Slayer’s Kiss: The Shadow Slayer by Cassi Carver

The first five sentences of Slayer’s kiss hooked me. Here’s why:

“Just lie back and relax, asshole. I swear you won’t feel a thing.” Kara adjusted the bindings around the man’s wrists and plunged the syringe deep into his thigh. When the concoction started making its way through his veins, he bucked under Kara’s weight. She stood and put one boot heel against his throat to quiet him as the relaxant started taking effect.

Action. Readers love their action. Some of us aren’t big into swearing, but I’m good with it. Cassi delivers swear words in a timely manner that is entertaining not gauche. Now, because this book is a little hard for me to review without the blurb, I’m including that here.

When the past flies in your face, clip its wings.
The Shadow Slayers, Book 1
Kara Reed is a supernatural failure. But where her magic falls short, her fists get the job done. The criminal element doesn’t stand a chance once she hits San Diego’s dark streets.

 

When two smoking-hot tenants move in next door, she thinks her love life might finally be heating up. Just being near Gavin and Julian is enough to make her want to offer her body on a platter.

 

Gavin and Julian know it’s only a matter of time before the truth comes out. They’re fallen angels sent to watch over the king’s daughter, one of the last females of her kind. Trouble is, she doesn’t seem to think she needs watching—unless they’re watching her shimmy out of her clothes.

 

No matter how tempting her guardians, Kara’s not about to let anything stop her from tracking down a sadistic killer who carves into his victims and leaves them for dead. Even when she realizes her target may be the very scourge of heaven from which her angels swore to protect her…

 

Warning: Contains a kick-ass heroine with a foul mouth, a kind heart and a raging libido, and two fallen angel warriors who wouldn’t have her any other way. Watch out for sex in the clouds, a magical island of hedonism and a love triangle that gives new meaning to the term “hot-wings”.

 

 

Kara is a strong character though there were times when her cluelessness (and horniness, understandable or not) annoyed me. The sexual content in this book isn’t something I normally enjoy. There are a lot of crude words used, but they are in the right order and context which made the scenes fun to read. Here’s a quickie (hehe) example. {{WARNING: SEXUAL CONTENT TO FOLLOW}}

 

 

 if naughty words/situations offend

 

 

 

 

Finally, when she felt his balls under her and her clit rested on his warm flesh, she threw caution to the wind and began to ride him hard, the metal-framed bed creaking under their combined weight.

 

Personally, I find it hot, so no complaints there. Some of Cassi’s explanations (plot wise regarding Kara’s, er, wanton behavior) were confusing, but I not enough to keep me from reading the second book. The second book, Shadow Rising, was just as good and well worth the reasonable price tag. Because you know I can’t help sharing some of my favorite scenes, I’ll do so now.

 

“So, Kara…” Julian stepped from the hall, thumbs tucked in the pockets of his jeans. “I was planning to get takeout tonight from that deli around the corner, and I wondered if you might like to come over as a thank-you for helping us move.” If eyes could be hungry, Julian’s would be devouring her, licking the marrow from her bones.

 

“Us? Are you Gavin’s roommate then?” The woman in her thrilled at the thought that she’d be seeing more of Gavin’s black-haired friend, but the apartment manager was peeved. “I don’t think you put him on the application, Gavin?”

 

Gavin shrugged, all six feet seven inches of him suddenly looking like a little boy caught sprinkling salt on his mama’s prized racing slug. “It’s only until he finds his own place. Besides, it’s a two bedroom and he’s pretty quiet-” Gavin pinned Julian with a sharp glare, “- most the time.”

 

Takeout, huh? It wasn’t as if Julian had offered to tie her up and service her all night long. What harm could there be in a little dinner, besides the fat and carbs? She met his dark, almost black eyes. “Yeah, sure. What time?”

 

Gavin walked up beside his friend and patted Julian on the back hard enough to jar the smile off his handsome face. “How hospitable of you, Jules. And at six? When you know I won’t be around to…partake in the meal.”

 

“Exactly. With you gone, there’ll be too much food for one person,” Julian agreed. “But don’t feel bad about leaving me alone on my second night in San Diego. Look-” he gestured to Kara, “- I’ve already made a friend.”

