This Side of the Grave by Jeaniene Frost

February 22nd 2011, Avon
357 pages, E-book
Borrowed from the Library
Fifth in Night Huntress series
Adult Fiction
Amazon | Book Depository | Indie Bound

Danger waits on both sides of the grave.
Half-vampire Cat Crawfield and her vampire husband Bones have fought for their lives, as well as for their relationship. But just when they've triumphed over the latest battle, Cat's new and unexpected abilities threaten to upset a long-standing balance . . .
With the mysterious disappearance of vampires, rumors abound that a species war is brewing. A zealot is inciting tensions between the vampires and ghouls, and if these two powerful groups clash, innocent mortals could become collateral damage. Now Cat and Bones are forced to seek help from a dangerous "ally"; the ghoul queen of New Orleans herself. But the price of her assistance may prove more treacherous than even the threat of a supernatural war . . . to say nothing of the repercussions Cat never imagined.

Favorite Quote:

“No matter what happens, you will never lose me,” he whispered. “I am forever yours, Kitten. In this life or the next.”

Cover Review:
This scene is beautiful, but sadly it is NOT in the book. I wish they would have depicted the bridge scene. Now that would make one powerful cover!

Opinion:

I bought this pre-order, read a few chapters, got annoyed, put it down, when I was cleaning out my hoard of books to send to the sis I sent her this one as well without me reading it. More than a year later I borrowed it late at night from my library and I finished it at about 5 hours later. I don’t know what my issue was the first time around. This is amazing 5th book in an amazing series. The passion levels are so incredibly high, the plot is slow but incredible, and Cat is forever the heroine that I wish I could be.

Okay, so if you’ve read my reviews on the first 4 you know I am a bit obsessed (to put it mildly) with Vlad. I would totally let him suck my blood all day long. He is so present in this book which makes this girl incredibly happy!

Bones and Cat are in that comfortable. We both love one another, so we are completely secure in our relationship. I think the experts call it the “attachment” phase. This makes for a solid base behind the amount of assaults thrown in their direction. It brings such fun, emotional, passionate adoration to a book full of evils.

I’m just gonna sum it up with. Read this series. Like now. It’s one that would be at the top of my list for books you must read!

Rating:

Rie (@missiontoread)

I'm a wife, student, and a dog-lover who reads when I should be folding laundry (bane of my existance), I write (rarely as academic papers consume my life), and love getting wrapped up in fiction.

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Drink Deep (Spoiler Edition) by Chloe Neill

November 1st 2011, NAL Trade
321 pages, Paperback
Won from A Book Obsession
Fifth in the Chicagoland Series
Adult Fiction
Other in Series:
Some Girls Bite
Friday Night Bites
Twice Bitten
Hard Bitten (no review)

Clouds are brewing over Cadogan House, and recently turned vampire Merit can't tell if this is the darkness before the dawn or the calm before the storm. With the city itself in turmoil over paranormals and the state threatening to pass a paranormal registration act, times haven't been this precarious for vampires since they came out of the closet. If only they could lay low for a bit, and let the mortals calm down.

That's when the waters of Lake Michigan suddenly turn pitch black-and things really start getting ugly.

Chicago's mayor insists it's nothing to worry about, but Merit knows only the darkest magic could have woven a spell powerful enough to change the very fabric of nature. She'll have to turn to friends old and new to find out who's behind this, and stop them before it's too late for vampires and humans alike

I’m finding it impossible to review this book without spoilers so if you haven’t read it and hate spoilers back out now.  

Opinion:I’m a waffler on this series. This one was on the side of good. There ones that make me want to kill Merit for being so whiny and others where she is a kick-ass girl full of fire. I attribute 90% of this to Ethan’s character.

If the romance within these novels does not get resolved soon, I may simply stop reading this series. When Merit has Ethan she is like a lost puppy dog, when he’s gone she acts like an adult ready to face the world. This is annoys me to no end. Johan I thought would be a good match for her as a partner. He is steadfast, caring, and respects whatever boundaries she sets. They are equals and it shows.

Merit went through hell in this book and she showed her strength at every obstacle. First she had to confront the nymphs, then a siren, a fairy queen, a sadistically powerful mayor all the while being low on blood due to an egotistical GP man.

I had the plot figured out by about half way in, but I didn’t care because I was enjoying watching Merit figure it out. And the only reason she didn’t see it from page one is because she was simply blinded by love. Not romantic love, but love all the same.

The ending was a cliffhanger (which annoyed me), but sets the next one up to be one of the best within the series if Neill can deliver on that promise.

Rating: 3.5/5

Rie

I'm a wife, student, and a dog-lover who reads when I should be folding laundry (bane of my existance), I write (rarely as academic papers consume my life), and love getting wrapped up in fiction.

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Spirit Bound by Richelle Mead

Happy Valentine's Day! Tomorrow is me and my husband's 2nd year dating anniversary. So he has to pull something amazing off with both being combined into one.

May 2010, Razorbill

489 pgs., E-book

Library Copy

Fifth in Vampire Academy Series

YA Paranormal Romance

From Goodreads:

The words stunned Adrian for a moment, but he kept going. "You're lying. What you're describing is impossible. There's no way to save a Strigoi. When they're gone, they're gone. They're dead. Undead. Forever."

Robert's next words weren't directed at Adrian. They were spoken to me. "That which is dead doesn't always stay dead...."

After a long and heartbreaking journey to Dimitri’s birthplace in Siberia, Rose Hathaway has finally returned to St. Vladimir’s—and to her best friend, Lissa Dragomir. It's graduation, and the girls can’t wait for their real lives outside of the Academy’s cold iron gates to finally begin. But even with the intrigue and excitement of court life looming, Rose’s heart still aches for Dimitri. He's out there, somewhere.

She failed to kill him when she had the chance, and now her worst fears are about to come true. Dimitri has tasted her blood, and she knows in her heart that he is hunting her. And if Rose won't join him, he won't rest until he's silenced her...forever.

But Rose can't forget what she learned on her journey—whispers of a magic too impossible and terrifying to comprehend. A magic inextricably tied to Lissa that could hold the answer to all of Rose's prayers, but not without devastating consequences. Now Rose will have to decide what—and who—matters most to her. In the end, is true love really worth the price?

Fall in love with Rose and Dimitri all over again in Spirit Bound, the eagerly awaited fifth novel in Richelle Mead's enthralling Vampire Academy series.

Opinion:

As with this entire series, I love this book! It's engaging, action-filled, and emotionally charged.

Rose has grown so much with the journey to Siberia, graduation, and a new found love interest.

Lissa has finally come into her own. Actually helping Rose instead of simply being one that needs protecting. She is powerful with her use of spirit.

Dimitri is still creepy, kinda stalker-ish.

The trio of Rose, Lissa, and Eddie go about a mission that is foolhardy and irresponsible, but find that it might actually be for the best.

Abe is awesome.She needs that protectiveness after basically a lifetime of neglect from her parents.

It is primarily set at court and it's full of political mystery, some may know that politics is a passion of mine. So this aspect intrigued me especially.

This isn't my favorite in the series, but it is still great.

Rating: 4/5

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