos. As the borders open, new enemies emerge to vie for their hard-won power—and old deceptions crumble under the strain…

The most talented shapeshifter of her generation, Zynda has one love in her life: freedom. The open air above her, the water before her, the sun on her skin or wings or fur—their sensual glories more than make up for her loneliness. She serves the High Queen’s company well, but she can’t trust her allies with her secrets, or the secrets of her people. Best that she should keep her distance, alone.

Except wherever she escapes, Marskal, the Queen’s quiet lieutenant, seems to find her. Solid, stubborn, and disciplined, he’s no more fluid than rock. Yet he knows what she likes, what thrills and unnerves her, when she’s hiding something. His lithe warrior’s body promises pleasure she has gone too long without. But no matter how careful, how tender, how incendiary he is, only Zynda can know the sacrifice she must make for her people’s future—and the time is drawing near…

What did I think of it:
I love this series, so you can bet I dove into this book as soon as I got an ARC in my greedy little trotters.

And you bet I'll be getting the print version as soon as it's available!

I will confess that i had my doubts about Zynda at the start of the book. She seemed a bit too smug about herself and her powers. But soon she encounters situations that teach her she still has lots to learn about life, and when I saw she is capable of changing her views when they're clearly wrong I fell in love.

And then there's Marskal. He's the kind of hero I love, but don't often encounter. He might not be a man of many words, but his actions show more clearly than words ever could how he feels about Zynda and others in his life. He's there when needed and doesn't waver. I loved how I actually got to see who he is and what he stands for instead of hearing him say so and having to believe him at his word.

The challenges the both of them face are many and I was rooting for them to succeed. The stakes are high and at times I feared for how things might end. Luckily Jeffe is the kind of author who never disappoints when it comes to a satisfying ending.

I also loved that there were glimpses of the couples from previous books and to see what those were up to.

As you might already have guessed by my remark about satisfying endings, I loved the conclusion of this book. Zynda and Marskal's tale is told, but in the overall storyline of the series there's enough left to make me hungry for more. Luckily there will at least be one more book.

Why should you read it:
It's a wonderful Fantasy Romance


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The Cage - Book Rant

The Cage (The Cage #1)
by Megan Shepherd

What is it about:
When Cora Mason wakes in a desert, she doesn't know where she is or who put her there. As she explores, she finds an impossible mix of environments—tundra next to desert, farm next to jungle, and a strangely empty town cobbled together from different cultures—all watched over by eerie black windows. And she isn't alone.

Four other teenagers have also been taken: a beautiful model, a tattooed smuggler, a secretive genius, and an army brat who seems to know too much about Cora's past. None of them have a clue as to what happened, and all of them have secrets. As the unlikely group struggles for leadership, they slowly start to trust each other. But when their mysterious jailer—a handsome young guard called Cassian—appears, they realize that their captivity is more terrifying than they could ever imagine: Their captors aren't from Earth. And they have taken the five teenagers for an otherworldly zoo—where the exhibits are humans.

As a forbidden attraction develops between Cora and Cassian, she realizes that her best chance of escape might be in the arms of her own jailer—though that would mean leaving the others behind. Can Cora manage to save herself and her companions? And if so . . . what world lies beyond the walls of their cage?

What did I think of it:
The premise of this book is really cool, so I had high hopes.

Yeah...

What can I say. The story started out ok, but then went down fast. The teens were continuously bickering, and when they were not, they were getting it on with each other. Cora was a special snowflake. Cassian got too little screentime to actually be a believable love interest. And then something was revealed about Cora that made me immediately lose all respect I might have had for her.

I did finish the book because I kept hoping it would eventually be the story I wanted it to be, but alas.

You can safely assume I wont read the other books in this series.

Why should you read it:
Maybe you will like Cora and the other teens better than I did.


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Faking It - Book Review by Voodoo Bride

Faking It (Losing It #2)
by Cora Carmack

What is it about:
Mackenzie “Max” Miller has a problem. Her parents have arrived in town for a surprise visit, and if they see her dyed hair, tattoos, and piercings, they just might disown her. Even worse, they’re expecting to meet a nice, wholesome boyfriend, not a guy named Mace who has a neck tattoo and plays in a band. All her lies are about to come crashing down around her, but then she meets Cade.