 

There were some pretty long sentences in this book and a few grammatical error that made me cringe, but over all the read’s good, the price is great and the characters were entertaining as hell. Cassi Carver has created a fun world that I will continue to frequent. Check her o

 

ut!

The Sunshine Award!

First off, I have to thank Leakan for nominating me for this award.

It was such a nice surprise. Her debut novel, The Things They Didn’t Bury, is currently free on Amazon.com and doing extremely well with nearly a full five-star review rating! Congrats.

The blogs I’ve nominated below are written by some fabulous people who captivate me for many different reasons. Their knowledge, wisdom, keen interests, fluent writing and hilarious opinions motivate me to do better, try harder and never settle.

• Elizabeth Sogard
• Cassidy Frazee
• Tiffany A. White
• Katie Jennings
• Kellie Elmore
• C.B. Wentworth
• Stella Marr
• Jennifer Don
• Robotic Rhetoric
• ShirLey McLain
• Eve Bishop

The Rules

• Include the award’s logo in a post or on your Blog. You can make your own if you’d like.
• List 10 things about yourself
• Nominate 10 Bloggers
• Link your nominees to the post and comment on their blogs, letting them know they were nominated.
• Link the person who nominated you.

Ten Things About Jennifer Minshall-Starks:

1) I have a thing about open cupboard doors. Seriously. It drives me insane. CLOSE THEM!

2) I have been working on a YA novel about Werewolves for nearly thirteen years. The first draft still isn’t complete.

3) There are only about three or four days when I actually enjoy being outside. The sun and I have a love/hate relationship. Mainly hate.

4) I will not eat meatloaf. I don’t care that it’s just a rectangular burger. YUCK.

5) Taking pictures relaxes me more than writing.

6) Speaking of writing, I always have my ‘ah-ha’ ideas in the bathtub. You know, when it’s totally inconvenient to write them down. :-/

7)  Walking into a book store that smells like coffee always makes me smile.

8) I’ve read Karen Marie Moning’s Fever Series at least four times in the past two years. I’m slightly obsessed. She’s brilliant.

9) Speaking of great authors, I only just (as in this year) discovered how insanely great Kresely Cole is. WTH took me so long, right? LOL

10) Every time my husband kisses me, I get light headed. (And it has nothing to do with a lack of oxygen )

*Leakan decided to change the rules a bit and I’m towing her line. Different variations on the instructions for this award say to list ten things about yourself, answer ten questions, etc. I’ve decided to include both for my nominees. I know many of you, like me, tend to stick to talking about your writing on your blog. But please feel free to take this as an opportunity to share a little more about yourselves! Can’t wait to read the responses!

1. What is your first reading memory? I recall getting the book Catwings by Ursula K. Le Guin.

The book was sad but also so imaginative that it has stuck with me all these (not that many, I swear) years.

2. If you never had to work another day in your life how would you spend an average day? Writing. Editing. Reading. Being a mommy. It’s all the stuff I do now, and believe me it is still work!

3. What’s your definition of success? Knowing people enjoy my stories, root for my characters and are excited to see a book with my name on the cover. Money is important. I know it makes the world go round and I’d love to have boatloads of it, but I can buy the kind of loyal readership truly great authors have. None of us can. It has to be earned. My success is knowing I’ve earned it.

4. Why did you start blogging? It was a healthy, creative way for me to promote indie authors/friends, review books honestly and (hopefully) create a base readership for my debut novel, Messy Death.

5. What’s your favorite thing about blogging? Getting it out there. Putting the words down, editing them then hitting that publish button brings me a sense of pride and accomplishment. Somedays, it’s a little like finishing a book and that is a feeling that never grows old.

6. What are five things you can’t live without? My family, books, my laptop, phone and caffeine.

7. What are five things you would prefer to live without? Errands, bills, bugs, laundry (I’d prefer an endless supply of always clean clothes) and about thirty pounds of unwanted fat. LOL.

8. What’s your favorite thing about yourself? My motivation. It stalls out once in a great while, but for the most part it never fails me.

9. What’s the secret to your happiness? I don’t have a secret. When I’m miserable, I wallow for a little while and then I get up and make a plan to change things.

