Short Reviews: Two New Paranormal Urban Fantasy Novels

Paranormal/urban fantasy are very personal genres.  Either you like them, or you don’t.  Within any genre, there are a few authors that manage to do something so appealing, that I pre-order the books – Linda Robertson is one of those authors for me.  Her Persephone Alcmedi books are just that readable.  Here we go.

• Title: Fatal Circle
  
• Author:  Linda Robertson
• Type:  Urban fantasy/paranormal
• Genre: Witch, werewolf and vampire in an uneasy alliance
• Sub-genre:  Search for truth, destiny and balance
• My Grade: B+  (4.3*)
• Rating:  PG-13
• Length and price:  Full length novel; about 90,000+ words for $7.99
• Where Available:  book available at at any book store
• FTC Disclosure:  purchased book from online bookstore

Imajinn Books on Sale!

Imajinn is a small publisher with a a fairly diverse group of genres, but a nice selection of paranormal/urban fantasy and steamy to erotic titles.  Their printed books are of good quality – unlike some to print to order publishers who cheap out (CAN YOU HEAR ME NEW CONCEPT PRESS?).  They have a very good sale running from now to July 5th.

Take 20% off orders of $20 or more; Take 30% off orders of $30 or more; Take 40% off orders of $40 or more.

Those savings add up quickly and Imajinn routinely offer there books below list, so these prices the sale prices are very attractive indeed.  Check it out on the Imajinn website.

And Still MORE Super Short Reviews – Assorted Genres

Yes, there are still MORE reviews of urban fantasy, paranormal romance, mystery, and erotic romance to get through.  So here we go again!

• Title: Quick Study
  
• Author:  Maggie Barbieri
• Type:  Mystery
• Genre: Amateur sleuth college professor
• Sub-genre:  Professor with cop boyfriend steps on law enforcement toes
• My Grade: B-  (3.8*)
• Rating:  PG-13
• Length and price:  Full length novel; about 80,000+ words for $6.99
• Where Available:  book available at at any book store; 4-for-3 program on Amazon
• FTC Disclosure:  purchased hardcover book from online bookstore

This third installment in the Alison Bergeron series is an entertaining read.  Alison is late thirties, divorced from a ‘serial philanderer’, and college literature professor with an indomitable curiosity and a talent for finding trouble.  Written in the first person, Alison is a likable character who realizes that age is no barrier to her acting like an idiot.  Her ‘boyfriend’, divorced police detective Bobby Crawford, could decide she’s more trouble than she’s worth.  Her childhood friend, now a priest, keeps hoping she’ll get interested in his too handsome brother, and best friend Max is a drop dead gorgeous TV personality married to Bobby’s caveman like partner.

Alison is working her community service hours at a soup kitchen where an extended Latino comes once a week for a family dinner.  She hires the father and his nephew to do some painting in her house in Dobbs Ferry.  When the nephew turns up dead on a piece of land in Brooklyn that’s being developed by a former boyfriend of Max’s, Maggie gets involved in trying to find out what really happened.  The action just keeps moving and the plot has plenty of surprises, so settle in and enjoy.

The verve is fun and interesting.  Though some characters are ‘central casting’, it’s kind of hard not to get interested in Alison and her chaotic approach to life in general.  Fans of amateur sleuths can enjoy a fun read.  Good summer choice!

More Super Short Reviews – All Genres

Moving right along, we have:

• Title: Pretty in Ink
  
• Author:  Karen E Olsen
• Type:  Mystery
• Genre: Amateur sleuth in Vegas
• Sub-genre:  Tattoo artist gets involved in another murder
• My Grade: B  (4.0*)
• Rating:  PG-13
• Length and price:  Full length novel; about 80,000+ words for $6.99
• Where Available:  book available at at any book store; 4-for-3 program on Amazon
• FTC Disclosure:  purchased book from online bookstore

I always like finding a worthwhile amateur sleuth/cozy that isn’t so contrived my eyes roll.  I so enjoyed The Missing Ink that I won in a book swap on Paperback Swap, I bought this book as soon as it was released and it went right to the top of the TBR pile.  I’m glad I did.  This sophomore outing for 30 something tattoo artist and high end shop owner, Brett Kavenaugh, is really worth the effort.  Karen E. Olsen is a journalist and mystery writer, and her training shows in her tight prose that moves the story surrounding the murder of a female impersonator and a missing broach at fast clip despite the convoluted plot.  On my list of ‘must read’ series.

Super Short Reviews: Urban Fantasy, Paranormal, Mystery and Erotic Romance

Wow, I’ve read a lot of books since I last posted, so all I can do is start to provide some really short reviews on some titles I’ve read.

• Title: Web of Lies
  
• Author:  Jennifer Estep
• Type:  Urban Fantasy
• Genre:  Retired female assassin helps a family in trouble
• Sub-genre:  Action thriller with magical setting
• My Grade: B-  (3.8*)
• Rating:  PG-13
• Length and price:  Full length novel; about 90,000+ words for $7.99
• Where Available:  ebook available at at any book store; 4-for-3 program on Amazon
• FTC Disclosure:  purchased book from online bookstore

The second installment of the Elemental Assassin series Jennifer Estep moves solidly into an action thriller format that’s familiar as the most recent Jack Reacher book by Lee Child.  It lacks the slam-bang beginning of Spider’s Bite, but has a bit more development of Gin Blanco and her interesting supporting cast.  A fast, fun summer read, with a rather predictable ending.

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