Cade moved to Philadelphia to act and to leave his problems behind in Texas. So far though, he’s kept the problems and had very little opportunity to take the stage. When Max approaches him in a coffee shop with a crazy request to pretend to be her boyfriend, he agrees to play the part. But when Cade plays the role a little too well, they’re forced to keep the ruse going. And the more they fake the relationship, the more real it begins to feel.

What did Voodoo Bride think of it:
Considering that I didn't much care for Cade in Losing It, I was surprised to find that I loved this book more than Losing It.

Cade felt more mature in this book and Max was a perfect fit for him. I very much enjoyed seeing the two of them connect and falling for each other. Max is not an easy character, but she was easy to relate to because of her issues. At some points in the book I feared Cade would be too soft and pliable for her, but luckily he managed to shape up when it was needed.

The tone of this book is a bit more serious than the first book, but there's still lots of fun and fluffy moments. All in all a very enjoyable read.

Why should you read it:
It's an enjoyable New Adult Romance


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On McPig's Radar - Witch Creek

You bet this is a pre-order!


Witch Creek: A Wildlands Novel (Wildlands #4)
by Laura Bickle

In the backcountry of Yellowstone, evil moves below the surface . . .

Following Nine of Stars comes the next chapter in Laura Bickle's critically acclaimed Wildlands series

As the daughter of an alchemist, Petra Dee has battled supernatural horrors and experienced astonishing wonders. But there’s no magic on earth that can defeat her recent cancer diagnosis, or help find her missing husband, Gabriel. Still, she would bet all her remaining days that the answer to his disappearance lies in the dark subterranean world beneath the Rutherford Ranch on the outskirts of Temperance, Wyoming.

Gabe is being held prisoner by the sheriff and heir to the ranch, Owen Rutherford. Owen is determined to harness the power of the Tree of Life—and he needs Gabe to reveal its magic. Secretly, the sheriff has also made a pact to free a creature of the underground, a flesh-devouring mermaid. Muirenn has vowed to exact vengeance on Gabe, who helped imprison her, but first . . . she's hungry. Once freed, she will swim into Yellowstone—to feed.

With her coyote sidekick Sig, Petra must descend into the underworld to rescue Gabe before it's too late . . . for both of them.


Expected publication: February 27th 2018 by Harper Voyager

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The Upside of Unrequited - Slightly Ranty Book Review by Voodoo Bride

The Upside of Unrequited
by Becky Albertalli

What is it about:
Seventeen-year-old Molly Peskin-Suso knows all about unrequited love—she’s lived through it twenty-six times. She crushes hard and crushes often, but always in secret. Because no matter how many times her twin sister, Cassie, tells her to woman up, Molly can’t stomach the idea of rejection. So she’s careful. Fat girls always have to be careful.

Then a cute new girl enters Cassie’s orbit, and for the first time ever, Molly’s cynical twin is a lovesick mess. Meanwhile, Molly’s totally not dying of loneliness—except for the part where she is. Luckily, Cassie’s new girlfriend comes with a cute hipster-boy sidekick. Will is funny and flirtatious and just might be perfect crush material. Maybe more than crush material. And if Molly can win him over, she’ll get her first kiss and she’ll get her twin back.

There’s only one problem: Molly’s coworker Reid. He’s an awkward Tolkien superfan with a season pass to the Ren Faire, and there’s absolutely no way Molly could fall for him. Right?

What did Voodoo Bride think of it:
While browsing the local bookstore in hope they'd have the next book in Perkins' Anna and the French Kiss series I ran into this book. On my quest for Contemporary Romance I actually like I decided to give this a try.

And I'm in two minds about this book.

Mostly this isn't so much a romance as it is a coming of age and finding out who you are tale. Molly is close to her sister, but when her sister gets a girlfriend Molly is adrift. I liked how she's questioning herself and her world, and how she tries to cope with the changing relationship between her and her sister.

What I didn't like is the fact that when she finally finds her footing it's because of a crush that might finally be more than just a crush. Apart from the fact that I liked Reid and wanted him to have more screen time (Yes: I wanted them at the Ren Faire together), I was disappointed by this development. I'd have loved this story more if Molly's growth came from within. Although it could have been worse: at least she didn't lose weight and got a make-over that suddenly made her feel happy about herself.

And don't get me started on the sickly sweet ending where everything and everyone was suddenly full of magic, cheer, forgiveness, and happy little trees, even those who couldn't stand each other before (ok, maybe the happy little trees are an exaggeration).

All in all a nice read, but not a keeper.

Why should you read it:
It's a nice contemporary YA read.


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