10 ) If you could change one thing about the world what would it be? That’s a really hard question because there are so many things that need to be changed. Um. Hmmmm? Well, currently I have very strong opinions on homelessness, so I would start there. Everyone deserves a home.

What’s Missing?

As writers, our goal is to tell a story. We become so immersed in our world that sometimes we forget simple things like where are the main characters going? What’s the point of their story? How do I resolve all their plot points/issues? What is my story missing?

Other times, we forget even simpler things such as adding culture to our world. I was pegged on this in Messy Death and rightfully so. Telling a reader about my world is not showing my reader that world actually exists. Now, what’s the big rule of thumb when it comes to writing? Show don’t tell. That’s true for more than just scenes. Yes, we want to know how your character feels about something. Yes, we want to know what he/she thinks, but the same is true for your world.

If you’re dropping us into a reality different from our own, you have an obligation to show us that your reality is present and acknowledged by the main character. As you read this, some of you may be thinking, ‘duh,’ but I assure you these key ingredients are easily overlooked. Because Messy Death is my baby, I want everything to be perfect; however, I don’t have a set way of doing things yet. To avoid editing while I go, thus getting stuck in a hamster wheel of re-writes before the first draft is done, I do two quick edits when I finish a chapter. So far, that works for me.

That being said, I may start a drama/culture read through after my second round of edits. This will be a chapter by chapter scan for missed opportunities. Sometimes we need to add more tension/drama to keep things moving alone. Other times, not so much. Also, the second edit will be a culture test. Am I representing my new world in little ways? Does it feel real? Have I gone overboard? Should I reign my world in a bit?

Another word of caution. Characters become who they want with or without our permission. If you want them to be a love interest, but they’re like nuh-uh, no-way, no-how respect it. Things will go smoother. Remember though, an opportunity to force them into the role will only result in more re-writes for you.

Seriously. It’s the equivalent of shoving a puzzle piece into the wrong spot. At a glance, it looks okay, but the picture will never be complete unless you put that piece where it’s supposed to go. 

 

Everneath by Brodi Ashton

Brodi Ashton tells one hell of a story in Everneath. I knew from the First Five that I was going to love this book, but it took me some time to actually set down and read it. I am glad I waited because the sequel is out and I bought that one too. (More on that later.) Here are some high points: first person narrative. This is my preference though third person isn’t awful.

The questions you ask yourself as a reader are always addressed but never asked outright. You’re just reading and wondering…hmmm? I adored that about Brodi’s writing style. Timeline jumping can be somewhat confusing and boring. In Everneath, you want to jump back in time. You want to know how Nik, or Nikki, ended up in the Everneath and all the choices that led to her leaving.

There’s a countdown attached to the timeline that I adored. Without using more than three words, Brodi Ashton creates an undeniable sense of urgency. It’s sort of a ’keep it simple, stupid’ technique. As writers, we crave the audience wow. We need them to feel what we intend when we intended. (It’s akin to Cole snorting or kissing someone’s emotion only we don’t take them; we give.) To conjure those sentiments, writers will attempt the perfect line, page or paragraph.  We spend hours attempting this. It doesn’t always work.

More than once I’ve found myself consumed by the need to be original. When that happens, stating a thought, plainly, never occurs to me. By counting down Nik’s months, Brodi Ashton took her character’s crisis from moderate to ominous in the simplest of ways. It was genius, and I commend it. *applause* The characters in this book are fleshed out. I read a few reviews that bagged on the love triangle, but I think those readers may have missed a bigger picture. 

Does Cole love Nik? In his own way. Does Jack love Nik? Absolutely. Does Nik love Jack? Undoubtedly. Does Nik love Cole? In her own way. In my opinion, this does not make a love triangle. I believe it, quite simply , makes Everneath a story of love. 

And Myths.

And the Underworld.

And Shades.

And the Tunnels.

This book is going to tug on your heart-strings and make you feel. You’ll want things you can’t have and get things you never wanted. It’s a masterpiece. With that in mind, I will share a few of Brodi’s words. This potent scene had my stomach churning excitment.

A boy, maybe a year older than me, showed up in the doorway. He was tall enough that with a few more inches, his head could have touched the top of the frame. Jack looked up from his desk, his pencil halted midword. “Nik? Is that you?” The boy’s voice wasn’t familiar.

His face wasn’t either. He looked like a typical teenager, with thick black hair that was purposely mussed up. His lanky body leaned against the doorjamb casually. His ears had several piercings, as did his eyebrows, which framed dark, familiar eyes.

Eyes that didn’t belong here. Eyes that I would know anywhere.

It was Cole. No question. But he had somehow changed his appearance, down to his hair and his skin.

Whatever he’d done, though, he couldn’t change his dark eyes.

“Don’t you remember me?” His li[ps curled upward. “Neal? From the party?”

I could feel Jack’s gaze from beside me. I narrowed my eyes at Cole and shook my head.

“I’m not surprised, rally. You probably don’t remember much from that night,” he said.

Mrs. Stone was out of the classroom. Cole probably timed it that way. I said a silent wish that she would return soon.

“You must have me confused with someone else,” I said in a quiet voice.

“I’m sure I don’t,” Cole said. “Nikki Beckett. Seventeen. Sweet. Great little tattoo on her shoulder that tastes faintly of… charcoal.”

My face flamed red and I could feel the tears behind my eyes, but they didn’t come. What would Jack be thinking? I could hear him tapping his foot beside me.

“Go away,” I whispered.

“That’s not a nice way to treat an old friend. I go to school here now. I’m going to graduate someday, just like you.” He took a few steps forward. “I’m gonna clean myself up. Just like you.”

I could sense Jack shifting in his seat next to me. I bit my lower lip, leaned down, and shoved my books into my backpack.

“You’re not giving up, are you, Nik?” Cole sang out, his voice an eerie melody.

I hoisted my bag over my shoulder, lowered my head, and scrambled to the door. He blocked the exit.

“Sorry, Nik,” he whispered, barely audible. “You forced my hand.”

“Let me go, Neal,” I said, using his fake name.

“If only it were that easy.”

“Let her by,” Jack called from his seat at the back.

Cole set his gaze on Jack, a snide lip curl on his face. I knew that look. I put my hand on his arm. “Don’t-”

“Quiet, Nik,” Cole cut me off, keeping his piercing gaze on Jack. “Listen, friend. Little Nikki here doesn’t want me to let her go. Trust me. She likes a guy to take charge.” Jack pushed his chair back, and I knew I had to do something.

Want more? Well, I’m sorry, but you’ll have to buy the book to see what happens next. This book is one in a trilogy so be warned. The ending is but another beginning…

Live. Write. Read.

http://www.amazon.com/Everneath-Brodi-Ashton/dp/0062071149/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1361828132&sr=8-1&keywords=everneath

Let’s Talk Buts!

If you’re currently singing ‘I like big butts and I cannot lie; you other brothers can’t deny when a girl walks in with an itty, bitty waste and a round thing in your face you get,-’ than I applaud you. However, we’re not talking about those kind of butts. We’re talking about that connecting FANBOYS we all rely heavily on from time to time. (FANBOYS for those of you who need a refresher are For, And, Nor, But, Or, Yet, So. http://grammar.ccc.commnet.edu/grammar/conjunctions.htm)

 

What do you, writers, feel is an appropriate amount of Buts per chapter. While editing Messy Death, I carefully review FANBOYS to make sure they are used correctly and not in abundance. While editing chapter ten, which is holding steady at 5,368 words, I originally found 39. I have whittling those buts down to 27 and am not sure I can do much better.

In truth, I do not feel they are over used, but (hehe) I was wondering what my peers ’but’ (hehe) count was per chapter.

Should I be worried this number is too high?

Should you be worried your ‘but’ number is too high?

Let’s talk it out, peeps. I’m eager to know what you think.

Ascend by Amanda Hocking

So, if you haven’t already guessed I totally read the entire Trylle series, and guess what? I freaking loved it. I would love to share why I loved it, but that would give too many things away. To satisfy any curiosity you may have, let me say this: FINALLY the girl ends up with the guy I was actually rooting for. Ascend is a beautifully written book. Perhaps, the best in the series. Hocking’s emotional depth makes it to the page in a more profound way then it ever did before. Wendy faces a lot in this book, as she should. This is the finale. People want closure and a happy (adjacent) ending. Well, we get it. And then some. The Trylle series was bittersweet for me. Hard to start; harder to stop. Amanda Hocking has my respect as not only a (soon to be) author but also a die-hard reader. She’s worth her weight in gold and entertainment. Here’s a snippet from chapter nineteen:

“I don’t know, Wendy.” Tove shook his head. “I don’t want you to die, but I don’t know what else to say to you.”

“I know.” I sighed. “That’s where I’m at too.”

Tove sat on the chest at the end of our bed, and I stood in front of him, chewing on my thumbnail. We were both still in pajamas, and I wasn’t sure how well either of us had slept the night before. I woke him early in the morning, when it was still dark out, and immediately began asking him what he thought I should do about Elora’s painting.

“You still don’t know how to kill the King.” Tove pointed out. “And you did promise him our kingdom when you were Queen.”

“I won’t be Queen if I’m with him.”

“But he won’t let that slide,” Tove said. “Even if you got to him, he might reject you simply because he wants the kingdom.”

“I can tell him that you all booted me out when you found out my plan to combine with the Vittra.” I said. “Then he’ll have me.”

“But he still wants the kingdom,” Tove said. “He’ll still come after it, even if he has you. At best, you’re postponing the inevitable.”

“Maybe so,” I admitted. “But if that’s the best I can do, then that’s what I have to do.”

“But what then?” Tove asked, staring up at me. “What happens after the King has you?”

“You’ll become Trylle King,” I said. “You’ll protect our people.”

“So that’s it?” Tove asked. “You’ll go and I’ll stay?”

I nodded. “Yes.”

Does this section deliver the emotions I mentioned earlier? No, but I needed you to see how truly, deeply complicated things are for poor Wendy. At any rate, this series is worth the read. I’ve never been more satisfied with an ending or who a main character has chosen as he permanent squeeze in a long time. Love triangles are tricky bitches. You have to play them right or people get pissed. In the case of Ascend, you won’t be disappointed. I’m giving you the amazon link. And, as always…

Live. Write. Read.

http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss_1?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=ascend

Once Burned by Jeaniene Frost

I will start off by saying I am very partial to this author. She is one of my all time favs. When I heard she was starting a new series that had to do with Vlad, a charcters who makes many appearances in her other books, I knew it’d be on my keeper shelf ASAP. This book was different from the Grave series in ways I can’t say without spoiling, but for those of you who have already read Once Burned and are a fan of the Night Huntress novels, you’ll understand this next comment. It was nice to see the romantic shoe on the other foot. Okay, that being said let’s get to those first five sentences.

I parked my bike in front of the restaurant, wiping the perspiration from my upper lip. It was unseasonably warm this January, but sweating during a Florida winter was better than freezing in a Northern one. I twisted my hair into a knot, my neck cooler once the long black swath was off it. With a final swipe at my forehead, I entered the restaurant, ignoring the table in favor of the patrons seated at the bar. It only took a glance to see that most of the were average height, with a few extremely tall exceptions.

So, it doesn’t start off action packed, but it picks up, people. And quick! I’d give you an inside view of this book, but all the best parts give away too much, so I’ll give you the back blurb as a Hail Mary.

After a tragic accident scarred her body and destroyed her dreams, Leila never imagined that the worst was still to come: terrifying powers that let her channel electricity and learn a person’s darkest secrets through a single touch. Leila is doomed to a life of solitude…until creatures of the night kidnap her, forcing her to reach out with a telepathic distress call to the world’s most infamous vampire…
Vlad Tepesh inspired the greatest vampire legend of all–but whatever you do, don’t call him Dracula. Vlad’s ability to control fire makes him one of the most feared vampires in existence, but his enemies have found a new weapon against him – a beautiful mortal with powers to match his own. When Vlad and Leila meet, however, passion ignites between them, threatening to consume them both. It will take everything that they are to stop an enemy intent on bringing them down in flames.

http://www.amazon.com/Once-Burned-Night-Prince-ebook/dp/B006SJLL82/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1356123360&sr=8-1&keywords=once+burned#_